Aircraft Fluid Line Coupling With Twist-Lock Detachable Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft fluid line coupling assemblies lack a maintenance-friendly mechanism for complete detachment of fluid conveying members, which complicates maintenance and repair processes.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft fluid line coupling assembly features a twist-to-connect joint with a retention member comprising clam shell halves that pivot to allow detachment, a locking mechanism to secure the joint in the connected position, and a tube collar for axial support, enabling easy detachment and reassembly without moving other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retention member is used to prevent detachment of the inner tube from the outer tube, then connection reliability is improved, but the complexity of the coupling assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention member is positioned within the outer tube assembly, with the inner tube extending through it. The clam shell halves are nested around the inner tube, creating a compact multi-layered structure where each component serves multiple functions without increasing overall assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The retention member incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism that transitions between locked and unlocked states. The clam shell halves can pivot relative to each other, allowing the retention member to adapt between securing the inner tube firmly and allowing controlled detachment, providing reliability while maintaining operational flexibility
2Stability of the object's composition
If a locking mechanism is added to secure the twist-to-connect joint, then connection stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and secure the twist-to-connect joint when the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube. The system self-locks without requiring additional manual intervention, maintaining stability while preserving ease of operation during normal connection procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The retention member with clam shell halves is pre-positioned within the outer tube assembly before the inner tube is inserted. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the locking mechanism is ready to engage immediately upon insertion, providing automatic stabilization without complicating the operation sequence
3Reliability
If the retention member is arranged outwardly around the inner tube to prevent detachment, then connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention member is divided into two separate clam shell halves that can be assembled around the inner tube. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance while providing the same detachment prevention function, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The clam shell halves are designed to nest around the inner tube with the retention member positioned within the outer tube assembly. This nested arrangement minimizes the overall volume and structural complexity while ensuring the retention member effectively prevents detachment of the inner tube
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft fluid line coupling assembly includes: an inner tube; an outer tube assembly having an outer tube, the inner tube extending into the outer tube, and having first connector element of a twist-to-connect joint disposed on a front end of the outer tube; a retention member having second connector element of the twist-to-connect joint, the first and the second connector elements being detachably mated to releasably interconnect the retention member and the outer tube with each other, the retention member being arranged outwardly around a longitudinal portion the inner tube so as to prevent detachment of the inner tube from the outer tube when the twist-to-connect joint is in a connected position, and so as to allow detachment of the inner tube from the outer tube when the twist-to-connect joint is in an unconnected position; and a locking mechanism for locking the twist-to-connect joint.