Magnetic Tube Clamp With Rotating Magnets for Low-Energy Flow Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical clamps require higher holding forces and energy consumption due to their linear force-distance characteristic, leading to increased manufacturing and operating costs, and are not efficient in managing fluid flow in medical applications.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design utilizing a pair of permanent magnets that can rotate relative to each other, changing their magnetic attraction and distance, allowing for a resting state with compression and a working state with reduced flow, achieved through a combination of rotational and linear movement, enabling efficient fluid control with lower energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a linear force-distance characteristic clamp is used, then the clamp can reliably block the fluid channel, but the holding force must be fundamentally higher than the closing force, leading to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force-distance characteristic from linear to non-linear by using a spring element with specific mechanical properties. The spring provides a closing force that increases non-linearly with compression distance, allowing the holding force to be lower than the closing force. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable blocking while reducing the energy required for holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic force balance where the spring element continuously adjusts its closing force based on the compression state. The spring's elastic properties create a dynamic system where the holding force requirement is reduced because the spring automatically provides increasing resistance as compression progresses, eliminating the need for constant high holding force.
2Reliability
If a higher closing force is used, then the clamp can ensure complete channel blockage, but a higher holding force is required accordingly, increasing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force-distance characteristic from linear to non-linear using a specially designed spring element. This allows the closing force to be high when needed (ensuring complete blockage) while the holding force remains lower (reducing electromagnet size and manufacturing cost). The spring's mechanical properties are selected to optimize this force profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces part of the mechanical force generation system with a spring element that provides automatic force adjustment. This substitution eliminates the need for oversized electromagnets and complex mechanical advantage systems, simplifying the overall design and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable blockage.
3Force
If a spring element with larger dimensions is used to provide higher closing force, then the closing force increases, but the weight of the spring element and electromagnet increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from a linear force-distance system to a non-linear spring-based system. This allows achieving high closing force with a more compact, lighter spring element because the spring's force increases with compression distance. The electromagnet can be smaller since it only needs to overcome the spring force at the initial position, not maintain high force throughout the stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic force system where the spring element's closing force increases as it compresses. This dynamic characteristic allows the use of lighter components because the maximum closing force is achieved at full compression, while the holding force at the open position remains lower, enabling a smaller, lighter electromagnet.
4Force
If a higher holding force is used, then the clamp can maintain the open position against higher closing forces, but the holding current and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force-distance characteristic to non-linear using a spring element, which allows the holding force to be lower than the closing force. This parameter change directly reduces the holding current requirement and operating energy consumption while maintaining the ability to achieve complete channel blockage when the electromagnet is activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force-distance characteristic from linear to non-linear by using a spring element with specific mechanical properties. The spring provides a closing force that increases non-linearly with compression distance, allowing the holding force to be lower than the closing force. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable blocking while reducing the energy required for holding.
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 clamp design reduces energy consumption and manufacturing costs by allowing for efficient fluid control with lower holding forces, suitable for medical applications, and maintains a safe state during power failures.
Implementation Method 1
the permanent magnets can be rotated at least by an angle relative to one another, the relative rotation of the permanent magnets to one another resulting in a reduction in the distance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a clamp (1), which is such that the clamp (1) can accommodate a fluid-carrying duct (L), that the clamp (1) in a resting state can compress the accommodated fluid-carrying channel (L), and that in a working state the clamp (1) can accommodate the fluid-carrying channel (L) so that the fluid-carrying channel (L) is not compressed, wherein the clamp (1) has a first permanent magnet (M1) and a second permanent magnet (M2), the permanent magnets (M1, M2) being arranged at a distance from one another, such that the permanent magnets (M1, M2) can be rotated at least about an angle relative to one another, the relative rotation of the permanent magnets (M1, M2) to one another resulting in a reduction in the distance (d), the resting state being made available at a first angle and the working state being made available at a second angle.