Coupling Head

Abstract

A coupling head for a coupling system, in particular for a coupling system for the pneumatic connection of a pneumatic brake system of a towing vehicle and a trailer, has a coupling head housing, a filter insert and a sealing element. The coupling housing has at least one first coupling connection and at least one second coupling connection. The first coupling connection forms a filter insert recess, into which the filter insert is inserted. In the normal operating state, the sealing element lies in a sealing manner against the filter insert and, in the bypass operating state, opens up a bypass between sealing element and filter insert.

Claims

1. A coupling head for a coupling system that pneumatically connects a pneumatic brake system of a towing vehicle and a trailer, comprising: a coupling head housing; a filter insert; and a sealing element, wherein the coupling head housing has at least one first coupling connection and at least one second coupling connection, the first coupling connection forms a filter insert recess, into which the filter insert is inserted, and in a normal operating state, the sealing element bears sealingly against the filter insert, and, in a bypass operating state, opens up a bypass between the sealing element and the filter insert.

2. The coupling head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element has a radially circumferential sealing lip.

3. The coupling head as claimed in claim 2, wherein in a mounted state, the sealing lip is positioned against an outer side of the filter insert.

4. The coupling head as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sealing lip is oriented in the direction of a housing interior of the coupling head housing.

5. The coupling head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter insert is fastened separately in the coupling head housing.

6. The coupling head as claimed in claim 5, wherein the filter insert is fastened by a screw.

7. The coupling head as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the mounted state, the screw is arranged on that end of the filter insert which is opposite to the opening of the first coupling connection.

8. The coupling head as claimed in claim 7, wherein in the mounted state, the screw is arranged coaxially in relation to the longitudinal axis of the filter insert recess.

9. The coupling head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter insert has return flow bypass openings, and also a diaphragm, which is arranged in the interior of the filter insert and which closes off the return flow bypass openings sealingly in the normal operating state and, in a return flow bypass state, opens up the return flow bypass openings.

10. The coupling head as claimed in claim 9, wherein the filter insert is fastened by a screw to the coupling head housing, and in the mounted state, the screw fastens the diaphragm in the filter insert.

11. The coupling head as claimed in claim 5, wherein the filter insert is fastened by a fastener.

12. The coupling head as claimed in claim 11, wherein the filter insert has return flow bypass openings, and also a diaphragm, which is arranged in the interior of the filter insert and which closes off the return flow bypass openings sealingly in the normal operating state and, in a return flow bypass state, opens up the return flow bypass openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of an exemplary embodiment of a coupling head according to the invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the coupling head shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectional drawing (along the longitudinal axis) of the coupling head shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the forward flow operation of the coupling head shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the return flow operation of the coupling head shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from above of an exemplary embodiment of a coupling head 1 according to the invention of a coupling system for pneumatically connecting a pneumatic brake system of a towing vehicle, such as a truck, and a trailer.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from below of the coupling head 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a sectional drawing (along the longitudinal axis) of the coupling head 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] The coupling head 1 has a coupling head housing 2, a filter insert 3 and a sealing element 4.

[0031] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the coupling head 1 is mounted on the trailer.

[0032] The coupling head housing 2 has a first coupling connection 5 and a second coupling connection 6.

[0033] The first coupling connection 5 forms a filter insert recess 7.

[0034] The filter insert 3 is inserted into the filter insert recess 7.

[0035] The sealing element 4 is held in the coupling head housing 2 in an annular groove.

[0036] In the normal operating state, as shown in FIG. 3, the sealing element 4 bears sealingly against the filter insert 3.

[0037] The sealing element 4 does not serve for fastening the filter insert 3, however.

[0038] Furthermore, the sealing element 4 has a radially circumferential sealing lip 8, which is oriented in the direction of the housing interior of the coupling head housing 2.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing lip 8 is positioned against the outer side of the filter insert 3 in the mounted state and normal operating state.

[0040] The filter insert 3 is fastened separately in the coupling head housing 2, to be precise by use of a fastener configured here as a screw 9.

[0041] This screw 9 is a self-tapping screw.

[0042] Furthermore, the filter insert 3 has a filter screen 3a arranged in a radially circumferential manner in its cylindrical or conical outer wall 3b.

[0043] In the mounted state, the screw 9 is arranged on that end of the filter insert 3 which is opposite to the opening of the first coupling connection 5, i.e. the filter insert base 3c, and coaxially in relation to the longitudinal axis of the filter insert recess 7.

