GB2565800A

GB2565800A - A pressurized fluid line holder and a pressurized fluid system comprising the same

Info

Publication number: GB2565800A
Application number: GB1713509.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Michael
Original assignee: Parker Hannifin Europe SARL
Current assignee: Parker Hannifin Europe SARL
Priority date: 2017-08-23
Filing date: 2017-08-23
Publication date: 2019-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-23
Also published as: GB2565800B; GB201713509D0

Abstract

A pressurized fluid line holder 10 comprises a body 12 having a first 14 and opposing second 16 side, and front 18 and rear 20 opposing faces extending between the two sides. A slot 32 is disposed in the body, extending through it from the front to the rear face providing an open path through the body. The slot extends from the first side partially through the body towards the second side thereby defining a slot base 24. The slot comprises a localized narrowing 28 between the opening and the base of the slot, having a width which is sufficiently large that a resilient fluid line can be pressed past the narrowing when inserted into the slot from the first side, and sufficiently small to hold the resilient fluid line in the base of the slot after it has been pressed past the localized narrowing. A pressurized fluid system comprises this holder and components to which the fluid lines are to be attached. The body of the holder can comprise a plurality of slots, and the holder can further comprise a locking component engaged with the opening of the slot to lock the fluid line in the slot.

Description

A PRESSURIZED FLUID LINE HOLDER AND A PRESSURIZED FLUID SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a mounting plate for pressurized fluid lines and a system comprising the mounting plate.

Background of Invention

Pressurised fluid lines used in the supply of pressurised fluid to valve and other components of a hydraulic or pneumatic system are frequently springy or resilient. This is advantageous because it allows the lines to be routed simply by bending them to fit. However, this has the result that they can spring out of position when they are detached from the valves (or other components).

For example, lines containing pressurised fluid (pneumatic or hydraulic) may be required to be connected to valves and/or other components on an assembly board. The lines are frequently flexible which facilitates routing of the lines to the components on the board. However, the resilient properties of the material of the lines mean that the lines can tend to spring away from a desired arrangement on the assembly board. This can make it difficult during assembly. It could also cause difficulties during service and maintenance.

One possible solution to this problem would be to make the fluid lines less springy or resilient. However, the fluid lines are required to hold a pressurized fluid. Furthermore, the fluid lines are often required to be flexible such that they can be routed by bending to fit a particular system configuration. The combination of these requirements tends to inevitably result in a springy or resilient fluid line which can spring away from a desired position when released from its associated valve or other fluid processing component or end attachment.

Another possible solution to the aforementioned problem is to fixedly attach the fluid lines in the desired configuration in a system using an attachment configuration in which the fluid lines are surrounded by a clip, clasp, or tie component. However, such clips or ties increase the complexity and expense of the mounting configuration. Furthermore, such clips, clasp, or ties can be difficult to attach to springy or resilient fluid lines as an assembler is required to both hold the fluid line in position while closing the clip, clasp, or tie component to secure the fluid line in position. Further still, such clip, clasp, or tie components can be difficult to open when performing servicing and maintenance procedures. Furthermore, once such an attachment mechanism is opened the fluid line can spring free in an uncontrolled manner as the operators hands are otherwise engaged in operating the attachment mechanism which can potentially be a safety hazard.

In light of the above, the present inventor has identified that there is a need for a mounting configuration for pressurized fluid lines which is simple and low cost to implement, easy to use in terms of mounting and releasing the fluid lines as desired such as during assembly, servicing, and/or maintenance, and is also reliable in terms of reliably holding the fluid lines in position when mounted. It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to address this problem.

Summary of invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pressurized fluid line holder comprising:

a body having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and front and rear opposing faces extending between the first and second sides;

a slot disposed in the body, wherein the slot extends through the body from the front face to the rear face and thus provides an open path from the front face to the rear face through the body, whereby in use a resilient fluid line can extend through the open path of the slot along a longitudinal direction of the fluid line, wherein the slot extends from the first side of the body partially through the body towards the second side such that the slot is open at the first side but closed at the second side thereby defining a slot base within the slot with side walls extending from the slot base to an opening at the first side, whereby in use a resilient fluid line can be inserted into the slot from the first side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the resilient fluid line, wherein the slot comprises a localized narrowing between the opening and the base of the slot, the localized narrowing having a width which is sufficiently large that a resilient fluid line can be pressed past the narrowing when inserted into the slot from the first side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the resilient fluid line, and the width of the localized narrowing being sufficiently small to hold the resilient fluid line in the base of the slot after it has been pressed past the localized narrowing.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a pressurized fluid system comprising the pressurized fluid line holder and one or more components to which one or more pressurized fluid lines are to be attached.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching one or more resilient fluid lines to a pressurized fluid system comprising the pressurized fluid line holder.

