GB2146740A

GB2146740A - Non-return valve

Info

Publication number: GB2146740A
Application number: GB08324763A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Glover
Original assignee: GRUNDY
Current assignee: GRUNDY
Priority date: 1983-09-15
Filing date: 1983-09-15
Publication date: 1985-04-24
Also published as: US4632151A; GB8324763D0; GB2146740B

Description

1 GB 2 146 740A 1

SPECIFICATION

Non-return valves This invention relates to non-return valves and 70 in particular to a flexible valve element which may be installed in a fluid flow passageway to allow relatively unimpeded flow in one direction whilst preventing substantial flow in a reverse direction.

An object of this invention is to provide a non-return valve element which has a small flow restricting cross section when opened and which is simple and of low cost and which can be installed and removed for replacement or cleaning easily.

A further object is to provide a valve which initially opens in the flow direction under very low pressures.

According to this invention there is pro- vided a non-return valve element comprising an elongate rib having integral wings project ing one from each side of an edge of the rib, the wings being capable of flexure hingewise in the zone of the juncture of the wings and rib to allow the plane of the wings to lie in juxtaposed relationship to the plane of the rib.

The plane containing the wings will prefera bly extend substantially at right angles to the plane of the rib. The edge zone of the rib 95 opposed to that carrying the wings is prefera bly thickened. The thickness of the wings may taper from a minimum at the juncture with the rib to a maximum at the outer extremity.

The wings are advantageously each of semi circular plan defining together a circular pro file lying in a first plane with the rib extending across a diameter and lying in a second plane intersecting the first at right angles.

In use, the valve element is fitted into a shouldered bore whereby the wings normally fill the bore and sealingly engage the shoulder with the plane of the rib lying on the longitudinal axis of the bore. Fluid flow through the bore from one direction causes the wings to be flexed to a position adjacent the rib thus opening the valve element, flow in an op posed direction causing the wings to seat on the shoulder to prevent flow.

The operation and construction and further 115 features of a valve element according to the invention is described by way of an example shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1, shows a section through a valve 120 element, on X-X of Fig. 3, inserted in a bore, Figure 2, shows a plan view of the valve element from above, and Figure 3, shows a side view of a valve element.

Referring to the drawings, the valve ele- ment comprises a one piece moulding of resilient rubber material, for example a syn

Claims

thetic rubber, which is shaped to include a CLAIMS relatively thick and

hence rigid planar rib 1 of 130 A non-return valve element comprising an which the upper edge 1 a includes a cylindrical protuberance 2 forming a reinforcement against longitudinal and transverse deflections. The lower edge 1 b of the rib has two integral laterally extending wings 3 and 4, each of which is semi-circular in plan. The wings together in planform are circular and are designed to fit a cylindrical bore 5 provided in a fluid flow channel. The bore 5 is delimited from a narrower cross-section bore 6 by means of a shoulder 7 forming a seating for the wings 3 and 4, and an abutment for the ends 8 and 9 of the edge 1 b of the rib 1. An annular securing collar 10 engages bore 5 and presses against the sides of the top edge 1 a of the rib, thus causing same to be firmly clamped in position in bore 5.

Fluid flow from channel 6 to 5 causes the wings to flex about the juncture lines 3a, 4a, with the rib and to facilitate this hinging action the line of the juncture is of reduced thrickness, conveniently achieved by providing for the planar uppermost surface of the wing to taper relatively to the planar lower surface, Fig. 1 shows two embodiments, the wing 3 or one embodiment being thicker than the wing 4 of the other. The juncture, in an alternative embodiment, has an arcuate depression extending parallel with the rib and forming a hinge line of reduced thickness. The wings are shown in broken lines in the position they adopt with maximum deflection. The thinner one of the two wings, i.e. 4, would be more suitable for lower operating pressures. The flowrate will be substantially the same for either wing shown as it is limited by the bore 6. The wings, in the embodiment, are tapered to provide a relatively wide hing zone thus spreading the hinging stresses outwards. This avoids fatigue occuring along a single defined hinge line.

Return flow from channel 5 to 6 causes the wings to be firmly seated on shoulder 7, thus creating a seal.

The rib 1 may be profiled to accomodate the wings in the open condition. This arrangement gives a high open flow cross-section in relation to size of bore and physical size and further the lightly inherent spring loaded wings are arranges so that the spring effect runs out of stroke at the point where the valve closes. This enables the valve to open at very low forward pressures. The one piece rubber moulding can be fitted into a simple stepped bore without the need for any precision finishing and the simple construction makes the non-return valve inherently hygienic, being easily sterilized. The valve can be fitted in any orientation as it does not rely on gravity to operate efficiently and can be moulded in various flexible materials to suit particular applications.

t 2 GB 2 146 740A 2 elongate rib having integral wings projecting one from each side of an edge of the rib, the wings being capable of flexure hingewise in the zone of the juncture of the wings and rib to allow the plane of the wings to lie in juxtaposed relationship to the plane of the rib.
2. A non-return valve comprising a valve element, according to claim 1, fitted into a shouldered bore whereby the wings normally fill the bore and sealingly engage the shoulder with the plane of the rib lying on the longitudinal axis of the bore.
3. A valve element or non-return valve according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plane containing the wings extends substantially at right angles to the plane of the rib.
4. A valve element or non-return valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the edge zone of the rib opposed to that carrying the wings is thickened.
5. A valve element or non-return valve, according to any preceding claims, wherein the thickness of the wings tapers from a minimum at the juncture with the rib to a maximum at the outer extremity.
6. A valve element or non-return valve, according to any preceding claim, wherein the wings are each of semi-circular plan defining together a circular profile lying in a first plane with the rib extending across a diameter and lying in a second plane intersecting the first at right angles.
7. A valve element or non-return valve, according to any preceding claim, wherein the element is a one-piece moulding of a rubber material.
8. A valve element or non-return valve, according to any preceding claim, wherein the region of the juncture has an arcuate depres- Sion extending parallel with the rib, and forming a hinge line of reduced thickness.
9. An element for use as a non-return valve and a non-return valve incorporating such an element, substantially as herein de- scribed with reference to the drawings.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majestys Stationery Office, Dd 8818935. 1985. 4235. Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A l AY, from which copies may be obtained.