Valved Connector Sleeve for Turbulent Fluid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current valved connectors in fluid systems suffer from structural impedances that cause inefficient fluid flow and turbulence, leading to increased energy consumption and maintenance challenges due to residual fluid spillage during disconnection.
Innovation Solution
The design of valved connectors featuring a central member with a smooth conical surface and a sleeve that slides to form a conical flow channel, minimizing impedance and turbulence by removing structural impedances, allowing for efficient fluid flow and easy disconnection without spillage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional valved connectors are used, then fluid flow can be controlled and spillage prevented, but structural impedances cause inefficient fluid flow and turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional structural impedances such as springs, valves, and complex sealing mechanisms from the flow channel. By extracting these components that caused turbulence and flow resistance, the design achieves smooth fluid flow while maintaining spillage prevention through a simpler conical sleeve structure that seals at the interface without obstructing the flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs conical surfaces with smooth curved transitions instead of sharp edges or flat surfaces. The conical flow channel and sealing surfaces use gradual curvature changes to guide fluid flow smoothly, minimizing turbulence and resistance while maintaining effective sealing contact between the sleeve and connector interface.
2Ease of operation
If traditional valved connectors with springs and valves are used, then fluid flow control is achieved, but flow impedance and turbulence increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates traditional flow control components such as springs, valves, and complex sealing mechanisms from the flow channel. By removing these structural impedances, the design achieves smooth fluid flow with minimal resistance while maintaining flow control through the simplified conical sleeve structure that seals at the interface without obstructing the flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses conical surfaces with smooth curved transitions instead of sharp edges or flat surfaces. The conical flow channel and sealing surfaces employ gradual curvature changes to guide fluid flow smoothly, minimizing turbulence and resistance while maintaining effective sealing contact between the sleeve and connector interface.
3Ease of operation
If conventional connector designs are used, then connection functionality is achieved, but residual fluid spillage occurs during disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the conical sleeve and sealing surface geometry to automatically initiate sealing action as soon as the connector begins to disconnect. The conical geometry ensures that the sleeve contacts the sealing surface at an optimal angle during the disconnection process, creating a seal before residual fluid can spill, thereby preventing loss without requiring additional active sealing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs conical surfaces with smooth curved transitions instead of sharp edges or flat surfaces. The conical flow channel and sealing surfaces use gradual curvature changes to guide fluid flow smoothly, minimizing turbulence and resistance while maintaining effective sealing contact between the sleeve and connector interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described relating a connector assembly having a mating end and a non-mating end, the mating end configured to engage a mating end of another connector assembly. The connector assembly may include a housing, a central member disposed within the housing, and a sleeve disposed between the central member and the housing. The sleeve may be slidably coupled to the housing and may be slidable along an axial direction relative to the central member. The sleeve, when slidably moved to an open position, may form a flow channel defined by at least (1) a sloped surface on the sleeve and (2) a sloped surface on the central member. The sleeve, when slidably moved to a closed position, may close the flow channel.