Connection assembly for connecting fluid lines

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection assembly (10), comprising a main body (12) that has a receiving chamber (14), a plug unit (16), and a securing element (18) which is U-shaped with two limbs (24, 26) having free ends and a base (38), wherein the receiving chamber (14) has a central axis (X), wherein the receiving chamber (14) has two recesses (37) which are diametrically opposite each other with respect to the central axis (X), said recesses penetrating a wall of the main body (12, 12'), wherein a respective recess (37) furthermore extends in an orthogonal direction with respect to the central axis (X), wherein, at least in a securing position of the connection assembly (10, 10'), one of the two limbs (24, 26) of the securing element (18, 18') is arranged in each of the two recesses (37), wherein each of the two limbs (24, 26) comprises an arched portion (40, 42; 40', 42') over the extent of which a direct distance between the limbs (24, 26) first increases and then decreases again as seen from the base (38) of the U-shape in the direction of the respective free ends (60, 62) of the limbs (24, 26).

Description

[0001] Connection arrangement for connecting fluid lines

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a connection arrangement for connecting fluid-carrying higher-level assemblies.

[0004] Connection arrangements for connecting fluid lines are known from the prior art, in which a plug unit can be inserted into a base body, and the plug unit can be secured by a locking element connected to the base body in such a way that unintentional detachment of the plug unit from the base body is prevented. However, the locking elements known in the prior art tend to jam when the plug unit is inserted into the base body, thus preventing further insertion of the plug unit into the base body, or even to detach at least partially from a predetermined mounting position on the base body, so that securing the plug unit inserted into the base body is no longer possible.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connection arrangement which has improved ease of use. In particular, it can also be considered an object of the present invention to provide a connection arrangement which has improved locking properties.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by a connection arrangement for connecting fluid-carrying higher-level assemblies, wherein the connection arrangement comprises: a base body which has a connection section for connection with a higher-level assembly and a receiving space for receiving a plug unit, the plug unit which is configured to be connected to a further higher-level assembly, and a clamp-like locking element which has spring-elastic restoring properties and is essentially U-shaped, wherein this U-shape comprises two legs with free ends and a base connecting the two legs, wherein the receiving space of the base body has a central axis which runs in the longitudinal direction of the base body and essentially centrally through the receiving space.wherein the receiving space of the base body has two recesses diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the central axis, which at least partially penetrate a wall of the base body in the area of ​​the receiving space in a radial direction with respect to the central axis, such that the receiving space of the base body is connected to an outer surface of the connecting arrangement by a respective recess, wherein a respective recess further extends in an orthogonal direction with respect to the central axis, wherein, at least in a locking position of the connecting arrangement, one of the two legs of the locking element is arranged in each of the two recesses, wherein each of the two legs comprises an arc segment, over the extension of which, viewed from the base of the U-shape towards the respective free ends of the legs,the direct distance between the legs initially increases and then decreases again.

[0007] According to the invention, the curved section of the locking element allows for a better grip on the connector unit, resulting in a larger contact area between the connector unit and the locking element compared to connection arrangements known from the prior art. Furthermore, the curved section of the locking element ensures that the force vector occurring at the contact point between the locking element and the connector unit when the spring-elastic locking element expands, due to the restoring properties of the locking element, essentially only comprises components that run substantially radially with respect to a central axis of the connector unit or a central axis of the base body.In this way, no force can act on the locking element which would force the locking element, in particular in an uncontrolled manner, in a direction which, for example, is essentially orthogonal to the central axis of the connector unit, thereby causing the locking element to move out of the predetermined mounting position relative to the base body and preventing further insertion of the connector unit into the base body or a locking function of the connector unit in the base body.

[0008] It should also be noted that the connector unit and / or the base body does not necessarily have to be connected to a pipe-like or hose-like fluid line, but can instead be arranged directly on a fluid-carrying or at least fluid-containing body, such as a heat sink.

