Movable Hose Fitting Connection for Strain and Torque Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic hoses in mobile work machines, such as forestry equipment, face strain and wear due to constant movement and temperature fluctuations, leading to maintenance challenges and reduced hose lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A hose connecting system with a fitting that can rotate and move along the hoses' longitudinal and orthogonal axes, combined with a holder and optional bushing, allows for increased hose length and reduced strain, enhancing maintenance accessibility and hose durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hydraulic hoses are made shorter to reduce movement and strain, then the strain on hoses is reduced, but the maintenance accessibility and torque resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the hose connection into separate functional segments: the holder is fixed to the crane structure, while the fitting is detachably connected to the hose and can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the hose length to be optimized for strain reduction while maintaining accessibility through the removable fitting component.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting acts as an intermediary element between the hose and the holder. It provides a maintenance access point that can be reached independently of the hose's fixed position, allowing technicians to service the connection without moving the entire hose assembly, thus maintaining accessibility while using shorter hoses.
2Ease of operation
If the hydraulic hoses are made longer to improve maintenance accessibility, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the strain and wear on hoses increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the holder (fixed) from the fitting (movable/detachable), the system allows the hose to be kept short and secure while the fitting provides the extended accessibility needed for maintenance. The fitting can be removed and repositioned independently of hose length constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting is designed to be dynamically positionable - it can be detached, repositioned, and reattached at different locations along the hose. This dynamic capability provides maintenance accessibility without requiring the hose itself to be long or flexible enough to reach distant points.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the fitting is fixed rigidly to prevent loosening, then the hose connection stability is improved, but the torque resistance and ability to accommodate movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting-holder connection transitions from a rigid fixed state to a controlled movable state. The fitting can rotate and move axially within the holder to accommodate crane movements and torque forces, while a locking mechanism engages to prevent loosening during operation, providing both stability and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the degree of freedom parameters of the fitting - allowing rotation and axial movement within specific ranges to accommodate torque and movement, while maintaining positional stability through the locking mechanism. The parameters of movement are controlled rather than completely restricted.
4Ease of operation
If the number of hose linkages is increased to improve maintenance accessibility, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating multiple linkage points along the hose, the system segments the connection into two main components: a fixed holder and a detachable fitting. This simple segmentation provides maintenance accessibility without the complexity of multiple intermediate linkages or connection points.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a hose connecting system (100), comprising at least two hoses (110, 120), adapted to be connected to each other, a fitting, adapted to fixedly hold each of the hoses (110, 120), and realize the fluid connection of the hoses (110, 120), a holder (140), adapted to hold the fitting (130), so that the fitting (130) is able to rotate around a longitudinal axis (A) of the hoses (110, 120) and/or move along a longitudinal axis (A) of the hoses (110, 120) and/or move along an axis orthogonal (B) to the longitudinal axis (A) of the hoses (110, 120), when the holder (140) holds the fitting (130).