DE102013012194A1 - connection system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection system (10) for connecting two tubes (12, 14), wherein a socket (16) on a first tube (12) and a connecting part (18) on a second tube (14) are provided, wherein Connecting part (18) is arranged a sealing element (20) for sealing the connection system, and wherein the connection part (18) with the socket (16) via a latching connection (22) is connectable.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a connection system for connecting two pipes, in particular air ducts in motor vehicles.

State of the art

The connection technology of fluid lines, in particular of raw air, clean air and charge air lines, z. As in motor vehicles, usually provides that these fluid lines are fixed with a clamp to ensure the sealing seat on the fluid line to be connected. On charge air lines in particular couplings are usually installed, which have an inner sealing ring. In order to ensure the sealing seat of such couplings, also a metallic spring clip is used, which keeps the construction on voltage.

Alternatively, when connecting fluid lines, bayonet couplings or quick connection couplings are used. These quick connect couplings usually have a seal arranged in each coupling element. The couplings are held together, for example, by intermeshing jaws, and each seal abuts against the sealing surface disposed in the adjacent coupling.

Such seals have a circular ring with a substantially planar sealing surface protruding from each of the clutches. When the couplings are connected together, each sealing surface abuts against the other. The bonding process results in some compression of the seals, which aids in the sealing between these surfaces.

The remainder of the seal may vary depending on the type of coupling and the pressure range used. However, one common type of seal is a bellows seal in which the bellows portion of the seal fits within a correspondingly shaped cavity within the coupling head. The DE 10196859 T1 describes a gasket for use as a fluid seal between two components consisting of two spaced sealing edges or surfaces; an elastically deformable region between the two spaced sealing edges or surfaces, such that a compressive force brings these two spaced sealing edges or surfaces together; and a rib provided on at least one of the sealing edges or surfaces extending away from the elastically deformable portion. In quick connect couplings, one of the components to which the seal may attach may be another seal mounted in another quick connect coupling.

The object of the invention is therefore to present a connection system between pipes, in particular between air ducts in motor vehicles, which enables a cost-effective and reliable low-leakage connection.

Disclosure of the invention

The above object is achieved according to one aspect of the invention in a connection system for connecting two media-carrying tubes, that a socket on a first tube and a connector are provided on a second tube, wherein the connecting part is arranged a sealing element for sealing the connection system, and wherein the connection part is connectable to the socket via a latching connection.

Favorable embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the other claims, the description and the drawings.

It is proposed a connection system for connecting two tubes, wherein a socket on a first tube and a connection part are provided on a second tube, wherein the connecting part is arranged a sealing element for sealing the connection system, and wherein the connection part with the socket via a latching connection is connectable.

The tubes may in particular be tubes for guiding liquid, gaseous or flowable media. The proposed connection system has the advantage over the prior art that it does not require sealing rings and clamps. The seal is based on the axial compression of a flexible sealing element in the connecting part, for example, a thermoplastic Elastomerfaltenbalgs, whereby this can expand in the radial direction. Outside the bellows is, for example, a rigid thermoplastic tube geometry. About the expansion process, it then comes to radially acting seal. In addition to the radially acting seal is also an axially acting force on the end face of the bellows, which presses against the rigid outer tube geometry of the socket and in this way contributes to the seal. In addition, the invention differs from the prior art in that the connection principle is based on a latching connection, for example a segmented annular snap connection, instead of on spring clips or clamps, insofar represents a very cost-effective connection system. Another advantage is that even no spring clips or clamps when Assembly process must be used and can be lost.

The main advantages are the savings on clamps and elastomer seals. As a result, the proposed sealing principle is not only cheaper, but also easier. In addition, post-processing, such as welding, spindles or a clamp assembly, can be dispensed with, since the sealing element can already be formed in the primary molding process. By eliminating these post-processing processes, the risk of contamination by, for example, chips, welding expulsion or material removal is also significantly minimized.

