MXPA00009421A

MXPA00009421A - Snap-on pipe fitting

Info

Publication number: MXPA00009421A
Application number: MXPA/A/2000/009421A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Denis Godeau; Philippe Exandier
Original assignee: Hutchinson
Priority date: 1998-03-27
Filing date: 2000-09-26
Publication date: 2001-07-31

Abstract

The invention concerns a snap-on fitting for low pressure fluid transfer pipe, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising two semi-cylindrical parts (28) mounted on part of a pipe (10) made of rubber or the like threaded on an insert (14) and fixed to each other by elastic locking ensuring thereby that the pipe (10) is fixed sealed on the insert (14), said parts (28) having front ends (32) capable of elastic deformation to be locked elastically on a peripheral projection (22) of the connecting piece (12).

Description

COUPLING BY RATCHET FOR A DUCT The present invention relates to a ratchet coupling for a fluid transfer conduit, in particular for automotive vehicles, the coupling is intended for conduits for transfer of fluids subjected to low pressure, such as, for example, the conduits of a circuit for cooling internal combustion engines. Quite often, duct couplings of this type consist of a tubular insertion which is fixed inside a flexible rubber conduit, made of rubber or other analogous material, which must be fitted on a tubular end piece of a rubber circuit. fluid, the end is intended to be inserted into the inside of the insert in order to ensure a close-hermetic. The fixing of the conduit on the insert is ensured, in general, by means of a flanging ring that tightens the conduit on the insert, causing a seal to occur. The hermetic closure of the connection with the ferrule is secured by means of a sealing gasket disposed between the ferrule and the insert. In general securing means are provided, these means being arranged around the conduit and the ferrule, and cooperate with them to produce an elastic ratchet that holds the ferrule locked in the insert. These couplings should be as simple and as "low cost as possible and, at the same time, they should be extremely reliable." It is desirable that, in addition, they are very easy and quick to assemble, and that they allow the conduit and the end piece to be disconnected. by means of a simple and rapid maneuver which, preferably, can be performed joint-single hand, without the aid of tools, In particular, the present invention has the object of satisfying this need, thanks to an elastic ratchet coupling that complies with the conditions For this purpose, the present invention provides a coupling consisting of a tubular insert that is mounted inside a flexible conduit, for coupling on a tubular endpiece of a fluid circuit, this endpiece is intended to be insert in hermetic contact inside the insert, and that consists of a peripheral projection in the vicinity of its free end and means of insurance or the connection between the conduit and the quarry, these means surrounding the conduit and the quarry, and cooperating with one of them, by elastic ratchet, to keep the splice spliced in the insert, being characterized in that the securing means have , at the side of the conduit, a cylindrical annular part that surrounds the conduit and presses it on the insert until it produces airtightness and, alongside the endpiece, elastically deformable longitudinal legs that join the aforementioned annular part and cooperate, by engagement with the peripheral projection of the ferrule, to oppose the disconnection of the conduit and the ferrule. In the coupling according to the present invention, the closing means accumulate the functions of hermetic fixing of the conduit on the insertion, and of maintaining the connection between the conduit and the end piece by elastic ratchet. In an embodiment that is preferred for the present invention, said securing means are formed by two semicylindrical pieces consisting of fixing means on one another at their tightening end of the conduit on the insert. As an advantage, these two simililindricas pieces are identical and their fixing means of the one on the other are of the type of elastic ratchet. In a practical embodiment, these parts are made of plastic material and consist of a reinforcing filler made of, for example, polyamide crosslinked with glass fibers. As a variation, said pieces are metallic.

