WO2018224360A1

WO2018224360A1 - Connection device for fluid lines and associated production method

Info

Publication number: WO2018224360A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/064094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erich Müller; Thorsten Wahl; Peter Giliard
Original assignee: Festo Ag & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2017-06-07
Filing date: 2018-05-29
Publication date: 2018-12-13
Also published as: CN110691934A; DE102017209607A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device (1) for fluid lines (5), which has a connection unit (4) that is penetrated by a plug-in recess (26), into which a fluid line (5) to be connected can be plugged. The connection unit (4) has a base unit (6), on which a retaining structure (14) that securely holds the base unit (6) is provided, and which is composed of an annular housing body (12) and a sealing ring (13) attached thereto at the front end. The housing body (12) consists of plastic and the sealing ring (13) of thermoplastic elastomer. The two components are non-detachably fixed to each other by laser transmission welding by means of at least one laser transmission weld (27).

Description

Connecting device for fluid lines and related manufacturing method

The invention relates to a connecting device for fluid lines, having a longitudinal axis having terminal unit which is adapted to be used in a position of use with its front in advance in a mounting recess of a separate support member and attached to the support member, wherein the connection unit axi al of a Einsteckausnehmung is penetrated, in which a fluid line to be connected from the back of the terminal unit inserted and wherein the terminal unit comprises a sleeve-shaped base unit, on which a fixed to hold the inserted fluid conduit formed annular support structure is fixed and an annular housing body and a front side of the front

Housing body attached and attached to the housing body sealing ring comprises.

The invention further relates to a method for producing such a connection device.

A known from DE 10 2011 109 788 AI Anschlußvorrich tion of the aforementioned type has a connection unit with a multi-part base unit, wherein the base unit has an annular housing body and a front side attached to the housing body sealing ring. Of the Sealing ring is fastened by means of a latching connection device on the housing body, which facilitates the mounting of the connection unit in the mounting recess of a support member. By means of an anchoring ring which is supported on the housing body, the connection unit can be fixed in a mounting recess of a separate support component.

DE 10 2015 000 990 A1 discloses a connection device for a fluid line, which contains a connection unit which has a retaining ring for holding an inserted fluid line. The retaining ring is fixed to a module formed from a circlip and a support ring to which a sealing ring is attached. The sealing ring is attached, for example, by gluing or scorching on a front end face of the support ring. Alternatively, the sealing ring can also be designed as a separate component with respect to the support ring.

The invention has for its object to make measures that allow a simple, fast and cost-effective production of a connection device.

To achieve this object, it is provided in a connection device of the type mentioned that the sealing ring consists of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and is permanently attached by means of at least one laser beam welded connection to the housing body made of plastic.

The object is further achieved by a method of the aforementioned type in which the sealing ring made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and the housing body are made of plastic independently of each other and subsequently ßend the sealing ring and the housing body means

Laser transmission welding are permanently attached to each other.

The connecting device designed and manufactured according to the invention has, with the sleeve-shaped base unit, a structural unit preassembled prior to insertion into a carrier component into which the housing body preferably responsible for the stability of the connection unit and the sealing ring serving to seal the fluid line relative to the carrier component are integrated , When mounting the connection unit saves you thus a separate insertion of the sealing ring, which would be handling technically complicated and prone to error especially for small sizes. Accordingly, eliminates the need for automated assembly of the connection device, a separate assembly station for the insertion of the sealing ring, which reduces the investment required as well as the space required and also the necessary assembly time. Particularly advantageous is the fixed connection between the sealing ring and the housing body by means of at least one laser transmission welded joint, which is realized by the method of laser transmission welding. The welded connection is carried out depending on the selected combination of materials through the housing body or through the sealing ring, to form at least one laser weld seam without separate supply of a welding material in the transition region between these two components. The process of laser transmission welding during assembly of the base unit allows short joining times, which is why it is particularly suitable for integration into an automated assembly process with short cycle times and high quantities. On additional auxiliaries such as adhesives can be dispensed with. The use of a thermoplastic Elastomers allow for independent of the housing body injection molding of the sealing ring and provides optimum elasticity to ensure the desired sealing function. As the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU) is preferably used.

Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The case body can basically be made from any one for one

Laser transmission welding made of suitable plastic. Preferably, however, it is made of a thermoplastic material, which allows inexpensive injection molding. As particularly useful polyamide is considered.

