Compound CO2 Fill Valve Assembly for Low-Pressure Auto Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for delivering liquid carbon dioxide face challenges in filling when the vapor cylinder pressure is low, causing the shuttle valve to remain seated and preventing system closure, which requires manual intervention and limits delivery times to business hours, and is unreliable due to freezing at low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A control valve assembly with a dynamic compound valve stem assembly and biasing spring that ensures reliable closure of the system upon fill completion, even with low initial vapor cylinder pressure, by using a stem body with poppets and a collar slideably interconnected to direct liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide flows, and a pressure gauge for monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring is used to bias the shuttle valve towards the inlet port, then the system can close upon fill completion, but the spring freezes at low temperatures and becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring from the system entirely and replaces it with a purely pressure-driven valve mechanism. The valve stem is biased by pressure differentials created during filling and dispensing operations, eliminating the need for mechanical springs that freeze at low temperatures. This extraction of the problematic component while maintaining the closure function resolves the contradiction between reliability and temperature sensitivity.
2Ease of operation
If the vapor cylinder pressure is low at the beginning of filling, then the shuttle valve remains seated on the vapor port seat, but this prevents the inlet port from closing and requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a self-regulating pressure differential mechanism that automatically controls valve closure without manual intervention. During filling, when vapor pressure is low, the system uses the pressure differential between the liquid fill line and vapor cylinder to automatically position the valve stem. The valve closes automatically when filling completes because the pressure differential reverses, eliminating the need for manual tripping and enabling after-hours deliveries.
3Adaptability or versatility
If deliveries are made during normal business hours when customers allow access, then manual intervention can be performed, but this limits delivery times and increases traffic exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic pressure-driven valve mechanism enables the system to perform all filling and closure operations autonomously without requiring customer personnel to be present or to manually intervene. This self-service capability allows deliveries to be made at any time including after hours when customers are closed, significantly increasing delivery time flexibility and reducing exposure to traffic while maintaining full operational capability.
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
Enables reliable and efficient filling of liquid carbon dioxide storage systems without manual intervention, allowing deliveries outside business hours and reducing downtime, while maintaining system functionality during filling and equilibrium.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing spring adapted to slideably bias the inlet cavity collar towards the inlet port poppet
Implementation Method 2
liquid carbon dioxide under pressure of about 800 to 1150 PSI to an inlet port of a diverter valve. This fill pressure pushes a shuttle valve away from an inlet port seat
Implementation Method 3
Liquid carbon dioxide may then boil off and pass through the vapor port to fill a vapor cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic control valve assembly for use in filling a liquid carbon dioxide storage and gas delivery system is provided, the assembly comprising: a valve body; an end nut with an inlet port for receiving liquid carbon dioxide; a chamber; an inlet cavity; a liquid port; a gas port; and a dynamic compound valve stem assembly for blocking the gas port while liquid carbon dioxide is delivered through the inlet port and allowing the liquid carbon dioxide to flow through the liquid port for storage in a liquid cylinder, and open the gas port and block the inlet port in order to allow carbon dioxide gasses from boiling liquid carbon dioxide within the liquid cylinder to pass through the gas port for storage in a gas cylinder until system pressure and temperature equilibrium is reached. The dynamic compound valve stem assembly comprises: a stem body having an inlet port poppet and a gas port poppet; an inlet cavity collar; and in some embodiments a collar biasing spring. The compound valve assembly is adapted to block the inlet port upon completion of the delivery of liquid carbon to the system when the system has an initial low pressure. The carbon dioxide gas may then be drawn from the gas cylinder for use in use in carbonated beverages and other applications such as agricultural and medical uses.