DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10; rule 13]

TITLE: “A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING SYSTEM”

Name and address of the Applicant:

Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions Private Limited:

5/1, 2nd Main, National HBCS, Plan-2, Prashanth Nagar, Bengaluru – 560079, Karnataka, India

Nationality: INDIA

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Present disclosure, in general relates to three dimensional printing. Particularly, but not exclusively the present disclosure disclose a valve assembly employed in a three-dimensional printing system. Further embodiments of the present disclosure discloses the valve assembly configured for regulating flow of printing materials and cleaning of a plurality of supply lines connecting sub-systems of the three-dimensional printing system for three-dimensional printing of concrete.

BACKGROUND

Civil construction has evolved over time. With the development of social and economic standards over the recent years, scale of urbanization has increased rapidly by the way of developing infrastructure, which majorly includes buildings for various purposes and needs. This rapid growth of urbanization has shifted the focus of the construction sector to adapt efficient methods to improve cost of human resources, labour intensiveness, construction materials, energy and to minimize environmental pollution caused by constructional waste.

Even after adapting innovative ways in construction sector over the years, construction is still considered to be labour intensive, as construction sector has one of the lowest levels of human productivity among all the sectors. Even a modest sized structure may require efforts of numerous labourers. Further, appearance and quality of several structures of same design may also vary due to differences in the skills, efforts, supervision, and techniques employed by the labourers and, other counterparts involved in the construction. Furthermore, constructions by labourers have limited architectural designs, and customizing as per individual requirements may be even more labour intensive, which is undesired. Also, involving labourers in construction may lead to wastage of construction materials and, also may be hazardous to life of the labourers. Also, construction sector provides minimal room for penetration of the automated systems.

To overcome the pitfalls of using labourers in construction and with the advent of modern technology, many systems have been developed in the art for constructing buildings, without use of labourers. Over the years, three-dimensional printing which utilizes a three-dimensional printing system has evolved as one of the possible solutions in the field of construction,. Three-dimensional printing is a process used to fabricate large-scale, three-dimensional structures in a layer-by-layer manner by extruding printing material similar to concrete.

Generally, 3D printing systems employed in the construction industry include sub-systems such as a primer for storing and supplying the printing material (i.e., non-slurry concrete mixture), pumps for pumping the printing material and nozzles for laying the printing material, based on the requirement. All the sub-systems are connected by plurality of supply lines/channels. Further, 3D printing systems include valves to regulate flow of the printing material, during operation of the 3D printing system.

Generally, fluid regulation valves such as Ball valves, Butterfly valves, Pinch valves, Gate valves, Guillotine valve, Needle valve and the like, have been used to regulate flow of the print material between various sub-systems (i.e., the primer, pump, nozzle, and the like) of a 3D printing system in construction. As the printing material is non-slurry concrete mixture and operates at high pressure, these valves may not resist the flow, as the valves are adapted to operate under low operating pressures and are not designed to withstand high pressure flow of concrete mixture. Further, abrasive particles in the printing material may corrode components of the valve assembly, which affects performance of the valves. In addition, the conventional valves may fail to cut/pass through the printing material upon hardening. This may result in failure of the pump to block/obstruct the flow of printing materials - which is an undesired phenomenon, as regulating flow of printing materials is predominant in 3D printing system for concrete 3D printing. Also, configuration of the conventional valve demand for dismantling the valve for cleaning or draining supply lines in the three-dimensional printing system, which is labour intensive and tedious task.

The present disclosure is directed to solve some of the limitations as stated above or any other limitations associated with the conventional systems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of conventional assemblies are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the provision of assembly as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a valve assembly for a three-dimensional printing system is disclosed. The valve assembly includes a valve body defining a chamber, and an inlet port at one side of the chamber and an outlet port at another side opposite to the one side of the valve body. Further, the valve assembly includes a piston, which is slidably disposed within the valve body and defined with at least one flow connecting port. Furthermore, the valve assembly includes a first actuator operatively coupled to the piston. The first actuator is configured to displace the piston between a first position and a second position to selectively align the at least one flow connecting port with the inlet port and the outlet port.

In an embodiment, in the first position, the at least one flow connecting port aligns with the inlet port and the outlet port, to allow flow of a print material.

In an embodiment, in the second position a portion of the piston apart from the at least one flow connecting port aligns with the inlet port and the outlet port, to block flow of the print material.

In an embodiment, the piston is defined with one or more inlet drain ports and one or more outlet drain ports. Each of the one or more inlet drain ports and the one or more outlet drain ports are internally connected by an axial passage defined in the piston.

In an embodiment, the first actuator is configured to displace the piston to a third position to align corresponding one or more inlet drain ports with the inlet port and the outlet port.

