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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845907-B2
Application number	US-201313929934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2013
Priority date	Jan 25, 2013
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A plug connection ( 1 ) for fluid lines, with two intermateable coupling parts ( 2, 3 ), which in an inserted state can be releasably locked via a locking device ( 4 ) consisting of two outer radial flange-like retaining ribs ( 21, 31 ) of the two coupling parts ( 2, 3 ), which are adjacent in an insertion direction (S) and axial (X-X) in inserted state and a retaining part ( 5 ) with an annular contour, which in preassembled state can be axially and radially fixed and undetachably assembled on one of the two coupling parts ( 3 ) and in an assembled state axially and radially encompasses the retaining ribs ( 21, 31 ) of the two coupling parts with at least one radially elastically moving retaining section ( 53 ) with a C-shaped axial section having two collars ( 51, 52 ). The plug connection incorporates features to ensure the undetachability of the retaining part ( 5 ) and minimize the space requirement, in particular during disassembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A plug connection for fluid lines, comprising two intermateable first and second coupling parts, which in an assembled state are releasably locked together, a first outer radial flange retaining rib formed by the first coupling part, and a second outer radial flange retaining rib formed by the second coupling part, which retaining ribs are in contact with each other in an insertion direction (S) and axially (X-X) in the assembled state, a retaining part with an annular contour, which in a preassembled state is axially and radially fixed and retainingly assembled on one of the first and second coupling parts and in the assembled state axially and radially encompasses the first and second retaining ribs of the coupling parts with at least one radially elastically moving retaining section with a C-shaped axial section having first and second collars,
the first and second collars of the retaining part being configured with different sizes or shapes in such a way that the first collar, which abuts against the first retaining rib releases the first retaining rib of the first coupling part with an outward radial elastic movement of the retaining section from the assembled state, while the second collar still engages at least in some areas behind the second retaining rib of the second coupling part against which it abuts,
the retaining part being a single-piece elastic ring having a peripheral contour interrupted by a slot, the retaining part further including an elastic actuation area located circumferentially between the collars, on a transversal side of the retaining part diametrically opposite to the slot, the retaining part being configured to effectuate radial expansion of the collars during disassembly by means of a spreading (O) as a result of a pressure force (p) on a pressure-loaded surface of the actuation area, respectively in direction of a longitudinal axis (Y 1 -Y 1 ) of the retaining part, and
the actuation area further defining a stop configured to abut against the second coupling part after traversing an actuation path (a) and to restrict further outward spreading movement of the retaining section.

2. The plug connection of claim 1 , wherein the retaining part includes two retaining sections, which are C-shaped in axial section and are distributed in radial symmetrically over the periphery of the ring, and are located on the longitudinal sides of the ring.

3. The plug connection of claim 2 further comprising in that a slot opening angle (R) between the ends of the retaining part located on both sides of the slot is smaller than 15°.

4. The plug connection of claim 1 further comprising in that the first collar of the retaining part is configured as a snap element having a radial inner inclined face configured as a first spreading face on the side facing toward the first coupling part during an insertion procedure, which produces a radially outward directed spreading movement of the retaining part as a result of the first retaining rib of the first coupling part, which moves relative thereto during the insertion procedure, wherein the first collar in a biased engagement behind the first retaining rib after a locking with the first coupling part moving a radial retaining edge.

5. The plug connection of claim 4 , further comprising in that the inclined face causes a spreading movement of the retaining part transversely to the axis (X-X) by one spreading path as it glides by one assembly path relative to a second spreading face of the first retaining rib under the effect of an assembly force during the insertion procedure, wherein a contour of the inclined face facing toward the second spreading face is adjusted in such a way to a counter contour of the second spreading face facing toward the inclined face that the spreading path changes non-linearly during insertion in dependence upon the assembly path.

6. The plug connection of claim 1 wherein the first and second collars of the retaining section in the assembled state encompass in a positive fitting manner a shaft of the second coupling part in a peripheral groove of the second coupling part, and encompass in a positive fitting manner a socket part of the first coupling part in a peripheral groove of the first coupling part.

7. The plug connection of claim 1 further comprising in that the first and second collars differ in size or shape and in that the second collar in the assembled state encompasses the second coupling part over an angle centered at a longitudinal axis of the plug connection that is greater than an angle by which the first collar encompasses the first coupling part.

8. The plug connection of claim 7 , wherein the angle of the second collar is within a range of 115° to 135°.

9. The plug connection of claim 8 , wherein the angle of the first collar is within a range of 80° to 110°.

10. The plug connection of claim 1 further comprising in that the first collar and the second collar have the same width (B 1 , B 2 ) and curvature.

11. The plug connection of claim 1 further comprising in that a circumferential annular groove, in which the second collar of the retaining part is held in during disassembly, is formed axially between the second retaining rib and an additional annular fixing rib in the second coupling part.

12. The plug connection of claim 1 , further comprising in that the conversion of the pressure force (p) exerted on the pressure-loaded surface into a spreading movement of the retaining sections carried out at a contact line (K) located in a border section of an inner wall area of an actuation area causes a force deflection, wherein the contact line (K) represents a pivot axis during the spreading movement of the retaining sections.

13. The plug connection of claim 12 , further comprising in that a circumferential position of the contact line (K) is defined by means of an angle (a), which is spanned between a radial beam leading to the contact line (K) and a longitudinal axis (Y 1 -Y 1 ) of the retaining part, and is within a range of 40° and 50°.

14. The plug connection of claim 1 further comprising in that the retaining part and one of the first and second coupling parts, when the retaining part is seated on the one coupling part, are configured to be selectively adjusted in different relative rotational positions and fixed respectively against a free unrestricted twisting of the retaining part around the insertion axis (X-X) relative to the one coupling part.

15. The plug connection of claim 14 , further comprising in that the retaining part is fixed in such a way in a positive and nonpositive manner in a direction of rotation (T) via a projection on one of the retaining part and the one coupling part and a contour on the other of the retaining part and the one coupling part, that the retaining part is twistable relative to the one coupling part with a stepped locking and adjustable in the different rotational positions.

16. The plug connection of claim 15 , further comprising in that the contour is formed by a circumferential snap contour of the one coupling part in the form of a plug part, and the projection is at least one snap mechanism of the retaining part that interacts with the snap contour.

17. The plug connection of claim 1 further comprising in that radially inwardly directed guiding and stabilizing lugs, which glide in a peripheral groove during disassembly in order to accommodate the second collars and prevent a displacement of the retaining part in an axial direction (X-X), are arranged on the retaining part in an actuation area thereof.

Assignees

• Voss Automotive Gmbh

Inventors

• Hess Jochem-Andreas
• Sieper Günter
• Plietsch Reinhard
• Zenses Frank

Classifications

• F16L23/04

  the flanges being connected by members tensioned in the radial plane (F16L23/12 takes precedence) · 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