Method for the manufacture of a plug-in connector, and plug-in connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a plug-in connector, and to a plug-in connector comprising a first tubular component and a second tubular component, and also a first connection geometry and a second connection geometry. A method for producing a plug-in connector is to be made available that permits an easier modification of the relative angle between the longitudinal axes of the two components in the finished plug-in connector. To this end, the two connection geometries are arranged in a connection plane inclined with respect to the longitudinal axes, such that the relative angle between the longitudinal axes can be modified by rotating the components. After a relative angle has been selected, the two connection geometries are connected by integral bonding.

Claims

1. A method for producing a plug-in connector, which plug-in connector comprises a first tubular component and a second tubular component, and also a first connection geometry and a second connection geometry, wherein the first connection geometry is arranged in a first connection plane, and wherein the second connection geometry is arranged in the first connection plane, and wherein the first connection plane is inclined with respect to a first longitudinal axis of the first tubular component, and wherein the first connection plane is inclined with respect to a second longitudinal axis of the second tubular component, and wherein a relative angle between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis can be modified by rotating the first component with respect to the second component, said method comprising: selecting a relative angle between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis by rotating the first component with respect to the second component; inserting a wedge-shaped connection projection of the second connection geometry into a circumferential, wedge-shaped recess of the first connection geometry; and integrally bonding the first connection geometry to the second connection geometry at the selected relative angle.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connection geometry is arranged in an intermediate component which is rotatable with respect to the first tubular component and/or the second tubular component before the integral bonding of the first connection geometry to the second connection geometry.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug-in connector comprises a third connection geometry and a fourth connection geometry, wherein the third connection geometry and the fourth connection geometry are arranged in a second connection plane.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the second connection plane extends parallel to the first connection plane, independently of the relative angle between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, after the relative angle between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis has been selected, the third connection geometry is integrally bonded to the fourth connection geometry.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one integrally bonded connection is obtained by one of friction welding, ultrasonic welding hot gas welding, and laser welding.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug-in connector has at least one projection arranged on an outer side of the plug-in connector, wherein the at least one projection extends perpendicularly with respect to the first connection plane.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first embodiment of a plug-in connector according to the invention,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the plug-in connector according to FIG. 1,

(3) FIG. 3 shows a detail of the sectional view according to FIG. 2,

(4) FIG. 4A-4E show plug-in connectors according to the invention corresponding to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, at different relative angles between the first and second longitudinal axes,

(5) FIG. 5 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a plug-in connector according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 6 shows a side view of a third embodiment of a plug-in connector according to the invention,

(7) FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the plug-in connector according to FIG. 6,

(8) FIG. 8 shows a detail of the sectional view according to FIG. 7,

(9) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view according to the section plane A from FIG. 7 through the first and the second connection geometries,

(10) FIG. 10 shows a side view of a fourth embodiment of a plug-in connector according to the invention,

(11) FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the plug-in connector according to FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a plug-in connector 1 according to the invention, which has a first tubular component 2 and a second tubular component 3. In this embodiment, a first connection geometry 4 is arranged at one end of the first component 2. At the same time, a second connection geometry 5 is arranged at one end of the second component 3. The first connection geometry 4 here partially engages around the second connection geometry 5 radially from the outside.

(13) The first component 2 moreover has projections 6,7, which are arranged on a radial outer side of the component 2. Correspondingly, the second component 3 comprises projections 8, 9, which are likewise arranged on a radial outer side of the second component 3. The projections 6 to 9 here are particularly advantageous for the production method, since they firstly permit a controlled adjustment of the relative angle between a first longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal axis (see also FIG. 2). The projections 7, 9 have the further advantage that local weak points of the injection moulding tools for producing the first component and the second component can be avoided. Without the projections 7, 9, the tools would have to be made very thin at these points, which would promote early wear.

