DE4042447C1 - Connector for pressurised pipes with recessed housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The pipe (1) connector has a housing (2) with a recess (4), contg. an axially oving annular collet (8) with peripherally successive clamping members (19), which are connected to the collet axially outer operating section (24) by flexure points (23). A radialy outwards protruding, operating extnesion reaches into a depression (31) in the housing recess (4) wall and is flanked, axially inwards, by a thrust surface (32), and axially outwards, by a support surface (33.

Description

The invention relates to a connection device for printing center lines, with a housing that is a housing Has recess in the annular collet axially is movably held within the housing recess lying area in particular several on the end in circumference has successively arranged clamping elements, the one through the collet into the housing recess mung inserted connector end of each to be connected Pressure medium line in the area of its outer circumference and surrounded with an axially further outward and in particular made of the housing recess protruding operating section of the Collet are connected via bending points, each clamp element an actuation projecting radially outwards jump has in one of the wall of the housing recess orderly deepening protrudes and there in one opposite the assigned bending point lying radially further outwards Area axially inside of a stop surface and axially outside  is flanked by a support surface, such that at ent against the insertion direction of the connection end axially outwards moving the collet against the support surface che working actuation projection a radially inward ge correct pivoting of the clamping elements around the bending point causes, whereby the clamping elements with their clamping section in Clamp positions against the outer circumference of the inserted An finally be pressed, while one in opposite set axial direction inward moving the instep pliers a radially outward pivoting of the clamp elements around the bending point to release the inserted Connection end is caused.

A connection device having approximately this feature is described in US-PS 37 43 326. There one becomes one Inserted housing recess of the connecting device Pressure medium line held by clamping elements with a sloping surface of the actuating projection on a housing side support surface with the same inclination. Will the Pressure medium line on train, be it by the standing internal pressure or due to external loads, so the resulting clamping through the interaction of the surfaces strength increased. The collet is used to release the connection pressed axially inwards, thereby forcing the clamping elements be within the scope of a swivel or bending movement to shift radially outwards. With one in the German patent DE 40 07 101 C1 Verbin described  Application device of the type mentioned above is the release through the contact of the actuating projection with a upstream housing-side stop surface positive below supports. However, with all of these known arrangements the clamping effect is not always satisfactory.

The object underlying the invention is therefore: seen a connection device of the aforementioned Kind in such a way that under all operating conditions with simple installation a reliable mode of operation and in particular a secure hold of the connected Pressure fluid line is guaranteed.

According to the inventor, the above object is achieved by that the clamping parts are linear and expediently tangential extending to the circumference of the inserted connector end Have clamping edges such that all clamping edges in Axial direction viewed on the line of an imaginary rule moderate polyline. This is usually white thereafter the clamping elements by interacting with the Support surface for the reliable mounting of the instep pliers responsible on the housing of the connection device.

It has an advantageous effect on the clamping action of the clamping elements this also from if their clamping parts in the contact  with the outer circumference, d. H. the lateral surface of the pressure medium areas provided for linear clamping edges have in use with increased surface pressure in can grip the pressure medium line. It is also useful moderate, the bending points as connecting webs with a cross-section to design a linear contour both outside and inside in order to in this way a relief of the bending processes and ver to achieve better tension. To make it a special one Ensuring easy installation is advisable provided that the actuating section of the collet min at least has an axially continuous auxiliary assembly opening, which opens axially inside in an area that is radial back located outside the assigned bending point opposite a clamping element. It is therefore possible to go ahead the assembly a z. B. pin-shaped assembly aid by through the opening and put pressure on the back of the Practice clamping elements in order to easily insert them into the housing recess as far radially inward as necessary bend.

For a better understanding of the invention, the following is intended Description of an embodiment shown in the drawing example. The individual shows:

Fig. 1 dung means a side view of a first design of the Verbin, the housing being shown in longitudinal section and a pressure medium line and a sealing ring are only indicated dash-dotted lines,

Fig. 2 is an axial view of the connecting device of FIG. 1 looking in the direction according to arrow II without Dar position of the housing, wherein the collet is broken at one point of its periphery, to make visible to the cross-sectional shape of the bending points,

Fig. 3 shows the collet of Fig. 1 and 2 in cross-section according to section line III-III without illustration of the housing,

Fig. 4 shows the collet of Fig. 1 to 3 in an axial view according to arrow IV of FIG. 1,

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the collet along section line VV to visualize an assembly auxiliary opening and

Fig. 6 is a further longitudinal section through the collet at another circumferential location in the region of a securing projection on the section line VI-VI in FIG. 3.

