Oxygen Cylinder Valve Ring With Flame-Redirecting Heat-Absorbing Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oxygen gas cylinders pose ignition and fire hazards due to contaminates and adiabatic compression, particularly at the cylinder valve, which can lead to fires and cause significant damage.
Innovation Solution
A protective valve ring for an oxygen gas cylinder comprising a body adapted to enclose an outlet of a cylinder valve to protect a plastic guard from flames of fire, the body comprising an internal shaping, the internal shaping comprising grooves arranged on an inner wall surface of the body to optimize the protection provided by the protective valve ring in redirecting the flames and absorbing heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective valve ring with internal shaping grooves is added to redirect flames and absorb heat, then fire protection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective valve ring body is segmented into multiple functional grooves (first groove along inner circumference, second groove from bottom to first groove) that divide the flame redirection function into distinct pathways. This segmentation allows systematic control of flame flow while maintaining a relatively simple overall ring structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the protective valve ring are given different properties: the body uses incombustible and heat absorbing material, abutting surfaces use heat absorbing material to lead heat away, and internal shaping creates specific groove patterns. This local differentiation optimizes fire protection at critical locations without requiring the entire structure to be overly complex.
2Temperature
If abutting surfaces made from heat absorbing material are used to lead heat away from exposed parts, then thermal protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat absorbing function is merged into the abutting surfaces that are already part of the protective valve ring body structure. By making the abutting surfaces themselves the heat absorbing components rather than adding separate elements, the design achieves thermal protection while simplifying manufacturing compared to multi-component assemblies.
3Reliability
If the protective valve ring encloses the outlet to protect the plastic guard from flames, then protection of inflammable parts is improved, but gas flow restriction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective valve ring acts as an intermediary structure between the gas outlet and the plastic guard. It provides flame protection while maintaining gas flow capability through its groove design that allows gas to pass through the first and second grooves. The ring protects the plastic guard from direct flame contact while not completely blocking the gas pathway.
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 protective valve ring redirects and absorbs fire flames, reducing fuel availability and preventing fire propagation, thus protecting the plastic guard and reducing damage.
Implementation Method 1
the body comprising an incombustible and heat absorbing material
Implementation Method 2
the body comprising an incombustible and heat absorbing material, wherein the body comprises an internal shaping adapted to guide any potential oxygen gas leak away from inflammable parts of the gas cylinder
Implementation Method 3
the internal shaping comprising grooves arranged on an inner wall surface of the body to optimize the protection provided by the protective valve ring in redirecting the flames and absorbing heat
Implementation Method 4
the body comprises abutting surfaces which are adapted to be in direct communication with the shut-off cylinder valve when mounted thereto, the abutting surfaces being made from a heat absorbing material and thus adapted to lead heat away from exposed parts of the gas cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a protective valve ring (1) for an oxygen gas cylinder (3). The protective valve ring (1) comprises a body (4) adapted to enclose an outlet (5) of a cylinder valve (2). The body (2) comprises an incombustible and heat absorbing material, and has an internal shaping adapted to guide any potential oxygen gas leak away from inflammable parts of the gas cylinder (3). The invention also relates to a shut-off valve (2) for controlling flow of a pressurised gas and a method for attaching a protective valve ring (1) to a shut-off valve (2) of an oxygen gas cylinder (3).