Spliced Fabric Seal Assembly With Valve Leak Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam log seals in petroleum storage tanks fail due to material absorption of petroleum products, leading to loss of resiliency and effectiveness, and subsequent environmental hazards and high costs for post-installation inspections.
Innovation Solution
A spliced fabric composite using polyethylene film layers with optional polyester scrim layers, secured by heat lamination, forming a hermetically sealed interior pocket space with a valve for fluid communication and leak detection, ensuring durable and flexible sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If foam log seal is used in storage tanks, then sealing function is provided, but the foam material absorbs petroleum product and loses resiliency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fabric layer with polyethylene film coating instead of foam material for the seal. The polyethylene film provides a flexible barrier that does not absorb petroleum products, maintaining its sealing effectiveness and resiliency over time. The fabric structure with polyethylene coating creates a non-absorbent sealing surface that prevents the harmful interaction between the seal material and petroleum product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of fabric layers coated with polyethylene film. This composite material combines the strength and flexibility of the fabric with the chemical resistance and non-absorbent properties of polyethylene, creating a seal that maintains its properties when exposed to petroleum products unlike traditional foam materials.
2Reliability
If foam log seal is used, then sealing is provided, but post-installation inspections are costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pre-installed inspection port and valve assembly within the fabric seal structure during manufacturing. This preliminary integration of inspection capabilities allows for easy monitoring and testing of the seal's integrity without requiring complex post-installation inspection procedures, thereby reducing time and cost while maintaining sealing reliability.
3Reliability
If foam material is soaked with petroleum product, then sealing continues, but emissions are created and environmental hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The polyethylene film coating on the fabric layer creates a non-absorbent barrier that prevents petroleum product from being absorbed by the seal material. This eliminates the source of emissions and environmental hazards associated with soaked foam material, while the flexible film structure maintains continuous sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of petroleum product contact with absorbent materials into a benefit by using non-absorbent polyethylene film. The film's chemical resistance property, which would otherwise be irrelevant, becomes the key feature that prevents absorption and eliminates emissions, turning a potential environmental problem into a solution.
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 spliced fabric composite provides a durable, flexible, and effective seal that reduces emissions and environmental hazards, while minimizing costly post-installation inspections.
Implementation Method 1
spliced fabric composite using polyethylene film layers with optional polyester scrim layers, secured by heat lamination
Data Source
AI summary
A fabric assembly and method of manufacturing a spliced liquid-mounted seal sheet is provided. The method includes overlapping a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer, wherein at least one of the first fabric layer or the second fabric layer defines an opening having a shaft defining a channel positioned therethrough, the shaft housing a valve having an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve is configured to allow a fluid through the channel in a first direction while the valve is in the open position, and the valve prevents the fluid through the channel while the valve is in the close position. The method further includes splicing the first fabric layer to the second fabric layer to form a spliced fabric composite comprising an interior pocket space defined by the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer.