Plug connection arrangement and method for assembling a plug connection arrangement

Abstract

Plug connection arrangement (1) for detachably connecting a plug connector (3) of a hydraulic line (4) to a connection (5) of a hydraulic system (10), wherein a sealing means (20) bears against an outer surface section (31) of the plug connector (3) and against an inner surface section (51) of the connection (5), comprising a receptacle (7) formed on a free end (6) of the connection (5), which receptacle has at least two hooks (8), each of which has a curved structure (12) on an end face (9), wherein, when the connection (5) is connected to the plug connector (3), each curved structure (12) interacts with a flexible clip (14) of the plug connector (3) and a respective rigid tab (16) of the plug connector (3) engages behind each hook (8), wherein the plug connector (3) has a disc (15) extending perpendicular to an axial direction (A), which disc (15) supports the at least two rigid tabs (16) and corresponding supporting elements (17) have been formed,characterized in that each of the at least two hooks (8) has a contour (18) against which an end (29) of the support elements (17) rests in the assembled state between the plug connector (3) and the terminal (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a connector assembly. In particular, the invention relates to a plug connection arrangement for releasably connecting a plug connector of a hydraulic line to a connection of a hydraulic system. For sealing, a sealant abuts an outer surface portion of the connector and an inner surface portion of the terminal.The invention further relates to a method for mounting a plug connection arrangement. The method according to the invention is used in a plug connection arrangement for the detachable connection of a plug connector of a hydraulic line to a connection of a hydraulic system.German patent application DE 10 2009 035 226 A1 likewise relates to a plug connection arrangement for connecting a pressure medium line to a hydraulic system. A plug connector connected to the pressure medium line can be detachably connected to a connection part. The plug connector is connected to the connection part via at least one bow-like element, the central leg of which extends along the longitudinal axis of the plug connection arrangement and the two other legs of which are operatively connected to the plug connector on the one hand and to the connection part on the other hand in a release-proof manner in the mounting position. US 2011 / 0 089 263 A1 discloses a plug connection arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1. Further prior art is disclosed in DE 101 03 219 A1 and US 2002 / 0 093 199 A1.It is an object of the invention to provide a plug connection arrangement for a hydraulic system which is more cost-effective and simple and reliable to mount.This object is achieved by a plug connection arrangement according to claim 1.A further object of the invention is to provide a method for mounting a plug connection arrangement for detachably connecting a plug connector of a hydraulic line to a connection of a hydraulic system, which method can be carried out in a simple and reliable manner.The above object is achieved by a method for mounting a plug connection arrangement according to the features of claim 6.The plug connection arrangement serves for the detachable connection of a plug connector of a hydraulic line to a connection of a hydraulic system. A hydraulic system is, for example, a concentric slave cylinder, wherein the hydraulic cylinder encloses the drive shaft. The slave cylinder is simple to install. The housings are made almost exclusively of high-temperature-resistant plastic. The integrated design is particularly robust, in which the guide tube and the housing are injection-molded as a single part.A sealing means (O-ring) which abuts an outer surface portion of the plug connector and an inner surface portion of the connector acts in a sealing manner, so that no fluid can escape. At a free end of the connector, a receptacle is formed which has at least two hooks. Each hook has a curved structure on one end face, wherein when connected to the plug connector, each curved structure interacts with a flexible clip of the plug connector. In order to prevent the plug connector from being pulled out of the terminal, a rigid tab of the plug connector engages behind a respective hook of the terminal. The advantage of the present invention is that the connection between the terminal and the plug connector can be established in a simple manner. In addition, parts can be saved.To secure the connection of the terminal and the plug connector, the cam structure is provided with a first section and a second section. The first portion has a ramp along which the flexible clip is guided during rotational movement of the connector. The second portion has a substantially cuboidal shape. In the assembled state between the plug connector and the terminal, the flexible clip abuts against an abutment surface of the second section. At the transition between the first portion and the second portion, a shoulder is formed, against which the flexible clip abuts in the assembled state between the plug connector and the terminal.To secure the connection, the plug connector has a disk extending perpendicular to the axial direction. The disc has the at least two rigid tabs and corresponding support members formed which provide a permanent but releasable connection between the terminal and the connector. Each of the at least two hooks has a contour against which one