Connection device for connecting a fluid line to a connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a fluid line to a connecting body, comprising a base body which can be inserted in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner by means of a connecting part into a connecting opening of the connecting body, the base body comprising, in the longitudinal direction, a through-opening in which an end part of the fluid line is received, fastening means designed to hold the fluid line in the base body are arranged in the through opening, and first spacing means and first sealing means arranged in the longitudinal direction next to the fastening means are pushed over an end portion of the fluid line, a closure device having an insertion opening for a fluid line is mounted on a closure portion of the base body facing away from the connection body, whereby a fastening device, a first spacer device and a first sealing device arranged in the through opening are held in the through opening of the base body, a second spacing means arranged between the first sealing means and the closure means is urged over an end portion of the fluid line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a fluid line to a connecting body according to the preamble of claim 1 . Background Art

[0002] A number of embodiments of connection devices for fluid lines to be connected to a connection body are known. The connection device is inserted into the connection body and then the end portion of the fluid line is introduced into the connection device. Typically, the end portion of the fluid line is then engaged in a fastening device and thus secured to the connection body.

[0003] WO 2017 / 129667 A1 describes a connection device for plug-in connection of a fluid pipeline, wherein the connection device comprises a base body with a closure device. In the front region along the installation direction, the base body has a screw shaft with an external threaded portion, and the base body is screwed into a threaded hole in the connecting body by means of the external threaded portion. Contrary to the installation direction, the external threaded portion is adjacent to a sealing portion in the base body, and the sealing portion has a circumferentially extending groove, in which an annular sealing device is arranged, as a result, the base body is sealed relative to the connecting body by the sealing device. The base body also includes an inner through-opening extending in the axial direction and having a contact shoulder, on which a fastening device, followed by a spacer device and a sealing device are arranged along the installation direction. In this case, the spacer device is arranged between the fastening device and the sealing device. The sealing device, the spacer device and the fastening device are retained in the through-opening in the base body by the inwardly oriented contact shoulder along the installation direction, as a result, axial displacement in the direction of the connecting body is prevented. After the fastening device, the spacing device and the sealing device are inserted into the through-opening in the substrate, the closing device is inserted into the rear end of the substrate observed in the installation direction. The closing device has an insertion opening for the fluid pipeline to be inserted in the axial direction, wherein an inner groove is formed in the insertion opening in the closing device and a sealing device is arranged. In the inserted state, the closing device abuts against the stepped surface in the through-opening and against the sealing device installed in the through-opening with its inwardly oriented end face in the installation direction, thereby preventing the inserted sealing device, spacing device and fastening device from being pulled out of the through-opening of the substrate along the direction opposite to the installation direction together with the fluid pipeline when pressure is applied. The closing device is fixed, for example, by bending at the rear end of the substrate in the installation direction. However, alternatively, it can also be fixed by pressing or locking the closing device into a suitable position.

[0004] In the case of such connecting devices of the prior art, it has been proven that the closure means and the base body are connected in an unreleasable manner. In order to enable the closure means to be released from the base body, the closure means and / or the base body in which the closure means is installed must be destroyed.

[0005] The disadvantage is that when replacing a defective connection device, the inserted fluid line together with the fastening means, spacer means and sealing means pushed onto the fluid line cannot be easily pulled out of the base body because the base body is closed by the non-releasable closing means. A defective connection device can only be replaced by cutting off the fluid line.

[0006] Due to the non-releasable connection between the closure means and the base body, the fluid line must be cut outside the connection device, which has the disadvantage that after being cut, the fluid line may no longer have the required minimum length and thus no longer be connectable to a new connection device and connection body. Therefore, the fluid line must also be replaced so that it has the minimum length required for connection.

[0007] Another disadvantage is that, due to the non-releasable connection between the closure means and the base body, the sealing means, the spacing means and the fastening means inserted into the base body cannot be removed and reused when a defective connection device is replaced. As a result, the sealing means, the spacing means and the fastening means inserted into the base body can be lost when a defective connection device is replaced.

[0008] In order to optionally reuse the sealing means, spacers and fastening means inserted into the base body after replacement, the defective connection device must be destroyed so that the sealing means, spacers and fastening means inserted into the base body can be removed. This can lead to damage to the sealing means inserted into the base body, since the sealing means lies flat on the inner side of the non-releasable closure means in the base body. Summary of the invention

[0009] The invention is based on the object of providing a connecting device for connecting a fluid line to a connecting body, wherein a simple and reliable installation and removal of the connecting device is made possible.

