Reagent Vessel Connection Wall Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reagent vessels made of plastics used in analytical instruments are prone to bulging due to atmospheric pressure variations, leading to inconsistent liquid levels, which can cause errors in analytical processes and are difficult to monitor accurately using existing liquid level detection methods.
Innovation Solution
A reagent vessel design with a monolithic, injection-molded construction featuring a connection wall that reinforces the side walls, preventing bulging and ensuring a constant liquid level, combined with a manufacturing method using a mold with movable cores to form the connection wall and side walls as a single unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reagent vessels are made of plastics to enable hermetic sealing, then sealing performance is improved, but mechanical rigidity deteriorates causing bulging under atmospheric pressure variations
Solution Approach 1:
The reagent vessel is divided into an upper part and a lower part that are coupled together. The upper part provides hermetic sealing while the lower part with its reinforcement structure provides mechanical rigidity. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The reagent vessel combines different material properties by integrating an upper part (for sealing) with a lower part containing reinforcement elements (for rigidity). The reinforcement elements create a composite structure that exhibits both sealing capability and mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
2Ease of operation
If reagent vessels are made of plastics for ease of handling, then ease of operation is improved, but dimensional stability worsens leading to bulging and liquid level variation
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel is segmented into functional parts: the upper part for handling and sealing, and the lower part with reinforcement for dimensional stability. This allows the vessel to maintain ease of handling while achieving dimensional stability through the reinforced lower section.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement structure is applied locally to the lower part of the vessel where dimensional stability is most critical, rather than making the entire vessel rigid. This maintains the overall ease of handling while providing localized support against bulging.
3Measurement precision
If existing liquid level detection methods are used, then measurement capability is provided, but detection speed and reliability are insufficient for high-velocity analytical operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces slow mechanical or electrical liquid level detection methods with an optical detection system. The optical sensor can rapidly detect liquid level changes without the mechanical constraints of traditional methods, enabling detection at high velocities suitable for modern analytical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A reagent vessel, an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a lower part of a reagent vessel for an analytical instrument are disclosed. The reagent vessel is configured to store a liquid reagent. The reagent vessel comprises a cover and a lower part. The lower part comprises a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, two opposing side walls and at least one connection wall. The cover, bottom wall, front wall, rear wall and two opposing side walls define at least one internal volume for storing at least one liquid reagent. The two opposing side walls are at least partially connected to one another by the at least one connection wall located within the at least one internal volume. The connection wall is spaced apart from the bottom wall. The connection wall and at least the two opposing side walls can be injection-molded and are monolithically formed.