RU2794952C1 - Plastic snap-on connector - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: connectors.

SUBSTANCE: quick connector made of plastic materials. Connector provides a snap-on connection between a tubular male part (50) and a female part (40) of a fluid connection system. The connector contains a holding means (10) adapted to be installed in the inlet section (41) of the female part (40) and containing the first and second flexible elements (12, 22) for snap-fitting with the male part (50) and the female part (40) respectively. The first and second flexible elements (12, 22) are made on circumferentially spaced sections of the holding means (10) so that the total length of the holding means (10) in the axial direction is reduced.

EFFECT: quick connector provides a snap-on connection.

12 cl, 15 dwg

Description

Quick connectors or snap connectors are widely used to allow easy connection of a male part, such as a pipe coupling, spigot, or nipple, and a female part, in particular, an orifice portion of a fluid passage system assembly. Traditionally, these connectors are made of metal. They may contain a threaded section to be screwed into the female part, and a spigot section extending from the female part after the screwed-in threaded section and containing an elastic element in the form of a bracket-shaped spring, exerting an elastic force in the radial direction to engage with a recessed section of the male part.

Conventional connectors have the disadvantages of being relatively heavy and expensive to manufacture, since they are predominantly made of metal. In addition, they have a sufficiently large extent in the axial direction and include two potential leak points. The first place of leakage is possible in the area of the threaded section, where a seal is formed between the connector and the female part by means of the first O-ring, and the second place of possible leakage is located in the inner periphery of the sleeve section, where a seal is formed between the connector and the male part by means of the second O-ring.

US2015/0145240 A1 describes a quick connector in which the threaded portion is omitted and the connector is not screwed in but wedged or mated or crimped in an integral manner to the female part. While this conventional solution eliminates the need for a first O-ring to form a seal between the connector and the female, there is a disadvantage in that the quick connector is permanently connected to the female. Also, the quick connector still protrudes from the outer surface of the female part while being permanently connected to it, which is undesirable for creating space saving connectors, especially in areas like battery cooling required in automotive systems for electric vehicles.

Documents EP1104530B1 and EP1682810B1 disclose conventional quick connectors made of plastics. The connectors comprise first tongue sections protruding radially inward for snap-on engagement with the male part, and second tongue sections protruding radially outward for snap-fit engagement with the female part. However, the structural installation of these conventional connectors is relatively complex and prone to damage, since the first and second tongue portions are surrounded by a radial cut of material in the region of the side wall of the connector, to which they are connected by only a small axially small bridge. In addition, the first and second tongue sections are provided on axially spaced sections of the connector so that the connector has a sufficiently large extent in the axial direction and protrudes from the outer surface of the female part.

The objective of the invention is to reduce the weight and cost of the connector, simplify its structural installation, reduce its length in the axial direction and reduce the number of potential leaks.

The problem is solved by creating a connector, as defined in paragraph 1 of the claims. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments and are further recommended for use in a connector system comprising a connector, male and female parts to be connected to each other.

According to the invention, the quick connector comprises a tubular holding means to be inserted into the inlet section of the female part and containing the first and second flexible elements for snap-in engagement with both the male part and the female part. In contrast to the conventional solutions of quick connectors made of plastics, the retaining means according to the invention comprises first and second flexible elements made at circumferentially spaced portions. This simplifies the design of the quick connector and makes it possible to minimize its size in the axial direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are a plurality of first flexible members for snap engagement with the male part and a plurality of second flexible members for snap engagement with the female portion. Axial slots are formed between the alternately arranged first and second flexible elements to increase their resilience. Preferably, the holding means is made of a polymer-based plastic material. It is particularly preferred to mold the holding means as a single structural body, by injection molding or the like, from moldable plastic materials. Thus, the manufacturing cost and durability of the connector reach the most competitive values.

In a preferred embodiment, the tubular retaining means comprises an annular warping from which the first and second flexible elements protrude in the axial direction with gaps between them. The first flexible element contains the first annular segment, from which the first reed section protrudes radially inward. Likewise, the second flexible element comprises a second annular segment from which a second tongue portion protrudes radially outward. The first and second tongue portions may also have the general shape of an annular segment, and the general shape of the retaining means may have n-fold symmetry, where n is an integer, with n=2 being the most preferred embodiment.

The sealing means, preferably a round, X-shaped or lip seal, is located axially in front of the retaining means inside the inlet section of the female part. The sealing position is not axially overlapped by the holding means so that the sealing means can contact both the male part and the female part when the quick connector is in its locked state. Thus, one single sealing position is sufficient to connect the male and female parts so that there is only one single potential leak.

