Water Purification Cartridge Coupling for One-Hand Fluid Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water purification systems face difficulties in safely and efficiently replacing cartridge-type modules and establishing fluid connections, often resulting in undesirable reverse fluid flow and increased manual handling, which can lead to contamination and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A connecting mechanism with movable connector elements and driver elements that allow for translational or rotational movement to establish and release fluid connections, ensuring a uni-directional flow and reducing manual handling through intuitive one-hand operation, while protecting fluid ports from damage and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If connectors project from end plates in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge, then fluid connection can be established, but simultaneous insertion of two connectors is difficult and requires manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of projecting connectors perpendicular to the longitudinal direction requiring simultaneous insertion, the invention inverts the approach by having connectors project in the longitudinal direction and using a pushing motion to sequentially engage them, transforming a complex simultaneous insertion problem into a simple sequential pushing action
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design incorporates self-aligning features and push-button actuation that allow the connectors to automatically engage with the mating ports without requiring precise manual alignment or simultaneous coordination, enabling easy one-handed operation
2Productivity
If bottom up flow through mixed bed exchange media is used, then fluid can flow through the cartridge, but the mixed bed of anionic and cationic resin beads gets separated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional bottom-up flow direction and implements top-to-bottom flow through the mixed bed exchange media. This reversal prevents the separation of anionic and cationic resin beads by maintaining proper gravitational settling and packing, while still achieving effective water purification through the media
3Productivity
If purified water contacts the wall of the permeate plenum and flows back to the top, then fluid can be transported, but the water is contaminated by extracted contaminants of the cartridge material
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts or removes the permeate plenum structure that causes contamination. Instead of having purified water contact and flow along the plenum walls where contaminants are extracted from cartridge material, the design eliminates this contaminated pathway and provides a direct, clean transport route for the permeate
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary clean pathway or barrier that prevents direct contact between the purified water and the cartridge material walls. This intermediary structure allows permeate transport while blocking the extraction of contaminants from the cartridge material into the purified water
Data Source
AI summary
A connecting mechanism (1) for a cartridge-type replaceable module (2) that has at least one fluid port (2a,2b) at each of opposite sides of the module (2) in a longitudinal direction of the module (2). The connecting mechanism (1) comprises two connector elements (3) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the module (2) and each provided with at least one fluid connector (3b) configured to releasably inter-engage with a complementary fluid port (2a,2b) of the module (2) at the respective side thereof, wherein at least one of the connector elements (3) is movable to perform a translational movement in the longitudinal direction of the module (2). The connecting mechanism (1) further comprises at least one driver element (4) arranged to engage with the module (2) and with the at least one movable connector element (3) such that a rotational or translational movement of the module (2) engaged with the driver element (4) causes the translational movement of the movable connector element (3) via the driver element (4) to establish/release the inter-engagement of the fluid connector(s) (3b) of that connector element (3) with the associated fluid port(s) (2a,2b) of the module (2).