DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCKING A CONNECTION ELEMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for locking a connection element to a tube as well as a system comprising the same. The device is configured such that the securing segment of its securing element is automatically engaged with a recess of the connection element when the connection element has reached its locking position within the tube. Thus, the connection element is locked in the tube. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for locking a connection element in a tube.

Claims

1. A device for locking a connection element to a tube, comprising: a housing, a securing element with a shaft and a securing segment at a first end of the shaft, wherein the securing element is movably arranged in the housing, and a spring which is arranged in the housing such that the spring exerts a force on the securing element in a longitudinal direction of the securing element.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a widening portion which is provided between the shaft and the securing segment and widened in at least one spatial direction, preferably in at least two spatial directions relative to the shaft and/or the securing segment.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a stop formed within the housing, wherein the spring is arranged between the stop and the widening portion.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first opening out of which the shaft protrudes at least partially, wherein, preferably at its end protruding out of the housing, the shaft has a preferably circumferential recess and/or a marking for indicating a penetration depth of the shaft into the housing.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a second opening out of which the securing segment and/or the widening portion protrude(s) at least partially, and wherein the housing is preferably configured to be fixed to a tube and/or an adapter element, and wherein the securing segment preferably comprises a chamfer at its free end.

6. A system for fixing a connection element to a tube, comprising: the locking device according to claim 1, a tube comprising an opening in the wall of the tube, wherein the locking device is arranged at the tube such that the securing segment of the locking device can protrude at least partially through the opening into the interior of the tube, and a connection element which is configured to be inserted at least partially into the tube, wherein the connection element further comprises a recess which is configured to be engaged with the securing segment of the locking device when the connection element has been inserted into the tube.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the spring is configured to engage the securing segment with the recess of the connection element in a locking state in which the connection element has been inserted into the tube by a predetermined length and to maintain said engagement, and wherein the recess of the connection element preferably is a circumferential recess.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein an end of the connection element which is inserted into the tube is configured as a hollow cylinder which preferably has a chamfer at an outer side and/or an inner side, and wherein the tube preferably further comprises an adapter element which is configured to fix the housing of the locking device thereto.

9. A method for locking a connection element to a tube by means of the device according to claim 1, wherein the securing segment of the securing element of the device protrudes at least partially into the interior of the tube, wherein the method comprises the following steps: inserting the connection element into an end portion of the tube, advancing the connection element along a longitudinal direction of the tube, wherein the securing segment is displaced out of the interior of the tube in that the securing segment slides along the front side and/or a shell surface of the connection element, so that the securing segment is moved along its longitudinal direction and allows a movement of the connection element into the interior of the end portion of the tube, locking the connection element in a locking position within the end portion of the tube, wherein the securing element of the device is moved by the spring force of the spring along its longitudinal direction, so that a movement of the connection element along its longitudinal direction is blocked.

10. (canceled)

11. A method for locking a connection element to a tube by means of the system according to claim 6, wherein the securing segment of the securing element of the device protrudes at least partially into the interior of the tube, wherein the method comprises the following steps: inserting the connection element into an end portion of the tube, advancing the connection element along a longitudinal direction of the tube, wherein the securing segment is displaced out of the interior of the tube in that the securing segment slides along the front side and/or a shell surface of the connection element, so that the securing segment is moved along its longitudinal direction and allows a movement of the connection element into the interior of the end portion of the tube, locking the connection element in a locking position within the end portion of the tube, wherein the securing element of the device is moved by the spring force of the spring along its longitudinal direction, so that a movement of the connection element along its longitudinal direction is blocked.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0048] The invention is explained in more detail based on the attached Figures in which

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a fixing of a connection element to a tube according to the prior art,

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for locking a connection element to a tube,

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a schematic, exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention and the system according to the invention for locking a connection element to a tube,

[0052] FIG. 3a shows an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3,

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention and the system according to the invention for locking a connection element to a tube,

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention and the system according to the invention in the initial state,

[0055] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention and the system according to the invention in the mounted state, and

[0056] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the embodiment of the device according to the invention and the system according to the invention in the locked state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0057] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention for locking a connection element 60 to a tube 50. The device 10 comprises a housing 20 and a securing element 30. The securing element 30 has a shaft 31 at the first end of which a securing segment 32 is located. The securing element 30 is movably arranged in the housing 20. A spring 40 is arranged in the housing 20 in such a manner that it exerts a force on the securing element 30 in a longitudinal direction of the securing element 30, so that the securing element 30 is moved along its longitudinal direction.

[0058] In the delivery state of the device 10, the securing element 30 is already preassembled in the housing 20 (see FIG. 2), so that it cannot be incorrectly positioned or forgotten when the connection element 60 is mounted to the tube 50.

