Quick disassembly and assembly tool for flexible connector test

Abstract

The invention discloses a quick dismounting and mounting tool for a flexible connector test. The quick dismounting and mounting tool comprises a flexible pipe sleeve, a hoop, an integrated pipe sleeve joint and a sealing ring, one end of the flexible pipe sleeve is connected with the guide pipe, a radial outward flange is arranged on the outer side of the other end of the flexible pipe sleeve, a sealing ring groove is formed in the radial center of the flange, the sealing ring is arranged in the sealing ring groove, the integrated pipe sleeve connector is of a hollow convex structure and comprises a clamping section and a quick connecting section, and the clamping section and the flange are in interference fit to achieve axial positioning. The hoop applies uniform holding force, so that the integrated pipe sleeve joint is firmly combined with the flexible pipe sleeve; an annular quick-release clamping groove is formed in the outer side of the quick connection section and matched with a locking mechanism on the test bed to achieve instant locking. The integrated structure avoids an independent thin-wall sleeve, the tool body is easy to process, the yield is high, the cost is greatly reduced, the assembly and disassembly efficiency is improved by more than 80%, the tool is suitable for sealing detection of flexible pipelines of various specifications, and the field operation can be completed by a single person in a bare-handed manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical testing and tooling technology, and in particular to an installation and fixing tooling for performance testing of flexible connectors. Background Technology

[0002] In fields such as aerospace, automotive, and hydraulic piping, flexible connectors require rigorous performance testing, including airtightness testing, pressure withstand testing, and pressure pulse testing. These tests necessitate the reliable mounting of the connectors on a test bench.

[0003] Currently, commonly used installation tools typically consist of parts such as flexible clamps, sealing rings, sleeves, and flexible pipe fittings.

[0004] Sleeve: A thin-walled cylindrical part (the wall thickness is generally less than 1 mm), whose inner wall is used to fit over the outside of the flexible joint.

[0005] Pipe fitting: It is usually machined with a sealing ring groove, a 74° flared conical surface and an external thread joint. It is connected and sealed to the interface with the corresponding internal thread on the test bench through this structure.

[0006] During assembly, the sealing ring should first be installed in the sealing ring groove of the tube sleeve joint and the flexible tube sleeve. Then, the sleeve and the flexible joint and the flexible tube sleeve should be assembled (the tube and the flexible tube sleeve are connected by welding or spinning). Finally, the 74° flared conical surface of the tube sleeve joint should be aligned with the interface of the test bench, and the threads should be rotated and tightened for multiple turns to achieve sealing and fixation.

[0007] The following problems exist in the existing technology: (1) The sleeve is difficult to process and the cost is high: thin-walled sleeves are easily deformed and vibrated during turning, resulting in low yield and high processing cost; (2) The connection efficiency is low: 74° flared thread connection requires precise alignment and multiple rotations to tighten, which is cumbersome and time-consuming. In test situations where frequent sample replacement is required, it seriously slows down the test efficiency; (3) High requirements for operators: the sealing and reliability of 74° flared connection largely depend on the tightening torque. Operators need to have certain experience and use a torque wrench, otherwise leakage or damage to the thread is easy; (4) There is an assembly error: the assembly of the two parts (sleeve and pipe fitting) will introduce coaxiality error, which will affect the test accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a flexible connector test fixture with an integrated sleeve-tube connector structure that is easy to process and manufacture, and can be quickly assembled and disassembled through quick-connection.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for testing flexible connectors, comprising a flexible sleeve, a clamp, an integrated sleeve connector, and a sealing ring; one end of the flexible sleeve is connected to a conduit, and the other end has a radially outward flange on its outer side, with a sealing ring groove radially towards the center of the flange, the sealing ring being placed within the sealing ring groove; the integrated sleeve connector has a hollow convex structure, including a clamping section and a quick-connect section, the inner diameter of the clamping section fitting and sealingly connecting with the outer diameter of the flange of the flexible sleeve, and the quick-connect section having a channel on its inner side communicating with the inner cavity of the clamping section; the quick-connect... The outer side of the section is equipped with an annular quick-release groove. A clamp is placed on the outer side of the clamping section to securely connect the flexible sleeve and the integrated sleeve connector. The quick-connect section connects to the test bench interface. The clamping section and flange achieve axial positioning through a clearance fit. The clamp applies a uniform clamping force, ensuring a firm connection between the integrated sleeve connector and the flexible sleeve. During testing, the quick-connect section of the integrated sleeve connector quickly engages with the test bench interface via a locking mechanism. The annular quick-release groove engages with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve instant locking. Under pressure, the sealing ring fully adheres to the inner wall of the sealing ring groove, achieving a seal and ensuring no leakage at the connection under pressure. The original sleeve and sleeve connector components are integrated into a single molded tooling body, and the original 74° flared threaded connection between the sleeve connector and the test bench is improved to a quick-connect coupling. The integrated pipe fitting is precision cast as a whole, effectively avoiding the deformation problem of thin-walled parts during processing, significantly reducing production costs and improving consistency. The quick-connect section and the test bench interface can be automatically locked by axial insertion, without the need for rotation tightening. The time for a single assembly and disassembly is reduced from tens of seconds to within a few seconds, greatly improving test efficiency. The locking mechanism has a built-in elastic snap ring, which can automatically identify the position of the annular quick-release slot and complete the locking. The operation is simple and does not rely on manual experience or torque control. The coaxiality is guaranteed by the structure of the tooling body itself, eliminating the cumulative assembly error and ensuring the accuracy of test data.

