Hydraulic Fuse Plenum with Dual Threshold Frangible Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic manifolds lack effective mechanisms to manage overpressure events, with pressure relief valves being bulky and unreliable, and burst disks failing under transient pressure differentials.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fuse comprising a plenum with integrally formed frangible fuse elements that open at specific pressure differentials, allowing fluid to bypass blocked conduits and relieve overpressure by integrating with the manifold or conduit walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure relief valves are used to control overpressure events, then overpressure protection is provided, but the device becomes bulky and creates areas of pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the overpressure protection function from bulky pressure relief valves and implements it directly within the hydraulic manifold structure through frangible fuse elements. This eliminates the need for separate external relief valve components and reduces pressure loss areas by integrating the protection mechanism into the existing fluid flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuse elements are integrally formed with the manifold structure, merging the overpressure protection function with the hydraulic manifold itself. This combination eliminates separate components and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective overpressure protection through the frangible elements that burst at predetermined pressures.
2Strength
If conventional hydraulic manifolds are designed to contain fluid during overpressure events, then fluid system integrity is maintained, but the manifold fails when pressure exceeds containment limits
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible fuse elements are pre-positioned within the manifold structure at locations designed to fail at predetermined pressure thresholds. This preliminary placement of sacrificial protection elements ensures that when overpressure events occur, the fuse elements will fail first to relieve pressure, preventing catastrophic failure of the main manifold structure and protecting the overall fluid system integrity.
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 hydraulic fuse effectively relieves overpressure by allowing controlled fluid flow, minimizing pressure loss and ensuring reliable operation without bulky components.
Implementation Method 1
The first fuse element may be frangible, such that the first fuse element is configured to fracture and open the inlet when the pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches the first threshold
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic fuse (30) comprising: a fuse body (32) defining a plenum (34), the plenum comprising: an inlet (35) configured to couple to a first fluid location (37); and an outlet (36) configured to couple to a second fluid location (38). The hydraulic fuse further comprises a first fuse element (39) arranged to close the inlet, the first fuse element configured to open the inlet when a pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches a first threshold; and a second fuse element (40) arranged to close the outlet, the second fuse element configured to open the outlet when a pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold. In an inactive state, the inlet is closed by the first fuse element and the outlet is closed by the second fuse element to prevent fluid flow through the plenum; and in an active state, the pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches the first threshold to cause the first fuse element to open and permit fluid flow through the inlet, and the pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches the second threshold to cause the second fuse element to open and permit fluid flow through the outlet.