Female Quick Coupling Deferred Opening Under Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Female quick couplings with mushroom heads are prone to early opening, leading to uncontrolled fluid leaks and hindered engagement under pressure, as the fluid pressure can interfere with the coupling process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a first and second elastically yieldable helical spring between the housing body and the mushroom head, and between the mushroom head and the fixed guide element, respectively, to defer the movement of the housing body and the mushroom head, ensuring delayed opening and complete engagement without leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the obturator has a mushroom head configuration, then the coupling can be engaged under pressure, but the obturator may open early causing uncontrolled fluid leaks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid leak preventionVSAvoidcoupling engagement control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The obturator is divided into two separate movable parts: the mushroom head and the housing body. This segmentation allows independent control of the opening action, preventing early unintended opening while maintaining controlled engagement under pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling system incorporates dynamic elements including a movable mushroom head and a movable housing body, both guided by fixed guide elements. This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt to pressure conditions while maintaining controlled operation through the deferred movement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the obturator configuration allows pressure engagement, then fluid transfer is enabled, but fluid pressure hinders completion of coupling engagement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcoupling engagement completion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Fixed guide elements act as intermediaries between the movable mushroom head and housing body, providing guided movement paths that allow the components to overcome fluid pressure resistance and complete engagement successfully.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the movement parameters by separating the opening action into two staged movements (mushroom head first, then housing body), allowing controlled progression against fluid pressure rather than requiring single-step engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the housing body and mushroom head move simultaneously, then engagement is simple, but uncontrolled movement causes leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement control mechanismVSAvoidfluid seal integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The obturator is divided into two separate movable parts: the mushroom head and the housing body. This segmentation allows independent control of the opening action, preventing early unintended opening while maintaining controlled engagement under pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mushroom head moves first as a preliminary action before the housing body moves. This sequential arrangement ensures that the opening process is controlled and prevents uncontrolled fluid leakage during the engagement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The solution ensures fluid-tight engagement with minimal operator effort, preventing leaks and allowing for balanced thrust forces to facilitate easy locking and unlocking of the coupling, ensuring reliable fluid transfer without leakage.

Implementation Method 1

The deferring means comprise a first elastically yieldable element interposed between said housing body and a fixed guide element for said housing body, and a second elastically yieldable element interposed between said mushroom head and said housing body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The first and second elastically yieldable elements comprise preferably a first and a second helical spring arranged coaxially along the direction of the axis of the coupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelical spring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

the mushroom head extends rearwards with a pin having a rear end exposed to the pressure of the fluid present in the closed valve body of the female coupling under pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 4

allowing for balanced thrust forces to facilitate easy locking and unlocking of the coupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic force: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3292341B1Female quick coupling engageable under pressure
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 ALFAGOMMA
  • EP3292341B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3292341B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3292341B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The female quick coupling engageable under pressure, comprises an outer tubular support body (2) which extends along an axis (L) of the coupling (1) and has a front end (3) and a rear end (4), a hollow valve body (5) supported inside the support body (2) and having an inlet path (6) distal from the front end (3) and an outlet path (7) proximal to the front end (3) of the support body (2), an obturator (8) slidable in the valve body (5) in the direction of the axis (L) of the coupling (1) so as to open and close the outlet path (7), the obturator (8) comprising a mushroom-shaped head (9) and a housing and support body (10) for the guided sliding of the mushroom-shaped head (9), the housing body (10) having an occlusion element engageable in a seat (20) of the valve body (5) so as to close the outlet path (7), a means being provided for deferring the movement of the housing body (10) relative to said mushroom-shaped head (9).