Fluid Connection Retainer With Low-Force Tool-Free Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid connection assemblies require high insertion force and often necessitate tools for assembly, posing challenges in ease of use and potential misinstallation, especially due to the complexity of retaining clips and their small size, which can be easily lost.
Innovation Solution
A fluid connection assembly featuring a retainer with pivotably connected arms and protrusions that engage with a groove on the connector body, allowing for quick assembly and disassembly without tools, and a disconnect tool with a hinged design for easy removal, utilizing a compliant plastic retainer for low-force tube insertion and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retaining clip is used to secure the tube to the connector body, then the connection reliability is improved, but the insertion force required becomes very large and assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with flexible arms that can dynamically change their radial position. During assembly, the arms flex outward to allow tube insertion with reduced force, then spring back to engage and secure the tube. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between connection reliability and insertion force requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer material properties and arm geometry are designed to change the effective engagement parameters during assembly. The flexible arms transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state, changing the radial position and engagement depth parameters to reduce insertion force while maintaining secure connection.
2Strength
If a retaining clip is used to secure the tube, then the connection strength is improved, but the assembly process requires tools and takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed to be self-installing without requiring external tools. The flexible arms automatically engage with the tube and connector body through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for tools and reducing assembly time while maintaining connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer arms are pre-configured in a compressed or bent state that allows them to snap into the engaged position during assembly. This preliminary configuration enables quick installation without tools, as the arms naturally want to return to their engaged state, reducing assembly time while ensuring proper connection strength.
3Device complexity
If thin and small retaining clips are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the risk of loss increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer design integrates multiple functions into a single component: the flexible arms both guide the tube during insertion and secure it in the engaged position. This merging of guidance and retention functions into one piece simplifies the overall assembly process and improves ease of operation while maintaining low device 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
Enables quick and tool-free connections with reduced insertion force, enhances serviceability, and ensures easy disassembly, addressing the challenges of high force requirements and tool dependency in existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
a retainer operatively arranged to be removably connected to the connector body, the retainer including a first engaging member, including a first radially inward facing surface, and a first protrusion extending from the first radially inward facing surface
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid connection assembly, including a connector body, including a first end, a second end, a through-bore, and a first radially outward facing surface including a groove, the groove including a second radially outward facing surface and a first aperture, and a retainer operatively arranged to be removably connected to the connector body, the retainer including a first engaging member, including a first radially inward facing surface, and a first protrusion extending from the first radially inward facing surface, the first protrusion operatively arranged to extend through the first aperture and into the through-bore, and a second engaging member including a second radially inward facing surface, wherein the second engaging member is connected to the first engaging member by a plurality of pivotably connected arms.