Rotating Housing Tool for Tube Fitting Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tool devices for connecting plastic or metal-plastic composite pipes to fittings with sliding or compression sleeves require an external switch, making them susceptible to accidental incorrect operation, especially if the device falls over, and are not intuitive to use.
Innovation Solution
The tool device allows switching between expanding and pushing/pressing modes by rotating the housing relative to the drive element, with separate piston-cylinder units and an eccentric shaft mechanism, eliminating the need for an external switch and enabling intuitive mode recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a switching device with an operating element (switch, rotary knob) is used to control the expanding or pushing/pressing device, then the tool device can be operated in two different modes, but the device becomes susceptible to accidental incorrect operation and requires additional components that may cause malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mode selection function directly into the physical orientation of the housing relative to the drive element. The housing can rotate between two positions: when the expanding device points in the direction of the drive element, it controls expansion; when the pushing/pressing device points in the direction of the drive element, it controls pushing/pressing. This eliminates the need for separate switching components and reduces accidental operation risks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an active switching mechanism (switch, knob) to select modes, the patent inverts the approach by using the passive orientation of the housing to determine the active mode. The mode is determined by which device points toward the drive element, not by an active selection command from the user.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a switching device with operating elements is used, then mode changes can be controlled, but the device becomes less intuitive to use and requires additional components that increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the mode selection passive rather than active. Instead of requiring the user to actively select a mode through switches or knobs, the mode is automatically determined by the physical orientation of the housing. This makes the device more intuitive as the mode is evident from the device's configuration itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses directional orientation as a visual indicator system. The expanding device and pushing/pressing device are positioned such that their orientation relative to the drive element clearly indicates which mode is active, similar to how color changes indicate state. This provides immediate visual feedback to the user about the current operating mode.
3Productivity
If separate piston-cylinder units with separate valves are used for expanding and pushing/pressing devices, then each device can be controlled independently without moving the other back to starting position, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into two independent piston-cylinder units, each with its own valve. This allows the expanding device and pushing/pressing device to be controlled independently, so that when switching modes, only the active device needs to be repositioned, not both devices. This segmentation improves productivity by eliminating the need to reset the non-active device between operations.
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
This design prevents accidental incorrect operation and simplifies the connection process by allowing mode recognition through housing orientation, reducing the need for valve repositioning and saving time during pipe fitting connections.
Implementation Method 1
a first piston-cylinder unit (7) of the expanding device (3) with a first piston axis (8) and a second piston-cylinder unit (9) of the pushing device (4) with a second piston axis (10), which run parallel to one another, but do not coincide
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a tool device (1) for connecting a plastic tube or a metal/plastic composite tube to a fitting with a sliding or pressing sleeve, comprising a housing (2); an expansion device (3) for expanding the ends of the plastic tube or the metal/plastic composite tube; a sliding device (4) for sliding on the sliding sleeve or a pressing device for pressing on the pressing sleeve; and a drive element (5) which can be operated mechanically and which can be actuated in a switchable manner in order to drive the expansion device (3) or in order to drive the sliding or pressing device (4). The expansion device (3) and the sliding or pressing device (4) are connected to the housing (2) and are received at least partly in the housing (2), and the drive element (5) can be switched between driving the expansion device (3) and driving the sliding or pressing device (4) by rotating the housing (2) relative to the drive element (5). The invention additionally relates to the use of such a tool device (1) for connecting a plastic tube or a metal/plastic composite tube to a fitting with a sliding or pressing sleeve.