Vertical Backflow Seal With Self-Cleaning Drop Flap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Common backflow preventers face issues with contamination from particularly dirty wastewater, such as faeces, leading to impaired functionality due to dirt particles adhering to movable parts and seals.
Innovation Solution
A tubular backflow preventer with a pivotable drop flap that automatically closes against gravity in the normal position, opening in the direction of gravity to allow wastewater flow, utilizing wastewater kinetic energy for cleaning and reducing contamination, and featuring a vertical installation orientation to create an air cushion for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex design measures are taken to improve backflow prevention function, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of wastewater flow (which could carry contaminants) into a beneficial cleaning mechanism. The wastewater flow automatically cleans the closing parts and sealing seals by flushing them during normal operation, eliminating the need for complex manual cleaning or maintenance systems while ensuring reliable backflow prevention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The backflow preventer performs self-cleaning through its own operational wastewater flow. The system uses its functional operation (wastewater passage) to simultaneously clean its own critical components, eliminating the need for external maintenance systems or complex design measures for component protection.
2Reliability
If the backflow preventer is designed to handle contaminated wastewater, then reliability is improved, but contamination of functional parts occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the contaminated wastewater from a harmful contaminant source into a beneficial cleaning agent. The wastewater flow continuously flushes the closing parts and sealing seals, preventing contaminant accumulation and maintaining operational reliability without requiring additional protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning action occurs periodically with each wastewater flow cycle. Every time wastewater passes through the preventer, it automatically cleans the functional parts, creating a continuous periodic cleaning regimen that prevents contamination buildup while maintaining reliable operation.
3Ease of operation
If the drop flap is positioned to allow easy opening by wastewater flow, then ease of operation is improved, but contamination of the drop flap increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the wastewater flow that causes contamination into a cleaning mechanism. The same flow that opens the drop flap also flushes and cleans it, eliminating the net contamination effect while maintaining easy automatic operation of the flap.
Solution Approach 2:
The drop flap is self-cleaning through the wastewater flow that operates it. The functional operation of opening and closing the flap simultaneously performs the cleaning function, eliminating the need for separate protection or cleaning mechanisms.
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 ensures reliable operation even with contaminated wastewater by minimizing contamination on functional components, efficiently flushing away dirt, and preventing contact between backflow wastewater and critical parts, enhancing operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the drop flap allows wastewater to flow in the direction of the wastewater passage path through an open position and blocks it against the direction of the wastewater passage path through a closed position, wherein the drop flap is automatically closed against the direction of gravity in a vertical installation orientation of the backflow preventer in a normal position and opens automatically in the direction of gravity in a wastewater passage situation
Implementation Method 2
the wastewater flow hitting the flap valve, which is closed in the normally closed position, in a wastewater passage situation cleans the flap valve and the flap valve opening and noticeably reduces and in some cases even prevents the adhesion of contaminants to these functionally relevant components
Implementation Method 3
the vertical installation orientation allows the kinetic energy of the wastewater to be used to efficiently flush the backflow preventer, which reduces dirt deposits and further increases the operational reliability of the backflow preventer
Implementation Method 4
the standard closed position of the trapdoor ensures that an air cushion is reliably formed below the closed trapdoor opening in a backflow situation, which makes it possible to position functionally relevant parts of the backflow preventer, such as the trapdoor and the trapdoor opening, in such a way that the level of the backflow wastewater does not come into contact with these functionally relevant parts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a tubular backflow preventer for vertical installation in a sewer pipe gradient, comprising a wastewater inlet nozzle and a wastewater outlet nozzle, wherein a wastewater passage path of the backflow preventer runs from the wastewater inlet nozzle to the wastewater outlet nozzle, a pivotable drop flap which interacts sealingly with a drop flap opening between the wastewater inlet nozzle and the wastewater outlet nozzle, and the drop flap allows wastewater to flow in the direction of the wastewater passage path through an open position and blocks it against the direction of the wastewater passage path through a closed position, wherein the drop flap is automatically closed against the direction of gravity in a vertical installation orientation of the backflow preventer in a normal position and opens automatically in the direction of gravity in a wastewater passage situation.The invention also relates to an associated wastewater lifting system.