Configurations as described herein allow resilient fluid lines to be press fit into slots of a holder in a simple manner such that the resilient fluid lines are reliably held in place while free ends of the resilient fluid lines can be routed, and connected, to components of a pressurized fluid system. The mounting configuration avoids the need for clips, clasps, or ties which can be difficult to attach to springy or resilient fluid lines as an operator is required to hold the fluid line in position while closing the clip, clasp, or tie component to secure the resilient fluid line in position. Using the present system the resilient fluid line is held and pushed into place without requiring separate manipulation of a clip, clasp, or tie. Further still, the resilient fluid line is held by an operator when pulling the line out of the holder, e.g. for maintenance or servicing. As such, the fluid line will not spring free in an uncontrolled manner which may be the case if the operator’s hands are otherwise engaged in releasing an attachment mechanism.

Optional further features of the pressurized fluid line holder, the pressurized fluid system and the method of attaching one or more resilient fluid lines to a pressurized fluid system, are defined in the accompanying claims.

Brief Summary of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention are described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pressurized fluid line holder with a slot having a localized narrowing and a pressurized fluid line (dashed lines) mounted in the slot;

Figures 2(a) to 2(c) show the steps in mounting a pressurized fluid line into the slot of the pressurized fluid line holder;

Figures 3 to 6 show drawings illustrating a base plate comprising a pressurised fluid line holder in the form of a flange including a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of pressurized fluid lines;

Figure 7 shows a pressurized fluid line holder mounted to a cover component with the cover component arranged so that an edge of the cover component partially overlaps the slots in the pressurized fluid line holder; and

Figures 8(a) to 8(f) show variants of a pressurized fluid line holder having different slot shapes.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pressurized fluid line holder 10 according to one configuration. The pressurized fluid line holder 10 comprises a body 12, e.g. in the form of a plate, having a first side 14, a second side 16 opposite to the first side 14, and front and rear opposing faces 18, 20 extending between the first and second sides 14, 16. A slot 22 is disposed in the body 12. The slot 22 extends through the body 12 from the front face 18 to the rear face 20 and thus provides an open path from the front face to the rear face through the body, whereby in use a resilient fluid line (RFL) can extend through the open path of the slot along a longitudinal direction L of the fluid line. The slot 22 also extends from the first side 14 of the body 12 partially through the body towards the second side 16 such that the slot 22 is open at the first side 14 but closed at the second side 16, thereby defining a slot base 24 within the slot with side walls 28 extending from the slot base 24 to an opening 30 at the first side 14. In use, a resilient fluid line RFL can be inserted into the slot from the first side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the resilient fluid line.

The slot 22 further comprises a localized narrowing 32 between the opening 30 and the base 24 of the slot. The localized narrowing 32 has a width which is sufficiently large that a resilient fluid line RFL can be pressed past the narrowing 32 when inserted into the slot from the first side 14 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the resilient fluid line. The width of the localized narrowing 32 is sufficiently small to hold the resilient fluid line RFL in the base of the slot after it has been pressed past the localized narrowing.

Figures 2(a) to 2(c) show the steps in mounting a pressurized fluid line into the slot of the pressurized fluid line holder. The method comprises inserting a resilient fluid line RFL into the slot 22 of the pressurized fluid line holder 10 from a first side of the pressurized fluid line holder in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the resilient fluid line RFL, as shown in Figure 2(a). The resilient fluid line is pressed past the localized narrowing 32 and into the slot base 24 as shown in Figures 2(b) and 2(c). The width of the localized narrowing is sufficiently large that the resilient fluid line can be pressed past the narrowing when inserted into the slot from the first side and the width of the localized narrowing is sufficiently small to hold the resilient fluid line in the base of the slot after it has been pressed past the localized narrowing. The method further includes connecting an end of the resilient fluid line to a component of the pressurized fluid system (not shown).

