Patent Publication Number: US-2023134783-A1

Title: Device for coding a first connection partner and a second connection partner of a bayonet lock, and device set

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
     The disclosure relates to an apparatus for coding a first connection partner and a second connection partner of a bayonet lock and an apparatus set. 
     In order to transport fluids between different containers in an apparatus, for example, cooling units, fluid lines are used. These fluid lines may in this instance be connected by means of fluid line adapters, for example, to distributor plates which supply the fluid supplied via the fluid line to different and where applicable a plurality of additional fluid lines. If a large number of fluid lines are used, these must not be confused in order to obtain the function of the apparatus and to prevent damage. 
     To this end, the fluid lines and the corresponding receiving members of the fluid lines can be coded with symbols which associate a fluid line with a receiving member. A user must accordingly, prior to the assembly of the fluid lines, associate the symbols on the fluid line with the corresponding symbols on the receiving members of the fluid lines. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object according to an embodiment of the disclosure is therefore to provide an improved apparatus for coding the lines which can be handled in a more effective manner. 
     In an apparatus for coding a first connection partner and a second connection partner of a bayonet lock, per an embodiment, wherein the first connection partner has at least two locking arms for locking the connection and is arranged on a fluid line adapter and wherein the second connection partner has a flange ring for guiding through the first locking partner with a number of recesses which corresponds to the number of locking arms for guiding through the locking arms and is arranged on an adapter receiving member, there is provision according to the embodiment for a first locking arm to have a different geometry from the other locking arms, wherein a first recess which is associated with the first locking arm has a compatible geometry for positioning the first connection partner and the second connection partner in a predefined position, and the additional recesses have a different geometry which is not compatible with the first locking arm, and wherein the apparatus further has a mechanical coding device, wherein the coding device has a first coding partner on the first connection partner and a second coding partner on the second connection partner, wherein the first coding partner and the second coding partner are orientated in a mutually compatible manner when the first connection partner and the second connection partner are arranged in a predefined position with respect to each other and a connection is brought about by means of the bayonet lock. 
     With the apparatus according to an embodiment, using the mechanical coding device a clear association between the first connection partner and the second connection partner of a bayonet lock which connects a fluid line adapter to an adapter receiving member can be provided. The bayonet lock has in this instance at least two locking arms which are arranged on the first connection partner. Furthermore, the bayonet lock comprises on the second connection partner a flange ring which has recesses. The number of recesses is in this instance equal to the number of locking arms. The locking arms are arranged when viewed in an axial direction of the apparatus in a star-like manner around an end piece of the fluid line adapter. The same applies to the recesses on the flange ring which has an inner annular diameter which enables the end piece of the fluid line adapter to be guided through. At the position of the recesses, the inner annular diameter of the flange ring is increased, wherein the locking arms can be guided at the position of the recesses through the flange ring. In order to connect the bayonet lock, the first connection partner is connected to the second connection partner, wherein the locking arms are guided through the recesses of the flange ring. Since the locking arms and the recesses, as a result of their geometries, bring about a positioning of the connection partners with respect to each other, the first and second connection partners can be connected to each other only in one predefined position. Furthermore, the mechanical coding device comprises a first coding partner which mechanically cooperates with a second coding partner, in which the two coding partners are constructed to be mutually compatible. Using the mechanical coding device, an automatic association between the first connection partner and second connection partner is brought about when the bayonet lock is connected. A first connection partner, which is not intended to be associated with a second connection partner, has a first coding partner which is not orientated to be compatible with the second coding partner. A connection between the first connection partner and the second connection partner, as a result of the first and second connection partners which are incompatible in this instance, is not possible since the connection partners can be orientated with respect to each other only in the predefined position. When the first connection partner is intended to be associated with the second connection partner, the first connection partner has a first coding partner which in the predefined position is orientated to be compatible with the second coding partner. 
     Alternatively or additionally, per embodiments, the first recess may, for example, have a geometry which differs from the standard geometry of the recesses, wherein the corresponding first locking arm has a compatible complementary geometry. In this instance, for example, either only the corresponding locking arm can be guided through this recess or, alternatively, the corresponding locking arm can be guided through none of the other recesses. Consequently, in combination with the mechanical coding device, a mechanical association is brought about between the two connection partners without significant complexity. 
