CHECK VALVE

Abstract

The application describes a check valve (102, 202) suitable for preventing excess liquid from passing through the check valve. The check valve comprises at least one inlet (104), at least one outlet (106) in fluidic communication with the inlet, at least one weir (108) fluidically connected between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet, and an elastic diaphragm (110). The elastic diaphragm is arranged in contact that can be sealed with a peak (112) of the at least one weir. (Shortcut figure: Figure 1B)

Description

Title of the invention: Non-return valve technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a check valve designed to prevent excess liquid from passing through the valve. TECHNICAL CONTEXT

[0002] Check valves are used, for example, in vehicles in fluid distribution systems such as windshield washer systems. The check valves ensure rapid cessation of the fluid (generally water with added detergent or windshield washer fluid) after dispensing. This prevents overflows and fluid loss.

[0003] Current check valves are made of multiple materials, including metal and plastic. Such mixed-material solutions are difficult or impossible to process and / or recycle at the end of their useful life because it is difficult to separate the materials. SUMMARY

[0004] The invention relates to a check valve suitable for preventing excess liquid from passing through it. Here, excess liquid means that the check valve is designed to allow a permitted volume of liquid to pass through. For example, in a car windshield washer system, a user may request the dispensing of liquid to one or more spray nozzles to wash the windows. The check valve must allow the passage of the liquid requested by the user. When the user does not request liquid dispensing, the check valve must be closed and prevent excess liquid from passing through, in order to avoid wasting washer fluid, dripping, and other undesirable leaks of liquid from the check valve.

[0005] The check valve includes at least one inlet for receiving liquid into the check valve. At least one outlet is provided in fluidic communication with the inlet to allow the permitted liquid to leave the check valve.

[0006] At least one weir is provided and fluidly connected between at least one inlet and at least one outlet. The weir serves to provide a defined limit for the liquid passing through the check valve.

[0007] An elastic membrane is provided and arranged in contact, which can be made watertight, with a top of said at least one weir. The elastic membrane responds effectively to calls requesting the passage of authorized fluid through the valve Backflow prevention is achieved through variations in fluid pressure. Within a first range of liquid pressures, the elastic diaphragm maintains a tight seal with the top of the weir, preventing excess, unauthorized liquid from passing through the check valve. Within a second range of liquid pressures, the elastic diaphragm deforms, allowing the permitted liquid to pass through the check valve.

[0008] Appropriately, the elastic membrane is fixed around its perimeter to a housing of the check valve by means of glue, an adhesive, mechanical bonding, or by fusion or welding. Thus, the elastic membrane can adhere to a housing of the check valve, for example, by means of glue or an adhesive. Alternatively, the elastic membrane can be fused or welded to the housing. The adhesion of the elastic membrane to the housing allows the elastic membrane to remain in place and regulate the flow of liquid through the check valve.

[0009] Preferably, the elastic membrane is attached to the non-return valve housing by means of a cap. The cap can be used in conjunction with the housing or as an alternative for attaching the elastic membrane to the housing. The cap constitutes a mechanical fastening method for securing the elastic membrane to the housing.

[0010] Alternatively, the cap may include a stop device designed to prevent excessive movement of the elastic membrane. The cap can serve to limit the ultimate deformation of the elastic membrane in order to prevent it from rupturing or undergoing plastic deformation that would prevent it from subsequently forming a proper watertight seal on the top of the weir. Excessive movement constitutes plastic deformation of the elastic membrane.

[0011] Preferably, the cap can also protect at least part of a surface of the elastic membrane. In this way, the cap can protect the elastic membrane against external contamination or perforation.

[0012] Appropriately, when the cap includes the stopper, a high point of the elastic membrane can be arranged to make contact with the stopper. The elastic membrane can have a W-shaped cross-section, the high point of the elastic membrane being the point where the strokes forming the letter W intersect at the center of the letter (the second and third strokes counting from left to right). Other cross-sectional shapes can be used provided that the function is preserved.

[0013] The high point appropriately presents one or more attributes to ensure good contact with the stopping device. Thus, the high point is arranged to make contact with the top of the spillway; the highest point includes a crossbar; the top includes a footing and / or an ear.

