Fluid Control Valve Housing With Flat Surfaces for Stable Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid control valves, such as relief valves in evaporative emission control systems, are prone to instability during assembly due to uneven support, leading to potential misalignment and reduced workability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates flat surfaces on the valve housing part oriented perpendicular to the pipe part's axis, allowing for stable support on a workbench during assembly, thereby preventing inclination and improving assembly workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the bottom portion is divided into two halves with one integrated with the pipe part, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the stability during assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by making the first half of the bottom portion different from the second half - specifically, the first half has a flat surface for stable workbench support while the second half is integrated with the pipe part. This asymmetric design allows the valve housing part to be stably supported during assembly operations without requiring complex symmetric structures.
2Ease of operation
If the flat surface is oriented perpendicular to the pipe part axis, then the ease of operation during assembly is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a flat surface at a specific location (the first half of the bottom portion) with a specific orientation (perpendicular to the pipe part axis). This localized feature ensures stable support during assembly operations without requiring the entire valve housing part to meet high precision orientation requirements, thus balancing ease of operation with manufacturability.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid control valve includes a housing body, a valve member, and a cap. The housing body includes a pipe part and a valve housing part. The valve housing part includes a valve opening, a pair of flat surfaces and an open end. In addition, the valve housing part houses the valve member configured to open and close the valve opening. The valve housing part has a central axis oriented perpendicular to a central axis of the pipe part. The cap closes the open end of the valve housing part. The flat surfaces are formed on opposite sides of a plane including the central axis of the valve housing part and the central axis of the pipe part. Each of the flat surfaces extend perpendicularly to the central axis of the valve housing.