Quick Coupling Valve Assembly With One-Piece Spring Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing quick couplings for aggressive media like strong acids and bases are complex, difficult to assemble, and prone to misalignment, which can lead to eccentric forces on the valve body and potential blockages.

Innovation Solution

A one-piece design for the quick coupling where the valve body and elastic element form a single component, eliminating the need for alignment and reducing the risk of eccentric forces, thus simplifying assembly and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the valve body and elastic element are designed as separate components, then assembly flexibility is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates causing eccentric forces and potential blockages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the valve body and elastic element into a single integrated component. The elastic element is formed as one piece with the valve body, eliminating the need for separate assembly and ensuring precise alignment. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving perfect alignment precision, as the component is formed in a single molding process without requiring subsequent assembly steps that could introduce misalignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If the valve body is guided axially in the housing, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional guidance components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidguidance components
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated valve body-elastic element component centers itself automatically within the housing through its own geometry. The component's design allows it to self-align and position accurately without requiring external guidance structures such as guide rails, bearings, or alignment features in the housing. This self-centering capability resolves the contradiction by achieving positioning accuracy through the component's inherent design rather than through additional guidance components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Force

If the elastic element has a high spring constant, then valve closure force is improved, but friction increases causing the valve body to stick in the housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure forceVSAvoidfriction
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of the elastic element with the valve body eliminates friction between these two components, as there is no relative motion or contact interface between them. The elastic element is formed as one piece with the valve body, so it cannot stick or friction against the valve body. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the elastic element to provide strong closure force through its spring constant without generating harmful friction, since the friction interface between the elastic element and valve body has been eliminated through merging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 one-piece design ensures safer and easier assembly, reduces the risk of blockages, and allows for a lower spring constant in the elastic element, enhancing the sealing efficiency and durability of the quick coupling.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic element adjoining the respective valve body in the axial direction. The valve body can be axially displaced and preloaded by the elastic element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the elastic element having a spiral concentrically encircling the central axis with a hollow space located within the spiral

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpiral geometry: Helix

Data Source

PatentEP4078002B1Quick coupling for connection
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 EM TECH GMBH
  • EP4078002B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4078002B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4078002B1 patent drawingFigure 5~9b

AI summary

The invention relates to a quick coupling with a fluid duct (FK) which is configured in the form of an annular gap for the indirect or direct connection of two lines (L1, L2) which transport a fluid, comprising a first coupling part which is configured as a sleeve (1) and a second coupling part which is configured as a nipple (2), wherein the sleeve (1) and the nipple (2) are configured from plastic and are of rotationally symmetrical configuration at least in regions with respect to a centre axis (M) and are arranged coaxially with respect to the centre axis (M) in intended use, wherein the sleeve (1) has a housing (10) for the insertion of the nipple (2), wherein the housing (10) is hollow and has an inner surface (100) and an outer surface (106), and the nipple (2) has a housing (20) for insertion into the sleeve (1), wherein the housing (20) is hollow and has an inner surface (200) and an outer surface (204), wherein a first valve body (12) is arranged in the sleeve (1), and a second valve body (22) and in each case one elastic element (124, 224) are arranged in the nipple (2), and the respective valve body (12, 22) can be displaced in the axial direction, and the elastic element (124, 224) can be prestressed in an axial direction. It is the intention for the quick coupling to be assembled and to be maintained in a relatively reliable and therefore also relatively simple manner for use with strong acids and strong bases. To this end, the valve body (12, 22) and the elastic element (124, 224) form a one-piece component.