The invention preferably further comprises a plug for holding the retaining means and the sealing means in their condition until the final locking attachment of the male part. The retaining means and the sealing means are received on the core section of the plug, which has a smaller outer diameter than its gripped section. The plug acts as a seat holder for the male part and is suitable for quick and safe handling of the connector during the manufacture and delivery of the connector, as well as during its subsequent assembly in a fluid connection system, in particular in the automotive industry.

The shaft section preferably comprises a tapering section for gradually stretching the first flexible element and/or a groove section for receiving the first tongue section. The second flexible element is adapted to engage with the female part to keep the connector in its locked and sealed state until the plug is to be replaced by the male part. The groove section has a smaller diameter than the circumferentially adjacent portions of the cork and thus allows the first flexible element to be compressed due to its elasticity in the radial direction so that it is engaged with the cork. This condition is suitable for safe transport or for pressure testing prior to installation.

To release the plug, it is rotated about its longitudinal axis so that the first flexible element is no longer engaged with the grooved section of the plug. In this state, the plug can be removed from the connector held in engagement with the female part so that the plug can be replaced by the male part. Briefly, the plug can close the inlet portion of the female part in a fully sealed state in the first pivot position, and the plug can be released in the second pivot position when the plug is to be replaced by the male part.

When replacing the plug with a male part of the fluid connection system, preferably a spigot, the first flexible element is re-stretched through the male part in the same manner in the radial direction as with the plug, bringing the connector into its fully locked state. The female part contains a groove formed in the inner periphery of its inlet section. The groove may be annular or any other suitable shape. It has a larger inner diameter than the axially adjacent portions of the inlet portion so that the second tongue portion of the second flexible element can be locked in the groove by being stretched against its elastic recovery force by the insertion of the male portion.

The details of the invention and its embodiments are explained with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1A shows a tubular retaining means according to an embodiment of the invention, in perspective view;

in fig. 1B is the holding means of FIG. 1A. view from above;

in fig. 1C is the holding means of FIG. 1A, side view;

in fig. 2A is a disassembled, unconnected perspective view of a quick connector and female portion of a fluid connection system according to an embodiment of the invention;

in fig. 2B shows components of the fluid connection system of FIG. 2A, sectional view;

in fig. 3A is a perspective view of a quick connector located within the female part of a fluid connection system according to an embodiment of the invention;

in fig. 3B shows components of the fluid connection system of FIG. 3A is a sectional view;

in fig. 4A is a fluid connection system according to an embodiment of the invention in an unconnected state, perspective view;

in fig. 4B is the fluid connection system of FIG. 4A is a sectional view;

in fig. 5A is a fluid connection system according to an embodiment of the invention in a connected state, perspective view;

in fig. 5B is the fluid connection system of FIG. 5A is a sectional view;

in fig. 6A is a perspective view of a plug to be connected to a quick connector located in the female portion of a fluid connection system according to an embodiment of the invention;

in fig. 6B are components of the fluid connection system of FIG. 6A is a sectional view;

in fig. 7A is a perspective view of a plug connected to a quick connector located in the female part of a fluid connection system according to an embodiment of the invention; And

in fig. 7B shows components of the fluid connection system of FIG. 7A is a sectional view.

In FIG. 1A shows the holding means 10, a side perspective view. The shown holding means 10 is made of plastic materials, in particular polymer-based plastic materials, and even more specifically, obtained as a single body by injection molding or the like. The retaining means 10 comprises an annular base 11 which has a cylindrical outer surface and a tapering funnel-shaped inner surface, which can best be seen in FIG. 2b. The first and second flexible elements 12, 22 protrude from the annular base 11 in the axial direction. The first and second flexible members 12, 22 are arranged in an alternating manner with axial slots 15 provided between each pair of the first and second flexible members 12, 22. Due to the slots 15 and the general characteristics of the plastic material, the first and second flexible members 12, 22 have some elastic abilities of deformation in the radial direction, i.e. they can be elastically deformed to a certain extent in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial extent of the tubular retaining means 10.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 1B and 1C, each of the first two flexible members 12 includes a first annular segment 13 and a first tongue portion projecting radially inwardly from the first annular segment 13. The first tongue portion 14 itself again has the shape of an annular segment. Likewise, two second flexible members 22 each comprising a second annular segment 23 and a second tongue portion 24 projecting radially outward from the second annular segment 23. In the embodiment shown with two first and two second flexible members 12, 22, the tubular retaining means 10 has bilateral rotational symmetry, and each of the annular segments is essentially about a quarter of a ring in shape. However, solutions with more than two, or even only one of the first and one of the second flexible elements, are possible and lead to different views in general n-fold rotational symmetry.

