Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a novel building system for a connection device for media lines, wherein the connection device has a connecting element with a receiving opening for line end of a media line to be inserted, as well as with inner parts mounted within the receiving opening for interaction with the media line for axial control, mechanical locking to prevent release, peripheral sealing, and, if required, inner radial support. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    “Media lines” are basically understood to be pipelines or flexible lines for any type of flow and/or pressurizing media, such as gases and liquids, but in particular pipelines made from plastic. 
         [0005]    Connection devices that allow quick and in particular releasable connection of media lines by means of a simple insertion into a receiving opening are basically known. Patent publications EP 0 616 161 B1, EP 0 160 559 B1 and EP 1 199 506 A1 are merely referred to as examples. 
         [0006]    Such connection devices must be made available for practical use for a plurality of media lines with different cross-sectional dimensions. Until now, a separate connection device with all its individual parts was necessary for each outer and/or inner line diameter. This leads to very high expenses for production, warehousing, and logistics. 
         [0007]    The problem addressed by the invention is to reduce expenses for such connection devices for accommodating the dimensions of different line cross sections. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    This is attained, according to the invention, by provided that optionally different inner parts, that are identical with regard to the inner contour of the receiving opening, can be used in the connecting element, which is dimensioned for a specific maximum outer line diameter, for adaptation to at least two media lines that differ in their cross-sectional dimensions. The inner parts are adapted, on the one hand, to the always identical inner contour of the receiving opening of the connecting element as well as, on the other hand, to the cross-sectional dimension of one of the different media lines. Different inner parts are particularly advantageously optionally used with the same connecting element for adaptation to at least three, and up to preferably six, media lines that differ in their cross-sectional dimensions. 
         [0009]    Connection devices used in the manner of building blocks can be advantageously made available for several different media lines with one and the same connecting element by means of the building system according to the present invention in that only the specific inner parts that are adapted to the media line are used. Since the connecting element is the most complex and cost-intensive component of the connection device, the invention results in economical production of different designs that can be adapted to different media lines. Different connecting elements, which are then designed for respectively differing maximum outer line diameters, can however furthermore also be made available. Groups, so-called “clusters,” are formed with the respectively corresponding inner parts that are designed according to the invention, wherein each connecting element is suitable for several different media lines within a specific design size range. In this way, connection devices with only a few components can be conceived for a large spectrum of cross-sectional dimensions of different media lines; above all the number of cost-intensive connecting elements is reduced, because each connecting element is suitable for a group of several different media lines. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be explained in further detail in the following, with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an axial section through a preferred embodiment of a connection device with a line end inserted therein; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded lateral view, in reduced scale in comparison with  FIG. 1 , wherein the individual components are respectively partially represented in axial cross section; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic half section of the connection device for illustration of different inner parts for adaptation to different media lines; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows an enlarged partial representation of  FIG. 3  of an upper area on the outlet side of the connection device; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows another partial representation of  FIG. 3  in a central area thereof; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows another partial section of  FIG. 3  in a lower area opposite to the outlet side; 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The same parts are always identified with the same reference signs in the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    It is expressly emphasized with reference to the following description that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and, for that matter, to all or several features of the described feature combinations. Rather, each individual partial feature of the/each exemplary embodiment can have inventive significance also per se, separately from all other partial features described in connection therewith, and also in combination with any features of another exemplary embodiment as well as independently of the feature combinations and back-references of the claims. 
         [0019]    First, a preferred embodiment of a connection device  1  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This connection device  1  provides a fast and preferably also releasable connection of a media line  2  by simply inserting a line end into a receiving opening  4  of a connecting element  6 . The insertion direction is shown with an arrow X in  FIG. 1 . Since there is no connecting pin for attachment of the media line  2 , it can also be called a “pinless plug-in system.” 
         [0020]    Specific inner parts  5  (see  FIG. 2 ), which interact with the media line  2  in particular for axial guidance, mechanical locking to prevent unintentional release, peripheral sealing, and, if required, inner radial support, and preferably also for an intentional release process, are mounted inside the receiving opening  4  of the connecting element  6 . 
