CN111684189B

CN111684189B - Device with a male and a female connector

Info

Publication number: CN111684189B
Application number: CN201980012246.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·奥特曼
Original assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG and Co KG
Current assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG and Co KG
Priority date: 2018-02-14
Filing date: 2019-02-01
Publication date: 2022-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-01
Also published as: WO2019158153A1; DE102018103242A1; DE112019000788A5; EP3752759A1; CN111684189A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device having a male connector (12) and a female connector (14), in particular for a hydraulic clutch system, wherein the female connector (14) has a fastening leg (18) for fastening the female connector (14) to the male connector (12), wherein the fastening leg (18) has an outer side (20) and an inner side (22), and wherein the male connector (12) has an inner leg (24) with an outer guide surface (26) and an outer leg (28) with an inner guide surface (30) facing the outer guide surface (26), in such a way that: the fixed leg (18) may be positioned between the inner leg (24) and the outer leg (28), wherein notches (32, 34) for partially receiving a thrust ring (36) are provided on the outer side (20) of the fastening leg (18) and the inner guide surface (30) of the outer leg (28) or on the inner side (22) of the fastening leg (18) and the outer guide surface (26) of the inner leg (24), respectively, wherein, in a state where the male connector (12) is fixed to the female connector (14), the thrust ring (36) is positioned in a recess (32) in the inner side (22) of the fixed leg (18) and in a recess in the outer guide surface (26) of the inner leg (24) or in a recess (32) in the outer side (20) of the fixed leg (18) and in a recess (34) in the inner guide surface (30) of the outer leg (28).

Description

Device with a male and a female connector

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device with a male and a female connector, in particular for a hydraulic clutch system, wherein the device allows a particularly simple installation and a space-saving design. The invention further relates to a hydraulic system, in particular a hydraulic clutch system, having such a device.

Background

It is known, for example, in clutch systems that different components, such as hydraulic lines, corresponding hydraulic cylinders or other clutch components, must be connected to one another. For this purpose, the component has a corresponding connection or is connected to a corresponding connection for fastening. The connection can be designed as a male or female connection, and thus enables a simple mechanical connection of the components to one another, in particular a fluidic connection to one another in a hydraulic system.

A disadvantage of the solutions of the background art is, inter alia, that the space requirement of the mechanical connection may often be relatively large.

The solutions known from the background art can therefore also offer further improvement possibilities, in particular with regard to simple mechanical connections of different components of, for example, a hydraulic clutch system, while at the same time there is a low space requirement.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to at least partially eliminate the disadvantages known from the background art. The object of the invention is, in particular, to provide a solution by means of which different components, in particular, for example, hydraulic components of a hydraulic clutch system, can be connected to one another in a simple and space-saving manner.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a device according to the invention and by a hydraulic system, in particular a hydraulic clutch system, according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims, in the description or in the drawings, wherein the features described or shown in the dependent claims or in the description or in the drawings can represent the object of the invention individually or in any combination if the contrary is not clear from the context.

An arrangement with a male connection part and a female connection part, in particular for a hydraulic clutch system, is proposed, wherein the female connection part has a fastening leg for fastening the female connection part to the male connection part, wherein the fastening leg has an outer side and an inner side, and wherein the male connection part has an inner leg with an outer guide surface and an outer leg with an inner guide surface facing the outer guide surface, in such a way that: the fixing leg can be positioned between the inner leg and the outer leg, wherein a recess for partially receiving the thrust ring is provided on the outer side of the fixing leg and the inner guide surface of the outer leg or on the inner side of the fixing leg and the outer guide surface of the inner leg, respectively, wherein the thrust ring is positioned in the recess of the inner side of the fixing leg and the outer guide surface of the inner leg or in the recess of the outer side of the fixing leg and the inner guide surface of the outer leg in the state in which the male connector is fixed to the female connector.

Such a device allows a simple installation and a space-saving connection of two components, in particular of a hydraulic system, for example a hydraulic clutch system.

The device is in particular a component of a hydraulic system, for example a hydraulic clutch system. The device is particularly used for the interconnection of different components of a hydraulic system.

To this end, the device comprises a male connector and a female connector. Whether a male or a female connector, can be an integral part of or connected to or fixed to a principally selectable component. In order to connect the components to one another mechanically, in particular hydraulically, it is also provided that the male part can be fastened to the female part. But not limited thereto, it is also possible, for example, to fasten a male connector to a hydraulic line and to connect a female connector to a hydraulic cylinder or to a connecting bell or the like. The male and female connectors can in principle be designed in such a way that: they have a passage for hydraulic fluid which is connected when the male connector is connected to the female connector.

