Push-Fit Valve Release Tool for One-Person Conduit Disconnection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional release tools for push-fit valves require manual force to disengage grab rings, making it difficult for a single person to disconnect multiple conduits from equipment, especially in applications like maintenance where frequent disconnection is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A release tool with a fixed member affixed to the valve and a movable member that can be pivoted to push the release collar inward, allowing the grab ring to release the conduit, and is retained in the engaged position using guiding arms and notches, enabling easy disconnection and maintenance of the grab ring in an unlocked state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional release tools are used to disengage grab rings, then the conduit can be disconnected from the valve, but continuous manual force must be applied and multiple people are required to disconnect multiple conduits simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The release collar is pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage the grab ring teeth when the movable member is actuated. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for continuous manual force application, as the spring mechanism maintains the disengaged state automatically after initial actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool employs a movable member that can transition between engaged and disengaged positions, with the release collar capable of dynamic movement along the conduit. This dynamic mechanism allows rapid actuation of multiple conduits by simply moving the tool along the equipment without requiring sustained manual force on each connection.
2Productivity
If a user attempts to disconnect multiple push-fit valves simultaneously with conventional tools, then all conduits can be released, but multiple people are required due to having only two hands
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple release collars are integrated into a single tool body, with each collar associated with a different conduit connection point. The movable member is designed to simultaneously actuate all release collars when moved along the equipment, allowing one person to disconnect multiple conduits in a single continuous motion without complex coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is designed as a multi-functional device that can engage with multiple different valve configurations simultaneously. The standardized movable member design allows it to interface with various release collar types, enabling a single tool to handle diverse conduit disconnection tasks across different equipment locations.
3Ease of repair
If frequent disconnection of equipment is required for maintenance, then maintenance can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive with conventional release tools
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded release collars are designed to automatically return to their engaged position after actuation, maintaining the conduit in a ready-to-connect state. This self-resetting mechanism eliminates the need for manual repositioning or adjustment during maintenance operations, allowing rapid repeated disconnections and reconnections without additional tool manipulation or time investment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A release tool (10) for use with a push-fit valve (100), the release tool comprising: a fixed member (12) configured to be affixed to the valve, the fixed member comprising: a central portion (16) defining a base aperture (17) configured to receive therein a lever base of the valve, and at least one guiding arm (18) extending from a side of the central portion and a movable member (14) movably connected to the fixed member, the movable member being movable relative to the fixed member between a first position and a second position, the movable member defining: a conduit aperture (43) configured for the conduit to extend therethrough during use, the conduit aperture being shaped and sized so as to permit the movable member to abut a release collar of the valve during use; and at least one guiding aperture (48) receiving the at least one guiding arm (18) of the fixed member; wherein, during use, in order to disconnect the conduit from the valve, the movable member is moved from the first position to the second position to push the release collar inwardly into the valve and thereby cause the grab ring of the valve to release the conduit, the movable member being selectively retained in the second position via interaction between the movable member and the at least one guiding arm (18).