Sealed Transfer Housing for Hazardous Decanting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing decanting devices with flaps are prone to damage from hazardous substances, as the flaps and their seals come into contact with the substances during transfer, leading to potential contamination and operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A decanting device design that forms a sealed transfer housing with movable parts, eliminating the need for flaps by using a sealed connection between two housing parts, allowing for a flap-free transition and reducing the risk of contamination through appropriate sealing and an actuating device for opening and closing containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If flaps are used to connect the two connection areas, then the connection can be sealed, but the flaps and their seals come into contact with hazardous substances causing damage and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal integrityVSAvoidhazardous substance contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the flap component entirely from the system. Instead of using flaps to create the seal between connection areas, the invention uses a different mechanism (a seal element that moves with the container) to achieve the same sealing function without the harmful contact between flaps and hazardous substances

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a seal element as an intermediary between the moving container and the stationary connection area. This seal element remains within the sealed interior and prevents direct contact between hazardous substances and external seals, acting as a protective barrier

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If flaps are used for connection, then the connection areas can be coupled, but the opening cross-section is reduced by the flap

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection capabilityVSAvoidopening cross-section
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the flap component from the system and replaces it with a seal element that does not reduce the opening cross-section. The seal element is designed to move with the container and maintain sealing without obstructing the flow path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If flaps are used to seal the connection, then the connection can be made, but the seals are exposed to hazardous substances leading to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection sealVSAvoidseal durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an internal seal element as an intermediary that remains within the sealed interior during the transfer process. This seal element protects the external sealing surfaces from direct contact with hazardous substances, preventing damage and maintaining durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a sealed interior environment that isolates the seal elements from hazardous substances. The transfer housing and connection areas are designed to maintain a sealed atmosphere during the transfer process, protecting seals from contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Data Source

PatentEP3592679B1Transfer device
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 SCHNEIDER THOMAS
  • EP3592679B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3592679B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3592679B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a transfer device comprising a first connection region (1) for a first container and a second connection region (2) for a second container, said regions being connected together during a transfer phase of a medium from one container to the other container and being arranged opposite each other. The first connection region (1) is arranged on a first housing part (3.1), and the second connection region (2) is arranged on a second housing part (3.2). The two housing parts (3.1, 3.2) are designed to be movable relative to each other. According to the invention, the first housing part (3.1) and the second housing part (3.2) together form a transfer housing (3) which is sealed from the outside prior to and after the transfer phase.