Plug connector

Abstract

A plug connector comprising a first carrier part (1) with a first end side (2) and a second end side (3) and comprising a second carrier part (4), wherein the carrier parts (1, 4) are each substantially tubular, wherein the second carrier part (4) encloses the first end side (2) of the first carrier part (1) around the outer circumference with a radial spacing and wherein arranged in the gap (5) formed by the spacing is a resilient body (6) made of an elastomeric material which connects the first carrier part (1) and the second carrier part (4) elastically compliantly in the radial direction (7).

Description

[0001] connectors

[0002] Description

[0003] Technical area

[0004] The invention relates to a connector.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Connectors are widely known and are used to seal fluid-carrying circuits, such as cooling water or oil circuits. Connectors ensure a tight connection between pipes or ducts and housings or between machine elements.

[0007] A plug connector is known from EP 1 024 322 B1. The previously known plug connector is used for the sealing connection of two tubular hollow bodies arranged adjacent to one another at an axial distance from one another and comprises a carrier part designed as a connecting sleeve and made of a tough, hard material, wherein the carrier part is enclosed on both sides of the end face by sealing beads made of elastomeric material. The sealing beads project beyond the carrier part in the axial direction on both sides of the end face. Each projection is designed as a sealing lip with a cross-section tapering in the axial direction, which, without excess pressure within the plug connector, forms a circumferential gap in the radial direction to the inner wall of the respective hollow body and, when excess pressure is applied within the plug connector, is sealingly applied to the inner wall of the hollow body surrounding the end face on the outer circumference.The sealing lips, which can be elastically springed open in the radial direction, seal off excess pressures within the connector up to 60 bar without causing leaks of the medium to be sealed in the sealing area.

[0008] Description of the invention

[0009] The invention is based on the object of further developing a connector of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the connector can compensate for an axial offset of machine elements to be connected to one another.

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention by a connector having the features of claim 1. The claims directly or indirectly referring back to claim 1 refer to advantageous embodiments of the connector.

[0011] To achieve the object, a plug connector is provided, comprising a first carrier part with a first and a second end face and a second carrier part, wherein the carrier parts are each substantially tubular, wherein the second carrier part encloses the first end face of the first carrier part at a radial distance on the outer circumference and wherein a spring body made of a rubber-elastic material is arranged in the gap formed by the distance, which spring body connects the first and the second carrier part in an elastically yielding manner in the radial direction.

[0012] The spring body between the first and second support parts allows compensation of an axial offset of machine elements that are connected to each other by the connector.

[0013] Radial and axial tolerances of the machine elements, whether due to manufacturing or assembly, can also be compensated by the spring body of the connector.

[0014] To ensure mutual sealing of the machine elements connected to one another by the plug-in connector, the second end face is enclosed on the outer circumference by a first sealing bead. The first sealing bead can be convex when viewed in longitudinal section through the plug-in connector. The advantage here is that the convex shape of the sealing bead simplifies assembly of the plug-in connector because the convex shape creates assembly bevels that enable easy assembly of the plug-in piece without damaging the first sealing bead. In addition, undesirably high mechanical stresses in the first sealing bead are prevented by allowing material of the first sealing bead displaced during assembly to escape into axially adjacent areas subject to less mechanical stress.

[0015] The first sealing bead is preferably made of a rubber-elastic material. Rubber-elastic sealing materials are available cost-effectively in many specifications.

[0016] The first sealing bead can have an annular first axial seal on its side facing away from the first end face in the axial direction. The first axial seal can, for example, provide axial sealing to a cooling water connection flange. The first sealing bead and the first axial seal are preferably formed integrally, merging into one another. This allows the connector to be manufactured easily and cost-effectively.

[0017] The second support part can have a second sealing bead on the side radially facing away from the spring body, which surrounds the second support part on its outer circumference. The second sealing bead seals a machine element.

[0018] The second sealing bead is also preferably made of a rubber-elastic material with the same advantages as previously described.

[0019] The second support part can have, on its side facing away from the second end face in the axial direction, an annular second axial seal which can be sealingly applied to an end face of a machine element under axial prestress.

[0020] The second sealing bead and the second axial seal are also preferably formed integrally into one another.

[0021] A greater advantage in terms of simple and cost-effective manufacture of the connector and advantages with regard to pure recycling after use of the connector can be achieved if the second sealing bead, the second axial seal and the spring body are formed integrally into one another and from the same material, just like the spring body and the first sealing bead. The second support body can be formed by an L-shaped angle piece with a radial and an axial leg. The angle piece can be formed, for example, by an angle plate. Such a support body has the advantage that it is well guided by the axial leg in a machine element to be sealed and that the radial leg is designed as an axial stop for a machine element to be sealed. The assembly of the connector and the machine element is thus simplified.The connector and the machine element are always correctly positioned relative to each other thanks to the L-shaped angle piece.

[0022] For advantageous sealing of the axial leg in the machine element, it can be provided that the axial leg is enclosed on the outer circumference by the second sealing bead.

[0023] The second sealing bead can have at least two sealing lips arranged adjacent to one another in the axial direction and closed in the circumferential direction. Thanks to the second sealing bead and the sealing lips, the connector seals consistently well against a machine element to be sealed over a long service life.

[0024] The first carrier part can be positively and / or materially connected to the first sealing bead and / or the second carrier part can be positively and / or materially connected to the second sealing bead.

[0025] The type of bonding of the carrier part and the corresponding sealing bead is selected by the specialist entrusted with the design of connectors depending on the specific circumstances of the application.

