Check Valve for Pump with Elastic Strip Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pumps with check valves fail to properly close when filled with viscous liquids, leading to leaks due to the circular membrane being biased from its proper orientation.
Innovation Solution
A pump design incorporating a collar, cylinder, and elastic valve with a ring, plug, and elastic strips, where the plug is movable relative to the ring, and a tubular insert is used to create a first check valve that effectively blocks the neck, even with viscous liquids, utilizing a spring for biasing and multiple check valves to prevent leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circular membrane is used to close the aperture in the valve housing, then the check valve can seal the aperture when the membrane extends parallel to the annular portion, but the membrane becomes biased from proper orientation when viscous liquid is present, causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The circular membrane is segmented into multiple elastic strips that are radially arranged and independently movable. Each elastic strip can flex and adapt to viscous liquid pressure independently, preventing the entire membrane from becoming biased. The segmentation allows each strip to maintain proper orientation while accommodating liquid viscosity variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic strips are designed to be dynamically flexible rather than rigid, allowing them to adapt their orientation in response to viscous liquid pressure. The strips can flex and rotate independently to maintain proper sealing orientation, converting the static membrane into a dynamic structure that self-adjusts to liquid conditions.
2Device complexity
If a simple circular membrane check valve is used, then the structure is simple, but it fails to prevent leaks when handling viscous or particulate-containing liquids
Solution Approach 1:
The valve structure is segmented into multiple functional components: a frame, multiple radially arranged elastic strips, and a plug. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function - the frame provides structure, the elastic strips provide flexible sealing, and the plug provides additional blocking capability - thereby improving leak prevention while maintaining reasonable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic strips act as intermediaries between the viscous liquid and the plug. They flex and adapt to the liquid's viscosity and particulate content, transferring the sealing function from a rigid membrane to flexible strips that can accommodate various liquid conditions, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity.
3Device complexity
If the circular membrane is used to close the aperture, then the valve housing structure is simple, but the membrane cannot maintain proper orientation under viscous liquid pressure, leading to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture closing mechanism is segmented from a single circular membrane into multiple independent elastic strips arranged radially within the valve housing. Each strip can independently respond to viscous liquid pressure, maintaining proper sealing orientation. The valve housing structure remains relatively simple while the segmented closing mechanism provides reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism changes from a rigid or semi-rigid circular membrane to flexible elastic strips with different mechanical parameters. The elastic strips have lower stiffness and higher flexibility, allowing them to deform and maintain proper orientation under viscous liquid pressure, thereby improving aperture sealing reliability without complicating the valve housing structure.
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 design ensures reliable liquid dispensing by maintaining the plug's orientation and using multiple check valves to prevent leaks, even with sticky or particulate-containing liquids, enhancing the efficiency of the convex face in blocking the neck and preventing backflow.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic valve (70) including a ring (71), a plug (74) extending in the ring (71), and elastic strips (73) formed between the plug (74) and the ring (71) so that the plug (74) is movable relative to the ring (71)
Data Source
AI summary
A pump includes a collar, a cylinder and an elastic valve. The collar includes a wall, a tubular insert extending in the wall, and a connective portion formed between the wall and the tubular insert. The cylinder includes first and second open ends, first and second chambers respectively in communication with the first and second open ends, and a neck in communication with the first and second chambers. The elastic valve includes a ring, a plug extending in the ring, and elastic strips formed between the plug and the ring so that the plug is movable relative to the ring. The tubular insert is inserted in the first chamber via the first open end when the cylinder is connected to the wall, and the plug normally blocks the neck to form a first check valve when the elastic valve is connected to the second chamber.