SYSTEM FOR THE FLUID-GUIDING CONNECTION OF AN ELEMENT TO A COUNTERPART, ADAPTER ELEMENT AND ADAPTER HOUSING FOR FLUID-GUIDING CONNECTION AND ADAPTER SYSTEM HAVING THE ADAPTER ELEMENT AND THE ADAPTER HOUSING

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (100) for the flow-guiding or fluid-guiding connection of an element (200) to a counterpart 300, comprising: a first seal (110), consisting of a valve body (101) and a first seal element (102) which is arranged in a fluid channel (301), the valve body (101) being configured, by interaction with the seal element (102), to be able to be displaced or moved between an open position, in which a fluid, more particularly gas, can flow through the fluid channel (301), and a closed position, in which no fluid, more particularly gas, can flow through the fluid channel (301), and a second seal (120), which is arranged downstream of the first seal (110) in the fluid channel (301) in a flow-out direction A of the fluid flowing through/out of the fluid channel (301) and is configured to seal a connection region 302 between the fluid channel (301) and the element (200), more particularly to seal same in a gas-tight manner, the second seal (120) being designed such that, when the element (200) is connected to the counterpart (300), the second seal seals the connection region 302 before the first seal (110) can be or is mechanically displaced or moved into the open position.

Claims

1. A system for connecting an element, in particular a sensor or a system connector, to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, in particular to a component selected from the group consisting of: a pressure vessel, a valve, a valve assembly, a valve block and the like, comprising: a first seal consisting of a valve body and a first sealing member that is disposed in a fluid channel wherein the valve body is configured such that it can be shifted or moved, by means of interaction with the sealing member, between an open position, in which a fluid, in particular gas, can flow through the fluid channel, and a closed position, in which no fluid, in particular gas, can flow through the fluid channel, and a second seal which is disposed in the fluid channel downstream of the first seal in an outflow direction (A) of the fluid flowing though or flowing out through the fluid channel and which is configured to seal, in particular in a gas-tight manner, a connecting region between the fluid channel and the element, wherein the second seal is configured such that when connecting the element to the counterpart it seals the connecting region before the first seal can be or is shifted or moved into the open position.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first seal and/or the second seal is formed as a radial seal, a resilient seal, an O-ring, a delta ring, a liquid seal, a metal seal and the like, wherein in particular the second seal is formed between an outer surface of the element and an inner surface of the fluid channel.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is configured to be brought into contact, in particular into gas-tight contact, with a valve seat formed on the first sealing member, said valve seat preferably being in the form of a tapered surface, in particular a conical surface.

4. The system according to one of the preceding claim 1, wherein the valve body has an at least partially conical shape, rounded shape, spherical shape or globular shape, in particular at an end face that is configured to be brought into contact with a valve seat of the first sealing member.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein a projection in particular an annular projection, is formed in the fluid channel, which is configured to receive or support the first sealing member that is preferably annular, and which forms a stop against which the first sealing member can be fixed and/or pressed, wherein the sealing member can preferably be pressed against the projection by a clamping member.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the clamping member comprises an external thread, by means of which the clamping member can be adjusted against the first sealing member, as a result of which the first sealing member can be pressed against the projection, and/or a portion of the fluid channel extends through the clamping member in particular through the centre thereof, wherein in particular the connecting region is formed within said portion of the fluid channel.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the element comprises a projection which is preferably cylindrical and is configured to be insertable into the fluid channel, wherein a distance (D) from an end face of the projection, which is configured to come into contact with the valve body, to a second sealing member of the second seal, which is disposed on an outer surface of the projection, is set in such a manner that the second sealing member of the second seal seals the connecting region between the fluid channel and the outer surface, in particular in a gas-tight manner, before the end face comes into contact with the valve body.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the clamping member and the first sealing member comprise a sealing surface on the end sides respectively facing one another, which create a gas-tight contact when the clamping member is pressed against the first sealing member.

9. The system according to one of the preceding claim 1, wherein the valve body is pretensioned by means of a spring element, in particular a spring, against the first sealing member, in particular the valve seat formed therein.

