Hose Coupling Assembly with Compressible Seal and Radial Cage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage hoses with specialized materials for preventing flavor cross-over and scalping face premature failure due to stress points at the barb/liner interface, leading to delamination and leakage.
Innovation Solution
A coupling assembly featuring a fitting with a barb and seal that deforms the hose to create an interference fit, preventing leakage while ensuring the barb does not embed into the hose, using a cage to compress the hose and maintain a precise sealant point over a compressible O-ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If barbs with larger diameters are embedded into the liner of the hose wall, then connection strength is improved, but stress points are created that lead to premature hose failure and delamination
Solution Approach 1:
A compressible seal (O-ring) is introduced as an intermediary element between the barb and the hose liner. The seal deforms under compression to create the sealing interface, eliminating direct contact between the rigid barb and the flexible liner, thus preventing stress concentration and delamination while maintaining connection strength
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transitions from direct mechanical embedding to compression-based sealing. The seal is compressed radially inward against the hose liner, creating a sealing force through parameter change (compression) rather than through direct barb penetration, which reduces stress on the hose wall
2Object-affected harmful factors
If specialized materials are used in beverage hoses to prevent flavor cross-over and scalping, then flavor protection is improved, but compatibility with traditional barbed fittings deteriorates due to stress points
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible seal acts as a mediator that is compatible with both the specialized hose materials and the traditional barb structure. It provides a sealing interface that does not create stress points in the hose wall, thereby maintaining both flavor protection and fitting compatibility
3Strength
If the hose is deformed at the barb to create a displaced outer diameter, then interference fit is achieved, but precise sealant positioning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible seal self-adjusts to the deformed hose shape at the barb location. When the hose is deformed to create the displaced outer diameter, the seal automatically conforms to the new geometry and maintains proper sealing engagement without requiring additional positioning adjustments
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 effectively prevents fluid leakage and hose failure by creating a secure, non-embedment interface between the hose and fitting, ensuring the sealant point is directly over the compressible O-ring, thus maintaining the integrity of the hose under pressure.
Implementation Method 1
The cage is spaced at least a distance from the peak of the barb and radially compresses the exterior surface of the hose and the seal
Implementation Method 2
form an interference fit between each of the hose, the barb, and the cage
Implementation Method 3
The seal is in sealing engagement with the interior surface of the hose to prevent leakage of fluid from the coupling assembly
Implementation Method 4
the hose is deformed at the barb. This presents a displaced outer diameter, proximate the peak of the barb, that is greater than the initial outer diameter of the hose
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling assembly includes a fitting having a wall presenting an inner surface, surrounding a lumen, and an outer surface, opposing the inner surface. A barb extends radially away from the outer surface of the wall to a peak. A seal circumferentially surrounds the outer surface of the wall and is spaced from the peak of the barb. A hose presents an initial outer diameter. The hose extends over each of the seal and the barb such that the hose is deformed at the barb to present a displaced outer diameter that is greater than the initial outer diameter of the hose. A cage is spaced at least a distance from the peak of the barb and radially compresses the exterior surface of the hose and the seal to form an interference fit between each of the hose, the barb, and the cage.