Segmented Hose Joint Sleeve for Slip-Resistant Pipe Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing a tightening ring with a complex shape to connect flexible hoses made of silicone rubber to a hose insertion core tube face challenges in mass production due to undercut issues during resin molding, making it difficult to securely retain and connect the hose.

Innovation Solution

A hose joint sleeve with a sleeve main body that includes deformable belt-like bodies with fitting and recessed parts, allowing for radial contraction and expansion to securely engage and tighten the flexible hose, overcoming the limitations of conventional resin molding techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an uneven portion is formed on the inner wall surface of the tightening ring to securely retain and connect the flexible hose, then the connection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to undercut issues during injection molding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmolding ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tightening ring is divided into multiple independent gripping elements (protrusions) that can be separately formed through injection molding. Each gripping element has a simplified geometry without undercuts, allowing easy removal from the mold while collectively providing the necessary retention force to secure the flexible hose to the nipple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of forming a continuous uneven portion with undercut geometry, the invention creates discrete localized gripping protrusions at specific positions on the inner wall surface. These localized features provide sufficient retention capability while maintaining simple overall geometry that is compatible with injection molding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a complex shape tightening ring is produced to ensure secure connection, then the connection strength is improved, but the productivity decreases due to difficulty in mass production

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmass production capability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The tightening ring incorporates multiple discrete gripping protrusions that can be efficiently formed through standard injection molding techniques. This segmented approach allows for high-volume production while maintaining sufficient connection strength through the collective action of multiple gripping points distributed around the circumference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the geometry of the gripping protrusions by changing design parameters to eliminate undercut conditions. The protrusions are designed with tapered or rounded profiles that allow easy ejection from the mold, enabling mass production while maintaining adequate gripping force through optimized dimensions and distribution patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If resin molding is performed by injection molding to produce the tightening ring, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to undercut issues preventing product removal from die

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemolding precisionVSAvoidproduct removal ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The inner wall surface features are segmented into discrete gripping protrusions with simplified geometries that avoid undercut conditions. This segmentation allows the molded product to be easily removed from the injection mold while maintaining precise dimensional control through standard molding practices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of forming recesses or cavities that create undercut issues, the invention inverts the approach by creating protruding gripping elements. This inversion eliminates the removal problem associated with undercuts while still providing the necessary friction and mechanical interlocking to secure the hose connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 hose joint sleeve effectively prevents the flexible hose from slipping off the nipple, enabling reliable connection and facilitating mass production of the resin molded product with a simpler structure, thereby improving productivity and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

presses and tightens the connection hose toward the outer peripheral surface of the hose insertion core tube with radial contraction and deformation of the tightening ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadial contraction and deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the sleeve main body is elastically deformable in a radial direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4008945B1Sleeve for pipe coupling and pipe coupling provided with said sleeve for pipe coupling
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 TOYOX CO LTD
  • EP4008945B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4008945B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4008945B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

Problem to be solved is to fasten a flexible hose to a nipple so as to prevent the flexible hose from slipping off by coupling a plurality of belt-like bodies divided in the same shape. A hose joint sleeve of the present invention comprising a sleeve main body that is deformable in a radial direction and is provided to hold a flexible hose between the sleeve main body and a nipple of a hose joint, the hose joint sleeve being configured to press and tighten the flexible hose toward an outer peripheral surface of the nipple with radial contraction and deformation of the sleeve main body, wherein the sleeve main body includes a plurality of belt-like bodies divided at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the sleeve main body, each of the belt-like bodies being formed to be deformable in the circumferential direction, each of the plurality of belt-like bodies includes a fitting part provided at a first end in a circumferential direction of each of the plurality of belt-like bodies, a part to be fitted provided at a second end of each of the plurality of belt-like bodies, and a recessed part provided on an inner surface facing an outer surface of the flexible hose in a radial direction, the fitting part and the part to be fitted are formed in shapes such that the fitting part and the part to be fitted engage with each other to couple the plurality of belt-like bodies, and recessed parts each being the recessed part are formed to be annularly connected to each other concomitantly with the coupling of the plurality of belt-like bodies.