10. The system according to one of the preceding claim 1, wherein the valve body is movably, in particular in a translatory manner, received and supported in a recess, and the spring element is provided in a bottom region of the recess, wherein at least the bottom region is sealed with respect to the fluid flowing through the fluid channel by means of a third seal that is preferably provided on an outer surface of the valve body or an inner surface of the recess.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the element comprises an adapter body that is configured to be screwed into the counterpart, in particular an adapter housing, by means of an external thread or to be inserted into the counterpart in particular the adapter housing and to be fastened thereto by means of at least one fastening element, in particular a plurality of screws, wherein the projection is formed on a side of the adapter body that is facing the counterpart.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the adapter body is formed with an internal fluid channel which, in the state in which the element is screwed or inserted in the counterpart, is connected in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner to the fluid channel that is preferably formed at least partially in the counterpart said fluid channel preferably having at least one opening provided laterally on the outer surface of the element.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the adapter body further comprises a fourth seal which is disposed downstream of the first seal and the second seal in the outflow direction (A), and which is configured to provide a seal, in particular a gas-tight seal, between an outer surface of the adapter body and an inner surface of the fluid channel.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the element and the adapter body are integrally formed or the adapter body is part of an adapter member into which the element can be inserted in a gas-tight manner so as to be connectable to the counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, in particular to be connectable to an adapter housing integrated in the counterpart.

15. An adapter member for connecting an element, in particular a sensor or a system connector, to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, in particular to a component selected from the group consisting of: a pressure vessel, a valve, a valve assembly, a valve block and the like, preferably for use in the system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: an adapter body that is configured to be screwed into the counterpart by means of an external thread or to be inserted into the counterpart and fastened thereto by means of at least one fastening element, preferably a plurality of screws, a projection that is configured to be insertable into a fluid channel formed in the counterpart and to be brought into contact with a valve body of a first seal disposed in the fluid channel in order to bring the first seal into an open position in which a fluid, in particular a gas, can flow through the fluid channel into the element, and a second seal which is disposed in the fluid channel downstream of the first seal in an outflow direction (A) of the fluid flowing through or flowing out through the fluid channel, and which is configured to seal, in particular in a gas-tight manner, a connecting region between the fluid channel and the adapter body wherein the second seal is configured such that when connecting the element, in particular the adapter member, to the counterpart, it seals the connecting region before the first seal is shifted or moved into the open position by contact of the projection with the valve body.

16. The adapter member according to claim 15, wherein the second seal, in particular a second sealing member, is formed as a radial seal, a resilient seal, an O-ring, a delta ring, a liquid seal, a metal seal and the like, in particular between an outer surface of the adapter body and an inner surface of the fluid channel.

17. The adapter member according to claim 15, wherein the second seal is formed as a metal seal or a curved-surface seal, wherein a valve body portion is preferably formed on the adapter body, which valve body portion at least partially has a conical shape, rounded shape, spherical shape or globular shape, and is configured to be brought into contact, in particular gas-tight contact, with a second valve seat provided in the counterpart, which second valve seat preferably has a tapered shape, in particular a conical shape.

18. The adapter member according to claim 15, wherein a distance (D) from an end face of the projection of the adapter member, which is configured to come into contact with the valve body, to a second sealing member of the second seal is set in such a manner that the second sealing member of the second seal seals the connecting region between the fluid channel and the outer surface, in particular in a gas-tight manner, before the end face comes into contact with the valve body.

19. The adapter member according to claim 15, wherein the adapter member is integrated, preferably in one piece, into the element, in particular the sensor or the system connector.

20. An adapter housing in particular an adapter housing that can be integrated into the counterpart, for connecting an element, in particular a sensor or a system connector, to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, in particular to a component selected from the group consisting of: a pressure vessel, a valve, a valve assembly, a valve block and the like, preferably for use in the system according to claim 1, comprising: a first seal consisting of a valve body and a first sealing member that is disposed in a fluid channel wherein the valve body is configured such that it can be shifted or moved, by means of interaction with the sealing member, between an open position, in which a fluid, in particular gas, can flow through the fluid channel, and a closed position, in which no fluid, in particular gas, can flow through the fluid channel, and a second seal which is disposed in the fluid channel downstream of the first seal in an outflow direction of the fluid flowing through or flowing out through the fluid channel and which is configured to seal, in particular in a gas-tight manner, a connecting region between the fluid channel and the element, wherein the second seal is configured such that when connecting the element to the counterpart it seals the connecting region before the first seal can be/is shifted or moved into the open position.

