Conduit Coupling with Recessed Seal for High-Pressure Flow Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conduit coupling technologies face challenges in achieving a secure, leak-proof connection for conduits conducting light and fluid, particularly in flow cells, where maintaining optical integrity and preventing fluid loss are crucial, while also accommodating different thermal expansion coefficients and minimizing dead volume.
Innovation Solution
A coupling system with a housing having apertures and grooves for precise alignment and fixation of conduits, a seal for fluid-tight sealing, and a support member to protect the conduits from contact with the seal, using thermoplastic or elastomeric materials for high-pressure sealing and chemical bonding, which can withstand pressures up to 300 bars and maintain optical insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is introduced to prevent fluid leakage between conduits, then sealing reliability is improved, but the complexity of the coupling structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing integrates multiple functions: it provides structural support, aligns conduits via grooves, and contains the seal within a recess. By combining alignment features and sealing functions into a single housing component, the overall coupling structure complexity is reduced while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal acts as an intermediary element between the conduits and the housing recess. It mediates the sealing function by conforming to the recess geometry and preventing fluid leakage without requiring complex sealing mechanisms, thus improving reliability with minimal added complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If grooves are added to align and fix conduits precisely, then alignment precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grooves are integrated directly into the housing structure during a single manufacturing process, combining the alignment feature with the housing itself. This eliminates the need for separate alignment components, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving precise conduit alignment.
3Reliability
If a support member is added to protect conduits from seal contact, then conduit protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is integrated into the housing structure, combining conduit support and protection functions with the existing housing and seal assembly. This eliminates the need for separate protective components, maintaining structural simplicity while ensuring conduit protection from seal contact.
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 coupling system ensures a reliable, fluid-tight, and high-pressure connection between conduits, minimizing leakage and optical loss, while accommodating thermal expansion and optimizing the flow cell's optical path length and fluid handling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a seal (107) made from thermoplastic or elastomeric materials for fluid-tight sealing
Implementation Method 2
a seal (107) made from thermoplastic or elastomeric materials for fluid-tight sealing
Implementation Method 3
allowing for a press fit and chemical bonding to ensure leak-proof connections under high pressures
Implementation Method 4
allowing for a press fit and chemical bonding to ensure leak-proof connections under high pressures
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling for bringing a first conduit in communication with a second conduit. Each of the conduits comprises an end to be coupled and each of the conduits is adapted for conducting a medium. The coupling has a housing and at least one aperture in said housing. The housing is adapted for introducing said first and second conduits into the housing. Furthermore, the coupling comprises a recess in the housing. The recess is adapted for partly receiving the ends of the first and second conduits. The coupling has a seal adapted for sealing the first and second conduits within the recess.