Keyed Flush Face Receiver Preventing Wrong Fluid Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current valve couplings for fluid transfer devices in heavy construction and earth-moving vehicles often result in extensive damage due to incorrect fluid usage, as they lack effective mechanisms to prevent the wrong type of lubricant from being used in the wrong components.
Innovation Solution
A flush-faced coupling system featuring a receiver with a keyed exterior surface that engages tumblers within the nozzle, ensuring correct alignment and preventing fluid flow unless the keyed surfaces match, thereby preventing incorrect fluid connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple valve coupling system is used for fluid transfer, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to lack of prevention mechanisms for incorrect fluid connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by implementing a keyed coupling system where the receiver has a specific key configuration (protrusions or recesses) that must match the corresponding key configuration on the nozzle. This asymmetric design ensures that only compatible nozzles can be connected to specific receivers, preventing incorrect fluid connections while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary mechanism in the form of tumblers that act as mediators between the keyed surfaces of the receiver and nozzle. These tumblers engage with the key configurations and control the opening/closing of the valve, providing a reliable prevention mechanism without requiring complex electronic or mechanical systems.
2Reliability
If a keyed coupling system with tumblers is implemented to prevent incorrect connections, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coupling mechanism and the valve control mechanism into a single integrated system. The keyed surfaces and tumblers serve dual purposes: they both prevent incorrect connections and control the opening/closing of the valve. This merging reduces the need for separate prevention mechanisms and minimizes the overall number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyed coupling system with tumblers serves multiple functions simultaneously: it prevents incorrect nozzle-receiver connections, controls the opening/closing of the valve, and provides a mechanical interlocking mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components and maintains relatively simple device complexity.
3Productivity
If quick-connect valve couplings are used to minimize downtime during maintenance, then the productivity is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to potential extensive damage from incorrect fluid connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by designing the keyed coupling system to prevent incorrect connections before they can occur. The key configurations on the receiver and nozzle are designed such that incompatible connections are physically prevented from being made, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of wrong fluid usage before it can affect the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of incorrect connections into a benefit by using the key configuration mismatch as a protective mechanism. The asymmetry in key designs, which could be seen as a complication, actually serves to prevent damage by ensuring that only correct nozzle-receiver pairs can be connected, thereby protecting the system from harmful effects.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and system are disclosed for fluid transfer. The apparatus includes a fluid receiver that includes a receiver base having an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus also includes a tubular cylinder having an inlet and an outlet, where the outlet of the tubular cylinder is coupled to the inlet of the receiver base. The tubular cylinder has a keyed outer surface, which in one embodiment, includes at least one surface feature extending annularly around the surface of the tubular cylinder. The surface feature engages with at least one tumbler in a fluid nozzle. The system includes the fluid receiver and a fluid nozzle. The fluid nozzle, in one embodiment, has an arrangement of tumblers that are positioned adjacent an inlet of the fluid nozzle and configured to engage the keyed outer surface of the fluid receiver.