Segmented Check Valve Structure for Hinge Pin Failure Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional check valves are prone to failure if the hinge pin or flapper is damaged, leading to compromised operation, as they rely on a single mechanism for fluid direction control.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring multiple radially extending arms and cross arms that divide the circular opening into multiple primary and secondary openings, each with its own flapper element and hinge pin, allowing the valve to maintain partial functionality even if one hinge pin fails, with stop bars to control flapper movement and fasteners for mounting posts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single hinge pin and flapper mechanism is used, then the valve structure is simple, but the reliability is low because damage to the hinge pin or flapper compromises the whole valve operation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into multiple independent segments, each with its own flapper element and hinge pin. The circular opening is divided into multiple primary and secondary openings, each closed by separate flapper elements. This segmentation ensures that failure of one hinge pin or flapper does not compromise the entire valve, as other segments continue to function independently.
2Reliability
If multiple flapper elements are used to improve reliability, then the valve can maintain partial functionality if one fails, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve incorporates multiple flapper elements (at least three) that divide the single opening into multiple smaller openings. Each flapper element is independently mounted on its own hinge pin, creating segmented functional units. This allows the valve to maintain partial functionality when one flapper fails, as the other flappers continue to control their respective openings.
3Speed
If larger flapper elements are used to cover the opening, then the valve provides better flow control, but the moment of inertia increases slowing down the opening speed
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one or two large flapper elements, the valve employs multiple smaller flapper elements that collectively cover the circular opening. Each small flapper has reduced moment of inertia, enabling faster opening and closing speeds. The segmented approach maintains adequate flow control coverage while significantly improving response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve uses multiple flapper elements that may overlap or provide more coverage than strictly necessary, ensuring that even if one flapper is slow to respond or partially failed, the collective action of all flappers maintains adequate flow control. This partial redundancy compensates for individual flapper limitations.
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
Enhances reliability by allowing the valve to continue operating partially if a hinge pin or flapper fails, reduces flapper size and moment of inertia for quicker opening, and maintains an open area of up to 80% of the total valve area.
Implementation Method 1
under the pressure of a fluid (gas or liquid) on one side of the check valve, the flappers rotate from their closed positions so as to allow the fluid to flow through the valve in the opposite direction
Implementation Method 2
the flappers are supported for rotation between a closed position in which they lie across and close the opening
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve comprises an annular housing defining a generally circular opening. A plurality of radially extending arms extend across the circular opening from the centre of the valve housing to respective nodes at the periphery of the valve housing. A plurality of cross arms extend between circumferentially adjacent nodes, thereby dividing the circular opening into a plurality of primary, generally triangular radially inner openings and a plurality of secondary, generally segment shaped radially outer openings. A plurality of primary, generally triangular flapper elements close the primary openings and a plurality of secondary, generally segment shaped flapper elements close the secondary openings. Respective mounting posts are arranged at a respective node and a respective hinge pin is mounted between respective circumferentially adjacent mounting posts.