Push-To-Connect Tube Fitting With Audible Full-Insertion Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users often struggle to determine if a tube is fully inserted into a tube fitting, leading to potential misattachment and incomplete connections.
Innovation Solution
A tube fitting design that includes a main body structure and a tube liner, providing audible, force, or visual indications when the tube is fully inserted, using protrusions, grooves, and spring members to ensure proper alignment and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no insertion indication mechanism is provided, then the device structure remains simple, but the user cannot determine whether the tube is fully inserted, leading to potential misattachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms including audible feedback (click sound when protrusion engages groove), visual feedback (position of retainer relative to main body), and tactile feedback (resisting force when retainer cannot rotate). These feedback mechanisms provide real-time information to the user about insertion status, ensuring reliable connection while maintaining relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components such as the retainer and protrusion-groove mechanism that mediate between the tube and main body structure. These intermediaries transmit mechanical energy and provide indication signals, enabling the user to determine insertion status without directly observing the internal connection point.
2Loss of information
If multiple indication mechanisms are added, then insertion status can be clearly determined, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple indication functions into a single integrated retainer mechanism. The retainer simultaneously provides visual indication (its position), audible indication (click sound when protrusion engages), and tactile indication (resisting force during rotation). This consolidation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer serves multiple functions: it prevents over-insertion, provides visual indication of insertion status, generates audible feedback through protrusion-groove engagement, and provides tactile feedback through rotational resistance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate indication mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while reducing information loss.
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
Ensures complete insertion of the tube into the fitting, preventing misattachment and enhancing the reliability of fluid connections by providing clear indications of full insertion.
Implementation Method 1
The tube liner is configured to move axially in a first axial direction along a longitudinal direction into the main body structure in tandem with axial motion of the tube
Implementation Method 2
the main body structure and the tube liner cooperate together to provide an audible indication to indicate that the tube has been fully inserted into the tube fitting
Implementation Method 3
The at least one slot allows the end of the tube liner to flex radially inwardly as the protrusion moves into the groove
Implementation Method 4
The extension is configured to abut the end of the tube such that, as the tube moves into the tube fitting, the tube moves the tube liner further into the tube fitting in a longitudinal direction of the tube fitting
Implementation Method 5
The tube liner comprises a seal member that is configured to provide a seal between an inner surface of the tube and an outer surface of the tube liner
Implementation Method 6
the main body structure and the retainer provide a force indication to indicate that the tube has been fully inserted into the tube fitting. The force indication is provided by a resisting force of the retainer so as to prevent rotational movement of the retainer relative to the main body structure
Data Source
AI summary
A tube fitting for connection to a tube includes a main body structure and a tube liner. The main body structure is configured to receive an end of the tube and fluidly connect the tube to another component. The tube liner is positioned at least partially within the main body structure and is configured to extend into the tube. The main body structure and the tube liner are configured such that, when the tube is fully inserted into the tube fitting, the end of the tube is positioned at a predetermined depth within the tube fitting, and the main body structure and the tube liner cooperate together to provide an audible indication to indicate that the tube has been fully inserted into the tube fitting.