(14) In the present embodiment, the second component 2 has an attachment piece 10 in the form of a Christmas tree attachment. By contrast, the second component 3 has a connector piece 11 with a locking device 12, and sealing rings 13.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the plug-in connector 1 according to FIG. 1. The first connection geometry 4 and the second connection geometry 5 are arranged in or parallel to a first connection plane 14. The first component 2 has a first longitudinal axis 15, which is inclined with respect to the first connection plane 14. Accordingly, the second component 3 has a second longitudinal axis 16, which is also inclined with respect to the first connection plane 14.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a detail of the first connection geometry 4 and of the second connection geometry 5 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The first connection geometry 4 here comprises a wedge-shaped recess 17. The wedge-shaped recess 17 here extends circumferentially parallel to the first connection plane 14. The first connection geometry 4 moreover comprises a rectangular recess 18, which likewise extends circumferentially parallel to the first connection plane 14. The wedge-shaped recess 17 adjoins the rectangular recess 18 within the first connection geometry 4. Here, rectangular and wedge-shaped refer respectively to a rectangular and a wedge-shaped cross section of the recesses 17, 18.

(17) The second connection geometry 5 comprises a wedge-shaped connecting projection 19, which extends circumferentially and parallel to the first connection plane 14. The second connection geometry 5 moreover has a rectangular connecting projection 20, which extends circumferentially and parallel to the first connection plane 14. The rectangular connecting projection 20 has two circumferential shoulders 21, 22. One circumferential shoulder 21 is arranged on a radial inner side of the rectangular connecting projection 20, and one circumferential shoulder 22 is arranged on a radial outer side of the rectangular connecting projection 20. Here too, the terms rectangular and wedge-shaped refer respectively to the cross section of the projections.

(18) The wedge-shaped connecting projection 19 here engages in the wedge-shaped recess 17, wherein the wedge-shaped connecting projection 19 has a greater cross section than the wedge-shaped recess 17. Excess material is thus available which, for example, can flow into the rectangular recess 18 during a welding operation for fixing the relative angle position between the two longitudinal axes 15, 16. The excess material can in particular also permit an at least partial integrally bonded connection between the rectangular connecting projection 20 and the rectangular recess 18 and thus make the connection between the first component 2 and the second component 3 more stable and tighter. The shoulders 21, 22 ensure that large amounts of the material do not leave the connection geometries 4, 5 radially inwards or radially outwards and, for example, do not flow into the interior of the fluid line. FIGS. 2 and 3 thus show the plug-in connector 1 before an integrally bonded connection of the first component 2 to the second component 3 or of the first connection geometry to the second connection geometry.

(19) FIGS. 4a to 4e show five different angle positions between the first longitudinal axis 15 of the first component 2 and the second longitudinal axis 16 of the second component 3, in a series of angles 90, 67.5, 45, 22.5 and 0. Of course, any other intermediate angle can also be chosen during the production process, by rotating the first component 2 with respect to the second component 3, and thereafter can be fixed by integrally bonding the first connection geometry 4 to the second connection geometry 5.

(20) As can be seen from FIGS. 4a to 4e, the projections 6, 7 are also rotated with respect to the projections 8, 9 during a rotation of the first component 2 with respect to the second component 3. The projections 6 to 9 thus permit monitoring and control of the relative angle adopted between the first longitudinal axis 15 and the second longitudinal axis 16.

(21) During the rotation of the first component 2 with respect to the second component 3, the relative angle between the first longitudinal axis 15 and the first connection plane 14 and the relative angle between the second longitudinal axis 16 and the first connection plane 14 remain constant at 45.

(22) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a plug-in connector 101 according to the invention.

(23) FIG. 5 shows an outside view of the plug-in connector 101 with the first component 2 and the second component 3. Preferably, the first component 2 and the second component 3 are of identical construction to the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4e.

(24) The plug-in connector 101 moreover comprises an intermediate component 123, which is arranged between the first component 2 and the second component 3. The intermediate component 123 is designed substantially as a cylindrical ring. In this embodiment, the intermediate component 123 comprises a secondary attachment 124. The secondary attachment 124 in this case makes it possible, for example, to remove fluid from the plug-in connector without the plug-in connector having to be detached from the fluid line. Moreover, it is possible, for example, to insert a probe in order to carry out a measurement inside the fluid line. However, other embodiments are also conceivable for the intermediate component 123. For example, the intermediate component 123 can also comprise a valve, or a heating element can be arranged in the intermediate component and/or a heating line can be routed into the plug-in connector through a heating element attachment arranged in the intermediate component.