[0009] Furthermore, it should be noted that the expression "that each recess extends in an orthogonal direction with respect to the central axis" can mean that the extension of the respective recess is indeed orthogonal to the central axis in at least one viewing direction, but that the central axis is not intersected, i.e., that the extension of the respective recess is skew to the central axis.

[0010] In one possible embodiment of the present invention, the locking element can be substantially symmetrical, resulting in a plane of symmetry that runs centrally between the two legs and through which the base passes substantially at its midpoint. Such a symmetrical design of the locking element ensures that the forces acting on the locking element and / or the connector unit when the plug unit is inserted into the base body, and / or the forces acting on the plug unit and / or the locking element and / or the base body due to pull-out forces in the locked position of the connection arrangement, occur equally on both sides of the plane of symmetry. This prevents one-sided loading or undesired lateral movement of the locking element.

[0011] In particular, the distance between the two legs within the arc segment can gradually increase and decrease, especially uniformly. This can be achieved, for example, by a circular arc segment or an arc segment with a constant radius of curvature. However, arc segments with several different radii of curvature are also conceivable, which, for example, merge tangentially into one another. With reference to the aforementioned plane of symmetry, the distance between the two legs of the securing element can thus increase uniformly on both sides of the plane of symmetry from the beginning of the two arc segments up to a vertex, that is, up to a maximum distance (orthogonal to the plane of symmetry), and from there decrease symmetrically again to an end of the arc segments.

[0012] Furthermore, at least in a state of the locking element detached from the base body, and particularly also in a state of the locking element mounted on the base body but with the connection arrangement unconnected, and advantageously also in a locking position of the connection arrangement, the distance between the two legs at the end of the respective arc section adjacent to the free end of the respective leg can be less than at the end of the respective arc section adjacent to the base of the 11-shaped form. Thus, viewed from the free ends of the legs of the locking element towards the base, an opening angle between the two legs can be set, which is from 1° to 10°, particularly from 4° to 8°, and advantageously about 6°.This opening angle (or “closing angle” when viewed from the base to the free ends of the legs) makes it possible to arrange the locking element with a predetermined preload in the locking position, advantageously also in a mounting position in which the base body and locking element are set up to receive the plug unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the connector unit can define a fluid flow channel within its interior, which has a central axis. The connector unit can include a groove that extends circumferentially around the connector unit, at least partially, and in particular completely, on an outer surface with respect to the central axis. The locking element, in particular with its respective arc sections, can then be arranged in this groove in the locked position of the connection assembly to secure the connector unit in the base body. The groove can also be in the form of a recess, in particular a slot. Such a recess can be advantageous, for example, when the connector unit is made of metal, preferably sheet metal, especially if the connector unit is formed using a deep-drawing process.When the connector unit is made of sheet metal, it can comprise an inner sheath, the inner wall of which defines the fluid flow channel, and an outer sheath, which gives the connector unit its external shape, at least in part. The recess can, in particular, only penetrate the outer sheath, but not the inner sheath, of the connector unit, at least in part. Especially in the case of connector units with slot-like recesses, but not limited to these, the locking element can be designed such that the arc segment of each leg can freely penetrate the respective recess. In the case of a connector unit made of sheet metal, each arc segment can thus enter a space between the outer and inner sheaths or be located there in its assembled state.In particular, the point of the arc section of the locking element that is radially furthest from the central axis can be located closer to the central axis than a radial distance of the outer shell to the central axis.

[0014] For this purpose, the connector unit can have a projection extending at least partially, and in particular completely, around its central axis in the circumferential direction, which limits the groove on one side closer to the end of the connector unit that is to be inserted first into the receiving space of the base body. The projection can thus form a side wall of the groove against which the corresponding section of the locking element can abut when the connector unit is subjected to axial load in a given direction relative to the base body. The term "completely circumferential" here can include the fact that the projection extends around the entire circumference of the connector unit, but that it may have at least one recess so that it does not form a completely closed ring.The fact that the projection in this case does not form a completely closed ring may, if the projection is designed accordingly, have no or only a minor effect on the function of the projection to limit the groove and provide a contact surface for the locking element.

