Connection arrangement for forming a fluidic connection

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a connection arrangement for forming a fluidic connection between a container and a fluid line. A wall element is arranged in or on a container wall of the container and has an opening. A tubular connection element has two sealing surfaces. The connection element has a sealing section at the end which is arranged around the circumference on the connection element and has an axially oriented sealing surface. The connection element has a second sealing surface around the circumference at an end opposite the sealing section. The connection element has a connection section in the region of the first sealing surface for introducing into the opening of the wall element and for connecting to the wall element.

Claims

1. A connecting arrangement for forming a fluid-conducting connection between a container and a fluid line, comprising: a wall element, which can be arranged in or on a container wall of the container and which has an opening, and comprising a connecting element having two sealing surfaces, the connecting element comprising, at an end side, a seal portion which is arranged circumferentially on the connecting element and which comprises an axially oriented first sealing surface, and the connecting element comprising, at an end opposite the seal portion, a circumferential second sealing surface, wherein the connecting element comprises, in the region of the first sealing surface, a connecting portion for insertion into the opening of the wall element and for connection to the wall element.

2. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is able to be connected to the wall element in a positively locking or force-fitting manner.

3. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the connecting element and the opening of the wall element being designed as a bayonet closure.

4. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the opening of the wall element comprising at least one cutout for receiving at least one protrusion of the connecting portion, and the connecting element being able to be locked on the wall element in a releasable or non-releasable manner as a result of a rotation of the connecting element in relation to the wall element along an axis of symmetry (S).

5. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the connected state, a fluid-tight sealing zone can be formed between the seal portion of the connecting element and the wall element.

6. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sealing surface being configured to receive a fluid line.

7. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container being a tank, a vessel, a room or at least one region of a vehicle body.

8. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sealing surface being formed as an SAE connection, a VDA connection, a hose connector or a V2 connection.

9. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the connecting element comprising at least one latching element for forming a latching connection to the wall element.

10. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular connecting element having an inner profile for receiving a tool head in a rotationally secure manner.

11. The connecting arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall element being able to be recessed into a container wall of the container, as a portion of the container wall or being able to be connected to the container wall in a materially bonded manner.

12. A method for a fluid-conducting connection of a connecting element to a wall element, the method comprising: arranging a tool head of a tool in an inner region of the connecting element in a rotationally secure manner, using the tool head to arrange the connecting element in an opening of the wall element in such a way that a connecting portion of the connecting element projects through the opening, and rotating the connecting element as a result of a rotational movement of the tool head relative to the wall element and being locked on the wall element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] Further features, details and advantages of the disclosure become apparent from the phrasing of the claims and from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of a wall element of a connecting arrangement according to the disclosure according to one embodiment,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows illustrations of connecting elements of the connecting arrangement according to an embodiment of the disclosure,

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a tool for assembling the connecting element on the wall element,

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional illustration of the connecting arrangement,

[0030] FIG. 5 shows perspective illustrations of connecting elements according to the disclosure according to further embodiments and

[0031] FIG. 6 shows illustrations for illustrating the method according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a wall element 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure of a connecting arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 4. The wall element 1 is of square form and comprises an opening 2 which extends through the wall element 1 in a centered manner. Three cutouts 4 are introduced on the circumferential side of the opening 2. A respective counter portion 6 is configured between the three cutouts. According to the embodiment, the cutouts 4 are uniformly or symmetrically distributed over the circumference. As an alternative, the at least one cutout 4 and the at least one counter portion 6 can be arranged in an asymmetrical manner on the opening 2.

[0033] The wall element 1 can be designed, for example, as a container wall. As an alternative, the wall element 1 can be positionable on a container wall or can be insertable into a container wall. In this case, the wall element 1 can be connectable to the container wall in a materially bonded or force-fitting manner.

[0034] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show illustrations of a tubular connecting element 8 from different perspectives. The connecting element 8 is formed symmetrically substantially along an axis of symmetry S. The connecting element 8 comprises a connecting portion 10 which extends axially from a seal portion 12. The seal portion 12 has a larger cross-sectional area than the connecting portion 10. A first sealing surface 14 is configured on the seal portion 12. The first sealing surface 14 is embodied as an O-ring. The O-ring is arranged in a circumferential groove of the seal portion 12.

