Rotating Sampling Device With Elastic Valve Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for sampling liquids from containers face issues with maintaining tightness and preventing contamination, as the valve or elastic valve can become compromised under stress or allow pollutants to enter the container.

Innovation Solution

A device with a housing and a rotating component featuring an elastic valve and air filters, providing double sealing and minimizing stress on the elastic valve, while maintaining sterility and preventing pollutant introduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a valve is used to close or open the passage between the container interior and exterior, then the tightness and prevention of pollution is improved, but the upper part of the passage remains in contact with external medium and becomes loaded with pollutants

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetightnessVSAvoidpollutant contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the elastic valve from the direct liquid path, placing it in a recess that is isolated from external contact when closed. This removes the污染源 exposure problem while maintaining the sealing function, as the valve only contacts liquid when actively open for sampling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary structure (the recess and positioning component) between the elastic valve and the external environment. This intermediary protects the valve from direct contact with pollutants while allowing it to function as a seal when closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If an elastic valve is used instead of a mechanical valve, then the absence of a passage zone in contact with outside is achieved, but the elastic valve is subjected to high and frequent stress reducing its service life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant preventionVSAvoidservice life

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention provides beforehand cushioning by creating a recess that absorbs and distributes the stress applied to the elastic valve. The positioning component and recess structure act as a cushioning system that reduces the mechanical stress concentration on the valve during closing operations, thereby extending its service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the elastic valve as a flexible sealing element within a protected recess. The flexible nature of the elastomer valve allows it to deform and seal effectively while the surrounding rigid structure protects it from excessive stress, combining the benefits of flexible sealing with structural protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If an elastic valve is used to maintain tightness, then no passage zone is in contact with outside, but maintaining tightness in all cases is complicated and leaks can occur when container is spilled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal pollution preventionVSAvoidtightness maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the sealing system into multiple components: the elastic valve, the recess, the positioning component, and the cap. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function - the valve provides the seal, the recess protects it from stress, the positioning component ensures proper alignment, and the cap provides additional protection when closed, collectively maintaining reliability under various conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 device ensures secure sampling and storage of liquids by maintaining tightness and preventing contamination, with the elastic valve and air filters ensuring effective sealing and reducing stress on the valve, thus enhancing the reliability and safety of the sampling process.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic valve housed in the receptacle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

one distal end of which is capable of establishing a fluid communication with the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11364175B2Device for collecting a sample of a liquid contained in a container, associated container, and use of this container

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 VIRBAC SA

AI summary

The invention relates in particular to a device (100) for collecting a sample of a liquid in a container, characterized in that it has: a housing (10) with a longitudinal axis (AL); a component (20, 20′, 20″) comprising: a body (26) provided with at least one channel (21) having a proximal end (21p) and a distal end (21d); a receptacle (24) fixed with respect to the body (26) and situated in the continuation of the proximal end (21p) of said at least one channel (21), said component (20) being mounted rotatably with respect to the housing (10) about the longitudinal axis of this housing (10) between a closure position, in which the distal end (21d) of said at least one channel (21) is closed by the housing (10), and an open position, in which the distal end (21d) of said at least one channel (21) is able to establish a fluidic communication with the container; and an elastic valve (30) housed in the receptacle (24).