CONNECTOR

Abstract

A connector for connecting two fluid-conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle pipelines, with a female plug-in part and a male plug-in part that can be plugged into the female plug-in part. The male plug-in part can be fixed on the female plug-in part via at least one fixing element. At least one indicator element is provided, which indicates the properly or completely fixed state of the male plug-in part which has been reached via the fixing element. When the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part, the indicator element is displaced outward in the radial direction. A radial outer position of the indicator element shows the properly fixed state of the male plug-in part on the female plug-in part.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting two fluid-conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle pipelines, with a female plug-in part and a male plug-in part that can be plugged into the female plug-in part, wherein the male plug-in part can be fixed on the female plug-in part via at least one fixing element, wherein at least one indicator element is provided, which shows the properly or completely fixed state of the male plug-in part, which has been reached via the fixing element, on the female plug-in part, wherein the indicator element is displaced outward in the radial direction when the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part, and wherein at least one radial outer position of the indicator element indicates the properly fixed state of the male plug-in part on the female plug-in part.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a retainer is connected to the female plug-in part as a fixing element, with which the male plug-in part can be fixed in the plugged-in state on the female plug-in part, wherein the retainer preferably engages behind a stop flange of the male plug-in part, and in particular engages it in a fixing groove of the male plug-in part, when the male plug-in part is fully inserted or fixed.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the retainer is formed U-shaped with a U-bracket and two U-legs connected to the U-bracket, and wherein the U-legs expediently engage, in the fixed state of the male plug-in part on the female plug-in part, behind the stop flange of the male plug-in part and in particular in a fixing groove of the male plug-in part.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the indicator element is guided over a ramp when the male plug-in part is inserted into the female plug-in part and is displaced outward in the radial direction.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the ramp is provided on the outer surface of the male plug-in part and is preferably integrally formed on the male plug-in part.

6. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the ramp increases in the axial direction of the female plug-in part or the male plug-in part and preferably increases against the insertion direction of the male plug-in part.

7. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the ramp increases continuously, and in particular step-free and preferably increases by 15° to 45° degrees.

8. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the ramp runs around at least 50% of the circumference of the male plug-in part and preferably runs completely around the circumference of the male plug-in part.

9. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the ramp has or forms the stop flange for the retainer.

10. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the indicator element is provided on the female plug-in part and passes through an indicator opening in the wall of the female plug-in part.

11. The connector according to claim 10, wherein the indicator element is displaceable radially outward when sliding over the ramp through the indicator opening of the female plug-in part.

12. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the indicator element, in its radially outer position, protrudes radially outward by an indicator section or the indicator element protrudes by the indicator section from the indicator opening.

13. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a section of the retainer is arranged, in the fixed state of the male plug-in part and in the radial outer position of the indicator element, between the protruding indicator section of the indicator element and a flange element protruding from the outer surface of the female plug-in part.

14. The connector according to claim 1, wherein at least two, and preferably two indicator elements are provided and are expediently provided on the female plug-in part, and in particular each pass through an indicator opening in the wall of the female plug-in part.

15. The connector according to claim 4, wherein an indicator element has at least one indicator foot, with which the indicator element slides on the increasing ramp.

16. The connector according to claim 15, wherein an indicator element has at least two, and preferably two, indicator feet with which the indicator element slides on the increasing ramp and wherein the two indicator feet are each preferably connected to an indicator leg of the indicator element.

17. A connector according to claim 15, wherein an indicator foot of the indicator element is slanted according to the angle of incline of the ramp.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The disclosure is described below in more detail with reference to a drawing showing just one exemplary embodiment. In a schematic illustration:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the connector according to the disclosure in a first functional position;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the object according to FIG. 1 in a second functional position;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the connector in the first functional position according to FIG. 1 in the area of the indicator element;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows the object according to FIG. 3 in the second functional position; and

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the female male plug-in part of the connector with the retainer received.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The figures show a connector 1 for connecting two fluid-conducting elements, in particular for connecting two motor vehicle pipelines not shown in the exemplary embodiment in more detail. The connector 1 has a female plug-in part 2 and a male plug-in part 3 that can be plugged into the female plug-in part 2. According to a preferred embodiment, the connector shown in the Figures is a so-called VDA connector. The male plug-in part 3 is fixed on the female plug-in part 2 via a fixing element when it is completely inserted into the female plug-in part 2. The fixing element is preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, a U-shaped retainer 4 which is expediently connected to the female plug-in part 2 and passes through two opposite slot-shaped recesses 21 of the female plug-in part 2 (FIG. 5). Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the retainer 4 engages behind a stop flange 5 of the male plug-in part 3 when the male plug-in part 3 is completely or properly inserted. Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the retainer 4 engages in a fixing groove 6 of the male plug-in part 3 (FIG. 2). As recommended and as in the exemplary embodiment according to the Figures, the U-shaped retainer 4 is equipped with a U-bracket 7 and two U-legs 8 connected to the U-bracket 7. Each U-leg 8 preferably extends through one of the two opposite slot-shaped recesses 21 of the female plug-in part 2 (FIG. 5). Expediently and in the exemplary embodiment, the two U-legs 8 engage behind the stop flange 5 of the male plug-in part 3 and engage in a fixing groove 6 of the male plug-in part 3 when the male plug-in part 3 is completely fixed.