[0014] Preferably, when a liquid has a pressure in a first range of liquid pressures, the elastic membrane prevents the passage of the liquid from one end of the weir to the other; and when a liquid has a pressure in a second range of liquid pressures, the elastic membrane allows the passage of the liquid from one end of the weir to the other.

[0015] Appropriately, the first range of liquid pressures is different from the second range of liquid pressures. Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example only, below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Fig. IA illustrates a cross-section of a check valve in the closed position and Fig. 1B a cross-section of a check valve in the open position.

[0018] Figure [Fig. 2] illustrates a variant of a non-return valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience and is not exhaustive. The words and phrases "right," "left," "lower," "upper," "front," "back," "up," "down," and "down" denote directions on the drawings to which reference is made and are relative to the component described when assembled and mounted. The words and phrases "internal," "inward," "external," and "outward" refer to directions toward and from, respectively, a designated centerline or geometric center of an element that is described (for example, a center axis), the particular meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description.

[0020] Furthermore, as used herein, the terms "connected," "attached," "coupled," and "mounted" are intended to include direct connections between two elements without any other element interposed between them, as well as indirect connections between elements in which one or more other elements are interposed between them. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, their derivatives, and words of similar scope.

[0021] Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the use of ordinal adjectives, such as "first", "second" and "third", etc., simply indicates that different instances of analogous objects are being referred to and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, whether temporal, spatial, in ranking or of any other nature.

[0022] Identical numerical references are used to represent identical features throughout the document.

[0023] With reference to [Fig. 1A] and [Fig. 1B], a check valve 102 suitable for preventing excess fluid from passing through the check valve is shown. In other words, the check valve allows fluid with a certain property (such as, but not limited to, a fluid flow pressure) to pass through, but when this property changes (for example, an increase or decrease in pressure beyond a threshold limit), the check valve prevents the fluid from flowing. Therefore, only a liquid fulfilling a certain criterion is allowed to pass, and once this criterion is no longer met, the excess, non-conforming fluid is prevented from passing through the check valve.

[0024] Thus, the check valve includes at least one inlet 104 to allow liquid to flow into the check valve from, for example, a reservoir. The flow into the check valve can be assisted, for example, by a pump, by gravity, or the like.

[0025] The check valve further includes at least one outlet 106 which is in communication with the inlet, to allow the liquid to exit the check valve and flow to a final destination, such as a mist sprayer / windshield washer nozzle for dispersion onto a vehicle's windshield. The non-excess liquid (i.e., meeting the criterion stated above) is permitted by the check valve to pass through to the outlet 106.The check valve may have any number or arrangement of inlets 104 and / or outlets 106, typical configurations include I, Y, J, L, and / or T shaped valves, where the letter describes the arrangements of the valve's inlets / outlets (for example, a 'Y' valve may have two angled inlets that converge to a single outlet, all in the same plane as a non-limiting example, and a J valve may have two inlets (on either side of the top bar of the letter J) that are arranged opposite each other, and a single outlet arranged parallel to, but below, the two opposite inlets, so that the valve describes the shape of the letter J including, to use terminology describing the anatomy of letters, a crossbar and a tail).

[0026] At least one weir 108 is provided, which is fluidly connected between at least one inlet and at least one outlet. The weir 108 fills with the liquid that enters the check valve from the inlet 104 and then overflows towards the outlet 106. The weir can be in any suitable form, such as a wall within a chamber or pipe performing this function. The weir is intended to provide a sealing surface, for example at a weir crest 112, so that fluid flow can be prevented from one end of the weir to the other.

[0027] The check valve 102 is provided with an elastic membrane 110. The elastic membrane is arranged in contact, which can be sealed, with an upper portion 112 of at least one weir to prevent fluid from flowing from one end of the weir to the other. Preferably, the elastic membrane is made of a material exhibiting elastic deformation, such as rubber, polyurethane, silicone, or another suitable material, so that the elastic membrane 110 can move between a sealed and a non-sealed position without permanent deformation (to preserve the function of the elastic membrane 110). The elastic membrane reacts to the pressure of the liquid entering the inlet 104 and the weir of the check valve.Once the liquid has a certain liquid pressure, the elastic membrane expands elastically and allows the fluid to overflow from the weir and exit the check valve through at least one outlet 106. In other words, the check valve opens, see [Fig.1B].