The cohesive joining process of the laser transmission welding is based on the fact that of the two joining partners, one of a laser-transparent material and the other consists of a laser beam absorbing material. These terms are not meant to be absolute but are to be understood to mean that the laser-transparent material has a high transmittance in the wavelength range of the laser light, while the laser-absorbing material has a high degree of absorption for this

Laser light has. The laser beam used for the welding process is introduced through the laser-beam transparent material into the previously mated in a joining region joining partner, which is absorbed in the joining region of the laser beam absorbing material, wherein heat is released by the two joining partners are melted so that they are preferred under simultaneous eng application of an external joining force, make a cohesive connection with each other.

In one possible embodiment of the connection device, the sealing ring is made of a laser-transparent material and the housing body is made of a laser-beam-absorbing material, wherein the laser transmission welded connection is formed by the sealing ring in the transition region between the sealing ring and the housing body or is.

In an alternative embodiment, the

Housing body of a laser-transparent material and the sealing ring is made of a laser beam absorbing material. Here, the laser transmission welded connection is then produced in that the laser beam is applied through the housing body.

In the case of the laser transmission welded connection, at least one laser weld seam is preferably produced which is designed as a self-contained annular seam coaxial with the housing body and with the sealing ring. The laser welding process is preferably carried out by so-called contour welding. One and the same laser weld can result from only a single laser beam treatment or preferably from a plurality of superimposed laser beam overflows.

In the welding operation, the base unit is expediently fixed in place and the laser beam is moved once or several times along a circumferential angle of 360 ° about the longitudinal axis of the drive unit around. In principle, however, it is also possible to place the laser beam or a laser beam exit unit emitting the laser beam locally. to leave firmly and to rotate by means of a suitable device to be welded base unit.

It is advantageous if the laser transmission welding in the region of the sealing ring facing the front of the housing body is made to produce there at least one laser transmission welded joint.

In particular, when the thermoplastic elastomer of the sealing ring has the properties transparent to laser radiation, it is advantageous if at least one laser transmission welded connection is or is formed in the region of an outer peripheral surface of the housing body facing away from the insertion recess of the connection unit. In particular, in this context, it is appropriate to the

Housing body on its front side facing the sealing ring to be provided with a radially inwardly projecting annular front end portion which has an outer circumferential surface facing away from the Einsteckaus-, which has a total of axially forward, but at least has an axially forwardly pointing direction component. This annular front end portion may be bent in particular with respect to the adjoining longitudinal portion of the housing body, which is preferably realized by an ultrasonic treatment. The sealing ring has a rear end face, with which it is attached to the aforementioned outer peripheral surface in the application of the welding process, wherein by means of laser transmission welding in the transition region between the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the

Housing body and the rear end face of the sealing ring at least one laser transmission welded joint is formed. Viewed in longitudinal section of the base unit, the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the housing body is preferably convexly curved, while the rear end face of the sealing ring is adapted to this convex curvature and is correspondingly concavely curved. This allows a large-scale mutual investment of housing body and seal realize.

In particular, when the plastic of the housing body consists of the laser beam transparent material required for the laser transmission welding connection, it is advantageous if the at least one laser transmission welded connection is or is formed in the region of an inner peripheral surface of the housing body facing the insertion recess. In this case, the sealing ring protrudes into the housing body and the welded connection is made by means of a laser beam penetrating the housing body.

It is advantageous if the housing body ends on its front side facing the sealing ring with a hollow cylindrical front end portion into which the sealing ring with a rear annular mounting portion dips axially. At least one laser transmission welded joint is or is then formed in the radial transition region between the inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical front end portion of the housing body and the outer peripheral surface of the annular mounting portion of the sealing ring.

For automated production, it is particularly favorable in this context if the sealing ring is stepped in an annular manner on its outer circumference and extends axially rearward over an attachment section which adjoins the attachment section. entant Abstützflache has, which bears against a front end face of the front end portion of the housing body. As a result, the insertion depth of the sealing ring in the welding process preceding axial

Placing together the components to be welded together defined defined.

The annular holding structure used for fixing the inserted fluid line expediently consists of an annular holding element which has a plurality of spring-elastic holding claws projecting into the insertion recess. When inserting the fluid line the retaining claws are bent radially outwardly elastically, so that builds up a resilient restoring force with which the retaining claws are pressed against the outer circumference of the inserted fluid line, so selbige is held.

The annular holding structure, in particular an annular holding element, is expediently fixed in a holding recess formed in the region of the inner circumference of the base unit. In one possible embodiment, this holding recess is formed solely by the housing body, wherein an edge of the holding recess is expediently formed by a bent annular front end section of the housing body.

