LNG Receptacle Cap With Two-Stage Pressure Relief Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional caps for pressurized liquified natural gas containers lack effective locking mechanisms, secondary sealing functionality, and pressure relief features, making them susceptible to leakage and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A cap with a two-stage pressure relief mechanism, featuring a valve for venting trapped gases and a catch to control removal, along with a locking mechanism using grooves and detents to secure the cap to the receptacle, ensuring proper closure and preventing rotational movement until pressure is relieved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple cap is used to cover the receptacle, then debris ingress is prevented, but locking functionality and pressure relief are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cap integrates multiple functions into a single component: the relief valve is built into the cap body, the locking mechanism uses integrated grooves and detents, and the secondary seal is incorporated as part of the cap structure. This merging approach improves reliability by ensuring coordinated operation of all features while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap serves multiple purposes: it provides primary sealing with the receptacle valve, secondary sealing with its own seal, pressure relief through the integrated valve, locking via grooves and detents, and debris protection. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the single cap component sufficiently complex to handle all tasks reliably.
2Productivity
If the cap is removed quickly from the receptacle, then operation is fast, but trapped gas causes dangerous pressure buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve is designed to activate automatically when the cap begins to be removed from the receptacle, before the cap is fully detached. This preliminary action of venting trapped gas prevents dangerous pressure buildup while allowing the operator to maintain relatively fast removal speed. The valve opens in anticipation of complete removal, resolving the contradiction between speed and safety.
3Ease of operation
If the cap allows free rotation during removal, then ease of operation is improved, but proper alignment and sealing cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The locking grooves and detents are positioned asymmetrically around the cap-receptacle interface, creating a specific orientation that must be achieved for proper engagement. This asymmetric design ensures that the cap aligns correctly with the receptacle features (seal, valve, locking points) while still allowing relatively easy rotational adjustment to reach the correct orientation. The asymmetry resolves the contradiction by providing guidance rather than complete restriction.
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 cap provides improved locking and sealing, ensures proper closure, and effectively relieves pressure before removal, preventing leakage and contamination, while controlling the removal sequence to manage remnant pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a valve configured to relieve trapped gas in the receptacle; in a first stage of removal of the cap from the receptacle, the valve is activatable to permit the trapped gas to vent from the receptacle
Implementation Method 2
a catch configured to control movement of the cap during removal of the cap from the receptacle; in a second stage of removal of the cap from the receptacle, the cap is movable to an intermediate removal position in which the catch intercepts part of the receptacle to control movement of the cap
Implementation Method 3
a sealing surface radially inwardly of the radially outer surface of the main body portion for fluidly sealing the opening of the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A cap for closing an opening of a receptacle such as for a liquefied natural gas container. The cap includes a main body and a sealing surface for sealing the opening of the receptacle. A lock/release mechanism is provided to lock the cap onto the receptacle, or enable the cap to be removed from the receptacle. A relief valve of the cap is activatable to relieve pressure within the receptacle. A grip overlies the main body and a relief valve actuator, enabling a user to activate the relief valve via the grip. The cap is configured to relieve pressure in a first stage of removal, and then unlock from the receptacle in a second stage of removal. A catch and secondary pressure relief features are provided to control removal of the cap. Magnets may be provided for proximity sensors to indicate proper closure of the cap on the receptacle.