FR2829830A1 - Snap on connector for fluid pipe comprises tubular body defining internal channel and retaining means sealing pipe end in channel and strip snapping onto circuit element bore - Google Patents

Abstract

The snap on pipe connector comprises a tubular body (3) which defines and internal channel (6) for receiving the pipe end and has means (15) for retaining and sealing the pipe end in the channel. It has a strip (18) for snapping onto the bore of the circuit element. This strip has an end (19) fixed on an external surface of the tubular body and an elastically deformable free opposite end (20).

Description

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 The present invention relates to a device for connecting a pipe end to a bore provided in an element of a fluid transport circuit, and a corresponding circuit element. This circuit element may be another conduit, a fluid emitter element such as a pump or a fluid receiver element such as a reservoir. The object of the invention is a tool for dismounting such a connecting device.

 Such a connecting device generally comprises a tubular body defining an internal channel for receiving the pipe end which is held in the internal channel of the tubular body by means of retaining means. These retaining means consist, for example, of a washer with deformable claws intended to bite the outer surface of the pipe end or of a latch movable radially between a projecting position in which the locking device may be engaged behind a collar integral with the pipe end to oppose any withdrawal of the latter from the internal channel of the tubular body, and a retracted position in which the lock is disengaged from the collar.

 The connecting device further comprises means for fixing the tubular body of the connection device in the bore of the element. For example, the tubular body may be threaded and the bore of the element may be threaded to permit relatively simple fixation by screwing. However, it is then necessary to ensure that the tubular body is not subjected to stresses tending to rotate it in a direction of unscrewing with respect to the circuit element. In addition, the establishment of the tubular body in. is relatively long.

 The tubular body can also be inserted into

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 force in the bore. This method of attachment has the disadvantage of requiring relatively large forces to grip the tubular body in the bore of the circuit element, so that it is generally necessary to use a machine to perform the fitting. Moreover, the connecting device can not be removed without damaging either the element or the tubular body itself.

 According to the invention there is provided a device for connecting a pipe end to a bore in a fluid transport circuit element, the device comprising a tubular body which defines an internal channel for receiving the pipe end. and which is provided with means for retaining the pipe end for sealingly securing the pipe end in the inner channel and means for snapping it into the bore of the circuit element.

 Thus, the introduction of the tubular body in the bore of the circuit element is fast and can be achieved without effort. In addition, the detent means can advantageously and simply be arranged to allow disassembly of the connecting device.

 The invention also relates to a fluid transport circuit element, arranged to receive such a connecting device and a disassembly tool of the connecting device.

 Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description of a particular non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

 Reference is made to the appended drawings, among which: FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an element equipped with a connection device according to the invention;

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 - Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1 of this circuit element.

 With reference to the figures, the connecting device described here is intended to allow the connection between a not shown pipe end and a bore 1 of an element 2 of a fluid transport circuit, such as another pipe, a fluid receiving member such as a reservoir or a fluid emitter element such as a pump.

 The connecting device comprises a tubular body generally designated 3 intended to be implanted in the bore 1 of the element 2 to accommodate the pipe end. The tubular body 3 comprises a first end 4 in which the pipe end is intended to be introduced, and a second end 5 through which the tubular body 3 is intended to be introduced into the bore 1 of the element 2. L end 5 of the tubular body 3 is provided with an O-ring 22 for sealing between the tubular body 3 and the wall defining the bore 1 of the element 2.

 The tubular body 3 defines an internal channel with the general reference 6, which is divided axially into three parts, namely, from the end 4 towards the end 5, a portion 7 of large diameter to receive a tubular insert generally designated 8 and an annular seal 9, a portion 10 whose diameter substantially corresponds to the outside diameter of the pipe intended to be inserted into the tubular body 3 and a portion 11 whose diameter is substantially equal to an internal diameter of this pipe.

 The tubular insert 8 is here represented in two parts 12 and 13 which are introduced and held in force in the tubular body 3 according to a known technique. The two parts 12 and 13 define between them

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 a groove 14 which constitutes a housing for a washer 15 provided with attachment and retaining teeth of the pipe which will be introduced into the internal channel 6. A tubular pusher 16 is mounted in a known manner in itself in the tubular insert 8 for slide between a depressed position in which the nose of the tubular pusher 16 lifts the teeth of the washer 15 and a recessed position in which the nose of the tubular pusher 16 is spaced from the teeth of the washer 15. The tubular pusher 16 has a diameter internal substantially equal to the outer diameter of the pipe to be inserted into the tubular body 3.

