Abstract:
A connection assembly for a hose end. The assembly includes a fitting, a connector, and a shell formed of a pair of closable halves. The a fitting includes a nipple having a first end insertable in the hose end and a second end, a flange surrounding the nipple, and a sleeve disposed over the nipple first end. With the hose end being inserted between the sleeve and the nipple, the second nipple end being slidably received coaxially in the connector, and the shell halves being closed over the fitting with the flange being received in a first cavity portion thereof, and with the connector being received in a second cavity of the shell, the fitting is slidably movable in the shell responsive to fluid pressure from a release position to a locked position wherein the flange interferingly engages the first cavity portion preventing the shell halves from being opened.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is continuation of copending International Application No. PCT/EP2008/008953 filed Oct. 23, 2008, which designated the United States, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 20200806612.3, filed May 15, 2008, the disclosure of each of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a joining and connecting device for high-pressure lines, to join a hose line to another hose line or to a device operating at high pressure, whereby the end of the hose line is provided with a hose fitting that consists of a nipple pushed into the interior of a hose body and a sleeve placed on the exterior of the hose body that can be connected to the nipple and pressed out on the hose body. 
     To the extent that several segments of hose line must be coupled together in high-pressure applications by means of suitable connecting devices or a hose line is to be jointed to a device operating at high pressure, known joining and connecting devices are constructed as screw connections. Such a screw connection is described in DE 20 2006 007 315 U1. To the extent that in the known screw connection an end piece is firmly connected to the hose line, this document gives no information about the way in which the attachment of the end piece to the hose line should be accomplished. 
     A disadvantage in the known screw connection, however, is its expensive structure, with several individual parts, and the screw connection is partly produced with the aid of a tool. Sealing such a screw connection is also complicated, for which a special connecting part is provided in the known screw connection. 
     Furthermore, to the extent that hose lines are to be connected to one another or to a working device, hose fittings are known for this, which consist of a nipple that can be pushed into the interior of a hose body and sleeve placed on the exterior of the hose body that can be connected to the nipple and pressed out on the hose body. The nipple projecting from the end of the hose is then suitable to be brought to be connected to fittings of other hoses or working devices. Such a hose fitting according to characteristics if this kind is described, for example, in DE 20 2006 015 598. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to providing a joining and connecting device for high-pressure lines which is simple to construct and handle. 
     The invention envisions, in its basic idea, that the hose fittings connected to the hose bodies have a radially separated flange ring, that the end of the nipple projecting out from the hose body has a seal placed on its outer circumference, and can be pushed together with the seal into a receiving box connector, and that the receiving box connector and the radially separated flange ring, including a half-shell enclosing an adjacent segment of the outer sleeve are enclosed as a joining and connecting device, whereby one of the indentations in the flange ring that serves to receive it, is dimensioned in the half-sleeve in such a way that an axial movement of the hose end between a release position and a locking position for the half-shell formed on the front of the half-shell by a form-tight contact of the flange ring with a receiving device formed on the front of the half-shell is made possible. 
     First of all, the advantage of a simple structure of the joining and connecting device is connected with the invention. For use of the joining and connecting device according to the invention, only a nipple or sleeve of the hose fitting has to be changed in order to form the required flange ring. The receiving box connector and the two half-shells are envisioned as additional components, all of which have a simple structure. To the extent that in an assembled connection the front ends of the nipple are provided with a seal located on it in the receiving box connector, a simple sealing is associated, without additional sealing steps. A secure locking of the joining an connecting device is effected by applying an appropriate high pressure to the hose line, in that the corresponding flange ring of the hose in the axial space enclosed by the half-shell is moved into a form-tight contact with the half-shell, in such a way that the half-shells can no longer be removed from the hose fitting, which is under pressure. 
     In contrast, a disassembly of the joining and connecting device is possible in a simple manner in the pressure-free state, since the hose fittings involved are to be moved far enough into the interior of the half-shells until the flange ring comes out of contact with the half-shell and it can be removed to the outside. In an advantageous way, the half-shells thus have a double function, namely both a holding function for the hose fitting and a protective function, to the extent that half-shells are attached to the hose fittings, and in the case the nipple breaks, the hose is prevented from whipping around. 
     According to one embodiment example of the invention, it is envisioned that the flange ring makes contact with projection that protrudes from the hose body in the axial direction into a groove formed in the half-shell as a receiving device. The flange ring may be formed on the front end of the sleeve, whereby the flange ring can be a one-piece component of the sleeve. Alternatively, the flange ring may be mounted to one of the regions of the nipple protruding from the hose body, between the sleeve and the receiving box connector. In this case, the flange ring can be attached to the nipple, for example, by being welded on or in another way. 
