Membrane Check Valve Venting With Low Opening Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing check valve systems for outdoor applications, such as telecommunication equipment and automotive uses, face challenges in maintaining low manufacturing costs and assembly effort while ensuring reliable operation and water-tightness, particularly in managing pressure differences and preventing bursting.
Innovation Solution
A check valve system featuring a base with a flow passage and a sealing surface, where an elastic membrane is elastically stretched over the sealing surface, and a protector covers the membrane, allowing it to lift at specific pressure differences to vent gases or liquids, with adjustable tension and integrated venting passages for efficient pressure management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the elastic membrane is stretched tightly over the sealing surface to ensure water-tightness, then sealing reliability is improved, but the force required to open the valve increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second sealing surface arranged at an angle to the first sealing surface, creating a two-stage sealing mechanism. The elastic membrane sequentially engages with both sealing surfaces, distributing the sealing force across different spatial dimensions. This allows the membrane to maintain water-tightness while reducing the peak force required at any single point during valve operation.
2Reliability
If the elastic membrane is fixed to the base at multiple points to improve sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but the elastic stretching force becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing function into two separate sealing surfaces instead of relying on a single complex attachment system. Each sealing surface engages with the elastic membrane at different locations and orientations, simplifying the attachment requirements while maintaining reliable sealing through the segmented approach.
3Productivity
If the check valve is designed to open at very low pressure differences, then venting efficiency is improved, but water-tightness in the opposite direction becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric sealing with two sealing surfaces arranged at different angles and positions. The first sealing surface optimizes for low-pressure opening by engaging the membrane at a favorable angle, while the second sealing surface maintains water-tightness in the closed position through its specific geometric arrangement. This asymmetric configuration allows the valve to achieve both low opening pressure and reliable sealing.
4Reliability
If the elastic membrane is made larger to cover more area, then sealing reliability is improved, but the response time to pressure changes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single large sealing surface to two smaller sealing surfaces arranged in sequence. This dimensional redistribution allows the elastic membrane to maintain comprehensive sealing coverage while reducing the distance any single point on the membrane must travel to engage the sealing surfaces, thereby improving response time to pressure changes.
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 system effectively operates within a pressure range of 1 mbar to 200 mbar, ensuring reliable sealing and venting functionality, with enhanced durability and adaptability to various environmental conditions, including water exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The force by which the elastic membrane is urged against the sealing surface is an elastic force generated by the stretched elastic membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve (1) for a through hole in a compartment wall (100) comprises an elastic membrane (20) covering an open end (16) of a flow passage (14), a base (11) to which the elastic membrane (20) is fixed, and a protector (30) covering at least a portion of the elastic membrane (20), wherein the elastic membrane is fixed to the base in a state where it is elastically stretched over and forced against a sealing surface (17) surrounding the open end (16) so as to seal the flow passage (14). The elastic membrane lifts from the sealing surface when the pressure in the flow passage is high. The elastic membrane may be air- or gas-permeable and, preferably, waterproof so as to impart a low pressure venting functionality to the check valve.