end of the support elements abuts in the assembled state between the plug connector and the terminal.Each of the flexible clips is followed by a protective element in the axial direction. The plug connector and the terminal are made of a plastic material, preferably of a temperature-resistant plastic material.The method according to the invention for mounting a plug connection arrangement for detachably connecting a plug connector of a hydraulic line to a connection of a hydraulic system comprises a plurality of steps. First, the plug connectors are inserted into a receptacle formed at a free end of the terminal. The receptacle has at least two hooks, each of which has a contour which positively interacts with a contour of a disk of the plug connector when it is inserted into the receptacle of the connection. After the plug connector is inserted, the plug connector can be rotated (preferably by 90°), wherein a rigid tab of the disk of the plug connector engages behind one of the at least two hooks. A flexible clip of the plug connector then abuts a respective second section of a curved structure on an end face of the at least two hooks. A support element abuts the contour of the respective hooks.Preferably, two opposing hooks are provided on the terminal and two opposing rigid tabs are provided on the plug connector. In this case, the connector which is subsequently seated is rotated through 90°, so that one tab in each case engages behind one of the hooks. If two hooks of the terminal and the two tabs of the plug connector are arranged symmetrically distributed, a uniform and homogeneous force distribution is achieved in the connected state between the terminal and the plug connector. This also ensures fluid tightness of the connection.When the plug connector is subsequently rotated, a flexible clip of the plug connector is bent in the axial direction by the curved structure in the first section and thereby mechanically prestressed. In the second section, the flexible clip latches onto the cam structure when an end position of the plug connector is subsequently reached by the rotational movement.The invention and its advantages are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings relating to exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described. The detailed figure shows FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the plug connection arrangement according to the prior art before assembly; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plug connection arrangement from FIG. 1 after assembly; FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the plug connection arrangement according to the invention at the beginning of the assembly process; FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the plug connection arrangement according to the invention during the assembly process; FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the plug connection arrangement according to the invention at the end of the assembly process; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector according to the invention; FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the plug connector according to the invention of a hydraulic line; FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the connector of the hydraulic line connected to the connector; FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a free end of the connection FIG. 10 shows a perspective detailed view of the region marked B in FIG. 9 at the free end of the connection; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the free end of the plug connector according to the invention; and FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of the sequence of production of a secure connection between the terminal and the plug connector.FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the plug connection arrangement 1 according to the prior art before it is mounted on a hydraulic system 10; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plug connection arrangement 1 from FIG. 1 after it has been mounted on the hydraulic system 10; the hydraulic system 10 is, for example, a concentric slave cylinder. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plug connector 3 of a hydraulic line 4 can be connected to a connection 5 of the hydraulic system 10 with the plug connection arrangement 1. The connector 3 is inserted into the terminal 5. To secure the connection of the plug connector 3 and the terminal 5, two rivets 13 are inserted into a housing 11 of the terminal 5, which cooperate with the plug connector 3 and thus hold the plug connector 3 securely in the housing 11 of the terminal 5 (see FIG. 2 ).FIGS. 3 to 5 show the various steps of the assembly of the plug connection arrangement 1 according to the invention. When the plug connector 3 is pushed in in the direction of the arrow P, the receptacle 7 of the terminal 5 interacts in a form-fitting manner with at least one section of the plug connector 3. FIG. 4 shows that in the receptacle 7 of the terminal 5, the plug connector 3 is rotated in the rotational direction D by a predefined angle amount. The secure mounting of the plug connector 3 and the connector 5 is achieved, as shown in FIG. 5, when a clicking sound K of the plug connector arrangement 1 is to be heard. The clicking sound K signals an assembly person that a secure connection, which is not accidentally detachable during use, between the plug connector 3 and the connection 5 of the plug connection arrangement 1 is now achieved.FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the connection 5 according to the