     To the extent that, according to an embodiment example of the invention, it is envisioned that the receive box connector has a length such that the front end of the seal, which has the seal, is inside the receiving box connector in both the release position and the locking position, it is thereby provided that in each position of the hose fitting within the receiving space formed by the half-shells, a secure sealing of the nipple against the receiving box connector is assured. 
     In an first embodiment of the invention, it is sufficient that when, after the closing of the half-shells by an axial movement of the hose end with the hose fitting, the flange ring in the receiving indentation is brought into a form-tight contact with the half-shells. If, after this, the joining and connecting device is placed under pressure, this locked state is maintained securely. 
     In addition, however, other means of fixing the half-shells to each other in their closed position can be envisioned. 
     Thus, according to an embodiment example of the invention, it can be provided that the half-shells enclosing the two receiving box connectors and the flange ring are held together in their closed position by means of a curved spring clamp placed on their outer circumferences, whereby it can be provided that the each of the half-shells has a pull for flush receiving of the curved spring clamps. With this, it is assured that the spring clamps do not protrude beyond the outer circumference of the joining and connecting device. 
     In an alternative embodiment, it can be envisioned that the half-shells are held together in their closed position by means of U-shaped spring plugs plugged in radially at their outer ends. 
     In another alternative embodiment, it can be envisioned that the half-shells are held together in their closed position by means of external hinge. In this case, the hinge axis of the hinge spans the half-shells in their pre-stressed closed position, and with the half-shells held by spring blades. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a curved spring clamp can again be envisioned to hold the two half-shells together, held to the hinge axis at one end by an appropriately provided hinge. The hinge axis can be brought to the two half-shells by means of hinge bands, each preferably attached by welding. 
     According to one embodiment example of the invention, it is further envisioned that the receiving box connector is surrounded in a form-tight manner by the half-shells and attached immovably to it the axial direction. 
     To the extent that the joining and connecting device according to the invention is envisioned to connect two hose lines, it is envisioned according to one embodiment example that the half-shells are surrounded and held together by the flange rings of the two hose fittings of the hose lines to be brought together, including the receiving box connectors arranged in between. 
     To the extent that the corresponding device is envisioned for joining a hose line to a high-pressure working device, the corresponding connection is accomplished by the receiving box connectors being connected to the working device and the half-shells being attached immovable to the receiving box connectors or to the working device. 
     According to another embodiment example of the invention, another hose line, again for joining a hose line to a high-pressure working device or else to other hose lines having standardized hose connections, is envisioned that the receiving box connector is constructed as an adapter connecting the working device or the hose connection, whereby the corresponding flange ring is constructed on the front end of the adapter, preferable in one piece, whereby the hose fitting of the hose line to be connected to the flange ring is brought to the adapter together with the flange ring applied to it. In each alternative embodiment example, it can also be envisioned that an outer thread is applied to the free connected end of the adapter for the adapter to be screwed into, for example a connection formed on a working device or, alternatively, an inner thread to join the standardized screw connection of a hose line. 
     To the extent that, to protect the joining and connecting device it is required, in a known way, to close the open ends of the hose fittings by means of a protective cap, the problem exists that in the case of mounted hose lines, the protective cap should be kept on the hose fitting, in order to be able to use the joining and closing abilities of the hose fittings in further handling. For this, according to one embodiment example of the invention, it is envisioned that a protective cap is held removably on the hose fitting to cover the open end of the hose fitting, and the hat-shaped protective cap has a protective region for an axially enclosing plug on the open end of the hose fitting an adjacent holding area on the protective region with a outward-curved wall region for radial plugging in of the protective cap on the outer circumference of a segment of sleeve of the hose fitting. Connected with this is the advantage that the protective cap placed on the open end of the hose fitting is removed during mounting of the hose fitting and can itself be held by being plugged into the hose fitting and thus not be lost. 
     In regard to the formation of the protective region, it can be envisioned that the protective region consists of an element protruding from the interior of the closed cover region for being plugged on the end of the hose fitting, whereby the holding function of the protective cap can be achieved by the outward-curved wall region of the protective can being formed as a spring. 
     In a further development of the joining and connecting device with a protective cap attached to it, it is envisioned, according to one embodiment example, that the protective cap is plugged onto the hose fitting after mounting, is also applied for additional security against detachment of the joining and connecting device, whereby it is envisioned for this that in each case, the hat-shaped protective cap is fixed axially by means of a projection that fits into a groove formed on the outer side of the sleeve in its plugged position on the hose fitting, and the groove is arranged in such a way that an axial movement of the hose fitting with the protective cap plugged onto it to the half-shells is excluded. Since it is required for detaching the joining and connecting device that the hose fitting involves be able to move axially within the interior of the half-shell until the flange ring comes to contact the half-shell, an additional security of the joining and connecting device is achieved in its connected position by means of the protective cap being plugged in and fixed axially, to the extent that the hose fitting involved cannot move axially. 
