Vacuum Breaker Valve with External Shutter Position Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum breaker valves do not allow users to determine whether the valve is open or closed from the outside, making it difficult to assess the fluid state within the duct.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum breaker valve design that includes a signalling element associated with the shutter, which protrudes from the valve body when the shutter is closed and is partially housed within the valve body when it is open, allowing external users to determine the valve's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a vacuum breaker valve is designed with a simple shutter mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but the ability to indicate valve position from the outside is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual indication through the positioning of the signalling element relative to the valve body opening. When the shutter is in the closed position, the signalling element protrudes from the valve body through the opening, providing a clear visual indicator. When the shutter is open, the signalling element is retracted inside the valve body. This visual change allows external users to determine valve position without adding complex mechanical indicators.
2Reliability
If the shutter is made fully sealed to prevent fluid leakage, then the reliability of pressure containment is improved, but the ability to allow air entry when vacuum occurs is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is designed as a dynamic component that automatically transitions between closed and open positions based on pressure differential. When normal pressure exists in the duct, the shutter remains closed to maintain pressure containment. When vacuum occurs (pressure inside duct drops below atmospheric pressure), the pressure differential automatically pushes the shutter open to allow air entry, thus adapting to different operating conditions without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve operates autonomously by utilizing the pressure differential itself as the actuating force. The shutter moves open or closed based solely on the pressure conditions within the duct, without requiring external control mechanisms, sensors, or power sources. The system serves itself by converting the pressure imbalance that needs to be corrected into the force that opens the shutter.
3Ease of manufacture
If no signalling element is added to indicate valve position, then the device complexity remains low and manufacturing is simpler, but the ease of operation and monitoring by users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The signalling element acts as an intermediary between the internal shutter mechanism and the external user. It translates the internal shutter position (which is not directly visible) into an external visual indicator that users can observe. The signalling element protrudes from the valve body when the shutter is closed and retracts when the shutter is open, providing a simple mechanical translation mechanism that enhances user interaction without complicating the core valve function.
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 users to easily identify whether the vacuum breaker valve is open or closed, facilitating the assessment of fluid presence and pressure balance within the duct.
Implementation Method 1
a shutter (40) placed inside the valve body (20) and configured to move along the longitudinal extension direction X between an open position, visible in Figure 2, according to which a first fluid is adapted to flow between the inlet port (21) and the outlet port (22), and a closed position, visible in Figure 3, according to which this flow is prevented. Said valve body (20) comprises a first inner abutment surface (23) defined between the inlet port (21) and at least a first portion of the shutter (40) and this inner surface (23) is configured to block the movement of the shutter (40) to the closed position when a second fluid from the outlet port (22) is at a higher pressure than the first fluid from the inlet port (21)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A vacuum breaker valve (10), comprising: - an internally hollow valve body (20) having a longitudinal extension direction (X); - a shutter (40) placed inside this valve body (20) and configured to move along the longitudinal extension direction (X) between an open position and a closed position; - a signalling element (41) operatively associated with the shutter (40) so that said signalling element (41) protrudes from the valve body (20) through an opening (27) defined in the valve body (20), when this shutter (40) is in the closed position, and so that such signalling element (41) is at least partially arranged inside the valve body (20) when the shutter (40) is in the open position.