[0059] The securing element 30 further comprises a widening portion 33 which is provided between the shaft 31 and the securing segment 32 and widened in at least one spatial direction, preferably in at least two spatial directions (in a Cartesian coordinate system) relative to the shaft 31 and/or the securing segment 32.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 3a, the securing segment 32 is flat in a x-z-plane and has a concave front surface 37 as well as partially convex side surfaces 38. The front surface 37 is located at the free end of the securing segment 32, which is opposite to the surface at which the securing segment 32 is connected to the widening portion 33 of the securing element 30. The edge at which the front surface 37 is in contact with a lower side 391 (not visible) of the securing segment 32 is chamfered by a chamfer 36. The securing segment 32 is longer along the z-direction than along the x-direction (=longitudinal axis of the securing element 30). Along the y-direction, the securing segment 32 is shorter than along the x-direction. Seen in the y-direction (top view), the side surfaces 38 of the securing segment 32 in the x-direction first extend away from each other, then extend parallel and towards each other, respectively, so that their partially convex shape is formed. Close to the front surface 37, the side surfaces extend parallel to each other. In the top view, the securing segment 32 thus has an essentially “trapezoidal” shape. The radius of the concave front surface 37 is adapted to the outer circumference of a recess 61 of the connection element 60 (see FIG. 3).

[0061] Furthermore, the device 10 comprises a stop 21 formed within the housing 20, wherein the spring 40 is arranged between the stop 21 and the widening portion 33.

[0062] The housing 20 comprises a first opening 22 out of which the shaft 31 protrudes at least partially. Furthermore, at its end protruding out of the housing 20, the shaft 31 comprises a circumferential recess 34 and/or a marking 35 for indicating a penetration depth of the shaft 31 into the housing 20.

[0063] The housing 20 comprises a second opening 23 out of which the securing segment 32 or the widening portion 33 protrudes at least partially. The housing 20 is configured to be fixed to a tube 50 and/or an adapter element 51, for example by screwing. Furthermore, the securing segment 32 has a chamfer 36 at its free end.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 3, the tube 50 further comprises an adapter element 51 which is configured to fix the housing 20 of the device 10 thereto.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows the system 100 according to the invention for fixing a connection element 60 to a tube 50. The system 100 comprises the locking device 10 described above. Furthermore, the system comprises a tube 50 having an opening 55 in its wall. The locking device 10 is arranged at the tube 50 in such a manner that the securing segment 32 of the locking device 10 protrudes at least partially through the opening into the inner space of the tube 50. The system 100 comprises a connection element 60 which is configured to be inserted at least partially into the tube 50, wherein the connection element 60 further comprises a recess 61 which is configured to be engaged with the securing segment 32 of the device 10 when the connection element 60 has been inserted into the tube 50.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows the system 100 according to the invention in the initial state. In this state, the connection element 60 has not yet been inserted into the tube 50 up to its final position, the locking position, i.e. the front side of the connection element 60 has been inserted into the tube at most until the contact point with the securing segment 32. The securing segment 32 protrudes into the inner space of the tube 50. The other end of the securing element, more precisely its shaft 31, protrudes out of the housing 20. Furthermore, at this end the shaft 31 comprises a circumferential recess 34 and/or a marking 35 for indicating a penetration depth of the shaft 31 into the housing 20.

[0067] FIG. 6 shows the mounting state in which the connection element 60 is inserted into the tube 50 along its longitudinal direction (see direction of the arrow). The insertion movement causes the securing segment 32 to be displaced out of the interior of the tube 50, so that the securing element 30 moves out of the housing 20 along its longitudinal direction. The chamfer 36 provided at the securing segment 32 slides along the front side of the connection element 60. Likewise, the connection element 60 has a chamfer 63 facilitating the sliding of the chamfer 36.

[0068] FIG. 7 shows the connection element 60 in the locking state, i.e. when the connection element 60 has reached its final position within the tube 50. In this state, the securing element 30 is pressed by the spring force of the spring 40 along its longitudinal direction (see direction of the arrow) into the interior of the tube 50. Thus, the securing segment 32 is engaged with the recess 61 of the connection element 60 and the connection element 60 is locked at the tube 50.

[0069] The longitudinal direction of the connection element 60 and the longitudinal direction of the tube 50 extend essentially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal direction of the securing element 30.

[0070] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail based on the Figures and the corresponding description, this illustration and this detailed description should be understood as being illustrative and exemplary and not as limiting the invention. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill without departing from the scope of the following claims. In particular, the invention also comprises embodiments with any combination of features mentioned or shown above with respect to various aspects and/or embodiments.

[0071] The invention also comprises individual features in the Figures, even if they are shown therein in connection with other features and/or have not been mentioned above.

[0072] Furthermore, the term “comprising” and derivations thereof do not exclude other elements or steps. Moreover, the indefinite article “a”/“an” and derivations thereof do not exclude a plurality. The functions of a plurality of features mentioned in the claims can be fulfilled by one entity. The terms “essentially”, “about”, “approximately” and the like in connection with a characteristic or a value especially define also the exact characteristic or the exact value. All reference signs in the claims should not be understood as limiting the scope of the claims.