     According to the use of the joining and connecting device, especially for high-pressure hoses, additional arrangement of a protective hose pushed over the outside of the high-pressure hose can also be envisioned; such a protective hose is described in WO 2006/002459 A1. In this case, there is a problem, in that each end of the protective hose must be attached in the region of the hose fitting or the joining and connecting device, whereby the protective hose is generally attached in the region of the nipple of the hose fitting. To the extent that this nipple is subject to the risk of a breakdown, the protective hose cannot fulfill its protective function in such a case. 
     Also in regard to the attachment of the protective hose, the design according to the invention offers an appropriate starting point, so, according to one embodiment example of the invention, it is envisioned that a protective hose enclosing the high-pressure line with the outside of the hose fitting is provided, which is pushed onto its end arranged over the over the region of the sleeve projecting from the half-shell and attached to it by means of press sleeve applied to its outside, and that the width of the protective cap the a position of press sleeve applied to the sleeve are determined with respect to each other in such a way that the protective cap can be inserted between the half-sleeve and the press sleeve as an axial thrust bearing in such a way that an axial movement of the hose fitting as far as the half-shell is excluded. For in the embodiment according to the invention, it is sufficient that the protective hose is attached to the sleeve by means of a hose fitting, in a known way. Even when, for example, the nipple breaks off under the flange ring, the hose connected to the hose fitting, preferably a high-pressure hose, is still held by the half-shells, so that the joining and connecting device does not have to be overlapped by the protective hose. 
     According to one embodiment example of the invention, it is envisions that the protective hose consists of a flexible and extendable material. It is thereby assured that in case of tension force that is too high affecting the hose line, in each case, the more stiffly formed inner high-pressure line tears first, and the flexible protective hose remains connected to the hose fitting. 
     The present invention, accordingly, comprises the construction, combination of elements, and/or arrangement of parts and steps which are exemplified in the detailed disclosure to follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a joining and connecting device for two hose-line ends before the pressure effect in the release position of the joining and connecting device, in cross-section; 
         FIG. 2  shows the joining and connecting device of  FIG. 1  in the locked position of the joining and connecting device under the effect of pressure; 
         FIG. 3  shows detail III from  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the joining and connecting device according to  FIG. 1  in a view with half-shells found in its closed position; 
         FIG. 5  shows the joining and connecting device of  FIG. 4  in another embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  shows the joining and connecting device of  FIGS. 4 and 5  in another embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  shows the joining and connecting device of  FIG. 6  in cross-section; 
         FIG. 8  shows another embodiment example of the joining and connecting device of the two half-shells according to  FIGS. 4 through 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a joining and connecting device for a hose line to a working device, in cross-section; 
         FIG. 10  shows the joining and connecting of  FIG. 9  in another embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  shows another embodiment example of the joining and connecting device according to  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 12  shows a hose fitting with one of its open ends provided with a protective cap; 
         FIG. 13  shows the fitting of  FIG. 12  with a protective cap provided on the sleeve region of the hose fitting; 
         FIG. 14  shows the fitting of  FIG. 12  in another embodiment with a protective cap attached axially to the sleeve segment of the hose fitting; 
         FIG. 15  shows the protective cap according to  FIG. 14  in a detailed perspective presentation; 
         FIG. 16  shows the fitting of  FIG. 14  in a perspective view; 
         FIG. 17  shows the joining and connecting device according to  FIG. 14 , with an outer protective sleeve included; and 
         FIG. 18  shows the joining and connecting device of  FIG. 17  in a perspective view. 
     
    
    
     The drawings will be described further in connection with the following Detailed Description of the Invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As results first from  FIG. 1 , two hose fittings  10  of high-pressure hose lines, not shown further, are connected to each other. Each hose fitting  10  consists of a nipple  11  to be move in the interior of a hose body, not shown, and an outer sleeve  12 . Between the nipple  11  and the sleeve  12 , there is a ring space  13  to receive the hose body, whereby on the outer side of the nipple  11  and also on the inner side of the sleeve  12 , teeth  14  are formed, which, when the sleeve  12  is pre-pressed with the hose body, mesh with the hose body and thereby produce a firm connection between the hose fitting  10  and the hose body in each case. 
