Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02623352 2012-05-01
DOCKING AND UNDOCKING OF LIQUID CARRYING LINES
TO AND FROM A DOCKING BODY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the technical field of tool
engineering. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a docking system for docking
and undocking a
liquid carrying line to and from a docking body. The present invention also
relates to a
specially designed line end for docking a liquid carrying line to a docking
interface of a
docking body. Finally, the present invention relates' to a method for
preventing liquid from
continuing to flow when a line end of a liquid carrying line is undocked from
a docking
interface of a docking body.
TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
Docking systems for liquid carrying lines typically have a self-closing end
valve including a
ball, for example, or a membrane or the like, that automatically closes when
the line end is
undocked from the docking interface to which it is connected.
Such docking systems are only conditionally suited for the field of fiber-
composite
component production, however, since self-closing end valves of this kind have
the
tendency to stick due to the resins used in the manufacture of fiber composite
components.
Thus, a method for manufacturing fiber composite components provides for
layering
individual sheets of fibrous material, nonwoven fabric or
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woven fabric into a mold, to which a resin is applied once the individual
fiber
layers have been introduced, in order to join and interconnect the individual
fiber
layers. In this context, the resin is supplied from a reservoir via a line to
the mold and
injected into the same under pressure.
In as much as a liquid is concerned in the context of the present invention,
subsumed thereunder are reactive liquids, which, in the field of composite
component production, are used for joining individual fibrous layers. These
include
synthetic resins in particular, which cure under the action of temperature. In
particular, these are synthetic resins, such as hydrocarbon, urea, alkyd,
epoxide,
melamine, phenolic, polyester, unsaturated polyester, polyurethane, ketone,
coumaron-indene, isocyanate, polyamide and terpene-phenolic resins, for
example.
Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the previously discussed
molds,
into which the individual fiber layers can be introduced in order to be joined
together, as well as the reservoirs in which the liquids are stored, are
termed
docking bodies.
Due to the difficulty discussed above, whereby the aforementioned self-closing
end
valves used in the field of fiber composite component production have a
tendency
to stick because of the adhesive action of the liquids used, another problem
associated with the known docking systems is that, when a liquid carrying line
is
undocked from a docking body, certain residual quantities of liquid typically
continue to flow, causing the docking interface on the docking body to be
contaminated or soiled, resulting in increasing leakage problems from one
docking
operation to another. Moreover, due to inevitable tolerances, over a plurality
of
docking operations, dirt unavoidably accumulates along the sealing surfaces of
the
docking system in the region of the docking interface, which ultimately can
lead to
failure of the sealing means of the docking system.
Due to the problems described here, known methods have so far been unable to
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successfully provide a partially automated docking system, which is why, until
now, the connection between the docking body and the liquid carrying line is
typically produced manually by clamping a tube onto a hose connector on the
docking body, using a hose clamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Starting out from the problems delineated above, the object of the present
invention
is to provide at least one realization approach which will make it possible to
at least
partially alleviate the problem experienced with leakage in the area of the
docking
interface.
This objective is achieved by a docking system for docking a liquid carrying
line to
a docking body, by a line end for docking a liquid carrying line to a docking
interface of a docking body, as well as by a method for preventing liquid from
continuing to flow when undocking a line end of a liquid carrying line from a
docking interface of a docking body.
The docking system according to the invention for docking a liquid carrying
line to
a docking body includes a line end having a first form that tapers conically
in the
direction of flow, as well as a docking interface situated on the docking body
having a second form that tapers conically in the direction of flow. Here, the
two
conically tapered forms are adapted to one another in such a way that, in a
docked
state, they are mutually set apart in one coupling region by an interspace and
concentrically oppose one another, the interspace being predefinable by a
sealing
ring, such as an O-ring seal for example, situated between the two conically
tapered forms, concentrically to the same. In this context, the purpose of the
sealing
ring is to prevent liquid from escaping through the interspace, which sets
apart the
two mutually opposed conically tapered forms. To be able to remove liquid
which
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may settle in the interspace between the two conically tapered forms, the
first
conically tapered form is equipped on its periphery with at least one cleaning
element which extends from the first conically tapered form toward the second
conically tapered form in order to capture liquids that may accumulate in the
interspace. In this context, the cleaning element may extend, for example,
into the
interspace between the two conically tapered forms. Since the liquid
solidifies under
the action of temperature, the cured liquid is able to be removed in this
manner
from the coupling region in that the line end is uncoupled from the docking
body,
with the result that the cured liquid in the coupling region, being entrained
by the
line end, is removed from the docking interface, since the cleaning element is
entrapped in the cured liquid.
