Thermal Expansion Fluidic Connection for Chromatography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing fluidic connection components for chromatography often require multiple clamping parts, interference fits, and thermal shaping, which complicate the process, make it difficult to achieve a secure and fluid-tight connection, and can lead to deformation and instability of the components.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing thermal expansion or contraction of materials to create a secure and fluid-tight connection between a main body and an insert without initial melting, using materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion to generate radial clamping forces, ensuring a stable connection within the working temperature range without the need for adhesives or additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple clamping parts and interference fits are used to secure the insert, then the connection strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple clamping parts into a single integrated clamping element that performs the same securing function. This single element is inserted into the main body and simultaneously provides clamping force to secure the insert, thereby reducing the number of components while maintaining connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary intermediate components from the assembly process. By using a single clamping element instead of multiple parts, the design removes redundant elements that contributed to device complexity while preserving the essential clamping function.
2Ease of manufacture
If thermal shaping is used to create the connection, then the manufacturing ease is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to material deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes controlled thermal expansion by heating the main body to a specific temperature range where the material expands sufficiently to allow easy insert insertion, but remains below the melting point to avoid deformation. After cooling, the material contracts to create a secure interference fit, achieving both ease of manufacture and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a controlled phase transition approach by heating the thermoplastic material to its melting point and then rapidly cooling it. This controlled melting and solidification process allows the material to flow around the insert during melting, ensuring precise fit, and then solidifies to create a strong, deformation-free connection.
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 method allows for easy and efficient production of secure and fluid-tight connections between inserts and main bodies, avoiding material deformation and the use of additional materials, while maintaining stability and fluidic tightness over the working temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
the cross-sectional dimensions of the aperture in the heated state are larger than the cross-sectional dimensions of the insert concerned so that the insert can be inserted into the aperture
Implementation Method 2
after completion of the thermal process, sufficiently great radial clamping forces are obtained to connect the insert securely and/or fluidically tightly
Implementation Method 3
Heating beyond a melting temperature for the crystalline phase can likewise be used in order to bring about conversion of the crystalline phase into an amorphous phase with increased volume
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a fluidic connection component for chromatography is described. A connection component includes a main body and at least one insert held in the main body. The main body is prefabricated with an aperture for the at least one insert. The at least one insert is connected to the main body securely and fluidically tightly by a thermal process and by making use of a thermal expansion of the main body and/or of the insert that occurs during the thermal process. The method may include a thermally induced change in volume of the main body and/or of the insert that is retained after completion of the thermal process. The material and the geometry of the main body and of the insert and the thermal process are chosen such that, after completion of the thermal treatment, there is a secure and fluidically tight connection.