Connection coupling for a compressed air consumer

Abstract

Connection coupling for a compressed air consumer for supplying compressed air, comprising a housing (1) with an interior space (2) through which compressed air can flow, wherein a first connection section (3) for fastening to the compressed air consumer is provided at a first end of the housing (1) and a second connection section (4) for connecting to a compressed air supply is provided at a second end of the housing, characterized in that a first spring-loaded and axially movable closure element (5) is arranged in the interior space (2) of the housing (1), which closure element forms a sealing seat (7) for closing the interior space (2) with a second spring-loaded and axially movable closure element (6).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection coupling for a compressed air consumer for supplying compressed air. The connection coupling comprises a housing with an interior space through which compressed air can flow. A first connection section for fastening to a compressed air consumer is provided at a first end of the housing, and a second connection section for connecting to a compressed air supply is provided at a second end of the housing. Furthermore, the invention relates to a compressed air consumer with at least one connection arrangement.

[0002] Such connection couplings are well known for supplying compressed air to processing equipment, machine tools, or the like powered by compressed air. For this purpose, the connection coupling is first firmly connected to a compressed air consumer to be supplied with compressed air using a standardized connection section. Subsequently, a compressed air hose from a compressed air supply, for example, can be detachably connected to another, also standardized connection section of the connection coupling.

[0003] With such known connection couplings, it has been shown that, particularly with processing equipment, machine tools or the like that are used as compressed air consumers, there is a risk that contaminants, such as metal chips or the like, can enter the compressed air consumers through the open connection coupling and cause undesirable damage there.

[0004] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to propose a connection coupling and a compressed air consumer with a connection coupling, in which a flow of compressed air is only possible during operation and thus the penetration of foreign bodies through the connection coupling is prevented.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1 and 9. Advantageous and claimed developments emerge from the subclaims and the description as well as the drawings.

[0006] Thus, a connection coupling for a compressed air consumer for supplying compressed air is proposed, comprising a connection coupling with a housing having an interior space through which compressed air can flow, wherein a first, for example standardized, connection section for fastening to the compressed air consumer is provided at a first end of the housing, and a second, for example standardized, connection section for connecting to a compressed air supply is provided at a second end of the housing. In order to reliably prevent undesired contamination of the compressed air consumer by the connection coupling, a spring-loaded and axially movable first closure element is arranged in the interior space of the housing, which closure element, together with a spring-loaded and axially movable second connection element, forms a sealing seat or the like for closing the interior space.

[0007] In this way, a connection coupling is proposed that seals the interior in a structurally simple manner with the two closure elements in the non-pressurized state, almost automatically due to the spring-loaded closure elements. This ensures that no dirt or foreign particles from the environment can enter, for example, the connected compressed air consumer when the connection coupling is decoupled from the compressed air supply. Furthermore, the closure of the interior is advantageously realized within the existing interior of the housing, without requiring additional installation space for additional actuating components.

[0008] In a particularly advantageous manner, closing is thus achieved in a structurally simple and cost-effective manner by the spring-loaded closure elements, while opening by the flow of compressed air is achieved quasi-automatically in the proposed connection coupling in that the first closure element is movable by the compressed air flowing in a first flow direction to open the interior, and the second closure element is movable by the compressed air flowing in a second flow direction opposite to the first flow direction to open the interior. Consequently, opening in both flow directions is also achieved quasi-automatically by the flowing compressed air in the proposed connection coupling, without forced actuation or the like.

[0009] Within the scope of the invention, it can be provided that the first closure element is designed approximately sleeve-shaped or the like, and that the second closure element is designed approximately rod-shaped or the like, wherein the second rod-shaped closure element is arranged axially movable inside the first sleeve-shaped closure element. The coaxial alignment of the two closure elements, arranged one inside the other, realizes a particularly space-saving arrangement in the proposed connection coupling, in order to provide both the closed position and the open position in every flow direction in the proposed connection coupling.

[0010] The sealed or closed position of the spring-loaded closure elements is realized in that a first end of the first closure element and a first end of the second closure element form the sealing seat or the like for closing the interior of the housing.

[0011] In order to hold the spring-loaded closure elements in the sealed or closed position to form a common sealing seat, it is provided, for example, that a second end of the first closure element has a first stop portion or the like and a second end of the second closure element has a second stop portion or the like for holding or positioning the closure elements in the closed position to close the interior of the housing in both flow directions.