         [0021]    A retaining element, which is configured as a spring elastic toothed ring  8  with an outer peripheral area  8   a  and with several retaining teeth  8   b  distributed over the periphery, extending radially inward and inclined transversally in the insertion direction X and thus configured with friction and/or positive locking in the manner of a barbed hook against the outer peripheral surface of the media line  2 , is mounted within the receiving opening  4  in order to lock the inserted media line  2  to prevent withdrawal. At least one peripheral seal  10 , which seals an annular gap relative to the outside radially between the media line  2  and the connecting element  6 , is additionally mounted within the connecting element  6  in order to seal the inserted media line  2  relative to the outside. The peripheral seal  10  is thus located radially directly between the media line  2  and the connecting element  6  and thus completely seals the connecting element  6  relative to the outside as single media seal. 
         [0022]    The outer peripheral area  8   a  of the toothed ring  8  rests in undeformed state in a vertical plane with respect to the longitudinal axis Y of the connection device  1 , while the retaining teeth  8   b  rest jointly on a cone as a result of their inclined position. The retaining teeth  8   b  in undeformed state define with their inner retaining edges a perimeter whose diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the media line  2 . As a result, the retaining edges exert a radial retaining force especially with positive locking or at least friction locking against the outer periphery of the inserted media line  2 . 
         [0023]    The toothed ring  8  is mounted with its outer peripheral area  8   a  with a defined limited radial movement play within the connecting element  6 . This axial movement play is limited by means of bilateral axially opposite contact sections  12  and  14  within the connecting element  6 . A first contact section  12  is formed on the “lower” side ( FIG. 1 ) when viewed in the insertion direction X by means of a radial contact surface that is transverse to the longitudinal axis Y and a second contact section  14  is arranged on the axially opposite “upper” side in the radial outward area of the toothed ring  8 . The contact sections  12  and  14  are axially separated from each other by an open space that is greater than the axially measured thickness of the peripheral area  8   a  of the toothed ring  8 . From the difference “distance of contact sections  12 ,  14  minus thickness of the peripheral area  8   a  of the toothed ring  8 ,” the axial movement or play of the toothed ring  8  is obtained. Further, the toothed ring  8  interacts—see also  FIG. 5  in this regard—at the angular transition  15  between the outer peripheral area  8   a  and the retaining teeth  8   b  with a peripheral tilting edge  16  provided within the connecting element  6  on the radial inner periphery of the radial contact surface that forms the first contact section  12 , such that when the media line  2  is inserted, due to the media line contact with the retaining teeth  8   b,  the toothed ring  8  is pivoted or twisted like a rocker about the tilting edge  16  out of a starting position in which it presses with its outer peripheral area  8   a  against the first “lower” contact section  12  until the outer peripheral area  8   a  arrives on the radial outer side for supported contact on the second, axially opposite “upper” contact section  14 . The outer radial periphery of the peripheral area  8   a  of the toothed ring  8  that is pivoted like a rocker around the tilting edge  16 , consequently lifts from the first contact section  12  and is moved against the second contact section  14 . Starting from this position, an elastic flexural deformation still occurs basically only in the area of the retaining teeth  8   b,  which radially surmount the tilting edge  16  on the inside if the media line  2  is moved further in the insertion direction X. The insertion process is then concluded in that the media line  2  is retracted a little counter to the insertion direction X. Thus the retaining teeth  8   b  act with positive locking or at least friction locking on the outer periphery of line  2 . 
         [0024]    In addition, a support sleeve  20  is preferable coaxially arranged within the receiving opening  4  of the connecting element  6  in such a way that the media line  2  can be pushed toward a cylindrical outer surface  22  of the support sleeve  20  during insertion, wherein the support sleeve  20  or its cylindrical outer surface  22  has an outer diameter da that is adapted to the inner diameter Di of the media line  2  in such a way that the inserted line  2  is radially supported by the support sleeve  20 , and deformations of the media line  2  within the operating range of the toothed ring  8  from a radial retaining force produced by the toothed ring  8  are prevented. It can preferably be provided herein that the support sleeve  20  has a support section  23  with greater inner wall thickness within the operating range of the toothed ring  8 . 
