CONDUIT CONNECTOR

Abstract

Conduit connector (1) having a housing (2), which has a first connection geometry (3) that can be connected to a fluid conduit, and a second connection geometry (4) that can be connected to a counter-element, wherein the first connection geometry (3) and the second connection geometry (4) are connected by a trough channel (6) in the housing (2) and the housing (2) has an outlet opening (7) and a closing element (10) is provided, wherein the closing element (10) can he fixed in a first position, in which a connection between the outlet opening (7) and the through channel (6) is blocked, and the closing element (10) is displaceable into a second position, in which the outlet opening (7) is connected to the through channel (6).

Claims

1. A conduit connector (1) with a housing (2) which has a first connecting geometry, which can be connected to a fluid conduit, and a second connecting geometry (4), which can be connected to a mating element, wherein the first connecting geometry (3) and the second connecting geometry (4) are connected by a through-channel (6) in the housing (2) and the housing (2) has an outlet opening (7) and a closure element (10) is provided, characterized in that the closure element (10) can be fixed in a first position in which a connection between the outlet opening (7) and the through-channel (6) is shut off, and the closure element (10) can be displaced into a second position in which the outlet opening (7) is connected to the through-channel (6).

2. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, of the parts closure element (10) and housing (2), at least one has a web (11) guided in the manner of a helical line and the other has a shape (12) which interacts with the web (11).

3. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (10) has a torque engagement surface (15).

4. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the torque engagement surface (15) is arranged on a projection (16) which projects out of the housing (2) independently of the position of the closure element (10) in the housing (2).

5. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the closure element (10) and the housing (2) in the first position have a latching connection (18) to one another.

6. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the latching connection (18) acts in the rotational direction.

7. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closure element (10) has a longitudinal channel (30) which is closed at one end.

8. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closure element (10) is arranged in a closure element channel (9) which has a circumferential wall (21), wherein the closure element (10) has a ring seal (22) which bears from the inside against the circumferential wall (21).

9. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the outlet opening (7) discharges into the closure element channel (9) and a bridge (29) running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the closure element channel (9) is provided which terminates flush with the circumferential wall (21) and penetrates through the outlet opening (7).

10. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the closure element (10) in the first position is surrounded with a step (19) on a bearing surface (20) by a ring wall (17).

11. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the bearing surface (20) is surrounded by a ring wall (17).

12. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the closure element channel (9) has an end wall (25) and the closure element (10) projects with a portion (27) through an opening (26) in the end wall (25), wherein the portion (27) has a smaller cross-section than a maximum dimension of the opening (26).

13. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the closure element (10) has, at its end projecting into the housing (2), a cross-sectional enlargement (28) which is larger than a smallest diameter (d) of the opening (26).

14. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2). at least in a contact region with the closure element (10), is formed from a first material and the closure element (10), at least in the contact region, is formed from a second material, wherein the first material has a different hardness to the second material.

15. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) has an outlet nozzle (8) into which the outlet opening (7) discharges.

Description

[0022] The invention is described below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment in combination with the drawing. In the drawing:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a conduit connector,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a view A according to FIG. 1 in cut-out,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a section III-II according to FIG. 1 with a closure element in a first position,

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 with the closure element in a second position and

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a view B according to FIG. 1 without closure element.

[0028] A conduit connector 1 has a housing 2 which has a first connecting geometry 3 and a second connecting geometry 4. First connecting geometry 3 normally serves to connect the conduit connector to a fluid conduit which is not represented here. Second connecting geometry 4 can be connected to a mating element. Here, a securing clip 5 is provided to which the mating element in second connecting geometry 4 can be secured. First connecting geometry 3 and second connecting geometry 4 are connected to one another by a through-channel 6.

[0029] Housing 2 has an outlet opening 7 which discharges in an outlet nozzle 8. Outlet nozzle 8 projects slightly beyond housing 2 so that, for example, a hose or the like can be pushed on.

