AU2009275488A1

AU2009275488A1 - Slide element for transmitting a sliding force to a pipe-connecting element, and connecting tool

Info

Publication number: AU2009275488A1
Application number: AU2009275488A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard Sapper
Original assignee: Rehau AG and Co
Current assignee: Rehau Automotive SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2008-07-26
Filing date: 2009-07-14
Publication date: 2010-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-14
Also published as: EP2307779A1; CN102105730B; DE202008010080U1; CN102105730A; WO2010012374A1; AU2009275488B2; EP2307779B1

Description

Translation from German of PCT/EP2009/005092 Slide element for transmitting a sliding force to a pipe-connecting element and connecting tool 5 Background of the invention This invention concerns a pusher element for transmitting a pushing force to a pipe-connecting element. 10 Pusher elements, like for example known clamping jaws, are being used especially where a compression joint is to be established between a pipe connecting element or a fitting and a pipe, whereby to produce this joint in most cases two pusher elements, provided on the pipe, are moved towards one another by means of a tool to push a slide sleeve on a prior expanded end 15 section of the pipe and to push a push-in section of the fitting or of the pipe connecting element into the expanded end section. In this case one of the two pusher elements abuts with its stop surface against a face of the slide sleeve and the other pusher element with its stop surface abuts in most cases against a fitting collar of the fitting or of the pipe-connecting element. By virtue of moving 20 the pusher elements against one another the usual compressed joint can be produced, whereby the push-in section of the fitting is pushed into the expanded end section of the pipe and the slide sleeve is pushed onto the expanded end section. 25 In most case the known pusher elements in the form of, for example, slide jaws/jaw mountings, include the following two versions: First version: To minimise the cost of materials of the connecting components one strives to 30 keep the external dimensions as small as possible. Therefore systems are known which are made to suit individual connecting components. Thus, for example, there is a yoke mounting on the side of the fitting and a mounting on the side of the pipe, which accurately accommodate the mostly minimum geometric 2 dimensions and consequently achieve a maximum centring affect on the connection components. The disadvantage of this is that an application of the yoke mounting on the 5 alternate sides is not possible, so that the tool has to be placed in a predetermined position. The predetermined position requires an elaborate designation of the yoke, associated with possible application errors. Second version: 10 On axial presses the yoke mountings or slide jaws are made to suit the diameter. Even in the case of small diameter differences and consequently nominal widths (e.g. 16 and 17 mm) separate yokes are used to achieve an adequate centring affect. However, in this case the yoke can be used on alternate sides. The disadvantage of this version is that an adequate centring affect is no longer 15 possible in the case of small diameter differences of the connecting components, so that due to the introduction of the force during installation in the case of inadequate or adequate centring of the components a skewing or overloading of the mounting or pusher elements, that may end up in failure, is not excluded. For this reason the external dimensions of the connection components have to be 20 designed the same. This increases the amount of material and consequently the material costs. Task on which the invention is based Consequently, the task on which this invention is based is to specify a pusher 25 element for transmitting a pushing force to a pipe-connecting element that, when compared with known pusher elements, makes in a practical and simple manner an adequate centring of at least two pipe-connecting elements possible, while the sections, which have the external surface regions to be centred, have different outside diameters. 30 Solution according to the invention According to the invention this task is solved by a pusher element to transfer a pushing force to a pipe connecting element, wherein the pipe connecting element is provided to be pushed at least section-by-section onto a pipe region of a pipe 3 or pushed at least section-by-section into the pipe, wherein the pusher element has a cylinder-shaped opening with a central longitudinal axis, wherein the pusher element has at least one stop surface with a recess, wherein the recess is provided to arrange a section of the pipe in the recess or to arrange a section of 5 the pipe connecting element in the recess, and wherein the pusher element has preferably a continuous three-dimensional centring surface extending from the stop surface, the purpose of which is to centre, relative to the pipe, an external surface region of the pipe connecting element that has a circular cross-section at right angle to a central longitudinal axis of the pipe connecting element, wherein 10 the course of the centring surface is a cross-section that is a cylinder-shaped opening at right angle to the central longitudinal axis, the course having a circular-arc shaped section, two legs bordering the respective ends of the circular-arc shaped section and extending from the ends of the circular-arc shaped section diverging from one another and two rectilinear end legs adjoining 15 the respective ends of the legs, said end legs extending parallel to one another and symmetrically about a straight dividing line, said dividing line dividing the central angle of the circular-arc shaped section into two equal part angles. The