Female Pipe Coupling With Removable Communication Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing female pipe coupling members with communication terminals require troublesome disassembly and reassembly for replacement, especially when the communication terminal is damaged, due to the integrated design of the communication cable and connector terminal within the coupling body.

Innovation Solution

A female pipe coupling member design featuring removable front and rear cover members allows for the communication assembly to be replaced without disassembling the coupling body, with the communication cable extending through the cover members and the connector terminal being disconnected and reconnected externally, enabling easy replacement of the communication assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the communication terminal is integrated within the female pipe coupling body, then the structure is compact and reliable, but the replacement of the communication terminal requires troublesome disassembly and reassembly operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication terminal replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The female pipe coupling member is divided into a coupling body and a separate communication terminal assembly. The communication terminal assembly includes the communication terminal, communication cable, and connector terminal, which can be detached from the coupling body. This segmentation allows the communication terminal to be replaced without disassembling the entire coupling body, resolving the contradiction between structural reliability and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the communication cable extends through inside the female pipe coupling body, then the connection is protected and stable, but the replacement requires whole-unit disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoiddisassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication cable path is segmented into two portions: a first portion extending through the coupling body and a second portion extending through the communication terminal assembly. This allows the cable to remain protected within the coupling body while the terminal assembly can be independently removed and replaced, reducing disassembly complexity while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The communication terminal assembly is extracted as a separate replaceable unit from the coupling body. The connector terminal is designed to connect to a corresponding connector on the coupling body, allowing the communication terminal assembly to be removed and replaced without affecting the main coupling structure, thus simplifying replacement operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the communication terminal is provided at the front face of the female pipe coupling member, then communication function is achieved, but the terminal is vulnerable to damage from drops or impacts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication functionalityVSAvoidphysical damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The communication terminal is extracted from the main coupling body and placed on a separate communication terminal assembly. This allows the terminal to maintain its front-facing communication position while being protectively housed in a detachable assembly that can be easily replaced if damaged, reducing the impact of physical damage on the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication terminal assembly is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component. If the communication terminal is damaged due to drops or impacts, the entire assembly can be quickly discarded and replaced with a new one, minimizing downtime and recovery costs while maintaining communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Facilitates the replacement of the communication terminal and associated components without disassembling the female pipe coupling body, reducing operational complexity and minimizing the risk of damage during handling.

Implementation Method 1

which perform transmission and reception of information by infrared rays or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3608574B1Female pipe coupling member having communication terminal
Publication Date: 2022.06.15 NITTO KOHKI CO LTD
  • EP3608574B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3608574B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3608574B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided is a pipe coupling member configured to facilitate the removal of a communication terminal therefrom. The pipe coupling member has a female pipe coupling body (12), and a cylindrical front cover member (34) and rear cover member (36) which are fitted to the female pipe coupling body from a forward end side and a rear end side, respectively, of the female pipe coupling body. The front cover member includes a communication assembly (78) comprising a communication terminal (72) provided at the forward end, a communication cable (74) extending rearward from the communication terminal inside the front cover member and further extending rearward from the rear end of the female pipe coupling body, and a connector terminal at the rear end of the communication cable. The rear cover member is configured to allow the connector terminal to be passed forward inside the rear cover member along a hose attached to the rear end of the female pipe coupling body when the rear cover member is displaced rearward from the female pipe coupling body in a state where the hose and the communication cable are allowed to pass inside the rear cover member in the longitudinal direction.