PLUG-TYPE PIPE CONNECTION

Abstract

A plug-type connection (1) having an inner pipe (2) and an outer pipe (3), which outer pipe (3) is plugged with one of end thereof onto one end of the inner pipe (2). The plug-type connection (1) has a spring element (4) arranged on the outside of the inner pipe (2) in the region of the end thereof, and the outer pipe (3) has a first widened portion (3a) at that end, in a region of which the outer pipe (3) is spaced apart (A) from the inner pipe (2) and engages over the spring element (4). The outer pipe (3) has an engagement structure (3b) in the region of the first widened portion (3a), with which engagement structure (3b) the spring element (4) is in engagement.

Claims

1. A plug-type connection (1), comprising: an inner pipe (2); an outer pipe (3) that is plugged with one end thereof onto one end of the inner pipe (2); a spring element (4) arranged on an outside of the inner pipe (2) in a region of said one end; the outer pipe (3) has a first widened portion (3a) at said one end of the outer pipe, such that the outer pipe (3) is spaced apart (A) from the inner pipe (2) in a region of the first widened portion (3a) and engages over the spring element (4); and the outer pipe (3) has an engagement structure (3b) in the region of the first widened portion (3a), and the spring element (4) is in engagement with the engagement structure (3b).

2. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the region of said end of the inner pipe, the inner pipe (2) has an outer fastening structure (2c) for fastening the spring element (4).

3. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastening structure (2c) comprises at least one holding bead.

4. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one holding bead is configured toward an inside in the radial direction.

5. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one holding bead is configured toward an outside in the radial direction.

6. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring element (4) is latched elastically into the fastening structure (2c).

7. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring element (4) is bent over axially in a connected state of the inner pipe (2) and the outer pipe (3).

8. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sealing element (5) arranged between the inner pipe (2) and the outer pipe (3).

9. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sealing element (5) is received in a peripheral shaped-out formation (3d) of the outer pipe (3), said shaped-out formation (3d) is arranged outside the first widened portion (3a), in a region of a second widened portion (3c).

10. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein an internal diameter of the outer pipe (3) in the region of the second widened portion (3c) corresponds substantially to an external diameter of the inner pipe (2).

11. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sealing element (5) is arranged in a holding structure which is configured on the inner pipe (2).

12. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein, in the region of said end of the inner pipe, the inner pipe (2) has an outer fastening structure (2c) for fastening the spring element (4), the fastening structure (2c) comprises at least one holding bead, and the holding structure is formed in part by the fastening structure (2c).

13. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement structure (3b) comprises an aperture in the outer pipe (3).

14. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement structure (3b) is configured as a radial bulge of the outer pipe (3).

15. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring element (14) protrudes axially beyond the outer pipe (3).

16. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 15, wherein in the region of said end of the inner pipe, the inner pipe (2) has an outer fastening structure (2c) for fastening the spring element (4), and the spring element (4) has, starting from the fastening structure (2c), a first portion (4a) with a radial course, followed by a second portion (4b), said second portion (4b) being in engagement with the engagement structure (3b), and subsequently a third portion (4c), said third portion (4c) protruding out of the outer pipe (3), the spring element (4) being arranged such that a movement of the third portion (4c) in a direction of the inner pipe (2) frees the second portion (4b) from engagement with the engagement structure (3b).

17. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer pipe (3) is pushable with said end thereof onto said end of the inner pipe (2) in the axial direction, with the spring element (4) being bent over in the axial direction and, when a connected state of the outer pipe (3) and the inner pipe (2) is achieved, forming an elastically joinable snap-action connection with a positively locking connection in conjunction with the engagement structure (3b).

18. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner pipe (2) terminally has an insertion bevel (2b) at said one end thereof.

19. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner pipe (2) and the outer pipe (3) are formed from a metallic material.

20. The plug-type connection (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer pipe (3) is terminally bent back on itself axially at said one end thereof, with a radial spacing (B) remaining between a bent-back portion (3f) of the outer pipe (3) and a portion of the outer pipe (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Further properties and advantages of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments on the basis of the drawing, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the plug-type connection according to the invention,

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the plug-type connection according to the invention,

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a third embodiment of the plug-type connection according to the invention,

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of a fourth embodiment of the plug-type connection according to the invention, and

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section of a fifth embodiment of the plug-type connection according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the plug-type connection according to the invention, only one half of the plug-type connection according to the invention always being shown here (as is also the case in all the other figures) on account of symmetry with regard to a longitudinal axis of the plug-type connection.

[0043] The plug-type connection is denoted overall by the designation 1. It comprises an inner pipe at designation 2 and an outer pipe at designation 3. At its end 2a which is introduced into the outer pipe 3, the inner pipe 2 has a tapered portion 2b which acts as an insertion bevel. Furthermore, the inner pipe 2 has a fastening structure 2c for a spring element 4, which fastening structure 2c is configured in the form of a radially outwardly configured holding bead. The holding bead comprises two axial bulges 2d, 2e, spaced apart from one another, of the inner pipe 2, between which bulges 2d, 2e the spring element 4 is fastened. The spring element 4 protrudes in the radial direction with respect to the inner pipe 2.

[0044] The outer pipe 3 has a first, terminal widened portion 3a, with which it engages over the inner pipe 2 in the region of the fastening structure 2c and correspondingly also engages over the spring element 4, the outer pipe 3 being spaced apart from the inner pipe 2 in the region of the widened portion 3a by an amount A. Said amount A is greater than the radial dimension of the bulges 2d, 2e, but is smaller than an amount, with which the spring element 4 protrudes with respect to the inner pipe 2.

