Elastic Panel Vent Valve for Container Pressure Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food or beverage containers with vents face challenges in maintaining optimal air exchange and pressure regulation, particularly during temperature changes, leading to potential spoilage and structural issues due to under-pressure.
Innovation Solution
A container with a valve element featuring an elastic panel that automatically adjusts between open and closed positions based on internal pressure changes, using a plug with a shaft that reciprocates within the aperture to maintain a seal and vent as needed, ensuring air-tight and water-tight closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vent element is provided to selectively close the aperture, then air exchange can be controlled, but the connection between the vent element and container may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vent element is divided into a panel portion and a plug portion, with the plug having a shaft and head. The panel is secured to the container wall while the plug reciprocates within the aperture. This segmentation allows the panel to provide structural support and sealing while the plug provides automatic pressure-regulated venting, resolving the contradiction between seal reliability and connection simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug with shaft and head is nested within the aperture, with the shaft reciprocating inside the aperture opening. The panel is secured behind the aperture wall. This nested arrangement provides a compact connection structure that ensures reliable sealing while maintaining simplicity, as the plug fits within the existing aperture space without requiring additional complex mounting mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the vent element is held in closed position, then spoilage is reduced by limiting oxygen, but pressure build-up during cooling may cause structural issues
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed to automatically respond to pressure changes within the container. When under-pressure occurs during cooling, the plug is drawn inward to open the aperture and allow air ingress. When pressure equalizes or exceeds atmospheric pressure, the plug returns to the closed position. This self-service mechanism provides both food preservation and pressure regulation without requiring external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft diameter is specifically designed to be smaller than the aperture diameter, allowing the plug to reciprocate freely in response to pressure parameter changes. The elastic panel's tension is tuned to allow the plug to move inward during under-pressure conditions. This parameter optimization enables the vent element to automatically adapt to varying pressure conditions, preventing structural damage while maintaining seal integrity during normal storage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the elastic panel is tuned to allow plug reciprocation, then pressure regulation is improved, but the valve may fail to maintain a secure seal
Solution Approach 1:
The plug head is designed with a specific geometry that provides localized sealing contact with the aperture wall. The sealing function is concentrated at the plug head-a aperture interface, while the shaft provides reciprocation freedom. The panel's elastic properties are localized to provide the necessary tension for sealing while allowing controlled movement. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both adaptability and seal integrity in different parts of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent element transitions from a static seal to a dynamic system where the plug can reciprocate in response to pressure changes. The panel's elastic tension dynamically adjusts the plug position based on internal container pressure. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain seal integrity under normal conditions while automatically opening to prevent under-pressure damage, achieving both adaptability and reliability.
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 elastic panel valve effectively regulates pressure and air exchange, preventing spoilage and structural deformation by automatically adjusting to maintain a secure seal and venting as internal pressure fluctuates, enhancing the container's usability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a valve element including an elastic panel. The panel has a first section secured to the base or cover adjacent the aperture... The elastic panel has an undeformed position in which this second section is spaced from the aperture such that the valve open condition is the default condition
Implementation Method 2
the elastic nature of the panel tuned to allow the plug to be drawn inward during underpressure with the container. This inward movement will break contact of the enlarged head with the container and create the valve vent condition
Data Source
AI summary
A food or beverage container with a valve. The valve is defined by an aperture in the one of the base or cover, and a valve element including an elastic panel. The panel has a first section secured to the cover by an elastic mounting tab which extends through the cover and is secured thereto. The elastic panel has an undeformed position spaced from the aperture such that the valve open condition is the default condition. The panel may be manually moved to a deformed position to close the aperture by a plug. This plug may include a shaft having an enlarged head, with the elastic nature of the panel ensuring forced contact and creating the valve closed condition. The elastic nature of the panel is tuned to allow the plug to be drawn inward during under-pressure with the container. This inward movement will break contact of the enlarged head a valve vent condition. With the interior of the container so vented and under-pressure reduced, the elastic nature of the panel will again move the plug outward to the valve closed condition. In this way the valve may automatically regulate pressure within the container during cooling.