Bayonet Coupling for Flowable Media Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transport systems for pourable and flowable media often fail to maintain contamination-free operation and have a short service life due to jamming issues with fine powders and dust-like substances, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Innovation Solution

The transport system employs film tubes connected via welding at branching points, allowing for a continuous transport route with a locking mechanism that enables easy replacement of connection parts, reducing contamination risks and extending the system's service life by allowing multiple filling and emptying cycles before replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If profile strips with locking elements are used for coupling, then the coupling device can be quickly assembled and disassembled, but fine powder and dust-like substances cause jamming that prevents further coupling operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling assembly and disassembly speedVSAvoidcoupling operation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the problematic locking elements (profile strips with interlocking hooks) from the coupling device. Instead, it uses a simple bayonet-style coupling mechanism with a single rotating locking element that is much less susceptible to jamming by fine powders and dust-like substances, while maintaining quick assembly and disassembly capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the coupling mechanism from a complex multi-element profile strip system to a simplified bayonet-style system with different geometric parameters. The new design features a coupling body with a single axial opening and a locking element that rotates into a locking position, fundamentally altering the coupling parameters to reduce sensitivity to contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If interlocking coupling rings are used to connect flexible containers, then contamination-free transport is achieved, but very fine dust-like powder settles on hose sections outside the coupling engagement complicating further operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidcoupling operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a coupling body as an intermediary component that provides a sealed coupling interface. The coupling body with its coupling opening and locking mechanism acts as a mediator between containers, maintaining contamination-free transport while the simplified locking mechanism prevents powder settlement issues that complicate operations with traditional interlocking ring systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If traditional coupling devices are used, then initial coupling operations work, but service life is short due to jamming issues requiring frequent dismantlement and disposal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime before system replacementVSAvoidsystem disposal frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention reverses the disposable approach by creating a durable, reusable coupling device. Instead of disposing of the entire system after short use, the coupling body with its simplified locking mechanism is designed for long-term reuse, resisting jamming and contamination to extend service life significantly while reducing disposal frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Ease of operation

If profile strip connection systems are used, then coupling can be achieved, but dust-like powder unintentionally released during operation complicates or prevents further coupling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling capabilityVSAvoidpowder release and settlement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the problematic profile strip connection system that causes powder release. The new bayonet-style coupling mechanism with its single rotating locking element operates with much less friction and mechanical complexity, preventing the unintentional release and settlement of dust-like powder that occurs with traditional profile strip systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This solution ensures trouble-free and contamination-free media transport, significantly increasing the service life of the transport system, reducing operational and production costs, and maintaining a high level of cleanliness in handling sensitive substances.

Implementation Method 1

individual foil hoses leading to the individual further connection parts are welded together in succession at branching points

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentEP3408200B1Transport system for pourable and flowable media having a coupling device
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 FLECOTEC AG
  • EP3408200B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3408200B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3408200B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a transport system for pourable and flowable media having a coupling device (56), consisting of at least one first connection part (14) and a plurality of further connection parts (54), which are connected to the first connection part (14) by means of flexible, tubular connecting parts (16), which can be blocked by means of at least one closing device (68), after the release of which the connecting part (16) that can be associated is open for media transport, wherein, after media transport has occurred along a specified transport path, said transport path is blocked by means of a separate blocking device or is closed again by the closing device (68).