FR3122913A1 - Articulated telescopic connection of two tubular components. - Google Patents

Abstract

This articulated connection fitting (10A, 10B) comprises male (12) and female (14) tubular ends allowing at least angular deflections of the male end (12) relative to the female end (14). The male end piece (12) is sized to be able to be mounted loosely inside the female end piece (14) freely allowing the relative angular deflections of the end pieces (12, 14) and the connector (10A, 10B) comprises a member (40) separable locking end pieces (12, 14) cooperating with said end pieces (12, 14) configured to retain axially in a captive manner the male end (12) inside the female end (14). The connector (10) comprises a deformable O-ring seal (50), interposed in tight clamping support between the two end pieces (12, 14) and configured to be force deformed asymmetrically around the axis (X) to allow the relative angular deflections of the end pieces (12, 14). ABRIDGED FIGURE: FIGURE 5.

Description

Articulated telescopic connection of two tubular components.

Technical area.

The present invention relates to an articulated connection device, in particular for connecting two tubular components by allowing linear, angular and rotary movements between them. It applies more particularly but not exclusively to the technical field of the automobile, for example, for the connection between them in an articulated manner of an air intake duct at the outlet of a turbocharger and of an exchanger, such as an air/air or air/liquid cooling exchanger of an internal combustion engine.

In particular, such an air intake duct is, conventionally, made of a rigid or quasi-rigid plastic material, for example a thermoplastic material. The intake duct is not intended to perform dynamic movements in operation, but rather is essentially fixed and, depending on the intended use, should at most perform typical small movements due to thermal expansion in operation for example or during of the assembly to absorb the relative positioning tolerances of the parts between them.

In order to absorb the dispersions of assembly, assembly, and expansion in operation, the air intake duct is for example produced by assembling flexible components such as tubes and elastomer sleeves and more rigid components such as thermoplastic tubing. These ducts are assembled on the various engine members, allowing a certain flexibility, thus making it possible to take up the dispersions.

However, these successive connections of flexible and rigid components present a risk of generating leaks and of generating stresses, additional deformations, under pressure, on the various fastening elements to which they can be connected.

There is thus a need for an articulated connection, in particular between two rigid tubular components, which allows play to be taken up by absorbing the different tolerances between the components of the engine on which this pipe can be assembled (turbo, exchanger, throttle body , fixing lugs on alternator, etc.) as well as the manufacturing tolerances of the duct itself, in particular by linear, rotational and angular movements.

In addition, such an articulated connection must withstand the constraints inherent in the specificity of the air intake ducts, such as resistance to pressures, temperatures, sealing (air, oil vapor and fuel), movements, assembly tolerances and engine expansion during operation.

Prior technique.

There is already known, in particular from document FR3092893A1, an articulated connection device for connecting together first and second components by allowing relative movements of the two linear, angular and rotary components. In order to achieve a linear and rotary connection of the two tubular components together, the device further comprises members of generally spherical shape interposed between the two components. The disadvantage of this device is that it is particularly bulky because of the articulation of generally spherical shape and requires a large number of parts with spherical shapes.

There is therefore a need for an articulated connection fitting which makes it possible to connect two tubular components together while allowing linear and rotational movements, compact and simple to make.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an articulated connection fitting, of the type comprising a male tubular end piece and a female tubular end piece configured to fit together with the male tubular end piece around a main axis, allowing at least angular deflections of the male end with respect to the main axis, characterized in that the male end is sized to be able to be mounted loosely inside the female end allowing free relative angular deflection of the end fittings and the connection comprises a separable locking member of the end pieces cooperating with said end pieces configured to retain axially in a captive manner the male end piece inside the female end piece and in that the connector comprises a deformable O-ring seal, interposed in abutment tight clamping between the two endpieces and configured to be deformed by force asymmetrically around the axis to allow the relative angular deflections of the endpieces.

As can easily be understood, the device according to the invention has a certain number of advantages.

First of all, this fitting is characterized by its simplicity of manufacture. They are classic tubular earmolds without complex spherical shape. In addition, their connection is made using a separable locking member which is easily integrated into such connections after the end fittings have been produced.

