GB2419386A

GB2419386A - Latching hose connection that can be released by relative rotation

Info

Publication number: GB2419386A
Application number: GB0520844A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steffen Tiede; Juergen Hesse
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2004-10-19
Filing date: 2005-10-13
Publication date: 2006-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-13
Also published as: CN1763409A; DE102004050796A1; GB2419386B; GB0520844D0

Abstract

A hose coupling member 10 has resilient latching members 12 which latch radially with a corresponding recess 14 in a mating part 32. An inclined deflection face 16 is provided so that a circumferentially directed force acts radially on the latches to release the connection. The inclined face(s) 16 may be provided on the latch 12 or the recess 14. There may also be an inclined guide face 20 to facilitate alignment of the coupling parts on insertion. The coupling member 10 may be able to rotate relative to the hose 30 so that it may be readily rotated to release the connection, whilst preventing the connection from being released by rotation of the hose. The connection is intended for use in a domestic vacuum cleaner.

Description

241 9386 Hose connection device

Prior art

The invention takes as its starting point a hose connection device according to the precharacterising clause of Claim 1.

It has already been proposed to equip a hose connection device having a connection part which can be pushed on or pushed in axially with a latching element which is provided for latching radially in a corresponding cutout. To release the latching connection, a radial force opposing a latching force has to be exerted directly on the latching element.

Hose connection devices with bayonet closures are furthermore known, in which an actuating sleeve has to be moved axially in order to release a latching element.

Advantages of the invention The invention takes as its starting point a hose connection device having a connection part which can be pushed on axially and having at least one latching element which is provided for latching radially in a corresponding cutout.

It is proposed that the hose connection device comprise at least one inclined deflection face for deflecting a force directed in the circumferential direction into a radial force on the latching element. The result of this is that the latching connection can be fastened and/or released by a rotary movement without thereby influencing a connecting action in the axial direction. A latching connection which can be released with one hand can be achieved.

The hose connection device according to the invention can, in principle, be used in conjunction with any hose connection device considered reasonable by the person skilled in the art, particularly in devices for connecting two hoses or for connecting a hose to a machine or to a container. However, the convenience is particularly increased when the solution according to the invention is used in conjunction with vacuum cleaners, particularly domestic vacuum cleaners, and with machine tools having suction devices and/or fans. In this connection, the term "provided" is also used to mean "designed" and "equipped".

The connection part can be both pushed onto a corresponding component and pushed into a corresponding component.

A hose connection device which can be released comfortably with one hand can be achieved if the radial force is opposed to a latching direction of the latching element, so that the radial force weakens or compensates a latching force. In principle, however, constructions of the invention in which the latching force can be strengthened by a rotary movement are also feasible.

A particularly economical and flexibly usable hose connection device can be achieved if the latching element is integrally formed on the connection part. In further constructions of the invention, however, the latching element can also be mounted such that it is movable in opposition to a spring force or it can be integrally formed on the corresponding component, whilst the connection part has the corresponding cutout.

The connection part furthermore has a plurality of latching elements or corresponding cutouts, whereby the user is provided with a plurality of rotary positions serving as possible latching positions due to the latching elements being distributed evenly over the circumference of the connection part.

If the hose connection device comprises an inclined guide face for guiding the latching element into a latching position, the latching position can be found more easily and the convenience is thereby increased.

It is possible to save on a separate deflection face if a side face of the latching element comprises the deflection face. In principle, however, the deflection face can also delimit the cutout corresponding to the latching element.

A reliable axial hold can be achieved if the latching element comprises a contact face for supporting an axial force on the connection part.

If the connection part is rotatably mounted on a hose end, it is possible to prevent a force in the circumferential direction from being transmitted from a hose to the connection part, and the hose connection device from being unintentionally released as a result.

A reliable axial hold of the connection part in the direction of a hose end can be achieved if the hose connection device comprises a hose end piece for preventing the connection part from sliding off a hose. The hose connection device can furthermore be used in connection with a variety of hoses, which can also be manufactured in one piece.

If the hose end piece forms a contact flange for contacting the connection part, a symmetrical, reliable, rotatable and axially secure mounting of the connection part on the hose end piece can be achieved.

A space-saving and economical hose connection device can be achieved if the latching element is provided to be supported by an elastic hose. A proportion of the latching force of the latching element can then be generated by the elasticity of the hose.

Unintentional release caused by an inadvertent force effect can be prevented if a latching connection between the latching element and the corresponding cutout can be released by applying a minimum force in the circumferential direction. The amount of the minimum force or a minimum torque acting on the connection part is advantageously in the range between 0.1 Nm and 1 Nm.

Drawing Further advantages are revealed in the following description of the drawing. The drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination.

The person skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them in further useful ways.

The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a hose connection device with a hose and a connection fitting; Fig. 2 a connection part of the hose connection device from Figure 1, viewed from an angle; Fig. 3 the connection part from Figure 2 in an axial view; Fig. 4 the connection part from Figure 2, viewed from a further angle; Fig. 5 a latching element of the connection part from Figures 1 - 4 in a detailed illustration; Fig. 6 the latching element from Figure 5 in a side view; Fig. 7 the connection part from Figures 1 - 4 in a longitudinal section; Fig. 8 the connection fitting from Figure 1, viewed from an angle; Fig. 9 the connection fitting from Figure 8 in an axial view; Fig. 10 the connection fitting from Figures 8 and 9 in a longitudinal section; and Fig. 11 a hose end piece of the hose connection device from Figure 1.

Description of the exemplary embodiment

Figure 1 shows a hose connection device for connecting a hose 30 of a suction device of a machine tool to the machine tool and/or to a dust container of the machine tool in an exploded illustration. The illustrated hose connection device can also be used to connect the hose 30 to a floor vacuum cleaner or to another device considered reasonable by the person skilled in the art.

The hose connection device comprises a connection part 10, a hose end piece 28 and a connection fitting 32 which is provided for fastening to a housing of the machine tool (not illustrated here).

The connection part 10, which is constructed as a cast part of plastics material, comprises two latching elements 12, 12' which are integrally formed on a front edge of the connection part 10. The latching elements 12, 12' are constructed in a tongue-shape, distributed evenly or isotropically, i.e. displaced through 180 , over the circumference of the connection part 10, and separated from a cylinder-barrel shaped insertion face 34 of the connection part 10 by slots. In the axial direction, the insertion face 34 is formed by a contact bead 36 reaching around the circumference of the connection part with a contact face 38 directed axially in the direction of the insertion face 34. On a side remote from the insertion face 34, an outer face of the connection part 10 continues in a profiled structure 40 with axially proceeding grooves, which extends over 7 - 15 cm in the axial direction and makes up the greatest part of the outer face. In a front edge region, the latching elements 12, 12' each have mouldings which project beyond the insertion face 34 in the radial direction. The mouldings are laterally delimited by deflection faces 16 which slope away in the direction of the slots to the height of the insertion face 34, are convexly curved and inclined through approximately 45 relative to a radial direction in the centre and are part of side faces 22 of the latching elements 12, 12' (Figures 2 - 7). The deflection faces 16 are provided for deflecting a force directed in the circumferential direction into a radial force on the latching element 12, 12', and, more precisely, in that a force in the circumferential direction which is exerted by way of an object abutting against the deflection face 16 results in an evasive deformation of the latching element 12, 12' radially inwards, the object sliding over the deflection face 16. The mouldings, which are oval as seen in a radial plan view, are delimited to the front in the axial direction by a further rounded deflection face 42 which is provided for deflecting a force directed in the axial direction into a radial force on the latching element 12, 12'. To the rear in the axial direction, i.e. in the direction of the contact bead 36, a side face of the moulding extends in the radial direction and forms a contact face 24 against which a force acting in the axial direction can be supported without resulting in notable deformations of the latching element 12, 12'.

To assemble the hose connection device, the connection part 10 is pushed axially over the hose 30 and, more precisely, with the latching elements 12, 12' in the direction of a hose end 26. The hose end piece 28 is of an annular construction and has a circumferential groove whereof the diameter corresponds to the diameter of the hose 30. The hose end piece 28 is pushed onto the hose 30 by means of the groove and bonded to the hose 30. In further constructions of the invention, the hose end piece 28 is welded, fused or riveted to the hose 30, or is connected to the hose 30 in another manner considered reasonable by the person skilled in the art.

The external diameter of the hose end piece 28 exceeds the internal diameter of the connection part 10 so that the connection part 10 is prevented from sliding off the hose 30 after the hose end piece 28 has been fastened to the hose 30. A front edge of the insertion face 34 can be supported on a rear edge of the hose end piece 28 and can slide along this in the circumferential direction so that the connection part 10 is rotatably mounted on the hose 30.

The latching elements 12, 12' abut against the outside of the hose 30 so that an inward bending of the latching elements 12, 12' forces a deformation of the hose 30. The latching elements 12, 12' are thus supported by the elastic hose 30.

