CONNECTING APPARATUS COMPRISING A RETENTION COLLAR

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines comprising a first fluid-conducting line having a first connecting section, a second fluid-conducting line having a second connecting section, and a retention collar for fixing the connecting sections together. The second connecting section can be introduced axially into the first connecting section to provide a fluidic connection between the first and second fluid-conducting line. The retention collar has first retaining projections designed to engage into a first locking contour on the outer surface of the first fluid-conducting line. The retention collar has second retaining projections designed to engage into a second locking contour on the outer surface of the second fluid-conducting line. The first retaining projections engage into the first locking contour. The second retaining projections engage into the second locking contour to limit an axial displacement of the first connecting section relative to the second connecting section.

Claims

1. A connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines, comprising: a first fluid-conducting line comprising a first connecting section; a second fluid-conducting line comprising a second connecting section, wherein the second connecting section is introduced axially into the first connecting section to provide a fluidic connection between the first and the second fluid-conducting line; and a retention collar for fixing the first and the second connecting sections to one another, wherein the retention collar comprises a first plurality of retaining projections configured to engage into a first locking contour on an outer surface of the first fluid-conducting line, and wherein the retention collar comprises a second plurality of retaining projections configured to engage into a second locking contour on an outer surface of the second fluid-conducting line; wherein the first retaining projections engage into the first locking contour and wherein the second retaining projections engage into the second locking contour to limit an axial displacement of the first connecting section relative to the second connecting section.

2. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second connecting sections are displaceably fixed by the retention collar.

3. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retention collar is configured as a circumferential retention collar around the first and the second fluid-conducting line, wherein the first plurality of retaining projections and the second plurality of retaining projections are arranged on opposite sides of the retention collar.

4. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein respective first slots are arranged between the first retaining projections, wherein respective second slots are arranged between the second retaining projections, wherein the first plurality of retaining projections are arranged at an offset relative to the second plurality of retaining projections, and wherein the first slots are arranged at an offset relative to the second slots.

5. The connecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein plastic layers are arranged in the first and the second slots, wherein the plastic layers are configured to fluidically seal the slots vis--vis the outer surface of the first fluid-conducting line or the outer surface of the second fluid-conducting line.

6. The connecting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plastic layers in particular comprise a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

7. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the first retaining projections and the first locking contour or the connection between the second retaining projections and the second locking contour is a positive-fit connection.

8. The connecting apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the positive-fit connection is a latching connection.

9. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second connecting section comprises an external circumferential sealing web, wherein the external circumferential sealing web is rounded on the side facing the first connecting section, and wherein the second connecting section comprises a further external circumferential sealing web, wherein a circumferential sealing ring around the second connecting section is arranged between the circumferential sealing web and the further circumferential sealing web.

10. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting apparatus further comprises a plastic tube that is drawn over the retention collar connected to the first and the second connecting section.

11. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retention collar further comprises a plastic seal which is materially bonded to the retention collar, wherein the plastic seal comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

12. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-conducting line comprises a first line section of a first diameter, wherein the first connecting section exhibits a further first diameter, and wherein the further first diameter is larger than the first diameter.

13. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second fluid-conducting line comprises a second line section of a second diameter, wherein the second connecting section exhibits a further second diameter, wherein the further second diameter is smaller than the second diameter.

14. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting section comprises an internal stop, wherein a front end of the second connecting section inserted into the first connecting section abuts against the stop to limit the insertion of the second connecting section into the first connecting section.

15. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein first locking pins are arranged on the first locking contour, wherein second locking pins are arranged on the second locking contour, and wherein the first and second locking pins are configured to prevent a radial rotation of the retention collar on the connecting apparatus.

16. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retention collar comprises a thermoplastic substance.

17. The connecting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the thermoplastic substance is a polyamide, nylon, polyphenylene sulfide, or some combination thereof.

18. A retention collar for a connecting apparatus, wherein the retention collar comprises: a first plurality of retaining projections configured to engage into a first locking contour on an outer surface of a first fluid-conducting line; and a second plurality of retaining projections configured to engage into a second locking contour on an outer surface of a second fluid-conducting line, wherein the first retaining projections engage into the first locking contour and the second retaining projections engage into the second locking contour to limit an axial displacement of the first connecting section relative to the second connecting section.

