Hydrogen Tank Valve Sealing Layout for Thread Stress Relief
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing valve devices for high-pressure hydrogen gas tanks in fuel cell vehicles suffer from stress accumulation in the threaded regions due to gas leakage between the sealing member and the valve seat fixation member, leading to potential fatigue and reduced sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A valve device design with a sealing member positioned radially inward of the threaded region, compressing between the joint and the valve seat fixation member to block gas flow to the threaded area, and a tapered tip on the joint to prevent load application during separation, ensuring reduced stress on the threaded regions and maintaining air tightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing member is positioned between the joint and the valve seat fixation member, then air tightness is maintained between the joint and the valve seat fixation member, but gas may still reach the screwed region and cause stress accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is positioned radially inward of the screwed region, changing the sealing location from a linear arrangement to a radial arrangement. This dimensional change blocks gas from reaching the threaded region while maintaining air tightness, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and threaded region strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member acts as an intermediary element positioned between the joint and the valve seat fixation member, but specifically radially inward of the screwed region. This intermediary blocks gas flow to the threaded region, protecting it from stress accumulation while maintaining the sealing function.
2Strength
If the sealing member is positioned radially inward of the screwed region, then gas is blocked from reaching the threaded region, but the sealing member may be damaged by compression between the joint and valve seat fixation member
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is pre-compressed between the joint and the valve seat fixation member during assembly, creating a cushioning effect that maintains constant contact and sealing pressure. This prior cushioning prevents gas leakage while distributing compression forces to protect the sealing member from damage during operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the joint is allowed to separate from the body during impact, then the impact force is absorbed, but the joint may reattach with misalignment causing stress on the threaded region
Solution Approach 1:
The joint is designed to dynamically separate from the body during impact events, absorbing impact forces through controlled movement. The tapered tip geometry enables this dynamic separation while preventing misalignment upon reattachment, protecting the threaded region from stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered tip of the joint provides a curved surface that guides the joint's separation and reattachment movements. This curvature ensures that even during impact-induced separation, the joint reattaches in proper alignment, preventing stress on the threaded region while still absorbing impact forces.
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 solution effectively prevents gas from reaching the threaded regions, reducing stress and fatigue, while maintaining air tightness and improving assemblability, and also reduces the likelihood of outgassing noise and foreign matter entry, thus enhancing the valve's operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
when high-pressure hydrogen gas is supplied to the filling passage 108 through the pipeline 104 for the piece of external equipment and the joint 103, this high-pressure hydrogen gas enters a screwed region 117 of the external thread 116 of the valve seat fixation member 115 and the internal thread 107 of the second attachment hole 106 from between the sealing member 121 and the valve seat fixation member 115
Implementation Method 2
an urging member 114 that urges the valving element 113 toward the valve seat 111
Implementation Method 3
The solution effectively prevents gas from reaching the threaded regions, reducing stress and fatigue, while maintaining air tightness and improving assemblability
Data Source
AI summary
A valve device includes a body, a joint, a check valve, a valve seat fixation member having an outer peripheral surface on which an external thread is provided, and a sealing member. The body has an attachment hole that attaches the joint and the valve seat fixation member from an outside of the body in a sequence of the joint and the valve seat fixation member, and that has an inner peripheral surface in which an internal thread screwed to the external thread of the valve seat fixation member is provided. The sealing member is provided between the joint and the valve seat fixation member. An outer peripheral edge of the sealing member is located radially inward of a screwed region of the internal thread and the external thread.