Beverage Container Closure Venting for Overpressure Rupture Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage containers, especially those storing carbonated beverages, face the risk of rupture due to increased pressure from temperature changes or uncontrolled fermentation, which can lead to personal injury and property damage, and existing solutions either complicate the design or are difficult to detect when pressure is released.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible beverage container with a pressure-relief device integrated into the closure, which opens to vent excess pressure when a predetermined value is exceeded, ensuring safe and controlled release of pressure without fragmenting and allowing easy detection of activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an overpressure valve is added to prevent rupture, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-relief device is integrated into the closure structure itself, merging the closure function with the pressure relief function. The closure includes a pressure-relief device located at the closure disc or inner cylindrical part, combining what would traditionally be separate components into one unified structure, thereby preventing rupture without significantly increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The closure serves multiple functions: it seals the beverage container opening, provides a beverage outlet, and incorporates a pressure-relief device to prevent rupture. This multi-functional design allows the closure to handle both normal sealing operations and pressure relief scenarios without requiring additional dedicated components
2Reliability
If a pressure-relief device is added, then safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-relief device is manufactured as an integral part of the closure, which is already produced in high volumes for beverage containers. This integration allows the pressure relief function to be added without requiring separate manufacturing processes or additional components, thereby preventing rupture while minimizing the increase in manufacturing cost per unit
3Loss of substance
If the container wall is made thinner to save material, then ease of collapse and material usage are improved, but the risk of rupture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-relief device is designed to activate before the container reaches its rupture pressure point. By providing a controlled pressure relief mechanism that opens at a predetermined pressure threshold, the system prevents the pressure from building up to dangerous levels that would cause thin-walled container rupture, thereby enabling the use of thinner walls without compromising safety
4Reliability
If existing pressure relief solutions are used, then rupture prevention is improved, but detection of activation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The closure includes a visual indicator that changes appearance when the pressure-relief device activates. This color change or visual transformation provides clear, easy-to-detect evidence that the pressure relief mechanism has been triggered, allowing users to immediately recognize activation without requiring complex detection systems
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 pressure-relief device effectively prevents uncontrolled ruptures by safely venting excess pressure, reducing the risk of injury and damage while allowing users to easily detect if the device has activated, maintaining container integrity and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure-relief device being capable of establishing a permanent or reclosable opening through the closure or between the closure and the neck part for allowing a flow of fluid from the headspace of the collapsible beverage container to an external space when a pressure difference between the headspace and the external space exceeds a predetermined pressure value
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
The present invention relates to a container assembly for accommodating a beverage. The container assembly comprises a collapsible beverage container having a body part for accommodating the beverage and a cylindrical neck part defining a gas-filled headspace. The container assembly further comprises a closure sealing off an opening of the cylindrical neck part. The closure comprises a closure disc, an inner cylindrical part and an outer cylindrical part. The closure disc comprises a beverage outlet for extracting the beverage. The closure further comprises a pressure-relief device located at the closure disc or the inner cylindrical part. The pressure-relief device is capable of establishing a permanent or reclosable opening through the closure or between the closure and the neck part for allowing a flow of fluid from the headspace to an external space when a pressure difference exceeds a predetermined pressure value being lower than the burst pressure of the container.