[0015] The connector unit can taper from the projection towards the end of the connector unit, which is the first part to be inserted into the receiving space of the base body. This creates a kind of ramp for the clamp-like locking element, over which the legs of the locking element can be pressed radially outwards. Regarding the aforementioned recess that may be present in the projection, it should be noted that this can, of course, also extend into the tapered section. The tapered section can, in particular, taper uniformly from the projection to the corresponding end of the connector unit. The tapered section of the connector unit can thus form a truncated cone with a central cylindrical through-opening.

[0016] Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the arc segment of a respective leg of the locking element can essentially correspond to the radius of curvature of the projection. In this way, it can be achieved that a radially inner side of a respective arc segment of the locking element abuts a radially outer side of the projection linearly, that is, essentially along the entire radially inner side of a respective arc segment.

[0017] In a further development of the present invention, the locking element can comprise a substantially straight section on each leg in a region between the arc section and the base and / or in a region between the arc section and the free end. The orientation of each straight section can be such that it is oriented in the direction extending from a transition between the base and the respective leg of the locking element to the free end of that leg.

[0018] In this context, at least in the locked position of the connection arrangement, the locking element can be arranged relative to the base body such that the straight section(s) of a respective leg of the locking element is / are arranged at a transition of a respective recess of the base body into the receiving space. In this context, it should first be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, it would intuitively be advantageous to form a leg with at least two curved sections, that is, a leg which curves from the base to the free end of a leg, first towards a center of the locking element, in particular a plane of symmetry, and then, in a counter-curve, forms the respective arc section, which curves accordingly outwards.The inventors of the present invention have discovered, however, that the pull-out forces required to destroy the connection arrangement in order to pull the plug unit out of the base body without releasing the locking element can be significantly increased if straight sections of the locking element are arranged in at least one, and in particular all, of the transitions between the base body and the receiving space or between the base body and the plug unit, if the latter fills the receiving space with sufficient accuracy.

[0019] Advantageously, the wrap angle of an arc segment of each leg around the connector unit, at least in the locked position of the connection arrangement, can be from 30° to 60°, and in particular approximately 45°. This allows the arc segment, especially along its path through the groove of the connector unit, to form a sufficiently large contact area with the side wall of the groove, particularly the aforementioned projection. This ensures that loads occurring when forces act on the connection arrangement in the locked position are distributed more effectively across the relevant components than, for example, if there is only a very short overlap between the locking element and the connector units, as is often the case in the prior art.

[0020] Furthermore, the locking element can include an inclined section on each leg in an area between the arc section and the base. Along this inclined section, viewed from the base of the locking element towards the free ends of the legs, the distance between the two legs increases or decreases. It should be noted that such an inclined section can, in particular, have a straight course. However, it can also have an angle relative to the line connecting the transition area between the leg and the base and the respective free end of the corresponding leg that differs from the straight section mentioned above. Thus, each inclined section can have an angle of 10° to 80° with respect to a central plane of the locking element, particularly 30° to 60°, and advantageously 40° to 50°.By providing such an inclined section on each leg of the locking element, the width of the base—that is, its extent orthogonal to the median plane or plane of symmetry—can be chosen independently of the design of the locking element's legs and / or the distance between the two legs. In particular, if the connection assembly includes a so-called DMC element—that is, an element containing a machine-readable code that, for example, only becomes readable when the connection assembly is in the locked position—such a code element cannot be made arbitrarily small, as it might otherwise become unreadable. Consequently, the base of the locking element cannot be arbitrarily small.On the other hand, if the code element exceeds a certain size, it can also be counterproductive in terms of the ease of handling the connection arrangement. Thus, for connection arrangements designed to be connected to plug units with a small diameter—that is, where the two legs of the locking element are close together—it may be necessary for the base of the LI shape to be wider than the (minimum, average, or maximum) distance between the two legs.In the event that the connection arrangement is designed to be connected to plug units which have a large diameter and thus the legs of the locking element have a large distance between them, it may be necessary for the width of the base of the LI shape to be less than a (minimum or average or maximum) distance between the two legs of the locking element.

