Fluid Adapter Eliminates Gasket Rings in Compression Fittings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid system connections, particularly compression fittings, often rely on gasket rings and locking rings for sealing, which can lead to leakage issues due to material creep under pressure and potential thread stripping, especially in threaded connections.
Innovation Solution
An adapter with a body, compression, and flange portion that compresses a resilient seal against a sealing shoulder of a compression fitting, eliminating the need for a gasket ring or locking ring, and allowing for adjustable connections to various fluid system components without relying on threaded connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gasket rings and locking rings are used in compression fittings, then the connection can be established, but leakage occurs due to material creep under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gasket ring and locking ring from the compression fitting assembly, replacing them with an integrated adapter system. The adapter includes a body portion that inserts into the fitting port and a flange portion that receives the fitting nut, eliminating the need for separate gasket and locking ring components while preventing leakage through direct compression of the seal against the sealing shoulder.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: the body portion provides seal compression, the flange portion provides structural support and nut engagement, and the compression portion directly compresses the resilient seal. This merging eliminates the need for separate gasket rings and locking rings, creating a more reliable connection that resists material creep.
2Ease of operation
If threaded connections are used to attach fluid system components, then the connection can be established, but thread stripping occurs under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates threaded connections between the compression fitting and fluid system components by using an adapter with a flange portion that receives the fitting nut and a body portion that connects to the component. This removes the threaded interface that is prone to stripping while maintaining ease of assembly through the same nut-tightening process.
3Ease of manufacture
If compression fittings are made from polyolefin materials, then the fittings can be manufactured, but material creep occurs under pressure leading to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter is constructed from composite materials, specifically a polymeric material with viscoelastic properties that provides both ease of manufacture and resistance to material creep under pressure. The viscoelastic nature of the material allows it to maintain seal compression without creping, solving the reliability issue while retaining manufacturing advantages.
4Strength
If locking rings are used to secure compression fittings, then the connection can be maintained, but the locking rings can strip threads and cause leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the locking ring component entirely, replacing its securing function with an integrated adapter system where the flange portion receives the fitting nut and the body portion connects to the fluid system component. This eliminates the thread stripping issue while maintaining connection strength through the direct structural connection of the adapter.
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 adapter provides a leak-free fluid connection between compression fittings and fluid system components, reducing the risk of leakage and thread stripping, and can be adapted for use with multiple fittings and materials, enhancing the reliability and versatility of fluid system connections.
Implementation Method 1
the compression portion compresses a resilient seal against a sealing shoulder of the fitting
Implementation Method 2
compresses a resilient seal against a sealing shoulder
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary adapter configured as a transition between a fitting and a fluid system component. In one exemplary embodiment, the adapter is configured as a transition between a compression fitting and a fluid system component. The adapter comprises a body portion, a compression portion, and a flange portion. A first end of the body portion is inserted into a port of the compression fitting and the compression portion compresses a resilient seal against a sealing shoulder of the fitting. A nut of the compression fitting engages the flange portion of the adapter to connect the adapter to the compression fitting. A second end of the body portion is connected to a fluid system component. The adapter provides a fluid tight connection between the compression fitting and the fluid system component without using a gasket ring or a locking ring of the compression fitting.