Hybrid Meter Casing with Metal Ring for Weight Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Metal pressure vessels for fluid flow meters offer resistance to pressure fluctuations and electrical conductivity but are heavy and costly, while plastic vessels lack durability and conductivity, and are prone to thread stripping and cracking under pipe stress.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid pressure vessel assembly with a plastic interior housing and a metal exterior ring structure, where the metal ring provides electrical conductivity and structural support, attached to the plastic housing using fasteners or adhesives, and includes conduit liners or coatings to minimize fluid-metal contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal pressure vessel is used, then resistance to pressure fluctuations and electrical conductivity are improved, but weight and material cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to pressure fluctuationsVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure vessel uses a composite structure combining plastic and metal materials. The plastic body provides lightweight construction while metal reinforcement elements (such as metal threads, metal sleeves, or metal bonding layers) provide the necessary mechanical strength and pressure resistance. This composite approach allows the vessel to achieve metal-like durability without the full weight and cost of a solid metal construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire pressure vessel from metal, the invention applies metal material only in specific locations where strength and conductivity are critical - such as threading areas, connection points, or as localized reinforcement layers. The majority of the vessel remains plastic, providing weight reduction while metal is strategically placed to provide localized mechanical and electrical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 3:

The invention may use an intermediary bonding layer or coating between plastic and metal components, such as a metallic coating on the plastic surface or a bonding agent that provides both mechanical attachment and electrical conductivity. This intermediary layer allows the plastic and metal to work together while transferring both mechanical strength and electrical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a metal pressure vessel is used, then resistance to pressure fluctuations and electrical conductivity are improved, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to pressure fluctuationsVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure vessel uses a composite structure combining plastic and metal materials. The plastic body provides lightweight construction while metal reinforcement elements (such as metal threads, metal sleeves, or metal bonding layers) provide the necessary mechanical strength and pressure resistance. This composite approach allows the vessel to achieve metal-like durability without the full weight and cost of a solid metal construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire pressure vessel from metal, the invention applies metal material only in specific locations where strength and conductivity are critical - such as threading areas, connection points, or as localized reinforcement layers. The majority of the vessel remains plastic, providing weight reduction while metal is strategically placed to provide localized mechanical and electrical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If a plastic pressure vessel is used, then weight and material cost are reduced, but resistance to thread stripping and cracking decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidresistance to thread stripping
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure vessel uses a composite structure combining plastic and metal materials. The plastic body provides lightweight construction while metal reinforcement elements (such as metal threads, metal sleeves, or metal bonding layers) provide the necessary mechanical strength and pressure resistance. This composite approach allows the vessel to achieve metal-like durability without the full weight and cost of a solid metal construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire pressure vessel from metal, the invention applies metal material only in specific locations where strength and conductivity are critical - such as threading areas, connection points, or as localized reinforcement layers. The majority of the vessel remains plastic, providing weight reduction while metal is strategically placed to provide localized mechanical and electrical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Weight of moving object

If a plastic pressure vessel is used, then weight and material cost are reduced, but electrical conductivity for grounding purposes decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidelectrical conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure vessel uses a composite structure combining plastic and metal materials. The plastic body provides lightweight construction while metal reinforcement elements (such as metal threads, metal sleeves, or metal bonding layers) provide the necessary mechanical strength and pressure resistance. This composite approach allows the vessel to achieve metal-like durability without the full weight and cost of a solid metal construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention may use an intermediary bonding layer or coating between plastic and metal components, such as a metallic coating on the plastic surface or a bonding agent that provides both mechanical attachment and electrical conductivity. This intermediary layer allows the plastic and metal to work together while transferring both mechanical strength and electrical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8776593B2Meter casing with unitary ring structure
Publication Date: 2014.07.15 ARAD
  • US8776593B2 patent drawing
  • US8776593B2 patent drawing
  • US8776593B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention provides a hybrid fluid flow meter pressure vessel assembly (1) that includes an interior housing (11) fabricated from plastic, and an exterior ring structure (26), such as unitary exterior ring structure (32), fabricated from metal. Interior housing (11) has sidewalls (14) and an internal chamber (17). The sidewalls (14) of the interior housing (11) have first and second apertures (20, 23) that are each in fluid communication with the internal chamber (17). The exterior ring structure (26, 32) encompasses at least a portion of an exterior (29) of the sidewalls (14) of the interior housing (11), and includes outwardly extending first and second conduits (38, 41; 83, 89) that are in respective fluid communication with the first and second apertures (20, 23) of the interior housing (11).