Abstract:
Disclosed is a bypass valve comprising a valve body. The valve body has a gas inlet and a gas outlet, wherein a check valve is provided at the air outlet. The check valve comprises a check valve body, a ventilation plate and a first sealing gasket. A first gas passage for gas delivering is provided within the check valve body; ventilation holes are provided on the ventilation plate; the ventilation holes are in communication with the gas outlet; the first sealing gasket is provided between the ventilation plate and the check valve body; and the first gas passage and the ventilation holes are in selective communication with each other via the first sealing gasket. The uni-directional check valve is provided in the gas air outlet in the bypass valve, causing the direction of the gas flow to be unique, overcoming the problem of imprecise concentration of the anaesthetic gas caused by the a gas backflow, and having the advantage of structural technology and better gas tightness.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of medical instruments, in particular to a bypass valve. 
     TECHNICAL BACKGROUND 
     An anesthesia machine, which is an equipment very demanding for security, stability and operability used in the operating room, is applicable to deliver an anesthetic into pulmonary alveoli of a patient via a mechanical circuit and form a partial pressure of anesthetic gas in the pulmonary alveoli. The anesthetic has a direct inhibition action on the central nervous system after being diffused into blood, resulting in an effect of general anesthesia. The anesthesia machine preliminarily includes four parts of a gas supply system, a vaporizer, a ventilator and a circuit system. 
     The anesthetic evaporator, as a vital component in the anesthesia machine, is introduced to the anesthesia machine to provide the patient with a stable anesthetic gas mixture of an accurate concentration. The anesthetic evaporator can effectively evaporate the anesthetic, and also accurately control the concentration of the outputted anesthetic vapor. 
     The anesthetic evaporator is incorporated into the anesthesia machine through a bypass valve. When the anesthetic evaporator is not connected, the anesthesia machine delivers gas to the patient via the bypass valve, in this case, the bypass valve functions as a passage for transmitting the gas, and therefore should be leakage-proof to prevent the leakage of the gas. Poor gas tightness of the bypass valve may cause the leakage of a part of the gas, thus resulting in a waste of resources. Meanwhile, it should be ensured that the gas flowing through the bypass valve does not encounter gas resistance or encounters little gas resistance, thus providing smoothly the patient with the gas. When the anesthetic evaporator is connected, a gas passage within the bypass valve is closed, all the gas flows through the anesthetic evaporator, enters again into the anesthesia machine via the bypass valve after being outputted by the evaporator, and then is delivered to the patient. In this case, the bypass valve should be leakage-proof to prevent the leakage of the anesthetic. Poor gas tightness of the bypass valve may cause the leakage of the anesthetic, causing not only a waste of resources, but also an anesthesia to doctors, which has a great impact on the surgery quality and patient safety. 
     Traditional bypass valve includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. In use, the gas from the gas inlet enters into the evaporator via the bypass valve, flows to the downstream of the anesthesia machine through the gas outlet of the bypass valve after being outputted by the evaporator, and then is delivered to the patient. In practice, a gas backflow occurs to the bypass valve in the case of pressure fluctuation at the gas outlet, resulting in a concentration of the outputted anesthetic gas that is not precise enough to be used conveniently; meanwhile, the traditional bypass valve has still defects such as a structural and technological defect, poor gas tightness, and so on. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of a gas backflow phenomenon caused by the pressure fluctuation at the gas outlet of the traditional bypass valve, which further causes the imprecise concentration of the outputted anesthetic gas. Therefore, the present invention provides a bypass valve, in which a check valve is introduced at the gas outlet of the bypass valve, to allow the gas to flow unidirectionally without causing the gas backflow phenomenon, and the inventive bypass valve has advantages of a good structure and good gas tightness. 
     The object of the present invention is achieved by the technical solution below. 
     A bypass valve includes a valve body, which includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. a check valve including a check valve body, a ventilation plate and a first sealing gasket is arranged at the gas outlet, a first gas passage for gas delivering is arranged within the check valve body, the ventilation plate contains a ventilation hole in communication with the gas outlet, the first sealing gasket is arranged between the ventilation plate and the check valve body, and the first gas passage is selectively communicated with the ventilation hole by the first sealing gasket. 
     Further, a valve cover containing a second gas passage is arranged on the valve body of the bypass valve, the valve body of the bypass valve contains a third gas passage, a first cavity in communication with the gas inlet and a second cavity in communication with the first cavity, and the second cavity and the third gas passage are used for gas delivering when the bypass valve is not communicated with an evaporator. 
     Preferably, stepwise annular grooves comprising a first annular groove and a second annular groove are arranged on the valve body of the bypass valve at the gas outlet, the ventilation plate is arranged in the first annular groove, the check valve body is arranged adjacent to the outer side face of the ventilation plate and fixed to the valve body of the bypass valve by a screw, a sealing ring is arranged in the connection joint between the ventilation plate and the valve body of the bypass valve, and a sealing ring is arranged in the connection joint between the check valve body and the valve body of the bypass valve. 
     Preferably, inner threads are arranged in an upper part of the first cavity, and the valve cover is provided with external threads matching with the inner threads, such that the valve cover is threadedly connected to the valve body; two grooves are circumferentially arranged on the valve cover at an upper side and a lower side of the external threads respectively and each are used for accommodating the sealing rings; the sealing ring located at the upper side of the external threads is used for enhancing the gas tightness between the valve cover and the evaporator, while the other one located at the lower side of the external threads is used for enhancing the gas tightness between the valve cover and the valve body of the bypass valve; 
     the third gas passage is arranged under the first cavity and connected with the bottom of the first cavity, such that the second gas passage and the third gas passage are opposite to each other; a first boss corresponding to the outlet of the second gas passage is arranged at the bottom of the valve cover, and a second boss corresponding to the inlet of the third gas passage is arranged at the bottom of the first cavity. 
     Further, a third annular groove in communication with the first gas passage is arranged at an end of the check valve body that is connected with the ventilation plate; 
     the ventilation plate is substantially circular, a stepwise surface for mounting the sealing ring is arranged around the periphery of the ventilation plate, and the ventilation plate contains a center hole and a plurality of ventilation hole; 
     the first sealing gasket is arranged between the ventilation plate and the check valve body, and the gas outlet and the first gas passage are selectively communicated with each other by a movement of the first sealing gasket. 
     Further, a valve core is arranged in an assembly space formed by the second gas passage, the first cavity and the third gas passage, a second sealing gasket is arranged on the valve core and located between the first boss and the second boss, and the first cavity is selectively communicated with the second gas passage or the third gas passage by an up-and-down movement of the second sealing gasket. 
     Further, the first sealing gasket includes a disc and a rod arranged at the center of the disc, the first sealing gasket is arranged between the ventilation plate and the check valve body, the rod is extended through the center hole, the length of the rod is greater than the thickness of the ventilation plate, and a limit cap is arranged at a free end of the rod to prevent the first sealing gasket from releasing from the ventilation plate; when the disc is attached to the ventilation plate, the communication between the ventilation hole and the third annular groove is blocked, and hence the communication between the gas outlet and the first gas passage is blocked. 
     Further, the valve core includes a gland, an upper spring, a valve stem and a lower spring, which are sequentially connected from top to bottom; 
     a first projection is arranged at the upper portion of the gland, a second projection corresponding to the first projection is inwardly arranged at the top of the valve cover and located at an inlet of the second gas passage, the gland is limited within the second gas passage by the engagement between the first projection and the second projection, the gland is substantially cylindrical, four flat faces are formed evenly and longitudinally at the periphery of the gland, and guide portions with an arc-shaped cross section are arranged between the flat faces. 
     Further, the outer diameter of the disc is smaller than the inner diameter of the third annular groove, a plurality of limit projections are arranged within the third annular groove, which is in communication with the first gas passage, and a pipe joint for exhausting gas is threadedly connected to the outer end of the first gas passage. 
     Further, an upper installation groove is extended upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of the gland at the center of the gland and is chamfered at its opening, a lower installation groove is extended downwardly and inwardly from the top of the valve stem at the center of the valve stem, one end of the upper spring is arranged in the upper installation groove, while the other end of the upper spring is arranged in the lower installation groove; 
     an annular body is arranged in the middle of the valve stem, the upper surface of the annular body is tapered, an installation groove for the second sealing gasket is arranged on the valve stem immediately following the lower surface of the annular body, the second sealing gasket is arranged on the valve stem through the installation groove for the second sealing gasket, and a lower part of the valve stem extends through the lower spring, one end of which is arranged in the third gas passage and the other end of which is contacted with the lower surface of the second sealing gasket. 