[0010] The object on which the invention is based is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

[0011] The connection device according to the invention is used, for example, in a connection body, preferably referred to as a pressure medium supply or valve block, of a motor vehicle so that the pressure medium supply can be connected to other components of the vehicle via fluid lines, preferably referred to as pressure medium lines. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Further preferred embodiments of the present invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the accompanying drawings,

[0013] In the accompanying drawings,

[0014] Figure 1 An exemplary connection arrangement is shown, and

[0015] Figure 2a to Figure 2d Closure means with differently designed fastening means are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary connecting device 1 is shown, which comprises a base body 3 in the form of a hollow cylinder having a through opening 16 for receiving an end portion of a fluid line 2, wherein the base body 3 is received in a connecting opening 5 in a connecting body 4. The connecting body 4 may be, for example, a pressure medium supply or a valve block of a vehicle.

[0017] As an example, the base body 3 is screwed into the connection opening 5 by means of a thread. For this purpose, the base body 3 comprises an external thread on the connecting part 21, and the connection opening 5 is correspondingly provided with an internal thread. This means that the base body 3 is fixedly connected to the connection opening 5 in the connecting body 4. Other force-locking and / or form-locking ways of connecting the base body 3 and the connecting body 4 are also possible. For example, the base body 3 can be pressed into the connection opening 5 in the connecting body 4.

[0018] By means of the connecting device 1 , the end section of the fluid line 2 is fixedly connected to the connecting body 4 , so that pressure medium can be conducted to the connecting body 4 or out of the connecting body through the fluid line 2 .

[0019] In order to connect the fluid line 2 to the connecting body 4, the end portion of the fluid line 2 is inserted into the through opening 16 of the base body 3 through the insertion opening 19 in the closing device 8 along the longitudinal axis L of the connecting device 1. A fastening device 7 is arranged in the base body 3, which is designed to receive the end portion of the fluid line 2 and retain the end portion in the connecting device 1. The fastening device 7 can be, for example, a serrated locking washer or a locking washer. The fastening device 7 is axially displaceable and rotatably mounted in the through opening 16 in the base body 3. The loose reception of the fastening device 7 in the base body 3 allows the received end portion of the fluid line 2 to move freely in the base body 3 along the longitudinal axis L and to rotate freely around the axis. Therefore, the fluid line 2 connected to the connecting device 1 can be easily installed and disassembled, and can be retained and displaced in various retaining positions. When the end portion of the fluid line 2 is inserted into the fastening device 7, the end portion bends the radially inwardly directed tabs of the fastening device 7. The tabs interlocked on the outer wall of the fluid line 2 in the process act as barbs with a certain reaction force on the fluid line 2. As a result, the end portion of the fluid line 2 is held in the base body 3 and secured against being pulled out or pushed out. The fastening means 7 rests with its outer ring on the contact shoulder 20 of the base body 3. The contact shoulder 20 is formed in the through-opening 16 in the base body 3 and protrudes radially inwards. From here, the diameter of the through-opening 16 also tapers in the direction of the connecting opening 5.

[0020] In order to prevent the end portion of the fluid line 2 from being pushed too deep into the connecting body 4 when being introduced, an annular end stop 17 is also formed in the base body 3. The end stop 17 is formed as a radially inwardly oriented convex ring at the lower edge of the connecting portion 21 of the base body 3. The end of the fluid line 2 abuts against the convex ring and cannot move forward. At the same time, the end stop 17 forms the discharge opening of the connecting device 1.

[0021] The closure device 8 is placed on the base body 3 in the mounting direction Y onto an exposed portion of the base body 3 which serves as the closure portion 22. The closure device 8 comprises a fastening device 13 by means of which the closure device 8 is fixedly but releasably connected to the base body 3. Figure 2a to Figure 2d The non-destructive fastening of the closure device 8 to the base body 3 and various types of connections are described in more detail in the description of FIG. The diameter of the insertion opening 19 of the closure device 8 is smaller than the diameter of the through opening 16 in the base body 3. Therefore, the closure device 8 at least partially covers the through opening 16 from above.

[0022] In addition to the fastening means 7, further means are arranged in the interior of the through-opening 16, which further means contribute to the fastening and sealing of the fluid line 2 in the connection device 1. As seen in the direction opposite to the mounting direction Y, the fastening means 7 is followed by a first spacing means 9, which rests on the fastening means 7. The first spacing means is followed slightly by a first sealing means 10 at a spatial distance. Slightly spatially spaced from the first sealing means is a second spacing means 11, and slightly spatially spaced from the second spacing means is a second sealing means 12. This arrangement is completed by a closing means 8 which holds the means 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the through-opening 16 in the base body 3. Thus, the first spacing means 9, the first sealing means 10, the second spacing means 11 and the second sealing means 12 are plugged over the end portion of the fluid line 2.