Advantageously, the socket may have a guide for inserting the sealing element into the socket. This is to facilitate the connection of two pipes and also avoids the damage of the sealing element during assembly. In addition, it ensures a secure fit of the sealing element and thus a reliable seal of the connection system, since the sealing element is automatically guided to its sealing seat.

In an advantageous embodiment, the socket may comprise at least two locking lugs arranged annularly on an outer circumference of the socket, and the connecting part on an outer circumference comprise a radially outward collar, which locking lugs can be latched to the collar when the connecting part is inserted into the socket are. To make the connection, only the connector needs to be inserted into the socket. The locking lugs are pushed over the federal government, whereby they can be bent something, which is easily possible in a version made of plastic. Upon further insertion of the connection part in the socket, the locking lugs can slide over the federal government and thus lock with this. For a safe and reliable connection of the two components is given. The release of the connection can be done by simply bending the locking lugs and pulling the two tubes. To bend the locking lugs, it may be beneficial to use a suitable tool.

This embodiment could also have the features of a bayonet connection, which also serves a quick and secure installation. In this case, to connect and disconnect the connection, a rotation would only be required by a small angular range about the longitudinal axis in order to establish a locking of the connection. The advantage of a bayonet connection would be that the release of the connection would not be possible by bending the locking lugs, but by a simple rotation of the two tubes against each other.

Conveniently, upon insertion of the connection part into the socket via the sealing element, an axial and radial sealing of the connection system can be effected. An end face of the sealing element can be pressed when pushing together connector part and socket to a sealing surface of the socket, wherein a first seal is made. Upon further pushing together, the sealing element, in particular, if it is designed as a bellows, pressed apart and pressed against a radial sealing surface on the outer wall of the socket, whereby a further sealing takes place. This radial seal can be assisted by increasing the internal pressure of a medium in the media-carrying pipes, since this presses the bellows more firmly against the radial sealing surface. This can result in a very secure and reliable sealing of the connection system.

As already described, the sealing element may comprise an elastic bellows, which bellows can be pressed over an end face in the axial direction against a transverse thereto arranged on an inner wall axial sealing surface of the socket and which bellows in the radial direction to an inner radial sealing surface of the socket can be applied , An elastic bellows is a particularly safe and reliable way even under harsh operating conditions to realize the sealing of the connection system.

It is also beneficial that an application of the bellows to the inner radial sealing surface of the socket can be effected by increasing the pressure of a medium in the media-carrying pipes. This further increases the sealing effect and the risk of leakage is significantly reduced.

Advantageously, the bellows can be guided by the guide of the socket during insertion of the connection part. As a result, a safe and fast installation of the connection system is given. Further, the risk of damaging the bellows is reduced during assembly, whereby a secure sealing of the connection system is further supported.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sealing element may comprise a thermoplastic elastomer. Such a material has the advantage that it is flexible, as it is particularly needed for a sealing element and also has very favorable long-term stability.

It may also be favorable if the connection part is a thermoplastic includes. These plastics have the advantage that they have the necessary mechanical stability to guide the sealing element securely into the socket and bring along as a counterpart of the locking lugs sufficient rigidity to ensure a secure connection of socket and connector. In addition, such components can be made of these plastics in favorable shape and correspondingly inexpensive.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the sealing element may be integrally formed with the second tube. In particular, the entire component of the connection part can be produced by blow molding. This eliminates any sealing problems between the two components; the long-term stability of the connection system is thereby also improved.

Conveniently, the sealing element can also be integrated into the connection part, in particular injection-molded. In this way, an ideal seal between the sealing element and the adjacent tube of the connection part is given. Also, a simple and reliable installation of the connection part with the socket is possible by a favorable shape. Furthermore, this ensures the long-term stability of the connection system.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

They show by way of example:

1 a section through a part of a connection system according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a connection part of a pipe is guided in a guide of a socket of another pipe;

2 a section through a part of a connection system, as in 1 shown, wherein the two tubes are firmly connected to each other via the connection system;

3 a perspective view of a socket of a tube according to an embodiment of the invention;

4 a perspective view of a connection part of a second tube according to an embodiment of the invention;

5 a perspective view of a connection system according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a connection part of a tube is guided in a socket of another tube;

6 a perspective view of a connection system, as in 5 shown, wherein the two tubes are firmly connected to each other via the connection system; and

7 a section through a part of a connection system according to another embodiment of the invention, in which a connection part of a pipe is guided in a socket of another pipe.

