Divided Backup Ring Sealing Structure for Hydrogen Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sealing structures for hydrogen tanks in fuel cell vehicles face issues with O-ring deformation and damage due to pressure variations, as backup rings made from hard materials do not easily fit into housing grooves and can cause damage when the O-ring digs into cut portions.
Innovation Solution
A sealing structure featuring a cylindrical body with a divided housing groove that allows easy fitting of endless backup rings without deformation, restricting O-ring movement and preventing damage by sandwiching the O-ring between first and second backup rings, which are housed in annular grooves on the inner surface, preventing the O-ring from digging into gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If backup rings are made from hard materials to prevent deformation under pressure, then the backup ring maintains its shape and restricts O-ring movement effectively, but the backup ring becomes difficult to fit into the housing groove and may cause damage when the O-ring digs into cut portions
Solution Approach 1:
The backup ring is divided into two separable halves instead of being a complete ring. This segmentation allows each half to be independently installed into the housing groove without requiring the entire ring to be deformed or cut, thereby maintaining the hard material's shape stability while significantly improving ease of manufacture and installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup ring structure is extracted from a complete circular form and replaced with two separate semi-circular components. This extraction allows the backup ring to be installed piece by piece into the housing groove, avoiding the need to force a complete hard ring into a tight space, thus resolving the contradiction between shape stability and installation ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the O-ring is allowed to move freely along the axial direction to accommodate pressure variations, then the O-ring can adapt to pressure changes, but the O-ring digs into gaps between components and becomes deformed or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The backup rings are positioned in advance within the housing groove to create a physical barrier that prevents the O-ring from moving axially and digging into gaps. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the harmful effect of excessive O-ring movement while still allowing sufficient adaptability for pressure variations, thereby maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup ring serves as an intermediary component between the O-ring and the housing groove. It mediates the interaction by providing support to the O-ring, preventing direct contact between the O-ring and the gaps, thus protecting the O-ring from damage while maintaining its adaptability to pressure changes.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the housing groove is formed as a complete annular groove, then the backup ring can be housed continuously, but the groove structure becomes complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous annular housing groove is segmented into two separate groove portions, each accommodating one half of the backup ring. This segmentation simplifies the groove structure, making it easier to manufacture while still providing continuous support for the backup ring when assembled, thus resolving the contradiction between housing continuity and structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing structure enables easy fitting of an endless backup ring and includes: tank main body having filling chamber body with filling chamber and mouthpiece portion formed in cylindrical shape integrally with filling chamber body; valve body having insertion portion inserted in mouthpiece portion; O-ring provided between mouthpiece portion and insertion portion; and first backup ring endless and disposed on one side of O-ring to restrict movement of O-ring, wherein annular housing groove is formed on inner circumferential surface of mouthpiece portion such as to be recessed outward with respect to radial direction in order to house O-ring and first backup ring, wherein mouthpiece portion is provided with first cylindrical portion integral with filling chamber body and second cylindrical portion attachable/detachable along axial direction to/from first cylindrical portion, and wherein housing groove is divided along axial direction to face outward when second cylindrical portion detaches from first cylindrical portion.