Springless Fluid Couplings for Spill-Free Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid couplings often result in spillage of fluid when disconnected, leading to material loss, contamination, and air inclusion, and typically require springs that can cause fluid contamination and restrict flow.
Innovation Solution
The fluid couplings feature internal valve components that latch together without springs, using complementary structures like T-shaped projections and recesses to prevent spillage, and include seals to maintain fluid integrity, with a spring-less design that avoids contamination and flow restrictions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If springs are used to operate valve components in fluid couplings, then the valve components can be actuated to open and close flow paths, but fluid contamination and flow restrictions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes springs from the fluid flow path entirely, extracting the harmful element that caused contamination. The valve components are actuated through direct mechanical coupling between male and female coupling elements, eliminating the need for springs within the fluid pathway and thus preventing fluid contamination while maintaining valve operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mediator mechanism where the male and female coupling elements directly interact to actuate the valve components. This intermediary mechanical coupling allows valve operation without requiring springs in the fluid path, solving the contamination issue while preserving the ability to open and close flow paths
2Ease of operation
If springs are used to operate valve components, then valve actuation is achieved, but flow restrictions occur
Solution Approach 1:
By removing springs from the fluid flow path, the patent eliminates the physical obstruction they created. The valve components are actuated through direct mechanical coupling between coupling elements, which does not impede fluid flow, thereby resolving the flow restriction issue while maintaining valve actuation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the actuation mechanism from the fluid flow path. The mechanical coupling elements handle valve actuation separately from the fluid pathway, allowing fluid to flow freely without encountering spring components, thus eliminating flow restrictions while preserving valve operation
3Adaptability or versatility
If fluid couplings are disconnected after use, then the couplings can be reused, but fluid spillage and air inclusion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by closing the valve components before the coupling is fully disconnected. The mechanical coupling mechanism ensures that valve closure occurs as part of the disconnection sequence, preventing fluid spillage and air inclusion while maintaining the ability to reuse the couplings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively closing the valve components during the disconnection process. This prevents the harmful effect of fluid spillage before it can occur, allowing the couplings to be disconnected and reused without losing fluid or introducing air
4Reliability
If valve components are designed to latch together in abutted arrangement, then fluid spillage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the valve component actuation and latching functions into a single integrated mechanism. The complementary structures on the male and female coupling elements perform both valve closure and latching in one action, preventing fluid spillage without significantly increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Fluid couplings can be designed to prevent spillage of fluid when disconnecting the couplings after use. In some embodiments, the fluid couplings include internal valve components but no springs, or no springs in the fluid flow path. In some embodiments, the internal valve components of a male coupling and a female coupling can be designed to latch together in an abutted arrangement.