         [0025]    The support sleeve  20  has a cylindrical plug-in section  24  that fits into an inner socket  26  of the connecting element  6  for the purpose of retaining the support sleeve  20  inside the connecting element  6 . A stop  28  for the line  2  also functions as an insertion limit for the support sleeve  20 . 
         [0026]    Another advantageous embodiment of the connection device  1  provides that the connection element  6  has a housing that is axially divided in two, with a first nozzle-like housing part  30 , which is directed in the insertion direction, and a second sleeve-like housing part  32 , which forms an outlet side of the receiving opening  4 . The first housing part  30  can be designed as desired, for example, as a distributor with a different number of outlets, a straight through-connector ( FIG. 1 ) as well as an angular connector or as an L-shaped, T-shaped or Y-shaped connector. The two housing parts  30 ,  32  are preferably connected to each other via a peripherally closed snap-on connection  34 ; see in particular  FIG. 1 . In the presented preferred embodiment, for this purpose the first housing part  30  axially and radially engages, in a form fitting manner, an inner notch-like locking recess  38  of the second housing part  32  with a plug-in section  36 ; see  FIG. 2 . The first housing part  30  can be configured as a screw-in socket with an outer thread attachment  40 . 
         [0027]    The above-described tilting edge  16  for the toothed ring  8  is advantageously formed on an insert ring  42 , which also has the first contact section  12  in the form of an end face that is axially outwardly adjacent to the tilting edge  16  and vertical to the longitudinal axis Y. The tilting edge  16  is thus formed at the transition between the end face that forms the first contact section  12  and an adjacent cone surface  44 ; see also  FIG. 5 . It is further provided herein that the insert ring  42  delimits a sealing chamber  50  for the peripheral seal  10  in axial direction within the connecting element  6  with an end face  46  pointing in the insertion direction together with a flank face  48  of the connecting element  6  lying axially opposite thereto or of the first housing part  30 . 
         [0028]    The first housing part  30  is advantageously configured without undercuts on the inside in the insertion direction X. This means that the inner diameter can only be greater in the direction opposite to the insertion direction X, but cannot be smaller at any point. The inner parts  5 , namely the peripheral seal  10 , the insert ring  42 , and the toothed ring  8  can as a consequence be mounted by means of a simple axial insertion. In addition, the peripheral seal  10  need neither be radially expanded nor radially compressed. 
         [0029]    The above second upper contact section  14  for the outer peripheral area  8   a  of the toothed ring  8  is likewise preferably formed on a ring-shaped insert element  52 , which is supported within the connecting element  6  according to  FIG. 1 , and in particular within the second housing part  32 , in the pipe release direction. The second contact section  14  is formed herein by an end face at the end side of an axially projecting annular web  54  of the insert element  52 , wherein this annular web  54  preferably also engages the first housing part  30  or in its plug-in section  36 . 
         [0030]    For releasability of the inserted media line  2 , which is locked by the toothed ring  8 , it is advantageous to provide a sleeve-like release element  56 . This release element  56  engages the connecting element  6  in an axially displaceable manner in such a way that the toothed ring can be elastically deformed by being pushed by the release element  56  in the insertion direction X so that the line  2  in the region of the retaining teeth  8   b  is released. For this purpose, the release element  56  works with an actuation section  58  against the retaining teeth  8   b.  The release element  56  prevents unintentional release of the media line  2  when a force K is exerted on the media line  2 , which the force K is directed transversely to the longitudinal axis Y of the connection device or when a force is directed one-sided on the release element  56 . For this purpose the release element  56  on the media line  2  and on the sleeve-shaped housing part  32  as well as the media line  2  on the release element  56  and the cylindrical outer surface  22  of the support sleeve  20  is guided in such a way—see arrows F 1  to F 4  in FIG.  1 —that tipping of the release element  56  and thus release of the media line  2  are prevented; see  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    The release element  56  is preferably held within the connecting element  6  by a catch mechanism  60  to prevent disassembly; see also  FIG. 4 . For this purpose, at the end pointing in the insertion direction X, the release element  56  is provided with locking arms  62  ( FIG. 2 ) that with radially outwardly pointing notches engage a radial stepped surface  64  (see  FIG. 1 ) within the connecting element  6 . This stepped surface  64  is advantageously formed on the insert element  52  (see also  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In another advantageous embodiment, the locking arms  62  can be connected to the remaining peripherally closed ring part of the release element  56  by means of hinge-like constrictions  66 , whereby the radial mobility of the locking arms  62  is improved. 
