Spring-Locked Pipe Coupler for Vibration-Resistant Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing quick couplers using retaining steel balls fail to ensure a firm connection and are prone to loosening under vibration or impact, leading to separation of the male and female couplers.
Innovation Solution
A pipe coupler with a loose-proof self-locking structure that utilizes a spring to lock the male coupler body to the female coupler body. The spring is stretched forward when the sleeve is rotated, allowing the retaining member to move into a closed tail end of the guiding groove, creating a secure connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If retaining steel balls are used to hold the male and female couplers together, then the coupling mechanism is simple, but the connection becomes loose under vibration or impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static retaining mechanism into a dynamic self-locking mechanism. The retaining member is designed to automatically adjust its position based on the coupling state: during coupling, it moves along a slant guiding groove to engage and lock the male and female couplers; during decoupling, it automatically resets to its initial position. This dynamic behavior ensures reliable locking under vibration and impact without requiring complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member with the protruded element and slant guiding groove creates a self-locking mechanism that automatically engages and locks the couplers together. The spring-loaded design enables the retaining member to self-adjust and maintain locking force without external intervention, preventing loosening under vibration or impact while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple.
2Device complexity
If a collar presses against steel balls to retain them in concaved recesses, then the structure is compact, but the collar loosens under fierce vibration or impact leading to separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static collar-steel ball retention system with a dynamic spring-loaded retaining member. The retaining member moves along a slant guiding groove during coupling and automatically locks into position, maintaining constant retention force on the protruded element. This dynamic system adapts to vibration and impact forces, preventing the loosening problem inherent in static collar-based retention.
3Reliability
If retaining members are used to hold couplers together, then connection is maintained, but quick disconnection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The slant guiding groove design enables automatic, tool-free disconnection. When the retaining member is pulled outward during decoupling, the protruded element automatically rides up the slant groove and disengages from the male coupler's groove, allowing quick separation without manual intervention. This maintains reliable connection during operation while enabling rapid disconnection when needed.
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 pipe coupler achieves a secure, self-locking connection that prevents loosening under vibration or impact, allowing for quick and effortless coupling of the male and female parts.
Implementation Method 1
the spring is brought by the rotating sleeve to elastically stretch forward and generate a stretching force
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe coupler with locking structure includes male and female parts connected end-to-end. The male part includes a male coupler body provided with at least one groove, a spring fitted on the male coupler body with an end fixed thereto, and a sleeve enclosing the male coupler body and the spring therein with another end of the spring fixed thereto. A retaining member is connected at an end to the sleeve with a protruded element provided on a free end thereof to movably engage with to or disengage from the groove on the male coupler body. The female part includes a female coupler body externally provided with at least one slantly extended guiding groove. When the sleeve is rotated, the protruded element is moved in the guiding groove to a closed tail end thereof and the spring is stretched forward to elastically pull the male and female coupler bodies together.