QUICK-CONNECTING DEVICE FOR TUBE WITH MINIMAL ASSEMBLY EFFORT

Abstract

A quick-connect pipe fitting comprising a female fitting (2) receiving a male end (20) in a recess (6) in a forward (AV) direction, this recess (6) comprising, from the rear, a transverse groove containing a locking pin (18), then an annular sealing gasket (10) disposed in an internal groove, and comprising an intermediate sleeve (40) disposed between the male end (20) and the female fitting (2), comprising, from the front, a first cylindrical portion (42) bearing against the sealing gasket (10), a conical shape opening to allow spacing of the pin (18), then a circular groove receiving this pin (18), the male end (20) comprising successively, from the front, an entry chamfer (22) spacing along a first diameter of an axial bore of the sleeve (40) which is elastic, then a cylindrical seating portion (26) of smaller diameter receiving the sleeve (40). Figure 5

Description

Title of the invention: QUICK TUBE CONNECTION DEVICE WITH LIMITED ASSEMBLY EFFORT

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick connection device for two fluid tubes comprising limited assembly effort, as well as methods for assembling and disassembling this connection device and a motor vehicle equipped with such a connection device.

[0002] A known type of quick-connect device, presented in particular by document FR-A1-3120674, comprises a male end which enters in a forward axial direction into the hollow of a female fitting to form a leak-proof fluid passage fitting comprising an automatic locking of the assembly position.

[0003] An intermediate sleeve disposed between the male end and the hollow includes, from the front, an entry chamfer, an external circular groove, then a rear sealing flange disposed in a transverse fixing plane on a plane of a housing disposed around the male end, comprising an elastic connecting bellows.

[0004] The end piece includes, starting from the front, a front chamfer, a first cylindrical front part, a second intermediate cylindrical part of reduced diameter, and then a third cylindrical rear part of the same diameter as the first front part.

[0005] The assembly of the connection device comprises, in a first step, the insertion of the sleeve into the female fitting, with successively a spreading by the chamfer of a pin disposed in a transverse groove of the female fitting, then a tightening of this pin in the circular groove which locks the axial position of the sleeve by forming a sub-assembly.

[0006] The assembly comprises, in a second step, the insertion of the nozzle into the sleeve of the sub-assembly, successively involving a slightly elastic expansion of the sleeve by the front chamfer of this nozzle, followed by the passage of the cylindrical front portion which slides within the sleeve. During this passage, an annular sealing gasket disposed in an internal groove of the female fitting, in front of the sleeve, is compressed by the front chamfer, followed by the sliding of the cylindrical front portion within this compressed gasket.

[0007] The advance of the nozzle then continues with a sliding of the first cylindrical part in the sealing joint, until the tightening of the sleeve in the second cylindrical part of reduced diameter having the same length as this sleeve.

[0008] An axial locking of the sleeve in the female fitting is obtained by the pin fitted in the outer groove of this sleeve, and a locking of the tip in this sleeve which is axially wedged inside the reduced diameter part of the sleeve.

[0009] Finally, the transverse flange is fixed to the plane of the housing around the male end, which adds an elastic seal thanks to the bellows between the housing and the outside.

[0010] This connection device, designed in particular for a fluid tube in a motor vehicle, comprises, in the second assembly step, the insertion of the male end into the sealing joint, which is compressed by the inlet chamfer, followed by the sliding of the cylindrical front portion inside the joint, while this cylindrical portion simultaneously slides within the sleeve with elastic compression. At this point, two types of simultaneous friction are generated, requiring a high axial force to achieve the movement.

[0011] Generally speaking, for a conventional two-part quick coupling, the male end fitting directly into the female fitting, the standard parts including the sealing and axial locking conform to shapes standardized by the international standardization organization "ISO", allowing a connection to be made between two elements from different suppliers.

[0012] However, for the device according to the prior art presented above, while remaining within the standards of this equipment, there are manufacturing tolerances on many parameters which result in friction forces within wide ranges of values ​​for the sliding of the male end in the sealing joint, in particular during its separation, and at the same time for the sliding of the sleeve on this end.

[0013] In particular, friction forces depend on the dimensional tolerances of the different components giving misalignment or misalignment defects, the surface conditions, variations in materials or lubrication of these components.

[0014] During the second assembly step, a significant axial force can be applied, which poses ergonomic problems. In particular, for the assembly of a motor vehicle that may have numerous fluid connections, especially in the case of hybrid or electric vehicles with a complex fluid circulation system to optimize heat exchange, the operator must repeat this type of assembly many times.

[0015] Ergonomic rules for assembly line workstations impose, depending on the effort required, a limit on the number of assemblies in order to preserve working conditions. To avoid exceeding this limit, operations can be distributed over several successive assembly stations to reduce the number of operations per station, which poses problems with the installation of multiple workstations, an increase in the number of operators and assembly times, and an increase in costs.

