Agitator Unit With Sealing Cap And External Motor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agitator units for flasks are not easily autoclavable, risk chemical or biological contamination, and are not user-friendly for multiple flask setups without causing wire and tube entanglement, lacking flexibility in application and design for different flask sizes and materials.
Innovation Solution
An agitator unit comprising an agitator rod, sealing cap with in/out ports, motor and motor holder unit, and locking unit, which allows for easy assembly and disassembly, sealing without contact with the flask content, and connection to a control system for speed and direction regulation, suitable for various flask sizes and materials, and is autoclavable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrical agitator is mounted directly into the flask, then mixing function is achieved, but the risk of chemical or biological contamination increases and autoclavability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator system is divided into separate components: the agitator rod and tube can be autoclaved separately from the motor unit. The agitator rod passes through the sealing cap without electrical connections inside the flask, allowing the flask and agitator components to be autoclaved together while the motor remains external.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing cap with a sealed agitator rod tube acts as an intermediary barrier between the electrical motor and the sterile flask environment. The tube is sealed at the bottom to prevent contamination while allowing the agitator rod to rotate and mix contents.
2Productivity
If multiple flasks with agitators are set up simultaneously, then productivity increases, but wire and tube entanglement problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The motor unit is extracted from the flask and positioned externally, eliminating the need for wires and tubes to pass through or be contained within the flask. This external positioning prevents entanglement when multiple flasks are operated simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between motor and agitator rod is achieved through a mechanical coupling system (locking unit with threaded engagement) rather than flexible cables or tubes, providing stable connections that do not entangle.
3Manufacturing precision
If the agitator unit is designed for specific flask types, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to different flask sizes and materials decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing cap is designed with a universal threading system that can accommodate different flask types (glass, plastic, various sizes). The locking unit uses standardized threaded engagement that works across multiple flask configurations while maintaining secure sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows adjustment of parameters such as sealing cap size, tube length, and motor positioning to adapt to different flask types while maintaining the core sealing and mixing functions. The agitator rod tube can be adjusted in length and positioning.
4Reliability
If the agitator rod is sealed from the flask interior, then contamination risk is reduced, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The agitator rod tube is pre-sealed at the bottom end before assembly, creating a contamination barrier in advance. The rod is inserted through the sealing cap and into the pre-sealed tube, maintaining the seal integrity throughout assembly without requiring complex sealing operations during assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention describes an agitator unit 1 intended for a flask 2, wherein the agitator unit 1 comprises the following parts: - an agitator rod 10; - a sealing cap 3 arranged to seal a top 4 of the flask 2, said sealing cap 3 being arranged with a through hole 20 into which the agitator rod 10 may be passed through, and an agitator rod tube 5 intended to hold the agitator rod 10 inside of the flask 2; - a motor and motor holder unit 6 to which a connecting side or piece 30 of the agitator rod 10 is connectable; and - a locking unit 7 arranged to lock the sealing cap 3 onto the top 4 of the flask 2; wherein the motor and motor holder unit 6 is connectable to the locking unit 7.