 The tubular body 3 is here provided externally with a shoulder 17 intended to form a stop at the insertion of the tubular body 3 into the bore 1 of the element 2.

 The tubular body 3 is further provided with means for snapping it into the bore 1 of the element 2.

 These latching means comprise two lamellae 18 which are diametrically opposite one another and extend parallel to the axis of the tubular body 3.

 Each lamella 18 has one end 19 connected to the tubular body 3 and opposite a free end 20. The lamellae 18 are elastically deformable between a state of rest in which the free ends 20 are separated from the tubular body and a deformed state in which the slats 18 are each retracted into an outer recess 21 of the tubular body 3, the free ends 20 then being brought closer to the tubular body.

 It is formed in the bore 1 of the recesses for receiving the free ends 20 of the slats 18 when the tubular body 3 is introduced into the bore 1 and the shoulder 17 abuts against a corresponding shoulder of the element 2 , here a portion

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 of the surface of the element 2 on which the bore 1 opens.

 These recesses are constituted by lights 23 which open onto external surfaces 24 of the element 2. The outer surfaces 24 are flat and parallel to one another, and are spaced from the central axis of the bore 1 a determined distance so that each light 23 opens on the outer surface 24 through an opening 29 located in a plane containing a generatrix of the bore 1. Thus each plate 18 in its rest state is projecting from the outer surface 24 through the lumen 23 and the back 25 (i.e., the surface of the lamella 18 opposite the tubular body 3) of each lamella 18 in its deformed state is flush with the outer surface 24 (see Figure 2).

 According to the invention, there is provided a tool 26 for dismounting the connecting device. This tool 26 comprises two branches 27 spaced by a distance equal to that separating the external surfaces 24.

 The branches 27 are intended to be engaged in a direction transverse to the bore on either side of the part of the element 2 receiving the tubular body 3 to cooperate with the back 25 of the slats 18 to bring them their state of rest to their deformed state. The connection device can then be extracted from the element 2.

 The branches 27 of the tool 26 preferably have beveled free ends 28 which will constitute ramps for feeding the slats in their deformed state.

The back 25 of the slats 18 is here rounded, which also facilitates the passage of the branches 27.

 When several connecting devices are arranged contiguously in an element 2 (as in FIG. 2), it is possible to produce a tool 26 having branches 27 long enough to allow

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 the simultaneous disassembly of several devices. However, this increase in length tending to be accompanied by an increase in the flexibility of the branches 27, it is advantageous for the walls 30 to extend facing the external surfaces 24 to delimit guide passages of the branches 27 and to oppose a spacing of these.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and variants may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (9)

A device for connecting a pipe end to a bore in a fluid transport circuit element, the device comprising a tubular body (3) defining an internal channel (6) for receiving the pipe end and which is provided with means (15) for retaining the pipe end for sealingly securing the pipe end in the internal channel, characterized in that the tubular body comprises means (18) for snapping it into the pipe. bore of the circuit element.  2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching means comprise at least one strip (18) which has an end (19) fixed on an outer surface of the tubular body (3) and an end (20). ) Free opposite and which is elastically deformable between a state of rest in which the free end is remote from the tubular body and a deformed state in which the free end is close to the tubular body.  3. Connecting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the latching means comprise two lamellae (18) integral with the tubular body to be diametrically opposed to one another.  4. Connecting device according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the outer surface of the tubular body (3) has a recess (21) for accommodating the lamella (18) in its deformed state.  5. Connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tubular body (3) has a first end (4) by which the pipe end is intended to be introduced into the channel un- <Desc / Clms Page number 8>  dull (6) and a second end (5) through which the tubular body is intended to be introduced into the bore of the circuit element, and in that the second end is provided externally with a sealing element ( 22).  6. A fluid transport circuit element, comprising a bore (1) for receiving a connecting device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bore comprises at least one shoulder (23) arranged to cooperate with the free end (20) of the lamella (18) in its rest state so as to form a stop at the extraction of the tubular body (3) out of the bore.  7. A fluid transport circuit element according to claim 6, characterized in that the shoulder is formed by a wall portion defining a lumen (23) opening outwardly of the element.  8. fluid transport circuit element according to claim 7, characterized in that the lumen (23) opens on an outer surface (24) of the element by an opening (29) located substantially in a plane containing a generator of the bore.  9. Tool for disassembling at least one connecting device according to claim 3, mounted in a circuit element according to claim 8, characterized in that the tool (26) comprises two branches (27) for coming from and other tubular body cooperate with the slats (18) projecting through the openings (29) of the slots (23) so as to bring the slats from their state of rest to their deformed state.