     In the region above the ring space  13  to receive the hose body, the sleeve  12  is provided with projection  15  that can be pressed into a groove  16  formed on the nipple  11 , so that the firm connection between the nipple  11  and the sleeve  12  is also supported by this. On its outermost front end, the nipple  11  has another groove  17  to receive a sealing ring  18  inserted into it. With this front end and the seal  18  inserted into it, the two nipples  11  of the two hose fittings  10  to be connected are pushed into a centrally arranged receiving box  19 , until the front sides of the two nipples meet each other. 
     At their front ends, the two sleeves  12  each have a flange ring  20  as a one-piece component at a distance from it, which has a projection  21  in the direction of the hose fitting  10 . 
     The two flange rings  20  next to the receiving box  19  between them are enclosed by two half-shells placed outside them, whereby the half-shells  22  each extend further over a partial region of each sleeve  12  of the hose fitting  10 . Inside them, the two half-shells placed together form a receiving indentation  23  that is oriented to receive the flange ring  20  with projection  21  of the hose fitting  10  in a suitable manner. The receiving indentation  23  in this case has an axial extent such that the two flange rings  20  in can move axially to a certain extent, which will be explained later. At their front sides  24  facing the projections  21  of the flange rings  20 , the two half-shells  22  each have a groove  25  to receive the other projection  21 . 
       FIG. 1  also shows the starting and mounted position of the joining and connecting device, in which the half-shells  22  can be turned outside the two hose fittings  10  connected to each other and the receiving box  19 , but they can also be removed from the position shown in  FIG. 1 , so that the connection of the two hose fittings can be detached. 
       FIG. 2  now shows another assembly step, in which the two hose fittings  10  can each be pushed outward, into the grooves  25  arranged on their projections  21  located on the flange rings  20  mesh. The nipples  11  thereby move from each other, and an intermediate space  26  is formed in the interior of the receiving box  19 . If the joining and connecting device thus assembled is now placed under pressure, the pressure acting axially in the intermediate space  26  leads each of the projections  21  being pushed into the corresponding grooves  25  of the half-shells  22 , as shown in detail in  FIG. 3 . 
     Because of the design, at the corresponding front side  25  of the half-shell  22 , a projection  27  results that meshes into the formation of the projection on the back projection  28  on the flange ring  20 . The forward projection  27  and the back projection  28  thus form together a locking for the outer half-shells  22  with the sleeve  12  or their flange ring  20 , in such a way that in the pressed-in position, the half shells  22  cannot be opened when under pressure. A secure connection is thereby created of the two hose fittings  10  together, which are simple to detach in the pressure-free position, in which the two hose fittings  10  are pushed back axially into the position shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Although it is sufficient that the two half-shells  22  are held in position by the pressing pressure alone, it can be appropriate to provide an additional attachment of the half-shells  22  to each other. 
     For this,  FIG. 4  shows, in a first embodiment example, an arrangement of U-shaped of spring plugs  29 , each of which is led through the two half-shells  22  in such a way that the half-shells  22  are attached to each other. 
     An alternative possibility is shown in  FIG. 5 . For this the two half-shells  22  have an indentation  30 , in which a spring clamp  31 , which is curved forward, is arranged, surrounded on the outside, which serves to every case to hold the half-shells  22  together. 
     Yet another embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in which the two half-shells  22  are held together by means of an outside hinge axis  32 . At the hinge axis  32 , spring blades can be mounted to rotate on bearings, which, in turn, press on the half-shells  22  with pre-tension and attach them in the closed position. 
       FIG. 8  shows an embodiment that consists of a combination of the embodiments shown in  FIG. 5  and in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The half-shells  22  are again held together by a spring clamp  31  this curves forward, whereby one end of the spring clamp  31  is held so as to rotate on bearings about a correspondingly arranged hinged axis  32 . The hinge axis  32  is held in each case by hinge bands  40  applied to the two half-shells  22  by means of weld points  41 . 
     As results from  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the joining and connecting device according to the invention can also be designed to attach a hose fitting  10  applied to a high-pressure hose to be connected on a high-pressure working device, not shown further. In this case, the receiving box  19  forms a component of a connection  34  of the working device, not shown further, whereby the half-shells  22  mesh with a groove  25  formed on the outer circumference of the receiving box  19  with a hook  36  formed on its axial end. The half-shells  22  are in turn attached axially in an irreversible manner, so that they can serve as a thrust bearing for the contact of the flange ring  20  with the projection  21 , as is described especially in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     The embodiment example show in  FIG. 10  differs from the one shown in  FIG. 9  in that the flange ring  20  with the projection  21  is no longer located on the sleeve  12 , but is applied directly to the nipple  11  and firmly connected to it, for example, welded to it. This other attachment of the flange ring  20  has, however, no effects on the described function of the joining and connecting device according to the invention. 
