Coupling Fitting With Inclined Engagement Face And Safety Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional couplings used in large-capacity foam-water discharge systems are prone to breakage due to abnormal pressure surges, leading to safety hazards and operational inefficiencies, particularly in firefighting applications where high-pressure hoses and couplings are subjected to excessive loads beyond their working or test pressures.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design featuring a forged aluminum alloy construction with a wide fluid passage and a coil spring arrangement that maintains engagement even under excessive loads, incorporating an inclined engagement face to enhance engagement strength and a deformation portion that creates a leak path to relieve pressure, while also providing fluid ejection ports to alert operators of abnormal conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional couplings are used in large-capacity foam-water discharge systems, then the system can operate under normal conditions, but the couplings are prone to breakage under abnormal pressure surges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a safety valve mechanism that activates before the coupling breaks under abnormal pressure. The safety valve includes a valve body that opens at predetermined pressure thresholds, allowing controlled pressure relief through ejection ports before the coupling reaches its breaking point, thus cushioning the system against catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of pressure surge into a beneficial safety mechanism. When abnormal pressure occurs, the safety valve intentionally allows fluid ejection through designated ports, transforming the destructive pressure energy into a controlled release mechanism that protects the coupling from breakage while providing visual warning to operators
2Strength
If the coupling structure is made robust to withstand high pressure, then strength improves, but the coupling becomes heavy and hard to maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coupling into functional segments: a main coupling body for connection, and a separate safety valve mechanism with movable valve body. This segmentation allows the coupling body to be optimized for strength while the safety valve handles pressure management, preventing the need to over-engineer the entire coupling for maximum pressure resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the coupling by introducing a safety valve that activates at predetermined pressure thresholds. This allows the coupling to operate lightly under normal conditions while automatically adjusting its pressure tolerance through the valve mechanism, avoiding the need for consistently heavy construction
3Reliability
If a safety valve mechanism is added to prevent breakage, then reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety valve mechanism directly into the coupling structure, with the valve body forming an integrated part of the coupling assembly. The ejection ports are incorporated into the coupling body, and the spring mechanism is contained within the same housing, eliminating the need for separate safety valve components and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical connection between hoses, maintains sealing through engagement hooks, and incorporates pressure relief through the integrated safety valve. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate safety devices, reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety
4Strength
If the engagement face is inclined to enhance engagement strength, then coupling strength improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric engagement hooks with inclined engagement faces that engage in a specific directional sequence. This asymmetry provides mechanical advantage for self-tightening during engagement while the inclined faces guide the coupling components into proper alignment, reducing the tolerance requirements compared to symmetric flat-face designs
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 coupling effectively prevents breakage of heavy and hard components, maintains coupling integrity under high pressures, and alerts operators to abnormal conditions through fluid ejection, enhancing safety and operational reliability in firefighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring arrangement that maintains engagement even under excessive loads
Implementation Method 2
a deformation portion that creates a leak path to relieve pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a coupling has an engagement face of a engagement hook which is set at an angle in a range where the engagement face is still inclined at a positive angle to be maintained a coupling state of the couplings, even if a fluid leaks by opening the sealing portion of the couplings at a state where the coupling state is maintained or even if a hose or the like fitted to the coupling is burst when the coupling, the hose, etc., are applied the high pressure for some reason or other while in use.