Flush-Mount Air Hose Guide With Sealed Stopper and Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hose guides allow dust and moisture to ingress into compartments through the orifice, causing wear on hoses and potentially damaging equipment.
Innovation Solution
A hose guide with a frusto-conical receiver and a roller assembly, featuring non-grooved and grooved rollers, that accommodates an air hose and stopper, preventing ingress of dust and moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hose guide with orifice is used to allow hose passage, then hose wear is reduced, but dust and moisture can ingress into the compartment
Solution Approach 1:
A stopper is introduced as an intermediary element between the hose and the orifice. The stopper fits within the orifice and creates a sealing interface that prevents dust and moisture ingress while still allowing the hose to pass through and be supported by the guide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper is nested within the orifice structure, with the hose passing through both the stopper and the orifice. This nested arrangement allows the stopper to seal the gap between the hose and orifice walls without interfering with the hose's primary function of fluid transport.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a tight-fitting orifice is used to prevent dust and moisture ingress, then compartment protection is improved, but hose wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper acts as a mediator that absorbs the wear from friction against the hose. Instead of the hose rubbing directly against the rigid orifice walls, the stopper provides a compliant sealing surface that protects the hose while maintaining the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper material properties are selected to provide both sealing capability and reduced friction characteristics. By changing the material parameters of the sealing element from rigid (orifice walls) to compliant (stopper material), the system achieves both protection from contaminants and reduced hose wear.
3Reliability
If a roller assembly is added to reduce hose wear, then hose protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals the gap between the hose and orifice to prevent contaminant ingress, supports the hose to reduce wear, and provides a guided passage for the hose. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate roller assemblies while achieving hose protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex roller assembly is extracted and replaced with a simpler stopper mechanism. The essential function of reducing hose wear is achieved through the stopper's sealing and supporting actions, eliminating unnecessary mechanical complexity while maintaining hose protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A hose guide having a base with a back side, a front side and a hose receiving orifice. A receiver extends from the front side of the base. The receiver has a terminal end that communicates an interior surface and an exterior surface. The terminal end may define a plurality of fillets. A roller assembly is affixed to the back side the base. The roller assembly supports a plurality of rollers for engaging an external surface of a hose. When installed, the hose guide of the invention is flush with a sealing surface, such as a panel, for providing a sealing surface therewith. Rollers are provided for reducing damage to a hose passing therethrough. Use of a complementary shaped stopper helps to prevent an ingress of water and dust through the hose guide, e.g., into a hose reel containing compartment.