     In the embodiment example shown in  FIG. 11 , an adapter  45  forms a component of the joining and connecting device according to the invention, which offers a joining possibility with its free end  47 . Thus the free end  47  of the adapter  45  can be designed with an outside threading  46  for the adapter to be screwed into a connection formed on a working device. Alternatively, however, it is also for the free end  47  to be designed correspondingly hollow and provide it with an inside threading, so that a hose line with a standard screw connection can be connected to the hose line. The adapter  45  has at the same time, in its region surrounded by the half-shells  22 , the function of the receiving box  19  in the embodiment examples of the invention described previously, in that the nipple  11  with the sealing ring  18  on it can be pushed into the adapter  45 . On the front side, the flange ring  20  is arranged, preferably in one piece, with the projection that meshes with the half-shells  22 , and to this extent, the adapter  35  corresponds in its handling in the context of the joining and connection device, to the embodiment example described, for example in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     It is common for hose fittings  10  of this kind to be protected on their free ends before mounting by placement of a protective cap, and to this extent, the joining and connecting device according to the invention according to  FIG. 12  includes a protective cap  50  of this kind. This protective cap  50 , formed in a known way in the shape of a hat, has, starting from its closed cover area  42 , a first protective region  41 , with which the protective cap  50  can be placed on the nipple  11  of the hose assembly  10 . In the embodiment example shown, the protective area  41  consists of an element  53  that projects on the inside from the closed cover region  52 , which is designed to be placed on the nipple  11  of the hose fitting  10 . Axially to the protective region  21 , it is adjacent to a holding region  54 , which as a outward-curved wall region  55  of the protective cap  50 , which is formed in a spring construction in such a way and designed so that the protective cap  50 , after being pulled away from the nipple  11  on the sleeve  12 , can be plugged into the hose fitting  10  and can be attached thereby to the hose fitting  10 . To this extent, the protective cap  50 , when mounted on the hose assembly with the assembled hose assembly is itself held firmly and remains available for a new protective function during further handling of the hose assembly  10 , as can be seen from  FIG. 13 . 
     The protective cap  50  can be given another function according to the embodiment example shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , when the protective cap  50  in its outward-curved region  55  is provided with an inward protruding projection  56  that corresponds to a groove formed on the outer circumference of the sleeve  12  of the hose assembly  20 . With the protective cap  50  plugged into the sleeve  12 , when the projection  56  meshes into the groove  57 , the protective cap is attached axially to the hose  10  assembly in an irreversible manner. According to the invention, it is envisioned that the groove  27  on the sleeve  12  is arranged in each case in such a way that an axial movement of the hose fitting  10  equipped with a protective cap  50  to the half-shells  22  is excluded. Since, however, a movement of the hose fitting  20  to the half-shells  22  is necessary for detachment of the joining and connecting device, an additional securing of the joining and connecting device against detachment is achieved with this kind of design. Such a joining and connecting device is shown again as a whole in  FIG. 16 . 
     To the extent, especially during use of the joining and connecting device in high-pressure hoses, and external protective hose is used, pulled over each high-pressure hose and hose fitting and attached to the joining and connecting device in a known way, the joining and connecting device according to the invention gives the possibility of providing a correspondingly simple holding of the protective hose  60  on the joining and connecting device. Because of the attachment of the hose fittings  10  to be connected together by the half-shells  22 , it is sufficient that the each protective hose  60  be pulled over the sleeve  12  of each hose fitting  10 , so that this sleeve  12  or hose fitting  10  acts as a nipple of a hose connection. The protective hose  60  pulled on the outside of the sleeve  12  is attached to the sleeve  12  by means of an external pressing sleeve  61 , which meshes in a known way with a projection  62  on the front side in a groove  63  formed in the sleeve and is thereby attached in an irreversible manner. By means of teeth  64  formed on the inside, the pressing sleeve  61  holds the protective sleeve firmly. Also, with such a design, the axial attachment of the protective caps  50  to be used can be used for additional security of the joining and connecting device against detachment, and for this, the position of the pressing sleeve  61  applied to the sleeve  12  and the width of the protective can  50  are determined with respect to each other in such a way that through protective cap  50  inserted between the half-shells  22  and the pressing sleeve  61 , an axial movement of the hose fitting  10  into the half-shells  22  is excluded. 
     As it is anticipated that certain changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the precepts herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description shall be interpreted in as illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. All references including any priority documents cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference.