Tubing Retainer Geometry for Compression-Free Sensor Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tubing retainers for sensors in fluid systems often fail to efficiently and consistently retain cylindrical tubing without compressing it, leading to issues with measurement consistency and exposure of threads in clean room environments.

Innovation Solution

A hollow polymeric tubing retainer with cut-out slots and threaded ends, allowing cylindrical tubing to be securely held without compression and enabling easy engagement with sensors, while maintaining thread safety in clean room settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tubing is retained using conventional threaded components, then the tubing can be held in place, but the tubing is compressed leading to inconsistent measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement consistencyVSAvoidtubing compression

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is divided into distinct functional zones: narrower portions for initial tubing insertion and wider portions for final retention. This segmentation allows the tubing to be guided into position without compression, while the wider portions provide secure holding space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the retainer have different dimensional characteristics - the narrower portions at the open end facilitate easy tubing insertion, while the wider portions below provide compression-free retention space. This local variation in geometry solves the contradiction between secure retention and avoiding tubing compression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If threads are exposed in clean room environments, then sensor engagement is possible, but thread jamming occurs making installation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidthread jamming

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer acts as an intermediary component that provides a threaded engagement interface away from the clean room environment. By positioning the threaded portion at the closed end of the retainer, the threading operation occurs in a controlled area rather than in the clean room, eliminating thread jamming issues while still enabling sensor engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If tubing retention relies on compression, then the tubing is held securely, but measurement validity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement validityVSAvoidtubing retention security

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer geometry is segmented into narrower portions for insertion and wider portions for retention. This segmentation enables secure tubing holding through geometric constraint rather than compression, preserving measurement validity while maintaining retention security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using compression to achieve retention (the conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by using expansion - the wider portions of the slots provide retention through increased internal diameter space, allowing tubing to be held securely without compression that would compromise measurement validity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11754201B2Tubing retainer

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 CYTIVA US LLC

AI summary

Tubing retainers use with sensors, sensing systems including the tubing retainers, and methods of using the tubing retainers and sensing systems are disclosed.