Demountable Plug-in Fitting with Angled Toothed Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connections between tubes and equipment in the hydraulic or pneumatic field often result in permanent stresses and microcracks, leading to leaky fittings or spontaneous disconnection due to the need for specific tools and high assembly efforts, and lack the ability to be removed without destruction.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical ring with angled teeth is housed in a groove that allows for rotation and sliding, enabling the connection to be unscrewed by rotating the endpiece, with elastic retention to prevent accidental disassembly and enhanced anchoring through secondary grooves, allowing for reduced fitting force and secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a toothed cylindrical ring is inserted into a bore to create a sealed connection, then the connection strength is improved, but the connection becomes permanently fixed and cannot be removed without destruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidremovability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The toothed ring is designed to transition from a static, permanently fixed state to a dynamic, removable state. The groove in the endpiece allows the ring to rotate and move axially, enabling the connection to be disassembled by unscrewing the endpiece while maintaining strong anchoring during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system is divided into separable components: the endpiece with groove, the toothed ring, and the bore. This segmentation allows the ring to be independently positioned and moved within the groove, enabling both strong anchoring and removable connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If teeth are made flexible to reduce gripping force, then the assembly effort is reduced, but the gripping power becomes relatively weak

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly effortVSAvoidgripping power
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The teeth are designed with controlled flexibility by modifying their geometric parameters - making them thin and slightly flexible rather than completely rigid. This allows the teeth to deform elastically during assembly to reduce insertion force, while maintaining sufficient gripping power through their angled configuration and elastic recovery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the ring is completely free to rotate in the groove, then the connection can be unscrewed, but the assembly becomes vulnerable to spontaneous disconnection under axial forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunscrewing capabilityVSAvoidresistance to spontaneous disconnection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The groove is designed with a wider axial width than the ring, creating clearance that prevents spontaneous disconnection under axial forces. This preliminary design feature counteracts the potential harmful effect of axial separation by maintaining mechanical constraint while allowing controlled rotation for unscrewing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the connection under reduced effort while maintaining a secure seal, preventing spontaneous disconnection and enhancing the connection's durability by distributing forces effectively.

Implementation Method 1

the stop means are elastically retained in a position away from the side of the groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2452113B1Plug-in fitting for a coupling or the like that can be demounted by unscrewing
Publication Date: 2014.03.12 PARKER HANNIFIN MANUFACTURING FRANCE SAS
  • EP2452113B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2452113B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~6
  • EP2452113B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~7B

AI summary

The invention relates to an insertion end fitting for connecting a component (2) bearing this end fitting (4) to another component (1) provided with a bore (3) to accept this end fitting, the end fitting being provided with an external groove (9, 23) in which there is housed a cylindrical ring (6, 20) that has teeth (7, 21) projecting from its external surface the ends of which are contained, in the free state, in a substantially cylindrical envelope of a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore (3), characterized in that the ring is housed in the groove with freedom to turn and to slide, in that the axial width (L) of the groove (9, 23) is of a larger size than the axial width of the ring (6, 20), in that the end (21a) of the teeth (21) is cut at an angle in order to bite into the bore (3) which is inclined to the generatrix of this surface, and in that one of the flanks (23a) of the groove (23) and the facing end of the ring (20) have rotational stop means (20e, 20f, 24) for halting the rotation of the ring (20) in the groove (23) so that when the ring is in abutment against this flank (23a) the ring is free to turn with respect to the end fitting (4) through an angle smaller than 360 degrees.