[0026] Short description of the drawing

[0027] An embodiment of the connector according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. These each show, in schematic representation:

[0028] Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section along the line BB of Figure 2 through an embodiment of a connector according to the invention,

[0029] Figure 2 shows the connector from Figure 1 in a front view,

[0030] Figure 3 shows the connector from Figures 1 and 2 in a perspective view and

[0031] Figure 4 shows the connector of Figure 1 in a sealing arrangement enclosing the connector.

[0032] Implementation of the invention

[0033] Figures 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the connector according to the invention.

[0034] The plug connector comprises a first carrier part 1 and a second carrier part 4, each of which is tubular. The second carrier part 4 encloses the first carrier part 1 in the region of its first end face 2 on the outer circumference with a radial spacing, wherein the gap 5 is formed by the spacing. The first carrier part 1 and the second carrier part 4 are each made of a tough, hard material, for example a metallic or polymeric material. The spring body 6 is arranged within the gap 5 in order to enable radial offset compensation of the two carrier parts 1, 4 relative to one another. In addition to the two carrier parts 1, 4, the plug connector comprises a unit 19 which comprises the spring body 6 and the first 8 and the second sealing bead 11. The unit 19 is integrally formed, merging into one another and made of the same material, and is made of a rubber-elastic material.In this embodiment, the unit 19 is connected to the support parts 1, 4 by a material connection.

[0035] The second support part 4 encloses the first support part 1 in the region of the first end face 2 of the first support part 1 .

[0036] In contrast, the second end face 3 of the first carrier part 1 is enclosed on the outer circumference by the first sealing bead 8.

[0037] The second support part 4, which is designed as an L-shaped angle piece 13, comprises the radial leg 14 and the axial leg 15, which is enclosed on its outer circumference by the second sealing bead 11 on its side radially facing away from the spring body 6.

[0038] Both the first sealing bead 8 and the second sealing bead 11 each have annular axial seals 10, 12, which can be applied to a corresponding surface of a machine element in an elastically flexible and sealing manner under axial prestress, if required, during the intended use of the connector.

[0039] In contrast to the first sealing bead, which, viewed in the longitudinal section of the connector, is convex, the second sealing bead 11 comprises two sealing lips 17, 18 arranged adjacent to one another in the axial direction 9 and formed in a closed manner in the circumferential direction 16. Figure 4 shows a sealing arrangement which comprises the connector from Figures 1 to 3.

[0040] In the exemplary embodiment shown here, three independent machine elements 20, 21, 22 are sealed against one another by the plug connector. The machine elements 20, 21, 22 can have a radial offset and / or an angular offset from one another, wherein any type of offset of the machine elements 20, 21, 22 relative to one another is compensated for by the plug connector, in particular by the functional interaction of the first sealing bead 8 and the spring body 6. Even a comparatively large offset can be compensated for by the first sealing bead 8 and the spring body 6 and their functional interaction. The spring action and the elastic compliance of the first sealing bead 8 and the spring body 6 are each comparatively large and add up as needed during the intended use of the plug connector to compensate for offsets.

[0041] The machine elements 20, 22 belong to a cooling circuit in the field of e-mobility.

[0042] The machine element 21 is a housing wall and belongs to a housing 23, for example to an inverter housing of an electric drive.

[0043] Machine element 20 is a connecting piece which is sealed by the second axial seal 12.

[0044] Machine element 21 is sealed by the second sealing bead 11 with its two sealing lips 17,18.

[0045] Machine element 22 is a nozzle which is sealed by the first sealing bead 8.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A plug connector comprising a first carrier part (1) with a first (2) and a second end face (3) and a second carrier part (4), wherein the carrier parts (1, 4) are each substantially tubular, wherein the second carrier part (4) surrounds the first end face (2) of the first carrier part (1) at a radial distance from the outer circumference, and wherein a spring body (6) made of a rubber-elastic material is arranged in the gap (5) formed by the distance, which spring body connects the first (1) and the second carrier part (4) in an elastically yielding manner in the radial direction (7).

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end face (3) is enclosed on the outer circumference by a first sealing bead (8).

3. Connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the first sealing bead (8), viewed in the longitudinal section of the connector, is convex.

4. Connector according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the first sealing bead (8) consists of a rubber-elastic material.

5. Connector according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first sealing bead (8) has an annular first axial seal (10) on its side facing away from the first end face (2) in the axial direction (9).

6. Connector according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the first sealing bead (8) and the first axial seal (10) are formed integrally into one another.

7. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the second carrier part (4) has, on the side radially remote from the spring body (6), a second sealing bead (11) which surrounds the second carrier part (4) on the outer circumference.

8. Connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the second sealing bead (11) consists of a rubber-elastic material.

9. Connector according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the second carrier part (4) has an annular second axial seal (12) on its side facing away from the second end face (3) in the axial direction (9).

10. Connector according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the second sealing bead (11) and the second axial seal (12) are formed integrally into one another.

11. Connector according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the second sealing bead (11), the second axial seal (12) and the spring body (6) are formed integrally into one another and are of uniform material.

12. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spring body (6) and the first sealing bead (8) are formed integrally into one another and are made of the same material.

13. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the second support body (4) is formed by an L-shaped angle piece (13) with a radial leg (14) and an axial leg (15).

14. Plug-in piece according to claim 13, characterized in that the radial leg (14) is designed as an axial stop for a first machine element to be sealed.

15. Plug-in piece according to claim 13, characterized in that the axial leg (15) is enclosed on the outer circumference by the second sealing bead (11).

16. Connector according to claim 15, characterized in that the second sealing bead (11) has at least two sealing lips (17, 18) arranged adjacent to one another in the axial direction (9) and formed in a closed manner in the circumferential direction (16).

17. Connector according to one of claims 2 to 16, characterized in that the first carrier part (1) is connected to the first sealing bead (8) and / or the second carrier part (4) is connected to the second sealing bead (11) in a form-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

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