Springless Non-Return Valve for Resin Injection Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing resin injection systems for electrical cable joints require intricate and costly non-return valves with spring mechanisms, which are prone to fracture and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A resin injection system with a non-return valve that omits spring means, using a valve body loosely held by the valve housing, which is freely movable between closed and open positions, and biased by a resilient spacer material through a contact member, allowing for a simpler and cost-effective design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring means are used to bias the valve body to the closed position, then the valve can maintain a sealed position, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring component entirely from the valve assembly. The valve body is no longer biased by spring means but instead relies on its own weight and the reaction force from the resilient spacer material to return to the closed sealing position after opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body serves its own function of returning to the closed position through its inherent properties (weight) and interaction with the spacer material, rather than requiring an external spring mechanism to provide the returning force.
2Reliability
If spring means are used to bias the valve body to the closed position, then the valve can maintain a sealed position, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring component is extracted from the valve assembly, eliminating the need for precise spring selection, installation, and adjustment procedures. This simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body and its returning mechanism are merged into a single integrated component. The valve body itself, through its weight and interaction with the spacer material, provides both the sealing function and the returning function that previously required separate spring components.
3Device complexity
If the valve body is loosely held and freely movable, then the device complexity is reduced, but the valve may not maintain consistent sealing pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient spacer material acts as an intermediary between the valve body and the resin injection system. When the valve body is pushed open, it compresses the spacer material, which then provides a reaction force to push the valve body back to the closed sealing position, ensuring consistent sealing pressure.
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 system provides a robust and durable seal for electrical cable joints without the need for complex spring mechanisms, reducing manufacturing costs and operational risks, while ensuring effective resin flow and sealing.
Implementation Method 1
the interaction of the valve body with the resilient spacer material of the resin injection system, i.e. via the contact member, can operate to bias the valve body from the open position back to the closed position during use
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a non-return valve for a resin injection system, especially for use in electrical cable joints, comprising: a valve housing which includes an outlet for a fluid flowing through the valve; and a valve body which is held by the valve housing and is freely movable between a closed position, in which the outlet is substantially sealed or closed to fluid flow by the valve body, and an open position, in which the outlet is substantially open to fluid flow. Thus, with the present invention, the valve body can be loosely held by the valve housing and the valve need not include any spring means to bias the valve body to the closed position. The invention also provides a resin injection system for sealing a localised breach in an object, such as an electrical cable joint.