The securing means can also be formed by a single metal piece, of which the cylindrical annular part is fixed by tightening on the duct mounted on the insert. According to yet another practical embodiment of the present invention, the semi-cylindrical parts of the securing means cooperating by engagement with the peripheral projection of the end piece, consist of side legs that allow, when pushed in opposite directions, to separate the from the other of said semi-cylindrical parts, to be dislodged from the peripheral projection of the ferrule and to allow disconnection of the conduit and the ferrule. This disconnection is carried out easily by hand and without the need for any particular tool. The present invention will be better understood, and other features, details and advantages will become more evident when the following description is read, which is given as an example and is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a coupling according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present coupling; Figure 3 is a schematic view in axial section, of a variant of practical embodiment of the present coupling; Figures 4 and 5 are top and front views, respectively, of the present coupling; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a variant of the practical embodiment of the securing means; Figures 7, 8 and 9 are perspective and axial section views of a variant embodiment of the present coupling; Figure 10 is an axial sectional view of another practical embodiment of the coupling. First, reference is made to. Figures 1 and 2, which represent a first embodiment, practice of a coupling object of the present invention, which allows the quick connection and disconnection of a conduit 10 and a tubular endpiece 12 of a fluid circuit, the conduit 10 is typically made of rubber, rubber-based or an analogous material, optionally having a cloth reinforcement; The tubular end piece 12 is completely made of a suitable rigid material, such as plastic or metal material. The coupling object of the present invention comprises a cylindrical tubular insert 14 which, in particular, is made of rigid plastic material and consists of an end 16 intended to be forcedly inserted through the conduit 10; and an end 18 intended to receive the free end 20 of the endpiece 12. The outer surface of the end 16 of the insert 14 is formed with an annular clamp, or with several, 19, of the "spruce trunk rings" type for example , which improve the fixing of the duct 10 on the insert 14 and the hermetic closure of said fixing. The other end 18 of the ferrule 14 is cylindrical in shape and comprises, for example, a rubber gasket which is molded on its inner surface and which is intended to guarantee a hermetic seal with the free end 20 of the ferrule 12. In the vicinity of its free end 20, it consists of a peripheral annular projection 22, whose external diameter is substantially equal to, or very slightly smaller than, the inner diameter of the end 18 of the insert 14, for it to be admitted, with very little play, inside said end 18. As an advantage, the insert 14 consists of an annular clamp 24, which projects over the outer surface to form a separation between its ends 16 and 18, and ensure, by stop, a precise positioning in axial position of the conduit 10 on the insert 14. The means 26 for securing the connection of the conduit 10 and of the insert 14 on the end piece 12 are formed with two semi-cylindrical parts 28 which have to ensure, by tightening, the hermetic fixation of the conduit 10 on the insert 14 and the maintenance of the ferrule 12 inside said insert 14, by means of a ratchet or elastic coupling on the peripheral projection 22 of that ferrule . Each piece 28 is made of, for example, plastic material consisting of a reinforcing filler - in particular, polyamide crosslinked with glass fibers - and consists of a rear part, or part 30"" on the side of the conduit ", in semicylindrical shape, and an anterior part 32, or part of the side of the end piece ", semi-annular and joined to the rear 30 by means of two longitudinal legs 34. ~~ The two pieces 28 are attached to the they consist of nails or hooks 36 along one edge of their icilindric part 30, and depressions 38 on the other edge that semicylindrical part 30, intended to receive said nails. . As seen in Figure 2, it is sufficient to arrange the two pieces 28, on one side and, on the other hand, of the duct 10 inserted on the insert 14, and push one towards the other, so as to fix the securing means 26 on the part of the duct 10 inserted on the insert 14, and sealingly fix this part of the conduit 10 on the insert. In order to improve this seal and this fixing, annular clamps 40 can be formed on the inner surfaces of the semi-cylindrical parts 30 of the parts 28, and are offset in staggered fashion, in relation to the clamps 19 of the end piece 14, so as to which compress the parts of the duct 10 that are between two clamps 19, and reciprocally. - In addition, each piece 28 may consist of two stops 42, which allow the piece to rest against the peripheral rim 24 of the insert 14. When the two pieces 28 are assembled one on the other, as shown in Figure 1, the radial or transverse distance between its front ends 32 is less than the diameter of the peripheral clamp 22 of the endpiece 12. Accordingly, when it is locked inside the insert 14, the front ends 32 of the securing means 26 are they separate from one another elastically in the passage of the peripheral clamp 22, and then fall back as support on the end piece 12 that is behind that clamp, preventing the recoil of the endpiece from the insert 14. Advantageously, each front end 32 of a part 28 comprising a side leg 44 which, in the example shown, extends in a manner slightly less than tangential to said front end 