Modular Fluid Housing Contact Surfaces for Sealing and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fluid housing systems require precise and costly manufacturing to ensure tightness and alignment of modules, which complicates the manufacturing process and increases costs, while also facing challenges in maintaining tightness and precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
The fluid housing system employs contact surfaces on each module that protrude along the alignment direction, allowing for precise positioning and sealing, with only these surfaces needing high precision machining, while the rest of the module can be manufactured with rougher tolerances, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire connecting side surfaces of fluid housing modules are machined with high precision, then the tightness and alignment of modules are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing only specific contact surfaces (而非 entire connecting side surfaces) with high precision machining. These contact surfaces are localized at defined positions on the connecting sides, allowing high precision only where needed for tightness and alignment, while other areas can be manufactured with standard tolerances, thus reducing overall manufacturing complexity and costs.
2Manufacturing precision
If the entire connecting side surfaces are machined with high precision, then the positioning accuracy of modules is improved, but the manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing costs by applying high precision machining only to specific contact surfaces rather than entire connecting side surfaces. This localized approach maintains positioning accuracy where critical while allowing less critical areas to be manufactured with standard tolerances, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs.
3Manufacturing precision
If contact surfaces are made small in area, then the positioning precision is improved, but the sealing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sealing component as an intermediary element between the contact surfaces of adjacent fluid housing modules. This sealing component facilitates reliable sealing at the small, precisely-machined contact surfaces, eliminating the difficulty that would otherwise arise from the limited contact area.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid housing for a fluid collection system or a fluid distribution system is described, which comprises at least two fluid housing modules adjoining one another along an alignment direction. On each fluid housing module at least one fluid connection is provided, which is connected fluidically to a first central fluid duct via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct. In addition, on each of the fluid housing modules at least two contact surfaces are provided, which protrude with respect to an assigned fluid housing module basic body along the alignment direction. Adjacent fluid housing modules are positioned in relation to one another via the contact surfaces. Furthermore, a fluid collection system or a fluid distribution system with such a fluid housing is presented.