Fluid Coupling Locking Sleeve for Safe Pressure Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid coupling technologies for refueling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles face challenges in ensuring secure and leak-proof connections, preventing accidental disconnection under pressure, and correctly managing residual pressure to avoid fluid escape.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design featuring a central fluid channel with a spring-loaded valve and integrated locking and safety mechanisms, where the sliding sleeve controls the valve's opening and locking, ensuring automatic engagement and secure connection, and only releasing when residual pressure falls below a safe level, combined with a user-friendly handling mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the coupling uses a complex locking and safety mechanism to ensure secure connection and prevent fluid escape, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking mechanism and safety mechanism into a single integrated assembly where the locking sleeve and safety sleeve work together through shared components like the ball elements and grooves. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining both locking reliability and safety functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanisms are designed to be self-actuating through spring forces and pressure differential. The locking sleeve automatically engages when the coupling is assembled, and the safety mechanism automatically prevents opening when pressure exceeds residual pressure, eliminating the need for external control systems or additional actuators.
2Ease of operation
If the coupling automatically locks onto the tank nipple for secure connection, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed as a self-actuating system where the locking sleeve automatically engages with the tank nipple upon assembly. The spring force in the locking sleeve provides the necessary engagement force, and the ball elements automatically seat into the grooves to lock the connection without requiring manual intervention or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the locking function into a separate locking sleeve component that operates independently from the main coupling body. This separation allows the locking mechanism to be simple and automatic while keeping the rest of the coupling design clean and manageable.
3Ease of operation
If the valve sleeve is spring-loaded in the direction of fluid flow to assist opening, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens due to potential accidental opening
Solution Approach 1:
The safety mechanism is designed to prevent the valve from opening accidentally by requiring a specific sequence of events. The ball elements must first be extracted from their grooves by the locking sleeve before the valve sleeve can move, creating a preliminary barrier that counteracts the spring force and prevents unintended valve opening during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism must be activated first to extract the ball elements from the grooves before the valve sleeve can open. This preliminary action ensures that the valve only opens when the locking mechanism has been properly engaged and released, preventing accidental opening while still allowing easy operation through the spring-assisted motion.
4Reliability
If the coupling prevents detachment under pressure through the safety mechanism, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to restricted disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The safety mechanism uses pressure as a parameter to control connection stability. When pressure exceeds the residual pressure threshold, the pressure differential holds the ball elements in position, preventing detachment. When pressure drops below the threshold, the parameter changes and the ball elements can be easily extracted by the locking sleeve, allowing disconnection. This parameter-based control provides both reliability during operation and ease of disconnection when needed.
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 solution provides reliable, leak-proof, and user-friendly fluid transfer by ensuring secure connection and disconnection, preventing fluid escape, and ensuring the coupling is only released when residual pressure is safe, enhancing safety and efficiency during hydrogen refueling.
Implementation Method 1
a valve plunger kinetically coupled to a valve sleeve spring-loaded in the direction of fluid flow, and with a locking mechanism for releasably locking the coupling to a tank nipple, and a safety mechanism for releasably locking the closed valve, wherein the locking mechanism and the safety mechanism are kinetically coupled via a sliding sleeve spring-loaded against the direction of fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
the valve sleeve is pressurized and movable against the flow direction of the fluid
Implementation Method 3
the valve sleeve is pressurized and movable against the flow direction of the fluid
Implementation Method 4
the locking mechanism and the safety mechanism are kinetically coupled via a sliding sleeve
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The invention relates to a coupling 10 for transferring fluids, having a valve 30, the valve tappet 32 of which is coupled in terms of movement to a valve sleeve 31 which is prestressed by spring force in the flow direction D of the fluid, and having a locking mechanism 40 for releasably locking the coupling 10 on a tank receptacle 50, and a securing mechanism 60 for releasably blocking the closed valve 30, wherein the locking mechanism 40 and the securing mechanism 60 are coupled in terms of movement via a sliding sleeve 70 which is prestressed by spring force counter to the flow direction D of the fluid, with the result that, in a first control position A of the sliding sleeve 70, the locking mechanism 60 is unlocked and the valve 30 is closed, and, in a second control position B of the sliding sleeve 70, the securing mechanism 60 unlocks the valve sleeve 31, with the result that the valve 30 is unblocked and is open at least partially, and the valve sleeve 31 can be moved in a pressurized manner counter to the flow direction D of the fluid, wherein the securing mechanism 60 locks the sliding sleeve and opens the valve 30 completely.