Coupling Bushing Seal Groove with Decoupling Ring for Smooth Plug Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coupling bushings lack flexibility in rotating the head part relative to the sealing part and face challenges in smoothly inserting the coupling plug due to the integration of the head part and sealing groove, which limits manufacturing efficiency and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A coupling bushing design that includes a separately manufactured decoupling ring, allowing the head part to be decoupled from the sealing groove, enabling rotational symmetry for flexibility and ease of plug insertion, while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through modular production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the head part is fully inserted into the sealing part to form an integral connection, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the rotational flexibility between head part and sealing part is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidrotational flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling bushing is divided into separate components: the head part, the sealing part, and the decoupling ring. The decoupling ring acts as an intermediary element that connects the head part to the sealing part without forming an integral connection, allowing the head part and sealing part to rotate relative to each other while maintaining sealing reliability through the decoupling ring's engagement with the sealing groove.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the head part and sealing groove are integrated, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the ease of inserting the coupling plug is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidplug insertion ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The decoupling ring serves as an intermediary component between the head part and the sealing groove. It features a non-rotatably connectable design with the sealing groove while maintaining rotational freedom relative to the head part. This intermediary structure facilitates smoother coupling plug insertion by providing a dedicated sealing interface that is optimized for plug engagement, separate from the head part's structural functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the sealing groove deviates from rotational symmetry to even out axial forces, then the plug insertion smoothness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplug insertion smoothnessVSAvoidsealing groove geometry complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex asymmetric sealing groove geometry is extracted from the head part and transferred to the decoupling ring. This allows the head part to maintain simple rotational symmetry for manufacturing ease, while the decoupling ring incorporates the asymmetric sealing groove features needed for smooth plug insertion. The decoupling ring effectively carries the geometric complexity away from the main head part structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4484816A1Clutch socket with an easy running seal
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 TI AUTOMOTIVE FULDABRUCK
  • EP4484816A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4484816A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4484816A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a coupling bushing (1) comprising a bushing body (2), wherein the bushing body (2) has a sealing groove (8). The sealing groove (8) comprises a groove base (9) and an inner groove wall (10) as well as an outer groove wall (11). The inner groove wall (10) and/or the outer groove wall (11) has at least one point whose complete circumferential path, viewed in longitudinal section of the coupling bushing (1), deviates at least partially from a perpendicular to a central axis (M). The bushing body (2) comprises a head part (12) and a sealing part (13), wherein the head part (12) and the sealing part (13) are manufactured separately from one another and connected to each other. The sealing part (13) has the groove base (9) and the inner groove wall (10). The coupling bushing (1) comprises a decoupling ring (14), wherein the decoupling ring (14) is manufactured separately from the head part (12).The decoupling ring (14) forms at least a section of the outer groove wall (11) with at least a part of its back side (15).