Fuel Connector Reinforcement Frame Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid connectors for fuel systems lack sufficient stability, leading to kinking, breaking, and increased risk of field failures, especially during assembly and disassembly, due to inadequate reinforcement.
Innovation Solution
A fluid connector design featuring a reinforcement frame that encloses the sockets, providing mechanical support and preventing breakage, combined with a cover element and clamping mechanism for enhanced robustness and secure attachment to the injection nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fluid connector is designed without a reinforcement frame, then the device complexity is reduced, but the stability and robustness of the connector deteriorate, leading to kinking and breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into functional segments: a base element with sockets, a separate reinforcement frame that encloses the sockets, and a cover element. The reinforcement frame acts as an independent structural component that provides mechanical support without being integrated into the socket functionality, thus improving stability while maintaining design clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement frame is formed from a thermoplastic material that is different from or supplemented with glass fibers compared to the base element. This composite material approach enhances the mechanical properties and robustness of the connector, providing the necessary strength to prevent kinking and breaking while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Strength
If the reinforcement frame is designed with complex geometry (pentagonal cross section), then the stability and strength are improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement frame is designed with a pentagonal cross-section and specific wall thickness parameters that are optimized for both strength and manufacturability. The geometric parameters are carefully selected to provide maximum structural support while remaining compatible with standard injection molding processes, allowing complex geometry to be produced efficiently.
3Reliability
If the connector design includes multiple connectors and reinforcement structures, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it encloses and protects the sockets, provides structural support to prevent kinking, and acts as a mounting structure for the cover element. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the design achieves high reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement frame structure is designed to support various connector configurations and provides universal protection for the socket connections. The same basic reinforcement frame design can accommodate different socket arrangements and connector types, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability across applications.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fluid connector (100) for a fuel system, comprising a first nozzle (103) for attaching the fluid connector (100) to an injector of the fuel system; a second nozzle (105) for connecting a fuel line; and a reinforcing frame (107) surrounding the first nozzle (103) for supporting the second nozzle (105) relative to the first nozzle (103).