Bayonet Coupling for Faucet Fluid Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid connections in water delivery systems, such as faucets, face challenges in securely locking pressurized fluid connections at the outlet end, particularly when an aerator is positioned, leading to potential leaks and assembly complexities.
Innovation Solution
A locking pressurized fluid connection system featuring a male adapter with elongated pins and locking tabs, and a female adapter with channels and ramps, allowing for rotational locking and secure engagement, forming a bayonet coupling that secures the components and prevents axial movement, ensuring a leak-proof interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional fluid connection is used, then the assembly is simple, but the connection cannot securely lock pressurized fluid connections leading to potential leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism transitions from a static traditional connection to a dynamic bayonet coupling that rotates between unlocked and locked positions. The guide pins move freely in channels during assembly, then become restrained in the locked position, providing a secure connection that accommodates assembly motion while maintaining reliability under pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The male adapter with guide pins and locking tabs is nested within the female adapter with channels and ramps. The guide pins slide through the channels of the female adapter, and the locking tabs engage with the ramps, creating a compact nested structure that secures the connection without requiring additional external components.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure pressurized connections, then leak prevention is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins and locking tabs are integrated into the male adapter as a unified structure, while the channels and ramps are integrated into the female adapter. This merging of functions into compact adapter assemblies reduces overall mechanism complexity while maintaining effective leak prevention through the bayonet locking action.
Solution Approach 2:
The bayonet coupling mechanism is designed to self-lock through the interaction of guide pins with channels and locking tabs with ramps. When the male adapter is rotated into position, the locking tabs automatically flex over the ramps and lock behind them, providing secure leak-proof connection without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a bayonet coupling is used to secure components, then axial movement is prevented, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bayonet coupling utilizes dynamic motion during assembly, where the male adapter is first inserted axially and then rotated to engage the locking tabs with the ramps. This rotational degree of freedom simplifies the assembly process compared to precision axial alignment, while the locked position provides stable axial position prevention during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism transitions from one-dimensional axial insertion to two-dimensional rotational engagement. The guide pins move axially through the channels, then the locking tabs engage radially with the ramps during rotation, utilizing multiple dimensions to simplify assembly while ensuring stable axial positioning in the locked state.
Data Source
AI summary
A water delivery system (10) includes a first component (52) coupled to a fluid transport member (20) and a second component (66) coupled to an aerator (34) for positioning within a faucet spout (26).