[0016] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0017] To this end, it proposes a quick-connect tube fitting comprising a female fitting receiving a male end in a recess along a forward axial direction, this recess comprising, from the rear, a transverse groove containing a locking pin, then an annular sealing gasket disposed in an internal groove, and comprising an intermediate sleeve disposed between the male end and the female fitting, this device being remarkable in that the intermediate sleeve comprises, from the front, a first cylindrical part bearing on the sealing gasket, a conical shape opening to allow spacing of the pin, then a circular groove for receiving this pin,and in that the male end comprises successively, starting from the front, an inlet chamfer with a spacing following a first diameter of an axial bore of the sleeve which is elastic, then a cylindrical shimming part of smaller diameter receiving the sleeve which tightens onto it.

[0018] An advantage of this connection device is that in a first preparation operation, which can be carried out in particular in an automated manner at the manufacturer of the connection device, the sleeve is adjusted in the female end fitting which ensures both its external sealing with this end fitting by the annular seal bearing on its cylindrical support surface, and its axial locking by the pin descending in its circular groove.

[0019] In a subsequent assembly operation of the connection device, the operator inserts the chamfered end of the male fitting into the slightly elastic sleeve, which opens it to the first diameter. The operator then slides the fitting until the sleeve is fully tightened onto the cylindrical portion with a smaller diameter. At this point, the fitting is axially locked in the sleeve, which cannot retract due to the first diameter being positioned forward of the sleeve, thus forming an axial clip. The sleeve is also elastically clamped within the cylindrical portion, ensuring a seal.

[0020] This subsequent assembly operation involves a single effort to spread the sleeve by the entry chamfer, instead of the two combined efforts of spreading the sealing gasket and opening the pin for devices according to the prior art, which reduces the force that the operator has to apply and improves the ergonomics of the workstation.

[0021] The quick connection device according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other.

[0022] Advantageously, the axial length of the cylindrical shim corresponds to the length of the sleeve.

[0023] In this case, advantageously the ends of the cylindrical shimming part terminate with a front face and a rear face which are transverse.

[0024] In addition, the inlet chamfer of the male end can terminate with the front transverse face.

[0025] Advantageously, after assembly of the connection device, the sleeve tightened on the cylindrical part of the wedge provides a seal between the two parts.

[0026] Advantageously, the sleeve comprises, after the circular groove, a second cylindrical part which is fitted into a corresponding rear cylindrical bore of the female fitting.

[0027] Advantageously, the sleeve has external shapes corresponding to shapes of quick couplings standardized by the international standardization organization "ISO".

[0028] The invention also relates to a method of assembling a connection device comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that in a first step it assembles the sleeve in the female fitting to form a sub-assembly, and then in a second step it assembles the male end connected to a tube with the sub-assembly connected to another tube.

[0029] The invention also relates to a method for disassembling a connection device comprising any of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that it opens the pin to remove the male tip with its sleeve remaining attached to it.

[0030] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle remarkable in that it is equipped with an electric or hybrid motor with a heat exchange fluid circuit comprising connection devices including any of the preceding characteristics.

[0031] The invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following description given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0032] [Fig. 1] shows in axial section the female fitting of a quick connection device according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig.2] shows in axial section the tip of this device;

[0034] [Fig.3] shows in axial section the sleeve of this device;

[0035] [Fig.4] shows in axial section the subassembly comprising the female fitting with the sleeve assembled; and

[0036] [Fig.5] shows in axial section the complete assembled connection device.

[0037] Figure 1 shows the female fitting 2 comprising, towards the front AV along the axial direction, a connecting part on a tube having notches 4 rearward inclined annular rings which facilitate the insertion of the tube backwards and block its removal, then a body containing an internal cylindrical hollow 6 for receiving the male end.

[0038] The hollow 6 comprises successively, from the front, a first front cylindrical bore 8 containing an internal groove receiving a sealing gasket 10, a conical shape which opens 12, then a second rear cylindrical bore 14 containing a transverse groove 16 receiving a pin 18 having two arms which tighten inside this second cylindrical part.

[0039] Figure [Fig. 2] shows the male end 20 comprising successively, starting from the front a spacing chamfer 22 ending with a nominal diameter which fits into the front bore of the female fitting 8, then after a first transverse face 24 a cylindrical axial shimming part having a lower diameter 26, then after a second transverse face 28 a second cylindrical part 30 having the nominal diameter.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows the sleeve 40 comprising, from the front, a first cylindrical part 42 having the nominal diameter, a conical shape which opens 44, an external circular groove 46 for receiving the pin 18, then a second cylindrical part 48 which fits into the rear bore of this female fitting.

[0041] In this way, with the two spaced cylindrical parts 42, 48 fitted into the two bores 8, 14 of the female fitting 2, a centering and alignment of the sleeve 40 in this fitting is obtained.

