Rotating Pressure Relief Valve for High-Flow Low-Profile Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure relief valves face limitations in fluid flow rate and layout design freedom due to restricted flow paths and larger dimensions in the normal direction of the housing surface.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief valve design featuring a rotatable cover supported by a case with biasing members, allowing the cover to transition between closed and open positions via engagement with stoppers, enhancing fluid discharge through multiple openings and reducing vertical space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluid flow is restricted by a gap between base and cover and gap between cover and housing, then pressure relief function is achieved, but fluid flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to rotate between closed and open positions rather than remain fixed. When pressure exceeds the threshold, the cover dynamically transitions from a sealed position to an open position, allowing full fluid flow without restriction through gaps. This dynamic movement resolves the contradiction by providing both pressure sealing and unrestricted flow rate at different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve opening area changes from zero (closed position) to maximum (open position) based on pressure conditions. The cover rotation mechanism allows the flow area parameter to vary dynamically, achieving both pressure relief function when closed and high flow rate when open, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
2Device complexity
If larger dimensions are used in normal direction of housing surface, then pressure relief valve structure is simplified, but layout design freedom is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism transitions from a linear displacement design (moving in the normal direction of the housing surface) to a rotational design (moving in a direction parallel to the housing surface). This dimensional change allows the valve to achieve pressure relief functionality while minimizing the space required in the normal direction, thereby increasing layout design freedom without significantly increasing structural complexity.
3Reliability
If cover moves away from base in normal direction of housing surface, then pressure relief is achieved, but vertical space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the cover in the normal direction (vertical direction) away from the base, the invention rotates the cover in a direction parallel to the housing surface. This rotational movement achieves pressure relief by opening the sealing interface while requiring minimal vertical space, thus resolving the contradiction between pressure relief reliability and vertical space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover employs rotational movement rather than linear displacement. This dynamic rotation allows the cover to pivot open for pressure relief while maintaining a compact vertical profile, eliminating the need for large vertical clearance that would be required for linear movement designs.
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 design achieves higher fluid discharge rates and increased layout design flexibility by minimizing vertical space usage and optimizing fluid flow paths.
Implementation Method 1
a first biasing member for biasing the cover such that the cover rotates from a closed position to an open position in the rotation direction
Implementation Method 2
a second biasing member to bias the cover in a direction that the cover member is directed toward the case
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure relief valve includes a case having an opening and fixed to a surface of a housing, a cover supported by the case rotatably in a rotation direction parallel to the surface of the housing, and a first biasing member biasing the cover such that the cover rotates from a closed position to an open position in the rotation direction. The cover covers an opening of the cover in the closed position and opens the opening of the cover in the open position. The case includes a stopper engaging with the cover in the closed position. The pressure relief valve releases the engagement between the stopper and the cover when internal pressure of the housing exceeds a threshold value.