Gas Regulator Integrated Overpressure Safety Shutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas pressure regulators for domestic appliances, such as those using liquefied petroleum gas, often fail to regulate pressure effectively due to fouling, leading to excessive gas pressure that can cause equipment deterioration, poor combustion, and gas leaks, necessitating additional safety systems like Over Pressure Shut-Off (OPSO) which complicate installations and increase bulk.
Innovation Solution
A regulator with integrated overpressure safety features, including a movable shutter axis, elastic return mechanism, locking means, and a visible reset button, allows for automatic shut-off when pressure exceeds a threshold, indicating the status externally and preventing gas flow without the need for additional devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additional independent OPSO system is coupled to the regulator, then overpressure safety is improved, but installation complexity and device bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The OPSO system is merged with the regulator body into an integrated unit. The shutter axis, locking means, and indicating means are incorporated within the regulator structure, eliminating the need for separate coupling of an independent OPSO system during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The regulator body serves multiple functions: pressure reduction, overpressure detection, gas flow shut-off, and status indication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated OPSO equipment.
2Reliability
If an additional independent OPSO system is coupled to the regulator, then overpressure safety is improved, but device bulk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The OPSO components (shutter axis, locking means, indicating means) are merged into the regulator body, utilizing existing structural space and eliminating the need for separate dedicated OPSO equipment.
3Ease of operation
If the reset button is positioned on the gas inlet or outlet side, then resetting is simplified, but gas leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reset button is extracted from the gas inlet/outlet piping zones and repositioned on the regulator body in a location clear of any gas inlet or outlet pipe, eliminating the gas leakage risk while maintaining operational accessibility.
4Device complexity
If the shutter axis is locked in open position without indicating means, then device simplicity is maintained, but safety monitoring capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating means uses color changes (transparent to opaque) of a visible portion to communicate the locked/unlocked status of the shutter axis, providing clear safety status information through optical property changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicating means provides visual feedback about the shutter axis status. When the shutter axis is locked in the closed position, the indicating means changes appearance to inform users of the safety activation state.
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 solution provides a compact, reliable, and user-friendly overpressure safety system that prevents excessive gas pressure issues, ensuring safe operation and reducing installation complexity by integrating safety functions within the regulator.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic membrane forming one of the walls of said chamber, a first spring acting on this first elastic membrane in the direction of said chamber
Implementation Method 2
a second elastic membrane forming one of the walls of said chamber, a second spring acting on this second elastic membrane in the direction of said chamber
Implementation Method 3
an obturator axis movable between an open position and a complete closing position of said gas inlet, means for elastic return of this shutter pin to its completely closed position
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
This gas regulator includes a body defining at least one chamber into which a gas inlet and outlet open, means for reducing the gas pressure in said chamber and means for blocking the flow of gas between said inlet and said outlet when the gas pressure in said chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold.