Reinforced Container Seam Assembly for Higher Burst Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seam couplings in containers are unable to withstand increasing fill pressures or exhibit higher burst pressures, necessitated by the use of environmentally friendly refrigerant compositions and combustible fuels, requiring stronger seals that can maintain pressurized contents at elevated pressures.
Innovation Solution
The container design incorporates a seam coupling with a body flange and plate flange that are folded together, reinforced with adhesives, welds, or crimps, and may include additional folds or layers to enhance the seam's strength, allowing it to withstand higher internal pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional seam couplings are used, then the container can be manufactured with standard sealing methods, but the container cannot withstand increasing fill pressures or exhibit higher burst pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The seam coupling is divided into multiple distinct components including a body flange with multiple body sections, a plate flange with multiple plate sections, and various bends (first body bend, second body bend, first plate bend, second plate bend). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for strength while maintaining manufacturability through standardized forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The seam coupling employs a composite structure combining metal forming (bends and flanges) with adhesive bonding. The adhesive is applied in specific regions between the body flange and plate flange to create a hybrid joint that leverages both mechanical interlocking through bends and chemical bonding through adhesive, achieving superior burst pressure resistance.
2Strength
If the seam structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing costs decrease, but the seam cannot provide sufficient sealing strength for high-pressure contents
Solution Approach 1:
The body flange and plate flange are pre-formed with specific bend geometries (first body bend, second body bend, first plate bend, second plate bend) before assembly. These preliminary forming operations create the mechanical interlocking structure in advance, so that during final assembly, the components simply need to be positioned and adhesively bonded, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while ensuring seal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
An adhesive intermediary is introduced between the body flange and plate flange to facilitate the bonding process. The adhesive acts as a mediator that fills micro-gaps and irregularities in the flange surfaces, creating a reliable seal without requiring complex mechanical fastening operations, thus balancing seal strength with ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a container that is configured to store contents under pressure. The container includes a body extending from a first open end to a second end opposite the first open end. The container includes a base plate configured to close a first open end. The container includes a seam coupling a perimeter of the base plate to the first open end of the body. The seam includes a plate flange that extends from the base plate and is folded at least once to create two or more overlapping sections. The seam includes a body flange that extends from the body and is interposed between each of the two or more overlapping sections. A securement feature further seals the seam, the securement feature including at least one of an adhesive, a weld, a crimped interface, or an auxiliary fold of the body flange.