O-Ring Installation Tool for Precise Inner-Diameter Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Installing O-rings into an inner diameter of a housing is challenging due to lack of accessibility and visibility, leading to potential human error and inefficiency, especially in structures without grooves.
Innovation Solution
A tool comprising multiple plates with guide surfaces and a loading pin that positions and moves O-rings radially using a selectively-actuable finger actuator, allowing precise placement within an inner diameter location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional methods are used to install O-rings in inner diameter, then the process is simple, but accessibility and visibility are poor leading to high error rate
Solution Approach 1:
The tool segments the O-ring installation process into distinct functional zones: guide surfaces for positioning, fingers for gripping, and actuators for movement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components including guide surfaces that mediate between the operator and the O-ring, and fingers that act as intermediaries to grip and manipulate the O-ring. These intermediaries improve accessibility by providing mechanical advantage and precise control in the difficult-to-reach inner diameter environment
2Productivity
If manual installation is used, then the tool is simple, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The tool performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the O-ring using guide surfaces and pre-gripping it with fingers before the actual installation movement. This preliminary preparation reduces the time required for the critical installation step while the modular design keeps overall device complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic components including movable fingers that can open and close, and actuators that provide controlled movement. These dynamic elements enable rapid installation by automating the gripping and positioning actions, improving productivity while the systematic arrangement of components prevents excessive complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If O-rings are installed without grooves, then the structure is simple, but placement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surfaces act as intermediaries that provide precise positioning references for the O-ring, compensating for the absence of grooves in the structure. These guide surfaces establish accurate placement locations through their geometric design, achieving manufacturing precision without requiring additional structural features
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing specialized guide surfaces and positioning features only at the critical locations where O-ring placement precision is needed, rather than complicating the entire structure. This localized approach achieves the required precision while maintaining overall structural simplicity and ease of manufacture
Data Source
AI summary
Tool for installing O-rings in an inner diameter of a structure includes a plurality of held in a spaced, fixed parallel relationship to one another. A plurality of guide surfaces are secured with and disposed between the plates. A selectively-actuable finger actuator is disposed to move a plurality of fingers generally radially between the plurality of plates. Each of the plates includes a slot, and a loading pin is configured to be received within the slots. When at least one O-ring is disposed about a plurality of guide surfaces proximal the periphery of the plates, and the loading pin is moved within the slots, the loading pin pulls a loop of the O-rings toward the plate axis. When the loading pin is removed, the finger actuator may be actuated to move the fingers in the generally radial direction to move the at least one O-ring radially outward from the plates.