Membrane Valve Pressure Management for Sprinkler Systems

The patent changes the physical parameters of the membrane by using a composite structure with varying thickness and material properties. The membrane has a greater thickness in regions subjected to high pressure to reduce stress concentration, while maintaining thinner sections where less pressure is applied. This parameter optimization allows the membrane to withstand high fluid pressures without exceeding stress thresholds that would cause premature failure, thus extending membrane lifetime while maintaining effective pressure control.

The patent employs composite materials in the membrane construction, combining different materials with complementary properties. The membrane integrates materials with high tensile strength to resist pressure-induced stress, elastic materials to accommodate pressure fluctuations, and potentially protective coating layers. This composite approach enables the membrane to handle high pressures effectively while maintaining durability and extending operational life in demanding sprinkling system environments.

The patent replaces traditional metal mechanical actuators with a diaphragm-based actuation system. The flexible membrane itself serves as the actuating element, converting fluid pressure differential directly into valve opening/closing motion through its elastic deformation. This eliminates the need for separate metal actuator mechanisms, reducing the number of moving parts, simplifying the overall valve structure, and decreasing assembly complexity while maintaining the capability to withstand and respond to high pressure conditions.

The patent utilizes a flexible diaphragm membrane as the core actuating component. This thin film structure replaces rigid metal actuators by using elastic deformation to convert pressure differential into mechanical motion. The flexible membrane can withstand high pressure through its composite construction and optimized geometry, while its simplicity as a single-piece elastic element dramatically reduces device complexity and assembly requirements compared to multi-component metal actuator systems.

The patent optimizes the membrane geometry parameters, specifically the area and thickness distribution, to achieve the optimal balance between force reduction and size control. By carefully calculating and adjusting the membrane surface area exposed to pressure differential, the design minimizes the force that the solenoid must overcome while keeping the valve compact. The membrane thickness is also optimized to provide sufficient structural integrity without requiring excessive area, thus controlling overall valve size and associated costs.

The patent applies local quality optimization by varying the membrane thickness and material properties across different regions of the membrane surface. Areas subjected to higher pressure or requiring greater structural support have increased thickness or enhanced material properties, while other regions maintain thinner construction to reduce overall force requirements. This localized optimization allows the valve to achieve the necessary force reduction for compact solenoid design without uniformly increasing the entire valve size, thereby controlling cost and dimensions.