Multi-layered Gas-filled Bladder for Fluid Pressure Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock suppressors in fluid delivery systems, such as water hammer arrestors, lose their ability to absorb pressure shocks and volume expansion over time due to diaphragm failure, requiring regular maintenance and potential system replacement, and often rely on pre-charged air that complicates design and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layered gas-filled bladder with a pre-charged air pressure of 20 to 30 psi, housed in a spherical configuration with a polymeric shell composed of dissimilar materials to inhibit leak paths and provide redundancy, allowing the bladder to absorb pressure waves and volumetric expansion without the need for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-layer diaphragm is used in shock suppressors, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to diaphragm failure over time
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is divided into multiple layers (typically three layers) with each layer serving as an independent barrier. This segmentation ensures that if one layer fails, the other layers remain intact and continue to provide pressure shock absorption functionality, thereby maintaining system reliability while using a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer bladder structure provides redundant capacity before failure occurs. The additional layers act as a backup cushion that remains dormant during normal operation but becomes critical when pressure spikes exceed the capacity of single layers, ensuring reliable shock absorption throughout the product lifecycle.
2Reliability
If dissimilar polymeric materials are used in the bladder layers, then the reliability is improved by inhibiting leak paths, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder incorporates multiple layers of dissimilar polymeric materials, each selected for specific properties such as barrier performance, flexibility, and strength. This composite structure creates tortuous leak paths that significantly improve leak resistance while the layers are bonded together using standard manufacturing techniques, balancing reliability with manufacturability.
3Reliability
If pre-charged air is used in shock suppressors, then the pressure shock absorption is improved, but the device complexity increases due to maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-charged air system is designed to be self-contained within the multi-layer bladder structure, which prevents air leakage and maintains pressure without requiring external monitoring or replenishment. The redundant layered structure protects the pre-charged air from contamination and leakage, enabling the device to maintain its shock absorption effectiveness throughout its service life without maintenance intervention.
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 maintains system functionality by absorbing pressure waves and volumetric expansion, reducing noise and vibration, and preventing system failure, while being maintenance-free due to its design and redundancy, ensuring prolonged operation and reduced risk of corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
the air cushion compresses, the air pressure increases and the shock is absorbed
Implementation Method 2
the air pressure increases and the shock is absorbed
Implementation Method 3
a multi-layered polymeric shell with dissimilar materials to inhibit leak paths
Data Source
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AI summary
An absorber for use in a fluid delivery system is disclosed which includes a housing defining an interior chamber, a connective fitting extending from the housing in fluid communication with the interior chamber for connecting the housing to the fluid delivery system, and at least one gas-filled bladder or cell disposed within the interior chamber of the housing to accommodate changes in fluid characteristics, such as, for example, pressure and volume, within the fluid delivery system, the gas-filled bladder or cell having a predetermined pre-charge pressure and a multi-layered flexible polymeric shell including a plurality of successive relatively thin polymeric shell layers to inhibit the formation of leak paths through the shell in the event that a single shell layer fails.