Patent ID: 7878552
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: F16L

Abstract:
1. An insert coupling, comprising: a sleeve-shaped coupling body having a housing and an axis therethrough, said housing including a recess formed therein; a tubular insert part having a circumferential retaining rib; a coupling element comprising a ring shaped body and which can be axially inserted in the housing to be axially fixed in an insert position and through which said tubular insert part is inserted into said sleeve-shaped coupling body, said coupling element including at least one engagement hook integrally formed therewith and intended for the positive engagement with said retaining rib of said insert part, said at least one engagement hook having a retaining edge and is radially moveably arranged in a position for establishing a releasable engagement with the retaining rib, said ring shaped body having webs arranged parallel to the axis, said engagement hooks being integrally formed radially on an inside of said webs, said ring body further having straps integrally formed therewith parallel to said axis and which extend in a direction away from the sleeve-shaped coupling body and which are spaced from the webs via slots, said straps having face ends; a ring shaped space formed between the insert part and said housing of the coupling body when said coupling element is in said insert position in said housing, said ring shaped space being limited by a first ring shoulder formed by an axial face end of the coupling element and a second ring shoulder formed by a radial step of the housing and which second shoulder is spaced from said first ring shoulder when said coupling element is in said insert position, and wherein the ring shaped space is further defined by cylindrical surfaces of the housing and the insert part radially spaced from and facing each other; a sealing arrangement inserted in said ring shaped space, said first and second ring shoulders forming axial active faces of the sealing arrangement; a ring shaped element formed by said engagement hooks together with connecting elements and unlocking elements, said engagement hooks being arranged along the circumference of the ring element such that upon radial deformation of the ring element the engagement hooks can be released from its engaged state with the retaining rib, said ring element having a face end facing said face end of said straps and spaced therefrom so as to establish a space therebetween, and that during a coupling state of the insert coupling the retaining rib and the retaining edges of the engagement hooks engaging behind the retainer rib in said recess are visible, an axial width of said retaining rib and said retaining edges corresponds to said space so that the intended engagement of the retaining edges of the engagement hooks with the retaining rib of the insert part is visible from the outside; and engagement pins fixedly attached to said coupling element and extending radially therefrom, said housing of said sleeve-shaped coupling body having complimentary openings for receiving said engagement pins when said coupling element is in said insert position within said housing.