WO2021234606A1

WO2021234606A1 - Connector for connecting two fluid-conducting elements

Info

Publication number: WO2021234606A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/054337
Authority: WO
Inventors: Iris Barthel; Kay Bube; Harald Knobloch; Reiner Rohde
Original assignee: Ti Automotive (Fuldabrueck) Gmbh
Priority date: 2020-05-20
Filing date: 2021-05-19
Publication date: 2021-11-25
Also published as: EP3913272B1; EP3913272A1

Abstract

A connector for connecting two fluid-conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle tubes, with a female plug-in part and a male plug-in part that can be plugged into the female plug-in part. A retainer is connected to the female plug-in part, with which the male plug-in part can be fixed to the female plug-in part. In the unfixed state of the male plug-in part, the retainer is blocked by a verification sleeve provided in the female plug-in part. When the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part, the verification sleeve is displaced axially in the insertion direction. This releases the retainer and fixes the male plug-in part to the female plug-in part.

Description

CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING TWO FLUID-CONDUCTING ELEMENTS

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present patent document claims priority to European Application No. 20175716.8, filed May 20, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The disclosure relates to a connector for connecting two fluid conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle tubes, with a female plug-in part and a male plug-in part that can be plugged into the female plug-in part, wherein a retainer is connected to the female plug-in part, with which the male plug-in part can be fixed to the female plug-in part.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The connector according to the disclosure is preferably a VDA connector (VDA standard) or an SAE connector (SAE standard). It is within the scope of the disclosure that the connector according to the disclosure is a rapid connector or quick connector. According to a preferred embodiment, the connector is used to connect two pipes or tubes, in particular two motor vehicle tubes.

[0004] Connectors of the type described above are known in principle in different embodiments from practice. In particular, when using such connectors to connect two motor vehicle tubes, it has been shown that connection errors often result due to the sometimes complicated assembly and the high expenditure of force when connecting the male and female plug-in parts. Such connection errors occur, for example, when the male plug-in part is not properly and correctly fixed to the female plug-in part due to incomplete assembly, so that the connection is not functionally reliable and tight. This is particularly the case if it is not reliably and clearly recognizable during assembly whether the connection between the male and female plug-in parts has been established properly. Such connection errors can result in leaks, where fluids or liquids such as fuel, coolant and the like escape undesirably. In order to counteract this problem, connectors with devices for displaying the correct connection between male and female plug-in parts are known from practice. However, many of these connectors have a complex structure and can only be produced with a high manufacturing effort or high production costs. In addition, connection errors continue to occur in at least some known connectors because the correct assembly or connection between the plug-in parts is not indicated with sufficient reliability. Furthermore, the effort required to connect the male and female plug in parts is problematic in this context and also contributes to the susceptibility to failure during assembly. In this respect there is a need for improvement. [0005] In contrast, the disclosure is based on the technical problem of specifying a connector of the type mentioned at the outset, with which connection errors when connecting male and female plug-in parts can be avoided in a simple and functionally reliable way, and with which the correct and functionally reliable connection of male and female plug-in parts is in particular indicated clearly and reliably.

[0006] To solve this technical problem, the disclosure teaches a connector for connecting two fluid-conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle tubes, with a female plug-in part and a male plug-in part that can be plugged into the female plug-in part, a retainer being connected to the female plug-in part, with which the male plug-in part can be fixed to the female plug-in part. The connector according to the disclosure is characterized in that the retainer is blocked in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part by a verification sleeve provided in the female plug-in part, and in that the verification sleeve is displaced axially in the insertion direction when the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part, so that the retainer is released and the male plug in part is fixed to the female plug-in part.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the connector according to the disclosure, the male plug-in part and/or the female plug-in part is formed on the basis of at least one plastic. The male plug-in part and/or the female plug-in part preferably consists of at least one plastic or substantially of at least one plastic. The male plug-in part and/or the female plug-in part particularly preferably consists of at least one plastic or substantially of at least one plastic selected from the group “aliphatic polyamide, aromatic polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)”. In principle, however, other plastics are also within the scope of the disclosure as material for the male plug-in part and/or the female plug-in part, such as polyurethane and/or polyolefins, in particular polypropylene. It is also possible that the male plug-in part and the female plug in part are made from different plastics. The male plug-in part and the female plug-in part are preferably produced on the basis of the same plastic, and the male plug-in part and the female plug-in part are preferably made of the same plastic or substantially of the same plastic.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the retainer according to the disclosure consists of at least one metal or substantially of at least one metal. It has been proven useful for the retainer to consist of steel or substantially consist of steel. According to an alternative embodiment of the disclosure, the retainer consists of at least one plastic or substantially of at least one plastic, for example a polyamide and/or polyphenylene sulfide.