[0028] According to the disclosure an indicator element 9 is provided, which indicates the properly or completely fixed state of the male plug-in part 3 on the female plug-in part 2, which has been reached via the fixing element or via the retainer 4. When the male plug-in part 3 is inserted into the female plug-in part 2, the indicator element 9 slides over a ramp 10. It is shifted outward in the radial direction here, and a radial outer position of the indicator element 9 finally indicates the properly fixed state of the male plug-in part 3 on the female plug-in part 2 (FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0029] Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment according to the figures, the ramp 10 is provided on the outer surface of the male plug-in part 3, and the ramp 10 is recommended to be formed in one piece on the male plug-in part 3. Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the ramp 10 increases in the axial direction of the female plug-in part 2 or in the axial direction of the male plug-in part 3, specifically preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, against the insertion direction of the male plug-in part 3. It is within the scope of the invention that the ramp 10 increases continuously and step-free and preferably increases by 15° to 45°. In the exemplary embodiment, the ramp 10 increases 10 by about 25°. Expediently, and in the exemplary embodiment, the ramp 10 runs around the entire circumference of the male plug-in part 3.

[0030] The Figures show a particularly preferred embodiment of the disclosure, in which the ramp 10 also forms or includes the stop flange 5 for the retainer 4. When the male plug-in part 3 is completely or properly inserted into the female plug-in part 2, the U-legs 8 of the retainer 4 preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, engage behind the stop flange 5 of the ramp 10, which is also responsible for the radial displacement of the indicator element 9.

[0031] It is within the scope of the invention that the indicator element 9 is provided on the female plug-in part 2 and preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, extends through an indicator opening 11 in the wall of the female plug-in part 2. Expediently, and in the exemplary embodiment, the indicator element 9 is displaced radially outward when sliding over the ramp 10 through the indicator opening 11 of the female plug-in part 2. According to the proven embodiment and in the exemplary embodiment, the indicator element 9 protrudes, in its radial outer position, by an indicator section 12 to the outside (see FIGS. 2 and 4). In the exemplary embodiment, the indicator element 9 protrudes by the indicator section 12 from the indicator opening 11.

[0032] The male plug-in part 3 is preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, connected to the female plug-in part 2 as follows: When the male plug-in part 3 is pushed into the female plug-in part 2, the two U-legs 8 of the retainer 4 (FIG. 5) are first pressed outward by the ramp 10 of the male plug-in part 3. At the same time, the indicator element 9 slides over the ramp 10 and is displaced radially outward in the process. Finally, the U-legs 8 engage behind the stop flange 5 of the ramp 10 and preferably engage the fixing groove 6. In this properly or completely fixed state of the male plug-in part 3 on the female plug-in part 2, the indicator element 9 is in its radial outer position and the indicator element 9 expediently protrudes with its indicator section 12 through the indicator opening 11 of the female plug-in part 2 (FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0033] Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment (see in particular FIGS. 3 and 4), the indicator section 12 is guided by two guide lugs 13, 14 arranged in the circumferential direction of the female plug-in part 2 next to the indicator section 12 during the radial displacement of the indicator element 9. The indicator section 12 is expediently received in a form-fitting manner between the two guide lugs 13, 14. Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the surface of the indicator element 9 or of the indicator sections 12 closes, in the radial outer position of the indicator element 9, flush with the surfaces of the guide lugs 13, 14 (FIG. 4).

[0034] According to recommended embodiments of the disclosure, and in the embodiment, a section of the U-bracket 7 of the U-shaped retainer 4 is arranged in the fixed state of the male plug-in part 3 or in the radial outer position of the indicator element 9 between the protruding indicator section 12 of the indicator element 9 and a flange segment 15 protruding from the surface of the female plug-in part. It is within the scope of the invention that the flange segment 15 is integrally formed on the female plug-in part 2. Furthermore, it is within the scope of the invention that the guide lugs 13, 14 are integrally formed on the female plug-in part 2.

[0035] A preferred embodiment of the disclosure is characterized in that two indicator elements 9 are present, which are expediently arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction of the female plug-in part 2. Each of the two indicator elements 9 preferably passes through an indicator opening 11 in the wall of the female plug-in part 2.

[0036] Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, an indicator element 9 has two indicator legs 16, preferably parallel to one another, with an indicator foot 17 being connected to the lower end of each indicator leg 16. The two indicator legs 16 open at their top into the indicator section 12 of the indicator element 9. Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, a latching cam 18 is provided on each indicator leg 16 of the indicator element 9, via which the respective indicator leg 16 is (slightly) latched in the wall of the female plug-in part 2 when the male plug-in part 3 is not yet fixed. When inserting the male plug-in part 3 into the female plug-in part 2, and when the ramp 10 acts on the indicator element 9, the indicator element is released from the latching on the female plug-in part 2 and, according to the disclosure, displaced radially outward. It is also within the scope of the invention that the indicator feet 17 of an indicator element 9 are slanted in accordance with the angle of incline of the ramp 10.

[0037] In the Figures it can also be seen that, according to a preferred embodiment, a sealing ring 19 is arranged in the female plug-in part 2 in a conventional manner, which is preferably held in the female plug-in part 2 by a spacer ring 20 in the exemplary embodiment.