Hand Operated Grinding Tool for Fluid Conduit Surface Finishing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid conduits with flared ends often fail to form fluid-tight connections due to inadequate surface finishing, leading to leaks.
Innovation Solution
A hand-operated grinding apparatus with a grinding tool and collet system that smooths or finishes the surface of flared ends of tubes and fittings, ensuring a secure fluid connection by using a grinding head with a conically shaped working surface and optional centering rods for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If surface finishing is inadequate, then manufacturing is easier and faster, but fluid-tight connections cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The grinding apparatus is divided into separate functional components: a grinding head with abrasive surface, a collet system for workpiece holding, and a handle for operation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall functionality, enabling precise surface finishing without excessive manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding head's conically shaped abrasive surface is designed to self-align with the flared end of the conduit through the collet system, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures. The tool automatically adapts to the workpiece geometry, achieving precise surface finish with minimal operator skill and setup complexity
2Reliability
If a grinding apparatus is used to finish flared surfaces, then fluid-tight connections are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grinding head, collet mechanism, and handle are merged into a single integrated hand-held apparatus. This consolidation achieves reliable surface finishing for fluid-tight connections while minimizing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate alignment tools, mounting fixtures, and multiple processing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding apparatus is designed with universal applicability to various conduit sizes and flare configurations through adjustable collet settings and geometrically adaptive grinding surfaces. This multi-functionality ensures reliable sealing across different applications without requiring multiple specialized tools, thereby maintaining simplicity
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 apparatus effectively prevents fluid leaks by creating a precise, finished surface on flared ends of conduits and fittings, facilitating reliable fluid-tight connections.
Implementation Method 1
a grinding head (40) with a conically shaped grinding surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure defines a hand operated grinding tool for finishing an interface surface of a fluid conduit. The grinding tool includes a fixture having grinding tool yoke and a work piece yoke. A shaft with a tool head connected to one end and an actuator connected to the other end is configured to slide and rotate relative to the grinding tool yoke. The tool head can be configured to engage and finish a surface of a tube and/or a male fitting.