32. When apo is made with two fingers on the legs 44 in opposite directions, the front part of the securing means 26 can be opened and the ends 32 sufficiently separated so as to allow passage of the peripheral clamp 22 of the end piece 12 and release the said insert insert 14. In a variation of the practical embodiment, the two pieces 28 can be joined again to each other, by means of a flexible hinge that is formed on the rear parts 30 along a generatrix, is say, parallel to the longitudinal axis of said pieces. In the variation shown schematically in FIGS. 3 to 5, the ratchet coupling has substantially the same structure as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it is made of metal, such as steel or steel. aluminum. As in the preceding embodiment, the coupling is formed with two semi-cylindrical parts 28, which are fixed to one another by ratchet. In yet another variation shown in FIG. 6, the securing means 26 are constituted by a single metal piece 46, which consists of a cylindrical rear end 48 that surrounds the part of the conduit 10 that is mounted on the insert. 14 and it is fixed by pressing on said part of the tube, while ensuring the hermetic fixation of the conduit _10 on the insert 14. In the variant embodiment -practice shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the closing means 26 are formed by two semi-cylindrical parts 28 of plastic material, which are identical as regards their rear part 30 and which are the mirror image of one another, as regards their front part 32 , these pieces 28 represent substantially the same characteristics as those shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the exception of those listed below: First, the front part 32 of each piece 28 is not attached to the p rear art 30 rather than by a single longitudinal branch 34 and consists, at the end not joined to the rear part 30, of a side leg 44- that extends in a manner perpendicular to this end, as seen well in the Figure 7. In addition, the front part of insert 14 tops off. in an annular collar 50, and each piece 28 of the closure means 26 comprises, on its inner surface, a semicircular clamp 52 intended to cooperate, by abutment, with this annular collar-50 of the insert .14. Finally, the previous part.32 of each piece 28 consists, in its middle part, of a hooking tooth 54, oriented radially inwardly and intended to cooperate with the peripheral projection 22 of the. 12. The assembly and fixing of the closing means 26 on the part of the duct 10 inserted on the insert 14 are made in the manner already described, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, by the arrangement of two pieces. 28, on the one hand and the other end of the conduit 10, and by pushing these two pieces, one towards the other, to fix them by ratchet and to fix, simultaneously and forming a hermetic seal, the conduit 10 on the insert 14. As noted above, the connection is established by pushing the conduit 10 and the insert 14 over the end 20 of the ferrule 12, until the coupling teeth 54 are beyond the peripheral projection 22 of the ferrule 12. (Figures 8 and 9) If now an effort is exerted on the conduit 10 or on the end piece 12, or on both at the same time, tending to separate them, the separation effort applied by the peripheral projection 22 of the end piece 12 on the teeth ^ 54 d and engagement of the closure means 26, it is retaken by the annular collar 50- of the endpiece 14, due to the thrust of the internal clamps 52 of the parts 28 on the said annular collar. In this way, the coupling object of the present invention can withstand relatively intense axial forces of separation. On the other hand, the disconnection of the conduit 10 and the end piece 12 is carried out in a simple and easy manner, with pressure being applied in the opposite direction on the legs 14 with two fingers. This gesture is facilitated when the two legs 44 are in mutual proximity (Figure 8) and when the anterior portions 32 of the pieces 28 are joined to the backs by a single longitudinal branch 34, which allows these front ends 32 to be separated from the peripheral projection 22 of the end 12, applying an effort of low intensity. In Figure 10 another embodiment of the coupling of the present invention was represented, applicable in the case where the rubber conduit 10 of the preceding embodiments of practical embodiment is replaced by a ringed conduit 56 of plastic material. In this case, the securing means 26 can be of the same type as what was described above, but the insert 14 comprises, on its back part, an exterior rubber molding, or analogous material 58, intended to ensure a sealing with the end of the conduit 56 inserted on this rear part of the endpiece 14_. As shown in the drawings, this molded joint 58 preferably extends over a distance greater than the pitch between two successive corrugations of the annular conduit 56, to produce a better seal. On the other hand, the distance between the internal clamps 40 of the parts 28 correspond to the passage between the corrugations of the conduit 56, in such a way that those clamps can penetrate between said undulations and block the end of the conduit 56 placed on the end-14 . For the rest, the characteristics of the means of. securing 26 and of the ferrule 14 are identical to those already described. When the conduit 56 consists of a cylindrical end (not ringed) placed on the insert 14, the same securing means can be used if the cylindrical end of the conduit 56 is formed on its outer surface with an annular bead which is located between the two annular clamps 40 of the securing means 26. The present invention applies, in particular, to all duct couplings for low pressure fluid transfer that are used in the automotive industry, as well as in all other types of industry. _

