Patent Application
20110221186
The present invention is related to connection mechanisms. For example, the invention may be related to joint connectors which include swiveling parts. Connection mechanisms, such as joint connectors, may be found in various applications. For example, a joint connector may be employed for connecting a pneumatic tool to an air hose. As another example, a joint connector may be utilized for connecting a hydraulic tool to a water hose. A swiveling part of a joint connector may enable the tool to swivel with respect to the hose, thereby providing additional flexibility and maneuverability when the tool is used in performing various tasks.
In general, a joint connector may include a first member for connecting to the tool and a second member for connecting to the hose. The joint connector may also include at least one screw for coupling the first member with the second member in a way that the first member and the second member may swivel with respect to each other. Typically, the screw as well as the threads (disposed in the first member and/or in the second member) mating with the screw may need to satisfy strict precision requirements. If the coupling between the screw and the threads is too loose, fluid (e.g., air, water, or oil) leakage may occur, resulting in waste of energy and resource, and even contamination. On the other hand, if the coupling between the screw and the threads is too tight, the first member and the second member may not be able to properly swivel with respect to each other. The strict precision requirements on the screw and the threads may substantially increase the cost of the joint connector.
An embodiment of the present invention is related to a joint connector. The joint connector may include a first member which includes a first passageway structure and a first groove structure. The joint connector may also include a second member coupled with the first member, wherein the second member includes a second passageway structure and second groove structure, and wherein the second passageway structure may be connected to the first passageway structure. The joint connector may also include a coupling component coupling the first member with the second member. A first portion of the coupling component may be disposed inside the first groove structure. A second portion of the coupling component may be disposed inside the second groove structure. The first portion of the coupling component may at least partially surround the second portion of the coupling component.
The above summary relates to only one of the many embodiments of the invention disclosed herein and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the claims herein. These and other features of the present invention will be described in more detail below in the detailed description of the invention and in conjunction with the following figures.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps and/or structures have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
One or more embodiments of the invention are related to a connection mechanism, such as a joint connector. The connection mechanism may be utilized in, for example, connecting a fluid-driven tool with a fluid hose, connecting a mechanical part with another mechanical part, and/or connecting an electrical part with another electrical part. The connection mechanism may include a first member which includes a first passageway structure and a first groove structure. The connection mechanism may also include a second member coupled with the first member, wherein the second member includes a second passageway structure and second groove structure, and wherein the second passageway structure may be connected to the first passageway structure to form a continuous passageway.
The connection mechanism may also include a coupling component for coupling the first member with the second member by engaging both the first groove structure and the second groove structure, with a first portion of the coupling component being disposed inside the first groove structure, and with a second portion of the coupling component being disposed inside the second groove structure. Engaging both the groove structures, the coupling component may securely couple the first member with the second member, preventing the first member and the second member from being separated. At the same time, the coupling component may allow the first member and the second member to swivel relative to each other.
The use of the coupling component may eliminate the need for a screw in coupling the two members of the connection mechanism. As a result, precision requirements associated with the use of a screw may be eliminated. Advantageously, manufacturing and maintenance costs associated with the connection mechanism may be minimized, and/or the quality and reliability of the connection mechanism may be economically provided.
One or more embodiments of the invention are related to a method for assembling a connection mechanism, such as the connection mechanism with the coupling component discussed above. The method may include compressing the coupling component such that the outer diameter of the coupling component is smaller than the diameter of a coupling portion of the first passageway of the first member. The method may also include inserting the combination of the compressed coupling component and a protrusion of the second member into a coupling portion of the first passageway of the first member, wherein the protrusion of the second member may include the second groove structure, wherein at least the second portion of the compressed coupling component may be predisposed inside the second groove structure, and wherein the coupling portion may include the first groove structure. After the insertion, the coupling component may expand (to the uncompressed state or a less compressed state of the coupling component) such that the first portion of the coupling component is disposed into the first groove structure. After the expansion, the coupling component may engage both the first groove structure and the second groove structure, thereby securely coupling the first member with the second member.
In comparison with methods for assembling a prior art connection mechanism using a screw, embodiments of the invention may eliminate the need for aligning a screw driver with the screw and the need for turning the screw with a suitable torque. Advantageously, the method may simplify the assembly process in manufacturing connection mechanisms, thereby improving the efficiency of manufacturing the connection mechanisms. The method may also advantageously reduce or prevent errors in manufacturing connection mechanisms, thereby ensuring the quality of the connection mechanisms.
The features and advantages of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the figures and discussions that follow.