[0044] The filter insert 3 furthermore has return flow bypass openings 10.

[0045] The return flow bypass openings 10 are located in the filter insert base 3c of the filter insert 3.

[0046] Furthermore, a diaphragm 11 is arranged in the interior of the filter insert 3.

[0047] The diaphragm 11 lies on the filter insert base 3c of the filter insert 3 in the interior of the filter insert 3, and covers the return flow bypass openings 10 in the normal operating state.

[0048] As can be seen in FIG. 3, in the mounted state, the diaphragm 11 is fastened in the filter insert 3, to be precise likewise by means of the screw 9.

[0049] In principle, it is to be noted, however, that the fastening of filter insert 3 and diaphragm 11 by means of the screw 9 is only one possible embodiment, and that other modes of fastening are also contemplated in principle.

[0050] The annular gap that can be formed between the filter insert 3 and the sealing element 4 is the forward flow bypass opening 12 of the coupling head 1. Underneath the sealing lip 8 of the sealing element 4, the annular gap of the forward flow bypass opening 12 widens, since here the filter insert 3 does not extend as far as the wall of the filter insert recess 7.

[0051] The operation of the coupling head 1 can be described as follows.

[0052] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first coupling connection 5 serves for coupling the trailer to the pneumatic brake system or pneumatic system of the towing vehicle.

[0053] The second coupling connection 6 is connected to the pneumatic brake system or pneumatic system of the trailer.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of the forward flow operation of the coupling head 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0055] In normal operation, compressed air flows through the first coupling connection 5 through the filter insert 3, this being denoted in FIG. 4 by the arrow with the reference sign FF1 (compressed air stream forward flow normal operation).

[0056] The filter insert retains particles located in the compressed air stream, and said particles are prevented from passing further into the pneumatic system of the trailer.

[0057] Over the course of the operating time, the filter insert thus becomes increasingly clogged, until, at some point in time, a point at which the filter insert has become clogged or blocked is reached. This is the time at which the coupling head has reached a predetermined degree of contamination of the filter unit, and the filter unit has to be changed or cleaned.

[0058] In order to make an emergency function possible (e.g. a continuation of a journey to the workshop), the compressed air can flow through the forward flow bypass opening 12 between the sealing element 4 and the filter insert 3 in said emergency operation, also referred to as bypass operating state.

[0059] This is denoted in FIG. 4 by the arrow with the reference sign FF2 (compressed air stream forward flow bypass operating state).

[0060] Both in compressed air stream forward flow normal operation and in a compressed air stream forward flow bypass operating state, the diaphragm 11 is pressed sealingly against the filter insert base 3c by the compressed air stream, such that in these states the return flow bypass openings 10 are closed tightly by the diaphragm 11.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the return flow operation of the coupling head 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0062] In the normal return flow operation of the coupling head 1, the compressed air stream is guided through the filter screen of the filter insert 3.

[0063] This is denoted in FIG. 5 by the arrow with the reference sign RF1 (compressed air stream return flow normal operation).

[0064] In the emergency return flow operation of the coupling head 1, also referred to as return flow bypass state, the compressed air stream is guided through the filter insert base 3c and the return flow bypass openings 10 of the filter insert 3 which are located there.

[0065] Since, in this state, the compressed air flows from outside into the interior of the filter insert 3, the diaphragm 11 is pressed inward in such a manner that the return flow bypass openings 10 are opened up.

[0066] This is denoted in FIG. 5 by the arrow with the reference sign RF2 (compressed air stream return flow return flow bypass state).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0067] 1 Coupling head [0068] 2 Coupling head housing [0069] 3 Filter insert [0070] 3a Filter screen [0071] 3b Outer wall [0072] 3c Filter insert base [0073] 4 Sealing element [0074] 5 First coupling connection [0075] 6 Second coupling connection [0076] 7 Filter insert recess [0077] 8 Sealing lip [0078] 9 Screw [0079] 10 Return flow bypass opening [0080] 11 Diaphragm [0081] 12 Forward flow bypass opening [0082] K Coupling system [0083] FF1 Compressed air stream forward flow normal operation [0084] FF2 Compressed air stream forward flow bypass operating state [0085] RF1 Compressed air stream return flow normal operation [0086] RF2 Compressed air stream return flow return flow bypass state

[0087] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.