Axial Swage Alignment Tool Bridge Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing axial swage alignment tools face challenges in maintaining accurate orientation between metal tubes and fittings, especially when swaging must be performed remotely due to space constraints, leading to errors and the need for cumbersome marking or temporary fastening methods.

Innovation Solution

An axial swage alignment tool with a bridge member that is temporarily bonded to the exterior surfaces of the metal tubing and fitting, allowing for adjustable alignment without the need for materials between the tube and fitting, enabling remote swaging while maintaining precise orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If metal tubes and fittings are removed from the machine and remotely swaged together, then space constraints are resolved, but maintaining accurate axial and rotational orientation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace availability for swaging toolVSAvoidaxial and rotational orientation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A bridge member is introduced as an intermediary component that connects the metal tube and fitting externally. This bridge member maintains the spatial relationship between the tube and fitting during removal and remote swaging operations, eliminating the need for complex marking systems while preserving orientation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge member is attached to the tube and fitting before removal from the machine. This preliminary attachment establishes the correct orientation and spatial relationship in advance, allowing the components to be safely removed and repositioned without losing alignment information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If hand marking methods are used to mark metal tubes and fittings, then orientation can be recorded, but the process is time-consuming and prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation marking accuracyVSAvoidmarking process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The manual marking process is replaced with a mechanical bridge member system. Instead of using markers to record orientation information, the physical bridge member itself encodes the orientation through its geometric relationship to the tube and fitting, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual marking while improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If wedges are used to temporarily fasten metal tube and fitting, then orientation can be maintained, but wedges fall out when the assembly is moved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation maintenanceVSAvoidtemporary fastening reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using separate wedge components that can fall out, the bridge member merges the alignment and temporary fastening functions into a single integrated component. The bridge member spans across both the tube and fitting, distributing the connection forces and preventing dislodgement during movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If adhesives are used to temporarily fasten metal tube and fitting, then orientation can be maintained, but adhesives degrade the seal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation maintenanceVSAvoidseal degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge member serves as an external intermediary that maintains orientation without requiring any material to be placed between the tube and fitting. This eliminates the harmful effect of adhesives on the seal while still achieving the orientation maintenance function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution allows for accurate and error-free remote swaging of metal tubes and fittings, eliminating the need for specialized marking and temporary fastening, ensuring proper alignment and seal integrity without degrading the seal, and enabling the use of the tool in constrained spaces.

Implementation Method 1

a bridge member that is temporarily bonded to the exterior surfaces of the metal tubing and the fitting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS7805823B2Axial swage alignment tool

Publication Date: 2010.10.05 TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC

AI summary

An axial swage alignment tool (11) having a bridge member (27) for axially and rotationally aligning a metal tube (21) and a fitting (31) is disclosed. The bridge member that is temporarily bonded to the exterior surfaces of the metal tube and the fitting. The bridge member eliminates the need to place any material between the metal tube and the fitting either prior to or after the swaging process.