Embodiments of the invention

In the figures, the same or similar components are numbered with the same reference numerals. The figures are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting.

1 shows a section through a part of a connection system 10 for connecting two media-carrying pipes 12 . 14 according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein a socket 16 on a first pipe 12 and a connector 18 on a second pipe 14 are provided, wherein the connection part 18 a sealing element 20 is arranged for sealing the connection system, wherein the connecting part 18 with the version 16 via a locking connection 22 is connectable. The sealing element 20 can be a thermoplastic elastomer and the connection part 18 also comprise a thermoplastic material, wherein the sealing element 20 with the second tube 14 of the connection part 18 may be made in one piece, for example, produced by means of a blow molding process. Alternatively, the sealing element in the connection part 18 integrated, in particular molded. A connection part 18 a pipe 14 is in a lead 24 a version 16 another pipe 12 guided. The version 16 includes at least two ringfömig on an outer circumference of the socket 16 arranged latching noses 26 and the connector 18 includes an outer periphery in the radial direction 42 outside waistband 28 , which locking lugs 26 during insertion of the connection part 18 in the version 16 with the covenant 28 are latched. The version 16 points in extension of the pipe 12 the leadership 24 concentric with the outer wall 21 the version 16 on. The connection part 18 as a counterpart is in extension of the pipe 14 attached and has a fret 28 and a sealing element 20 in the form of a bellows 30 on. When inserting the connection part 18 in the version 16 is about the sealing element 20 an axial and radial sealing of the connection system 10 effected.

The connection part 18 is in the axial direction 40 in the version 16 introduced, with the bellows 30 between leadership 24 and outer wall 21 the version 16 running. When further pushing together version 16 and connection part 18 becomes the end face 32 the bellows 30 against the axial sealing surface 36 engineered inner wall 34 the version 16 pushed so as to develop an axial sealing effect. Next are the in the radial direction 42 outer pleat tips 31 the bellows 30 against the outer wall 21 the version 16 pressed and so can the connection system 10 in the radial direction 42 caulk. This radial sealing effect of the connection system 10 continues by increasing the pressure in the media-carrying pipe system from the pipes 12 . 14 supports, as the flexible bellows 30 inflated by the pressure and in the radial direction 42 is pushed further outward.

When further pushing together version 16 and connection part 18 , as in 2 shown, the bellows 30 further pushed together and the pleat tips 31 pressed outward until the waistband 28 in the at least two locking lugs 26 engages, the locking connection 22 is fixed and so the two pipes are firmly connected to each other via the connection system.

3 shows a perspective view of a socket 16 a pipe 12 according to an embodiment of the invention. The version 16 has an inner guidance 24 as an extension of the pipe 12 up and closing at a radial direction 42 outer circumference in an outer wall 21 from, at the open end a plurality of locking lugs 26 as part of a catch connection 22 wearing. An inner wall 34 is as an axial sealing surface 36 educated. The outer wall of the socket 16 at the same time provides a radial sealing surface 38 for a bellows 30 a connection part 18 However, in 3 are not shown.

In 4 is a perspective view of a connector 18 a second tube 14 according to an embodiment of the invention. The connection part 18 points in extension of the pipe 14 a bellows 30 as a sealing element 20 up, with a bunch 28 to the pipe 14 connected. The Bund 28 represents a part of a detent connection 22 as a counterpart of the locking lugs 26 a version 16 dar. The bellows 30 seals in the axial direction 40 over an end face 32 whereas it is in the radial direction 42 by pushing apart the pleat tips 31 to an outer wall 21 a version 16 is pressed and the connection system 10 seals.

