Line Coupling and Container Having the Same

Abstract

A line coupling having a housing which has a tube connection piece and a housing head. A passage duct extends from a first opening, which is formed by the tube connection piece, to a second opening, which is formed by the housing head. A tube connection structure is arranged in the passage duct. The tube connection structure is connected in a form-fitting manner via first coupling means to a first end of an inner tube which extends out of the housing head through the second opening. The section of the passage duct between the first opening and tube connection structure and inner tube form a flow duct for fluid. A container is also disclosed having a container housing which forms a container hollow space and a container opening. The container opening is formed by an outwardly projecting connection piece, and has a line coupling.

Claims

1. Line coupling comprising a housing which has a tube connection piece and a housing head, wherein a passage duct extends from a first opening, which is formed by the tube connection piece, to a second opening, which is formed by the housing head, wherein a tube connection structure is arranged in the passage duct, wherein the tube connection structure is connected in a form-fitting manner via first coupling means to a first end of an inner tube which extends out of the housing head through the second opening, and wherein that section of the passage duct between the first opening and the tube connection structure and the inner tube form a flow duct for fluid.

2. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the tube connection structure is of sleeve-like form.

3. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the tube connection structure is formed in one piece with the housing.

4. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the tube connection structure is formed by a connection element which is fixed in a form-fitting manner and/or materially bonded manner in a receiving seat of the housing.

5. Line coupling according to claim 4, wherein the connection element forming the tube connection structure has, on the outer side, at least two, preferably at least three, and particularly preferably exactly three, cylindrical steps by way of which the connection element is seated in steps of the receiving seat.

6. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein, between the inner tube and the housing head, there is formed an annular gap, which is of open form in the direction of the second opening, in particular for the pushing-in of a connection piece.

7. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the housing forms, on the inner side of the housing head, a seal seat in which a sealing ring is arranged.

8. Line coupling according to claim 7, wherein the sealing ring is retained in the seal seat by means of a fixing ring which is inserted into the housing head of the housing.

9. Line coupling according to claim 7, wherein, on the inner side of the housing head, the housing has, in front of and/or behind the seal seat, at least one cylindrical centering step.

10. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube has a second end on which there is arranged a distributor cap which at least partially deflects the flow direction in the region of the second end of the inner tube.

11. Line coupling according to claim 10, wherein the second end of the inner tube is connected in a form-fitting manner via second coupling means to the distributor cap.

12. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein closure means for the fixing of the housing head are arranged on the housing.

13. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the passage duct exclusively widens in the direction of the second opening from the tube connection structure, in particular such that a first tool core is able to be pulled out of the second opening.

14. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the passage duct exclusively widens in the direction of the first opening from the tube connection structure, in particular such that a second tool core is able to be pulled out of the first opening.

15. Line coupling according to claim 1, wherein a butt seam is formed in the passage duct between the tube connection structure and the first opening.

16. Container having a container housing which forms a container hollow space and a container opening, wherein the container opening is formed by an outwardly projecting connection piece, and having a line coupling according to claim 1, wherein the housing head of the line coupling covers the container opening, and wherein the inner tube of the line coupling projects into the container hollow space through the connection piece of the container housing.

17. Container according to claim 16, wherein the connection piece has an outer cylindrical sealing surface which, together with a sealing ring forms a seal.

18. Container according to claim 16, wherein the connection piece has closure means which correspond to closure means of the housing of the line coupling such that the housing head is fixed to the connection piece.

19. Container according to claim 16, wherein an annular gap is formed between the inner tube and the connection piece, wherein the inner tube and the connection piece do not make contact at any position.

20. Container according to claim 16, wherein the connection piece has, on the outside, at least one cylindrical centering step which corresponds to a cylindrical centering step of the housing head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments on the basis of the drawings. In the drawings:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view with a 90 partial section of a line coupling and of a connection piece; and

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a perspective sectional view of a container having a line coupling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view with a 90 partial section, embodiments of a line coupling 1 and a connection piece 104. The main element of the line coupling 1 is a one-piece housing 2 which has a tube connection piece 3 and a housing head 4. A passage duct 5 extends from a first opening 6 of the housing 2, which is formed by the tube connection piece 3, to a second opening 7 of the housing 2, which is formed by the housing head 4. The cross-sectional area of the second opening 7 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the first opening 6 by a multiple. The tube connection piece 3 has, on its outer side, a fastening profile 27, which may be reworded as fir tree profile or as a profile in the manner of a rotated sawtooth function. A line, for example a tube or a hose, may be pushed and fixed, for example by way of a tube clip, onto the tube connection piece 3.

