Fluid Measurement Interface With Shape-Locked Connector Clamping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for connecting fluid measurement points to interfaces in laboratories are complicated, prone to contamination, and can disturb measurement operations due to manual maneuvering and screw threads, which lead to potential contamination and unreliable clamping forces.
Innovation Solution
A modular fluid measurement system with an interface featuring holding elements and supports that secure process connectors through shape interlocking, eliminating the need for screws to pass through the interface, thus ensuring a robust and sealed mechanical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If screws are led through the interface body and engage in screw threads in the fluid measurement point housing, then a mechanical connection is established, but the manufacture becomes complicated and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The screw threads are extracted from the fluid measurement point housing and relocated to the interface body. The interface body now contains the screw threads, while the fluid measurement point housing has simple through-holes for the screws. This extraction eliminates the need for complex threading operations on the fluid measurement point housing, simplifying its manufacture while maintaining strong mechanical connection through the screw-thread engagement in the interface body.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface body serves as an intermediary that absorbs the complexity of screw thread fabrication. Instead of requiring the fluid measurement point housing to have complex threaded features, the interface body acts as a mediator that provides the threading function, thereby simplifying the overall assembly manufacturing while ensuring robust mechanical connection.
2Strength
If screws are led through the interface body and engage in screw threads in the fluid measurement point housing, then a mechanical connection is established, but manual maneuvering is required and contamination probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The screw threads are extracted from the fluid measurement point housing and placed in the interface body. This creates simple through-holes in the fluid measurement point housing that do not penetrate into the inner measurement space, thereby eliminating the contamination pathway while maintaining the mechanical connection function through the interface body's threaded holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface body acts as a protective intermediary that contains all threaded features and screw penetration points away from the fluid measurement point's inner space. This intermediary structure prevents contaminants from entering the measurement chamber while still providing the necessary mechanical anchoring function.
3Strength
If clamping forces are transmitted by screw thread from screws to the fluid measurement point, then mechanical connection is secured, but measurement operation is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping force transmission path is extracted from the fluid measurement point housing and relocated to the interface body. The screws transmit clamping forces to the interface body through its threaded holes, not directly to the fluid measurement point housing. This separation ensures that measurement-critical components are not subjected to disturbing clamping forces while maintaining secure mechanical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface body serves as a force-absorbing intermediary that receives and dissipates clamping forces from the screws. This intermediary structure protects the fluid measurement point from direct mechanical stress and vibration that would otherwise be transmitted through screw clamping, thereby ensuring measurement operation reliability.
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
This solution simplifies the manufacturing of a robust mechanical connection, reduces the risk of contamination, and stabilizes measurement operations by providing a secure and sealed interface for fluid measurement points, enhancing the reliability and safety of fluid measurement systems.
Implementation Method 1
the first support includes at least a first support surface, against which an opposite surface of the holding element is kept in its end position by shape interlocking
Implementation Method 2
the first support and the second support are adapted to provide a hold in the connection direction against movement away from the body
Data Source
AI summary
An interface adapted for connecting a fluid measurement point includes a body including at least two connection locations, wherein the body has fluid ducts, each of which has a connection location, wherein the fluid ducts have at their connection locations first duct axes, wherein the connection locations are especially coplanar, wherein the connection locations are adapted for connecting process connectors from a connection direction for sealed communication with the fluid ducts, wherein the fluid ducts are adapted via the process connectors to supply, and drain, a medium, respectively, to and from the fluid measurement point, wherein the interface has at least one holding element for releasably securing at least one process connector to the body, wherein the holding element has at least one process connector seat, wherein the holding element is adapted to be moved into an end position (EP) effecting the securement.