Frustoconical Washer Quick-Connection Device for Fluid Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick connection devices for fluid circuits, particularly those experiencing significant pressure variations, face limitations in resistance to disconnection forces, especially in hydraulic systems where water hammer occurs, due to insufficient retention mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A connection device featuring a frustoconical washer with non-deformable teeth and complementary jaws that clamp the washer over a significant part of its height, providing maximum resistance to extraction forces, along with a movable jaw and O-ring seal that enhances retention and allows for easy disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the teeth are made flexible with cutouts and recesses to facilitate tube insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the biting power and resistance to disconnection force deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The washer is segmented into multiple teeth that can move independently. Each tooth is separated from others, allowing individual deformation during insertion while maintaining structural integrity for retention. This segmentation enables the teeth to flex during insertion but provide strong collective resistance during disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The teeth transition from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system where they can move and deform. During insertion, the teeth deform elastically to accommodate the tube. During disconnection, the teeth return to their original position, providing biting power. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between flexibility for insertion and rigidity for retention.
2Strength
If the teeth are stiffened to increase biting power on the tube, then the resistance to disconnection force is improved, but the ease of tube insertion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the tooth structure have different mechanical properties. The root part of each tooth is made flexible with cutouts to facilitate insertion, while the active biting part is made rigid to provide strong retention. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the same component to exhibit both flexibility and rigidity in different regions, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and biting power.
3Manufacturing precision
If a frustoconical washer with rigid pallet teeth is used to improve retention control, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the resistance to water hammer and disconnection force deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The washer transitions from a completely rigid structure to a dynamic structure with elastically deformable connecting parts between the teeth. This allows the washer to absorb the shock of water hammer through elastic deformation while maintaining the precise frustoconical geometry and tooth inclination for controlled connection. The dynamic flexibility compensates for the rigidity needed for manufacturing precision.
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 solution significantly increases the resistance to disconnection forces, effectively preventing the extraction of the tubular element even under high-pressure conditions like water hammer, while maintaining ease of connection and disconnection.
Implementation Method 1
The advantage of this arrangement lies in the elastic deformation of the seal under the effect of pressure to pass at least partially from the second to the first section, which allows it in the absence of pressure to return spontaneously to the part of larger diameter and release the movable jaw from any force opposing its separation from the fixed jaw
Implementation Method 2
controlled in position relative to this fixed jaw by pressurizing the circuit to tighten the con washer keep the jaw fixed and keep it between the two jaws as long as the circuit is under pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for connecting a tubular element (3, 4) comprising a body (1) provided with a bore (2) and a means for retaining the tubular element including an elastically deformable, substantially frusto-conical washer (5), the inner circumference of which has a smaller diameter than that of the tubular element (3, 4) and is divided into a plurality of teeth (5b), the outer portion (5a) of the washer being placed in said bore (2) between a shoulder (6) of the latter and a retaining bush (7) mounted on the body (1) at the entrance of the bore (2), the retaining bush (7) forming a fixed yoke for supporting one surface of the washer (5) while a mobile yoke (8) is housed in a recess (9) of the bore (2) located on the other side of the shoulder (6) relative to the fixed yoke (7), the position thereof relative to said fixed yoke (7) being controlled by pressurising the circuit in order to clamp the washer against the fixed yoke (7). The yokes have matching shapes in order to clamp each tooth of the washer over a considerable portion of the height thereof in the shape and the position that provides maximum resistance to the extraction of the tubular element.