Composite Boss Mounting with Gas Migration Passage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional pressurized gaseous fuel storage tanks face challenges with weight, leakage, and sealing failures due to gas migration between the liner and reinforcing layers, which affects vehicle capacity, cost, and regulatory compliance.

Innovation Solution

A pressurized-gas storage boss assembly with a migration passage and a longitudinally extending body featuring a low-density void that directs migrated gas away from the liner, preventing pressure buildup and sealing failures, and incorporating a method to securely engage the boss with the liner using angled and threaded connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional metal bosses are used to connect to the liner, then the connection strength is sufficient, but the overall tank weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboss-liner connection strengthVSAvoidtank weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The boss is changed from traditional metal material to composite material (fiberglass reinforced plastic), fundamentally changing the material parameters to achieve both weight reduction and sufficient connection strength through proper structural design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The boss is constructed using composite materials (fiberglass mat and resin) instead of solid metal, creating a lightweight yet strong structural component that maintains connection integrity while significantly reducing weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the liner is sealed securely to the boss, then leakage is prevented, but gas migration into the wrapping region causes sealing failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal integrityVSAvoidgas migration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful migrated gas is extracted from the wrapping region through dedicated migration passages that channel it away from the seal interface, preventing pressure buildup that would compromise sealing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Migration passages act as intermediary channels between the wrapping region and the boss interior, providing a controlled path for gas migration that protects the primary seal at the boss-liner interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If gas migration is allowed into the wrapping region, then the migration path is simple, but pressure buildup causes sealing failures and leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas migration path complexityVSAvoidseal reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gas migration path is segmented into controlled sections: migration passages in the boss wall, interior channels, and discharge openings, creating a structured system that manages gas flow while protecting the seal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Gas migration is directed from a two-dimensional path along the wrapping region into a three-dimensional controlled pathway through the boss interior, utilizing vertical and radial dimensions to channel gas away from the seal interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 weight, minimizes leakage, and enhances safety by effectively managing gas migration, maintaining the integrity of the seal and reducing pressure at the boss-liner interface, thus improving vehicle efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Implementation Method 1

directs migrated gas away from the liner, preventing pressure buildup

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3175166B1Composite pressure tank boss mounting with pressure relief
Publication Date: 2022.01.26 QUANTUM FUEL SYSTEMS LLC
  • EP3175166B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3175166B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3175166B1 patent drawingFigure 6A

AI summary

Disclosed is a device and method of a system and an improved boss, the boss having a longitudinally extending body with a top surface having flange forming a planar bottom surface with a fluid connection through the boss further including a liner mounting connection (LMC) on the flange bottom surface; the LMC having a groove adapted to be threadably engaged with a liner neck; and, a migration passage fluidly connecting LMC to the fluid connection of the boss.