Containment Vessel Segmentation for High-Energy Device Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containment vessels for high energy density devices face challenges in accommodating high-pressure waves and fragmentation, requiring heavy structures and complex closure mechanisms, which complicates their design and handling, especially when used with robotic devices.
Innovation Solution
A containment vessel design featuring a housing with ventilation holes, a separable collar with grooves, and a curtain of barrier ribs, along with a system of discs and plates that absorb and redirect pressure, allowing for a lightweight, compact, and easily closable structure capable of containing fragments and managing high pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a heavy structure is used for the containment vessel to accommodate high-pressure wave containment, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment vessel is divided into multiple functional components: a housing with ventilation holes, a separable collar with grooves, multiple discs, plates, and barrier ribs. Each segment serves a specific function in managing pressure waves and fragmentation, allowing the structure to be both strong and lightweight through optimized component distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin-walled housing structures with ventilation holes and flexible barrier ribs that can deform to accommodate pressure waves. The separable collar and discs act as flexible containment elements that redirect pressure rather than resist it rigidly, reducing the need for heavy structural reinforcement
2Reliability
If a complex closure mechanism is used to seal the containment vessel, then the reliability of containment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into a separable collar with multiple grooves that receive discs at different positions. This modular approach allows each disc to be independently positioned and secured, simplifying the overall closure mechanism while maintaining reliable sealing through the coordinated action of multiple simple components
Solution Approach 2:
The separable collar acts as an intermediary component that coordinates the closure of multiple discs. The grooves in the collar guide and secure the discs, providing a simple mechanical interface that ensures reliable containment without requiring complex locking mechanisms or multiple fastening steps
3Ease of operation
If the containment vessel is made compact and lightweight, then the ease of operation with robotic devices is improved, but the ability to contain high-pressure waves deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compact housing uses thin-walled structures with ventilation holes that allow controlled deformation during pressure events. The flexible barrier ribs and separable collar components can elastically deform to absorb pressure wave energy, maintaining containment effectiveness in a compact, lightweight design suitable for robotic handling
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation holes and flexible barrier ribs convert the harmful high-pressure waves into beneficial controlled deformations. The pressure waves are redirected through the ventilation holes and absorbed by the flexible components, transforming the potentially destructive force into a mechanism that protects the compact structure while maintaining its lightweight, robot-friendly form factor
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 design effectively suppresses high-pressure waves and fragments, allowing for a lightweight, compact, and easily handled containment vessel suitable for robotic deployment, with components that can be replaced and reused, enhancing safety and efficiency in stowing high energy density devices.
Implementation Method 1
The sidewall enclosure has an array of ventilation holes penetrating from the housing cavity to an exterior surface of the sidewall enclosure
Implementation Method 2
The curtain of barrier ribs is positioned along an inner circumference of the sidewall enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A containment vessel for stowing a high energy density device therein includes a housing, a plurality of discs, and a separable collar. The housing includes a base, a sidewall enclosure extending upwardly from the base, the sidewall enclosure defining a housing cavity and an opening at a top end thereof, and a flange extending circumferentially outwardly from the sidewall enclosure. The separable collar has first, second, and third grooves on an inner circumference of the separable collar. The first groove is configured to receive the flange of the housing. The second and third grooves are configured to receive first and second of the plurality of discs.