Posted by Cayla Julius on | Comments Off on The Umbrella Check Valve: A Better Solution for OEM Devices
Check valves stand as the unrecognized champions of flow control, quietly enabling the smooth movement of fluids and gases in one direction while firmly blocking any backward flows. For design engineers and technical professionals, the performance of check valves can make or break the efficiency, reliability, and durability of an application. Yet, among the usual troubles of traditional check valves emerges the Umbrella Check Valve. This innovative solution holds the promise of overcoming the limitations of its predecessors, shaping a new chapter in the world of flow control.
Understanding Check Valve Issues
Common problems with traditional check valves are not just inconveniences; they can significantly impact the functionality and service life of entire systems. Some of the most common hinderances of check valves are:
Noise and vibration
Degrading material
Leakage
Reversion
Performance decline over time
Limited cracking pressures
Introducing the Umbrella Check Valve
Air Logic’s Umbrella Check Valve is a revolutionary design that rethinks the fundamentals of non-return valves. Crafted with a plastic body and a preloaded elastomer seat, the umbrella valve embodies a forward-thinking approach to minimizing the flaws of its predecessors. With a specific focus on addressing cracking pressures of below 2 psi, the umbrella check valve delivers a unique set of advantages that set it apart in the check valve landscape.
Distinct Advantages
While certain issues may not have universal solutions through a product, the Umbrella Check Valve stands out as a versatile problem solver precisely where it matters. In cases requiring low cracking pressure, Poppet and Spring-loaded Ball style check valves struggle due to inconsistent performance from mass-producing lightweight springs.
To address variability or the specification for no metal, many OEMs opt for the Duckbill style check valve. However, Duckbills can stick together, causing erratic cracking pressure. Manufacturers sometimes use lubrication initially, but this diminishes with use, reducing efficiency and contaminating the system. Air Logic’s Umbrella Check Valves are robustly configured to not include lubrication and can handle a much wider operating range, continuing to function at pressures that would cause a Duckbill to fail.
Applications in Engineering
The versatility of the umbrella check valve shines through in its compatibility with a wide array of applications. Ranging from life sciences to consumer products, this first-in-class solution of one-way flow regulation finds its home in the most intricate and sensitive of systems. Providing reliability in small engines and precision in medical and analytical devices, the umbrella check valve demonstrates its value through its adaptability and problem-solving capabilities.
The “PPS” Variation
The Polypropylene and Silicone variation of the Umbrella Check Valve has been meticulously engineered to meet the stringent demands of the Life Science sector. This specific model addresses critical industry requirements such as biocompatibility, chemical resistance, and durability in harsh environments. By utilizing high-grade Polypropylene for the body and a Silicone elastomer for the valve seat, the PPS variation ensures compatibility with a wide range of fluids and gases encountered in medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological applications. Notably, these materials have been chosen for their compliance with relevant agency ratings, including USP Class VI for biocompatibility and FDA 21 CFR for food and drug safety. Significantly, the design intentionally avoids the incorporation of materials like DEHP and BPA, known for their potential health risks, thereby aligning with the industry’s shift towards safer and more environmentally conscious manufacturing practices.
Take a look at all the listed ratings and absent materials on any of the PPS product pages.
Conclusion
The umbrella check valve is not just a technical innovation; it truly showcases the ongoing collaboration of our target markets and our product development teams. By understanding and addressing the issues that have plagued traditional check valves, this solution serves as an exemplar for the potential of progressive design. Design engineers, technical buyers, and industry aficionados are encouraged to not just consider, but to fully incorporate this distinctive product. Air Logic’s Umbrella Check Valve embodies progress, and it is a stride worth taking for anyone vested in the fluid control industry.
Posted by Cayla Julius on | Comments Off on Air Logic’s Lowest Flow Rate Capability Yet!
Orifice plates and restrictors work to limit flow rate through an air or liquid circuit in a variety of applications. OEM manufacturers prefer to use orifice restrictors for flow control because of its simplified assembly procedures. Due to their single, preset flow rate, there is no complicated setup process. Once the restrictor is incorporated with the flow lines, it is ready to restrict the air or gas flowing through: no adjustments required!
