Pipe connection

Abstract

Pipe connection between a pipe (1) and a connection fitting (3) of a sanitary fitting, with a union nut (19) with which the pipe (1), namely a ring collar (13) of the pipe (1), can be pre-tensioned in a sealing position with the connection fitting (3), wherein the union nut (19) has at least one positive locking segment (33) which is adjustable between a pre-assembly position (V), in which a push-on movement (I) of the union nut (19) onto the connection fitting (3) is enabled, and a final assembly position (E), in which a positive locking connection between the union nut (19) and the connection fitting (3) is established, characterized in that the union nut (19) is constructed in two parts with an outer sleeve (17) and with an inner sleeve (15) carrying the positive locking segment (33), and that the outer sleeve (17) is rotatable with respect to the inner sleeve (15), namely between a clamping position (K),in which the positive locking segment (33) is pressed into the final assembly position (E) with a clamping force, and a release position (F) in which the positive locking segment (33) is adjustable into the pre-assembly position (V).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pipe connection between a pipe, in particular a hose, and a connecting piece of a sanitary fitting according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] When connecting detachable hoses to plumbing fittings, a union nut or snap connection is typically used. Snap connections are more complex to install than standard snap connections. In contrast, standard snap connections require a lot of space and are not protected against accidental loosening.

[0003] A generic pipe connection has a connection nipple for sliding on a hose assembly. The connection nipple is also provided with a radially expanded annular collar, which is engaged behind by an inner collar or annular shoulder of a union nut. When connecting the hose to the sanitary fitting connection piece, the union nut is screwed onto the external thread of the connection piece with its internal thread, thereby clamping the end face of the connection piece into a sealing connection with the annular collar of the hollow cylindrical connection nipple, if necessary with the interposition of a sealing ring.

[0004] Screwing the union nut onto the connection piece is complex in terms of assembly and therefore involves a correspondingly long installation time.

[0005] DE 92 02 546 U1 discloses a plastic push-in nut that can be inserted into an opening in a support plate. DE 93 02 595 U1 also discloses a push-in nut that can be used to attach a screw-in part to a plate-like wall element. US 3 390 898 A discloses a coupling between a hose and a connection piece of a sanitary fitting.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a pipe connection between a pipe and a connection piece of a sanitary fitting, in which the assembly is simplified.

[0007] The object is solved by the features of patent claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

[0008] The invention is based on the realization that screwing the union nut onto the external thread of the sanitary fitting connection piece is associated with considerable effort. Against this background, the union nut according to claim 1 has at least one form-locking segment, in particular a threaded segment. The form-locking segment can be adjusted between a pre-assembly position and a final assembly position. In the pre-assembly position, a linear or translational slip-on movement of the union nut onto the connection piece is possible. In contrast, in the final assembly position, a form-locking connection is established between the form-locking segment of the union nut and the external thread of the sanitary fitting connection piece.

[0009] The union nut can preferably form a pre-assembly unit with a hollow cylindrical connection nipple onto which the pipeline can be pushed. When removed, the pre-assembly unit is separate from the pipeline, in particular a hose assembly, and the sanitary fitting. The connection nipple has a radially expanded annular collar, which can be engaged behind by a radially inwardly projecting inner collar of the union nut.

[0010] For a reliable form-lock connection, the union nut can have several, particularly three, circumferentially distributed form-lock segments. Each of the form-lock segments can be expanded radially outward into its pre-assembly position during the fitting movement of the union nut. This allows the connecting piece to be inserted with its end face into a sealing connection with the annular collar of the connecting nipple.

[0011] The union nut is constructed in two parts: an outer sleeve, made primarily of metal, and an inner sleeve supporting the form-locking segment. The outer sleeve is rotatable relative to the inner sleeve between a clamped position and a release position. In the release position, the form-locking segment can be freely expanded into its pre-assembly position. In contrast, in the clamped position of the outer sleeve, the form-locking segment is pressed with a clamping force into the final assembly position, in which the form-locking connection between the union nut and the connecting piece is established.

[0012] The form-locking segment can preferably have a radially outwardly projecting clamping rib. The clamping rib can interact with a free space provided on the inner circumference of the outer sleeve. This means that in the release position, the clamping rib can be displaced into the free space of the outer sleeve. In contrast, when the outer sleeve rotates from its release position to the clamping position, the form-locking segment is pressed into its final assembly position, building up a clamping force.

