Flame Mitigation Device With Downward Sloping Perforations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable fuel containers face risks of explosion when used recklessly, as existing flame arrestors are ineffective in preventing combustion, especially in plastic containers, and struggle to maintain a fuel-air mixture that inhibits combustion, particularly during filling at standard gas pump flow rates.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves creating a 'too rich' fuel-air mixture within the container by using a neck dam, absorbent materials, or a flash suppressor with downwardly sloping perforations to retain fuel near the opening, ensuring that any incipient explosion is suppressed and combustion cannot occur within the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal flame arrestor screen is used in a portable fuel container, then combustion is prevented, but fuel may splash back out and mix with air creating a combustible mixture, and static sparks may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the metal flame arrestor screen from the container and replaces it with a chemical mitigation approach using inert materials placed at the bottom of the container. This extracts the problematic metal component that causes static sparks and fuel splashback while maintaining combustion prevention through a different mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from physical flame blocking to chemical combustion inhibition by introducing inert materials that alter the fuel-air mixture composition. This parameter change from physical to chemical means eliminates the harmful effects of metal screens while achieving the same safety goal.
2Reliability
If fuel is retained to create a too-rich mixture for combustion inhibition, then combustion is prevented, but filling rate may be insufficient at standard gas pump flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places inert materials specifically at the bottom of the container where fuel accumulates, creating a localized zone of combustion inhibition. This local application allows the rest of the container to fill efficiently without being constrained by the need to retain large amounts of fuel throughout the entire container volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a partial amount of inert material rather than requiring complete fuel retention. This partial action is sufficient to create a too-rich mixture at the fuel-air interface where combustion would initiate, while allowing the container to fill at normal rates without excessive fuel retention throughout the entire volume.
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 approach effectively prevents combustion by maintaining a fuel-air mixture too rich to support ignition, even when fuel is poured onto an ignition source, thereby minimizing the risk of explosion and ensuring safe usage, including during filling at standard gas pump flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
downwardly sloping perforations configured to retain a quantity of liquid fuel
Implementation Method 2
perforations configured to retain a quantity of liquid fuel that is too rich to support combustion
Data Source
AI summary
A flame mitigation device configured to be located proximate a main container opening of a fuel container having a fuel-receiving chamber, with the main container opening permitting liquid fuel to flow into and out of the fuel-receiving chamber. The flame mitigation device comprises a sidewall defining a plurality of perforations through which the liquid fuel can flow to dispense such liquid fuel from the fuel-receiving chamber when the flame mitigation device is installed within the fuel container. At least a portion of the perforations defined in the sidewall are downwardly sloping perforations, with the downward angle of the downwardly sloping perforations being at least 1 degree below horizontal. And at least 20 percent of the total open area defined by all of said perforations is attributable to downwardly sloping perforations.