Fluid Transportation Device Sealing and Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional micro pumps experience significant backflow and require costly actuators to enhance net mass flow rate, limiting their efficiency and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A fluid transportation device comprising a valve cover, valve body, valve membrane, gaskets, valve chamber seat, and actuator, assembled without fastening elements, utilizing a chamfered valve cover and annular protrusion structure for secure fitting, and gaskets for enhanced sealing to prevent backflow and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the compression ratio of the compression chamber is increased to enhance net mass flow rate, then the chamber pressure is sufficient, but a costly micro actuator is required
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: valve body, valve membrane, gaskets, and actuator assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system cost while maintaining performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Gaskets are introduced as intermediary sealing elements between the valve body and valve membrane, and between components and the outer sleeve. These gaskets provide effective sealing without requiring complex sealing mechanisms or expensive actuators, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining productivity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional micro pump assembly methods are used, then components can be assembled, but fastening elements (screws, nuts or bolts) are required making assembly complex and fluid leakage prone
Solution Approach 1:
The gaskets serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide sealing, facilitate assembly by creating interference fits, and eliminate the need for separate fastening elements. The valve cover's chamfered bottom edge and outer sleeve's annular protrusion work together to self-align and secure components without additional fasteners.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaskets are implemented as flexible thin film elements that can deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations, providing reliable sealing without rigid fastening elements. This flexibility allows the sealing surfaces to conform to each other, preventing fluid leakage while simplifying assembly.
3Productivity
If valveless micro pump design is used, then fluid can be continuously supplied, but a great amount of fluid is readily returned back to the input channel
Solution Approach 1:
The valve membrane with inlet and outlet valves is extracted from the conventional valveless design to selectively control fluid flow directions. This allows the device to maintain continuous supply capability while preventing backflow through active valve control, addressing both the productivity and energy loss issues.
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 device achieves high-efficiency fluid transfer with no backflow and simplified assembly, improving sealing effectiveness and reducing the need for costly actuators.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element 62 is attached on one surface of the vibration plate 61. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 62, the vibration plate 61 is driven to vibrate along a vertical direction in a reciprocating manner
Implementation Method 2
The extension parts 42a and 42b are arranged around the valve plates 41a and 41b for elastically supporting the valve plates 41a and 41b
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid transportation device includes a valve cover, a valve body, a valve membrane and a valve chamber seat. The valve cover has two openings. The valve body includes an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The valve membrane is arranged between the valve body and the valve chamber seat, having two valve plates respectively close an inlet valve channel and an outlet valve channel of the valve chamber seat. The valve chamber seat forms a pressure chamber which is sealed and covered by an actuator. The valve cover is sleeved on the valve body and tightly fitted to the inner wall of an outer sleeve to assemble the device, in which a first gasket is disposed between the valve body and the valve membrane, and a second gasket is disposed between the valve membrane and the valve chamber, by which sealing effect is improved and backflow is prevented.