Self-Centering Blind-Mate Fluid Coupling for Misalignment Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling assemblies for electronics liquid cooling face challenges in aligning male and female coupling members, especially when they are positioned in difficult-to-access locations, leading to misalignments and increased effort required for connection.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a blind-mate fluid coupling system with an alignment compensation arrangement that includes a compensation sleeve, ring, and spring, allowing the male coupling to move laterally, vertically, and at an angle to correct misalignments, and a tapered interface that self-centers the valve body for coaxial alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If male and female couplings are positioned in difficult-to-access locations, then fluid cooling efficiency is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates leading to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly incorporates a self-centering mechanism that changes the positional parameters of the male coupling relative to the female coupling. The spring-loaded compensation mechanism allows the male coupling to automatically adjust its position along the axial direction, transforming a fixed positional parameter into a variable one that can self-correct for misalignment while maintaining the cooling efficiency benefit of remote positioning
2Reliability
If male and female couplings are positioned in difficult-to-access locations, then cooling system effectiveness is improved, but connection effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly employs a self-centering mechanism where the spring-loaded compensation mechanism automatically performs the alignment function without requiring manual adjustment. When the male coupling is inserted, the spring force drives it to self-center within the female coupling, eliminating the need for operators to manually align difficult-to-access components while maintaining cooling system reliability
3Manufacturing precision
If a self-centering mechanism with spring and compensation components is added, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The self-centering mechanism utilizes a nested structure where the male coupling is positioned within the female coupling, and the spring compensation mechanism is integrated within the male coupling assembly. This nesting approach allows multiple functional components (spring, compensation element, coupling interfaces) to be compactly arranged without significantly increasing the external dimensions or overall structural complexity, while achieving automatic alignment
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 enables efficient and reliable alignment of male and female couplings without visual assistance, reducing the effort required for connection and ensuring proper fluid communication for cooling electronics.
Implementation Method 1
a compensation spring mounted within the valve mounting housing. The compensation spring can be configured to bias the compensation sleeve and the compensation ring axially apart from one another
Implementation Method 2
A tapered interface can be defined between the valve body and at least one of the compensation sleeve and the compensation ring. The tapered interface automatically positions valve body in a centered position in which the valve body axis and the central mounting housing are co-axially aligned
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to a coupling assembly made up of a male fluid coupler and a female fluid coupler for a fluid line. The male and female fluid couplers are closed to flow in the uncoupled state and are open to flow when coupled. The male fluid coupler can include an alignment compensation arrangement that can adjust for any initial misalignment between the male and female fluid couplers. The alignment compensation arrangement can function as a universal connection joint to allow the male fluid coupler to universally pivot and move radially.