SUMMARY

[0009] According to the disclosure, the male plug-in part is fixed to the female plug-in part with the retainer. In the unfixed state of the male plug-in part, the retainer is blocked by the verification sleeve according to the disclosure. An “unfixed” state of the male plug-in part means, within the scope of the disclosure, in particular the state in which the male plug-in part has not yet been inserted into the female plug-in part or has not yet been fully inserted into the female plug-in part. When the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part, the verification sleeve is displaced axially in the insertion direction, so that the retainer is released and the male plug-in part is then fixed by the retainer to the female plug-in part.

[0010] A particularly preferred embodiment of the disclosure is characterized in that the female plug-in part has at least one retainer recess, which is blocked by the verification sleeve in the unfixed state of the male plug in part, and wherein the retainer passes through or completely passes through the at least one retainer recess in the fixed state of the male plug-in part. It is recommended that the female plug-in part has two opposing retainer recesses, which are preferably designed as retainer slots. This embodiment is based on the knowledge that the retainer in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part does not yet pass through the retainer recesses due to the blocking by the verification sleeve, or does not yet fully pass through, and fully passes through the retainer recesses only when released due to the displacement of the verification sleeve and the male plug-in part is fixed to the female plug-in part in this way. Among other things, this advantageously reduces the force required during the insertion process, since the retainer is preferably pretensioned, so to speak, by the verification sleeve and, after the verification sleeve has been axially displaced, initially passes through in the insertion direction during the insertion process of the male connector and expediently snaps into at least one retainer recess whilst passing through or completely passing through. The “fixed” state of the male plug-in part also means within the scope of the disclosure the state in which the male plug-in part is completely inserted into the female plug-in part and is fixed to the female plug-in part by the retainer.

[0011] The verification sleeve according to the disclosure expediently consists of plastic or substantially of plastic. The verification sleeve is preferably designed in one piece and is in particular a one-piece plastic component. It is recommended that the verification sleeve is designed as a hollow cylindrical and/or frustoconical component at least in some areas or in sections, which preferably tapers at least in some areas or in sections in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part. It is within the scope of the disclosure that the verification sleeve, with the exception of its two sleeve openings, has no further openings or recesses and the like.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the verification sleeve is axially displaceable in the insertion direction by direct contact of the male plug-in part with the verification sleeve, and the male plug- in part is preferably pushed into the verification sleeve at least in some areas or sections. In the fixed state of the male plug-in part, it is recommended that the verification sleeve therefore preferably surrounds the male plug-in part at least in some areas or sections.

[0013] It is within the scope of the disclosure that the male plug-in part has an inclined surface which interacts with or engages a complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve during the insertion process, thereby axially displacing the verification sleeve in the insertion direction so that the retainer is released. The inclined surface is expediently arranged on the outside of the male plug-in part and is preferably formed in one piece on the male plug-in part. According to a preferred embodiment, the complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve forms the inner surface of the verification sleeve, at least in some areas or sections. It is recommended that the male plug-in part can be inserted into a plug-in recess of the female plug-in part during the plug-in process and that the preferably provided inclined surface of the male plug-in part is preferably brought up to a complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve in the course of this insertion process, and is particularly preferably brought into contact with this complementary inclined surface, and when the male plug-in part is further inserted into the female plug-in part, expediently displaces the verification sleeve axially in the insertion direction, so that the retainer is released.

[0014] It is recommended that the inclined surface of the male plug-in part and/or the complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve rise in the axial direction of the male plug-in part or the verification sleeve. The inclined surface of the male plug-in part and/or the complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve preferably rises against the direction of insertion of the male plug-in part. In the context of the disclosure, the axial direction of the male plug-in part means in particular the direction of the longitudinal axis of the male plug-in part. In the context of the disclosure, the axial direction of the verification sleeve means, in particular, the direction of the longitudinal axis or longitudinal center axis of the verification sleeve passing through the two sleeve openings. It has been proven useful for the inclined surface and/or the complementary inclined surface to rise by 10° to 60°, preferably by 15° to 50°, more preferably by 20° to 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis or longitudinal center axis of the male plug-in part or the verification sleeve. The longitudinal axis of the verification sleeve means in particular the longitudinal center axis of the verification sleeve running through the two sleeve openings. It is recommended that the angle of incline of the inclined surface of the male plug-in part and the complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve be identical or substantially identical.

