Elastomeric Tide Gate Valve Bill Structure for Low Opening Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tide gate check valves require a significant positive differential pressure to open and have a high ratio of headloss to backpressure capability, which is undesirable in applications where fluid backflow needs to be prevented efficiently, such as in storm sewer systems and chemical plants.
Innovation Solution
A check valve design featuring a tubular sleeve with a longitudinally-extending trough, a flexible disc with a hinge member, and a bill that extends longitudinally, incorporating grooves, ribs, and notches to reduce the lateral stiffness and increase flexibility, allowing the valve to open with lower pressure and maintain backpressure capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a prior art tide gate check valve is used to prevent backflow, then backflow prevention is achieved, but a significant positive differential pressure (e.g., 330.2mm or 13 inches) is required before the valve opens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible bill component made of elastomeric material that can bend and deform under pressure. This flexible structure allows the valve to open at lower differential pressures compared to rigid prior art designs. The bill's flexibility enables it to deflect upstream when backpressure occurs, automatically closing the valve without requiring high opening pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the valve components by using elastomeric materials with specific durometer ratings (e.g., 40-70 Shore A for the bill, 50-80 Shore A for the disc). These material parameter selections optimize the balance between flexibility for low-pressure opening and stiffness for effective backflow prevention, resolving the contradiction between opening pressure and backflow capability.
2Reliability
If a prior art check valve design is used, then backflow prevention is provided, but the ratio of headloss to backpressure capability is high
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible bill and disc components can deform to optimize flow characteristics. During forward flow, the flexible structures bend to minimize resistance and headloss. During backflow, the same flexibility enables effective sealing against backpressure. This dynamic adaptation reduces the headloss-to-backpressure capability ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite elastomeric materials with varying durometer ratings for different components (bill, disc, hinge member). This composite material approach allows each component to have optimized properties: softer materials for flexibility and low headloss, and harder materials for structural integrity and backpressure resistance, thereby reducing the overall headloss-to-backpressure ratio.
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 the pressure required for the valve to open and minimizes headloss while maintaining effective backpressure resistance, addressing the limitations of prior art by allowing efficient fluid flow with reduced street flooding and preventing salt water intrusion.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible hinge member having a second material which is more flexible than the first material of the disc
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3h
AI summary
A check valve includes a tubular sleeve bounding a longitudinally-extending flow-through passage for fluids, a disc having a first material affixed along a first portion of its periphery to a flexible hinge member, and a bill affixed at a first end to one or more of the sleeve, the flexible hinge member, and the disc. The check valve also includes one or more of the following of (i), (ii), and (iii): (i) at least one groove, rib, insert, or combination thereof that extends longitudinally along a length of the disc, the bill, or both the disc and the bill; (ii) at least one groove, notch, rib, insert, or combination thereof that extends laterally along a width of the bill; and (iii) at least one ripple that extends longitudinally along a length of the bill and, optionally, longitudinally along a length of the disc.