     A user in this instance no longer has to decode a symbol and connect it to another symbol when he wishes to associate the fluid line adapter with the corresponding receiving member. Consequently, incorrect association of the fluid lines which are connected to the fluid line adapters and the adapter arm receiving members is prevented. This increases the effectiveness of the handling of the apparatus. 
     For example, the first locking arm may have a greater extent in a circumferential direction of the bayonet lock than the other locking arms, wherein the first recess has a compatible extent in a circumferential direction and the additional recesses in the circumferential direction have a smaller extent which is not compatible with the first locking arm. 
     In this example, one of the locking arms, that is to say, the first locking arm, comprises in the circumferential direction a greater extent than the other locking arms and therefore cannot be guided through the recesses which are compatible with the other locking arms. The first locking arm is too large for this. Consequently, the first connection partner can only be connected to the second connection partner in a position in which the first locking arm is in alignment with the first recess in order to lock the bayonet lock. Consequently, on the one hand, the first connection partner is associated with the second connection partner. On the other hand, without significant complexity, a predefined positioning of the two connection partners with respect to each other is thereby brought about. 
     Furthermore, the first coding partner may, for example, be a projection and the second coding partner may be a recess. 
     In this instance, the projection is compatible with the recess, that is to say, the projection can be introduced into the recess and moved therein when the bayonet lock is intended to be locked. The projection can be introduced into the recess only in one predefined position of the first connection partner with respect to the second connection partner. Consequently, the first connection partner is associated with the second connection partner. 
     According to one example embodiment, the projection may extend in a radial direction of the fluid line adapter away from the first connection partner, wherein the second connection partner has an edge which extends in a circumferential direction of the adapter receiving member and which has a guide which extends in a circumferential direction for the projection. 
     The projection protrudes in this example outwardly in a radial direction away from the first connection partner and consequently away from the fluid line adapter. The edge surrounds in this instance the first connection partner when the first connection partner is arranged on the second connection partner and is connected thereto. The projection may in this instance be arranged in the guide and be moved in a circumferential direction along the guide when the bayonet lock is locked. 
     In another example, the projection may extend in an axial direction of the fluid line adapter away from the fluid line adapter, wherein the second connection partner has a guide which extends in a circumferential direction of the adapter receiving member for the projection. 
     In this example, in a connection of the first connection partner to the second connection partner, the projection is arranged in a guide which is arranged within the adapter receiving member. When the bayonet lock is closed, the projection can be moved along the guide in a circumferential direction. 
     In this instance, the second coding partner may, for example, have a stop element which in a locking position of the apparatus forms a positive-locking connection with the projection in a circumferential direction. 
     Via the stop, it is indicated to a user that the first connection partner and the second connection partner are mounted and locked in the correct position. 
     According to another example embodiment, the first connection partner may have three locking arms. 
     However, it is not thereby excluded that the first locking partner may have a greater or smaller number of locking arms. Furthermore, the second connection partner accordingly comprises three recesses, through which the locking arms can be guided. 
     The disclosure further relates, per an embodiment, to an apparatus set comprising a large number of apparatuses according to the preceding description, wherein each of the large number of apparatuses has a coding device which for clear identification of an apparatus differs from the coding devices of the others of the large number of apparatuses. 
     As a result of the differing coding devices of the individual apparatuses from the apparatus set, the individual apparatuses have first connection partners and second connection partners which cannot be used with each other when they originate from different apparatuses. Consequently, a risk of confusion between the individual apparatuses of the large number of apparatuses can be prevented. Furthermore, when the individual apparatuses are mounted, an automatic identification of the correct pairing between the first connection partner and the second connection partner can be provided by enabling the connection between the first connection partner and the second connection partner. 
     In one example, when the fluid line adapters of the large number of apparatuses each have a fluid line curvature, each of the large number of apparatuses may have an individual angular relationship between the respective coding device and the respective fluid line curvature. 
     Since the fluid line curvature in the assembly situation must face in a specific direction, the angular relationship which is specific to the respective apparatus between the coding device and the fluid line curvature brings about a correct positioning of the fluid line curvature of the fluid line adapter in the connection between the first connection partner and the second connection partner. This simplifies the assembly of the apparatus or the fluid line adapter on the adapter receiving member. 