[0013] The outer sleeve can preferably be rotatable between two movement stops formed on the inner sleeve. Each of the movement stops is assigned to the release position and the clamping position of the outer sleeve. To limit such movement, the outer sleeve can have at least one driver that can be moved between the two movement stops of the inner sleeve.

[0014] In one embodiment, the inner sleeve of the union nut can be formed of the same material and / or integrally onto the annular collar of the connection nipple. The connection nipple can be manufactured, optionally together with the inner sleeve of the union nut, as a plastic injection-molded part. In contrast, the outer sleeve can be made of a metal, for example, as a zinc die-cast piece. Alternatively, the outer sleeve can also be made of a plastic material.

[0015] As an alternative to the above embodiment, the inner sleeve of the union nut and the connection nipple can also be two separate components. In this case, the inner sleeve can have an inner collar that engages behind the annular collar of the connection nipple. The connection nipple, the inner sleeve, and the outer sleeve of the union nut thus form a three-part pre-assembly unit.

[0016] It is preferred if, in a manufacturing state, i.e., in a state not yet installed between the hose and the sanitary fitting, the outer sleeve is rotated in its release position. This ensures that the form-locking segment can spread open without obstruction to perform the insertion movement. For this purpose, the inner sleeve can have a locking element with which the outer sleeve is held in releasably locking engagement in its release position. The locking element thus secures the outer sleeve in its release position.

[0017] The above embodiment results in the following assembly process for coupling a pipeline to the sanitary fitting: First, a hose assembly is pushed onto the connection nipple of the aforementioned pre-assembly unit. The union nut of the pre-assembly unit is then pushed onto the end face of the sanitary fitting connection piece until it seals against the end face of the connection piece. In a subsequent assembly step, the union nut rotates, turning the outer sleeve from the release position into the clamped position over a comparatively short rotational distance. After the rotation has taken place, the form-fitting segment is pressed against a corresponding counter contour, i.e., the external thread of the connection piece, with the clamping force.

[0018] A proper assembly process is complete when an assembly tool has rotated the outer sleeve of the union nut into its clamping position, meaning the driver formed on the outer sleeve is in contact with the corresponding movement stop of the inner sleeve. If the outer sleeve is subjected to further torque after reaching the clamping position, the outer sleeve continues to rotate, coupled with the inner sleeve. If the inner sleeve and the connection nipple are made of the same material / one piece, the problem arises that the hose assembly is subjected to torsional stress, which can be detrimental.

[0019] To prevent such torsional stress on the hose assembly, another embodiment allows the inner sleeve of the union nut and the connection nipple to be separate components. In this case, the inner sleeve of the union nut can have an inner collar that engages behind the collar of the connection nipple. This allows the inner sleeve to rotate relative to the connection nipple, preventing torque from being transmitted to the hose assembly during assembly.

[0020] The advantageous embodiments and / or further developments of the invention explained above and / or reproduced in the subclaims can - except, for example, in cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives - be used individually or in any combination with one another.

[0021] The invention and its advantageous developments and further developments as well as their advantages are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0022] They show: Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of the essential components of a hose connection; Fig. 2 in a sectional view the hose connection between a hose line and a connecting piece; Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 each in a standalone position and in perspective view a connection nipple with molded inner sleeve ( Fig. 3) and an outer sleeve of a union nut ( Fig. 4); Fig. 5 to 7 are diagrams illustrating the assembly of the hose line connection; Fig. 8 a hose line connection according to a further embodiment; and Fig. 9 which in the Fig. 8 shown hose line connection in an exploded view.

[0023] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is a hose connection in an exploded view ( Fig. 1) and in a final assembly state ( Fig. 2). Accordingly, a hose line 1 is coupled in a watertight manner to a connection piece 3, for example of a corner valve or a sanitary fitting. The hose line connection has a connection nipple 5, onto whose elongated sleeve section 7 a line end 9 of the hose line 1 is pushed. The line end 9 is reinforced on the outside with a press sleeve 11. In addition, the connection nipple 5 has a radially outwardly widened annular collar 13. The annular collar 13 is extended on the side axially opposite the sleeve section 7 with an inner sleeve 15. The inner sleeve 15, together with a radially outer sleeve 17, is a component of a union nut 19. In the Fig. 2, the union nut 19 is tightened, i.e. screwed onto the external thread 21 of the connection piece 3. This means that according to the Fig. 2 an end face 23 of the connecting piece 3 is pressed against the annular collar 13, in particular against the mouth area 27 ( Fig. 2), the hole 29 through the connection nipple 5.