The action of temperature may be produced, for instance, by providing heater
filaments in the coupling region, for example, in order to heat and thus cure
the
liquids that have settled in the interspace. Alternatively, however, cooling
tubes
may likewise be placed in the coupling region in order to temporarily cool the
same, thereby enabling the liquid to be temporarily frozen in the interspace
and
thus likewise hardened. This second alternative, which provides for cooling
the
coupling region, may prove to be advantageous in that the thus achieved
hardening
of the liquid is only of temporary duration. Alternatively, it is likewise
possible,
however, for an externally produced temperature flow in the form of cold or
heat to
act upon the coupling region.
The starting point for the present invention is, in fact, the manufacture of
fiber
composite components. Naturally, however, the present invention is also suited
for
other fields which require connecting liquid carrying lines to a docking body
and in
which the described manifestations of sticking and of encrustation may occur
in the
area of the docking site. Thus, the present invention is also applicable to
other
fields, such as injection-molded parts production or the food-processing
industry,
i.e., wherever curable liquids are introduced under pressure via a line into a
mold.
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Depending on whether the line end is slid into the docking body, or the line
end
receives the docking body by way of its docking interface, the first conically
tapered form is an outside cone, and the second conically tapered form is an
inside
cone; respectively, the first conically tapered form is an inside cone, and
the second
conically tapered from is an outside cone.
Thus, in the case that the first conically tapered form is able to fit into
the second conically
tapered form, the first form is an outside cone and the second form is an
inside cone. In
this case, the cleaning element encircles the outer periphery of the first
conically
tapered form and extends out from the same toward the second conically tapered
form. However, in the case that the second conically tapered form is able to
fit into
the first conically tapered form, the second conically tapered form is an
outside
cone, and the first conically tapered form is an inside cone. In this case,
the
cleaning element encircles the inner periphery of the first conically tapered
form
and extends radially into the interspace.
To ensure that the cleaning element becomes entrapped in the desired manner in
the cured liquid that has accumulated in the interspace between the two
conically
tapered forms, it is positioned in the direction of flow downstream of the
sealing
ring. The direction of flow is understood here to be the global direction of
flow of
the liquid carrying line and not the flow in the interspace between the two
conically tapered forms whose direction is essentially opposite that of the
global
direction of flow. By positioning the cleaning element in this manner, it
becomes
entrapped in the desired manner in the liquid that has settled in the
interspace, so
that, during the undocking operation, the cleaning element removes the liquid
that
has cured in the interspace out from the coupling region in the area of the
docking
interface, entraining the same.
The above-described specific embodiments of the docking system are based on
the
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assumption that the liquid that has accumulated in the interspace is in its
hardened
state, which makes it possible to remove the same using the cleaning element
that
has become entrapped in the cured liquid. Alternatively, the cleaning element
may
also be designed as a scraper, in which case the first conically tapered form
may be
fabricated of an elastic material that deforms in response to an undocking of
the
line end from the docking body in such a way that the cleaning element rubs
along
the second conically tapered form and, in the process, scrapes off the liquid
that has
settled in the interspace from the second conically tapered form.
To effectively prevent liquid from continuing to flow when the line end is
undocked from the docking interface of the docking body, the coupling region
may
be designed to receive the action of a temperature flow. Thus, heater
filaments may
be provided in the coupling region, for example, in order to temporarily heat
the
same, causing the liquid contained in the coupling region at the particular
moment
to cure, thereby preventing the liquid from continuing to flow following an
undocking operation.
Alternatively, however, cooling tubes may likewise be placed in the coupling
region, for example, in order to temporarily cool the same, thereby enabling
the
liquid to be temporarily frozen and thus likewise hardened, so that an
undocking
operation is essentially possible without liquid continuing to flow. This
second
alternative in which the coupling region is cooled may prove to be
advantageous in
that the hardening of the liquid achieved in this manner is only of temporary
duration.
Alternatively, it is likewise possible, however, for an externally produced
temperature
flow in the form of cold or heat to act upon the coupling region.
Since the liquid hardens permanently when heated, making the line end unusable
for further docking operations, the line end may be designed as a separate
line
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piece which is couplable to the liquid carrying line, allowing it to be
replaced
following an undocking operation subsequently to the action of heat on the
coupling region.
