Pressing Sleeve, Press Fitting and Use of the Press Fitting or the Pressing Sleeve

Abstract

The invention relates to a press sleeve for a press fitting for producing a sealing non-detachable pipe connection, with a receiving portion (4) for receiving a fitting basic body (6) and with a press portion (8), wherein the inside diameter of the receiving portion (4) is adapted to the outside diameter of the fitting basic body (6) and wherein the inside diameter of the press portion (8) is designed to be smaller than the outside diameter of the fitting basic body (6) at least in certain sections. The press sleeve is distinguished by the fact that at least one retaining lug (10) which can be clamped resiliently inwards in the radial direction (R) is provided in the receiving portion (4) and that the retaining lug (10) has a free end portion (12) which, with the retaining lug (10) in the stress-relieved state, protrudes at least partially into the inner region of the receiving portion (4) in the radial direction (R).

Claims

1. A pressing sleeve for a press fitting for producing a sealing, non-releasable pipe connection, having a receiving section for receiving a main fitting body and having a pressing section, wherein the inner diameter of the receiving section is adapted to the outer diameter of the main fitting body, and wherein the inner diameter of the pressing section is at least in sections designed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the main fitting body, wherein at least one retaining lug which can be clamped resiliently elastically inwards in the radial direction is provided in the receiving section, and wherein the retaining lug has a free end section which, with the retaining lug in the unclamped state, protrudes in the radial direction at least partially into the interior of the receiving section.

2. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the pressing sleeve is produced by forming, in particular by deep drawing.

3. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the retaining lug is released through a radial opening provided between an inner lateral surface and an outer lateral surface of the pressing sleeve.

4. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the pressing sleeve in the area of the receiving section has a face side provided for inserting the main fitting body, and wherein the retaining lug is inclined in the direction facing away from the face side.

5. The pressing sleeve according to claim 4, wherein a guide surface of the retaining lug facing the face side is arranged inclined at an angle in relation to a central axis of the pressing sleeve, wherein the angle is greater than 0 and less than 90.

6. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein a pressing edge provided for abutting on the main fitting body is formed in the area of the free end section of the at least one retaining lug, wherein the pressing edge is in particular sharp-edged.

7. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section has an essentially constant opening width along its length measured in the axial direction.

8. The pressing sleeve according to claim 4, wherein the pressing section extended in the direction facing away from the face side is attached to the receiving section, wherein the inner diameter of the pressing section is tapered in the direction facing away from the face side.

9. The pressing sleeve according to claim 8, wherein an end section extended in the direction facing away from the face side is attached to the pressing section, wherein the pressing sleeve has in particular an essentially constant opening width in the area of the end section.

10. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section on the face side merges into a circularly circumferential flange.

11. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein two or more, in particular three or more, retaining lugs are provided.

12. The pressing sleeve according to claim 11, wherein the retaining lugs are in particular arranged at regular angular distances in relation to one another.

13. The pressing sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the retaining lugs are formed as separate elements, in particular in the form of a cutting ring.

14. A press fitting for a sealing, non-releasable pipe connection, having a main fitting body for accommodating at least one pipe to be connected, and having a pressing sleeve according to claim 1.

15. A use of a pressing sleeve or of a press fitting according to claim 1 in a heating installation, air-conditioning installation, sanitary installation or drinking water installation or in an installation for conveying technical or medical fluids.

Description

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below by means of exemplary embodiments.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a first pressing sleeve in a perspective view,

[0033] FIG. 2 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 1 in a pre-installed state on a main fitting body,

[0034] FIG. 3 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 1 in an installed state on a main fitting body with two pipe ends,

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a second pressing sleeve in a perspective view,

[0036] FIG. 5 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 4 in a pre-installed state on a main fitting body,

[0037] FIG. 6 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 4 in an installed state on a main fitting body with two pipe ends,

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a third pressing sleeve in a perspective view,

[0039] FIG. 8 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 7 in a pre-installed state on a main fitting body,

[0040] FIG. 9 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 7 in an installed state on a main fitting body with two pipe ends,

[0041] FIG. 10 shows a fourth pressing sleeve in a perspective view,

[0042] FIG. 11 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 10 in a pre-installed state on a main fitting body,

[0043] FIG. 12 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 10 in an installed state on a main fitting body with two pipe ends,

[0044] FIG. 13 shows a fifth pressing sleeve in a perspective view,

[0045] FIG. 14 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 13 in a pre-installed state on a main fitting body,

[0046] FIG. 15 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 13 in an installed state on a main fitting body with two pipe ends,

[0047] FIG. 16 shows a sixth pressing sleeve in a perspective view,

[0048] FIG. 17 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 16 in a pre-installed state on a main fitting body,

[0049] FIG. 18 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 16 in an installed state on a main fitting body with two pipe ends.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a first pressing sleeve 2 in a perspective view. The pressing sleeve 2 for a press fitting for producing a sealing, non-releasable pipe connection has a receiving section 4 for receiving a main fitting body 6 to be pressed radially (see FIG. 2). The pressing sleeve 2 has a pressing section 8 which is designed for radially narrowing the main fitting body 6 and is tapered viewed along an axis A. The inner diameter of the receiving section 4 is adapted to the outer diameter of the main fitting body 6. The inner diameter of the pressing section 8 is at least in sections smaller than the outer diameter of the main fitting body 6.

