KR20140005991U - A quick-connect coupling for a tube - Google Patents

Abstract

The coupling comprises a body (10) having a fitting cavity (13) to be fitted on a tube, a locking clip (12) axially held against the body and having a bridge (16) accessible from the outside of the body And locking regions 14A, 14B that are located within the fitting cavity 13 (113) for the purpose of cooperating with the acquisition surface of the tube. The bridge 16 includes connecting portions 26A and 26B that provide protruding blocking pieces 27A and 27B adapted to cooperate with the blocking surfaces 28A and 28B integral with the body when radial tractive forces are applied to the bridge 16. [ 26B to the locking zones 14A, 14B.

Description

{A QUICK-CONNECT COUPLING FOR A TUBE FOR TUBE}

The present invention relates to a quick-connect coupling adapted to be axially fitted onto a tube having a substantially radial catch surface, the coupling comprising a body having an insertion cavity A locking clip axially retained relative to the body and having a bridge accessible from the outside of the body and a locking region located within the fitting cavity for cooperation with the acquisition surface of the tube.

Coupling of this type is known, for example, from European Patent Application Nos. 1 303 724 and 1 627 172. In the rest state, the locking zone of the clip is formed in such a way that when the tube with the catch surface is inserted into the coupling, the locking area is captured onto the capture surface of the tube , And is located at a distance slightly away from the axis of the coupling. During insertion of the tube, the locking area moves elastically away from the axis to allow the fastening surface to pass quickly, behind which the locking area is captured. For unlocking, the locking area can be moved away from the axis, particularly by pressing the bridge of the clip.

Such connections are generally satisfactory in that they can connect and disconnect the tube relative to the coupling by performing a simple operation with a relatively simple structure. The bridge is accessible from the outside of the body, and can be operated in such a manner as to bring the lock area into the unlocked state, in particular by pressing the bridge.

Unfortunately, some users may misbehave. They may try to peel the clip radially and insert a tool such as a flat head screwdriver blade under the bridge. First, there is a concern that such a manipulation may cause problems because the clip may be damaged, and even if the clip is held in place, the clip may no longer perform the proper locking function. Secondly, when the clip is peeled off the body, the clip may be improperly returned and adversely affect the quality of the subsequent locking operation. For example, in the correct position, the locking area is disposed behind a ramp that cooperates with the acquisition surface such that the locking area is away while the tube is inserted into the coupling. After the clip has been stripped, it is returned in the wrong manner and the inclined portion is positioned behind the lock zone, and then during such exfoliation when the tube is inserted into the coupling, the catch surface cooperates with the ramp, The tube may be peeled off in the axial direction.

Therefore, there is a need to improve lock safety by avoiding the risk of the clip falling in the radial direction.

This object is achieved by means of a connection which provides a blocking piece in relief which is suitable for cooperating with a blocking surface integrated with the body when a radial traction force is applied to the bridge, Lt; / RTI >

With this configuration, when there is an attempt to pull the bridge outward radially, the protruding closure piece is immediately blocked against the blocking surface integrated with the body. As a result, the clip can not be pulled out. Since the protruding blocking piece is located at the connection between the locking area and the bridge, a reaction force against the detachment of the bridge is applied to the area not related to the locking area of the clip. Thus, even if a large force is applied, the locking area is not affected by the attempt to pull the clip, so that it is not plastically deformed during such an attempt, so that the locking state remains completely secure.

Optionally, the blocking surface is located in the body near the side opening, through which the bridge is accessible and through which the locking clip can be inserted into the body of the coupling.

Thus, the blocking surface can be located in the vicinity of the bridge and can be of a simple shape and is easy to manufacture. In particular, the blocking surface can be located between the aforementioned side opening and the fitting cavity, inside the fitting cavity and near the side opening, or in the side opening (across the side opening).

Optionally, a blocking surface is formed on the substantially axial fin provided in the side opening.

Such pins are easy to make. In particular, the body of the coupling can be made of a plastic material by molding, and the position of the pin in the side opening is compatible with a simple molding machine.

Optionally, the side opening has a slot shape extending transversely with respect to the axial direction between two opposing ends, the pin being spaced from the ends.

The location of these pins further improves ease of manufacture. Moreover, it is easy to ensure that the pins are provided after manufacturing quality control.

Optionally, the protruding blocking piece includes a lug projecting radially from the connecting portion.

Such a lug is easy to manufacture and its presence is easy to identify with the naked eye.

Optionally, the locking clip is made of metal and the lug is formed by tabs that are cut from the connection and folded outward.

This is also a particularly simple manufacturing process.