[0015] It is within the scope of the disclosure that the inclined surface runs around the circumference of the male plug-in part. According to the recommended embodiment, the inclined surface runs around the circumference of the male plug-in part by at least 50%, preferably by at least 60%, more preferably by at least 75% and particularly preferably by at least 90%. Very particularly preferably, the inclined surface runs completely around the circumference of the male plug-in part. The inclined surface is expediently designed as a ramp which rises counter to the insertion direction of the male plug-in part in the axial direction of the male plug-in part. It has been proven useful for the inclined surface of the male plug-in part and/or the complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve to rise continuously and in particular step-free.

[0016] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the retainer engages behind a stop flange of the male plug-in part when the male plug-in part is completely inserted or fixed. In the fully inserted or fixed state of the male plug-in part, the retainer particularly preferably engages in a fixing groove of the male plug-in part. The fixing groove runs around the circumference of the male plug-in part preferably by at least 80%, more preferably by at least 90%, particularly preferably by at least 95%. According to a preferred embodiment, the fixing groove runs around the circumference of the male plug-in part completely or substantially completely.

[0017] A particularly recommended embodiment of the disclosure is characterized in that the retainer is U-shaped with a U-bracket and two U-legs connected to the U-bracket. In the fully inserted or fixed state of the male plug in part, the U-legs preferably each pass through a retainer recess of the female plug-in part or pass through it completely. The U-legs very preferably engage behind the stop flange of the male plug-in part, and very particularly preferably the U-legs engage in the fixing groove of the male plug-in part. It is recommended that the two U-legs are connected to the U-bracket in a resilient manner.

[0018] It is preferred that the preferably resilient U-legs in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part do not or not completely pass through the retainer recesses, which are preferably configured as two opposing retainer slots, because the U-legs and the retainer recesses are blocked by the verification sleeve. The verification sleeve expediently releases the retainer or retainer recesses through its axial displacement in the insertion direction in the course of the process of inserting the male plug-in part, so that the U-legs of the retainer preferably pass through or completely pass through the retainer recesses or retainer slots of the female connector and in particular snap into these retainer recesses or retainer slots. The U-legs then expediently engage behind the stop flange of the male plug-in part and particularly preferably engage in its fixing groove. In this state, the male plug-in part is completely or properly fixed to the female plug-in part.

[0019] In principle, the inclined surface provided on the male plug-in part according to the preferred embodiment can be a component formed in one piece on the male plug-in part, which otherwise has no function in relation to the connection between the two plug-in parts and is provided only for the interaction with or engagement with the complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve during the course of the insertion process. Preferably, however, the inclined surface also has the stop flange for the retainer or the rear side of the inclined surface forms the stop flange for the retainer. The stop flange is expediently arranged in front of the inclined surface in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part. This embodiment is based on the knowledge that the inclined surface is provided both for interaction with or to engage the complementary inclined surface of the verification sleeve, and forms or has the stop flange for the retainer. This is particularly advantageous in the context of the disclosure.

[0020] According to an alternative embodiment of the connector according to the disclosure, a collar is provided on the male plug-in part, preferably completely circumferentially around the circumference of the male plug-in part, the side surfaces of which extend substantially vertically or at right angles to the surface of the male plug-in part. It is within the scope of the disclosure that the collar of the male plug-in part is engaged from behind by the retainer in the fixed state of the male plug-in part, and thus forms or has the stop flange of the male plug-in part. In the context of such an embodiment, the verification sleeve is expediently designed in such a way that it has an engaging surface, which is designed to be complementary to the collar and which the collar engages or with which the collar interacts when the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part and thus axially displaces the verification sleeve in the insertion direction, so that the retainer is released and can engage behind the collar of the male plug-in part or the stop flange formed by the collar. Then the male plug-in part is completely and properly fixed to the female plug-in part. In the context of such an embodiment, in which the male plug-in part preferably has a collar, the retainer also preferably consists of at least one plastic or substantially of at least one plastic, in particular of a polyamide and/or of polyphenylene sulfide.