         [0032]    Furthermore, the release element  56  has on the one hand an outer peripheral seal  68  and on the other hand an inner peripheral seal  70 . The outer peripheral seal  68  serves to seal an annular gap between the sleeve-like release element  56  and the connecting element  6  or its second housing part  32 . The inner peripheral seal  70  seals an annular gap in the direction of the line  2 . In addition, in a preferred embodiment the outer peripheral seal  68  also functions as a spring element to generate an axial resetting force for the release element  56 . 
         [0033]    Finally, in the represented preferred modification of the connection device  1 , an annular, cover-like closure element  72  is also provided for closing an annular partial opening on the outlet side of the receiving opening  4 , which encloses the inserted media line  2 . According to  FIG. 1 , this closure element  72  also seals the area of the inner peripheral seal  70 . In this way the inner peripheral seal  70  can be inserted in the release element  56  in a simplified manner, since no undercut is present in this area of the release element  56 . Steam jet protection is also provided by means of the closure element  72 . In addition, the closure element  72  can also have at least one axially outwardly projecting attachment, not shown, as a lever for manual actuation of the release element  56 . 
         [0034]    A novel building system is now provided according to the invention for producing the connection device  1 , wherein a design for different cross-sectional dimensions of the media line  2  is possible with the always identical connecting element  6 . Optionally different inner parts  5 , which are always identical with regard to the inner contour of the receiving opening  4 , can be used for this purpose according to the invention in the connecting elements  6  designed for a specific maximum outer line diameter D max —see  FIG. 4  in this regard—to fit at least two different media lines, which differ in cross-sectional dimensions. The inner parts  5  can each be adapted for this purpose, on the one hand to the always identical inner contour of the receiving opening  4  of the connecting element  6 , and on the other hand to the cross-sectional dimension of one of the different media lines  2 . In an advantageous embodiment, one and the same connecting element  6  can be adapted by means of different inner parts  5  to at least three and in particular six different media lines  2 , which differ in cross-sectional dimensions. 
         [0035]    As regards the toothed ring  8 —see in particular the enlarged representation in  FIG. 5  in this regard—it is configured in its different modifications, adapted to different media lines  2 , and especially to different outer diameters D of lines, with peripheral areas  8   a  with different radial widths, such that the retaining teeth  8   b  define different diameters with their inner radial tooth edges to fit the specific outer line diameters D with proportions that remain otherwise identical with regard to teeth length and angular alignment. This means that from a practical point of view the retaining teeth  8   b  “wander” only in the radial direction through the outer peripheral areas  8   a,  differing in width, of the different toothed rings  8 . This is easy to understand using the representation in  FIG. 5 ; the possible range of dimensions is shown there with a double arrow  74 . This allows adaptation of the toothed ring  8  for an area of the outer line diameter D between a specific maximum diameter D. and a specific minimum diameter D min  according to  FIG. 3 , in particular in several steps, through at least three different toothed rings  8 . Since the change of the outer line diameter D also changes the peripheral length, an adjustment of the quantity of retaining teeth  8   b  and/or their peripheral width and/or the peripheral width of the tooth gaps must also take place in modifications of the specific adapted toothed ring  8  in order to achieve identical proportions of the retaining teeth  8   b  with regard to angular inclination, length, and thus deformation behavior. 
