Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20090108580?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-12-23 00:34:29
Document Index: 315273171

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 14', 'art 1', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 1', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 1', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 14', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 14', 'art 14']

Patent US20090108580 - Plug-in coupling for fluidic systems - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA plug-in coupling for fluidic systems, in particular for CO2-and fuel-conducting systems, including a housing (1) and a plug (2) which can be inserted into the housing (1). The plug (2) can be inserted by a plug stem (3) into a receiving opening (4) of the housing (1) in a manner scaled by at least...http://www.google.com/patents/US20090108580?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20090108580 - Plug-in coupling for fluidic systemsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20090108580 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 12/037,555Publication dateApr 30, 2009Filing dateFeb 26, 2008Priority dateApr 15, 2002Also published asDE20205833U1, EP1355100A2, EP1355100A3, EP1355100B1, US7338094, US7841629, US20040090066Publication number037555, 12037555, US 2009/0108580 A1, US 2009/108580 A1, US 20090108580 A1, US 20090108580A1, US 2009108580 A1, US 2009108580A1, US-A1-20090108580, US-A1-2009108580, US2009/0108580A1, US2009/108580A1, US20090108580 A1, US20090108580A1, US2009108580 A1, US2009108580A1InventorsMartin HoffmanOriginal AssigneeMartin HoffmanExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (3), Classifications (8), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetPlug-in coupling for fluidic systemsUS 20090108580 A1Abstract A plug-in coupling for fluidic systems, in particular for CO2-and fuel-conducting systems, including a housing (1) and a plug (2) which can be inserted into the housing (1). The plug (2) can be inserted by a plug stem (3) into a receiving opening (4) of the housing (1) in a manner scaled by at least one circumferential seal (5, 5 a , 5 b) and, when inserted, for it to can be locked therein against release by means of a locking device having at least one latching element (7) arranged on the plug (2) and a latching shoulder (8) interacting with the latching element (7). The housing (1) has two-part design with an inner housing part (1 a) and an outer housing part (1 b), which can be connected releasably to the inner housing part (1 a) so that it essentially surrounds the inner housing part (1 a). In order to install it without destroying it, the latching shoulder (8) is formed at one end in an entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4) on the outer housing part (1 b).
31. A plug-in coupling for fluidic systems, in particular for CO2 and fuel-conducting systems, comprising:
a housing (1) and a plug (2), the plug (2) being insertable into the housing (1) by inserting a plug stem (3) of the plug (2) into a receiving opening (4) of the housing (1) so that at least one circumferential seal (5, 5 a, 5 b) provides a seal therebetween, the plug (2) having a collar (10)-expanded in diameter with respect to a remaining body portion of the plug (2) and providing a stop for the outer housing part (1 b) of the housing (1); a locking device locking the plug (2) in the housing (1) against relative displacement thereto, the locking device including at least one latching element (7) arranged on the plug (2) and a latching shoulder (8) arranged on the housing (1) and interacting with the latching element (7), said housing (1) having a two-part construction to provide an inner housing part (1 a) and an outer housing part (1 b), the outer housing part (1 b) being releasably connected to the inner housing part (1 a) so that the outer housing part (1 b) essentially surrounds the inner housing part (1 a), wherein the latching shoulder (8) is provided in an entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4) at one end of the outer housing part (1 b). 32. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 31, wherein the outer housing part (1 b) is constructed as a union nut which can be screwed to the inner housing part (1 a).
33. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 31, wherein the outer housing part (1 b) engages over an end of the inner housing part (1 a) at the entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4).
34. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 31, wherein the plug stem (3) of the plug (2) includes at least two circumferential seals.
35. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 31, wherein the plug (2) has, on an end thereof an introductory stud (9), the introductory stud (9) being reduced in diameter in comparison with remaining body portion of the plug (2).
36. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 35, wherein the at least one circumferential seal (5) engages around the introductory stud (9) and is arranged at a base of the introductory stud (9).
37. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 35, wherein the at least one circumferential seal (5 a, 5 b), engages around the introductory stud (9) and is arranged, in each case, in a groove (9 a, 9 b) provided in a casing (M) of the introductory stud (9).
38. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 31, wherein, when the plug (2) is inserted, the at least one circumferential seal (5, 5 a, 5 b) bears, in each case, with its outer edge against an inside surface of the inner housing part (1 a).
39. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 31, wherein a second latching element (6) is arranged on the plug (2) so that the second latching element (6) interacts with the latching shoulder (8) to establish a partially inserted prelatching position, and, on further insertion of the plug (2), the other latching element (7) on the plug (2) then interacts with the latching shoulder (8) to establish a completely inserted full latching position, with, in the prelatching position, an incomplete seal being provided so that when a fluid or a gas pressurized, a limited perceptible leakage occurs in a defined manner as an acoustically perceptible leakage noise, and with, in the full latching position, a complete pressure-tight seal is provided by the at least one circumferential seal (5) bearing against a sealing surface of the inner housing part (1 a).
40. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 31, wherein the latching element (7) or latching elements (6, 7) are provided, in each case, by a snap ring held in a respective annular groove of the plug (2).
41. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 40, wherein the outer housing part (1 b) has a taper in the entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4), the taper starting from a first inside diameter, which is larger than an outside diameter of the snap ring in an expanded state, and extending conically inwardly to a second inside diameter corresponding approximately to the outside diameter of the snap ring in a compressed state.
42. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 40, wherein a removal sleeve (12) is provided which can be screwed into the outer housing part (1 b), the removal sleeve (12) including an entry region (13 a) of an axial opening (13), starting from a first inside diameter, which is larger than an outside diameter of the snap ring in an expanded state, and then tapering conically inwardly to a second inside diameter which corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of the snap ring in a compressed state.
43. A plug-in coupling for fluidic systems, in particular for CO2 and fuel-conducting systems, comprising:
a housing (1) and a plug (2), the plug (2) being insertable into the housing (1) by inserting a plug stem (3) of the plug (2) into a receiving opening (4) of the housing (1) so that at least one circumferential seal (5, 5 a, 5 b) provides a seal therebetween; a locking device locking the plug (2) in the housing (1) so as to be locked therein against release, the locking device including at least one latching element (7) arranged on the plug (2) and a latching shoulder (8) arranged on the housing (1) and interacting with the latching element (7); the housing (1) having a two-part construction to provide an inner housing part (1 a) and an outer housing part (1 b), the outer housing part (1 b) being releasably connected to the inner housing part (1 a) so that the outer housing part (1 b) essentially surrounds the inner housing part (1 a); and a dirt seal (11 b) arranged between the inner housing part (1 a) and the outer housing part (1 b), wherein the latching shoulder (8) is provided in an entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4) at one end of the outer housing part (1 b). 44. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein, when the plug (2) is inserted, the dirt seal (11 a) bears with its outer edge against an inside surface of the outer housing part (1 b) in the entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4).
45. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein the outer housing part (1 b) is constructed as a union nut which can be screwed to the inner housing part (1 a).
46. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein the outer housing part (1 b) engages over an end of the inner housing part (1 a) at the entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4).
47. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein the plug stem (3) of the plug (2) includes at least two circumferential seals.
48. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein the plug (2) has, on an end thereof an introductory stud (9), the introductory stud (9) being reduced in diameter in comparison with remaining body portion of the plug (2).
49. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 48, wherein the at least one circumferential seal (5) engages around the introductory stud (9) and is arranged at a base of the introductory stud (9).
50. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 48, wherein the at least one circumferential seal (5 a, 5 b), engages around the introductory stud (9) and is arranged, in each case, in a groove (9 a, 9 b) provided in a casing (M) of the introductory stud (9).
51. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein, when the lug (2) is inserted, the at least one circumferential seal (5, 5 a, 5 b) bears, in each case, with its outer edge against an inside surface of the inner housing part (1 a).
52. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein a second latching element (6) is arranged on the plug (2) so that the second latching element (6) interacts with the latching shoulder (8) to establish a partially inserted prelatching position, and, on further insertion of the plug (2), the other latching element (7) on the plug (2) then interacts with the latching shoulder (8) to establish a completely inserted full latching position, with, in the prelatching position, an incomplete seal being provided so that when a fluid or a gas pressurized, a limited perceptible leakage occurs in a defined manner as an acoustically perceptible leakage noise, and with, in the full latching position, a complete pressure-tight seal is provided by the at least one circumferential seal (5) bearing against a sealing surface of the inner housing part (1 a).
53. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 43, wherein the latching element (7) or latching elements (6, 7) are provided, in each case, by a snap ring held in a respective annular groove of the plug (2).
54. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 53, wherein the outer housing part (1 b) has a taper in the entry region (4 a) of the receiving opening (4), the taper starting from a first inside diameter, which is larger than an outside diameter of the snap ring in an expanded state, and extending conically inwardly to a second inside diameter corresponding approximately to the outside diameter of the snap ring in a compressed state.
55. The plug-in coupling as claimed in claim 53, wherein a removal sleeve (12) is provided which can be screwed into the outer housing part (1 b), the removal sleeve (12) including an entry region (13 a) of an axial opening (13), starting from a first inside diameter, which is larger than an outside diameter of the snap ring in an expanded state, and then tapering conically inwardly to a second inside diameter which corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of the snap ring in a compressed state.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/414,262, filed on Apr. 15, 2003, to be issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,094.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based on the object of providing an alternative, generic plug-in coupling which is suitable in particular for continuous hosepipes or pipelines which are to be connected to one another, in which removal without destroying it is possible.