The line end according to the invention for docking a liquid stream carrying
line to
a docking interface of a docking body having a second form that is conically
tapered in the direction of flow includes a first form that is conically
tapered in the
direction of flow and is adapted to the second conically tapered form in such
a way
that, in the docked state, it is situated in concentric opposition to the
same, set apart
by an interspace defined by a sealing ring. In this case, the first conically
tapered
form is provided on its periphery with at least one cleaning element which
extends
from the first conically tapered form in the direction of the second conically
tapered form. In this context, the cleaning element may extend into the
interspace in
order to capture liquid that is able to accumulate therein.
As already previously described, the first conically tapered form may be
designed
to fit into the second conically tapered form. In this case, the cleaning
element
encircles the outer periphery of the first conically tapered form, forming a
collar-
like projection. Alternatively, the first conically tapered form may be
designed to
receive the second conically tapered form. In this case, the cleaning element
encircles the inner periphery of the first conically tapered form, forming a
collar-
like projection, and extends radially into the interspace. In order for the
cleaning
element to become reliably entrapped in the desired manner in the liquid that
is
able to accumulate in the interspace, it is positioned in the direction of
flow
downstream of the sealing ring, whereby the previously given explanations
regarding the direction of flow apply.
In order for the cleaning element to be able to fulfill a scraping function to
scrape
off liquid that has settled on the second conically tapered form, the first
conically
tapered form may be fabricated of an elastic material that deforms in response
to an
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undocking of the line end from the docking body in such a way that the
cleaning
element rubs along the second conically tapered form in order to scrape off
the
liquid that has settled thereon.
In contrast to the previously described known docking method which employs a
hose clamp, whereby liquid is prevented from being able to continue to flow
during
an undocking operation by manually squeezing the tube, to prevent liquid from
continuing to flow when undocking a line end of a liquid carrying line from a
docking interface of a docking body, the method according to the present
invention
provides for a temperature flow in the form of heat or cold to be applied to a
coupling region between the docking interface and the line end, causing the
liquid
in the docking interface and in the line end to harden at least temporarily.
This
makes it possible to prevent liquid from continuing to flow during the
undocking
operation and thus likewise prevent any contamination or soiling of the
docking
interface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is described in the following with reference to the
enclosed
drawings, in light of embodiments, which are purely exemplary. These exemplary
embodiments merely serve to a better understanding of the present invention
and,
in particular, should not be interpreted as limiting its scope of protection.
Specifically, the figures show:
FIG. 1 a schematic cross-sectional view through a first specific embodiment of
a
docking system;
FIG. 2 another schematic cross-sectional view through another specific
embodiment of a docking system; and
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FIG. 3 yet another cross-sectional'view of another specific embodiment of a
docking system according to the present invention having a separately
designed line end.
In all of the figures, equivalent or similar elements are denoted by the same
or by
corresponding reference numerals.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
A first specific embodiment of a docking system 1 according to the present
invention, in which a line end 2 is fitted into a docking interface 5, is
initially
described with reference to the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 1 and
the
isometry of FIG. 3. In this context, docking interface 5 is a part of a
docking body
4, as is discernible in FIG. 3. The purpose of docking body 4 is to
accommodate a
multiplicity of fiber layers in cavity 9, to join and interconnect the same
using a
liquid that is injected via line end 2 into the docking body under pressure.
As may be inferred from FIG. 1, docking interface 5 situated in docking body 4
has
a form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow. Correspondingly,
line end
2 also has a form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow, so that
cone
form 6 of docking interface 5 is able to receive cone form 3 of line end 2.
Conically
tapered form 3 of line end 2 is encircled by a sealing ring 7, which is used
for
sealing docking interface 5, so that during a process of injecting into form
4, no
liquid is able to penetrate to the outside. To achieve a most optimal possible
sealing
action, cone form 3 of line end 2 is tapered in the direction of flow to a
greater
degree than cone form 6 of docking interface 5, with the result that, when
line end
2 is slid by way of its cone form 3 into docking interface 5, sealing means 7
comes
in contact, on the one hand, with cone form 6 and, on the other hand, with
cone
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form 3, and, as line end 2 is pushed in further, sealing means 7 rolls along
cone
form 3 and is compressed, making it possible to improve the sealing action of
sealing means 7.