19. The retention collar according to claim 18, herein the retention collar is configured as a circumferential retention collar around the first and the second fluid-conducting line, wherein the first plurality of retaining projections and the second plurality of retaining projections are arranged on opposite sides of the retention collar.

20. The retention collar according to claim 18, wherein plastic layers are arranged in the first and the second slots, wherein the plastic layers are configured to fluidically seal the slots vis--vis the outer surface of the first fluid-conducting line or the outer surface of the second fluid-conducting line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Examples of the present disclosure are depicted in the drawings and will be described in greater detail below.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines in a first connecting position; and

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation of a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines in a further connecting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show different views of a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines, wherein the fluid-conducting lines are in particular designed as lines for conducting air, e.g. in a motor vehicle.

[0045] FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines connected to a fluid line in an exploded view. The connecting apparatus 100 comprises a first fluid-conducting line 101, a second fluid-conducting line 103 and a retention collar 105. A fluid, in particular air, can be conveyed through the first and second fluid-conducting line 101, 103.

[0046] The first fluid-conducting line 101 comprises a first line section 107 and a first connecting section 109. The second fluid-conducting line 103 comprises a second line section 111 and a second connecting section 113. The second connecting section 113 thereby has an external circumferential sealing web 115 and a further circumferential sealing web 117, whereby a circumferential sealing ring 119 is arranged between the circumferential sealing web 115 and the further circumferential sealing web 117.

[0047] Not depicted in FIG. 1 is how a fluidic connection is provided between the first and second fluid-conducting line 101, 103 by the second connecting section 113 of the second fluid-conducting line 103 being axially inserted into the first connecting section 109 of the first fluid-conducting line 101.

[0048] The retention collar 105 fixes the first and second connecting section 109, 113 and comprises in particular a thermoplastic plastic, e.g. polyamide (PA), nylon, polyphenylene sulfide or mixtures thereof. The retention collar 105 is thereby designed as a circumferential retention collar 105 around the first and second fluid-conducting line 101, 103. The retention collar 105 has first retaining projections 121 and second retaining projections 123 arranged on opposite sides of the retaining projections 105.

[0049] Respective first slots 125 are arranged between the first retaining projections 121 and respective second slots 127 are arranged between the second retaining projections 123. The first retaining projections 121 are arranged at an offset relative to the second retaining projections 123. The first slots 125 are arranged at an offset to the second slots 127. The first slots 125 are arranged at the height of the second retaining projections 123 and the second slots 127 are arranged at the height of the first retaining projections 121. Plastic layers, in particular incorporating a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), can thereby be arranged in the first and second slots 125, 127 to provide a fluidic sealing thereof.

[0050] A first locking contour 129 is provided on the outer surface of the first connecting section 109 of the first fluid-conducting line 101 into which the first retaining projections 121 can engage. A second locking contour 131 is provided on the outer surface of the second connecting section 113 of the second fluid-conducting line 103 into which the second retaining projections 123 can engage. The engaging of the first and second retaining projections 121, 123 into the respective first and second locking contours 129, 131 on different sides of the fluidic connection between the first and second fluid-conducting line 101, 103 can ensure that the retention collar 105 effectively fixes the connecting sections 109, 113 within the connecting apparatus 100. The connection between the first and second retaining projections 121, 123 and the first and second locking contours 129, 131 can encompass a form-fit or force-fit connection, in particular a latching connection. Doing so thereby prevents unintentional disengaging of the connection between the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103.

[0051] Since the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103, in particular charge air hoses, are often axially stretched or compressed in particularly constricted installation spaces within motor vehicles, or the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103 buckle at the connection between the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103 respectively, the retention collar 105 enables a certain flexibility to the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103.

[0052] The first retaining projections 121 thereby engage into the first locking contour 129 and the second retaining projections 123 engage into the second locking contour 131 in order to limit axial displacement of the first connecting section 109 relative to the second connecting section 113. The engaging of the retaining projections 121, 123 into the respective locking contours 129, 131 can thus prevent the second connecting section 113 of the second fluid-conducting line 103 from drawing out of the first connecting section 109 of the first fluid-conducting line 101 during operation. This can thereby prevent an unintentional disengaging of the connection between the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103.

