Plastic Tank Safety Valve for Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure-sensitive plastic tanks, such as liquid manure tanks, are prone to damage from pressure differences, particularly negative pressure, which can cause fractures or cracks due to inadequate pressure equalization during filling, emptying, or transportation, and existing safety valves are too complex for agricultural use.
Innovation Solution
A safety valve with a valve body and valve seat on the tank top, utilizing the tank's elasticity to open and allow air in during negative pressure by separating the valve seat from the valve plate due to concave deformation, and a spring-loaded mechanism to manage overpressure, with a holding device to secure the valve disk for limited displacement, ensuring reliable pressure equalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex combination safety valve is used for pressure equalization, then pressure protection is improved, but device complexity increases making it unsuitable for agricultural use
Solution Approach 1:
The safety valve is divided into separate functional components: a first valve body with a first valve element for negative pressure relief, and a second valve body with a second valve element for positive pressure relief. This segmentation allows each valve element to be simple and independent, suitable for agricultural use, while collectively providing comprehensive pressure protection.
Solution Approach 2:
A deformable membrane is introduced as an intermediary element that responds to pressure differences. The membrane deforms under negative pressure to open the first valve and deforms under positive pressure to open the second valve, providing automatic pressure equalization without complex mechanical linkages or control systems.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an overflow hose is used for pressure equalization, then liquid manure spraying is prevented, but the valve may be forgotten closed or blocked causing pressure damage
Solution Approach 1:
The safety valve system is self-activating and requires no manual operation. The deformable membrane automatically responds to pressure conditions inside the tank, opening the appropriate valve element when needed. This eliminates the reliability issue of forgotten or blocked manual valves while maintaining the benefit of preventing liquid spraying through the pressure-equalization pathway.
3Device complexity
If the valve disk is held stationary relative to the valve seat, then the valve structure is simplified, but the valve cannot respond to tank deformation under negative pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disk is designed with limited displacement capability along the opening direction, allowing it to move dynamically in response to tank deformation under negative pressure. This dynamic design enables the valve to respond automatically to pressure changes while maintaining a simple overall structure without complex actuators or control mechanisms.
4Reliability
If the valve disk is made displaceable to respond to negative pressure, then pressure equalization is improved, but overpressure protection becomes more difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The safety valve system merges two separate valve bodies with different valve elements into a unified structure. The first valve element handles negative pressure relief with limited displacement, while the second valve element handles positive pressure relief. This merging approach provides comprehensive dual-pressure protection while maintaining structural efficiency and avoiding excessive complexity.
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 safety valve effectively prevents pressure-related damage to plastic tanks by ensuring pressure equalization, is cost-effective, and can be retrofitted to existing tanks, providing reliable protection throughout the tank's service life.
Implementation Method 1
The invention is based on the general idea of advantageously using the elasticity of a plastic tank, in particular a plastic liquid manure tank. The valve according to the invention is opened as soon as the tank volume decreases as a result of a negative pressure by means of a valve body formed on the top of the tank with a valve seat and a valve disk, which seals the tank against the valve seat, with the valve disk being held in the tank by a holding device.
Implementation Method 2
The valve disk can be spring-loaded when the spring device is arranged outside the tank or spring-loaded when the spring device is arranged inside the tank.
Data Source
Figure 1a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The safety valve (1) has a valve portion (5) which is formed on the tank top (2) and is provided with a valve seat (6) and a valve disc (9). The valve portion seals the tank against the valve seat, and the valve disc is mounted on a holding device (10) in the liquid manure tank (4). The valve disc against the valve seat is mounted on the stationary support portion. The valve disc is spring loaded, and the displaceability is limited downwardly by a stop.