invention. the connection 5 is connected in fluid communication with the hydraulic system 10 (not shown here). At a free end 6 of the connector 5, a receptacle 7 is formed which has at least two hooks 8. In the particularly preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated here, two hooks 8 directly opposite one another are provided.Although the following description refers to two hooks 8 of the terminal 5 and a symmetrical configuration of the terminal 5, this should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. From a knowledge of the invention it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that a non-symmetrical configuration of the connection 5 or another number of hooks 8 is also possible.Each of the hooks 8 has a curved structure 12 on an end face 9, which cooperates with a flexible clip 14 of the plug connector 3 in the case of a plug connector 3 connected to the terminal 5 (see FIG. 8 )FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the plug connector 3 according to the invention of a hydraulic line 4. The plug connector 3 can be formed together with the hydraulic line 4 as a one-piece component made of a plastic. To form the plug connector 3 together with the hydraulic line 4, an injection molding method is generally used. The connector 3 is inserted into the terminal 5 with a front outer surface portion 31 in front. For secure assembly of the connector 3 to the terminal 5, the connector 3 has a washer 15 perpendicular to the axial direction A of the connector 3. the washer 15 has in this embodiment two rigid lugs 16 cooperating with elements of the terminal 5 in the manner described in Figure 8. Adjoining the disk 15 are two support elements 17 which also cooperate in the assembled state with the connection 5 of the plug connection arrangement 1. Following the support elements 17, the flexible clips 14 are formed on the plug connector 3. The flexible clips 14 protrude from the plug connector 3 in the radial direction R. Each of the flexible clips 14 is followed by a protective element 27 in the axial direction A. Each protective element 27 protrudes from the plug connector 3 in the radial direction R. The protective elements 27 serve to prevent the flexible clips 14 from being unintentionally actuated during use of the plug-in connection arrangement 1.For the positionally correct insertion of the plug connector 3 into the receptacle 7 of the connector 5, the hooks 8 each have a contour 18 which cooperates in a positive-locking manner with a contour 19 of the pane 15 of the plug connector 3 during the insertion process.FIG. 8 illustrates, by the sectional view of the plug connector 3 of the hydraulic line 4 connected to the terminal 5, that the plug connector 3 connected to the terminal 5 must be sealed. For this purpose, a radially encircling sealing means 20 is provided, which is designed, for example, as an O-ring. When the connector 3 is inserted into the terminal 5, the sealant 20 abuts an outer surface portion 31 of the connector 3 and an inner surface portion 51 of the terminal 5. A mechanical mounting of the plug connector 3 in the connector 5 is achieved in that a rigid tab 16 of the disk 15 of the plug connector 3 engages behind one of the hooks 8 of the receptacle 7 of the connector 5. Furthermore, a curved structure 12 interacts with a flexible clip 14 of the plug connector 3. Likewise, one end 29 of the support element 17 abuts a contour 18 of the hook 8 at a free end in each case. As can be seen from FIGS. 6 to 8, according to the embodiment shown here, the terminal 5 and the plug connector 3 are constructed symmetrically. However, this should not be construed as limiting the invention.An enlarged perspective view of the free end 6 of the connector 5 is shown in FIG. 9. Each of the two hooks 8 has a curved structure 12 formed on each of the end surfaces 9. As already described, during the connection process, the rotational movement of the plug connector 3 interacts with a respective curved structure 12 of the terminal 5 with a respective flexible clip 14 of the plug connector 3.FIG. 10 shows a perspective detailed view of the region B marked in FIG. 9 at the end face 9 of the connector 5. the cam structure 12 comprises a first section 21 and a second section 22. the first section 21 has a ramp 23 along which the flexible clip 14 moves during the rotational movement of the plug connector 3. At the end of the ramp 23, a flat surface section 26 is formed. With increasing rotational movement, the flexible clip 14 is deformed in the axial direction A and thus mechanically prestressed. The first section 21 is adjoined by a second section 22. The second portion 22 has a substantially cuboidal shape. At the end of the rotational movement (mounted state between the plug connector 3 and the terminal 5) of the plug connector 3, the flexible clip 14 abuts against an abutment surface 24 of the second section 22. At the transition between the first section 21 and the second section 22, a shoulder 25 is formed, against which the flexible clip 14 abuts in the assembled state. The two cam structures 12 and their shoulders thus ensure that the connection between the plug connector 3 and the terminal 5 is prevented from separating the connection without tools.FIG. 11 shows an enlarged perspective view of the plug connector 3 according to the invention. The flexible clips 14 are deformable in the axial direction A, so that in the assembled state between the connection and the plug connector 3 a latching movement of the flexible clips 14 takes place counter to the axial direction A. The latching of