Valve Lever with Central Pivot for Ergonomic Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lever taps for pressurized fluid systems face challenges in compactness and ergonomics due to mechanical and aesthetic requirements, particularly when increasing the length of the lever, which can lead to integration issues and high torque forces.
Innovation Solution
The mounting portion of the lever is connected to the gripping portion at a central location, allowing for a larger grip size without extending the lever arm excessively, with a T-shaped structure and an offset axis of rotation, and incorporating a groove to enhance compactness and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lever length is increased to improve ergonomics and grip size, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and integration difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is divided into two distinct portions: a gripping portion extending in a longitudinal direction between upper and lower terminal ends, and a mounting portion articulated on the body. This segmentation allows the gripping portion to be optimized for ergonomics while the mounting portion handles the mechanical connection, enabling independent optimization of each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting portion extends transversely relative to the gripping portion, creating a T-shaped structure. This dimensional change allows the lever to achieve a compact footprint by utilizing transverse space rather than extending the lever arm longitudinally, thus improving ergonomics without increasing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the lever length is increased to improve grip size, then ease of operation is improved, but torque forces generated become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the lever into gripping and mounting portions with different orientations, the design allows the gripping portion to provide a large effective grip size while the mounting portion's transverse extension positions the axis of rotation to optimize torque distribution, preventing excessively high torque forces.
3Device complexity
If the lever is made more compact to improve integration, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse extension of the mounting portion creates a T-shaped structure that achieves compactness in the longitudinal direction (facilitating integration) while providing sufficient grip size through the longitudinally extending gripping portion. This dimensional arrangement allows both compactness and ergonomic operation to coexist.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
Valve for pressurized fluid comprising a body (2) housing a fluid circuit (3) having an upstream end (4) and a downstream end (5), the circuit (3) comprising a flow control valve (6) in the circuit (3), the valve (6) being operated by a lever (7) pivotally mounted on the body (2) of the valve (1) between a rest position in which the valve (6) is held in a first state and an active position in which the lever (7) moves the valve (6) into a second state, the lever (7) comprising a gripping portion (8) extending in a longitudinal direction between two terminal ends respectively lower (18) and upper (28), the gripping portion (8) being intended to be manipulated, the lever (7) further comprising a mounting portion (10) articulated on the body (2) at at least one axis (9) of rotation,the mounting portion (10) being connected to the gripping portion (8) and extending transversely with respect to the gripping portion (8), characterized in that the mounting portion (10) is connected to the gripping portion (8) at a central part of the gripping portion, i.e. between said lower (18) and upper (28) terminal ends.