Flexible Sealing Portion for Universal Gas Injection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas injection devices are limited in their ability to inject gas into containers with varying inlet diameters, as they require a specific grommet size matching the container's well diameter, making them incompatible with multiple types of pods and leading to improper gas injection.
Innovation Solution
A gas injection device with a sealing portion that can deform and an assisting member with a tapered side wall, allowing the device to adapt to different inlet diameters by sealing the periphery of the ejection portion and preventing gas leakage, ensuring proper gas injection into containers with varying inlet sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a grommet is used to seal the inlet, then gas injection is effective for a specific container type, but the device cannot be used with containers having different inlet diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection portion is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate multiple container types with different inlet diameters. By eliminating the container-specific grommet and using a flexible sealing portion that adapts to various diameters, the gas injection device achieves multi-functionality across different FOUP designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a fixed-parameter grommet to a variable-parameter sealing portion that can change its effective sealing diameter. The flexible material and geometric design allow the sealing portion to adapt its dimensions to match different inlet diameters, enabling the same device to work reliably across varying container specifications.
2Device complexity
If a fixed-size grommet is used for sealing, then the sealing structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying inlet diameters of different containers
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing portion is constructed from flexible material that can deform and conform to different inlet diameters. This flexible membrane structure replaces the rigid, fixed-size grommet, allowing the sealing interface to adapt to various container types while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing portion incorporates dynamic adaptability through its flexible geometry and material properties. Rather than a static, fixed-dimensional seal, the sealing portion can dynamically adjust its effective sealing perimeter to match the specific inlet diameter of the container being used.
3Reliability
If the ejection portion contacts the inlet for sealing, then gas injection is effective, but it cannot seal larger diameter inlets properly
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is segmented from the ejection portion into a separate sealing portion. This segmentation allows the ejection portion to maintain its gas injection function while the sealing portion independently adapts to different inlet diameters through its flexible, geometric design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing portion acts as an intermediary between the ejection portion and the container inlet. It mediates the sealing function by conforming to the inlet diameter, allowing the ejection portion to effectively inject gas without directly contacting or being constrained by the varying inlet dimensions.
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
Enables efficient and leak-free gas injection into containers with different inlet diameters, ensuring compatibility with multiple types of containers and maintaining airtightness across various sizes.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing portion may include an elastic body that enables the sealing portion to easily deform
Data Source
AI summary
A gas injection device a placement portion on which a first or second container is placed, an ejection portion which is placed on the placement portion and ejects a purge gas, and a sealing portion protruding from the placement portion so as to surround a periphery of the ejection portion. The ejection portion, with the purge gas being injected into an inlet of the second container, does not come in contact with the inlet. The sealing portion, with the purge gas being injected into an inlet of the FOUP, does not impede the contact between the ejection portion and the inlet.