Abstract:
An articulated assembly for pipelines, including: two articulated sections; wherein one of the two articulated sections engages into another one of the two articulated sections; and a locking body that engages at least in areas between the articulated sections and cooperates with a locking contour on one of the articulated sections and with a locking section of the other articulated section such that a relative movement between the articulated sections is limited; wherein a guide means is provided on the articulated sections such that the two articulated sections can be joined together in a defined rotational position in relation to one another.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an articulated assembly for pipelines, particularly for establishing a semi-fixed pipe joint. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An articulated assembly for pipes is known from EP2286132 A1 in which a pipe sleeve connects a male and a female pipe part. The pipe sleeve cooperates with an inner contour of the female pipe part in order to couple a pipe that can be received in the pipe receptacle in an articulated manner to the female pipe part. For this purpose, the pipe receptacle has a pipe stop formed from sections that project from an inner wall of the pipe sleeve. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the invention to provide an easily and reliably mountable articulated assembly that is particularly suitable for semi-fixed pipe joints. 
         [0004]    The abovementioned object is achieved according to one aspect of the invention by an articulated assembly with two articulated sections and a locking body, one of the two articulated sections engaging in the other and the locking body engaging at least in areas between the articulated sections and cooperating with a locking contour on one of the articulated sections and with a locking section of the other articulated section, and a guide means being provided on the articulated sections such that the two articulated sections can be joined together in a defined rotational position in relation to one another. 
         [0005]    Favorable embodiments and advantages of the invention follow from the other claims, the description and the drawing. 
         [0006]    What is proposed is an articulated assembly including two articulated sections, wherein one of the two articulated sections engages in the other of the two articulated sections, and a locking body that engages at least in areas between the articulated sections and cooperates with a locking contour on one of the articulated sections and with a locking section of the other articulated section such that a relative movement between the articulated sections can at least be limited and wherein a guide means is provided on the articulated sections such that the two articulated sections can be joined together in a defined rotational position in relation to one another. Alternatively or in addition, an articulated assembly is proposed in which the locking contour of one articulated section comprises a plurality of recesses on its inner wall that correspond with locking elements of the locking body. 
         [0007]    The articulated section that engages in the other articulated section is also referred to as the male articulated section, while the other articulated section is referred to as the female articulated section. 
         [0008]    Unlike the prior art, no separate sleeve or coupling nut is provided for the fixation of a connection between the articulated sections, since a spherical section on the male articulated section is formed directly from the component of the articulated section and is provided for the fixation of the connection between the articulated sections. As a result, no end stop is required for the respective articulated section, either. The use of labor-intensive and expensive rubber elements to compensate for movements during assembly or resulting from changes in temperature during operation can thus be avoided. 
         [0009]    The articulated assembly according to the invention is especially suited to the manufacture of a fixed or semi-fixed connection, such as in charge air lines in motor vehicles or connections with dynamic movement stresses, particularly with high temperature and pressure loads on the connection. The articulated assembly can easily compensate for movements during installation or resulting from slight positional changes between connection points. Both changes in length of a few millimeters and angle errors of a few degrees between the articulated sections can be compensated for without introducing tension into the articulated assembly on one side. 
         [0010]    In particular, when two articulated sections are provided in a pipeline, for instance, movements between connection elements in fixed connections can be compensated for with only slight deviations. Relative movements of the articulated sections in relation to one another that are necessary during assembly in order to compensate for tolerances can be executed, whereas the connection can be fixed and not detachable in a destruction-free manner in the assembled state, enabling, at most, small movements of the articulated sections brought about by changes in the thermal geometry. 
         [0011]    According to one favorable embodiment, the locking body can have on its outer periphery a flattened region or recess corresponding to the guide means of the articulated sections. Advantageously, the locking body can be embodied as a ring, particularly as a tapered ring. Due to the flattened region or recess on the periphery, the locking body is able to slide past the guide means and simultaneously be oriented so as to fit with it. The two articulated sections and the locking body can thus be positioned in a defined manner with respect to one another. By virtue of this embodiment of the locking body, a low level of rotatability of the articulated sections can be enabled which can preferably lie between 1° and 5°, especially preferably between 2° and 3°. For this purpose, the guide means can expediently be adapted accordingly. 
