Reclosable Pressure Vessel Lid Deformation Compensation
Solution Overview
Problem
Heat treatment processes, such as pasteurization, cause deformation of the closure means and lid surface in pressure vessels, leading to incomplete sealing and potential leakage after reclosing, especially in carbonated beverage cans.
Innovation Solution
The closure means, made of plastic, undergoes plastic deformation during heat treatment, while the lid surface deforms elastically, and their deformation differences are compensated to ensure a precise fit post-treatment, maintaining a consistent seal by adjusting the curvature of the lid surface and closure means alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the closure means and lid surface are made to deform elastically during heat treatment, then the pressure vessel can withstand the internal pressure, but the closure means will not seal tightly after reclosing due to incomplete deformation reversal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing the temperature-dependent mechanical properties of the closure means material. The closure means is made of a material that transitions from elastic deformation at room temperature to plastic deformation at elevated temperatures during heat treatment. This parameter change allows the closure means to deform with the lid surface during heating (maintaining pressure resistance) while retaining the ability to seal tightly after cooling and reclosing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the closure means is made of plastic and subjected to heat treatment, then the lid surface can absorb pressure force elastically, but the closure means undergoes permanent deformation causing gap formation and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the material's mechanical properties - specifically the temperature-dependent transition from elastic to plastic deformation. The closure means is designed to undergo controlled plastic deformation during heat treatment, which compensates for the elastic recovery of the lid surface, ensuring precise seal alignment after the heat treatment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the closure means with specific geometric features and material properties before heat treatment. The closure means is designed with initial curvature and material selection that anticipates the deformation behavior during heat treatment, ensuring that after the heat treatment process, the closure means maintains proper alignment with the lid surface for effective sealing.
3Device complexity
If the closure means is aligned parallel to the lid surface before heat treatment, then the sealing structure is simple, but after heat treatment the closure means creates a gap at its edge due to differential deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing the temperature-dependent mechanical properties of the closure means material. The closure means is made of a material that transitions from elastic deformation at room temperature to plastic deformation at elevated temperatures during heat treatment. This parameter change allows the closure means to deform with the lid surface during heating (maintaining pressure resistance) while retaining the ability to seal tightly after cooling and reclosing.
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
This configuration ensures the pressure vessel remains sealed and leak-proof after heat treatment and initial opening, preventing content leakage by matching the plastic deformation of the closure means with the lid surface curvature.
Implementation Method 1
The deformation of the lid surface itself occurs in a substantially elastic manner, i.e. the lid surface reverts back to its original position without the occurrence of any other external forces after the cessation of the loading, i.e. during cooling.
Implementation Method 2
The closure means which is made of plastic is subjected to a certain extent to plastic deformation at increased temperature, i.e. at least a part of the curvature produced by the internal pressure remains after the cessation of the pressure load.
Implementation Method 3
In this process, the can is briefly subjected to a temperature of over 60°C, as a result of which the pressure in the interior rises to several thousand hektopascals.
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a filled and reclosable pressure vessel, in which a body is filled with a fluid, non - detachably closed with a lid element (10, 100) and subjected to a heat treatment, with a lid surface (11, 110), and a closure means (14) made of plastics as a lid element (10, 100), and at least one seal (16) arranged on the closure means (14), the lid element (10, 100) being arranged in such a way that the closure means (14) faces the interior of the sealed pressure vessel, wherein the lid surface (11, 110) and the closure means (14) are arranged in such a way that the lid surface (11, 110) has a first distance (al) from a first reference plane (E1) which substantially extends through the at least one sealing surface (16a) on the first surface (111) of the lid surface (11, 110), and the closure means (14) extends at a second distance from a second reference plane which extends through the at least one seal (16), with the first distance (al) being chosen to be larger than the second distance.