Fluid Reservoir Docking Station for Coaxial Pump Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in accurately and efficiently connecting disposable fluid reservoirs to dispensing devices, particularly with bag-in-a-box style containers, where the fluid outlet nozzle can shift in orientation, making alignment with the driveshaft and pump difficult, leading to potential leaks or damage during replacement.
Innovation Solution
A docking station is designed to receive and align the fluid outlet nozzle, featuring a receiving surface, mating surface, and outlet surface, which guides the nozzle into coaxial alignment with the driveshaft, facilitating secure connection and preventing disconnection during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fluid outlet nozzle is made flexible to accommodate different orientations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station serves as an intermediary device between the fluid outlet nozzle and the driveshaft. It provides a standardized interface with alignment features (guide channels, positioning surfaces) that automatically orient the flexible nozzle correctly, mediating between the flexible connection need and the precision alignment requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station is pre-configured with alignment features and positioning mechanisms before the connection process. The guide channels and positioning surfaces are built into the docking station structure in advance, so when the fluid outlet is inserted, the alignment is automatically achieved without requiring manual adjustment during operation
2Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment of the driveshaft with the fluid pump opening is required, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station's alignment features enable the system to self-align during the connection process. The guide channels and positioning surfaces automatically orient the fluid outlet and driveshaft correctly without requiring manual intervention, making the alignment process self-service and eliminating the time-consuming manual adjustment step
3Reliability
If the docking station includes alignment features, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station is segmented into distinct functional zones: receiving surfaces for the fluid outlet, guide channels for alignment, positioning surfaces for the driveshaft, and connection features for securing the components. This segmentation allows each feature to perform its specific alignment function independently, achieving reliable alignment without requiring a monolithic complex structure
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid dispensing system may include a fluid outlet connected to a flexible fluid reservoir and a docking station configured to receive the fluid outlet and align the fluid outlet. In some examples, a fluid pump that defines a driveshaft aperture that is connected to the fluid outlet. In some additional examples, a drive motor is attached to the docking station that includes a driveshaft for driving the fluid pump. The docking station may align the fluid outlet so that the driveshaft aperture defined by the fluid pump is co-axially aligned with the driveshaft. This may allow an operator to efficiently take an empty reservoir out of service and replace it with a new reservoir full of fluid.