Vapor Plug Retention Strap for Cryogenic Dewar Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dry vapor shippers, such as dewars, lack a retaining device for the vapor plug during transport, leading to dislodgment and increased thermal transmission, causing the contents to warm quickly and potentially spill.
Innovation Solution
A vapor plug retention strap with connectors and a main body that secures the vapor plug within the dewar's neck, using adjustable straps and a flexible collar to accommodate different sizes and maintain the plug in place during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vapor plug rides freely within the neck of the dry vapor shipper to allow gas escape, then the gas can freely escape from the vessel, but the vapor plug may dislodge during sudden movement or transport, causing thermal transmission and rapid warming of contents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible collar made of elastomeric material that can deform and conform to the neck of the vapor plug. This flexible structure provides retention through elastic deformation rather than rigid mechanical constraints, allowing the collar to maintain contact and prevent dislodgment while accommodating the plug's presence and movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible collar acts as an intermediary element between the vapor plug and the dewar opening. Rather than directly constraining the plug, the collar mediates the interaction by providing a compliant interface that retains the plug through friction and elastic deformation, preventing direct contact between the plug and dewar rim.
2Reliability
If a retaining device is added to secure the vapor plug during transport, then the vapor plug remains secured and thermal transmission is prevented, but the device complexity increases with additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible collar is designed to be dynamically adjustable during installation. The collar can be compressed or deformed to accommodate the vapor plug during insertion, then naturally returns to its original shape to provide retention. This dynamic behavior simplifies operation compared to rigid devices requiring precise alignment or multiple fastening steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar's physical parameters (shape, volume, stiffness) change during the installation process. When installed, the collar can be temporarily deformed to a smaller state to fit over the plug, then expands to its natural state to provide retention. This parameter transformation enables easy installation and removal without complex mechanisms.
3Temperature
If the vapor plug is dislodged during transit, then the dewar warms more quickly due to increased thermal transmission, but adding a retaining device increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible collar is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily replaced if needed. Rather than investing in a complex, expensive retention system, the patent uses a basic elastomeric collar that provides adequate protection for the relatively low-cost dewar contents, accepting that the collar itself may need periodic replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible collar provides beforehand cushioning by creating a protective barrier between the vapor plug and the external environment during transport. The elastomeric material absorbs shocks and vibrations that might otherwise dislodge the plug, providing preemptive protection against thermal intrusion before it can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
Method, system, apparatus, and/or device to secure the vapor plug within the dewar. The vapor plug retention strap includes a first connector, a second connector and a main body. The second connector is configured to couple with the first connector. The main body is coupled in between the first connector and the second connector. The main body has a receptacle formed within that is configured to receive a neck of a vapor plug of a dewar and retain the neck of the vapor plug to secure the vapor plug within the dewar.