(25) In the present example, the plug-in connector 101 comprises, in addition to a first connection geometry 104 and a second connection geometry 105, also a third connection geometry 125 and a fourth connection geometry 126. The third connection geometry 125 and the first connection geometry 104 here correspond substantially to the embodiment of the first connection geometry 4 from the first embodiment of a plug-in connector 1 according to the invention. The second connection geometry 105 and the fourth connection geometry 126 here correspond substantially to the embodiment of the second connection geometry 5 from the first embodiment of the plug-in connector 1. In this case, however, the first connection geometry 104 is arranged in the intermediate component 123, wherein the second connection geometry 105 is arranged as before in the second component 3.

(26) For the final fixing of a relative angle between the first longitudinal axis 15 of the first component 2 and the second longitudinal axis 16 of the second component 3, two integrally bonded connections are therefore needed here. On the one hand, the first connection geometry 104 has to be integrally bonded to the second connection geometry 105, for example by friction welding or ultrasonic welding, and, accordingly, an integrally bonded connection also has to be produced between the third connection geometry 125 and the fourth connection geometry 126. However, alternative embodiments are also conceivable in which only a first connection geometry 104 and a second connection geometry 105 are provided, and the intermediate component 123 is connected to the first component 2 or the second component 3, for example by a locking connection. Moreover, it is also conceivable for the intermediate component to be initially integrally bonded to the first component or the second component and, thereafter, to select the relative angle between first longitudinal axis and second longitudinal axis.

(27) FIGS. 6 to 9 show a third embodiment of a plug-in connector 201 according to the invention.

(28) FIG. 6 first shows an outside view of the plug-in connector 201 with a first component 202 and a second component 203. A first connection geometry 204 is arranged at an axial end of the first tubular component 202, while a second connection geometry 205 is arranged at an axial end of the second component 203. In the area of the first connection geometry 204, a projection 206 is here arranged on an axial outer side of the first component 202. Correspondingly, a projection 208 is arranged on an axial outer side of the second component 203 in the area of the second connection geometry 205. The projections 206, 208 also have the advantage here that they permit a controlled adjustment of the relative angle between the first longitudinal axis 215 and the second longitudinal axis 216. Here too, the plug-in connector 201 has an attachment piece 210 and also a connector piece 211. The connector piece 211 comprises a locking device 212 and sealing rings 213.

(29) The second component 203 here comprises a radial widening 227 at an axial end in the area of the second connection geometry 205. Accordingly, the first component 202 has a radial widening 228 at an axial end in the area of the first connection geometry 204.

(30) The radial widenings 227, 228 here have the shape of spherical shell cutouts. The radial widenings 227, 228 make it possible to adapt the size of the connection geometries 204, 205 in relation to the cross section of the tubular components 202, 203. In particular, the intersection of the longitudinal axes 215, 216 can shift to the geometric centre point of the first connection geometry 204 and of the second connection geometry 205. It is thus possible to avoid an axial offset between the first longitudinal axis 215 and the second longitudinal axis 216 in the 0 rotation position of the plug-in connector. It is thereby possible to avoid any undesirable buckling in the plug-in connector.

(31) FIG. 7 now shows a sectional view of the plug-in connector 201 according to FIG. 6. The shape of the radial widenings 227, 228 can also be better seen in FIG. 7. At the same time, it will be seen that the intersection of the longitudinal axes 215, 216 now lies at the geometric centre point of the first connection geometry 204 and of the second connection geometry 205 within the first connection plane 214.

(32) FIG. 8 shows a detail from FIG. 7. Here, the first connection geometry 204 and the second connection geometry 205 of the plug-in connector 201 can be seen in particular detail. Here too, the first connection geometry 204 has a wedge-shaped recess 217, which extends circumferentially and parallel to the first connection plane 214. Here too, wedge-shaped refers to a wedge-shaped cross section of the recess 217. The wedge-shaped recess 217 is in this case truncated, i.e. has a flat area at its deepest point.

