HOSE COUPLING AND METHOD FOR USE IN ANALYSIS SYSTEMS

Abstract

A hose coupling for a fluidic connection in an analytical system, and a method of using the same. The hose coupling comprises a sleeve comprising a first hollow cylinder having a channel connected to a hose at one end and having a first opening for receiving a plug at the other end, the end for receiving the plug being at least partially surrounded by a locking ring and having a handle with a gripping surface on the opposite side to the locking ring; and a plug comprising a second hollow cylinder which is at least partially inserted into the opening of the sleeve, the end which is inserted into the plug having a hook on one side.

Claims

1. A hose coupling for a fluidic connection in an analytical system, comprising: a sleeve comprising a first hollow cylinder, the channel of which is connected at one end to a hose and the other end of which comprises a first opening for receiving a plug, the end for receiving the plug being at least partially surrounded by a locking ring with a recess, the first opening of the sleeve for receiving the plug extending at one side into a second opening which continues as a channel extending along the radius of the first hollow cylinder; and the plug having a base plate from which extends a second hollow cylinder which has a hook arranged at the end opposite the base plate and extending radially outwardly, the second hollow cylinder being configured such that it is at least partially insertable into the first opening of the sleeve and the hook being configured such that it is fully insertable into the second opening of the sleeve and, upon rotation, the hook engages behind the locking ring of the sleeve to secure the plug against linear movement, the hook is configured such that it can be inserted completely into the second opening of the sleeve and, during a rotational movement, the hook engages behind the retaining ring of the sleeve to secure the plug against linear movement, the base plate of the plug having a projection with an edge which, during a rotational movement, engages in the recess of the retaining ring of the sleeve to secure the plug against rotation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a flange having a face is disposed between an end of the hose and the inside of the first hollow cylinder of the sleeve.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the flange is fixedly connected to the hose for securing against withdrawal of the hose from the sleeve.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second hollow cylinder of the connector has a seal on its end face.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the seal is made of a resilient material.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the seal is an O-ring or a flat seal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hollow cylinder has a handle on the opposite side to the retaining ring with a radially outwardly extending gripping surface.

8. A method of connecting a sleeve and a plug to create a fluidic connection, comprising the steps of: providing a sleeve comprising a first hollow cylinder, the channel of which is connected at one end to a hose and the other end of which comprises a first opening for receiving a plug, the end for receiving the plug being at least partially surrounded by a locking ring with a recess, wherein the first opening of the sleeve for receiving the plug extends at one side into a second opening which continues as a channel extending along the radius of the first hollow cylinder of the sleeve; inserting the plug with a base plate, from which a second hollow cylinder extends, which has a hook arranged at the end opposite to the base plate, which hook extends radially outwards, wherein the second hollow cylinder is configured in such a way that it can be inserted at least partially into the first opening of the sleeve and the hook is configured in such a way that it can be inserted completely into the second opening of the sleeve and, during a rotational movement, the hook engages behind the locking ring of the sleeve to secure the plug against linear movement, the hook is configured in such a way that it can be inserted completely into the second opening of the sleeve and, during a rotational movement, the hook engages behind the securing ring of the sleeve to secure the plug against linear movement, the base plate of the plug having a projection with an edge which, during a rotational movement, engages in the recess of the securing ring of the sleeve to secure the plug against rotation, in the sleeve; rotating the plug in the socket to secure the plug against linear movement by means of the locking ring; rotating the plug in the socket until the edge of the base plate engages in the recess of the retaining ring to secure the plug against rotation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0036] The invention is illustrated in more detail below with reference to figures. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these are only possible embodiments, without limiting the invention to the embodiments shown.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of both parts of the hose connection before the connector is inserted into the sleeve.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of both parts of the hose connection with the plug inserted and the connection not yet secured or closed.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of both parts of the hose connection with the plug inserted in a secured or closed connection.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a side view of both parts of the hose connection in the connected secured state.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the plug with hook before it is inserted into the sleeve.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows sectional drawing through both parts of the hose connection in the closed secured state.

[0043] FIGS. 7A-7B show a hose coupling according to a preferred embodiment of the invention on a pipettor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] The previously formulated problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims cover further specific embodiments of the invention.

[0045] The present invention provides a hose coupling for use with fluidic connections in analytical systems. The use in an analytical system is characterized by the hoses having an outer diameter of 10 mm or less. The hose coupling consists essentially of a sleeve and a plug, with both parts being shaped in a novel manner to ensure a secure connection. Furthermore, both parts have features that provide visual feedback on the condition of the connection.

