Plug connection

Abstract

Plug connection (1) with a plug (2), a socket (4) and with a securing clip (5) which can be mounted as a locking device in order to lock the two connectors (2, 4) in the axial direction relative to one another, wherein the securing clip (5) is designed and combined with a holding and actuating geometry (6) on the socket (4) such that the securing clip (5) is held on the socket (4) and can be manually actuated in order to assemble or disassemble the plug (2), wherein the securing clip (5) has two actuating legs (11, 12) which are arranged in two mutually facing holding and supporting grooves (13, 14) on the bushing (4), wherein the free ends of the actuating legs (11, 12) are arranged in a defined movable manner in guide recesses (15, 16) of the bushing (4), characterized in that the actuating legs (11, 12) have actuating sections (35, 36) between the support grooves (13, 14) and the guide recesses (15, 16) which can be manually moved towards one another in actuating recesses (17, 18) of the socket (4) in order to release a receiving area in the socket (4) for mounting or dismounting the plug (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plug connection comprising a plug, a socket, and a locking clip that can be mounted as a locking device to lock the two connectors relative to each other in the axial direction. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a plug connection.

[0002] For example, German patent application DE 10 2007 003 048 A1 describes such a plug-in connection arrangement for connecting pressure lines of a hydraulic system. The plug-in connection comprises a first connecting element configured as a connection socket / sleeve part and at least one second connecting element configured as a connection piece / plug-in part, each of which is provided at one end of the pressure lines to be connected. Furthermore, a sealing element configured as an O-ring and a spring clip (clamp) configured as a securing clip for jointly securing the connecting elements are provided in a receiving area of ​​the connection piece. During assembly, the connection piece, with the sealing element held between two bead-shaped elevations of the connection piece, is pushed into the opening of the connection socket.When an end position is reached, the connection piece is axially secured by the spring clip, which can be inserted into a recess in the connection socket and is equipped with two elastic legs. A further, radially surrounding, bead-shaped elevation on the connection piece acts as a stop. The legs of the elastic clip are spaced apart from one another in such a way that, when locked, they rest against the stop of the connection piece, thus preventing axial displacement of the connection piece. In a clutch release system described in DE 10 2008 033 038 A1, with a master cylinder and a slave cylinder and a pressure line connecting the two, quick connectors are arranged in the line area. These connectors are characterized by a securing device that is integrally connected to part of the quick connector.

[0003] One part (male part) has at least one axially aligned projection with a radially expanding snap hook, which engages in an opening with an undercut in the other part (female part), thereby achieving axial fixation of the male part and female part. Above the snap hook (radially outward) is a pressure area, when actuated, the snap hook is pressed radially inward - into a ring-segment-shaped recess in the male part - whereby the radial projection of the snap hook is released from the corresponding undercut of the opening in the female part and the male part and female part are separated from one another. US 3 314 696 A discloses a plug connection according to the preamble of claim 1. Further prior art is described in DE 15 40 598 A and DE 35 31 925 C2.

[0004] The object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture, in particular assembly and disassembly, of plug connections with a plug, a socket and with a securing clip which can be mounted as a locking device in order to lock the two connectors relative to each other in the axial direction.

[0005] The task is solved in a plug connection with a plug, a socket and a securing clip that can be mounted as a locking device to lock the two connectors relative to each other in the axial direction. The securing clip is designed in such a way and combined with a holding and actuating geometry on the socket that the securing clip is held on the socket and can be manually actuated to assemble or disassemble the plug. This offers the advantage that the plug can be easily assembled and disassembled manually. Advantageously, no tools are required for assembling and disassembling the plug. The securing clip is preferably designed as a wire form spring.

[0006] The plug connection is characterized by the fact that the safety clip has two actuating legs arranged in two opposing retaining and support grooves on the socket. The retaining and support grooves serve, on the one hand, to hold the safety clip securely in place on the socket, regardless of whether the plug is plugged into the socket or not. Furthermore, the retaining and support grooves serve to support the actuating legs when the safety clip is manually actuated to install or remove the plug. The retaining and support grooves thus perform a dual function.

[0007] The plug connection is characterized by the fact that the free ends of the actuating legs are arranged in guide recesses of the socket, allowing for defined movement. This advantageously prevents the free ends of the actuating legs from protruding from the outside of the socket.

[0008] The plug connection is characterized by the fact that the actuating legs between the support grooves and the guide recesses have actuating sections that can be manually moved toward each other into actuating recesses in the socket to release a receiving area in the socket for mounting or dismounting the plug. When the actuating legs are pressed together, a spring force of the securing clip, preferably designed as a wire-formed spring, is manually overcome. After mounting or dismounting the plug, the actuating legs return to their original position when released.

