Clean Coupler Structure for Leak-Free Chemical Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick couplers in semiconductor fabrication plants face challenges in safely managing the connection and disconnection of chemical-containing tubular members, leading to residual liquid leakage and the need for manual cleaning and drying of wetted surfaces, posing safety risks to workers.
Innovation Solution
A coupler and clean connection device with automated operations that include a coupler cleaning module to inject and drain cleaning fluid, featuring O-rings to prevent external leakage, and a design that ensures safe and efficient cleaning and drying of wetted surfaces during connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional quick coupler is used for connecting and disconnecting tubular members, then the connection and disconnection can be performed quickly without assembly tools, but residual liquid leaks externally and wetted surfaces require manual cleaning and drying
Solution Approach 1:
A cleaning fluid is introduced as an intermediary substance to wash residual liquid from the wetted surface inside the female coupler body. The cleaning fluid acts as a mediator between the residual liquid contaminant and the cleaning process, allowing contaminants to be removed without external leakage by draining the contaminated cleaning fluid through the drain hole
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-cleaning by automatically draining residual liquid and cleaning fluid through the drain hole without requiring external manual intervention. The female coupler body structure enables self-service cleaning where the cleaning fluid and residual liquid are automatically removed through gravitational drainage, eliminating the need for manual cleaning operations
2Reliability
If the coupler is designed to prevent external leakage of residual liquid, then worker safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sealing components
Solution Approach 1:
An O-ring seal is used as a flexible thin film component to prevent external leakage of residual liquid at the interface between the male and female couplers. The O-ring provides reliable sealing through its elastic deformation capability, maintaining safety without requiring complex rigid sealing structures
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is segmented into distinct components: the O-ring for preventing external leakage and the drain hole structure for controlling fluid discharge. This segmentation allows each sealing and drainage function to be independently optimized, achieving reliable safety performance while managing device complexity through functional decomposition
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual cleaning and drying of wetted surfaces is performed, then complete removal of contaminants is achieved, but the loss of time and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs cleaning and drying functions through the drain hole that enables self-drainage of cleaning fluid and residual liquid. The automated drainage process eliminates manual cleaning and drying operations, reducing time loss while maintaining complete contaminant removal through the drainage mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning fluid continuously flows through the female coupler body to wash contaminants, and the drainage system continuously removes the contaminated fluid without interruption. This continuous action ensures complete contaminant removal while minimizing the time required for the cleaning process compared to discrete manual operations
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 solution automates the cleaning and drying process, reducing safety accidents, ensuring a clean environment, and enhancing the durability and structural stability of the coupler system.
Implementation Method 1
a first O-ring disposed on the clean female coupler body to prevent residual liquid of the chemicals, which is generated while the male coupler and the clean female coupler are separated from each other in a state in which the male coupler is inserted into the clean female coupler, from leaking to the outside
Implementation Method 2
drain residual liquid generated without external leakage when a male coupler and a female coupler are connected or disconnected
Data Source
AI summary
Herein is a coupler and a clean connection device having the same, which can automate a series of operations for connecting and disconnecting a male coupler to and from a female coupler, clean and dry a wetted portion, drain residual liquid of chemicals together with cleaning water without external leakage in safety when the coupler is separated, and clean and dry the wetted surface before connection and after separation, thereby enabling a clean connection.