Stacked Multi-Plate Valve for Unidirectional Gas Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas transportation devices face challenges in maximizing flow rate while effectively preventing backflow, which is essential for applications in miniaturized systems and industrial uses.
Innovation Solution
A gas transportation device is designed with a stacked configuration of a gas outlet plate, a valve plate, a first plate, a second plate, and a square actuating component, which collaboratively form a valve body that opens and seals flow paths based on airflow direction, preventing backflow and achieving high-flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the structural design focuses on preventing backflow and generating unidirectional airflow, then the reliability of gas transportation is improved, but the flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into multiple plates (valve plate, first plate, second plate) with separate functional regions. The first plate has first orifices for gas passage, the second plate has second orifices misaligned with the first, creating segmented flow paths that enable directional control while maintaining flow capacity through multiple parallel channels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane valve design to a multi-plate stacked configuration with misaligned orifices in different planes. This dimensional arrangement creates a three-dimensional flow path structure where gas must traverse multiple levels, enabling effective backflow prevention while preserving high flow rates through the stacked parallel pathways
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gas transportation device is miniaturized, then the adaptability to various applications is improved, but the flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body segments gas flow into multiple parallel paths through separate orifices in different plates. This segmentation allows the compact valve to handle high total flow rates by distributing flow across multiple channels, enabling miniaturization without sacrificing flow capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-plate valve structure nests multiple functional layers within a compact stack. The valve plate, first plate, and second plate are arranged in a nested configuration where each plate contributes to flow control, allowing the entire valve assembly to fit in a small space while maintaining high flow rates through the combined capacity of all orifices
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A gas transportation device (100) is provided and includes an outer housing (11), a valve body (2) and an actuator (3). The valve body (2) includes a gas outlet plate (21), a valve plate (22) and a first plate (23). The gas outlet plate (21) includes plural outlet apertures (211), the first plate (23) includes plural first orifices (231), the valve plate (22) includes plural valve openings (221), the plural valve openings (221) are misaligned with the plural first orifices (231) and corresponding in position to the plural outlet apertures (211). The actuator (3) having an actuating component (33) in rectangular shape is stacked and disposed on the valve body (2). When the actuator (3) is driven, through the structure that the plural first orifices (231) and the plural valve openings (221) are misaligned, the valve body (2) is operated to open a flow path when an airflow is in a forward direction, and the valve body (2) is operated to seal the flow path when the airflow is in a reverse direction.