[0021] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the verification sleeve is colored at least in some areas or sections. The verification sleeve preferably differs in its color from the other connector components and in particular from the female plug-in part. It is within the scope of the disclosure that the color of the verification sleeve differs from the color of the female plug-in part and/or the male plug-in part. According to a preferred embodiment, the verification sleeve can be made at least partially, preferably completely, from a colored plastic, for example from a red-colored plastic, and the remaining connector components - in particular the female plug-in part - are then for example made of a black and/or a gray and/or a white plastic. The individual connector components can also have different colors from one another. In connection with this embodiment, it is essential that the color of the verification sleeve differs at least from the color of the female plug-in part and preferably differs from the color or the colors of the other connector components.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the connector according to the disclosure, the female plug-in part has at least one verification window. Through the at least one verification window, at least part of the - in particular colored - verification sleeve is expediently visible in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part, and the verification sleeve is preferably no longer visible through the verification window in the fixed condition or in the fully inserted state of the male plug-in part or is substantially no longer visible. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible within the scope of the disclosure that the female plug-in part has at least one verification window through which the - in particular colored - verification sleeve is not yet visible in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part or is substantially not yet visible, and preferably at least part of the verification sleeve is visible through the verification window in the fixed state or in the fully inserted state of the male plug-in part.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment, at least part of the verification sleeve, in particular colored, is visible through at least one verification window in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part, and in the fixed state or in the fully inserted state of the male plug-in part, at least one part or another part of the verification sleeve is also visible through the verification window. In the context of such an embodiment, the verification sleeve preferably has at least two color areas or color sections with different colors. This is explained in more detail below.

[0024] At least part of the verification sleeve is thus visible through at least one verification window within the scope of the disclosure, preferably in the unfixed state and/or in the fixed state of the male plug-in part.

[0025] It is within the scope of the disclosure that the at least one retainer recess of the female plug-in part forms the at least one verification window. Preferably, two opposing retainer recesses, designed as retainer slots, of the female plug-in part form two such verification windows. However, it is also possible for the female plug-in part to have at least one separate verification window in the form of a recess, a bore or the like. According to a preferred embodiment of the connector according to the disclosure, the verification window is designed as a partial area of the female plug-in part, which consists or substantially consists of at least one transparent plastic.

[0026] The embodiment of the connector according to the disclosure with at least one verification window is based on the knowledge that, through the verification window, the verification sleeve, which is preferably colored and, in particular, differs in its color from the female plug-in part or from the other connector components, is visible and thus indicates when the male plug-in part is properly fixed in the female plug-in part in the unfixed state and/or in the fixed state of the male plug-in part. This properly fixed state of the male plug-in part is functionally reliable and clearly indicated.

[0027] It is also within the scope of the disclosure that the verification sleeve has at least two color areas or color sections with different colors, the color of which differs from the color of the other connector components. In the context of such an embodiment, the verification sleeve can, for example, have a first colored section which is at the front in the insertion direction of the male plug in part and which is expediently green in color. It is recommended that the verification sleeve then preferably has a second colored section which is arranged behind the first colored section in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part and is preferably red in color. In the context of such an embodiment, the verification sleeve is visible through the at least one verification window both in the unfixed and in the fixed state of the male plug-in part, wherein one color, for example the red color, is visible in the unfixed state and the other color of the verification sleeve, for example the green color, is visible in the fixed state of the male plug-in part. In this way, the properly fixed state of the male plug in part is visually displayed very reliably on the female plug-in part and can in particular be recognized quickly. The color of the verification sleeve can of course also include other colors in the configuration with at least two color areas, as long as the two color areas are distinguishable from one another and each differs from the color of the female plug-in part or the other connector components.

[0028] According to a recommended variant of the connector according to the disclosure, the verification sleeve, in particular on its outer surface, has a barcode and/or a QR code, which is expediently visible in at least one verification window when the male plug-in part is properly fixed.

[0029] It is preferred that the verification sleeve has a blocking surface on its outer surface for blocking the retainer in the unfixed state of the male plug in part. The blocking surface is in particular formed in one piece on the verification sleeve or on the complementary inclined surface and preferably runs parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the verification sleeve. The blocking surface runs around the circumference of the verification sleeve preferably by at least 80%, more preferably by at least 90% and particularly preferably completely. The blocking surface of the verification sleeve expediently blocks the at least one retainer recess of the female plug-in part and/or the retainer in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part and thus prevents the retainer from passing through or completely passes through the retainer recesses. During the process of inserting the male plug-in part into the female plug-in part, the verification sleeve is displaced axially in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part, so that the blocking surface of the verification sleeve releases the at least one retainer recess and/or the retainer, so that the retainer fixes the male plug-in part on the female plug-in part.

[0030] Preferably the male plug-in part has at least one centering element which, when the male plug-in part is fixed or fully inserted, engages in a form fitting recess of the female plug-in part. The at least one centering element expediently protrudes from the outer surface of the male plug-in part and engages in a form-fitting recess on the inner surface of the plug-in recess of the female plug-in part. According to a preferred embodiment, the male plug-in part has two centering elements on its outer surface, which are preferably arranged opposite one another on the outer surface of the male plug-in part and preferably engage in two complementary form-fitting recesses on the inner surface of the plug-in recess of the female plug-in part.

