Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: GRAVITY DRIVEN VALVE SWITCH
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a valve switch, and more
particularly to a gravity driven valve switch, which allows for easy mounting
and separation, allows for precise and tight sealing of an acted component,
allows for a target object contained inside an acted component to smoothly
drain/dispense, and provides a safety function against undesired contact.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A valve functions to freely close and/or open a passage and is
commonly used in various products to conveniently control the drain or
dispensing of a target object, such as a fluid or a solid, out of a receiving
space.
A known valve comprises a metal object set in a passage. The metal
object can be pushed away by a push bar so that the fluid or solid passing
through the passage is controlled by the metal object sealing the passage or
not. In this way, the operation of the valve is realized. However, such a
valve made up of the metal object and the push bar has some disadvantages:
(1) The metal object is not coupled to the push bar and is not
additionally constrained by any constraint structure, so that the metal object
may roll in an irregular manner, making it not possible to precisely block the
passage thereby leading to leaking of the target object through the passage.
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(2) The metal object seals the passage by its own weight and is not
driven by an additional force provided under the metal object. Since the
weight of the metal object may not be sufficiently to completely block the
passage, it is still possible to occur leaking through the passage.
(3) When the metal object is pushed away by the push bar to open the
passage, due to the fact that the metal object being not coupled to the push
bar, the metal object may still be allowed to rotate to the location of the
passage, so that the passage is still in partial blockade by the metal object,
which prevents the target object from being smoothly dispensed through the
passage.
(4) The push bar is often mounted to an object having a larger outside
diameter and the object is not covered by any protective sheath, so that the
object is often subjected to undesired contact by a user, leading to the
movement of the push bar to push away the metal object, which prevents the
metal object from properly closing the passage and eventually causes leakage.
In view of these problems, a valve must be constructed to allow the
passage to be precisely and tightly closed, but easy to open and the valve
must be easily assembled and has effective protection against undesired
contact.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the described embodiments is to provide a gravity driven valve
switch
that features comprising an acted component that can be precisely and tightly
closed, smooth
dispensing of a target object received in the acted component, and protection
against
undesired contact. Structurally, the gravity driven valve switch can include
an acted
component, which defines an internal receiving space having a bottom forming a
through
hole; an acting component, which is received in the acted component; and a
driving
component, which is arranged below the acted component in a movable manner and
forms at
least one through hole. The acting component forms a coupling portion and the
driving
component forms a connection section that is received through the through hole
of the acted
component whereby the coupling portion and the connection section are
engageable with each
other to allow for easy coupling and separation of the acting component and
the driving
component and whereby the driving component provides a weight that, together
with a
gravitational force acting on the acting component, drives the acting
component downward to
precisely and tightly seal the through hole of the acted component or the
driving component,
when acted upon by a pushing force, drives the acting component upward to
completely open
the through hole of the acted component; and the acted component has a lower
circumference
forming a flange that has a diameter greater than the driving component in
order to protect the
driving component from being contacted by an external force to ensure
protection and safety.
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Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an assembly structure having a
gravity
driven valve switch, comprising: an acted component having an internal
receiving space
facing a top side of the acted component, a first through hole disposed at a
bottom side of the
acted component for communicating with the internal receiving space, a support
formed at a
position facing the bottom side of the acted component and disposed with a
plurality of slide
slots, and a flange formed at a position facing the bottom side of the acted
component and
lower than the slide slots, wherein a circumferential projection is formed
around the first
through hole of the acted component; an acting component received in the
internal receiving
space at a position corresponding to the first through hole and capable of
being moved and
tightly sealing a top end of the first through hole, wherein the acted
component has a coupling
portion formed therein; a driving component having a diameter smaller than the
flange and
capable of being received within the flange, and including a plurality of pegs
formed at
positions corresponding to the slide slots, respectively, a connection section
formed on a top
side of the driving component and capable of passing through the first through
hole and being
engaged with the coupling portion for coupling the acting component and
driving component
together, and at least one second through hole disposed at a bottom side of
the driving
component for communicating with the top side of the driving component,
wherein, when the
pegs are received in the slide slots, the pegs can be moved up and down inside
the slide slots
to make the driving component being moved up and down under the acted
component and
within the flange; and a sleeve received in the first through hole of the
acted component,
wherein the sleeve is made of a resilient material and defines a bore therein,
the bore has an
upper circumference along which a contact wall is formed to provide a tight
engagement with
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the acting component, the sleeve forms a retention slot and a retention ring,
the retention slot
is fit over the circumferential projection, and the sleeve is securely
retained inside the first
through hole of the acted component by the retention ring engaging a
counterpart portion of
the acted component; wherein the driving component provides a weight together
with a
gravity force that acts on the acting component and drives the acting
component downward to
precisely and tightly seal the first through hole of the acted component or,
when an external
force is acting on the driving component for moving upward, the driving
component drives
the acting component upward to completely open the first through hole of the
acted
component.