In an embodiment, each of the one or more outlet drain ports comprises a purge valve structured to open the one or more outlet drain ports depending on the pressure in the axial passage.

In an embodiment, the valve assembly comprises a second actuator coupled to the purge valve, wherein the second actuator is configured to operate the purge valve between a closed position to an open position, depending on pressure in the axial passage.

In an embodiment, each of the first actuator and the second actuator is at least one of an electric actuator, hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator.

In an embodiment, the valve assembly comprises a control unit communicatively coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the first actuator and the second actuator corresponding to an operating signal from the three-dimensional printing system.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a valve assembly for a 3D printing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 2 illustrates a perspective of a piston, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the piston of Figure.2 .

Figure. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a 3D printing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the valve assembly, with piston positioned in a first position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the valve assembly, with piston positioned in a second position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the valve assembly, with piston positioned in a third position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify various constructions of the valve assembly for the three-dimensional printing system. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such assembly. In other words, one or more elements in the assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.

Figure. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates an exploded view of a valve assembly (100). The valve assembly (100) may be employed in a three-dimensional printing system (200) [herein after referred as 3D printing system (200)], to selectively allow and block flow of print material between various subsystems of the 3D printing system (200). As an example, the subsystems of the 3D printing system (200) may be but not limiting to a primer (201), a pump (202), a printing head (203) and the like. As apparent from Figure. 1, the valve assembly (100) may include a valve body (105). The valve body (105) may be defined with a chamber [not shown in figures], and an inlet port (107) at one side of the chamber and an outlet port [not shown in Figures] at another side i.e., opposite to the one side of the chamber. In an embodiment, the inlet port (107) and the outlet port may be configured to connect with various subsystem of the 3D printing system (200). As an example, the inlet port (107) may be connected to the primer (201) (i.e., the print material storage compartment) and the outlet port may be connected to the pump (202) through suitable connecting channels such as a hose. Further, the valve assembly (100) may include a piston (106), which may be slidably disposed in the valve body (105). In an embodiment, slidably disposing the piston (106) in the valve body (105) infers that, the piston (106) may be horizontally displaceable within the valve body (105) to different positions such as a first position, a second position and a third position in the chamber, based on the requirement.

Turning now to Figures. 2 and 3, which illustrates perspective view and a sectional view of the piston (106). The piston (106) may be defined with at least one flow connecting port (108). In an embodiment, the at least one flow connecting port (108) may be a through hole, which may be selectively aligned with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port , to allow and block flow of the print material between various subsystems of the 3D printing system (200). Further, the piston (106) may be defined with one or more inlet drain ports (109) and one or more outlet drain ports (110). In an embodiment, each of the one or more inlet drain ports (109) and each of the one or more outlet drain ports (110) may be internally connected by an axial passage (116) defined in the piston (106). In an illustrated embodiment, as seen in Figure. 3 the piston (106) may be defined with a pair of inlet drain ports (109) and a pair of outlet drain ports (110), which may be internally connected by respective axial passages (116). However, the same cannot be construed as a limitation, since the piston (106) may be defined with a plurality of inlet drain ports (109) and outlet drain ports (110). The one or more inlet drain ports (109) and the one or more outlet drain ports (110) may facilitate in assisting cleaning concrete build-up and residues within the plurality of supply lines/channels connecting the various subsystems of the 3D printing system (200).

In an embodiment, as seen in Figure. 2, the piston (106) may be defined with a groove (118) on an outer surface, which may extend along a length of the piston (106). The groove (118) may be engage with a protrusion [not shown in Figures] defined on an inner surface of the chamber, when the piston is disposed in the valve body. During displacement of the piston (106), groove (118) may slide on the protrusion, thus mitigating chances of piston (106) from rotating during displacement between the first position, the second position and the third position.

Further, as apparent from Figure. 2, each of the one or more outlet drain ports (110) may include a member (111), which may structured to open the one or more outlet drain ports (110) depending on the pressure in the axial passage (116). That is, the member (111) may be accommodated within the one or more outlet drain ports (110). The In an embodiment, the member may be but not limiting to a purge valve. In an embodiment, the member (111) may be coupled to a second actuator (113), which may be but not limiting to an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator (101), a pneumatic actuator and a mechanical actuator. The second actuator (113) may be pre-calibrated to actuate the member (111), when the pressure inside the axial passage (116) exceeds a pre-set threshold pressure values. As seen in Figure. 1, in an illustrated embodiment, the second actuator (113) is the mechanical actuator, which may include a spring casing (112), which houses a spring. The spring may be calibrated to actuate the member (111), when the pressure in the axial passage (116) exceeds the pre-set threshold pressure values. In an embodiment, the member (111) positioned in the one or more outlet drain ports (110) may be actuated independently, at two different pressure values depending on the subsystems of the 3D printing system (200), connected to the valve assembly (100).

