EP1483522A1

EP1483522A1 - Connecting coupling with a sliding sleeve and collet chucks

Info

Publication number: EP1483522A1
Application number: EP03708161A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erwin Weh; Wolfgang Weh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-02
Filing date: 2003-03-01
Publication date: 2004-12-08
Also published as: AU2003212290A1; JP4198066B2; WO2003074921A1; CA2483578C; DE20203246U1; JP2006508298A; CA2483578A1; CN1289849C; US7494158B2; CN1643290A; US20050212289A1

Abstract

In order to provide a connecting coupling whose structure has increased stability and which is used for transmitting gaseous and/or liquid fluids, especially for filling the petrol tank of vehicles, comprising a sliding sleeve (18) which is used to lock collet chucks (15) above a connecting nipple, a guide sleeve (38) with longitudinal grooves is provided between the sliding sleeve (18) and the collet chucks (15). The collet chucks are guided inside the longitudinal grooves.

Description

description

CONNECTING COUPLING WITH SLIDE SLEEVE AND COLLETS

Lie invention relates to a connection coupling for the transmission of gaseous and / or liquid fluids, in particular for filling vehicle gas tanks.

With such connection couplings, a safe and quickly connectable transmission of a fluid from a pressure source, for example from a refueling system, to a vehicle is to be achieved. The simple and safe operability is particularly important here, so that easy handling is possible even at high refueling and connection pressures of 200 bar and more.

Such a connection coupling is described in WO 98/05898 by the applicant, the quick connection coupling having a housing with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a plurality of valves being provided in order to ensure a secure seal of the quick connection coupling until the connection is completely established. These valves are switched after attaching the quick-connect coupling by turning a control lever in a certain predetermined sequence, the outlet valve being opened first by sliding the quick-connect coupling onto a connecting nipple, then the collets serving as locking elements are closed when the control lever is moved, and finally the Inlet valve is opened. The control lever is engaged via an eccentric shaft with the sliding sleeve for acting on the collets and with a sealing piston which also releases the fluid inlet after the plug-in coupling has been connected.

The stable storage and safe guidance of the collets is of particular importance, especially at high pressures, since the entire connecting force of the connecting coupling is transmitted via these. Although the known connection coupling has proven itself due to its particularly secure connection possibility, it can be improved with regard to its handling when connecting and the adaptation to different pressure ranges, for example for different types of gas.

Accordingly, the invention has for its object to provide a connector, in particular as a quick connector of the type mentioned, which allows a particularly simple handling and connectivity with a stable structure.

This object is achieved by a connection coupling according to the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The proposed connection coupling is particularly suitable for use with a quick connection coupling for refueling natural gas vehicles, which results in a particularly stable construction since the collets are already guided in longitudinal grooves during the connection process in the lateral circumferential direction and are therefore tangential or laterally not or during the connection process can hardly evade. As a result, a "skewed" attachment to the connection nipple or even a "bending" or damage to the collets will be avoided.

In particular, in a preferred embodiment, the collets are inserted into the longitudinal grooves with a close lateral fit, so that they are stabilized against tangential forces. In addition, the collets are well protected from dirt due to their somewhat recessed position, which results in particularly safe handling.

Due to the centering bevel integrated at the front end of the guide sleeve, reliable guidance is achieved during the connection process and thus a secure connection of the connection coupling is achieved. This ensures easy handling, so that the connection coupling can also be easily connected by laymen. In addition, the Adaptation to a specific connection nipple involved elements can be exchanged quickly and easily in order to achieve great variability with an optimal fit.

V n of special, independent importance is also a wiper ring around a sealing piston, so that if the connecting nipple becomes dirty, dirt can be prevented from entering the connecting coupling.

An exemplary embodiment is explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. Herein shows:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a coupling, which in

Longitudinal half-section and in the connected position is shown on a connecting nipple; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the front part of the coupling according to FIG. 1 with two different cuts.