[0010] The integrated tubing connector consists of a clamping section and a quick-connect section. The clamping section and quick-connect section are coaxially integrally formed, ensuring connection rigidity and alignment accuracy. The annular quick-release groove allows for rapid docking with the test bench interface, enabling efficient installation and disassembly of the fixture and significantly improving testing efficiency. The mating structure between the clamping section and the flange ensures a tight seal, preventing media leakage during testing. The overall design balances mechanical strength and sealing reliability, making it suitable for high-frequency, multi-condition performance verification of flexible connectors and possessing promising engineering application prospects. The inner wall of the clamping section achieves a multi-level sealing fit with the flexible tubing flange, combined with the radial locking effect of the clamp, effectively preventing the sealing ring from being squeezed out or shifted under high-pressure conditions. The quick-connect section has a guide chamfer at the end for easy alignment and insertion with the test bench interface, improving docking reliability. The entire fixture assembly and disassembly process requires no tools; connection and release can be completed manually. The integrated design of the clamping section completely avoids the need for a separate thin-walled sleeve structure; its wall thickness can be increased according to overall rigidity requirements, making it extremely easy to process.

[0011] The flexible sleeve flange has a pressure-reducing groove structure on its inner side to balance the axial stress under high pressure and prevent cracks from forming at the flange root due to stress concentration. The pressure-reducing groove has an arc-shaped transition design and connects smoothly with the outer wall of the flange, effectively dispersing local strain and improving the pressure cycle life of the flexible sleeve. During dynamic pressurization, the pressure-reducing groove can deform appropriately to absorb vibration energy and reduce the risk of interface fatigue. This structure, together with the rigid support of the integrated sleeve joint, forms a rigid-flexible stress buffer system, further ensuring the reliability of the connection.

[0012] Furthermore, the quick-release slot cooperates with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve rapid locking and release. The locking mechanism has multiple buckles evenly distributed around the circumference. After the buckles are embedded in the quick-release slot, they are self-locked by spring reset. Pressing the release ring can simultaneously release all the buckles, completing instantaneous decoupling.

[0013] Furthermore, the quick-release slot cooperates with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve rapid locking and release. The locking mechanism uses steel balls to cooperate with the quick-release slot to achieve multi-point uniform locking. The steel balls are embedded in the slot and positioned by the spring inside the locking mechanism, forming a stable mechanical self-locking. When the release ring is pressed, the steel balls simultaneously disengage from the quick-release slot, achieving rapid decoupling.

[0014] After the quick-connect section is connected to the test bench interface, it automatically embeds into the quick-release slot through the locking mechanism's buckles or steel balls, achieving axial fixation and circumferential limiting. The connection process requires no rotation or additional tools, making it convenient to operate. During disassembly, simply press the release ring, and all buckles or steel balls will exit simultaneously, ensuring rapid and reliable decoupling. The fixture is suitable for testing and verifying various specifications of flexible connectors, exhibiting strong versatility. Each component is machined with high precision, and the mating clearance is controlled within 0.05mm, ensuring good sealing and mechanical stability even after repeated assembly and disassembly.

[0015] Furthermore, the integrated sleeve joint has a smooth surface, which, together with the flexible sleeve and sealing ring, forms a sealing pair. Furthermore, the quick-connect section is provided with one or more sealing rings on its outer side, which form a radial seal when inserted into the test bench interface, ensuring reliable pressure resistance and no leakage at the connection.