The foregoing objective and summary provide only a brief introduction to the
described embodiments. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the
present invention
as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those
skilled in the art, the
following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read
in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings
identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become
manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed
description and
the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of
illustrative
example.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gravity driven valve switch
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the gravity driven valve switch of the
5 present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a driving component of the gravity
driven valve switch of the present invention in a reversed condition.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the gravity driven valve
switch of the present invention is closed to block a target object.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the gravity driven valve
switch of the present invention is open to release the target object.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to an embodiment of the present invention, which further includes
a barrier.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a second embodiment of
connection between a coupling portion of an acting component and a
connection section of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a third embodiment of connection
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between a coupling portion of a acting component and a connection section of
a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a fourth embodiment of
connection between a coupling portion of an acting component and a
connection section of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a fifth embodiment of connection
between a coupling portion of an acting component and a connection section
of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a sixth embodiment of
connection between a coupling portion of an acting component and a
connection section of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a seventh embodiment of
connection between a coupling portion of an acting component and a
connection section of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing an eighth embodiment of
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connection between a coupling portion of an acting component and a
connection section of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a ninth embodiment of
connection between a coupling portion of an acting component and a
connection section of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a gravity driven valve switch
according to the present invention, showing a tenth embodiment of
connection between a coupling portion of an acting component and a
connection section of a driving component of the gravity driven valve switch.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a gravity driven valve switch
according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an acted
component 10, an acting component 20 arranged inside the acted component
10, and a driving component 30 arranged under the acted component 10.
These components will be further described in the following.
The acted component 10 defines an internal receiving space 11 that
receives a target object, such as a fluid, a solid, or powders. The acted
component 10 has a bottom of the internal space that defines a through hole
12 and a circumferential projection 121 is formed around the through hole 12.
The internal bottom of the acted component 10 is inclined at a predetermined
slope to effectively conduct the target object to the through hole 12. The
through hole 12 receives therein a sleeve 13 that defines a bore 131. The bore
131 has an upper circumference along which a contact wall 132 is formed and
a groove 133 is formed adjacent the contact wall 132 to provide the contact
wall 132 with sufficient resiliency for deformation in order to form tight
engagement with the acting component 20. The sleeve 13 forms a retention
slot 134 and a retention ring 135 at suitable locations. The retention slot
134
is fit over the projection 121 and the sleeve 13 is securely retained inside
the
through hole 12 by the retention ring 135 engaging a counterpart portion of
the through hole 12. The acted component 10 has a lower circumference
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forming a flange 14 having a diameter greater than the driving component 30
whereby the driving component 30 is covered by the flange 14. The flange
14 forms a plurality of support legs 141 so that the acted component 10, when
positioned on a fixture surface, is prevented from easily tipping, stability
and
safety are enhanced, and manufacturing and assembling are made easy. The
acted component 10 fomis outside the bottom thereof a support 15 in which a
plurality of slide slots 151 is defined.
The acting component 20 can be made of a resilient material, such as
rubber and foims a coupling portion 21 (which in the embodiment illustrated,
is made in the form of a hole). The acting component 20 is provided for close
the bore 131 of the sleeve 13 to prevent the acted component 10 from leaking
under a normal condition. It is apparent that the sleeve 13 can be omitted and
the acting component 20 functions to directly close the through hole 12.
The driving component 30 comprises a base 31 that comprises a
plurality of ribs 32, a plurality of through holes 33, and a connection
section
34 and an extension 35 set below the base 31. The base 31 has a
circumferential surface forming a plurality of pegs 36 corresponding to the
slide slots 151. The pegs 36 are received in the slide slots 151 so that the
pegs 36 do not detach from the slide slots 151 and are movable up and down
inside the slide slots 151 to thereby make the driving component 30 movable
up and down under the acted component 10. The through holes 33 allow the
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target object to pass therethrough for moving downward. The connection
section 34 is in the form of a cylinder and extends through the bore 131 to
fit
into and thus couple to the coupling portion 21 of the acting component 20.
