Cleaning Cartridge Coupling with Keyed Alignment and Vertical Pressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water treatment systems face challenges in quickly and safely connecting and disconnecting purification cartridges without the need for tools, often leading to incorrect orientations and potential malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A device with predefined ports and a holder that ensures correct cartridge orientation, combined with an adjustment mechanism using a knurled screw for vertical alignment of connections, featuring self-locking threads and a guide structure to prevent rotation, ensuring secure and tool-free coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a purification cartridge is connected to a water treatment system using conventional connection devices, then the cartridge can be replaced, but the connection process is time-consuming and requires tools
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device is divided into separate components: a holder that receives the cartridge and connection elements that can be independently actuated. This segmentation allows the cartridge to remain in the holder while only the connection elements need to be moved for connection/disconnection, enabling quick replacement without removing the entire cartridge assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection elements are designed to be movable relative to the holder, transitioning between a connected position (where they engage with the cartridge ports) and a disconnected position. This dynamic design allows rapid connection and disconnection by simply moving the connection elements, eliminating the need for tools and reducing replacement time.
2Ease of operation
If conventional connection devices are used, then cartridges can be connected, but incorrect orientation and twisting may occur leading to malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The holder features an asymmetric receiving contour with a specific geometric shape that only matches the corresponding contour on the cartridge base when the cartridge is in the correct orientation. This asymmetric design physically prevents insertion in wrong orientations and eliminates the possibility of twisting, ensuring reliable and correct connection every time.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual positioning of cartridges is used, then connection is possible, but alignment precision is difficult to maintain under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The connection elements are designed with self-aligning features including conical approach surfaces and complementary geometric contours that automatically guide the connection ports into precise alignment when brought together. This self-service alignment mechanism eliminates the need for complex external positioning devices while ensuring high alignment precision that maintains connection integrity under pressure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (10) for connecting a cleaning cartridge (12) to a water treatment system comprises an upper receptacle (26) having at least two, preferably three, definedly positioned ports (28) for coupling correspondingly definedly positioned ports (32) of the cartridge (12). The device (10) according to the invention further comprises a holder (22) into which the cartridge (12) can be inserted, the holder (22) having a receiving contour that allows the cartridge (12) to be inserted only in a predetermined orientation and prevents any twisting or horizontal displacement of the fully inserted cartridge (12), except in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.The device (10) according to the invention further comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the connections (32) of the cartridge (12) or the connections (28) of the receptacle (26), so that the connections (32) of the cartridge (12) and the connections (28) of the receptacle (26) can be selectively pressed against each other or moved away from each other.