[0016] Furthermore, the sealing ring is made of high-pressure resistant fluororubber material, which has excellent oil resistance, heat resistance and aging resistance. It can work stably for a long time in the temperature range of -25℃ to 200℃, meeting the harsh environmental requirements of aviation hydraulic and fuel systems.

[0017] The work process is as follows: a. Installation: Place the flexible connector to be tested into the clamping section of the fixture body. Then, align the quick-connect section of the fixture body directly with and insert it into the corresponding quick-connect female connector on the test bench.

[0018] b. Locking: During insertion, the sealing ring on the quick-release connector forms a seal with the inner wall of the interface. When the annular quick-release groove on it reaches the position of the elastic retaining ring, the retaining ring automatically pops into the groove, accompanied by a clear "click" sound, indicating that the installation is in place and has been locked.

[0019] c. Disassembly: When replacement is required, simply pull or press the unloading sleeve on the quick-connect interface of the test bench to loosen the elastic retaining ring, and the entire tooling can be easily pulled out in just 1-2 seconds.

[0020] The implementation and working process of quick disassembly 1. Integrated design: By combining two parts into one, the number of parts is fundamentally reduced, assembly errors between components are eliminated, and the problem of difficult processing of thin-walled parts is solved.

[0021] 2. Quick-connect connection: By replacing the traditional 74° flared thread with a quick-connect connector, the connection method is improved.

[0022] 3. This quick-connect structure does not require rotation or tightening; sealing and locking can be achieved simply by axial pushing, avoiding connection failure or damage caused by insufficient torque or excessive tightening.

[0023] This fixture features a modular design, which further reduces assembly complexity, facilitates batch maintenance and replacement, and effectively reduces downtime. Standardized interfaces between components accommodate testing requirements for various flexible connector specifications, enhancing the fixture's versatility. The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. Significantly improved testing efficiency: The connection operation has been changed from "rotating multiple turns of the thread" to "simply plug and play, and pull out to disassemble". The assembly and disassembly time has been shortened from minutes to seconds, which greatly improves testing efficiency and is especially suitable for large-scale testing.

[0024] 2. Significantly reduces processing difficulty and cost: The integrated structure avoids the need for separate thin-walled sleeves, making the tooling body easier to process, resulting in a high yield rate and a significant reduction in cost.

[0025] 3. Easy to operate and highly reliable: No special tools (such as torque wrenches) or experience are required, reducing human error. The locking mechanism of the quick-connect coupling is stable and reliable, and the sealing performance is consistent.

[0026] 4. Improved accuracy and reliability: The integrated structure ensures extremely high coaxiality, making the test load transfer more accurate and the test data more reliable.

[0027] 5. Reduce the number of seals used: The number of test seals used has been reduced from two to one. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of the invention, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for flexible connector testing provided by the present invention. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the flexible sleeve provided by the present invention; Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the integrated sleeve joint provided by the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of one type of locking mechanism provided by the present invention; Among them: 1-flexible sleeve, 2-clamp, 3-integrated sleeve joint, 4-sealing ring, 101-flange, 102-sealing ring groove, 103-pressure relief groove, 301-clamping section, 302-quick connection section, 303-quick release groove, 302.1-channel, 5-conduit, 6-locking mechanism, 601-steel ball. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that the invention will be more thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0031] Please see Figure 1-3The figure illustrates a quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for flexible connector testing provided by the present invention, comprising a flexible sleeve 1, a clamp 2, an integrated sleeve connector 3, and a sealing ring 4. One end of the flexible sleeve 1 is connected to a conduit 5, and the other end has a radially outwardly projecting flange 101. The flange 101 has a sealing ring groove 102 radially towards the center, and the sealing ring 4 is placed within the sealing ring groove 102. The integrated sleeve connector 3 has a hollow convex structure, including a clamping section 301 and a quick-connect section 302. The inner diameter of the clamping section 301 is sealed to the outer diameter of the flange 101 of the flexible sleeve 1. The quick-connect section 302 has a channel 302.1 communicating with the inner cavity of the clamping section 301. An annular quick-release groove 303 is provided on the outer side of section 302. The clamp 2 is placed on the outer side of the clamping section 301 to fix the flexible sleeve 1 and the integrated sleeve connector 3. The quick-connect section 302 is connected to the interface of the test bench. The clamping section 301 and the flange 101 are axially positioned by interference fit. The clamp 2 applies a uniform clamping force to firmly connect the integrated sleeve connector 3 and the flexible sleeve 1. During testing, the quick-connect section 302 of the integrated sleeve connector 3 is quickly connected to the interface of the test bench through a snap-fit ​​structure. The annular quick-release groove 303 cooperates with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve instant locking. The sealing ring 4 fully fits the inner wall of the sealing ring groove 102 under the interference fit pressure to ensure that there is no leakage when the connection is under pressure. The inner wall of the clamping section and the flange of the flexible sleeve achieve a multi-stage sealing fit. Combined with the radial locking effect of the clamp, it effectively prevents the sealing ring from being squeezed out or shifted under high pressure conditions. The quick-connect section has a guide chamfer at the end, which facilitates alignment and insertion with the test bench interface, improving docking reliability. The guide chamfer design effectively reduces assembly resistance, enabling quick one-handed insertion and removal. The quick-release slot is linked with the locking mechanism, which can complete clamping or disassembly within 1-2 seconds, greatly improving test efficiency. The clamping section 301, quick-connect section 302, and quick-release slot 303 of the integrated sleeve connector 3 are integral precision-machined structures, ensuring coaxiality and connection strength between the functional sections. The bottom end face of the inner side of the clamping section 301 is gap-fitted with the end face of the flexible sleeve 1, generating axial reaction force when pressed, preventing the flexible sleeve 1 from axially shifting under high pressure conditions, and ensuring a stable and reliable connection. The ratio of the sealing ring groove depth to the sealing ring cross-sectional diameter is 1.05:1, and the surface roughness Ra≤3.2μm ensures that the sealing interface remains stably fitted under the action of high-pressure fluid.