The coupling made between the connection section 34 and the coupling
5 portion 21 allows for easy coupling and separation of the driving
component
30 and the acting component 20. If desired, adhesives can be applied at the
location where the coupling is made to improve the connection therebetween.
The connection section 34 forms a step 340 that provides a stop for fitting
the
acting component 20. The ribs 32 intersect at a central portion that a bottom
10 portion forming a cone 321. When the driving component 30 is moved
upward, the acting component 20 is driven to separate from the bore 131 to
thereby release the closed condition of the bore 131.
Referring to FIG. 4, to use, the acted component 10 is positioned on a
fixture surface and the driving component 30 is acted upon by gravity to
move downward. Due to the physical principle of gravitation, the acting
component 20 is driven downward by its own weight and the gravitation
force caused by the driving component 30 to precisely and tightly seal the
bore 131 in order to prevent the target object inside the acted component 10
from falling down.
The contact wall 132 of the sleeve 13 is acted upon by the gravity of
the acting component 20 and is thus expanded and such an expansion induces
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inward shrinkage that causes the contact wall 132 to tightly abut against the
surface of the acting component 20 thereby enhancing the result of leakage
prevention.
Referring to FIG. 5, when the bottom of the driving component 30 is
acted upon by an upward pushing force (such as being pushed by a hand or
the acted component 10 being positioned on a container), the driving
component 30 and the connection section 34 are moved upward
simultaneously to displace the acting component 20 upward for separation
from the bore 131, thereby owning the sleeve 13 to allow the target object
inside the acted component 10 to pass through the bore 131 and the through
holes 33 for draining/dispensing. Since the acting component 20 is totally
separated from the bore 131, the bore 131 is fully open and the drain of the
target object is smooth.
The cone 321 helps conducting and concentrating the target object to
the central portion for draining so that no residual of the target object will
remain on the driving component 30.
Referring to FIG. 6, the acted component 10 can further comprise a
screen-like barrier 40 to block large objects or undesired object from passing
through the bore 131 and to help preventing the bore 131 from being blocked
up.
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Referring to FIG. 7, the coupling portion 21 of the acting component
20 can form a projecting portion 211 therein to cooperate with a recessed
portion 341 formed in the connection section 34 to form fitting connection
between the acting component 20 and the connection section 34 for
enhancing the coupling strength therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 8, the coupling portion 21 of the acting component
20 may be alternatively made in the form of a threaded hole to mate a thread
342 formed on the connection section 34 so that a threaded connection
between the acting component 20 and the connection section 34 for
enhancing the coupling strength therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 9, the coupling portion 21 of the acting component
may alternatively form a recessed portion 212 therein to cooperate with a
projecting portion 343 of the connection section 34 to form fitting connection
between the acting component 20 and the connection section 34 for
15 enhancing the coupling strength therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 10, the connection section 34 alternatively forms a
barbed bar 344 and the coupling portion 21 of the acting component 20 is
made a hole of a shape corresponding to the barbed bar 344 so that a fitting
connection can be formed between the acting component 20 and the
20 connection section 34 for enhancing the coupling strength therebetween.
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Referring to FIG. 11, a fastener 50 can be further included to penetrate
in a vertical direction through the coupling portion 21 of the acting
component 20 and the connection section 34, after they are assembled
together, so as to enhance the coupling strength therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 12, a fastener 60 can be further included to penetrate
in a horizontal direction through the coupling portion 21 of the acting
component 20 and the connection section 34, after they are assembled
together, so as to enhance the coupling strength therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 13, the coupling portion 21 of the acting component
20 20 is made in the form of a hole, while the connection section 34 is in the
form of a straight cylinder without a step formed thereon, whereby the
connection section 34 can be directly fit into the acting component 20 to form
coupling therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 14, the connection section 34 is made in the faun of
a multi-bladed bar 345 having multiple side blades, while the coupling
portion 21 of the acting component 20 is made in the form of a hole having a
shape corresponding to the multi-bladed bar 345, whereby the connection
section 34 can be fit into the acting component 20 to form coupling
therebetween.
Referring to FIG. 15, alternatively, the coupling portion 21 of the
acting component 20 is made in the form of a projecting bar, while the
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connection section 34 forms a hole 346 corresponding to the coupling portion
21 in order to form a fitting connection between the acting component 20 and
the connection section 34.
Although embodiments have been described, those of skill in the art
will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without
departing from the scope thereof.
