Dual Containment Fitting Assembly for Connection Leak Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual containment fitting assemblies in the semiconductor industry face challenges in providing adequate leakage protection around connections between tubing and secondary components due to aggressive chemical and process conditions, despite existing designs that contain leakage from the inner tubing.
Innovation Solution
A dual containment fitting design featuring a primary tubing with a flared end, a secondary tubing with a flared end, and a dual containment body with a flare fitting portion and primary containment nut portion, creating multiple leak containment spaces and connecting them through compressive engagement and leak passage holes to enhance leakage protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single containment structure is used to contain leakage from inner tubing, then leakage from the tubing is contained, but leakage around the connection between tubing and secondary components is not adequately protected
Solution Approach 1:
The containment structure is divided into three distinct leak containment spaces: first leak containment space between primary and secondary tubing, second leak containment space between primary tubing and flare fitting portion, and third leak containment space between primary tubing and primary containment nut portion. This segmentation provides multiple containment barriers at different locations to protect against various leakage paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested containment spaces where the first leak containment space is formed between concentric primary and secondary tubing, the second leak containment space surrounds the primary tubing within the dual containment body, and the third leak containment space is formed by the primary containment nut portion. These nested spaces create multiple concentric containment barriers.
2Reliability
If multiple leak containment spaces are created to enhance leakage protection, then leakage protection is improved, but the structural complexity of the fitting assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual containment body integrates multiple functions into a single component: it forms the second leak containment space, connects the first and second leak containment spaces through compressive engagement with the secondary tubing, and provides structural support for the entire assembly. The primary containment nut portion similarly combines containment space formation with fastening functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flare fitting portion serves multiple purposes: it forms the second leak containment space, compressively engages with the flared end of secondary tubing to connect containment spaces, and provides a mounting structure for additional components. The primary containment nut portion similarly performs containment, fastening, and structural support functions.
3Reliability
If leak passage holes are added to connect containment spaces, then leakage detection and containment are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The leak passage holes are pre-formed in the primary containment nut portion during manufacturing, allowing for preliminary testing and verification of containment space connectivity before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures proper functionality is built into the component structure itself.
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 design effectively increases leakage protection by creating multiple containment spaces and connecting them through compressive engagement and leak passage holes, addressing the limitations of existing dual containment fitting assemblies in the semiconductor industry.
Implementation Method 1
The flare fitting portion may compressively engage with the flared end of the secondary tubing connecting the first leak containment space with the second leak containment space
Implementation Method 2
The primary containment nut portion may surround and be concentric with the flared end of the primary tubing forming a third leak containment space between the primary tubing and the primary containment nut portion
Data Source
AI summary
A dual containment fitting may include a primary tubing, a secondary tubing, and a dual containment body. The secondary tubing may surround and be concentric with a first portion of the primary tubing forming a first leak containment space between the primary tubing and the secondary tubing. The dual containment body may include a flare fitting portion and a primary containment nut portion. The flare fitting portion may surround and be concentric with the primary tubing forming a second leak containment space between the primary tubing and the flare fitting portion. The primary containment nut portion may surround and be concentric with the flared end of the primary tubing forming a third leak containment space between the primary tubing and the primary containment nut portion. The primary containment nut portion may include at least one leak passage hole connecting the third leak containment space with the second leak containment space.