[0032] In some embodiments, the quick-connect section 302 is provided with a sealing ring on its outer side, forming a radial seal when inserted into the test bench interface, ensuring reliable pressure resistance and no leakage at the connection. Simultaneously, the channel 302.1 of the quick-connect section 302 communicates with the inner cavity of the clamping section 301, ensuring smooth media flow. The integrated pipe sleeve connector 3 is made of high-strength, corrosion-resistant alloy material, and its surface is anodized to improve wear resistance and sealing stability.

[0033] In other embodiments, the flexible sleeve flange 101 is provided with a pressure-reducing groove 103 structure on its inner side to balance the axial stress under the action of high-pressure medium and prevent cracks from forming at the root of the flange due to stress concentration. The pressure-reducing groove has an arc-shaped transition design and is smoothly connected to the outer wall of the flange 101, effectively dispersing local strain and improving the pressure cycle life of the flexible sleeve. During dynamic pressurization, the pressure-reducing groove can deform appropriately to absorb vibration energy and reduce the risk of interface fatigue. This structure, together with the rigid support of the integrated sleeve joint, forms a rigid-flexible stress buffer system, further ensuring the reliability of the connection. The arc depth of the pressure-reducing groove can be distributed in a gradient along the axial direction, gradually decreasing from the root to the end, which avoids sudden stress changes and ensures that the structural strength is not excessively weakened, thereby maintaining long-term sealing stability under high-pressure alternating loads.

[0034] In other embodiments, the quick-release slot 303 cooperates with the locking mechanism 6 on the test bench to achieve rapid locking and releasing. The locking mechanism uses steel balls 601 to cooperate with the quick-release slot 303 to achieve multi-point uniform locking. The steel balls 601 are embedded in the slot and positioned by springs inside the locking mechanism, forming a stable mechanical self-locking. When the release ring is pressed, the steel balls 601 simultaneously disengage from the quick-release slot 303, achieving rapid decoupling. The steel ball locking structure ensures connection strength through precise fitting, while avoiding wear and loosening caused by repeated insertion and removal.

[0035] In other embodiments, the quick-release slot 303 cooperates with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve rapid locking and releasing. The locking mechanism has multiple latches evenly distributed circumferentially. After the latches are inserted into the quick-release slot, they are self-locked by spring reset. Pressing the release ring can simultaneously release all the latches, completing instantaneous decoupling. This structural design takes into account both sealing reliability and ease of operation, realizing rapid assembly, disassembly, and reuse during the testing of flexible connectors.

[0036] In other embodiments, the sealing ring 4 is made of fluororubber. Fluororubber has excellent high temperature resistance, oil resistance and aging resistance, and can work stably in a temperature range of -20°C to 200°C, making it suitable for harsh media environments such as aviation hydraulics and fuel. Its hardness is 70-80 Shore A and its compression set is less than 15%, ensuring good sealing performance even after multiple assembly and disassembly.

