Plastic Tube Collar and Hinge Lip for One-Sided Wall Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching a plastic tube to a thin wall, such as those used in filtration assemblies, often require access to both sides of the wall and can cause deformation or are impractical for small or complex cavities, especially when using snap fit connections or heat staking techniques.
Innovation Solution
A plastic tube-like element with a collar and circumferential hinge portion that can be deformed by heat and pressure to attach to a wall from one side, allowing secure attachment without deforming the wall and without the need for glue or complex tooling, featuring a circumferential lip portion that moves from an initial angle to parallel with the plane upon heating and pressure application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If heat staking technique is used to attach plastic tube to wall, then secure connection is achieved, but access to both sides of wall is required and wall deformation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into two functional parts: a collar portion that interfaces with the wall opening and a circumferential lip portion that deforms to create the secure connection. This segmentation allows the attachment function to be distributed across different structural elements, enabling one-sided operation while maintaining connection strength
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a two-sided attachment process to a one-sided process by adding the circumferential lip portion that extends perpendicular to the wall surface. This dimensional addition allows the attachment mechanism to function entirely from one side of the wall, eliminating the need for access to both sides while maintaining secure connection
2Ease of operation
If snap fit connection is used to attach plastic tube to wall, then easy installation is achieved, but wall deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The collar portion is designed with localized structural features including a reduced wall thickness region that provides controlled flexibility. This local quality modification allows the collar to adapt to the wall opening without exerting excessive force that would deform the wall, while still achieving secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism utilizes controlled deformation of the circumferential lip portion through parameter changes in material behavior. By designing the lip portion to deform in a controlled manner during installation, the system achieves secure attachment without applying excessive force that would deform the wall
3Strength
If traditional attachment methods are used, then secure connection is achieved, but glue or complex tooling is required
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential lip portion is designed to perform the attachment function through its own structural deformation. When the lip portion is deformed during installation, it creates a mechanical interlock with the wall opening that secures the plastic tube without requiring external glue or complex tooling, achieving self-service attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The solution replaces chemical attachment methods (glue) and complex mechanical tooling with a purely mechanical deformation-based attachment mechanism. The circumferential lip portion's deformation creates a secure mechanical interlock that eliminates the need for additional materials or complex equipment
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
Enables secure attachment of plastic tubes to thin walls from one side, preventing wall deformation, eliminating the need for glue, and reducing tooling complexity, while maintaining fluid flow and ease of filter element insertion or removal in filtration housings.
Implementation Method 1
heating the hinge portion to a predetermined temperature or temperature range such that the hinge portion becomes deformable
Implementation Method 2
exerting a predetermined uniform pressure on the inner support surface along an axial direction of the tube-like element
Data Source
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AI summary
A plastic tube-like element (1) for being connected to an opening in a thin wall (2), comprising: - a tube portion (10) extending from a first end (101) to a second end (102); - a collar portion (11) surrounding the tube portion and generally radially extending from the tube portion in a first plane, the collar portion being positioned near but not abutting to the second end (102); - a circumferential hinge portion (12) connected to the second end of the tube portion and connected to - a circumferential lip portion (13), extending from the circumferential hinge portion at a first angle α larger than 30° with respect to the first plane; - wherein the circumferential hinge portion (12) comprises an inner support surface (14) projecting into a space defined by an axial projection of an inner surface of the tube portion (10).