[0035] The connecting portion 10 comprises three protrusions 16. The protrusions 16 are embodied as pressing ramps 16 which are formed correspondingly to the cutouts 4. The protrusions 16 have a larger cross section than the counter portions 6 of the wall element 1. Here, the protrusions 16 have a smaller cross section than the cutouts 4, as a result of which the connecting portion 10 can be inserted into the opening when aligned correctly. Each pressing ramp 16 comprises a latching element 18. The latching elements 18 make it possible to avoid unintentional loosening of the connecting element 8. After the connecting element 8 has been rotated in relation to the wall element 1, the protrusions 16 and the counter portions 6 are oriented so as to be overlaid, as a result of which it is no longer possible to separate the connecting element 8 from the wall element 1.

[0036] A circumferentially encircling second sealing surface 22 is arranged at an end 20 of the connecting element 8, said end lying opposite the connecting portion 10. The second sealing surface 22 is embodied as a protrusion and forms, according to the embodiment, a so-called VDA connector. By way of example, a hose or a fluid line (not illustrated) can be pushed over the second sealing surface 22.

[0037] The connecting element 8 comprises an inner region 24 for guiding a fluid. The inner region 24 has an inner profile 26 of polygonal form.

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates a tool 28 for assembling the connecting element 8 on the wall element 1. According to the embodiment, the tool 28 is configured as a hand tool and comprises a handle 30 and a tool head 32. The tool head 32 is configured in such a way that it can project into the inner region 24 of the connecting element 8. In particular, the connecting element 8 can be arranged on the tool head 32 in order to carry out an assembly operation. As a result of the inner profile 26, the connecting element 8 can be positioned on the tool 28 in a rotationally secure manner. In this way, a rotational movement of the tool 28 can be transmitted directly to the connecting element 8.

[0039] According to an embodiment, the tool 28 can be an automated tool which is arranged, for example, on a manipulator arm or on an assembly robot.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a connecting arrangement 34 in a schematic sectional illustration. The connecting arrangement 34 comprises a wall element 1 with a connecting element 8 in an inserted state. In the inserted state, the connecting element 8 is rotated relative to the wall element 1 and thus locked on the wall element 1. As a result of the interaction of the counter portions 6 with the pressing ramps 16, a pressing force which is directed axially in the direction of the axis of symmetry S is produced on the first sealing surface 14. In this way, the O-ring 14 is compressed between the seal portion 12 and the wall element 1, as a result of which a fluid-tight coupling is produced.

[0041] The connecting element 8 comprises a second sealing surface 22 which is embodied in accordance with a so-called SAE 18 connection system.

[0042] According to the embodiment, the opening 2 of the wall element 1 and the pressing ramps 16 of the connecting portion 10 form a bayonet closure, which can be locked in a releasable manner as a result of a plug-and-twist movement.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows perspective illustrations of connecting elements 8 according to the disclosure according to further embodiments. Possible configurations of the second sealing surface 22 are illustrated. FIG. 5a illustrates a connecting element 8 with a so-called NQ-PS3 connection system as a second sealing surface 22. FIG. 5b shows a connecting element 8 having a second sealing surface 22 which is designed for connection of a so-called NQ-V2 connection system.

[0044] FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b show illustrations of connecting arrangements 34 in order to illustrate the method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Here, the arrows illustrate the possible movement sequences.

[0045] In a first step of the method, the connecting element 8 is arranged on a tool head 32 and placed into the opening 2 of the wall element 1.

[0046] In a further step, the tool 28 is rotated clockwise. As a result of the inner profile 26 of the connecting element 8, the rotational movement of the tool 28 can be transmitted directly to the connecting element 8, as a result of which the connecting element 8 is latched, and thus locked, to the wall element 1.

[0047] The invention is not restricted to one of the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in many ways.

[0048] By way of example, the connecting element 8 can be of one-part or multi-part design. The connecting element 8 and the wall element 1 can be composed of a plastic or a metal.

[0049] The method according to embodiments of the invention can be performed in an automated manner or manually in order to carry out the assembly operation.

[0050] All of the features and advantages, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, arising from the claims, the description and the drawing may be essential to the invention, both individually and in the various combinations.

[0051] All the features and advantages, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, which follow from the claims, the description and the drawing can be fundamental to the invention both on their own and in different combinations. It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

[0052] As used in this specification and claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” and “like,” and the verbs “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0053] 1 Wall element [0054] 2 Opening [0055] 4 Cutout [0056] 6 Counter portion [0057] 8 Connecting element [0058] 10 Connecting portion [0059] 12 Seal portion [0060] 14 First sealing surface [0061] 16 Pressing ramp/protrusion [0062] 18 Latching element [0063] 20 End portion of the connecting element [0064] 22 Second sealing surface [0065] 24 Inner region of the connecting element [0066] 26 Inner profile of the connecting element [0067] 28 Tool [0068] 30 Handle of the tool [0069] 32 Tool head [0070] 34 Connecting arrangement [0071] S Axis of symmetry