[0037] The work process is as follows: a. Installation: Place the flexible connector to be tested into the clamping section of the fixture body. Then, align the quick-connect section of the fixture body directly with and insert it into the corresponding quick-connect female connector on the test bench.

[0038] b. Locking: During insertion, the sealing ring on the quick-release connector forms a seal with the inner wall of the interface. When the annular quick-release groove on it reaches the position of the elastic retaining ring, the retaining ring automatically pops into the groove, accompanied by a clear "click" sound, indicating that the installation is in place and has been locked.

[0039] c. Disassembly: When replacement is required, simply pull or press the unloading sleeve on the quick-connect interface of the test bench to loosen the elastic retaining ring, and the entire tooling can be easily pulled out in just 1-2 seconds.

[0040] The combination of ball-locking and quick-release slots achieves a synergistic effect of axial force and radial self-locking, ensuring no leakage or loosening under a working pressure of 21MPa. Combined with high-precision concentricity control, it effectively avoids early failure caused by off-center loading. Simultaneously, this fixture structure is compatible with the rapid replacement of various specifications of flexible connectors, significantly reducing changeover and debugging time. The connection operation has been transformed from "rotating multiple threads" to "simply insert and use, one pull and disassemble," reducing assembly and disassembly time from minutes to seconds, greatly improving testing efficiency, especially suitable for large-scale testing. The integrated structure avoids separate thin-walled sleeves, making the fixture body easier to process, resulting in a high yield rate and significantly reduced costs. Furthermore, this design further improves the consistency and reliability of test data by reducing uncertainties in the assembly process. Simplified structure reduces the impact of human error, ensuring a stable sealing state during each assembly and disassembly. The synergistic optimization of materials and processes meets the requirements of extreme working conditions while also considering economy and maintainability. No special tools (such as torque wrenches) or experience are required, reducing human error. The locking mechanism of the quick-connect fitting is stable and reliable, and the sealing performance is consistent.

[0041] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Modifications or equivalent substitutions made by those skilled in the art to the technical solutions of the present invention, as long as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, are all covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for testing flexible connectors, characterized in that: The system includes a flexible sleeve, clamps, an integrated sleeve connector, and a sealing ring. One end of the flexible sleeve connects to a conduit, while the other end has a radially outward-facing flange. A sealing ring groove is located radially towards the center of the flange, and the sealing ring is placed within this groove. The integrated sleeve connector has a hollow convex structure, including a clamping section and a quick-connect section. The inner diameter of the clamping section matches the outer diameter of the flange of the flexible sleeve for a sealing connection. The quick-connect section has a channel on its inner side communicating with the inner cavity of the clamping section. An annular quick-release groove is located on the outer side of the quick-connect section. The clamp is placed outside the clamping section to fix the flexible sleeve and the integrated sleeve connector. The quick-connect section connects to the interface of a test bench. The clamping section and the flange achieve axial positioning through a clearance fit. The clamp applies a uniform clamping force to firmly bond the integrated sleeve connector to the flexible sleeve. During testing, the quick-connect section of the integrated sleeve connector quickly engages with the interface of the test bench through a locking mechanism. The annular quick-release groove cooperates with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve instant locking, and the sealing ring provides a seal, ensuring no leakage at the connection under pressure.

2. The quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for flexible connector testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quick-connect section is equipped with a sealing ring on the outside, which forms a radial seal when it is plugged into the interface of the test bench, ensuring that the connection is reliably pressure-bearing and leak-free.

3. The quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for flexible connector testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quick-release slot works in conjunction with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve rapid locking and releasing. The locking mechanism has multiple buckles evenly distributed around the circumference. After the buckles are inserted into the quick-release slot, they are self-locked by spring reset. Pressing the release ring can simultaneously release all the buckles, completing instantaneous decoupling.

4. The quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for flexible connector testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The quick-release slot works in conjunction with the locking mechanism on the test bench to achieve rapid locking and release. The locking mechanism uses steel balls to work with the quick-release slot to achieve multi-point uniform locking. The steel balls are embedded in the slot and positioned by springs inside the locking mechanism, forming a stable mechanical self-locking. When the release ring is pressed, the steel balls simultaneously disengage from the quick-release slot, achieving rapid decoupling.

5. The quick-assembly and disassembly fixture for flexible connector testing according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing ring is made of fluororubber.

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