purpose of the centring surface according to the invention is to centre or 20 basically centre relative to the pipe an external surface region of the pipe connecting element, that has a circular cross-section at right angle to a central longitudinal axis of the pipe connecting element, therefore an external surface region that is formed on a section of the pipe connecting element that has a constant outside diameter. Finally, in this manner the pipe connecting element, 25 that is at least in sections rotationally symmetrical about a central longitudinal axis, can be centred relative the pipe, consequently so aligned, that the central longitudinal axis of the pipe connecting element is aligned or basically aligned with central longitudinal axis of the pipe. According to the invention the centring is carried out by guiding the external surface region by means of the centring 30 surface to achieve the central alignment. In particular the pipe connecting element can be a fitting or a fitting component or a pipe connecting element, that has a circular cylindrical shape at least in sections or is constructed in the form of a rectilinear circular cylinder at least in 4 sections or is constructed in the form of a rectilinear hollow cylinder with an annular cross-section at least in sections, while in this case the pipe connecting element can be, for example, a known slide sleeve or press sleeve that according to the pipe connecting technology is used as connecting components to produce 5 a compressed connection between a pipe and a connecting component, like a fitting. The pusher element can be made from a metallic material like, for example, aluminium or steel. It can be made, however, from a stable plastic material, that is constructed to absorb the pushing forces acting without disadvantageous deformations. 10 According to the invention a section of a pipe connecting element, that has an external surface region that is to be centred, can have an outside diameter that for the purpose of an effective centring is matched to suit the diameter of the circular-arc shaped section, consequently is only slightly smaller than the 15 diameter of the circular-arc shaped section, while the deviation is preferably within a range of 0.2% to 3.5%. In this manner the external diameter region for centring same relative the pipe can be mounted at least partly on the circular-arc shaped section. 20 As a result of the two legs joining the respective ends of the circular-arc shaped section, which extend from the ends of the circular-arc shaped section diverging from one another, the end legs, which join these legs at the respective ends at a distance from one another, this distance being greater than the diameter of the circular-arc shaped section. When the outside diameter of the section, that has 25 the external surface region that is to be centred relative the pipe, is matched to suit the distance of the two end legs (i.e. an outside diameter that is only slightly smaller than the distance of the two end legs, while the deviation is preferably within the range of 0.1% to 1.0%) a pipe connecting element can be effectively centred in this case relative the pipe without contacting the circular section, in fact 30 by virtue of the centring effect of the two end legs. A contact of the external surface region that is to be centred with the circular-arc shaped section is not possible due to the outside diameter that is greater than the diameter of the circular-arc shaped section. Thus according to the invention a 5 guiding for the outside diameter of the pipe connecting element is provided, that enables an accurate centring. Seen in totality the course of the centring surface according to the invention in a 5 cross-section that is at right angle to the central longitudinal axis of the cylinder shaped opening enables an adequate centring of at least two different pipe connecting elements where the sections with the external surface regions to be aligned have different outside diameters, so that the pusher element according to the invention can be used at least for two differently constructed pipe connecting 10 elements. According to the invention two different centring positions are provided for the pipe connecting elements. In the case of one of the two positions, intended for a pipe connecting element, wherein the outside diameter of the section of the pipe 15 connecting element has the external surface region to be centred, is matched to suit the diameter of the circular-arc shaped section, the external surface region is at least partly in contact with the circular-arc shaped section. In the case of the other of the two positions, intended for a pipe connecting element, wherein the outside diameter of the section has the external surface region to be centred is 20 matched to suit the distance of the two end legs, there is no contact of the external surface region with the circular-arc shaped section. Thus, in contrast to known solutions, according to the invention at least two pipe connecting elements can be centred relative the pipe using only one pusher element, the external surface regions of the pipe to be centred having sections with different outside 25 diameters, in fact preferably already prior to the transfer or acting of a pushing force on the pusher element with an associated displacement of the pipe connecting element into the desired position. According to the invention, by virtue of the self-centring of the connecting components setting errors by the user are automatically excluded. Slight differences in the outside diameters of the 30 connecting components are almost automatically compensated for. Thus a cost intensive standardisation of the fitting components and pipe connecting elements becomes superfluous, while the pusher elements can be used also on alternative sides.

