Hydraulic Line Coupling With Integrated Sealing Against Air Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic line couplings for handlebar-operated vehicles suffer from air entry and hydraulic fluid leakage during coupling operations, limiting their effectiveness and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic line coupling design featuring a line connection piece with a passage and a valve device in the housing, where the seal functions as both a valve seal and a seal between coupled parts, minimizing air entry and fluid loss by sealing in multiple directions, and allowing for fast sealing function changes, potentially eliminating the need for venting and enabling the use of less pressure-resistant materials for the pressure chamber housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional hydraulic line coupling with separate valve seal and connection seal is used, then the coupling structure is simple, but air can enter or hydraulic fluid can escape during coupling operation
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is designed to perform multiple sealing functions simultaneously: it seals the valve closing member in the radially inward direction, seals the line connection piece in the axially inward direction, and seals the housing. This multi-functional seal design eliminates the need for separate valve seals and connection seals, resolving the contradiction by achieving high sealing reliability without increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the valve seal and connection seal into a single integrated seal element. The seal member has a specific geometry with different sealing surfaces that simultaneously contact the valve closing member and the line connection piece, merging two separate sealing functions into one component to prevent both air entry and fluid leakage
2Reliability
If a slow sealing process is used during coupling, then sealing is more thorough, but air entry and fluid loss increase during the extended coupling time
Solution Approach 1:
The valve device is designed to automatically close and seal the passage before the line connection piece is fully inserted into the housing. This preliminary sealing action prevents air from entering and hydraulic fluid from escaping during the coupling operation, allowing for complete sealing without extending the coupling time
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element is designed to rapidly establish sealing contact during the coupling insertion process. The geometric configuration of the seal surfaces allows for quick and effective sealing engagement, rushing through the sealing process efficiently to minimize the time window for air entry or fluid loss while ensuring thorough sealing
3Strength
If high-pressure resistant materials are used for the pressure chamber housing, then pressure containment is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure-containing function from the housing and transfers it to the pressure chamber, which is designed as a separate, dedicated pressure-resistant component. The housing itself can then be made from less expensive, easier-to-manufacture materials that do not require high pressure resistance, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining overall system strength
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is segmented into the main housing body and a separate pressure chamber. This segmentation allows the pressure chamber to be optimized for pressure resistance while the housing can be optimized for ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between strength and manufacturing 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 design significantly reduces air entry and hydraulic fluid loss during coupling, enhances coupling efficiency, and allows for simpler, cost-effective manufacturing of the pressure chamber housing using materials that may not be corrosion-resistant.
Implementation Method 1
the line connection piece seals the passage from the environment when the line connection piece is disposed in the coupling opening
Implementation Method 2
the valve device closes the connection for the line connection piece when the line connection piece is not disposed in the coupling opening
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic line coupling, for a hydraulic brake or clutch of handlebar-operated vehicles, having a line connection piece with a hydraulic line extension and a housing with a coupling opening, in which the line connection piece for coupling the line to the housing can be disposed. The connection piece comprises a passage connected to the line. A valve device is disposed in the housing and is configured such that the valve device closes the connection for the connection piece when the connection piece is not in the coupling opening. The line coupling has a seal, with which seal the valve device closes the connection for the connection piece when the connection piece is not in the coupling opening. With the seal, the connection piece seals the passage from the environment when the connection piece is in the coupling opening.