In Fig. 1, a preferred embodiment of a connector 10 is shown in the form of a so-called quick connector, which is coupled to a connection nipple 30 indicated here on the left. The connection coupling 10 has a tubular housing 11 with a plurality of housing parts 11a, 11b and 11c which are screwed together, the housing part 11c here on the right serving as the inlet region 12 and the left region as the outlet 13 for the forwarding of the z-transmitting fluid to the connection nipple 30 A switching unit 21 with a control lever 50 is arranged around the middle housing part 11b The inlet area 12 has a connection adapter 14, to which a fluid line 12 'for supplying the fluid to be transferred is connected via a thread can be designed accordingly in adaptation to the fluid to be transferred, in particular to the respectively desired supply pressure values, passage cross sections, etc. In the area of the outlet 13, a plurality of elongate collets 15 arranged in tubular form are provided, which can be expanded radially outward shortly before being fitted onto the connecting nipple 30, the outer ends then being in an annular groove 42 (cf. FIG. 2). can intervene. The elongated collets 15 are prestressed by an annular spring 16, so that the collets 15 can automatically expand radially outwards. At the left end here with inwardly bent surfaces, the collets 15 each have a form-fitting engagement profile 17 which corresponds to a groove-shaped connection profile of the connection nipple 30. Their structure is also described in more detail in the prior art mentioned at the outset, so that further explanation is not necessary here. It should also be mentioned that in the area of the outlet 13, a sealing piston 22 is guided on the inside, which on its front face has a conical sealing surface 23 for abutment against an inner sealing ring of the connecting nipple 30, so that this is essentially along the central axis of the connecting coupling 10 flowing gaseous and / or liquid fluid can not escape to the outside.

An outer sliding sleeve 18 is provided around the collets 15, which is guided via a spacer sleeve 18 'on the cylindrical outer casing of the housing part 11a on the left here and is prestressed in the direction away from the connecting nipple 30 with a compression spring 19. The compression spring 19 is supported. here. a. Support ring 20 and thus pushes the sliding sleeve 18 to the control lever 50 with an eccentric shaft 51.

An outlet valve 25 provided on the sealing piston 22 seals against the sealing piston 22 in the closed position by means of a sealing ring as a valve seat 26. The outlet valve 25 is acted upon by a compression spring 28 which is supported on the right side on a slide switch 27 of the switching unit 21. This outlet valve 25 ensures that in the uncoupled position not shown here or until shortly before the connection of the Connection coupling 10 to the connection nipple 30, the fluid supplied through the connection adapter 14 cannot flow out. When the connection coupling 10 is uncoupled, the switching slide 27 is displaced from the connection nipple 30 by the switching unit 21 along the connection coupling axis and thus forms a ventilation valve 35 together with a sealing washer 24.

The vent valve 35 and the switching slide 27 are actuated here by pivoting the control lever 50, since the eccentric shaft 51 is coupled to the switching slide 27, in particular by engagement of a plurality of bolts 29 which are slidably inserted in axial slots 32 and are connected to an outer ring slide 31 , This has an annular groove in which the lower end of the eccentric shaft 51 engages here. The whole is. Switch unit 21 with the control lever 50 rotatable around this ring slide 31.

As can be seen from the connection position of the connection coupling 10 shown here, the engagement profile 17 of the collets 15 is brought into engagement with the connection nipple 30 when plugging onto the connection nipple 30. By actuating (pivoting by approximately 180 °) the control lever 50 into the position shown here, the sliding sleeve 18 is pushed over the collets 15 and thus locked. The collets 15 are - as shown in Fig. 2 - guided in longitudinal grooves 37 which are incorporated in a guide sleeve 38 to fit the respective collets 15. As a result, the collets 15 cannot deflect or even be damaged in the event of a tangential or lateral force (for example in the case of a “skewed” attachment), especially since the guide sleeve 38 extends far beyond the connecting nipple 30 and has a centering bevel 39 there. As a result, the collets 15 are arranged relatively far inside the housing and are therefore well protected.

