Valve Attachment Structure with Pivoting Hook Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve attachment structures for fluid apparatuses, such as manifolds, are inefficient as they require significant time and operator effort to replace valves, especially when dealing with large numbers of valves.
Innovation Solution
A valve attachment structure featuring a connector section with a protruding and hook section, linked by a hinge, allowing for one-touch attachment and detachment by pivoting and engaging mechanisms, along with recessed and protruding sections for precise positioning, facilitating quick and easy valve replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded members are used to attach valves to the manifold, then the valve attachment is secure and reliable, but the valve replacement time is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into separate components: a connector with protruding and hook sections on the valve, and corresponding recessed and engaging sections on the manifold. This segmentation allows the valve to be quickly attached and detached without threading operations, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and quick replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector incorporates a lever that can pivot between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic mechanism allows rapid transition between attached and detached states, enabling quick valve replacement while maintaining secure attachment when engaged.
2Productivity
If clips are used to attach valves to the manifold, then the valve replacement speed is improved, but the operator effort and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism is designed to be operated by a single finger pressing on the pressing section, which automatically actuates the engaging and disengaging sections. This self-service design simplifies operator effort while maintaining high replacement speed, resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation.
3Loss of time
If a connector section with hinge and lever mechanism is used, then the valve replacement time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into the connector section: the protruding section provides positioning, the hook section with lever provides engagement and release, and the hinge connects these elements. This merging achieves quick replacement without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each function, resolving the contradiction between reduced replacement time and device complexity.
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
Enables rapid and precise attachment and detachment of valves from fluid apparatuses, significantly reducing the time and effort required for valve replacement, especially when handling multiple valves.
Implementation Method 1
a portion thereof in an intermediate position between the engaging section and the pressing section is linked with the other end of the connector section via a hinge section in an elastically deformable manner
Data Source
AI summary
A protruding section formed at the one side end of a connector section provided in a valve is inserted into a recessed section formed as part of a valve placement section of a fluid apparatus. The valve is caused to pivot with the inserted portion that serves as a supporting point, and an engaging section formed at the front end of a lever of a hook section formed at the other side end of the connector section is allowed to engage with an engaging protruding section formed as part of the valve placement section of the fluid apparatus. The valve is thus attached to the fluid apparatus.