         [0012]    If a provision is alternatively or additionally made in the articulated assembly that the locking contour of one articulated section comprises a plurality of recesses on its inner wall that correspond with locking elements of the locking body, the locking elements can lock with the recesses. Advantageously, the recesses can be embodied at the same axial height of the articulated section. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the locking contour to be formed by a circumferential groove. It is especially advantageous in an embodiment with a plurality of recesses on the inner wall for the strength of such an articulation part to be greater than that of an articulated section with a circumferential groove. The greater the number of recesses and the lockable locking elements associated therewith, the more homogeneous the transmission of force into the articulated section. If the number is lower, the locking body can be bent more easily with its locking elements in order to lock with the locking contour. 
         [0013]    According to one favorable embodiment, one of the two articulated sections can have a fork with prongs projecting in the axial direction between which a radial projecting pin of the other of the two articulated sections can be guided, with fork and pin being part of the guide means. Such a construction is easy to manufacture and provides a reliable guide. Furthermore, after the connection of the articulated sections has been established, it can readily be recognized from the outside on the basis of the pin whether the articulated sections and the locking body are correctly positioned and properly joined together, even though the male articulated section and the locking body dip practically completely into the female articulated section after closure. 
         [0014]    Advantageously, the locking section of the locking body and the locking section of the articulated section, e.g., of the male articulated section, can form a positive fit on contact. In this way, the male articulated section can effectively be prevented from inadvertently sliding out of the female articulated section of the articulated assembly. 
         [0015]    It is especially advantageous if the locking body is embodied as a tapered ring. The locking body can have a bearing surface for a front side, for example, of the female articulated section and have a collar that engages between the two articulated sections and the locking elements. In this way, the locking body can be mounted in a simple and space-saving manner. Advantageously, the locking contour can be arranged on an inner side of the tapered ring and the hooks for cooperating with the locking contour on an outer side of the tapered ring. For example, the locking elements can be embodied as locking hooks on whose surfaces arranged radially on the inside the locking contour is embodied, e.g., in the form of a surface region formed complementarily to the locking contour of the, for example, male articulated section. However, an inverted embodiment with hooks on the inner side of the collar of the locking body and a locking contour on the outer side, each of which cooperates with corresponding counterparts of the articulated sections, is also conceivable. 
         [0016]    Advantageously, the male articulated part can have a sealing groove on its outer surface. In this way, a pressure-tight connection can be ensured. 
         [0017]    Expediently, the diameter of the locking body can be reversible expandable for proper mounting. For example, a slot can be provided in the locking body. As a result, the locking body can easily be expanded during assembly in order to push it onto the corresponding articulation part. The locking section of the other articulated section engaging in the articulated section can have a spherical shape for the fixation of the two articulated sections. Advantageously, this articulated section can have on its outer surface a sealing groove at the apex of the spherical shape. 
         [0018]    As a result of the shape being spherical at least in areas, a spherical supporting of the articulated sections can be achieved, whereby the compensation of angle errors between the articulated sections is facilitated in an especially effective manner. The connection between the articulated sections can be produced without having to insert and then lock the male articulated part in the female articulated part at a special angle, which simplifies assembly. Expediently, the locking section on the articulated section side can form a region of an outer surface of the spherical, front-side thickening of the male articulated section. This makes a very compact arrangement possible without additional components. 
         [0019]    Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the sealing groove to be arranged at a position on the inner side of the female articulated section that corresponds to the apex of the spherical shape of the male articulated section. 
         [0020]    Through the arrangement of the sealing groove and, accordingly, the seal at the apex of the spherical shape, it can advantageously be achieved that the elastic tension acts circumferentially and uniformly on the two articulated sections. Through the positioning of the sealing groove at the apex of the spherical shape, the seal remains unchanged in relation to the articulated sections in the event of rotation. An O-ring can be used as a seal, for example. 