5 shows a perspective view of a connection system 10 according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a connection part 18 a pipe 14 in a version 16 another pipe 12 is guided. It is shown as the bellows 30 of the connection part 18 in the version 16 in the axial direction 40 is introduced while keeping between outer wall 21 the version 16 and one in the radial direction 42 inner guidance 24 is pushed. The face 32 the bellows 30 gets to the axial sealing surface 36 an inner wall 34 the version 16 pressed and thus unfolds an axial sealing effect. Next are the pleat tips 31 the bellows 30 in the radial direction 42 outward against the outer wall 21 the version 16 pressed and unfold so a radial sealing effect. With increasing pushing together of version 16 and connection part 18 approach the locking lugs 26 and the covenant 28 so as to latch locking lugs 26 and covenant 28 the locking connection 22 close.

This condition is in 6 in a perspective view of the connection system 10 , as in 5 shown, wherein the two tubes are firmly connected to each other via the connection system. Here are the pleat tips 31 the bellows 30 further pushed outward and so can develop the full radial sealing effect, supported by the internal pressure of the pipes 12 . 14 guided medium.

7 shows a section through a part of a connection system according to another embodiment of the invention, in which a connection part 18 a pipe 14 in a version 16 another pipe 12 is guided. In this 7 is the structural design of a locking connection 22 to see a further embodiment of the invention. Here are the locking lugs 26 hook-shaped, while the waistband 28 a ramp 44 in the axial direction 40 so that when pushed together version 16 and connection part 18 the catch 26 over the ramp 44 in the radial direction 42 is pushed outward until it crosses the waistband 28 snaps and so the locking of the locking connection 22 ensures. It is also clear how the pleat tips 31 the bellows 30 against the outer wall 21 the version 16 are pressed and so a radial sealing effect on the radial sealing surface 38 can unfold. The face 32 the bellows 30 on the other hand pushes in the axial direction against the through the inner wall 34 the version 16 illustrated axial sealing surface 36 and thus ensures the axial sealing effect.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10196859 T1 [0005]

Claims (11)

Connection system ( 10 ) for connecting two pipes ( 12 . 14 ), one version ( 16 ) on a first pipe ( 12 ) and a connection part ( 18 ) on a second tube ( 14 ) are provided, wherein at the connection part ( 18 ) a sealing element ( 20 ) is arranged for sealing the connection system, wherein the connecting part ( 18 ) with the version ( 16 ) via a latching connection ( 22 ) is connectable. A connection system according to claim 1, wherein the socket ( 16 ) a guided tour ( 24 ) for introducing the sealing element ( 20 ) into the version ( 16 ) having. A connection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the socket ( 16 ) at least two ringfömig on an outer periphery of the socket ( 16 ) arranged latching noses ( 26 ) and wherein the connection part ( 18 ) at an outer periphery one in the radial direction ( 42 ) outside collar ( 28 ), which detents ( 26 ) during insertion of the connection part ( 18 ) into the version ( 16 ) with the federal government ( 28 ) are latched. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein upon insertion of the connection part ( 18 ) into the version ( 16 ) via the sealing element ( 20 ) an axial and radial sealing of the connection system ( 10 ) is feasible. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element ( 20 ) an elastic bellows ( 30 ), which bellows ( 30 ) over an end face ( 32 ) in the axial direction ( 40 ) against a transversely arranged on an inner wall ( 34 ) circumferential axial sealing surface ( 36 ) of the version ( 16 ) and which bellows ( 30 ) in the radial direction ( 42 ) to an inner radial sealing surface ( 38 ) of the version ( 16 ) can be applied. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the application of the bellows ( 30 ) to the inner radial sealing surface ( 38 ) of the version ( 16 ) by increasing the pressure of a medium in the media-carrying pipes ( 12 . 14 ) is feasible. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bellows ( 30 ) during insertion of the connection part ( 18 ) by the leadership ( 24 ) of the version ( 16 ) is feasible. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element ( 20 ) comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection part ( 18 ) comprises a thermoplastic material. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element ( 20 ) with the second tube ( 14 ) is integrally formed, in particular produced by means of a blow molding process. Connection system according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sealing element ( 20 ) in the connection part ( 18 ), in particular molded, is.

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