FR2670268A1 - Device for joining pipes of pressurised fluid or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for joining pipes of pressurised fluid (11) including a housing (2) with a housing recess (4) in which a clamping clip (8) can be moved axially. On the latter are located, axially on the inside, several clamping elements (19) which, by interaction with surfaces (32, 33) on the housing side can be moved between clamping positions holding the pressurised fluid pipe (11) and freed positions. <??>The clamping elements (19) are placed by points of flexion (23) on an actuating part (24) which has stop-piece projections (36) which pass behind an abutment shoulder (37) of the housing (2) in order to prevent the clamping clip (8) from being extracted from the housing recess (4). The clamping elements have clamping edges (48) with linear path promoting the clamping effect.

Description

i Device for assembling pressurized fluid lines or

The present invention relates to a device for assembling pressurized fluid lines or the like, comprising a housing which has a housing recess in which is held axially displaceable an annular collet which has, in the region situated therein. of the housing recess, in particular frontally, several successive clamping elements, arranged peripherally, which surround, in the region of the outer periphery of a pressure pipe to be assembled, a connecting end of this pipe, to be inserted through the collet, in the housing recess, and which are assembled, by bending points, to an actuating part of the collet, disposed further axially outward and protruding in particular from the recess of housing, each clamping member having an actuating projection, projecting radially outwardly, which engages in a recess associated with the wall of e the housing recess

and is flanked, in a region located further radial-

ment outwardly, with respect to the associated bending point, by a stop surface and, axially outside, by a bearing surface, so that, when moving the collet, axially towards the 'outside, in the opposite direction to the insertion direction of

the connecting end, the protruding action part

operation, operating against the bearing surface, causes a pivoting, directed radially inwards, of the clamping elements around the point of flexion, the clamping elements with their clamping part, being pressed into clamping positions against the outer periphery of the inserted connection end, while, when the collet moves inwardly, in the opposite axial direction, a radially outwardly directed pivoting of the elements is caused tightening around the flexion point, in view of

release the inserted connector end.

An assembly device exhibiting roughly these characteristics is described in US Pat. No. 37 43,326. Therein, a pressurized fluid line, introduced into a housing recess of the assembly device, is held by elements of the assembly device. clamping which apply, by an oblique surface of the actuating projection, against a bearing surface on the housing side, of the same inclination When the pressurized fluid line is under tension, whether due to internal pressure which is established or from external stresses, the cooperation of the surfaces increases the resulting clamping force To eliminate the assembly, the collet is pressed axially inward, which forces the clamping elements to move

radially outwards, by a pivoting movement

ment or folding In an assembly device, described in the former German patent application P 40 07 101 4, of the aforementioned type, the release is favored by the contact of the actuating projection with a stop surface on the side.

housing, placed in front.

But, in the case of a solicitation in

very high traction, directed axially towards the

in relation to the housing recess of the connected pressurized fluid line, there is sometimes a risk that the clamping elements are bent inwards so strongly that the collet collet cannot

either more maintained, by concordance of form, in the recess

housing In this case, the collet slides

with the pressurized fluid line out of the recess

and even when this extreme case does not occur, it can happen that the contact region, between the housing and the clamping elements, is damaged, which reduces the possibility

for later use.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve an assembly device of the aforementioned type so that, under all conditions of use and with simple assembly, reliable operation is guaranteed and in particular good maintenance of the fluid line. under

pressure connected.

This goal is achieved by the fact that the part

actuation present, in the region within

inside the housing recess, at least one stop projection directed radially outward with respect to axially adjacent regions, which projection is flanked, on the outside axially, by a shoulder of

stopper integral with the housing.

In addition, the clamping elements are normally responsible for the correct attachment of the collet to the housing of the assembly device, by cooperation with the bearing surface The existing stop projections do not prevent the axial displacement of collet, to the extent necessary to tighten and disengage a pressurized fluid line Only when the collet is about to be

extracted from the housing recess, further than necessary

Due to excessive tensile stresses, a stop projection passes over the stop shoulder integral with the housing, which is associated with it and prevents further axial displacement In this state, the pressurized fluid line inserted is still reliably

maintained, without being damaged by too large a throttle

The tensile stress that occurs is

absorbed by the stop projection and the stop shoulder.

