Elastomeric Check Valve with Tapered Axial Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing check valves in air compressor systems require high cracking pressures and are unsuitable for large process flows due to their design, leading to inefficient operation and potential damage from backpressure accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring a tapered section with an elastomeric seal that increases in diameter downstream, allowing the seal to move away from the valve body and create a preselected clearance, reducing cracking pressure and preventing backpressure accumulation by maintaining continuous air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air pressure is exerted outwardly against the o-ring in a radial direction, then the check valve can seal effectively, but the design inherently requires relatively large cracking pressures for operation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of exerting air pressure outwardly against the o-ring in a radial direction (conventional approach), the invention exerts air pressure inwardly against the o-ring in an axial direction. This inversion of the pressure application direction allows the o-ring to be pushed axially against the tapered section to achieve sealing, while requiring significantly lower cracking pressures to initiate valve opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the direction and distribution of air pressure application on the o-ring from radial outward pressure to axial inward pressure. This parameter change in pressure application methodology enables the o-ring to function effectively as both a sealing element and a valve opening mechanism, reducing the cracking pressure while maintaining reliable sealing.
2Productivity
If the check valve is designed to allow passage of larger process flows, then it can prevent backpressure accumulation, but the valve size and cross-sectional area must be significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a dynamic o-ring that can expand and contract axially in response to air pressure changes. When the valve is closed, the o-ring is compressed axially to provide sealing. When air pressure opens the valve, the o-ring expands axially to create a large flow passage. This dynamic behavior allows a compact valve design to accommodate large process flows without requiring a significantly increased valve size.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric o-ring serves as a flexible element that can dynamically change its cross-sectional area. When pressurized, the o-ring expands to create a large effective flow area, allowing the valve to pass large process flows. When depressurized, the o-ring contracts to a compact size, maintaining a small valve overall dimension. This flexibility enables the valve to handle large flows without requiring a large valve body.
3Reliability
If the o-ring is biased against tapered sections to normal positions against seats, then sealing is achieved, but the o-ring assumes an angled position on the tapered section leading to sticking or uneven wear
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the o-ring being biased against tapered sections at an angle (conventional approach), the invention orients the tapered section such that the o-ring is biased axially against a substantially radial surface. This inversion of the sealing geometry ensures that the o-ring contacts the sealing surface perpendicular to the direction of motion, preventing sticking and uneven wear while maintaining effective sealing contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of o-ring distortion and uneven wear into a benefit by designing the tapered section to guide the o-ring into a proper sealing position. The tapered geometry, rather than causing angled contact and sticking, actually helps center the o-ring and ensure uniform contact with the radial sealing surface, extending operational life while maintaining sealing reliability.
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 reduces cracking pressure and prevents substantial backpressure accumulation, enabling efficient passage of large air flows and extending the valve's operational life by minimizing wear and pulsation.
Implementation Method 1
An elastomeric seal is mounted around the tapered section to reciprocate on the tapered section
Implementation Method 2
air pressure is exerted outwardly against the o-ring in a radial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve includes a valve body having an inlet end through which air enters the valve and a valve cavity extending through the valve body and leading to an outlet end. A valve assembly is located at a position that enables control of the flow of air through the valve cavity. The valve assembly includes a tapered section having a cross section that increases in diameter in a direction that is downstream from the inlet end of the valve and which may be included as part of a plug. An elastomeric seal is mounted around the tapered section to reciprocate on the tapered section, with the tapered section biasing the elastomeric seal to a normal position at which the seal comes into sealing contact with both the valve body and tapered section to prevent the downstream flow of air from the inlet end out the outlet end.