[0024] As from the Fig. 3, the inner sleeve 15 of the union nut 19 is formed of the same material and in one piece on the annular collar 13 of the connection nipple 5. The inner sleeve 15 has three radial gaps 31 ( Fig. 3) has circumferentially spaced thread segments 33. An axially extending clamping rib 35 is formed on the outside of each of the three thread segments 33. Furthermore, the annular collar 13 has three guide grooves 37 ( Fig. 3) which are connected to the driving pins 39 ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) of the outer sleeve 17. The driving pins 39 are arranged according to Fig. 4 inside on an inner waistband 41 ( Fig. 4) of the outer sleeve 17. The inner collar 41 defines a passage opening 43 through which the sleeve section 7 of the connection nipple 5 is guided. Furthermore, circumferentially distributed clearances 45 are incorporated into the circular inner circumference 49 of the outer sleeve 17, which interact with the clamping webs 35 of the threaded segments 33 in a manner described later.

[0025] The connection nipple 5, together with the outer sleeve 17 of the union nut 19, forms a two-part pre-assembly unit. Fig. The assembly of the hose line connection is described below in Figures 5 to 7. First, the outer sleeve 17 is slipped over the sleeve section 7 of the connection nipple 5, i.e., the sleeve section 7 is guided through the through-opening 43 of the outer sleeve 17. The sleeve section 7 of the connection nipple 5 is then inserted into the line end 9 of the hose line 1. In this state, the outer sleeve 17 engages behind the annular collar 13 of the connection nipple 5 with its inner collar 41. Furthermore, the drive pins 39 of the outer sleeve 17 protrude into the guide grooves 37 of the annular collar 13.

[0026] With a slip-on movement I ( Fig. 5) of the union nut 19 onto the connecting piece 3, the locking elements 51 interacting with the driving pins 39 ensure that the outer sleeve 17 remains in its release position F. This means that the clamping webs 35 of the threaded segments 33 protrude into the associated free spaces 45 of the outer sleeve 17. In the release position F ( Fig. 6) the insertion movement I ( Fig. 5), in which the connecting piece 3 can be guided in a smooth linear plug-in movement into the sealing system with the sealing ring 25, namely by spreading the threaded segments 33 of the inner sleeve 15 into the pre-assembly position V, i.e. into the free spaces 45 of the outer sleeve 17. Subsequently, the outer sleeve 17 is rotated in a rotary movement II ( Fig. 7) is rotated from its release position F to the clamping position K.

[0027] With the help of the driving pins 39 projecting into the guide grooves 37, the movement of the outer sleeve 17 is guided between the release position F and the clamping position K. The guide grooves 37 each represent movement stops 38 ( Fig. 3) are available, which are each assigned to the release or clamping position F, K.

[0028] By the rotational movement II ( Fig. 7) of the outer sleeve 17 from the release position F into the clamping position K, the clamping webs 35 formed on the threaded segments 33 are guided out of the free spaces 45, namely along a clamping ramp 47 ( Fig. 7) until it comes into contact with the circular inner circumference 49 of the outer sleeve 17. The rotary movement II therefore takes place by building up a clamping force with which the outer sleeve 17, which is in the clamping position K, presses the thread segments 33 in a form-fitting manner against the external thread 21 of the connecting piece 3. As can be seen from the Fig. As can be seen from Figure 7, the angle of rotation α of the rotary movement II is predetermined by the guide grooves 37 and comprises only a few degrees. After the insertion movement I has been completed, a rotary movement II of only a few degrees is required to tighten the union nut 19, which can significantly reduce assembly time and thus also labor costs.

[0029] A proper assembly process is completed when an assembly tool has turned the outer sleeve 17 of the union nut 19 into its clamping position K, i.e. the driver 39 formed on the outer sleeve 17 is in stop with the corresponding movement stop 38 of the inner sleeve 15. If, after reaching the clamping position K, the outer sleeve 17 is further subjected to a torque, the outer sleeve 17 now rotates further in a motion-coupled manner with the inner sleeve 15. Fig. In this case, the problem arises due to the uniform / one-piece design of the inner sleeve 15 with the connection nipple 5 shown in Figures 1 to 7, that the pushed-on hose line 1 is exposed to an adverse torsional stress.

