Fluid Coupling Element With Radially Covering Skirt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid coupling elements face issues with seal ejection due to high pressure and flow rates, as protective skirts may not adequately secure the sealing gasket, leading to leaks.

Innovation Solution

A fluid coupling element design featuring a skirt that radially covers the sealing gasket and utilizes a hitching member to secure its position, preventing untimely movement and exposure to fluid forces, without relying on springs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective skirt is used to shield the sealing gasket from fluid pressure, then the seal reliability improves, but the skirt may be pushed back by high fluid pressure exceeding the spring force, exposing the seal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal reliabilityVSAvoidskirt position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The hitching member is designed to dynamically switch between two radial positions: a first position where it allows the skirt to be axially secured to the body, and a second position where it allows the skirt to be axially secured to the valve. This dynamic reconfiguration enables the system to adapt to different operational states (coupling/uncoupling) while maintaining skirt protection under high fluid pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hitching member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the skirt, valve, and body. It mediates the connection state, allowing the skirt to be selectively coupled to either the body or the valve based on the radial position of the hitching member, thereby ensuring continuous protection without relying solely on spring force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the skirt is axially secured to the body to protect the seal, then the seal is protected during uncoupling, but the valve cannot move axially relative to the skirt during coupling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal protectionVSAvoidvalve movement during coupling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically reconfigures the axial connection between skirt and either the body or valve based on the radial position of the hitching member. During uncoupling, the hitching member is in the first radial position, securing the skirt to the body for seal protection. During coupling, it switches to the second radial position, securing the skirt to the valve to enable proper valve movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hitching member is preliminarily positioned in the first radial position during uncoupling to pre-secure the skirt to the body, ensuring the seal is protected before fluid pressure acts on it. This preliminary action prevents seal exposure and damage before the coupling operation begins.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a spring is used to push the skirt forward to protect the seal, then the skirt position is maintained under normal pressure, but the spring force becomes insufficient under high pressure exceeding 200 bars

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskirt position maintenanceVSAvoidspring force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The hitching member serves as a mechanical intermediary that replaces the spring as the primary force transmission element. Instead of relying on spring force to maintain skirt position, the hitching member directly transmits axial forces between the skirt and either the body or valve, providing deterministic force transmission that is not limited by spring characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the spring-based mechanical system with a hitching member-based mechanical system. This replacement eliminates the limitations of spring force under high pressure by using a direct mechanical connection that can withstand and transmit the full magnitude of fluid forces without deformation or force loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10781957B2Fluid coupling element and fluid-coupling comprising such an element

Publication Date: 2020.09.22 STAUBLI FAVERGES SA

AI summary

A fluid coupling element has a body, a valve with a peripheral groove receiving a sealing gasket, a member for resiliently returning the valve, and a skirt positioned inside the body and movable between a first position axially freed relative to the gasket and a second position radially covering the gasket. The element has at least one hitching member axially secured to the skirt and radially movable between a first radial position for axially securing the skirt and the body and for relative axial movement of the valve relative to the skirt, and a second position for axially securing the skirt and the valve and for relative axial movement of the skirt and the body, in a configuration where the skirt covers the gasket.