Expandable Hose Structure to Prevent Connector Kinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard garden hoses are prone to kinking, especially near the connector, due to their fixed length and diameter, which makes them bulky to store and cumbersome to use.
Innovation Solution
A hose design that includes an inner tube made of elastic material and an outer tube made of non-elastic material, with a coil spring positioned within the inner tube adjacent the connector to bias the inner tube outwardly against the outer tube, preventing kinking and enabling correct expansion when pressurized liquid is introduced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard garden hose is constructed with fixed length and diameter, then it maintains structural stability, but it becomes bulky to store and cumbersome to use
Solution Approach 1:
The hose transitions from a static fixed-dimension structure to a dynamic structure that changes volume and dimensions in response to internal pressure. When water flows through the hose, the elastic inner tube expands, causing the entire hose to extend to its full operational length and diameter. When not in use, the hose contracts to a compact size for easy storage.
2Ease of operation
If a standard garden hose is constructed to maintain tubular shape, then it maintains structural integrity, but the weight of the hose forces it to bend and kink when pulled during use
Solution Approach 1:
The hose utilizes changes in physical parameters (pressure, volume, shape) to eliminate kinking. The elastic inner tube allows the hose to expand into a larger diameter when pressurized, which prevents the hose from bending sharply and kinking. The coil spring further maintains structural support to prevent kinking near the connector.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an expandable hose is designed without a support mechanism, then it reduces complexity, but it tends to kink especially adjacent the connector
Solution Approach 1:
A coil spring is introduced as an intermediary support element within the hose structure. The spring is positioned inside the elastic inner tube and provides mechanical support to prevent kinking, particularly near the connector area. The spring works in conjunction with the elastic tube to maintain hose integrity without adding excessive complexity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a coil spring is positioned within the inner tube to bias it outwardly, then it prevents kinking near the connector, but it increases the complexity of the hose structure
Solution Approach 1:
The hose employs a flexible elastic inner tube that can expand and contract while maintaining its structural function. This flexible shell approach allows the hose to be lightweight and adaptable, and when combined with the coil spring, provides kinking resistance without requiring rigid or complex structural elements.
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 hose effectively prevents kinking near the connector, allowing for correct expansion and contraction, making it more manageable in storage and use compared to standard hoses.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring positioned within the inner tube adjacent the connector to bias the inner tube outwardly against the outer tube
Implementation Method 2
the inner tube is held in frictional contact with the outer tube
Implementation Method 3
the inner tube fills with the liquid resulting in an increase in fluid pressure within the inner tube, the increase in fluid pressure expands the inner tube longitudinally
Implementation Method 4
the inner tube being formed of an elastic material that stretches from a first length and a first diameter to a second length and a second diameter
Data Source
AI summary
A hose for directing a flow of liquid from a source of pressurized liquid has an outer tube and an inner tube each having a first end and a second end. The outer tube can stretch from an inner length and diameter to a maximum length and diameter, and the inner tube is within the outer tube and is formed of an elastic material that stretches from a first length and diameter to a second length and diameter. Expansion of the inner tube upon receiving the flow of liquid expands the outer tube to the maximum length and diameter. A proximal coupler is secured to the first ends and is constructed to couple the hose to the source of pressurized liquid. A coil spring is positioned within the inner tube adjacent the proximal coupler, the coil spring having a diameter that is large enough to bias the inner tube outwardly.