Pressurized Cylinder Lever Valve with Frangible Safety Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional pressurized gas cylinders with shut-off valves at the top, protected by a guard, face issues such as time-consuming operation, accessibility challenges, potential for the valve to get stuck, and lack of clear indication of the valve's position, leading to inadvertent leakage.

Innovation Solution

A pressurized fluid cylinder with a shut-off valve featuring a lever coupled to a rotatable shaft, a frangible element between the lever and valve stem that fails under excessive load, and resilient biasing members to maintain valve position, ensuring safe operation and easy replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hand wheel with screw mechanism is used, then the valve can be opened and closed, but it requires multiple rotations which is time consuming and not particularly accessible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve operation accessibilityVSAvoidtime to open/close valve

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional hand wheel with screw mechanism with a lever system that provides mechanical advantage through a different mechanical principle. The lever rotates on a pin and directly actuates the valve element, eliminating the need for multiple rotational turns while maintaining ease of operation and reducing the time required to open or close the valve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a lever is used instead of hand wheel, then mechanical advantage is provided and position indication is clear, but the lever is vulnerable to damage when positioned diametrically opposed to the protected position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical advantage and position indicationVSAvoidlever vulnerability to damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the disposable principle by making the lever replaceable rather than permanent. When the lever becomes damaged or bent due to impact, it can be easily removed and replaced with a new lever, avoiding the need to replace entire valve assemblies or perform complex repairs. This approach is economically viable because the lever is a simple, inexpensive component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The lever is designed to be discarded when damaged and replaced with a new one. The replacement process is simplified by providing a lever removal tool that can detach the lever from the valve body without requiring specialized equipment or extensive disassembly. The old lever is discarded and a new lever is installed, recovering the functional valve assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the line of weakness is placed close to the pivot axis, then protection against excessive force is provided, but a relatively large area must be sheared and the remaining portion makes further operation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against excessive forceVSAvoidshear area and operability after failure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the frangible element as a separate, dedicated component rather than incorporating the weakness directly into the lever structure. The frangible element is a distinct piece that connects the lever to the valve stem, allowing it to fail independently when subjected to excessive force. This separation allows the lever to be designed for optimal mechanical advantage and durability while the frangible element provides the necessary protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution provides enhanced mechanical advantage, clear indication of valve position, protection against excessive forces, and automatic valve control, preventing leakage and allowing for easy maintenance by replacing the frangible element.

Implementation Method 1

a frangible element coupling the lever to the valve stem, the frangible element being arranged to fail when subjected to a load above a predetermined threshold about the axis of rotation of the shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear stress failure: Shear Stress

Implementation Method 2

A first resilient biasing member may be provided to bias the valve element closed when the lever is close to or at a closed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2999916B1A pressurised fluid container

Publication Date: 2018.07.25 LINDE AG

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AI summary

A pressurised fluid cylinder (1) having a shut-off valve, with a linearly moveable valve element (6). A lever (27) is coupled to a rotatable shaft (31) to cause linear movement of a valve stem thereby lifting the valve element. A frangible element (29) couples the lever to the valve stem. The frangible element is arranged to fail when subjected to a load above a predetermined threshold about the axis of rotation of the shaft in a direction tending to open the valve so that, when the frangible element fails, the lever cannot transmit a force to the valve stem.