Orthogonal Fluid Conduit Assembly with Rotational Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid coolant conduits in engine cooling systems lack adjustability to accommodate tolerance stack-up between connection locations, making them inadequate for orthogonally oriented fluid connections, while flexible hoses are not suitable for high fluid flow rates in compact designs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid conduit assembly featuring two arcuately extending rigid tubes with fittings for orthogonal connections, allowing rotational adjustment and using a coupling with a flexible band to accommodate misalignment and gaps, ensuring coaxial alignment of distal ends for efficient fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid tubes are used for coolant conduits, then structural stability and high fluid flow rate capability are improved, but adaptability to accommodate tolerance stack-up and misalignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid tube assembly incorporates rotational joints at the fittings that enable dynamic adjustment of the tube orientation. This allows the rigid structure to adapt to misalignment and tolerance variations while maintaining its structural integrity and rigid connection properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows change in the angular parameter of the tube orientation through rotational adjustment at the fittings. This parameter change enables the rigid tube to accommodate different alignment conditions while preserving its rigid structural benefits.
2Productivity
If rigid tubes are used for coolant conduits, then high fluid flow rate capability is improved, but ease of installation and adjustment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational joints provide dynamic adjustment capability during installation, allowing the rigid tubes to be oriented correctly despite misalignment. This maintains the high fluid flow rate capability of rigid tubes while significantly improving ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rigid tube and the connection points, facilitating easier installation by absorbing alignment errors while preserving the high flow rate characteristics of the rigid conduit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible hoses are used for fluid connections, then adaptability to misalignment is improved, but suitability for high fluid flow rates in compact designs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational adjustment capability provides the adaptability typically associated with flexible hoses, while the rigid tube structure maintains the high fluid flow rate capability and compact design suitability of rigid conduits.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexibility is localized to the rotational joints at the fittings, while the main conduit remains rigid. This allows the system to have local adaptability for misalignment while maintaining overall rigid structure benefits for high flow rates and compact design.
Data Source
AI summary
Technology is provided for a fluid conduit assembly for connecting orthogonally oriented connections. The assembly includes a first tube arcuately extending from a first proximal end portion to a first distal end portion. The first proximal end portion includes a first fitting connectable to a first fluid connection. A second tube arcuately extends from a second proximal end portion to a second distal end portion. The second proximal end portion includes a second fitting connectable to a second fluid connection that is orthogonally oriented with respect to the first fluid connection. A coupling connects the first distal end portion and the second distal end portion. The first rigid tube is rotatably positionable with respect to the first fluid connection whereby a first distal axis and a second distal axis are substantially coaxially aligned when the first fitting and second fitting are connected to the first and second fluid connections, respectively.