Self-Priming Pump Exchange Using Neutral Liquid Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic analyzers with self-feeding pumps do not adequately address the safety concerns during pump exchange, as they can expose operators to harmful liquids that may affect human health and equipment.
Innovation Solution
The automatic analyzer is designed with separate arrangement sections for harmful and non-harmful liquids, using a self-feeding pump to fill with non-harmful liquid before exchange, ensuring the pump is safe to handle by aspirating and replacing the harmful liquid with a neutral liquid, thus reducing operator exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a self-feeding pump is used to feed liquids in an automatic analyzer, then ease of operation is improved (no priming required), but operator safety deteriorates (exposure to harmful liquids during exchange)
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs preliminary actions by detecting when the pump needs exchange and automatically filling it with neutral liquid before the operator handles it. The controller monitors pump usage and autonomously executes the flushing operation, ensuring the pump is safe before operator contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by automatically detecting pump exchange needs and performing the flushing operation without operator intervention. The controller autonomously manages the entire process from detection to execution, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating manual safety risks.
2Productivity
If harmful liquid remains in the self-feeding pump, then productivity is maintained (continuous operation), but safety deteriorates (risk of exposure during maintenance)
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful liquid is extracted from the pump by replacing it with neutral liquid. The system automatically removes the dangerous substance by pumping neutral liquid through the system, separating the harmful liquid from the maintenance process.
Solution Approach 2:
Neutral liquid acts as an intermediary substance that replaces the harmful liquid in the pump. This mediator allows safe handling by substituting the dangerous substance with a harmless one, enabling maintenance without exposure risks.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic exchange safety measures are implemented, then operator safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing pump system performs multiple functions: it feeds samples during analysis and automatically flushes with neutral liquid when exchange is needed. The same pump and controller serve dual purposes, eliminating the need for separate safety devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses feedback from pump usage monitoring to automatically determine when exchange is needed and initiates the flushing process. The system continuously monitors and responds to pump status, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism without additional hardware.
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
This approach ensures safe exchange of self-feeding pumps by minimizing the risk of harmful liquid contact during maintenance, while maintaining the ease of use associated with self-feeding pumps by eliminating the need for priming procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a self-feeding pump for feeding the first liquid and the second liquid to a third container arranged in a third arrangement section
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide an automatic analyzer capable of safely exchanging a self-feeding pump feeding a liquid that ill affects a human body and/or equipment and an exchanging method of the self-feeding pump. An automatic analyzer for analyzing a sample, includes a first arrangement section in which a first container for containing a first liquid that ill affects a human body and/or equipment is arranged; a second arrangement section in which a second container for containing a second liquid that does not ill affect the human body and/or the equipment is arranged; and a self-feeding pump that feeds the first liquid and the second liquid to a third container arranged in a third arrangement section, in which the self-feeding pump is exchanged after the second liquid is fully supplied to fill the inside thereof.