[0012] A particularly cost-effective embodiment of the stop function with respect to the first stop section is realized in that the first stop section is supported as a flange collar or the like on an inner diameter step or the like inside the housing. A particularly assembly-friendly solution for the stop function with respect to the second stop section is realized in that the second stop section is supported as a stop element or the like attached to the second end of the second closure element via, for example, a lock nut or the like, on a securing element, such as a retaining ring, a retaining washer, or the like, on the inner diameter of the interior of the housing.

[0013] A structurally simple and cost-effective design of the proposed connection coupling is realized in that a spring-loaded relative movement between the first closure element and the second closure element is realized by at least one compression spring or the like.

[0014] The use of compressed air is particularly preferred for the proposed connection coupling. However, the proposed connection coupling is generally suitable for any pressurized gaseous media.

[0015] The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a compressed air consumer with at least one connection coupling as described above. This results in the advantages already described and further advantages. In particular, compressed air consumers are used, for example, as processing devices and machine tools, which are connected to the necessary compressed air supply via the connection coupling. For example, pneumatic impact wrenches, pneumatic guns, pneumatic saws, or the like can be connected to a compressed air supply using the proposed connection coupling.

[0016] The present invention is further explained below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] They show: Fig. 1 an exploded view of a possible embodiment of a connection coupling according to the invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view of the connection coupling in a non-compressed air and thus closed state; Fig. 3 a sectional view of the connection coupling in a state acted upon in a first flow direction and thus open; Fig. 4 a sectional view of the connection coupling in a state acted upon in a second flow direction and thus open; and Fig. 5 a three-dimensional view of a compressed air-operated processing device as a compressed air consumer.

[0018] In the Fig. 1 to 4 show various states or positions of a possible embodiment variant of a connection coupling according to the invention, while Fig. 5, a compressed air-driven processing device 14 for holding various tools for grinding, polishing, cutting, or the like is shown as an example with the connection coupling. For example, compressed air-driven processing machines or machine tools can also be equipped with at least one connection coupling as compressed air consumers.

[0019] The connection coupling can be used for various compressed air consumers, wherein the connection coupling for the compressed air supply comprises a housing 1 with an interior space 2 through which compressed air can flow, wherein a first connection section 3 for fastening to the compressed air consumer or to the processing device 14 is provided at a first end of the housing 1, and a second connection section 4 for connecting to a compressed air supply (not shown in detail) is provided at a second end of the housing 1. The first connection section 3 has, for example, an external thread or the like in order to fasten the connection coupling to the compressed air consumer in a standardized manner. The second connection section 4 is designed, for example, as a so-called jack connection and is used for the standardized fastening of a compressed air hose of a compressed air supply.In this way, the standardized connection sections 3, 4 enable universal use of the proposed connection coupling.

[0020] In order to prevent contamination from the environment from entering the interior 2 of the housing 1 and thus also into the compressed air consumer or into the processing device 14, it is provided that a first spring-loaded and axially movable closure element 5 is arranged in the interior 2 of the housing 1, which with a second spring-loaded and axially movable closure element 6 forms a sealing seat 7 for closing the interior 2.

[0021] As is particularly evident from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the first closure element 5 is approximately sleeve-shaped, and the second closure element 6 is approximately rod-shaped. The second rod-shaped closure element 6 is guided or arranged for axial movement inside the first sleeve-shaped closure element 5. Accordingly, the two closure elements 5, 6 are arranged coaxially and, viewed radially, nested in the interior 2 of the housing 1 of the connecting coupling.

[0022] In Fig. 2 shows the connecting coupling in the closed state or in the closed position of the closure elements 5, 6. In this state, no compressed air is applied and the interior is sealed by the spring-loaded closure elements 5, 6. Accordingly, the spring-loaded closure elements 5, 6 are positioned in the interior 2 of the housing 1 such that a first end of the first closure element 5 and a first end of the second closure element 6 form the common sealing seat 7. In the illustrated closed position of the connecting coupling, advantageously, no foreign bodies can penetrate into the interior 2.

[0023] Furthermore, it is provided that a second end of the first closure element 5 has a first stop section in the form of a flange collar 8, and a second end of the second closure element 6 has a second stop section in the form of a stop element 9 fastened to the second end of the second closure element 6 via a lock nut 15 for positioning the closure elements 5, 6 in the closed position for closing the interior space 2. The first closure element 5 is supported by the flange collar 8 on an inner diameter step 10 in the interior space of the housing 1. The second closure element 6 is supported by the stop element 9 on a lock washer 11 on the inner diameter of the interior space 2 of the housing 1. The stop element 9 has a plurality of axial clearances so that compressed air can flow axially past the stop element 9 through the clearances.