the flexible clips 14 can be seen by a clicking sound K, as already described in FIG. 5. The disk 15, the support elements 17, the flexible clips 14 and the protective elements 27 are attached to the plug connector 3 one behind the other in the axial direction A.FIG. 12 shows a schematic illustration of the sequence of establishing a secure connection between the terminal 5 and the plug connector 3 by means of a flexible clip 14 which interacts with the curved structure 12 of the terminal 5. At the beginning of the rotational movement of the plug connector 3, the flexible clip 14 comes into contact with the ramp 23 of the contour 12. As the degree of rotation of the connector 3 increases, the flexible clip 14 is bent more flexibly in the axial direction A. Near the end of the rotational movement, the flexible clip 14 slides parallel to a surface section 26 adjoining the ramp 23.The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.List of reference characters1 Plug connection arrangement 3 Plug connector 4 Hydraulic line 5 Connection 6 Free end 7 Receptacle 8 Hook 9 End face 10 Hydraulic system 11 Housing 12 Curved structure 13 Rivet 14 Flexible clip 15 Disk 16 Rigid tab 17 Supporting element 18 Contour of the hook 19 Contour of the disk 20 Sealing means 21 First section 22 Second section 23 Ramp 24 Contact surface 25 Shoulder 26 Surface section 27 Protective element 29 End of the supporting element 31 Outer surface section 51 Inner surface section A Axial direction B Region D Direction of rotation K Clicking sound P Arrow R Radial direction

Claims

Plug connection arrangement (1) for detachably connecting a plug connector (3) of a hydraulic line (4) to a connection (5) of a hydraulic system (10), wherein a sealing means (20) abuts an outer surface section (31) of the plug connector (3) and an inner surface section (51) of the connection (5), comprising a receptacle (7) formed at a free end (6) of the connection (5) and comprising at least two hooks (8), each of which comprises a curved structure (12) at an end face (9), wherein, when the connection (5) is connected to the plug connector (3), each curved structure (12) interacts with a flexible clip (14) of the plug connector (3) and a respectively rigid tab (16) of the plug connector (3) engages behind each hook (8), wherein the plug connector (3) has formed a disc (15) extending perpendicularly to an axial direction (A), Which has formed the at least two rigid lugs (16) and corresponding supporting elements (17), characterized in that each of the at least two hooks (8) has a contour (18) against which, in the mounted state, an end (29) of the supporting elements (17) bears between the plug connector (3) and the connection (5).The plug connection arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the curved structure (12) has a first section (21) and a second section (22), wherein the first section (21) has a ramp (23) along which the flexible clip (14) can be guided, and the second section (22) has a substantially cuboidal shape and, in the assembled state, the flexible clip (14) bears against a bearing surface (24) of the second section (22) between the plug connector (3) and the connection (5).Plug connection arrangement (1) according to Claim 2, wherein a shoulder (25) is formed at the transition between the first section (21) and the second section (22), the flexible clip (14) bearing against said shoulder in the assembled state between the plug connector (3) and the terminal (5).Plug connection arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a protective element (27) is arranged downstream of each of the flexible clips (14) in the axial direction (A).The connector assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector (3) and the terminal (5) are made of a plastic material.Method for mounting a plug connection arrangement (1) for detachably connecting a plug connector (3) of a hydraulic line (4) to a connector (5) of a hydraulic system (10), characterized bythe following steps: • the plug connector (3) being inserted into a receptacle (7) formed at a free end (6) of the connector (5), wherein the receptacle (7) has at least two hooks (8), each of which has a contour (18) formed which cooperates in a positive-locking manner with a contour (19) of a disc (15) of the plug connector (3) when being inserted into the receptacle (7) of the connector (5); and • the plug connector (3) being rotated in the receptacle (7) of the connector (5) by a predefined angular amount, wherein ◯ in each case one rigid tab (16) of the disc (15) of the plug connector (3) engages behind one of the at least two hooks (8); ◯ in each case one flexible clip (14) of the plug connector (3) bears on in each case a second section (22) of a curved structure (12) on an end face (9) of the at least two hooks (8); and ◯ in each case one support element (17) bears on the contour (18) of the respective hooks (8).Method according to claim 6, wherein the terminal (5) has two opposing hooks (8) and the plug connector (3) has two opposing rigid tabs (16), and the plug connector (3) seated in the terminal (5) is rotated through 90°, wherein one tab (16) engages behind one of the hooks (8) in each case.Method according to one of Claims 6 to 7, wherein, when the plug connector (3) is rotated in the connection (5), a flexible clip (14) of the plug connector (3) is bent in a first section (21) on a curved structure (12) in each case and latches into a second section (22) when an end position of the plug connector (3) in the connection (5) is reached.

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