In the exploded perspective view shown in FIG. 2A, the holding means 10 is shown in its pre-assembled state, next to the sealing means 30 and in front of the block-shaped female portion 40. For the purpose of explanation, the holding means 10 and the sealing means 30 are shown as a pre-assembled part in FIG. 2A and 2B. Their assembled position is shown in Fig. 3A and 3B. Each of the sections in Fig. 2B-7B is made along two of the axial slots 15.

In the perspective view of the fluid connection system shown in FIG. 2A-7A, the female portion 40 is formed as a hole in the block. Although conventional fluid connection systems are provided with an internal thread in the screw-in hole for the threaded portion of the connector, the inlet portion 41 of the female portion 40 is adapted to fully receive and engage with the connector without such a threaded portion. The direction of insertion of the nozzle 50 in FIG. 4 and 5 runs down in the drawing and is then denoted as the forward direction. The opposite direction is referred to as the back direction.

The female part 40 comprises an inlet portion 41 having a diameter large enough to receive the sealing means and the annular base 11 one after the other. However, the diameter of the inlet portion 41 is smaller than the outer diameter of the second tongue portion 24 of the second flexible element 22. By pushing the retaining means 10 downwardly into the inlet portion 41, the second flexible members 22 are resiliently deformed radially inward so that their outer diameter becomes small enough to enter into entrance portion 41. Once the second tongue portions 24 reach the axial position of the annular groove 42 formed axially at a distance from the outer surface of the entrance portion 41, the second tongue portions 24 relax to their original state and snap into place with the groove 42 in the female portion 40 .

Thus, the connected state shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, in which the sealing means 30 and the retaining means 10 reach a locked state, and the retaining means 10 is engaged with the female portion 40 by snapping between the second tongue portions 24 and the annular groove 42. As can be seen in FIG. 3A and 3B, the retaining means 10 does not protrude axially from the female part 40, but is completely received within its inlet portion 41. This is a particular advantage for processing and delivering the female part 40 with the retaining means 10 in this pre-locked state. In addition, the holding means 10 keeps the sealing means 30 from falling out of the inlet portion 41 due to its axially locked position. The sealing means 30 rests on the step 43 of the female part 40. The step 43 has a larger diameter than the axially adjacent section 44 in the downward direction of the female part 40, so that the sealing means 30 in any case cannot move further inside the female part 40.

An o-ring 30 as a sealing means is to be placed on an annular step 43 (see FIG. 3B) formed at the forward end of the inlet section 41. The o-ring 30 and other parts of the connector are shown in FIG. 2A and 2B in the axial direction at a distance from the inlet section 41, and the nozzle 50 as a male part is shown in FIG. 4A and 4B in an axial direction even further back from it. In order to achieve a fully connected state of the fluid connection system shown in FIG. 3 and 5, the sealing means 30 is first placed inside the inlet portion 41 on the step 43 of the female portion 40, as shown in FIG. 3, and then position the annular retaining means 10 axially rearward and adjacent to the sealing means 30. The connector is already in a pre-locked engaged state after being inserted into the inlet section 41. This is due to the fact that the second flexible element 22 of the retaining means 10 is subjected to some compression when inserted into the inlet portion 41, and its second tongue portion 24 then snaps into the annular groove 42 of the female portion 40. In this way, the second flexible element 22 prevents the retaining means 10 and the sealing means 30 from falling out of the inlet portion 41 during transport or such actions.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the male part 50 is pushed through the retaining means 10 and the sealing means 30 until the first tongue portion 14 of the first flexible element 12, which protrudes radially inward, snaps into engagement with the male part 50. The tubular male part 50 has a standard outer diameter at its most forward portion, which then gradually increases in a tapering portion 51 designed to gradually stretch the second flexible element 20 while pushing the male portion 50 through the retaining means 10. Rearward of the tapered portion 51 is a thickened portion 52 having an outer a diameter large enough to hold the second flexible members 22, in particular their two second tongue portions 22, in a locked state within the annular groove 42. More specifically, the two first flexible members 12 are first stretched by the tapering portion 51, and the two first tongue portions 14 then rest on the thickened section 52 behind the tapered section 51. The ratchet formed at the rear end of the tapered section 51 abuts against the first tongue section 14 of the first flexible element 12 so that the male part 50 remains locked inside the connector and can no longer be moved back.

