Umbrella Vent Valve with Membrane Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional umbrella valves in air pumps cannot facilitate ventilation between the inner and external spaces of a housing even when the valve is closed, limiting their functionality.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation component with a pressure release valve, featuring a valve body made of elastomer with an umbrella cloth shape, a tubular shaft, and a gas-permeable membrane, allowing ventilation between the inner and external spaces via the membrane, even when the valve body is closed, by deforming elastically to release pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional umbrella valve is used to close passage holes in a housing, then the valve body can effectively block gas flow, but ventilation between the inner space and external space cannot occur even when the valve is closed
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into two functional regions: a closing portion that blocks the peripheral opening when closed, and a shaft portion that contains a ventilation path. This segmentation allows the valve to simultaneously provide both closing and ventilation functions through different parts of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas-permeable membrane is introduced as an intermediary element within the shaft portion. This membrane allows gas to pass through while maintaining the structural integrity of the ventilation path, enabling ventilation function without compromising the valve's closing capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the valve body is made completely closed to prevent foreign matter entry, then protection is improved, but pressure buildup occurs that can damage the gas-permeable membrane
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-permeable membrane utilizes a porous structure that allows gas molecules to pass through while blocking larger foreign matter particles. This resolves the contradiction by enabling pressure equalization through the membrane's pores while maintaining its protective function against foreign matter.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed with elastic deformation capability, allowing it to dynamically adjust its shape in response to pressure differences. When internal pressure exceeds external pressure by a predetermined threshold, the valve body elastically deforms to open the ventilation path, releasing pressure and preventing membrane damage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex structure with separate ventilation and closing components is used, then both functions can be achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the closing function and ventilation function into a single integrated valve body structure. The shaft portion serves dual purposes: supporting the closing portion while simultaneously providing a ventilation path through the gas-permeable membrane, thereby reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft portion is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides structural support, houses the ventilation path, and facilitates gas flow through the gas-permeable membrane. This universal design reduces the total number of components needed while achieving both closing and ventilation functions.
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
Enables ventilation between the inner and external spaces of a housing while maintaining the valve body's closed state, preventing foreign matter entry and reducing the risk of damage to the gas-permeable membrane, with a simple structure that lowers manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-permeable membrane closing the ventilation path such that ventilation can occur and allowing gas to pass therethrough in a thickness direction of the gas-permeable membrane
Implementation Method 2
the valve body portion elastically deforms to be away from the outer surface to release the pressure of the inner space
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation component includes a valve body portion, a shaft portion, a ventilation path, and a gas-permeable membrane. The shaft portion extends in a normal direction of the valve body portion. The shaft portion supports the valve body portion. The ventilation path extends through the shaft portion. The gas-permeable membrane closes the ventilation path. In a state where the ventilation component is fixed to a housing, a flow of gas passing through a peripheral opening is blocked by the valve body portion, and ventilation occurs between an inner space and an external space via the gas-permeable membrane. When a pressure difference obtained by subtracting a pressure of the external space from a pressure of the inner space is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the valve body portion elastically deforms to be away from an outer surface to release the pressure of the inner space.