Quick Disconnect Fitting With Adjustable Orifice for Flow Limiting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pressured fluid systems in industrial environments face issues with excessive fluid pressure and flow rate, leading to poor performance and potential damage to end-use devices and risk to operators, with current inline flow control devices increasing system complexity and reducing flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A fitting with a quick disconnect profile and adjustable orifice design that limits fluid flow rate while providing a quick disconnect coupling, allowing for easy attachment and detachment of end-use devices, reducing weight and improving operability by integrating flow-limiting and pressure-regulating functions within a single component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If inline fixed or adjustable flow control devices are used, then fluid flow rate can be controlled, but device complexity and number of connections increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow rate controlVSAvoidnumber of connections

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the flow control valve body with the quick disconnect coupling into a single integrated component. The valve is formed as one piece with the quick disconnect features, eliminating the need for separate flow control devices and reducing the number of connections in the fluid system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated component serves multiple functions: it provides flow control, acts as a quick disconnect coupling, and maintains pressure regulation capabilities. This multi-functional design reduces system complexity while maintaining all necessary control features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If inline flow control devices are collocated with the operator, then flow control is achieved, but weight increases and flexibility decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow control capabilityVSAvoidline weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the flow control valve with the quick disconnect coupling, the patent eliminates the need for separate flow control devices that would add weight to the line. The integrated design reduces overall weight while maintaining flow control capability at the operator location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If inline flow control devices are used, then excessive fluid flow rate is limited, but operability and line flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexcessive fluid flow rateVSAvoidline flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integration of flow control and quick disconnect features into a single component reduces the number of separate devices that would constrain line movement. The design maintains flexibility while providing flow control, as the integrated component does not add the same level of operational constraint as multiple separate devices would.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11608899B2Method of flow control

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 RAYTHEON CO

AI summary

A fitting with a body bound by an exterior surface and an interior surface. The exterior surface includes a quick disconnect profile extending from a first end of the body and an external thread extending from a second end of the body. The interior surface includes a first bore extending from the first end of the body and a second bore extending from the second end of the body. The fitting includes an orifice formed by the first bore, between a pin and the first bore, or between the pin and a third bore of an adjustment member installed within the first bore.