         [0021]    According to one favorable design, the locking body can have a slot which is such that the diameter of the locking body is reversibly expandable. The locking body can be expanded and easily pushed over the spherical front side onto a region of the male articulated section with a smaller diameter. While the connection between the articulated sections is being established, the diameter of the locking body can remain unchanged. Only the locking elements are moved by sliding outward along the male articulated section into the locking contour of the corresponding articulated section, where they can lock in place. In particular, the locking body can be locked on the locking contour of the corresponding articulated section, e.g., of the female articulated section, and the, for example, male articulated section can still be movable within limits. 
         [0022]    The articulated assembly is especially suited to producing semi-fixed connections of pipes, particularly charge air pipes in motor vehicles. The arrangement can work both in over-pressure and in under-pressure. 
         [0023]    According to another aspect of the invention, a connecting pipeline with a pipe and at least one articulated assembly according to the invention connected firmly to the pipe. The articulated assembly can be welded to the pipeline, it being possible to employ different welding methods, or the fixed connection can be achieved in another suitable manner. 
         [0024]    According to another aspect of the invention, an articulated section for an articulated assembly according to the invention is proposed in which at least one contour is provided on an inner side in a receiving region for locking elements of a locking body. 
         [0025]    According to another aspect of the invention, an articulated section for an articulated assembly according to the invention is proposed in which a thickening is provided on a front-side end whose outer surface has a spherical region that is provided as a locking section in the assembled state for cooperating with a locking section of a locking body. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect of the invention, a locking body for an articulated assembly according to the invention is proposed in which a locking contour is provided radially on the outside for fixing the locking body in the assembled state on a first articulated section and a locking section is provided radially on the inside for limiting a relative movement of a second articulated section in relation to the first articulated section. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Additional advantages follow from the following description of the drawings. The drawings show exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also regard the features individually and group them together into other sensible combinations. 
           [0028]    For the sake of example: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a charge air pipe of a combustion engine with two articulated assemblies according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a sectional representation of two articulated sections and a locking body of an articulated assembly before the assembly of the parts according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional representation of the articulated assembly from  FIG. 2  with the locking body, which is pushed onto the male articulated section, before the fixing of the male articulated section on the female articulated section; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional representation of the articulated assembly from  FIG. 2  after the closing of the articulated assembly, the locking body being locked on the female articulated section; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of the male articulated section and the locking body from  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric representation of the closed articulated assembly with a guide means. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    In the figures, same or similar components are designated by the same reference symbols. The figures merely show examples and are not to be understood as being limiting. 
         [0036]    To explain the invention,  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a connecting pipeline  100  with two articulated assemblies  10  according to one embodiment of the invention. The connecting pipeline  100  in the form of a charge air pipe  110  of a combustion engine is connected at a first point of articulation  112  via the first articulated assembly  10  to a first pipe piece and connected at a remotely arranged point of articulation  114  via the second articulated assembly  10  to a second pipe piece. The connecting pipeline  100  is intended to be semi-fixed, i.e., it is not provided for dynamic movements during operation, but rather is substantially immobile and subjected only to slow movements for thermal equilibration. 
         [0037]    The articulated assembly  10  forms a respective connection with a low level of mobility between two pipes or pipe sections. The articulated assembly  10  enables small movements between the pipe ends both from tilting movements and from axial movements to be compensated for. For instance, the articulated assembly  10  can compensate for tilting of up to 2.5° and a longitudinal shift between the two pipes of a few millimeters, for instance +/−3 mm. Likewise, an axial shift can easily be compensated for if two articulated assemblies  10  are provided on the connecting pipeline  100 . The differences in movement are not equalized dynamically between the two end points, but rather the articulation element  10  merely acts as an equalization element for the assembly of the system and for tolerance compensation between two points of connection. In order to optimally exploit the advantages of the articulated assembly  10 , it is recommended that the articulated assembly  10  be provided as a pair on both sides of the charge air pipe connection  110 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 2 to 4  show an articulated assembly  10  in sectional representation before the articulated sections  20 ,  40  and locking body  60  are brought together ( FIG. 2 ), in an intermediate step with pushed-on locking body  60  ( FIG. 3 ), and in the closed state ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0039]    Plastic or metal can be used as a material for articulated sections  20 ,  40  and locking body  60 . Some examples of suitable metallic materials are steel or zinc die-casting. A combination of metallic material and plastic is also possible. For instance, the male articulated part  40  can be made of metal and the female articulated part  20  can be made of plastic. 