(33) The second connection geometry 205 comprises a wedge-shaped connecting projection 219, which likewise extends circumferentially and parallel to the first connection plane 214. The wedge-shaped connecting projection 219 is here strongly truncated and has an extended flat area at its tip. Here, the second connection geometry 205 comprises two circumferential shoulders 221, 222. One circumferential shoulder 222 is arranged on a radial inner side of the second connection geometry 205, while the other circumferential shoulder 222 is arranged on a radial outer side of the second connection geometry 205. Here too, the term wedge-shaped refers to the cross section of the connecting projection, although a strongly truncated wedge shape is used here.

(34) The wedge-shaped connecting projection 219 engages in the wedge-shaped recess 217, although the wedge-shaped connecting projection 219 has a greater cross section than the wedge-shaped recess 217. Here, however, any other desired shapes of the recess and the connecting projection are possible, the aim simply being to ensure that the connecting projection has a greater cross section than the recess, so that excess material is available for a connecting operation. The excess material can then also permit an at least partial integral bond between the circumferential shoulders 221, 222 with the first connection geometry 204, as a result of which the tightness of the connection between the first component 202 and the second component 203 can be improved.

(35) FIG. 9 shows a further sectional view of the plug-in connector 201. In this case, a sectional view has been chosen along the section plane A in FIG. 7, which corresponds to a section along the first connection plane 214. Here, it can once again clearly be seen that the first connection geometry 204 and the second connection geometry 205 here have a circular cross section within the first connection plane 214. The first connection plane 214 is symbolized here by the two axes 214A, 214B lying in the connection plane. The geometric centre point 214C of the first connection geometry 204 and of the second connection geometry 205 also lies at the intersection of the two axes 214A, 214B. In this embodiment, the first longitudinal axis 215 and the second longitudinal axis 216 also intersect at this geometric centre point 214C, independently of the adopted relative angle between first longitudinal axis 215 and second longitudinal axis 216.

(36) Furthermore, it can be seen in detail in FIG. 9 how the first connection geometry 204 engages in the second connection geometry 205 with the wedge-shaped connecting projection 219 in the wedge-shaped recess 217.

(37) FIGS. 10 and 11 show a fourth embodiment of a plug-in connector according to the invention. Similarly to FIG. 5, the plug-in connector 301 has an additional intermediate component 323 between the first component 202 and the second component 203. The first component 202 and the second component 203 are here of identical construction to the third embodiment of the plug-in connector 201 according to the invention.

(38) The plug-in connector 301 comprises a first connection geometry 304 which is arranged in the intermediate component 323. The second connection geometry 305 is arranged at an axial end of the second component 203. The first connection geometry 304 and the second connection geometry 305 extend in the first connection plane 314.

(39) The plug-in connector 301 also has a third connection geometry 325 and a fourth connection geometry 326. The third connection geometry 325 is arranged at an axial end of the first component 202 and extends within a second connection plane 329. The third connection geometry 325 engages in the fourth connection geometry 326, wherein the fourth connection geometry 326 is arranged in the intermediate component 323. The fourth connection geometry 326 is likewise arranged in the second connection plane 329. The intermediate component 323 comprises a secondary attachment 324 which here, for example, permits the admission or removal of liquid or permits the insertion of a sensor into the fluid line.

(40) Alternatively or in addition, a valve can also be arranged in the intermediate component. Such an embodiment then allows a plug-in connector to be equipped with an additional valve functionality, without having to adapt the basic components in the form of the first tubular component and the second tubular component.

(41) Moreover, alternatively or in addition, a heating element could also be arranged in the intermediate component and/or a heating line could be routed into the plug-in connector through a heating element attachment arranged in the intermediate component. A solution of this kind would be particularly advantageous if a fluid with a relatively high freezing point is routed through the fluid line. This applies especially to the urea lines which are often used in the automobile sector and which in many cases comprise a heating line or a heating element.

(42) A connection between the third connection geometry 325 and the fourth connection geometry 326 takes place here correspondingly to the connection between the first connection geometry 304 and the second connection geometry 305, i.e. in the form of an integrally bonded connection.