Pressure Relief Valve Locking for Safe Pressurized Cap Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressurized containers pose a risk when attempting to remove the cap, as high pressure can prevent cap removal and lead to explosive separation, potentially causing injury or damage.
Innovation Solution
A container assembly with a pressure relief valve mounted adjacent to the opening, which allows for pressure equalization and safe cap removal by venting fluid through a vent hole in the cap, thereby restricting cap movement until pressure is released.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the container is highly pressurized, then the container can maintain high pressure for storage or transport, but it becomes nearly impossible to remove the cap without a leverage enhancing tool
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief valve is activated before cap removal to equalize the pressure inside the container with ambient pressure. This preliminary pressure equalization action eliminates the pressure differential that prevents cap removal, allowing the cap to be easily removed without requiring leverage enhancing tools.
2Ease of operation
If the cap is removed from a pressurized container, then access to the interior is gained, but the pressure acting on the cap can cause explosive separation
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief valve performs a preliminary pressure equalization by venting the pressurized fluid from the container before the cap is removed. This action reduces the internal pressure to match ambient pressure, eliminating the explosive force that would otherwise cause dangerous cap separation and high-velocity fluid discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure relief valve converts the harmful high pressure inside the container into a beneficial condition for safe cap removal. By controlled venting of the pressurized fluid, the system transforms the dangerous pressure differential into a safe pressure equilibrium, allowing the cap to be removed without explosive separation.
3Ease of operation
If the cap is removed from a pressurized container, then access is gained, but pressurized fluid may escape at high temperature and velocity causing injury or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure relief valve performs a preliminary venting action to reduce the pressure and temperature of the fluid inside the container before the cap is removed. This preliminary action allows the pressurized fluid to escape through the valve in a controlled manner, reducing its temperature and velocity to safe levels before the cap is removed, thereby preventing injury or damage.
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 enables safe and controlled removal of the cap from a pressurized container, preventing potential injuries and damages by ensuring pressure equalization before cap removal.
Implementation Method 1
the movable member is configured to seal the pressure relief valve when the movable member is in the first position and restrict movement of the cap relative to the opening when the movable member is in the first position. the pressure relief valve allows for pressure equalization and safe cap removal by venting fluid through a vent hole in the cap
Data Source
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AI summary
A container assembly includes a container body having a housing (22) defining an internal compartment (24) and an opening (26) connected to the internal compartment. A cap (32) having an engagement feature (82) is mounted to the housing about the opening. A pressure relief valve (50) is operably coupled with the internal compartment to vent fluid from the internal compartment. The pressure relief valve has a movable member (68) movable between a first position and a second position. When the movable member is in the first position, the movable member is configured to cooperate with the engagement feature to restrict movement of the cap relative to the opening.