Referring back to Figure. 1, the valve assembly (100) may further include a first actuator (101). The first actuator (101) may be operatively coupled to the piston (106). The first actuator (101) may be configured to displace the piston (106) between the first position, the second position and the third position. In an embodiment, the first actuator (101) may displace the piston (106) between the first position and the second position, the second position and the third position and between the first position and the third position. In an illustrated embodiment, the first actuator (101) is a hydraulic actuator and the same cannot be construed as a limitation, since the first actuator (101) may be one of an electric actuator and a pneumatic actuator. As apparent from Figure. 1, the hydraulic actuator may include a hydraulic cylinder (103) and, a hydraulic cylinder mount (102). The hydraulic cylinder mount (102) may be configured to accommodate the hydraulic cylinder (103). The hydraulic cylinder (103) may include a shaft (115), which may linearly displace within the hydraulic cylinder (103). In an embodiment, the shaft (115) of the hydraulic cylinder (103) and the piston (106) may be coupled to each other, such that the piston (106) may displace linearly corresponding to the displacement of the shaft (115) of the hydraulic cylinder (103) between the first position, the second position and the third position.

In an embodiment, the first actuator (101) may include a plurality of sensors (114). As an example, the plurality of sensors (114) may be but not limiting to proximity sensors. The plurality of sensors (114) may be configured to sense the position of the shaft (115) of the hydraulic cylinder (103), for determining the position of the piston (106) within the valve body (105), during operation of the valve assembly (100).

Now turning to Figure. 4, which illustrates a block diagram of the 3D printing system (200). The 3D printing system (200) may broadly include at least one primer (201) [i.e., the print material storage compartment], at least one pump (202) and at least one printing nozzle (203) or printing head (203) [i.e., an extruder for laying the print material]. The at least one primer (201), at least one pump (202) and at least one printing nozzle (203) may be connected by a plurality of supply lines/channels (not shown in figures). The supply lines or channels may facilitate in supplying printing material between various sub-systems of the 3D printing system (200). Further, a plurality of valve assemblies (100) may be positioned between various sub-systems (i.e., primer (201), pump (202), nozzle (203) and the like). In an illustrated embodiment, the valve assembly (100) may be positioned between the primer (201) and the pump (202), with the primer (201) connected to the inlet port (107) and pump (202) connected to the outlet port . However, the same may not be construed as a limitation as the valve assembly (100) may be positioned between the primer (201) and the nozzle (203) and the like. Based on the requirement, the valve assembly (100) may be actuated to regulate (i.e., allow/block/control) the flow of printing material between the primer (201) and the pump (202). Further, the valve assembly (100) may be actuated to perform cleaning of the plurality of supply lines, which connect various subsystems of the 3D printing system (200), which is described in the below paragraphs.

In an operational embodiment of the valve assembly (100), in order to allow flow of printing material, the first actuator (101) may be operated to displace (i.e., linearly displace) the piston (106) within the chamber of the valve body (105) to a first position [as seen in Figure. 5]. In an embodiment, in the first position the at least one flow connecting port (108) may align with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port of the valve body (105). This alignment may form a passage for flow of material through the inlet port (107) from one of the subsystem (i.e., primer (201)) and through the outlet port to another sub-system [i.e., pump (202) or printing head (203)]. Further, in order to block the flow of printing material from one sub-system to the other, the first actuator (101) may be operated to displace the piston (106) to the second position [as seen in Figure. 6]. In an embodiment, in the second position a portion of the piston (106) apart from the at least one flow connecting port (108) [i.e., a solid portion of the piston (106)] may align with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port , thus closing the inlet port (107) and the outlet port , resulting in blocking the flow of the print material between the subsystems. In other words, the at least one flow connecting port (108) may misalign with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port , thus blocking the flow of print material between the subsystems.

In an embodiment, the first actuator (101) may drive the piston (106) to linearly displace through the printing material (i.e. the hard non-slurry concrete (3D) mixture), in order to misalign the at least one flow connecting port (108) with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port of the valve body (105), for blocking the flow of printing material between the sub-systems.

