Integrated Fluid Pipe Coupling with Form-Fitting Retaining Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection devices for fluid lines in vehicles are cumbersome and time-consuming to assemble, requiring alignment and separate insertion of clamping plates, which can lead to insecure fits and increased assembly time.
Innovation Solution
A connection device featuring a connection piece with a form-fitting retaining plate that secures against rotation and axial displacement, allowing for simple assembly by clipping onto the connection piece and being pressed against the housing upon screw bolt tightening, ensuring a secure fit without separate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clamping plate with separate alignment is used, then the connection can be secured to the housing, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the clamping plate and connection piece into a single integrated component. The clamping plate is formed as one piece with the connection piece, eliminating the need for separate alignment and attachment operations. This merging of components directly resolves the contradiction by maintaining connection security while dramatically reducing assembly time and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated design pre-establishes the correct spatial and rotational relationship between the clamping plate and connection piece during manufacturing. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for现场 alignment operations, allowing the assembly to be completed by a single insertion motion without time-consuming adjustment steps.
2Reliability
If a separate clamping plate alignment procedure is required, then connection security can be achieved, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the clamping plate and connection piece into a single component, the patent eliminates multiple separate parts and their associated alignment procedures. This reduction in part count and assembly steps directly addresses the contradiction by maintaining secure fitting while simplifying the overall assembly process.
3Reliability
If the clamping plate is pushed onto the pipeline separately, then the connection can be made, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the clamping plate and connection piece into a single integrated component that is inserted into the housing in one operation. This eliminates the separate pushing and aligning steps, thereby maintaining connection reliability while significantly improving assembly speed and reducing the risk of assembly errors.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 6~8
AI summary
The connecting device (11) has a holding plate (24) with two bores laterally displaced to each other. The holding plate comprises the ends of the fluid pipe in the former bore and is fastened on the assembly over the latter bore. The holding plate has an outward directed ring flange (23) which is arranged at the end of the fluid pipe. The connecting device has a connection nozzle (18) that is connected with the end of the fluid pipe which is inserted in the discharge bore (17). The holding plate is attached on the connection nozzle and is secured against rotation and axial sliding.