Since the stop projections are arranged on the actuating part, their operation does not influence

that of the clamping elements or of the bending points.

It is conveniently provided for several and, in particular, two stop projections uniformly distributed around the periphery of the collet, in order to give rise to a uniform transmission of the forces In the case where the stop shoulder is annular, the free rotation of the collet with respect to the housing is not prevented In a very simple construction solution, the abutment shoulder is preferably formed by a side surface of a recess made in the wall of the recess. housing, hollow in which the stop projection engages at least partially It is, moreover, advantageous that the stop projections are clip-on elements which pass behind the stop shoulder, by clipping or snap-fastening and constitute, thus, a reliable locking against removal, with a

extremely simple.

It is advantageous, too, for the clamping effect.

that the clamping elements comprise clamping parts having clamping ridges extending linearly in the regions intended for contact with the outer periphery, i.e. with the casing surface of the fluid line under pressure, which ridges can catch in the pressurized fluid pipe, when the surface pressure is greater.It is also interesting to design the bending points as connecting partitions with a cross section whose contour is linear, inside as well as outside, in order to facilitate, thus,

folding operations and improve the clamping effect.

To guarantee above all a special assembly-

Simply simple, it is advantageously provided that the actuating part has, radially outside its connection opening, housing the pressurized fluid line to be connected, at least one axially continuous auxiliary mounting opening which opens out, at the '' axially internally, at a point facing the back, lying radially outside the respective flex point, of a clamping element. It is thus possible to insert through the aforementioned opening, before assembly, a mounting aid, for example in the form of a pin, and to exert pressure on the back of the clamping elements, in order to fold them radially inwards, as far as necessary, to facilitate their introduction into

the housing recess.

Various other features of the invention

emerge from the detailed description which follows.

embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example

not limiting on the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view of a first form of construction of the assembly device, in which the housing is shown in a longitudinal sectional view and in which a pressurized fluid line as well as a sealing ring are shown only in dotted lines, Figure 2 is an axial view, of the assembly device of Figure 1, in the direction of arrow II, without representation of the housing, the clamp being interrupted at a point of its periphery, in order to to make visible the shape of the cross-section of the bending points, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the collet of Figures 1 and 2, along section line III-III, without representation of the housing, Figure 4 is an axial view, in the direction of arrow IV of Figure 1, of the collet of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the collet, along the line VV, intended to show an opening to the assembly line and Figure 6 is another longitudinal sectional view of the collet, at another peripheral point, in the region of a stop projection, the

along section line VI-VI of figure 3.

The assembly device 1 shown by way of example as a whole in Fig. 1, has a housing 2 with a housing recess 4 open towards a mounting side 3 In the axial extension, connects to the housing recess 4, a channel 5, leading further, which opens on a fixing side 6 opposite to the mounting side 3 The housing part associated with this channel 5, carries a thread 7, for the purpose of fixing, in a tapped hole suitable of a housing not shown in detail, for example, of a valve It is, thus, possible to realize

a fluid connection, known per se.

In the housing recess 4 an annular collet 8, roughly in the form of a sleeve in this exemplary embodiment, is kept movable in the housing.

the axial direction 9 of the housing recess 4.

The connection opening 10 delimited by the latter, makes it possible to insert, therethrough, a pressurized fluid pipe 11 shown only schematically and to introduce its front connection end 12 into the latter.

housing recess 4.

A sealing element 7, shown also only schematically and conceivably in the form of a double lip sealing ring, is fixed between the front face, facing axially inwardly of the housing recess 4, of the collet 8 and an opposite housing shoulder 16 This element surrounds, in a sealed manner, the connection end 12 which can be brought to rest with the front face 18, inserted even further, suitably against another shoulder

housing, in order to limit the insertion depth.

The collet 8 is equipped, in its region inside the housing recess 4, on the front side, axially inside, with a

plurality of clamping elements 19 successive, in par-

particular uniformly distributed in the peripheral direction

that according to the arrow 20 They surround the end of

fitting 12 inserted in the region of its ex-

outside, that is to say of its casing surface They make it possible to fix the pressurized fluid line 11 axially with respect to the collet 8 which, for its part, bears against the wall 21 of the housing 2 , peripherally surrounding the housing recess 4, so that the pressurized fluid line It is

finally fixed in relation to the housing 2.