     According to another example embodiment, the first coding partner of one of the large number of apparatuses and the second coding partner of another of the large number of apparatuses may be incompatible. 
     As a result of the incompatibility between the first coding partner of one of the large number of apparatuses and the second coding partner of another of the large number of apparatuses, confusion of the connection partners of different apparatuses of the apparatus set is prevented. 
    
    
     
       Other features, details and advantages of the disclosure will be appreciated from the wording of the claims and from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus as a first view in an axial direction; 
         FIGS.  2   a, b    show a schematic illustration of the fluid line adapter with the first connection partner and the adapter receiving member with the second connection partner; 
         FIG.  3    shows a schematic illustration of another view of the apparatus as a second view; 
         FIGS.  4   a, b    show a schematic illustration of the fluid line adapter with the first connection partner and the adapter receiving member with the second connection partner according to the other embodiment; 
         FIGS.  5   a, b   , show a schematic illustration of another example of the apparatus; 
         FIGS.  6   a, b    show schematic illustrations of apparatuses of an apparatus set; and 
         FIG.  7    shows a schematic illustration of a system comprising a distributor plate and fluid lines which are connected to the apparatus. 
     
    
    
     The apparatus according to an embodiment is, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , designated  10  in its entirety. 
     The apparatus  10  comprises in this instance a fluid line adapter which has a first connection partner  12  and an adapter receiving member which has a second connection partner  14 . The first connection partner  12  and the second connection partner  14  may be connected to each other in order to connect the fluid line adapter to the adapter receiving member. This assembly state is illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   a   , the first connection partner  12  comprises at least two locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  which are arranged in the form of a star in an end piece of the fluid line adapter. The locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  extend in this instance in a radial direction  48  of the fluid line adapter and face away from the fluid line adapter. In this example, three locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  are provided. 
     Furthermore, the locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  extend in a circumferential direction  46  of the fluid line adapter. In this example, the extent of the locking arm  16  in a circumferential direction  46  is greater than the extent of the other locking arms  18 ,  20 . The locking arm  16  can be referred to as the first locking arm  16 . 
     According to  FIG.  2   b   , the second connection partner  14  has a flange ring  22 . The flange ring  22  has along the inner circumference thereof recesses  24 ,  26 ,  28  which are constructed to be compatible with the locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20 . That is to say, the locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  can be guided through at least one of the recesses  24 ,  26 ,  28  when they are in alignment therewith. In this instance, however, the recesses  26  and  28  have a smaller extent in the circumferential direction  46  than the first locking arm  16 . The first locking arm  16  consequently cannot be guided through the recesses  26  and  28 . Only the recess  24  which can be referred to as the first recess  24  has a geometry in a circumferential direction  46  which enables the first locking arm  16  to be guided through. The first locking arm  16  can therefore be guided only through the first recess  24 . A connection between the first connection partner  12  and the second connection partner  14  is therefore possible only in one predefined position. 
     The fluid line adapter may further have a sealing element  38  in the form of an O-ring. The sealing element  38  seals a connection between the first connection partner  12  and the second connection partner  14  when the locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  have been guided through the recesses  24 ,  26 ,  28 . 
       FIG.  3    shows another view of the apparatus  10 . The mechanical coding device comprises as the first coding partner  42  in this example a projection  30  which extends in a radial direction away from the first connection partner  12 . 
     The adapter receiving member which acts as a second connection partner  14  comprises a guide  34  which is arranged at an edge  32  and which acts as a second marking partner  44 . The guide  34  may be formed as a recess of the edge  32  in the circumferential direction. 
     Furthermore, the second connection partner  14  comprises a stop  52  in which, in an assembly position of the apparatus  10 , the projection  30  is prevented from further rotation in a circumferential direction by means of a positive-locking connection. When the projection  30  is arranged on the stop  52 , it is thereby indicated that a correct connection between the first connection partner  12  and the second connection partner  14  has been produced. A user can with reference to the projection  30  identify whether the first connection partner  12  and the second connection partner  14  have been correctly connected to each other and locked. 