The connection fitting 32 has, on a connection side, an internal diameter which, except for an assembly play, corresponds to the diameter of the insertion face 34. The internal diameter tapers as a result of a circumferential step 44 arranged at a spacing behind a front edge of the connection fitting 32 (Figure 8) . The spacing of the step 44 is equal to the axial extent of the insertion face 34, so that a front edge of the insertion face 34 can come into contact with the step 44 and the step 44 prevents the connection part 10 from being inserted more deeply into the connection fitting 32.

At the same time, the contact face 38 of the contact bead 36 then comes into contact with a front edge of the connection fitting 32.

On the front inside face, the connection fitting 32 has depressions whereof the width in the circumferential direction of the connection part 10 tapers trapezoidally in the direction of the step 44. The depth of the depressions is somewhat smaller than the height of the mouldings of the latching elements 12, 12'. The depressions end in oval cutouts 14, 14' which pass through the outer casing of the connection fitting 32 and whereof the outline corresponds to the outline of the mouldings of the latching elements 12, 12'. The depressions are delimited laterally by inclined guide faces 20.

To connect the hose 30 to the machine tool or to the connection fitting 32, the user pushes the connection part 10 mounted on the hose 30 into the connection fitting 32 by means of the insertion face 34. The mouldings of the latching elements 12, 12' prevent the pushing-in action when the latching elements 12, 12' are not arranged in the region of the depressions of the connection fitting 32. If the latching elements 12, 12' are not arranged in the region of the depressions of the connection fitting 32, the latching elements 12, 12' can slide over the deflection face 42 into the region of the depressions.

The depth of the depressions decreases in the axial direction of the cutouts 14, 14' so that the latching elements 12, 12' are pretensioned inwards in the radial direction. If the operator pushes the connection part 10 further into the connection fitting 32, one of the deflection faces 16 can slide along one of the inclined guide faces 20 and guide the connection part 10 spirally into a latching position in which the mouldings of the latching elements 12, 12' in a respective radially outwardly extending latching device 18, 18' snap into the cutouts. Depending on the latching position here, the latching element 12 can snap into the cutout 14 or into the cutout 14'. The contact faces 24 of the latching elements 12, 12' then abut against the rear edges of the cutouts 14, 14'. If the operator pulls in the axial direction on the hose 30 or on the connection part 10, the tensile force is therefore supported by way of the contact faces 24 of the latching elements 12, 12' on the connection fitting 32.

To release, the operator has to rotate the connection part 10. To this end, the operator takes hold of the profiled structure 40 and exerts a force directed in the circumferential direction on the connection part 10. This force is deflected by way of the lateral edges of the cutouts 14, 14' and the inclined deflection faces of the latching elements 12, 12' into radial forces on the latching elements 12, 12' which are opposite the respective latching device 18, 18'. The latching elements 12, 12' bend inwards as a result of the forces and, if a torque acting on the connection part 10 exceeds a minimum force of 0.2 Nm, slide out of the cutouts 14, 14'. The operator can then pull the connection part 10 out of the connection fitting 32. Unintentional release of the hose connection device caused by a rotation of the hose 30 is prevented by the connection part 10 being rotatably mounted on the hose 30.

Reference numerals Connection part 12 Latching element 14 Cutout 16 Deflection face 18 Latching device Inclined guide face 22 Side face 24 Contact face 26 Hose end 28 Hose end piece Hose 32 Connection fitting 34 Insertion face 36 Contact bead 38 Contact face Profiled structure 42 Deflection face 44 Step

Claims

Claims 1. A hose connection device having a connection part (10) which can

be pushed on axially and having at least one latching element (12, 12') which is provided for latching radially in a corresponding cutout (14, 14'), characterized by at least one inclined deflection face (16) for deflecting a force directed in the circumferential direction into a radial force on the latching element (12, 12').
2. A hose connection device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the radial force is opposed to a latching direction (18) of the latching element (12, 12').
3. A hose connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching element (12, 12') is integrally formed on the connection part (10).
4. A hose connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an inclined guide face (20) for guiding the latching element (12, 12') into a latching position.
5. A hose connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a side face (22) of the latching element (12, 12') comprises the deflection face (16).
6. A hose connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching element (12, 12') comprises a contact face (24) for supporting an axial force on the connection part (10).
7. A hose connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection part (10) is rotatably mounted on a hose end (26).
8. A hose connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a hose end piece (28) for preventing the connection part (10) from sliding off a hose (30).
9. A hose connection device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the hose end piece (28) forms a contact flange for contacting the connection part (10).
10. A hose connection device at least according to Claim 2, characterized in that a latching connection between the latching element (12, 12') and the corresponding cutout (14, 14') can be released by applying a minimum force in the circumferential direction.
11. A hose connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching element (12, 12') is provided to be supported by an elastic hose (30).
12. A hose connection device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.