Fluid Conduit Joint Assembly With Sliding Die for Leak Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automated assembly of fluid transferring components encounters reliability issues due to part tolerances and relative relationships at the point of assembly, especially when assembling rigid to flexible fluid carrying lines.
Innovation Solution
A tooling system for automated co-axial assembly of fluid conduits, featuring a female die component for shape confinement, a guiding mechanism for axial alignment, and a pressing mechanism for creating a sliding interference fit, ensuring leak-resistant connections even with less-than-ideal tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated assembly of fluid transferring components is performed without specialized tooling, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to part tolerances and assembly variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specialized tooling system with guiding mechanisms and alignment features that act as intermediaries between the automated assembly system and the fluid transferring components. This tooling compensates for tolerance variations by providing mechanical guidance and constraint during the insertion process, thereby maintaining high reliability while preserving automated assembly productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The tooling system modifies the assembly parameters by controlling the insertion depth, angle, and positioning of the components through adjustable mechanical features. By changing these parameters dynamically during assembly, the system accommodates tolerance variations and ensures consistent leak-resistant connections without reducing automated assembly speed
2Reliability
If part tolerances are reduced to improve assembly reliability, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than requiring tighter part tolerances, the patent employs a tooling system with guiding mechanisms and alignment features that act as intermediaries to compensate for standard tolerance ranges. This approach maintains manufacturing cost-effectiveness while achieving high assembly reliability through mechanical constraint and guidance during the assembly process
Solution Approach 2:
The tooling system performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions before the actual insertion occurs. By pre-establishing the correct geometric relationship between components through guiding features and alignment mechanisms, the system ensures reliable assembly without requiring expensive tight-tolerance parts
3Ease of operation
If a simple insertion process is used, then ease of operation is improved, but leak resistance deteriorates due to tolerance sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tooling system with guiding mechanisms and alignment features that act as intermediaries during the insertion process. This tooling maintains the simplicity of automated operation while ensuring leak-resistant connections by mechanically constraining the assembly to achieve proper alignment and insertion depth, thereby compensating for tolerance variations without complicating the operation
4Device complexity
If conventional assembly tooling is used, then device complexity is minimized, but fault tolerance deteriorates in automated situations with less than ideal tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a tooling system with guiding mechanisms and alignment features that act as intermediaries to bridge the gap between standard automated assembly equipment and the requirements for reliable component assembly. This moderate increase in tooling complexity provides mechanical constraint and guidance that significantly improves fault tolerance and assembly reliability while maintaining reasonable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tooling system performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions before insertion, establishing proper geometric relationships between components. This preliminary action increases fault tolerance by pre-compensating for tolerance variations, achieving reliable assembly without excessive overall system complexity
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 significantly enhances the reliability and fault tolerance of automated fluid conduit assembly, ensuring a leak-resistant connection between rigid and flexible lines, even under conditions of less-than-ideal tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
to provide a sliding interference fit between the female die component and the first outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
An automatable joint forming apparatus and process for leak resistance assembly of a flexible fluid conduit to a rigid fluid conduit including insertion of the rigid conduit and a sliding shape conforming die.