There is also alternatively the advantageous possibility to provide an axial gap between the housing body and the sealing ring, which forms the annular retaining recess. In this case, the holding structure may be incorporated between these two components prior to fitting the housing body and the sealing ring together. The connecting device has for fixing the connection unit in the mounting recess of a support member expediently with respect to the base unit separate anchoring ring. The anchoring ring has at least one radial anchoring projection, which engages in the wall of the carrier component, when the anchoring ring is pressed into the fastening recess for fixing the connecting unit. When pressed in and preferably also in the pressed-in state, the anchoring ring is expediently supported on a rear end face of the

Housing body of the base unit from.

If the connection device is to offer the possibility of being able to remove an inserted fluid line from the connection unit at any time, simply and without damage, the connection unit is expediently equipped or equipped with a release sleeve which is axially displaceably mounted in the housing body of the base unit and can be acted upon manually Operating section protrudes from the back of the housing body.

If the holding structure has resilient retaining claws, the release sleeve is expediently preceded on the back of these retaining claws, so that they act on the retaining claws by a pressure on the actuating portion and can lift it from the outer circumference of the inserted fluid line.

The release sleeve is held within the housing body expediently by a latching connection.

The release sleeve is optional. In order to realize the connection unit very inexpensively, the release sleeve can also be omitted if necessary. In the carrier component expediently involved in the connecting device, a fluid channel is preferably formed, which communicates with the fastening recess. The conduit formed in a fluid line is thus in fluid communication with the fluid channel of the carrier component when the fluid line is connected.

The carrier component is expediently a housing body of a fluid-technical component, for example a valve or a fluid-actuated drive. The connection unit can be very easily mounted directly to a fluid power component in this way. However, the connection device can also be realized as a connector present as a structural unit, in which the carrier component is designed as a fastening component for fixing the connector to a fluidic component and has a suitable attachment interface, for example a threaded connector.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this show:

1 shows a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the connecting device according to the invention, wherein the connection unit is shown in its position of use inserted in a dot-dash line carrier component indicated and a connected fluid line is indicated by dashed lines,

FIG. 2 shows an axial front view of the connection unit according to FIG. 1, viewed in the direction of arrow II from FIG. 1, an isometric view of the Anschlussemheit of Figures 1 and 2, an exploded view of the illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 terminal unit, a longitudinal section through another preferred embodiment of the connecting device according to the invention in a representation corresponding to Figure 1 representation, a side view of the connection device of Figure 5 with viewing direction Arrow VI of Figure 5, an isometric view of the terminal unit of Figures 5 and 6, and an exploded view of the apparent from Figures 5, 6 and 7 terminal unit.

Unless otherwise stated, the following description refers to all of the

Drawing illustrated embodiments of a total designated by reference numeral 1 connecting device according to the invention.

The connection device 1 contains a connection unit 4 which is shown in isolation in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 and which, in its position of use, is inserted in a fastening recess 3 of a carrier component 2 indicated by dash-dotted lines. The connection unit 4 is in the use position in the fastening recess 3

fastened captive, which expediently means of a takes place as part of the connection unit 4 executed anchoring ring 10.

The connecting device 1 is suitable for connecting a fluid line 5, which is designed to pass a fluidic pressure medium such as compressed air or pressure fluid. Preferably, the connectable fluid line 5 is a flexible hose. However, it can also be a rigid tube. In Figures 1 and 5, the fluid line 5 is shown in the connected state.

Deviating from the exemplary embodiment, even the connection unit 4 alone can form the connection device 1. The connection unit 4 can be combined with any carrier component 2 which has a suitably designed attachment opening 3. There is thus in particular the possibility of equipping or retrofitting existing carrier components 2 as required with one or more connection units 4.

Preferably, the connection device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment is designed as an assembly which is composed of at least one connection unit 4 and a carrier component 2 which has at least one attachment recess 3 adapted to the connection unit 4. In this case, the connection unit 4 can already be factory-mounted upon delivery taking its position of use on the support member 2. Alternatively, the connection unit 4 and the carrier component 2 can also be delivered as separate components, which are first assembled by the user, that is, assembled. In the illustrated embodiments, the support member 2 is formed by a component of a fluid power component such as a valve, a fluid actuated drive, or a compressed air maintenance device. Preferably, the carrier component 2 is a

Housing body of such a fluid power component, for example, a cylinder housing or a valve housing. In the drawing, the support member 2 is rendered very simplified.

In a non-illustrated embodiment of the connecting device 1, the carrier component 2 has, in addition to the at least one fastening recess 3, a further fastening interface with which it can be fixed to a fluid-technical component of the aforementioned type. In this case, the carrier component 2 acts as a link between the connection unit 4 and the fluidic component to be equipped therewith.

