Check Valve With Bumper-Limited Flapper Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional check valves with hinged flappers often require additional biasing members to ensure proper closure and may have obstructed flow paths due to central mounting bars, which complicates their construction and reduces flow efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring pivotally mounted, generally planar flapper elements with integrated or separate bumper elements, utilizing splined hinge pins for rotational coupling, and sealing elements at the distal ends to ensure unobstructed flow and automatic closure without additional biasing members, with a maximum opening angle below 90 degrees for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional biasing members (springs) are used to ensure proper closure of flapper elements, then reliability of closure is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flapper elements utilize their own weight and the fluid pressure differential to achieve automatic closure and opening operations. The gravity force acting on the flapper elements provides the necessary biasing force to return them to the closed position when fluid pressure differential drops, eliminating the need for external spring biasing members.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting posts are positioned at strategic locations that create a counterbalancing moment against the fluid pressure force. The geometric arrangement of the flapper elements relative to the hinge pins and mounting posts creates a mechanical advantage that allows the flapper weight to counterbalance the opening force, ensuring reliable closure without additional biasing members.
2Stability of the object's composition
If central mounting bars are used to support flapper elements, then structural stability is improved, but flow path obstruction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single central mounting bar structure is segmented into multiple discrete mounting posts distributed around the periphery of the valve opening. This segmentation allows the flapper elements to be supported at multiple points without requiring a continuous central bar, thereby opening up the flow path and reducing obstruction while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure transitions from a one-dimensional central bar to a two-dimensional distributed arrangement of mounting posts around the valve opening. This dimensional change allows the support structure to be positioned at the periphery rather than the center, creating an unobstructed central flow path while providing adequate support for the flapper elements.
3Productivity
If flapper elements are allowed to open beyond 90 degrees, then flow capacity is improved, but operational reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper elements are positioned to prevent the flapper elements from opening beyond a predetermined angle (less than 90 degrees). This preliminary mechanical constraint stops the flapper elements before they can reach positions that would cause operational problems such as excessive wear, loss of sealing contact, or structural stress, thereby maintaining operational reliability while still allowing sufficient flow capacity.
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 design provides an unobstructed flow path with reduced pressure drop and simplified construction by eliminating the need for spring biasing, ensuring effective prevention of reverse fluid flow while maintaining high flow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the flapper elements rotating around the hinge pin
Implementation Method 2
The distal end of one or both flapper elements may include a seal to effect a seal therebetween when the flapper elements are in the closed position
Implementation Method 3
bumper elements which limit the opening movement of the flapper elements to a predetermined maximum opening angle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A check valve (2) comprises a valve housing (4) defining an unobstructed valve opening (6) and a a pair of flapper elements (12) each having a proximal end (18) and a distal end (20). The flapper elements (12) are pivotally mounted to the valve housing (4) at opposed sides of the valve opening (6) at their proximal ends (18) for pivotal movement between a closed position, in which together they block the flow of fluid through the valve opening (6) and an open position in which they permit the flow of fluid through the valve opening (6). The valve further includes a bumper element (40) arranged at the proximal end (18) of each flapper element (12) for engagement with the valve housing (4) when in the open position for limiting the angle of rotation of each flapper element (12).