Quick Acting Male Coupling Helical Spring Guide Pin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Quick acting male couplings for pressurized fluids have limited maximum flow rate due to restricted fluid outflow openings, compromising operator safety, reliability, and cleanliness during coupling and decoupling procedures.
Innovation Solution
A quick acting male coupling design featuring a helical spring-actuated shutter with an axially hollow rod and a guide element having a triangular base with centring fins, where the helical spring is positioned outside the guide pin to minimize its diameter and optimize fluid outflow, ensuring maximum flow rate while maintaining safety and cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the guide element has a conventional structure with the helical spring inside the guide pin, then the structure is compact, but the guide pin diameter must be larger which limits the fluid outflow opening and reduces maximum flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The helical spring is extracted from inside the guide pin and positioned in the cavity of the hollow rod instead. This extraction allows the guide pin to have a smaller diameter, thereby maximizing the fluid outflow opening through the guide element and increasing the maximum flow rate while maintaining structural functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The helical spring is repositioned from a one-dimensional arrangement (inside the guide pin) to a three-dimensional arrangement (in the cavity of the hollow rod). This spatial reconfiguration allows the guide pin to be thinner without compromising spring support, thus enlarging the fluid outflow opening and improving flow rate.
2Productivity
If the guide pin diameter is minimized to maximize fluid outflow opening, then the maximum flow rate is optimized, but the structural support and guidance function may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow rod acts as an intermediary structure that houses the helical spring and provides structural support. This allows the guide pin to be minimized in diameter for optimal fluid flow while the hollow rod-maintains the guidance function and structural integrity through its interaction with the valve body cavity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance and support function is segmented between multiple components: the hollow rod provides structural support and houses the spring, while the guide pin provides precise guidance. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the guide pin being thin for flow optimization and the hollow rod providing overall structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If conventional coupling procedures are used, then the coupling mechanism is simple, but fluid leakage into the environment and air absorption may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter is preliminarily positioned against the valve seat to close the fluid passage before the coupling procedure begins. This preliminary closure prevents fluid leakage into the environment and air absorption during the coupling and decoupling operations, ensuring cleanliness is maintained throughout the procedure.
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 design enhances the maximum flow rate, ensures safe operation, and maintains cleanliness by optimizing the fluid outflow opening, thereby addressing the limitations of prior art couplings.
Implementation Method 1
a shutter (4) that is axially mobile in the cavity (3) of the valve body (1) in opposition to and by action of a helical spring (5)
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of fins (13) for centring the guide element (7) which surround the guide pin (12) and extend out from the base (11) on the same side as the guide pin (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The quick acting male coupling for conveying fluids comprising a longitudinal valve body (1) having, along its longitudinal axis (2), an open cavity (3), a shutter (4) that is axially mobile in the cavity (3) of the valve body (1) in opposition to and by action of a helical spring (5) and that can be positioned against a valve seat (6) for closure of the passage of fluid through the cavity (3) of the valve body (1), and a guide element (7) for the shutter (4), pressed by the helical spring (5) against a mechanical stop (8), the shutter (4) comprising an axially hollow rod (9), the guide element (7) comprising a base (1 1), a guide pin (12) that axially extends out from the base (1 1 ), and a plurality of fins (13) for centring the guide element (7) which circumscribe the guide pin ( 12) and extend out from the base ( 1 1 ) on the same side as the guide pin (12), the rod (9) being fitted on the guide pin (12) with the interposition of the helical spring (5), which is inserted in the cavity of the rod (9) and fitted on the guide pin (12).