Plastic Coupling With Metal Protective Box

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Metal couplings for fluid circuits in motor vehicles, while effective in withstanding impacts, are costly to produce through machining and have limitations in geometrical shapes, minimum dimensions, surface quality, and tolerance compliance, making them less compact and less suitable for sharp angles compared to plastic couplings.

Innovation Solution

A coupling device comprising a plastic functional member with a protective metal box formed by two shells united by a seam, featuring a window for access and serrated spigot for reinforcement, allowing for less precise fabrication and reduced costs while maintaining impact resistance and compactness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal couplings are produced by machining, then impact resistance and strength are improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device combines a plastic functional member (providing compactness and corrosion resistance) with a metal protective box (providing impact resistance). This composite structure allows the metal component to protect against impacts without requiring the entire coupling to be machined from metal, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If metal couplings are produced by sheet metal working, then manufacturing cost decreases, but geometrical precision and surface quality worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidgeometrical precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling device is divided into two functional segments: a plastic functional member that requires high geometrical precision for fluid circuit connections, and a metal protective box that provides protection without requiring precise geometry. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured with appropriate precision levels, reducing overall manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If sheet metal working methods are used, then manufacturing cost decreases, but compactness and sharp angles capability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcompactness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic functional member enables compact design and sharp angles that are difficult to achieve with sheet metal working, while the metal protective box provides impact resistance. This composite approach allows the coupling to be both compact and cost-effective without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS7887097B2Coupling device for a motor vehicle fluid circuit

Publication Date: 2011.02.15 NORMA AUTOLINE FRANCE SAS

AI summary

Coupling device for a fluid circuit in a motor vehicle, the device including: a functional member of a plastic material that is provided with two or more types of connection, at least one of which includes a manually-accessible member projecting from the outside surface of the functional member; and a protective metal housing formed by two shells joined by a seam around the functional member, the housing being provided with a window giving access to the manually-accessible member.