Fluid Device Unit With Elastic Holding Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for fixing fluid device units to installation surfaces result in larger installation areas and difficulties with mounting and dismounting due to protrusion and the need to work below the surface.
Innovation Solution
A fluid device unit design featuring a main body part, a base part, and a coupling part with elastically deformable holding members that allow for easy mounting and dismounting by pressing coupling members into partially opened holding members, reducing the installation area and facilitating surface interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a through-hole is bored in the base part and a fastening bolt is inserted from above, then the fastening is secure, but the base part protrudes from the main body part making the installation area larger
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part is inserted into the base part, with the holding member nested within the base part structure. The coupling part fits inside the base part's internal cavity, allowing secure fastening without external protrusion, thus reducing installation area while maintaining fastening reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism transitions from a vertical protrusion approach to a horizontal insertion approach. The coupling part is inserted laterally into the base part through an insertion hole, changing the dimension of fastening action and eliminating the need for base part protrusion, thereby reducing installation footprint
2Area of stationary object
If a fastening hole is bored in the bottom surface and bolt is inserted from below, then the installation area is reduced, but mounting and dismounting becomes difficult due to working below the installation surface
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is segmented into two independent parts: the base part fixed to the installation surface and the coupling part that can be independently inserted and removed. This segmentation allows the coupling part to be mounted and dismounted from above through the insertion hole, making operation easy while maintaining a compact installation area
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of inserting the fastening bolt from below the installation surface, the coupling part is inserted from above through the insertion hole in the base part. This inverted approach maintains the compact installation area while significantly improving the ease of mounting and dismounting operations
3Reliability
If the opening width of the holding member is narrower than the coupling member diameter, then the coupling is secure, but the coupling member cannot enter the holding member
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is designed with elastic deformability, allowing its opening width to dynamically change during assembly. When the coupling member is inserted, the opening width expands to accommodate it, and after insertion, the opening width contracts to securely hold the coupling member, thus achieving both easy assembly and secure coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The opening width parameter of the holding member is designed to be variable rather than fixed. The elastic material allows the opening width to temporarily increase during insertion and then return to its original narrower dimension, providing both ease of assembly and secure retention of the coupling member
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 achieves a smaller installation footprint and simplifies the mounting and dismounting process, ensuring easy access and reduced complexity in surface interactions.
Implementation Method 1
an opening width of an opening part of the first holding member, which is elastically deformable, is narrower than the first length. When the first coupling member of the coupling part is pressed against the opening part of the first holding member of the base part in a direction of entering the opening part, the first holding member is elastically deformed to gradually widen the opening width
Data Source
AI summary
Either the base part or the coupling part includes a first coupling member which is substantially circular in cross-section in a radial direction perpendicular to the central axis and has a diameter of a first length, while the other of the base part and the coupling part includes a first holding member which, with its inner circumferential surface having a substantially circular shape in cross-section in the radial direction, holds the first coupling member so as to surround its outer circumferential surface. The inner circumferential surface of the first holding member is partially opened in the radial direction, and an opening width of an opening part of the first holding member, which is elastically deformable, is narrower than the first length.