Valve Gun Coupling Lever Mechanism for High-Pressure Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve pistols require significant actuating forces to open and hold the valve open, making handling difficult and prone to user fatigue, and their design is often complex and susceptible to faults.

Innovation Solution

A valve pistol design where the release lever is coupled to the valve tappet via a pivotable coupling lever with first and second force-absorbing elements, allowing for a changing lever ratio during pivoting, reducing the initial opening force required and enabling a larger displacement path with less user effort, while maintaining low flow losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional valve mechanism is used with direct coupling between release lever and valve tappet, then the structure is simple, but the actuating force required to open and hold the valve is very large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating forceVSAvoidvalve mechanism structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling lever is divided into two functional sections with different lever arms: a first lever arm extending from the pivot point to the valve tappet contact point, and a second lever arm extending from the pivot point to the release lever contact point. This segmentation allows the mechanism to provide mechanical advantage during valve opening while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling lever transforms the rotational movement of the release lever into linear displacement of the valve tappet through pivoting about a fixed pivot point. This dynamic conversion allows small rotational movements of the release lever to generate sufficient linear force and displacement to open the valve against high pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the release lever is directly connected to the valve tappet, then the structure is simple, but the displacement path of the valve tappet is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplacement pathVSAvoidcoupling mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling lever acts as a rotational lever that converts the arc-shaped movement of the release lever into linear displacement of the valve tappet. By positioning the pivot point appropriately, the mechanism amplifies the displacement path of the valve tappet relative to the movement of the release lever, enabling sufficient valve opening without complex mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a complex multi-part lever mechanism or toggle lever is used, then the actuating force is reduced, but the design effort and susceptibility to faults increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating forceVSAvoidfault susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling lever is designed as a single integrated component with two distinct lever arms rather than multiple separate parts. This segmentation within a unified structure provides the necessary mechanical advantage while eliminating the complexity and potential failure points associated with multi-part mechanisms or toggle levers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling lever combines the functions of force transmission and motion conversion into a single pivoting component. By merging these functions into one element rather than using separate levers or toggle mechanisms, the design reduces the number of moving parts and potential failure points while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design simplifies handling by reducing the actuating force needed to open the valve and holding it open, with low susceptibility to faults and minimal flow losses, as the coupling lever's lever ratio changes to facilitate efficient liquid flow control.

Implementation Method 1

The coupling lever has a first lever arm extending from the pivot point to a first contact point with the valve tappet, and a second lever arm extending from the pivot point to a second contact point with the release lever. The lever ratio changes during pivoting from an initial value greater than one to a final value less than one, reducing the actuating force required

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3450025B1Valve gun for a high-pressure cleaning device
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3450025B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3450025B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3450025B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a valve gun (10; 120) for a high-pressure cleaning device, comprising a housing (12; 122) and a valve (20; 132) arranged in the housing (12; 122), which has a closing element (68) which in a closed position is tightly abutting a valve seat (72) and can be acted upon by a valve plunger (66) with an opening force to move the closing element (68) into an open position, and with a release lever (34; 154) which is pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis (36; 156), which is mechanically coupled to the valve plunger (66) and can be manually pivoted from a rest position into a release position.To further develop the valve pistol in such a way that it has a simple structural design, is easy to handle and has low susceptibility to malfunctions, it is proposed that the trigger lever (34; 154) is coupled to the valve plunger (66) via a coupling lever (32; 142) pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis (60; 158), wherein the coupling lever (32; 142) has an actuating element (64; 144) via which the valve plunger (66) can be actuated with the opening force, and wherein the coupling lever (32; 142) has a first and a second force-receiving element, wherein when the trigger lever (34; 154) pivots from the rest position to the release position, the first force-receiving element and then the second force-receiving element can be actuated with a trigger force, and wherein the first force-receiving element has a greater distance to the second pivot axis (60; 158). as the second force-absorbing element.