Rotating Sleeve Coupling for Fluid-Tight Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for liquid manifolds in cooling systems face challenges such as inefficiency and difficulty in securely connecting fluid-carrying components, which can lead to leaks and maintenance issues in liquid-cooled electronic assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A coupling assembly is provided, featuring a socket fitting with two openings for fluid communication, a rotatable sleeve with a locking feature, and a second locking feature on one of the fluid-carrying components, allowing for secure engagement and fluid-tight sealing by rotating the sleeve to lock the components together.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connectors are used for liquid manifolds, then assembly is simple, but connection reliability is poor leading to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional segments: a body portion with fluid passage, a seal member (O-ring) for fluid-tight sealing, and a locking mechanism with sleeve and locking features. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, ensuring reliable connections while maintaining reasonable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is pre-installed on the connector body, and the locking features are pre-configured on the mating components. When components are assembled, the seal is already in place to prevent leaks, and the locking features are positioned to engage automatically, ensuring connection reliability before final assembly completion.
2Ease of operation
If conventional connectors are used, then manufacturing is simple, but ease of operation is poor making secure connection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism incorporates a rotatable sleeve that transitions the connector from an unlocked to a locked state through rotational motion. This dynamic element allows operators to easily secure connections by simply rotating the sleeve, which actuates the locking features to engage with the mating component, significantly improving ease of operation.
3Reliability
If conventional connectors are used, then assembly is straightforward, but reliability is poor leading to maintenance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design with separable locking mechanism, seal member, and body portion allows individual components to be inspected, replaced, or repaired independently. If a leak occurs, the seal member can be accessed and replaced without replacing the entire connector, facilitating easy maintenance while ensuring reliable connections.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If simple connectors are used, then device complexity is low, but fluid-tight sealing is insufficient leading to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is pre-installed on the connector body in a position that ensures fluid-tight sealing upon engagement with the mating component. This preliminary placement of the sealing element guarantees leak prevention without requiring complex sealing mechanisms or additional sealing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member acts as an intermediary element between the connector body and the mating component, creating a fluid-tight barrier that prevents leakage. This intermediate sealing component effectively isolates the fluid passage from potential leak paths, ensuring reliable fluid containment.
Data Source
AI summary
Coupling assemblies for connecting fluid-carrying components are provided. The coupling assemblies include, for instance: a socket fitting with a first opening and a second opening in fluid communication through the fitting, the first opening being sized to accommodate a first fluid-carrying component, and the second opening being sized to accommodate a second fluid-carrying component; a sleeve, the sleeve encircling the socket fitting and being rotatable relative to the fitting, and the sleeve including a first locking feature; and a second locking feature associated with one of the fluid-carrying components. The second locking feature is positioned and sized to engage the first locking feature of the sleeve when the one fluid-carrying component is inserted into the socket fitting. Once engaged, rotating of the sleeve locks the first and second locking features together to secure the one fluid-carrying component to the socket fitting.