In addition, its assembly and disassembly are carried out without threaded rod, nut for assembly, but only male and female ends capable of engaging one in the other and being released by a pulling force. sufficient to overcome the assembly force, once the locking member is removed.

In addition, thanks to the deformable O-ring, this connecting fitting allows angular displacements facilitating the positioning of the components of the device comprising the tubular ends of the fitting.

An articulated connection device according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics listed below.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the female fitting comprises an end portion comprising a free end, having an internal profile which flares radially outwards in the direction of the free end. This guarantees the male tubular end a sufficient angular movement even when the latter is fitted inside the female end and is therefore limited in angular displacement by the end edge of the female end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the male and female ends are provided to be immobilized relative to each other in a final relative angular position. This helps to prevent

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the authorized angular displacement has a maximum amplitude less than or equal to 15°, preferably less than or equal to 10°.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the male end piece comprising a free end portion provided with a stop and the female end piece comprising openings, the locking member has the shape of a rider configured to engage through the openings towards the interior of the female end in order to cooperate against the abutment of the male end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the abutment is formed by a peripheral projection extending generally circumferentially around the male end in the vicinity of a free end of the male end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking member comprises a metal clip provided with a head and at least two elastically deformable branches configured to cooperate with reliefs of the male and female ends.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the male end comprises a free end portion provided with a circumferential groove for retaining the deformable O-ring which is mounted radially around the male end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said groove comprises a circumferential distal wall formed by a first peripheral projection at a distance from the free end and a circumferential proximal wall formed by a second peripheral projection close to the free end, the the locking member being configured to cooperate by axial abutment with the first projection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second projection forms an end flange of the male end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the female fitting forms a tubular end extension of a motor vehicle component.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the female end comprises an internal peripheral shoulder internally delimiting a radial surface for axial abutment at the fitting of a free end edge of the male end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the endpieces comprise middle tubular portions allowing linear translational movement along the main axis of the two endpieces, in particular a linear movement of up to eight millimeters.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deformable O-ring is made of a material essentially comprising fluorocarbon.

Another subject of the invention is an articulated connecting device between first and second components allowing at least one angular displacement between them with respect to the main axis, characterized in that it comprises a tubular part for connecting the two components between them. provided at each end with a male connector and the two components are each provided at the end with a female connector, each pair of male connector and female connector being assembled in accordance with the connector according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the component is an air intake duct, for example at the outlet of a turbocharger or is an air/air or air/liquid cooling exchanger of a combustion engine internal.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Fig.1

shows a perspective view of an articulated connection device according to the invention in an assembled configuration;

Fig.2

shows a side view of the device from the ;

Fig.3

shows a side perspective view of the device of the in an exploded configuration;

Fig.4

shows a front perspective view of the device from the ;

Fig.5

shows an axial sectional view of the device of the along line VV of the ;

Fig.6

shows an axial sectional view of the device of the along line VI-VI of the ;

Fig.7

shows a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the circled part VII-VII of the device of the ;

Fig.8

represents a first stage of assembly of the device of the ;

Fig.9

shows two sectional views of the connecting device illustrating the operation of the device;

We represented onI are face s 1 at 9an articulated connection device according to the invention. The device is designated by the general reference 100. The device 100 makes it possible to connect together first 120 and second 110 components with an articulated connection allowing at least relative angular movements with respect to the main axis X conforming to a ball joint.

In this example, the first component 120 is an air intake duct, for example mounted at the outlet of a turbocharger and the second component 110 is an air/air or air/liquid cooling exchanger of a combustion engine internal.

By convention, in the present application, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are defined with respect to the direction of circulation of the fluid in the illustrated example of the device, namely in the direction going from the first component to the second component according to the main axis. Similarly, by convention in the present application, the terms "inner" and "outer", "lower" and "upper", and "internal" and "external" are defined radially with respect to the main axis. Thus, a tubular component extending along the main axis has an inner face facing the main axis and an outer surface, opposite its inner surface.

In accordance with the invention, the device 100 comprises a tubular part 130 connecting the two components 110, 120 to each other. According to the invention, the tubular piece 130 is provided at each free end with a male end piece 12. In addition, the two components 110, 120 are each provided at the end with a female end piece 14 which is configured to fit with the male tubular end 12 along the main axis X. For example, the components are made of plastic material.