6 The transfer of a pushing force acting on the pusher element to the pipe connecting element is carried out via the stop surface according to the invention, that can also be constructed in the form of a flat stop surface, while the pipe connecting element in this case preferably has a power transfer surface that is at 5 right angle to the longitudinal extension of the pipe connecting element, like a face, that abuts against the stop surface or brought into contact with it. In this case the pushing force can be introduced into the pusher element by means, for example, a suitably constructed displacing device. In particular the force transfer surface can be a typical abutment surface of a fitting collar of a fitting or of a 10 fitting component. The force transfer surface can be in particular a face of a slide sleeve or of a press sleeve. The stop surface has a recess that is provided for the purpose of arranging a section of the pipe in the recess or arranging a section of the pipe connecting 15 element in the recess. Thus according to the invention the recess forms a typical yoke, in which a pipe section or a section of a pipe connecting element is provided, to enable the carrying out of a subsequent centring and transferring of the pushing force. According to the invention an arrangement of a section of the pipe in the recess can be preferably provided when a pipe connecting element, 20 like for example a slide sleeve or a press sleeve, has to be pushed onto a pipe region of the pipe at least section-by-section. Furthermore, according to the invention an arrangement of a section of the pipe connecting element in the recess is preferably provided when a pipe connecting element has to be pushed into the pipe at least section-by-section, while this section borders that section of 25 the pipe connecting element that has that external surface region to be centred relative the pipe. The cylinder-shaped opening, provided according to the invention, that is preferably constructed in the form of a rectilinear circular cylinder, is preferably 30 provided for a stationary accommodation of a section of a holding device for the pusher element, said segment preferably having a shape that matches the opening or is preferably constructed in the shape of a rectilinear circular cylinder.

