Quick-Connect Coupling Simultaneous Sealing and Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quick-connect couplings for media lines, such as liquids or gases, often result in prolonged connection times and leakage issues, particularly problematic for environmentally critical media, as the coupling process involves separate steps for initial contact and sealing, leading to media escape.
Innovation Solution
A quick-connect coupling design where the coupling piece grips and pulls or pushes the coupling counterpart simultaneously, actuating a locking mechanism for a sealing contact, ensuring no media escape by maintaining a tight seal throughout the connection process, utilizing a claw-like receptacle and spring mechanism for secure engagement and axial movement to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional quick-connect couplings are used with separate connection steps for initial contact and sealing, then the coupling process can be completed in a few steps, but the media line remains open without a tight seal for a certain period causing media leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the initial contact function and sealing function into a single simultaneous action. When the coupling piece is brought into contact with the coupling counterpart, both the mechanical connection and the sealing contact occur at the same time through integrated design of the sealing element and coupling interface, eliminating the period where the line is open without a seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is pre-positioned and spring-loaded within the coupling piece before connection. Upon initial contact with the coupling counterpart, the spring force immediately pushes the sealing element into sealing contact, ensuring the seal is established before any media flow can occur, rather than requiring a separate sealing step after connection.
2Reliability
If conventional quick-connect couplings require manual intervention to release locking mechanisms, then the connection can be securely locked, but the coupling process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the coupling action itself. The movement of the coupling piece relative to the coupling counterpart during connection automatically triggers the locking mechanism to engage, and similarly, the release is automatically triggered during disconnection without requiring manual intervention to operate the locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is merged with the coupling motion. The same axial movement that establishes the mechanical connection and sealing contact also actuates the locking mechanism simultaneously, so that one continuous motion accomplishes both connection and locking, eliminating separate steps for each function.
3Reliability
If the coupling piece and coupling counterpart are designed for simultaneous coupling and fluidic connection, then media leakage is prevented, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is nested within the coupling piece structure, specifically positioned in a sealing chamber or groove. This nested arrangement allows the sealing function to be integrated into the existing coupling geometry without adding separate external sealing components, maintaining a compact and relatively simple overall structure while achieving simultaneous mechanical and fluidic connection.
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 rapid and leak-free connection of media lines, ensuring media is never exposed to the atmosphere during coupling, thus preventing escape and providing a stable sealing seat that effectively prevents media leakage.
Implementation Method 1
the claw-like receptacle is arranged to be movable against the force of a spring of the quick-connect coupling
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a quick-connect coupling comprising a coupling piece provided on a first media line end piece and a coupling counterpart provided on a second media line end piece, which can be brought into operative contact with the coupling piece, wherein coupling and fluidic connection of the first and second media line end pieces (1, 2) can be carried out simultaneously via the coupling piece (111) and coupling counterpart (112), wherein the coupling counterpart (112) can be grasped by the coupling piece (111) and brought into a connection position (V), and simultaneously, with the establishment of a sealing contact between the coupling piece (111) and the coupling counterpart (112), a locking mechanism provided inside the media line end pieces (1, 2) can be released, wherein the coupling piece (111) has a receptacle (113) for the coupling counterpart and the receptacle (113) engages the coupling counterpart (112) at least partially around or behind it.