Flexible Membrane Valve for Laminar Flow and Leak Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid control devices, such as check valves, face limitations due to fatigue, wear, and failure from irregular fluid flow, high pressure, and high temperature applications, often requiring redundant components that increase weight and cost, and can experience turbulent flow and leakage issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible membranes with variable stiffness that pivot between open and closed positions to control fluid flow, eliminating the need for internal mechanisms like springs and flappers, and providing a circular or conical orifice for laminar flow, reducing the likelihood of failure and fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If movable components and mechanical hardware (e.g., spring-biased ball) are used to control fluid flow, then fluid flow control function is achieved, but reliability deteriorates due to fatigue, wear, and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component from the valve mechanism, eliminating the source of fatigue and wear. The valve uses a simple ball check mechanism where the ball is biased by fluid pressure differential rather than a mechanical spring, thereby extracting the problematic elastic component while maintaining the flow control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-biased system with a fluid-pressure-biased system. Instead of using a mechanical spring to maintain sealing force, the valve relies on the fluid pressure differential across the ball to maintain contact with the valve seat, substituting mechanical elasticity with fluid pressure.
2Reliability
If spring-biased movable components are used, then sealing force is maintained, but device complexity increases and failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the spring component entirely from the valve design, eliminating the complex mechanical assembly of spring, retainer, and associated parts. This leaves only the essential ball check mechanism, reducing complexity and failure points while maintaining sealing through fluid pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design allows the fluid pressure differential to automatically maintain the ball in sealing contact with the valve seat without requiring external spring force. The system serves itself by using the process fluid's own pressure to maintain the sealing function, eliminating the need for separate spring biasing mechanisms.
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 flexible membrane design enhances the reliability and responsiveness of fluid control devices by reducing failure points, maintaining constant cracking pressure, and minimizing turbulent flow, while being adaptable to various fluid types and pressures, and effectively preventing reverse fluid flow.
Implementation Method 1
The flow control member has an annular tip that is to flex between an open position to allow fluid flow through the fluid flow path and a closed position to prevent fluid flow through the fluid flow path
Implementation Method 2
providing a circular or conical orifice for laminar flow, reducing the likelihood of failure and fluid leakage
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid apparatus and related methods are disclosed. An example fluid apparatus includes a body defining a fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet. A flow control member is positioned in the fluid flow path. The flow control member has a base pivotally coupled to an inner wall of the body defining the fluid flow path. The flow control member has an annular tip that is to flex between an open position to allow fluid flow through the fluid flow path and a closed position to prevent fluid flow through the fluid flow path.