Pressure Accumulator Screw Plug for Leak Monitoring and Refilling

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pressure accumulators require increased manufacturing effort and complex refilling processes due to separate filling ports and soft solder sealing, which is not reliable, especially in high-pressure applications.

Innovation Solution

A pressure accumulator design featuring a screw plug with integrated monitoring components, including a viewing window and indicator, which simplifies filling and refilling by centralizing all essential components within the screw plug, ensuring a stable and pressure-resistant closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate filling ports and soft solder sealing are used, then the accumulator housing can be sealed, but manufacturing effort increases and refilling processes become complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring device and filling port are merged into a single integrated screw plug assembly. The screw plug contains the viewing window, indicator, and filling port function in one component that threads directly into the accumulator housing, eliminating the need for separate filling ports and soft solder sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The screw plug serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a sealing closure for the filling port, houses the monitoring device with viewing window and indicator, and provides a threaded connection interface. This multi-functional design replaces multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate filling ports with soft solder sealing are used, then the housing can be sealed, but refilling operations become difficult requiring removal and reapplication of solder

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidrefilling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring device and filling port are merged into a single integrated screw plug assembly. The screw plug contains the viewing window, indicator, and filling port function in one component that threads directly into the accumulator housing, eliminating the need for separate filling ports and soft solder sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filling port closure transitions from a static soft solder seal to a dynamic threaded screw plug that can be easily screwed in and out. This allows the filling port to be opened for refilling and closed for sealing through simple rotational motion without thermal processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If monitoring device components are arranged separately in the housing, then the viewing window can be metal-fused to the housing, but manufacturing effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectVSAvoidmanufacturing effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring device and filling port are merged into a single integrated screw plug assembly. The screw plug contains the viewing window, indicator, and filling port function in one component that threads directly into the accumulator housing, eliminating the need for separate filling ports and soft solder sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reduces manufacturing complexity and facilitates easier filling and refilling operations while ensuring reliable, pressure-resistant sealing, even in high-pressure applications, with the added benefit of cost-effective maintenance and replacement of the screw plug.

Implementation Method 1

an indicator (42) which is in connection with the medium space (12) and the optical property of which perceptibly changes when it is wetted with the fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical property change upon wetting: Wetting

Implementation Method 2

a bellows (16), in particular a metallic bellows, which forms a separating element (16) between the medium space (12) and the fluid space (14) in a fluid-tight manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic expansion and contraction: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250129802A1Pressure Accumulator

Publication Date: 2025.04.24 HYDAC TECH GMBH

AI summary

Pressure accumulator with an accumulator housing (10), in which a movable separating element (16) separates a medium space (12), preferably filled with a working gas, from a fluid space (14) in a fluid-tight manner, wherein a monitoring device (28) is provided and gives a visually perceptible indication when there is a fault that impairs the sealing effect of the separating element (16), the monitoring device having a viewing window through which it is possible to observe an indicator which is in connection with the medium space (12) and the optical property of which perceptibly changes when it is wetted with the fluid, characterized in that the monitoring device (28) has a screw plug, which can be screwed with its external thread into an assigned internal thread of the accumulator housing (10) and which has the viewing window and the indicator and also a fluid-permeable shutting-off device, which forms in the screw plug a receiving space partly delimited by the viewing window and intended for receiving the indicator, the shutting-off device spatially separating the receiving space from the interior of the medium space (12) of the accumulator housing (10).