FR2752036A1 - DEVICE FOR THE TEMPORARY CONNECTION OF A HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT TO A SUCTION PUMP - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the temporary connection of a hydraulic circuit (1, 2) to a suction pump (12), which comprises a hollow body (3) having three tubular ends (5, 6, 7) of connection and a plug (8), two (5 and 6) of the three nozzles being placed in series in the hydraulic circuit (1, 2), the third nozzle (7) comprising external means (9) for its coupling to the pump (12) and interior means for retaining the plug (8) at least in a closed position of this third nozzle (7).

Description

The present invention relates to connection devices and more

  precisely the devices intended to intervene occasionally, if not unique, on

a hydraulic circuit.

  More specifically, the distribution circuit of

  fuel in a motor vehicle requires intervention

  tion when it is put into service, consisting of priming an injection pump or a carburetor it contains by means of a suction pump which is connected at a determined point in the circuit to fill it from of the tank. Then, the filling being carried out,

  the pump is disconnected and the connection point is closed-

lie definitively.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a simple means for connecting this suction pump and

  to then restore the integrity of the circuit.

  To this end, the invention therefore relates to a device for the temporary connection of a hydraulic circuit to a suction pump which comprises a hollow body having three tubular connection ends and a plug, two of the three ends being placed in series in the hydraulic circuit, the third nozzle comprising external means for its coupling to the pump and internal means for retaining the plug at least

  in a closed position of the third nozzle.

  The device of the invention remains permanently in the hydraulic circuit and has a bypass end of this circuit for the temporary or even unique connection of a suction pump or of any intervention device on this circuit (compressed gas injector, cleaning fluid injector, ...). After the intervention, it then suffices to permanently close the bypass intended for the connection of the disposable device without

  otherwise have to restore the integrity of the circuit.

  In a preferred embodiment, the plug and the means for retaining the plug in the third

  end caps comprise a first group of means for maintaining

  fix the plug coupled to the third endpiece in a non-sealing position and a second group of means for irreversibly maintaining the plug in its position for closing the third endpiece. Thus, it is possible to connect the priming pump, when it is for example a fuel distribution circuit to the third nozzle pre-equipped with the cap, the latter being maintained

  in a position that does not close the third end piece.

  When the pump is then disconnected, it suffices to maneuver the cap to place it definitively

in its closed position.

  If the largest of the transverse dimensions of the plug is less than the smallest of the external transverse dimensions of the third end piece, it is possible to use connection devices, for example

  example of quick connect couplers known in themselves

  same and in standard dimensions, to connect and disconnect the pump or the intervention device to the

circuit "over" the plug.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention

  tion, the plug has a section equipped with at least one external sealing element and the tubular end piece has two consecutive recesses, one of which constitutes a housing in which the sealing element is placed without contact when the plug is in its non-sealing position and the other of which constitutes a bearing surface for this sealing element when the plug is in its position

shutter.

  In this embodiment, the first group of means comprises a set of notches and lugs provided below or beyond the two recesses of the third nozzle and a set of corresponding notches and lugs provided on a section of the adjacent plug to that equipped with the sealing element, these notches and lugs cooperating mutually in the manner of a bayonet coupling to maintain the plug in its non-sealing position and release it after rotation in sliding with respect to the end piece towards its closed position. This closed position is definitively maintained by the second group of means which includes an internal flange carried by the third end piece and located below or beyond at least the second recess and tabs with elastically erasable lugs

  in radial direction, carried by the cap for

  kill fingers hooking the plug behind the

  flange in the closed position of this plug.

  Other features and advantages stand out

  ront of the description of a simplified embodiment

  and of a complete embodiment of the invention given

below as examples.

  Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic overview of a connection device according to the invention; - Figure 2 and Figure 3 are views, respectively in longitudinal section and in section along line III-III of Figure 2, of the simplified embodiment for reasons of explanation of the cooperation of the plug and the third nozzle of the device according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a plug used in the device of the invention; - Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to

  Figures 2 and 3 of a complete embodiment of the device

  tif according to the invention in the non-sealing position of the plug; - Figure 7 finally is a view similar to Figure 5 in which the plug is in its closed position. In the figures, the tube 1 represents a portion of a fuel distribution circuit for a motor vehicle which comes from the tank. The tube 2 conducts the fuel in the direction of either an injection pump or a carburetor. The tube 1 and the tube 2 are connected to each other by a device 3 which is the device of the invention. It is in the form of a body 4 having three end pieces 5, 6 and 7 giving the body 4 the shape of a T. The tube is connected to the end piece 5 while the tube 2 is connected to the end piece 6 perpendicular to the end piece 5. The third end piece 7 is an extension of the end piece 5. This end piece 7 is fitted internally with means for retaining a plug 8 and externally with means 9 for cooperating with a known coupling device 10 in itself, for example a ball coupler, making it possible to connect the end piece 7 to the suction tube 11

  a pump 12 intended for priming the fuel circuit

  rant. The means for connecting the tubes 1 and 2 to their respective ends 5 and 6 will not be described; they are

  constituted by the means known in themselves.

  Likewise, the external means 9 of the end piece 7 are also known in themselves; they briefly include a groove 13 for latching the coupler 10

  and a bearing surface 14 for sealing the coupling.

  In Figures 2 and 3, there is shown, in a slightly simplified embodiment, the means which are provided with the nozzle 7 and the plug 8 to allow the

  device of the invention to provide the required functions.

  The nozzle 7 has a stepped internal bore, thus defining a first recess 15 and a second recess 16, the recesses being arranged successively one behind the other from the outlet 17 of the internal bore at the end of the 'end piece 7. The first recess 15 has a larger diameter than the second recess 16. In a variant not shown, the recess 16 may itself have two sections, the section furthest from the recess 15 being of slightly larger diameter lower than the other section. At the entrance to the first chamber 15, the end piece 7 has a first flange 18

  whose side 19 facing the outlet 17 is conical.

  After the recess 16, the bore has a second internal flange 20 of which a part of the front flank 21 is also conical while its rear flank 22 constitutes a shoulder. The flange 18 is crossed by a groove 23 parallel to the axis of the bore of the end piece 7, the depth of which is slightly greater, in the embodiment described, at the height of the flange 18 relative to the diameter of the recess 15 so that this groove 23 extends into the wall of recess 15 by

a portion of reduced depth.

  The plug 8 is formed in turn by a tubular core 24 closed at one of its ends - that outside of the end piece 7 - by a projecting disc 25. This plug is divided into three main sections from the disc 25. In its first section 8a, the external profile of the wall of the core 24 is cruciform, thus defining four radial branches, three of which 26a, 26b, 26c are of identical thickness so that their external surface is contained in a cylindrical surface whose diameter is equal to or very slightly greater than the inside diameter of the flange 18 and a fourth branch 27 of greater thickness than that of the branch 26. The end of each of these branches 26, 27 has a radial tooth 28 whose apex is located on a cylindrical surface of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the recess 15. The front surface 29 of each of these teeth, opposite the branch which carries it, is conical. Note that the branch

  27 is provided behind the tooth 28 with a circumferential groove

  differential 30 of width equal to that of the collar 18 and the bottom of which is located on the cylindrical surface

  common to the tops of the branches 26.

  Beyond this first section 8a, the tubular core 24 of the plug 8 has a second cylindrical section 8b delimited by two flanges 31 and 32, equipped with two O-rings 33, 34. A flange

  intermediate 35 delimits in this section 8b the two compartments intended to receive the seals 33 and 34. It will be noted that the collar 32 has peripheral notches10 36 of which the function will be described below.

  Finally, the plug has a third end section 8c in which the wall of the tubular core is slit to delimit tabs 37 each having

  an end lug 38 projecting radially outwards

  laughing in the general shape of fir teeth, each of these legs being elastically erasable in the direction of the axis of the tubular core 24. At rest, the tops of the pins 38 are located on a cylindrical surface of diameter

  greater than the inside diameter of the collar 20.