The fastening recess 3 formed in the carrier component 2 opens with an outlet opening 19 to an outer surface of the carrier component 2, referred to below as a connection outer surface 7, which framed the mouth opening 19. In the interior of the support member 2 is followed by a longitudinal axis 15 having mounting recess 3 with particular coaxial alignment a fluid channel 11, with which a fluid line 5 passing through the duct 9 is connected to the fluid line 5 in fluid communication.

The connection unit 4 has a longitudinal axis 16 and has at right angles to this longitudinal axis 16 via an annular cross-section. It has an axially oriented front side 22 and a rear side 23 which is axially opposite thereto. The connection unit 4 is coaxial with one on the one hand the front side 22 and on the other hand to the rear side 23 opening out Einsteckausnehmung 26 passes. The connected fluid line 5 is inserted from the rear side 23 into the insertion recess 26.

To the connection unit 4 includes an annular and preferably one-piece housing body 12, a sealing ring 13, an annular support structure 14, the already mentioned anchoring ring 10 and a release sleeve 8. The release sleeve 8 is used to release the connected fluid line 5 and can optionally be omitted if a solvability the connected

Fluid line 5 is not desired. Also, the anchoring ring 10 may be omitted or replaced by other anchoring means, if another anchoring of the connection unit 4 to be described below in the fastening recess 3 is provided.

The annular housing body 12 is made of plastic, wherein it preferably consists of a thermoplastic material, in particular of a polyamide. He is expediently formed in one piece.

The sealing ring 13 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (common abbreviation: TPE). A urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer known by the abbreviation "TPU" has proven particularly recommendable.

Preferably, both the housing body 12 and the sealing ring 13 are an injection molded body. These two components are manufactured independently of each other in the manufacture of the connecting device 1.

The sealing ring 13 is attached frontally to the housing body 12 in an arrangement coaxial with the housing body 12. puts. Terms such as "front" or "front" used in this specification refer to the same orientation as the previously mentioned front side 22. The same applies to terms used in connection with any of the existing components, such as "back" or "back" with reference to FIG the above-mentioned orientation of the back 23rd

By means of a laser transmission welded joint 27, the housing body 12 and the sealing ring 13 are permanently attached to each other. The resulting assembly is referred to as base unit 6. The laser transmission welded joint 27 is formed by the per se known method of

Laser transmission welding generated. By way of example, the housing body 12 and the sealing ring 13 are fixed to one another with only a single laser transmitted-through welding connection 27, which can be handled in a particularly cost-effective and time-saving manner. In principle, however, the mutual attachment of said components can also be caused by means of a plurality of separate laser transmission welded connections 27.

The base unit 6 encloses a central axial passage opening 17, which defines the insertion recess 26 at least in the region of the sealing ring 13. The optional release sleeve 8 is inserted from the rear side 23 into the passage opening 17 of the base unit 6, but expediently extends over the length of the maximum

Housing body 12. Through the release sleeve 8 extends coaxially through opening 28 therethrough, which defines a longitudinal portion of the Einsteckausnehmung 26 and which is penetrated by the connected fluid line 5. The annular support structure 14 is fixed to the base unit 6 and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced around the longitudinal axis 16 around arranged resilient retaining claws 24 which project radially inwardly, in particular with an oblique orientation in the direction of the front side 22. The annular retaining structure 14 is, in particular, an annular retaining element 14a with a closed annular body 25 to which the retaining claws 24 are integrally formed and from which the retaining claws 24 protrude radially inwards, in particular with an inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis 16 The holding element 14a is preferably immobilized by the intermediary of the annular body 25 on the base unit 6 in this respect or fixed in an axially movable manner only to a limited extent. This fixation is preferably effected by forming on the inner circumference of the base unit 6 an annular retaining recess 32 which is open radially inwards and into which the retaining element 14a with the annular body 25 dips radially.

In the unconnected state of the fluid line 5, the retaining claws 24 enclose a diameter which is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the fluid line 5 to be connected. If the fluid line 5 is plugged into the connection unit 4 from the rear side 23 for the purpose of connecting it, it passes through the retaining element 14a, wherein it presses the retaining claws 24 under extension of the enclosed by the retaining claws 24 cross-section to the outside. The resulting resilient restoring force causes a clamping fixation of the inserted fluid line 5 by the retaining claws 24th

The release sleeve 8 has a front end portion 33 which terminates axially behind the retaining claws 24. It also has a rear operating section 34, which is provided on the back 23 of the base unit 6 and in the position of use of the Final unit 4 also protrudes from the support member 2. For releasing the fluid line 5, a forward pressing force can be exerted on the actuating portion 34 so that the release sleeve 8 is displaced forwards towards the holding structure 14 and presses with its front end portion 33 on the rear surfaces of the retaining claws 24 facing it. The retaining claws 24 are thereby bent radially outwardly under elastic deformation and lifted off the outer peripheral surface 35 of the inserted fluid line 5, which can then be easily pulled out of the connection unit 4 again.

