Tamper-Proof Cylinder Coupling for Inflatable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The risk of compressed gas cylinders being used as components in primitive air guns on aircraft poses a safety concern, as they can be assembled from non-descript parts and used as weapons, potentially compromising passenger safety during security checks.
Innovation Solution
A connection device with complementary screw threads and thread-locker mechanisms is designed to securely attach a compressed gas cylinder to an inflatable device, preventing unauthorized removal by requiring higher torque for disassembly and ensuring the cylinder is irreversibly fastened, with a tamper-proof coupling that allows authorized personnel to separate the components for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compressed gas cylinder is securely fastened to the inflatable device using a connection device, then the safety against unauthorized removal is improved, but the ease of maintenance by authorized personnel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device is divided into multiple components: a body, an inner sleeve that rotates relative to the body, and an outer sleeve. This segmentation allows different parts to perform different functions - the inner sleeve provides secure fastening through rotational locking, while the outer sleeve provides a maintenance interface. Authorized personnel can rotate the outer sleeve to access and maintain the compressed gas cylinder without affecting the secure connection between the inner sleeve and the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer sleeve acts as an intermediary element between the secure connection mechanism (inner sleeve and body) and the compressed gas cylinder. It provides a maintenance interface that allows authorized personnel to access and remove the compressed gas cylinder by rotating the outer sleeve, while not interfering with the secure fastening provided by the inner sleeve. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing both security and maintenance access.
2Reliability
If the connection device uses complementary screw threads with thread-locker for securing the compressed gas cylinder, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device merges multiple functions into a compact structure: the body houses both the inner sleeve and outer sleeve, the inner sleeve combines rotational movement with axial positioning, and the outer sleeve integrates both protective and maintenance functions. The complementary screw threads on the inner and outer sleeves are integrated into this unified structure, providing secure connection without requiring separate complex locking mechanisms. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sleeve serves multiple functions: it provides the secure connection through complementary screw threads, acts as a rotational locking mechanism, and serves as a structural support element. The outer sleeve similarly provides both protection and maintenance access. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable connection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the inner sleeve is configured to prevent axial displacement of the compressed gas cylinder after fastening, then the connection stability is improved, but the ease of operation for authorized maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device employs dynamic characteristics through the rotational movement of the inner sleeve relative to the body. During normal operation, the inner sleeve is rotated to achieve secure fastening with high connection stability. During maintenance, authorized personnel rotate the outer sleeve, which dynamically changes the operational state to allow controlled axial displacement and removal of the compressed gas cylinder. This dynamic behavior allows the system to switch between stable connection and easy maintenance modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sleeve is pre-configured with an end cap that prevents axial displacement of the compressed gas cylinder after fastening, ensuring connection stability. However, the outer sleeve is designed with a maintenance interface that allows authorized personnel to perform preliminary actions (rotating the outer sleeve) to overcome this prevention mechanism and enable controlled removal during maintenance. This preliminary configuration for stability is overridden by the maintenance protocol.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a connection device (1) for connecting a compressed gas cylinder (5) to an inflatable device (9), wherein the connection device (1) comprises a releaser (4) with an activation mechanism for controlled puncture of the compressed gas cylinder (5), wherein the connection device (1) further comprises: an outer sleeve (200) for being fastened into the releaser (4) by turning in a first direction; and an inner sleeve (100) for being fastened into the outer sleeve (200) by turning of the inner sleeve (100) in a second direction and for the compressed gas cylinder (5) to be fastened into said inner sleeve (100) by rotation of the compressed gas cylinder (5) in the first direction, wherein the connection device (1) is configured such that turning of the compressed gas cylinder (5) in the second direction will result in axial displacement and puncture of the compressed gas cylinder (5).