Advantageously, it can be provided that at least one of the male connector and the female connector is an integral part of the connector. Particularly in connectors, it may be necessary to connect a male connector, for example a male connector, with a female connector, for example a female connector, wherein a small space requirement is required, and therefore the invention described herein is particularly effective for connectors. In this case only one of the connectors, i.e. the male or female connector, may be an integral part of the connector, or either the male or female connector may be an integral part of the connector.

In order to fix the male connector to the female connector, it is provided that the female connector has a fixing leg for fixing the female connector to the male connector. An interaction is thereby created between the male and female connectors on the fixed leg. The fixing leg can in particular extend axially, parallel to the mounting direction, i.e. parallel to the direction in which the male connector is pushed into the female connector. In addition, the fixing leg, which can be designed, for example, cylindrically, also has an outer, i.e. outwardly facing side and an inner, i.e. inwardly facing side.

In the case of a male connection, it is provided that it has an inner leg with an outer guide surface and an outer leg with an inner guide surface facing the outer guide surface, in such a way that: the fixed leg may be positioned between the inner leg and the outer leg. The inner leg and the outer leg can also be designed cylindrically, in particular coaxially and/or in the mounting direction. Thus, for the state in which the female connector is fixed to the male connector, it is provided that the outer guide of the inner leg faces the inner side of the fixed leg and the inner guide of the outer leg faces the outer side of the fixed leg. The securing leg can thus slide along and, for example, abut against the inner and outer leg when the male part is inserted into the female part, the guiding and holding position being achieved by the guide surfaces.

In order to fasten the female connector to the male connector and in this case in particular to fasten the fastening leg to the inner leg and/or the outer leg, the fastening leg and the inner leg and/or the outer leg have a corresponding design, the relevant aspects being explained in more detail below.

In the detailed description, it is provided that a recess for partially receiving the thrust ring is provided on the outer side of the fixed leg and the inner guide surface of the outer leg or on the inner side of the fixed leg and the outer guide surface of the inner leg. The notches or legs then have a position relative to one another in such a way that: in the state in which the male connector is fixed on the female connector, i.e. in the fixed position of the male connector, the thrust ring is positioned in the indentation of the fixing leg and the inner or outer leg.

This design allows a reliable, simple design and a space-saving connection of the male and female connector.

Since the thrust ring is located in both the recess of the fastening leg and the recess of the inner or outer leg, axial displacement of the male part relative to the female part can be prevented or at least limited, depending on the design of the respective recess. This reliably prevents the male part from slipping out of the female part and thus ensures the fastening of components of, for example, a hydraulic system.

The mounting can be particularly simple, since the thrust ring can usually be simply expanded or compressed in its diametrical direction or in the radial direction, so that during mounting it is deformed and then snaps into the corresponding recess. Thus, when the thrust ring has been preassembled into the female connector or into the male connector, for example into a corresponding recess, the securing can be achieved by simply pushing the male connector into the female connector.

In addition, no high costs are required for the design of the male or female connector, since there is no need for an inwardly continuous recess for the passage of the retaining clip, as is usually required in the prior art. By dispensing with a continuous recess for the retaining clip, for example a linear spring, the tightness of the module can additionally be ensured or a sealing of the connection against at least splashed water can be achieved.

Finally, the thrust ring can be arranged without problems inside the device, i.e. between the male and female connector, whereby no space needs to be reserved for the thrust ring or for installation on the outside of the device. The mounting and the arrangement can thus be carried out with particularly little space or in a space-saving manner. In particular, approximately 40% of the available installation space can be used, i.e. more than half of the installation space can be saved.

In addition, this also improves the stability, since external influences, in particular mechanical influences, acting on the thrust collar can be excluded.

Finally, the thrust ring can be very stable in the axial direction despite the elasticity in the radial direction, so that the male and female connectors can be reliably fixed despite simple installation.

The aforementioned arrangement may be required, for example, when using new hybrid modules, since in this case the hydraulic lines required for mounting the clutch system, in particular the slave cylinder, for example, designed as a concentric central clutch lever (CSC), are generally required in a very narrow nested installation space. Another important aspect is that many such systems also need to be soil or water impermeable to continue to function.

By means of the device, standard connectors that have been used for many years can be replaced in an advantageous manner, namely: without the disadvantages of standard connectors, such as the relatively large installation space and the need for a wire spring (which extends through the recess into the component in order to be able to act on the two components to be fastened to one another) for fastening.