21. The adapter housing according to claim 20, wherein the valve body is configured to be shiftable or movable between the open position and the closed position by contact with a projection of the element, in particular with an end face of the projection.

22. The adapter housing according to claim 20, wherein the adapter housing is formed integrally, in particular in one piece, with the counterpart, in particular the component selected from the group consisting of: a pressure vessel, a valve, a valve assembly, a valve block and the like.

23. An adapter system for connecting an element, in particular a sensor or a system connector, to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, in particular to a component selected from the group consisting of: a pressure vessel, a valve, a valve assembly, a valve block and the like, comprising: the adapter member according to claim 15, and an adapter housing, in particular an adapter housing that can be integrated into the counterpart, for connecting an element, in particular a sensor or a system connector, to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, in particular to a component selected from the group consisting of: a pressure vessel, a valve, a valve assembly, a valve block and the like, preferably for use in the system according to claim 1, comprising: a first seal consisting of a valve body and a first sealing member that is disposed in a fluid channel, wherein the valve body is configured such that it can be shifted or moved, by means of interaction with the sealing member, between an open position, in which a fluid, in particular gas, can flow through the fluid channel, and a closed position, in which no fluid, in particular gas, can flow through the fluid channel, and a second seal which is disposed in the fluid channel downstream of the first seal in an outflow direction (A) of the fluid flowing through or flowing out through the fluid channel, and which is configured to seal, in particular in a gas-tight manner, a connecting region between the fluid channel and the element, wherein the second seal is configured such that when connecting the element to the counterpart, it seals the connecting region before the first seal can be/is shifted or moved into the open position, wherein the adapter member and the adapter housing are configured as a functional group that can be disposed between the element and the counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, and can preferably be connected to, in particular screwed together with, the element or the counterpart, respectively.

24. A method for connecting an element, in particular a sensor or a system connector, to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting, in particular gas-conducting, manner, in particular to a component selected from the group consisting of: a pressure vessel, a valve, a valve assembly, a valve block and the like, using the system according to claim 1, comprising: inserting or screwing the element, in particular an adapter body into the counterpart, in particular into an adapter housing, creating a sealing effect of a second seal which is disposed in the fluid channel downstream of the first seal in an outflow direction of a fluid flowing through or flowing out through a fluid channel wherein the second seal is configured to seal a connecting region between the fluid channel and the element, in particular the adapter body, and opening or releasing the first seal by preferably moving a valve body of the first seal out of engagement or contact with a first sealing member of the first seal, wherein the sealing effect of the second seal between the fluid channel and the element is created before the first seal is allowed to open or release, in particular is mechanically enabled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0057] Further features and advantages of a device, a use and/or a method are apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. In these figures:

[0058] FIG. 1 schematically shows a known connector for a pressure sensor in a fuel tank,

[0059] FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a system according to the invention for connecting an element to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, which is in the open state,

[0060] FIG. 3 schematically shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of a system according to the invention for connecting an element to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, which is in the closed state,

[0061] FIG. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of an adapter member according to the invention for connecting an element to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner,

[0062] FIG. 5 schematically shows an embodiment of an adapter housing according to the invention for connecting an element to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, which is in the closed state, and

[0063] FIG. 6 schematically shows a second embodiment of a system according to the invention for connecting an element to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, which in the open state.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Identical reference numbers that are used in different figures designate identical, corresponding or functionally similar elements.

