Offset-Pivot Hydrant Break Check Valve With Damped Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing break check valves for hydrants are often large, cumbersome, and ineffective in preventing property damage and water loss when a hydrant is hit by a moving vehicle, and they can cause water hammer and pressure spikes due to rapid closure, making them impractical for widespread use in water distribution systems.
Innovation Solution
A break check valve system for hydrants featuring a pivot pin and valve member that rotates from an open to a closed position, with a pivot pin offset in a radial direction, and a dampener to slow the closure speed, preventing excessive pressure spikes and water hammer, while allowing for easy installation and minimal weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a break check valve is used to prevent water loss and property damage when a hydrant is hit by a moving vehicle, then property damage and water loss are prevented, but the valve can be large, cumbersome, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into separate components: a valve body that remains installed in the water distribution system, and a hydrant assembly that can be detached. This segmentation allows the valve mechanism to be compact while maintaining effectiveness, as only the essential sealing and closure components are included in the valve body.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrant is extracted as a separate removable component from the valve assembly. This allows the valve body to be simplified and reduced in size, as it only needs to provide sealing and closure functions rather than housing the entire hydrant mechanism. The valve body can be installed once and remain stationary while hydrants are replaced as needed.
2Reliability
If an in-line valve is used to mitigate property damage and water loss, then property damage and water loss are reduced, but the valve is large and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is nested within the hydrant assembly in a compact configuration. The valve body contains the essential sealing components (seal, seal support, spring) in a space-efficient arrangement that allows the entire valve-hydrant assembly to be relatively small and manageable, reducing the cumbersome nature of traditional in-line valves.
3Reliability
If the valve closes rapidly to stop water flow, then water loss is prevented, but water hammer and pressure spikes occur causing excessive load on system components
Solution Approach 1:
A dampener is incorporated into the valve mechanism to cushion the closing action. The dampener is positioned to engage with the valve member during closure, providing gradual resistance that slows the valve's movement. This beforehand cushioning prevents rapid closure, thereby avoiding water hammer and pressure spikes while still effectively stopping water flow to prevent water loss.
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 effectively prevents water loss and property damage by ensuring controlled closure of the valve, reducing the risk of water hammer and pressure spikes, and is lightweight and cost-effective for widespread use in water distribution systems.
Implementation Method 1
a valve member positioned within the valve inner cavity and configured to rotate about the pivot pin from an open position to a closed position of the valve
Implementation Method 2
a dampener to slow the closure speed, preventing excessive pressure spikes and water hammer
Data Source
AI summary
A break check valve includes a valve body defining a mating surface and a valve inner cavity; a pivot pin positioned inside the valve inner cavity and secured to the valve body, an axis of the pivot pin offset in a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the valve body; and a valve member positioned within the valve inner cavity and configured to rotate about the pivot pin from an open position to a closed position of the valve, the valve member comprising a plate and an arm extending from the plate, the valve member configured to remain in the open position of the valve as long as a mating surface of a hydrant remains in contact with the mating surface of the valve body and configured to close when the mating surface of the hydrant is separated from the mating surface of the valve body.