Coupling assembly for pipes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11815205-B2
Application number	US-202117547314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2021
Priority date	Dec 11, 2020
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A coupling assembly, to be flowed through by fluid, for coupling two components has a coupling element and a ball joint assembly with a female ball joint element, a male ball joint element, and a securing element. The female and male ball joint elements form a ball joint by form fit. The male ball joint element has a ball segment and the female ball joint element has an expandable ball segment. The ball segment of the male ball joint element engages the expandable ball segment so that the female ball joint element at least partially encloses the male ball joint element. The securing element contacts externally an outer contour of the female ball joint element. The coupling element forms one of the female and male ball joint elements. One of the two components forms the other one of the female and male ball joint elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling assembly for coupling two components and configured to be flowed through by a fluid, the coupling assembly comprising:
a coupling element;
a ball joint assembly comprising a female ball joint element, a male ball joint element, and a securing element, wherein the female and male ball joint elements form a ball joint by form fit;
wherein the male ball joint element comprises a ball segment and wherein the female ball joint element comprises an expandable ball segment, wherein the ball segment of the male ball joint element engages the expandable ball segment of the female ball joint element so that the female ball joint element at least partially encloses the male ball joint element;
wherein the securing element contacts externally an outer contour of the female ball joint element;
wherein the coupling element comprises a first end region and forms at the first end region one of the female and male ball joint elements; and
wherein a first one of the two components forms the other one of the female and male ball joint elements;
wherein the coupling element comprises a second end region arranged opposite the first end region and forming a coupling region configured to couple a second one of the two components; and
wherein the coupling assembly further comprises a connection element and a locking element, wherein the coupling region is a female coupling element configured to receive the connection element, wherein the second end region comprises a receptacle, wherein the locking element engages the receptacle and locks the female coupling element at the connection element by friction fit and/or form fit.

2. The coupling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the female ball joint element comprises at least one slot extending in an axial direction of the coupling assembly.

3. The coupling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the male ball joint element comprises at least one reinforcement rib extending in an axial direction of the coupling assembly.

4. The coupling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the female ball joint element comprises at least one slot extending in an axial direction of the coupling assembly and wherein the male ball joint element comprises at least one reinforcement rib extending in the axial direction of the coupling assembly.

5. The coupling assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one reinforcement rib projects radially away from the ball segment of the male ball joint element and engages the at least one slot of the female ball joint element and forms an anti-rotation device.

6. The coupling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the female ball joint element comprises a stop for the securing element, wherein the stop is arranged at the outer contour.

7. The coupling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the coupling element forms the female ball joint element at the first end region and comprises an inwardly positioned contact surface;
the male ball joint element is arranged at least partially between the inwardly positioned contact surface and an inner contour of the female ball joint element;
the male ball joint element comprises an inner contour contacting the inwardly positioned contact surface of the coupling element;
a seal element is arranged between the inner contour of the male ball joint element and the inwardly positioned contact surface of the coupling element; and
the inner contour of the male ball joint element comprises a cutout and the seal element is arranged in the cutout.

8. The coupling assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the inwardly positioned contact surface and the coupling element are embodied together as one piece.

9. The coupling assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the coupling element comprises a connection element and wherein the inwardly positioned contact surface is formed by a surface of the connection element.

Assignees

• Mann & Hummel Gmbh

Inventors

• Regener Guido

Classifications

• F16L27/1017 Primary

  Joints with sleeve or socket · CPC title

• F16L27/06

  with special sealing means between the engaging surfaces · CPC title

• F16L27/113

  the ends of the pipe being interconnected by a rigid sleeve · CPC title

• F16L37/52

  Universal joints, i.e. with a mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction · CPC title

• F16L27/04 Primary

  with partly-spherical engaging surfaces · CPC title