Elastic Check Valve Membranes for Leak-Free Oral Irrigator Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral irrigator check valves fail to balance internal and external pressures effectively, leading to leakage issues when liquid is pumped out at high rates, as impermeable and breathable films used for ventilation are inadequate and prone to damage under atmospheric pressure.
Innovation Solution
A check valve made of elastic material with a hollow structure, featuring two opposite membranes that abut at the bottom and are connected to opposite sides of the valve body, allowing for leakage prevention and ventilation by moving apart under external air pressure when internal pressure is lower.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If impermeable and breathable films are used for ventilation, then liquid leakage is avoided, but ventilation effect is poor and films may be broken under atmospheric pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve is divided into two separate membranes (first membrane and second membrane) that work together to achieve both sealing and ventilation functions. Each membrane can independently respond to pressure differences, with the first membrane preventing leakage and the second membrane enabling ventilation when internal pressure exceeds external pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between leakage prevention and ventilation effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The membranes are designed to be dynamically responsive to pressure differences between the container interior and exterior. When internal pressure is lower, the membranes remain closed for sealing; when internal pressure exceeds external pressure by a threshold, the membranes deform to open the channel for ventilation. This dynamic behavior allows the valve to adaptively switch between leakage prevention and ventilation modes based on real-time pressure conditions
2Productivity
If high rate liquid pumping is performed, then productivity is improved, but atmospheric pressure may break the ventilation film
Solution Approach 1:
The membranes are designed with curved, dome-shaped structures that can elastically deform under pressure. This curvature allows the membranes to flex and expand when internal pressure increases during high-rate pumping, preventing film breakage while still maintaining the pressure threshold mechanism for controlled ventilation
3Reliability
If complex check valve structures are used, then leakage prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses flexible elastic membranes instead of complex rigid mechanical components. The two thin film membranes can be molded as simple elastic structures that passively respond to pressure differences, eliminating the need for complex actuators, sensors, or mechanical linkages. This approach achieves reliable leakage prevention and controlled ventilation through the inherent elastic properties of the films, significantly simplifying the overall valve structure
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve operates autonomously using the elastic deformation of the membranes in response to pressure differences. No external control systems, power sources, or complex mechanical mechanisms are required - the membranes self-regulate the opening and closing based on the pressure threshold, making the structure simple while maintaining effective leakage prevention and ventilation functions
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 check valve effectively prevents leakage while allowing ventilation, is simple to manufacture, cost-effective, and has a long service life, balancing internal and external pressures to facilitate smooth liquid pumping.
Implementation Method 1
the check valve is made of an elastic material... when the air pressure in the container is lower than the external atmospheric pressure, external air will burst the two members to enable the bottoms of the two membranes to move away from each other
Implementation Method 2
the two membranes with the bottoms abutting against each other block a connection channel between the hollow structure of the check valve and an inner cavity of the container to prevent substances in the container from leaking
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention discloses a check valve, a container and an oral irrigator. The check valve is made of an elastic material and comprises a valve body part (1) with a hollow structure, wherein an opening communicated with the hollow structure is formed in the top of the valve body part (1), the valve body part (1) comprises two opposite connection walls (2) and two opposite membranes (3), two opposite sides of each connection wall (2) are respectively connected to the two membranes (3), the tops of the two membranes are away from each other, and the bottoms of the two membranes abut against each other. After the check valve is assembled on the container, the two membranes (3) with the bottoms abutting against each other block a connection channel between the hollow structure of the check valve and an inner cavity of the container to realize a leakage prevention function; and when the air pressure in the container is lower than the external atmospheric pressure, external air will burst the two members (3) to enable the bottoms of the two membranes (3) to move away from each other to unblock the connection channel between the hollow structure of the check valve and the inner cavity of the container, so that a ventilation function is realized. The check valve is simple in structure, easy to machine, low in production cost, small in size, good in structural stability and long in service life and occupies a small space.