Integrated Safe Valve for High Pressure Regulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing high pressure regulators for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles face increased volume, weight, and complexity due to separate overpressure relief and fuel discharge valves, leading to decreased workability and reliability during assembly and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An integrated safe valve is designed to combine the functions of overpressure relief and fuel discharge, featuring a guide body, valve body with a lower spring, and a discharging pipe, with a separation preventing pin to ensure components remain connected during separation and reassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate overpressure relief valve and fuel discharging valve are installed, then safety function is improved, but device complexity and volume are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the overpressure relief valve and fuel discharging valve into a single integrated safe valve assembly. The valve body contains both the relief valve mechanism (with relief valve seat and relief spring) and the discharging valve mechanism (with discharging valve seat and valve closing member) integrated together, allowing both safety functions to be performed by one unified component rather than separate valves
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated safe valve assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both an overpressure relief valve that opens to discharge fuel when pressure exceeds safe levels, and as a fuel discharging valve that can be manually opened to drain fuel from the regulator. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated valves for each function
2Reliability
If separate overpressure relief valve and fuel discharging valve are installed, then safety function is improved, but volume and weight are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the overpressure relief valve and fuel discharging valve into a single integrated safe valve assembly. The valve body contains both the relief valve mechanism (with relief valve seat and relief spring) and the discharging valve mechanism (with discharging valve seat and valve closing member) integrated together, allowing both safety functions to be performed by one unified component rather than separate valves
Solution Approach 2:
The design nests the relief valve components within the same valve body structure that houses the discharging valve components. The relief valve seat and discharging valve seat are positioned within the same valve body, with the relief spring and valve closing member arranged in a nested configuration that maximizes space efficiency and minimizes overall assembly volume
3Device complexity
If integrated safe valve is used, then device complexity is reduced, but components may be missed during separation and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a guide pin that protrudes from the valve body and fits into a corresponding guide hole in the valve cover before final assembly. This guide structure is pre-designed into the components to ensure proper alignment and to physically prevent complete separation of the valve cover from the valve body during maintenance operations, thereby preventing loss of small components
4Reliability
If separate overpressure relief valve and fuel discharging valve are installed, then safety function is improved, but workability during assembly and maintenance is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the overpressure relief valve and fuel discharging valve into a single integrated safe valve assembly. The valve body contains both the relief valve mechanism (with relief valve seat and relief spring) and the discharging valve mechanism (with discharging valve seat and valve closing member) integrated together, allowing both safety functions to be performed by one unified component rather than separate valves
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 integrated safe valve minimizes product volume and weight, simplifies pipe connections, improves workability during assembly, and ensures reliable reassembly by preventing complete separation of components, enhancing the safety and efficiency of overpressure relief and fuel discharge operations.
Implementation Method 1
a lower spring installed inside the valve body for providing elastic force to the valve body
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a safe valve for a high pressure regulator, which includes: a guide body coupled to a valve port prepared at a body of a high pressure regulator; a valve body couple to an upper end part of the guide body to open the valve port when the overpressure occurs in a state that the valve port is closed; a lower spring installed inside the valve body for providing elastic force to the valve body; and a discharging pipe couple to a lower part of the guide body for discharging the fuel upon an opening operation of the valve body, wherein a function for a relief valve to relieve the overpressure by discharging the fuel when the overpressure is generated inside the high pressure regulator and a function for a purge valve separated from the body to discharge fuel inside the high pressure regulator are integrally provided.