Breast Pump Connector Sealing Against Moisture and Milk Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast pumps face issues with moisture or milk entering the horn cover and main unit during disinfection or use, leading to damage or short circuits at contact points.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump design featuring a cover with a heating device and a first connector, a milk bin with an electrode through hole, and a controller with a second connector, where an elastic sealing ring wraps around the first connector to create a sealed environment, preventing liquid ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the horn cover and main unit are connected with a gap for electrical contact, then electrical connection is enabled, but moisture or milk can enter the gap causing damage or short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic sealing ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the horn cover and main unit. The sealing ring wraps around the periphery of the first connector and abuts against the wall of the electrode through hole, creating a sealed barrier that prevents liquid ingress while allowing electrical contact through the connector.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic sealing ring is a flexible component that can deform to accommodate the connector while maintaining a tight seal. Its elasticity allows it to wrap around the first connector and maintain continuous contact with the wall, ensuring both electrical connection and liquid prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the connection between horn cover and main unit is sealed tightly, then liquid ingress is prevented, but connection stability and tightness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic sealing ring provides dynamic adaptation to the connection interface. Its elasticity allows it to maintain consistent sealing pressure while accommodating slight variations in assembly position or thermal expansion, ensuring both tight sealing and connection stability under different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring's elastic properties allow it to change its physical parameters (shape, volume) in response to assembly forces and operational conditions. This parameter change capability enables the sealing ring to maintain optimal sealing contact while preserving connection stability.
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
The design enhances connection tightness and stability between the horn cover and main unit, reducing the risk of damage or short circuits, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the breast pump.
Implementation Method 1
the cover body comprises an elastic sealing ring that wraps around a periphery of the first connector
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Disclosed is a breast pump comprising a horn cover, a milk bin, and a controller. The horn cover includes a cover body, and a heating device and a first connector arranged on the cover body. The first connector is electrically connected to the heating device. The controller comprises a main body, and a second connector in electrical contact with the first connector. The breast pump further comprises a sealing ring, and the milk bin includes a partition wall that comprises an electrode through hole. The sealing ring seals around a periphery of the first connector and the second connector. (Fig. 3)