Flex Plate Mount for High Pressure Tank Debris Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting systems for pressurized fluid tanks, particularly those using collars, face issues with debris entering bushings, leading to binding and wear, which can cause dangerous tank dislodgment and require premature replacement, as they fail to accommodate tank expansion and contraction effectively during transport.
Innovation Solution
A flexible mounting system utilizing a mounting plate with cutaway paths and a flexing portion that allows for displacement, preventing debris entry and enabling secure attachment of the tank collar without relative motion, thereby ensuring stable retention and protection during pressurization and depressurization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a bushing is used for the floating collar configuration, then the tank collar can float and move as the tank expands or contracts, but debris can enter the bushing causing it to bind or wear away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bushing component entirely from the floating collar assembly, replacing it with a direct mounting structure. This extraction eliminates the debris entry problem while preserving the floating capability through alternative design means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a floating collar design that directly interfaces with the tank collar without requiring a bushing intermediary. The floating collar itself serves as the mounting interface, eliminating the need for separate bushing components that are susceptible to debris contamination.
2Strength
If a fixed mounting system is used, then the tank is securely retained, but it cannot accommodate tank expansion and contraction during pressurization and depressurization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a floating collar design that dynamically adjusts its position relative to the tank collar as the tank expands or contracts during pressurization cycles. The floating collar maintains secure retention while accommodating dimensional changes through its floating mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system allows for changes in the positional parameter of the floating collar relative to the tank collar as the tank undergoes expansion and contraction. This parameter change enables the system to maintain secure retention while adapting to dimensional variations.
3Ease of operation
If a bushing is used in the floating configuration, then the collar can move freely, but the bushing will wear away over time requiring replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the bushing component from the design, removing the source of wear and the need for replacement. The floating collar directly interfaces with the tank collar without requiring a separate bushing that is subject to wear over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the wear-prone bushing with a more durable integrated floating collar design that does not require periodic replacement. The design prioritizes long-term durability over the simplicity of using replaceable bushing components.
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 flexible mounting system effectively prevents debris-induced binding and wear, ensuring safe and reliable tank retention and extending the operational life by allowing for tank expansion and contraction without abrupt dislodgment, enhancing safety and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
The flexing portion is movable in a direction out of a same plane as the mounting portion through a bending deflection
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides mounting plates having a mounting portion adjacent to a plurality of fastening regions and a flexing portion adjacent to a mounting feature. The fastening regions can be connected to a frame system. The mounting feature can be connected to an end of a pressurized tank. The end of the pressurized tank can move relative to the frame system and the mounting plate can flex such that the flexing portion moves out of the plane of the fastening region to accommodate the motion of the end of the pressurized tank. Connection to the end of the pressurized tank can be provided at a tank collar than can be bonded or threadably connected to the mounting plate via a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism can be an expandable plug or a sleeve that connects to the tank collar.