From Manhole to Pinpoint: The Miniaturization of the Orifice Plate
The concept to utilize restrictive orifice devices in small fluid circuits was originally incorporated from larger pipe systems in industries such as water treatment and refineries. The larger flow lines included plates with manufactured openings to selectively reduce the area of flow to control flow rate. These same mechanics are what’s in play in the miniature scale for our orifice restrictors.
The smaller orifice restrictors are integrated inline to have a single, controlled rate. The rate is set by the size of the diameter of the opening in the blocking material; usually made of types of metals, plastics, and gems.
Air Logic’s Economic Focus
Air Logic works to engineer cost-effective solutions to provide our customers. Our previous orifice restrictors are molded from Polysulfone plastic to provide this solution. This process entails the orifice being created by a select area of the mold that the plastic is not injected into. This process, though, caused limitation on the size capabilities we were able to reach. We were pushed to test our abilities to find another solution; this led to our latest product release.
Announcing the Micro Orifice Plate!
As the nickel plate does not suffer from the limitations of the molding process, much smaller diameter sizes are able to be produced.
With the fully Polysulfone versions, the smallest diameter capable of being produced was 0.004 inches. With Air Logic’s new Micro Orifice Plate, diameter sizes of 0.003in, 0.002in, and 0.001in are now available for your lowest flow rate needs yet.
If you are using expensive machined billet or jeweled orifices, consider switching out for micro orifice plates for a more cost-efficient solution today. By employing the use of a thin nickel plate, Air Logic is able to greatly reduce the purchasing price to provide an economical option to our customers!
Posted by Cayla Julius on | Comments Off on The Benefits of the Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valve
Img.1: Schematic graphic of check valve
Check valves are a simple cost-effective solution to protecting your circuit from backflow, also known as reversion. Each different design and configuration allow for the part to be a versatile component of the system design that can be manipulated to your specifications. Every different selection and combination will result in a different capability of the overall product. Advanced applications of check valves include specified cracking pressures, flow rates, and material compatibility.
Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valves are a time-tested product. Even upon the search of the schematic image for a check valve, it is a depiction of a spring-loaded ball in the symbol (ref. image 1).
This image also serves as a representation on how the check valve works to prevent backflow. In the “valve open” diagram, as the forward flow exceeds the amount of the cracking pressure, the ball is pushed back on the spring to allow the fluid to flow through. In the “valve closed” diagram, the flow has decreased to an amount below the cracking pressure, the spring extends to seal the closure back off. This is to show that as long as the flow is below the cracking pressure, the ball will stay in its blocking position.
Other Names for Check Valves
Check valves are called by many other names, for both general name as well as specified. Alternate names for check valves are:
General Names for “Check Valves”
Non-return valves
One-way valves
Application-Specific Names for “Check Valves”
Reflux valves
Holding valves
Relief Valve
Technology-Types of “Check Valves”
Spring-Loaded Ball
Umbrella
Duckbill
Floating Disk/Diaphragm
Poppet
Evaluation of Air Logic’s Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valve
Air Logic’s Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valve is capable of a max pressure force of 100 psi, or 8.6 bar. Our current designs have options of cracking pressure at 1 or 4 psi. It is due to the technical nature of the design of the Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valve that the valve is able to operate automatically to seal against the backflow. Since the spring allows for a trusted seal, the valve can be placed in any horizontal, vertical, or diagonal orientation to best conform to your design requirements.
Maneuverability
The Air Logic Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valves are easier to install and reposition in an assembly. The check valve’s purpose to keep the flows separated as long as the pressure does not crack the seal. Air Logic’s engineering of the spring-loaded design incorporates swivel fittings. The swivel fittings enable an additional degree of maneuverability to help protect the fluid circuit from tangled or blocked lines.
Tradeoffs
When evaluating which type of check valve technology is right for your application, consider these characteristics of a Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valve:
Sound Generation in Pneumatic Applications
Spring-Loaded Ball Check Valves may make audible noise in operation depending on the flow rate through the product and the specifications of the cracking pressure. This is due to the harmonic nature of a ball and spring combination generating oscillations during certain flow conditions. Generally, a low flow rate right at or near the cracking pressure is most likely to cause noise. This is not a concern in liquid applications, where the liquid will dampen the oscillations of the system, thus no noise is generated.