[0023] The fastening means 7 is designed to transfer tensile and / or compressive forces acting on the fluid line 2 to the first sealing means 10 via the first spacing means 9 and further to the closing means 8 via the second spacing means 11 and the second sealing means 12. The fastening means 7, the first spacing means 9, the first sealing means 10, the second spacing means 11 and the second sealing means 12 are movably mounted in the through opening 16 in the base body 3 in the longitudinal direction, so that when tensile and / or compressive forces act on the fluid line 2, an increased compression of the sealing means 10 and 12 is achieved and thus a greater sealing effect against internal and external influences is produced.

[0024] The second spacing means 11 has the advantage that the first sealing means 10 has a suitable seat and performs its proper function in the base body 3. The significance and purpose of the second spacing means 11 is that the fastening means 7, the first spacing means 9 and the first sealing means 10 lie flatly aligned relative to one another after installation in the through-opening 16 before the closure means 8 is installed on the base body 3. The second spacing means 11 also has the advantage that the fluid line 2 can be guided more easily and thus better oriented during installation and removal in the through-opening 16 of the base body 3. Thus, the fastening means 7 is pushed vertically into the through-opening 16 so that the fastening means cannot be wedged and damaged.

[0025] Furthermore, advantageously, by means of the second spacing means 11 , the fluid line 2 together with the second sealing means 12 can be removed from the defective connection device 1 during disassembly and can be introduced better and protected from damage during subsequent installation into a new connection device 1 .

[0026] The second sealing means 12 seals the fluid line 2 in the region of the insertion opening 19 in the closure means 8. This means that the closure means can be omitted on the sealing means. The second sealing means 12 serves to protect against environmental influences such as water, dirt, or other media. The connection device 1 is thus sealed against external influences which could act on the fluid line 2 received therein.

[0027] In particular, when the connection device 1 is used in a vehicle, the fluid line 2 is subjected to tensile and / or compressive forces. The elastic sealing means 10 and 12 achieve compression, thereby making it particularly easy to seal the fluid line 2 in a gas-tight manner and to protect it externally from environmental influences.

[0028] The closing device 8 having an insertion opening 19 having a smaller diameter than the through opening 16 is designed to absorb tensile and / or compressive forces acting on the fluid pipeline 2, which are transmitted to the closing device via the fastening device 7, the first spacer device 9, the first sealing device 10, the second spacer device 11 and the second sealing device 12.

[0029] The base body 3 is made, for example, of a corrosion-resistant plastic material, so that corrosion between the connecting body 4 and the base body 3 is prevented. For example, polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride or fluoropolymers are used as plastics. These plastic materials are, for example, cheaper than brass and make the production and processing of the connecting device 1 simpler. In addition, these plastic materials make the connecting device 1 resistant to galvanic corrosion with respect to the connecting body 4 under the influence of the environment (for example salt and water).

[0030] The base body 3 also comprises, at its outer periphery, at the transition from the connecting portion 21 in the direction of the closing portion 22, a flange 15 having a groove 14 which extends circumferentially and in which the base body sealing means 6 is embedded, as a result of which the base body 3 is sealed relative to the connecting body 4. This prevents the fluid from flowing out of the connecting body 4 along the connection with the base body 3.

[0031] In the following Figure 2a to Figure 2d In FIG. 1 , different types of fastening of the closure means 8 to the base body 3 are presented.

[0032] Figure 2a A first exemplary connection of a closure device 8 to a base body 3 is shown. The connection of the closure device 8 to the base body 3 is designed in the form of a bayonet closure. The fastening means 13 of the closure device 8 comprises inner bayonet grooves which interact with bayonet cams formed in the region of the closure part of the base body 3. The closure device 8 is placed onto the base body 3 in the mounting direction Y. By rotating the closure device 8 and the base body 3 in opposite directions, the cams engage in the grooves. As a result, the closure device 8 is releasably but fixedly connected to the base body 3 in the axial direction. The connection can be reopened by simply rotating the closure device 8.

[0033] Figure 2b A second exemplary connection of a closure device 8 to a base body 3 is shown. The closure device 8 comprises a plurality of snap hooks as fastening means 13. These snap hooks extend in the mounting direction Y. As a counterpart, a circumferentially extending groove is provided in the closed part of the base body 3, in which the snap hooks engage. In this type of connection, the closure device 8 is simply plugged axially onto the base body 3 until the snap hooks snap into the grooves. The closure device 8 can be released from the base body 3 by radially expanding the snap hooks.

[0034] Figure 2c A third exemplary type of connection of the closure element 8 to the base body 3 is shown, which is based on the Figure 2b The same operating principle applies to the exemplary embodiment of . In this case, the fastening means 13 of the closing means 8 is provided with a recess designed to receive a corresponding hook formed on the base body 3 .

