Hydraulic Coupling Lock Nut Axial Grooves Confined Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic coupling devices face challenges with secure attachment under high pressure and vibration, limited space for mounting, and difficulty in accessing lock nuts for repair, especially when individual coupling units need to be changed.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic coupling device featuring a rotationally symmetrical lock nut with axial grooves that allows for torque application without radial space, providing a secure, play-free joint that resists high pressure and vibrations, and a mounting tool with radially directed protuberances for easy access and torque application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lock nut is used to secure the coupling unit to the holder block, then the attachment strength and reliability are improved, but the space required for mounting and the ease of access for repair worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidaccessibility for mounting and repair
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by mounting the coupling unit from the hose-connection side rather than from the nose end. This allows the lock nut to be accessed and operated from the rear of the holder block, improving accessibility for mounting and repair while maintaining secure attachment. The coupling unit is inserted through the holder block from the hose-connection side, and the lock nut is tightened from the rear, reversing the traditional mounting sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If the coupling unit is mounted from the hose-connection side, then the ease of pre-mounting hydraulic hoses is improved, but the accessibility to the lock nut for tightening worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepre-mounting capabilityVSAvoidlock nut accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by inverting the mounting direction. The coupling unit is inserted from the hose-connection side, allowing pre-mounting of hoses, but the lock nut is positioned on the rear side of the holder block where it can be accessed from behind. This inversion allows both pre-mounting capability and lock nut accessibility to be achieved simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the lock nut has a standard hexagonal shape, then the ease of torque application is improved, but the radial space required for mounting tools worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque applicationVSAvoidradial space requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from radial torque application (requiring hexagonal shape and radial tool access) to axial torque application. The lock nut features axial grooves that allow a mounting tool to engage and apply torque along the axial direction, reducing the radial space requirement. This dimensional change from radial to axial tool engagement allows torque application in confined radial spaces while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP1999403B1Multi-coupling system and method related thereto
Publication Date: 2014.04.23 OILQUICK
  • EP1999403B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1999403B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP1999403B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a hydraulic coupling device, comprising a coupling unit, a holder block, and a lock nut (5). The coupling unit is mounted to the holder block by means of the lock nut (5), which is tightened in a thread at the nose end of the coupling unit. According to the invention, the lock nut (51) has a rotationally symmetrical outer contour (63, 51, 52, 53, 54). A plurality of grooves (55) distributed around the circumference are recessed in the outer contour. The grooves (55) extend axially inward from the end (56) of the lock nut (5) facing away from the holder block. The invention also relates to a lock nut (5) for a hydraulic coupling device, a mounting tool for the lock nut as well as a method for mounting a hydraulic coupling device.