FR2888564A1 - Sealed closing device for e.g. draining tube of light vehicle`s braking circuit, has clamps maintaining joint applied in sealed manner on tube, and clamp support with duct to cooperate with thread and to move support with respect to fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has clamps (30, 40) for maintaining a joint (3) applied in a sealed manner on a filling/draining tube of a container, and an end fitting (4) extending along a longitudinal axis of the device. The fitting has a thread (5) on its outer periphery and a lower end integrated to a joint support (2). A clamp support (10) has a threaded axial duct (11) for cooperating with the thread of the fitting and for coaxially moving the support with respect to the fitting.

Description

The invention relates to a device for sealing a tubing of

  filling or emptying a container, in particular a braking fluid and / or clutch circuit of a motor vehicle, the device

  extending substantially along a longitudinal axis and comprising a seal support, a seal and fastening means adapted to maintain the seal applied sealingly to said manifold.

  It is known to use a closure device provided with a flat or conical cap attaching to the container by a chain or cable running around the container to be filled or emptied or a member adjacent to it, this chain or this cable being provided with tensioning means.

  This solution is not convenient because it is often difficult to access under the container in the highly congested environment of a combustion engine of a vehicle for example.

  Moreover, in these known devices, seal tightness is not reliably ensured on various types of containers.

  Other solutions have been able to implement either a plurality of plugs with different dimensions and types of closure, or a claw mechanism hinged about horizontal axes distributed around the longitudinal axis.

  In both cases, there are disadvantages: - is economical to finance the purchase of many accessories, - is technical to make reliable the problematic hooking articulated claws, whose ends hooking to the tubing are not optimized for positioning following the diameter and / or configuration of the tubing.

  The problem to be solved is to design an effective device in terms of sealing, adaptability to different containers and method of attachment to the tubing, taking into account the environmental constraints of adjacent organs.

  For this purpose, a sealing device for filling or emptying a container, in particular a braking fluid and / or clutch circuit of a motor vehicle, extending substantially in accordance with a longitudinal axis and comprising a seal support, a seal and fastening means adapted to maintain the seal support and the seal on the tubing, is characterized in that the attachment means comprise at least two movable claws in radial translation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device and means for clamping the seal on the tubing.

  According to other features of the invention, the device has: said clamping means comprise a mechanism for adjusting the axial position of the seal support and the joint with respect to said hooking means; said means for clamping the seal on said tubing comprise a threaded end piece integral with the joint support and a threaded claw support cooperating with said threaded end; - The claw support comprises guide surfaces on which come into contact with the positioning surfaces of said claws; the guide surfaces comprise linear surfaces and in that the positioning surfaces also comprise linear surfaces in mutual relation with the guide surfaces; - The guide surfaces further comprise at least one circular guide surface cooperating with the positioning surfaces of at least one of the claws, so that the latter is further free to rotate about the longitudinal axis. ; - Clamping means maintain in radial position each of the claws; - The clamping means in the radial position comprise a thread formed on the claw holder and cooperating with a clamping nut; - The closure device comprises connecting means adapted to communicate the interior of said container with an external fluid source; - The connection means comprise an axial duct formed in the seal and communicating with a channel coaxial with said duct formed in the threaded end; the connection means comprise a quick coupling for the external maintenance equipment; and the claws are C-shaped and comprise V-shaped and / or arcuate attachment ends.

  The device according to the invention has the advantage of remaining compact, easily adapts to a wide variety of container manifolds and easily clings to the congested environments of the components of a machine, in particular a vehicle heat engine. .

  The invention is more particularly applicable to bleeding brake or clutch circuits on light, commercial or heavy goods vehicles.

  This application of the invention will bring out other characteristics and advantages of the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the device of the invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the description of Figure 1, in use on a first type of container tubing; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is an elevational view of several angular positioning configurations of the attachment means of the device of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1, in use on a second type of container tubing; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device of the invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device of the invention; and FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in a hooking configuration on a receptacle whose tubing is of the type shown in FIG. 2.

  The device shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 is intended to seal a filling or emptying pipe of a container.

  Figures 2 and 5 show the use of such a device for purging the brake fluid circuit and / or clutch of a motor vehicle, this operation is generally performed in garages or maintenance centers for automobiles.

  The brake and / or clutch circuit contains a liquid that is normally not very compressible under its optimum conditions of use and comprises a liquid reservoir surmounting a distributor 60, which is in communication with channels 61 for circulating the liquid with the hydraulic systems. braking each wheel of a vehicle (not shown) or the clutch system (not shown).

