Spill-Resistant Fluid Couplings With Self-Actuating Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid handling couplings face challenges in preventing spillage and air inclusion during connection and disconnection, leading to material loss, contamination, and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates internal valve components with laterally offset springs that bias the valve members to a normally closed position, and oblong cross-sectional shapes to minimize flow resistance, along with a latch mechanism for easy decoupling, ensuring fluid is maintained and spillage is minimized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fluid coupling designs are used, then connection and disconnection can be performed, but fluid spillage and air inclusion occur during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is pre-positioned in a closed state before coupling occurs. When the male and female couplings are brought together, the valve member remains closed during the initial connection phase, preventing fluid spillage and air inclusion. The valve only opens after proper coupling is established, ensuring fluid containment during the operation.
2Reliability
If valve components are added to prevent spillage, then fluid containment improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member is actuated automatically by the coupling process itself. When the male coupling is inserted into the female coupling, the relative movement between the valve member and valve seat causes the valve to open or close without requiring external actuation mechanisms. This self-actuating design prevents spillage while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve components are integrated directly into the coupling bodies. The valve member, valve seat, and spring elements are incorporated as part of the coupling structure itself rather than as separate attached components. This integration reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective fluid containment.
3Reliability
If multiple springs are used to bias the valve member, then valve control improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring system is divided into multiple independent spring elements that can be manufactured separately and then assembled into the coupling. Each spring can be produced using standard manufacturing processes, and their modular nature allows for easier quality control and replacement. The segmented spring design provides reliable valve biasing while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional circular cross-section couplings are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but flow resistance is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling adopts a non-circular cross-sectional shape (such as rectangular or oval) instead of the conventional circular shape. This asymmetric geometry is optimized to reduce flow resistance and improve fluid dynamics within the coupling. The non-circular shape allows for better flow distribution and reduced turbulence, decreasing energy loss while remaining manufacturable using standard forming processes.
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 solution effectively prevents fluid spillage and air inclusion, reduces material loss and contamination, and provides low-profile couplings with favorable flow characteristics, enhancing operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
first and second male valve springs that each bias the male valve member to close the flow path through the male coupling
Implementation Method 2
two springs that are arranged to exert their spring forces in parallel with each other to bias a valve component to a normally closed position
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid couplings described herein are designed to prevent spillage of fluid when connecting and disconnecting the couplings. In some embodiments, the fluid couplings described herein include internal valve components. In some example embodiments, the internal valve components include two springs that are arranged to exert their spring forces in parallel with each other to bias a valve component to a normally closed position. Some embodiments include a single spring. In particular embodiments, components of the fluid couplings and fluid flow paths of the fluid couplings have oblong transverse cross-sectional shapes.