Removable Backwater Valve Flapper Assembly for Buried Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backwater valve assemblies face challenges in preventing sewage or wastewater from backing up into buildings due to blockages or overfilling in storm or sanitary sewers, as they often require complex installation and maintenance, especially when the main valve body is buried underground.
Innovation Solution
A backwater valve assembly comprising a main valve body, a flapper sub-assembly, and a removable cap that allows fluid to flow freely in one direction while preventing backflow, with the flapper sub-assembly and cap being easily removable and replaceable without disassembling the entire assembly, and a tool-accessible cap feature for remote installation and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main valve body is buried underground for permanent installation, then the valve assembly provides reliable backflow prevention, but maintenance and replacement of the flapper sub-assembly require expensive and complex excavation work
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is divided into separable components: the main valve body remains buried for reliability, while the flapper sub-assembly and cap are made into a removable unit. This segmentation allows the critical backflow prevention function to stay permanently installed while the maintenance-prone flapper can be independently accessed and replaced without excavation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flapper sub-assembly is extracted as a removable component from the main valve body. The cap is designed with external threading that allows it to be unscrewed and removed, taking the flapper sub-assembly with it. This extraction enables maintenance personnel to access and replace the flapper without disturbing the buried main valve body.
2Device complexity
If the flapper sub-assembly is permanently fixed in the main valve body, then the assembly structure is simple and robust, but maintenance requires complete disassembly and excavation of the valve assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the cap and main valve body is designed as an external threaded interface rather than a permanent weld or integral connection. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity while enabling the cap and flapper sub-assembly to be removed as a unit for maintenance without complex disassembly procedures.
3Ease of operation
If the cap is designed for remote access and tool installation, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but the cap structure becomes more complex with additional features
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is extracted as a separate component with an external threaded connection to the main valve body. This extraction allows the cap to be equipped with maintenance features like grip surfaces or tool interfaces without complicating the buried portion of the assembly, as the cap can be removed and handled separately during installation and maintenance.
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 solution effectively prevents sewage backup into buildings by allowing easy maintenance and replacement of the flapper sub-assembly without excavating the valve assembly, ensuring reliable operation and reducing maintenance costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The flapper element can be disposed at an angle to allow gravity to hold the flapper element against the main body portion when in a closed position
Implementation Method 2
The flapper element can include a protrusion that creates a generally fluid tight seal against the main body portion when in a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a backwater valve assembly comprising a main valve body, a flapper sub-assembly, and a cap. The main valve body has an inner wall that can define a recess into which the flapper sub-assembly can be removably secured. The flapper sub-assembly includes at least one flapper element that can pivot between an open position, in which the flapper element allows fluid to flow through the backwater valve assembly, and a closed position, in which the flapper element prevents fluid from flowing in the opposite direction. The flapper sub-assembly can be removably coupled to the cap to allow the flapper sub-assembly and cap to be installed in or removed from the main valve body together as a unitary assembly.