Movement-Constraining Assembly for Fluid Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid-conveying tubes in hydraulic or pneumatic systems, such as those in aircraft, often experience rattling and vibrations leading to unscrewing and potential fluid leaks due to unsecured connections.
Innovation Solution
A movement-constraining assembly comprising a fluid-conveying tube, a blocking ring with complementary surfaces, and a base with joint portions that form a joint blocking axial rotational freedom while allowing translational freedom, preventing rotation and securing the tube to a structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If tubes are connected by threading engagement to components, then the connection can be assembled and disassembled easily, but the tubes may become unscrewed due to vibrations and rotations causing fluid leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into separate functional components: a threading engagement portion for assembly/disassembly operations, and a blocking ring portion that prevents rotational unscrewing during vibration. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one function, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection assembly combines different mechanical features (threaded engagement + blocking ring with complementary surfaces) into a composite solution. The threading provides reversible connection while the blocking ring with complementary surfaces provides irreversible rotational constraint, creating a hybrid system that achieves both ease of operation and vibration resistance.
2Reliability
If tubes are secured rigidly to prevent all movement, then connection security is improved, but the tubes cannot accommodate vibrations and thermal variations
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking ring is designed with complementary surfaces that engage with the tube at specific localized areas. This localized engagement prevents rotational unscrewing at the critical connection point while allowing the rest of the tube to move freely to accommodate vibrations and thermal expansion, resolving the contradiction between security and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system transitions from a static rigid constraint to a dynamic selective constraint. The blocking ring dynamically allows translational movement for vibration accommodation while selectively blocking rotational movement to prevent unscrewing, adapting its constraint behavior to different movement types based on the operational requirements.
3Reliability
If a blocking mechanism is added to prevent rotation, then connection security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking function is merged with the connection function in a single integrated blocking ring component. The blocking ring combines the rotational constraint feature (complementary surfaces) with the connection feature (joint portion), eliminating the need for separate blocking and connecting components, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking ring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides rotational constraint through complementary surfaces, provides connection through the joint portion, and maintains fluid sealing. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and system complexity while achieving the desired reliability improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
A movement-constraining assembly for a fluid-conveying system comprises a tubular body adapted to be secured to a component coupling end of a component of the fluid-conveying system. A fluid-conveying tube has a tube coupling end adapted to be connected to the component of the fluid-conveying system and defining an inner passage for fluid to pass therethrough to or from the component, the tube having an interface at the tube coupling end. A blocking nut has an inner surface complementary to at least a surface of the interface of the tube to block rotation between the tube and the blocking nut, the blocking nut further comprising an outer surface complementary to a surface of the tubular body to block rotation between the blocking nut and the component, whereby the blocking nut blocks a rotation between the fluid-conveying tube and the component coupling end.