The illustrated in Fig. 1 in its entirety for proper connection device 1 has a housing 2 with a side 3 to a mounting which is open towards the housing recess. 4

In an axial extension, a further channel 5 adjoins the housing recess 4 and opens out on a fastening side 6 opposite the mounting side 3 . The assigned to this channel 5 housing section carries an external thread 7 for fixing in a suitable threaded bore of a housing, not shown, for. B. a valve. As a result, a fluidic connection can be produced in a manner known per se.

In the housing recess 4 , an annular, in the example approximately Ausfüh approximately sleeve-shaped collet 8 is held in the axial direction 9 of the housing recess 4 movable. The connection opening 10 delimited by it allows the insertion of a pressure medium line 11 , which is only indicated schematically, and the insertion of its end connection end 12 into the housing recess 4 .

A sealing element 17 , also indicated only schematically and in particular in the form of a double lip sealing ring, is fixed between the front of the collet 8 pointing axially into the interior of the housing recess 4 and an opposite housing gradation 16 . It encloses the connection end 12 in a sealing manner, which can be expediently brought into contact with the housing 18 , which is inserted even further, on a further housing gradation to limit the insertion depth.

The collet 8 , in its area lying within the housing recess 4 , is provided on the end face axially on the inside with a plurality of clamping elements 19 which are arranged one after the other, in particular evenly distributed in the circumferential direction 20 . They enclose the inserted connection end 12 in the area of its outer circumference, ie its outer surface. They are able to axially fix the pressure medium line 11 with respect to the collet 8 , the latter in turn being supported on the wall 21 of the housing 2 surrounding the housing recess 4 on the circumference, so that the pressure medium line 11 is finally fixed relative to the housing 2 .

It goes without saying that the connecting device can also have a plurality of housing recesses and / or fastening sides 6 equipped with a collet with different fastening means without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the circumferential direction 20 each adjacent clamping elements 19 are isolated from one another by separating points 22 , which are slot-like in the embodiment, for example, and allow radial loading because of the clamping elements 19 without mutual interference. Each clamping element 19 is connected via a bending point 23 (FIGS . 1, 5 and 6) to the subsequent sleeve-shaped section of the collet 8 which lies axially further outward and which is to be referred to below as the actuating section 24 . The bending points 23 allow the clamping elements 19 a slight pivoting movement according to the double arrow 25 indicated in FIG. 6, which will be explained further below. The bending points 23 are preferably formed from material areas whose radial cross-sectional dimensions are smaller than those of the adjoining areas of the clamping elements 19 and the actuating section 24 . However, all of these areas are preferably integral with each other and formed in particular from plastic material, wherein the regions of reduced cross-section are formed as connecting webs 26 in the embodiment. The entire collet 8 is preferably an integral component.

Especially from FIGS. 5 and 6 can be clearly seen that each clamping element 19 has a radially outwardly projecting actuating projection 30. The actuating projections 30 is assigned within the housing recess 4 in the area of the inner circumference of the wall 21 an annular, coaxial to the axial direction 9 recess 31 into which they protrude at least partially in the assembled state of the collet 8 . The recess 31 is formed directly in the housing wall 21 in the embodiment, but it can also be part of an insert or be formed in some other way.

A respective actuation projection 30 is arranged radially further outward than the associated bending point 23 or the associated connecting web 26 . The lying respectively within the recess 31 portion of the operating projections 30 is flanked axially inwardly from a housing-fixed abutment surface 32 and axially outwardly from a housing-fixed support surface 33, which surfaces 32, 33 are formed in the embodiment of portions of the surface of the recess 31st As can be seen from FIG. 1, it is preferably inclined surfaces, each of which has a profile in the manner of the lateral surface of a truncated cone, the axial regions of larger diameter facing each other. In the concrete example of embodiment according to FIG. 1, this results in cross-section a contour recess with a V-shaped surface contour, wherein the slope with respect to the longitudinal axis 9 in the case of the support surface 33 is preferably less than that of the abutment surface 32.

