Frangible Tube Connector Prevents Unauthorized Reconnection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connecting arrangements for automotive blow-by gas tube members allow unauthorized disconnection and reconnection, leading to potential gas leakage and inefficient maintenance, as users may reconnect improperly, and permanent connections hinder repair work.
Innovation Solution
A connecting arrangement featuring a frangible part that breaks when a prescribed force is applied, preventing re-use of the connector, combined with a rotation preventing structure and a lock member that engages the tube member's engagement portion, ensuring secure alignment and preventing relative rotation, thus ensuring the connector cannot be reused once disconnected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a permanent connecting structure is used to prevent unauthorized disconnection, then connection reliability is improved, but maintenance efficiency deteriorates because the entire assembly must be replaced for repair work
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two parts: a reusable connector main body and a disposable tube member assembly. The frangible part acts as a controlled separation point that allows the tube member to be replaced without replacing the entire connector assembly, thus maintaining reliability while improving maintenance efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The tube member is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced. The frangible part enables controlled destruction of the connection to allow removal of the tube member, making maintenance economical by replacing only the necessary component rather than the entire assembly
2Adaptability or versatility
If a reusable connector is used to allow disconnection and reconnection, then maintenance flexibility is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates because users may disconnect and reconnect improperly causing gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The tube member with the frangible part is designed as a disposable component. Once disconnected by destroying the frangible part, the tube member cannot be reconnected, preventing improper reassembly by users while allowing professional maintenance when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible part acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the disconnection process. It requires deliberate action to destroy and prevents accidental or improper reconnection, serving as a mediator between the connector main body and the tube member
3Loss of information
If a sleeve with a narrow arm section is used to indicate disconnection through breakage, then connection status indication is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The indication function is extracted from a separate sleeve mechanism and integrated directly into the tube member itself through the frangible part. The frangible part's destruction state directly indicates disconnection status, eliminating the need for additional indication components
Solution Approach 2:
The structural function of connecting the tube member and the indication function are merged into a single frangible part. The same component that provides the mechanical connection also serves as the status indicator when destroyed, reducing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a connecting arrangement (2) for connecting a tube member to an article (8) that prevents the connector from being re-used once it has been disconnected so that the user may be prevented from disconnecting and reconnecting the tube member once again. A lock member (12) for engaging an engagement portion (72, 94) of the tube member (6, 86) is positioned inside the inner circumferential surface of the connector main body (10) so as not to be accessible from outside. The connector main body is provided with a frangible part (62, 78) that is destroyed when a force exceeding a prescribed level is applied to the connector main body. Once the connector main body is destroyed at the frangible part, the lock member is exposed to the outside so that the engagement portion can be disengaged. In order to disconnect the tube member, the connector main body is required to be destroyed so that the connector cannot be re-used once it has been disconnected.