Alternatively, the locking clip may have two diametrically opposed locking regions and two connecting portions connecting the locking regions to the bridge, each of the connecting portions having a protruding blocking piece, The blockade is too cooperative to cooperate with the blocking surface integrated with the body.

Thus, with regard to the locking sections and the protruding blocking pieces, the locking clip is symmetrical, so that when an attempt is made to pull the clip by applying a traction force in the radial direction with respect to the bridge, Securely capturing the tube within the ring and avoiding the risk of the clip moving angularly.

According to one possibility, the locking clip consists of a closed ring.

According to another possibility, the locking clip has a substantially U-shaped opening ring shape.

According to the present invention, by avoiding the risk of the clip falling in the radial direction, the lock safety can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention can be better understood with the following detailed description of the embodiments shown as non-limiting examples, the advantages of which are more clearly shown.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a body of a coupling, a clip before being mounted in the body, and an end of a tube that can be inserted into the coupling;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the body of the coupling when fitted to the tube with the clip mounted within the body, taken along plane II-II of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along plane III-III of Fig. 2 in an enlarged state to show protruding blocking pieces and blocking surfaces; Fig.
4 is a perspective view of the clip;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view at the same cutting plane as the cutting plane of Fig. 3, showing a second embodiment of coupling; And
6 is a view showing a clip of the second embodiment.

First, a description will be made with reference to FIG. 1 showing a quick-connect coupling including a body 10 and a locking clip 12. 1 also shows a tube 1 having a catch surface which is substantially radial and which in this embodiment is formed by a bead 1A. The body 10 of the coupling has a fitting cavity 13. In Fig. 1, the clip 12 is shown on the outside of the body 10. In Figure 2 the clip is located in the body and the tube 1 is seen to be inserted into the body until the catching surface, bead IA, lies past the locking areas 14A and 14B of the clip in the fitting direction. .

In the illustrated embodiment, the clip has two diametrically opposed locking zones, symmetrically disposed about the fitting axis A. The clip 12 also has a bridge 16 accessible from the outside of the body when the clip is mounted in the body, as can be more clearly understood from Fig.

In describing the clip, the forward direction F is defined as the direction toward the inlet of the coupling along the fitting axis A. In other words, the forward direction for the coupling of the clip is the opposite direction to the fitting direction in which the tube fits into the coupling.

2, it can be seen that the locking zones 14A and 14B are located behind the lamps 16A and 16B, where the lamps are positioned such that the catching surface, namely the bead 1A, Cooperates with the bead 1A such that the locking zones are elastically spaced apart while the tube 1 is fitted in the coupling to reach the locking position.

In practice, the clip 12 has the same configuration as the lock ring 20 disclosed in patent document EP 1 303 724, except that it has a blocking piece 27A and 27B, which will be described below . In addition, in this embodiment, the clip is constituted by a closed loop formed of a metal strip wound on the bridge 16 in the present embodiment so that the two ends overlap each other. Moreover, this ring or clip has another bridge 17 that faces radially from the bridge 16. The strip from which the clip is formed can be made of "spring" steel, the thickness of which is in the range of about 2/10 millimeters to 1/10 millimeters and preferably in the range of about 3/10 millimeters to 4/10 millimeters . The width L of the strip measured along the fitting axis A is in the range of approximately 3 millimeters (mm) to 6 mm and is preferably approximately 5 mm.

The ring formed by the clip 12 has a larger diameter D1 measured between the two bridges 16 and 17 and a smaller diameter D2 measured between the locking areas 14A and 14B ) Having a substantially elliptical shape. It will be appreciated that as the bridges 16 and 17 are pressed together in the radial direction, the locking sections 14A and 14B will be moved away, thereby unlocking and disengaging the tube with respect to the coupling.

When the clip is in the mounted state, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the locking zones are located in the fitting cavity 13, and when not moving, the clips between the locking zones engage the catching surface of the tube, The diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the outer circumferential surface.

The bridge 16 is accessible from the outside of the body. More specifically, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the body 10 of the coupling has a side opening 20 through which the bridge 16 projects when the clip is in place. In the present embodiment, the body of the coupling has another side opening 22 diametrically opposed from the side opening 20 through which the bridge 17 projects. As shown in FIG. 3, the side openings 20 are wider than the facing side openings 22. In the present embodiment, the side openings 20 have the shape of a transverse slot, i. E., The shape of a substantially rectangular slot whose length extends transversely with respect to the axial direction, while the side openings 22 have a shorter length Slot shape. The clip is inserted into the body via the large slot or side opening 20 so that the clip 12 is positioned within the body of the coupling and when the bridge 17 is received within the small slot or side opening 22 In the radial direction.

