Quick-Lock Safety Closure for Pump Barrels Under Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable pumping systems require two hands to thread and unthread the closure, are labor-intensive, and can be hazardous due to pressure buildup, especially when hands are greasy or under high pressure.
Innovation Solution
A safety closure with a rapid engagement and locking system, featuring a two-piece construction with an adaptor and cap, allowing single-step ergonomic connection and disconnection, and a locking arm for secure engagement, reducing the risk of injury and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded closure is used on the product barrel, then the closure can be selectively removed to provide access to the interior, but threading and unthreading requires two hands and is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into a cap member and a closure member that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The cap member threads onto the product barrel, and the closure member attaches to the cap member with a quick-connect mechanism featuring radial ridges and gaps, eliminating the need for time-consuming threading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap member serves as an intermediary component between the product barrel and the closure member. It provides a quick-connect interface with radial ridges and gaps that enable rapid attachment and detachment of the closure member without requiring manual threading operations.
2Reliability
If a threaded closure is used, then it can secure the product barrel, but the threaded connection can back out or unthread in response to pressure buildup within the system
Solution Approach 1:
The quick-connect mechanism features radial ridges and gaps that allow dynamic adjustment under pressure. When pressure builds within the system, the closure member can flex slightly within the gaps, maintaining secure engagement without the risk of unthreading that plagues rigid threaded connections.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional closure is used, then it can be removed to access the product barrel, but there can be a violent decompression of the pumping system when the closure is unthreaded
Solution Approach 1:
The quick-connect mechanism allows the closure member to be detached from the cap member in a controlled manner before complete removal from the product barrel. This preliminary separation action allows pressure to equalize gradually, preventing violent decompression and associated safety hazards.
4Reliability
If the closure is tightly threaded on the product barrel, then it can prevent leakage, but the pump or piston cannot compress the product effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The quick-connect mechanism with radial ridges and gaps provides a dynamic sealing interface that maintains reliability under compression. The gaps allow for slight flexion and pressure equalization, enabling effective compression of the product while preventing leakage through the radial ridge sealing surfaces.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A safety enclosure includes an adaptor arranged to attach to a cartridge or product barrel of a pumping system. The adaptor defines an axial bore and an outer radial surface. The outer radial surface defines a first plurality of radial ridges and a plurality of gaps extending in an axial direction between groupings of the first radial ridges. A cap includes a radial inner surface defining a receiving space and a second plurality of radial ridges. The receiving space is arranged to receive an upper portion of the adaptor and the second radial ridges are arranged to selectively mate with and engage the first radial ridges of the adaptor. A locking system includes a locking arm movably attached to the cap and including a lock piece arranged to selectively protrude into the receiving space to lock the first radial ridges in engagement with the second radial ridges.