[0065] FIG. 1 schematically shows a known connector for a pressure sensor 10 in a fuel tank 40. As FIG. 1 shows, the described connector is mounted on a base plate 1 of a fuel tank 40 in a vehicle. The base plate 1 is used to close an opening in the fuel tank 40 and is provided with a connector piece mounting hole 2. A metal sleeve 3 is fitted into the hole 2 and attached thereto by means of welding or the like. A connector housing 4 is fitted into the sleeve 3 in a sealed manner by means of an O-ring 5. The connector housing 4 is made of a synthetic resin material and is provided with an upper connector opening 6 on an upper side surface and with a lower connector opening 7 on a lower end face, which are used to receive a further connector. The pressure sensor 10 is embedded in an upper region of the connector housing 4 and behind the upper connector opening 6. The pressure sensor 10 is furthermore provided on its underside with a downwardly projecting pressure sensing portion 10a.

[0066] A receiving chamber 11 for receiving the pressure sensor 10 is furthermore formed in the upper region of the connector housing 4. A passage 12 having a larger diameter for receiving the sensing portion 10a of the pressure sensor 10 is formed in a bottom region of the connector housing 4. A passage 14 having a smaller diameter for introducing the internal pressure in the fuel tank 40 into the sensing portion 10a of the pressure sensor 10 is also formed in the bottom region and extends from a lower end of the passage 12 having a larger diameter to a lower surface of the bottom region. An O-ring 8 is provided to seal the pressure sensor 10 in the passage 12 having a larger diameter.

[0067] As is apparent from FIG. 1, when the pressure sensor 10 is removed, a completely open fluid channel between the interior of the fuel tank 40 is created, as a result of which the fuel tank must be completely emptied before the pressure sensor 10 is removed in order to prevent the medium stored therein, in particular fuel, from escaping. This applies in particular to fuel tanks for storing pressurised media such as compressed gases, in particular compressed hydrogen.

[0068] FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a system 100 according to the invention for connecting an element 200 to a counterpart 300 in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, wherein the system is shown in the open state and the connected state. The element 200 may be, for example, a sensor, in particular a pressure sensor, which is to be connected to a counterpart such as a valve block (for example a gas handling unit (GHU)).

[0069] As is furthermore apparent from FIG. 2, the system 200 comprises a first seal 110 that is formed from a valve body 101 and a first sealing member 102, said first sealing member 102 being disposed in a fluid channel 301 that connects the element 200, in particular the pressure sensor, to the counterpart 300, in particular the valve block, in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting, in particular gas-conducting manner.

[0070] In this manner, the element 200, in particular the pressure sensor, can be connected to a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting, in particular gas-conducting, pipe or part within the counterpart 300, in particular the valve block. The fluid channel 301 thus allows a pressure present in the valve block, for example, or a pressure present in a part communicating with the valve block to be determined by means of the pressure sensor.

[0071] The first sealing member 102 is formed as a disc, provided in the centre of which is a through-hole which forms a part of the fluid channel 301. The disc is furthermore formed with a valve seat 102a, which in particular surrounds the through-hole and is configured to come into contact with the valve body 101 so as to realise a fluid-tight, in particular gas-tight, seal. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the valve seat 102a tapers in the direction of the through-hole and preferably has a conical shape.

[0072] In order to fix the first sealing member 102, in particular the disc, in the fluid channel 301, the fluid channel 301 is formed with an annular projection 303 which protrudes inwardly into the fluid channel 301 and is configured to support the first sealing member 102 from the left side (in FIG. 2). In other words, the projection 300 is disposed in front of the first sealing member 102 in an outflow direction A of the fluid through the fluid channel 301, i.e. from the counterpart 300 in the direction of the element 200. On the opposite side of the first sealing member 102, the fluid channel 301 is provided with an internal thread into which a clamping member 103 is screwed by means of an external thread 103a. The clamping member 103 is used to press the sealing member 102 against the projection 303, whereby on the one hand the first sealing member 102 can be spatially fixed and on the other hand a gas-tight contact between the first sealing member 102 and clamping member 103 can be realised. For this purpose, the first sealing member 102 and the clamping member 103 preferably each have flat, abutting contact surfaces.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 2, the clamping member 103 also comprises a central through-hole that is aligned with the through-hole of the first sealing member 102 and accordingly also forms a part or region of the fluid channel 301.

[0074] In the shown embodiment, the valve body 101 furthermore has a mushroom shape, with a head side of the valve body 101, which faces the first sealing member 102, having a conical shape. In the shown embodiment, the conical end face 101a of the valve body 101 has a frustum shape. In other words, the valve body 101 has the shape of a truncated cone with a flat stop surface.