[0046] In the context of the description of the invention, the sleeve is also referred to as the outer component or outer part. The plug is also referred to as the inner component or inner part. The plug may also be a part or connection of a device. The connected state refers to a state in which the inner part is in the outer part. The inner part and outer part are brought into a connected secured state by a rotary motion.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the hose connection with sleeve 1 and plug 50 before the plug 50 is pushed into the sleeve 1. The plug 50 has a hook 51, which is inserted into opening 10 of the sleeve 1. Furthermore, the plug 50 has a hollow cylinder 52 with a central channel (not visible) for receiving fluids.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows the condition when the plug 50 with hook 51 is inserted into sleeve 1 or opening 10. Furthermore, the hollow cylinder 52 is partially inserted into the hollow cylinder 2 of the socket 1 when both parts 1, 50 are connected (cf. FIG. 6). However, in FIG. 2, the two parts 1, 50 have not yet been brought into a closed secured state by a rotary movement.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the hose connection with both parts 1, 50 in the connected secured state. Sleeve 1 consists essentially of a hollow cylinder 2 with a handle 5 in the form of a surface 7 extending radially from the outside of the cylinder. The position of surface 7 in relation to base plate 57 of plug 50 indicates whether the two parts 1, 50 are in a connected secured state (FIG. 7A) or whether plug 50 is merely inserted into sleeve 1 without a secured connection having been established by a rotational movement (FIG. 7B). The hollow cylinder 2 of sleeve 1 of the hose coupling is firmly connected to a hose 20.

[0050] At the open end for receiving the plug 50, the hollow cylinder 2 of sleeve 1 has a securing ring 9 partially surrounding this end, which is arranged on the opposite side of the hose connection with respect to the outer circumference of the hollow cylinder 2. Retaining ring 9 has a recess 91 in the direction of plug 50 (cf. FIG. 5), which in the connected secured state (FIG. 3) engages the projection 54 of edge 55 of plug 50 (cf. FIG. 4). Recess 91 is flanked on one side by protrusion 92, which allows engagement of protrusion 54 with recess 91 to achieve a fixed, but reversible, connection (see also FIG. 5). Protrusion 92 prevents unintentional loosening of the connection, since on the one hand protrusion 92 rests against edge 55 of protrusion 54, and on the other hand hook 51 prevents further rotation. Thus, the combination of projection 92 and hook 51 fixes the connection firmly but reversibly.

[0051] Hook 51 of plug 50 is rotated by the rotary movement in front of securing surface 56, so that the hook at the end of channel 15 (cf. FIG. 3) is surrounded by three sides of the channel, so that hook 51 can no longer be pulled out of socket 1 and thus overall pulling of plug 50 out of socket 1 is precluded. In addition, hook 51 causes contact pressure between the sealing surface or a flat seal and the O-ring after rotation in front of securing surface 56, which compresses the latter and thus securely seals the connection.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows in perspective view connector 50 with hook 51 before it is inserted into the sleeve. It is obvious that the cylinder 59 can also have a different geometric shape to make it suitable for indicating the status of the connection of the two parts.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows in cross-section sleeve 1 and plug 50 in the connected secured condition. The sleeve 1 is connected to a hose 20 at the opposite end to the end connected to the plug 50. A flange 22 is arranged between the hose end 21 and the hollow cylinder 2 of the sleeve 1, the end face 221 of which serves as a sealing surface for an elastic seal 58 in the end face 521 of the hollow cylinder 52 of the plug 50. An embodiment with flange 22 and elastic seal 58 ensures reliable sealing of the transition from hose 20 into the channel 53 of the hollow cylinder of the plug 50. Another advantage of the flange is that it ensures that the hose does not twist when the connection is closed.

[0054] FIGS. 7A-7B show a hose coupling according to the present invention as part of a pipetting device 30. In this specific example of use, it is advantageous if a user can immediately tell by the position of the face 7 whether the connection is in a fixed, secured state or is open. In FIG. 7A, the connection is fixed, secured. In FIG. 7B, the surface 7 is twisted or angled and thus the connection is not secured in the sense that it is tight.

[0055] The advantages of a hose connection according to the present invention can be summarized as follows: [0056] Unlike a threaded screw connection, the connection of the parts is independent of a tightening torque. [0057] The position of the socket and plug in relation to each other or the lug on the socket directly indicates whether the connection is closed or open. [0058] Socket and plug can be manufactured by simple processes, e.g., injection molding. [0059] The closed connection is mechanically secured.

[0060] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention precisely to the disclosed form. Modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings or may be obtained from practice of the invention. The embodiment has been chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable those skilled in the art to use the Invention in various embodiments suitable for the particular use intended. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the foregoing documents is incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0061] 1 Sleeve [0062] 2 Hollow cylinder sleeve [0063] 5 Handle [0064] 7 Area [0065] 9 Circlip [0066] 10 Opening [0067] 15 Channel [0068] 20 Hose [0069] 21 Hose end [0070] 22 Flange [0071] 221 Front face flange [0072] 30 Pipettor [0073] 50 Plug [0074] 51 Hooks [0075] 52 Hollow cylinder plug [0076] 53 Channel hollow cylinder [0077] 54 Head start [0078] 55 Edge [0079] 56 Fuse area [0080] 57 Base plate [0081] 58 Seal [0082] 59 Cylinder [0083] 91 Recess Circlip [0084] 92 Lead [0085] 521 Front face hollow cylinder