Quick Connect Fluid Connector With RFID Verification at High Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Quick connect fluid connectors often fail to ensure secure connection and sealing at high pressures, leading to potential leakage and unintended disconnection, especially when dealing with variations in tube diameters and under pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a piston that surrounds and actuates the collets, along with a sealing assembly encapsulated by the piston and tube, limiting radial inward extrusion of the seal, and includes an RFID tag for verification of proper connection, ensuring the connector is securely attached before fluid flow, preventing leakage and unintended disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional quick connect fluid connector designs are used, then the connector can be easily assembled, but the connector fails to maintain secure sealing and gripping at high pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements including a movable piston that responds to pressure differential to actuate collets, and a spring-loaded mechanism that maintains constant gripping force. The collets are designed to dynamically adjust their radial position to maintain secure gripping of the tube at high pressures while preserving sealing reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connector is designed to tolerate variations in tube diameter, then the adaptability is improved, but the sealing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes through elastomeric sealing elements that deform under pressure to conform to varying tube diameters. The collets are designed with adjustable radial positions that can accommodate different tube sizes while maintaining consistent sealing force. The spring-loaded mechanism adjusts its compression force based on the actual tube diameter, ensuring reliable sealing across a range of tolerances.
3Reliability
If a verification means is added to verify proper connection, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an RFID tag embedded in the connector body that provides automatic feedback verification of proper connection. When the connector is correctly assembled onto the tube, the RFID tag's position changes, enabling verification of the connection state. This feedback mechanism confirms reliable connection without requiring complex mechanical verification systems, thus improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
This design maintains consistent sealing force and prevents fluid leakage, even at high pressures, while ensuring the connector is properly attached before fluid flow, enhancing safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The verification means is an RFID tag mounted on the fluid connector at a location whereby the presence of the RFID tag cannot be sensed or detected when the fluid connector is not properly attached to the tube
Data Source
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AI summary
A quick connect fluid connector that is provided with sealing and gripping feature that are able to tolerate variations in a tube of a second fluid system to which the fluid connector connects. The fluid connector tolerates the variations while maintaining the sealing and gripping at high fluid pressures through the fluid connector. In one embodiment, the fluid connector may also be provided with an RFID tag to verify that the fluid connector is properly connected to the tube.