Bossed Pipe Connector Geometry to Prevent Joint Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pipe joints in air conditioner systems are prone to disassembly during use, cleaning, or maintenance, leading to pipeline leakage due to misoperation.
Innovation Solution
An anti-disassembly connector with protruding bosses having opposing force-bearing and force-releasing surfaces, where the clamping distance is less than the outer diameter of the bosses, allowing for secure assembly and preventing disassembly by deviating from the force-releasing surface during reverse operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional pipe joint and joint nut connection is used, then rapid installation is facilitated, but the joint nut is likely to be disassembled due to misoperation
Solution Approach 1:
The boss structure features asymmetric force-bearing and force-releasing surfaces with specific geometric parameters. The force-bearing surface has a larger area than the force-releasing surface, creating directional resistance to disassembly while maintaining assembly ease. This asymmetric design ensures that the connection can be assembled readily but resists disassembly attempts through geometric constraint
Solution Approach 2:
The boss structure incorporates preliminary anti-action by designing force-releasing surfaces that deflect operating tools during disassembly attempts. The geometric parameters (clamping distance L < outer diameter D) create inherent resistance before actual disassembly force is applied, preventing misoperation-induced disconnection while maintaining reliable connection
2Reliability
If the clamping distance L is reduced below the outer diameter D of bosses, then disassembly is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The boss is segmented into distinct functional surfaces: force-bearing surfaces for assembly loading and force-releasing surfaces for disassembly prevention. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized independently with specific geometric parameters, achieving reliable anti-disassembly capability through modular functional division rather than complex overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the boss structure have different local qualities optimized for specific functions. The force-bearing surfaces have larger area and specific orientation for assembly, while force-releasing surfaces have different geometry for disassembly resistance. This local quality differentiation achieves high reliability without requiring complex global structural changes
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-disassembly connector, including: a connecting portion; and at least two bosses, where the bosses protrude from an end or a peripheral wall of the connecting portion, the bosses extend along a circumferential edge of the connecting portion, each of the bosses has a force-bearing surface and a force-releasing surface that are disposed opposite to each other, and two bosses are disposed at intervals along the circumferential edge of the connecting portion or the peripheral wall of the connecting portion; and a force-bearing sideline is formed on a side of the force-bearing surface away from the connecting portion, a distance between force-bearing sidelines of the two bosses is clamping distance L, an outer diameter of each of the at least two bosses has D, and L<D.