       FIG.  4   a    illustrates the first connection partner  12  of this example from another view. The first connection partner  12  also comprises three locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  in this instance. The projection  30  is arranged with spacing in an axial direction  50  from the end piece of the fluid line adapter. The sealing element  38  is arranged between the projection  30  and the locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20 . 
     The fluid line adapter further has a fluid line curvature  54  so that the two end pieces of the fluid line adapter are arranged at an angle with respect to each other. The projection  30  is in this instance arranged between the fluid line curvature  54  and the locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20 . 
     In this instance, the connection partner  12  between the projection  30  which acts as a first coding partner  42  and the fluid line curvature  54  has a predefined angular relationship. This angular relationship determines in this instance the direction, with respect to the adapter receiving member on which the second connection partner  14  is arranged, in which the fluid line curvature  54  extends after the assembly. 
     In this instance,  FIG.  4   b    illustrates the adapter receiving member of this example. The adapter receiving member which acts as a second connection partner  14  also comprises a flange ring  22  with recesses  24 ,  26 ,  28 . Only the recess  24  is visible in this Figure. As a result of the cooperation of the first coding partner  42  and the second coding partner  44 , which is in the form of a guide  34  on the edge  32 , with the predefined position which is brought about by the locking arms  16 ,  18 ,  20  and the recesses  24 ,  26 ,  28 , a fixed association between the connection partners  12 ,  14  is provided. Consequently, the direction of the fluid line curvature  34  in the assembly position with respect to the adapter receiving member is also determined. 
     According to another example of the apparatus  10  according to  FIGS.  5   a  and  5   b   , the apparatus  30  can also be orientated in an axial direction  50 . This is illustrated in  FIG.  5   a   , which shows the first connection partner  12 . 
       FIG.  5   b    shows the second connection partner  14 , which depicts a correspondingly constructed guide  34  as a second coding partner  44 . The guide  34  is in this example arranged inside the adapter receiving member. 
       FIGS.  6   a  and  6   b    show the first connection partners  12  of apparatuses  10  of an apparatus set which has a large number of apparatuses  10 . The apparatuses  10  have in this instance mechanical coding devices which differ between the various apparatuses  10 . 
     In this regard, in  FIG.  6   a   , the first coding partner  42  is arranged at the bottom right in the Figure as a projection  30 . 
     In  FIG.  6   b   , the first coding partner  42  is arranged at the bottom left in the drawing as a projection  30 . 
       FIG.  2   a    shows in this regard another apparatus  10  of the apparatus set in which the first coding partner  42  is arranged at the top in the Figure as a projection  30 . 
     As a result of the different first coding partners  42  of the apparatus  10 , the first and second connection partners  12 ,  14  can clearly be associated with each other. Consequently, confusion of different connection partners  12 ,  14  which belong to different apparatuses  10  is prevented. 
       FIG.  7    shows a distributor plate  40  for fluid lines and fluid lines  36  which are connected thereto by means of apparatuses  10 . The fluid lines  36  are in this instance connected to the fluid line adapters, that is to say, the first connection partners  12 . The distributor plate  40  has the adapter receiving members, that is to say, the second connection partners  14 . The first connection partners  12  are associated in a clear manner with the second connection partners  14  by means of the respective coding devices. 
     The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above but can instead be modified in various manners. 
     All of the features and advantages derived from the claims, the description and the drawings, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be significant to the invention both per se and in extremely varied combinations. 
     All the features and advantages, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, which follow from the claims, the description and the drawing can be fundamental to the invention both on their own and in different combinations. It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims. 
     As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10  Apparatus 
           12  First connection partner 
           14  Second connection partner 
           16  First locking arm 
           18  Locking arm 
           20  Locking arm 
           22  Flange ring 
           24  First receiving member 
           26  Receiving member 
           28  Receiving member 
           30  Projection 
           32  Edge 
           34  Guide 
           36  Fluid line 
           38  Sealing element 
           40  Distributor plate 
           42  First coding partner 
           44  Second coding partner 
           46  Circumferential direction 
           48  Radial direction 
           50  Axial direction 
           52  Stop 
           54  Fluid line curvature