Valve Interconnector Sealing During Decoupling to Prevent Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling devices for hollow bodies suffer from leakage issues due to dried liquid residue adhering to the outer surface, which prevents the seal sleeve from returning to its closed position upon decoupling, leading to fluid leakage and contamination.
Innovation Solution
The coupling device design ensures that decoupling forces the seal sleeve to cover the passageways by applying sufficient force from the second interconnector, either allowing closure if the residue is displaced or preventing decoupling if it cannot be moved, thus preventing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the interconnectors remain coupled for long periods, then the liquid can be supplied as small aliquots over extended time, but the dried liquid residue on the hollow post prevents the seal sleeve from returning to cover the passageways, causing leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional spring-bias mechanism by making the seal sleeve bias-dependent rather than spring-dependent. The seal sleeve remains in the open position during coupling and is forced closed during decoupling by the relative movement of the hollow post, reversing the conventional approach where a spring automatically maintains the closed position.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal sleeve is designed to be movable along the hollow post, transitioning between open and closed positions based on the coupling state. The dynamic movement is controlled by the relative displacement between the hollow post and the interconnector body during coupling and decoupling operations.
2Reliability
If the seal sleeve is spring-biased to cover passageways when decoupled, then leakage is prevented, but dried residue on the hollow post adheres to the spring-biased sleeve and blocks its movement, preventing closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the biasing mechanism: instead of a spring automatically pushing the seal sleeve to the closed position, the seal sleeve is biased toward the open position and is forced closed during decoupling by the hollow post's relative movement. This inversion eliminates the spring-residue adhesion problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the spring component from the seal sleeve mechanism, extracting the source of the adhesion problem. The seal sleeve's positioning is achieved through the mechanical interaction between the hollow post and the interconnector body rather than through spring force.
3Productivity
If the hollow post is extended during coupling, then liquid flow is enabled, but the uncovered outer surface allows liquid to dry and form adhering residue that prevents proper sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the sealing timing: instead of the seal sleeve being closed during coupling and opened during decoupling, the seal sleeve is open during coupling and is forced closed during decoupling by the hollow post's relative movement. This ensures the passageways are sealed when the hollow post is retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupling action itself performs the sealing function by forcing the seal sleeve into the closed position as the hollow post is retracted. This preliminary sealing action occurs automatically as part of the decoupling process, preventing residue formation from interfering with the sealing.
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 design effectively prevents fluid leakage by ensuring the seal sleeve covers the passageways during decoupling, regardless of dried residue adherence, maintaining system integrity and preventing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
An elastic ring is present between the sheath and the sleeve which ring is compressed in the axial direction and expanded in the radial direction towards the post so as to establish a close fit around the post
Implementation Method 2
a seal sleeve spring-biased into a position that it covers (and closes) fluid flow openings in a hollow post
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A hollow body with an interconnector system including a valve interconnector (14; 90) configured to cooperate with a receiver interconnector. The valve interconnector (14; 90) has: a neck (64; 92) having an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface defining a longitudinal passageway (65; 94) through the neck (64; 92), the neck having an internal end for coupling and an external end for securing the first hollow body to the valve interconnector (14; 90); a valve assembly inside the longitudinal passageway through the neck, the valve assembly comprising a valve head (78; 118), a valve stem (86; 104), and a valve retainer (82; 106), the valve head (78; 118) being biased away from the valve retainer (82; 106) and toward a valve seat inward of the valve head (78; 118), the valve head being moveable from a closed position to an open position; and a retention flange (68; 96) extending radially outward from the neck.