Resilient Hinge Floor Drain Valve for Gas Backflow Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gooseneck traps and check valves for floor drains face issues such as evaporation of fluid leading to gas leakage, insect breeding, hardening of fluid causing blockages, and difficulty in installation and pressure testing for leaks.

Innovation Solution

A floor drain assembly with a check valve featuring a cylindrical body and a rigid flapper mounted with a resilient hinge, allowing fluid passage while resisting back pressure for effective gas prevention and pressure testing, along with gaskets for various conduit configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gooseneck trap is used to prevent backflow of gases, then gas barrier function is improved, but fluid evaporation leads to gas leakage and insects may breed in the fluid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas barrier functionVSAvoidfluid evaporation and insect breeding

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the water seal function from the gooseneck trap design by implementing a check valve mechanism that prevents backflow of gases without requiring a U-shaped trap section to retain fluid. The check valve uses a hinged flap that closes automatically to block gas passage, eliminating the fluid retention problem while maintaining the gas barrier function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the fluid-based gas barrier mechanism of gooseneck traps with a mechanical check valve system. The hinged flap valve uses mechanical movement to open and close the gas passage, substituting the need for fluid seals and eliminating issues related to fluid evaporation, freezing, and insect breeding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a check valve is used to prevent backflow, then gas trapping effectiveness is improved, but the drain cannot be pressure tested for leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas trapping effectivenessVSAvoidpressure testing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic check valve system where the hinged flap can be positioned in different states. During normal operation, the flap automatically closes to prevent gas backflow. During pressure testing, the flap can be held open or removed to allow pressure equalization and leak detection, providing both gas trapping effectiveness and pressure testing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If conventional check valves are used, then gas backflow prevention is improved, but installation and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas backflow preventionVSAvoidinstallation and manufacturability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the floor drain system into distinct functional components: a drain basin, a check valve assembly with hinged flap, and a simple outlet connection. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using simple processes and facilitates easy installation by allowing the check valve to be inserted as a separate unit into the drain basin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex sealing mechanisms or multiple moving parts found in conventional check valves, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple hinged flap that relies on gravity and flow direction to open and close. The simplicity of the hinged flap mechanism reduces manufacturing complexity and installation difficulty while maintaining effective gas backflow prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 provides a reliable, easy-to-install, and effective means of preventing backflow of gases while allowing pressure testing of the drain system, enhancing the functionality and manufacturability of floor drains.

Implementation Method 1

a relatively rigid flapper mounted to the valve body with a resilient hinge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the lower peripheral edge of each flapper resiliently urged upwardly into sealing contact with a downwardly facing sealing surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic Recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentUS9139991B2Floor drain valve with resiliently mounted rigid flappers

Publication Date: 2015.09.22 RECTORSEAL LLC

AI summary

An improved floor drain valve for buildings, basements, exterior paved areas, and the like. The invention provides floor drain assemblies and check valves providing improved drainage performance, particularly where drainage is an irregular occurrence, and having unprecedented simplicity and reliability. Floor drains according to the invention comprise check valves having elastomeric hinge structures mounting relatively rigid flapper structures biased upwardly against sealing surfaces adapted for disposition within floor drains. Water entering the valve structure opens the flapper valves by gravitational forces downwardly against the relatively rigid flapper, and after passage of the water, the valve is elastomerically urged into the sealed position restricting back flow of gases from the downstream area of the drain conduit and permitting pressure testing of the downstream conduit.