This application claims priority to German patent application DE 10 2008 018 426.8 filed on Apr. 10, 2008, and PCT/EP2009/052191 filed on Feb. 25, 2009, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to a coupling unit for connecting a fluid line to another fluid line or a fluid connection.
In many different application forms, fluid conducting lines, thus fluid lines with other fluid lines or with connections which run to a fluid source or a fluid sink, have to be connected in a communicating manner. For this, various connecting techniques, in particular coupling units, are known. In certain applications, little installation space is available for establishing or detaching such a connection. Furthermore, for a series production it can be desired to keep the assembly of the connection as simple as possible. In particular for motor vehicles it can be required to connect gas-conducting lines in an engine compartment with other gas-conducting lines or with adequate connections.
The present invention is concerned with the problem to provide for a coupling unit of the above mentioned type, an improved embodiment which is in particular characterized in that coupling for establishing the connection can be implemented in a particularly simple manner even in confined space conditions wherein, in particular, a secured connection is to be implemented. Furthermore, an inexpensive producibility of the coupling unit is desired.
According to the invention, this problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims.
The invention is based on the general idea to equip the coupling unit with a casing, at least one tubular section, and at least one detent ring arranged between casing and tubular section, wherein these components are designed and adapted to one another in such a manner that, in a first rotational position, the tubular section can be axially inserted for coupling purposes into the casing and is secured in the inserted state by means of the detent ring against axial withdrawal, wherein the tubular section is released in a second rotational position and can be axially withdrawn from the casing. In other words, the connection is established by axially inserting the tubular section into the casing without the need of a rotational movement. At the same time, an axial locking against withdrawal of the tubular section from the casing is achieved which takes place through interaction between casing, tubular section and detent ring. This locking against withdrawal can be released or unlocked by rotating of casing and tubular section relative to one another so that the tubular section can be withdrawn again from the casing without any problems.
Within a series assembly, for example of vehicles, thus, lines can be connected to one another or to connections by means of said coupling unit simply by insertion. This can be implemented comparatively quickly even in very confined and/or barely accessible assembly situations. For this purpose, the tubular section is arranged, for example, at a fluid line while the casing is arranged at another fluid line or a fluid connection.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the coupling unit can comprise two tubular sections and two detent rings which interact with a common casing. Here, the one tubular section can be inserted on the one side into the casing and can be secured with the detent ring, while the other tubular section can be inserted on the other side into the casing and can be secured with the other detent ring. For example, in this manner, two fluid lines can each be provided with one such tubular section and can each be fluidically coupled via the casing by axial insertion, thus without rotational movement. For decoupling said connection, the casing has only to be rotated relative to the two tubular sections until both tubular sections are unlocked so that it is possible again to axially withdraw them from the casing. In this manner, also such lines can easily be connected to one another and separated from one another which can not be rotated or only against high resistance.
Further important features and advantages arise from the sub-claims, from the drawings, and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.
It is to be understood that the above mentioned features and the features yet to be explained hereinafter can be used not only in the respectively mentioned combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in the following description in more detail, wherein identical reference numbers refer to identical, or similar, or functionally identical components.
In the figures, schematically,
According to
The coupling unit 1 serves for connecting a line, which is not shown here and which conducts a fluid, in particular a gas or a liquid, thus a fluid line, to another fluid line or to a fluid connection by means of which the respective fluid line is connectable, e.g., to a fluid source or a fluid sink. The respective fluid line or the respective fluid connection is not illustrated here. The respective fluid line is fixedly connected in a suitable manner to the respective tubular section 2. Also, the respective tubular section 2 can form an end section integrally formed at the respective fluid line. Also, the casing 3 can be fixedly connected to the respective fluid line or can form an end section integrally formed thereon. The same applies to the potentially existing fluid connection which is fixedly connected either to the casing 3 or the respective tubular section 2 or is equipped therewith in an integral manner.
The respective tubular section 2 has a cylindrical outer contour 6. The casing 3 has a cylindrical inner contour 7 which is designed complementary to the respective outer contour 6 in such a manner that the respective tubular section 2 can be inserted axially into the casing 3. Except for a certain radial play, the inner contour 7 corresponds substantially to the respective outer contour 6. In the shown examples, the cross-sections of the two tubular sections 2 are selected such that they are of the same size. It is clear that for another embodiment, differently dimensioned cross-sections for the outer contours 6 of the two tubular sections 2 can principally also be implemented. In this case, the casing 3 has, e.g., an inner contour 7 which has different cross-sections at two axial sections. Further, in the shown examples, the outer contour 6 of the respective tubular section 2 is substantially equipped with a constant cross-section in axial direction. In another embodiment, a cross-sectional profile in axial direction with a single step or multiple steps is also conceivable for the respective outer contour 6. In this case, the inner contour 7 or the respective section of the inner contour 7 is then shaped correspondingly.
