Fluid Coupling Release Adaptor for Tight-Space Disconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quick connect and disconnect systems for fluid couplings are difficult to operate in confined spaces, often leading to over-tightened threaded connections, leaks, and challenging repairs due to alignment and disassembly issues.
Innovation Solution
A quick connect and disconnect adaptor system featuring a hinge mechanism, release tabs, and retention features that allow for easy assembly and disassembly, including a clip with lugs and wings that resiliently deflect to facilitate connection and disconnection without requiring precise alignment, and a separate quick connect release adaptor for enhanced usability in limited visibility situations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded connections are used for connecting water lines, then a secure fluid pathway is achieved, but the connections are difficult to assemble and disassemble in confined spaces, leading to over-tightening and leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate components: a fitting with external threads, a receiver with internal threads, and a clip mechanism. This segmentation allows the threaded connection to provide secure fluid pathway while the separate clip mechanism enables easy quick-connect functionality without requiring thread manipulation in confined spaces
Solution Approach 2:
A clip mechanism acts as an intermediary between the fitting and receiver. The clip engages with retention features on both components, providing a quick-connect interface that eliminates the need to manually thread connections in difficult-to-reach locations, thereby preventing over-tightening while maintaining secure fluid pathways
2Ease of operation
If conventional quick connectors are used, then assembly is simplified, but proper alignment and actuation of small elements become difficult in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates a clip that engages with retention features in multiple dimensions. The clip has wings that can be accessed from the sides and a lug that engages axially, providing multiple degrees of freedom for alignment. This multi-dimensional engagement makes it easier to align components in confined spaces compared to conventional single-dimension quick connectors
Solution Approach 2:
The clip mechanism is designed to self-align with the fitting and receiver through its geometric features. The wings and lug automatically orient themselves during insertion, reducing the need for precise manual alignment by the user in confined spaces
3Productivity
If conventional quick connectors are used, then connection speed is improved, but disassembly becomes difficult making repair or replacement difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The clip mechanism is designed to be easily extracted from the fitting-receiver assembly. The clip can be removed by actuating the release tabs, which allows for quick disassembly and facilitates repair or replacement of the fitting or receiver without complex disassembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The clip incorporates resilient elements that allow it to dynamically transition between engaged and disengaged states. The release tabs utilize elastic deformation to enable easy actuation, allowing quick connection and equally quick disconnection for maintenance purposes
4Ease of operation
If release tabs are made resilient, then easy actuation is achieved, but the tabs may not provide sufficient force for secure connection
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission function is segmented between the resilient release tabs and the rigid clip body. The tabs provide easy actuation through elastic deformation, while the clip body and its engagement features transmit the necessary compressive force to secure the connection, separating the actuation function from the force transmission function
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 system enables easy and reliable connection and disconnection of fluid couplings in tight spaces, preventing leaks and simplifying repairs by allowing for intuitive operation and reducing the risk of over-tightening, while maintaining a secure fluid pathway.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the release tabs is configured to resiliently deflect through an aperture, and each of the release tabs terminates at the center point
Implementation Method 2
the adaptor includes a hinge located between the first half and the second half. The hinge connects the first half to the second half, and the hinge permits the adaptor to travel between an open configuration and a closed configuration
Implementation Method 3
The lip extends outwardly from the bore toward the end. When the clip is in an installed position, the first lug extends at least partially through the receiver aperture, and the lip is seated in the undercut
Data Source
AI summary
A quick connect and disconnect system for a fluid coupling includes an axially extending fitting configured to be secured to a fluid conduit, a clip, and a quick connect and disconnect adaptor. The clip is coupled to the fitting and includes a base, a wing extending from the base, and a first lug extending from the first wing. The quick connect and disconnect adaptor includes a first release tab configured to resiliently deflect through an aperture of the adaptor. The adaptor is configured to transfer a compressive force to resiliently deflect the first lug to move the clip in an axial direction from an installed position to an uninstalled position.