[0021] It can also be provided that, in the locked position of the connection arrangement, at least 50%, in particular at least 70%, and advantageously 100% of the width of each leg of the locking element in the area of ​​the respective arc section can be arranged radially further inward than a radially outer end of the projection. It should be noted that a 100% arrangement of the respective arc section radially further inward than a radially outer end of the projection can also be expressed by the arc section being completely recessed in the groove (at least with respect to the side wall of the groove formed by the projection).Depending on the degree of recession of the arc segment in the groove, a predetermined distance can be formed between a radially inner side of a given arc segment and the groove base of the connector unit, or these can at least partially abut each other. The width of a given leg of the locking element mentioned here can correspond to the material thickness of that leg in the lateral direction, particularly in the case of a wire-bent clip as a locking element, corresponding to the wire thickness. A distance can also exist between a groove base, which delimits the groove on a radially inner side with respect to the central axis, and a radially inner side of a given arc segment.In this way, it can be ensured that the locking element, due to its elastic restoring force, rests firmly against the base body with its free ends and that the free ends of the locking element are not held at a distance from the base body by the arc sections being attached to the plug unit, at least on one side.

[0022] In the connection state of the connection arrangement in which at least one arc segment of a leg of the locking element is in contact with the projection, each arc segment of a leg of the locking element can contact the projection at at least two separate locations or via a surface contact of at least 20%, in particular at least 50%, advantageously at least 70%, of the extension length of the respective arc segment. With particular reference to the feature mentioned above that a radius of curvature of a radially inner side of an arc segment can correspond to the radius of curvature of a radially outer side of the projection, it should be mentioned again here that a correspondingly larger contact area can lead to better force distribution.For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the term "surface contact" can also be understood as "linear contact" or, in the case of contact between two or more separate points, as "point contact". However, in practice, due to the usual material properties, a linear or purely point contact in the mathematical sense will probably never occur.

[0023] Finally, it should be mentioned that by choosing a suitable maximum

[0024] A vertical displacement of the locking element during insertion of the connector unit can be achieved by adjusting the distance between the radially outer sides of the arc sections of the locking element and / or the distance between the arc sections of the locking element and the base of the LI shape and / or the width of the base of the LI shape and / or the position and / or angle of at least one inclined section on a respective leg and / or the position of at least one straight section and / or the opening angle of the legs relative to each other. For example, when the connector unit is inserted into the receiving space and the locking element is thereby spread open, a vertical displacement of the base of the locking element away from the receiving space can be achieved if the distance between those sections of the legs of the locking element is less than the distance between the two transition areas between the base and the respective leg.This is because each leg has its pivot point in the transition area to the base, around which each leg pivots when it is pushed outwards by the connector unit, and because in this case a distance from the respective contact section of the arc section with the connector unit is increased orthogonally to the base of the U-shape, so that the base of the U-shape must deflect radially outwards with respect to a central axis of the receiving space (since a corresponding (especially opposite) sliding of the locking element on the connector unit is not possible due to the arc sections).Similarly, if the two legs extend parallel to each other at least in their straight sections, or if the two legs have a positive opening angle relative to each other when viewed from the base to the free ends of the legs, it can be achieved that the base moves radially inwards with respect to the central axis of the receiving space when the legs of the locking element are moved apart by the connector unit.

[0025] The present invention will be described below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. It represents:

[0026] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the connection arrangement according to the invention;

[0027] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the connection arrangement from Figure 1;

[0028] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the connection arrangement according to the invention; and

[0029] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the connection arrangement from Figure 1 in a secured position.