It is obvious that the assembly device can also comprise several housing recesses equipped with a clamp and / or several fixing sides 6 with fixing means of another type,

without however departing from the scope of the invention.

In the peripheral direction 20, the neighboring clamping elements 19 are isolated from each other by

cut-off points 22 which, in this exemplary embodiment

tion, have the form of slots, and which allow a radial displacement of the clamping elements 19, without reciprocal influence In this case, each clamping element 19 is connected, by a bending point 23 (figures 1, 5 and 6) with the next part of the collet, in the form of a sleeve, located further axially towards

the exterior, which is hereinafter referred to as part of action-

nement 24 The flex points 23 allow the clamping elements 19 to pivot slightly in the direction of the double arrow 25 shown in Fig. 6, which will be further described below in more detail. The flex points 23 are formed, of preferably, by areas of material whose radial cross-section dimensions are smaller than those of the adjacent areas of the

clamping elements 19 and the actuating part 24.

All these areas are, however, preferably made in one piece and, in particular, in a plastic material, the regions of reduced cross section being designed, in this exemplary embodiment, in the form of connecting partitions 26. , the whole of the

clamp 8 is an integrated component.

As shown more particularly in Figures 5 and 6, each clamping element 19 has an actuating projection 30 projecting radially outwardly With the actuating projections 30, it is associated, inside the recess of housing 4, in the region of the inner periphery of the wall 21, an annular hollow 31, coaxial with the longitudinal axis 9, in which they engage at least partially, in the mounted state of the collet 8 In this As an exemplary embodiment, the recess 31 is directly formed in the housing wall 21, but it can also be formed on an insert or in another way. An actuating protrusion 30 is placed further, radially outward, than the point of flexion.

23 corresponding or the connecting partition 26 corresponding

dante The part, located inside the hollow 31, of the actuating projections 30, is flanked, on the inside axially, by a stop surface 32 integral with the housing and, on the outside axially, by a surface of 'support 33 integral with the housing, which surfaces 32, 33 are formed, in this embodiment, by parts of the surface of the recess 31 As shown in Figure 1, it is preferably inclined surfaces which s 'each extend in the manner of the envelope surface of a truncated cone, the axial zones of larger diameter being turned towards each other In the concrete embodiment of FIG. 1, it is possible to has therefore in cross section, a hollow whose contour has V-shaped surfaces, the slope, with respect to the longitudinal axis 9, in the case of the bearing surface 33, being preferably less than that

stop surface 32.

The areas facing radially inwardly of the clamping elements 19 form clamping parts which, in order to clamp a pressurized fluid line 11, act on its outer periphery. Figures 2 to 6 show, more particularly, that the cross section of clamp, surrounded by the clamping parts 35, is slightly less, when the collet 8 has no conduit, than the cross section of the connection opening 10, surrounded by the actuating part 24 and corresponding, normally, at least approximately, to the outer diameter of the pressurized fluid line 11 to be connected It follows that, when inserting a connector end 12 into the housing recess 4, in the mounted state of the clamp 8, the clamping parts 35 with the clamping elements 19 are pressed radially outwards or pivoted around the flex points. As a result of the elastic suspension, via the flex points 23, one obtained Already, thus, a holding force pressing the clamping parts

35 against the connector end 12.

If, during operation, the collet 8 is additionally moved axially outwards,

in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 34 of the former

connection end 12 for example as a result of the external pressure exerted on the pressurized fluid line II and on the channel 5, due to the compressed air the actuating projections 30 are pressed against the surface of support 33 Due to the flexibility in the region of the flex points 23, this causes the clamping elements 19 to pivot or move inward, so that the clamping parts 35 assume their actual clamping position in which they grip more strongly the end of

fitting 12.

To eliminate the connection assembly, it suffices to move the collet in the direction of insertion 34, which is conveniently done by acting on the actuating part 24 which, in this exemplary embodiment, protrudes a little from the housing recess 4,

to be more accessible The displacement results in

When the actuating projections 30 are moved away from the stop surface 32 and are pressed against the bearing surface 33 This causes an outward pivoting of the clamping elements 19 (double arrow 25), so that the the aforementioned clamping cross section -5 increases and the connection end 12 can be

taken without problem.

