Rotating Locking Element Fluid Coupling for Wear Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional couplings for high-pressure fluid pipelines suffer from wear and tear, localized caulking, and reduced service life due to the stress caused by high pressures, particularly in applications like LPG filling, where the radial displacement of locking balls increases the radial dimension of the female element, leading to operational hindrances.

Innovation Solution

A female coupling element with a simplified structure featuring a mobile locking element that rotates around an orthoradial axis, utilizing guiding surfaces and a locking ring to securely engage and disengage the male element without radial displacement, thus reducing wear and maintaining robustness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If locking balls are used to lock the male element in the female element, then the coupling can be securely locked, but the repeated fitting induces wear and tear or localized caulking of the male element, reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidservice life of coupling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking function is segmented into multiple locking elements distributed around the circumference, each independently engaging with the male element. This distribution of locking points reduces the stress concentration on any single contact zone, thereby minimizing wear and tear while maintaining secure locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using spherical locking balls that roll and displace radially, the invention uses locking elements with cylindrical blocking surfaces that engage in a complementary groove. This inverted geometry eliminates radial displacement during locking/unlocking operations, preventing caulking of the male element and extending service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If locking balls are used to provide locking, then the coupling can be securely locked, but the radial displacement of the balls increases the radial dimension of the female element

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidradial dimension of female element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional locking ball geometry by using locking elements with cylindrical blocking surfaces that engage in a groove. This eliminates the need for radial displacement of locking elements, allowing the female element to maintain a compact radial dimension while still achieving secure locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful radial displacement function is extracted from the locking mechanism. The locking elements are designed to engage and disengage without radial movement, separating the locking function from any dimensional expansion, thus maintaining a compact radial profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If conventional locking mechanisms with multiple parts are used, then the coupling can be securely locked, but the assembly becomes long and delicate, increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts in female element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functional components into a unified locking element structure. The locking element integrates the blocking surface, guiding surface, and engagement features into a single component that is directly formed in the female element body, eliminating the need for separate housing parts, supports, and articulation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the blocking surface for locking, the guiding surface for alignment, and the engagement interface with the male element. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of parts needed in the coupling system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9939096B2Female element and coupling intended to form the disconnectable connection of two fluid pipe lines

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 STAUBLI FAVERGES SA

AI summary

A female element of a coupling for the connection of two fluid pipe lines includes a body for receiving a male element and which defines a channel for the passage of fluid and which includes at least one locking element movable in rotation with respect to the body around a generally orthoradial axis (X40 a-X′40 a), between a first angular position wherein the locking element locks the male element in a coupled configuration with the female element, and a second angular position wherein the locking element permits the male element to be separated from the female element and wherein the locking element has a first guide surface in a form of a portion of a cylinder with a circular section centered on an axis of the locking element and the locking element is arranged in a slot in the body of the female element and a second guide surface that rotates with the first guide surface.