Connection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11174973-B2
Application number	US-201616073664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2016
Publication date	Nov 16, 2021
Grant date	Nov 16, 2021

Abstract

A connection device for at least one plug-in portion including an annular external groove includes a housing, into which at least one plug-in portion can be plugged, and also at least in each case one integral locking element and a securing device. A locking element includes a securing portion and a locking portion which can be preassembled in the housing. In the preassembled state, the locking portion, by elastic deflection, permits a plug-in portion to be plugged into the housing and brings about the locking of the plug-in portion in the housing. By means of the securing device, the securing portion can be secured on an outer side of the housing opening against displacement in a circumferential direction. A securing device is designed as a ring which engages around the housing and is movable on the housing at least axially counter to a resistance and has an axial recess in a plugging-in direction. A cam arranged on the securing portion of the locking element engages in the recess, as a result of which displacement of the locking element in relation to the securing device is prevented.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connection device for at least one plug-in portion that includes at least one ring-shaped outer groove of a hose-shaped or tubular line, a tubular nozzle, or a molded body, wherein the connection device comprises:
a) a housing, into which the at least one plug-in portion is pluggable in a plug-in direction,
b) at least one integral locking element comprising a locking portion in the form of an open ring and a securing portion, wherein the locking portion is preinstallable in a ring-shaped inner groove formed in the housing and, in the preinstalled state with elastic deflection, enables the plugging of the at least one plug-in portion into the housing and causes interlocking of the at least one plug-in portion in the housing by the locking portion engaging in the inner groove of the housing and latching in the outer groove of the at least one plug-in portion, and wherein the locking portion is insertable essentially circumferentially through an associated housing opening into the inner and outer grooves and can be withdrawn from these grooves,
c) at least one securing apparatus configured to cooperate with the at least one integral locking element by securing the securing portion on an outer side of the housing opening and thus the locking portion of the at least one locking element, connected to the securing portion, can be secured against a displacement in the circumferential direction,
wherein the at least one securing apparatus has a ring shape, which encloses the housing and is movable on the housing at least axially against a resistance, and which has an axially extending recess in the plug-in direction, which is formed to engage an essentially radially protruding cam arranged on the securing portion of the at least one locking element, wherein this engagement prevents a displacement of the at least one locking element in relation to the at least one securing apparatus, both in the preinstalled state and also after the plugging of the at least one plug-in portion into the housing, in the circumferential direction, wherein the at least one securing apparatus has an inner side with nubs attached to at least one spring web, which are configured to click into a ring groove on the outer side of the housing after overcoming the resistance in an axial direction; and
wherein the at least one securing apparatus, after an axial attachment on the housing, is additionally designed as rotatable on the housing circumferentially and is designed to drive the cam in the axial recess circumferentially.

2. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one securing apparatus is designed for rotating open and for withdrawing the locking portion of the at least one locking element from the housing opening, from the inner groove of the housing and from the outer groove of the at least one plug-in portion opposite thereto by means of rotation in a corresponding circumferential direction, wherein the withdrawal of the at least one locking element is secured against an initial resistance.

3. The connection device according to claim 2 , wherein an axial web is arranged on an inner side of the at least one securing apparatus as an end stop during an open rotation of the at least one securing apparatus, wherein a position of the axial web is measured such that upon reaching this end stop, a tip of the locking portion still remains in the housing opening.

4. The connection device according to claim 2 , wherein the connection device is designed for rotating closed and rotating open the ring-shaped securing apparatus multiple times, by this connection device defining a space between an inner side of the ring-shaped securing apparatus and an outer side of the housing, in which the at least one locking element remains after each detachment of a plug-in connection by rotating open the attached securing apparatus.

5. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one securing apparatus is designed for rotating closed and for reinsertion of the locking portion of the at least one locking element into the housing opening and into the inner groove of the housing or for insertion of the locking portion of the at least one locking element into the housing opening, into the inner groove of the housing and into the outer groove opposite thereto of an inserted plug-in portion by means of rotation in a corresponding circumferential direction.

6. The connection device according to claim 5 , wherein one end of the inner groove is formed as a stop for a tip of the locking portion and thus as an end point during the closed rotation of the at least one securing apparatus.

7. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing opening is formed as an intake window aligned to a cross-sectional shape and an inclination of the locking portion in relation to the plug-in direction.

8. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking portion of the at least one locking element has a helical pitch in the non-installed, tension-less state and/or the at least one locking element has a bent or buckled rotating portion in the securing portion toward the locking portion and/or the at least one locking element has a bent or buckled region at a tip of the locking portion.

9. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has at least one additional ring-shaped inner groove for accommodating a seal between the housing and the at least one plug-in portion.

10. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one plug-in portion is secured in relation to the housing against pivoting by means of at least one positioning cam on an inner side of the housing and corresponding positioning cutouts in an end face of the at least one plug-in portion.

11. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is designed to accommodate precisely one plug-in portion or two or more plug-in portions, wherein in the second case the housing is designed as a connecting part for accommodating two opposing plug-in portions, as a T-piece, or as a multiple fitting for accommodating more than two plug-in portions.

12. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein plastics or composite materials are selected as the material for the at least one locking element and/or the at least one securing apparatus and plastics, composite materials, ceramics, glass ceramics, glasses, or metals are selected as the material for the housing and/or for the at least one plug-in portion.

13. The connection device according to claim 12 , wherein the plastics comprise polyamides, wherein the plastics or the polyamides contain additives, fillers, and/or reinforcing agents.

14. The connection device according to claim 13 , wherein the polyamides are selected from the group comprising polyamide 6, polyamide 66, polyamide 46, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide elastomers, polyphtalamides, partially-aromatic partially-crystalline co-polyamides, and mixtures of these polyamides.

15. The connection device according to claim 1 , wherein the molded body is selected from the group comprising solid bodies, hollow bodies, closures, and lids.

Assignees

• Ems Patent Ag

Inventors

• Jeltsch Thomas
• Schmid Patrick
• Cheung Ming Jiann

Classifications

• F16L37/148 Primary

  the securing element being flexible (F16L37/144 takes precedence) · CPC title