In accordance with the invention, as illustrated in the , each pair of male end 12 and female end 14 is assembled in accordance with a connector 10A or 10B of articulated connection which will be described in more detail below. In the remainder of the description, only connector 10A will be described, the description applying analogously to connector 10B.

The articulated connection fitting 10A comprises at least the male tubular end 12 and the female tubular end 14.

As shown in detail in the , the female tubular connector 14 has a body of generally tubular shape provided with a free end portion 16 terminating in a free end edge 18. In this example, the female connector 14 forms an end extension tubular component 110 of the motor vehicle.

On this same , it can be seen that the male tubular connector 12 comprises a body of generally tubular shape provided with a free end portion 20 terminating in a free end edge 22.

According to the invention, the female tubular end 14 is configured to fit with the male tubular end 12 around a main axis X by allowing at least angular deflections of the male end 12 with respect to the axis main X of the female end piece 14, preferably by a few degrees, for example up to 10°, or even 15°.

Thus, the articulated connection of the connector 10A comprises at least one ball joint allowing at least two degrees of freedom in angulation with respect to the main axis X and preferably at least one degree of freedom in rotation around the main axis X.

In order to allow the angular deflections, in accordance with the invention, the male end piece 12 is sized to be able to be mounted "loosely" inside the female end piece 14 in such a way that a dimensional clearance exists between the two end pieces. 12, 14. This play allows free and unconstrained relative angular movements of the two end pieces 12, 14. It will therefore be understood that the body of the male end piece 12 comprises an outer cross section of diameter much smaller than an internal cross section of the body of the female end to allow relative movements of an angular amplitude of the order of several degrees for example.

In accordance with the invention, the connector 10A further comprises a separable locking member 40 of the end pieces 12, 14 cooperating with said end pieces 12, 14 and configured to retain axially in a captive manner the male end piece 12 inside the end piece. female 14. Preferably, this member 40 is configured to clamp the male tubular end 12 through the female tubular end 14.

In the example illustrated, the locking member 40 has the shape of a jumper, preferably in the general shape of a "U", configured to overlap openings 30 of the female connector 14 and to engage through the openings 30 towards the inside of the female end 14 in order to grip and tighten the body of the male end 12 through the openings 30.

Preferably, the male end piece 12 is provided with a stop 32 extending in the vicinity of the edge 22 of the free end of the male end piece 12 and against which the locking member cooperates to retain the end piece axially. male 12 into female end 14.

As can be seen on the or 8, the end portion 16 of the female connector 14 is provided with two slots or openings forming the openings 30 located in a circumferential direction in two opposite places, preferably arranged symmetrically.

In this example, the locking member 40 is formed by an elastically deformable metal wire element such as a metal clip or a metal pin arranged to hold the male end piece 12 through the female end piece 14. clip 40 is for example provided with a connection head 42 and at least two legs or branches 44 that are elastically deformable.

In operation, in the example, the pin 40 is configured to be retained inside the female connector 14, the plane defined by the branches 44 and the connecting part 42 forming the head extending orthogonally to the axis X and the two branches 44 being passed and retained by the circumferential slots 30 of the female end.

The male end 12 is made in the form of a generally tubular part. The male end 12 also preferably comprises in its free end portion an axial retaining means, capable of cooperating with the locking member 40, generally in the form of an external peripheral projection or rib forming the abutment 32 For example, the abutment 32 is formed by a peripheral projection extending circumferentially around the male end 12.

According to the invention, the connector 10A further comprises an elastically deformable O-ring 50 for filling the dimensional clearance, interposed in sealed clamping support between the two ends 12, 14 and configured to deform asymmetrically under the effect of a constraint to allow relative angular movements of the two ends 12, 14.

In practice, during the application of the bending force of the connector 10, areas of the O-ring 50 compress more strongly in a localized way to allow the movements of the male end 12 to be absorbed inside the female end piece 14 and allow the relative movements of the two end pieces 12 and 14.

For example, the O-ring 50 is made of a material essentially comprising fluorocarbon.