     The beneficial effects of the present invention are described below. A check valve is arranged at the gas outlet of the valve body, and the check valve is opened when the gas flows in a normal direction and then smoothly flows out; when a pressure fluctuation at the gas outlet results in a gas reverse backflow, the check valve is closed to prevent the gas backflow, such that the concentration of the outputted anesthetic gas is accurate, reliable, and consistent with a preset value. Specifically, the check valve includes a check valve body and a ventilation plate, both of which achieve the open or close of the check valve by coordinating with the first sealing gasket. When the gas flows in the normal direction, i.e. from the first cavity to the gas outlet, the sealing gasket is pushed to move towards the first gas passage under the action of the gas pressure, such that a gap is present between the first sealing gasket and the ventilation plate, and the gas flows from ventilation holes towards the first gas passage, and then is outputted; and when the gas flows in a reverse direction, i.e. the gas flows inwardly from the first gas passage, the first sealing gasket is attached to the ventilation plate under the action of the gas pressure, such that the communication between the first gas passage and the gas outlet is blocked, and the gas cannot flow into the bypass valve from the first gas passage. With two sealing rings arranged at the connection joint between the valve cover and the valve body, the gas tightness between the valve cover and the valve body or an evaporator is enhanced. Sealing rings are arranged at the connection joints between the valve body and the check valve body as well as the ventilation plate, which enhances the gas tightness between the check valve and the valve body. Compared to prior art, the inventive bypass valve has advantages of ensuring a unidirectional gas flow, a simple structure and better gas tightness. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be further described in detail by way of the embodiment below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic partial sectional view of a bypass valve according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view of a valve body shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of the valve cover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of a gland shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of the gland shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective diagram of a valve stem shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view of the valve stem shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective view of a check valve body shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic sectional view of the check valve body shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic perspective view of a ventilation plate shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic sectional view of the ventilation plate shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic perspective view of a first sealing gasket shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     A LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1 : Valve body;  11 : First cavity;  12 : Second cavity; 
               13 : Third gas passage;  14 : First annular groove;  15 : Second annular groove; 
               16 : Second boss;  17 : First groove; 
               2 : Valve cover;  21 : Second gas passage;  22 : Second projection; 
               23 : First boss;  24 : Second groove;  25 : Third groove; 
               3 : Valve core;  31 : Gland;  311 : First projection; 
               312 : Upper installation groove;  313 : Guide portion; 
               32 : Upper spring; 
               33 : Valve stem;  331 : Lower installation groove; 
               332 : Annular body;  333 : Installation groove for the second sealing gasket; 
               34 : Lower spring;  35 : Second sealing gasket; 
               4 : Check valve;  41 : Check valve body;  411 : First gas passage; 
               412 : Third annular groove;  413 : Limit projection;  42 : Ventilation plate; 
               421 : Ventilation hole;  422 : Stepwise surface; 
               43 : First sealing gasket;  431 : Disc;  432 : Rod; 
               433 : Limit cap; 
               5 : Sealing ring; 
               6 : Pipe joint. 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, a bypass valve according to the present invention includes a valve body  1 , which includes a gas inlet  18  and a gas outlet. A check valve  4  including a check valve body  41 , a ventilation plate  42  and a first sealing gasket  43  is arranged at the gas outlet. A first gas passage  411  for transmitting the gas is arranged within the check valve body  41 , the ventilation plate  42  is provided with ventilation holes  421  in communication with the gas outlet, and the first sealing gasket  43  is arranged between the ventilation plate  42  and the check valve body  41 , so that the first gas passage  411  is selectively communicated with the ventilation holes  421  by the first sealing gasket  43 . When the gas flows out from the gas outlet, the check valve  4  is opened in that a gap is present between the first sealing gasket  43  and the ventilation plate  42 , such that the ventilation holes  421  are in communication with the first gas passage  411 , and hence the gas can be outputted normally. When the pressure fluctuation at the gas outlet results in a gas backflow, the check valve  4  is closed in that the first sealing gasket  43  rests tightly on the ventilation plate  42  to block the communication between the ventilation holes  421  and the first gas passage  411 , and hence the gas cannot flow back into the bypass valve. 