  Finally, it should be noted that at the outlet 17 of its bore, the end piece 7 has a countersink whose wall parallel to the axis of the end piece has a first section 39 with a diameter for example equal to the diameter of the recess and a second angular section 40 whose radius is substantially equal to see slightly less than the radius of the surface which contains the top of the branch 27, this surface 40 having one end ending in the groove 23 while its other end, for example offset by 90 by relative to the groove 23, has a recess 41 of angular width slightly greater than the angular width of the branch 27 and radially distant from the apex

of this branch 27.

  The teeth 28, the branch 27 and its groove 30 constitute a first group of means carried by the plug 8 which cooperates with a first group of means, namely the flange 18 carried by the end piece 7 with the groove 23 to keep the plug coupled to the end piece 7 in a position which does not close the bore of this end piece but which can be left to reach the closed position. It is in fact understood that after having fitted the stopper described above with its seals 33 and 34, it is put into place in the end piece by forcing the passage of the teeth 28 beyond the flange 18. A once these teeth have passed the flange, the insertion of the stopper is stopped by the stop of the branch 27 against the external flank of the flange 18. Of course for this first positioning, the branch 27 will be placed in the angular zone embraced by the surface 40 and preferably in line with the recess 41. If, with reference to FIG. 3, an attempt is made to rotate the plug in one direction

  counterclockwise, the branch 27 abuts against the end

  mite 42 of the recess 41. On the other hand, by turning the plug clockwise, it is possible to place the branch 27 opposite the groove 23 after a rotation of 900. It will be noted that during this

  rotation the top of the branch 27 rubs against the wall 40.

  The rotation must overcome this friction force, which also results in a friction force of the branches 26 on the inner surface of the flange 18, so that there can be no spontaneous rotation of the plug inside end piece 7 when placed

as shown in figure 3.

  When the branch 27 is opposite the groove

  23, an axial movement of the plug is then possible. Pen-

  during this movement, the section 8c is radially retracted to pass the flange 20 while the seals 33 and 34 are deformed to bear against the surface of the recess 16. In the case where the recess 16 is stepped, the seal will then be more compressed that the seal 33 which allows to obtain an improved seal with regard to the temperature and pressure requirements to which the connector will be subjected in operation. At the end of the axial stroke, the teeth 38 are housed behind the shoulder 22 and

  permanently attach the plug 8 to the nozzle 7.

  In this position, the end piece 7 is sealed in a sealed manner by the seals 33 and 34. The elastic tabs 37, the teeth 38 and the flange 20 constitute a second group of means which maintains the plug 8 inside. the nozzle 7 in its final closed position of this nozzle. It will also be noted that the largest transverse dimension of the stopper, that is to say the diameter of the end disc 25, is less than the smallest external dimension and in particular the diameter 14 of the end piece 7. This arrangement allows to use a coupler 10 known in itself on the end piece 7

  while the plug is held in its non-position

sealing the end piece.

  In reality, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises two branches such as 26a and 26c and two branches such as 27 denoted 27a and 27b in FIG. 4. Similarly, the end piece has two surfaces 40a and 40b, two recesses 41a and 41b as well as two grooves 23a and 23b

  (see figure 6). The balance of mounting and operation-

  the tip is thus better assured.

  You will have noticed that in its non-obtuse position

  rante, the plug allows the flow of the fluid towards the outside of the nozzle 7. In fact, the fluid can

  flow between the elastic tabs 37, between the adhesive

  rette 32 and the recess 16 thanks to the play existing between this flange and the recess and the notches 36 with which this flange is externally provided, between the cylindrical wall of the recess 15 and the sealing elements 33 and 34, the diameter of this recess being provided so that there is no contact between the latter and the sealing elements and finally between the branches 26 and 27 at the level

of the collar 18.

  The connection device of the invention can therefore be delivered equipped with its plug 8 which is held in its non-sealing position. The recesses 41a and 41b as well as the surfaces 40a and 40b constitute a

  guaranteed to keep the plug in this non-

  shuttering since they are a brake on the rotation of this plug inside the end piece 7. When the operator has finished priming the hydraulic circuit, he decouples the coupler 10 from the end piece 7, he turns 90 in a clockwise direction the plug 8 and pushes it in to engage the teeth 38 behind the shoulder 22. Maneuvering in rotation of the plug 8 is facilitated by the

  presence of roughness 25a on the periphery of the disc 25.