When pressure is applied (beginning of the refueling process), the sealing piston 22 is first shifted to the left (also under the action of the spring 28). On the front circumference of the sealing piston 22 a particularly important scraper ring 40 is provided here (see FIG. 2), which reliably prevents dirt from entering the housing 11 when the sealing piston 22 moves axially. When it is in contact with the sealing surface 23, the valve seat 26 on the icht) piston 22 and thus the outlet valve 25 are then opened by moving the sealing piston 22 to the right. The engagement profile 17 has already engaged on the correspondingly designed connection profile of the connection nipple 30, the axial movement of the sliding sleeve 18 and the associated spacer sleeve 18 'engaging over the radially outer ends of the collets 15, so that these are held in a form-fitting manner on the connection nipple 30 ,

To release the connection coupling 10 and thus return the connection position shown here to the open position, the sliding sleeve 18 is pushed back by the compression spring 19 after turning the control lever 50. After a short distance, the collets 15 can spread radially outwards again and engage in the annular groove 42 which is then free due to the axial movement of the sliding sleeve 18/18 '. Since the fluid pressure was interrupted beforehand (e.g. by closing one

Refueling valve), the sealing piston 22 is also moved and the outlet valve 25 on the valve seat 26 is closed.

In the inlet area 12, an inlet valve 45 with an associated valve seat 46 is furthermore arranged centrally in the housing 11 or the housing part 11c of the connection coupling 10. The inlet valve 45 is also axially displaceable by the control lever 50 and its eccentric shaft 51 by coupling with the slide valve 27. This slide valve 27 shifts a valve slide 47 of the inlet valve 45 into the open position via the sealing disk 24 in the connection position shown, so that the fluid flowing in from the inlet area 12 through the valve slide 47 and a passage in the sealing disk 24 and the tubular switch slide 27 to the outlet 13 can flow there. When the connecting coupling 10 is released, the control slide 27 is displaced to the left by the bolts 29 by turning the control lever 50 (by approximately 180 °), so that the sealing washer 24 can also be released from the sealing engagement. Here, the pressure within the connection coupling 10 can decrease via purchase slots 36 to a pressure compensation space 44. As mentioned above, the vent valve 35 is thus opened by the eccentric shaft 51 and the slide switch 27 when the connecting coupling 10 is uncoupled. As a result, pressure medium still present flows via the pressure equalization chamber 44 to a ventilation hole 43 which runs parallel to the central fluid passage (through the valves 45, 35 and 25) in the housing part 11c of the connection coupling 10. The vent hole 43 opens into the second line 12 ″, which is preferably designed as a return hose and, like the feed line, is delimited by a housing cap 48 in order to be able to serve as a handle for simple handling. The vent line 12 ″ and the fluid line 12 ′ connected to the adapter 14 thus always run at least largely parallel to one another.

In Fig. 2 the essential design of the front part or outlet 13 of the connector 10 is shown enlarged, in the lower illustration to clarify the longitudinal groove 37 in the guide sleeve 38 with otherwise the same structure as in the upper illustration, a collet. 15. was omitted. This shows in particular the guidance of the collets 15 (generally only three pieces in a 120 ° division are sufficient) within the longitudinal grooves 37 in the guide sleeve 39. This is securely fastened with dowel pins 41 at the front end of the housing part 11a, but - like the other components, in particular collets 15 or spacer sleeve 18 '- is easily replaceable in order to adapt them to different connecting nipples 30 or refueling pressures.

Claims

1. Connection coupling for the transmission of gaseous and / or liquid fluids, in particular for filling vehicle gas tanks, with a sliding sleeve (18) for locking collets (15) over a connecting nipple (30), characterized in that between the sliding sleeve ( 18) and the collets (15) a guide sleeve (38) with longitudinal grooves (37) is arranged, in which the collets (15) are guided.

2. Connection coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that a spacer sleeve (18 ') is interchangeably fitted within the sliding sleeve (18).

3. Coupling according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the collets (15) in the longitudinal grooves (37) are inserted with little lateral clearance.

4. Connection coupling according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide sleeve (38) has a centering slope (39) at its front end.

5. Connection coupling according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a circumferential annular groove (42) for receiving the radially outer ends of expanded collets (15) is arranged radially outside the guide sleeve (38).

6. Connection coupling according to claim 5, characterized in that the annular groove (42) is formed in a shoulder between the sliding sleeve (18) and spacer sleeve (18 ').

7. Connection coupling according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the guide sleeve (38) is exchangeably fastened to a front housing part (11a) with at least one dowel pin (41).

8. Connection coupling, in particular according to claim 1, characterized in that a stripping ing (40) is mounted radially inside the collets (15) around a sealing piston (22).

9. Connection coupling according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the guide sleeve (38) three collets (15) and three longitudinal grooves (37) are provided in 120 ° division.