Sleeved Conduit Closure Using Compressed-Region Severing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming fluid-tight separating closures of conduits with sleeves lack sufficient process safety, particularly in aseptic and sterile environments, as they may introduce contaminants during severing and fail to prevent fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a conduit with a sleeve positioned between a die and a stamp, where the sleeve is compressed and severed using a severing tool with a contact line shorter than the severing edge, ensuring a fluid-tight closure is formed before severing, thereby preventing contamination and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sleeve is compressed and severed simultaneously using conventional tools, then the severing operation can be completed in one step, but contaminants may be introduced into the conduit and fluid may escape during the severing process
Solution Approach 1:
The severing operation is divided into multiple sequential steps: first compressing the sleeve to form a fluid-tight closure, then severing the compressed closure. This segmentation ensures that the conduit is sealed before cutting, preventing contamination and fluid escape during the severing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression step is performed as a preliminary action before severing. By compressing the sleeve first to create a fluid-tight closure, the system ensures that the conduit is sealed and protected before the severing tool makes contact, thereby preventing contamination and leakage during the subsequent severing operation.
2Force
If high hydraulic pressure is used to sever the sleeve, then the severing force is sufficient to cut through the material, but the device size increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is compressed before severing, which pre-concentrates the material and makes it more susceptible to cutting. This preliminary compression reduces the severing force required, thereby lowering hydraulic energy consumption and allowing for a more compact device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical properties of the sleeve are changed through compression, transforming it from a rigid state to a compressed state that requires less force to sever. This parameter change in the material state enables efficient cutting with reduced hydraulic pressure.
3Force
If the contact line between the severing tool and sleeve is long, then the severing tool can distribute the cutting force, but the fluid-tight closure may be compromised and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is compressed to form a fluid-tight closure before the severing tool makes contact. This preliminary action ensures that the closure is already sealed, so even if the severing tool has a long contact line, contaminants cannot enter the conduit during the severing process.
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 enhances process safety by ensuring a fluid-tight closure is achieved before severing, reducing the risk of contamination and fluid escape, while allowing for efficient and reproducible severing with lower hydraulic pressure, resulting in a more compact and energy-efficient device.
Implementation Method 1
compressing of the sleeve by a relative movement between the die and the stamp in order to form a closure
Implementation Method 2
severing of the closure in a compressed region by a severing tool
Data Source
AI summary
Method for the forming of a fluid-tight separating closure of a conduit (1) involving the following steps:providing of a conduit (1) with a sleeve (2),positioning of the conduit (1) with the sleeve (2) between a die (3) and a stamp (4),compressing of the sleeve (2) by a relative movement between the die (3) and the stamp (4) in order to form a closure (5);severing of the closure (5) in a compressed region (6) by a severing tool (7) such that a contact line (8) between the severing tool (7) and the sleeve (2) during severing is shorter than an obtained severing edge (9) of the sleeve (2).