7 In particular the holding device can be provided for the purpose of guiding the pusher element in a rectilinear direction or in a basically rectilinear direction moving longitudinally. A pusher element according to the invention, that is longitudinally guided by means of the holding device, makes a very accurate 5 introduction of the pushing force that is to be applied to connect the pipe connecting element with the pipe. In the case of a preferred embodiment the central angle is within a range of 70* to 170*, while 1200 is particularly preferred. The end legs are at a distance from 10 one another that is within the range of 8 mm to 250 mm. In the case of a further preferred embodiment the circular-arc shaped section has a radius that is within the range of 4 mm to 125 mm. 15 The parallel end legs have preferably a length that is within the range of 2 mm to 100 mm. Each of the legs, which join the respective ends of the circular-arc shaped section, have preferably a length that is within the range of 1 mm to 70 mm. 20 In the case of a practical embodiment the centring surface is provided at right angle to the stop surface. In the case of a further practical embodiment the stop surface has at least one area with a perpendicular, while the perpendicular of the area encloses with a 25 perpendicular to the centring surface an angle that is within the range of 850 to 90* or within a range of 870 to 900. In this present case the range 87 0 to 90* is particularly preferred. By virtue of the inclination, according to the invention, of an area of the stop 30 surface relative the centring surface, while the area can be preferably constructed flat and can also border the centring surface, excessive elongations and bucklings of the pusher element, that transfers great pushing forces, can be so prevented, that due to the inclination according to the invention after accommodating the respective pipe connecting element a pre-tensioning is 8 provided in the pushing element that counteracts the disadvantageous excessive elongations and bucklings during the transfer of the pushing force. In the case of a practical embodiment the pushing element has at least one, 5 preferably continuous three-dimensional guide surface, that is intended as a lead in bevel, while the guide surface preferably borders the centring surface along its entire course. By means of the guide surface according to the invention, that is provided as an insertion inclination, a positioning of the pipe connecting element against the stop surface, therefore an arrangement whereby the longitudinal axes 10 of the pipe connecting element and of the pipe are markedly slanted or skewed relative one another leading to a possible jamming, can be avoided in such a manner, that the pipe connecting element is guided by means of the guide surface into one or both centring positions, enabling an adequate centring relative the pipe. 15 In this case a perpendicular to the guide surface preferably encloses with a perpendicular of the centring surface an acute angle, that is within the range of 30 to 890 or within the range of 30* to 450, while an acute angle within the range of 30* to 450 is particularly preferred. 20 The invention further concerns a connecting tool to produce a connection between a pipe connecting element and an expanded end section of a pipe, whereby during the connection a slide sleeve is pushed onto the expanded end section and at least one end section of the pipe connecting element is pushed 25 into the expanded end section of the pipe, whereby the connecting tool has a first and a second pusher element according to the invention (according to one of claims 1 to 10) and has a displacing device comprising a first and a second element, said elements being able to be rectilinearly displaced away from one another and onto one another, whereby a section of the first element is 30 stationarily mounted in the cylinder-shaped opening of the first pusher element, and whereby a section of the second element is stationarily mounted in the cylinder-shaped opening of the second pusher element, and whereby the purpose of the first pusher element is to transfer a pushing force to the slide sleeve pushed onto the pipe to move it onto the expanded end section, and 9 whereby the purpose of the second pusher element is to transfer a pushing force onto the pipe connecting element, so that to push at least one end section of the pipe connecting element into the expanded end section of the pipe, whereby furthermore a displacing unit, coupled with the displacing device, is provided, the 5 purpose of which is to displace the first and the second element to produce the connection. By using the connecting tool according to the invention in a practical manner a stable connection in the form of a compressed connection between a pipe 10 connecting element and an expanded end section of a pipe is produced using a slide sleeve, while due to the course of the centring surface according to the invention of the pusher element the connecting tool is constructed to produce at least two connections with pipe connecting elements of different dimensions or slide sleeves of different dimensions. 