Magnetic Breakaway Coupling With Axial Travel for Force Spikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breakaway assemblies in fluid dispensing systems face issues with unpredictable separation forces, vulnerability to pressure pulses, and inconsistent valve closure, leading to potential fuel loss and component damage.
Innovation Solution
A breakaway assembly featuring a magnetically coupled design with axially movable components that accommodate force spikes and provide a consistent separation force, incorporating a closure valve arrangement to ensure reliable fluid flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single use breakaways use shear pins or shear grooves, then the breakaway point is provided, but the separation force becomes unpredictable because such shear elements cannot be fully tested during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical shear pins or shear grooves with a magnetic coupling system consisting of magnets and magnetically attractable material. This substitution allows the separation force to be precisely controlled by magnetic field strength rather than relying on mechanical shear properties that cannot be fully tested during assembly, thereby improving separation force consistency while maintaining ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If reconnectable breakaways use garter springs, canted coil springs, compression springs and deflectable members, then the connection is releasable, but the separation force becomes unpredictable due to high variances in materials and tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical spring-based releasable connection mechanisms with a magnetic coupling system. The magnetic attraction between magnets and magnetically attractable material provides a simpler, more reliable connection that eliminates the material and tolerance variances inherent in spring-based systems, while still allowing for releasable connection through controlled magnetic force.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If single use breakaways use a rigid member designed to shear, then the breakaway point is provided, but the components undesirably separate when a sufficiently powerful pressure pulse is transmitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces axial movability of connector components relative to each other, transforming the rigid static connection into a dynamic system. This allows the connectors to move axially to accommodate pressure spikes and force variations without causing undesired separation, while still maintaining the breakaway function when sufficient separation force is applied to overcome the magnetic attraction.
4Adaptability or versatility
If reconnectable breakaways are used, then the connection can be reestablished, but the internal components can be damaged due to force or pressure spike
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables axial movement of connector components to dynamically respond to force and pressure spikes, protecting internal components from damage. This dynamic accommodation allows the reconnectable breakaway to withstand transient loads while maintaining reconnection capability, as the components can move to absorb the shock rather than transmitting it directly to internal components.
5Reliability
If valves are designed to close after a breakaway event, then fluid loss is prevented, but the valve closure is not sufficiently predictable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a closure valve arrangement where the closure action is directly coupled to the breakaway mechanism through magnetic coupling. When the magnetic attraction is overcome and separation occurs, the closure valve is reliably actuated through this direct coupling, ensuring predictable valve closure that prevents fluid loss. The magnetic coupling provides a consistent force transmission mechanism that enhances closure predictability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures predictable separation forces, protects against pressure spikes, and maintains fluid containment, enhancing the reliability and safety of fluid dispensing systems by providing consistent separation and closure mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
Many existing reconnectable breakaways use using garter springs, canted coil springs, compression springs and deflectable members to provide a releasable connection mechanism. However such releasable connection mechanisms can have relatively high variances in the materials and/or tolerances, and thus lead to unpredictable separation force. The present invention is a breakaway assembly that is reconnectable, provides a relatively consistent separation force, in one cases using magnets
Implementation Method 2
At least part of one of the first or second connectors is axially movable relative to a remaining portion of the one of the first or second connectors, or is axially movable relative to the other one of the first or second connectors, when the assembly is in the first configuration and while the closure valve remains open, to accommodate force spikes
Data Source
AI summary
A breakaway assembly including a first connector and a second connector releasably coupleable to the first connector, wherein the assembly is movable between a first configuration in which the first and second connectors are releasably coupled and together define a fluid path through which fluid is flowable, and a second configuration in which the first and second connectors are not coupled together. The assembly is configured to move from the first configuration to the second configuration when a predetermined separation force is applied to the assembly. The assembly includes a closure valve positioned in one of the first or second connectors, wherein the closure valve is configured to be in an open position when the assembly is in the first configuration to allow fluid to flow therethrough, and to move to a closed position when the assembly moves to the second configuration to generally block the flow of fluid therethrough. At least part of one of the first or second connectors is axially movable relative to a remaining portion of the one of the first or second connectors, or is axially movable relative to the other one of the first or second connectors, when the assembly is in the first configuration and while the closure valve remains open, to accommodate force spikes.