In the configuration illustrated in Figure 1 and Figures 2(a) to 2(c), the localized narrowing 32 in the slot 22 is spaced apart from the opening 30 to form a receiving portion within the slot between the opening 30 and the localized narrowing 32, for receiving a resilient fluid line RFL prior to pushing the resilient fluid line past the localized narrowing and into the base of the slot. The side wall of the slot is angled outwards towards the opening such that the receiving portion is fanned for reception of a resilient fluid line, and to aid alignment of the fluid line with the localized narrowing prior to pushing the resilient fluid line past the localized narrowing and into the base of the slot. As such, the inserting and pressing steps are sequential steps such that the resilient fluid line is first located within a receiving portion of the slot and then the resilient fluid line is pressed past the localized narrowing. This configuration makes it easier to mount the resilient fluid line into the slot.

The base of the slot has a curved base wall for receiving a resilient pressure line pushed past the localized narrowing. In the configuration illustrated in Figure 1 and Figures 2(a) to 2(c), the curved base wall extends around an arc of greater than 180°, the arc having ends which form the localized narrowing of the slot. This configuration is advantageous as the shape of the slot provides both the localized narrowing and a slot base which is complimentary with the outer shape of a resilient pressure line. As such, no additional components or complex machining is required to provide the localized narrowing.

The localized narrowing preferably has curved side walls forming a smooth transition between the opening and the base of the slot to enable a resilient fluid line to be pressed through the localized narrowing without damaging the resilient fluid line. If a sharp edge is provided in the localized narrowing this can damage a resilient fluid line, especially if the resilient fluid line is repeatedly inserted and removed from the slot during servicing / maintenance.

As previously described, the localized narrowing has a width which is sufficiently large that a resilient fluid line can be pressed past the narrowing when inserted into the slot and the width of the localized narrowing is sufficiently small to hold the resilient fluid line in the base of the slot after it has been pressed past the localized narrowing. The exact dimensions required will depend on the size and resilience of the fluid line. However, for typical resilient fluid lines the width of the localized narrowing is in a range 0.2 to 0.5 mm smaller than the width of the base of the slot (the width of the base of the slot corresponding to the diameter of the circular slot base in the illustrated configuration). For typical resilient fluid lines the width of the localized narrowing will also be in a range 0.2 to 0.5 mm smaller than the diameter of the resilient fluid line. If the resilient fluid line is particularly large or small in diameter then the width of the localized narrowing relative to the diameter of the resilient fluid line and/or the width of the base of the slot may fall outside the aforementioned range. In this case, the width of the narrowing relative to the diameter of the resilient fluid line and/or the width of the base can be expressed as a percentage. For example, the width of the localized narrowing can be defined as being in a range 8% to 20% smaller than the diameter of the resilient fluid line. Additionally or alternatively, the width of the localized narrowing can be defined as being in a range 8% to 20% smaller than the width of the base of the slot.

As described above, the width of the localized narrowing will be dependent on the diameter of the resilient fluid line which is to be inserted into the slot. The width of the localized narrowing will also be dependent on the resilience or elasticity of the fluid line to be inserted into the slot. Nylon tubing is often used for pressurized fluid systems. Typically, nylon tubing is made from Polyamide type 12 (PA12). The modulus of elasticity for PA12 is in a range 248 to 1242 MPa. Other materials suitable for pressurized fluid lines used with the retention slots of the present invention include: polyurethane; polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE - modulus of elasticity approximately 500 MPa); polyester; and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The material used for the resilient fluid lines will usually have a modulus of elasticity in a range 200 to 1500 MPa.

Figures 3 to 6 show drawings illustrating another configuration of a pressurized fluid line holder (dimensions are indicated in millimetres). In the drawings, Figure 3 shows a perspective view, Figure 4 shows a flat plate pattern, and Figures 5 and 6 show portions of the holder comprising the slots. In this configuration, the body of the pressurized line holder comprises a plurality of slots for holding a plurality of pressurized fluid lines. The body comprises a base plate 100 and a flange, with slots disposed in the flange, to form the pressurized fluid line holder 10. The body has one or more connectors 110 for mounting components of a pressurized fluid system to which one or more pressurized fluid lines are to be attached. As such a pressurized fluid system can be provided which comprises the pressurized fluid line holder and one or more components to which one or more pressurized fluid lines are to be attached.

The base body can be formed of a metallic plate. Such a plate can be cut to a configuration as illustrated in Figure 4 and then bent into the desired three-dimensional configuration. However, it is also envisaged that pressurized fluid line holders according to other configurations may be formed of alternative materials such as plastics. In this case, the desired configuration may be formed via, for example, a moulding technique.