[0035] at last, Figure 2dA fourth exemplary type of connection of the closure device 8 to the base body 3 is shown. In this case, the fastening device 13 is designed as an internal thread in the interior of the closure device 8, which is designed to interact with an external thread in the region of the closure portion formed on the base body 3. This means that the closure device 8 is introduced into the base body 3 along the installation direction Y and then twisted until the thread pair reaches the stop. In addition, protection against release is provided by a toothed portion extending circumferentially at the lower edge of the closure device 8, which engages in a corresponding counterpart on the base body 3 during screwing. In this case, the fastening teeth of the closure device 8 interlock with the fastening teeth of the base body 3 and secure the connection from twisting and release.

[0036] according to Figure 2a to Figure 2d The advantage of non-destructively disassembling the closure device 8 is that after the closure device 8 is pulled away from the base body 3, the fluid line together with the fastening device, the spacer device and the sealing device pushed on the fluid line can be pulled out of the base body 3. This does not require cutting the fluid line to replace a defective connection device.

[0037] Another advantage is that the fastening means are broken and removed after the fluid line has been pulled out. This means that the sealing means and the spacing means pushed onto the fluid line can be pulled off and reused. This has the advantage that when replacing a defective connection device, the fluid line does not have to be cut off and can therefore be used for connection to a new connection device.

[0038] List of reference numerals:

[0039] 1 Connecting device

[0040] 2 Fluid lines

[0041] 3 Matrix

[0042] 4 Connector

[0043] 5 Connection opening

[0044] 6. Substrate sealing device

[0045] 7 Fastening devices

[0046] 8. Closing device

[0047] 9 First spacer device

[0048] 10 First Sealing Device

[0049] 11. Second spacer device

[0050] 12. Second sealing device

[0051] 13 Fastening device

[0052] 14 Grooves

[0053] 15 Flange

[0054] 16 Through opening

[0055] 17 End stop

[0056] 18 Thread

[0057] 19 Insert opening

[0058] 20 Shoulder contact

[0059] 21 Connection section

[0060] 22 Closed section

[0061] L Longitudinal axis

[0062] Y Installation direction

Claims

1. A connection device (1) for connecting a fluid pipeline (2) to a connection body (4), wherein: The connection device (1) comprises a base body (3) which can be inserted into a connection opening (5) of a connection body (4) in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner by means of a connecting portion (21), wherein the base body (3) comprises a through opening (16) in a longitudinal direction (L), in which an end portion of a fluid line (2) is received, wherein a fastening device (7) designed to hold the fluid line (2) in the base body (3) is arranged in the through opening (16), wherein a first spacing device (9) and a first sealing device (10) arranged adjacent to the fastening device (7) in the longitudinal direction (L) ) is pushed onto the end portion of the fluid pipeline (2), wherein a closing device (8) having an insertion opening (19) for the fluid pipeline (2) is mounted on a closing portion (22) of the base body (3) facing away from the connecting body (4), thereby holding a fastening device (7), a first spacing device (9) and a first sealing device (10) arranged in the through opening (16) in the base body (3), characterized in that a second spacing device (11) arranged between the first sealing device (10) and the closing device (8) is pushed onto the end portion of the fluid pipeline (2).

2. The connection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The second sealing means (12) is arranged in a through-opening (16) in the base body (3) between the second spacing means (11) and the closing means (8).

3. The connection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first spacer means (9) and the second spacer means (11) are not elastically deformable.

4. The connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The diameter of the insertion opening (19) of the closure means (8) is smaller than the diameter of the through-opening (16) of the base body (3).

5. The connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first spacing means (9), the first sealing means (10) and the second spacing means (11) are arranged spatially spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction (L).

6. The connection device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The first spacing means (9), the first sealing means (10) and the second spacing means (11) are movable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction (L) under tensile and / or compressive loads of the fluid line (2).

7. The connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The closure device (8) comprises at least one fastening device (13), by means of which the closure device is releasably and non-destructively connected to the base body (3).

8. The connection device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The fastening device (13) is designed with a plurality of bayonet cams, which are designed to engage in corresponding bayonet grooves formed on the closing portion (22) of the base body (3).

9. The connection device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The fastening device (13) is designed with a plurality of snap hooks, which are designed to engage in corresponding grooves, which are formed by extending along the circumferential direction on the closed part (22) of the base body (3).

10. The connection device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The fastening device (13) is designed with a plurality of tabs with inner recesses, and the tabs are designed to receive corresponding hooks formed on the closed portion (22) of the base body (3).

11. The connection device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The fastening means (13) is designed in the form of an internal thread which is designed to be screwed onto an external thread formed on the closing portion (22) of the base body (3).

12. The connection device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that The closure means (8) comprises circumferentially extending teeth which are designed to interact with corresponding teeth on the closure portion (22) of the base body (3).

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