In FIG. 5 shows the fluid connection system in its locked state. As described earlier, the female portion 40 is formed as a hole in the block. The opening includes a standard diameter section 44 that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the front section of the male portion 50. Behind the standard diameter section 44 is an inlet section 41 having a larger inner diameter than the standard diameter section 44. The inlet section 41 includes a step 43 for receiving the sealing means 30 and a section with a larger diameter than the diameter of the step 43 for receiving the retaining means 10 so that it does not protrude axially outward from the female part 40. The inlet section 41 further comprises an annular groove 42 with a larger diameter than the adjacent rear portion of the inlet portion 41 so that the two second flexible members 22 can protrude into the annular groove 42 when the tubular male portion 50 is brought into their locked state.

As can be seen by comparing the sealing means shown in the sectional views of FIG. 4B and 5B, sealing means 30 is expanded while pushing male portion 50 through holding means 10 and sealing means 30 in the fully locked position shown in the accompanying FIGS. 5A and 5B. In this way, a state of the fluid connection system is achieved in which the male part 50 is in a fully sealed state relative to the female part 40. This is achieved due to the fact that the most forward portion of the male part 50 has an outer diameter that is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the sealing means 30 so that the sealing means 30 must expand radially as the male part 50 is pushed by its most forward portion.

Prior to insertion of the male portion 50, the connector is often held in a pre-locked state by the plug 60. As best seen in FIG. 6, which shows in sectional view a shaft portion 61 of a plug 60 having a standard outside diameter that is the same as the diameter of the male portion 50 for which the plug serves as a seat holder. Also, the tapered section 62 substantially corresponds to the tapered section 51 of the male portion 50 and is designed to stretch the second flexible element 20 when the plug 60 is pushed through the retaining means 10 and the sealing means 30.

The plug 60 further comprises locking ribs 65 axially extending to provide the plug 60 with an increased outer diameter to lock against the retainer 10 when the plug 60 is in its fully inserted position. The gripping portion 64 of the plug 60 includes three locking ribs 65 and a disk portion 66. The locking ribs 65 allow the plug 60 to be easily rotated by the user's hand and increase the diameter of the plug sufficiently to prevent it from being pushed too far into the connector. They can further indicate to the user in which circumferential portions of the plug 60 the two groove sections 63 are formed and they extend upward to the disk portion 66 forming the end edge of the plug 60 in the rearmost portion.

In FIG. 6 and 7 show the plug 60 in a first pivot position in which the groove sections 63 are snap-engaged with the first tongue portions 14 of the retaining means 10. In this first pivot position, the plug 60 is in an axially locked position and closes the inlet portion 41 so that it cannot get dirt. Due to the expansion of the sealing means 30, achieved by pushing the plug 60 through the retaining means 10 and the sealing means 30 in the fully locked position shown in FIG. 7A and 7B, the plug also realizes a fully sealed state in which liquid or other fluids cannot enter or exit the inlet portion 41. This is due to the fact that the most forward portion of the plug 60 has an outer diameter which is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the sealing means 30, so that the sealing means 30 must be expanded in the radial direction when the plug 60 is pushed by its most forward portion. The sealing ability of the connector in the pre-assembled state, achieved by the plug 60, is most advantageous during various processing and testing steps, especially in the automotive industry, relating to other fluids for cooling electrical drive systems.

The plug can be rotated about its longitudinal axis from the shown first rotation state to the second rotation state. In the embodiment shown, this rotation is accomplished by rotating plug 60 90 degrees in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. In this second state of rotation, the groove sections 63 circumferentially disengage and snap into place with the first tongue portions 14 so that the plug 60 moves from its locked state to its released state. Even though the plug 60 is still in sealed engagement with the sealing means 30 at its most forward portion, it is no longer blocked in its axial direction so that it can be pulled back out of the inlet portion 41 of the female part. This is usually the time when the plug 60 is to be replaced by the male part 50 shown in FIG. 4-5 and explained further above with reference to these figures.

Briefly, according to the invention, a quick connector is provided, made of plastic materials, to provide a snap connection between a tubular male portion 50 and a female portion 40 of a fluid connection system. The connector comprises a retaining means 10 adapted to be inserted into the inlet portion 41 of the female part 40 and comprising first and second flexible members 12, 22 for snap-fit engagement with the male part 50 and the female part 40, respectively. The first and second flexible members 12, 22 are provided on circumferentially spaced portions of the holding means 10 so that the overall axial extent of the holding means 10 is reduced.