The radially inward areas of the clamping elements 19 form clamping parts 35 which work to clamp a pressure medium line 11 against its outer circumference. From Fig. 2 to 6 it can be clearly seen that the clamping cross section enclosed by the clamping parts 35 with line-free collet 8 is slightly less than the enclosed by the actuating section 24 and normally at least approximately the outer diameter of the pressure medium line 11 to be connected corresponding cross section of the connection opening 10 . This has the result that when the collet 8 is inserted in the assembled state of a connecting end 12 into the housing recess 4, the clamping parts 35 with the clamping elements 19 are pressed or pivoted radially outward around the bending points. Due to the spring-elastic suspension via the bending points 23 , there is already a clamping force 35 which presses against the connection end 12 holding force.

Now, in operation, the collet 8 is also moved axially outward against the insertion direction 34 of the connection end 12 - z. B. due to internal pressurization of the pressure medium line 11 and the channel 5 by compressed air - so the actuating projections 30 are pressed against the support surface 33 . This leads, based on the flexibility in the area of the bend 23 - to an inward pivoting or shifting of the clamping elements 19 , so that the clamping parts 35 assume their actual clamping position in which they clasp the connecting end 12 strengthened ver.

In order to release the connection, only the collet has to be displaced in the insertion direction 34 , which is expediently carried out by acting on the actuating section 24 , which in the exemplary embodiment, for better accessibility, protrudes a little from the housing recess 4 . The United store has the result that the actuating projections 30 are moved away from the stop surface 32 and surface 33 are pressed against the support instead. This leads to an outward pivoting of the clamping elements 19 (double arrow 25 ), the above-mentioned clamping cross section increasing and the connection end 12 being able to be removed without problems.

As can be seen, the actuating projections 30 have a holding function with respect to the collet 8 based on a positive fit with the stop surface 32 . However, the collet 8 is struck with a very high force acting against the insertion direction 34 - z. B. by a corresponding tensile load of the pressure medium line 11 connected to it via the clamping parts 35 - it is advantageous if additional securing means are present which protect the collet 8 from being pulled out of the housing recess 4 . In the exemplary embodiment, therefore, in addition to the actuating projections 30 on the actuating section 24 in the region within the housing recess 4, two diametrically opposed securing projections 36 are attached, each protruding radially outward from axially adjacent regions of the collet 8 and in the axially externally assigned region from a stop shoulder fixed to the housing 37 are flanked. In the exemplary embodiment, the stop shoulder 37 is formed by the side face of an annular recess 39, which is recessed into the housing wall 21 from the housing recess 4 and into which the securing projections 36 protrude. The stop shoulder 37 is ring-shaped in this case and surrounds the fastening section 24 coaxially.

It goes without saying that a different number of securing projections 36 is also possible, a securing projection would already be sufficient. However, a uniformly distributed over the circumference of the actuating section 24 has the advantage of a uniform application of force.

The arrangement of the actuating projections 30 , support surfaces 33 , securing projections 36 and the stop shoulder 37 is advantageously carried out in such a way that the securing projections 36 do not come into contact with the stop shoulder 37 during normal operation, so that the clamping action triggered by the supporting surface 33 is not thwarted. It is therefore particularly seen before that seen when the connector end 12 is inserted and when the collet 8 moves counter to the insertion direction 34 , a respective locking projection 36 can only run onto the stop shoulder 37 when the clamping elements 19 already have a clamping position with respect to the connector end 12 have taken and the contact between the actuation jumps 30 and the support surface 33 still exists, that is, the actuation projections 30 are not yet pulled out of the recess 31 .

The measure has proven to be particularly easy to assemble, as in the exemplary embodiment, to form the securing projections 36 as snap elements which are brought into the region axially within the stop shoulder 37 during assembly as part of a snap-in process. When in Figs. 1 and 6 it clearly expedient embodiment, the depending weils over a circumferential portion of the operating portion 24 extending securing projections 36 extend starting from the outer periphery obliquely axially and also radially outside of the operating portion substantially and have in longitudinal section according to FIG. 6 seen a barb-like contour. Between the inclined section 40 and the area 44 of the actuating section 24 lying radially on the inside there is an intermediate space 47 , which allows the inclined section 40 to be bent radially inward to a maximum extent until it abuts the area 44 .

The bending takes place automatically when the collet 8 is inserted into the housing recess 4 , when the securing projections 36 pass through the stop shoulder 37 by contact with the same. Following this, the inclined sections 40 return to their starting position due to the resilient properties, in which they engage behind the stop shoulder 37 .