[0030] Housing 2 has a closure element channel 9 in which a closure element 10 is arranged. Closure element 10 can be fixed in a first position which is represented in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this position, closure element 10 shuts off a connection between outlet opening 7 and through-channel 6. Closure element 10 can be displaced into a second position in which it releases a connection between through-channel 6 and outlet opening 7, i.e. outlet opening 7 is connected to through-channel 6.

[0031] Closure element 10 has at least one, in the present case, however, a plurality of webs 11 guided in the manner of a helical line. Webs 11 run parallel to one another. Housing 2 has a shape in the form of opposite projections 12 which interact with webs 11. Webs 11 adjoin in each case projections 12. A displacement of closure element 9 with respect to housing 2 out of the first position into the second position or vice versa is correspondingly only possible if closure element 10 is rotated during this translational movement simultaneously about its longitudinal axis 13 which also corresponds to a longitudinal axis 14 of closure element channel 9.

[0032] In order to be able to bring about this rotation without difficulties, the closure element has a torque engagement surface 15 which is formed as an external hexagon in the present case. The torque engagement surface is arranged on a projection 16 of closure element 10 which projects out of housing 2 independently of the position of closure element 10 in housing 2. Torque engagement surface 15 is therefore also readily accessible in the first position of closure element 9 for a mechanic with a tool.

[0033] Closure element 10 and housing 2 can be latched to one another in the rotational direction. To this end, housing 2 has a ring wall 17 in which two opposite latching grooves 18 are formed. Closure element 10 has a step 19 which has tips pointing radially outwards (not represented) which can enter into latching grooves 18 if closure element 10 is rotated in closure element channel 9. If the tips enter into latching grooves 18, step 19 then bears against a bearing surface 20 on the outside of housing 2, which bearing surface 20 is surrounded by ring wall 17 and is thus largely protected from contamination.

[0034] Closure element channel 9 has a circumferential wall 21. Closure element 10 has a ring seal 22, for example, in the form of an O-ring which bears from the inside against circumferential wall 21 independently of the position of closure element 10 in closure element channel 9. Ring seal 22 closes off or shuts off therefore in the first position represented in FIG. 3 a connection between through-channel 6 and outlet opening 7. At the same time, ring seal 22 seals through-channel 6 in this region to the outside. In the second position of closure element 10 represented in FIG. 4, ring seal 22 only seals to the outside, but releases a connection between through-channel 6 and outlet opening 7.

[0035] Ring seal 22 is held on closure element 10 between two circumferential projections 23, 24. Ring seal 22 can therefore only move to a limited extent or practically not at all on closure element 10 parallel to longitudinal axis 13 so that the position of ring seal 22 in closure element channel 9 is determined by the position of closure element 10.

[0036] Closure element channel 9 has an end wall 25 on which both projections 12 are also arranged. Said end wall 25 has an opening 26 through which the closure element projects with a portion 27 with a smaller diameter. Webs 11 guided in the manner of a helical line are arranged on portion 27. An adequate space, through which fluid can flow out of through-channel 6 into outlet opening 7 in the second position of closure element 10, thus always remains between the circumference of opening 26 and portion 27 as a result of the reduced diameter.

[0037] Closure element 10 has at its end projecting into housing 2 a cross-sectional enlargement 28 which is larger than a smallest diameter d of opening 26. Cross-sectional enlargement 28 is therefore formed as a retainer so that the closure element is held captively in housing 2.

[0038] As is apparent in FIG. 2, a bridge 29 is provided in outlet opening 7. Bridge 29 runs parallel to longitudinal axis 14 of outlet channel 9 and terminates flush with circumferential wall 21. Bridge 29 forms a support for ring seal 22 if ring seal 22 moves beyond outlet opening 7. As a result, the risk of damage to ring seal 22 is kept low. Housing 2 and closure element 10 can be formed from materials with a different hardness. As a result, the risk of closure element 10 and housing 2 damaging one another is kept low.

[0039] It is, however, also possible to form closure element 10 and housing 2 with the same hardness and also from the same materials.

[0040] Closure element 10 has, as is apparent in FIG. 1, a longitudinal channel 30 which is closed at its end projecting into housing 2. The longitudinal channel reduces the weight of closure element 10.