Fluid Conveying System With Plug-and-Socket Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid conveying systems, particularly for anesthetic gas evacuation, lack operational reliability and efficiency, often requiring continuous energy supply and failing to maintain a safe state in the absence of fluid excess.
Innovation Solution
A fluid conveying system with a plug and socket design, incorporating a mechanical return element and actuator, allows for a pumping state and rest state, using a control unit to monitor for fluid presence and switch between states to conserve energy and ensure reliability, even in power failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid conveying system uses continuous pumping to ensure fluid is always conveyed, then fluid conveyance reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases and the system cannot maintain a safe state during power failures
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical return element (spring) is pre-loaded to automatically return the switching element to the safe position (conveying switching position) in advance of any potential failure or when power is removed. This preliminary mechanical preparation ensures that upon power failure, the system automatically transitions to a safe state without requiring active control power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational states to control itself. When fluid excess is detected, the switching element moves to enable pumping. When fluid excess is absent, the mechanical return element automatically resets the system to the conveying position. The system serves itself by using the presence/absence of fluid excess to automatically control its own state without external intervention or continuous power.
2Productivity
If a fluid conveying system automatically activates pumping when fluid excess is detected, then conveyance efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching element receives feedback from the fluid system about the presence or absence of fluid excess. When fluid excess is present, the fluid pressure or flow directly actuates the switching element to the conveying position, enabling the pump. When fluid excess is absent, the switching element automatically returns to the conveying position via the mechanical return element. This feedback mechanism allows automatic, efficient control without complex external sensing or control systems.
3Reliability
If the switching element remains in the conveying switching position to ensure fluid can always be conveyed, then operational reliability is improved, but energy is continuously consumed even when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous pumping, the system uses periodic or demand-based pumping activated only when fluid excess is detected. The switching element automatically transitions between the conveying position (when fluid excess is present) and the conveying switching position (when fluid excess is absent). This periodic activation based on actual need reduces energy waste while maintaining reliability through automatic responsiveness.
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 system maintains high operational reliability by conserving energy and ensuring fluid is only conveyed when necessary, preventing fluid accumulation and reducing energy consumption, even in the absence of electrical or pneumatic power.
Implementation Method 1
The return element is deflected from the rest state, the return element exerts a restoring force, and this restoring force tends to return the return element to the rest state and hold it there
Implementation Method 2
uses negative pressure to extract excess anesthetic gas from an anesthesia machine and pump it into a stationary intake network
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying system and a method for conveying a fluid. In a conveying state of the conveying system, a suction arrangement (200) conveys the fluid from a source to a sink. In a rest state, the conveying of fluid is prevented or interrupted. A plug (15) can be inserted into a socket (16), and when the plug is inserted, a fluid connection is established between the source and the sink. In a conveying switching position, a switching element (38.1, 38.2) sets the conveying system to the conveying state, and in a rest switching position, it sets it to the rest state. A reset element (39.1, 39.2) designed as a passive component holds the switching element in the conveying switching position in a rest state. An activated actuator (42.1, 42.2) can switch the switching element to the rest switching position against a restoring force of the reset element.A signal-processing control unit can detect an event that indicates no fluid is escaping from the source. If this event is detected positively, the control unit switches on the actuator.