Locking Collar Chromatography Coupling for Dead-End-Free Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chromatography systems face challenges with reconnectable fluid couplings that are difficult to sanitize, require tools for connection/disconnection, and have dead-ends where contaminants can accumulate, especially under high pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A releasable fluid coupling system using a collet and locking collar design that allows for quick connection and disconnection without tools, with a smooth surface to prevent contamination and no dead-ends, suitable for high-pressure applications in chromatography systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional plumbing fittings with multiple components (metal springs and O-rings) are used, then fluid sealing is achieved, but dead-ends and O-ring grooves harbour contaminants and are difficult to sanitise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional sealing components (O-rings, metal springs) that create dead-ends and grooves. Instead, it uses a simple tapered insertion design where the tube is pushed into a receptacle with a tapered seat, eliminating the need for complex sealing mechanisms that trap contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling is divided into simple functional segments: a receptacle with tapered seat, a tube with corresponding taper, and a retention mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to have a single purpose, reducing complexity and eliminating hidden spaces where contaminants could accumulate.
2Ease of operation
If reconnectable fluid couplings are designed for flexibility, then ease of connection is improved, but hygiene and sanitation become problematic under high pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex mechanisms to achieve sealing and retention, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple tapered interference fit where the tube itself creates the seal through its tapered surface matching the receptacle seat. The retention is achieved through friction and geometric interlocking rather than additional components.
3Reliability
If traditional couplings with multiple components are used, then fluid sealing is maintained, but the number of parts increases complexity and difficulty of sanitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into single components. The receptacle combines the sealing surface, alignment feature, and retention mechanism into one integrated part. The tube combines the fluid conduit function with its own tapered sealing surface, eliminating the need for separate O-rings and springs.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are chromatography systems employing a releasable coupling 100 for holding a fluid tubing to a spigot, the coupling comprising: a cylindrical inner component 110 for accepting a fluid tubing 30, said inner component including a resiliently deflectable portion 118 arranged to urge an outer surface of the tubing toward a spigot; and a cylindrical collar 130 having and internal through-aperture 132 for slideably accepting the inner component, the aperture and resilient portion having complementary surface formations which in a first position of the collar mounted to the inner component provide for said resilient deflection in use, and which in a second different position do not cause said deflection, the coupling being characterized in that the collar comprises a collar flange 134 extending outwardly away from the aperture of a size allowing manual manipulation of the collar between the first and second positions. Chromatography systems employing said couplings is disclosed also.