Flapper Check Valve Bore Geometry With State Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a continuous need for improved check valves that effectively control fluid flow in one direction while preventing flow in the opposite direction, and there is a lack of systems to monitor and indicate the operational state of such valves.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring a valve body with a central bore, a flapper assembly, and a sensor to detect the flapper's configuration, allowing fluid flow in one direction and preventing it in the other, with a sensor to monitor and indicate the flapper's attached or detached state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flapper assembly is used to control fluid flow direction, then fluid flow control in one direction is improved, but the valve becomes susceptible to debris accumulation and operational failure
Solution Approach 1:
The central bore incorporates a radiused transition between bore sections, creating a continuous curved surface that prevents debris accumulation. This curved geometry eliminates sharp corners where debris could collect, allowing the flapper assembly to operate reliably without clogging while maintaining effective fluid flow direction control.
2Loss of information
If a sensor is added to monitor flapper configuration, then operational state monitoring is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system replaces complex mechanical position indication mechanisms with an electronic sensing approach. The sensor mounted on the valve body detects flapper configuration (attached or detached state) and provides electrical signals indicating operational status, simplifying the overall system while improving information availability about valve state.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor acts as an intermediary between the flapper assembly and the monitoring system. It detects the flapper's operational state and converts this mechanical information into electrical signals that can be processed and displayed, enabling remote monitoring without direct mechanical connection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flapper is made movable between open and closed positions, then fluid flow control capability is improved, but the valve becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is segmented into distinct functional components: the valve body with central bore, the flapper assembly with hinge mechanism, and the sensor system. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and tested independently using optimized processes, then assembled into the complete valve, improving overall manufacturability while maintaining full fluid flow control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve having a valve body, a valve cover, and a flapper valve assembly. The valve body comprises a valve housing and a central bore formed through the valve housing. The central bore has at least a first bore section, a second bore section, and a third bore section. A transition from the second bore section to the third bore section is radiused such that the inner surface of the central bore at the transition is a continuous surface. The flapper assembly is disposed in the central bore of the valve body and comprises a flapper, a valve seat, and a hinge.