[0030] In order to avoid such torsional stress on the hose line 1, the Fig. 8 and Fig.In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the inner sleeve 15 of the union nut 19 and the connection nipple 5 are separate components. The inner sleeve 15 of the union nut 19 has an inner collar 53 that engages behind the annular collar 13 of the connection nipple 5. In this way, the inner sleeve 15 can rotate relative to the connection nipple 5, whereby torque can no longer be transmitted to the hose line 1 during assembly. List of reference symbols 1 pipeline 3 connecting pieces 5 connection nipples 7 Sleeve section 9 End of line 11 Press sleeve 13 ring bundle 15 inner sleeve 17 Outer sleeve 19 Union nut 21 external threads 23 Front side of the connection piece 25 Sealing ring 27 Mouth area 29 Hole 31 Radial gap 33 Form-locking segment 35 clamping bar 37 Guide groove 39 Driving pin 41 inner waistband 43 Passage opening 45 free space 47 clamping ramp 49 inner circumference 51 locking element 53 inner waistband V Pre-assembly position VE final assembly position K Clamping position F Release position I Slip-on movement II Rotational movement

Claims

[1] Pipe connection between a pipeline (1) and a connecting piece (3) of a sanitary fitting, with a union nut (19) with which the pipeline (1), namely an annular collar (13) of the pipeline (1), can be pre-tensioned in sealing engagement with the connecting piece (3), wherein the union nut (19) has at least one form-fitting segment (33) which is adjustable between a pre-assembly position (V), in which a slip-on movement (I) of the union nut (19) onto the connecting piece (3) is enabled, and a final assembly position (E), in which a form-fitting connection between the union nut (19) and the connecting piece (3) is established, characterized bythat the union nut (19) is constructed in two parts with an outer sleeve (17) and with an inner sleeve (15) carrying the form-locking segment (33), and that the outer sleeve (17) is rotatable with respect to the inner sleeve (15), specifically between a clamping position (K), in which the form-locking segment (33) is pressed into the final assembly position (E) with a clamping force, and a release position (F), in which the form-locking segment (33) is adjustable into the pre-assembly position (V). [2] Pipe connection according to claim 1, characterized by that the form-fitting segment (33) spreads radially outwards into the pre-assembly position (V) during the slip-on movement (I) of the union nut (19) onto the connecting piece (3). [3] Pipe connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the form-locking segment (33) has a radially outwardly projecting clamping web (35) which interacts with a free space (45) on the inner circumference (49) of the outer sleeve (17), and that in particular in the release position (F) the clamping web (35) can be displaced into the free space (45) of the outer sleeve (17) and in the clamping position (K) the inner circumference (49) of the outer sleeve (17) presses the form-locking segment (33) into the final assembly position (E) via the clamping web (35). [4] Pipe connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer sleeve (17) is rotatable between two movement stops (38) of the inner sleeve (15), which are each assigned to the release position (F) and the clamping position (K), and that in particular the outer sleeve (17) has at least one driver (39) which is movable between the two movement stops (38) of the inner sleeve (15). [5] Pipe connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the annular collar (13) assigned to the pipeline (1) is a component of a connection nipple (5) onto which the pipeline (1) can be pushed, and / or that the inner sleeve (15) of the union nut (19) is formed of the same material and / or in one piece on the annular collar (13). [6] Pipe connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the outer sleeve (17) has an inner collar (41) with which the outer sleeve (17) directly or indirectly engages behind the annular collar (13). [7] Pipe connection according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the inner sleeve (15) of the union nut (19) and the annular collar (13) are separate components from one another, and that in particular the inner sleeve (15) has an inner collar (53) with which the inner sleeve (15) engages behind the annular collar (13). [8] Pipe connection according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized bythat the connection nipple (5) and the union nut (19) form a two-part or three-part pre-assembly unit separate from the pipeline (1) and the connection piece (3). [9] Pipe connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the inner sleeve (15) has a locking element (51) with which the outer sleeve (17) is held in releasable locking engagement in its release position (F). [10] Pipe connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that, in order to couple the pipeline (1) to the sanitary fitting, the connecting piece (3) can be inserted into the union nut (19) in a pushing-on movement (I), in particular can be brought into sealing engagement with the annular collar (13) of the pipeline (1), and then, by a rotating movement (II) of the union nut (19), its form-fitting segment (33) can be brought into form-fitting connection with a corresponding counter-contour (21), in particular an external thread, of the connecting piece (3).

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