Closed Fluid Coupling Threaded Guidance for Leak-Free Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling systems for closed fluid transfer systems are complex, provide poor flow rates, and have accessibility issues, leading to difficulties in disinfection and potential fluid leakage due to residue on sealing surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A coupling system with a coupling member and mating coupling member featuring a housing with a threaded portion that secures a sealing member receptacle, allowing for guided movement between disconnected and connected states, ensuring a constant surface pressure and preventing unintended movement, thereby enhancing safety and ease of handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If known coupling systems are used, then fluid transfer can be achieved, but the systems are complex with poor flow rates and fluid residues occur on sealing surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is divided into separate functional components: a coupling member with a coupling member housing and sealing member receptacle, and a mating coupling member with its own housing and guiding structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for flow rate and sealing performance while simplifying the overall connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is extracted as a separate component that can be independently positioned and secured within the coupling member housing. The sealing function is separated from the connection function, allowing the coupling structures to be simplified while maintaining effective sealing through the dedicated sealing member and its receptacle.
2Reliability
If coupling systems with constant surface pressure are used, then fluid residues are prevented, but the systems are large and have poor accessibility for disinfection
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed to be movable within its receptacle along the longitudinal axis, allowing dynamic adjustment to maintain optimal sealing contact. The guided movement mechanism ensures that the sealing member can adapt its position to maintain constant surface pressure during connection and disconnection, preventing fluid residues while allowing compact design for better accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system incorporates self-aligning and self-sealing features through the guided movement mechanism. When the mating coupling member is connected, the guiding structures automatically guide the sealing member into the correct position to maintain constant surface pressure, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms and reducing the overall system size.
3Reliability
If coupling members are designed for secure connection, then leakage is prevented, but handling becomes complex and unintended movement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is pre-positioned within the coupling member housing and secured in a predetermined position before connection. The guiding structures are pre-configured to automatically guide the mating coupling member into the correct alignment during connection, ensuring secure connection while simplifying handling by eliminating the need for precise manual alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guided movement mechanism acts as an intermediary between the coupling member and mating coupling member during connection and disconnection. This intermediary structure controls the relative movement, ensuring that the sealing surfaces maintain proper contact while preventing unintended movement, thus securing the connection without complicating handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling system for a closed fluid transfer system includes a coupling member that features a coupling member housing. The coupling member housing includes a housing portion that at least partially surrounds a sealing member receptacle in an axial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis and which includes a coupling member housing threaded portion on the inner surface facing the sealing member. The coupling system also includes a mating coupling member for coupling with the coupling member. The mating coupling member includes a mating coupling member housing that has a mating coupling member guiding structure. The coupling member housing threaded portion of the coupling member is configured such that the mating coupling member guiding structure and the sealing member receptacle structure are jointly and movably guided, in particular in a predetermined positional relation to each other, by the coupling member housing threaded portion.