Pressure Vessel Coupling With Orthogonal Guide-Hole Manifold

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for fastening pressure vessels to coupling devices are cumbersome and inconvenient, often resulting in misalignment and damage to screw thread portions, and require additional devices like valves, increasing overall length and reducing spatial utilization and design freedom.

Innovation Solution

A coupling device with a boss having an inflow/outflow path and a guide hole orthogonal to the pressure vessel, combined with a manifold member that slides into the guide hole, eliminating the need for direct rotation and allowing for a stable, secure fastening process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pressure vessel is fastened to the coupling device by rotating the pressure vessel relative to the nipple member, then the connection is secured, but the fastening process becomes cumbersome and inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidfastening convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the pressure vessel (long object) relative to the nipple member (short object), the patent inverts the approach by having the nipple member rotate within the coupling device while the pressure vessel remains stationary. This inversion makes the fastening process more convenient by reducing the rotational burden on the operator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the fastening function into two independent parts: the coupling device with internal threading and the nipple member with external threading. This segmentation allows the nipple member to be rotated independently within the coupling device, simplifying the fastening operation while maintaining secure connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the pressure vessel is fastened by rotating it relative to the nipple member, then connection is achieved, but misalignment occurs causing damage to screw thread portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidthread alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the fastening mechanism so that the nipple member rotates within the coupling device rather than the pressure vessel rotating. This inversion ensures proper alignment of the screw thread portions during fastening, preventing misalignment and damage to the threads while achieving secure connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional devices like valves are fastened separately to the pressure vessel, then fluid discharge control is achieved, but the overall length increases and spatial utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid control capabilityVSAvoidoverall length

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fluid discharge control function into the coupling device itself by integrating a valve mechanism within the coupling device structure. This eliminates the need for separate valve attachments, maintaining fluid control capability while reducing the overall length and improving spatial utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a connection mechanism and as a fluid control device. By integrating the valve function into the coupling device, the system achieves adaptability for fluid discharge control without requiring additional components, thereby reducing overall length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional devices like valves are fastened separately to the pressure vessel, then fluid discharge control is achieved, but the degree of design freedom is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid control capabilityVSAvoiddesign freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the valve mechanism with the coupling device into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates the need for separate valve attachments, maintaining fluid control capability while simplifying the overall design and improving design freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250320970A1Coupling device for pressure vessel

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An embodiment coupling device includes a boss disposed at an end of a pressure vessel that is configured to store a target fluid, the boss including an inflow/outflow path through which the target fluid is introduced or discharged and a guide hole disposed in a reference direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the pressure vessel and a manifold member configured to be inserted into the guide hole in the reference direction and including a manifold flow path configured to communicate with the inflow/outflow path.