         [0040]    The articulated assembly  10  comprises the female articulated section  20  and the male articulated section  40  as well as the locking body  60 , which engages between the articulated sections  20 ,  40  and prevents the articulated sections  20 ,  40  from sliding apart. 
         [0041]    The female articulated section  20  thus forms a socket, while the male articulated section  40  forms a joint ball of a ball joint. 
         [0042]    In principle, the socket and joint ball can also be part of another component, such as a fitting, pipe element, or the like. 
         [0043]    In the male articulated section  40 , a spherical thickening  44  is provided in the region of the front-side end  48 . In the thickened spherical region, a sealing groove  54  is arranged at the apex into which a seal  56 , e.g., an O-ring, is placed in the assembled state. The seal  56  is used for the pressure-tight connection of joint ball and socket, i.e., of the female and male articulated section  20 ,  40 . 
         [0044]    The female articulated section  20  has on its inner side  28  a locking contour  30  that cooperates with locking elements  64  of the locking body  60 , which are particularly embodied as locking catches. The locking contour  30  comprises a plurality of recesses  34  on the inner side  28  into which the locking elements  64  can engage with projections  65 . Embodied across from the projections  65  on the inner side of the locking body  60  is a locking section  62  that cooperates with a locking section  52  of the other, male articulated section  40 . The locking section  62  is embodied so as to correspond to the spherical shape of the locking section  52  of the articulated section  40 . 
         [0045]    The locking body  60  is embodied as a ring, particularly as a tapered ring, with a bearing ring  66  and axially extending locking elements  64 , particularly locking catches. In the assembled state, the locking body  60  locks on its outer side with the female articulated section  20  and cooperates on its inner side with a locking section of the male articulated section. 
         [0046]    In principle, an inverted design in which the locking body  60  locks on the male articulation part  40  and cooperates with a locking section of the female articulation part  20  would be conceivable. 
         [0047]    The bearing ring  66  is used for placement onto a front side  26  of the female articulated section  20 . The locking body  60  is used both for the fixing of the male articulated section  40  on the female articulated section  20  and for limiting a relative movement of the male articulated section  40  in relation to the female articulated section  20 , thus reliably preventing detachment of the connection between the articulated sections  20 ,  40 . 
         [0048]    The articulated assembly  10  further comprises a guide means  17  with which a defined rotational positioning of the articulated sections  20 ,  40  is made possible. For this purpose, the female articulated section  20  has a fork with flanks  19 ,  21  extending in the axial direction between which a pin  41  of the male articulation part  40  extending in the radial direction engages. The pin  41  is arranged in the region of a recess  45  of an end ring  46  of the male articulated section  40 . During assembly, the recess  45  enables the male articulated section  40  to slide past the fork of the female articulated section  20  when the pin  41  is guided between the flanks  19 ,  21 . The recess  45  thus forms a lateral limit for the fork and thus a boundary for relative rotation between the articulated sections  20 ,  40 . The flanks  19 ,  21  can have beveled outer edges and widen toward the female articulated section  20 , which improves the guidance of the articulated section  40  toward the articulated section  20 . 