Preferably, the male end 12 comprises a circumferential groove 34 for retaining the deformable seal 50, for example extending around the free end portion 20 of the male end 12. This makes it possible to produce a tight assembly by tightening radial of said seal 50. The seal 50, for example, creates an extra thickness extending slightly outside of the groove 34 and is thus compressed there during assembly of the connector 10A.

For example, the groove 34 comprises a circumferential wall formed by the peripheral projection 32, called "distal", at a distance from the free end 22 of the male fitting 12 and a circumferential proximal wall 36 formed by another circumferential projection, called "proximal" close to the free end 22 of the male connector 12. Preferably, the male connector 12 is provided in its free end portion 20 with an enlarged end head provided with a circumferential groove forming the retaining groove 34.

The location of the joint 50 at the end of the male end piece 12 advantageously makes it possible to facilitate the angular movements of the male end piece 12 with respect to the female end piece 14. Indeed, the joint 50 forms a voluminous mass around of the male end 12. By deporting it to the end of the male end 12, the impact on the mobility of the male end 12 is thus limited.

Thus, in the example illustrated, the proximal circumferential projection 36 of the groove 34 preferably forms an end flange of the male end 12.

In addition, preferably, the articulated connection also comprises a sliding connection along the main axis X allowing relative movement in translation of the two end pieces 12, 14 which will be described in more detail below.

For this purpose, the end pieces 12, 14 preferably comprise middle tubular portions allowing linear displacement in translation along the main axis X of the two end pieces 12, 14, for example a linear displacement of up to eight millimeters. The female end 14 preferably comprises a peripheral shoulder 38 internally delimiting a radial annular surface of axial abutment of the free end edge 22 of the male end 12.

As goes without saying, the end portion 16 of the female end 14 limits the inclination of the male end 12 with respect to the main axis X. In addition, it is clearly understood that the engagement of the male tubular end 12 inside the female tubular end 14 in translation also reduces the angular amplitude of the movements of the male tubular end 12 relative to the main axis X.

In order to guarantee a relatively large angular movement despite the fitting of the male end 12 inside the female end 14, preferably, the female tubular end 14 has in its free end portion 16 an enlargement of section towards its free end edge 18 for example with a general progressive flared shape.

For example, the dimensional play allows an angular deflection of a maximum amplitude of up to 10°, or even preferably up to 15°. Preferably, the dimensional play allows an angular displacement of a minimum amplitude greater than or equal to 1°, preferably greater than or equal to 3° and even for example 5°.

In the example shown in the , the component 110 comprises a stepped tubular-shaped body comprising a first tubular part 112 forming the female tubular connector 14 and a second part 114 of smaller diameter connected to a member of the motor vehicle. The two parts 112 and 114 are for example delimited axially by an annular transverse wall 116 forming an external shoulder.

Similarly, the component 120 also comprises, for example, a stepped tubular body comprising a first tubular part 122 forming the female tubular end piece 14 and a second part 124 of smaller diameter connected to a member of the motor vehicle. The two parts 122 and 124 are for example delimited axially by an annular transverse wall 126 forming an external shoulder.

As can be seen on the , the two male tubular ends 12 are connected together in this example by a tubular extension 132 of constant section in order to form the one-piece tubular connecting piece 130.

Preferably, the male 12 and female 14 ends are provided to be immobilized with respect to each other in a final relative angular configuration, in this example by fixing the components 110 and 120. This makes it possible to avoid relative displacements untimely end caps 12 and 14 related to the scope of the seal 50 over time.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 1 to 9, the main aspects of operation of an articulated connection device 100 according to the invention.

Initially, the articulated connection device 100 is in the disassembled state represented on the .

During a first stage illustrated in , the O-ring seals 50 are positioned inside the circumferential retaining grooves 34 provided on the connecting component 130.

Then, the male ends 12 are inserted axially by force inside the corresponding female ends 14. The staples 40 are then placed inside the slots 30 provided for this purpose on the female ends 14 and thus retain axially by abutment against the reliefs formed by the distal projections 32 of the male ends 12.

As in each of the connectors 10A and 10B, the male 12 and female 14 ends are dimensioned in a loose configuration in the absence of the joint 50 allowing a relatively high angular mobility, the flexibility of the joint 50 advantageously makes it possible to recover this mobility by a deformation of the joint 50 by bending force of the two ends 12 and 14 with respect to each other, while guaranteeing a globally sealed clamping.