It can be seen that the actuating protrusions 30 have a holding function with respect to the collet 8, which results from a form-matched assembly with the stop surface 32 But, if the collet 8 is stressed by a very large force, in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion 34 for example by a corresponding tensile stress of the pressurized fluid pipe connected to it by the clamping parts 35 it is advantageous to provide locking means that protect the collet 8

against its extraction out of the housing recess 4.

Therefore, in this exemplary embodiment, in addition to the actuating projections 30, on the actuating part 24, in the region inside the housing recess 4, two stop projections 36 are provided. diametrically opposed, which each project radially outwardly relative to axially adjacent regions of the collet 8 and which are flanked, in the associated region, axially outer, by a stop shoulder 37 integral with the housing In this example embodiment, the stop shoulder 37 is formed by the lateral surface of an annular hollow 39, made from

of the housing recess 4, in the housing wall 21.

In this hollow engage the stop projections 36 The shoulder-

stopper 37 is, in this case also, annular and

coaxially surrounds the fixing part-24.

Of course, it is also possible to provide a different number of stop projections 36; a stop projection would already suffice. But a number regularly distributed around the periphery of the actuating part 24, it has the advantage of uniformly transmitting the forces. The arrangement of the actuating projections 30, of the bearing surfaces 33, of the stop projections 36 and of the stop shoulders 37 is advantageously such that the stop projections 36 do not come into contact with the stop shoulder 37. , in normal operation, in order not to make vain the clamping effect triggered by the bearing surface 33 This is why it is proposed, in particular, that, when the connection end 12 is inserted and in the case movement of the collet in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion 34, a stop projection 36 can pass over the stop shoulder 37 only if the clamping elements 19 already occupy a clamping position by relative to the connection end 12 and that if the contact between the actuating projections 30 and the bearing surface 33, still exists, i.e. if the actuating projections 30 are not yet

protruding from the hollow 31.

A means particularly facilitates the assembly It consists in configuring the stop projections 36, as in this exemplary embodiment, in the form of clip-on elements which, during assembly, are brought, by clipping, into the region situated axially. inside the stopper shoulder 37 In the advantageous configuration shown in Figures 1 and 6, the stop projections 36, which each extend over a part of the periphery of the actuator part 27, extend from the outer perimeter of

the actuating part and extend roughly obliquely-

axially outwardly and at the same time radial-

ment and present, in longitudinal section according to FIG. 6, a barbed outline Between the oblique part 40 and the region 44, opposite to the latter, radially inside, of the actuating part 24, there is an intermediate space 47 which allows the oblique part 40 to be folded as far as possible, radially inwards, up to

what it applies against region 44.

The folding takes place automatically, when inserting the collet 8 into the housing recess 4, when the stop projections 36 go beyond the stop shoulder 37, in contact with the latter. the oblique parts 40 are replaced in their

initial position, owing to their elastic properties

ques, position in which they pass behind

the stop shoulder 37.

The area of the housing 2, placed axially outside the stop shoulder 37, preferably forms a guide part 45 which surrounds a part 46, located axially outside the stop projections 36 and,

in particular, circular cylindrical, of the actuating part

ment 24 and guides it in its possible axial displacement and stabilizes it laterally The stop projections 36 protrude from the outer periphery in the region of the part 46, but, in the case of the oblique part 40, and reducing the intermediate space 47, they can be bent inward until they are roughly aligned, by their radially outer region, with

the peripheral line of part 46.

A blocking effect of the stop projections 36, during a movement of the collet taking place in the direction of insertion 34, is not provided for in this exemplary embodiment. easy, captive fixing of the

tightening even under extreme load.

A possibility of use, even under extreme conditions, is also favored by the fact that the clamping parts 35 have, on the side facing radially inwardly, a clamping edge 48 which extends linearly and conveniently tangentially to the side. the

casing surface of the inserted connector end 12.

