Two-Part Fluid Coupling Male Element for Easier Ball Housing Machining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing male fluid connection elements are challenging to manufacture due to the need for hard and ductile stainless materials, which generate significant machining forces and inaccuracies when machining cooling fluid connections containing aggressive agents.
Innovation Solution
A male fluid connection element with a crown and radial housings made from two easily separable parts, allowing for easier machining and assembly, where the crown is formed by assembling a first part with a distal bearing surface and a second part with a proximal bearing surface, and longitudinal grooves facilitate the retention of locking balls within radial housings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hard and ductile stainless steel materials are used to manufacture male fluid connection elements, then reliability and resistance to aggressive cooling fluids are improved, but machining precision deteriorates due to significant machining forces
Solution Approach 1:
The male connection element is divided into two separate parts: a body and a crown. The body contains the internal passage and is made of hard stainless steel for resistance to aggressive fluids, while the crown containing the radial housings and locking ball mechanisms is made of a more easily machinable material. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific functional requirements without compromising the other.
2Reliability
If hard stainless steel materials are used for the crown and radial housings, then reliability in aggressive environments is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to difficult machining
Solution Approach 1:
The crown is separated from the body as an independent component. The body is manufactured from hard stainless steel to resist aggressive cooling fluids, while the crown can be manufactured from a softer, more easily machined material or through different manufacturing processes such as casting or forming, significantly improving ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection element uses composite construction with different materials for different components. The body uses hard stainless steel for chemical resistance, while the crown uses a more ductile and easily formed material, creating a composite structure that optimizes both reliability and manufacturability.
3Device complexity
If the crown is made as a single integrated piece, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulty in machining radial housings with locking ball constrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The crown is divided into a first part and a second part that are assembled together. The radial housings are formed in one part while the constrictions for retaining the locking balls are formed in the other part. This segmentation allows each feature to be manufactured with high precision using appropriate processes, then assembled to form the complete crown.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial housings and constrictions are prepared in advance as separate features in different parts of the crown assembly. The locking balls are received in the radial housings with constrictions that are pre-formed in the respective parts before final assembly, allowing for precise machining or forming of each feature independently.
Data Source
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AI summary
Fluidic-coupling male element (2) intended to be coupled to a female element. The male element comprises a ring (32) defining an annular space (38) and in which ring radial housings (60) are formed. Locking balls (62) are housed in the radial housings and are able to move radially between an inward position and an outward position. The balls are retained in their respective radial housing by narrowings consisting of internal projections (56) and external projections (57) which are formed respectively where each radial housing meets the internal face (34) and external face (36) of the ring. The ring comprises a first part (40) and an annular second part (42), which parts are secured to one another. Longitudinal slots (52) are formed in one of either the first or second parts (40 or 42) of the ring.