  As the liquid ages, it no longer has the original optimum characteristics. It must be checked and, if necessary, completely replaced, at intervals defined by the recommendations of the car manufacturers.

  During this operation, it is necessary to purge the circuit of the old liquid to replace it with the new liquid. This purge runs under pressure, which requires a perfect seal.

  The purge operation is also necessary during an intervention on one of the components of the braking system and / or clutch to remove air that would be introduced into the circuit during this operation.

  The device 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a joint support 2 consisting of a part of revolution about a longitudinal axis XX, made of a rigid material, for example steel, on which is molded a seal 3 made of flexible material, for example example rubber or elastomer.

  Other types of assembly are possible: gluing, clipping.

  For the convenience of the description, assume the vertical X-X axis and the joint support 2 oriented as shown.

  A tip 4 of generally cylindrical shape extends along the longitudinal axis X-X. The lower end of the nozzle 4 is integral with the seal support 2. The tip comprises a thread 5 on its outer periphery.

  A quick coupling type 6, of smaller diameter than that of the tip 4, is integral with the upper end of the nozzle 4. The connector 6 allows the sealed connection of the device 1 to a maintenance equipment (not shown, .

  As shown in Figure 3, economically, the nozzle 4 and the connector 6 are made of material by bar turning.

  Also economically, the nozzle 4 is nested in a central orifice of the seal support 2 and welded thereto, in particular by laser welding.

  The device 1 comprises an axial channel 7 which passes through the connector 6 and the seal 3.

  The underside of the seal 3 preferably has a frustoconical shape with a very open angle, typically between 125 and 175 and especially close to 150.

  The outer diameter of the assembly composed of the joint support 2 and the seal 3 is between 80 and 90 mm, preferably 85 mm.

  The device 1 also comprises a claw support 10 of general shape of revolution about the X-X axis. The claw support 10 comprises a tapped axial duct 11 so as to cooperate with the thread 5 of the nozzle 4, and also make the claw support 10 mobile coaxially with the nozzle 4.

  The claw support 10 according to FIG. 1 has at least three successive successive sections between its lower end faces 17 and upper end 18.

  The claw support 10 thus defines a first lower circular section 12 on which are formed, on about half of its upper height, two flats 13 diametrically opposed.

  The realization of the flats 13 generates flat surfaces 13A parallel and vertical and two horizontal shoulders 13B in sector of a circle.

  The claw support 10 then has an intermediate circular section 14, with a diameter equal to the distance separating the flats 13.

  The claw holder 10 has an upper circular section 15 coaxial with the sections 12 and 14, of greater diameter than the second section 14. Throughout the height of the section 15 are formed two vertical flats 16 diametrically opposite.

  The distance separating the flats 16 is equal to the diameter of the intermediate section 14.

  The outer periphery of the upper section 15 is threaded. The thread 19 corresponds to the tapping 21 of a knurled clamping nut 20 whose operation will be described later.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a first claw 30 and a second claw 40, generally C-shaped and preferably made by cutting and folding a blank made of sheet steel, consist respectively of a pair horizontal branches 31, 32 and 41, 42 respectively connected to a vertical intermediate portion 33 and 43 radially outer.

  The upper branch 31 of the first claw 30 is of radially elongate shape. In the radially inner half of this branch is cut an oblong slot 34 whose profile, closed and symmetrical, is defined by two linear and parallel lateral surfaces 35 connected by two arcuate end surfaces 36.

  The lower branch 32 of the first claw 30 has a shorter length than that of the upper branch 31. Its free end 37, which constitutes a first attachment zone flares radially and symmetrically V-shaped, the tip of the V being turned towards the intermediate part 33.

  Advantageously, the bottom of the V shape 37 has an arc 38 whose interest will be described later.

  The second claw 40 is identical to the claw 30, except that the separation of the upper limbs 41 and lower 42 of the second claw 40 is increased by the thickness of the upper branch 31 of the first claw 30. The corresponding parts are identified by the same references increased by 10.

  The mounting of the device 1 according to Figure 1 will now be described.

  The operator screws the claw holder 10 on the end piece 4 via the tapping 11 and the thread 5 until contact of the claw holder 10 on the joint support 2. It then positions the first claw 30 of such in such a way that the V-shape 37 is substantially opposite the circular periphery of the gasket 3 and the light 34 is substantially opposite the upper end of the connector 6.

