Floating Diaphragm Pressure Relief Valve for Flexible Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure relief valves for flexible containers often allow gases to build up to unsightly or dangerous levels and permit reverse flow of air or moisture, indicating a need for a more effective and economically viable solution.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief valve with a novel valve seat design where the diaphragm is larger than or overlaps the seating area, featuring a generally flat diaphragm-engaging surface and a non-engaging surface area, allowing gases to escape when pressure exceeds a threshold without clamping or perforating the diaphragm, ensuring a resilient and effective seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the diaphragm is clamped or pinned to the valve chamber walls or seat, then the diaphragm is retained within the valve chamber, but the seal becomes less effective and allows gas leakage or reverse flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the clamping or pinning mechanism entirely from the valve chamber, allowing the diaphragm to float freely without mechanical retention structures. The diaphragm is instead retained by the pressure differential across it and the geometry of the valve body, eliminating sources of seal degradation while maintaining diaphragm containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body structure acts as an intermediary that guides and contains the floating diaphragm without direct mechanical contact or clamping. The diaphragm interacts with the valve body geometry and pressure field rather than being physically constrained by pins or clamps, achieving retention through field and form interaction rather than mechanical fastening.
2Productivity
If the diaphragm is made with openings or perforations to allow gas passage, then gases can escape through the diaphragm, but the seal integrity is compromised and reverse flow occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes all openings, perforations, or porous structures from the diaphragm. Gas passage is achieved entirely through the annular space between the diaphragm periphery and the valve body, eliminating any direct gas flow paths through the diaphragm material itself that would compromise seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions gas flow from a potential through-diaphragm path (radial dimension) to an annular path around the diaphragm periphery (tangential dimension). This dimensional shift allows complete diaphragm sealing while maintaining gas relief functionality through the annular gap.
3Reliability
If viscous liquid coating is applied to the valve chamber and diaphragm to aid sealing, then seal effectiveness improves, but the complexity of manufacturing and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the requirement for viscous liquid coating by achieving sealing through the floating diaphragm design that maintains contact with the valve body via pressure differential and surface tension alone. The clean, dry interface between diaphragm and valve body simplifies manufacturing and eliminates coating application and maintenance steps.
4Device complexity
If the diaphragm is smaller than or equal to the valve seat area, then the valve structure is simpler, but gas pressure builds to dangerous levels due to insufficient relief capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention increases gas relief capacity by utilizing the annular dimension around the diaphragm periphery rather than relying solely on the central diaphragm area. This allows the diaphragm to remain relatively small while providing sufficient relief through the circumferential annular space, preventing pressure buildup without requiring an oversized diaphragm.
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 valve effectively relieves built-up gases without allowing atmospheric gases to re-enter the container, providing a tighter and more consistent seal than existing designs, with improved performance and reduced risk of container over-expansion.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient diaphragm floats within the valve chamber. The diaphragm is seated upon, and inter-engaged with, the valve seat such that when interior gases are below a threshold pressure the diaphragm is engaged and effectively plugs the gas port or ports. When the interior pressure increases above the threshold pressure, at least a portion of the diaphragm is disengaged from the seat by the increased pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure relief valve for use with flexible containers is disclosed. The valve comprises a valve chamber, a valve chamber seat with an inlet gas port or ports to the interior of the container and a resilient diaphragm floating within the chamber. The valve seat is shaped with a generally flat diaphragm-engaging surface in a central area of the diaphragm where the inlet gas port(s) are located, and at least one surface that does not generally engage the outer portion of the diaphragm, such that a diaphragm floating in the valve chamber engages a central portion of the valve seat surface stopping the passage of gases in or out of the container before a certain pressure is reached, but permitting the passage of gases from within the flexible container as pressure builds, while preventing the flow of atmospheric gases into the container.