15 Short description of the drawings In the following embodiments of the invention are explained in detail based on the attached drawings. They show in: 20 Figs.1A - 1D - a three-dimensional illustration of a pusher element with two stop surfaces, together with a top view, a view from below and a sectioned view of the pusher element, Fig.2 - two schematic views on each of the stop surfaces of a pusher element, 25 Fig.3 - a schematic sectioned view of an embodiment of a shifting tool according to the invention, Figs.4A - 4H - a three-dimensional illustration of a pusher element with two stop 30 surfaces, together with a top view, a view from below, two sectioned views and enlarged details of the pusher element, 10 Figs.5A - 5G - a three-dimensional illustration of a pusher element with two stop surfaces, together with a top view, a view from below, a sectioned view and enlarged details of the pusher element, 5 Figs.6A - 6E - illustrations of a pusher element with one stop surface, comprising a top view, a view from below, a lateral view, a sectioned view and illustration of an enlarged detail, Figs.7A - 7E - illustrations of a pusher element with one stop surface, comprising 10 a top view, a view from below, a lateral view, a sectioned view and illustration of an enlarged detail, Figs.8A - 8E - illustrations of a pusher element with one stop surface, comprising a top view, a view from below, a lateral view, a sectioned view and 15 illustration of an enlarged detail, and Figs.9A - 9E - illustrations of a pusher element with one stop surface, comprising a top view, a view from below, a lateral view, a sectioned view and illustration of an enlarged detail. 20 Figs.1A to 1D show illustrations of an embodiment of a pusher element according to the invention. As it can be particularly seen from the three-dimensional illustration (see Fig. 1 A) and the top view (see Fig. 1 B), the pusher element 10 has a circular cylindrical opening 12 with a central longitudinal axis 14, said opening 25 being provided to accommodate a section of a holding device or an element of the shifting device of the connecting tool according to the invention. The illustrated opening 12, that is illustrated in a longitudinal section along the section line A-A of Fig.1B in the sectioned view illustrated in Fig.1C, typically has a diameter that is within the range of approx. 28 mm to 32 mm. The length of the 30 opening 12 can be 20 - 70 mm. As it can be seen from the view from below (see Fig.1D), a passing-through opening 18 is formed in the wall 16 limiting the circular cylindrical opening 12, said passing-through opening extending passing through up to the circular cylindrical opening 12, while the passing-through opening 18 is provided to accommodate in sections a fixing means or a connecting means (not 11 illustrated), the purpose of which is to provide in the opening 12 a stationary mounting of a section of a holding device or of a section of an element of the shifting device of the connecting tool according to the invention, while the fixing means preferably extend up to an opening or depression formed in the holding 5 device or the element, so that to provide a stationary mounting. The pusher element 10 has further two stop surfaces 20 each with a recess 20, while the recess 22 is provided for the purpose of arranging a section of a pipe, that is to be connected with a pipe connecting element by means of the pusher 10 element 10, in the recess 22 or to arrange a section of a pipe connecting element in the recess 22. The recess 22 forms a typical yoke, in which a pipe section or a section of a pipe connecting element is arranged, to enable a subsequent centring and transfer of the pushing force. An arrangement of a section of the pipe in the recess 22 is preferably provided when a pipe connecting element is to 15 be pushed at least section-by-section on a region of the pipe. An arrangement of a section of the pipe connecting element in the recess is preferably provided when a pipe connecting element is to be pushed at least section-by-section into the pipe, while this section of the pipe connecting element butts against that section which has that external surface region that is to be centred relative the 20 pipe. Furthermore, the pusher element 10 has two continuous three-dimensional centring surfaces 24, each of which extends from one of the two stop surfaces 20, while the purpose of the centring surfaces 24 is to centre an external surface 25 region of the pipe connecting element that in a cross-section is circular at right angle to a central longitudinal axis of the pipe connecting element, relative to the pipe. Furthermore, each centring surface 24 is joined by a continuous three dimensional guide surface 26, that is provided as a lead-in bevel. 