[0038] A sleeve-like tube connection structure 8 which is formed as a separate connection element is inserted and fastened in the passage duct 5. For this purpose, the tube connection structure 8 or connection element is fixed at least in a form-fitting manner, optionally also in a materially bonded manner, in a receiving seat 12 of the housing 2. It can be seen that the tube connection structure 8 or connection element has, on the outer side, three cylindrical steps 13 by way of which it is seated in steps 14 of the receiving seat 12. The maximum diameter of the tube connection structure 8 or connection element is larger than the maximum diameter of the first opening 6, but smaller than the diameter of the second opening 7. In this way, the tube connection structure 8 can be fitted in the passage duct 5 from the direction of the second opening 7. In the region between the tube connection structure 8 and the first opening 6, the passage duct 5 has a smaller diameter than the tube connection structure 8. In the region between the tube connection structure 8 and the second opening 7, the passage duct 5 has a larger diameter than the tube connection structure 8.

[0039] Furthermore, the tube connection structure 8 has a cylindrical inner diameter which forms a constant inner cross-sectional area over the length of the tube connection structure 8. The minimum inner cross-sectional area of the tube connection structure 8 substantially corresponds to the minimum cross-sectional area of the passage duct 5 in the region between the tube connection structure 8 and the first opening 6. Preferably, there is a maximum difference between the cross-sectional areas of 20%, more preferably a maximum difference of 15%, and particularly preferably a maximum difference of 10%.

[0040] The passage duct widens in the direction of the second opening 7 from the tube connection structure 8 such that a first tool core is able to be pulled out of the second opening 7. The passage duct 5 also widens in the direction of the first opening 6 from the tube connection structure 8 such that a second tool core is able to be pulled out of the first opening 6. A butt seam 28, which results in particular from the separating line between the first tool core and the second tool core, is formed in the passage duct 5 between the tube connection structure 8 and the first opening 6.

[0041] In the region of the butt seam 28, that is to say between the tube connection structure 8 and the first opening 6, the passage duct 5 changes direction in the manner of a ninety degree (90) bend. In this way, the first opening 6 is oriented transversely to the second opening 7 and the tube connection piece 3 is oriented transversely to the tube connection structure 8.

[0042] Furthermore, the tube connection structure 8 is connected in a form-fitting manner via first coupling means 9 to a first end 10 of an inner tube 11 which extends out of the housing head 4 through the second opening 7. That section of the passage duct 5 which is situated between the first opening 6 and the tube connection structure 8, the tube connection structure 8 and the inner tube 11 form a flow duct for fluid. The first coupling means 9 are formed as a plug connection, wherein the tube connection structure 8 projects into the inner tube 11. Here, the maximum outer diameter of the tube connection structure 8, which diameter in particular is outside the inner tube 11, is larger than the outer diameter of the inner tube 11. It is optionally possible for the first coupling means 9 to be connected to one another in a materially bonded manner, for example adhesively bonded or welded to one another.

[0043] The interfaces of the tube connection structure 8 are in particular of fluid-tight form, with the result that, in the region of the tube connection structure 8, no fluid can flow from the flow duct into an annular region between the inner tube 11 and the housing head 4. Between the inner tube 11 and the housing head 4, there is formed in particular an annular gap 15 which is of open form in the direction of the second opening 7. The connection piece 104 is pushed into said annular gap 15.

[0044] The housing 2 forms, on the inner side of the housing head 4, a seal seat 16 in which a sealing ring 17, in particular an O-ring, is arranged. The sealing ring 17 is retained in the seal seat 16 with the aid of a fixing ring 18. The fixing ring 18 is inserted into the housing head 4 of the housing 2 and is arranged adjacent to the sealing ring 17 on the side of the second opening 7. Preferably, the fixing ring 18 is connected to the housing 2 in a materially bonded manner, in particular welded thereto. Both with an inserted connection piece 104 and without said piece, the sealing ring 17 and the fixing ring 18 are positioned so as to be spaced apart from the inner tube 11. The connection piece 104 has an outer cylindrical sealing surface 105 which, together with the sealing ring 17, forms a seal.

