Pressure Vessel End Cap Recesses for Weld Integrity Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure vessel end caps for diffusion and filtration devices cannot be reliably differentiated between those that are properly welded and those that are only plugged on, as current methods do not provide a clear indication of weld integrity during leak testing.
Innovation Solution
The end cap design incorporates recesses on its connecting parts that create intentional fluid passages when plugged onto the housing, allowing for the detection of leaks during testing, thereby distinguishing between properly welded and improperly welded devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the end cap is only plugged on the housing without welding, then the device can be assembled quickly, but the leak test cannot reliably differentiate between properly welded and improperly welded devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces artificial leak passages (through-holes or recesses) in the end cap's connecting part before welding. These passages are intentionally created to allow test fluid to pass through if welding is incomplete or missing. The passages are subsequently sealed by proper welding, so their presence beforehand does not affect normal operation but enables reliable leak detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses test fluid as an intermediary substance to detect welding quality. The test fluid is introduced into the pressure vessel and its passage through the artificial leak passages indicates improper welding. This intermediary medium transforms the invisible welding quality into a detectable fluid flow signal.
2Reliability
If recesses are added to the connecting part to create fluid passages, then leak detection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces recesses or through-holes only in specific local areas of the end cap's connecting part, not throughout the entire structure. These localized features are positioned at the interface with the housing to create controlled fluid passages. This localized modification maintains most of the end cap's original simple structure while enabling reliable leak detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial leak passages are temporary features that serve their purpose during leak testing, then are sealed by welding. After welding, the passages no longer exist as open channels, and the end cap returns to its normal sealed state. The temporary complexity is discarded after serving its detection function.
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 design enables reliable identification of improperly welded devices by allowing a test fluid to flow through the recesses, ensuring the integrity of the weld is verified during leak testing, thus preventing false positives in the testing process.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one connecting part comprises a number of recesses, the number of recesses being formed on surfaces of the at least one connecting part facing the counterpart of the housing as to provide at least one fluid passage between an inside and an outside of the pressure vessel, when the end cap is plugged on the housing
Implementation Method 2
For welding the end cap, a welding method using ultrasound (ultrasonic welding) is generally applied, which allows to connect both elements
Data Source
AI summary
An end cap for a pressure vessel has at least one part for connecting the end cap to a housing. The at least one part comprises a number of recesses. The recesses are arranged to form at least one fluid passage between an inside and an outside of the end cap when the end cap is plugged on the housing. A housing for a pressure vessel has at least one counterpart for connecting an end cap to the housing by engaging a part of the end cap. The at least one counterpart comprises a number of recesses. The recesses are arranged to form at least one fluid passage between an inside and an outside of the housing when the end cap is plugged on the housing. A method for leak testing a pressure vessel and a method for checking a connection between at least one end cap and a housing of a pressure vessel for leak tightness are also described.