The body also includes mounting portions 120 for mounting the body of the pressurized fluid line holder to other components of a pressurized fluid system. For example, the body may be mounted to other housing components such that the body of the pressurized fluid line holder forms at least a portion of the housing of a pressurized fluid system. In particular, a cover component 700 may be provided, as illustrated in Figure 7, which is secured to the base plate 100 to form a completed housing. The cover component may be shaped to cooperate with the base plate 100 in such a way that the resilient fluid lines RFL are held in place within bases 24 of the respective slots 22 that are provided in the pressurized fluid line holder 10. This may be achieved by arranging the cover component so that an edge 710 of the cover component 700 partially overlaps the slots 22, when the cover component 700 and the base plate 100 are secured to one another.

The cover component 700 may be arranged so that a part of the component lies adjacent the flange which defines the pressurized fluid line holder 10, when the cover component 700 is secured to the base plate 100. Suitably, the cover component overlaps the slots 22 in a direction extending from the slot openings 30 towards the bases 24, and may overlap at least part of the receiving portions defined by the slots. The edge 710 of the cover component may overlap the receiving portions extending to an extent which is up to (and possibly including) the localized narrowing 32 or the slots. It will be understood that the extent to which the cover component overlaps the slots 22 will depend upon factors including the dimensions of the resilient fluid lines, and the depth of the portion of the slots 22 extending from the narrowing 32 to the opening 30. Suitably, the cover component overlaps the slots 22 to an extent which is sufficient to prevent the resilient fluid lines from being moved to a position where the lines can pass through the narrowing 32 and be released from the slots. In this regard, it will be understood that the resilient fluid lines can pass through the narrowing 32 once they have moved to an over-centre position, which will typically be a distance approximately equal to half the diameter of the line (see Figure 2b in particular). The cover component 700 may therefore overlap the slots 22 to an extent which is sufficient to prevent such movement of the resilient fluid lines.

While the slot structure as described herein can be used on its own to hold pressurized fluid lines in position, to alleviate the possibility of fluid lines being unintentionally released from the slot structure it is also possible to provide a further locking component which is engaged with the opening of the slot after pressing a resilient fluid line into the base of the slot for locking the resilient fluid line in the slot. Such a configuration increases complexity. However, it is still advantageous over standard clips, clasp, or ties as the resilient fluid line is held in place by the localized narrowing in the slot such that the fluid line is not required to be held in place by an operator while engaging the locking mechanism. Furthermore, on releasing the locking mechanism the localized narrowing holds the fluid line in place such that it does not uncontrollably spring out from the slot which could be potentially hazardous to an operator. Suitably, the cover component described above may provide a method of preventing the resilient fluid lines from being unintentionally released from the slot structure, and so locking the lines in place.

In the configurations illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the slots have the same shape. That is, the slots are open at one end and taper inwardly towards the base. There is a narrowed waist section spaced from the base of the slot. The width of the waist section is slightly less than the diameter of the line. The line is made from a resilient material (to allow it to be flexed into a desired position). The wall of the line can be deformed inwardly as the line is pressed into the slot to allow the line to pass the narrowed waist section into the base of the slot where it is retained because of the waist section.

Figures 8(a) to 8(f) show variants of a pressurized fluid line holder having different slot shapes. Figure 8(a) shows a variant in which the side walls of the slot are not flared and the base is squared rather than circular. Figure 8(b) shows a modified version where the base wall is semicircular. Figure 8(c) shows a variant which has a flared receiving portion and the base section of the slot is trapezoidal (although other polygonal shapes could alternatively be provided). Figures

8(d) and 8(e) show configurations in which the localized narrowing of the slot is provided immediately adjacent the open end of the slot. In Figure 8(d) the base of the slot is arcuate / circular whereas in Figure 8(e) the base of the slot is square shaped. Finally, Figure 8(f) shows a configuration in which the slot wall is flared towards the open end of the slot and the base of the slot is semi-circular. Other variants can also be envisaged and while this invention has been described in relation to certain embodiments it will be appreciated that various alternative embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by the appending claims.