30 Fig.2 shows two schematic views of a stop surface 20 of a pusher element 10, from which in particular the course of the centring surface 24 according to the invention to a cylinder-shaped opening 12 the cross-section of which is at right angle to the central longitudinal axis 14 is visible. The course of the centring surface 24 comprises a circular-arc shaped section 28, two legs 30 adjoining the 12 circular-arc shaped section 28 at both ends, said legs extending diverging from the ends of the circular-arc shaped section 28 at a distance from one another, and two rectilinear end legs 32 that extend at each end of the legs 30 extend parallel to one another and symmetrically about a straight dividing line 34, said 5 dividing line dividing the central angle x, that in this schematic illustration is 1200, of the circular-arc shaped section 28 into two equal part angle. By virtue of the course of the centring surface 24 according to the invention two different centring positions are provided for the pipe connecting elements. In the 10 case of one of the two positions, intended for a pipe connecting element, in which case the outside diameter of the section of the pipe connecting element that has the external surface region to be centred, is made to suit the diameter D of the circular-arc shaped section, the external surface region is in contact with the circular-arc shaped section. This position is illustrated in the drawing shown on 15 the right side of Fig.2 by means of a circle, that shows the external surface region to be aligned. In the case of the other of the two positions, intended for a pipe connecting element, wherein the outside diameter of the section of the pipe connecting section that has the external surface to be centred, is made to suit the distance d of both end legs, there is no contact of the external surface region with 20 the circular-arc shaped section. This position is also illustrated in the drawing on the left side of Fig.2 by a circle. Typical differences of the outside diameters of the pipe connecting element sections with the external surface regions to be centred are, for example, only a few millimetres, like this can be the case in particular for slide sleeves or press sleeves, the outside diameters of which, determined by the 25 manufacturing technology usually depending on the material, differ in the order of a few millimetres. Fig.3 shows a schematic cross-section of an embodiment of a connecting tool 36 according to the invention to produce a connection between a pipe connecting 30 element 38 and an expanded end section of a pipe 42. The connecting tool 36 has a first and a second pusher element 50, 52 and a displacing device 44, comprising a first and second element 46, 48, which can be pushed into one another in a straight line, while a section of the first element 46 is stationarily mounted in the cylinder-shaped opening 12 of the first pusher element 50, and 13 while a section of the second element 48 is stationarily mounted in the cylinder shaped opening 12 of the second pusher element 52. The purpose of the first pusher element 50 is to transfer a pushing force to a slide sleeve 54 that is pushed onto the pipe 42, so that to push it onto the expanded end section 40. 5 The purpose of the second pusher element 52 is to transfer a pushing force on the pipe connecting element 38, so that to push an end section 56 of the pipe connecting element 38, that joins a fitting collar 58 of the pipe connecting element 38, into the expanded end section 40 of the pipe 42. Furthermore, a displacing unit (not illustrated) is provided, that is coupled with the displacing device 44, 10 while the purpose of the displacing unit is to move both elements 46, 48 towards one another to produce the connection. It becomes particularly obvious from Fig.3 that the pipe connecting element has a force transferring surface 60 formed on the fitting collar 58, said surface abutting 15 against the stop surface 20 of the second pusher element 52 for the purpose of transferring the pushing force. Furthermore, a force transferring surface 60 of the slide sleeve 54, that is formed as a face of the slide sleeve 54, abuts against the stop surface 20 of the first pusher element 50. 20 It can be further seen from Fig.3, that in the recess 22 of the stop surface 20 of the first pusher element 50 a pipe section is provided, whereas in the recess 22 of the stop surface 20 of the second pusher element 52 a section of the pipe connecting element 38 is provided, that borders the shell surface formed on the fitting collar 58 on the external surface region to be centred. The external surface 25 region to be centred of the slide sleeve 54 comprises an end section of the shell surface of the slide sleeve 54. The illustrations, in Figs.4A to 4H, show an embodiment of a pusher element 10, that has two stop surfaces 20, wherein Fig.4A shows a three-dimensional 30 illustration of the pusher element 10. Fig.4B shows a view from below of the pusher element 10, and Fig.4D shows a top view of the pusher element 10. Fig.4C shows a sectioned view along line A-A of Fig.4B and Fig.4E shows a sectioned view along line B-B of Fig.4B. Figs.4F, 4G and 4H show enlarged details of C, D and E in Figs.4C and 4D.