  It is understood that the dimensioning of the branch 30 is adapted for mounting the device 1, in particular the passage of the V shape 37 around the circular seal 3.

  The first claw 30 is then moved axially.

  The oblong slot 34 passes through the end piece 4 and the claw holder 10, presenting the linear surfaces 35 facing the flats 16 and then the flats 13.

  The linear and arcuate surfaces 36 of the oblong slot 34 are positioned, with close play, on the cavity formed by the circular section 12, the horizontal bearing surfaces 13B and the vertical guide surfaces 13A.

  In particular, the linear surfaces 35 of the slot 34 are opposite the linear surfaces 13A of the support 10, and the arcuate surfaces 36 of the slot 34 are opposite the circular section 12.

  It will be noted that the lower face 39 of the upper branch 31 bears on the shoulders 13B.

  Similarly, the operator introduces the second claw 40 onto the end piece 6 and the claw holder 10.

  The lower face 49 of the upper branch 41 of the second claw 40 bears on the upper face 39A of the upper branch 41 of the first claw 30.

  The linear 45 and arcuate surfaces 46 of the oblong slot 44 of the second claw 40 are opposite to the intermediate circular section 14 of the claw holder 10. In particular, the surfaces 45 are guided, with close clearance, by the section 14.

  The tightening nut 20 is then screwed onto the thread 19 of the upper section 15 of the claw holder 10 until contact with the upper face 49A of the upper branch 41 of the second claw 40.

  After contact, the nut 20 maintains in axial position each of the claws 30 and 40.

  It will be understood that the assembly thus obtained, as shown in FIG. 3, allows the mobility of the first and second claws 30 and 40.

  The first claw 30 is thus movable in radial translation, guided by the surfaces 13A of the two flats 13.

  The second claw 40 is movable in radial translation and in rotation around the longitudinal axis X-X.

  In order to adapt to the environmental constraints of the container the positioning of the attachment zones 37 and 47 respectively of the claws 30 and 40 on the tubing of a container, the angular difference a (alpha), in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX of the device 1, between the first and second claws 30 and 40 varies between 90 and 270, preferably between 120 and 240, as shown in Figure 4.

  Once the positioning of the gripping zones 37 and 47 has been performed, the nut clamp 20 forms the firm hold of the claws 30 and 40 exerting a large axial force on the axial stack of the claws 30 and 40 between the support of claws 10 and the nut 20.

  For mounting the device 1 on the container 50, as shown in Figures 2, 5 and 8, the operator has the device 1, with the nut 20 loosened, the first and second claws 30 and 40 in radial positions spaced apart. maximum, facing the tubing, and the support-seal 2 substantially in contact with the claw support 10.

  The operator positions the seal 3 substantially coaxially on the tubing 51 of the container 50, radially approximates the attachment zones 37 and 47 as close as possible to the tubing 51, searches for the optimal positioning of the claws 30, 40 and locks the nut 20 .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, in the case of a pipe comprising a thread 52, the attachment zones 37 and 47 rest under one of the threads 53.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the case of a pipe comprising lugs 54 for hooking a bayonet of a plug, projecting and integral with a circular surface 55, the attachment zones 37 and 47 respectively of the claws 30 and 40 rely on a zone 56 forming a lower shoulder, located under these lugs and delimiting the surface 55.

  The advantage of the arcuate shapes 38, 48 respectively of the V-shaped free ends 37, 47 of the lower branches 32, 42 of the two claws 30, 40 is better understood. Indeed, the arcuate shapes 38, 48 substantially correspond to the dimensions tubing smaller diameter while the wings of V-shaped forms 37, 47 are dimensioned to increase the hooking on the largest diameters of tubing.

  In order to ensure the seal, the device 1 must exert an axial force of the seal 3 on the tubing 51. For this, the operator adjusts the axial position of the assembly constituted by the joint support 2, the seal 3, the endpiece 4 and the connector 6 with respect to the attachment zones 37, 47 in engagement with the tubing 51. This adjustment is effected by rotating the joint support 2 and the seal 3 about the axis XX to that the seal 3 comes into contact with the tubing.

  By continuing the rotational movement, the operator crushes the seal 3 on the tubing 51 and thus seals the device 1.

  The operator is then ready to connect the closure device 1 to an external maintenance equipment (not shown) such as a trap through a flexible tube (not shown) connected to the quick connector 6.

