Hydraulic Coupling Assembly With Threaded Guide and Expanding Ring Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic coupling devices have cumbersome and time-consuming assembly processes due to multiple parts, poor guidance between poppet and fixedly mounted parts, and insufficient sealing capacity, leading to malfunctions and leakage.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic coupling device with a simplified design featuring a male coupling unit with a poppet valve device, guide device, and spring device, and a female coupling unit with sealing rings, where the guide device has a thread surface for locking and lead-through channels, and sealing rings with variable diameters for enhanced sealing, reducing the risk of malfunctions and leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple parts are used in the valve device of the male coupling unit, then the sealing capacity is improved, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing capacityVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple valve device parts (poppet device, guide device, spring device, and circlip) into a more integrated assembly. The guide device is locked in position within the male coupling body, and the circlip is positioned to simultaneously retain both the guide device and fixedly mounted part, reducing the number of separate assembly operations required while maintaining the multi-component sealing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If guidance between poppet device and fixedly mounted part is provided solely via guide pin, then the device complexity is reduced, but the guidance becomes poor causing tilting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of guidance componentsVSAvoidguidance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide device as an intermediary component between the poppet device and the fixedly mounted part. This guide device includes a guide pin that extends into a guide hole in the fixedly mounted part, providing improved guidance and preventing tilting. The guide device acts as a mediator that ensures proper alignment and stable movement of the poppet device during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If circlip is used to retain fixedly mounted part, then the assembly is simplified, but the circlip may be brought out of position causing malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretention mechanismVSAvoidrisk of malfunction
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the circlip to simultaneously retain both the guide device and the fixedly mounted part, creating a redundant retention system. The guide device is also locked in position within the male coupling body through threading or interference fit. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even if one retention mechanism fails, the other maintains the assembly integrity, preventing malfunction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Ease of manufacture

If O-rings are used for sealing, then the sealing is simple to implement, but the sealing capacity is insufficient and additional fixation means are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing implementationVSAvoidsealing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite sealing approach combining O-rings with additional sealing elements or enhanced O-ring configurations. The valve device includes multiple sealing components working together - O-rings positioned at critical interfaces, potentially supplemented by sealing rings or gaskets. This composite sealing system maintains the simplicity of O-ring installation while significantly improving the overall sealing capacity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 reduces the complexity of assembly, improves guidance, and enhances sealing capacity, resulting in a more reliable and efficient hydraulic coupling device with reduced risk of malfunctions and leakage.

Implementation Method 1

a spring device (26), wherein a first end (26a) of the spring device (26) is supported by the poppet device (24) and a second end (26b) of the spring device (26) is supported by the guide device (25)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the guide device (25) comprises an outer surface (25a) comprising a thread surface portion (25a1) configured to engage with the corresponding thread surface portion (21b1) of the inner surface (21b) of the male coupling body (21) for locking the guide device (25) in the male coupling body extension direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThreaded fastening: Screw

Implementation Method 3

sealing rings with variable diameters for enhanced sealing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic sealing: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3795879B1Hydraulic coupling device and method of mounting the same
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 STEELWRIST AB
  • EP3795879B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3795879B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3e
  • EP3795879B1 patent drawingFigure 3f

AI summary

A hydraulic coupling device (10) comprising a female coupling unit (30) comprising a female coupling body (31), a holding block (50), a guiding ring (60), and an expanding ring (70) for fixedly arranging the female coupling unit (30) to the holding block 50 in an opening (52a) of the holding block (50), wherein the guiding ring (60) comprises an outer surface (60a) comprising a thread surface portion (60a1) configured to engage with a thread surface portion (52c1) of a cylindrical portion (52c) of the opening (52a) of the holding block (50) fixedly arranging the guiding ring (60) to the holding block (50), wherein a seat (53) is provided in the opening (52) for supporting the expanding ring (70), wherein an outer surface (31a) of the front end of the female coupling body (31) comprises a circumferential groove (31f) comprising a groove seat (31g), configured to receive the expanding ring (70), wherein the female coupling unit (30) is adapted to be fixedly arranged to the holding block (50) by being suspended between the guiding ring (50) and the seat (53), wherein the expanding ring (70) is arranged as a support between the female coupling unit (30) and the seat (53).