Air Conditioner Refrigerant Pipe Connection With O-Ring Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a method to easily connect refrigerant pipes in air conditioners while preventing refrigerant leakage, which is not effectively addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A method using an assembling jig that includes a grip-ring, washer, and O-ring, which are inserted into the refrigerant pipe and secured by a coupling nut, ensuring hermetic sealing and preventing separation or leakage during connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional connection methods are used, then the connection process is simple in structure, but the connection time is long and hermeticity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehermeticityVSAvoidconnection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The grip ring, washer, and O-ring are pre-assembled on the refrigerant pipe before insertion into the connection apparatus. This preliminary preparation ensures proper positioning and hermetic sealing components are ready, eliminating the need for separate installation steps and reducing overall connection time while ensuring reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sealing and securing functions (grip ring for mechanical strength, washer for distribution, O-ring for hermetic sealing) are combined into a single integrated assembly that is inserted and secured in one operation. This merging of multiple sealing mechanisms into one unified approach simultaneously achieves both hermeticity and reduces connection time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If traditional connection methods are used, then the structure is simple, but the connection process is complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection efficiencyVSAvoidconnection structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grip ring, washer, and O-ring are pre-assembled on the refrigerant pipe end before insertion. This preliminary preparation consolidates multiple components into a ready-to-install unit, simplifying the actual connection operation to a single insertion and tightening motion, thereby improving productivity without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system is divided into two main segments: a pre-assembled refrigerant pipe assembly (with grip ring, washer, and O-ring) and the connection apparatus. This segmentation allows the complex multi-component assembly to be prepared separately and then installed as a unit, making the connection process more efficient and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If traditional connection methods are used, then fewer components are required, but hermetic sealing is insufficient leading to refrigerant leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system uses a composite structure combining different materials and functions: the grip ring (metal) provides mechanical strength, the washer (metal) distributes load, and the O-ring (elastomer) provides hermetic sealing. This composite approach ensures reliable sealing performance while managing the complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If traditional connection methods are used, then the connection process is straightforward, but the connection strength is insufficient leading to separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2615387B1Method of connecting a refrigerant pipe with an air conditioner

Publication Date: 2019.10.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

Figure 1
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AI summary

A structure 40, 140, 240 to connect a refrigerant pipe 30 and an air conditioner 1 having the same, the connecting structure 40, 140, 240 enabling a refrigerant pipe 30 to be easily connected to an indoor unit 10 or an outdoor unit 20 of an air conditioner 1 and including a refrigerant pipe 30 through which refrigerant flows, a socket part 52 connected to one end of the refrigerant pipe, and a coupling nut 110 coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the socket part, wherein, a socket part is provided with a grip-ring 70 allowing the refrigerant pipe to move in a first direction in which the refrigerant pipe 30 is coupled to the socket part 52 and preventing the refrigerant pipe from moving in a second direction in which the refrigerant pipe is separated from the socket part, and at least one O-ring 90 configured to prevent refrigerant from leaking at the socket part 52.