Valve Cartridge Handle Adapter for Switchable Sanitary Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve cartridges require different geometries for controlling liquid flow to various sanitary fittings, leading to increased parts and costs, as distinct cartridges are needed for different applications like bathtubs and showers.
Innovation Solution
A versatile valve cartridge design featuring a rotatable valve stem, control disk, and handle adapter that allows for adjustment of liquid flow through multiple passages without changing the liquid supply or discharge geometry, enabling the same cartridge to be used across different sanitary fittings by altering the handle adapter position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different valve cartridges are used for different sanitary fittings (bathtub, shower), then the liquid flow control function is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cartridge is designed with a universal geometry that can control liquid flow to different sanitary fittings (bathtub, shower) using the same cartridge housing and passage configuration. The control disk can be rotated to different positions to adapt the same cartridge for different applications, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cartridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The control disk is made rotatable relative to the passage disk, allowing the liquid flow control function to be dynamically adjusted. By rotating the control disk to different angular positions, the same valve cartridge can serve different sanitary fittings without physical modification of the cartridge housing or passage geometry.
2Reliability
If different valve cartridges are used for different sanitary fittings, then the liquid flow control function is improved, but the costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal valve cartridge design replaces multiple specialized cartridges, reducing manufacturing costs through economies of scale. The same cartridge housing and passage disk can be produced in large quantities, while only the control disk needs to be rotated to different positions for different applications.
3Reliability
If different fitting housings are used for different valve cartridges, then the liquid flow control function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve cartridge is designed to work with a single universal fitting housing for different sanitary fittings. The cartridge housing and passage geometry remain the same, while the control disk rotation adapts the function for different applications, eliminating the need for multiple fitting housing variants.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve cartridge for a sanitary fitting having a cartridge housing, a valve stem which is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the cartridge housing, a handle for rotating the valve stem, a passage disk with a first passage and a second passage, a control disk rotatable with the valve stem for controlling a liquid flow through the first passage or the second passage of the passage disk, a handle adapter which can be connected to the valve stem for setting a first rotational orientation of the valve stem to the handle in a first position and can be connected to the valve stem for setting a second rotational orientation of the valve stem to the handle in a second position, so that the control of the flow of liquid through the first passage or the second passage can be changed by the control disk.