Fluid Coupling Conical Spring Valve Pressure Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid couplings experience significant pressure loss due to complex fluid passage designs, reduced effective opening areas, and low durability, making them unsuitable for high-flow applications with minimal pressure loss.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a conical member, such as a conical coil spring or conical cup, to compress springs between the valve and valve holder, maintaining a consistent fluid passage diameter and reducing vortex generation, along with a streamlined valve holder and integrated supporting legs to enhance flow and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional fluid passage design with valve holder and spring is used, then the fluid coupling can be assembled and function, but pressure loss increases and effective opening area reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the valve holder and spring components from the fluid passage design. By eliminating these intermediate components, the fluid can flow directly through the coupling interface without navigating around valve mechanisms, thereby reducing pressure loss and increasing the effective opening area while maintaining the coupling function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the coupling interface into distinct functional zones with optimized fluid passages. The plug and socket are designed with complementary fluid passage configurations that create a direct, unobstructed flow path when mated, separating the sealing function from the flow path to minimize turbulence and pressure loss
2Reliability
If conventional valve holder structure is used, then the valve can be supported, but durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely removes the valve holder structure from the design. The valve is supported directly by the plug body through integrated support features, eliminating the intermediate valve holder component that caused durability issues in conventional designs
3Ease of manufacture
If complex fluid passage with multiple components is used, then the coupling can be sealed and connected, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into fewer components. The plug and socket are designed as integrated units where the fluid passage, sealing surface, and structural support functions are combined into single molded parts, eliminating the need for separate valve holders, springs, and multiple assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and component complexity
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
This configuration minimizes pressure loss, increases the effective opening area, and improves durability, allowing for a low-pressure-loss fluid coupling capable of handling high flow rates with reduced manufacturing costs and component complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a conical member, such as a conical coil spring or conical cup, to compress springs between the valve and valve holder
Implementation Method 2
maintaining a consistent fluid passage diameter and reducing vortex generation, along with a streamlined valve holder
Data Source
AI summary
In the fluid coupling for connecting the fluid passages of a plug (1) and a socket (2), a valve (33), a valve holder (31) and a spring (32) disposed in a compressed state between the valve (33) and the valve holder (31) are accommodated inside each of the plug (1) and the socket (2) to be connected to each other the plug (1) is inserted into the socket (2), the valve (33) of the plug (1) and the valve (33) of the socket (2) make contact with each other so that the valves (33) are retracted resisting an urging force of the spring (32). This fluid coupling further includes conical members (32, 51) which form a conical external shape along a line connecting the outside diameter portion of the valve (33) and the outside diameter portion of the valve holder (31) when the valve (33) of the plug (1) and the valve (33) of the socket (2) make contact with each other, so that the springs (32) are compressed between the valve (33) and the valve holder (31).