Device for preventing backflow in a cooling system

• US 20060016482A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Huettner, Cary Michael, Holahan, Maurice Francis, Berens, Jessica Rose, Good, Michael Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/897,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20060016482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/512.150
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/14 and having shutters, e.g. automatically closed when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/031 the hinge being flexible
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/035 with a plurality of valve members
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 Fan mounting or fan specifications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/784 Integral resilient member forms plural valves

Abstract

A novel check valve for an exhaust device is formed from a thin flexible plate. A plurality of flaps is formed in the thin flexible plate. The flaps are arranged in a vertical manner to form at least one column of flaps. A stopper is coupled to a back side of the thin flexible plate. The stopper prevents the plurality of flaps from moving towards the stopper.

Claims

1. A check valve for an exhaust device comprising:

a thin flexible plate to be coupled to an exhaust side of said exhaust device;

a plurality of flaps formed in said thin flexible plate, said flaps arranged in a vertical manner to form at least one column; and

at least one stopper coupled to a back side of said thin flexible plate, said stopper prevents said plurality of flaps from moving towards said stopper.

2. The check valve of claim 1 wherein said plurality of flaps are defined by a pair of side edges and a bottom edge, said pair of side edges being tapered so a bottom section of said pair of side edges are closer together than a top section of said pair of side edges.

3. The check valve of claim 2 wherein said plurality of flaps are formed in a vertical manner, said top section of each flap being in contact with said bottom section of an immediately preceding flap.

4. The check valve of claim 1 wherein said plurality of flaps are “

U”

shaped, a top section of a flap being in contact with a bottom section of an immediately preceding flap.

5. The check valve of claim 1 wherein said plurality of flaps are formed to align an opening angle with a preferred flow turning direction.

6. The check valve of claim 1 wherein said stopper is a bar member, said bar member running a length of said at least one column.

7. The check valve of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of holes formed around an outer perimeter of said thin flexible plate, said plurality of holes being used to couple said check valve to said exhaust device.

8. A check valve for an exhaust device comprising:

a thin flexible film member to be coupled to an exhaust side of said exhaust device;

a plurality of flaps formed in said thin flexible film member, said plurality of flaps arranged in a vertical manner to form a plurality of columns, said plurality of flaps are “

U”

shaped, a top section of a flap being in contact with a bottom section of an immediately preceding flap; and

a plurality of stoppers coupled to a back side of said thin flexible film member, said plurality of stoppers prevent said plurality of flaps from moving towards said plurality of stoppers.

9. The check valve of claim 8 wherein said plurality of flaps are defined by a pair of side edges and a bottom edge, said pair of side edges being tapered so a bottom section of said pair of side edges are closer together than a top section of said pair of side edges.

10. The check valve of claim 8 wherein said plurality of flaps are formed to align an opening angle with a preferred flow turning direction.

11. The check valve of claim 8 wherein said plurality of stoppers is a plurality of bar members wherein at least one bar member runs a length of each of said plurality of columns.

12. A method for manufacturing a check valve for an exhaust device, said method comprising:

providing a thin flexible plate;

forming a plurality of flaps in said thin flexible plate, said flaps arranged in a vertical manner to form at least one column; and

coupling at least one stopper to a back side of said thin flexible plate, said stopper prevents said plurality of flaps from moving towards said stopper.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein forming said flap further comprises forming said plurality of flaps wherein each of said plurality of flaps has a pair of side edges and a bottom edge, said pair of side edges being tapered so a bottom section of said pair of side edges are closer together than a top section of said pair of side edges.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein forming said plurality of flaps further comprises forming said plurality of flaps in a “

U”

shape, a top section of a flap being in contact with a bottom section of an immediately preceding flap.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein forming said plurality of flaps further comprises forming said plurality of flaps to align an opening angle of each flap with a preferred flow turning direction.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising forming a plurality of holes around an outer perimeter of said thin flexible plate, said plurality of holes being used to couple said check valve to said fan.