Self-Sealing Safety Valve for Pressurized Container Valve Shear-Off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety valves for pressurized gas containers do not effectively prevent the rapid release of high-pressure fluids when the dispensing valve is damaged or sheared off, leading to potential accidents and damage.
Innovation Solution
A self-sealing safety valve is retrofitted between the container and the dispensing valve, featuring a sealing ball and dual biasing springs that allow normal fluid flow but compress to seal the outlet under high-pressure conditions, preventing fluid escape and container acceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a safety valve with a breakaway section is used to seal the outlet when the valve is sheared off, then the harmful effect of high-pressure fluid escape is reduced, but the valve structure becomes more complex and a weak point is created
Solution Approach 1:
The safety valve is integrated directly into the dispensing valve assembly, combining the sealing function with the existing valve structure. The safety valve includes a valve body that receives the dispensing valve and a seal member that engages with the valve body, merging multiple functions into a single integrated component rather than separate additions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is pre-positioned within the valve body in a retracted state during normal operation. Upon detection of high-pressure fluid escape, the seal member is automatically propelled forward by the high-pressure fluid itself to seal the outlet, performing the sealing action in advance preparation without requiring external intervention or complex activation mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the safety valve relies on fracture at a predetermined breaking point to seal the outlet, then the sealing function is activated, but a weak point is created on the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The high-pressure fluid itself serves as the actuating force to propel the seal member into the sealing position. The system uses the harmful high-pressure fluid escape condition to automatically trigger the sealing mechanism, eliminating the need for external sensors, actuators, or predetermined fracture points that would create weak structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the traditional breakaway section concept and implemented as a separate, movable seal member that can be propelled independently. This allows the main valve body to maintain its structural integrity without incorporating predetermined fracture points or weak sections.
3Reliability
If the sealing ball is forced towards the outlet by high-pressure fluid, then the outlet is sealed, but the spring is compressed requiring additional space
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is nested within the valve body in a retracted position during normal operation, occupying minimal space. When activated by high-pressure fluid, the seal member propels forward into the sealing position, utilizing the existing valve body cavity rather than requiring separate external space for the sealing mechanism.
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 self-sealing safety valve effectively contains high-pressure fluid releases, preventing accidents and damage by sealing the container regardless of the cause of the pressure surge, including valve shearing or upstream failures.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing ball is forced towards the outlet by the high-pressure fluid
Implementation Method 2
a spring biases the sealing ball away from the outlet
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A self-sealing safety valve (10) for a container of pressurised fluid (12) comprises a substantially solid body (14) and attachment means (24) for connecting to a dispensing valve. The self-sealing safety valve includes a substantially central bore (16) extending through both the attachment means and the solid body, and the bore connects an inlet (20) to an outlet (18). The bore comprises at least three parts each of a different diameter: a first part (16a) immediately adjacent the outlet has a first diameter; a second part (16b) located immediately adjacent the first part has a second diameter that is wider diameter than the first diameter; and a third (16c) part located immediately adjacent the second part has a third diameter that is wider than the second diameter. The second part of the bore houses a first biasing means (30). The third part of the bore houses a sealing ball (28) and a second biasing means (38), and the sealing ball is located between the first and second biasing means. The diameter of the sealing ball is greater than the first diameter but smaller than the second diameter and is capable of sealing the second part of the bore. Under normal flow conditions of fluid through the bore, the first biasing means is configured to bias the sealing ball away from the second part of the bore. Under conditions of high pressure fluid flow through the bore, the sealing ball is forced towards a junction (21) between the second and third parts of the bore, against the first biasing means, sealing the outlet.