Quick-fit Coupling Elongated Coil Springs Pressure Drop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick-fit couplings for pressurized fluids face challenges in minimizing pressure drops while maintaining external diameters and ensuring mechanical strength, as pressure drops increase with fluid velocity and decrease with internal diameter, and components like the stem cannot be reduced in diameter to enhance fluid passage without compromising mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates elongated coil helical springs with a rectangular cross section parallel to the axis, allowing for a larger fluid passage cross section within the valve body without reducing mechanical strength, achieved by modifying the number of coils and pitch to maintain rigidity, and a locking mechanism using a drive sleeve and springs to facilitate movement between valve body parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the internal diameter of the valve body is increased to minimize pressure drops, then fluid flow efficiency is improved, but the external diameter of the coupling must be increased which violates standardized dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cross-sectional shape of the helical spring from circular to rectangular with elongated coils, transforming the spring's spatial occupation. This dimensional change allows the spring to fit within the standardized external diameter while providing sufficient clearance for a larger internal valve body passage, thus reducing pressure drops without increasing external dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the helical spring by changing its cross-sectional shape and coil configuration. By elongating the coils in the axial direction and adjusting the pitch, the spring maintains its mechanical properties while occupying less radial space, enabling increased internal diameter for fluid passage within standardized external dimensions
2Loss of energy
If the diameter of components like the stem is reduced to increase fluid passage cross section, then pressure drops are minimized, but mechanical strength is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the spring's cross-sectional shape, using a rectangular profile with elongated coils rather than a symmetric circular profile. This asymmetric design allows optimization of space distribution - providing sufficient material for mechanical strength while creating asymmetric clearance patterns that maximize fluid passage area, thus reducing pressure drops without compromising strength
Solution Approach 2:
By transitioning from a circular to a rectangular cross-section with elongated coils, the spring redistributes its volume in a different dimensional configuration. This allows the valve body internal diameter to be increased for better fluid flow while the spring's elongated coil structure maintains the necessary mechanical strength through optimized material distribution
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 configuration minimizes pressure drops while maintaining the external diameters of the coupling and ensuring adequate mechanical strength, allowing for efficient fluid flow without compromising mechanical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a first helical spring positioned in said hollow space, said second valve body part being movable with respect to said first valve body part in contrast and by action of a first helical spring
Implementation Method 2
said sleeve being movable with respect to said valve body in contrast and by action of a second helical spring positioned in said hollow space
Data Source
AI summary
A quick-fit coupling (1) for pressurized fluid, comprising a hollow longitudinal valve body (3) having at least a first valve body part (4) and a second valve body part (5) that is coaxially movable with respect to the first valve body part (4), a shutter stem (6) positioned in the valve body (3) coaxially to the longitudinal axis (L) of the valve body (3), a longitudinal hollow body (7) for containing the valve body (3), disposed coaxially to the valve body (3) and defining, with the valve body (3), a hollow space (8), a drive sleeve (9) for driving the second part (5) of the valve body (3) and disposed in the hollow space (8), the second valve body part (5) being movable with respect to first valve body part (4) in contrast and by action of a first helical spring (10) positioned in the hollow space (8), the sleeve (9) being movable with respect to the valve body (3) in contrast and by action of a second helical spring (13) positioned in the hollow space (8), at least one helical spring (10, 13) having coils with a cross section elongated in shape in the direction parallel to the axis of the helical spring.