Membrane Valve Flow Path Layout to Reduce Discharge Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid control devices with diaphragms experience unwanted vibrations during gas discharge due to sudden changes in passage cross-section and flow velocity, leading to inefficient and noisy operation.

Innovation Solution

A valve design with a membrane that divides the valve chamber into two spaces, where the fluid flows through overlapping passages with balanced pressure loss, reducing immediate changes in cross-section and velocity, thereby minimizing membrane vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a diaphragm is used as a check valve to control fluid flow direction, then the valve structure is simple and reliable, but the diaphragm experiences unwanted vibrations during gas discharge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve operation reliabilityVSAvoidmembrane vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the single discharge passage into two separate discharge passages, segmenting the fluid flow path. This segmentation allows the fluid to be discharged through multiple paths simultaneously, reducing the sudden change in flow velocity and passage cross-section that causes diaphragm vibrations, while maintaining the simple check valve structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates different local flow characteristics by providing two discharge passages with different configurations. One passage has a larger cross-section for stable flow, while the other provides additional discharge capacity. This local differentiation of flow paths reduces overall vibrations while maintaining reliable valve operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If the discharge passage cross-section changes suddenly during gas discharge, then the valve response is fast, but the flow velocity changes rapidly causing membrane vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve response speedVSAvoidmembrane vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the discharge into two passages, the sudden cross-section change is distributed across multiple paths. The fluid can transition from the pump chamber to the discharge through two routes simultaneously, smoothing out the velocity changes that would otherwise cause diaphragm vibrations while preserving fast response

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single discharge passage is used, then the valve structure is simple, but the discharge efficiency is reduced due to membrane vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve structure complexityVSAvoiddischarge efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the discharge passage into two separate paths, which eliminates membrane vibrations and improves discharge efficiency. Although this increases structural complexity slightly, the overall design remains relatively simple with only two passages and no additional moving parts, achieving a good balance between complexity and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design stabilizes fluid discharge by reducing membrane vibrations, enhancing discharge speed and efficiency while minimizing noise.

Implementation Method 1

the fluid flows at substantially the same quantity of flow through the first passage and the second passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure loss balancing: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

This structure can reduce an immediate change of the passage cross section of the first passage and a change of the velocity of flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow velocity reduction: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 3

the membrane is deformed toward the first hole, and thus, the membrane covers the opening of the first hole

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMembrane deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

This structure thus reduces attraction of the membrane to the third hole after the membrane is deformed toward the first hole. This operation reduces vibrations of the membrane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration reduction: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS12398814B2Valve, fluid control device, pressurizing device, and sphygmomanometer

Publication Date: 2025.08.26 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A valve includes a housing, a membrane, and a hole. The housing includes a flat plate having a hole connectable to an external pump, a housing component having a hole connectable to a component to which a fluid is discharged, and a valve chamber held between a housing component including the flat plate and the housing component. The membrane divides a valve chamber into a space facing the flat plate and a space facing the housing component. The hole is connected to the space facing the flat plate and the space facing the housing component. The housing component has a hole that is connectable to an outside of the housing and that allows the fluid to flow out from the valve chamber.