         [0049]    On the periphery des bearing ring  66 , the locking body  60  has a recess  74  that is positioned in the region of the guide means  17 . The bearing ring  66  has a diameter that is only slightly smaller than the circumference on the front side  26  of the female articulated section  26 , so that the recess  74  permits the locking body  60  to slide by the flanks  19 ,  21  while simultaneously being in a rotational position that enables secure engagement of the locking elements  64  in the recesses  34  of the locking contour  30  without being visible from the outside. The details of the male articulated section  40  and of the locking body  60  can be seen in an exploded view in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0050]    As can be seen from the succession of  FIGS. 2 to 5 , in order to assemble the articulated assembly  10 , the locking body  60  is first pushed onto the male articulated section  40 . In order to make it possible to push the locking body  60  embodied as a tapered ring over the thickening  44  of the joint ball, the locking body  60  can be expanded. It is for this reason that the tapered ring is separated at a point by a slot  72  ( FIG. 2 ), so that the tapered ring can open and be pushed over the thickening  44  on the joint ball (male articulated section  40 ). 
         [0051]    The seal  56  is then mounted on the joint ball (male articulated section  40 ), after which the joint ball (male articulated section  40 ) is pressed with mounted seal  56  with the front side  48  first into the socket (female articulated section  20 ). The tapered ring (locking body  60 ) lies outside of the thickening  44  on the joint ball (male articulated section  40 ). 
         [0052]    The locking body  60  (tapered ring) is also pressed into the socket (female articulated section  20 ). The locking catches (locking elements  64 ) of the tapered ring (locking body  60 ) still lie outside of the thickening  44 , and their outer diameter can be compressed until they are able to dip under the locking contour  30  on the socket (female articulated section  20 ). The thickness of the locking elements  64  is dimensioned such that, when the articulated sections  20 ,  40  are brought together, it barely fits through the gap that forms beyond the thickening  44  between the input diameter of the female articulated section  20  and the region of the joint ball of the male articulated section  40 . 
         [0053]    The locking body  60 , with its resilient locking elements  64 , can pass below the inner contour of the locking contour  30  during assembly, it being possible to compress the locking body  60  with the locking section  62  on its inner surface to the outer surface of the male articulated section  40 . In this compressed state, the outer edge of the projections  65  of the locking elements  64  has a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the locking contour  30 . 
         [0054]    This can be achieved by embodying the gap height between the inner contour of the locking contour  30  of the female articulated section  20  and the cylindrical section  42  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the outer contour of the male articulated section  40  behind the spherical thickening  44  (designated as B in  FIG. 3 ) so as to be greater than the distance between the outer edge of the projection  65  of the locking body  60  and the inner contour with the locking section  62  of the locking body  60  (designated as A in  FIG. 3 ). Only when distance A is less than or equal to the gap height B can the locking body  60  be pressed into the gap between the two articulated sections  20 ,  40 . 
         [0055]    The joint ball and the tapered ring are pressed in in the axial direction until the locking catches (locking elements  64 ) lock behind the recesses  34  of the locking contour  30  of the socket. Since the outer diameter of the locking elements  64  is greater than the inner diameter of the locking contour  30 , the tapered ring (locking body  60 ) is securely fixed on the female articulated section  20  and can no longer be removed non-destructively. If the articulated assembly  10  is subjected to a tensile load, the tapered ring (locking body  60 ) acts as a form-fitting connection in relation to the spherical thickening  44  on the joint ball and prevents the articulated assembly  10  from opening. The locking section  62  on the inner side of the locking elements  64  of the locking body  60  and the locking section  52  of the joint ball (male articulated section  40 ) on the spherical thickening  44  thus form a positive fit on contact, since they are embodied so as to have complementary shapes, e.g., the locking section  52  on the thickening  44  is arched convexly outwardly (spherical) and the locking section  52  is arched concavely inward. 
         [0056]      FIG. 6  shows an isometric representation of the articulated assembly  10  from  FIG. 2  with closed coupling according to  FIG. 4 . The locking body  60  dips nearly completely, except for the bearing ring  66 , into the female articulated section  20 . Likewise, the male articulated section  40  dips to a large extent into the female articulated section  20 , it being possible to discern based on the position of the radially outwardly projecting pin  41  of the guide means  17  on the male articulated section  40  whether the components are properly positioned in relation to one another.