The length of the small slot or lateral opening 22 measured between the edge portions 23A and 23B is too small for the clip to be inserted in the other direction, i.e., to insert the clip from the small slot. Also, in the present embodiment, due to the shape of the bridge 16 having the extension 16A, the length of the small slot, i.e., the side opening 22, is too short for the clip to be upside down, The operation is insufficient when inserting the clip from the large slot, that is, the side opening 20, in order for the clip 16 to be inserted first into the slot.

The clip 12 is held axially with respect to the body 10. That is, once the clip is positioned within the body, it is prevented from being pulled in the forward direction F and peeled off in the axial direction. To this end, the front wall portions 20A and 22A of each of the slots, i.e., the side openings 20 and 22, are positioned in front of the clip when the clip is in place and have an inner rib 24, And so on, as retaining surfaces for the clip 12.

Due to the small dimensions of the small slots, i.e. the side openings 22, the clip 12 can not escape by the pulling force T1 applied to the bridge 17. The edge portions 23A and 23B of this slot cooperate with the sides of the bridge 17 and more particularly with the connections 29A and 29B between the bridge 17 and the locking zones.

However, as described above, the length of the slot, or side opening 20, must be greater in order to allow the clip to be inserted radially into the body of the coupling.

In the following, for example, reference is made to the lock zone 14A. It will be appreciated that the bridge 16 is connected to the lock zone 14A by a connecting portion 26A which provides a protruding blocking piece 27A. The body 10 of the coupling provides a blocking surface 28A that cooperates with the protruding blocking piece 27A to prevent the clip from falling out when the radial tractive force T2 is applied to the bridge 16. [

The blocking surface 28A is located near the opening for the radial insertion of the clip (in this embodiment, the slot or side opening 20) and the blocking surface cooperates with the protruding blocking piece to clip the clip into the body of the coupling Return assembly that prevents any radial dropout due to traction on bridge 16, without opposing radial inserts of bridge 12.

This configuration is advantageous even in the case where the locking portion 14B is in a state where the connecting portion 26B with the protruding blocking piece 27B cooperates with the blocking surface 28B integrated with the coupling body 10 You can see that it is the same. As shown, the blocking surfaces 28A and 28B are located between the side openings 20 formed by the slots in the body and the fitting cavity 13, for example, And the clip can be inserted into the body. It will be appreciated that in this embodiment the blocking faces 28A and 28B are formed by the substantially axial fins provided in the slot or side opening 20. [ The pins may extend axially from one longitudinal edge to another longitudinal edge of the slot, or may be attached to only one of the edges. Moreover, in this embodiment, the pins are spaced from the opposite ends 20 'and 20 "of the slot or side opening 20, and a long length is measured between the ends. The distance d is, for example, in the range of about 3 mm to 5 mm and is about 1/10 of the total length of the slot or side opening 20. Thus, the distance between the fingers is such that the clip 12 is between the fins The connecting portions 26A and 26B are positioned at least partially below the pins so that the protruding blocking pieces 27A and 27B can be inserted into the coupling body 10. [ Are naturally trapped on the pins as any attempt is made to pull the clip as the traction force is applied to the bridge 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, the space between the pin or blocking surface 28A and the end 20 'of the slot is radially outwardly open and the space between the pin or blocking surface 28B and the end 20 & It will be appreciated that the space may also be closed, but it is important to note that it is also possible to provide a stopping piece with the innermost portions protruding in the radial direction of the pins Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 27A < / RTI >

3 and 4, it will be appreciated that the protruding blocking pieces 27A and 27B include lugs that project radially on the connections 26A and 26B. As shown, the locking clips 12 can be made of metal, and the lugs forming the protruding closure pieces, in this embodiment, can be made by tabs that are cut out and folded out in the connections . In this embodiment, these taps are cut from the axial end of the clip 12 where the locking regions 14A and 14B are located. In general, it is advantageous whether the protruding blocking pieces are formed in the axial edge portion of the same clip 12 as the locking sections 14A and 14B, whether or not the tabs are constituted by protruding lugs. If any attempt is made to pull the clip in the radial direction, the protruding closure pieces will engage with the body 10 of the coupling against the blocking surfaces 14A and 14B, It is blocked.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment and are described below. In this second embodiment, the clip 112 is formed by an open ring portion that is substantially U-shaped. In this embodiment, the body 110 of the coupling is shown in radial cross-section to show different points as compared to the body 10 described above. The body of the present embodiment has the same structure as that of the first embodiment except that the lock ring 112 is opened so that the body of the coupling does not need to have the slots or lateral openings 22 described above with reference to the first embodiment. (10). ≪ / RTI > Conversely, in the present embodiment, the body of the coupling has an opening 120 similar to the slot or lateral opening 20 described above, through which the locking clip can be inserted into the body of the coupling. The body 110 of the coupling has blocking faces located in the vicinity of the opening 120. In this embodiment, these blocking surfaces 128A and 128B are similar to the pins or blocking surfaces 28A and 28B described above. The clip 112 has two locking zones 114A and 114B cooperating with the tube 1 by being caught behind the catch surface (not shown in Fig.

