Closed Transfer Coupler Backup Valve for Leak Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional closed transfer systems often experience leaks due to imperfect fluid tight seals over multiple cycles, particularly during the cleaning process, which can lead to exposure risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a probe assembly within the closed transfer system coupler, featuring a base with a base air inlet, a probe with a hollow air channel, and a plurality of secondary valves positioned at the base air inlet to selectively allow air into the hollow air channel, providing a backup to prevent fluid leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single primary valve is used in the closed transfer system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases due to potential leaks over multiple cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a backup valve positioned downstream of the primary valve to prevent leaks before they can escape the system. This prior cushioning approach ensures that if the primary valve fails to maintain a fluid-tight seal over multiple cycles, the backup valve will contain and redirect any leaked fluid back into the container, thereby maintaining system reliability without requiring a completely redundant valve system.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup valve is strategically positioned at a specific location downstream of the primary valve within the probe assembly, creating a localized safety mechanism. This local quality approach allows the system to maintain overall simplicity while providing targeted redundancy only where needed in the fluid path, rather than duplicating the entire valve system.
2Reliability
If multiple valves are implemented in parallel, then the reliability improves by providing backup protection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup valve is positioned downstream of the primary valve to provide a second line of defense against leaks. This configuration ensures that if the primary valve fails, the backup valve will contain and redirect leaked fluid back into the container before it can escape the closed transfer system, providing reliability improvement with minimal additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup valve and primary valve are integrated into a single probe assembly structure, where the backup valve serves as a downstream safeguard for the primary valve. This merging approach allows multiple valves to work together in a coordinated manner within a unified structural framework, reducing the overall complexity that would arise from separate, independent valve systems.
3Loss of substance
If a fluid tight seal is maintained over multiple cycles, then the loss of substance is minimized, but the reliability decreases due to seal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The backup valve provides a preventive safeguard that activates if the primary valve's seal degrades over multiple cycles. By positioning the backup valve downstream, the system ensures that any chemical leakage resulting from seal degradation will be contained and redirected back into the container, preventing substance loss and maintaining reliability despite seal wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup valve system provides a passive feedback mechanism where any leakage past the primary valve is automatically detected and corrected by the backup valve's containment and redirection function. This feedback loop ensures continuous substance retention without requiring active monitoring or control systems, maintaining both loss prevention and reliability over multiple operational cycles.
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 secondary valves effectively prevent fluid leaks from exiting the system, maintaining a fluid tight environment and enhancing user safety and operational efficiency by acting as a backup to the primary valves.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of secondary valves positioned at the base air inlet and configured to selectively allow air into the hollow air channel
Implementation Method 2
a first pressure differential across the at least one primary valve, the second pressure differential across the plurality of secondary valves
Data Source
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AI summary
A probe assembly 200 for a closed transfer system is provided. The probe assembly 200 includes a base 160 having a base air inlet 162, a probe 210 having a base end 212 and a probe end 214, at least one primary valve 230 positioned at the probe tip 216, and at least one secondary valve 174. The probe 210 defines a hollow air channel 232 extending from the base end 212 to the probe end 214 including a probe tip 216, the base end 212 being coupled to the base 160 such that the hollow air channel 232 is in fluid communication with the base air inlet 162 and the probe tip 216. The at least one secondary valve 174 is positioned at the base air inlet 162 and configured to selectively allow air into the hollow air channel 232.