Fluid Treatment Module Tilting Release Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid treatment systems face challenges in securely mounting and removing modules for reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, or ultrafiltration, as pushing on the modules often results in movement of the unit, complicating the replacement process.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates cooperating functional surfaces on the treatment assembly and support structure, allowing for immobilization against translation and easy release through tilting, eliminating the need for pushing and simplifying module replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the module is released by pushing it toward the unit to extract the extension from the notch, then the module can be removed from the connecting device, but the unit moves during the release process

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveModule removal operationVSAvoidUnit position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pushing the module forward to release it (conventional method), the invention applies a tilting motion in the opposite direction. The module is tilted relative to the support structure, which causes the extension to disengage from the notch through a guiding action of the interengaged connectors, allowing removal without pushing and without unit movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The release mechanism transitions from a linear pushing motion (one dimension) to a tilting motion (rotational dimension). By applying force in a different dimensional direction (tilting rather than pushing), the module can be released without causing the unit to move, as the tilting action is guided by the interengaged connectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the module is tilted to remove it from the support structure, then the release action is simplified, but the connectors must guide the tilting motion precisely

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveModule release actionVSAvoidConnector guiding precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connectors are pre-configured with guiding surfaces and geometries that automatically guide the tilting motion during module removal. This preliminary design of the connector geometry ensures that when tilting occurs, the extension is smoothly guided out of the notch without requiring high precision during the actual removal operation, as the guiding action is built into the connector structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7578936B2System comprising fluid treatment module and a support structure

Publication Date: 2009.08.25 EMD MILLIPORE CORP

AI summary

A system comprising a fluid treatment assembly and means for feeding the assembly with fluid to be treated and receiving treated fluid, comprising a structure (12) on which the assembly is adapted to be removably mounted, to interengage complementary connectors thereof with each other, is characterized in that it includes cooperating functional surfaces (25) formed on the assembly and the structure (12) so that they can enter into mutual contact to immobilize the assembly against movement in translation and keep the connectors interengaged with each other when the assembly is mounted on the structure (12) and to allow the assembly to be released in order to remove it from the structure (12) by exerting on the assembly an action limited to tilting it relative to the structure (12) and guided by the connectors interengaged with each other.