[0031] In this context, it is within the scope of the invention that the verification sleeve has a front-side contact surface which interacts with an end face of the at least one centering element formed on the outer surface of the male plug-in part when the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part, so that the verification sleeve is moved axially in the insertion direction and the retainer is released. The front-side contact surface expediently runs around the circumference of the verification sleeve by at least 80%, preferably by at least 90%. According to one embodiment, the front-side contact surface runs completely around the circumference of the verification sleeve. In this context, the front-side contact surface of the verification sleeve means the foremost surface of the verification sleeve in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part. It is possible for the verification sleeve to have at least one front-side recess in the front-side contact surface, in which the at least one centering element preferably engages. In this context, the centering element assigned to the at least one front-side recess can be designed in such a way that it overlaps the fixing groove of the male plug-in part.

[0032] It is within the scope of the invention that the verification sleeve, during the process of inserting the male plug-in part into the female plug-in part, is displaced axially in the insertion direction by the inclined surface preferably arranged on the male plug-in part and/or by the at least one centering element recommended on the male plug-in part, so that the retainer is released.

[0033] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the connector has a sealing element, in particular a sealing ring, which is preferably held in the connector by a spacer ring and/or by the verification sleeve. The sealing element or the sealing ring is preferably arranged in the female plug-in part and is preferably provided between the female plug-in part and the male plug-in part in the fixed or fully inserted state of the male plug-in part. The sealing element is expediently a sealing ring or O-sealing ring running around the circumference of the male plug-in part.

[0034] It is recommended that a spacer ring is arranged between the male plug-in part and the female plug-in part in the fixed or fully inserted state of the male plug-in part. The spacer ring is expediently arranged in front of the at least one sealing element, preferably in front of the at least one sealing ring, in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part. According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the spacer ring is locked to the female plug-in part. The spacer ring holds the sealing element or the sealing ring preferably in the connector or in the female plug-in part. It is also within the scope of the invention that the verification sleeve holds the sealing ring in the female plug-in part.

[0035] The verification sleeve is preferably arranged in front of the sealing element or sealing ring, both in the unfixed and in the fixed state of the male plug-in part in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part, and expediently rests against the sealing element or sealing ring in the fixed state of the male plug-in part and preferably holds it in place in the connector or in the female plug-in part. It is within the scope of the invention that the verification sleeve holds the sealing element or the sealing ring and the spacer ring in the female plug-in part. It is also possible within the scope of the invention that no spacer ring is provided in the female plug-in part and that the sealing element or the sealing ring is only held in the female plug-in part by the verification sleeve, and in particular is held in the connector or in the female plug-in part by contact between the verification sleeve and the sealing element or the sealing ring. It is possible for the spacer ring to be integrally formed on the verification sleeve. [0036] The disclosure is based on the knowledge that, with the connector according to the disclosure, a functionally reliable and correct connection of the male plug-in part to the female plug-in part is reliably and clearly indicated, so that connection errors can be almost completely avoided in this way. Both an optical or visual verification of the correct fixation of the male plug-in part on the female plug-in part, and a haptic verification by releasing the retainer and its preferred snap-in through the retainer recesses, can take place with the verification sleeve. This can be reinforced by the preferably colored design of the verification sleeve, which differs in particular from the other connector components in terms of its color. The display of the properly fixed state of the male plug-in part on the female plug-in part is possible in a very reliable and trouble-free manner. It should also be emphasized that the verification sleeve according to the disclosure significantly reduces the effort required to insert the male plug-in part into the female plug-in part, since the verification sleeve pretensions the retainer, so to speak, so that the male plug-in part does not have to push the retainer apart during the insertion process. Thus, both a simple and a very reliable and reliably verifiable connection of the male plug-in part to the female plug-in part is possible. It is also advantageous that the connector according to the disclosure can be implemented with relatively little manufacturing effort and with low manufacturing costs, since the verification sleeve is of simple construction and nevertheless enables very reliable verification or display of the correct connection. In addition, the relevant standards for such connectors can be complied with readily with the connector according to the disclosure and the verification sleeve according to the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The disclosure is explained in more detail below with the aid of drawings showing only one exemplary embodiment. The drawings show, in a schematic representation:

[0038] Fig. 1: the connector according to the disclosure in an exploded view;

[0039] Fig. 2: a longitudinal section through the connector according to the disclosure in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part; and [0040] Fig. 3: the object according to Fig. 2 in the fixed or fully inserted state of the male plug-in part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The figures show a connector 1 for connecting two fluid-conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle tubes 2, 3. The connector 1 has a female plug-in part 4 and a male plug-in part 5, which can be plugged into the female plug-in part 4. A retainer 6, with which the male plug-in part 5 can be fixed to the female plug-in part 4, is connected to the connector 1 according to the disclosure. The connector 1 shown in the figures is a so-called VDA connector.

