Male Fluid Connector Latch Geometry for Lower Disconnect Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick connecting and disconnecting fluid couplings require excessive forces for connection and disconnection, leading to fatigue and health risks during repetitive maintenance tasks, particularly in applications like data center cooling where high pressure levels are involved.
Innovation Solution
A male fluid connector design with a contact pressure surface angled at less than 44.5° relative to the axial direction, combined with a latching mechanism that allows for a snap-fit connection and disconnection, utilizing a force fit and positive form fit connection principles, reduces the required disconnecting force by up to 35% while maintaining resilience against inadvertent disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard quick connecting/disconnecting fluid coupling design is used, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the disconnecting force required becomes excessively high (around 50 N)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the contact pressure surface angle from the conventional 45° to less than 44.5° (preferably between 30°-40°). This parameter modification optimizes the force distribution in the latching mechanism, reducing the disconnecting force required while maintaining adequate resilience against inadvertent disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching member is designed to move dynamically between a latched position (where it engages the contact pressure surface) and an unlatched position. This dynamic mechanism allows the connector to maintain secure connection during operation while enabling easy disconnection when force is applied, transitioning between high reliability and low disconnecting force states as needed.
2Ease of operation
If the disconnecting force is reduced for easier operation, then the ease of operation improves, but the resilience against inadvertent disconnection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By precisely optimizing the contact pressure surface angle to be less than 44.5° (preferably 30°-40°), the patent achieves a balance where the disconnecting force is significantly reduced (improving ease of operation) while the latching mechanism maintains sufficient engagement force to prevent inadvertent disconnection (preserving reliability).
Solution Approach 2:
The latching member is pre-positioned and spring-biased to automatically engage the contact pressure surface upon connection. This preliminary latching action ensures reliability is established before operation begins, while the optimized geometry ensures that deliberate disconnection requires minimal force.
3Reliability
If a threaded connection is used for fluid connection, then the connection is secure and cost-effective, but the connection and disconnection process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The quick connecting/disconnecting mechanism uses a dynamic latching member that can rapidly transition between engaged and disengaged states. This eliminates the time-consuming threading and unthreading operations of traditional threaded connections, reducing connection and disconnection time significantly while maintaining connection security through the optimized latching geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying the contact pressure surface angle to less than 44.5°, the patent enables the quick connector to achieve secure connection (comparable to threaded connections) with dramatically reduced operation time, as the optimized geometry allows for rapid engagement and disengagement without compromising connection security.
Data Source
AI summary
A male fluid connector (3) for a quick connecting and disconnecting fluid coupling (1) includes a housing (15) with at least an axially arranged section that is designed and arranged to be received by an axially arranged inner recess (5) of the female fluid connector (2) of the quick connecting and disconnecting fluid coupling (1); a contact pressure surface (16) that is arranged at an angle with respect to the axial direction (7) of the axially arranged section of the housing (15) of the male fluid connector, and that is designed and arranged to be engaged behind by a latching member (13) of the female fluid connector (2) in a latching position (FIG. 2) so as to reversibly fixate the male fluid connector (3) inside the female fluid connector (2) of the quick connecting and disconnecting fluid coupling (1). It is suggested that the angle (β) that is enclosed by the direction of the contact pressure surface (16) and the axial direction (7) is smaller than 44.5°, preferably smaller than 44°.