[0028] When the liquid pressure drops below a threshold value, the elastic membrane relaxes and returns to its original shape and size, making a tight contact with the top of the weir 112, thus preventing the flow of fluid. In other words, the check valve 102 closes, thus preventing the passage of excess fluid, see [Fig. 1A].

[0029] The above is an example of an arrangement. It is possible that the reverse arrangement is possible with the deformable elastic membrane closing the check valve only when the elastic membrane is stretched and opening the check valve when returning to the relaxed position.

[0030] The elastic membrane can adhere to a housing of the check valve, for example by means of adhesive, bonding, or welding. It is possible that no additional fastening will be necessary for the check valve to perform its function correctly.

[0031] The elastic membrane may have a cross-section substantially in the shape of a W (it appears that, when inverted, the elastic membrane 110 would also have a cross-section substantially in the shape of an “M”). This is best illustrated in [Fig. 2]. Here, using the terminology describing the anatomy of letters, the cross-section of the elastic membrane may have two pairs of diagonal strokes. The two strokes constituting each pair are parallel to each other. The first pair of parallel diagonal strokes is not parallel to the second pair of parallel diagonal strokes. The pairs are spaced apart. The first pair is arranged oppositely to the second pair of strokes, thus forming a “W” shape. Other cross-sectional shapes may be substituted for the “W” shape depending on the circumstances; it is understood that any cross-sectional shape ensuring the same function may be substituted.

[0032] Optionally, a high point 116 of the W is arranged to contact the apex 112 of the weir 108 in order to provide a watertight seal against the apex of the weir and thus prevent the flow of liquid through the weir. For completeness, it is noted that the W comprises three apexes where lines meet. The high point 116 is the highest central apex. Although it is possible for the check valve to be arranged so that any suitable apex can be substituted for the high point, while the cross-section of the elastic membrane 110 forms a W, the shape of the elastic membrane 110 can be any shape while still maintaining a W-shaped cross-section. The elastic membrane can therefore be round, ovoid, quadrilateral, or of any other suitable shape provided that the elastic membrane 110 still performs its functions and has, at least in some way, a W-shaped cross-section.

[0033] The high point may include, according to terminology describing the anatomy of a typewriter, a crossbar 118; a splay; and / or an ear to increase the surface area of ​​the high point in order to ensure adequate sealing against the top of the spillway.

[0034] The elastic membrane can have any suitable shape enabling it to perform its function (i.e. to make the weir elastically watertight and not watertight in order to regulate the flow of liquid through the weir), including circular, ovoid, oval, squircle, super-elliptical, etc.

[0035] As indicated above, the elastic membrane can be arranged to prevent the passage of liquid from one end of the weir to the other. For example, when the liquid exhibits a first range of liquid pressures.

[0036] Similarly, the elastic membrane can be arranged to allow the passage of liquid from one end of the weir to the other. For example, when the liquid exhibits a second range of liquid pressures.

[0037] The first range of liquid pressures may be different from the second range of liquid pressures, for example, the first range of liquid pressures may be lower than the second range of liquid pressures, so that the first range of liquid pressures is insufficient to cause deformation of the elastic membrane 110, so that the elastic membrane 110 maintains a tight contact with the weir 108.

[0038] The second range of liquid pressures may be sufficient to cause deformation of the elastic membrane 110, which causes the sealing contact between the elastic membrane 110 and the weir 108 to break, and thus allows the fluid to flow from one end of the weir 108 to the other.

[0039] With reference to [Fig. 2], a variant of a check valve 202 has been shown, sharing many similar attributes with the check valve 102 of Figure 1. The same characteristics are assigned the same numerical references to avoid unnecessary repetition. The elastic membrane 110 shown in [Fig. 2] is attached to a housing 114 of the check valve 202 by means of a cap 204. The cap may be formed from the same material or from a different material than that of the housing 114 of the check valve 202 (preferably the same).

[0040] The cap 204 can be attached to the housing 114 by any suitable means or by an additional fastening such as threading or snap-fitting. The cap clamps the membrane between the surfaces of the housing and the cap, thus holding the elastic membrane in a fixed position relative to the cap 204 and the housing 114.