All the clamping edges 48 thus lie, viewed in the axial direction of arrow IV, on the line of an imaginary regular polygon. In the clamping positions, a high surface pressure is obtained and the clamping edges 48 are able to to hook into the suitably slightly flexible wall of the respective connector end 12 This design of the clamping elements is useful, of course, also in an assembly device not having stop projections 36, but the The increased holding forces, thus made possible, can be transmitted reliably to the housing 2, in the case of additional use of stop projections, without the risk of the gripper falling off.

clamp 8 is ejected from the housing recess 4.

In a cross-sectional view according to Figure 2, the already mentioned connecting partitions 26 have a radially inner linear contour 49 as well as a radially outer 50 which is advantageously similar to that of the clamping ridges 48, so that the inner surfaces 49 as the outer surfaces 50 of the connecting partitions 26, viewed in the axial direction 9, come to lie on lines of imaginary regular polygons This means which has, for consequence, a shape, for example, rectangular or trapezoidal of the cross section, makes that bending operations, which allow the pivoting of the clamping elements, are possible with reduced force, so that most of the applied force benefits the clamping force

proper.

Fig. 2 clearly shows that conveniently the connection opening 10 also has a polygonal contour. All the polygonal paths are suitably arranged with respect to each other so that their corner areas are aligned with each other.

in the axial direction.

It is very important that, despite its design for high stresses, the collet 8 can be easily mounted on the housing 2 For this purpose a means is provided which is advantageous in itself even without the additional use of the protrusions. stop and polygonal paths of the ridges This means provides, with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 5, that the actuating part 24 comprises a plurality of auxiliary mounting openings 54, emerging axially, which open axially towards outside as well as axially

inwards towards the clamping elements 19.

In this exemplary embodiment, there are openings in the manner of peripherally closed holes which extend linearly and in the axial direction 9, with each clamping element 19 being associated with at least one opening

assembly aid 54.

The exit point 55 in the axially inwardly directed region of the actuating portion 24 of an auxiliary mounting opening 54 is opposite the back 56, facing axially outwardly, d '' an associated clamping element 19 Between the point of

outlet 55 and the back 56 extends, in the exemplary embodiment

tion of Figure 5, a recess 57 which results from the

connecting partition 26 located in this region and presenting

both reduced radial dimensions The exit point is therefore radially outside the point of

bending 23 corresponding.

The auxiliary mounting openings 54 allow the passage, through them, of the mounting aids 51, the cross section of which is of suitable shape and one of which is shown, by way of example, in dotted lines, in FIG. 3, which has a preferred pin-shaped shape Before mounting the collet 8 in the housing recess 4, from the output side 59 opposite to the clamp 19 is inserted into each of the auxiliary mounting openings 54, according to the arrow 58, an auxiliary mounting element 51 of this type and it is pressed, by the end part 60 protruding from the opposite opening side, against the back 56, so that the associated clamping element 19 is pivoted radially inwards, around the point of flexion 23, according to the arrow 61 It is thus possible to maintain the clamping elements, during assembly, carried out in the direction of insertion 34, of the collet, by exerting an action on their back 56, in positions mounting ions, rotated further radially inwards than the usual clamping positions, and in which they can be inserted without problem into the housing recess 4, passing in front of the stop shoulder 37 and

in front of the support surface 33.

The various auxiliary mounting elements 51 are conveniently united in one unit, so that all the clamping elements 19 can be held together in the mounting position, with a suitable device. It is obvious that, for each clamping element, it is also possible to provide several auxiliary mounting openings or an auxiliary opening of

assembly can be associated with several clamping elements.

In the latter case, the auxiliary mounting openings 54 suitably have the shape of an arcuate slot which

extends a bit along the perimeter of the collet.

It is, for example, also possible to design the auxiliary mounting openings 54 in the form of recesses in the form of grooves, formed in the outer periphery.

of the actuating part 24.