[0030] In Figure 1, a connection arrangement according to the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The connection arrangement 10 comprises a base body 12, which defines a receiving space 14 inside (see also Figure 2), a plug unit 16, which is designed to be inserted into the receiving space 14 of the base body 12, and a locking element 18.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the locking element 18 is a clamp bent from spring steel wire, which essentially has an LI shape (see also Figure 2). The locking element 18 is designed to be spread radially outwards by the connector unit 16 when the connector unit 16 is inserted into the base body 12. More precisely, in the embodiment shown here, the locking element 18 is spread outwards by a ramp 20 with respect to a central axis X. At the end of its radial extension, the ramp 20 terminates in a projection 22.If the connector unit 16 is inserted further into the receiving space 14 of the base body 12 (from right to left in Figure 1) beyond the point where the locking element 18 with its two legs 24 and 26 is located on a radially outer side of the projection 22, the locking element 18 snaps into a groove 28 formed on the outer circumference of the connector unit 16 in order to prevent the connector unit 16 from being moved out of the receiving space 14 of the base body 12 (from left to right in Figure 1) by means of an interaction between the locking element 18 and the groove 28 as well as by means of an interaction of the locking element 18 with the base body 12.

[0032] Figure 1 also shows that projections 30 and 32 are provided on the connector unit 16, which serve to prevent rotation of the connector unit 16 within the receiving space 14 of the base body 12 in the locking position between base body 12 and connector unit 16.

[0033] Furthermore, Figure 1 shows a nozzle 34, which is arranged on a side of the base body 12 opposite the receiving chamber 14 of the base body and which is designed to be connected to a hose-like or tube-like fluid line (not shown). A sealing element 36, here an O-ring, is provided on the nozzle 34 to seal it against the fluid line.

[0034] As also shown in Figure 1, the base body 12 has two diametrically opposed recesses 37 which at least partially penetrate a wall of the base body 12 surrounding the receiving space 14. In this way, the respective legs 24, 26 of the locking element 18 can enter the receiving space 14 from an outside of the base body 12 and thus axially secure the plug unit 16 arranged in the receiving space 14.

[0035] Figure 2 illustrates the state described above, in which the legs 24, 26 of the locking element 18 bear radially outward against the projection 22 of the connector unit 16. As can be seen in the embodiment of the locking element 18 shown here, the locking element 18 comprises a base 38 that connects the two legs 24 and 26. Each of the two legs 24, 26 has an arc segment 40, 42, which curves radially outward with respect to the central axis X and / or with respect to a completely straight extension of a respective leg 24, 26. The two arc segments 40, 42 have a circular arc shape, meaning that the two arc segments 40, 42 extend with a constant radius of curvature.

[0036] Between each arc segment 40, 42 and the base 38, each leg 24, 26 has a first straight section 44 or 46 and a second straight section 48 or 50, wherein an inclined section 52 or 54 is located between each first straight section 44, 46 and each second straight section 48, 50. An inclined section 52, 54 differs from a straight section 44, 46, 48, 50 in particular in that it is arranged at an angle relative to a straight section 44, 46, 48, 50.

[0037] By appropriately selecting the position, angle, or size of a respective inclined section 52, 54, a distance between the two legs 24, 26 can be structurally determined without affecting the width of the base 38. In particular, when using a code element 56, which cannot fall below a minimum size to remain machine readable, the base 38 of the locking element 18 can span a width exceeding that of the code element 56, and the locking element 18 can still be structurally adapted to the diameter of the connector unit 16.

[0038] As can also be seen in Figure 2, the radius of curvature of the arc sections 40, 42 on their radially inner side essentially corresponds to the radius of curvature of the projection 22 on its radially outer side.

[0039] Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the aforementioned case, in which the connection arrangement 10' is configured to be connected to a plug unit 16' which has a significantly smaller outer diameter than the plug unit 16 of the first embodiment. Assuming that the base 38 of the locking element 18' shown in Figure 3 essentially corresponds to the base 38 of the locking element 18, the radially inwardly directed inclined sections 52', 54' ensure that the two arc sections 40' and 42' of the locking element 18' are significantly closer together than the arc sections 40, 42 of the locking element 18.The arc sections 40', 42' of the locking element 18' essentially correspond to the arc sections 40, 42 of the locking element 18, except that, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the arc sections 40', 42' have a radius of curvature adapted to the outer diameter of the connector unit 16', in particular to the outer diameter of the projection of the connector unit 16' (not shown in Figure 3). For further details regarding the locking element 18', please refer to the description of the locking element 18 given above.