Preferably, if a recess is provided in each of the outer side of the fixed leg and the inner guide surface of the outer leg for partially receiving the thrust ring, a seat for receiving the sealing element is provided on the inner side of the fixed leg or on the outer guide surface of the inner leg, or if a recess is provided in each of the inner side of the fixed leg and the outer guide surface of the inner leg for partially receiving the thrust ring, a seat for receiving the sealing element is provided on the outer side of the fixed leg or on the inner guide surface of the outer leg.

In this embodiment, in addition to a secure fastening of the male and female connector, a simple design of the connectors with respect to one another and an effective sealing can be achieved. For example, a seal, such as an O-ring, may be provided in the seat to seal the male connector against the female connector.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a recess for partially receiving the thrust ring can be provided on the outer side of the fixed leg and on the inner guide surface of the outer leg, and a seat for receiving the sealing element can be provided on the outer guide surface of the inner leg. In this embodiment, it is therefore possible to first position the sealing element and then the thrust ring in the gap between the male and female connector in the direction from the inside to the outside. In this embodiment, hydraulic fluid can thus be effectively prevented from entering the thrust collar, in particular when using a hydraulic system. This may adversely affect the thrust ring and thus the fixing.

In addition, it is also preferred that the edge between the front side in the mounting direction and the guide surface of the inner or outer leg facing the fixed leg thrust ring receiving recess is chamfered or chamfered. In this embodiment, the thrust ring, which can in principle be pre-positioned in the fixed leg, can slide along the inner or outer leg and can be expanded or compressed depending on the position of the thrust ring indentation in the inner or outer leg. This may simplify installation, but provided that: the radially expanding or compressing thrust ring can snap into the indentation of the inner or outer leg when the male connector is correspondingly positioned with respect to the female connector.

It is also preferred that the at least one recess for receiving the thrust ring is designed as a groove which is conical in the mounting direction of the male connector, wherein the depth of the groove increases in the mounting direction of the male connector. The recess preferably has a length in the mounting direction that is greater than the diameter of the thrust ring. In this embodiment, the mounting can be simplified, since the thrust collar can be axially displaced to a limited extent.

In particular, it may be preferred to design the recess, which is arranged opposite the conical recess and is intended to partially receive the thrust collar, as a recess, which is dimensioned in such a way that: the thrust ring positioned in the groove is substantially prevented from axial movement. This allows a defined fit of the male connector in the female connector, in particular when a conical recess is provided in the mounting direction of the male connector. Since axial displacement of the thrust collar is limited, but not completely prevented, in the conical recess, the male part can be fitted in the female part by means of the recess. "substantially axial movement can be prevented" is understood to mean: there may be some clearance in arranging the thrust ring, but the groove does not have an elongated design that allows axial movement in the mounting direction. In principle, axial displacement can also be prevented completely.

It is also preferred that the male connector is movable beyond the fixed position in the installation direction. This may allow for improved installation.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the at least one recess for receiving the thrust ring is designed as a groove which is conical in the mounting direction of the male part, wherein the depth of the groove increases in the mounting direction of the male part. In this embodiment, the thrust ring can initially follow the installation direction in the conical recess during installation and then snap into the recess when the male part is moved back against the installation direction again to reach the fastening position and the thrust ring reaches the opposite recess.

In the case of a movement of the male part beyond the fastening position, it can be provided that the male part has a stop for limiting the axial movement in the mounting direction, which stop comes into contact with the counter element during mounting, wherein the stop or the counter element can be elastically deformed in the mounting direction of the male part. This is a particularly simple and stable design. Damage due to movement behind the desired fixing point can be prevented by the elastic element. Alternatively, the counter element may be an integral part of the female connector or, for example, a component connected to the female connector when the female connector is an integral part of the connector. The limiter and the counter element may be positioned relative to each other in such a way that: the limiter and the counter element are in contact with each other when the male connector is moved in the mounting direction in the mounting position, and are elastically deformed when moved beyond the mounting position in the mounting direction. The male connector can then be placed in its secured position by the resiliently deformed restoring force.

It is accordingly advantageous if, when the male connector is positioned in the fixing position between the fixing leg and the male connector, a free space can be provided in the direction opposite to the mounting direction. This allows a particularly simple movement of the male connector in the installation direction beyond the desired fixing point.

According to a related feature, the at least one recess for accommodating the thrust ring is designed as a recess which is conical in the mounting direction of the male part, wherein the depth of the recess increases in the mounting direction of the male part, and according to a related feature, the recess arranged opposite the conical recess for partially accommodating the thrust ring is designed as a recess which is dimensioned in such a way that: it is possible to substantially prevent axial displacement of the thrust ring positioned in the groove and, according to the relevant features, the male connector can be displaced beyond the fixing position in the mounting direction, and it is therefore particularly advantageous for a preferred mounting to combine these features.

