Check Valve Flapper Hinge Ear Geometry Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Check valves in bleed systems face challenges in withstanding high opening velocities and repeated impacts between flappers and the compliant stop, leading to fatigue wear and potential premature failure.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a check valve flapper with a hinge portion featuring a lower, middle, and upper ear, each with a hinge pin hole diameter to ear outer radius ratio between 0.83 and 0.91, allowing for proper sizing and placement to reduce wear and enable free rotation, thereby minimizing fatigue and impact-related damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the flappers are designed to pivot at high angular velocity to quickly close the valve, then the response speed is improved, but the impact force on the compliant stop and fatigue wear on the hinge pin increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the hinge pin hole diameter to ear outer radius ratio to a specific range (0.83-0.91). This geometric parameter optimization allows the flapper to pivot freely at high angular velocities while the optimized ear geometry distributes impact forces more effectively, reducing fatigue wear on the hinge pin and structural damage to the compliant stop
2Ease of operation
If the hinge pin hole diameter is increased to reduce friction and enable free rotation, then the rotational freedom is improved, but the structural strength of the ear is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through precise parameter optimization. By setting the hinge pin hole diameter to ear outer radius ratio within the specific range of 0.83-0.91, the design achieves the optimal balance where the hole is large enough to minimize friction and enable free rotation, yet the remaining ear material maintains sufficient structural strength to withstand repeated impact loads
3Device complexity
If the compliant stop contact area with flappers is limited in size, then the stop structure is simplified, but the ability to absorb impact energy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses this contradiction by optimizing the geometric parameters of the flapper ears rather than modifying the stop structure. The optimized ear geometry (with the specific hole-to-radius ratio) concentrates the impact forces through optimized stress distribution paths, allowing the simple stop structure to effectively absorb impact energy without requiring increased contact area
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve flapper for a check valve is provided and includes a flapper body and a hinge portion extending from the flapper body. The hinge portion includes a lower ear, a middle ear, and an upper ear. The lower ear, the middle ear, and the upper ear each include a hinge pin hole having a hinge pin hole diameter and an ear outer radius. A ratio of the hinge pin hole diameter to the ear outer radius is between 0.83 and 0.91.