Blind Mate Fluid Connector With Planar Slip Self-Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid connections in constrained environments, such as within vehicle battery systems, often face misalignment issues due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances, leading to leaks and operational stress, especially when access for alignment or locking mechanisms is limited or impossible.
Innovation Solution
A blind mate fluid connector system with self-aligning features, including a tapered lead-in portion and a planar slip system, allows connectors to automatically align and seal without visual confirmation or manual access, using an O-ring for sealing and retaining components like clips or brackets for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If connectors are constrained against other components to maintain position, then stability is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates due to stack-up of tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The lead-in portion is pre-formed on the connector body before assembly, creating a self-aligning feature that guides the mating connector into proper alignment during the insertion process, eliminating the need for precise pre-alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The connectors perform their own alignment function through the self-aligning feature, where the lead-in portion automatically guides the mating connector into correct position without requiring external alignment tools or manual adjustment
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment or locking mechanisms are provided, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases and access becomes difficult in constrained environments
Solution Approach 1:
The connector performs automatic alignment through its self-aligning feature, eliminating the need for manual alignment operations or complex locking mechanisms that would require additional components and user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The manual alignment and locking functions are completely removed from the connector design, leaving only the essential self-aligning geometric feature that achieves alignment automatically during insertion
3Reliability
If connectors require precise alignment for reliable sealing, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates in blind mate applications
Solution Approach 1:
The connector automatically achieves proper alignment and sealing through its self-aligning feature during insertion, eliminating the need for visual confirmation or manual positioning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The lead-in portion is pre-configured on the connector to guide alignment before the sealing surfaces engage, ensuring that sealing reliability is achieved automatically as part of the insertion process rather than requiring separate alignment steps
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid mating system includes a fitting connector, a mating connector and a planar slip system. The fitting connector includes an exterior mating surface and a first interior fluid passage that permits fluid flow along a first direction. The mating connector includes an interior surface that includes a tapered lead-in portion, an interior mating surface, and a second interior fluid passage. The second interior fluid passage permits fluid flow in the first direction. The first interior fluid passage and the second interior fluid passage include a single fluid path when the interior mating surface is engaged with the exterior mating surface. The planar slip system restricts movement of the mating connector in the first direction and allows at least partial free movement of the mating connector within a plane that is perpendicular to the first direction.