         [0036]    Further, as regards the peripheral seal  10 —see in particular  FIGS. 3 and 5  in this regard—it is configured in several embodiments that are fitted to different outer line diameters D, where these embodiments provide differently dimensioned ring cross sections and inner diameters respectively adapted to different outer line diameters D where the outer diameter of the peripheral seal  10  is always the same. A peripheral seal  10  is shown in a solid line in  FIGS. 3  and  5  with a smaller annular cross section for a design for the largest outer line diameter D max , while a design of the peripheral seal  10  for the smaller outer line diameter D min  is represented with broken lines. Any desired subdivisions are also possible here. 
         [0037]    Furthermore, different release elements  56  must be made available for the different line cross sections. It is provided for this purpose that the release element  56  define different inner diameters adapted to the respective outer line diameters D in different modifications, with the outer contour remaining unchanged. The end actuation section  58 , pointing in the insertion direction, is always in the radial position in the area of the retaining teeth  8   b  of the corresponding toothed ring  8 . Further, the locking arms  62  of the release element  56  always have identical spring properties, with constant deformation length and identical articulated areas in their different modifications. The radial measured width  1  of the locking arms  62  in the area of the above constrictions  66  is in particular always constant for that purpose in all modifications. This is shown in  FIG. 4  by means of double arrows  76  and by means of the reference letter  1 . The release force can likewise remain constant as a result of the variation in quantity of locking arms  62  in different line sections. This is also advantageously achieved in combination with the spring properties by means of the constant radial width  1  of the locking arms  62 . 
         [0038]    The above outer peripheral seal  68  of the release element  56  for sealing the annular gap in the direction of the connecting element  6  is identical in all modifications. The inner peripheral seal  70  indeed has accordingly different inner diameters with preferably identical ring cross section (the same “cord thickness”) in the different modifications adapted to the different outer line diameters D. An inner contact area  70   a  of the release element  56  for the inner peripheral seal  70  can be accordingly modified; see  FIG. 3  in this regard. 
         [0039]    Other important adjustments are carried out in the area of the insert ring  42 ; see  FIG. 5  in this regard. The result is that the insertion ring  42  is configured, on the one hand, on the side of the toothed ring  8  to fit its different modifications with end faces of different radial width in different modifications, so that the tilting edge  16  is always in the transition  15  at the start of the retaining teeth  8   b.  The above cone surface  44  likewise “wanders” only in the radial direction with the same length and angular inclination. On the other hand, the insertion ring  42  is also configured with different length in the axial direction; this is to fit different peripheral seals  10  for any required so-called “groove filling” (degree of filling of the sealing chamber  50 ) for optimal seal compression by accordingly varying the axial width of the sealing chamber  50 ; see the double arrow  78  in  FIG. 5  in this regard. In addition, the end face  46  of the insert ring  42 , which axially delimits the sealing chamber  50 , is adjusted in radial width to the outer line diameter D in such a way (see the double arrow  80 ) that a radial gap between the media line  2  and the annular area having the end face  46  is dimensioned so small that the peripheral seal  10  cannot possibly be pressed under media pressure into the gap between the line  2  and the insert ring  42  (minimization of a so-called gap extrusion). 
         [0040]    A further adjustment takes place in the area of the closure element  72 , in that the latter is adjusted to the respective media line  2  with regard to its inner diameter in its different modifications. Reference is made in particular to  FIGS. 3 and 4  in this regard. 
         [0000]    As for the support sleeve  20 , it must be especially adjusted to the respective inner line diameter Di in the area between a largest inner diameter Di max  and a smallest inner diameter Di min ; see  FIGS. 3 and 4  in this regard. The cylindrical outer surface  22  with a corresponding outer diameter “da” is configured for this purpose; see  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The insert section  24  provided for retention as well as preferably also the stop  28  are identical in all modifications, however; see in particular  FIG. 6 . 