With regard to other advantages and technical features of the device, reference will be made to the description of the hydraulic system, the drawings and the accompanying description.

The invention further relates to a hydraulic system, in particular a hydraulic clutch system, having the device with a male connection and a female connection, wherein the male connection can be fastened to the female connection, and wherein the device is designed as described in the detailed description above.

In addition, the components connected by the male and female connectors may also be part of a hydraulic system. Examples of such components include, for example, hydraulic tubes, master cylinders, slave cylinders, dampers, containers, or housings, such as clutch housings, e.g., clutch covers.

The device described above allows in particular a particularly long-term stable fastening of the male and female connector, can be installed simply and requires only a very small installation space.

With regard to other advantages and technical features of the hydraulic system, reference will be made to the description of the device, the drawings and the accompanying description.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is described below on the basis of the accompanying drawing, in which it is explicitly pointed out that the object of the invention is not limited to the embodiment described.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a design of a device with a male and a female connector.

Description of the reference numerals

Device 12 male connector 14 female connector 16 clutch cover 18 fixed leg 20 outside 22 inside 24 inside leg 26 outside guide surface 28 inside leg 30 inside guide surface 32 notch 34 notch 36 thrust ring 38 seat 40 edge 44 sealing element 42 front side 46 limits element 48 back element 50 free space.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, a device 10 particularly suitable for use in a hydraulic clutch system is shown. The device 10 includes a male connector 12 and a female connector 14. The male connector 12 may be, for example, an integral part of a connector, whereas the female connector 14 may be secured to a bell-shaped member, such as a clutch housing 16, particularly before axial movement. The male connector 12 may be secured to the female connector 14.

For this purpose, the female connector 14 has fastening legs 18 for fastening the female connector 14 to the male connector 12. The fixed leg 18 has an outer side 20 and an inner side 22.

The male connector 12 includes an inner leg 24 with an outer guide surface 26 and an outer leg 28 with an inner guide surface 30 opposite the outer guide surface 26. They are positioned and dimensioned in such a way that: the fixed leg 18 may be positioned between the inner leg 24 and the outer leg 28. In addition, regardless of the specific design, the fixing leg 18, the inner leg 24 and the outer leg 28 can in principle extend in the installation direction, thus being parallel to one another and additionally coaxial to one another and/or designed cylindrically.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, it is additionally provided that a

recess

32, 34 for partially receiving a thrust ring 36 is provided on the outer side 20 of the fastening leg 18 and on the inner guide surface 30 of the outer leg 28. They are positioned as follows: in the condition where the male connector 12 is installed on the female connector 14, the thrust ring 36 is positioned in the notches 32 of the outer sides 20 of the fixed legs 18 and the inner guide surfaces 30 of the outer legs 28.

It is also shown that, for sealing the male connector 12 against the female connector 14, a seat 38 for receiving a sealing element 40 is provided on the outer guide surface 26 of the inner leg 24.

For simple installation, the device is designed as follows.

The edge 42 between the front side 44 in the mounting direction and the inner guide surface 30 of the outer leg 28 is chamfered in order to place the thrust ring 36 in the region between the fixed leg 18 and the outer leg 28.

In addition, the recess 32 for receiving the thrust ring 36 is designed as a groove which is conical in the mounting direction of the male part 12, wherein the groove depth increases in the mounting direction of the male part 12, wherein it is additionally provided that the recess 34 which is arranged opposite the recess 32 which is designed as a cylindrical groove and is used for partially receiving the thrust ring 36 is designed as a groove which is dimensioned in such a way that: the thrust ring 36 positioned in the groove is substantially prevented from axial movement.

It is also provided that the male connector 12 can be moved beyond a fixed position in the installation direction. For this purpose, the male part 12 has a stop 46 for limiting the axial displacement in the mounting direction, which stop comes into contact with a counter element 48 during mounting, wherein the counter element 48 can be elastically deformed in the mounting direction of the male part 12. The counter element 48 is designed as a foam plate. In addition, when positioning the male connector 12 in a fixed position between the fixing leg 18 and the male connector 12, a free space 50 is provided in a direction opposite to the mounting direction, so that the male connector 12 can be pushed beyond the fixed position in the mounting direction. The pretensioning can be carried out by elastic deformation of the counter element 48 in order to place the male connector 12 in a fixed position.

The installation of the device or the securing of the male connector 12 to the female connector 14 may then be performed as follows.

