Filling adapter comprising an interface for coupling a handle

A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. An interface is configured for coupling a gripping element designed as a separate assembly on the filling adapter in the region of the adapter head, wherein the interface has mechanical and electrical connecting elements which are disposed in a common plane and can be coupled to mechanical and electrical connecting elements of the gripping element which are congruent therewith.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/DE2015/000140, filed Mar. 18, 2015, claiming priority to DE 10 2014 004 829, filed Mar. 29, 2014. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a filling adapter for a container to be filled with media (e.g. oils, gases, coolants and the like), in particular for the initial filling of containers with operating substances on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles, wherein the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic lines.

BACKGROUND

Containers must be filled with liquids or gases for numerous technical applications. A typical application in this respect are motor vehicles where housings, circuits, equalizing reservoirs and the like have to be filled with fuel, lubricants, coolants, and other operating substances. In the manufacturing process, these vehicles must be filled, for example, with brake fluid, power steering fluid, coolant, refrigerant, windshield wiper fluid, and fuel. These media are fed via hoses and special adapters to the respective circuits of the vehicles. The hoses typically include multiple lines with different functions for vacuum application, back suction, filling, aerating, as well as for electrical cables.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,614 B1 describes a respective filling adapter for a container to be filled with media. This filling adapter is particularly designed for the initial filling of containers with operating substances on assembly lines at manufacturers of motor vehicles and is for this purpose equipped with a hose pack as well as electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic lines.

To perform the filling, a worker has to bring filling adapter and hose pack to the vehicle depending on the respective position of the filling station and connect it to the ports of the circuits to be filled. A gripping element into which a worker can grasp with one hand is configured on the adapter for this purpose. The gripping element is either designed as a cover of the hose pack or as a separate handle, which is preferably disposed on the adapter head. But both variants have disadvantages:

The hose cover design results in a great overall length of the entire adapter, which impairs handling by a worker due to the weight and because the center of gravity is often near the front. At the same time, the handle must inevitably have a large diameter, which is outside the dimensions required in standards, because the media lines have to be conducted through the handle.

In the design with a handle on the adapter head, the gripping angle and thus the access position on the container are permanently defined, such that a worker can encounter problems when handling the adapter depending on the exact space and access options available.

SUMMARY

It is the purpose of the disclosure to create a technical solution with which a gripping element can be disposed on the main body of the filling adapter in a relative position, which position can be varied as required, so as to enable largely optimal handling for the worker while observing the respective specific options for space and access to the container to be filled.

This problem is solved in that an interface is configured for coupling of a gripping element designed as a separate assembly on the filling adapter in the region of the adapter head, wherein the interface has mechanical and electrical connecting elements which are disposed in a common plane and can be coupled to mechanical and electrical connecting elements of the gripping element which are congruent therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one proposed embodiment, the gripping element can be moved on the interface. This facilitates advantageous weight balancing between the adapter and the hose pack.

In another embodiment, a control unit is integrated in the gripping element.

The main advantage of the filling adapter design according to the disclosure is that the relative position of the gripping element and the main body of the filling adapter can be modified such that a largely optimal handling for the worker is achieved while observing the respective specific options for space and access to the container to be filled. Depending on the respective conditions of use, various gripping elements can be coupled to the filling adapter—particularly at different angular positions. The standardized interface also enables rapid change, such that one basic design of the filling adapter can be easily modified for different operating conditions. In addition to technical advantages, this also has considerable ergonomic benefits.

Furthermore, the embodiment of a filling adapter according to the disclosure has a reduced overall length, which results in other advantages, such as a shorter distance between the center of gravity of the adapter and the control unit when a worker handles the adapter.

An embodiment according to the disclosure is explained below with reference to the figure. Wherein:

FIG. 1shows an adapter head with interfaces for mechanical and electrical coupling;

FIG. 2shows a gripping element with an integrated control unit;

FIG. 3shows the adapter head according toFIG. 1with a gripping element according toFIG. 2coupled to it.

The filling adapter shown in the drawing is particularly designed for the initial filling of containers with various operating substances on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles. Such filling adapters are equipped in a generally known way with a hose pack as well as electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. It should be noted that the drawing does not show a complete filling adapter; only the components that are essential for understanding the disclosure.

It is apparent fromFIG. 1that an interface2with mechanical (2a) and electrical (2b) connecting elements is configured in the area of the adapter head1on the filling adapter. The connecting elements2aand2bare arranged in a common plane and can be coupled with mechanical and electrical connecting elements of a separate gripping element3that are congruent therewith. Mechanical connecting elements2aprovide first and second mounting positions (2c,2d) on the adapter head1.

FIG. 2shows a respective gripping element3, in which preferably a control unit4(as shown here) is integrated. The gripping element3includes a handle portion3aand a connection portion3b.

FIG. 3shows the adapter head1of the filling adapter not shown in detail with the gripping element3coupled to it. The mechanical and electrical operative connection of these two assemblies1and3is achieved by the connecting elements configured on the interface2of the adapter head1and the congruent connecting elements of the gripping element3.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the gripping element3is disposed at an angle of 90° on the outer contour of the adapter head1. Other angles are possible depending on the detailed spatial conditions on the assembly line, the spatial layout of the containers to be filled in the vehicle and other conditions of use, so that largely optimal handling by the worker can be achieved.

Furthermore, the gripping element3can be moved along the interface2between the first and second mounting positions2c,2d. The weight can largely be balanced between the filling adapter and the hose pack due to the respective relative position. This also improves handling for the worker.