Claims

1. A pressurized fluid line holder comprising:

a body having a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and front and rear opposing faces extending between the first and second sides; and a slot disposed in the body, wherein the slot extends through the body from the front face to the rear face and thus provides an open path from the front face to the rear face through the body, whereby in use a resilient fluid line can extend through the open path of the slot along a longitudinal direction of the fluid line, wherein the slot extends from the first side of the body partially through the body towards the second side such that the slot is open at the first side but closed at the second side thereby defining a slot base within the slot with side walls extending from the slot base to an opening at the first side whereby in use a resilient fluid line can be inserted into the slot from the first side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the resilient fluid line, wherein the slot comprises a localized narrowing between the opening and the base of the slot, the localized narrowing having a width which is sufficiently large that a resilient fluid line can be pressed past the narrowing when inserted into the slot from the first side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the resilient fluid line, and the width of the localized narrowing being sufficiently small to hold the resilient fluid line in the base of the slot after it has been pressed past the localized narrowing.

2. A pressurized fluid line holder according to claim 1, wherein the localized narrowing in the slot is spaced apart from the opening to form a receiving portion within the slot between the opening and the localized narrowing for receiving a resilient fluid line prior to pushing the resilient fluid line past the localized narrowing and into the base of the slot.

3. A pressurized fluid line holder according to claim 2, wherein the side wall of the slot is angled outwards towards the opening such that the receiving portion is fanned for reception of a resilient fluid line and to aid alignment of the fluid line with the localized narrowing prior to pushing the resilient fluid line past the localized narrowing and into the base of the slot.

4. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the base of the slot has a curved base wall for receiving a resilient pressurized line pushed past the localized narrowing.

5. A pressurized fluid line holder according to claim 4, wherein the curved base wall extends around an arc of greater than 180°, the arc having ends which form the localized narrowing of the slot.

6. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the localized narrowing has curved side walls forming a smooth transition between the opening and the base of the slot to enable a resilient fluid line to be pressed through the localized narrowing without damaging the resilient fluid line.

7. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the width of the localized narrowing is in a range 8% to 20% smaller than the width of the base of the slot.

8. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the body of the pressurized line holder comprises a plurality of said slots.

9. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the body of the pressurized line holder is in the form of a plate with one or more of said slots disposed in the plate.

10. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the body comprises a base plate and a flange with one or more of said slots disposed in the flange.

11. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the body has one or more connectors for mounting components of a pressurized fluid system to which one or more pressurized fluid lines are to be attached.

12. A pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim, further comprising a locking component which is engaged with the opening of the slot after pressing a resilient fluid line into the base of the slot for locking the resilient fluid line in the slot.

13. A pressurized fluid system comprising the pressurized fluid line holder according to any preceding claim and one or more components to which one or more pressurized fluid lines are to be attached.

14. A pressurized fluid system according to claim 13, wherein the body of the pressurized fluid line holder forms at least a portion of a housing of the pressurized fluid system.

15. A pressurized fluid system according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising one or more resilient fluid lines mounted in one or more of said slots.

16. A pressurized fluid system according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the body comprises a base plate and a flange with one or more of said slots disposed in the flange, and wherein the system further comprise a cover component which is adapted to be secured to the base plate to form a completed housing, the cover component cooperating with the base plate in such a way that one or more resilient fluid lines are held in place within the one or more slots.

17. A pressurized fluid system according to claim 16, wherein the cover component is arranged so that an edge of the cover component partially overlaps the one or more slot when the cover component and the base plate are secured to one another.

18. A pressurized fluid system according to either of claims 16 or 17, wherein the localized narrowing in the slot is spaced apart from the opening to form a receiving portion within the slot between the opening and the localized narrowing for receiving a resilient fluid line, and wherein the cover component overlaps at least part of the receiving portion.

19. A pressurized fluid system according to claim 18, wherein the cover component overlaps the entire receiving portion, extending up to the localized narrowing.

20. A method of attaching one or more resilient fluid lines to a pressurized fluid system comprising a pressurized fluid line holder according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the method comprising:

inserting a resilient fluid line into the slot of the pressurized fluid line holder from the first side of the pressurized fluid line holder in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the resilient fluid line;

pressing the resilient fluid line past the localized narrowing and into the base of the slot, wherein the width of the localized narrowing is sufficiently large that the resilient fluid line can be pressed past the narrowing when inserted into the slot from the first side and the width of the localized narrowing is sufficiently small to hold the resilient fluid line in the base of the slot after it has been pressed past the localized narrowing; and connecting an end of the resilient fluid line to a component of the pressurized fluid system.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the inserting and pressing steps are sequential steps such that the resilient fluid line is first located within a receiving portion of the slot and then the resilient fluid line is pressed past the localized narrowing.