Press Fitting Stop Ring Geometry for Low-Force Sleeve Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing press fittings face challenges in reducing damage to components during assembly and achieving a secure, impact-insensitive connection, particularly during production and before pressing, due to high assembly forces and potential misalignment.
Innovation Solution
An assembly group comprising a cylindrical press sleeve with a stop ring that tilts automatically upon application, featuring a chamfered first circle segment and an insertion bevel in the second circle segment, which reduces assembly forces and facilitates secure attachment to the fitting body, thereby minimizing damage and ensuring a stable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a stop ring is secured to a press sleeve with a constant cross-section, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot achieve automatic tilting during assembly, leading to high assembly forces and potential damage to the fitting body
Solution Approach 1:
The stop ring is designed with an asymmetric cross-section featuring a first circular segment with constant cross-section and a second circular segment with an inwardly projecting element. This asymmetric geometry enables automatic tilting during assembly, reducing assembly forces and preventing damage to the fitting body while maintaining manufacturability.
2Strength
If high assembly forces are used to secure the press sleeve to the fitting body, then a secure connection is achieved, but damage to components such as the fitting body occurs during production
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic tilting mechanism is built into the stop ring's geometry before assembly begins. The inwardly projecting element in the second circular segment automatically engages with the fitting body's groove at an angle, initiating the tilting action during the approach phase of assembly. This preliminary geometric action reduces the peak forces required during the final securing stage, preventing component damage while achieving secure connection.
3Ease of operation
If the press sleeve is applied directly without automatic tilting mechanism, then the assembly process is simple, but misalignment occurs between the press sleeve axis and fitting body central axis
Solution Approach 1:
The stop ring's asymmetric cross-section with the inwardly projecting element creates a self-aligning mechanism. During assembly, the projecting element automatically engages with the fitting body's groove at an angle, causing the press sleeve to tilt and align itself with the fitting body's central axis without requiring external alignment tools or complex procedures. This self-service alignment maintains operational simplicity while achieving precise alignment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Assembly group (28) for a press fitting (1), comprising a press sleeve (4) with a pressing area (11) and a stop ring (3) fixed at a first axial end (9) of the press sleeve (4). The stop ring (3) has a first inner contour (20) for mounting the assembly group (28) onto a fitting body (2) of the press fitting (1), as well as a first circular segment (31) and an adjacent second circular segment (27) which extends over a smaller part of the first inner contour (20) than the first circular segment (31). The stop ring (3) has a cross-section that remains constant in the area of the first circular segment (31) and an element (26) arranged in the area of the second circular segment (27) that projects inwards beyond the constant cross-section of the first circular segment (31), so that when the assembly group (28) is applied to the fitting body (2) it causes a relative tilting of the press sleeve (4) relative to the fitting body (2).