When installed, the male connector 12 is pushed into the female connector 14. A chamfer or edge 42 is thereby formed at the front end or front side of the pin 12, which makes contact with the thrust ring 36 preloaded in the box 14. The thrust ring will be pushed in the mounting direction into the stop position inside the indentation 32 designed as a conical recess in the female connector 12. At the stop, it is radially narrowed by a chamfer or edge 42 on the male connector 12 or inner leg 24. This degree of freedom is achieved by the taper in the notch 32 in the box 14 or fixed leg 18. The edge 42 of the male part 12 and the following geometry can thus be pushed by the thrust ring 36. An outward preload is created by the radial reduction of the thrust ring 36. Once the male connector 12 is pushed to reach the notch 34 for receiving the thrust ring 36, it snaps into the groove or notch 34. A stable, in particular non-releasable connection is thereby achieved.

The reversing element 48 has been compressed during the mounting process. The reversing element now provides a preload that places the male connector 12 in its final or secured position, as shown in fig. 1.

In order to push the male connector 12 relative to the female connector 14 so that the thrust ring 36, whose position and geometry changes during installation, can find the notch 34, the free space 50 shown in the figures and the notch 32 designed as a groove can be used.

The result is a non-releasable, stable connection between the components of the two control hydraulics against splashing water and only a small space requirement.

Claims

1. An arrangement with a male (12) and a female (14) connection, characterized in that the female connection (14) has a fixing leg (18) for fixing the female connection (14) to the male connection (12), wherein the fixing leg (18) has an outer side (20) and an inner side (22), and wherein the male connection (12) has an inner leg (24) with an outer guide surface (26) and an outer leg (28) with an inner guide surface (30) facing the outer guide surface (26), namely: the fixed leg (18) may be positioned between the inner leg (24) and the outer leg (28), wherein notches (32, 34) for partially receiving a thrust ring (36) are provided on the outer side (20) of the fastening leg (18) and the inner guide surface (30) of the outer leg (28) or on the inner side (22) of the fastening leg (18) and the outer guide surface (26) of the inner leg (24), respectively, wherein, in a state where the male connector (12) is fixed to the female connector (14), the thrust ring (36) is positioned in a recess (32) in the inner side (22) of the fixed leg (18) and in a recess in the outer guide surface (26) of the inner leg (24) or in a recess (32) in the outer side (20) of the fixed leg (18) and in a recess (34) in the inner guide surface (30) of the outer leg (28);

at least one of the recesses (32, 34) for receiving the thrust ring (36) is designed as a groove which is conical in the mounting direction of the male part (12), wherein the depth of the groove increases in the mounting direction of the male part (12);

during installation, the thrust ring can be pushed in the conical recess in the installation direction of the male connector, and the position and geometry of the thrust ring pushed in the conical recess changes.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when notches (32, 34) for partially receiving the thrust ring (36) are provided on the outer side (20) of the fixed leg (18) and on the inner guide surface (30) of the outer leg (28), respectively, an abutment (38) for receiving a sealing element (40) is provided on the inner side (22) of the fixed leg (18) or on the outer guide surface (26) of the inner leg (24), or when notches (32, 34) for partially receiving the thrust ring (36) are provided on the inner side (22) of the fixed leg (18) and the outer guide surface (26) of the inner leg (24), respectively, an abutment (38) for receiving a sealing element (40) is provided on the outer side (20) of the fastening leg (18) or on the inner guide surface (30) of the outer leg (28).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge (42) between the front side (44) in the mounting direction and the guide surface of the inner leg (24) or the outer leg (28) facing the recess (32) for receiving the thrust ring (36) of the fixed leg (18) is chamfered.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the indentation (34) arranged opposite the conical recess for partially accommodating the thrust ring (36) is designed as a recess which is dimensioned in such a way that: the thrust ring (36) positioned in the groove is substantially prevented from axial movement.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the male connector (12) can be pushed beyond the fixing position in the mounting direction.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the male part (12) has a limiter (46) for limiting the axial movement in the mounting direction, which upon mounting the male part (12) with the female part (14) can be brought into contact with a counter element (48), wherein the limiter (46) or the counter element (48) can be elastically deformed in the mounting direction of the male part (12).

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that a free space (50) can be provided in the direction opposite to the mounting direction when positioning the male connector (12) in a fixed position between the fixing leg (18) and the male connector (12).

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted for use in a hydraulic clutch system.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one of the male connector (12) and the female connector (14) is an integral part of a connector.

10. A hydraulic system having the device (10) with a male (12) and a female (14) joint, wherein the male joint (12) can be fixed to the female joint (14), characterized in that the device (10) is designed according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The hydraulic system of claim 10, wherein the hydraulic system is a hydraulic clutch system.