Backflow Preventer Valve With Pressure Equalization Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

When shutting off a valve, especially when changing a water meter, the displaced water cannot escape, leading to a significant increase in pressure in the line, which can cause damage to the sealing element and make it difficult to move the pressure piece by hand.

Innovation Solution

A backflow preventer valve with a pressure compensation channel and a pressure relief valve assembly, featuring a conical disk, a pin with external threads, and a pressure-limiting spring, allows displaced water to escape when the limit pressure is exceeded, preventing excessive pressure buildup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pressure piece is moved to shut off the line, then the backflow is prevented, but the pressure in the line increases significantly causing damage to the sealing element

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackflow preventionVSAvoidexcessive pressure increase
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A pressure equalization channel is introduced as an intermediary pathway through the sealing arrangement. This channel allows displaced water to escape during valve shut-off, mediating between the pressure piece movement and the sealing element to prevent excessive pressure buildup that would otherwise damage the seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful factor (excessive pressure) is extracted from the system by providing an escape route for the displaced water through the pressure equalization channel. This removes the pressure buildup problem while maintaining the backflow prevention function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the pressure piece is moved to shut off the line, then the flow is blocked, but manual movement of the pressure piece becomes difficult due to high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow blockingVSAvoidmanual movement of pressure piece
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure equalization channel acts as a mediator that reduces the resistance encountered during pressure piece movement. By allowing displaced water to escape through this channel, the channel provides a pressure relief pathway that makes manual operation feasible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure equalization channel provides preliminary anti-action by preemptively offering an escape route for displaced water before excessive pressure builds up. This prevents the pressure buildup that would otherwise make manual movement difficult, allowing smooth operation throughout the shut-off process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

Prevents excessive pressure increases during valve shut-off, ensuring safe operation and extending the lifespan of the sealing elements by allowing water to escape through a pressure equalization channel, thus maintaining operational ease and reducing potential damage.

Implementation Method 1

a seal (95) connected to a pressure-limiting spring (71) that is preloaded against the seal (95) with a defined spring force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

displaced water can escape through the pressure equalization channel (37, 54, 38, 39) when a limit pressure in the line is exceeded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4060210B1Backflow preventer valve
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 FLUHS DREHTECHN GMBH
  • EP4060210B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4060210B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4b
  • EP4060210B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6b

AI summary

Non-return valve, comprising a head (1) in which a pressure cylinder (2) is arranged, which is connected to a rotatably but axially fixedly mounted spindle (4), by means of whose rotation the pressure cylinder (2) is displaceable in the head (1), and which receives a check piston (3) which is displaceably arranged in a piston chamber (22) of the pressure cylinder (2) and which is provided at its end with a sealing arrangement, wherein a pressure equalization channel is guided through the sealing arrangement in which a pressure relief valve assembly is arranged.