The axially outside the stop shoulder 37 arranged area of the housing 2 preferably forms a guide section 45 , the section axially outside the locking projections 36 and in particular circular cylindrical portion 46 of the actuating section 24 , leads in its possible axial movement and laterally stabilized. The securing projections 36 protrude beyond the outer circumference in the area of the section 46 , but in the case of the inclined section 40 , they can be bent inward with the clearance 47 reduced until their radially outer area is approximately aligned with the circumferential line of the section 46 .

A blocking effect of the securing projections 36 during a collet movement in the insertion direction 34 is not provided in the exemplary embodiment. In any case, with easy assembly there is a captive collet holder even in the case of extreme loads.

The usability under extreme conditions is also favored by the fact that the clamping parts 35 each have a clamping edge 48 on the radially inward side, which extends linearly and expediently tangentially to the lateral surface of the respectively inserted connection end 12 . In this way, all clamping edges 48 , viewed in the axial direction according to arrow IV, are on the line of an imaginary regular polygon. In clamping positions, there is a high surface pressure and the clamping edges 48 are able to claw or dig into the expedient, somewhat flexible wall of the respective connection end 12 . Such a design of the clamping elements is of course also effective in a connecting device without securing projections 36 , but the increased holding forces which are possible as a result of this can be transmitted particularly securely to the housing 2 if the securing projections are additionally used, without the risk that the collet 8 comes from the Housing recess 4 is pushed out.

The crosspieces 26 already mentioned are, seen in cross section according to FIG. 2, expediently linearly contoured both radially inside ( 49 ) and radially outside ( 50 ) similarly to the clamping edges 48, so that both the inner surfaces 49 and the outer surfaces 50 of the connecting crosspieces 26 in the axial direction 9 considered regular polygons on lines come to rest. This measure achieves a cross-sectional z. B. rectangular or trapezoidal design has the consequence that the pivoting of the clamping elements allowing bending operations are possible with little force, so that the majority of the applied force of the actual clamping force comes to good.

From Fig. 2 it can be clearly seen that the connection opening 10 is expediently contoured in a polygon. All polygon trains are expediently arranged in such a way that their corner areas are aligned with each other in the axial direction.

It is very important that the collet 8 can be easily mounted on the housing 2 despite its design for increased stress. For this purpose, a measure is provided which, viewed in isolation, is advantageous even without the additional use of the securing projections and polygonal edge profiles. The measure provides, with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, that the actuating section 24 has a plurality of axially continuous auxiliary mounting openings 54 which open both axially outwards and inwards, in the direction of the clamping elements 19 . In the embodiment, there are circumferentially closed bore-like openings that run linearly and in the axial direction 9 , each clamping element 19 being assigned at least one auxiliary mounting opening 54 alone.

The outlet point 55 in the axially inward-pointing region of the actuating section 24 of a respective assembly aid opening 54 is located opposite the back 56 facing axially outward of a respectively assigned clamping element 19 . Between the mouth 55 and the back 56 extends in the embodiment according to FIG. 5, a recess 57 which results from the connecting web 26 located in this area ge ringer radial dimensions. The junction 55 be found radially outside the respectively assigned bending point 23rd

The auxiliary mounting openings 54 enable the insertion of auxiliary parts 51 which are adapted in terms of their cross-sectional shape, of which one is indicated in phantom in FIG. 3, which has a preferred pin shape. Before the collet 8 is installed in the housing recess 4, an auxiliary mounting part 51 of this type is inserted into each of the auxiliary mounting openings 54 according to arrow 58 from the opening side 59 opposite the clamping element 19 and is pressed against the back 56 with the end section 60 projecting on the opposite opening side. whereby the associated clamping element 19 is pivoted radially inward about the bending point 23 according to arrow 61 . In this way, it is possible to keep the clamping elements during the insertion of the collet 34 in the insertion direction 34 by acting on their back 56 in compared to the usual clamping positions even further radially inward pivoting mounting positions, in which they can be easily attached to the stop shoulder 37 and the support surface 33 can be inserted into the housing recess 4 .

The individual auxiliary assembly parts 51 are expediently combined to form a unit, so that all clamping elements 19 can be held together in the assembly position with a corresponding device.

It is understood that several mounting aids per clamping element openings can be provided or that each assembly auxiliary opening can be responsible for several clamping elements.