[0042] The sleeve 40 is formed in a slightly elastic material allowing its internal axial bore 50 to engage on the spacing chamfer 22 at the front of the male end 20 to pass the rear nominal diameter of this chamfer, then to tighten on the lower diameter of the cylindrical shim part 26 of this end.

[0043] The length of the sleeve 40 equal to that of the cylindrical shimming part 26 allows it, once in place, to be axially shimmed between the two transverse end faces 24, 28, with a tightening of its internal bore 50 on the diameter ensuring a seal between the sleeve and the male end 20.

[0044] Figure 4 shows a first assembly step of the connection device including the advance of the sleeve 40 in the hollow of the fitting 6, with the first cylindrical part of this sleeve 42 fitting into the front bore 8 of the hollow, then a compression and a sliding on the sealing gasket 10 with at the same time a spreading of the two arms of the pin 18 by the conical shape 44 to reach the diameter of the second cylindrical part 48. Finally there is a descent of the arms of the pin 18 into the outer groove 46 of the sleeve 40.

[0045] A relatively large axial insertion force is obtained corresponding to the entry of the first cylindrical part of the sleeve 42 into the flexible joint 10 which may include defects in geometry and lubrication, and at the same time to the spacing of the arms of the pin 18 by an elastic deformation.

[0046] Advantageously this operation is carried out automatically during the manufacture of the female fitting 2 and the sleeve 40 without ergonomic problems, to form a sub-assembly fixed on the tube thanks to the front annular notches 4, which is ready to receive the male end 20.

[0047] Fig. 5 shows the assembly of the male end 20 connected to a tube in the prepared sub-assembly, including the entry of the front chamfer of spacing 22 into the internal bore 50 of the slightly flexible sleeve 40, and then its sliding along the bore until the complete adjustment of this sleeve over the total length of the cylindrical shim part 26.

[0048] An axial positioning of the male end 20 in the sleeve 40 is obtained thanks to the supports on both sides on the transverse faces 24, 28, including a seal with the tightening of the sleeve on the cylindrical positioning part 26.

[0049] The final assembly has a single axial thrust force due to the sliding of the front chamfer of spacing 22 in the bore 50, instead of the two simultaneous axial forces coming from both the sealing gasket 10 and the spacing of the pin 18 for the connection devices according to the prior art.

[0050] For the assembly of electric or hybrid vehicles with complex fluid circulations and numerous connection devices, by reducing the assembly effort of each connection device, a greater number of connections can be provided at the same workstation.

[0051] The method of disassembling the connection device conventionally involves pressing on the pin 18 in order to spread its arms out of the outer groove 46 of the sleeve 40, then pulling on the two connected tubes in order to remove the male end 20 with its sleeve remaining attached to it.

[0052] Advantageously, by making the external shapes of the sleeve 40 correspond to the ISO standardized shapes of this type of quick coupling, this sleeve can be used on any type of female coupling 2 also corresponding to this standard.

Claims

Demands

1. A quick-connect pipe fitting comprising a female fitting (2) receiving a male end (20) in a recess (6) along a forward axial direction (AV), this recess (6) comprising, from the rear, a transverse groove (16) containing a locking pin (18), then an annular sealing gasket (10) disposed in an internal groove, and comprising an intermediate sleeve (40) disposed between the male end (20) and the female fitting (2), characterized in that the intermediate sleeve (40) comprises, from the front, a first cylindrical portion (42) bearing against the sealing gasket (10), an opening conical shape (44) for spacing the pin (18), then a circular groove (46) for receiving this pin (18), and in that the male end (20) comprises, successively from the front, an entry chamfer (22) for spacing along a first diameter of a bore axial (50) of the sleeve (40) which is elastic,then a cylindrical shim (26) of smaller diameter receives the sleeve (40) which tightens onto it.

2. Connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the axial length of the cylindrical shimming part (26) corresponds to the length of the sleeve (40).

3. Connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ends of the cylindrical shimming part (26) terminate with a front face (24) and a rear face (28) which are transverse.

4. Connection device according to claim 3, characterized in that the entry chamfer (22) of the male end (20) terminates with the front transverse face (24).

5. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after assembly of the connection device the sleeve (40) tightened on the cylindrical shimming part (26) presents a seal between the two parts.

6. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve (40) comprises after the circular groove (46) a second cylindrical part (48) which is fitted into a corresponding rear cylindrical bore (14) of the female fitting (2).

7. Connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve (40) has external shapes corresponding to shapes of quick couplings standardized by the international organization for standardization “ISO”.

8. Method of assembling a connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a first step it assembles the sleeve (40) in the female fitting (2) to form a sub-assembly, and then in a second step it assembles the male end (20) connected to a tube with the sub-assembly connected to another tube.

9. Method of disassembling a connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which connects two tubes together, characterized in that it opens the pin (18) to remove the male end (20) with its sleeve (40) remaining fixed on it.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it is equipped with an electric or hybrid motor comprising a heat exchange fluid circuit having connection devices according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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