  Instead of the roughness (notching) 25a, the plug 8 may have two flats which make it possible to give this plug an orientable shape (because it is not of revolution) favorable for its handling by an automatic tool. Figure 7 illustrates the plug in its closed position

tip 7.

  In another embodiment of the invention which is not shown, the latching of the plug is ensured by elastic tabs and teeth which are provided in place of the branches of the section

  cruciform, while the bayonet coupling means-

  net are arranged at the opposite end of the plug.

  The end piece 7 is of course provided with corresponding means.

  dance, a grooved flange being disposed beyond the recess 16 while a shoulder flange is provided for example in the zone between the recesses 15 and 16.

Claims (9)

  1. Device for temporary connection   from a hydraulic circuit (1, 2) to a vacuum pump (12)   tion, characterized in that it comprises a hollow body (3) having three tubular end pieces (5, 6, 7) for connection and a plug (8), two (5 and 6) of the three end pieces being placed in series in the hydraulic circuit (1, 2), the third nozzle (7) comprising external means (9) for its coupling to the pump (12) and internal means for retaining the plug (8) at least in one   the closed position of this third nozzle (7).   2. Device according to claim 1, character-   laughed in that the plug and the means for retaining the plug in the third nozzle (7) comprise a first group of means (28, 30, 18, 23) for holding the plug   (8) coupled to the third end piece (7) in a non-position   shutter and a second group of means (20, 37, 38) for irreversibly holding the plug (8) in its   closing position of the third nozzle.   3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the largest of the transverse dimensions of the plug (8) is less than the smallest (14) of the external transverse dimensions the third nozzle (7).   4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plug (8) comprises   a section (8b) equipped with at least one external sealing element (33, 34) and in that the tubular endpiece (7) has two consecutive recesses, one of which (15) constitutes a housing in which is placed without contact the sealing element (33, 34) when the plug (8) is in its non-sealing position and the other (16) of which constitutes a bearing surface for this sealing element   (33, 34) when the plug is in its closed position tion.   5. Device according to claim 4, character-   laughed in that the first group of means comprises a set of notches and lugs (18, 23) provided below or beyond the two recesses of the third end piece (7) and a set of notches and pins (27, 28, 30) provided in correspondence on a section (8a) of the plug adjacent to that (8b) equipped with the sealing element (33, 34), these notches and   pins cooperating with each other in the manner of a coupling   bayonet to keep the plug in its non-sealing position and after rotation release it by sliding relative to the end piece towards its closed position.   6. Device according to claim 5, character-   laughed in that the second group of means comprises an internal flange (20) carried by the third end piece, located below or beyond at least the second recess   (16) and lugs (37) with lug (38) elastically erased   bles in the radial direction, carried by the plug (8), to constitute fingers for hooking the plug (8) behind the flange (20) in the closed position of this plug.   7. Device according to one of claims 4 to   6, characterized in that the plug (8) comprises a tubular core (24) closed at one of its ends by a disc (25), the wall of this core being, from the disc (25), of external profile cruciform for a first section (8a), of circular external profile for a second section (8b) carrying the sealing element (33, 34) and split longitudinally in a third section (8c) to form the legs (37) elastically radially erasable.   8. Device according to claim 7, character-   risé in that each of the branches (26, 27) of the cruciform section of the cap is provided with an end tooth (28) opposite the disc (25) while at least one of the   branches (27) has an excess thickness opposite this tooth   its delimiter with the tooth a peripheral groove (30) and in that the end piece has at the entrance of the first recess (15) a flange (18) of internal diameter at most equal to the diameter of the plug measured at the top of the branches ( 26, 27) behind the teeth (28), this flange (18) being provided with at least one notch (23) of at least depth   equal to the excess thickness of the aforementioned branch (27).   9. Device according to claim 8, character-   laughed in that the flange (18) is bordered by a wall (40) which has a cylindrical surface intended to rub against the excess thickness of the branch (27) during the rotation of the plug (8), this surface (40) extending between the aforementioned notch (23) and a radial recess (41) in the wall which constitutes a latching notch for the additional thickness (27) angularly offset with respect to the notch (23).