[0009] Another preferred embodiment of the plug connection is characterized in that the actuating legs of the securing clip are angled from two locking sections, which serve to lock the plug in the socket. During assembly of the plug, the locking sections advantageously snap into an annular groove formed on the plug for this purpose. This enables a stable axial fixation of the plug in the socket in a simple manner.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment of the plug connection is characterized in that the locking sections of the securing clip are angled from a U-shaped end section. The U-shaped end section of the securing clip holds the two locking sections and the actuating legs together. The actuating legs are integrally connected to the U-shaped end section of the securing clip, which is preferably designed as a wire-formed spring, via the locking sections.

[0011] Another preferred embodiment of the plug connection is characterized in that the locking sections of the securing clip are arranged in mutually opposite retaining recesses of the socket. This allows the securing clip to be easily fixed axially to the socket. The term "axial" refers to a common longitudinal axis of the plug and socket.

[0012] In a method for producing a plug connection described above, the above-mentioned object is achieved alternatively or additionally by mounting the securing clip on the holding and actuating geometry of the socket. The securing clip is advantageously mounted on the holding and actuating geometry of the socket before the plug is mounted. In the mounted state, the securing clip is securely held on the socket and merely needs to be compressed at the actuating sections of the actuating legs to enable assembly and disassembly of the plug.

[0013] A preferred embodiment of the method is characterized in that the locking clip on the socket is manually operated to install or remove the plug. The use of a tool is advantageously not required for installing and removing the plug.

[0014] The invention further relates to a plug, a socket, and / or a securing clip for a plug connection as described above. These parts can be sold separately. The plug and socket are advantageously designed as injection-molded parts made of a plastic material. The securing clip is advantageously formed as a wire-formed spring made of a spring steel material.

[0015] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a connector with a plug, a socket and with a locking clip which is mounted as a locking device in order to lock the two connectors in the axial direction relative to each other; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the socket from Fig. 2; Fig. 3 the socket Fig. 2 in a different perspective; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the safety clip from Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a perspective view of the socket during assembly of the safety clip; Fig. 6 a perspective view of the socket with mounted safety clip; Fig. 7 Remove the socket with the safety clip Fig. 6 in a side view from the left; Fig. 8 the socket with the safety clip Fig. 6 in a plan view; Fig. 9 a perspective view of the socket with the safety clip when the safety clip is manually operated; Fig. 10 the same view as in Fig. 7 when the safety clip is activated; Fig. 11 the view of a section along the line XI-XI in Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 a perspective view of the socket with manually operated safety clip during assembly of the plug.

[0016] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a plug connection 1 with a plug 2 and a socket 4. The socket 4 is part of a fluid system 3. The fluid system 3 is preferably a hydraulic clutch actuation system for fluidly actuating, i.e., engaging and disengaging, a clutch.

[0017] The plug 2 is inserted with one end into a corresponding receptacle of the socket 4 and secured with a securing clip 5. A holding and actuating geometry 6 for the securing clip 5 is formed on the socket 4.

[0018] The holding and actuating geometry 6 comprises two holding recesses 7, 8 for two locking sections 21, 22 of the safety clip 5. The safety clip 5 with the locking sections 21, 22 is formed as a wire-formed spring made of a spring steel material.

[0019] In Fig. 12 shows that the plug 2 has an annular groove 9. The locking clip 5 engages with its locking sections 21, 22 in the annular groove 9 when the plug 2 is assembled. At the same time, the locking clip 5 is held in the retaining recesses 7, 8 of the socket 4 by the locking sections 21, 22.

[0020] The retaining clip 5, designed as a wire-formed spring 10, comprises two actuating legs 11, 12 that are angled from the locking sections 21, 22. The actuating legs 11, 12 are arranged in holding and support grooves 13, 14 of the holding and actuating geometry 6 of the bushing 4. The free ends of the actuating legs 11, 12 are arranged in guide recesses 15, 16 of the holding and actuating geometry 6 of the bushing 4.

[0021] The holding and actuating geometry 6 comprises a guide recess 15, 16 between the holding and support grooves 13, 14 and the actuating recesses 17, 18. The guide recesses enable a movement of actuating sections of the actuating legs 11, 12 towards each other when the securing clip 5 is manually actuated.

[0022] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows the bushing 4 with the holding and actuating geometry 6 in various perspective views. The holding and support grooves 13, 14 extend in the axial direction. The guide recesses 15, 16 are arranged as an extension of the holding and support grooves 13, 14. The actuating recesses 17, 18 are advantageously somewhat larger than fingers with which the securing clip 5 is manually actuated.

