Pipe Connector Assembly With Delayed Valve Opening for Tire Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe connector assemblies for tire maintenance apparatuses make it difficult for users to determine if the connection is tight, leading to potential sealant leaks due to loose bonding between the connector and the tire valve.
Innovation Solution
A pipe connector assembly featuring a leak-proof valve with a valve seat, sealing ring, and reset element that ensures a sealed fluid medium path only after a tight connection is achieved, using a thimble to open the valve path and a coil spring to bias the valve core, preventing leaks by forming a sealed connection between the valve seat and tire valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple pipe connector assembly with only channel structure and threaded connection is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the connection is insufficient making it difficult to determine if bonding is tight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating a leak-proof valve mechanism that automatically seals the fluid passage before the actual connection is made. The valve is positioned upstream and closes the passage in advance, preventing any potential leakage even if the connection is not yet tight, thereby ensuring connection reliability without requiring complex additional monitoring systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary element - a seal ring - that is pressed by the valve core against the bonding face to create a reliable seal. This seal ring acts as a mediator between the connection structure and the fluid passage, ensuring that the sealing function is achieved through a dedicated intermediate component rather than relying solely on the threaded connection itself
2Reliability
If a one-way valve is added to prevent backflow, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases and does not solve the leakage problem during connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the leak-proof valve function with the connection structure itself. The valve core, valve seat, and seal ring are integrated into the pipe connector assembly, combining the sealing function with the connection mechanism. This integration ensures that the same structure that establishes the fluid path also ensures its sealing, avoiding the need for separate complex valve mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The leak-proof valve performs preliminary sealing action by closing the fluid passage before the connection is fully established. This preliminary closure prevents any potential leakage during the connection process, and the valve remains closed until the connection is confirmed tight, at which point the connection head presses the valve core open to allow fluid flow
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
Ensures a secure and leak-proof connection between the pipe connector assembly and the tire valve, preventing sealant leaks and facilitating reliable inflation or repair operations.
Implementation Method 1
a reset element that biases the valve core toward the valve seat within the internal channel
Implementation Method 2
the tire valve abuts against the sealing ring when the connection head tightly connects the pipe connector assembly with the tire valve such that the sealing ring provides a sealed fluid medium path
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pipe connector assembly and a tire maintenance apparatus having the same. The pipe connector assembly comprises a leak-proof valve, and the leak-proof valve is opened only after a sealed fluid medium path is formed between the pipe connector assembly and the tire valve when the pipe connector assembly is screwed to the tire valve. The present invention advantageously prevents fluid medium leakage at the connection between the pipe connector assembly and the tire valve.