Hydraulic Installation Tool Crossover Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing installation tool assemblies for swage ring fittings require multiple hoses and connections, which can lead to loose hydraulic connections and potential damage due to uneven pressure distribution, making them cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A compact installation tool assembly with a crossover assembly that fluidly connects two spaced apart piston chambers via a single hose, ensuring simultaneous operation and reducing the risk of loose connections by directing pressurized hydraulic fluid equally to both chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple hoses and connections are used to connect dual piston chambers to hydraulic pressure supply, then both piston chambers can be fluidly connected, but the risk of loose hydraulic connections and uneven pressure distribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hydraulic connections into a single hose assembly. The first and second piston chambers are fluidly connected to the hydraulic pressure supply through a single hose that contains multiple internal channels, eliminating the need for separate hoses and connections for each chamber. This merging approach reduces the number of connection points from multiple external connections to a single integrated connection, thereby reducing the risk of loose connections while maintaining reliable fluid delivery to both chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary manifold structure within the single hose assembly. This internal manifold distributes hydraulic fluid from the single external connection to multiple internal channels that lead to different piston chambers. The intermediary manifold ensures equal pressure distribution to all chambers while maintaining a simplified external connection interface, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and device complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single hose is used to connect installation tool assembly to hydraulic pressure supply, then the number of connections is minimized and compactness is enhanced, but both spaced apart piston chambers must be fluidly connected simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single hose into multiple internal channels or pathways. Within the single external hose connection, there are separate internal conduits that independently deliver hydraulic fluid to the first and second piston chambers. This segmentation allows simultaneous fluid delivery to both chambers through what appears externally as a single connection, maintaining reliability while achieving the goal of minimized connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional view of multiple external hoses to a three-dimensional integrated hose assembly. The single hose contains multiple internal channels arranged in different spatial dimensions, allowing simultaneous fluid delivery to spaced apart chambers. This dimensional transformation enables the system to maintain simple external connections while internally providing independent fluid pathways to multiple chambers.
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 minimizes the number of connections, enhances tool compactness and mobility, and prevents damage from uneven pressure distribution by ensuring both piston chambers receive equal hydraulic pressure, improving safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
directing pressurized hydraulic fluid equally to both chambers
Implementation Method 2
delivering hydraulic fluid to the at least two spaced apart piston chambers
Data Source
AI summary
An installation tool assembly for advancing a fitting's swage ring onto a fitting's connector body while a conduit is received in the connector body to mechanically and sealingly connect the fitting to the conduit includes a body defining at least two spaced apart piston chambers, a fixed jaw connected to the body and adapted to engage one of the connector body or the swage ring, and a movable jaw connected to the body and movable relative to the fixed jaw. The movable jaw is adapted to engage the other of the connector body or the swage ring. Pistons are disposed in the at least two spaced piston chambers. The pistons and the movable jaw are configured such that movement of the pistons in a first direction moves the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw thereby moving the swage ring axially onto the connector body to mechanically and sealingly connect the connector body to the conduit received therein when the fixed and movable jaws are engaged to the connector body and swage ring. A crossover assembly follows the contours of the body and fluidly connects the at least two spaced apart piston chambers. The crossover assembly is fluidly connectable to a hydraulic pressure source for delivering hydraulic fluid to the at least two spaced apart piston chambers to move the pistons in the first direction.