As illustrated in the example of
Body 112 may be coupled with body 122 in a way that first member 110 and second member 120 may swivel with respect to each other. The mechanism for coupling body 112 with body 122 is further discussed in the example of
In addition to first member 110 and second member 120, connection mechanism 100 may also include a coupling component 130 for coupling first member 110 with second member 120. Coupling component 130 may cooperate with at least a groove structure 118 of first member 110 and a groove structure 128 disposed at a protrusion 160 of second member 120 to secure protrusion 160 of second member 120 inside a coupling portion 168 of passageway structure 116 of first member 110. Passageway structure 126 may extend through protrusion 160 to connect to passageway structure 116.
As illustrated in the example of
At the same time, coupling component 130 may permit first member 110 to swivel or rotate about (an axis 176 of) protrusion 160 of second member 120. By engaging at least one of groove structure 118 and groove structure 128, coupling component may also guide the swiveling movement of first member 110 and/or second member 120. The friction, feature(s), and/or shape(s) of the contact surface(s) of coupling component 130, groove structure 118, and/or groove structure 128 may be properly tuned to optimize the relative swiveling movement of first member 110 and second member 120 and/or to provide desirable tactile feedback to the user of connection mechanism 100. Tuning the friction, feature(s), and/or shape(s) of the contact surface(s) may be performed by, for example, selecting coupling component 130 from a plurality of coupling components.
Also for facilitating the swiveling movement of first member 110 and/or second member 120. Each of first member 110 and second member 120 may include a flat portion to provide a sufficient clearance between first member 110 and second member 120, as illustrated by cross section A-A of body 112 of first member 110 shown in the example of
In one or more embodiments, coupling component 130 may alternatively or additionally engage one or more other portions of first member 110 and/or second member 120, for optimizing the coupling between first member 110 and second member 120, and/or for optimizing the swiveling operation of first member 110 and/or second member 120. For example, coupling component 130 may engage an inner wall of coupling portion 168 with optimized friction and contact surface features to provide desirable tactile feedback to the user of connection mechanism 100.
Connection mechanism 100 may also include an o-ring 140 disposed between protrusion 160 of second member 120 and body 112 of first member 110. O-ring 140 may prevent fluid leakage at a gap between protrusion 160 and body 112. O-ring 140 may be disposed between coupling component 130 and body 122 of second member 120 (instead of being disposed above coupling component 130), in order to avoid hindering the insertion of the combination of coupling member 130 and protrusion 160 into coupling portion 168. Additionally or alternatively, one or more o-rings may be disposed between passageway structure 116 and coupling member 130, for preventing coupling member 130 from being exposed to the fluid transmitted through passageway structure 116.
Also for facilitating the insertion of the combination of coupling member 130 and protrusion 160 into coupling portion 168, coupling component 130 may need to be compressed to make the outer diameter of coupling component 130 smaller than the diameter D of coupling portion 168. The compression of coupling component 130 is further discussed with reference to the examples of
In one or more embodiments, body 112 may have a non-circular cross section for satisfying particular requirements. For example, body 112 may have a substantially square or substantially rectangular cross section for satisfying storage requirements.
After the insertion, coupling component 130 may expand to a less compressed state or to the uncompressed state to engage both groove structure 118 and groove structure 128, thereby securely and rotatably coupling first member 110 with second member 120.
Coupling component 230 may have a circular shape (or ring shape) and may include a resilient, compressible structure. For example, coupling component 230 may include one or more spring sections, such as spring section 232 and spring section 234. Coupling component may be compressed for reducing the outer diameter of coupling component 230 for facilitating the insertion of the combination of coupling component 230 and protrusion 160 of second member 120 (illustrated in the example of
After the insertion, coupling component 230 may expand to at least partially resume the outer diameter of coupling component 230, to Du2 or to a value between Du2 and Dc2 if limited by groove structure 118, to engage both groove structure 118 and groove structure 128, thereby securely and rotatably coupling first member 110 with second member 120.
In step 304, the operator and/or the automatic manufacturing system may dispose coupling component 130 such that coupling component 130 at least partially surrounds groove structure 128 located at protrusion 160 (illustrated in the example of
In step 306, utilizing a suitable tool, the operator and/or the automatic manufacturing system may compress coupling component 130 to make the outer diameter of coupling component 130 smaller than the diameter D of portion 196 of passageway 116 (illustrated in the example of
In step 308, with coupling component 130 being in the compressed state, the operator and/or the automatic manufacturing system may insert the combination of coupling component 130 and protrusion 160 into portion 196 of passageway 116.
In step 310, coupling component 130 may expand to a less compressed state or to the uncompressed state, for example, limited by groove structure 118 (illustrated in the example of
As can be appreciated from the method discussed above, no screws are need for coupling second member 120 with first member 110. The method may eliminate the need for aligning a screw driver with a screw as well as the need for turning the screw with a suitable torque. Advantageously, the method may simplify the assembly process in manufacturing connection mechanism 130, thereby improving the efficiency of manufacturing connection mechanism 130; the method may also reduce or prevent errors in manufacturing connection mechanism 130, thereby ensuring the quality of connection mechanism 130.
