Deformable Pressure Vessel Orifice Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure vessels for air bag inflators require additional devices to control exit orifice size, leading to increased cost, size, and maintenance issues due to improper operation.
Innovation Solution
A pressure vessel made of high tensile strength material that deforms in response to internal pressure, increasing exit orifice size without the need for additional control devices, with options for high or low yield strength materials allowing for reversible or irreversible deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional control devices (slidable valves, pressure relief valves, movable spools, fabric layers, rupture members) are used to control exit orifice size, then the pressure in the pressure vessel can be controlled, but the cost and size of the air bag inflator increase and maintenance problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all additional control devices (slidable valves, pressure relief valves, movable spools, fabric layers, rupture members) from the system and retains only the pressure vessel wall itself to control the exit orifice size through deformation, thereby eliminating the complexity and maintenance issues associated with multiple control devices while maintaining pressure control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure vessel wall serves itself by deforming under internal pressure to automatically control the exit orifice size without requiring external control devices, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms
2Stability of the object's composition
If high yield strength material is used for the pressure vessel, then the exit orifices return to their original size after pressure release (reversible deformation), but the material requirements and manufacturing constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter (yield strength) of the pressure vessel wall to enable reversible deformation behavior, where the wall deforms under pressure to enlarge exit orifices and then returns to its original shape after pressure release, ensuring consistent orifice size stability across multiple cycles
3Productivity
If the pressure vessel deforms to increase exit orifice size, then pressure release is improved, but plastic deformation may occur in low yield strength materials affecting future operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs materials with specific mechanical properties (high tensile strength with appropriate yield strength) that balance the need for deformation to increase pressure release rate with the requirement to avoid permanent plastic deformation, ensuring the pressure vessel maintains operational consistency across multiple cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure vessel wall is designed to dynamically deform under internal pressure to increase exit orifice size for rapid pressure release, then elastically recover to its original shape to maintain reliable operation for subsequent cycles, avoiding permanent plastic deformation
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
This solution simplifies and enhances the control of exit orifice size, reducing costs and maintenance by using deformation to manage pressure release, while ensuring structural integrity and reliable operation across varying gas generant pressures.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure vessel is constructed to deform in a predetermined manner in response to internal pressure in the pressure vessel and such deformation results in an increased size of one or more exit orifices in the present vessel
Implementation Method 2
In the case of low yield strength, the enlarged exit orifices may not return to their original size because of some plastic deformation of the pressure vessel in the area of the exit orifices
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure vessel for an air bag inflator. The pressure vessel has a portion that is deformable by internal pressure resulting from combustion of gas generant therein. The deformable portion of the pressure vessel has at least one exit orifice therein. Upon deformation of the pressure vessel portion by internal pressure, the size of the exit orifice is increased to expedite the release of pressurized combustion gas from the pressure vessel.