Through Wall Connector for Multi-Chamber Pressure Vessel Sealing

Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-chamber pressure vessels face challenges in maintaining a long-lasting, gas-tight and liquid-tight seal between the metal inlet tube and the non-metallic inner vessel wall, leading to potential leakage and contamination between the liquid and gas chambers.

Innovation Solution

A permanently affixed male gland connector is integrated with the inner chamber wall, extending through the outer gas-filled chamber and secured to the flexible diaphragm, providing a gas and liquid-tight seal by using a combination of flanges and sealing means to prevent leakage, eliminating the need for additional assemblies and reducing manufacturing errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal inlet tube is connected to a non-metallic inner vessel wall, then liquid flow is enabled, but long-lasting gas-tight and liquid-tight sealing is difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing durabilityVSAvoidconnection structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The male gland connector is substantially integrated with the inner chamber wall, merging two previously separate components (connector and chamber wall) into a single unified structure. This integration eliminates additional sealing interfaces and assembly steps, providing a permanent gas-tight and liquid-tight seal between the metal inlet tube and the non-metallic inner vessel wall without requiring complex additional sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If additional sealing elements and assemblies are used to ensure fluid-tight connection, then sealing reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and potential assembly errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid-tight connectionVSAvoidassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The male gland connector is substantially integrated with the inner chamber wall, merging two previously separate components (connector and chamber wall) into a single unified structure. This integration eliminates additional sealing interfaces and assembly steps, providing a permanent gas-tight and liquid-tight seal between the metal inlet tube and the non-metallic inner vessel wall without requiring complex additional sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a through wall connector is used to connect inlet pipe to inner chamber, then liquid inlet is enabled, but gas-tight and liquid-tight separation between chambers may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid inlet functionVSAvoidgas leakage into liquid chamber

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The male gland connector is substantially integrated with the inner chamber wall, merging two previously separate components (connector and chamber wall) into a single unified structure. This integration eliminates additional sealing interfaces and assembly steps, providing a permanent gas-tight and liquid-tight seal between the metal inlet tube and the non-metallic inner vessel wall without requiring complex additional sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10082157B2Through wall connector for a multi-chamber pressure vessel

Publication Date: 2018.09.25 FLEXCON INDS

AI summary

A gas and liquid-tight inlet connector to the inner chamber of a mufti-chamber pressure vessel is provided, comprising: a male gland extending through an orifice in the bottom of the flexible wall of the inner chamber and the lower wall of the rigid outer shell of the vessel, the male gland comprising an upper flange permanently, sealingly connected, with the lower surface of the flexible inner wall, so as to form a gas- and liquid-tight seal therewith, and a lower elongated member extending through the outer shell to be sealingly connected with a liquid inlet pipe, permitting liquid flow into the inner chamber, while maintaining the seal between the inner and outer chambers of the tank, thus maintaining pressurization in the outer chamber, as fluid enters the inner chamber, pushing the flexible wall upwardly into the outer chamber.