Segmented Locking Ring for Pressure Vessel Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure vessel closures lack an efficient and reliable mechanism for expanding and contracting locking rings to securely engage with pressure vessels, leading to issues with pressure retention and ease of operation.
Innovation Solution
A pressure closure system featuring a round door with an arcuate locking ring composed of segmented locking ring segments connected by a connecting ring, which expands to engage a groove in the vessel and contracts for opening, utilizing retaining clips and a pressure warning device to ensure secure locking and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking member is designed to protrude beyond the periphery of the door for engagement with the groove, then the locking reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the complexity of moving the locking member between locked and unlocked positions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed to dynamically change its position between protruding (locked) and retracted (unlocked) states. The actuating mechanism enables the locking member to move radially outward to engage the groove for secure locking, and radially inward for easy unlocking, thus resolving the contradiction between locking reliability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is segmented into multiple components including the main body, actuating mechanism, and engagement portion. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component - the engagement portion provides reliable groove engagement while the actuating mechanism enables easy operation, thus resolving the technical contradiction
2Ease of operation
If the locking member is designed to expand and contract radially, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional expansion and contraction mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating mechanism is merged with the locking member body, integrating the expansion and contraction functions directly into the locking member structure. This integration reduces the need for separate actuating components, thus improving ease of operation while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is designed to perform its own actuation through the integrated mechanism. When force is applied to the actuating portion, the locking member automatically expands or contracts without requiring external assistance or complex control systems, thus improving ease of operation while keeping device complexity manageable
Data Source
AI summary
A closure (100) having a hub (102) and pivotally connected head (104). The head is locked in a closed position within the hub by a locking ring (106). The locking ring is polygonal in shape and includes a substantially cylindrical surface and a conical surface. The device further includes a pressure warning device (126) which has a secondary function as a locking mechanism inhibiting unintentional opening of the head when the system is pressurized.