Backflow preventer valve

摘要

An insertable backflow preventer is presented. The backflow preventer is provided with a cylindrical housing. The housing has a flow transition zone, a proximal orifice/ball seat, a ball with a specific weight that equals or is close to the specific weight of the surrounding fluid, and a distal retaining screen. The housing can have a flange provided on the outside of the housing at one end to facilitate securing the valve in a pipe. The valve is self-cleaning, can be placed in any orientation in a pipe and has low hydraulic head-loss. The valve's unique cost-effective design provides for easy and relative quick installation, eliminates the need to reconfigure existing plumbing, and can be performance tested remotely. Properly installed, it can dramatically improve the security of, for example, potable water sources in a building or other context, and inasmuch as when installed it is not visible, it is tamper proof. The valve can be scaled to any size pipe or tube, and due to its internal flow dynamics is self cleaning. Multiple valves can be installed in series, and balls of varying specific weight can be used in each valve in such a series to allow for contexts where a range of fluids are sent through the same line, or to provide fail-safe operation in the event that contaminants change the specific gravity of the fluid.

主权项

1. A valve, comprising:
a valve body; a retaining screen at a distal end; a ball seat at a proximal end portion; and a ball;wherein the valve body has an outer diameter, said outer diameter being constant between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the ball is caged between the retaining screen and the ball seat,
wherein the ball has a specific weight that is a defined function of the specific weight of a fluid to be sent through the valve, and wherein in forward flow the ball is positioned inside the retaining screen, allowing fluid to pass, but under a backflow pressure introduced distally to the retaining screen, the ball seats in the ball seat, and backflow is prevented.