Drain Check Shuttle for Low-Loss Irrigation Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drain check valves in pressure regulators for irrigation systems often obstruct water flow with radially extending support structures, which can catch debris and hinder performance, especially when water pressure drops, leading to unwanted drainage issues.
Innovation Solution
A drain check shuttle mechanism within the pressure regulator that moves reciprocally without requiring supporting struts through the flow passage, preventing water flow when pressure is below a threshold and maintaining flow when pressure is adequate, thus avoiding debris entrapment and ensuring consistent water supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radially extending support structures are used in drain check valves, then the valve can support the check mechanism, but these structures create obstructions that hinder water flow and catch debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the radially extending support structures (struts, ribs, spokes) from the drain check valve design. By extracting these obstructive elements, the invention eliminates the primary source of flow resistance and debris entrapment while maintaining the essential drain check functionality through an alternative support mechanism attached to the valve body wall.
2Reliability
If radially extending support structures are used in drain check valves, then the valve can support the check mechanism, but these structures create obstructions that increase turbulence and pressure losses
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the obstructive support structures from the flow path. The alternative design attaches support structures to the valve body wall rather than extending them radially into the flow passage, thereby eliminating turbulence and pressure losses caused by flow obstruction while maintaining structural support for the check mechanism.
3Reliability
If supporting struts extend through the flow passage, then the drain check mechanism is supported, but debris such as grasses can catch on these structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the radially extending support structures that protrude into the flow passage. By extracting these elements, the invention eliminates the surfaces on which debris such as grasses can catch and entangle, while maintaining the necessary support for the drain check mechanism through wall-attached structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending support structures radially outward from the center into the flow path, the invention inverts the approach by attaching support structures to the valve body wall and having them extend inward parallel to the flow direction, thereby avoiding debris entrapment while maintaining structural support.
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 solution enhances flow efficiency by preventing debris entrapment and maintaining uniform water pressure, reducing turbulence and pressure losses, while effectively preventing water drainage during low pressure conditions, thus optimizing irrigation system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a drain check shuttle (120) disposed in the inlet cap and configured to move reciprocally in response to a pressure differential across the inlet cap
Implementation Method 2
a plunger (30) reciprocally mounted in the housing and having an inlet end and an outlet end, the plunger (30) having a passage extending therethrough from an inlet to an outlet; a stationary regulator valve seat (32) in the housing and disposed between the inlet flow passage and an inlet to the plunger (30)
Data Source
AI summary
A flow control device including: a housing including a flow passage extending from an inlet, through the housing to an outlet; a hollow tube within the housing defining a tube passage included in the flow passage of the housing; a valve seat in the housing and disposed between the inlet to the flow passage and an inlet to the tube passage of the hollow tube; and a drain check shuttle within the housing and configured to move reciprocally with respect to both the housing and the hollow tube, wherein the drain check shuttle has: a first position within the housing at which the drain check shuttle abuts the valve seat, and closes a gap between the valve seat and the inlet to the hollow tube; and a second position displaced from the valve seat and which opens the gap.