[0042] In the unfixed state of the male plug-in part 5, which is shown in particular in Fig. 2, the retainer 6 is blocked by a verification sleeve 7 provided in the female plug-in part 4. When the male plug-in part 5 is inserted into the female plug-in part 4, the verification sleeve 7 is displaced axially in the insertion direction, so that the retainer 6 is released and the male plug-in part 5 is fixed to the female plug-in part 4. The fully inserted or fixed state of the male plug-in part 5 on the female plug-in part 4 is shown in Fig. 3.

[0043] It is recommended that the female plug-in part 4 and the male plug in part 5 are made from at least one plastic, and the male plug-in part 5 and the female plug-in part 4 preferably consist of polyphenylene sulfide or substantially of polyphenylene sulfide. The retainer 6 preferably consists of steel or substantially of steel.

[0044] Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment, the female plug-in part 4 has two opposing retainer recesses 8, which are designed as retainer slots. This can be seen in particular in Fig. 1. Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the retainer recesses 8 are blocked by the verification sleeve 7 in the unfixed state (Fig. 2) of the male plug-in part 5. In the fully inserted or fixed state of the male plug-in part 5 (Fig. 3), the retainer 6 passes through the two retainer recesses 8 or the retainer 6 fully passes through the retainer recesses 8 in this state. Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment, the retainer 6 is pretensioned, so to speak, by the verification sleeve 7 in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part 5 and, after the verification sleeve 7 has been axially displaced in the insertion direction, snaps into the two retainer recesses 8 whilst passing through or completely passing through during the process of inserting the male plug-in part 5.

[0045] Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment, the verification sleeve 7 is designed as a one-piece plastic component and is partially or sectionally hollow-cylindrical and partially or sectionally frustoconical, so that the verification sleeve 7, recommended and in the exemplary embodiment, tapers partially or sectionally in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part 5.

[0046] In the context of the disclosure and in the exemplary embodiment, the verification sleeve 7 is axially displaced in the insertion direction by direct contact of the male plug-in part 5 with the verification sleeve 7, and it is recommended that, and in the embodiment, the male plug-in part 5 is pushed into the verification sleeve 7 at least in some areas. Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment according to the figures, the direct contact between the male plug-in part 5 and the verification sleeve 7 during the insertion process is provided by means of an inclined surface 9 of the male plug-in part 5, which interacts with a complementary inclined surface 10 of the verification sleeve 7 during the insertion process or engages it. During the process of inserting the male plug-in part 5 into the female plug-in part 4, the male plug-in part 5 is first inserted into a plug-in recess 24 of the female plug-in part 4. Subsequently, the inclined surface 9 is preferably brought up to the complementary inclined surface 10 of the verification sleeve 7 and brought into contact, so that the inclined surface 9 interacts with the complementary inclined surface 10 and thereby axially displaces the verification sleeve 7 in the insertion direction, so that the retainer 6 is released.

[0047] It is recommended, and in the exemplary embodiment, that the inclined surface 9 and the complementary inclined surface 10 rise in the axial direction of the male plug-in part or the verification sleeve 7 against the insertion direction of the male plug-in part 5. The axial direction of the male plug-in part 5 means in particular the direction of the longitudinal axis L s of the male plug in part 5. The axial direction of the verification sleeve 7 means, in particular, the direction of the longitudinal axis or longitudinal center axis L vof the verification sleeve 7 passing through the two sleeve openings. It is within the scope of the invention that the inclined surface 9 and/or the complementary inclined surface 10 rises continuously and step-free and preferably rises by 15° to 50° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the male plug-in part 5 or the verification sleeve 7. In the exemplary embodiment according to the figures, the inclined surface 9 and the complementary inclined surface 10 rise by approximately 30° against the insertion direction of the male plug-in part 5. It is recommended that, and in the exemplary embodiment, the angle of incline of the inclined surface 9 and the complementary inclined surface 10 are identical or substantially identical. Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment, the inclined surface 9 runs around the entire circumference of the male plug-in part 5.

[0048] In the fixed or fully inserted state, the male plug-in part 5 is fixed to the female plug-in part 4 via the retainer 6. The retainer 6 is preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, a U-shaped retainer. In the fixed or fully inserted state of the male plug-in part 5, the U-shaped retainer 6 preferably engages behind a stop flange 11 of the male plug-in part 5, and particularly preferably engages in a fixing groove 12 of the male plug-in part 5 in the exemplary embodiment.

