Container Docking Valve Locking for Leak-Free Bulk Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulk material handling systems face challenges in safely and efficiently docking and undocking container modules without leakage or contamination of the environment, as bulk materials can escape during the process.
Innovation Solution
A docking device with a locking mechanism that ensures the valve body can only be opened when the locking means is in the correct position, preventing accidental movement and ensuring a secure fluid transfer between container modules, featuring a fail-safe design with actuation and locking arrangements that stabilize the connection during docking and undocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a docking device allows valve body movement for fluid transfer, then fluid flow capability is improved, but risk of accidental opening and material leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means is actuated before the valve body to establish a secure mechanical connection between docking segments prior to enabling fluid transfer. This preliminary locking action ensures that the connection is stabilized before any fluid flow occurs, preventing accidental leakage during the transfer process.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking device incorporates a feedback mechanism where the actuation of locking means provides confirmation of secure connection before allowing valve body movement. The system monitors the locking state and only permits fluid transfer when the locked position is confirmed, creating a safety interlock that prevents premature or accidental opening.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to ensure secure connection, then connection security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means is integrated into the existing valve body structure, combining the sealing and locking functions into a single component. This merging approach allows the docking device to achieve secure mechanical connection without adding separate complex locking mechanisms, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the valve body can only open when locking means is in correct position, then material leakage prevention is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking device employs a self-service mechanism where the actuation of locking means automatically positions the valve body for secure connection. The system self-regulates to ensure the locking means reaches the correct position before enabling valve opening, eliminating the need for separate manual verification steps and maintaining operational simplicity while preventing material escape.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a docking device (1) for mechanically connecting, namely for docking and undocking, an upper container module of a multi-part container for a fluid and a lower container module of the multi-part container. The docking device (1) comprises an upper docking segment (3), which can be attached to an opening of the upper container module by means of an upper connecting element (2), and a lower docking segment (5), which can be attached to an opening of the lower container module by means of a lower connecting element (4).The fluid flows from the upper container module through a channel (6) of the docking device (1) into the lower container module due to gravity and/or pressure, or from the lower to the upper container module due to buoyancy and/or pressure, if at least one valve body (8) movable by means of an actuating arrangement (13) arranged in the upper and/or in the lower docking element (3, 5) is in an open valve body position in the channel (6) of the device (1).An upper channel section (20) is arranged in the upper docking segment (3), and a lower channel section (21) is arranged in the lower docking segment (5). An upper docking area (24) of the upper channel section (20) and/or the upper docking segment (3) and a lower docking area (23) of the lower channel section (21) and/or the lower docking segment (5) can be arranged fluid-tightly within and/or adjacent to one another, particularly by positive locking and/or force locking, such that the fluid flows through the externally sealed channel (6) when the valve body is in the open position. An actuating arrangement (13) is arranged in the upper channel section (20) and/or in the lower channel section (21), with which the valve body (8) can be actuated so that it can be moved from an open valve body position to a closed valve body position or from a closed valve body position to an open valve body position.The actuating arrangement (13) comprises at least one locking arrangement (26) comprising at least one locking means (25), wherein the upper and lower docking segments (3, 5) can be stably connected to each other, in particular locked, by the locking means (25) entering a locking position, wherein during the docking process, when the actuating arrangement (13) is actuated, the locking means (25) can be actuated first and then the valve body (8), and during the undocking process, when the actuating arrangement (13) is actuated, the valve body (8) can be actuated first and then the locking means (25).