         [0041]    The previous description suggests that the following inner parts  5  are used in adapted modifications in the always identical connecting elements  6  for adjustment to different outer line diameters D: peripheral seal  10 , insert ring  42 , and toothed ring  8 , as well as release element  56  with peripheral seals  68 ,  70  and the closure element  72 . Adjustment to the inner line diameter Di can also take place—also alternatively—by using an adapted modification of the support sleeve  20 . The insert element  52  is identical within a “cluster” in all modifications and belongs therefore in fact to the inner contour of the receiving opening  4  of the connecting element  6 . 
         [0042]    It is further noted that the measurements entered in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and respectively identified with the same upper case reference letters are also respectively interpreted in the same way in the differently dimensioned inner parts  5 . 
         [0043]    Finally it should be remarked in a general way that only two different designs of the inner parts  5  are illustrated in the representations of  FIGS. 3 to 6 . They are the two extremes, although other intermediate designs are possible. Thus the connecting element  6 , for example, can be designed with an inner contour for a maximum outer line diameter D max  of 10 mm. Lines  2  with an outer diameter of 9 mm, 8 mm as well as optionally intermediate sizes of, for example, ⅜″ can be connected by means of different inner parts  5 . Lines with different wall thicknesses S, for example, 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.25 mm, can be assembled herein by means of the corresponding support sleeves  20 ; see the measurements S 1  and S 2  plotted for this purpose in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0044]    Any other intermediate sizes as well as any desired designs for other groups of differing media lines  2  with any desired intermediate sizes are naturally also possible. The invention also allows adjustment to more than six media lines  2 , different in cross-sectional length, within the “cluster” group. 
         [0045]    Equal or at least very similar properties with regard to the mechanical support of the line  2  and behavior during release of the line  2  as well as with regard to the sealing properties can be advantageously achieved by means of the aforementioned measures within a/each “cluster” group with the same connecting element  6 , that is, the same housing parts  30 ,  32 , for several different media lines  2 , which differ in cross-sectional dimensions, specifically the outer and/or inner diameter. 
         [0046]    A sealing system with at least approximately the same degree of filling and the same seal compression is created for sealing by means of the following features:
       Constant outer diameter of the peripheral seal  10  functioning as single media seal for application within a sealing area of the connecting element  6  with constant inner diameter;   Always identical flank surface  48  in the connecting element  6  in the direction of the lower axial limit of the sealing chamber  50 ;   Different ring cross sections (cord thicknesses) of the peripheral seal  10  for adaptation of the inner seal diameter to the outer line diameter;   Differing radial width of the end faces  46  of the insert ring  42  for upper axial limitation of the sealing chamber  50  and prevention or at least minimization of a so-called gap extrusion of the peripheral seal  10 ;   Different axial lengths of the insert ring  42  for optimal seal compression over the end face  46 ;   Always identical outer peripheral seal  68  functioning as dirt seal;   Always identical ring cross section (cord thickness) of the inner peripheral seal  70  functioning as dirt seal with differently adjusted ring diameters (inner and outer diameter); and   Varying inner diameter of the contact area  70   a  for the inner peripheral seal  70  within the release element  56 .       
 
         [0055]    The following features are of importance for the constant mechanical properties:
       Always the same angular alignment of the retaining teeth  8   b  of the toothed ring  8 ; and   Always the same free “lever” length of the retaining teeth  8   b.          
 
         [0058]    The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments illustrated and described, but also includes all modifications acting in the same manner within the meaning of the invention. It is expressly emphasized that the exemplary embodiments are not restricted the combination of features, but that individual partial feature has inventive importance per se also separately from all other partial features. Furthermore, the invention is also not limited to the feature combination defined in the respective independent claim, but can also be defined by any other desired combination of specific features of all individual features disclosed as a whole. This means that in principle virtually any individual feature of the respective independent claim can be omitted or replaced by at least one individual feature disclosed at another point in the application. To this extent, the claims are to be understood as merely a first formulation attempt for an invention.

Technology Category: f