Tamper-Indicating Ring for Compressed Gas Cylinders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tamper-evident marks for compressed gas cylinders are not securely fixed in their intended position, leading to potential movement and failure to ensure the integrity of the predetermined breaking points, which can result in false indications of originality.
Innovation Solution
A tamper-evident marking system featuring a marking ring with spaced segments connected by profile elements with predetermined breaking points, where the profile elements have a contact surface and legs that connect to the segments, ensuring secure clamping between the protective cap and neck ring until the cap is removed, at which point the marking ring detaches indicating tampering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the marking ring is clamped between the protective cap and neck ring, then the marking ring is secured in position, but the predetermined breaking point may not break completely or the ring segments may remain held by toothed profiles, causing false indication of originality
Solution Approach 1:
The marking ring is divided into multiple ring segments connected by profile elements with predetermined breaking points. When the protective cap is removed, the profile elements break at the predetermined points and the ring segments separate, providing clear visual indication of tampering. This segmentation ensures reliable tamper indication while avoiding the complexity of continuous rings with breaking points.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting links between ring segments are designed to be extractable or detachable upon cap removal. The profile elements with predetermined breaking points are extracted from the assembled state, allowing the ring segments to separate and fall away from the cylinder, eliminating the risk of false indication while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Strength
If the protective cap is screwed on tightly, then secure clamping of the marking ring is achieved, but the predetermined breaking point may not break due to insufficient force
Solution Approach 1:
The profile elements connecting the ring segments are designed with localized predetermined breaking points that have reduced cross-sectional area or material strength at specific locations. This local quality change ensures that when clamping force is applied during cap installation, the breaking points activate reliably without requiring excessive overall clamping force, thus resolving the contradiction between strong clamping and reliable breaking.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the ring segments are connected by toothed profiles, then premature detachment is prevented, but the profiles may get caught and hold the ring on the neck ring after cap removal, feigning originality
Solution Approach 1:
The profile elements are designed with predetermined breaking points that are activated during the cap installation process. This preliminary action ensures that the connections between ring segments are broken before the cap is fully installed, preventing any subsequent entanglement or false indication. The breaking action occurs in advance, eliminating the risk of toothed profiles getting caught later.
Solution Approach 2:
The profile elements with predetermined breaking points are designed as disposable components that are intended to break and be discarded after a single use. Once the cap is installed and the breaking points activate, the profile elements are destroyed and the ring segments separate. This disposable nature ensures that no residual connections remain to cause false indication, while the low cost of these simple plastic elements makes the approach economically viable.
Data Source
Figure 1a~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a tamper-indicating element for a compressed-gas cylinder, on the neck ring or cylinder neck of which a protective cap is removably arranged. The tamper-indicating element according to the invention consists of an indication ring arranged between the protective cap and the shoulder of the neck ring or of the cylinder neck. The indication ring comprises at least two ring segments, which are connected to each other by connecting profiles with a predetermined breaking point. The connecting profiles comprise a pressing area protruding from the indication ring and two legs extending from the latter and, at least over a certain portion, converging in the direction of the indication ring. The connecting profiles formed in this way ensure that the indication ring contracts when the protective cap is placed on, and consequently firmly engages the neck ring, even after breaking of the predetermined breaking point, up until the protective cap is removed. After removal of the protective cap, the ring broken at the predetermined breaking points falls into individual pieces and comes off the compressed-gas cylinder.