Elastic Grommet Hose Coupling for High-Pressure Appliance Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coupling arrangements for household appliances require injection molding of grommets and clamping for sealing, which are inefficient and not suitable for high-pressure applications.

Innovation Solution

A coupling arrangement featuring an elastic grommet with shoulders that elastically engages with a connecting piece and a corrugated hose, eliminating the need for injection molding and clamping, allowing for a reliable high-pressure seal by using a stiff material for the hose and a rigid material for the connecting piece.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If injection molding of grommet and clamping are used, then sealing connection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and time are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing connectionVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sealing function from the complex injection molding and clamping process, concentrating it into a simple elastic grommet with gripping shoulders that provides sealing through elastic deformation alone, eliminating the need for additional molding and clamping operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the grommet from rigid to elastic, allowing it to deform and grip the connecting piece and corrugated hose through elastic forces, thereby achieving sealing without complex mechanical fastening or injection molding processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If elastic grommet is used for connection, then manufacturing is simplified, but pressure resistance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidwithdrawal pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs curved gripping shoulders on the elastic grommet that engage with the connecting piece and corrugated hose, creating a mechanical interlock through geometric curvature that significantly increases withdrawal pressure resistance while maintaining simple elastic engagement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite connection system combining the elastic grommet material with the rigid connecting piece and corrugated hose, where the elastic component provides simple engagement while the rigid components and geometric shoulders provide pressure resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If stiff material is used for hose and rigid material for connecting piece, then structural strength is improved, but flexibility during assembly is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidassembly flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the elastic grommet as an intermediary component between the stiff corrugated hose and rigid connecting piece, allowing the grommet to deform and accommodate alignment variations during assembly while the hose and connecting piece maintain their structural strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution provides a reliable sealing connection that can withstand pressures greater than 5 bar, with the elastic grommet ensuring a secure fit without the need for clamping, enabling the use of stiff hose and rigid connecting piece materials.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic grommet pushed onto the connecting piece in a mounting direction, the grommet having a first shoulder on the inside that engages behind the shoulder of the connecting piece and a second shoulder on the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2947194B1Coupling assembly for a domestic appliance, device for a domestic appliance and domestic appliance
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 SCHLEMMER GMBH
  • EP2947194B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2947194B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention creates a coupling arrangement (36) for a household appliance (2), with: a connecting piece (16), which has a channel (5) on the inside for transporting a fluid and on the outside has a shoulder (18), one on the connecting piece (16 ) elastic grommet (19) pushed on in a mounting direction (M), the grommet (19) having a first shoulder (21) engaging behind the shoulder (18) of the connecting piece (16) on the inside and a second shoulder (22) on the outside, and a corrugated hose (26), which has a shoulder (35) on the inside of one end section (28) thereof, which engages behind the second shoulder (22) of the spout (19).