Bayonet Docking Head for Automated Sealed Space Connection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing double-door connecting devices for sealed spaces require rotation and angular orientation, making them laborious to handle, especially with large containers, and complicating cleaning, particularly when transferring powders.

Innovation Solution

A control mechanism that allows for the automatic sealing connection of two enclosed spaces without rotating both spaces, using a docking head that aligns and locks doors via a bayonet connection, driven by an electric motor, reducing the need for angular orientation and simplifying the maneuvering process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rotation and angular orientation are required to connect two enclosed spaces, then the bayonet connection can be securely attached, but the handling becomes laborious especially with large containers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rotating the container to align lugs with recesses, the invention inverts the approach by having the docking head actively seek and align with the container flange through automated rotational movement of the door assembly, making the connection process independent of initial angular orientation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The control mechanism automatically performs the angular alignment and rotational positioning required for bayonet connection without requiring manual rotation of the container, making the system self-aligning through automated control of the door's rotational degree of freedom

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Strength

If multiple lugs are used for connection, then mechanical resistance and force distribution improve, but cleaning becomes more difficult especially for powder transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical resistanceVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the connection function from protruding lugs on the container flange and relocates it to recesses in the docking head, eliminating the protruding elements that trap powder and making the container surface smoother and easier to clean while maintaining multiple connection points for mechanical strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If manual rotation of the container is required, then angular alignment can be achieved, but the maneuver becomes complex especially with large sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular alignmentVSAvoidmaneuver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces manual mechanical rotation of the entire container with an automated control mechanism that rotates only the door assembly through its hinge axis, using a motorized or spring-loaded system to achieve precise angular alignment automatically, thereby reducing maneuver complexity while maintaining alignment precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9540857B2Mechanism with simplified handling for controlling a device for sealingly connecting two enclosed spaces

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 GETINGE LIFE SCI FRANCE

AI summary

Mechanism for controlling a device for sealingly connecting an enclosure and a container, with the enclosure comprising a door (10) and the container comprising a door (14), with the door (10) of the enclosure containing the control mechanism (D), with that comprising a male element (34) cooperating with a recess of the door (14) of the container, with this male element (34) being rotatably movable about and translatably movable along a longitudinal axis (X) and is capable of being accommodated in the recess of the door (14), of locking the two doors (10, 14) together and of unlocking the door (14) of the container.