Reinforced Plastic Plug-In Coupling for High-Load Locking Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug-in couplings for fluid lines, particularly those made of plastic, face issues with durability under dynamic loads such as pressure fluctuations and vibrations, leading to potential failure of locking openings and structural damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a metallic reinforcement ring around the locking openings of the female line section, which absorbs surface pressure and distributes the forces of the spring locking element, reducing stress on the plastic material and preventing opening breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the female line section is made of plastic to reduce weight and costs, then weight and manufacturing costs are reduced, but the locking openings become susceptible to deflection and breakage under dynamic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines plastic material for the female line section with metallic reinforcement elements (inserts or coatings) in the locking opening areas. This composite structure allows the majority of the component to remain lightweight plastic while critical areas gain the strength and rigidity of metal, preventing deflection and breakage under dynamic loads without sacrificing overall weight reduction benefits
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire female line section metallic, the invention applies reinforcement only in the specific regions where locking openings are located. This localized strengthening provides the necessary mechanical properties where needed while maintaining the lightweight plastic construction in non-critical areas, optimizing the weight-strength trade-off
2Ease of operation
If the locking openings are made larger or more accessible for the spring locking element, then ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity of the plastic female line section is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating metallic inserts or coatings in the locking opening regions, the invention enables the openings to be sufficiently large and accessible for easy operation with the spring locking element, while the metallic reinforcement compensates for the reduced structural integrity that would result from having larger openings in pure plastic material
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic reinforcement is applied specifically in the locking opening areas where mechanical stress concentrates, allowing these regions to accommodate larger, more operationally accessible openings without compromising the overall structural strength of the female line section
3Reliability
If the spring locking element is designed with high holding forces to ensure secure locking, then reliability is improved, but the plastic locking openings are more likely to break under the resulting surface pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of plastic and metallic materials in the locking opening regions allows the spring locking element to engage with the metal insert or coating, which has much higher resistance to surface pressure and contact stress than pure plastic. This enables the use of high holding forces for secure locking without risking breakage of the locking openings
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic reinforcement is strategically placed in the areas of the locking openings that experience the highest contact pressure from the spring locking element, allowing these specific regions to withstand high holding forces while the rest of the plastic structure maintains its lightweight characteristics
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 metallic reinforcement ensures safe and reliable force transmission, enhancing the coupling's ability to withstand high dynamic loads without compromising the plastic material's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one metallic reinforcement is designed as a ring which is arranged around the female line section in the region of the blocking openings. A metallic reinforcement designed in this way can absorb a high surface pressure, so that holding forces of the spring locking element engaging in the locking openings can be easily absorbed even under dynamic loads.
Implementation Method 2
the device has at least one spring locking element and the female line section has locking openings which correspond to the at least one spring locking element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a plug-in coupling for fluid lines, having a coupling sleeve (1) which is made of plastic and has locking openings (3), wherein the coupling sleeve (1) has at least one reinforcement (9) made of a metal material in the region of the locking openings (3). The reinforcement (9) can have through-holes (10) which correspond to the locking openings (3) and through which a spring locking element (5) having pawls (7) can extend. This can ensure that even in the case of high contact pressures between the spring locking element (5) and the coupling sleeve (1), bursting of the locking openings (3) is ruled out.