Thermal Safety Valve with Plastic Support for Gas Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal safety devices for gas cylinders are hindered by low sensitivity, reliability issues, and manufacturing complexities, particularly due to the use of eutectic materials and glass casings that can break prematurely from vibrations or high pressure, leading to potential safety hazards and delayed activation.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-activated relief device featuring a glass bulb with a heat-sensitive fluid that breaks at a predetermined temperature, coupled with a yielding plastic support element that ensures the bulb's stability and rapid axial displacement of a piston to open the venting duct, ensuring immediate gas release and enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If glass casing is used to contain heat sensitive liquid, then activation speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to easy breaking from vibrations and high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines glass bulb (for fast thermal response) with plastic components (for mechanical strength and vibration resistance) to create a composite safety device that maintains both rapid activation capability and structural reliability under vibration and pressure conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic support element is designed to deform or fail in a controlled manner before the glass bulb, cushioning the impact of vibrations and pressure surges that would otherwise cause premature glass breakage and unreliable operation
2Measurement precision
If eutectic material is used in small quantities close to external environment, then sensitivity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the heat sensitive material from solid eutectic alloy to liquid state, contained in a glass bulb, which simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining high sensitivity through direct thermal coupling with the gas environment
3Speed
If glass casing with thin neck is used, then activation response is improved, but strength deteriorates due to vulnerability to vibrations and high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure where the glass bulb (providing fast thermal response) is supported and protected by plastic components (providing mechanical strength), resolving the contradiction between thin-neck design for fast response and structural strength for vibration resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic support element acts as an intermediary between the glass bulb and the external environment, absorbing mechanical stresses from vibrations and pressure while allowing thermal energy to reach the heat sensitive liquid for rapid activation
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 device achieves high sensitivity and reliability with rapid activation, protecting against temperature increases while being cost-effective and easy to manufacture, ensuring safe and timely gas release even under high pressure and vibration conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sensitive element (6) which includes a glass casing (21) containing a heat sensitive liquid suitable to expand upon reaching a first predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 2
a yielding support element (8) made of a plastic material suitable to deform upon reaching a second predetermined temperature
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a thermal safety device (100) comprising a device body (1) which comprises an inlet duct (12) and at least one outlet hole (9) in communication with the atmosphere, a shut-off device mounted in the device body and movable between a closed position and an open position, in which it allows the fluid flow from the inlet duct (12) to the outlet hole (9), and a retaining element operatively associated to the shut-off device to keep it in the closed position. The retaining element comprises a casing 21) containing a heat sensitive substance (6) suitable to expand upon reaching a first predetermined temperature to lead to the breakage of said casing (21) and allow the displacement of the valve to the open position. A yielding support element (8) is also provided for supporting said casing (21)and protecting said casing (21) until the temperature reached by said support element is lower than a second predetermined temperature higher than the first. The support element (8) consists of a material suitable for yielding upon reaching the second predetermined temperature to allow the displacement of the shut-off device to the open position.