Slide Through Fitting Assembly for Tight Space Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fittings face challenges in tight spaces during assembly and maintenance, often requiring replacement due to deformation, and traditional tubing designs are prone to leakage if not installed with precise lengths, leading to overtightening and premature failure.
Innovation Solution
A slide-through port fitting design featuring a fitting body with a straight through hole and an attachment port connected by a perpendicular passageway, where a seal is positioned offset from the end, allowing a tube to pass through and seal without the need for tightening, using a cover to prevent blockage and ensure fluid connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional fittings are tightened or torqued once during initial assembly, then the fitting is secured in place, but the fitting components deform and require replacement during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is divided into a body portion and a separate tube section that can be independently replaced. The tube can be removed and replaced without affecting the body, allowing maintenance without replacing the entire fitting assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting transitions from a static tightened connection to a dynamic slide-through mechanism where the tube can be inserted, secured with a clamp, and easily removed or replaced without deformation of the main body components.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional tubing designs use face seals or flared tubing, then connections can be made, but precise tubing lengths are required or leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting design changes the sealing mechanism from relying on precise tubing length and deformation (flared or face seals) to a slide-through design where the tube length can vary within a range, secured by a clamp mechanism that accommodates different lengths without leakage.
3Reliability
If overtightening is used to overcome short falls in traditional fittings, then seals are created, but undue stress is placed on components leading to premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
A clamp acts as an intermediary mechanism between the tube and the fitting body, providing the sealing function without requiring overtightening of the tube itself. The clamp distributes the securing force evenly, preventing stress concentration and premature failure of the tube or fitting body.
4Ease of operation
If traditional fittings are used in tight spaces, then assembly can be completed, but disassembly and maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting is segmented into a body and a removable tube section. The tube can be independently removed from the body by sliding it out, allowing maintenance personnel to access and replace the tube without manipulating the entire fitting assembly, which is particularly advantageous in tight spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A fitting assembly includes a fitting and a tube. The fitting has a fitting body having a straight through hole and an attachment or base port, connected to the through hole by a first passageway generally perpendicular to the through hole. The tube has an outer diameter smaller than the through hole allowing a first end of the tube to pass through the through hole. A seal is positioned in one of a circumferential slot in the tube and a circumferential slot in the through hole of the fitting body, the seal sealing a second end of the tube to the fitting body. A cover is sealingly attached to the first end of the through hole. One of the cover and the tube has a portion that extends into an intersection of the through hole and the first passageway, the portion having an aperture that prevents blockage between the attachment or base port and the second end of the through hole.