[0053] If, however, the second connecting section 113 is fully inserted in the first connecting section 109 up to the stop, the retaining projections 121, 123 do not fully rest against the respective locking contours 129, 131. The second connecting section 113 can thus be axially displaced to a certain degree within the first connecting section 109 which affords increased flexibility to the connection between the first fluid-conducting line 101 and the second fluid-conducting line 103.

[0054] Furthermore, the circumferential sealing web 115 on the outer surface of the second connecting section 113 exhibits a rounded surface. When the second connecting section 113 is inserted into the first connecting section 109, the rounded surface rests against an inner surface of the first connecting section 109. Doing so can enable both fluid-conducting lines 101, 103 to be tilted within the connecting apparatus 100 up to an angle of approximately 5, thereby ensuring a particularly advantageous flexibility to the connecting apparatus 100.

[0055] The first locking contour 129 is stabilized by first stabilizing props 133 on the first connecting section 109. The second locking contour 131 is stabilized by second stabilizing props 135 on the second connecting section 113. First locking pins 137 are arranged on the first locking contour 129 and second locking pins 139 are arranged on the second locking contour 131. The first locking pins 137 are received in the first slots 125 and the second locking pins 139 are received in the second slots 127 so as to prevent radial rotation of the retention collar 105.

[0056] The first line section 107 exhibits a first diameter 141 and the first connecting section 109 exhibits a further first diameter 143 which is larger than the first diameter 141. So that the second connecting section 113 can be effectively inserted into the first connecting section 109, the second line section 111 exhibits a second diameter 145 and the second connecting section 113 exhibits a further second diameter 147, wherein the further second diameter 147 is smaller than the further first diameter 143. The first diameter 141 hereby corresponds in particular to the second diameter 145 which can thereby ensure a consistent diameter 141, 145 to the first and second fluid-conducing line 101, 103 when connected together.

[0057] The connecting apparatus 100 can furthermore comprise a plastic tube, not shown in FIG. 1, which is drawn over the retention collar 105 connected to the first and second connecting section 109, 113. Doing so can prevent impurities from infiltrating into the retention collar 105 on the connecting apparatus 100.

[0058] The retention collar 105 can furthermore comprise a plastic seal which is materially bonded to the retention collar 105, wherein the plastic seal in particular comprises a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) so as to provide effective sealing.

[0059] A significant constructional simplifying of the components employed and the facilitating of their fitting provides a particularly economical connecting apparatus 100. In addition, the retention collar 105 can be fastened to fluid-conducting lines 101, 103, consisting of a plurality of different materials, such that the retention collar 105 not only can be used with different motor vehicle charge air hoses from different manufacturers but is also suited to connecting a plurality of different fluid-conducting lines, this thereby ensuring the universal applicability of the retention collar 105. Moreover, a simplification of the constructional design of the retention collar 105 enables the connecting apparatus 100 to be individually adapted to the respective fluid-conducting lines to be connected in order to, for example, adapt to the permissible axial tolerance range of a particular installation space or to the temperatures of the fluid conducted within the fluid-conducting lines.

[0060] FIG. 2 depicts a sectional representation of a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines in a first connecting position. The connecting apparatus 100 comprises a first fluid-conducting line 101 having a first line section 107 and a first connecting section 109, whereby a first locking contour 129 is arranged on an outer surface of the first fluid-conducting line 101. The connecting apparatus 100 comprises a second fluid-conducting line 103 having a second line section 111 and a second connecting section 113, whereby a second locking contour 131 is arranged on an outer surface of the second fluid-conducting line 103. The second connecting section 113 is inserted axially into the first connecting section 109 in order to provide a fluidic connection between the first fluid-conducting line 101 and the second fluid-conducting line 103.

[0061] FIG. 2 further depicts first stabilizing props 133 for stabilizing the first locking contour 129 and second stabilizing props 135 for stabilizing the second locking contour 131.

