Injector Testing Grips with Segmented Alignment and Secure Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional injection needle testing systems struggle to easily interface with injectors due to their geometry, limiting effective alignment and secure gripping during testing.

Innovation Solution

The development of grips for injection testing systems that include angled alignment and gripping portions, slip-resistant coatings, and customizable mounting features to securely engage injectors of varying geometries, allowing for precise positioning and actuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional grips are used in injection testing systems, then the device structure remains simple, but the alignment precision and gripping reliability deteriorate due to inability to interface with various injector geometries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidgrip structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grip is divided into multiple functional sections: an alignment portion with a first profile and a gripping portion with a second profile. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally - the alignment portion ensures precise positioning of the injector while the gripping portion provides secure engagement, thereby improving alignment precision without requiring the entire grip structure to be complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the grip are designed with different profiles and characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The alignment portion has a geometry optimized for positioning, while the gripping portion has a geometry optimized for secure engagement. This local differentiation of qualities allows the grip to achieve high alignment precision for specific injector types without making the entire device overly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional grips are used, then the device complexity remains low, but the adaptability to different injector geometries deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with injector geometriesVSAvoidgrip design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grip is designed with a combination of alignment and gripping portions that can interface with various injector geometries including asymmetric and symmetric designs. By integrating multiple functions (alignment and gripping) into a single component with specifically engineered profiles, the grip achieves universality across different injector types without requiring multiple separate devices or complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The grip incorporates asymmetric profiles in its alignment and gripping portions that can accommodate asymmetric injector geometries. The first profile of the alignment portion and the second profile of the gripping portion are designed with asymmetric characteristics that match corresponding asymmetric features of injectors, enabling secure engagement and precise alignment for non-symmetric injector designs while maintaining compatibility with symmetric injectors as well.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Manufacturing precision

If specialized grips with alignment portions are developed, then the alignment precision improves, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjector positioning accuracyVSAvoidgrip fabrication difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment portion and gripping portion are designed with predetermined profiles that are engineered to achieve precise alignment and secure gripping. By pre-configuring the geometric profiles during the design and manufacturing phase, the system achieves high positioning accuracy without requiring complex real-time adjustments or post-manufacturing calibration, thereby improving manufacturing precision while maintaining reasonable ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4610619A1Grips for injector testing systems
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP4610619A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4610619A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4610619A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An example injection needle positioner includes: a first grip comprising a first grip face on a first lateral side of the first grip; and a second grip, comprising: a second grip face on a first lateral side of the second grip, the second grip face facing the first grip face, the second grip face comprising: a first section that extends from a first end of the second grip and comprises a first profile configured to align an injector; and a second section located toward a second end of the first grip, relative to the first section, and having a second profile configured to securably grip the injector in cooperation with the first grip face.