Check Valve Insert Geometry for Lower Disc Stress and Flow Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing check valves in Venturi devices experience stress on the translatable seal disc due to the shape, spacing, and material of radially spaced fingers, as well as pressure differentials, which can lead to increased air flow resistance and manufacturing complexities.
Innovation Solution
A check valve insert with a continuous first valve seat made of a less abrasive and less rigid material, such as pure plastics or rubbers, is introduced to reduce stress on the seal disc and improve manufacturing ease, allowing for tailored performance characteristics by varying the configuration of the insert.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional valve body with integrated check valve components is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into separate components: a valve body and a removable valve insert. The insert contains all check valve components (disc, seat, spring, keeper) as a pre-assembled unit that can be independently manufactured and then installed into the valve body, simplifying the manufacturing process for each component while maintaining the integrity of the complete valve assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve mechanism is extracted from the integrated valve body design and placed into a separate removable insert. This allows the check valve components to be manufactured independently using optimal processes for each component type, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and enabling easier maintenance or replacement of the check valve mechanism without replacing the entire valve body.
2Ease of repair
If multiple separate components are used for check valve assembly, then ease of repair is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple check valve components (disc, seat, spring, keeper) are merged into a single pre-assembled valve insert unit. This insert is designed as one integrated piece that can be easily removed and replaced as a complete unit, providing ease of repair while minimizing the number of separate parts that need to be handled during maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve components are pre-assembled and pre-configured into the valve insert during manufacturing, with all springs, keepers, and sealing elements properly positioned before the insert is installed in the valve body. This preliminary assembly simplifies field repair operations, as the entire check valve mechanism can be replaced in one action without requiring disassembly or adjustment of individual components.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact valve design is used, then space efficiency is improved, but flow capacity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve insert utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by arranging components in multiple dimensions within the compact insert volume. The disc is positioned to maximize flow area while the spring and keeper mechanisms are arranged in vertical and radial dimensions that do not interfere with the primary flow path, maintaining compact overall size while preserving adequate 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 continuous surface of the check valve insert reduces stress on the seal disc, decreases air flow resistance, and simplifies manufacturing by enabling easier assembly and material selection, while providing a more robust construction and improved sealing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a translatable seal disc translatable only in response to pressure differentials across the seal disc
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Check valve inserts define a valve seat for an open position of a check valve and have an outer support seatable in an internal chamber of the check valve and have an inner annular ring spaced radially inward from the outer support by a rib that angles axially toward a central longitudinal axis to position an upper surface of the inner annular ring a distance axially beyond an upper surface of the outer support. Check valves have a housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, have the check valve insert seated with the chamber, and have a seal disc moveable within the chamber between the open position defined by the inner annular ring of the check valve insert and a closed position. The seal disc is translatable in response to a pressure difference across the seal disc.