[0045] It can further be seen that, on the inner side of the housing head 4, the housing 2 has, in front of and behind the seal seat 16, in each case one cylindrical centering step 19, 20. These two cylindrical centering steps 19, 20 correspond to two centering steps 108, 109 which are formed on the outer side of the connection piece 104.

[0046] The inner tube 11 runs straight and has a second end 21 on which a distributor cap 22 is arranged. The distributor cap 22 deflects the flow direction of the flow duct in the region of the second end 21 of the inner tube 11. For this purpose, the distributor cap 22 has outlet holes 23, which are distributed over the circumference, and an end-side impact plate 24. This results in outflowing fluid being deflected in a star-shaped manner in different directions.

[0047] The distributor cap 22 is connected in a form-fitting manner via second coupling means 25 to the second end 21 of the inner tube 11. In particular, the second coupling means 25 form a plug connection, wherein the distributor cap 22 projects into the inner tube 11.

[0048] In the region of the housing head 4, a closure means 26, that is to say a securing bracket, for fixing the housing head 4 to the connection piece 104 can be seen on the housing 2. The securing bracket is positioned on the outer side of the housing head 4 by way of ribs or projections and openings, wherein apertures, in particular slot-shaped apertures, are formed in the housing head 4, through which apertures the securing bracket is able to project into the interior of the housing head 4. Here, after being fitted on the connection piece 104, the securing bracket engages into a corresponding, preferably circumferential, securing groove in the connection piece 104.

[0049] The inner tube 11 consists at least substantially of PA (polyamide), and the connection piece 104 consists at least substantially of PP (polypropylene). The housing 2 consists at least substantially of PA (polyamide). Optionally, it is also possible for the tube connection structure 8 and/or the distributor cap 22 to consist at least substantially of PA (polyamide). The securing bracket may consist of plastic or metal.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of a container 100 having a line coupling 1 as per FIG. 1. However, in the case of the line coupling 1 according to FIG. 2, no distributor cap is provided at the second end of the inner tube 11. The components and configurations of the line coupling 1 thus correspond, with said exception, to those described for FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, only the housing 2, the tube connection piece 3, the housing head 4, the inner tube 11 and the securing bracket or closure means 26 are provided with reference numbers.

[0051] The container 100 has a container housing 101 which forms a container hollow space 102 and a container opening 103 which is arranged geodetically at the top. The container opening 103 is formed especially by a connection piece 104 as per FIG. 1 which is noticeably an outwardly projecting part of the container housing 101. The container opening 103 is covered by the housing head 4 of the line coupling 1, wherein the inner tube 11 of the line coupling 1 projects vertically downwards through the connection piece 104 and into the container hollow space 102. In this case, the connection piece 104 projects into the annular gap between the housing head 4 and the inner tube 11. However, an annular gap 107 remains between the inner tube 11 and the connection piece 104. In particular, the inner tube 11 and the connection piece 104 do not make contact at any position.

[0052] As can be seen, the connection piece 104 has a closure means 106 in the form of a circumferential outer groove. The latter corresponds to the closure means 26 or securing bracket of the line coupling 1. In this way, the line coupling 1 is fixed to the connection piece 104, in particular so as to be axially fixed and rotatable.

[0053] The container 100 is in particular an expansion tank. When thermally induced positive pressure prevails on sides of the first opening 6, hot fluid flows into the container hollow space 102. From the second end of the inner tube 11, the hot fluid rises in the container hollow space 102, wherein it cools, mixes with cooler fluid and, if no flows are present, is stratified by way of natural convection. If the pressure in the region of the first opening 6 drops, air which is compressed in the container hollow space 102 pushes, or negative pressure prevailing on the sides of the first opening 6 draws, fluid from the lower region of the container hollow space 102 into the second end of the inner tube 11. In this way, the coldest possible fluid is able to be conducted from the container hollow space 102 to the first opening 6.

[0054] The invention is not restricted to one of the above-described embodiments, but may be modified in a variety of ways.

[0055] All features and advantages which emerge from the claims, from the description and from the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of 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.

[0056] 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.