Two-Stage Valve Assembly for High Pressure Vapor Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
High internal tank pressures generated by accumulated vapors in sealed containers, such as tank trailers, can exceed the force required to open valves, preventing material transfer and venting due to the inability of existing sealing mechanisms to effectively manage high pressures.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage air-operated valve assembly featuring a primary and secondary sealing member, where the secondary sealing member with a smaller surface area opens first to relieve pressure, allowing the primary sealing member to subsequently open and facilitate full venting of the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a single sealing member is used to seal the container port, then the sealing structure is simple, but the sealing force is insufficient to overcome high internal tank pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into two distinct sealing members: a primary sealing member with a first sealing surface and a secondary sealing member with a second sealing surface. This segmentation allows each sealing member to contribute to the total sealing force, enabling the system to overcome high internal tank pressures that would be insufficient for a single sealing member.
2Force
If air pressure is applied to open the valve, then the valve can overcome internal pressure, but the opening process is complex and requires two-stage sequencing
Solution Approach 1:
The valve opening process is segmented into two distinct stages: a first opening stage where the secondary sealing member breaks its sealing relationship first, and a second opening stage where the primary sealing member breaks its sealing relationship. This segmentation of the opening process allows for controlled, sequential release of the sealing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary sealing member is designed to break its sealing relationship before the primary sealing member. This preliminary action of the secondary sealing member creates an initial opening that allows vapor to escape and internal pressure to decrease before the primary sealing member opens, facilitating a smoother opening process.
3Productivity
If the valve opens fully at once, then venting is rapid, but the sudden pressure release can cause operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary sealing member opens first to create an initial venting pathway, allowing vapor to escape and internal pressure to decrease gradually. This preliminary venting action precedes the full opening of the primary sealing member, enabling controlled pressure reduction while maintaining operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve opening occurs in two distinct periodic stages: the first opening stage with the secondary sealing member, and the second opening stage with the primary sealing member. This periodic, staged opening process ensures controlled vapor release while maintaining system reliability.
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
Enables the safe and efficient venting of vapors from sealed containers by sequentially opening the valve assembly, reducing the force required to overcome high internal pressures and ensuring complete release of accumulated vapors.
Implementation Method 1
A spring guide secured to the top of the upper valve body allows a helical spring retained within the valve stem to bias the valve body upward causing the secondary sealing member to create a sealing relationship with the first sealing member, and the first sealing member to create a sealing relationship with the port of the housing.
Implementation Method 2
A piston disposed within the valve stem moves downward when air is forced into the valve stem above the piston. The piston moves the valve body downward, biasing the spring downward, and sequentially moving first the secondary sealing member downward and away from the primary sealing member to break the sealing relationship therebetween, followed by moving the primary sealing member downward and away from the housing port to break the sealing relationship therebetween.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly for sealing a port of a housing includes a primary sealing member and a secondary sealing member mounted to a valve body. Valve body includes a lower body with an upper portion depending from the body having a cross sectional diameter less than the upper body, and a lower portion depending from the upper portion having a cross sectional diameter less than the upper portion. The primary member includes apertures and is slidably mounted to the upper portion, and the secondary member is mounted to the lower portion. In a closed position the secondary member seals against the primary member, and the primary member seals against the port. Downward movement of the valve body unseals the secondary member from the primary member allowing venting through the apertures, and then unseals the primary sealing member from the port allowing full venting through the housing.