Stacked Backflow Preventer With Offset Piping for Fluid Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing backflow preventers face challenges in preventing backflow in stacked configurations, particularly in maintaining structural integrity and ensuring effective fluid containment during backflow conditions, while also complying with certification requirements and logistical constraints in existing plumbing systems.
Innovation Solution
A backflow preventer design featuring a stacked configuration with offset piping and check valves, including a coupling portion with an offset portion that inhibits backflow and a relief outlet for draining contaminants, allowing for compact installation and compliance with testing standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a stacked configuration is used to reduce footprint space, then installation space is reduced, but structural integrity and fluid containment during backflow conditions become more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The backflow preventer is divided into multiple functional segments (first check valve, second check valve, relief valve, offset portion) arranged in a stacked configuration. Each segment performs a specific function, allowing the overall device to maintain reliability while reducing footprint space through vertical arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical stacked configuration, utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal footprint. The offset portion extends laterally from the vertical stack to provide backflow prevention without increasing the primary footprint, effectively moving functionality to another spatial dimension.
2Reliability
If check valves are positioned in series to improve backflow prevention, then backflow prevention capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple check valves and the relief valve are merged into a single integrated stacked assembly with common inlet and outlet connections. This combining of multiple functional elements into one unified device improves backflow prevention capability while managing complexity through integrated design rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: the first and second check valves prevent backflow in different directions, the relief valve provides pressure relief, and the offset portion prevents siphonage. This multi-functionality within a single device structure improves reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If an offset portion is added to inhibit backflow, then backflow prevention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The offset portion is nested within the overall stacked structure, extending laterally from the vertical arrangement of valves. This nesting approach allows the offset functionality to be integrated into the compact stacked design without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity, as the offset portion shares the same inlet/outlet connections as the main valve assembly.
4Ease of operation
If a relief outlet is positioned adjacent to the offset portion, then contaminant drainage is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relief outlet is positioned at a specific location adjacent to the offset portion where it can effectively drain contaminants. This localized positioning optimizes the drainage function without requiring high manufacturing precision across the entire device, as only the specific outlet location needs to meet positioning requirements.
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 design effectively prevents backflow and allows for efficient fluid containment, maintaining structural integrity and compliance with certification requirements, even in stacked configurations, while minimizing logistical challenges in retrofitting existing plumbing systems.
Implementation Method 1
the offset portion inhibits flow of fluid from the outlet to the inlet during a backflow condition
Implementation Method 2
a first check valve located between the inlet and the outlet with respect to the flow path; a second check valve located between the first check valve and the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
Backflow preventers permit forward fluid flow through the backflow preventer while preventing backflow or back-siphonage of contaminated fluid. A backflow preventer includes an inlet, and an outlet positioned in a stacked configuration with respect to the inlet. The backflow preventer includes a first check valve located between the inlet and the outlet, and a second check valve located between the first check valve and the outlet with respect to the flow path. The backflow preventer further includes a coupling portion providing fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The coupling portion includes an offset portion that is laterally offset with respect to the inlet, and the offset portion inhibits flow of fluid from the outlet to the inlet during a backflow condition.