Stiction Between the Ball and O-Ring
When a ball and spring have been touching for a period of time, stiction may occur. This is observed as an increase in cracking pressure. It is due to the ball and O-ring having a slight adherence to each other. It can be affected by the inclusion or exclusion of lubricants in the fluid flow. Best practice on testing cracking pressures is to ignore the “first crack” by flowing through the check valve. Then, immediately repeat the cracking pressure test and take the reading from the “second crack”.
Range of Options
Air Logic currently markets 12 pre-designed options with different combinations of features to display the configurability of this exclusively made-to-order item. Of the pre-designed options, there is a choice of Silicon or Buna O-Rings; 1/4”, 1/8”, or 1/16” barbs; and 1psi or 4 psi cracking pressure. All of these choices are mixed and matched to create a wide array of possibilities to utilize within your designed unit.
That is only the start. The options go beyond the pre-designed 12 products Air Logic has listed. There are also the alternative O-Ring materials Viton (also called FKM) and EPDM; custom cracking pressures ranging anywhere between 1-10psi; and different barb port fittings (such as elbow’s and T’s). So, if you are not seeing the exact design you would need for your next project in our listed parts, always feel free to contact us to be connected with our expert team of engineers to configure the exact part you need!
Posted by Cayla Julius on | Comments Off on Barbed Inline Filter Product Expansion
Air Logic is announcing the expansion of the Barbed Inline Filter line by introducing a 100% Polypropylene option. Inline filters are designed to protect the sensitive components of a circuit from pieces of debris and other potentially harmful particles within the flowing gas or liquid. The filter captures the contaminants and stores it in the body of the part as the fluid goes through the system.
Previous Options from Air Logic
In the past, Air Logic has only publicly released inline filters that consist of Stainless-steel Dutch weave in a Polysulfone housing. This combination of materials is a robust mechanical product that is suitable for general industrial usage. We have primarily focused on the air circuit capabilities of the inline filters.
Air Logic’s Polysulfone barbed inline filters are created to be low-profile; the 1/16” barbs will have the filter diameter slightly larger than the tubing outside diameter while the 1/8” barbs allow the filter diameter to sit flush to the tubing outside diameter, depending on tube thickness. This is to best accommodate for limited space availability in the system design.
Previous filter sizes for the barbed inline filters have ranged from 5um up to 73um. The smaller the size of filtration, the smaller the size of debris the filter is able to restrain. Along with filtration capability, the Stainless-steel Dutch weave filter is incredibly robust and resistant to physical deformation.
The Benefits of Polypropylene
While the Polysulfone and stainless-steel filters are still an applicable offering of the Air Logic products today, there are certain benefits to choosing the Polypropylene option. The Polypropylene Barbed Inline Filter is completely made of the plastic material, both the filter and the housing. This not only allows for more cost-effective production, but also means that the entire part is recyclable.
In comparison to the Polysulfone, the Polypropylene also have a larger filter diameter. While this will take up more space in the design envelope, it allows for a significant increase of area to catch more debris and decreases flow resistance.
The Polypropylene Barbed Inline Filter was designed originally for use in liquid circuits, but it is also applicable to pneumatic circuits. The reason the intent was towards mainly liquid circuits is because of the resistance of the material. Polypropylene has a harsh chemical resistance, which paired with its list of agency ratings, allow for it to be rated for biocompatibility and medical-grade applications.
Agency Ratings
The type of Polypropylene that Air Logic utilizes has been graded against the following agency ratings:
Polypropylene is identified as a number 5 plastic. This material is recyclable, as compared to the Polysulfone which is not, but does not tend to be accepted at local curbside or drop-off recycle centers. Because of this, Polypropylene plastics are noted as one of the least recycled. When complete product sustainability is a goal, consider how the component selection will impact the recyclability of your product by researching recycling programs that accommodate for this specific plastic type.
Air Logic is constantly in the search of expanding our offerings and capabilities. For everyone that has any inquiries or requests, please contact our team of experts so we can start to assist you! Otherwise, check out our list of products and request a quote for your next project today!