Claims

1. An elastic ratchet coupling for a conduit for fluid transfer, in particular for automotive vehicles, consisting of a tubular insert (14) mounted inside a flexible conduit (10), for coupling on a tubular ferrule (12) of a fluid circuit, said duct is intended to be introduced hermetically within said insert (14) and consisting of a peripheral projection (22) in the vicinity of its free end, and means (26) of securing the connection of the conduit, (101 Y of the endpiece (12), these means (26) surround the conduit and the endpiece, and cooperate with one of them by elastic ratchet, to keep the endpiece (12) locked in the insert (14), the securing means (26) consist, on the side of the conduit, of a cylindrical annular part (30, 48) that surrounds the conduit and tightens it to produce a hermetic seal on the insert (14) and, of the side of the end, legs longi elastically deformable tudinals, which are related to the annular part (30) and which cooperate by engaging the peripheral projection (22) of the tip (12) to oppose the disconnection of the conduit and the tip, characterized in that said legs longitudinal (34) are related, on the side of the endpiece, with two semi-annular parts (32) diametrically opposed to each other, and forming latching means on the peripheral projection (22) of the endpiece (12).

A coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing means (26) are formed by two semi-cylindrical parts (28), consisting of means (36, 38) for fixing one on the other.

A coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that the two semi-cylindrical parts (28) without identical and their means (36, 38) for fastening one to the other are of the type of elastic ratchet mechanism.

A coupling according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the two semi-cylindrical parts (28) are made of a plastic material consisting of a reinforcing filler such as, for example, polyamide loaded with glass fibers. -

5. A coupling according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the two semi-cylindrical parts (28) are joined together by means of a flexible hinge formed along a generatrix of the cylindrical surface -of said parts. A coupling according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that - each semi-annular part (32) of hooking on the end piece is joined to the opposite end (30) of the securing means, through a single longitudinal leg (34). ). A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends (32) of the securing means (26) cooperating, by engagement with the peripheral projection (22) of the ferrule (12), consist of lateral legs ( 44) of release, which allows that, by pressing on those legs in opposite directions, those ends (32) are separated from each other, to detach them from the peripheral projection (22) of the tip (127) and thus allow the disconnecting the conduit (10) from the endpiece (12) 8. A coupling according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the semi-cylindrical parts (28) consist of a semicircular clamp (52) on the internal surface thereof, which cooperates as a stop with an annular collar (50) of the insert (14), for the reactivation of the axial separation forces applied to the conduit (10) or to the ferrule (12), or both. of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the securing means (26) consist of annular clamps (40) on the internal surface, intended to be brought into contact with the conduit (10). A coupling according to claim 9, characterized in that the annular clamps (40) of the closing means are offset in staggered fashion., with respect to the clamps (19) of the insert resting on the internal surface of the duct (10). A coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conduit is a ringed conduit (56), made of plastic material, and in that a gasket (58) of rubber, or an analogous material, is molded on the part of the insert (14) intended to be inserted in the ringed conduit (56). 12. Coupling according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two semi-cylindrical parts (28) are metallic. A coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing means are formed by a single metal part (46), which consists of a cylindrical annular part (48) which is fixed by tightening on the conduit (12), mounted on the insert (14).