In the latter case, the auxiliary mounting openings 54 expediently have the shape of an arch slot which extends a little way along the circumference of the collet. It is also possible, for example, to form the auxiliary assembly openings 54 as groove-like depressions introduced into the outer circumference of the actuating section 24 .

Claims (10)

1. Connecting device for pressure medium lines ( 11 ) with a housing ( 2 ) having a housing recess ( 4 ) in the axially movable an annular collet ( 8 ) with several ren in the circumferential direction successively arranged clamping elements ( 19 ) is held, the one surrounded by the collet ( 8 ) in the housing recess, the connection end of a pressure medium line ( 11 ) to be connected in each case and with an axially outwardly arranged actuating section ( 24 ) of the collet ( 8 ) via bending points ( 23 ), which are each connected to each protrude radially outward have the actuating projection ( 30 ) which projects into a recess ( 31 ) in the wall of the housing recess and there in an area lying radially further outward from the bending point ( 23 ) axially inwardly from a stop surface ( 32 ) and axially outwardly is flanked by a support surface ( 33 ), of which the support surface ( 33 ) b egg against the insertion direction of the connection end to the axially outward movement of the collet ( 8 ) in cooperation with the actuating projection ( 30 ), the clamping elements ( 19 ) pivoted radially inwards around the bending point and their clamping part in clamping positions against the outer circumference of the inserted Connection end presses, while in an opposite axial direction and inward movement of the collet ( 8 ), the clamping elements are pivoted radially outward around the bending point to release the inserted connection end, characterized in that the clamping parts ( 35 ) are linear and tangential have clamping edges ( 48 ) running to the circumference of the inserted connecting end, such that all the clamping edges ( 48 ), viewed in the axial direction ( 9 ), lie on the line of an imaginary regular polygon. 2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bending points ( 23 ) of extending between a respective clamping element ( 19 ) and the actuating section ( 24 ) extending connecting webs ( 26 ) are formed, seen in cross section both radially inside and radially are linearly contoured on the outside, so that both the inner surfaces ( 49 ) and the outer surfaces ( 50 ) of the connecting webs ( 26 ), viewed in the axial direction, come to rest on lines of imaginary polygons. 3. Connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating section ( 24 ) radially outside half of the pressure medium line to be connected ( 11 ) accommodating connecting opening ( 10 ) has at least one axially continuous de auxiliary mounting opening ( 54 ) which axially on the inside a point ( 55 ) opens out, which is opposite the back ( 56 ) of a clamping element ( 19 ) located radially outside the associated bending point ( 23 ) and which allows the insertion of an adapted assembly aid part ( 51 ) with which the clamping element ( 19 ) during assembly of the collet ( 8 ) in the direction of insertion ( 34 ), by acting on its back ( 56 ), it can be held in an assembly position which is pivoted further radially inward relative to the clamping positions. 4. Connecting device according to claim 3, characterized in that each clamping element ( 19 ) is assigned its own assembly aid opening ( 54 ) in the actuating section ( 24 ). 5. Connecting device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the auxiliary mounting openings ( 54 ) are bores. 6. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when inserted into the housing recess ( 4 ) collet inside the housing recess ( 4 ) part of the actuating section ( 24 ) at least one axially adjacent regions of the actuating section radially outward protruding securing projection ( 36 ), the axially outside of a housing-fixed stop shoulder ( 37 ) in the wall surrounding the housing recess opposite. 7. Connecting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the actuating section ( 24 ) has at least two diametrically opposite, ie in the circumferential direction ( 20 ) distributed locking projections ( 36 ). 8. Connecting device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the stop shoulder ( 37 ) is formed from a ring and surrounds the actuating section ( 24 ). 9. Connecting device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the stop shoulder ( 37 ) from the side surface of a in the wall ( 21 ) of the housing recess ( 4 ) recessed recess ( 39 ) is formed, in which the hedging projection ( 36 ) protrudes at least partially. 10. Connecting device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the at least one safety jump ( 36 ) is designed as a snap element, and protrudes obliquely axially and radially outward from the actuating section ( 24 ) and during the assembly of the collet ( 8th ) passing the stop shoulder ( 37 ) is resiliently bent radially in the direction of the actuating section ( 24 ) in order to spring back again radially outwards after passing the stop shoulder ( 37 ).