Duckbill Valve Straight-Line Geometry for Low Opening Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing one-way valve designs, such as duckbill valves, face challenges in achieving low opening pressure and high flow per unit area while minimizing dead space volume and avoiding material stress, particularly in applications requiring easy assembly and harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
The valve assembly features lips and housing parts with straight lines that facilitate easy opening and alignment, reducing interference and stress, and a flange with a parallelogram shape that minimizes dead space and enhances flow characteristics, along with a valve housing that closely encloses the valve to optimize flow and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional curved or rounded valve designs are used, then the valve structure is simpler to manufacture, but the opening pressure is higher and flow per unit area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature principles in reverse by using straight lines and angular geometry instead of traditional curved surfaces. The lips are formed with straight edges meeting at defined angles, creating folding areas that act as hinges. This angular geometry reduces opening pressure while maintaining manufacturability through standard elastomeric molding processes.
2Volume of stationary object
If the valve housing encloses the valve with minimal clearance, then dead space volume is minimized, but alignment precision between valve and housing must be very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric straight-line geometry in the valve lips and housing walls that creates natural alignment features. The folding areas with specific angular relationships provide self-aligning characteristics during assembly, allowing minimal clearance without requiring ultra-high precision manufacturing. The straight edges mate precisely with corresponding housing features.
3Force
If the lips are designed with folding areas along straight lines, then opening pressure is reduced and flow is enhanced, but material stress concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lip structure into distinct folding areas along straight lines, creating hinge-like regions that facilitate easy opening. These folding areas are strategically positioned to distribute stress while maintaining the low opening pressure benefit. The segmentation allows controlled deformation zones that reduce peak stress concentrations.
4Ease of operation
If the flange and housing are designed with parallel straight lines, then assembly is simplified and interference is avoided, but the design flexibility for different applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal straight-line geometric framework that can be adapted to multiple applications. The parallel straight lines in the flange and housing provide a standardized interface that simplifies assembly across different device types. This modular geometric approach maintains design flexibility by allowing the same basic principle to serve various functional requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a valve assembly comprising a valve (1), having a pair of lips (2) that are arranged in a converging relationship to define a slit (3) and a flange (5), and a valve housing comprising a first housing part (110) and a second housing part (120) to cooperate to enclose the valve (1), wherein the first housing part comprises a pair of first walls (112) that are arranged in a converging relationship and a first collar part (115). Each lip base end runs along straight lines and each first wall base end (112B) runs along straight lines, the flange (5) comprises two opposing straight lines and the second housing part (120) comprises a second collar part (125) that comprises an open space for accommodating the flange (5) of the valve (1), wherein the circumferential edge (122B) of the open space comprises two opposing straight lines.