  The purge operation consists in injecting under pressure into the circuit to purge the new liquid from the external equipment to the reservoir 50 of the circuit, via the closure device 1.

  The device 1 'shown in FIG. 6 presents a second embodiment of the invention.

  It differs from the device 1 represented in FIG. 1 only in that the claw support 10 'is integral with the nut 20', without the possibility of relative movement, and is preferably integral with this nut. As a result, the lights 34 'and 44' are open at their radially inner end to allow mounting of the claws.

  In this embodiment, the first and second claws 30 and 40 permanently retain their mobility, respectively in radial translation and in radial translation combined with a rotation with respect to the longitudinal axis.

  The device 1 "shown in FIG. 7 presents a third embodiment of the invention.

  It differs from the device 1 'represented in FIG. 6 only in that the claw support 10 "of the first 30" and second 40 "claws ensures only the mobility in radial translation of each of the two claws 30", 40 For this, the radially inner portions of the two branches 31 "and 41" are superimposed and slide in rectilinear and parallel ducts 100 and 101 of the claw support 10 ".

  It follows from the previous description that

  shutter device equipped with two gripping claws movable in radial translation is effective to solve the technical problem mentioned above.

  Nevertheless, a device equipped with more than two claws movable in radial translation, for example three claws, may be designed according to the invention.

  It appears from the description that the device according to the invention is advantageous in its ability to be received on tubing of various diameters, in particular between 26 and 80 mm.

  Furthermore, the device easily adapts to different types of threaded tubing or pins, is positioned directly and optimally clings to the tubing without the use of holding means requiring access to adjacent organs.

Claims (12)

  1. Device for sealing (1, 1 ', 1 ") sealed a tubing (51) for filling or emptying a container (50), in particular a circuit (60, 61) of brake fluid and / or clutch of a motor vehicle, the device (1, 1 ', 1 ") extending substantially along a longitudinal axis (XX) and comprising a seal support (2), a seal ( 3) and hooking means (30, 30 ', 30 ", 40, 40', 40") adapted to maintain the seal applied sealingly to said tubing, characterized in that the attachment means (30, 30 ', 30 ", 40, 40', 40") comprise at least two movable claws (30, 30 ', 30 ", 40, 40', 40") in radial translation with respect to the longitudinal axis (XX) of the device (1, 1 ', 1 ") and clamping means (4, 5, 10, 11) of the seal (3) on the tubing (51).   Shutter device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said clamping means (4, 5, 10, 11) comprise a mechanism (5, 11) for adjusting the axial position of the joint support (2) and seal (3) with respect to said hooking means (30, 30 ', 30 ", 40, 40', 40").   3. Shutter device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said clamping means (4, 5, 10, 11) of the seal (3) on said tubing (51) comprise a threaded end (4) (5). ) secured to the seal support (2) and a tapped claw carrier (10) (11) cooperating with said threaded end (4).   Closure device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the claw holder (10) comprises guide surfaces (13A, 14) on which positioning surfaces (35, 45) of said claws (30) engage. , 30 ', 30 ", 40, 40', 40"). Closure device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the guide surfaces (13A, 14) comprise linear surfaces (13A) and that the positioning surfaces (35, 45) also comprise linear surfaces ( 35, 45) in mutual relation with the guide surfaces (13A).   Closure device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the guide surfaces (13A, 14) further comprise at least one circular guide surface (14) cooperating with the positioning surfaces (35, 45) of at least one of the claws (40, 40 '), so that the latter is further free to rotate about the longitudinal axis (XX).   Closure device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that clamping means (10, 15, 20, 10 ', 20', 10 ", 100, 101) hold each claw in a radial position. (30, 30 ', 30 ", 40, 40', 40").   8. Shutter device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the clamping means (10, 20) in radial position comprise a thread (19) formed on the claw holder (10) and cooperating with a clamping nut ( 20).   9. Shutter device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises connecting means (6, 7) adapted to communicate the interior of said container (50) with an external fluid source. .   10. Shutter device according to claim 9, characterized in that the connection means (6, 7) comprise an axial duct (7) formed in the seal (3) and communicating with a coaxial channel (7) to said duct in the threaded end (4).   11. Shutter device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the connecting means (6, 7) comprise a connection (6) said fast for the external fluid source.   12. Shutter device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the claws (30, 30 ', 30 ", 40, 40', 40") have a C shape and include hooking ends V-shaped (37, 47) and / or arcuate (38, 48).