Pressure Relief Cap Venting for Safe Container Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure differences between container interiors and the surrounding atmosphere can make it difficult to remove caps, and rapid pressure equalization can cause contents to be expelled when caps are removed.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief cap with a rotatable body, handle, and ring member, featuring a relief valve assembly and ratchet mechanism that allows controlled pressure equalization and torque transfer, enabling safe and efficient cap removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cap is sealed tightly to a container, then sealing reliability is improved, but pressure difference makes it difficult to remove the cap
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve assembly is activated before cap removal to preliminarily equalize the pressure between container interior and exterior, eliminating the pressure differential that prevents cap removal while maintaining sealing integrity during normal operation
2Speed
If a cap is removed quickly to equalize pressure, then pressure equalization speed is improved, but contents are expelled from the container
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve assembly acts as an intermediary controlled pressure equalization mechanism, allowing gradual pressure balance between container interior and exterior, preventing rapid pressure changes that would cause content expulsion while still enabling effective pressure equalization
3Adaptability or versatility
If a relief valve assembly is added to the cap, then pressure control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relief valve assembly is integrated into the cap body structure, merging the pressure control function with the existing cap components rather than adding a separate standalone system, thereby providing pressure control capability while minimizing additional 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 cap effectively manages pressure imbalances, preventing content expulsion and allowing for easy and secure removal, with the ratchet assembly preventing over-tightening and providing feedback, and the relief valve ensuring safe pressure release.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing member coupled between the body and the ring member and configured to bias the ring member relative to the body in the tightening direction
Implementation Method 2
a second biasing member operable to bias the plunger toward a sealed position
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure relief cap includes a body engageable with a container and rotatable about an axis to couple or decouple the body from the container, a handle is coupled to the body and rotatable about the axis in a loosening direction and an opposite, tightening direction and, a ring member coupled for co-rotation with the handle in the loosening direction. The cap includes relief valve assembly coupled to the body. The ring member and the body include a lost motion region in which the ring member is rotatable relative to the body in the loosening direction. Rotation of the ring member relative to the body in the loosening direction in the lost motion region opens the relief valve assembly. Rotation of the ring member in the loosening direction beyond the lost motion region causes the body to co-rotate with the ring member in the loosening direction.