The release sleeve 8 can be fixed to the base unit 6 in any manner. Preferably, a latching connection, which applies to the embodiments. The release sleeve 8 has here in the region of the front end portion 33 at least one radially outwardly projecting securing projection 36 which is engaged in a formed on the inner circumference of the housing body 12, preferably annular detent recess 36. The flexibility required for locking results, in particular, from the fact that the front end section 33 of the release sleeve 8 is slotted several times and is thereby segmented in its circumferential direction.

The anchoring ring 10, which is suitably made of metal, in particular has the shape of a perforated disc with a plurality of formed on the outer circumference, radially outwardly projecting anchoring projections 37. Alternatively, only a single, annular self-contained anchoring projection 37 may be present. The anchoring ring 10 is preferably rigid and has an outer diameter defined by the at least one anchoring projection 37, which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the fastening recess 3 in the region of the anchoring element. ring 10 in the position of use of the connection unit 4 occupied anchoring position. By applying a certain press-fit force, the anchoring ring 10 can be pressed into the fastening recess 3, so that it digs slightly into the wall of the support component 2 bounding the fastening recess 3 peripherally with the at least one anchoring projection 37, so that there is an axial form-locking connection.

The anchoring ring 10 may, in principle, be integrated in the base unit 6 and, in particular, be a component of this base unit 6. However, preferred is the illustrated embodiment in which it is placed on the sealing ring 13 axially opposite rear side of the housing body 12 in this respect coaxial arrangement and separately from the base unit 6. The housing body 12 has there an annular rear end face 42 on which the anchoring ring 10 is axially supported. By anchored in the mounting recess 3 anchoring ring 10 thus the base unit 6 is prevented from a backward movement, that is, a movement out of the mounting recess 3 out. An overall axially immovable fixation with respect to the carrier component 2 is experienced by the base unit 6 in that it is pressed by the anchoring ring 10 on its front side 22 with the sealing ring 13 located there against an annular support surface 43 of the carrier component 2 facing the mouth opening 19 a stepped contour of the mounting recess 3 results.

The required for pressing in the anchoring ring 10 press-in force is suitably applied with the interposition of the release sleeve 8 by means of a suitable press-fit tool. The pressing is done in the assembled state of the connection unit 4, wherein the anchoring ring 10th outside of the base unit 6 with radial clearance on a sleeve portion 44 of the release sleeve 8 sits, which extends between the front end portion 33 and the actuating portion 34 of the release sleeve 8. The actuating portion 34 extends beyond the sleeve portion 44 in the radial direction, so that it faces the anchoring ring 10 at the back with a portion which is referred to as press-in portion 45. For insertion of the connection unit 4 in the Befestigungsausneh- tion 3, a forward-pressing force is exerted on the actuating portion 34 so that the release sleeve 8 moves forward until it rests with its press-in 45 at the itself on the housing body 12 supporting anchoring ring 10 , As a result of continued application of the press-in force, the anchoring ring 10 is pressed into the fastening recess 3, whereby it pushes the base unit 6 in front of it until the sealing ring 13 abuts the support surface 43.

The laser transmission welded joint 27 is preferably formed and corresponding to the illustrated embodiments in the region of the sealing ring 13 facing the front of the housing body 12. In all embodiments, the laser transmission welded connection 27 comprises a laser weld seam 46, which is formed as a self-contained, to the housing body 12 and the sealing ring 13 coaxial annular seam. The laser weld seam 46 is located in a transition region 48 between the housing body 12 and the sealing ring 13. In FIGS. 1 and 5, a preferred beam direction of the laser beam used to carry out the laser transmission welding is indicated by dot-dashed arrows 47.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate an embodiment of a connecting device 1, with respect to a Laser transmission welding is optimized, in which the laser beam is passed through the material of the sealing ring 13 into the transition region 48 to be welded. In contrast, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8 is optimized with respect to a manufacturing method in which the laser beam is used for executing the

Laser transmission through the material of the

Housing body 12 is passed through into the transition region 48 to be welded.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the sealing ring 13 and in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8 of the housing body 12 of a laser-transparent material. In addition, in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the housing body 12 and in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8 of the sealing ring 13 of a laser beam absorbing material.

