Coupling unit, coupling device, motor vehicle and method

Abstract

A coupling unit is disclosed which includes a sleeve opening that extends in the longitudinal direction and into which at least one medium-conveying plug element can be at least partially inserted, A support sleeve includes at least one circumferential pocket on an inner side that faces a plug element and defines the sleeve opening transverse to the longitudinal direction. A sliding element is arranged in the pocket and movably transferred from a release position into a coupling position during the insertion of the plug element. A sealing element is arranged between the sliding element and the pocket of the support sleeve in the release position and pre-stressed in the direction of the plug element. The sealing element is released by the sliding element in the coupling position in order to close and seal a potential gap formed between the support sleeve and the plug element.

Claims

1. A coupling unit for a coupling device of a motor vehicle comprising: a support sleeve having a sleeve opening extending in a longitudinal direction and at least one circumferential pocket formed on an inner side; a medium-conveying plug element at least partially inserted into the support sleeve; a sliding element arranged in the pocket and movable at least in the longitudinal direction from a release position into a coupling position during the insertion of the plug element; and a sealing element disposed between the sliding element and the pocket of the support sleeve in the release position and pre-stressed towards the plug element; wherein said sealing element is released by the sliding element in the coupling position in order to close and seal a gap formed between the support sleeve and the plug element in the longitudinal direction; a first stop operable to limit at least a motion of the sliding element in an inserting direction and define the coupling position, wherein the first stop comprises an edge of the side of the pocket of the support sleeve that faces away from the inserting direction and a first stopping element configured to be inserted into the support sleeve.

2. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises an O-ring.

3. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element comprises a bevel on a side facing the sealing element.

4. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element comprises a slot that extends in the longitudinal direction.

5. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element comprises a body that is closed transverse to the longitudinal direction.

6. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the support sleeve, the sliding element and the plug element are cylindrically shaped and further comprise a hollow-cylindrical segment.

7. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the support sleeve and the sliding element have the same inside diameter.

8. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein a depth of the pocket of the sliding element corresponds to a wall thickness of the support sleeve.

9. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is in the release position arranged between a recess formed in at least one of the pocket and in the sliding element.

10. The coupling unit according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element comprises a sleeve element having an opening on a side facing an inserting direction that corresponds to the opening of the support sleeve and into which the sliding element is inserted.

11. The coupling unit according to claim 10, wherein the sliding element further comprises an end face on a side facing away from the opening that extends transverse to the inserting direction and against which the sliding element is configured to be placed in a contacting fashion.

12. The coupling unit according to claim 1 further comprising a second stop configured to limit at least a motion of the sliding element opposite to the inserting direction and define the release position.

13. The coupling unit according to claim 12, wherein the second stop comprises an edge of the side of the pocket of the support sleeve that faces the inserting direction and a second stopping element configured to be inserted into the support sleeve.

14. The coupling unit according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second stopping elements ends flush with the support sleeve in the longitudinal direction thereof.

15. The coupling unit according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second stopping elements protrudes over the support sleeve in the longitudinal direction.

16. The coupling unit according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second stopping elements comprises a pusher, by means of which the sliding element is transferred from the coupling position and the release position opposite to the inserting direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit in the release position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit according to FIG. 1 in the coupling position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of a fifth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the application and uses of the present disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.

(9) The figures show a coupling unit for a coupling device 4 of a motor vehicle that is altogether identified by the reference symbol 2. The coupling unit 2 includes a support sleeve 6 with a sleeve opening 10 that continuously extends in a longitudinal direction 8. A medium-conveying plug element 12 of the coupling device 4 can be at least partially inserted into the sleeve opening 10 extending in the longitudinal direction 8 and fixed therein.

(10) The support sleeve 6 includes a circumferential pocket 14 transverse to the longitudinal direction 8 on its inner side that faces the plug element 12 and defines the sleeve opening 10 transverse to the longitudinal direction 8. A sliding element 16 is arranged in the pocket 14 and can be transferred from a release position into a coupling position during the insertion of the plug element 12. When the sliding element 16 is transferred from the release position into the coupling position, a sealing element 18 that is arranged between the sliding element 16 and the pocket 14 of the support sleeve 6 and pre-stressed in the direction of the medium-conveying plug element 12 is released, wherein the sealing element closes and seals a potential gap formed between the support sleeve and the plug element 12 in the longitudinal direction 8 in the coupling position.

(11) In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the support sleeves 6, the plug element 12 and the sliding elements 18 respectively consist of a cylindrical or hollow-cylindrical component such that the longitudinal direction 8 simultaneously represents an axis 20.

(12) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the pocket 14 is defined by a first stop 22 realized in the form of an edge of the support sleeve 6 and a second stop 24 realized in the form of an edge. The sliding element 16 adjoins the first stop 22 in the coupling position (see FIG. 2). In the release position, the sliding element 12 adjoins the second stop 24.

(13) The sealing element 18 is arranged in a recess 26 formed in the pocket 14. The sliding element 16 includes an opening 28 and an end face 30 that is arranged on the side of the sliding element 16 facing away from the plug element 12. The plug element 12 can be inserted into the opening 28 and placed against the end face 30 in order to transfer the sliding element 16 from the release position into the coupling position during the insertion of the plug element 12. The sleeve opening 10 and the inner diameter of the sleeve-like sliding element 16 have the same inside diameter.

(14) In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures, the minimum depth of the pocket 14 corresponds to the difference between the outside diameter and the inside diameter of the sliding element 16. This prevents the sliding element 16 from protruding into the sleeve opening 10 in order to form a gap between the plug element 12 and the sleeve opening 10 in the coupling position.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit 2, in which the sealing element 18 is not arranged in a recess 26 in the release position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, but rather merely clamped between the pocket 12 of the support sleeve 6 and the sliding element 16. On its side that faces the plug element 12, the sliding element 16 includes a bevel 32 in order to arrange the sealing element 18 in the release position.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit 2, in which the sliding element 16 includes the bevel 32 and a recess 26 is additionally provided in the pocket 14 of the support sleeve 6. In the third exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the first stop 22 is furthermore formed by a sleeve-like second stopping element 34. This second stopping element can be arranged in the sleeve opening 10 of the support sleeve 6 and has an inside diameter that corresponds to the inside diameter of the sleeve opening 10 of the support sleeve 6. The sliding element 16 can thereby be easily arranged in the pocket 14 and the pocket 14 can also be easily defined by the second stop 24.

(17) FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit 2, in which the second stop 24 is also formed by a second stopping element 36. Consequently, the pocket of the support sleeve 6 is defined by two sleeve-like stopping elements 34 and 36 that can be inserted into the support sleeve 6.

(18) FIG. 6 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of the coupling unit 2, wherein the recess 26, in which the sealing element 18 can be arranged in the release position, is arranged in the sliding element 16.

(19) While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment is only an example, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.