[0023] In Fig. Figure 4 shows the safety clip 5, designed as a wire-formed spring 10, in perspective. The ends of the locking sections 21, 22 of the safety clip 5 facing away from the actuating legs 11, 12 are integrally connected to one another by a U-shaped end section 25. This provides a safety clip 5 that is easy to manufacture and install.

[0024] In Fig. 5 is illustrated by an arrow 30 how the safety clip 5 is mounted on the socket 4. In Fig. 6 shows the securing clip 5 mounted on the socket 4. The locking sections 21, 22 of the securing clip 5 are arranged in the retaining recesses 7, 8 of the socket 4. The actuating legs 11, 12 of the securing clip 5 are arranged in the retaining and support grooves 13, 14 and the guide recesses 15, 16.

[0025] In the Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the socket 4 with the safety clip 5 is made of Fig. 6 shown in different views. In Fig. 8, the actuating sections of the actuating arms 11, 12 are designated 35 and 36. The actuating sections 35, 36 are freely accessible from the outside.

[0026] In Fig. In Figure 9, arrows 31 and 32 indicate how the actuating arms 11, 12 are manually pressed together. In doing so, the actuating sections 35, 36 of the actuating arms 11, 12 move toward each other.

[0027] In the Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 shows that the actuating legs 11, 12 are supported on support points 41 of the holding and actuating geometry 6 when the securing clip 5 is manually actuated or compressed. The support points 41 are provided at the ends of the holding and support grooves 13, 14 facing the guide recesses 15, 16.

[0028] In Fig. 11 shows that the locking sections 21, 22 of the safety clip 5 move apart when the actuating legs 11, 12 move toward each other when manually pressed together. This releases the receiving area of ​​the socket 4 for insertion of the plug 2.

[0029] In Fig.12, arrows 42 and 43 indicate that the actuating legs 11, 12 of the securing clip 5 are pressed together before the plug 2 is inserted into the socket 4, as indicated by an arrow 44. After the actuating legs 11, 12 are released, the locking sections 21, 22 arranged in the holding recesses 7, 8 of the socket 4 engage in the annular groove 9 of the plug 2 to lock it in the socket 4. List of reference symbols 1 plug connection 2 plugs 3 Fluid system 4 socket 5 safety clip 6 Holding and actuating geometry 7 Retaining recess 8 Retaining recess 9 Ring groove 10 wire form springs 11 operating arm 12 operating legs 13 Holding and support groove 14 Holding and support groove 15 Guide recess 16 Guide recess 17 Operating recess 18 Operating recess 21 locking section 22 locking section 25 U-shaped end section 30 Arrow 31 Arrow 32 Arrow 35 Operating section 36 operating section 41 support points 42 Arrow 43 Arrow 44 Arrow

Claims

[1] Plug connection (1) with a plug (2), a socket (4) and with a securing clip (5) which can be mounted as a locking device in order to lock the two connectors (2, 4) in the axial direction relative to each other, wherein the securing clip (5) is designed and combined with a holding and actuating geometry (6) on the socket (4) such that the securing clip (5) is held on the socket (4) and can be manually actuated in order to assemble or disassemble the plug (2), wherein the securing clip (5) has two actuating legs (11, 12) which are arranged in two mutually facing holding and supporting grooves (13, 14) on the bushing (4), wherein the free ends of the actuating legs (11, 12) are arranged in a defined movable manner in guide recesses (15, 16) of the bushing (4), characterized bythat the actuating legs (11, 12) have actuating sections (35, 36) between the support grooves (13, 14) and the guide recesses (15, 16) which can be manually moved towards one another in actuating recesses (17, 18) of the socket (4) in order to release a receiving area in the socket (4) for mounting or dismounting the plug (2). [2] Plug connection according to claim 1, characterized by that the actuating legs (11, 12) of the securing clip (5) are angled by two locking sections (21, 22) which serve to lock the plug (2) in the socket (4). [3] Plug connection according to claim 2, characterized by that the locking sections (21,22) of the securing clip (5) are angled from a U-shaped end section (25). [4] Plug connection according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the locking sections (21, 22) of the securing clip (5) are arranged in mutually opposite holding recesses (7, 8) of the socket (4). [5] Method for producing a plug connection (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the safety clip (5) is mounted on the holding and actuating geometry (6) of the socket (4). [6] Method according to claim 5, characterized by that the locking clip (5) on the socket (4) is manually operated to assemble or disassemble the plug (2).

Images