Agitation Apparatus with Protective Sleeve and Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical disruption technologies for laboratory tubes are limited by the risk of tube breakage, cross-contamination, inconsistent mixing, and noise, and lack adaptability for different tube sizes and shapes, as well as ineffective heat management.
Innovation Solution
A protective sleeve and modular system that distributes impact force over a larger surface area, allows for interchangeable tube sizes, includes sound isolation, and uses sensors to adjust impact magnitude and frequency based on load, with automatic shut-off in case of tube failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If strikers directly impact tubes to achieve effective mixing and disruption, then mixing thoroughness is improved, but tube breakage and cap loosening occur
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sleeve made of resilient material is introduced as an intermediary between the striker and the tube. The sleeve absorbs impact energy through deformation, preventing direct damage to the tube while still transmitting sufficient force to achieve effective mixing and disruption of tube contents.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve is pre-installed on the tube before striking begins. This beforehand cushioning protects the tube from impact damage while allowing the mixing function to proceed effectively.
2Productivity
If the number of tubes in the mixer increases to improve productivity, then throughput is improved, but rotational velocity decreases and mixing effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor detects the actual rotational velocity of the hub and provides feedback to the controller. The controller adjusts the motor speed based on this feedback to maintain a minimum rotational velocity threshold, ensuring consistent mixing effectiveness regardless of the number of tubes processed.
3Manufacturing precision
If strikers rotate faster to compensate for tube resistance and maintain mixing effectiveness, then mixing thoroughness is improved, but tube breakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor continuously monitors rotational velocity and provides feedback to the controller. This closed-loop control prevents excessive speed increases that would raise breakage risk while maintaining sufficient speed for effective mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve acts as a buffer that allows the system to operate at higher effective impact forces without increasing the risk of tube breakage, enabling thorough mixing while protecting tube integrity.
4Manufacturing precision
If direct impact striking is used to achieve effective disruption, then mixing effectiveness is improved, but heat build-up in tubes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve serves as a thermal buffer between the striker and the tube contents. While allowing mechanical impact for effective disruption, it reduces direct heat transfer from the striker to the sample, minimizing heat build-up.
5Manufacturing precision
If direct impact striking is used to achieve effective mixing, then mixing thoroughness is improved, but noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve acts as a sound-dampening intermediary that absorbs impact energy and reduces noise generation during the striking process, while still allowing effective mixing to occur.
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 protects tubes from damage, ensures consistent mixing, reduces noise and heat buildup, allows for versatile tube sizes, and maintains performance across varying loads, ensuring efficient and safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
The energy from the impact of the strikers onto the protective sleeve will be transferred to the tube over a larger surface area
Implementation Method 2
the material composition allow for the sleeve to deform upon impact, increasing the momentum transfer from the striker to the tube
Implementation Method 3
protection of the sample tube from the impacts, thus allowing more frequent impacts and impacts of greater magnitude, limitation of caps loosening, reduction of heat build-up
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for agitating materials contained in tubes, including cellular materials and tissues, to release their contents for scientific analysis. The apparatus includes a control enclosure containing a base and a motor, and an interchangeable module that connects to the motor. The interchangeable module includes a tube supporting structure and a rotatable hub connected to one or more strikers positioned to impact the tubes, resulting in agitation of tube contents. Interchangeable modules allow for different shapes and sizes of tubes to be used with a single control enclosure. The apparatus includes a means to measure the rotational velocity of the rotatable hub and the rotational velocity of the strikers. The apparatus further includes protective sleeves for the tubes to prevent breakage, heat build-up from friction and tube caps opening due to rapid impact from strikers.