Pipe Fitting Protection Element for Unauthorized Extraction Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the braking system industry, especially for heavy vehicles, there is a need for pipe fittings that prevent unauthorized extraction and protect against external agents like oil, dust, and dirt, while using easily manufacturable traditional parts.
Innovation Solution
A pipe fitting design featuring a gripper element with conical outer surfaces and a protection element with an elastomer lipped portion that interacts with the pipe to prevent manual operation and seals against external agents, combined with a tool for controlled pipe release, ensuring secure and clean operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pipe locking element is added to prevent unauthorized extraction, then safety and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection element is nested over the terminal edge of the gripper element, with the lipped portion extending into the axial cavity to interact with the pipe. This nested structure provides the locking function while maintaining a compact design that doesn't significantly increase overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting is divided into distinct functional elements: the body, the gripper element with gripping teeth, and the separate protection element with lipped portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the complex safety mechanism easier to manufacture and assemble from traditional parts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protection element with lipped portion is added to seal against external agents, then protection against contaminants is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lipped portion of the protection element is made of elastomer material, which is flexible and can deform to seal against the pipe surface. This flexible lip creates an effective seal against oil, dust, and dirt without requiring a complex rigid sealing mechanism, thus adding protection while minimizing complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection element combines rigid structural portions with a flexible elastomer lipped portion. This composite construction provides both structural integrity and sealing functionality, achieving contamination protection through a single integrated component rather than multiple separate sealing elements.
3Reliability
If the terminal edge is made inaccessible to manual operation, then unauthorized operation is prevented, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A special tool acts as an intermediary to operate the gripper element. The tool engages with the fitting through the protection element's intermediate portion, allowing authorized personnel to manipulate the gripper teeth for pipe release without direct access to the terminal edge. This maintains security while enabling legitimate operation through the intermediary tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection element provides axial coverage over the terminal edge, blocking access from one dimension (manual fingers), while the special tool approaches from another dimension or uses a different engagement mechanism through the intermediate portion, thus preventing unauthorized operation while allowing authorized operation.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional parts are used for easy manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ability to meet high-safety requirements may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Only specific portions of the fitting require special properties: the lipped portion needs elastomer material for sealing, while the rest of the protection element and gripper can be made from traditional rigid materials. This localized application of specialized material properties allows the majority of the fitting to use easily manufactured traditional parts while still meeting high-safety requirements at critical locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents unauthorized pipe extraction and shields the fitting from external contaminants, ensuring reliable operation and easy manufacturing using traditional parts.
Implementation Method 1
said lipped portion is elastically yielding so as to bend following the insertion of the pipe in the fitting
Data Source
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AI summary
A fitting (1; 100) comprising an outer body (10; 110) and an inside gripper element (24; 124) suitable for blocking the extremity of a pipe (2). The gripper element comprises a terminal edge (30) on which can be exercised an axial force for moving the gripper in an advanced release position. On said terminal edge is fitted an annular protection element (40) comprising an inner lipped portion (42) extending in a radial direction towards the inside of the axial cavity of the outer body of the fitting so as to interact with the outer surface of the pipe. The outer body also comprises a cylindrical terminal portion (34) extending in an axial direction at least until it surrounds said protection element (40) so that the terminal edge of the gripper element is only accessible by means of a special tool.