[0049] Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment according to the figures, the U-shaped retainer 6 is designed with a U-bracket 13 and two U- legs 14 connected to the U-bracket 13. Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment, the U-legs 14 each pass through a retainer recess 8 of the female plug-in part 4 or each completely pass through this retainer recess 8 when the male plug-in part 5 is fully inserted or fixed. In this case, the U-legs 14 expediently, and in the exemplary embodiment according to the figures, engage behind the stop flange 11 of the male plug-in part 5 and engage in particular in the fixing groove 12 of the male plug-in part 5. In this state (Fig. 3) the male plug-in part 5 is completely or properly fixed to the female plug-in part 4. [0050] In the context of the disclosure and in the exemplary embodiment, the stop flange 11 is also arranged in front of the inclined surface 9 in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part 5, and the rear side of the inclined surface in particular has the stop flange 11 or forms the stop flange 11. Thus, it is recommended that, and in the exemplary embodiment, on the one hand the inclined surface 9 is provided to interact with or engage the complementary inclined surface 10 of the verification sleeve 7 and on the other hand also forms the stop flange 11 for the retainer 6 or has this stop flange 11.

[0051] It is within the scope of the invention that the verification sleeve 7 is at least partially colored and expediently differs in its color from the other connector components - in particular from the female plug-in part 4. This is not shown in detail in the figures. It is recommended that, and in the exemplary embodiment, the female plug-in part 4 has two verification windows 15 through which at least part of the verification sleeve 7 is visible in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part 5 - in particular with a colored design. In the exemplary embodiment according to the figures, the retainer recesses 8 form two such verification windows 15. In the fixed state or in the fully inserted state of the male plug-in part 5, the verification sleeve 7 is expediently, and in the exemplary embodiment, no longer visible or substantially no longer visible through the verification window 15 (Fig. 3).

[0052] In the context of the disclosure and in the exemplary embodiment, the verification sleeve 7 has a blocking surface 16 on its outer surface for blocking the retainer 6 in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part 5.

The blocking surface 16 is preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, integrally formed on the verification sleeve 7 or on the complementary inclined surface 10 and preferably runs parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L v of the verification sleeve 7. Expediently, the blocking surface 16 runs around the circumference of the verification sleeve 7 completely. In the unfixed state of the male plug-in part 5 (Fig. 2), the blocking surface 16 of the verification sleeve 7 blocks the retainer recesses 8 of the female plug-in part 4 and the retainer 6 and prevents the retainer 6 from passing completely through the retainer recesses 8. When the male plug-in part 5 is inserted into the plug-in recess 24 of the female plug-in part 4, the verification sleeve 7 is expediently displaced axially in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part 5, so that the blocking surface 16 of the verification sleeve 7 releases the retainer recesses 8 and the retainer 6. The retainer 6 then fixes the male plug-in part 5 to the female plug-in part 4 (Fig. 3).

[0053] In the context of the disclosure and in the exemplary embodiment, the male plug-in part 5 has two centering elements 19 which, when the male plug-in part 5 is fixed or fully inserted, each engage in a form-fitting recess 23 of the female plug-in part 4. In the exemplary embodiment according to the figures, the centering elements 19 protrude from the outer surface of the male plug-in part 5 and each engage in a form-fitting recess 23 on the inner surface of the plug-in recess 24 of the female plug-in part 4. The centering elements 19 are expediently arranged opposite one another in the exemplary embodiment on the outer surface of the male plug-in part 5, and preferably engage in two complementary form-fitting recesses 23 on the inner surface of the plug-in recess 24 of the female plug-in part 4.

[0054] Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the verification sleeve 7 has a front-side contact surface 17, which interacts with an end face 18 of one of the two centering elements 19 when the male plug-in part 5 is inserted into the female plug-in part 4, so that the verification sleeve 7 is displaced axially in the insertion direction and the retainer 6 is released. The front surface 17 is moreover preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the foremost surface of the verification sleeve 7 in the insertion direction of the male plug-in part 5. In the context of the disclosure and in the exemplary embodiment, the verification sleeve 7 has a front-side recess 22 in the front side contact surface 17, in which one of the centering elements 19 engages. For this purpose, the centering element (19) assigned to the front-side recess 22 is preferably designed, and in the exemplary embodiment, such that it overlaps the fixing groove 12 of the male plug-in part 5.

[0055] During the process of inserting the male plug-in part 5 into the female plug-in part 4, the verification sleeve 7 is expediently, and in the embodiment shown in the figures, displaced axially in the insertion direction by the inclined surface 9 arranged on the male plug-in part 5 and by the two centering elements 19, so that the retainer 6 is released.