With the plug-in coupling according to the invention, it is furthermore advantageously also possible to separate the functions of �holding the plug� and �sealing�, which are taken on at the same time by the inner housing part in the case of the known design, by it being possible to transfer the function of �holding the plug� to the outer housing part and only the function of �sealing� being carried out by the inner housing part. This in turn, for one thing, enables the bearing surfaces of the inner housing part for the circumferential seal to be designed in a highly precise manner with, at the same time, the overall plug-in coupling according to the invention having a very slim design. The plug-in coupling according to the invention is thus suitable, when a suitable seal is selected, for withstanding pressures of 200 bar and higher at temperatures of approximately 250� C.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to two preferred exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the various figures of the drawing, parts which are identical are always provided with the same reference numbers and will therefore generally only be described once in each case below.
The locking device here comprises at least one latching element�two latching elements 6, 7 arranged axially one behind the other on the plug 2 in the design illustrated, and a latching shoulder 8 interacting in each case with a latching element 6, 7. The latching elements 6, 7 are formed in each case by a snap ring held in a respective annular groove (not described more specifically) of the plug
In order then to release the outer housing part 1 b from the plug part 2, a removal sleeve 12 can be screwed instead of the inner housing part 1 a into the outer housing part 1 b (FIGS. 6 and 7). For this purpose, use can be made of a tubular removal sleeve 12 which, in the entry region 13 a of an axial opening 13�starting from an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the snap rings (latching elements 6, 7) in the expanded state, tapers conically to an inside diameter which corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of the snap rings in the compressed state. The outside diameter of the removal sleeve 12 is smaller than the inside diameter of the outer housing part 1 b. During the screwing-in process, the latching elements 6, 7 are unlocked by being pressed by the removal sleeve 12 radially inward away behind the latching shoulder 8, with the result that the outer housing part 1 b can be pulled off axially together with the removal sleeve (FIG. 8). The threaded connection between the external thread of the removal sleeve 12 and the internal thread of the outer housing part 1 b is denoted in FIGS. 7 and 8 by the reference symbol G1.
In addition, the securing part 14 has at least one latching lug 18, preferably two latching lugs 18, in particular of resilient design in the second ring region 14 b for the purpose of fixing it in a manner free from displacement in the axial direction on the outer housing part 1 b, it being possible for the latching lugs to be produced in each case�as FIG. 9 clarifies�by a longitudinal slot in the casing surface of the securing part 14. When the securing part 14 is locked in place, these latching lugs 18 are intended in each case for the formation of a form-fitting and frictional connection to a respectively corresponding groove 19 a in the outer surface AF of the outer housing part 1 b. The latching lugs 18�in the same manner as the wrench surfaces 16�of the securing part 14 are in each case diametrically opposite one another while the latching lugs 19 are offset by approximately 90� with respect to the plane of the wrench surfaces 17. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the latching lugs 18, which are provided on the securing part 14 in the second ring region 14 b for the purpose of fixing it in a manner free from displacement in the axial direction on the outer housing part 1 b, can fix the securing part 14 not only in its active locking state, but also in an inactive, non-securing state of the securing part 14, in each case in a form-fitting and frictional manner on the outer housing part 1 b. In this case, there is an interaction with a respectively corresponding groove 19 b in the outer surface AF of the outer housing part 1 b. This groove 19 b runs in each case circumferentially parallel to the groove 19 a, which is intended for the fixing in the locking state.
The installation and removal processes of the second design are�like the basic structural design�the same as in the first design of the plug-in coupling according to the invention, which is clarified in FIG. 10 by the fact that said plug-in coupling again has a removal sleeve 12 for the outer threaded part 1 b, said removal sleeve having, in addition to its external thread (indicated by the reference symbol 12 a), also a collar 12 b which can be used as a means of applying force for a wrench. As far as the installation of the securing part 14 is concerned, the latter can, before the housing 1 is joined together with the plug 2, be pushed out of a position, as is illustrated in FIG. 9, onto the outer housing part 1 b and first of all be connected in a latching manner, as FIG. 12 shows, to the outer housing part 1 b in an inactive position. After the plug-in coupling is in the installed or operating state (FIG. 12), the secured state, the locking state of the securing part 14 according to FIG. 13 can then be produced by the latching connections of the latching lugs 18 with the grooves 19 b being cancelled and the securing part 14 being displaced axially until its teeth 15 a in the first ring region 14 a engage in a form-fitting manner around the collar 10 of the plug 2 and until the latching lugs 18 latch into the grooves 19 a provided for this.
REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 Housing
M Casing of 9 Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8215873 *Jan 27, 2012Jul 10, 2012Trendsetter Engineering, Inc.Auger anchor pile assembly and method of connecting anchor pilesUS8226128 *Aug 11, 2010Jul 24, 2012Ming-Yi LeeReleasable nut-free C-clip secured pipe fittingUS20120038149 *Aug 11, 2010Feb 16, 2012Ming-Yi LeeReleasable nut-free c-clip secured pipe fitting* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification285/277, 285/321, 285/351International ClassificationF16L37/088, F16L27/00, F16L19/00Cooperative ClassificationF16L37/088European ClassificationF16L37/088Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 21, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jul 29, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: VOSS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, GERMANYFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HOFFMAN, MARTIN;REEL/FRAME:021305/0246Effective date: 20080621RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google