Plate Check Valve Guide Rod Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing check valves in drain funnels have a limited fluid discharge amount due to the small size of the circulation port required to prevent the spherical float from getting stuck, which restricts the pipe diameter and discharge capacity.
Innovation Solution
A check valve with a plate-shaped valve member that opens and closes the circulation port, allowing for a larger opening size compared to spherical floats, ensuring a sufficient discharge amount by maintaining the port size slightly smaller than the valve member, and incorporating guide rods and a spring receiving member for accurate alignment and adjustable biasing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spherical float is used as the valve member, then the valve can prevent backflow, but the circulation port size must be extremely small to prevent the float from getting stuck, resulting in limited discharge amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional spherical float design by using a plate-shaped valve member instead. This inversion allows the valve member to slide along guide rods rather than rotate or move freely, preventing it from getting stuck in the circulation port while maintaining a large port size for high discharge capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces guide rods as separate components that divide the valve member's movement path into controlled segments. The plate-shaped valve member slides along these segmented guide rods, ensuring smooth movement and preventing it from becoming stuck in the circulation port, thereby resolving the contradiction between port size and stuck prevention
2Productivity
If the circulation port is made larger to increase discharge amount, then the discharge capacity improves, but the spherical float may get stuck in the port
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting from a spherical float to a plate-shaped valve member that slides along guide rods, the design allows the circulation port to be made much larger without risk of the valve member getting stuck, as the plate member follows a constrained linear path rather than moving freely in three dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rods act as intermediaries between the valve member and the circulation port. They mediate the movement of the plate-shaped valve member, ensuring it stays aligned and slides smoothly past the circulation port opening, thereby preventing it from getting stuck even when the port is large
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
Ensures a sufficient fluid discharge amount corresponding to the pipe diameter while preventing backflow, with enhanced accuracy and adjustability of the valve operation, increasing the fluid discharge capacity and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring configured to bias the valve member toward the opening of the valve seat member
Implementation Method 2
The guide rods are inserted into guide rod insertion holes formed at the periphery of the opening of the valve seat member, and are configured to guide movement of the valve member
Data Source
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AI summary
A check valve (10) includes a plate-shaped valve seat member (21) provided with a fluid discharge port (15), a plate-shaped valve member (22) provided on a downstream side of the valve seat member (21) and configured to open/close the discharge port (15), a coil spring (23) provided on a downstream side of the valve member (22) and configured to bias the valve member (22) toward the discharge port (15), a spring receiving member (24) provided for the coil spring (23) on a downstream side thereof, and a plurality of guide rods (25) provided at the periphery of the valve member (22) and formed to extend in an upstream-to-downstream flow direction, each having a downstream end portion attached to the spring receiving member (24), and configured to guide the valve member (22) in the upstream-to-downstream flow direction.