In this embodiment, the locking zones 114A and 114B are formed on branches of U-shaped interconnected by a bridge 116. It will be appreciated that when the clip is positioned within the body of the coupling, the bridge 116 is accessible from the outside of the body and, in this embodiment, protrudes through the opening 120. The free ends of the U-shaped bifurcations include spatula-shaped portions 117A, 117B cooperating with the inner wall portion of the coupling body 110. [ It will be appreciated that when the bridge 116 is depressed, the spatula features counteract the inner wall portion of the coupling body and the locking regions can be spaced apart. In order to make it easier for the spatula features to be spaced apart, it may be advantageous to limit the extent to which the spatula features can slide on the inner wall of the coupling body, and for this purpose the inner wall portion may be, for example, 113 may be provided with support surfaces formed on the ribs 124A and 124B projecting into the cavity.

In the connections 126A and 126B between the locking zones and the bridge, the clip has protruding blocking pieces 127A and 127B. These protruding blocking pieces can be formed similarly to the protruding blocking pieces of the first embodiment, and can be formed by taps which are cut out from the connecting portions and folded outwardly. As shown in Figure 5, when the clip is positively positioned in the body of the coupling, the tabs 127A and 127B are inserted into the slots 120 ' and 120 ' of the slots or openings 120, The taps 127A and 127B are naturally received between the pins 120A and 120B and the pins or blocking surfaces 128A and 128B so that when the pulling force is applied in the direction T2 on the bridge 116, Is blocked against the pins or blocking surfaces to prevent them from escaping.

1: tube
1A: catch surface (or bead)
10, 110: Body
12, 112: (locking) clip
13, 113: fitting cavity
14A, 14B, 114A, 114B: a locking zone,
16, 116: bridge
26A, 26B, 126A, and 126B:
28A, 28B, 128A, 128B: a blocking surface (or fin)

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. A quick-connect coupling axially fit onto a tube (1) having a radially facing surface (1A), comprising a body (10; 110) with a fitting cavity (13; 113) A locking clip (12; 112) axially retained with respect to said body (10; 110) and having a bridge (16; 116) accessible from the outside of the body; 114, 114B located within a locking region (14A, 14B; 114A, 114B)
The bridge (16; 116) is adapted to cooperate with a blocking surface (28A, 28B; 128A, 128B) integral with the body (10; 110) when a radial traction force is applied to the bridge Are connected to said locking sections (14A, 14B; 114A, 114B) by connecting sections (26A, 26B; 126A, 126B) which provide protruding blocking elements. The method according to claim 1,
The blocking surface (28A, 28B; 128A, 128B) is located in the body near a side opening (20; 120) through which the bridge (16; 116) is accessible and through the side opening Wherein the locking clip (12; 112) is insertable into the body (10; 110) of the quick-connect coupling. The method of claim 2,
Characterized in that said blocking surfaces (28A, 28B; 128A, 128B) are formed on axial fins provided in said side openings (20; 120). The method of claim 3,
The side opening (20; 120) has a slot shape extending transversely with respect to the axial direction between two opposing ends (20 ', 20 ";120',120"
Wherein the pin is spaced from the ends. The method according to claim 1,
And the protruding blocking pieces (27A, 27B; 127A, 127B) include lugs projecting radially from the connecting portions (26A, 26B; 126A, 126B). The method of claim 5,
The locking clip 12 (112) is made of metal,
Characterized in that the lug is formed by tabs cut out from the connecting portions (26A, 26B; 126A, 126B) and folded outward. The method according to claim 1,
The locking clip 12 comprises two diametrically opposed locking sections 14A and 14B and 114A and 114B and two connecting sections 26A and 16B connecting the locking sections to the bridge 16, 26B; 126A, 126B,
Each of the connecting portions has protruding blocking pieces 27A, 27B (127A, 127B), and each protruding blocking piece can cooperate with the blocking surfaces 28A, 28B (128A, 128B) Features a quick-connect coupling. The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that the locking clip (12) is made by a closing ring. The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that the locking clip (112) has a U-shaped, open ring shape.

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