Adjustable Sanitary Hose Donut With Flex Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hose collars struggle to fit hoses with varying outer diameters uniformly and are often difficult to install in the field without removing the hose fittings, necessitating a solution for adjustable and versatile hose collars.
Innovation Solution
A hose collar with a variable inner diameter, featuring a one-piece annular body with flex points and a fastening mechanism that allows for adjustment and secure attachment to hoses of different diameters, also capable of functioning as a pipe hanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hose collar is made with a fixed inner diameter, then it can provide stable protection for the hose, but it cannot adapt to hoses with varying outer diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The hose collar incorporates a dynamic adjustment mechanism with a movable adjustment member that allows the inner diameter to be changed. The adjustment member can be moved along the collar body to expand or contract the inner diameter, enabling the collar to adapt to different hose sizes while maintaining structural integrity through controlled mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the inner diameter parameter of the hose collar by introducing an adjustment member that can be positioned at different locations. By moving the adjustment member along the collar body, the inner diameter parameter is dynamically modified to match the outer diameter of the hose being protected, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure and variable adaptability.
2Manufacturing precision
If a hose collar is designed to fit every individual hose size, then it can provide precise fit, but it requires a multitude of different collar sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The hose collar is designed as a universal collar that can accommodate multiple hose sizes through the adjustable inner diameter mechanism. Instead of manufacturing separate collars for each hose size, a single collar design with adjustment capability serves multiple functions, reducing the total number of different collar sizes needed while maintaining precise fit for various hose diameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable inner diameter mechanism allows a single collar design to dynamically adapt to different hose sizes. The adjustment member can be moved to different positions to change the inner diameter, enabling one collar to replace multiple fixed-size collars and achieving precise fit without increasing device complexity.
3Reliability
If a hose collar requires hose fitting removal for installation, then it can be securely attached, but it cannot be easily installed in the field
Solution Approach 1:
The hose collar is pre-designed with an adjustable inner diameter mechanism that allows it to be expanded or contracted before installation. This preliminary adjustment capability enables the collar to be fitted over the hose without removing the hose fittings, as the collar can be temporarily adjusted to a larger diameter for installation and then secured in its final position, maintaining secure attachment while improving ease of field installation.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable sanitary hose donut has a variable inner diameter, which allows the adjustable sanitary hose donut to be used with multiple hoses having different diameters. The adjustable sanitary hose donut has an annular body and a fastener. The annular body has a plurality of sectors that are divided by a plurality of flex points. The plurality of flex points allows the plurality of sectors to bend inwards or outwards from one another in order to adjust the inner diameter of the annular body. A first overlapping section and a second overlapping section of the annular body also aid in allowing the inner diameter of the annular body to expand or contract. The fastener is positioned through both the first overlapping section and the second overlapping section and is used to lock the annular body at the desired inner diameter.