In another operational embodiment of the valve assembly (100) (i.e., to clean the plurality of supply lines/channels connecting the subsystems), the first actuator (101) may be operated such that the piston (106) may be displaced to the third position [as seen in Figure. 7]. In the third position, the one or more inlet drain ports (109) may be aligned with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port . Once, the one or more inlet drain ports (109) are aligned with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port , a cleaning fluid such as but not limiting to water, may be transferred from one of the sub systems through the plurality of supply lines/channels, into the one or more inlet drain ports (109). The cleaning fluid may be continuously transferred through the plurality of supply lines/channels into the one or more inlet drain ports (109). During flow of the cleaning fluid into the one or more inlet drain ports (109), the one or more outlet drain ports (110) may be closed by the member (111) [i.e., the purge valve]. This continuous flow of the cleaning fluid into the one or more inlet drain ports (109), with the one or more outlet drain ports (110) closed, may increase pressure inside the axial passage (116), due to continuous accumulation of the cleaning fluid in the axial passage (116). Once, the pressure in the axial passage (116) exceeds the threshold value, the member (111) may operate from the closed position to the open position, resulting the cleaning fluid to exit from the one or more outlet drain ports (110) suddenly at high pressure carrying the printing material built-up and other residues from the plurality of supply lines/channels connecting various subsystems of the 3D printing system (200), thus cleaning the supply lines/channels of the 3D printing system (200).

In an embodiment, the valve assembly (100) may include a control unit, which may be communicatively coupled to the first actuator (101) and the second actuator (113). Based on a signal (i.e., either to block/allow/regulate the flow of printing material/clean), the control unit may be configured to operate the first actuator (101) and the second actuator (113) to displace the piston (106) to one of the first position, the second position and the third position.

In an embodiment, the piston(105) may be slidable in vertical orientation within the chamber, to selectively align the at least one flow connecting port (108), the one or more inlet drain ports (109) and the one or more outlet drain ports (110) with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port to allow or block flow of the print material or clean the supply lines/channels connecting the subsystems.

In an embodiment, the one or more inlet drain ports (109) and the one or more outlet drain ports (110) may be operated simultaneously, to clean the plurality of supply lines/channels connecting various sub-systems of 3D printing system (200).

In an embodiment, the valve assembly (100) of the present disclosure facilitates both regulating the flow of the printing material and cleaning of the plurality supply lines/channels connecting the sub-systems of the 3D printing system (200).

In an embodiment, the piston (106) may be configured to rotationally displace to allow/block the movement of the printing material, and cleaning of the plurality of supply lines/channels in the 3D printing system (200).

In an embodiment, plurality of seals may be provided at desired locations in the valve assembly (100), to mitigate leakages of the printing material/cleaning fluid.

In an embodiment, the valve assembly (100) of the present disclosure requires low response time for performing operations based on the signal received by the control unit.

Equivalents:

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral numerals:

Particulars Numeral
Valve assembly 100
First actuator 101
Hydraulic cylinder mount 102
Hydraulic cylinder 103
Valve body 105
Piston 106
Inlet port 107
Flow connecting port 108
Inlet drain port 109
Outlet drain port 110
Member 111

Spring casing
112

Second actuator 113

Sensors 114
Shaft 115
Axial passage 116
Groove 118
Three-dimensional printing system 200
Primer 201
Pump 202
Nozzle/printing head 203
,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A valve assembly (100) for a three-dimensional printing system (200), the valve assembly (100) comprising:
a valve body (105) defining a chamber, and an inlet port (107) at one side of the chamber and an outlet port at another side opposite to the one side;
a piston (106) slidably disposed within the valve body (105), wherein the piston (106) is defined with at least one flow connecting port (108); and
a first actuator (101) operatively coupled to the piston (106), wherein the first actuator (101) is configured to displace the piston (106) between a first position and a second position to selectively align the at least one flow connecting port (108) with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port .
2. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the first position the at least one flow connecting port (108) aligns with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port , to allow flow of print material.
3. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the second position a portion of the piston (106) apart from the at least one flow connecting port (108) aligns with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port , to block flow of the print material.
4. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston (106) is defined with one or more inlet drain ports (109) and one or more outlet drain ports (110), each of the one or more inlet drain ports (109) and the one or more outlet drain ports (110) are internally connected by an axial passage (116) defined in the piston (106).
5. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first actuator (101) is configured to displace the piston (106) to a third position to align corresponding one or more inlet drain ports (109) with the inlet port (107) and the outlet port .
6. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more outlet drain ports (110) comprises a member (111) structured to open the one or more outlet drain ports (110) depending on the pressure in the axial passage (116).
7. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the member (111) is a purge valve.
8. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a second actuator (113) coupled to the member (111), wherein the second actuator (113) is configured to operate the member (111) between a closed position to an open position, depending on pressure in the axial passage (116).
9. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claims 1 and 8, wherein each of the first actuator (101) and the second actuator (113) is at least one of an electric actuator, hydraulic actuator (101) and a pneumatic actuator.
10. The valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a control unit communicatively coupled to the first actuator (101) and the second actuator (113), wherein the control unit is configured to operate the first actuator (101) and the second actuator (113) corresponding to an operating signal from the three-dimensional printing system (200).
11. A three-dimensional printing system (200) for concrete printing comprising a valve assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1.

Dated this 20th January 2021

GOPINATH A S
IN/PA 1852
OF K&S PARTNERS
AGENT FOR APPLICANT