Overpressure Valve Gasket Segmentation for Beverage Container Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extractor tube assemblies in beverage containers face risks of components being shot out as projectiles due to increased pressure from extreme heat, high hydraulic pressure, or defective gas regulators, posing safety hazards to equipment and people.
Innovation Solution
An extractor tube assembly with a ring-shaped gasket made of elastomeric material and a rigid insert, featuring a detectable identification on its upper face that changes shape when pressure exceeds a predetermined level, allowing for visible indication of pressure release and enhancing security by facilitating easy detection of degassing and potential replacement needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety system is incorporated to prevent the valve plug from being shot out, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is segmented into a top part and a bottom part that can separate from each other. The top part remains in the beverage container while the bottom part is ejected, providing safety without requiring the entire valve assembly to be complex. This segmentation allows the safety function to be achieved through a simple separation mechanism rather than a complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom part of the gasket is extracted and ejected from the beverage container when overpressure occurs. This extraction of the problematic bottom part while retaining the top part provides a simple safety mechanism that prevents the valve plug from being shot out without adding complex safety systems.
2Reliability
If the gasket is made with elastomeric material and rigid insert, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is constructed as a composite structure with an elastomeric material outer layer and a rigid insert core. This composite design combines the sealing properties of elastomeric material with the structural integrity of rigid material, improving reliability while the modular composite structure actually simplifies manufacturing by allowing each material to be optimized independently.
3Ease of operation
If an identification is added to the gasket's upper face, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An identification marking is added to the upper face of the gasket's top part, visible from outside the beverage container. This allows users to easily detect the gasket's condition, orientation, or status without adding complex detection systems. The simple visual identification improves ease of operation while maintaining device simplicity.
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 provides enhanced safety and security by allowing users to detect pressure release and potential component failure, reducing the risk of accidents and enabling timely maintenance or replacement, while also incorporating RFID-tags and visible markings for additional information.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomeric material encloses the insert and a portion of the top part of the gasket is adapted to be released from the insert when a pressure inside the beverage container exceeds a predetermined level
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an extractor tube assembly for a beverage container, comprising a gas valve and a beverage valve adapted to cooperate with each other, the gas valve and beverage valve comprising a ring-shaped gasket, the gasket being made of an elastomeric material and comprising an insert made of a rigid material, and the gasket having a top part with an upper face visible from outside the extractor tube assembly, the top part being arranged above the insert. The elastomeric material encloses the insert and a portion of the top part of the gasket is adapted to be released from the insert when a pressure inside the beverage container exceeds a predetermined level so that fluid communication between an interior of the beverage container and the surroundings is provided, whereby the pressure is released from the beverage container, the gasket comprising an identification detectable from the upper face of the gasket, so that it is easily detectable if a pressure release function of the gasket has been partly or fully initiated.