Accumulator Emergency Safety Mechanism via Seal Holder Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional accumulators require high pressure to activate the emergency safety mechanism, leading to increased manufacturing complexity and time, and are not activated until extremely high pressures are reached, which can result in damage due to rapid fluid and gas expansion during emergencies like fires.
Innovation Solution
The accumulator incorporates a rubber-like elastic body attached to a metal member with a seal holder having concavities and convexities, allowing for pressure release through first and second pressure release flow passages, activating the emergency safety mechanism at lower pressures without bursting the stay, and utilizing press molding for easier manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rupture disc is provided in the part on the circumference of the peripheral surface of the stay to form an emergency safety mechanism, then the accumulator can release high pressure in emergencies, but the burst pressure becomes excessively high and the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency safety mechanism is segmented into two independent flow passages: a first pressure release flow passage formed by concavities and convexities in the seal holder, and a second pressure release flow passage formed between the metal member and seat surface. This segmentation allows the system to release pressure through multiple paths, reducing the required burst pressure compared to a single rupture disc design.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal holder with concavities and convexities acts as an intermediary component that facilitates pressure release without requiring high burst pressure. The concavities and convexities create the first pressure release flow passage, serving as a mediator between the fluid chamber and oil port, thereby reducing the need for extreme pressure to activate the safety mechanism.
2Reliability
If a rupture disc is provided in the part on the circumference of the peripheral surface of the stay, then emergency pressure release is possible, but the activation pressure becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure release function is segmented into two flow passages with different activation characteristics. The first pressure release flow passage through the seal holder's concavities and convexities activates at lower pressure, while the second passage provides additional release capability. This segmentation lowers the overall activation pressure threshold for emergency safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal holder provides partial pressure release function through its concavities and convexities, which activate before the metal member bursts. This partial action at lower pressure levels prevents the need to wait for extremely high pressure to trigger any safety mechanism, thereby reducing the activation pressure threshold.
3Productivity
If press molding is used to manufacture the stay, then manufacturing time and complexity are reduced, but the structural integrity must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing method is changed from traditional pressing and cutting to press molding, which involves changing the manufacturing parameters and process. Press molding allows the stay to be formed in a single operation, improving productivity while maintaining structural integrity through controlled molding parameters and material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple manufacturing steps (pressing, cutting, forming) are merged into a single press molding operation. This consolidation of operations reduces manufacturing time and complexity while producing a stay with integrated features including the concavities and convexities in the seal holder, thereby maintaining structural integrity through unified manufacturing.
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
This design enhances sensitivity and explosion protection by activating the emergency safety mechanism at lower pressures, preventing damage from high pressures and simplifying the manufacturing process, while ensuring effective pressure release during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
the emergency safety mechanism is structured such as to communicate the fluid chamber and the oil port through a first pressure release flow passage which is formed by seating the seal holder having the concavities and convexities in the part on the circumference on the seat surface in the inner portion of the housing, and a second pressure release flow passage which is formed by the disappearance of the rubber-like elastic body of the seal due to the high temperature
Implementation Method 2
the accumulator 51 is activated to accumulate pressure and damp pulsation pressure on the basis of movement of the bellows cap 56, and extension and contraction of the bellows 55 so that gas pressure and liquid pressure balance
Implementation Method 3
a seal 60 provided in a lower surface of the bellows cap 56 comes into contact with an end surface of a stay 61 so as to form a so-called zero-down state. The stay 61 is a metal molded part in which a liquid entrance port 61c is provided in an end surface portion 61b in a leading end of a tubular portion 61a
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to provide an accumulator equipped with an emergency safety mechanism that is capable of being activated at a lower pressure than when a rupture disk is disposed on part of the circumference of the peripheral surface of a stay, the accumulator has an emergency safety mechanism that immediately releases pressure inside a housing to an oil port side when the inside of the housing reaches a high temperature and high pressure in an emergency such as a fire. The emergency safety mechanism allows a fluid chamber and the oil port to communicate via a first pressure release flow passage, which is formed due to a seal holder provided with recesses and projections on part of the circumference being seated on a seating surface, and a second pressure release flow passage formed due to a rubber-like elastic body of the seal disappearing as a result of the high temperature.