High-Pressure Valve Gun Trigger Geometry for Lower Opening Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve pistols for high-pressure cleaning devices require significant user effort to open due to high actuating forces, and their design is often complex, making them difficult to handle effectively.

Innovation Solution

A valve pistol design with a guide track having distinct sections of varying inclinations, where the first and second end sections are less inclined to the pivoting direction than the intermediate section, allowing for a mechanical coupling that reduces the initial opening force required by the user, facilitating easier operation and simpler construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a conventional valve design with direct mechanical coupling is used, then the structure is simple, but the actuating force required to open the valve is very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating forceVSAvoidvalve mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track is segmented into three distinct sections (first end section, intermediate section, second end section) with different inclinations. This segmentation allows the coupling element to interact with different track sections during the pivoting movement, creating variable mechanical advantage that reduces the actuating force required to open the valve while maintaining manageable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide track inclination is made dynamic rather than uniform. The intermediate section has a greater inclination than the end sections, creating a dynamic mechanical advantage that changes during the valve opening process. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize force reduction at critical moments while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Force

If the guide track has uniform inclination, then the manufacturing is simple, but the actuating force reduction is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating forceVSAvoidguide track manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the guide track are given different local qualities in terms of inclination angles. The intermediate section has a greater inclination compared to the first and second end sections. This local differentiation optimizes the force reduction at specific stages of valve opening while keeping the overall manufacturing process manageable through standardized fabrication techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Force

If a single coupling element is used, then the device complexity is low, but the force reduction effect is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuating forceVSAvoidcoupling mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide track serves as an intermediary mechanism between the release lever and the valve plunger. By introducing this intermediate element with a specifically designed three-section profile, the system achieves significant force reduction without requiring multiple coupling elements or complex mechanical arrangements, thus maintaining relatively low device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reduces the actuating force needed to open the valve, making it easier for users to handle while maintaining effective operation, with the valve pistol being constructed in a more straightforward manner.

Implementation Method 1

against a pressure of the cleaning fluid acting on the closing element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the valve's closing element is typically subjected to the force of a return spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The first end section and the second end section are less inclined to the pivoting direction of the release lever than the intermediate section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical advantage through lever geometry: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP3433023B1Valve gun for a high-pressure cleaning device
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 ALFRED KARCHER SE & CO KG
  • EP3433023B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3433023B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3433023B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a valve gun for a high-pressure cleaning device comprising a valve (24) which has a closing body (42) which is arranged on a valve tappet (44) and in a closed position rests tightly against a valve seat (40) and which is movable into an open position spaced apart from the valve seat (40) by pivoting of a trigger lever (52; 202) mounted pivotably about a first pivot axis (66). In the closed position of the closing body (42) the trigger lever (52; 202) adopts a rest position and in the open position of the closing body (42) the trigger lever adopts a release position and is mechanically coupled to the valve tappet (44) by means of a coupling lever (54; 216) mounted pivotably about a second pivot axis (86). A pivoting movement of the trigger lever (52; 202) can be transmitted to the coupling lever (54; 216) by means of a coupling member (74; 154; 208; 260) which is movable along a guide track (94; 152; 212; 252), and the guide track (94; 152; 212; 252) has a first end portion (96; 160; 218; 254), an intermediate portion (98; 162; 220; 256) and a second end portion (100; 164; 222; 258). In order to modify the valve gun in such a way that the valve gun has a simpler design in structural terms and nevertheless can be actuated by the user in a simple manner, the coupling member (74; 154; 208; 260) is movable during pivoting of the trigger lever (52; 202) from the rest position to the release position along the first end portion (96; 160; 218, 254), then along the intermediate portion (98; 162; 220; 256) and subsequently along the second end portion (100; 164; 222; 258), and the first end portion (96; 160; 218; 254) has a lesser inclination with respect to the pivoting direction of the trigger lever (52; 202) than the intermediate portion (98; 162; 220; 256).