Compact Blind-Mate Fluid Fitting for Misaligned Port Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fluid systems, there is a challenge in connecting components with limited space and misaligned fluid ports, which makes it difficult to achieve a leak-tight connection without high-precision tolerances and complicates non-destructive disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A compact blind-mate fluid fitting with a shoulder and a fitting portion that includes a sealing portion with a compliant seal, capable of accommodating angular, radial, and axial misalignments through a decreasing non-uniform cross-section design, allowing for clearance and redundancy in sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rigid fittings are used to connect fluid ports, then structural strength is maintained, but misalignment between fluid ports cannot be compensated and assembly becomes impossible without high-precision tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible fitting body with a compliant seal that can deform to accommodate misalignment between fluid ports. The fitting includes a first portion and a second portion connected by a flexible intermediate section, allowing angular and radial offset compensation while maintaining sealing effectiveness without requiring high-precision manufacturing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting design allows for parameter changes in the form of controlled deformation of the flexible intermediate section. This deformation enables the fitting to adapt to varying misalignment conditions (angular, radial, and axial offsets) by changing its geometric parameters dynamically during assembly, rather than requiring fixed precise dimensions.
2Reliability
If access to fluid ports is required during assembly to ensure proper alignment, then sealing accuracy is improved, but assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting design enables self-alignment through the flexible intermediate section that automatically compensates for misalignment during blind assembly. The compliant seal self-adjusts to maintain contact with the fluid port surfaces without requiring external alignment tools or operator intervention to access the ports, achieving both reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting is pre-designed with the flexible intermediate section and compliant seal configuration that anticipates potential misalignment conditions. This preliminary design ensures that the fitting will self-correct during assembly without requiring real-time adjustment or access to the fluid ports, maintaining sealing accuracy while simplifying the assembly process.
3Reliability
If high-precision tolerances are applied to fluid ports to ensure alignment, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible intermediate section with compliant seal absorbs the misalignment variations that would otherwise require high-precision tolerances on the fluid ports. This flexibility maintains connection reliability by ensuring proper sealing even with standard manufacturing tolerances, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the fitting design accommodates angular, radial, and axial offsets, then adaptability is improved, but the fitting volume and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible intermediate section is designed as a compact compliant element that can accommodate angular, radial, and axial offsets within a limited volume. The compliant seal deforms efficiently to compensate for misalignments without requiring excessive fitting length or complex multi-component structures, thus maintaining compact dimensions while achieving high adaptability.
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
Enables leak-tight connections in confined spaces without accessing fluid ports during assembly, facilitating misalignment compensation and non-destructive disassembly by using compliant seals that maintain sealing effectiveness across various angles and positions.
Implementation Method 1
a compliant seal disposed in an annular channel of the fitting portion. The compliant seal can be operable to seal against the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at a zero angle and at least one of a plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid system and a blind-mate fluid fitting can be operable to allow for mating fluid system components even in the presence of angular, radial, and/or axial port misalignment. The blind-mate fluid fitting includes a shoulder and fitting portion extending from one side of the shoulder. The fitting portion defines a central fitting axis and is operable to inserted into a fluid port of a component. The fluid port defines a central port axis. The fitting portion includes a sealing portion that is operable to seal against the fluid port when the central fitting axis is positioned at a zero angle and at least one of a plurality of different non-zero angles relative to the central port axis.