[0040] Figure 4, which shows the first embodiment of the connection arrangement 10 according to Figures 1 and 2, but in a secured position of the connection arrangement 10, shows that a radially outer side of the arc sections 40, 42 is arranged radially further inward than a radially outward extension of the projection 22. In other words, the respective arc section 40, 42 is completely recessed in the groove 28 and thus arranged 100% further radially inward than a radially outer side of the projection 22. Figure 4 also shows that there is a gap between a groove base 58, which delimits the groove 28 on a radially inner side with respect to the central axis X, and a radially inner side of a respective arc section 40, 42.In this way it can be ensured that the locking element 18, due to its elastic restoring force, rests firmly against the base body 12 with its free ends 60 and 62, and that the free ends 60, 62 of the locking element 18 are not held at a distance from the base body 12 by the contact of the arc sections 40, 42 with the plug unit 16, at least on one side.

[0041] As can be seen in Figures 2 to 4, at least the locking elements 18 and 18', in particular also the plug units 16 and 16' and / or the base bodies 12, 12', are designed symmetrically, so that a plane of symmetry S results in this respect.

[0042] Figure 2 also shows an angle of wrap a, over which a respective arc section 40, 42 (shown in Figure 2 by way of example on arc section 42) wraps around the projection 22 in the circumferential direction.

[0043] Returning to Figure 1, it can be seen that at those transition points where the locking element 18 enters or exits the receiving space 14 from a radially outer side of the base body 12 via the corresponding recess 37, a straight section (which is shown by way of example in Figure 1 at the second straight section 50) is arranged.

Claims

Claims 1. Connection arrangement (10, 10') for connecting fluid-carrying superior assemblies, wherein the connection arrangement (10, 10') comprises: - a base body (12, 12') which has a connection section for connection to a higher-level assembly and a receiving space (14) for receiving a plug unit (16, 16'), - the connector unit (16, 16') which is designed to be connected to a further higher-level assembly, and - a clamp-like locking element (18, 18') which has spring-elastic restoring properties and is essentially U-shaped, wherein this U-shape comprises two legs (24, 26) with free ends and a base (38) connecting the two legs (24, 26), wherein the receiving space (14) of the base body (12, 12') has a central axis (X) which extends in the longitudinal direction of the base body (12, 12') and substantially centrally through the receiving space (14), wherein the receiving space (14) of the base body (12, 12') has two recesses (37) diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the central axis (X), which at least partially penetrate a wall of the base body (12, 12') in the region of the receiving space (14) in a radial direction with respect to the central axis (X) such that the receiving space (14) of the base body (12, 12') is connected to an outer surface of the connection arrangement (10, 10') by a respective recess (37),wherein each recess (37) further extends in an orthogonal direction with respect to the central axis (X), wherein, at least in a safety position of the, Connection arrangement (10, 10'), in each of the two recesses (37) one of the two legs (24, 26) of the locking element (18, 18') is arranged, wherein each of the two legs (24, 26) comprises an arc section (40, 42; 40', 42'), over the extension of which, viewed from the base (38) of the LI shape in the direction of the respective free ends (60, 62) of the legs (24, 26), a direct distance between the legs (24, 26) first increases and then decreases again.

2. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking element (18, 18') is essentially symmetrical, such that a plane of symmetry (S) is formed which runs centrally between the two legs (24, 26) and the base (38) passes substantially through their center.

3. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the two legs (24, 26) gradually increases and decreases in the arc section (40, 42; 40', 42'), in particular uniformly.

4. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, at least in a state of the locking element (18, 18') detached from the base body (12, 12'), in particular also in a state of the locking element (18, 18') mounted on the base body (12, 12') but unconnected state of the connection arrangement (10, 10'), advantageously also in a locking position of the connection arrangement (10, 10'), a distance between the two legs (24, 26) is maintained at the end of the respective arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') which is the free end (60, 62) of the respective leg (24, 26) is adjacent, is less than at the end of the respective arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') which is adjacent to the base (38) of the LI shape.

5. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector unit (16, 16') defines a fluid flow channel (14) inside it, which has a central axis (X), wherein the connector unit (16, 16') comprises a groove (28) which extends circumferentially around the connector unit (16, 16') with respect to the central axis (X) on an outside of the connector unit (16, 16') at least partially, in particular completely.

6. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connector unit (16, 16') has a projection (22) extending at least partially, in particular completely, circumferentially with respect to the central axis (X), which limits the groove (28) on a side which is closer to an end of the connector unit (16, 16') with which the connector unit (16, 16') is to be inserted first into the receiving space (14) of the base body (12, 12').

7. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the plug unit (16, 16') tapers from the projection (22) towards the end of the plug unit (16, 16') with which the plug unit (16, 16') is to be inserted first into the receiving space (14) of the base body (12, 12').

8. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a radius of curvature of the arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') of a respective leg (24, 26) of the locking element (18, 18') essentially a radius of curvature of the projection (22) corresponds.

9. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (18, 18') on a respective leg (24, 26) comprises a substantially straight section (44, 46, 48, 50) in a region between the arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') and the base (38) and / or in a region between the arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') and the free end (60, 62).

10. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, at least in the locking position of the connection arrangement (10, 10'), the locking element (18, 18') is arranged relative to the base body (12, 12') such that the straight section (44, 46, 48, 50) or the straight sections (44, 46, 48, 50) of a respective leg (24, 26) of the locking element (18, 18') is or are arranged at a transition of a respective recess (37) of the base body (12, 12') into the receiving space (14).

11. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wrap angle (a) of an arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') of a respective leg (24, 26) around the plug unit (16, 16'), at least in the locking position of the connection arrangement (10, 10'), is from 30° to 60°, in particular approximately 45°.

12. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (18, 18') on a respective leg (24, 26) comprises an inclined section (52, 54; 52', 54') in a region between the arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') and the base (38), along the course of which, viewed from the base (38) of the locking element (18, 18') in the direction of the free ends (60, 62) of the legs (24, 26), the distance between the two legs (24, 26) increases or decreases.

13. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, insofar as dependent on claim 6, characterized in that, in the locking position of the connection arrangement (10, 10'), a width of a respective leg (24, 26) of the locking element (18, 18') in the area of ​​the respective arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') is arranged radially further inwards than a radially outer end of the projection (22) to at least 50%, in particular to at least 70%, advantageously to 100%.

14. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, insofar as dependent on claim 6, characterized in that, in the connection state of the connection arrangement (10, 10') in which at least one arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') of a leg (24, 26) of the locking element (18, 18') is in contact with the projection (22), a respective arc section (40, 42; 40', 42') of a leg (24, 26) of the locking element (18, 18') contacts the projection (22) at at least two separate locations or via a surface contact of at least 20%, in particular at least 50%, advantageously at least 70%, of the extension length of the respective arc section (40, 42; 40', 42').

15. Connection arrangement (10, 10') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by a suitable selection of a maximum distance between the radially outer sides of the arc sections (40, 42; 40', 42') of the locking element (18, 18') and / or a distance between the arc sections (40, 42; 40', 42') of the locking element (18, 18') and the base (38) of the LI shape and / or a width extent of the base (38) of the LI shape and / or the position and / or the angle of at least one inclined section (52, 54; 52', 54') on a respective leg (24, 26) and / or the position of at least one straight section (44, 46, 48, 50) and / or an opening angle of the legs (24, 26) to each other, a vertical displacement of the locking element (18, 18') during insertion of the plug unit (16, 16') is adjustable.

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