14 As it can be seen from Fig.4C and in particular from Figs.4G and 4H, the stop surface 20 is not at a 900 angle to the centring surface 24, but at an angle that is less than 90* by an angle of inclination x, that in this case is 2.50. The incline provided thus can prevent excessive elongations and bucklings of the pusher 5 element 10, that usually transfers great pushing forces, in such a manner that as a result of the incline according to the invention after accommodating the relevant pipe connecting element 38 a pre-tensioning is provided in the pusher element 10 that counteracts the disadvantageous excessive elongations and bucklings during the transfer of the pushing force. Furthermore, an edge region of the wall 23, that 10 borders the recess 22, has a chamfer or bevel, that is provided preferably at an angle B relative a central region of the wall, said angle in this case being approx. 50, but may be within a range of 1* to 450. According to the invention the chamfer serves the purpose of effectively preventing traces of pressure and scratching on the surface of the respective pipe, in particular during the pushing of a slide 15 sleeve 54 onto an expanded end section 40 (see also Fig.3). Figs.5A to 5G show illustrations of a further embodiment of a pusher element 10 according to the invention, that has two stop surfaces 20, while Fig.5A is a three dimensional illustration of the pusher element 10. Fig.5B shows a top view of the 20 pusher element 10 and Fig.5D shows a view from below of the pusher element 10. Fig.5C shows a sectioned view along line A-A of Fig.5B and Figs.5E, 5F and 5G show enlarged details of B, C and E of Figs.5C and 5B. As it becomes particularly obvious from Fig.5F, a stop surface 20 is provided here also, that is formed sloping towards the centring surface 24. 25 Figs.6A to 6E show illustrations of a pusher element 10 with one stop surface 20, while Fig.6A is a top view, Fig.6B a sectioned view along the section line A-A of Fig.6A, Fig.6C is a view from below and Fig.6D a lateral view. Fig.6E shows an enlarged detail C of Fig.6B. In this case too, in particular to facilitate an effective 30 centring of the respective pipe connecting element and prevent disadvantageous elongations and bucklings, a suitable stop surface 20 is provided. Figs.7A to 7E show illustrations of a pusher element 10 with one stop surface 20, while Fig.7A is a top view, Fig.7B a sectioned view along the section line A-A of 15 Fig.7A, Fig.7C a view from below and Fig.7D a lateral view. Fig.7E shows an enlarged detail of C of Fig.7B. The pusher element 10 illustrated differs from the pusher element 10, illustrated in Figs.6A to 6E, by the position of the stop surface 20, that in this present case borders on the external wall 16 and the external wall 5 of the circular cylindrical opening 12, that is constructed in the form of a rectilinear circular cylinder. Figs.8A to 8E show illustrations of a pusher element 10 with one stop surface 20, while Fig.8A is a top view, Fig.8B a sectioned view along the section line A-A of 10 Fig.8A, Fig.8C a view from below and Fig.8D a lateral view. Fig.8E shows an enlarged detail of detail C of Fig.8B. The pusher element illustrated here has, in contrast to the pusher elements of Fig.6A to 6E and 7A to 7E, in addition to the stop surface 20 a guide surface 26, that borders the centring surface 24. 15 Figs.9A to 9E show illustrations of a pusher element 10 with one stop surface 20, while Fig.9A is a top view, Fig.9B a sectioned view along the section line A-A of Fig.9A, Fig.9C a view from below and Fig.9D a lateral view. Fig.9E shows an enlarged detail of detail C of Fig.9B. The pusher element 10 illustrated here differs from the pusher element 10 illustrated in Figs.8A to 8E by the position of 20 the guide surface 26, that in this present case borders the external wall area of the circular cylindrical opening 12.

