Membrane-Sealed Fluid Coupling for Clean Low-Resistance Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid couplings in medical devices face challenges in cleaning and preventing contaminant penetration, with membrane designs that lack evasive recesses and suffer from mechanical resistance and fluid resistance issues.
Innovation Solution
A fluid coupling with a membrane seal that has an evasive recess for smooth deformation from a rest to a functional position, ensuring easy cleaning and minimal fluid resistance, featuring a prismatic fluid gap with an H-shaped profile and radial reinforcement for stable sealing and reduced stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the diaphragm seal is designed without deflection recesses, then the structure is simpler, but the mechanical resistance during transition increases and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming deflection recesses in the diaphragm seal that anticipate the deformation path during operation. These recesses are created in advance to guide the diaphragm's transition from rest to functional position, reducing mechanical resistance and ensuring smooth movement without requiring complex external mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the diaphragm seal structure by introducing deflection recesses that divide the diaphragm into distinct functional zones. The recesses create separate regions for sealing, deflection, and fluid flow, allowing each zone to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall cleaning process by creating smooth, non-turbulent surfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the diaphragm seal undergoes elastic deformation during transition, then the fluid gap can be opened, but mechanical resistance increases and contaminant ingress risk rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible diaphragm seal made of elastic material that can deform to open the fluid gap when needed. The thin film structure allows controlled elasticity to enable gap opening while maintaining sealing integrity, preventing contaminant ingress through the flexible membrane's inherent barrier properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection recesses are pre-formed to guide the elastic deformation path, ensuring the diaphragm transitions smoothly through predetermined zones that minimize mechanical resistance and prevent turbulent flow conditions that could allow contaminant ingress during the opening process.
3Ease of manufacture
If the diaphragm seal provides a smooth surface in rest position, then cleaning is easier, but the transition to functional position may encounter mechanical resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm seal is segmented into distinct functional zones by the deflection recesses: a smooth sealing zone for easy cleaning in rest position, and a deflection zone with controlled geometry to guide smooth transition to functional position. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its properties without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the diaphragm seal are given different local qualities: the sealing area maintains a smooth surface for easy cleaning, while the deflection recesses provide controlled geometric features that guide smooth transition. Each local region is optimized for its specific function while contributing to overall system performance.
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 design ensures effective sealing, easy cleaning, and low-friction fluid flow with automatic return to the rest position, preventing contaminant entry and maintaining a smooth surface.
Implementation Method 1
the diaphragm seal seals the channel opening in a rest position and releases the channel opening in a functional position... during a transition of the diaphragm seal from the rest position to the functional position... due to the elastic deformation of the diaphragm seal
Implementation Method 2
The coupling device is designed for the active movement of the diaphragm seal from its rest position to its operating position... which deforms the diaphragm seal, at least in the area of the deflection recess, thereby changing the geometry of the fluid gap
Implementation Method 3
upon removal of the coupling device, the diaphragm seal returns to its original deformation due to its elastic properties... thus closing the channel opening
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a coupling component for a fluid coupling (1) for the releasable connection of fluid-guiding components, in particular fluid-guiding components in medical appliances, wherein the coupling component has a coupling housing (14) which is traversed regionally by a fluid channel (17) and which is provided with a coupling recess (7) set into a surface (15) of the coupling housing (14), wherein a channel opening (18) of the fluid channel (17) opens out at an end face (19) of the coupling recess (7). According to the invention, provision is made that the channel opening (18) is covered by a membrane seal (4) which is made of an elastic material and which is traversed by a fluid gap (8) configured in such a way that the membrane seal (4), in a rest position, seals off the channel opening (18) and, in a functional position, frees the channel opening (18), wherein at least one deflection depression (29) is formed in the coupling recess (7), adjacent to the channel opening (18), and permits a deflection movement of a region (36, 37) of the membrane seal (4) during a transfer of the membrane seal (4) from the rest positon to the functional position.