[0075] The valve body 101 is received in a recess 304 formed in the counterpart 300, said valve body 101 being received in the recess 304 in particular in such manner that it can perform an axial or translatory movement, in particular in the direction of the first sealing member 102. In the recess 304, which is cylindrical in shape, a spring 104, in particular a compression spring, is provided in a bottom region 304a of the recess 304, which acts against the valve body 101. The valve body 101 is pretensioned against the first sealing member 102 by the spring 104, as a result of which the valve body 101 is forced into a closed state by the spring 104, in which the valve body 101 is in a fluid-tight, in particular gas-tight, state with the first sealing member 102, in which no fluid, in particular gas, can flow through the fluid channel 301. This state is shown in particular in FIG. 3.

[0076] If the element 200, in particular the pressure sensor, is now supposed to be connected to the counterpart 300, an adapter member 400, which can be part of the element 200 or is a separate adapter member that is connected in a fluid-tight or gas-tight manner to the element 200, in particular the pressure sensor, is inserted into the fluid channel 301. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the adapter member 400 comprises an external thread 411, via which it can be screwed into the counterpart 300, in particular into the fluid channel 301. As is furthermore apparent from FIG. 2, the adapter member 400 is provided with a projection 402 or contact member (plunger) which is formed on a side of the adapter member 400 facing the counterpart 300. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the adapter member 400 is already completely screwed into the counterpart 300 and a truncated end face 403 of the projection 402 is in contact with the truncated end face of the valve body 101. By screwing the adapter member 400 into the counterpart 300, the adapter member 400 moves deeper into the counterpart 300, in particular the fluid channel 301, in an installation direction E (mounting direction), thereby pushing the valve body against the spring 104 into an open position in which the fluid, in particular the gas, can flow through the fluid channel 301 into the element 200, as shown by the arrow A. In order to connect the element 200, in particular the pressure sensor, to the counterpart 300 in a flow-conducting manner, the adapter member 400 is formed in a hollow manner or comprises a fluid channel 412 and has an opening laterally on an outer surface of the projection 402, which creates a connection to the fluid channel 301 of the counterpart.

[0077] As FIG. 2 also shows, the system 100 furthermore comprises a second seal 120 which is disposed in the fluid channel 301 downstream of the first seal 110 in the outflow direction A of the fluid flowing through or out through the fluid channel. The second seal 120 is configured so as to seal, in particular in a gas-tight manner, a connecting region 302 between the fluid channel 301 and the element 200. The connecting region 302 is to be understood as a region in which an inner surface 301a of the fluid channel 301 comes into contact with an outer surface 401 of the projection 402 of the adapter member 400. In the shown embodiment, the second seal 120, in particular a second sealing member 121 of the second seal 120, is formed as an O-ring which is received in a groove or projection of the adapter member 400. In the shown embodiment, the connecting region 302 is disposed such that it is located within the clamping member 103.

[0078] FIG. 3 schematically shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of a system 100 according to the invention for connecting an element to a counterpart in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, the first seal 101 being in the closed state. If, starting from the open state shown in FIG. 2, the adapter member 400 is now slowly pulled out of or unscrewed from the counterpart 300, the valve body 101 comes back into contact with the first sealing member 102, thereby closing the fluid channel 301. As is apparent from FIG. 3, this closed state of the first seal 101 and the fluid channel 301 is achieved before the second sealing member 121 of the second seal 120, namely the O-ring, is pulled out of the clamping member 103, in particular out of the connecting region 302. In FIG. 3, the second seal 120 is accordingly still in the sealed state.

[0079] In other words, the second seal 120 is configured such that when the element 200 is removed from the counterpart 300, it seals the connecting region 302 at least until the first seal is shifted or moved into the closed position. On the other hand, when the element 200 is connected to the counterpart 300, the second seal 120 is configured such that when connecting the element 200 to the counterpart 300, it seals the connecting region before the first seal is shifted or moved into the open position.