Claims (10)

1 Device for assembling pressurized fluid pipes or the like, comprising a housing (2) which has a housing recess (4) in which is held, axially displaceable, an annular clamp (8), which has, in the region inside the housing recess (4), in particular at the front, several clamping elements (19) succeed sifs, arranged peripherally, which surround, in the region of the outer periphery of a pressure pipe (11) to be assembled, a connection end (12) of this pipe, to be inserted through the collet (8), in the housing recess (4), and which are connected, by flexion points, to an actuating part of the collet (8), arranged axially further outward and protruding, in particular, from the 'housing recess (4), each clamping member (19) having a actuating protrusion, radially protruding outwardly, which engages in a recess associated with the wall (21) of the housing recess (4) and is flanked, in a region located radially further outward, from the point of associated bending, by a stop surface and, on the outside axially, by a bearing surface, so that, when moving the collet (8), axially outwards, in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion of the connection end (12), the actuating protrusion, working against the bearing surface, causes a radially inward pivoting of the clamping elements (19) around the point of bending, the clamping elements (19) with their clamping part, being pressed in clamping positions against the outer periphery of the inserted connection end (12), while, during movement of the clamping collet (8) taking place inward, in the opposite axial direction, it is caused a pivoting dir radially outwardly set of the clamping elements (9) around the point of flexion, with a view to releasing the inserted connection end (12), characterized in that the actuating part (24) present, in the region located inside the housing recess (4), at least one stop projection (36) directed radially outward with respect to axially adjacent regions, which projection is axially flanked on the outside by a stop shoulder (37) integral with the housing. 2 Assembly device according to the claim tion 1, characterized in that the actuating part (24) has several stop projections (36) distributed in the peripheral direction (20) and has, in particular, two of these stop projections (36) which are diametrically opposites to each other. 3 Assembly device according to claim tion 1 or 2, characterized in that the stop shoulder (37) is annular and surrounds the actuating part (24). 4 Assembly device according to one any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stop shoulder (37) is formed by the side surface of a recess (39) made in the wall (21) of the housing recess (4), in which the stop projection (36) is at least partially committed. Assembly device according to one any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the axial relative position between the stopper projection (36) and the associated stopper shoulder (37) is provided such that when the connector end (12) is inserted and when the collet (8) is moves in the opposite direction to the insertion direction (34), a stop projection (36) can only pass over the associated stop shoulder (37) if the clamping elements (19) already occupy a clamping position relative to the connector end (12) and that if the contact between the actuating projections (30) and the partial surfaces (33) still exist conveniently. 6 Assembly device according to one any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that at least one stopper projection (36) is designed as a clip-on element which can be snap-fitted into the axially inner region of the stopper shoulder (37). 7 Assembly device according to claim tion 6, characterized in that the stop projection (36) extends obliquely, axially and radially outwardly from the actuating part (24) and is bent back briefly, resiliently, radially in the direction of the fixing part (24), when, during the assembly of the collet (8), this projection passes over the stop shoulder (37), in order to be resiliently replaced again radially outwards, after protrusion of the stop shoulder (37). 8 Assembly device according to the preamble of claim 1 and, in particular, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the parts clamping ridges (35) have linearly extending clamping ridges (48) such that all clamping ridges (48), viewed in the axial direction (9), lie on the line of an imaginary polygon. 9 Assembly device according to the preamble of claim 1 and, in particular, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the points flexures (23) are formed by connecting partitions (26) extending between a clamping element (19) and the actuating part (24), which transverse partitions dirty have a linear outline, radially on the inside like the exterior, so that the interior surfaces res (49) as the outer surfaces (50) of the connecting partitions (26), viewed in the axial direction, lie on lines of imaginary polygons. Assembly device according to the preamble of claim 1 and, in particular, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the part actuator (24) has, radially outside its connection opening (10), housing the pressurized fluid line (11) to be connected, at least one axially continuous auxiliary mounting opening (54), which opens out , axially inside, at a point (55) which faces the back (56), lying radially outside the respective flex point (23), of a clamping element (19) and which allows to introduce, through this opening, a suitable auxiliary assembly part (51), by which the clamping element (19) can be held, during the assembly of the collet taking place in the direction of insertion (34), by an action exerted on its back (56), in a mounting position pivoted further radially inward than clamping positions. 1 i Assembly device according to the claim tion 10, characterized in that it is associated with each clamping element (19) its own auxiliary opening of mounting (54) made in the actuating part (24). 12 Assembly device according to claim tion 10 or 11, characterized in that the openings mounting aids (54) are closed peripheral holes rically.