Guide-Pin Check Valve Layout for Stable Flow Regulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing check valves lack stability, particularly in fluid flow applications, leading to potential backflow issues and inefficiencies in regulating fluid pressure and flow rates.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a guide pin and guide sleeve arrangement within the check valve's inflow chamber to counteract fluid forces, combined with a bias element and stop mechanisms for precise shutter control, and utilizing a radially symmetric inlet and outlet configuration to ensure stable operation and compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the guide pin is made longer to improve guiding stability, then the guiding accuracy and stability improve, but the distance between valve seat and outlets increases, making the check valve larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding stabilityVSAvoiddistance between valve seat and outlets
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide pin is arranged to extend in a direction that is not parallel to the flow direction, but rather at an angle, utilizing the radial dimension of the inflow chamber. This allows the guide pin to achieve sufficient guiding stability without increasing the axial length between valve seat and outlets, effectively solving the contradiction by changing the dimensional orientation of the guiding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the guide pin extends beyond the valve seat towards the inlet, then the counter moment and stability improve, but the guide pin may interfere with inlet flow or require larger housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoidhousing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide pin is positioned locally within the inflow chamber at a specific radial distance from the longitudinal axis, rather than extending centrally. This local positioning allows the guide pin to generate the necessary counter moment for stability while minimizing interference with the main inlet flow path and reducing the required housing volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple inlets are arranged radially symmetrically, then fluid forces are centered and stability improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce balance stabilityVSAvoidinlet arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring multiple radially symmetric inlets, the invention achieves force balance stability through an asymmetric configuration where a single inlet is positioned at a specific angular location, and the guide pin is arranged at a corresponding radial distance from the longitudinal axis. This asymmetric arrangement creates the necessary counter moment without the manufacturing complexity of multiple symmetric inlets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 solution enhances the stability and compactness of the check valve, allowing for reliable fluid flow regulation with minimal variation in flow rates across a wide pressure range, effectively preventing backflow and ensuring consistent fluid flow.

Implementation Method 1

As a result of fluid pressure and dynamics, forces acting on the shutter exist in the proximity of the inlets. The guide pin and guide sleeve are placed relatively close to the inlets. Thus, the guide pin and sleeve are arranged relatively close to the point at which said forces act.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pressure and dynamics: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3997542B1Check valve
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 HAGEPE INT
  • EP3997542B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3997542B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3997542B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application relates to a check valve (1) comprising a housing (2) with at least one inlet (3) and at least one outlet (4), the housing (2) defining an inflow chamber (5) connected to the at least one inlet (3) and an outflow chamber (6) connected to the at least one outlet (4), a valve seat (7) which defines a passage between the inflow chamber and the outflow chamber, and a shutter (8) which is displaceable with respect to the valve seat (7) between a closed position and an open position, the check valve (1) being provided with a guide pin (9) for guiding the shutter (8) between the open and closed positions, wherein the guide pin (9) at least partly extends in the inflow chamber (5) in a direction away from the shutter, the guide pin (9) being movably guided in a guide sleeve (10).