     A valve cover  2  is provided on the valve body  1 . A valve core  3 , which includes a gland  31 , an upper spring  32 , a valve stem  33  and a lower spring  34  connected in sequence from top to bottom, is arranged between the valve cover  2  and the valve body  1 , and a second sealing gasket  35  is arranged around the valve core  3 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a specific embodiment of the valve body. The valve body  1  includes a first cavity  11  in communication with the gas inlet (not shown), a second cavity  12  in communication with the first cavity  11 , and a third gas passage  13 . The upper part of the first cavity  11  is provided with inner threads for threadedly connecting with the valve cover  2 . The second cavity  12  and the third gas passage  13  are used for transmitting the gas when the bypass valve is not in communication with an evaporator. The third gas passage  13  is arranged under the first cavity  11  and in communication with the bottom of the first cavity  11 . A second boss  16  corresponding to the inlet of the third gas passage  13  is arranged at the bottom of the first cavity  11 . Two concentric annular grooves, i.e. a first annular groove  14  and a second annular groove  15 , and a first groove  17  are arranged at the gas outlet. The first annular groove  14  is used for accommodating the ventilation plate  42  of the check valve, and the first groove  17  is used for receiving a sealing ring  5 . Since the sealing ring  5  is located in the connection joint between the check valve and the bypass valve, the sealing ring  5  can enhance the gas tightness between the check valve and the bypass valve. 
       FIG. 3  shows a specific embodiment of the valve cover. The valve cover  2  has a hollow structure with an internal second gas passage  21 , an outlet of which is at the bottom of the valve cover and an inlet of which is at the top of the valve cover, and the anesthetic gas enters from the inlet and is exhausted from the outlet. A first boss  23  corresponding to the outlet of the second gas passage  21  is arranged at the bottom of the valve cover  2 , a second projection  22  is inwardly arranged at the top of the valve cover  2 , and external threads are arranged on the intermediate part of the valve cover  2 . A second groove  24  and a third groove  25  are arranged on the valve cover  2  on the upper side and the lower side of the external threads, respectively, and a sealing ring  5  is arranged in each of the second and third grooves. When the valve cover  2  is threadedly assembled on the valve body  1 , the sealing ring  5  on the upper side of the threads ensures good gas tightness between the valve cover  2  and a evaporator, while the sealing ring  5  on the lower side of the threads ensures good gas tightness between the valve body  1  and the valve cover  2 . 
       FIGS. 1 , and  4 - 7  show a specific embodiment of the valve core. The valve core  3  includes a gland  31 , an upper spring  32 , a valve stem  33  and a lower spring  34 . The gland  31  is substantially cylindrical, but four flat faces are formed evenly and longitudinally at the periphery of the gland  3 , such that gas passages are formed between the valve cover  2  and the gland  3 , and guide portions  313  with an arc-shaped cross section are arranged between the flat faces to enable the gland  31  to move sufficiently stably and reliably within the valve cover  2 . A lateral first projection  311  is arranged at the upper portion of the gland  31 , an upper installation groove  312  is extended upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of the gland  3  at the center of the gland  3  and is chamfered at its opening for the sake of mounting the upper spring. A lower installation groove  331  is extended downwardly and inwardly from the top of the valve stem  33  at the center of the valve stem  33 . An annular body  332  is arranged in the middle of the valve stem  33 , the upper surface of the annular body  332  is tapered, and an installation groove  333  for the second sealing gasket is arranged on the valve stem  33  immediately following the lower surface of the annular body  332 . 
     For the purpose of assembling, one end of the upper spring  32  is arranged in the upper installation groove  312 , and the other end of the upper spring  32  is arranged in the lower installation groove  331 . The second sealing gasket  35  is arranged on the valve stem  33  through the installation groove  333  for the second sealing gasket. The lower part of the valve stem  33  extends through the lower spring  34 , one end of which is arranged in the third gas passage  13 , and the other end of which is contacted with the lower surface of the second sealing gasket  35 . The valve core  3  is then aligned with the inner of the valve cover  2 , and the valve cover  2  is screwed on the valve body  1  while pressing the upper spring  32  and lower spring  34 . The gland  31  is limited in the second gas passage  21  by pressing the first projection  311  tightly on the second projection  22 . The second gas passage  21  and the third gas passage  13  are opposite to each other and the second sealing gasket  35  is located between the first boss  23  and the second boss  16 , therefore, when the sealing gasket  35  is moved upwardly and pressed tightly on the first boss  23 , the second gas passage  21  is blocked and the first cavity  11  is in communication with the third gas passage  13 ; and when the second sealing gasket  35  is moved downwardly and pressed tightly on the second boss  16 , the third gas passage  13  is blocked and the first cavity  11  is in communication with the second gas passage  21 . 
     FIGS.  1  and  8 - 12  show a specific embodiment of the check valve. The check valve  4  is arranged at the gas outlet and includes the check valve body  41  and the ventilation plate  42 . A first gas passage  411  is arranged within the check valve body  41 , a third annular groove  412  is arranged at the inlet of the first gas passage  411 , a plurality of limit projections  413  are arranged within the third annular groove  412 , and a pipe joint  6  is threadedly connected to the outlet of the first gas passage  411 . The check valve body  41  is provided with a threaded hole for connecting the check valve body  41  to the valve body  1  by a screw; 
     The ventilation plate  42  is substantially circular and contains a center hole and four ventilation holes  421 . A stepwise surface  422  is arranged around the periphery of the ventilation plate  422 , and a sealing ring  5  may be placed on the stepwise surface  422 . 