[0080] For this purpose, a distance D from the end face 403 of the projection 402 to the second sealing member 121 of the second seal 120 is set such that the second sealing member 121 seals the connecting region 302 between the fluid channel 301 and the outer surface 401 before the end face 403 of the element 200 comes into contact with the valve body 101, in particular the truncated end face thereof, thereby ensuring that the second seal 120 seals before the first seal 110 is opened or brought into a non-sealing state. In other words, before the valve body 101 is lifted off the valve seat 102a against the spring 104.

[0081] As is furthermore apparent in FIGS. 2 and 3, a third seal 130 is provided in the recess 304, which seals the recess 304 from the fluid flowing through the fluid channel 301, as a result of which damaging effects of the fluid, such as hydrogen embrittlement, on the spring element 104 can be prevented.

[0082] The adapter member 400, in particular an adapter body 410 of the adapter member 400, furthermore comprises a fourth seal. A fourth sealing member 141 of the fourth seal 140 is also formed as an O-ring, which realises a gas-tight seal between an outer surface of the adapter body 410 (outer surface of the adapter member) and the fluid channel 301, as a result of which the gas-tightness of the system 100 can be further improved.

[0083] It is also apparent in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the fluid channel 301 in the counterpart 300 is arranged at least partially asymmetrical or out of alignment with the recess 304 for the valve body 101. This particular arrangement and the fact that the third seal 130 seals the receiving area of the valve body 101 within the recess 304 from the gas flowing through the fluid channel 301 lead to the advantage that the inherent pressure of the fluid or gas does not act on the underside of the valve body 101, as a result of which the pressure force by the adapter member 400 that is required to open the first seal 110 can be reduced. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an annular surface of the valve body 101, which faces away from the valve seat 102a, is also kept minimal, as a result of which the pressure force required to open the first seal 110 can be further reduced since an area of application of the inherent pressure of the fluid or gas is minimised. Furthermore, the counterpart 300 is provided with a test channel 310 that connects the recess 304 to the environment, through which any fluid that may be leaking through the third seal 130 can be drained at regular intervals.

[0084] FIG. 4 schematically shows an embodiment of an adapter member 400 according to the invention for connecting an element 200 to a counterpart 300 in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner. The shown adapter member 400 comprises an adapter body 410, which has an elongated cylindrical shape and is provided with an external thread 411 on an outer surface 201, by means of which the adapter member 400 can be screwed into the counterpart 300. The adapter member 400 can be integrated in the element 200, in particular the sensor, or can be configured as a separate part that can be connected to the element 200 in a gas-tight manner.

[0085] As is furthermore apparent from FIG. 4, the adapter member 400, in particular the adapter body, comprises a projection 402 which also has an elongated cylindrical shape and is configured to be insertable or introducible into a fluid channel 301 formed in the counterpart 300. In the shown embodiment, a sealing member 121 (second sealing member) of a seal 120 (second seal) is furthermore provided on the outer surface 401 of the projection 402, which, in the state in which the adapter member 400 is inserted in the counterpart 300, serves to form a gas-tight seal between the fluid channel 301, in particular a connecting region 302 provided in the fluid channel 301, and the outer surface 401 of the projection 402. As FIG. 4 also shows, the adapter body 410 is provided with a fluid channel 412 that runs centrally through the adapter body 410 and is configured to connect the element 200 that is joined to the adapter body 410 to the counterpart 300 in a flow-conducting manner. For this purpose, a hole is provided on the outer surface 401 of the projection 402, which connects the internal fluid channel 412 with the fluid channel 301 formed in the counterpart. For this purpose, a plurality of holes can also be arranged on the outer surface 401 of the projection 402.

[0086] It is also apparent from FIG. 4 that the projection 402 has a flat end face 403 that is configured to be brought into contact with a valve body 101 of a first seal 110 which is provided in the fluid channel 301 of the counterpart 300 in order to bring the first seal 110 into an open position in which a fluid can flow through the fluid channel 301 from the counterpart 300 to the element 200. The second sealing member 121 is disposed on the adapter body 410 in such a manner that when screwing the adapter member 400 into the counterpart 300, the second seal 120 forms a fluid-tight or gas-tight seal between the adapter member 400 and the counterpart 300 before the end face 403 of the adapter body 410 comes into contact with the valve body 101, thereby bringing the first seal 110 into the open position.

