Coupling Socket Retainer With Stable Indicator Legs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling bushings and fluid couplings face issues with the stability of indicator legs, leading to premature insertion and insufficient locking due to material deterioration and improper handling, resulting in a reduced service life and difficulty in releasing the plug lock.
Innovation Solution
The design stabilizes the indicator legs by preventing radial deflection during insertion, using a connecting web to maintain leg distance and enhance spring elasticity, allowing for automatic retraction and easy release of the plug lock, ensuring a robust and user-friendly mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the indicator legs are made thin to allow radial expansion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability and service life deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator legs are designed to be dynamically flexible during operation, allowing radial expansion when needed, while the connecting web provides structural stability to prevent material deterioration. This dynamic design enables the legs to expand radially for operation while maintaining overall structural integrity through the rigid connecting web.
2Extent of automation
If the legs are made mobile to enable spring-elastic deflection, then the automatic retraction function is improved, but the material durability worsens due to stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting web merges the two indicator legs into a single integrated structure, distributing mechanical stress across the combined component rather than concentrating it at individual leg attachment points. This merging maintains the spring-elastic deflection capability for automatic retraction while significantly improving material durability by eliminating stress concentration points.
3Ease of operation
If the plug lock is designed for automatic retraction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to premature insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting web is pre-designed with sufficient rigidity to prevent premature radial deflection of the indicator legs before proper insertion. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that automatic retraction only occurs when the coupling plug is correctly positioned, preventing premature insertion while maintaining ease of operation.
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
This solution provides a stable and long-lasting locking mechanism that automatically engages the plug lock upon complete insertion, while allowing easy disengagement, enhancing the robustness and user-friendliness of the coupling system.
Implementation Method 1
Both can have a negative impact on the spring elasticity of the U-legs, allowing premature insertion and/or insufficient retraction of the connector locking device into the coupling body.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A coupling socket 1 comprises a coupling body 2 and a plug locking device 7. The plug locking device 7 includes a retainer 8 and an indicator 9, and can be inserted radially into the coupling body 2. The indicator 9 has two legs 11a, 11b and a back 12, with the ends of the legs 11a, 11b facing away from the back 12 corresponding to a base 13 of the coupling body 2. When a coupling plug 3 is inserted into the coupling socket 1, the plug locking device 7 is automatically moved from an extended position to a retracted position. The coupling socket 1 is designed such that the base ends of the legs 11a, 11b maintain their distance from each other during their deflection by the coupling plug 3.