[0024] Fig. Figure 3 shows a compressed air application on the left side of the connecting coupling in the drawing plane. Consequently, the first closure element 5 is moved to the right in the drawing plane against the spring force of a compression spring 12 by the compressed air flowing in a first flow direction P1 to flow through the interior space 2, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. As a result, the first closure element 5 with its flange projection 8 is lifted off the inner diameter step 10. This allows compressed air from the compressed air supply (not shown) to flow into the connected compressed air consumer or into the processing machine.

[0025] In Fig. 4 shows a compressed air supply to the right side of the connecting coupling in the drawing plane. Consequently, the second closure element 6 is moved to the left in the drawing plane against the spring force of the compression spring 12 by the compressed air flowing in a second flow direction P2 to flow through the interior space 2, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. As a result, the second closure element 6 with its stop element 9 lifts off the locking washer 11 at the inner diameter of the interior space 2. This allows compressed air to flow from the compressed air consumer into the environment or into the compressed air supply.

[0026] Consequently, a spring-loaded relative movement is enabled by the compression spring 12 between the first closure element 5 and the second closure element 6. The compression spring 12 bears with one end against an inner diameter step 13 of the sleeve-shaped first closure element 5 and with its other end against the stop element 9.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 5 shows an example of the pneumatically operated processing device 14 for holding various tools for processing workpieces. To operate the processing device 14, a compressed air supply is required, which is connected to the processing device 14 via the previously described connection coupling. For this purpose, for example, a connection coupling is attached to the processing device 14 via the first connection section 3, wherein the compressed air supply is attached to the second connection section 4 via a hose in order to supply the processing device 14 with compressed air. Reference symbol 1 Housing of the connection coupling 2 Interior 3 first connection section 4 second connection section 5 first closure element 6 second closure element 7 Seal seat 8 Flange collar as first stop section 9 Stop element as second stop section 10 inner diameter steps in the interior 11 Locking element or locking washer 12 compression spring 13 Inner diameter step on the first closure element 14 Processing device 15 Lock nut P1 first flow direction from compressed air supply to compressed air consumer P2 second flow direction from compressed air consumer to environment or compressed air supply

Claims

[1] Connection coupling for a compressed air consumer for supplying compressed air, comprising a housing (1) with an interior space (2) through which compressed air can flow, wherein a first connection section (3) for fastening to the compressed air consumer is provided at a first end of the housing (1) and a second connection section (4) for connecting to a compressed air supply is provided at a second end of the housing, characterized by that a first spring-loaded and axially movable closure element (5) is arranged in the interior (2) of the housing (1), which, together with a second spring-loaded and axially movable closure element (6), forms a sealing seat (7) for closing the interior (2). [2] Connection coupling according to claim 1, characterized bythat the first closure element (5) is movable by the compressed air flowing in a first flow direction (P1) to open the interior space (2) and that the second closure element (6) is movable by the compressed air flowing in a second flow direction (P2) opposite to the first flow direction (P1) to open the interior space (2). [3] Connection coupling according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the first closure element (5) is approximately sleeve-shaped and that the second closure element (6) is approximately rod-shaped, wherein the second rod-shaped closure element (6) is arranged axially movable in the interior of the first sleeve-shaped closure element (5). [4] Connection coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a first end of the first closure element (5) and a first end of the second closure element (6) form the sealing seat (7) for closing the interior space (2). [5] Connection coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a second end of the first closure element (5) has a first stop portion and a second end of the second closure element (6) has a second stop portion for holding the closure elements (5, 6) in a closed position for closing the interior (2) of the housing (1) in both flow directions (P1, P2). [6] Connection coupling according to claim 5, characterized by that the first stop section is supported as a flange collar (8) on an inner diameter step (10) in the interior (2) of the housing (1) and that the second stop section is supported as a stop element (9) fastened to the second end of the second closure element (6) via a lock nut (15) on a locking element (11) on the inner diameter of the interior (2) of the housing (1). [7] Connection coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a spring-loaded relative movement between the first closure element (5) and the second closure element (6) is provided by at least one compression spring (12). [8] Connection coupling according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the compressed air is a pressurised gaseous medium. [9] Compressed air consumer with at least one connection coupling according to one of the preceding claims.

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