Rapid-Connect Coupler Anti-Rotation Venting for Cryogenic Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cold fluids at cryogenic temperatures pose handling challenges due to freeze-up issues in couplers, especially in moist environments, and venting high-pressure fluids can cause couplers to forcefully eject from receptacles, leading to damage and operational complications.
Innovation Solution
A rapid-connect coupler design featuring a housing with a probe and handle assembly that translates longitudinally, including a slidable sleeve with a collar to prevent rotation during engagement and venting, utilizing a vent stop assembly with a release lever and latch pawl to manage fluid venting and prevent hard stops, and incorporating anti-rotation features to secure the coupler relative to the receptacle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rapid-connect coupler is used to transfer cryogenic fluid, then fluid transfer efficiency is improved, but freeze-up problems occur due to water freezing in the coupler
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler is divided into separate functional components including a body, probe, and sleeve that can move independently. This segmentation allows the sealing surfaces to remain stationary while the probe moves for connection/disconnection, reducing the risk of freeze-up in moving parts and maintaining reliability during cryogenic fluid transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed chamber is introduced as an intermediary space between the cryogenic fluid and the external environment. This sealed chamber prevents moisture from entering critical components during fluid transfer, eliminating the freeze-up problem while maintaining high transfer efficiency.
2Stress or pressure
If high-pressure fluid venting is enabled during de-coupling, then pressure release is improved, but the coupler may forcefully eject from the receptacle
Solution Approach 1:
The vent stop assembly includes a movable stop member that can be dynamically positioned to control the venting process. The stop member moves from an initial position that allows pressure buildup to a final position that enables controlled venting, preventing forceful ejection while maintaining pressure release capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary pressure equalization before complete de-coupling. The vent stop assembly gradually opens venting pathways as the probe withdraws, allowing pressure to equalize incrementally rather than suddenly, preventing forceful ejection while ensuring safe pressure release.
3Ease of operation
If the coupler allows rotation during engagement, then ease of connection is improved, but damage to internal valve components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The probe and receptacle include asymmetric anti-rotation features such as keyed surfaces or asymmetric sealing surfaces that only mate in a specific orientation. This asymmetry prevents rotation during engagement while maintaining ease of connection, as the asymmetric features guide proper alignment automatically during the connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-rotation features are designed to self-align and self-lock during the connection process. As the probe inserts into the receptacle, the asymmetric surfaces automatically orient the components correctly and prevent rotation, eliminating the need for additional anti-rotation mechanisms while protecting valve components.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupler for connecting a tank to a receptacle includes a housing, a probe configured to translate longitudinally within the housing, and a handle assembly configured to cause the probe to translate within the housing. The handle assembly is movable between a decoupled position, a coupled position, and a venting position. The coupler includes a ball cage, a plurality of balls disposed in the ball cage, and a slidable sleeve coupled to the probe and configured to translate longitudinally with the probe. The slidable sleeve is configured to slide in a first longitudinal direction to cause the plurality of balls to translate radially to lock the coupler to the receptacle. The slidable sleeve includes a collar defining a plurality of channels that are positioned radially and extending axially along the collar and configured to receive bearings of the receptacle in the coupled position and the venting position to prevent rotation.