[0051] The pressing sleeve 2 has three retaining lugs 10 which can be clamped resiliently elastically in the radial direction against the main fitting body 6. The retaining lugs 10 each have a free end section 12. In the unclamped state (FIG. 1) of the retaining lugs 10, the respective end section 12 protrudes in the radial direction R at least partially into the interior of the receiving section 4.

[0052] The pressing sleeve 2 is produced from a metal sheet by deep drawing. The retaining lugs 10 are released through radial openings 18 provided between an inner lateral surface 14 and an outer lateral surface 16 of the pressing sleeve 2. The openings 18 are produced by punching. The retaining lugs 10 were bent inwards in the radial direction R after punching had taken place, so that the respective free end section 12 of a retaining lug 10 in the unclamped state (FIG. 1) protrudes at least partially into the interior of the receiving section 4.

[0053] The pressing sleeve 2 has a face side 20 provided for inserting the main fitting body 6. The retaining lugs 10 are inclined in the direction facing away from the face side 20. A guide surface 22 of the respective retaining lug 10 facing the face side 20 is inclined at an acute angle a in relation to the axis A (see FIG. 2).

[0054] The retaining lug 10 has a rectangular, i.e. sharp-edged, pressing edge 24 in the area of its free end section 12 and is provided for abutting on the main fitting body 6.

[0055] The receiving section 4 of the pressing sleeve 2 is assigned to the face side 20 provided for inserting the main fitting body 6. The receiving section 4 has an essentially constant opening width along its length measured in the axial direction. The pressing section 8 extending in the direction facing away from the face side 20 is attached to the receiving section 4. The pressing section 8 is tapered in the direction facing away from the face side 20. An end section 26 extending in the direction facing away from the face side 20 is attached to the pressing section 8, in which the pressing sleeve 2 has an essentially constant opening width. The retaining lugs 10 are provided in the receiving section 4. The retaining lugs 10 are arranged at regular angular distances in relation to one another.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 1 and the main fitting body 6, which is to be pressed by means of the pressing sleeves 2, in a pre-installed state. The pressing sleeves 2 and the main fitting body 6 form a press fitting 28 for connecting two pipe ends 30 (see FIG. 3). The pipe ends 30 can each be inserted into the main fitting body 6. The pipe ends 30 are pressed with the main fitting body 6 by flanging the periphery 32 of the main fitting body 6. To that end, the pressing sleeves 2, starting from the pre-installation position illustrated in FIG. 2, are pushed onto the main fitting body 6 in the axial direction along the axis A.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows the press fitting 28 with the pipe ends 30 in the installed, pressed state. The pipe ends 30 are each inserted into the main fitting body 6 up to a stop 34 provided in the area of the inner lateral surface of the main fitting body 6. It can be identified from the enlarged illustration how the pressing sleeve 2, the main fitting body 6 and the pipe end 30 interact in each case.

[0058] When the press fitting 28 is pressed with a respective pipe end 30, the pressing sleeve 2 is pushed onto the main fitting body 6 in the axial direction. A pressing tool, which is not illustrated here and is known, for example, from WO 2014/000897 A1, is used for this purpose. During the axial movement, the peripheral area or the periphery 32 of the main fitting body 6 slides along the pressing section 8 of the pressing sleeve 2 narrowing in diameter. The peripheral area or the periphery 32 of the main fitting body 6 is flanged in a direction turned radially inwards. In other words, the pressing sleeve 2 forms a matrix, wherein the peripheral area or the periphery 32 of the main fitting body 6 abuts tightly on the tapered pressing section 8 of the pressing sleeve 2 during the pressing process, so that the peripheral area or the periphery 32 of the main fitting body 6 slides along the inner contour of the pressing section 8 and is thereby plastically deformed. The shape of the pressing sleeve 2 remains essentially unchanged.

[0059] The retaining lugs 10 engage with the material of the main fitting body 6 with their pressing edges 24 and prevent the respective pressing sleeve 2 from axially slipping off from the main fitting body 6. The material of the pressing sleeve 2 is harder than the material of the main fitting body 6. After it has been axially pushed onto the main fitting body 6, the respective pressing sleeve 2 can no longer be removed from the main fitting body 6 without destroying it, since the retaining lugs 10 grip tightly with the free end sections 12 in the main fitting body 6.