For example, as seen in the , the components 110 and 120 can be pivoted relatively with respect to the component 130. In addition, the axial insertion of the component 130 inside the components 110 and 120 can be adjusted within a predefined axial travel between a distal extreme position in abutment against the staple 40 and a proximal extreme position in which the component 130 comes into abutment with its free end edge 22 against the internal shoulder 38 of the component 110 or of the component 120.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Other embodiments within the reach of those skilled in the art can also be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

Claims (16)

Connector (10A, 10B) for articulated connection, of the type comprising a male tubular endpiece (12) and a female tubular endpiece (14) configured to fit with the male tubular endpiece (12) around a main axis (X ) by allowing at least angular deflections of the male end (12) with respect to the main axis (X), characterized in that the male end (12) is sized to be able to be mounted loosely inside the female end piece (14) freely allowing the relative angular deflections of the end pieces (12, 14) and the connector (10A, 10B) comprises a separable locking member (40) of the end pieces (12, 14) cooperating with the said end pieces (12 , 14) configured to retain axially in a captive manner the male end (12) inside the female end (14) and in that the connector (10) comprises a deformable O-ring seal (50), interposed in tight clamping support between the two ends (12, 14) and configured to be deformed by force asymmetrically around the axis (X) to allow the relative angular deflections of the end pieces (12, 14). Coupling (10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, in which the female fitting (14) comprises an end portion (16) comprising a free end (18), having an internal profile which flares radially outwards towards the free end (18). Coupling (10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the male (12) and female (14) ends are arranged to be fixed relative to each other in a final relative angular position. Coupling (10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, in which the authorized angular displacement has a maximum amplitude less than or equal to 15°, preferably less than or equal to 10°. Coupling (10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the male end (12) comprising a free end portion (20) provided with a stop (32) and the female end (14) comprising openings (30), the locking member (40) has a jumper shape configured to engage through the openings (30) towards the inside of the socket (14) in order to cooperate against the stop (32) of the male end (12). Coupling (10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, in which the abutment (32) is formed by a peripheral projection extending globally circumferentially around the male end (12) in the vicinity of a free end (22) of the male end (12). Coupling (10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the locking member (40) comprises a metal clip provided with a head (42) and at least two elastically deformable branches (44) configured to cooperate with reliefs (32, 30) respectively male (12) and female (14) ends. Coupling (10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the male end (12) comprises a free end portion (20) provided with a circumferential groove (34) for retaining the deformable O-ring ( 50) which is mounted radially around the male end (12). Connector (10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, wherein said groove (34) comprises a circumferential distal wall formed by a first peripheral projection (32) remote from the free end (22) and a circumferential proximal wall formed by a second peripheral projection (36) close to the free end (22), the locking member (40) being configured to cooperate by axial abutment with the first projection (32). Coupling (10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, in which the second projection (36) forms an end flange of the male end (12). A connector (10A, 10B) according to any preceding claim, wherein the female end (14) forms a tubular end extension of a motor vehicle component (110, 120). Coupling (10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, in which the female end piece (14) comprises an internal peripheral shoulder (38) internally delimiting a radial surface for axial abutment at the fitting of a free end edge (22 ) of the male end (12). Coupling (10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the end pieces (12, 14) comprise median tubular portions allowing linear displacement in translation along the main axis (X) of the two end pieces (12, 14 ), in particular a linear displacement of up to eight millimeters. A fitting (10A, 10B) according to any preceding claim, wherein the deformable O-ring (50) is made of a material comprising substantially fluorocarbon. Device (100) for articulated connection between first (110) and second (120) components allowing at least one angular displacement between them with respect to the main axis (X) characterized in that it comprises a tubular part (130) connecting the two components (110, 120) to each other provided at each end with a male end (12) and the two components (110, 120) are each provided at the end with a female end (14), each pair of male end (12) and female end (14) being assembled in accordance with the connector (10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims. Device (100) according to the preceding claim, in which the component (110, 120) is an air intake duct, for example at the outlet of a turbocharger or is an air/air or air/liquid cooling exchanger. an internal combustion engine.