As FIG. 1 shows, cone form 3 of line end 2 and cone form 6 of docking
interface 5
are adapted to one another in such a way that, in the docked state, they are
situated
in concentric opposition to one another, set apart by an interspace defined by
the
sealing ring. Since the liquid is injected under pressure into the docking
body,
which may result in a backup of the liquid in docking interface 5, liquid may
back
up in the interspace up to sealing means 7 and accumulate there. To be able to
easily remove this liquid that has accumulated in this manner, cone form 3 of
line
end 2 is equipped at its end on the peripheral side with a cleaning element 8,
which
encircles line end 2 at the end of cone form 3 forming a collar-like
projection. In
this context, cleaning element 8 extends from cone form 3 toward cone form 6,
in
order to become entrapped in the liquid that has accumulated in the
interspace.
If, at this point, a heat or cold flow is applied to the coupling region
between
docking interface 5 and line end 2, then this would lead to at least a
temporarily
hardening of the backed-up liquid that has settled in the interface. If line
end 2 is
then pulled out of docking interface 5, then this would result that the
cleaning
element 8, which has become entrapped in the cured liquid, pullsthis liquid
out of
the coupling region such that the cone form 6 of docking interface 5 is free
of any
contamination. Thus, no additional cleaning or only minimal manual further
cleaning of the docking interface is needed to be able to once again dock a
line end
2 to docking interface 5.
Another specific embodiment of a docking system is described with reference to
FIG. 2. In this case, the first conically tapered form receives the second
conically
tapered form. As may be inferred from FIG. 2, docking interface 5 has a form
that
is conically tapered in the direction of flow. Correspondingly, line end 2
also has a
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form that is conically tapered in the direction of flow, so that cone form 3
of line
end 2 is able to receive docking interface 5 of docking body 5. A sealing ring
7,
which is used for sealing docking interface 5, is set in conically tapered
form 3 of
the line end, to ensure that no liquid is able to penetrate to the outside. To
achieve a
most optimal possible sealing action, cone form 3 of line end 2 is tapered in
the
direction of flow to a lesser degree than cone form 6 of docking interface 5,
with
the result that, when line end 2 is slid by way of its cone form 3 onto
docking
interface 5, sealing means 7 comes in contact, on the one hand, with cone form
6
and, on the other hand, with cone form 3, and, as line end 2 is pushed in
further,
sealing means 7 rolls along cone form 6, making it possible to improve the
sealing
action of sealing means 7.
As FIG. 2 shows, cone form 3 of line end 2 and cone form 6 of docking
interface 5
are adapted to one another in such a way that, in the docked state, they are
spaced
apart by an interspace defined by sealing ring 7 and concentrically oppose one
another. Since the liquid is pressed out of the docking body under pressure,
which
may result in a backup of the liquid in the region of docking interface 5,
liquid may
back up in the interspace up to sealing means 7 and accumulate there. To be
able to
easily remove this liquid that has accumulated in this manner, cone form 3 of
line
end 2 is provided on its inner periphery with a cleaning element 8, which
encircles
line end 2, forming a collar-like projection. In this context, cleaning
element 8 extends
from cone form 3 toward cone form 6, in order to become entrapped in the
liquid that has
accumulated in the interspace.
If, at this point, a heat or cold flow is applied to the coupling region
between
docking interface 5 and line end 2, then this would lead to the backed-up
liquid that
has settled in the interface hardening at least temporarily. If line end 2 is
then
pulled out of docking interface 5, then this would result the cleaning element
8,
which has become entrapped in the cured liquid, to pull this liquid out of the
coupling region, such that cone form 6 of docking interface 5 is free of any
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contamination. Thus, no additional cleaning or only minimal manual further
cleaning of docking interface 5 is needed to be able to once again dock a line
end 2
to docking interface 5.
Finally, as may be inferred from FIG. 3, line end 2 may be designed as a
separate
line piece, which is couplable to liquid carrying line 10. This type of
separate
construction of line end 2 may prove to be useful in that it allows line end 2
to be
designed as a replaceable, disposable component that may simply be discarded
following a docking and undocking operation. This obviates the need for
painstakingly removing liquid residues adhering to cone form 3 of line end 2
that
are entrained when line end 2 is undocked from docking interface 5. Rather,
line
end 2 is simply replaced, enabling liquid carrying line 10, along with a new
line
end 2, to be docked again to docking body 4.
It is additionally noted that õincluding" does not exclude other elements or
steps,
and "a" or "one" does not exclude "a plurality of." It is also noted that
features or
steps, which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary
embodiments, may also be used in combination with other features or steps of
other
exemplary embodiments described above. Reference numerals used in the claims
are
not to be regarded as limiting.
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LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 docking system
2 line end
3 cone form of the line end
4 docking body
docking interface
6 cone form of the docking interface
7 sealing ring
8 cleaning element
9 cavity
liquid carrying line
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