Pipeline Backflow Preventer Housing Curvature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing non-return valve designs for pipelines face challenges in minimizing material usage while achieving a uniform stress profile to withstand pressure surges, often requiring additional reinforcement which increases production complexity and costs.

Innovation Solution

The design features a housing with no flat surfaces parallel to the flow direction, incorporating a unique geometric configuration with circular arcs and convex lines that distribute pressure evenly, allowing for a thinner material thickness and eliminating the need for local reinforcement, and is manufactured as a cast piece to simplify production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the housing side walls are made flat or planar for simplified workability, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the stress distribution becomes uneven leading to local stress peaks and requiring greater material usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature to the housing side walls by designing them with convexly shaped lines instead of flat surfaces. This curvature allows pressure to be distributed more evenly across the housing surface, eliminating local stress peaks that would otherwise require additional material or reinforcement. The curved geometry naturally redirects stress flows to create a more uniform stress profile throughout the housing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Quantity of substance

If local stiffeners or reinforcing ribs are added to minimize material usage and create uniform stress profile, then material usage is reduced, but production complexity and work steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the structural reinforcement function into the basic housing geometry itself. By designing the side walls with convexly shaped lines from the outset, the housing structure inherently provides the necessary stiffness and stress distribution without requiring separate reinforcing ribs or stiffeners. This integration eliminates additional production steps while achieving both material efficiency and structural performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the housing is designed with no flat surfaces parallel to flow direction to achieve uniform stress profile, then stress distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress profile uniformityVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs convexly shaped lines to create a housing geometry without flat surfaces parallel to the flow direction. This curved design naturally distributes pressure evenly across the housing, creating a uniform stress profile that withstands pressure surges effectively. The continuous curved surfaces eliminate stress concentration points while remaining manufacturable through appropriate forming processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3001076B1Back flow preventer
Publication Date: 2019.04.03 STRATE TECH FUR ABWASSER
  • EP3001076B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3001076B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3001076B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention describes a backflow preventer (10) for a pipeline comprising a housing (16) and/or an intermediate section (17), a closing element (30) arranged and rotatably mounted at least largely in the housing and/or the intermediate section, a receptacle (18) for the bearing of the closing element, and two flanges (12, 14), wherein each flange has a round opening in cross-section and the flanges are arranged at the ends of the housing and/or the intermediate section such that the flanges and the housing and/or the intermediate section arranged between the flanges can be permeated by a medium along a longitudinal axis or flow direction of the housing and/or the intermediate section, wherein the housing has no flat surfaces at least on the inside parallel to the flow direction.