The respective detent ring 4 is arranged radially between casing 3 and the respective tubular section 2 once the respective tubular section 2 is axially inserted into the casing 3. The radial direction is designated in the
The casing 3, the respective detent ring 4 and the respective tubular section 2 are configured and adapted to one another in such a manner that, in a first relative rotational position of tubular section 2 and casing 3, the tubular section 2 can be axially inserted for coupling purposes into the casing 3, namely far enough that the respective tubular section 2 is latched via the associated detent ring 4 with the casing 3. Through this latching, the respective tubular section 2 is secured in the first rotational position by the respective detent ring 4 in the casing 3 against axial withdrawal. It is remarkable that for coupling, thus for establishing the fluidic connection between casing 3 and tubular section 2, no rotational movement about the longitudinal center axis 5 between casing 3 and tubular section 2 has to be carried out. Furthermore, the casing 3, the respective tubular section 2 and the respective detent ring 4 are adapted to one another or configured in such a manner that, in the inserted state, the casing 3 and the respective tubular section 2 can be rotated relative to one another about the longitudinal center axis 5 in such a manner that a second relative rotational position of the casing 3 and the respective tubular section 2 can be set which differs from the first rotational position and in which it is possible to axially withdraw the respective tubular section 2 from the casing 3. In this manner, the fluidic connection between casing 3 and tubular section 2 can thus be decoupled. By means of the rotation between casing 3 and tubular section 2, the latching or securing generated by means of the detent ring can be released to allow the axial withdrawal of the tubular section 2.
The respective detent ring 4 is advantageously inserted into a ring groove 10 which is radially open. In the shown examples, the respective ring groove 10 is formed on the inner contour 7 of the casing 3. In another embodiment, the ring groove 10 can also be formed on the outer side 6 of the respective tubular section 2. The detent ring 4 inserted into the respective ring groove 10 is axially supported on a groove wall 11 which axially delimits the ring groove 10. Hereby, an intensive force transmission between detent ring 4 and the respective groove wall 11 can be achieved.
In the embodiments shown here, the respective detent ring 4 has a plurality of detent elements 12 which, according to
In order to be able to withdraw the respective tubular section 2 again from the casing 3, the detent segments 12 have to be moved out of the detent contours 13. For this purpose, suitable reset contours 14 are provided which, for example, can be formed according to
As soon as the second rotational position is reached by rotating casing 3 and tubular section 2, the reset contours 14 push the detent segments 12 far enough into the ring groove 10 or out of the detent contours 13 that the tubular section 2 is released and can be axially withdrawn from the casing 3.
According to
Through the engagement of the projections 17 with the recesses 16, a protection against rotation of the detent ring 4 relative to the ring groove 10 is generated, thus relative to the casing 3. Also, in a corresponding manner, one axial recess 19 can be provided in circumferential direction in each case at least between two adjacent support segments 15. Principally, on the groove wall 11 which axially supports the support segments 15, non-shown projections which engage with the recesses 19 can be provided to secure the detent ring 4 against rotation within the ring groove 10. Furthermore, the recesses 16 generate an increased spring elasticity between the detent segments 12, and the recesses 19 generate an increased spring elasticity between the support segments 15 within the detent ring 4. Said spring elasticity allows or promotes the assembly of the detent ring 4 and promotes the spring elasticity or the radial resilience of the detent segments 12.
According to the
According to
The respective fluid line can involve a pipe line or a hose line. The respective tubular section 2 and/or the respective detent ring 4 and/or the casing 3 can be made of metal or plastic.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2008 018 426 | Apr 2008 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2009/052191 | 2/25/2009 | WO | 00 | 12/22/2010 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2009/124805 | 10/15/2009 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3339944 | Poague | Sep 1967 | A |
4696497 | Schwarzensteiner | Sep 1987 | A |
6129390 | Ohlsson | Oct 2000 | A |
6231090 | Fukao et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6499771 | Snyder et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
7273237 | Plattner | Sep 2007 | B1 |
20010040377 | Bandlow et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
19756987 | Jul 1999 | DE |
2273965 | Jul 1994 | GB |
WO-2007004880 | Jan 2007 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20110148108 A1 | Jun 2011 | US | |
20120038153 A9 | Feb 2012 | US |