Locking Retainer Assembly for Tool-Free Fluid Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid connection designs are difficult to secure due to the small confines of appliance interiors and require tools, and barbed tubes are susceptible to failure due to size and material brittleness, as well as inadequate radial force distribution from hose clamp designs.
Innovation Solution
A retainer for a fluid connection assembly is introduced, featuring a clamping portion with a radially outward facing surface having notches and a radially inward facing surface with ribs, along with a locking portion comprising tabs that engage to lock the retainer in place, reducing insertion force and enabling tool-free assembly and serviceability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional hose clamps and barbed tubes are used, then fluid connections can be made, but the assembly requires tools and is difficult to secure in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is divided into a clamping portion and a locking portion that can be independently assembled. The locking portion includes first and second tabs that can be separately engaged, allowing the connection to be made in stages without requiring complex tooling or precise positioning of all components simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism uses displaceable tabs that can move from an unlocked to a locked position. The first tab is displaceable with respect to the second tab, enabling a progressive locking sequence that guides the assembly process and ensures proper engagement without requiring excessive force or specialized tools.
2Reliability
If barbed tubes are used for fluid connections, then connections can be made, but the tubes are susceptible to failure due to size and material brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer with its locking mechanism provides preemptive protection for the barbed tube by securing it to the second tube before any failure can occur. The locking portion prevents the clamping portion from slipping or loosening, cushioning against the inherent brittleness and size limitations of the barbed tube material.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the mechanical parameters of the connection by distributing clamping forces through the locking mechanism rather than relying solely on the barbed tube's structural integrity. This transfers the load-bearing function from the brittle barbed tube to the more robust retainer assembly.
3Reliability
If traditional hose clamps are used, then fluid connections can be secured, but the radial force distribution is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping portion features a radially outward facing surface with notches and a radially inward facing surface with ribs, creating localized zones of enhanced force distribution. The notches and ribs concentrate and distribute radial forces at specific points along the circumference, improving the overall clamping effectiveness without requiring uniform force throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism adds a circumferential dimension to the clamping action. By engaging tabs that extend in the circumferential direction and lock together, the design transforms a simple radial clamping force into a three-dimensional locking system that resists both radial and axial separation forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer for a fluid connection assembly, including a clamping portion, including a first end, a second end, a radially outward facing surface, a radially inward facing surface, a first circumferential end, and a second circumferential end displaceable with respect to the first circumferential end, and a locking portion, including a first tab connected to the first circumferential end, and a second tab connected to the second circumferential end, wherein the first tab is arranged to engage the second tab to lock the first tab to the second tab.