[0041] The cap may include a stop device 206 to prevent excessive displacement of the elastic membrane, this may take the form of a surface arranged to come into contact with the high point 116 of the elastic membrane once the elastic membrane has elastically stretched by a predetermined amount, in order to prevent the deformable elastic membrane from exceeding its elastic modulus and then deforming plastically and irreversibly.

[0042] The cap 204 could also compress the membrane so as to ensure a strong seal of the membrane against water, preventing it from being welded or glued to the housing 114.

[0043] The cap can also serve to protect at least part of the surface of the elastic membrane during transport or use, thus preventing premature failure or rupture of the elastic membrane due to contact with foreign objects or the ingress of external contaminants. The material chosen for the elastic membrane may be relatively soft and susceptible to puncturing other objects. The cap, made of a harder material than the elastic membrane, can therefore prevent damage to the elastic membrane. The cap can completely cover the elastic membrane to ensure protection.

[0044] The membrane in any of the above examples may further comprise one or more teeth 208 arranged to snap into the support or other features of the housing 114 to ensure good adhesion and watertightness. The teeth 208 may take the form of a perimeter wall around the crossbar 118 and / or the apex 116 of the elastic membrane 110. The teeth 208 may be arranged, for example, to butt against or bear against the apex 112 of the weir 108. This feature may be particularly useful when the cap 204 is included.

[0045] A person skilled in the art will agree that the detailed examples above have been described by way of example only and without any limiting meaning, and that several changes and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as such defined by the attached claims. Various modifications to the detailed examples described above are possible.

[0046] Throughout the description and claims of this document, the words "include" and "contain," and their variants, mean "comprising, but not limited to," and are not intended to exclude (and do not exclude) other fractions, additives, components, integers, or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this document, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the document is to be understood as considering plurality, as well as singularity, unless the context otherwise requires.

[0047] The features, integers, characteristics, compounds, fractions, or chemical groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example of the invention shall be understood as applicable to any other aspect, embodiment, or example described herein, except where inconsistent with it. All the features disclosed in this document (including any one of the claims, the abstract, and the accompanying drawings), and / or all the steps of any method or process thus disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of these features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not limited to the details of any of the aforementioned embodiments.The invention extends to any new feature, or new combination, of features disclosed in this document (including any of the claims, the abstract and the attached drawings), or to any new step, or new combination, of steps of any method or process so disclosed. List of reference signs

[0048] 102 non-return valve

[0049] 104 entry

[0050] 106 exit

[0051] 108 spillway

[0052] 110 elastic membrane

[0053] 112 summit

[0054] 114 dwelling

[0055] 116 highest point

[0056] 118 crossbar

[0057] 202 non-return valve

[0058] 204 cap

[0059] 206 stopping device

[0060] 208 teeth

Claims

Demands

1. A check valve (102, 202) suitable for preventing excess liquid from passing through the check valve, the check valve comprising: at least one inlet (104); at least one outlet (106) in fluidic communication with the inlet; at least one weir (108) fluidically connected between at least one inlet and at least one outlet; an elastic membrane (110), the elastic membrane being arranged in contact which can be made watertight with a peak (112) of the at least one weir.

2. Check valve according to claim 1, wherein the elastic membrane adheres to a housing (114) of the check valve.

3. Check valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic membrane is secured to a housing (114) of the check valve by means of a cap (204).

4. Non-return valve according to claim 3, wherein the cap includes a stop device (206) to prevent excessive movement of the elastic membrane.

5. A check valve according to claim 4, wherein excessive movement is a plastic deformation of the elastic diaphragm.

6. Non-return valve according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the cap protects at least partially one surface of the elastic membrane.

7. Check valve according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein it comprises the stop device (206) of claim 4, wherein a high point of the elastic membrane is arranged to come into contact with the stop device.

8. Check valve according to claim 7, wherein the high point (116) has one or more of the following attributes: the high point is arranged to come into contact with the top of the weir; the high point includes a crossbar (118); the high point includes a footing; and / or the high point includes an ear.

9. A check valve according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when a liquid has a pressure in a first range of liquid pressures, the elastic diaphragm prevents the passage of liquid from one end of the weir to the other; and when a liquid has a pressure in a second range of liquid pressures, the elastic diaphragm permits the passage of liquid from one end of the weir to the other.

10. A check valve according to claim 9, wherein the first liquid pressure range is different from the second liquid pressure range.

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