Fluid Discharge Coupler Inversion to Minimize Residue

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional discharge systems for applying and refilling fluid, such as sealing agents or adhesives, at automobile assembly plants face issues with fluid adherence to couplers during refilling operations, leading to potential contamination of workpieces due to excessive fluid residue on the discharging device side.

Innovation Solution

The discharge system design minimizes fluid adherence on the discharging device side by using a refill-side coupler as the inserting-side and a discharge-side coupler as the inserted-side, with a seal member on the refill-side coupler to scrape off adhered fluid, and an operating part to prevent capacity fluctuations during connection and disconnection, reducing leaks and fluid residue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If couplers are used to connect discharging device and refilling device for refilling operations, then the fluid can be refilled from refilling device to discharging device, but fluid adheres to the coupler on the discharging device side during refilling, which may fall onto workpieces and degrade quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefilling capabilityVSAvoidfluid adherence to coupler

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional coupling configuration by making the discharge-side coupler female (receiving) and the refill-side coupler male (inserting). This inversion causes fluid to adhere to the refill-side coupler instead of the discharge-side coupler, preventing contamination of workpieces while maintaining refilling capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful fluid adherence into a beneficial outcome by strategically positioning the adherence location on the refill-side coupler (male) rather than the discharge-side coupler (female). The fluid adherence that would normally be problematic is redirected to a location where it cannot contaminate workpieces, effectively converting a harmful effect into an acceptable or even beneficial situation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of operation

If the coupler connection allows free movement during connection and disconnection, then the operation is simple, but capacity fluctuations occur causing fluid leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupler connection simplicityVSAvoidfluid leak prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing operating parts (such as latches or locking mechanisms) at specific locations on the couplers. These localized features constrain capacity fluctuations only where needed during connection and disconnection operations, while maintaining simplicity of operation elsewhere in the system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The operating parts perform preliminary actions by pre-constraining the coupler connection to prevent capacity fluctuations before fluid transfer begins. This preliminary constraint ensures that when the refilling operation starts, the connection is already stabilized and less prone to leaking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This configuration effectively minimizes fluid residue on the discharging device side, reducing the risk of contamination on workpieces and improving the reliability of fluid application by reducing leaks and air entry during refilling operations.

Implementation Method 1

a seal member on the refill-side coupler to scrape off adhered fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS10160003B2Discharge system

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 HEISHIN ENGINEERING & EQUIPMENT CO LTD

AI summary

The purpose is to provide a discharge system that can reduce an adhered amount of fluid to a coupler on a discharging device side to be smaller than an adhered amount of the fluid to a coupler on a refilling device side during a refilling operation of the fluid to the discharging device. A discharge system includes a discharging device capable of discharging the fluid and a refilling device capable of refilling the discharging device with the fluid. A refill-side coupler provided to the refilling device side and a discharge-side coupler provided to the discharging device side is fitted and connected to refill the discharging device side with the fluid from the refilling device side.