The laser-transparent material has a high transmittance in the range of the wavelength of the laser light used. By contrast, the laser-absorbing material has a high degree of absorption in this wavelength range.

The laser light introduced according to arrow 47 passes through the laser-transparent material and strikes the laser beam-absorbing material in the transition region 48. In the latter, adjacent to the transition region 48, the laser beam is absorbed, resulting in heat development, by which the laser beam absorbing material is melted. The resulting heat also leads to heating and melting of the laser-transparent material in the vicinity of the transition region 48, so that the two melted materials unite and form a cohesive connection. Supported this joining operation expediently by the external application of a joining force by which the two components to be welded are pressed against one another. For this purpose used or usable devices are not shown in the drawing.

According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the laser transmission welded connection 27 can advantageously be formed in the region of an outer peripheral surface 52 of the housing body 12 facing away from the insertion recess 26.

In this context, it is useful if the

Housing body 12 on the sealing ring 13 facing the front side has a radially inwardly projecting annular front end portion 53, on which the participating in the welding process, located in the transition region 48 outer circumferential surface 52 is arranged. For better distinction, this outer circumferential surface 52 will also be referred to below as

Welded outer peripheral surface 52 denotes.

By way of example, the housing body 12 has a sleeve-shaped main portion 54 on which expediently the rear end face 42 is formed and which has a greater wall thickness than the adjoining him front end portion 53. The latter is with respect to the main portion 54 expediently radially inward toward the Longitudinal axis 16 bent towards, so that in the longitudinal section according to Figure 1, an arcuate contouring results. Together with the main portion 54 of the front end portion 53 forms an open to the longitudinal axis 16 annular groove, which expediently defined in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the above-mentioned retaining recess 32, which is used to fix the support member 14 a. The bent front end portion 53 is initially formed after the initial formation of the housing body 12, which preferably takes place by injection molding, preferably still hollow cylindrical. The front end portion 53 then has an initial shape which corresponds to the shape of the existing in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8 front end portion 55 of the housing body there 12 and is a hollow cylindrical shape. Only after the original form of the

Housing body 12, the first still hollow cylindrical front end portion 53 is bent into the desired final shape, in particular by ultrasonic action or alternatively by another forming process, for example by hot forming. Before bending, the retaining element 14a is expediently still inserted, so that it is fixed in the present after bending retaining recess 32.

The thus formed and radially inwardly projecting front end portion 53 of the housing body 12 defines a welding outer peripheral surface 52, which is convexly curved viewed in the longitudinal section of the base unit 6.

According to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the sealing ring 13 has, on its rear side facing the housing body 12, an annular rear end face 56, with which it bears against the welding outer circumferential surface 52. This rear end face 56 is preferably shaped to be complementary to the welding outer circumferential face 52 and, in the exemplary embodiment, has a concave curvature viewed in the longitudinal section of the base unit 6.

In the manufacture of the base unit 6, the

Housing body 12 and the sealing ring 13 with the welding outer peripheral surface 52 and the rear end face 56 axially attached to each other and expediently with Vorspan- pressed against each other. Then, according to arrow 47, the formation of the laser transmission welded joint 27 with a material of the sealing ring 13 penetrating laser beam. The jet direction is preferably oriented axially, that is to say in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 16, wherein the jet entry into the sealing ring 13 takes place from the front side 22 at a radial distance from the longitudinal axis 4. During beam exposure, the base unit 6 and the laser beam are rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis 16 as indicated by arrow 57, either by turning the laser beam or a laser beam exit unit emitting the laser beam, or vice versa with a stationary laser beam exit unit by uniform rotation the housing body 12 and the sealing ring 13 about the longitudinal axis sixteenth

There are several complete revolutions in the welding process feasible to form a laser weld 46, which has arisen from several superimposed laser beam overflows. The selected number of laser beam overflows can be used to influence the intensity of the welded connection without having to change the radiation intensity of the laser beam.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 8, the transition region 48 having the laser transmission welded connection 27 is located between an inner peripheral surface 58 of the housing body 12 facing the insertion recess 26, which is referred to below as a welding inner circumferential surface 58 for better distinction, and an opposite outer peripheral surface 62 the sealing ring 13. Preferably, and according to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 to 8, the welding inner peripheral surface 58 of the Inner peripheral surface of the already mentioned front end portion 55 of the housing body 12 is formed, which is designed as a hollow cylinder. This front end section 55 has a smaller wall thickness than an adjoining sleeve-shaped main section 54 of the housing body 12, which projects beyond the front end section 55 concentrically radially inwards.

