Hose Joint Spacer Visual Tightening Indicator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inexperienced workers often incorrectly determine that the tightening of a hose joint is complete, leading to potential fluid leakage due to insufficient connection, which is critical in hose connections using elastic deformation rings.
Innovation Solution
A hose joint design featuring a sleeve, separated holders, and a tightening member with spacers that visually indicate completion of tightening by hiding when fully assembled, ensuring uniform contact and grounding connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a hose joint uses an elastic deformation ring and separated holders tightened by bolts, then the hose connection strength is improved, but the ease of determining tightening completion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is made visually recognizable (e.g., colored) so that its presence or absence can be easily detected. When the spacer is visible through the gap between separated holders, it indicates incomplete tightening; when it disappears, tightening is complete. This visual indicator resolves the difficulty of determining tightening completion without affecting the mechanical strength of the connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer acts as an intermediary element between the separated holders and the sleeve. It provides a visual reference point that mediates the information about tightening status. The spacer's position and visibility serve as an indirect indicator of whether the elastic deformation ring has been properly compressed, allowing workers to determine tightening completion without needing expertise in assessing come-off strength directly.
2Measurement precision
If tightening determination relies on reaction force from elastic deformation ring, then the measurement precision is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensing method (feeling reaction force) with a visual indication system. Instead of requiring workers to tactilely assess the reaction force from the elastic deformation ring, the spacer provides a visual signal that is easier to detect and interpret. This substitution maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing the difficulty of detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer serves as a visual copy or representation of the tightening state. Rather than directly observing the complex deformation of the elastic ring, workers observe the simpler, more apparent position and visibility of the spacer, which copies the information about tightening completion in a more accessible form.
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
Enables inexperienced workers to confirm proper tightening, preventing fluid leaks and enhancing the come-off strength of hose connections.
Implementation Method 1
a sleeve deformable in a radial direction thereof and provided so as to surround an outer circumference of the insertion space of the hose body
Implementation Method 2
a tightening member provided to extend across the plurality of separated holders so as to move the individual separated holders closer together in the radial direction and cause diameter reduction of the sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a hose joint that allows whether or not tightening has been completed to be determined. The hose joint includes: a nipple provided along an insertion space of the hose body, a sleeve deformable in a radial direction thereof and provided so as to surround an outer circumference of the insertion space of the hose body formed along an outer peripheral surface of the nipple, a plurality of separated holders provided outside the sleeve to cover an outer face of the sleeve in a circumferential direction thereof and be separable in the radial direction, and a tightening member provided to extend across the plurality of separated holders so as to move the individual separated holders closer together in the radial direction and cause diameter reduction of the sleeve, the hose joint further including a spacer disposed between each of the plurality of separated holders and the sleeve.