Plug connection for fluid lines and retaining part for such a plug connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9429261-B2
Application number	US-201313895866-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2013
Priority date	May 16, 2012
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A plug connection having two intermateable coupling parts that can be releasably locked via a locking device. The locking device includes a radial retaining bar on each of the coupling parts and a retaining part with a circumferentially closed annular contour. In a preassembled state, the retaining is undetachably assembled on one of the two coupling parts. In an assembled state, the retaining part axially and radially encompasses the retaining bars of both coupling parts. The retaining part includes an elastically moving retaining section having a C-shaped section defined by two collars. The collars have different sizes and/or shapes such that one collar releases an adjacent retaining bar upon the radial elastic outward movement out of the assembled state. The other collar remains engaged behind the retaining bar of the other coupling part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A plug connection for fluid lines, comprising two intermateable coupling parts, which in an inserted state can be releasable locked via a locking device including two outer radial retaining bars of the two coupling parts and a retaining part, the retaining bars being adjacent in insertion direction (S) and axial (X-X) in inserted state, the retaining part having a closed annular peripheral contour, in a preassembled state the retaining part is axially and radially fixed and undetachably assembled on one of the two coupling parts and in an assembled state the retaining part axially and radially encompasses the retaining bars of the two coupling parts, the retaining part encompassing the retaining bars with at least one radially elastically moving retaining section with a C-shaped axial section, the C-shaped axial section having two collars spaced apart and axially interconnected by an attachment piece so as to be axially projectable upon each other, the collars being configured with at least one of a different size and shape in such a way that during radial elastic movement of the retaining section outward from the assembled state one of the collars releases an adjacent one of the retaining bar while the other of the collars still engages and abuts at least in some areas the other of the retaining bars, the other of the collars having a circumferentially running, radially inwardly curved attachment piece seen in axial projection protruding with respect to the one of the collars, the other of the collars differing in size and shape from the one of the collars by way of the attachment piece, wherein the collars are similarly configured collars and after preassembly of the retaining part on one of the two coupling parts as well as also after assembly with both coupling parts and during disassembly of the retaining part, the attachment piece extends over a circumferential angle of at least one coupling part that is dimensioned in such a way that a distance (A) between the attachment pieces of two diametrically opposite sides of the other collar is always smaller in a maximum spread state of the retaining part than a diameter of the coupling part against which the collar having the attachment piece abuts.

2. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein one of the collars configured as a locking element, the collar configured as a locking element having a radial inner angular face that rests on a side facing toward the coupling part during the insertion procedure, the angular face causing a radially outward directed spreading movement of the retaining part as a result of the movement relative thereto of the retaining bar of the coupling part during insertion, wherein the one of the collars engages with a radial retaining edge behind one the retaining bars in a positively locking way after locking.

3. The plug connection of claim 2 , wherein the angular face when moving relative to a counter spreading face of the retaining bar causes a spreading movement of the retaining part transversely to the axis (X-X) around a spreading path under the action of an assembly force during insertion, wherein a contour of the angular face facing toward the counter spreading face is adapted in that the spreading path changes in a non-linear fashion during insertion.

4. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the retaining part is preferable configured as a one-piece elastic ring, which has at least two C-shaped retaining sections located on the longitudinal sides in radially symmetrical peripheral distribution.

5. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the one coupling part is a plug part and the other coupling parts is a socket part, the collars of the retaining section have a sickle shape positively encompassing an annular groove on a shaft of the plug part and a peripheral groove on the socket part in the assembled state.

6. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the collars differ in at least one of size and shape and that in the assembled state one of the collars encompasses an adjacent one of the coupling parts over an angular range that is greater than an angular range encompassed by the other of the collars with respect to the other of the coupling parts.

7. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the retaining part includes two retaining sections and elastic actuation areas are circumferentially configured between the two retaining sections, a radial expansion of the retaining sections is produced in a longitudinal axis (Y 1 -Y 1 ) of the retaining part during disassembly by actuating one of the elastic actuation areas.

8. The plug connection of claim 7 , wherein one of the actuation areas is a pressure loading area and another of the actuation areas is a tensile loading area.

9. The plug connection of claim 7 , wherein the actuation areas form stops that limit outward radial elastic movement of each of the retaining sections by abutting against one of the coupling parts.

10. The plug connection of claim 8 , wherein one of the coupling parts is a plug part having a shaft and the actuation areas abut against the shaft.

11. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein an actuation element is arranged between two retaining areas and a radial expansion of the retaining sections can be brought about during disassembly by actuating the actuation areas in a direction of a vertical axis (X-X) defined by the retaining part.

12. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein a circumferential annular groove is axially formed in one of the coupling parts.

13. The plug connection of claim 12 , wherein one of the coupling parts is a plug part having a shaft with the retainer bar and a fixing web ring formed thereon, the circumferential annular groove being formed between the retaining bar and the fixing web ring.

14. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the retaining part includes two, detachable, mutually connected individual parts.

15. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the retaining part includes two articulated, mutually connectable individual parts.

16. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the retaining part has at least one lock with positive locking action for opening and locking its closed annular peripheral contour.

17. The plug connection of claim 16 , wherein the lock is one piece.

Assignees

• Voss Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Hess Jochem-Andreas
• Sieper Gunter
• Plietsch Reinhard

Classifications

• F16L37/144

  the securing element being U-shaped · CPC title

• F16L37/1225 Primary

  using a retaining member the extremities of which, e.g. in the form of a U, engage behind a shoulder of both parts · CPC title

• F16L37/12 Primary

  using hooks, pawls, or other movable or insertable locking members (F16L37/084 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16L37/098

  by means of flexible hooks · CPC title