Split Ring Protective Cap for Gas Cylinder Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective caps for pressurized gas cylinders face challenges in providing comprehensive protection while allowing access to valves and pressure relief valves, maintaining ergonomics, and adapting to different types of bottle fixtures, particularly due to size compatibility issues and complex assembly requirements.
Innovation Solution
A protective cap design featuring a split ring with elastic properties and a cowling body that can be securely fastened to the container, allowing for temporary enlargement and contraction, and comprising a split ring that can be tapped onto a threaded collar or adapted for smooth flanges, enabling easy assembly and disassembly without requiring valve dismounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed cap is used to provide full valve protection, then protection performance is improved, but access to the valve is blocked and the cap must be removed for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into a fixed base portion that remains on the container and a removable cowling body that can be detached for maintenance. This segmentation allows the protective function to be maintained while enabling access to the valve when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap transitions from a static closed structure to a dynamic system where the cowling body can be removed and reattached. This dynamic design allows the cap to adapt between providing full protection and allowing access to the valve.
2Ease of operation
If an open cap design is used to allow access to valve controls and visibility of pressure gauges, then ease of operation is improved, but protection performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is segmented into a fixed protective base and a removable cowling body. The base provides continuous protection while the cowling can be removed when access is needed, combining protective and operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cap have different functions: the base portion provides protection while the cowling body portion allows access. This local differentiation of quality enables simultaneous protection and operability.
3Ease of operation
If a removable cap is used to allow maintenance of the valve and cap, then ease of operation is improved, but the fastening must be simple yet sufficiently reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is extracted as a separate mechanism with a locking element that can be easily engaged and disengaged. This dedicated fastening system provides reliable connection during transport while allowing simple removal for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is designed to be self-securing through a locking mechanism that automatically maintains reliability during handling, while allowing easy manual release for maintenance operations.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap is designed to be very encompassing to protect the valve, then protection performance is improved, but the cap cannot be mounted on valves with spatial envelope greater than the flange diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The cap base is designed with a universal flange interface that can accommodate different valve types and sizes. This universal design allows the same cap structure to be adapted to various valve configurations while maintaining protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap design allows for parameter adjustments in the flange dimensions and cowling body size to accommodate different valve spatial envelopes while maintaining the protective function across various valve types.
5Adaptability or versatility
If a threaded adapter ring is used to fix the cap on the container, then adaptability to different bottle types is improved, but the solution is not suitable for valves whose spatial envelope does not enter the diameter of the adapter ring
Solution Approach 1:
The flange parameters (diameter, thickness, thread specifications) are designed to be adjustable to accommodate both the bottle interface requirements and the valve spatial envelope, allowing the cap to protect larger valves while maintaining adaptability to different bottle types.
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 solution allows for secure and ergonomic protection of valves, easy access to controls and visibility, and adaptability to various bottle types, facilitating maintenance and handling without damaging the valve or cap, while maintaining a standard structure.
Implementation Method 1
the ring has an elasticity to allow temporary enlargement and/or contraction of the opening during fitting and/or removal
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Protective cover for a container of fluid, particularly for a compressed-gas bottle, comprising a covering body (5, 6) and a ring (3) that forms an assembly interface designed to be placed between a container and the covering body (5, 6), said cover being characterized in that the ring (3) has an opening (13) around its circumference for positioning it on or removing it from a container.