Hydraulic Tool Working Head T-Track Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic crimping tools with C-heads experience deflection under high force, leading to misalignment of the die holder and ram, resulting in defective compression or crimping due to the lack of an effective alignment system.
Innovation Solution
A slidable connection forming an exterior T track system with a male T profile on the frame and a female T profile on the ram, ensuring alignment and stability during deflection by preventing rotation and side-to-side movement, and allowing the die holder to follow the head's deflection path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydraulic coupling devices are used, then connection is achieved, but bacterial growth occurs in the coupling device and contamination is transferred to the well pump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic coupling function from a separate reusable device and integrates it directly into the disposable well pump assembly. The hydraulic coupling features are built into the pump head itself, eliminating the need for external coupling devices that can harbor bacteria. This extraction of the coupling function from a shared component resolves the contamination issue while maintaining reliable hydraulic connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable well pump assemblies that are discarded after a single use or limited service life. By making the entire pump assembly disposable rather than reusable, any potential bacterial contamination is eliminated along with the pump itself. This approach prioritizes preventing contamination over reusability, directly addressing the harmful factor of bacterial growth in coupling devices.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hydraulic tools are designed for single use, then contamination is prevented, but tool cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydraulic coupling features directly into the well pump assembly, creating an integrated unit that eliminates the need for separate reusable coupling devices. By combining functions that were previously separated into different components, the system achieves contamination prevention through disposability of the pump while reducing overall tool cost by eliminating the need for expensive reusable coupling hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The well pump assembly is designed with integrated hydraulic coupling features that perform multiple functions: pumping, sealing, and hydraulic connection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized coupling devices, reducing the total cost of the system while maintaining contamination prevention through the disposable nature of the integrated assembly.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If hydraulic coupling features are built into the well pump, then contamination is prevented, but pump design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the well pump system into a disposable pump assembly with integrated coupling features and a reusable drill string. By dividing the system this way, the complexity of hydraulic coupling is confined to the simple disposable pump head, while the reusable portion maintains its existing design. This segmentation prevents contamination without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic coupling features are nested within the well pump assembly structure itself, with coupling surfaces and sealing elements integrated into the pump head design. This nesting approach allows the pump to perform multiple functions (pumping and hydraulic coupling) without requiring separate external components, thereby preventing contamination while minimizing increases in design complexity through efficient space utilization.
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 T track system maintains alignment between the die holders, ensuring proper connector installation and preventing misalignment and lip failure, providing a more robust and stable design compared to traditional dovetail inserts.
Implementation Method 1
a. hydraulic line 120 coupled to the hydraulic tool 101, and b. a control valve 121 coupled to the hydraulic line 120
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A hydraulic tool working head (28) includes a frame (46), a ram (48) and a connection between the ram and the frame (Figure 6). The frame has a first section (63) with a hydraulic cylinder area, an opposite second section (66) and a middle section (64) connecting the first and second sections to each other. The ram is movably located in the hydraulic cylinder area and extends out of the first section of the frame towards the opposite second section of the frame. The connection between the ram and the middle section includes the middle section of the frame have two slots (70) extending into the opposite sides of the middle section and the ram having two cantilevered hook sections (76) which generally face towards each other (Figure 7). The hook sections have ends slidably ends (78) respectively located in the two slots of the middle section (Figure 8).