Double-Walled Hose Coupling With Axially Offset Fluid Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing couplings for double-walled tubes or hoses are often cumbersome, expensive, and have limited durability, making them difficult to attach and maintain, especially in non-specialized environments, and they do not efficiently manage fluid transfer and safety in high-pressure and high-temperature applications.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design featuring coaxially arranged sleeves for double-walled tubes or hoses, with an inner fluid conduit and an outer fluid conduit that allows axial displacement of fluid connector parts, enabling easier mounting and dismounting, using materials like thermoplastics or metals, and incorporating features like latching teeth and anti-kink protection for enhanced stability and fluid tightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional couplings are used for double-walled tubes or hoses, then fluid connection between devices can be realized, but the coupling becomes cumbersome, expensive, and difficult to attach and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling is divided into multiple functional components: an outer coupling body with an outer fluid conduit for receiving the double-walled tube, and a separate inner coupling element with an inner fluid conduit that can be inserted into the tube's inner sheath. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the attachment process while maintaining fluid tightness through dedicated sealing mechanisms at each interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediate inner coupling element that mediates between the outer coupling body and the tube's inner sheath. This intermediate element provides a simplified attachment interface for the inner tube while transferring forces and maintaining sealing, making the overall attachment process easier without compromising the reliability of the fluid connection.
2Reliability
If complex coupling techniques are used to ensure durable and leak-free connections, then connection reliability improves, but time consumption and tool requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling design incorporates self-aligning and self-sealing features that reduce the need for complex assembly procedures and specialized tools. The inner coupling element is designed to automatically position itself within the inner sheath, and the sealing mechanisms are configured to engage automatically upon insertion, enabling durable leak-free connections to be made quickly without requiring specialized equipment or extensive technician expertise.
3Ease of operation
If axial displacement of fluid connector parts is implemented, then ease of mounting and dismounting improves, but coupling structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling incorporates dynamic elements that allow axial displacement of the inner coupling element relative to the outer coupling body. This dynamic capability enables the connector parts to move axially during mounting and dismounting operations, significantly easing the installation process. The dynamic structure includes movable sealing elements and flexible connection points that adapt to the displacement while maintaining integrity, balancing improved ease of operation with controlled structural complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement (1, 2) of a coupling (3) and a double-walled tube or hose (4). The double-walled tube or hose (4) comprises two coaxially arranged sheaths (5, 6). The coupling (3) comprises: a first, inner sleeve (14), surrounding an inner fluid conduit (7) for transfer of a first fluid, wherein the inner fluid conduit (7) is configured to fluidly connect with the fluid conduit (7) formed by the first, inner sheath (14) of the flexible tube or hose (4); a second sleeve (15), surrounding the first, inner sleeve (14); a third sleeve (16), surrounding the second sleeve (15); and a fourth, outer sleeve (17), surrounding the third sleeve (16). The first (14) and the second (15) sleeve form a receiving space (27) for receiving the first, inner sheath (5) of an end (13) of the double-walled flexible tube or hose (4); the third (16) and fourth (17) sleeve form a receiving space (28) for receiving an end (13) of a second, outer sheath (6) of the double-walled flexible tube or hose (4); and the second (15) and third (16) sleeve form an outer fluid conduit (23) for transfer of a second fluid, wherein the outer fluid conduit (23) is configured to fluidly connect with the fluid conduit formed by the clearance (8) between the first, inner (5) and the second, outer sheath (6) of the double-walled flexible tube or hose (4). The fluid connector part (19) of the inner fluid conduit (7) of the coupling (3) and the fluid connector part (25) of the outer fluid conduit (23) of the coupling (3) are displaced from each other in an axial direction of the coupling (3).