[0045] In the region of the first widened portion 3a, moreover, the outer pipe 3 has an engagement structure 3b for the spring element 4, which engagement structure 3b is configured, in accordance with the embodiment in FIG. 1, has an aperture in the outer pipe 3. An embodiment of this type makes visual checking of the securing function possible.

[0046] The outer pipe 3 also has a second widened portion 3c which is arranged adjacently with respect to the first widened portion 3a. In the region of the second widened portion 3c, the outer pipe 3 is configured or widened in such a way that its clear internal diameter corresponds substantially (that is to say, apart from usual tolerances) to an external diameter of the inner pipe 2. In the region of the second widened portion 3c, furthermore, the outer pipe has a peripheral shaped-out formation 3d, in which a sealing element 5 in the form of an O-ring is arranged.

[0047] In the region of its tapered portion 2b, the inner pipe 2 bears against the shoulder 3e of the outer pipe 3, which shoulder 3e delimits the second widened portion 3c.

[0048] For the purpose of establishing the plug-type connection 1 which is shown in FIG. 1, the outer pipe 3 is pushed or plugged with its first widened portion 3a onto the inner pipe 2 from the right, the spring element 4 being bent over axially to the left and correspondingly being tensioned. As soon as the outer pipe 3 arrives at the engagement structure 3b or the corresponding aperture at the spring element 4, the latter springs back into its (rest) position shown in FIG. 1, and is thus in engagement with the engagement structure 3b. The plug-type connection 1 is therefore secured.

[0049] By way of an action of force on the spring element 4 according to the arrow D in FIG. 1, the spring element 4 can be freed from an engagement with the engagement structure 3b, in order to release the plug-type connection 1 again.

[0050] The following FIGS. 2 to 5 show further embodiments of the plug-type connection 1 according to the invention in drawings. Identical designations denote identical or at least identically acting elements in all the figures. In the following description of the further exemplary embodiments, the differences from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 will substantially be described in greater detail. It is possible that not all elements are denoted again in FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0051] The embodiment according to FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in terms of the type of the spring element 4 and the engagement structure 3b.

[0052] According to FIG. 2, the spring element 4 is configured in such a way that, in the longitudinal section which is shown, it first of all has, starting from the fastening structure 2c, a first portion 4a with a substantially radial course, by way of which first portion 4a it is fixed in the fastening structure 2c. This is adjoined by a second portion 4b, in which second portion 4b the spring element 4 is arched up radially and is in engagement with the engagement structure 3b of the outer pipe 3. Said engagement structure 3b is configured here as a matching radial bulge of the outer pipe 3. Subsequently, the spring element 4 has a third portion 4c, with which third portion 4c it protrudes out of the outer pipe 3. In this way, the spring element 4 is configured arranged in such a way that a movement of the third portion 4c of the spring element 4 in the direction of the inner pipe 2, for example by way of the action of manual pressure according to arrow D, frees the second portion 4b of the spring element 4 from its engagement with the engagement structure 3b. The plug-in connection 1 can therefore be released again easily.

[0053] With regard to the spring element 4 and the engagement structure 3b, the embodiment of the plug-type connection 1 according to FIG. 3 corresponds substantially to the embodiment according to FIG. 1. One substantial difference from the embodiment according to FIG. 1 consists in that, in the present case, the sealing element 5 is arranged in a holding structure which is configured on the outside of the inner pipe 2 and assumes the form of a (further) holding bead. Said holding structure consists in part of the abovementioned fastening structure 2c for the spring element 4, which fastening structure 2c merely also comprises a further, third bulge 2f which is arranged in such a way that the sealing element 5 is to be arranged between the bulge 2e and the bulge 2f.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the plug-type connection 1, which embodiment correspond substantially to a combination of the embodiments according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0055] Whereas, in FIG. 4, the spring element 4 and the engagement structure 3b are configured approximately as has been described further above on the basis of FIG. 2, the inner pipe 2 is approximately configured as described further above on the basis of FIG. 3. This relates, in particular, to the arrangement of the sealing element 5.

[0056] As is also gathered from FIG. 4, the spring element 4 can be configured differently in the second portion 4b with a notch 4d, which notch 4d engages in a positively locking manner into the engagement structure 3b, as shown.

[0057] Finally, FIG. 5 also shows an embodiment which, with regard to the embodiment of the inner pipe 2, corresponds substantially to the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, which relates, in particular, to the arrangement of the sealing element 5. With regard to the spring element 4, the embodiment corresponds approximately to the embodiment in FIG. 1.

[0058] One deviation arises, in particular, in the region of the outer pipe 3. This is bent back axially onto itself at designation 3f, a radial spacing B remaining between a relevant bent-back portion 3f of the outer pipe 3 and a portion of the outer pipe 3 which lies radially further to the inside. The bulge at designation 3b serves as a type of bearing, with the result that, in the case of the action of, in particular, manual pressure according to the arrow D on the back formation 3f, the outer pipe 3 opens or widens at its end, with the result that the plug-type connection 1 can be released.

[0059] If, as shown in FIG. 5, the outer pipe 3 engages behind the terminal bulge 2d of the inner pipe 2, the separate spring element 4 can fundamentally be dispensed with because then, as it were, the outer pipe 3 acts with its indicated end in itself as a spring element.