List of reference designations

10 Retaining means

11 Ring base

12 First flexible element

13 First ring segment

14 First tongue section

15 slots

22 Second flexible element

23 Second ring segment

24 Second tongue section

30 Sealing agent

40 Female part

41 Entrance section

42 Annular groove

43 Step

44 Axially adjoining section

50 Tubular male

51 Tapering section

52 Thickened area

60 Cork

61 Rod section

62 Tapered section

63 Groove section

64 Capture area

65 Locking ribs

66 Disc area

Claims (12)

1. Quick connector for connecting the tubular male part (50) with the female part (40), containing: sealing means (30) adapted to be installed in the inlet section (41) of the female part (40) to form a seal between the male part (50) and a female part (40), and a tubular retaining means (10) adapted for installation in the inlet section (41) and containing at least one first flexible element (12) with the first tongue section (14) protruding radially inward to engage with with the male part (50), and at least one second flexible element (22) with the second tongue section (24) protruding radially outward to snap into place with the female part (40), the first and second flexible elements (12, 22) are made on circumferentially spaced sections of the holding means (10), and between the first and second flexible elements (12, 22) axial slots (15) are formed so that the first and second flexible elements (12, 22) are able to elastically deform in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial extent of the tubular holding means (10), and the first flexible element (12) contains the first annular segment (13) protruding in the axial direction from the annular base (11) of the holding means (10), characterized in that the first reed section (14) protrudes radially inward from the first annular segment (13) in said radial direction perpendicular to the axial extent of the tubular retaining means (10). 2. Quick connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means (10) is made of plastic materials and/or formed as a single structural body, preferably by injection molding. 3. Quick connector according to claim. 1 or 2, characterized in that the holding means (10) contains at least two first and at least two second flexible elements (12, 22) and the first flexible elements (12) are arranged in alternating order with the second flexible elements (22) in the circumferential direction of the holding means (10). 4. Quick connector according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, characterized in that the second flexible element (22) contains a second annular segment (23) protruding in the axial direction from the annular base (11) of the holding means (10), and the second tongue section (24) protrudes radially outward from the second annular segment (23). 5. Quick connector according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, characterized in that the first and/or second reed sections (14, 24) are in the form of an annular segment. 6. Quick connector according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, characterized in that the retaining means (10) is adapted to hold the sealing means (30) in the sealing position, axially following, but not overlapping, the retaining means (10), so that the sealing means (30) is adapted to contact both the male part (50) and the female part (40) in the locked state of the quick connector. 7. Quick connector according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, characterized in that the holding means (10) and the sealing means (30) are adapted to hold them in the uninstalled state of the connector by means of a plug (60), and the plug (60) contains: a rod section (61) adapted to pass through retaining means (10) and sealing means (30), and a gripping portion (64) having a larger outer diameter than the retaining means (10), so that the gripping portion (64) protrudes axially outward from the retaining means (10) when captured by the user. 8. Quick connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the rod section (61) contains: a tapering section (62) with a gradually increasing outer diameter, adapted to deviate the first flexible element (12) outward when inserting the tapering section (62) into the retaining means (10), and/or a groove section (63) for engagement with the first tongue section (14) when the plug (60) is fully inserted into the holding means (10), the plug (60) being oriented in the first position of rotation relative to the holding means ( 10), while the sections of the shaft section (61) circumferentially adjacent to said groove section (63) do not contain grooves so that the plug (60) does not engage with the holding means (10) in the second position of rotation relative to the holding means (10) , in which free movement of the plug (60) in the axial direction relative to the holding means (10) is possible. 9. A fluid connection system, comprising: a quick connector according to any one of paragraphs. 1-8, a tubular male part (50), preferably a spigot, and a female part (40), preferably formed as an opening in the connector block. 10. System according to claim 9, in which the tubular male part (50) comprises: a tapering section (51), in which the outer diameter gradually increases to deflect the first flexible element (12) radially outward when inserting the tapering section (51) into the holding means (10) and/or a thickened portion (52) adapted to engage with the first tongue portion (14) when the male portion (50) is in its engaged position with the holding means (10). 11. The system according to claim 9 or 10, in which the female part (40) contains an annular groove (42) formed in the periphery of its inlet section (41), and the second reed section (24) is adapted to protrude into the annular groove (42) when the female part (40) is in its engaged position with the holding means (10). 12. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 9-11, in which the inlet section (41) has a larger inner diameter than the axially adjacent section (44) of the female part (40), and the inlet section (41) contains a step (43) for receiving sealing means (30).

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