Refill-Preventing Valve Stem Segmentation and Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refill-preventing valves for disposable pressurized gas containers are complex to assemble and vulnerable to unauthorized refilling, posing safety risks due to potential gas leaks and explosion hazards.
Innovation Solution
A valve with a modular structure where the piston, stem, and sealing elements are assembled as a subunit outside the valve body, simplifying assembly and featuring a stem with a circumferential groove for external locking to prevent refilling, ensuring the stem is hidden once the container is filled, and a second sealing element that closes the aperture when the container is empty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the valve uses a traditional structure with sealing elements mounted on the stem after assembly, then the sealing function is achieved, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into modular components: a body, a piston assembly, and a stem assembly. The piston and stem are assembled separately as subassemblies outside the valve body, then inserted together in a single operation. This segmentation allows parallel assembly of components and reduces the overall assembly time and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston and stem are pre-assembled with their respective sealing elements mounted before being installed into the valve body. This preliminary assembly allows the sealing elements to be positioned and secured in advance, eliminating the need for complex in-situ assembly operations and reducing the risk of misalignment during final installation.
2Reliability
If the stem is accessible from outside the valve body, then assembly and maintenance are easier, but unauthorized refilling can occur posing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The stem is nested within the valve body structure, with the piston assembly containing the stem. Once assembled, the stem is hidden inside the upper chamber and cannot be accessed from the outside. This nested configuration maintains internal accessibility for operation while providing external protection against unauthorized manipulation and refilling attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The functionality of the stem is extracted and integrated into the piston assembly, which is then inserted as a complete unit into the valve body. This extraction allows the stem to be positioned internally where it performs its sealing and control functions without being externally accessible, thereby preventing unauthorized refilling while maintaining operational integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the valve allows manual piston displacement for refilling, then refilling operations can be performed, but security problems and gas leaks may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The valve incorporates a refill-preventing device with sealing elements positioned to automatically close the intermediate channel inlet when the piston is in its normal position. This preliminary anti-action prevents refilling operations before they can be initiated, blocking the pathway for gas flow and eliminating the risk of unauthorized refilling, gas leaks, and potential explosions.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve design converts the potential harm of unauthorized refilling attempts into a beneficial sealing action. When refilling is attempted, the piston moves and triggers the second sealing element to close the upper chamber inlet, transforming the harmful refilling action into a beneficial automatic shutdown that prevents gas leaks and safety hazards.
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 solution enhances assembly efficiency, prevents unauthorized refilling by ensuring the stem is inaccessible once the container is filled, thereby reducing gas leak and explosion risks while maintaining the refill-preventing function effectively.
Implementation Method 1
when the pressure of the gas present in the container urges the piston
Implementation Method 2
due to the manual displacement and to the pressure of the gas flowing in, the second sealing element restrained to the piston stem closes the inlet
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a valve with refill-preventing device (100) for disposable containers of pressurized gas, said valve comprising: i) a body (110) having a substantially cylindrical shape wherein a cylindrical upper chamber (120) and lower chamber (130) are formed, said chambers being arranged in fluid communication through an intermediate channel (140) having a cylindrical shape, said body (110) comprising a first aperture (111) formed on its top and adapted to put said upper chamber (120) in fluid communication with the outside, and a second aperture (112) formed on its bottom and adapted to put said lower chamber (130) in fluid communication with a container of pressurized gas; ii) a piston (200) arranged in said lower chamber (130) and having a stem (210) is coaxially restrained at one of its ends, said stem (210) stretching out through said intermediate channel (140) and said upper chamber (120) and protruding beyond the upper chamber (120) through said first aperture (111); iii) a first sealing element (220) arranged at the end of the piston (200) restrained to the stem (210). The valve also comprises a second sealing element (230) restrained to the opposite end of the piston (200), the piston (200) being axially movable in the lower chamber (130) between a first end position, wherein the first sealing element (220) seals an inlet of the channel intermediate (140), and a second end position wherein the second sealing element (230) seals the second aperture (112). The stem (210) comprises an intermediate portion (212) having a reduced cross-section configured to allow removal of an end portion (210a) thereof.