Pipe Joint Retainer Geometry for Stable Detection Arm Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe joint structures face challenges in reliably bending detection arms by the pressing force from a pipe spool and maintaining the detection arm's position on the spool, especially when the inclined surface is large, reducing the flat part and causing the detection arm to fall off.
Innovation Solution
A pipe joint design that includes a housing with an insertion hole, a retainer with a detection arm, and a pipe lock arm, where the detection arm has an inclined surface and a parallel surface. The inclined surface converts the pressing force from the spool into a force bending the detection arm outward, while the parallel surface ensures the detection arm rides on the spool, maintaining its position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the inclined surface is made large to effectively bend the detection arm by pressing force, then the detection arm can be reliably bent outward, but the flat part is reduced and the detection arm may fall off the spool
Solution Approach 1:
The detection arm's contact surface with the spool is segmented into two distinct functional zones: an inclined surface for converting axial pressing force into radial bending force, and a flat part for maintaining positional stability. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the detection arm's contact surface are given different geometric properties: the inclined surface region provides mechanical advantage for bending, while the flat part region provides stable contact for positioning. This local differentiation of geometric quality resolves the contradiction between bending effectiveness and position stability.
2Ease of operation
If the detection arm is bent toward the outer side in the radial direction to eliminate contact with the wall part, then the retainer can be further pressed into the housing, but the detection arm may ride on and fall off the spool
Solution Approach 1:
The detection arm is pre-configured with both the inclined surface and flat part geometry before operation. When the spool is inserted, the inclined surface automatically converts the insertion force into bending motion, preliminarily positioning the detection arm in the correct bent state, while the flat part simultaneously establishes stable contact to prevent falling off during subsequent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat part acts as an intermediary element between the detection arm and the spool, providing a stable contact interface that mediates between the bending action (caused by the inclined surface) and the positional stability requirement. This intermediary structure allows the detection arm to maintain its bent position without falling off the spool.
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 design effectively bends the detection arm by the spool's pressing force and maintains the arm's position on the spool, preventing it from falling off, thus ensuring reliable operation and secure locking of the pipe.
Implementation Method 1
a detection claw including an inclined surface provided at the detection arm so as to be inclined with respect to the insertion direction of the pipe into the housing and converting a pressing force received from the spool of the pipe inserted into the housing, into a force toward the outer side in the radial direction
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A pipe joint includes a housing, a retainer capable of moving from a releasing position to a locking position, a detection arm provided in the retainer, regulating pressing of the retainer by a regulating wall of the housing in a state in which the retainer is at the releasing position, and releasing the regulation by the regulating wall by bending to an outer side in a radial direction of the housing, a pipe lock arm provided on a rear side compared to the detection arm and facing a spool of the inserted pipe in a state in which the retainer is at the locking position, and a detection claw including an inclined surface provided on the detection arm so as to be inclined with respect to an insertion direction and converting a pressing force received from the spool into a force toward the outer side in the radial direction, and a parallel surface provided on the detection arm so as to be parallel to the insertion direction of the pipe on an inner side in a radial direction of the inclined surface, in which a thickness of a part of the inclined surface is from 20% to 90% of a thickness of the detection claw.