[0056] The figures also show that the connector 1 has a sealing ring 20 as a sealing element, which is held in the connector 1 by a spacer ring 21. The spacer ring 21 is locked to the female plug-in part 4 within the scope of the invention and in the exemplary embodiment.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A connector (1) for connecting two fluid-conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle tubes (2, 3) with a female plug-in part (4) and a male plug-in part (5) that can be plugged into the female plug-in part (4), wherein a retainer (6) is connected to the female plug-in part (4), with which the male plug-in part (5) can be fixed to the female plug-in part (4), characterized in that the retainer (6) is blocked in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part (5) by a verification sleeve (7) provided in the female plug-in part (4), and that, when the male plug-in part (5) is inserted into the female plug-in part (4), the verification sleeve (7) is displaced axially in the insertion direction, so that the retainer (6) is released and the male plug-in part (5) is fixed to the female plug in part (4).

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the female plug-in part (4) has at least one retainer recess (8), which is blocked by the verification sleeve (7) in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part (5), and wherein the retainer (6) passes through or completely passes through at least one retainer recess (8) when the male plug-in part (5) is fully inserted or fixed.

3. The connector according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the verification sleeve (7) is axially displaceable in the insertion direction by direct contact of the male plug-in part (5) with the verification sleeve (7), and wherein the male plug-in part (5) is preferably pushed into the verification sleeve (7) at least in part or in sections.

4. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the male plug-in part (5) has an inclined surface (9), which interacts or engages with a complementary inclined surface (10) of the verification sleeve (7) during the insertion process and thereby displaces the verification sleeve (7) axially in the insertion direction, so that the retainer (6) is released.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the inclined surface (9) is arranged on the outside of the male plug-in part (5) and is preferably formed in one piece on the male plug-in part (5) and/or wherein the complementary inclined surface (10) forms the inner surface of the verification sleeve (7) at least partly or in sections.

6. The connector according to one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the inclined surface (9) and/or the complementary inclined surface (10) rises in the axial direction of the male plug-in part (5) or the verification sleeve (7) and preferably rises against the insertion direction of the male plug-in part (5).

7. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the retainer (6) engages behind a stop flange (11) of the male plug-in part (5) in the fully inserted or fixed state of the male plug-in part (5) and preferably engages in a fixing groove (12) of the male plug-in part (5).

8. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the retainer (6) is U-shaped with a U-bracket (13) and two U-legs (14) connected to the U- bracket (13), wherein, in the fully inserted or fixed state of the male plug-in part (5), the U-legs (14) each preferably pass through a retainer recess (8) of the female plug-in part (4) or pass through completely and preferably engage behind the stop flange (11) of the male plug-in part (5), wherein they particularly preferably engage in the fixing groove (12) of the male plug-in part (5).

9. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the verification sleeve (7) is colored at least in some areas or sections and preferably differs in its color from the other connector components - in particular from the female plug-in part (14).

10. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the female plug-in part (4) has at least one verification window (15), through which at least part of the - in particular colored - verification sleeve (7) is visible in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part (5), and wherein the verification sleeve (7) is preferably no longer visible or is substantially no longer visible through the verification window (15) in the fixed state or in the fully inserted state of the male plug-in part (5).

11. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the female plug-in part (4) has at least one verification window (15), through which the - in particular colored - verification sleeve (7) is not yet visible in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part (5), or is substantially not yet visible, and wherein preferably at least part of the verification sleeve (7) is visible through the verification window (15) in the fixed state or in the fully inserted state of the male plug-in part (5).

12. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the female plug-in part (4) has at least one verification window (15), through which at least part of the verification sleeve (7) is visible in the unfixed state of the male plug in part (5), and wherein, in the fixed state or when the male plug-in part (5) is fully inserted, at least one part or another part of the verification sleeve (7) is also visible through the verification window (15) and wherein the verification sleeve (7) preferably has at least two color areas or color sections of different colors.

13. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the female plug-in part (4) has at least one verification window (15), and wherein the verification sleeve (7), in particular on its outer surface, preferably has a barcode and/or a QR code that is visible in the verification window (15) in the properly fixed state of the male plug-in part (5) .

14. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the verification sleeve (7) has a blocking surface (16) on its outer surface for blocking the retainer (6) in the unfixed state of the male plug-in part (5), wherein the blocking surface (16) is in particular integrally formed on the verification sleeve (7) or on the complementary inclined surface (10), and wherein the blocking surface (16) preferably runs parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the verification sleeve (7).

15. The connector according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the verification sleeve (7) has a front-side contact surface (17), which interacts with an end face (18) of at least one centering element (19) formed on the outer surface of the male plug-in part (5) when the male plug-in part (5) is inserted into the female plug-in part (4), so that the verification sleeve (7) is displaced axially in the insertion direction and the retainer (6) is released.