Nurse Tank Coupling Locking Collar Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing connections between anhydrous ammonia tanks and injection systems are prone to loosening due to vibration during farming operations, leading to unintended release of ammonia.

Innovation Solution

A nurse tank coupling with a locking collar and acme threads is designed to securely connect the flow nozzle to the nipple, featuring a bias spring and retainer ring to maintain the connection and prevent rotation, ensuring a tight seal between the nozzle coupling and the nipple.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the nozzle coupling is hand tightened for ease of connection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to loosening from vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of connectingVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is divided into two functional parts: a hand-tightenable nozzle coupling for ease of connection, and a separate locking collar with hexagonal section that provides vibration resistance. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking collar acts as an intermediary element between the nozzle coupling and the fitting. It provides the additional mechanical engagement needed to prevent vibration-induced loosening while allowing the nozzle coupling itself to remain easily hand-tightenable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to prevent loosening, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidcoupling structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking collar combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, prevents rotation through the hexagonal section, and secures the connection against vibration. This merging reduces the need for separate complex locking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire coupling complex and requiring tools for tightening, the design inverts the approach by keeping the main coupling simple for hand-tightening and adding a separate, simple locking collar that provides the necessary security against vibration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9587777B1Nurse tank coupling with locking collar

Publication Date: 2017.03.07 CONTINENTAL NH3 PROD CO

AI summary

An anhydrous ammonia nurse tank coupling had a locking collar for securing a flow nozzle to a nurse tank fitting. A nipple is threadingly secured to the fitting and has a hexagonal-shaped section. A nozzle coupling extends about said flow nozzle for threadingly securing to the flow nozzle to the nipple. The nozzle coupling and the nipple have acme threads which are secured together, with a seal element extending between the nipple and the flow nozzle. A locking collar slidably disposed on said nozzle coupling, for moving from a retracted position disposed aside of the hexagonal-shaped section of the nipple to an extended position disposed adjacent to the hexagonal-shaped section and non-rotatably securing the locking collar to the nipple. The locking collar is non-rotatably secured to the nozzle coupling in the extended position, and non-rotatably secures the nozzle coupling to the nipple when in the extended position.