[0087] FIG. 5 schematically shows an embodiment of an adapter housing 500 according to the invention for connecting an element 200 to a counterpart 300 in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, said adapter housing being shown in a closed position or state. The adapter housing 500 shown in FIG. 5 substantially corresponds to the counterpart 300 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is accordingly possible on the one hand to integrate the adapter housing 500 directly into the counterpart 300, or to configure it as a separate component which can be connected to the counterpart 300 in a fluid-tight or gas-tight manner. In the shown embodiment, the adapter housing 500 is integrated directly in the counterpart 300. The adapter housing 500 is provided with the fluid channel 301, the recess 304 and an internal thread. As already described above, the valve body 101 of the first seal 110 is received in the recess 304 in such a manner that it can move in a translatory manner in the insertion direction E of the adapter member 400. A projection 303 is furthermore provided in the fluid channel 301, which acts as a stop or stopper for the first sealing member which, in the shown embodiment, is formed as a disc with a valve seat 102a. The valve body 101 is pretensioned against the first sealing member 102 by a spring 104, as a result of which the first sealing member 102 is closed in the non-actuated state. As furthermore described above, the first sealing member 102 is fixed in the adapter housing 500 by means of a clamping member 103. Finally, a third seal 130 is provided in the adapter housing 500, which is in the form of an O-ring and is used to seal the recess 304 from the fluid flowing through the fluid channel 301.

[0088] FIG. 6 schematically shows a second embodiment of a system 100 according to the invention for connecting an element 200 to a counterpart 300 in a flow-conducting or fluid-conducting manner, the system 100 being shown in the open state. The second embodiment comprises substantially the same parts/components. The only difference is that the first seal 110 is not in the form of a metal seal, as in the first embodiment, but is rather configured as a resilient seal with a first sealing member 102 in the form of an O-ring. In this embodiment, the valve body 101 descends into the O-ring 102 and thus seals the fluid channel 301. The O-ring 102 is supported in the fluid channel 301 by a support ring 105 and is fixed by a clamping member 103. In this case, the clamping member 103 also serves as a support member for the O-ring 102. If the adapter member 400, in particular the projection 402 of the adapter body 410, is now inserted into the counterpart 300, in particular the adapter housing 500, the projection 402 of the adapter body 410 penetrates the O-ring 102, thereby causing the valve body 101 to be pushed out of the O-ring 102 against the spring force of the spring 104, as a result of which the first seal 110 is brought into the open position and a fluid can thus flow out of the counterpart 300 into the element 200.

[0089] As FIG. 6 furthermore shows, this embodiment is also provided with a second seal 120 which, when connecting the element 200 to the counterpart 300, seals the fluid channel 301 against the adapter member 400 before the first seal 110 is moved into the open position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0090] 100 System (coupling system) [0091] 101 Valve body [0092] 101a End face [0093] 102 First sealing member [0094] 102a Valve seat [0095] 103 Clamping member (clamping nut) [0096] 103a External thread of the clamping member [0097] 104 Spring (spring element) [0098] 105 Support ring [0099] 110 First seal [0100] 120 Second seal [0101] 121 Second sealing member [0102] 130 Third seal [0103] 131 Third sealing member [0104] 140 Fourth seal [0105] 141 Fourth sealing member [0106] 200 Element (gas sensor) [0107] 201 Outer surface [0108] 300 Counterpart (component) [0109] 301 Fluid channel [0110] 301a Inner surface of the fluid channel [0111] 302 Connecting region [0112] 303 Projection (stopper) [0113] 304 Recess (valve body receptacle) [0114] 304a Bottom region (spring receptacle) [0115] 400 Adapter member [0116] 401 Outer surface of the projection [0117] 402 Projection (contact member, plunger) [0118] 403 End face of the projection [0119] 410 Adapter body [0120] 411 External thread [0121] 412 Fluid channel (adapter body) [0122] 500 Adapter housing [0123] 600 Adapter system [0124] A Outflow direction [0125] E Installation direction