Quick Coupling Compensation Chamber for High-Pressure Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick couplings face issues with high tensile stresses on jaws due to high operating pressures, compromising their correct functioning and safety, especially when used with high-pressure fluids.
Innovation Solution
A quick coupling design featuring a compensation chamber that reduces the axial traction on jaws by modulating the axial forces through the use of a tubular obturator and main chamber, allowing for the use of less expensive materials while maintaining high reliability and safety, even at pressures exceeding 1000 bar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the quick coupling is used with high operating pressures, then the coupling strength and pressure resistance are improved, but the tensile stress on the jaws increases excessively compromising their correct functioning
Solution Approach 1:
The obturator is divided into two functional parts: a head portion that contacts the terminal and a body portion that contacts the jaws. This segmentation allows the forces to be distributed differently, with the head absorbing the sealing function and the body transmitting controlled forces to the jaws, thereby reducing excessive tensile stress on the jaws while maintaining coupling strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The obturator acts as an intermediary element between the fluid pressure and the jaws. Instead of the fluid pressure acting directly on the jaws, the obturator mediates this force transmission, converting the radial fluid pressure into controlled axial forces that are distributed through the obturator structure, thereby protecting the jaws from excessive tensile stress.
2Stress or pressure
If the obturator surface area perpendicular to the main axis is increased, then the axial load on the jaws is reduced, but the device complexity and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The obturator features local quality variations in its geometry, with a larger head portion surface area perpendicular to the main axis that contacts the terminal, and a smaller body portion that contacts the jaws. This local differentiation allows the head to absorb the majority of the axial load while the body transmits only necessary forces to the jaws, reducing overall axial load on the jaws without requiring a uniformly complex structure throughout the entire obturator.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the obturator, specifically the ratio between the head surface area and body surface area perpendicular to the main axis. By increasing the head surface area relative to the body surface area, the axial load distribution is optimized, with the head absorbing more load and the jaws experiencing reduced axial forces, thereby achieving load reduction without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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 effectively reduces the axial traction on jaws, ensuring correct operation with bearable forces and increasing the coupling's resistance, enabling safe and reliable connections under high pressures while allowing for the use of less expensive materials.
Implementation Method 1
the working fluid contained in said compensation chamber pushes or pulls the obturator axially away from the ends of the jaws
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A quick coupling for threaded or shaped terminals comprises: a substantially tubular body internally delimiting a passage duct (3) which has a first end (4) configured to removably connect with a terminal (2) and a second end (5 ) configured to connect with a circuit. The substantially tubular body comprises: a main body (6); a plurality of jaws (17) arranged at the first end (4) and axially anchored to the main body (6), wherein the jaws (17) are movable radially with respect to the main body (6) between a first release position from the terminal (2) and a second position coupled to the terminal (2); activation devices operatively engaged with the jaws (17) to cause the passage between the first position and the second position. An obturator (15) substantially tubular and coaxial to the main body (6) is movable axially with respect to the main body (6) and has a head end (16) intended to come into contact and to make seal with the terminal (2). The obturator (15) delimits with the main body (6) a compensation chamber (24) axially located between the obturator (15) itself and the main body (6) and in fluid communication with the passage duct (3) so that the working fluid contained in the compensation chamber (24) pushes or pulls the obturator (15) axially away from the ends of the jaws (17).