[0060] Further exemplary embodiments of pressing sleeves are described below, wherein in comparison with the previously exemplary embodiment identical reference symbols are assigned to components or structural features having essentially the same effect.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a pressing sleeve 2 in a perspective view. The pressing sleeve 2 illustrated in FIG. 3 only differs from the exemplary embodiment described in FIG. 1 in that the end section has been dispensed with.

[0062] FIG. 5 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 4 and a main fitting body 6 in a pre-installed state. As with the first exemplary embodiment, the retaining lugs 10 already secure the pressing sleeves 2 in the pre-installed state from being axially pulled off or slipping off from the main fitting body 6 counter to the installation direction or joining direction.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 4 in an installed state on the main fitting body 6 with two pipe ends 30. Again, the interaction of the pressing sleeve 2, the main fitting body 6 and the pipe end 30 can be understood from the detail.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a pressing sleeve 2 in a perspective view which differs from the exemplary embodiment described in FIG. 1 in that an end section has been dispensed with and in that the receiving section 4 on the face side merges into a circularly circumferential flange 36. The retaining lugs 10 are arranged in the area of the flange 36. The retaining lugs 10 are set at an essentially steeper angle a with respect to the axis A compared to the previously described exemplary embodiments. In this way, a particularly narrow design of the pressing sleeve 2 in the axial direction is obtained.

[0065] FIG. 8 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 7 and a main fitting body 6 in a pre-installed state. As with the previously described exemplary embodiments, the retaining lugs 10 already secure the pressing sleeves 2 in the pre-installed state from being axially pulled off or slipping off from the main fitting body 6 counter to the installation direction or joining direction.

[0066] FIG. 9 shows two pressing sleeves according to FIG. 7 in an installed state on the main fitting body 6 with two pipe ends 30. The interaction of the pressing sleeve 2, the main fitting body 6 and the pipe end 30 can be understood from the detail.

[0067] FIG. 10 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a pressing sleeve 2 in a perspective view. The pressing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 10 is characterised by the fact that the retaining lugs 10 are provided directly on the face side on the receiving section 4. Both the periphery of the receiving section and the periphery of the pressing section are flanged in a circular or curved manner. In this way, the pressing sleeve 2 is strengthened or reinforced against radial widening during the pressing process.

[0068] FIG. 11 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 10 and a main fitting body 6 in a pre-installed state. As with the previously described exemplary embodiments, the retaining lugs 10 already secure the pressing sleeves 2 in the pre-installed state from being axially pulled off or slipping off from the main fitting body 6 counter to the installation direction or joining direction.

[0069] FIG. 12 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 10 in an installed state on the main fitting body 6 with two pipe ends 30. The interaction of the pressing sleeve 2, the main fitting body 6 and the pipe end 30 can be understood from the detail.

[0070] FIG. 13 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a pressing sleeve 2 in a perspective view.

[0071] Here, the retaining lug 10 is provided directly on the face side on the receiving section 4, wherein the retaining lug 10 extends over the entire circumference of the pressing sleeve 2. To that end, the periphery of the receiving section 4 is flanged in a curved manner by more than 90 inwards. The pressing sleeve 2, contrary to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, is in addition formed from a component with different wall thicknesses, in order to strengthen the pressing area 8 in particular.

[0072] FIG. 14 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 13 and a main fitting body 6 in a pre-installed state. The retaining lug 10 secures the pressing sleeves 2 in the pre-installed state from being axially pulled off or slipping off from the main fitting body 6 counter to the installation direction or joining direction.

[0073] FIG. 15 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 13 in an installed state on the main fitting body 6 with two pipe ends 30. The interaction of the pressing sleeve 2, the main fitting body 6 and the pipe end 30 can be understood from the detail.

[0074] FIG. 16 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of a pressing sleeve 2 in a perspective view. Here, the retaining lugs 10 are formed as elements of a cutting ring 38 separate from the main body of the pressing sleeve 2. A plurality of retaining lugs 10 are provided via the cutting ring 38 along the circumference of the pressing sleeve. The cutting ring 38 and the retaining lugs 10 can be manufactured from a material which is different from the rest of the pressing sleeve.

[0075] FIG. 17 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 16 and a main fitting body 6 in a pre-installed state. The cutting ring 38 with the retaining lugs arranged on it is held in a groove 40 in the receiving section 4. The retaining lug 10 secures the pressing sleeves 2 in the pre-installed state on the main fitting body 6.

[0076] FIG. 18 shows two pressing sleeves 2 according to FIG. 16 in an installed state on the main fitting body 6 with two pipe ends 30. The interaction of the pressing sleeve 2, the main fitting body 6 and the pipe end 30 can be understood from the detail.