Push-to-Connect Tube Fitting With Audible Insertion Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often struggle to determine if a tube is fully inserted into a tube fitting, leading to potential misconnections due to the lack of clear indication.
Innovation Solution
The tube fitting incorporates a main body structure and a tube liner that provide audible, force, and visual indications when the tube is fully inserted, using protrusions, grooves, and spring members to signal complete insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no indication mechanism is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user cannot determine if the tube is fully inserted leading to potential misconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms including audible clicks, visual indicators, and tactile force feedback that inform the user when the tube is fully inserted. The tube liner's engagement with the main body structure produces audible clicks, while visual indicators show insertion status, and force feedback provides tactile confirmation, ensuring reliable connection accuracy without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tube liner automatically provides insertion indication through its own engagement with the main body structure. The protrusions and grooves on the tube liner interact with corresponding features in the main body to generate audible clicks and visual indicators without requiring external indication systems, allowing the component to serve its own indication function
2Reliability
If multiple indication mechanisms are added, then the insertion detection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple indication mechanisms (audible, visual, and tactile) into a single integrated tube liner assembly. The tube liner incorporates protrusions for audible clicks, visual indicators for visual feedback, and force feedback features all within one component that also performs the sealing function, merging indication and sealing purposes without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tube liner serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides sealing between the tube and main body, provides audible insertion indication through engagement with protrusions and grooves, provides visual indication through integrated indicators, and provides tactile force feedback. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate indication components
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
Ensures accurate tube insertion with clear feedback mechanisms, preventing misconnections and ensuring proper sealing and connection.
Implementation Method 1
the main body structure and the tube liner cooperate together to provide an audible indication to indicate that the tube has been fully inserted into the tube fitting
Implementation Method 2
using protrusions, grooves, and spring members to signal complete insertion
Data Source
AI summary
A tube fitting for connection to a tube includes a main body structure and a tube liner. The main body structure is configured to receive an end of the tube and fluidly connect the tube to another component. The tube liner is positioned at least partially within the main body structure and is configured to extend into the tube. The main body structure and the tube liner are configured such that, when the tube is fully inserted into the tube fitting, the end of the tube is positioned at a predetermined depth within the tube fitting, and the main body structure and the tube liner cooperate together to provide an audible indication to indicate that the tube has been fully inserted into the tube fitting.