One-Piece Aircraft Check Valve for Electrical Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-return devices for fuel circulation in aircraft, such as ball valves, face issues with non-electrical continuity, complex manufacturing processes, high costs, limited spring characteristics, and increased risks of electrostatic charges and corrosion, leading to lengthy and expensive design and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece fuel anti-return device manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques, where the body, elastic return member, and valve form a single unit, ensuring optimal electrical continuity and minimizing intermetallic corrosion, with options for various materials like metal, plastic, or ceramic, and adaptable designs to enhance performance under vibrations and resonance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional multi-component non-return devices are used, then the blocking function is achieved, but electrical continuity is not ensured and electrostatic charge risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the body, elastic return member, and blocking element into a single integrated component manufactured by additive manufacturing. This eliminates the need for separate conductive connections between components, ensuring continuous electrical conductivity throughout the device while reducing the total number of parts and assembly steps.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional assembly methods with multiple components are used, then the non-return function is achieved, but manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses additive manufacturing to preliminarily form the complete non-return device as a single integrated part, including the body, elastic return member, and blocking element. This eliminates subsequent assembly operations such as screwing, washers, gaskets, and crimping operations, significantly reducing manufacturing time and cost while maintaining functional integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional spring components are used, then the elastic return function is achieved, but the choice of spring characteristics is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the elastic return member directly into the additive manufacturing process, allowing continuous variation of geometric parameters such as wire diameter, coil density, and overall shape. This provides designers with extensive flexibility to optimize spring characteristics like stiffness and progressiveness for specific applications, rather than being constrained to standardized commercial spring options.
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
The solution simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and provides a wider range of elastic behavior options, improving performance and safety by ensuring electrical continuity and minimizing corrosion risks, while being easier to install and adapt, thus addressing the limitations of existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
They comprise an elastic element of the spring type which pushes a blocking element, such as a ball, a valve etc. into a closed position
Implementation Method 2
the fluid, under a certain pressure, can flow against the blocking element by compressing the spring
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a fluid nonreturn device (1) comprising a body (2) defining a chamber (5) intended to receive a fluid and having at least one opening (3), the chamber (5) has an internal wall (6) extended by an elastic return member (8) which forms an integral part of said internal wall (6), said elastic return member (8) is extended by a valve shutter (9) forming an integral part of said elastic return member (8), the elastic return member (8) pushes the valve shutter (9) into a position in which it closes off the opening (3) so as to prevent the fluid in the chamber (5) from leaving via the opening (3).