[0062] The connecting apparatus 100 further comprises a retention collar 105 having first retaining projections 121 which engage into the first locking contour 129 and second retaining projections 123 which engage into the second locking contour 131 in order to limit axial displacement of the first connecting section 109 relative to the second connecting section 113. The engaging of the retaining projections 121, 123 into the respective locking contours 129 can thus prevent the second connecting section 113 of the second fluid-conducting line 103 from drawing out of the first connecting section 109 of the first fluid-conducting line 101 which thereby prevents the disengaging of the fluidic connection between the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103.

[0063] The second connecting section 113 exhibits an external circumferential sealing web 115 and a further circumferential sealing web 117, wherein a circumferential sealing ring 119 is arranged between the circumferential sealing web 115 and the further circumferential sealing web 117. The surface of the circumferential sealing ring 115 is rounded and rests against an inner surface of the first connecting section 109, enabling the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103 to tilt against each other.

[0064] FIG. 3 depicts a sectional representation of a connecting apparatus for connecting fluid-conducting lines in a further connecting position. The connecting apparatus 100 comprises a first fluid-conducting line 101 having a first line section 107 and a first connecting section 109, whereby a first locking contour 129 is arranged on an outer surface of the first fluid-conducting line 101. The connecting apparatus 100 comprises a second fluid-conducting line 103 having a second line section 111 and a second connecting section 113, whereby a second locking contour 131 is arranged on an outer surface of the second fluid-conducting line 103.

[0065] In contrast to the representation depicted in FIG. 2, the second connecting section 113 in FIG. 3 is fully inserted axially into the first connecting section 109 in order to provide a fluidic connection between the first fluid-conducting line 101 and the second fluid-conducting line 103. A front end 149 of the second connecting section 113 thereby abuts against a stop 151 of the first connecting section 109 such that the second connecting section 113 cannot be axially inserted any farther into the first connecting section 109.

[0066] The second connecting section 113 exhibits an external circumferential sealing web 115 and a further circumferential sealing web 117, wherein a circumferential sealing ring 119 is arranged between the circumferential sealing web 115 and the further circumferential sealing web 117. The surface of the circumferential sealing ring 115 is rounded and rests against an inner surface of the first connecting section 109, enabling the fluid-conducting lines 101, 103 to tilt against each other.

[0067] Pushing the second connecting section 113 completely into the first connecting section 109 results in the first retaining projections 121 and the second retaining projections 121 of the retention collar 105 not resting fully against the first/second locking contour 129, 131. There is thus a respective limit gap 153 between the first retaining projections 121 and the first locking contour 129 as well as between the second retaining projections 123 and the second locking contour 131 in the further connecting position depicted in FIG. 3. The limit gap 153 ensures low axial displacement of the connecting sections 109, 113 against each other, which thereby ensures flexibility to the fluidic connection.

[0068] Since the second connecting section 113 is pushed completely into the first connecting section 109, a stable fluidic connection is provided between the first fluid-conducting line 101 and the second fluid-conducting line 103 without the retaining projections 121, 123 needing to abut against the respective locking contour 129, 131 in order to provide a stable connection between the two fluid-conducting lines 101, 103.

[0069] All of the features described and shown in connection with individual examples of the disclosure can be provided in different combinations in the inventive subject matter so as to realize their advantageous effects simultaneously.

[0070] The protective scope of the present disclosure is conferred by the claims and is not limited by the features defined in the description or illustrated in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0071] 100 connecting apparatus [0072] 101 first fluid-conducting line [0073] 103 second fluid-conducting line [0074] 105 retention collar [0075] 107 first line section [0076] 109 first connecting section [0077] 111 second line section [0078] 113 second connecting section [0079] 115 circumferential sealing web [0080] 117 further circumferential sealing web [0081] 119 circumferential sealing ring [0082] 121 first retaining projections [0083] 123 second retaining projections [0084] 125 first slots [0085] 127 second slots [0086] 129 first locking contour [0087] 131 second locking contour [0088] 133 first stabilizing props [0089] 135 second stabilizing props [0090] 137 first locking pins [0091] 139 second locking pins [0092] 141 first diameter [0093] 143 further first diameter [0094] 145 second diameter [0095] 147 further second diameter [0096] 149 front end [0097] 151 stop [0098] 153 limit gap