Water Dispensing Control Valve for One-Handed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water dispensing apparatuses require separate operations for switching on/off and controlling water spraying patterns, making it cumbersome for users to manage these functions with a single hand.
Innovation Solution
A water dispensing apparatus with a control valve and actuation member that allows for simultaneous on/off switching and shifting of water spraying patterns through a single continuous action, utilizing a control unit and pusher member to rotate the valve and adjust the nozzle position for different spraying modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate valve control and spray control members are used, then each control function is dedicated and reliable, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates as users must operate multiple controls separately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the valve control member and spray control member into a single integrated control member. This control member has a main body portion that interacts with the valve mechanism and an extended portion that interacts with the spray pattern mechanism. By merging these two separate controls into one, the patent allows users to control both water flow and spray patterns with a single hand operation, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control member serves multiple functions: it acts as both a valve control mechanism (to turn water on/off) and a spray pattern control mechanism (to switch between different spray modes). The control member's design allows it to perform these diverse functions through different positions or movements of the same component, embodying the multi-functionality principle that improves ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Ease of operation
If a single control member is used for both valve and spray control, then ease of operation improves, but the manufacturing precision and reliability may deteriorate due to increased mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated control member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a main body portion for valve control and an extended portion for spray pattern control. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while being part of a unified control mechanism. The segmentation helps maintain manufacturing precision by dividing the complex control member into manageable sections with defined functions, reducing the overall difficulty of precision manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The control member is designed as a dynamic component that can move between different positions to achieve different control functions. The extended portion can be positioned at different angles or locations relative to the main body, allowing the same control member to interact with different mechanisms (valve vs. spray pattern) depending on its position. This dynamic design allows for more flexible manufacturing tolerances compared to a fully static, rigid control system
Data Source
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AI summary
A water dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing body including a nozzle, a control valve including a water sealing member and a pusher member, an actuation member coupled to the pusher member, and a control unit to drive the control valve to rotate. When the control valve is driven to rotate, the pusher member is driven to move correspondingly to reciprocatingly move the actuation member at different locations of the nozzle not only for switching on-and-off the control valve but also for controllably shifting different water spraying patterns of the nozzle. Therefore, is able to easily control different operations of the water dispensing apparatus in one single continuous action of the control unit.