16 List of reference numerals 10 Pusher element 12 Opening of the pusher element 14 Central longitudinal axis 16 Wall 18 Passing-through opening 20 Stop surface 22 Recess 24 Centring surface 26 Guide surface 28 Circular-arc shaped section 30 Leg 32 End leg 34 Dividing line 36 Connecting tool 38 Pipe connecting element 40 End section of pipe 42 Pipe 44 Displacing device 46 First element 48 Second element 50 First pusher element 52 Second pusher element 54 Slide sleeve 56 End section of the pipe connecting element 58 Fitting collar 60 Force transferring surface

Claims

1. A pusher element (10) for transmitting a pushing force to a pipe-connecting element (38), wherein the pipe connecting element (38) is provided to be 5 pushed at least section-by-section onto a pipe region of a pipe (42) or pushed at least section-by-section into the pipe (42), * wherein the pusher element (10) has a cylinder-shaped opening (12) with a central longitudinal axis (14), 10 e wherein the pusher element (10) has at least one stop surface (20) with a recess (22), wherein the recess (22) is provided to arrange a section of the pipe (42) in the recess (22) or to arrange a section of the pipe connecting element (38) in the recess (22), 15 * and wherein the pusher element (10) has a three-dimensional centring surface (24) extending from the stop surface (20), the purpose of which is to centre, relative to the pipe (42), an external surface region of the pipe connecting element (38) that has a circular cross-section at right angle to a 20 central longitudinal axis of the pipe connecting element (38), * wherein the course of the centring surface (24) is a cross-section that is a cylinder-shaped opening (12) at right angle to the central longitudinal axis (14), the course having a circular-arc shaped section (28), two legs (30) 25 bordering the respective ends of the circular-arc shaped section (28) and extending from the ends of the circular-arc shaped section (28) diverging from one another and two rectilinear end legs (32) adjoining the respective ends of the legs (30), said end legs extending parallel to one another and symmetrically about a straight dividing line (34), said dividing line dividing 30 the central angle of the circular-arc shaped section (28) into two equal part angles.

2. A pusher element (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the central angle is within a range of 70* to 1700. 18

3. A pusher element (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the end legs (32) are at a distance from one another that is within the range of 8 mm to 250 mm. 5

4. A pusher element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the circular-arc shaped section (28) has a radius that is within the range of 4 mm to 125 mm. 10

5. A pusher element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the parallel end legs (32) have a length that is within the range of 2 mm to 100 mm.

6. A pusher element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, 15 characterised in that each of the legs (30), which join the respective ends of the circular-arc shaped section (28), have a length that is within the range of 1 mm to 70 mm.

7. A pusher element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, 20 characterised in that the centring surface (24) is provided at right angle to the stop surface (20).

8. A pusher element (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the stop surface (20) has at least one area with a perpendicular, while the 25 perpendicular of the area encloses with a perpendicular to the centring surface (24) an angle that is within the range of 850 to 90* or within a range of 870 to 900.

9. A pusher element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, 30 characterised in that the pushing element (10) has at least one three dimensional guide surface (26), that is intended as a lead-in level, while the guide surface (26) preferably borders the centring surface (24) along its entire course. 19

10. A pusher element (10) according to claim 9, characterised in that a perpendicular to the guide surface (26) encloses with a perpendicular of the centring surface (24) an acute angle, that is within the range of 30 to 890 or within the range of 30* to 450. 5

11. A connecting tool (36) to produce a connection between a pipe connecting element (38) and an expanded end section (40) of a pipe (42), whereby during the connection a slide sleeve (54) is pushed onto the expanded end section (40) and at least one end section (56) of the pipe connecting element 10 (38) is pushed into the expanded end section (40) of the pipe (42), whereby the connecting tool (36) has a first and a second pusher element (50, 52) according to one of claims 1 to 10 and has a displacing device (44) comprising a first and a second element (46, 48), said elements being able to be rectilinearly displaced away from one another and onto one another, 15 whereby a section of the first element (46) is stationarily mounted in the cylinder-shaped opening (12) of the first pusher element (50), and whereby a section of the second element (48) is stationarily mounted in the cylinder shaped opening (12) of the second pusher element (52), and whereby the purpose of the first pusher element (50) is to transfer a pushing force to the 20 slide sleeve (54) pushed onto the pipe (42) to move it onto the expanded end section (40), and whereby the purpose of the second pusher element (52) is to transfer a pushing force onto the pipe connecting element (38), so that to push at least one end section (56) of the pipe connecting element (38) into the expanded end section (40) of the pipe (42), whereby furthermore a 25 displacing unit, coupled with the displacing device (44), is provided, the purpose of which is to displace the first and the second element (46, 48) to produce the connection.