Check Valve Segmented Sealing for Foreign Matter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing check valves fail to maintain suitable sealing properties when foreign matter enters, leading to incomplete blockage of backflow due to inhibited contact operations between the valve body and seat.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring a casing with a valve chamber, valve seat portions, and an urging unit, where the valve body includes seal portions and hinge portions, and a filter on the inlet side to capture foreign matter, ensuring effective sealing even with foreign matter presence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single check valve is used to block backflow, then the structure is simple, but sealing reliability deteriorates when foreign matter enters between the valve body and valve seat
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into multiple sealing portions (first seal portion and second seal portion) that can independently contact the valve seat. The first seal portion contacts the first valve seat, while the second seal portion contacts the second valve seat. This segmentation ensures that if foreign matter blocks one sealing interface, the other can still maintain sealing effectiveness, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sealing portions are designed with different geometries and materials suited to their specific functions. The first seal portion has a specific shape for contacting the first valve seat, while the second seal portion has a different shape for contacting the second valve seat. This local differentiation allows each sealing interface to optimize its sealing performance independently, maintaining overall reliability without increasing overall structural complexity.
2Reliability
If two check valves are disposed in series to ensure backflow blocking, then sealing reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two sealing functions are merged into a single valve body by providing multiple seal portions integrated within one valve structure. The first seal portion and second seal portion are both part of the same valve body, eliminating the need for two separate check valves. This merging approach achieves the reliability of multiple sealing interfaces while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent valves and their associated operating parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The single valve body performs multiple sealing functions through its different seal portions. The first seal portion handles sealing at the first valve seat interface, while the second seal portion handles sealing at the second valve seat interface. This multi-functionality allows one valve to replace what would traditionally require two separate valves, improving reliability without increasing the number of operating parts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the valve body is made elastic to adapt to foreign matter, then sealing adaptability improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing portions are designed with specific geometric parameters and material properties that allow controlled deformation. By carefully selecting material elasticity parameters and geometric dimensions, the seal portions can adapt to foreign matter while maintaining sufficient manufacturing precision. The elasticity is optimized to provide adaptability without requiring excessive manufacturing tolerances, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and manufacturing precision.
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 maintains effective sealing properties by utilizing a combination of seal and hinge portions and a filter to prevent backflow, even when foreign matter is present, ensuring reliable fluid directionality.
Implementation Method 1
the second seal portion: (i) is formed in a recessed frusto-conical shape in which a surface on a lower bottom side is formed of an elastic material
Implementation Method 2
a filter on the inlet side to capture foreign matter
Implementation Method 3
an urging unit that urges the valve body to the valve seat portion side
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve includes a casing in which a fluid inlet, a valve chamber, a valve seat portion, and a fluid outlet are formed; a valve body disposed in the valve chamber; and an urging unit that urges the valve body to the valve seat portion side. The valve seat portion includes a first valve seat portion disposed on the fluid inlet side of the valve chamber, and a second valve seat portion disposed on an outer periphery side of the first valve seat portion. The valve body includes a first seal portion capable of coming into close contact with the first valve seat portion, a second seal portion capable of coming into close contact with the second valve seat portion, and a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion each of which is a starting point of bending of the second seal portion. The first seal portion is formed in a disk shape using a non-elastic material, and the second seal portion is formed in a recessed frusto-conical shape in which a surface on a lower bottom side is formed of an elastic material.