The sealing ring 13 has an annular fastening section 63 on the rear, with which it is inserted into the hollow-cylindrical front end section 55 and on which the outer peripheral surface 62, which is radially opposite the welding inner circumferential surface 58, is formed. The outer diameter of the mounting portion 63 is equal to or preferably slightly larger than the inner diameter of the front end portion 55, the latter has the advantage that the inserted sealing ring 13 abuts against the annular welding inner peripheral surface 58 due to its rubber elasticity with radial bias.

The transition region 48 provided for the laser transmission welded connection 27 is located radially between the

Welding inner peripheral surface 58 of the front end portion 55 and the outer peripheral surface 62 of the fixing portion 63rd

The welding process takes place according to FIG. 5 by means of a laser beam which is passed from radially outward at the axial height of the front end section 55 through this front end section 55 in order to be absorbed in the area of the outer peripheral surface 62 and thereby in the transitional area 48 to trigger the described welding process. Compared to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, this offers the advantage that the front end section 55 does not have to be deformed or bent after the initial shaping of the housing body 12, which is also preferably carried out here by injection molding. As a retaining recess 32 for fixing the retaining element 14a is preferably an axial gap which is formed between the sleeve-shaped main portion 54 and the inserted into the housing body 12 sealing ring 13 and surrounded by the sleeve-shaped front end portion 55 of the housing body 12.

In order to ensure a defined insertion depth of the sealing ring 13 with respect to the housing body 12, it is advantageous if the sealing ring 13 is stepped annular according to the embodiment on its outer circumference. From the gradation results in a rearwardly oriented annular support surface 64 on the sealing ring 13, which bears against the forwardly facing end face of the front end portion 55 of the housing body 12.

By limiting the insertion depth can be advantageously achieved that measured in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 16 width of the retaining recess 32 is slightly larger than the thickness of the immersed in the retaining recess 32 annular body 25 of the holding member 14 a, so that the latter remains a slight mobility, the Alignment with respect to the inserted fluid line 5 favors.

Also in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the front end portion 55 of the housing body 12 is preferably bent so that the dipping into the retaining recess 32 annular body 25 is received with a small axial movement play. Preferably, the sealing ring 13 has a lying axially outside of the housing body 12 sealing portion 65 which cooperates sealingly with both the outer peripheral surface 35 of the inserted fluid line 5 and with the mounting recess 3 peri pher limiting wall 38.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the Ab support surface 64 is located on the sealing portion 65th

The sealing section 65 has an outer diameter which, prior to inserting the connection unit 4 into the fastening recess 3, has a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the fastening recess 3 in the region of the sealing position which the sealing section 65 assumes within the fastening recess 3 in the position of use of the connection unit 4 , It is advantageous if the sealing section 65 has on the radial outer circumference at least one raised annular sealing bead 66, which in the position of use of the connecting unit 4 is compressed by the cooperation with the wall 38 of the carrier component 2.

In the region of its inner circumference, the sealing portion 65 preferably has a radially inwardly projecting annular inner Ren sealing bead 67 whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the fluid line to be connected 5, so that it widened with inserted fluid line 5 and pressed against the outer peripheral surface 35 of the fluid line 5 sealing becomes.

Preferably, the sealing ring 13 has in its region opposite the retaining claws 24 a concentric recess 68 with respect to the longitudinal axis 16, which allows a free radial movement probability of the retaining claws 24 when the retaining claws 24 when inserting the fluid line 5 and the Beaufschla Be deformed by the release sleeve 8 radially outward. The recess 68, viewed in longitudinal section of the base unit 6, preferably has a concave contour.

Claims

claims

1. Connection device for fluid lines, with a longitudinal axis (16) having a terminal unit (4) which is adapted to advance in a use position with its front side (22) in a mounting recess (3) of a separate support member (2) and on the Support member (2) to be fixed, wherein the connection unit (4) is penetrated axially by a Einsteckausnehmung (26) into which a fluid line to be connected (5) from the back (23) of the connection unit (4) forth can be inserted and wherein the connection unit (4) has a sleeve-shaped base unit (6) on which an annular holding structure (14) designed to hold the inserted fluid line (5) is fixed and which has an annular housing body (12) and a front side attached to the housing body (12) on the housing body (12) attached to the sealing ring (13), characterized in that the sealing ring (13) made of a thermoplasti elastomeric material (TPE) and by means of at least one laser transmission welded joint (27) to the plastic housing housing body (12) is permanently attached.

2. Connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing body (12) consists of thermoplastic material, wherein it expediently consists of a polyamide.

3. Connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealing ring (13) of a laser-transparent material and the housing body (12) consists of a laser beam absorbing material, wherein at least one laser transmission welded joint (27) at least one through the sealing ring (13 ) through in the transition region (48) between the sealing ring (13) and the

Housing body (12) formed laser weld (46).

4. Connecting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing body (12) of a laser-transparent material and the sealing ring (13) consists of a laser beam absorbing material, wherein at least one laser transmission welded joint (27) at least one through the housing body (12 Having) in the transition region (48) between the housing body (12) and the sealing ring (13) formed laser weld (46).

5. Connecting device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one laser weld (46) is a self-contained, coaxial with the housing body (12) and the sealing ring (13) arranged annular seam.

6. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one laser transmission welded joint (27) in the region of the sealing ring (13) facing the front of the housing body (12) is formed.

7. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one laser transmission welded joint (27) in the region of a plug recess (26) facing away from the outer peripheral surface (52) of the housing body (12) is formed.

8. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing body (12) on its the sealing ring (13) facing the front has a radially inwardly projecting and in particular bent annular front end portion (53), one of the one - plug-in recess (26) facing away from the outer peripheral surface (52) with axially forwardly pointing direction component to which the sealing ring (13) with a rear end face (56) is attached, wherein at least one Laserdurchstrahl- welded joint (27) in the transition region (48) between the outer peripheral surface (52) of the front end portion (53) of the housing body (12) and the rear end surface (56) of the sealing ring (13) is formed.

9. Connecting device according to claim 8, characterized in that viewed in the longitudinal section of the base unit (6), the outer peripheral surface (52) of the front end portion (53) of the housing body (12) is convexly curved and the rear end face (56) of the sealing ring (13). having a concave curvature adapted thereto.

10. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one laser transmission welded joint (27) in the region of one of the Einsteck- recess (26) facing inner peripheral surface (58) of the

Housing body (12) is formed.

11. Connecting device according to claim 10, characterized in that the housing body (12) on its the sealing ring (13) facing front ends with a hollow cylindrical front end portion (55) into which the sealing with at least one laser transmission welded connection (27) in the radial transition region (48) between the inner peripheral surface (58) of the hollow cylindrical front end portion (55) of the

Housing body (12) and the outer peripheral surface (62) of the annular mounting portion (63) of the sealing ring (13) is formed.

12. Connecting device according to claim 11, characterized in that the sealing ring (13) is stepped in an annular manner on its outer circumference and has an adjoining the fastening portion (63), axially rearwardly oriented support surface (64) which on a front end face of the front end portion (55) of

Housing body (12) is applied.

13. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the annular holding structure (14) consists of an annular retaining element (14a) which has a plurality of in the Einsteckausnehmung (26) projecting resilient retaining claws (24) which are formed for urging the outer periphery of a fluid line (5) inserted into the insertion recess (26) for the purpose of retaining it.

14. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the annular support structure

(14) in an annular retaining recess formed solely by the housing body (12) or formed axially between the housing body (12) and the sealing ring (13)

(32) is fixed.

15. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the connection unit (4) has a for their attachment in the mounting recess (3) of the support member (2) provided anchoring ring (10), which expediently at a rear

End face (42) of the housing body (12) is supported and the housing body (12) with at least one for positive engagement in the mounting recess (3) delimiting wall (38) of the support member (2) provided radially projecting anchoring projection (37).

16. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that in the housing body (12) for releasably actuating the support structure (14) serving release sleeve (8) is axially displaceably mounted with an actuating portion (34) back from the Housing body (12) protrudes and which is conveniently engaged in the housing body (12).

17. Connecting device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the carrier component (2) belongs to the connecting device (1) and having a with the mounting recess (3) communicating fluid channel (11).

18. A method for producing a connecting device for fluid lines, which has a longitudinal axis (16) having a terminal unit (4) which is designed to advance in a position of use with its front side (22) in a mounting recess (3) of a separate carrier component ( 2) and to be fastened to the support component (2), the connection unit (4) being penetrated axially by a plug-in recess (26) into which a fluid line (5) to be connected can be inserted from the rear side (23) of the connection unit (4 ) is insertable and wherein the Anschlussein- (4) has a sleeve-shaped base unit (6), on which a for holding the inserted fluid line (5) formed annular support structure (14) is fixed and the one annular housing body (12) and a front side of the housing body (12) attached and at that

Housing body (12) fixed sealing ring (13), characterized in that independently of each other, the sealing ring (13) made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and the housing body (12) are made of plastic and then the sealing ring (13) and the housing body ( 12) are permanently attached by laser transmission welding together.

19. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that the connecting device (1) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 18.