     The first sealing gasket  43  including a disc  431  and a rod  432  is arranged between the ventilation plate  42  and the check valve body  41 . The rod  432  is arranged at the center of the disc  432 , and the length of the rod  432  is greater than the thickness of the ventilation plate  42 , such that the rod  42  can be moved back and forth in the center hole of the disc  432 . For the purpose of avoiding the first sealing gasket  43  to release from the ventilation plate  42 , a limit cap  333  is arranged at a free end of the rod  432 . The dimension of the limit cap  433  is greater than the diameter of the center hole, and a plurality of limit projection  413  are arranged in the third annular groove  412  to limit the position of the disc  431 . 
     For the purpose of assembling, both the rod  432  and the limit cap  433  are passed through the centre hole of the ventilation plate  42 , both the ventilation plate  42  and the sealing ring  5  are arranged in the first annular groove  14  such that the limit cap  433  is located in the second annular groove  15 , and then the disc  431  is adhered to the rod  432 . The sealing ring  5  is arranged in the first annular groove  17 , the disc  431  is aligned with the third annular groove  412 , and the check valve  41  is tightly fixed to the valve body  1  by a screw. The outer diameter of the disc  431  is smaller than the inner diameter of the third annular groove  412 , and the disc  431  is arranged in the third annular groove  412 , therefore, the disc  431  can block the ventilation holes  421  when being attached tightly to the ventilation plate  42 , such that the gas outlet is not in communication with the first gas passage  411 . 
     The operating principle of the bypass valve according to the present invention is described below. As shown in  FIG. 1  which presents a partial structure of the bypass valve according to the present invention, the bypass valve includes actually two identical valve covers, which are arranged on the valve body, and the valve body contains two independent gas passages. When the evaporator is not connected, the bypass valve actually functions as a gas passage, the gas flows from an intake pipe joint into the valve body and is finally outputted from the second cavity  12 . When the evaporator is connected, those two valve covers cooperate with the evaporator (i.e., the same evaporator is required to cooperate with both of the two valve covers for the purpose of connecting with the bypass valve), the gas flows into the valve body from the intake pipe joint, into the evaporator from the first valve cover, then into the valve body again from the evaporator through the second valve cover, and finally is outputted from the pipe joint at the gas outlet. The upper portion of the valve cover is designed with a hexagonal structure, to facilitate the assembly between the valve cover and the valve body, (i.e., the peripheral structure of the valve cover is mainly used for matching with an assemble tool), and each bypass valve can be connected to one or more evaporators at the same time. 
     When the evaporator is not connected, the bypass valve actually functions as a gas passage, and the second cavity  12  is the gas outlet portion of the gas passage. In this case, the gland  31  is not pressed down, and the second sealing ring  35  is pressed tightly on the first boss  23  under the action of the elastic force of the lower spring  34 , thus the second gas passage  21  is blocked, the gas enters into the third gas passage  13  from the gas inlet, into the second cavity  12  through the first cavity  11 , and then arrives at the downstream of the anesthesia machine through pipes and joints (not shown) of the bypass valve. 
     When the evaporator is connected, the gland  31  is pressed down, such that the second sealing gasket  35  is moved downwards and pressed tightly on the second boss  16  against the elastic force of the lower spring  34 , thus the third gas passage  13  is blocked, and the anesthetic gas enters into the first cavity  11  from the second gas passage  21  and flows to the gas outlet through the second cavity  12 . When the gas enters into the second annular groove  15 , the first sealing gasket  43  is pushed to the right by the gas pressure, such that a gap is present between the first sealing gasket  43  and the ventilation plate  42 , and the gas flows into the third annular groove  412  from the ventilation holes  421  through the gap, then into the first gas passage  411 , and finally is outputted from the pipe joint  6 . 
     In case the gas enters into the first gas passage  411  from the pipe joint  6  and the gas backflow is caused, the gas pressure pushes the first sealing gasket  43  to move to the left, and the disc  431  is attached tightly to the ventilation plate  42  and blocks the ventilation holes  421 , such that the first gas passage  411  is not in communication with the gas outlet and the gas cannot flow back into the valve body  1 .