Female Fluid Coupling Locking for Short Male Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing female fluid coupling elements require a significant length of the male element for coupling due to the presence of an interface member and locking ring, which increases the longitudinal bulk and complicates the fitting process, especially when the male element has a constant diameter without protrusions.

Innovation Solution

A female fluid coupling element design featuring a bolt that can move radially to oppose removal, utilizing a memory ring and resilient means to automatically transition between holding and releasing positions, allowing coupling without the need for a frustoconical surface or significant male element length, and incorporating a plunger to drive the memory ring and bolt into the holding position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an interface member and locking ring are present in the female coupling element, then automatic locking is achieved, but the longitudinal bulk and required male element length increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic lockingVSAvoidlongitudinal bulk of female element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the interface member from the female coupling element, extracting the problematic component that caused longitudinal bulk. The sealing gasket is positioned directly against the male element's peripheral surface without an intervening interface member, thereby reducing the required insertion length while maintaining sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional locking mechanism by using a cam-actuated latch that engages with a shoulder on the male element. Instead of using balls jamming against a peripheral surface as in prior art, the latch rotates and engages with a shoulder, achieving automatic locking with reduced longitudinal dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a frustoconical surface is used for automatic coupling, then automatic locking is achieved, but a significant length of male element is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic couplingVSAvoidlength of male element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the frustoconical surface approach with a cam-actuated latch mechanism. The cam surface on the male element interacts with the latch to automatically engage and lock the coupling, eliminating the need for a long frustoconical engagement surface and reducing the required male element length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a cam surface with specific curvature characteristics to achieve automatic coupling. The cam profile is designed to convert the linear insertion motion into rotational motion of the latch, enabling automatic locking without requiring a frustoconical geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of manufacture

If the male element has a constant diameter without protrusions, then manufacturing is simplified, but coupling with existing female elements becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemale element simplicityVSAvoidcoupling difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a shoulder on the male element that performs the preliminary action of engaging the latch during insertion. This shoulder is formed as an integral part of the male element, maintaining the simplicity of constant diameter manufacturing while enabling automatic coupling through the pre-configured engagement feature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by adding a shoulder feature only at the specific location where coupling engagement is needed, while the rest of the male element maintains a constant diameter. This localized modification simplifies manufacturing compared to frustoconical designs while enabling easy automatic coupling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables automatic locking and reduced longitudinal bulk, allowing coupling with male elements of reduced length and constant diameter, ensuring secure engagement without intermediate parts, thus simplifying the fitting process and enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

resilient means returning the bolt toward its holding position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11262009B2Female coupling element and fluid coupling comprising a male coupling element and said female coupling element

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 STAUBLI FAVERGES SA

AI summary

A fluid female coupling element (11), comprising a female body (21), able to receive a male coupling element (2), a bolt (41), mounted sliding transversely between a holding position and a releasing position of the male coupling element and a plunger (51), movable between forward and rear positions. To automatically oppose the removal of the male element fitted within it, even if the male element has a reduced length, the female coupling element (11) comprises a memory ring (61), movable between an advanced position for holding the bolt (41) in the releasing position and a withdrawn position allowing the movement of the bolt (41) toward its holding position, the plunger (51) driving the memory ring (61) toward the withdrawn position when the plunger moves toward the rear position and the memory ring being in the advanced position in the uncoupled position.