Frangible Pressure Relief Vent with Replaceable Failure Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pressure relief vents require on-site testing, calibration, and maintenance due to changes in physical properties of holding mechanisms over time, and are often destroyed during explosive or pressure differential events, necessitating costly replacement and individualized customization based on the mass and shape of the vent structure.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief device with a frame, panel member, and release mechanism where the failure portion is configured to fail at a predetermined load, allowing the panel member to reposition and replace the failure mechanism after an event, eliminating the need for on-site testing and maintenance, and allowing control of set pressure independent of the vent structure's mass and shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnets, springs, or latches are used to hold the vent in place, then the vent can be held securely in a pre-venting configuration, but the physical properties of these components change over time requiring periodic testing and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a frangible member that is intentionally designed to be a consumable, short-lived component. This member is calibrated to fail at a predetermined force, allowing the vent to open when needed. After failure, the frangible member is replaced, eliminating the need for periodic testing and maintenance of the holding mechanism itself. This disposable approach resolves the contradiction by accepting that the holding component will fail as its primary function, rather than requiring ongoing maintenance to ensure it holds reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the holding mechanism from a reusable, adjustable system (magnets, springs, latches) to a pre-calibrated, single-use frangible member. The frangible member is manufactured with specific physical properties (strength, geometry, material composition) that determine its failure load. This parameter-based design allows the holding mechanism to be reliable without requiring periodic testing, as the failure characteristics are determined during manufacturing rather than requiring field calibration.
2Reliability
If frangible components are used in the vent, then the vent can be destroyed during an explosive event or strong wind, but this requires costly replacement of the entire vent device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vent device into distinct functional components: a reusable vent structure (frame, seal, panel) and a consumable frangible member. The frangible member is the only component designed to fail during normal operation, while the vent structure itself is built to withstand and be replaced only if severely damaged. This segmentation allows the majority of the vent device to be reusable, reducing the loss of substance when the venting function needs to be restored after an event.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the principle of discarding only the necessary consumable component (the frangible member) while recovering and reusing the main vent structure. After the frangible member fails and allows venting, it is replaced while the frame, seal, and panel are retained and reused. This selective discarding approach minimizes material loss and reduces the cost of restoring the venting function after an explosive event or strong wind condition.
3Reliability
If the vent structure mass and shape are used to determine set venting pressure, then the venting condition is dependent on the combined release mechanism and vent structure, but this requires costly individualized customization for each pressure relief device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure-setting function from the vent structure's mass and shape characteristics and places it entirely in the frangible member. The frangible member is calibrated during manufacturing to fail at a specific force corresponding to the desired set pressure. This separation allows the vent structure to be a standardized, off-the-shelf component while the pressure-specific customization is confined to the relatively simple frangible member, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and enabling easier customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calibrating the frangible member's failure characteristics during manufacturing rather than requiring field adjustment. The frangible member is designed and tested beforehand to fail at the exact force needed for the desired set pressure. This preliminary calibration eliminates the need for costly individualized customization and testing of each complete vent device, as the pressure-setting function is already optimized before the vent is installed and used.
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
Enables reliable and cost-effective pressure relief without the need for periodic testing or skilled maintenance, as the failure load is predetermined and the system can be easily installed and maintained, reducing damage from explosive events and extending the device's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a failure portion configured to fail upon experiencing a predetermined load
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~5
AI summary
A pressure relief device is disclosed that is designed to open in response to a pre-determined pressure differential. The pressure relief device includes a panel member (12), and at least one release mechanism (16). The release mechanism has a first end (31), a failure portion configured to fail upon experiencing a predetermined load, and a second end (33). The at least one release mechanism (16) is configured to hold the panel member (12) against a frame prior to experiencing the predetermined pressure differential.