In addition, connection mechanism 400 may include an electrical connector 450. Electrical connector 450 may include a first conducting terminal 452, a second conducting terminal 454, and a set of conducting media 456 coupled between first conducting terminal 452 and second conducting terminal 454. The set of conducting media 456 may include one or more wires or cables. Each of first conducting terminal 452 and second conducting terminal 454 may include one or more conducting contacts for electrically coupling with at least an electrical and/or electronic device. In addition to providing mechanical connection with the flexibility of swiveling movement, connection mechanism 400 may also advantageously provide electrical connection with the flexibility of swiveling movement. For example, in one or more embodiments, connection mechanism 400 may mechanically and electrically couple an automobile door with an automobile body, wherein electrical connector 450 may transmit signals from a stereo system disposed in the automobile body to one or more speakers disposed at the automobile door. The signals may be reliably transmitted even when the automobile door swivels.
Electrical connector 450 (or at least the set of conducting media 456) may extend through and may be surrounded by at least passageway structure 416 and passageway structure 426. Electrical connector 450 may also extend through a protrusion 460 of second member 420, which is disposed inside passageway structure 416, wherein coupling component 430 may at least partially surround a portion of electrical connector 450. Electrical connector 450 may be protected by the surrounding components such that the reliability of electrical signal transmission may be ensured.
Each of first member 510, second member 520, and third member 530 may include one or more passageway structures for facilitating fluid flow and/or for facilitating electrical connection through the members. For example, first member 510, second member 520, and third member 530 may include a passageway structure 516, a passageway structure 526, and a passageway structure 536, respectively. Passageway structure 516 may connect to passageway structure 536 through passageway structure 526 to form a continuous, end-to-end passageway extending from the connecting head of first member 510 to the connecting head of third member 530. In one or more embodiments, connection mechanism 500 may include an electrical connector, e.g., similar to electrical connector 450 illustrated in the example of
Connection mechanism 500 may also include one or more coupling components cooperating with one or more groove structures of first member 510, second member 520, and/or third member 530 to facilitate the mechanical coupling between the members. For example, connection mechanism 500 may include a coupling member 540 engaging both a groove structure 518 of first member 510 and a groove structure 528 of second member 520, with a first portion 542 of coupling member 540 being disposed inside groove structure 518 and with a second portion 544 of coupling member 540 being disposed inside groove structure 528, to securely (and rotatably) couple first member 510 with second member 520. No screws are needed for coupling first member 510 with second member 520. As another example, connection mechanism 500 may include a coupling member 580 engaging both a groove structure 538 of third member 530 and a groove structure 568 of second member 520, with a first portion 582 of coupling member 580 being disposed inside groove structure 538 and with a second portion 584 of coupling member 580 being disposed inside groove structure 568, to securely (and rotatably) couple third member 530 with second member 520. No screws are needed for coupling third member 530 with second member 520.
Each of coupling component 540 and coupling component 580 may be similar to coupling component 130 and/or coupling component 230 discussed above with reference to one of more of examples of
Connection mechanism 500 may also include one or more sealing components for preventing fluid leakage. For example, connection mechanism 500 may include an o-ring 550 for sealing a gap between first member 510 and first portion 562 of second member 520. Additionally or alternatively, connection mechanism 500 may include an o-ring 552 for sealing a gap between third member 530 and second portion 564 of second member 520. O-ring 550 and/or o-ring 552 may be disposed between coupling component 540 and coupling component 580, in order to avoid hindering the insertion of the combination of coupling member 540 and first portion 562 of second member 520 into first member 510, and/or in order to avoid hindering the insertion of the combination of coupling member 580 and second portion 564 of second member 520 into third member 530. In one or more embodiments, one or more o-rings may be disposed between a coupling component and a passageway structure to prevent the coupling component from being exposed to the fluid transmitted through the passageway structure.
As can be appreciated from the foregoing, embodiments of the invention may eliminate the need for screws and threads in manufacturing connection mechanisms with swiveling movement capability, such as joint connectors. As a result, precision requirements associated with screws and threads may be eliminated. Advantageously, manufacturing and maintenance costs associated with the connection mechanisms may be minimized, and/or the quality and reliability of the connection mechanisms may be economically provided.
Eliminating the need for screws and threads in manufacturing connection mechanisms, embodiments of the invention may also simplify the assembly process in manufacturing connection mechanisms. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention may improve the efficiency of manufacturing the connection mechanisms; embodiments of the invention may also reduce or prevent errors in manufacturing connection mechanisms, thereby ensuring the quality of the connection mechanisms.
While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents, which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and apparatuses of the present invention. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may find utility in other applications. The abstract section may be provided herein for convenience and, due to word count limitation, may be accordingly written for reading convenience and should not be employed to limit the scope of the claims. It may be therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alternations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
