Lockable Grease Gun Extension for Secure Fitting Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grease guns with flexible extension tubes struggle to maintain a secure connection with grease fittings, especially in confined spaces, as users cannot apply sufficient downward force to ensure a firm seal due to the tube's flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A grease gun extension device featuring rigid elongate supporting members with C-shaped retainers and spring-biased locking knobs allows the flexible tube to be locked into a rigid, fixed position, enabling secure attachment to grease fittings without requiring a second hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible extension tube is used to reach remote grease fittings, then the tube can bend to reach locations not in a straight-line orientation, but the tube cannot be firmly placed on the grease fitting without manual holding
Solution Approach 1:
The extension device incorporates a telescopic mechanism with multiple rigid sections that can extend and retract, combined with a locking mechanism that transitions the extended position from movable to fixed. This allows the device to adapt its length dynamically while maintaining a secure, rigid connection when extended to reach remote grease fittings.
2Strength
If a rigid extension tube is used to reach straight-line locations, then the tube provides structural support, but it cannot reach locations not in a straight-line orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The extension device is divided into multiple rigid sections that can be extended and locked at various angles relative to each other. This segmentation allows the device to maintain the structural strength of rigid components while achieving the adaptability to reach non-straight-line locations through angular adjustments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the extension tube is made flexible to allow bending, then the tube can reach various orientations, but the user cannot exert downward force to facilitate intimate connection with the grease fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a telescopic mechanism with a locking system that allows the user to extend the rigid sections to the desired length and then lock them in place. Once locked, the rigid structure enables the user to apply sufficient downward force to ensure intimate connection with the grease fitting, while still maintaining the ability to reach various orientations through angular adjustments of the segmented sections.
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
Enables secure and stable grease application to hard-to-reach areas by allowing the flexible tube to be bent and locked into place, ensuring intimate contact with the fitting and reducing grease leakage.
Implementation Method 1
the spring of the spring biased knob being a compression spring and being trapped between the opposite side of the radial gear panel and the underside of the spring biased locking knob
Data Source
AI summary
A grease gun extension device that supports a flexible grease gun extension tube allowing the user to securely position the grease tip onto a grease fitting without having to use a second hand to force the grease tip onto the grease fitting. A series of rigid elongate tube supporting members are pivotably attached via spring biased locking knobs and radial gear tooth panels located at the ends of each rigid tube supporting member, allowing the user push on the locking knob, bend the flexible extension tube to the desired angle and release the locking knob to have the radial gear tooth panel sets lock the flexible tube at a fixed angle.