Plastic Fluid Line Coupling With Spring Ring Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid line couplings fail in high-pressure, high-temperature charge air applications due to point loading and tilting forces, leading to connector system failures and material limitations, making it difficult to use plastic couplings effectively.
Innovation Solution
A plastic fluid line coupling design featuring a coupling head and body with circumferentially aligned slots and radially outward support webs, a flat spring steel ring with locking claws and support tongues, and conical geometry to distribute forces evenly and prevent overloading, along with beveled support tongues and locking lugs for enhanced stability and secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid connection between coupling body and nozzle is made to ensure joining within manufacturing tolerances, then connection stability is improved, but localized stress concentration occurs leading to coupling head cracks at locking element engagement points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane element that can deform elastically to compensate for tilting forces and misalignments. This flexible component absorbs stress that would otherwise concentrate at rigid connection points, preventing cracks while maintaining connection stability. The membrane's ability to flex and return to shape resolves the contradiction between rigid stability and stress concentration.
2Weight of moving object
If plastic material is used for coupling to reduce cost and weight, then manufacturing cost and weight are improved, but the coupling fails under high pressure and temperature conditions in charge air lines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the design parameters of the plastic coupling to withstand high pressure and temperature. This includes optimizing the wall thickness, adding reinforcement ribs, designing appropriate locking mechanisms with sufficient engagement surface area, and selecting plastic materials with high heat and pressure resistance. These parameter changes enable plastic couplings to reliably serve in charge air line applications previously requiring metal.
3Reliability
If locking claws are positioned to engage with coupling head to secure coupling plug, then locking reliability is improved, but point loading causes excessive surface pressure leading to coupling head cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the locking claws to serve multiple functions: they provide primary locking engagement to secure the coupling plug, simultaneously distribute loads across a broader area of the coupling head, and work in conjunction with the flexible membrane to compensate for misalignments. This multi-functionality allows the locking mechanism to maintain reliability while reducing surface pressure concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from point contact locking to distributed area contact by designing locking claws with broader engagement surfaces and incorporating a flexible membrane that spans across the coupling head. This dimensional change from 0D point contact to 2D area contact distributes the locking forces, reducing surface pressure while maintaining locking reliability.
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 design allows for the use of plastic materials in high-stress applications by distributing forces over a wider area, reducing the risk of overloading and improving the coupling's durability and reliability under dynamic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the locking component in the area of the coupling head resiliently encompasses the coupling head
Implementation Method 2
The conical part of the coupling plug pushes the locking claws outward when inserted into the coupling sleeve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a reversibly detachable fluid line coupling (1), at least comprising a coupling sleeve (2, 3), a locking element (7) and a coupling plug (8). The object on which the invention is based is that of providing a fluid line coupling (1) of the type described at the outset that can be constructed from plastic while avoiding the aforementioned difficulties. This object is achieved in that the locking component (7) takes the form of a flat open spring steel ring (70) having latching claws (72), which project radially into the interior of the spring steel ring (70) and are distributed over the circumference of the spring steel ring (70), and having axially oriented supporting tongues (73), wherein, in the region of the coupling head (2), the locking component (7) resiliently encompasses the coupling head (2) in such a way that the latching claws (72) project through the slots (20) in the coupling head (2) into the interior of the coupling sleeve (2, 3), and the supporting tongues (73) of the spring steel ring (70) correspond to the supporting webs (21) of the coupling head (2) in such a way that in each case one supporting tongue (73) is assigned to one supporting web (21).