Spring-Biased Sprayer Sheath for Capillary Protection and Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The solvent capillary in desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) sprayers is fragile and vulnerable to damage during normal use, maintenance, and transportation, and the protective nozzle can complicate alignment and maintenance processes.
Innovation Solution
A sprayer assembly with a sheath that moves relative to the capillary, providing protection by covering the outlet when the nozzle is removed and aligning with the nozzle for use, using an elastic member like a compression spring to ensure reproducible spray quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective nozzle is added to cover the capillary outlet, then the capillary is protected from damage, but the device complexity increases and alignment becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The protective nozzle is merged with the sheath that surrounds the capillary, creating an integrated assembly where the sheath serves both as a protective cover and as a structural component. This reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining capillary protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The capillary is nested within the sheath, and the nozzle is nested within the sheath as well, creating a concentric arrangement. This nested structure provides protection while maintaining a compact design and reducing the number of external components that need to be assembled and aligned.
2Reliability
If a protective nozzle is added to cover the capillary outlet, then the capillary is protected from damage, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath is designed with features that create equipotential alignment conditions, such as tapered surfaces and engagement ribs that naturally guide the nozzle into the correct position. This eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures and makes the device easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle and sheath are designed with self-aligning features that automatically ensure proper positioning during assembly. The tapered surfaces and engagement mechanisms cause the components to self-align without requiring external adjustment or complex alignment procedures by the operator.
3Productivity
If the capillary outlet is exposed for normal use, then spray quality is maintained, but the capillary becomes vulnerable to damage during maintenance and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath is designed to be movable relative to the capillary, allowing it to be positioned in different states: retracted to expose the outlet for normal spray operation, and extended to cover and protect the outlet during maintenance and transportation. This dynamic design allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath acts as a temporary protective cover that is discarded (retracted) during normal operation to allow spray function, and recovered (extended) during maintenance and transportation to provide protection. This reversible action allows the system to switch between protective and operational states as needed.
4Reliability
If an elastic member is added to bias the sheath, then automatic protection is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member (spring) provides self-service automatic protection by biasing the sheath to the protective position. When the nozzle is removed or during transportation, the spring automatically extends the sheath to cover the capillary outlet without requiring external control or additional complex mechanisms. The spring is a simple, reliable component that adds minimal complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member replaces more complex mechanical control systems that would otherwise be needed to achieve automatic protection. Instead of using motors, sensors, or complex linkages, a simple spring provides the necessary automatic actuation, significantly reducing device complexity while achieving reliable automatic protection.
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 protects the capillary from damage, reduces the risk of injury, and ensures consistent spray alignment and reproducibility by automatically covering the outlet when the nozzle is removed and aligning it with the nozzle for use.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member, such as a compression spring, which acts to bias the sheath towards the first position in which the outlet is covered (protected) by the sheath
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member, such as a compression spring, which acts to bias the sheath towards the first position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A sprayer assembly for an ion source is disclosed. The sprayer includes a capillary having an outlet, a sheath for the capillary, and an elastic member. The sheath can move relative to the capillary between a first position in which the sheath covers the outlet of the capillary and a second position in which the outlet of the capillary is exposed. When the sheath moves from the first position to or towards the second position, the elastic member provides a restoring force that acts to restore the position of the sheath to or towards the first position.