Valve Adapter With Elastic Lift Plate for Reliable Gravity Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid treatment systems face challenges with complex and unreliable valve mechanisms that require expensive components and mechanical operations, such as rotating screws, which can lead to wear and manufacturing tolerances, making them less effective over time.
Innovation Solution
A valve adapter mechanism using a cylindrical body with a press fit and an annular plate with elastic ribs that applies a vertical opening force to lift the valve from the reservoir bottom, allowing gravity-driven liquid flow without additional pressure, utilizing non-expensive components like plastic materials for simplicity and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical valve mechanism with screw members is used to open and close the outlet opening, then the valve can be controlled to regulate liquid flow, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to wear and manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of valve operation (opening and closing) from the complex mechanical screw mechanism. By removing the screw member and linear-to-rotational conversion components, the solution retains only the critical valve opening/closing action, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability through a simpler direct-lift mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical screw-based valve operation system with an elastic element-based system. The elastic ribs substitute for the mechanical screw mechanism, using elastic deformation and recovery to directly lift and close the valve, eliminating wear-prone mechanical contacts and complex assemblies.
2Reliability
If expensive mechanical components and complex operations are used for valve control, then precise valve operation can be achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs inexpensive elastic ribs made from elastomers or plastics that can be easily manufactured and replaced. These elastic elements serve as disposable or easily replaceable components that provide reliable valve operation without the high cost of precision mechanical components, aligning with the principle of using cheap, simple materials for critical functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the valve mechanism from mechanical rotation and linear motion to elastic deformation and recovery. This parameter change allows the use of simpler materials and manufacturing processes while achieving the same valve control function, thereby reducing manufacturing costs without sacrificing reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple valve mechanism is used to reduce complexity and cost, then manufacturing becomes easier and cost decreases, but the ability to reliably open and close the valve may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic ribs are pre-formed with the correct geometry and elastic properties during manufacturing, enabling them to automatically provide the necessary lifting force for valve operation. The self-service principle is applied through the elastic memory effect, where the ribs naturally return to their original shape after deformation, ensuring consistent and reliable valve opening without additional control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing from mechanical actuation parameters to elastic material parameters, the invention achieves reliable valve operation through material properties rather than complex mechanical arrangements. The elastic modulus, rib geometry, and pre-stress parameters are optimized during manufacturing to ensure dependable valve control, making reliability inherent in the material selection rather than the mechanical design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a simple, reliable, and cost-effective mechanism to open and close the outlet opening, ensuring consistent operation and ease of handling, while maintaining the integrity of the liquid treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
the annular plate comprises an elastic material suitably shaped to apply an opening force vertical to the bottom of the liquid reservoir pulling the valve being in press fit to the cylindrical body away from the bottom of the liquid reservoir
Implementation Method 2
the cylindrical body is suitably shaped to fit into the valve holder and to enclose and hold the valve inside the cylindrical body with a press fit
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve adapter (1) for regulating a flow of filtered liquid (FL) caused by gravity out of an outlet opening (23) of a liquid reservoir (2) comprising a cylindrical body (11) with an axial hole along to its cylindrical axis (CA) being open to its first and second ends (11a, 11b), where the first end is intended to face towards a filter cartridge (4) and the second end to face towards a bottom (22) of the liquid reservoir, where the cylindrical body is suitably shaped to fit into a valve holder (21) and to enclose and hold a valve (3) inside the cylindrical body with a press fit, and an annular plate (12) connected to the cylindrical body around its open first end and projecting radially outwards beyond the cylindrical body, where the annular plate comprises an elastic material suitably shaped to apply an opening force (F2) vertical to the bottom of the liquid reservoir pulling the valve being in press fit to the cylindrical body away from the bottom of the liquid reservoir.