Cryogenic Tank Interface Hardware for Sealed Low-Shear Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cryogenic tank wall structural interfaces lack effective attachment solutions, leading to inefficiencies in securing objects or systems, particularly in maintaining seals and reducing shear stress.
Innovation Solution
A laminated attachment system comprising a bracket with a through hole, a shear stud with a seal region and projection, and a fastener, which secures the shear stud to the bracket, reducing shear and ensuring a seal between the tank's sides, utilizing alignment features and loading elements like disc springs for enhanced engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mounting hardware is used on cryogenic tank walls, then attachment functionality is provided, but seal integrity deteriorates and shear stress increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into separate functional components: a bracket for mounting, a shear stud for structural attachment, and a seal element for maintaining integrity. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising seal integrity while providing attachment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal element is introduced as an intermediary component between the bracket and the cryogenic tank wall. This seal element specifically addresses the seal integrity issue by creating a barrier that prevents leakage, while the bracket and shear stud handle the attachment and load-bearing functions separately.
2Ease of operation
If attachment hardware is installed on cryogenic tank walls, then mounting capability is provided, but shear stress on the tank wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shear stud is designed with a specific geometry and material selection that anticipates and prepares for the shear loads it will encounter. The preliminary design of the shear stud's cross-sectional area and material strength ensures it can withstand the expected shear stresses without transmitting excessive stress to the tank wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The shear stud's dimensions and material properties are optimized to change the stress distribution. By adjusting the shear stud's cross-sectional area, length, and material strength, the system achieves adequate mounting capability while controlling the shear stress transmitted to the cryogenic tank wall.
3Reliability
If simple mounting hardware is used, then device complexity is reduced, but attachment security and seal reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into separate functional components: a bracket for mounting, a shear stud for structural attachment, and a seal element for maintaining integrity. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without compromising seal integrity while providing attachment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into an integrated attachment system that combines the bracket, shear stud, and seal element into a coordinated assembly. This merging ensures that attachment security and seal reliability work together synergistically, with each component supporting the others to achieve overall system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an attachment system, for providing a component mounting location, that comprises a laminated structure and a bracket. The bracket comprises an interface surface configured to interface with a first side of the structure, and a through hole open at the interface surface. A shear stud of the attachment system comprises a projection, shaped to pass through the hole of the structure and engage the through hole of the bracket, and a seal region, positioned to interface with a second side of the structure to form a seal with the second side of the structure. The attachment system additionally comprises a fastener comprising a head and a shaft, the shaft being shaped to pass through the through hole in the bracket and engage the shear stud to secure the shear stud relative to the bracket thereby reducing shear at the fastener.