Plastic Fluid-Line Coupling With Spring Ring Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid-line couplings in charge-air lines face issues with high pressure, temperature, and dynamic movements, leading to punctiform overloading and failure of plastic couplings due to rigid connections and inadequate bearing surfaces, which limits the use of plastic materials.
Innovation Solution
A plastic fluid-line coupling design featuring a coupling head and body connected to form a tubular sleeve with circumferentially oriented slots and radially outward support webs, utilizing a flat, open spring-steel ring with latching claws and support tongues to distribute force areally, allowing for elastic deformation and reduced loading, along with conical features for tilting compensation and beveled elements for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid connection of coupling body and connecting piece is used to ensure connection strength, then the connection strength is improved, but the coupling head becomes susceptible to punctiform overloading and failure under dynamic pressure and movement conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling head is segmented into multiple independent support webs (at least three) distributed around the circumference. Each support web independently supports the locking component, distributing the loading across multiple points rather than a single rigid connection point. This segmentation prevents punctiform overloading while maintaining overall connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking component is designed as a resilient element that can dynamically adapt to varying load conditions. The support webs and locking component work together to distribute axial forces areally across the coupling head, transforming the rigid connection into a more flexible, load-distributing system that maintains reliability under dynamic pressure and movement.
2Weight of moving object
If plastic material is used for the coupling to reduce weight and cost, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the coupling cannot withstand high pressure, temperature, and dynamic movements in charge-air lines
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling head is divided into multiple support webs that distribute loads across the plastic material. This segmentation allows plastic couplings to withstand high pressures by spreading the stress across multiple structural elements rather than concentrating it at single points, enabling plastic material use in charge-air line applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling combines plastic material with a locking component featuring support webs and resilient elements. This composite structure leverages the weight and cost advantages of plastic while incorporating structural features that provide the strength and temperature resistance needed for high-pressure charge-air line applications.
3Stress or pressure
If the bearing surface is widened to reduce surface contact pressure in plastic couplings, then the surface contact pressure is reduced, but motor movement and hose widening cause tilting that results in punctiform overloading
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling head features multiple support webs (at least three) arranged circumferentially. This segmentation creates multiple discrete support points that collectively bear the load, reducing surface contact pressure while preventing punctiform overloading through distributed support rather than a single widened bearing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient locking component dynamically adapts to tilting caused by motor movement and hose widening. The support webs and locking mechanism work together to distribute forces areally, maintaining reliability even when the coupling experiences angular deviations during operation.
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
Enables the use of plastic materials in high-load applications by distributing forces areally, reducing the risk of overloading and failure, while maintaining fluid-tight connections and facilitating easy maintenance and assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the locking component resiliently surrounds the coupling head in such a way that the latching claws project into the interior of the coupling sleeve through the slots in the coupling head
Data Source
AI summary
A reversibly detachable fluid-line coupling having a coupling sleeve, a locking component and a coupling plug. The locking component is in the form of a flat, open spring-steel ring has latching claws projecting radially into the interior of the spring-steel ring and distributed over the circumference of the spring-steel ring and has axially oriented support tongues, wherein, in the region of the coupling head, the locking component resiliently surrounds the coupling head and the latching claws project into the interior of the coupling sleeve through the slots in the coupling head and the support tongues of the spring-steel ring correspond to the support webs of the coupling head and in each case one support tongue is assigned to one support web.