Motor vehicle assembly unit and method for the production of the motor vehicle assembly unit

Abstract

A motor vehicle assembly unit having a connector, in particular a quick connector, and having a motor vehicle fluid line, wherein the connector includes an insertion end for inserting the fluid line, wherein there is a securing spike on the insertion end, which is encompassed by an outer sleeve. An annular insertion space for the fluid line or a fluid line end of the fluid line is disposed between the securing spike and the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is connected to the securing spike by means of at least one break-away element, that breaks when the fluid line is inserted in the annular insertion space, such that the outer sleeve can be slid onto the securing spike, or further slid onto the securing spike from, or with, the fluid line.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle assembly unit for connecting a fluid line having a fluid line end to a tube, the motor vehicle assembly comprising: a connector including an insertion end for the insertion of the fluid line end, wherein there is a securing spike on the insertion end, which is encompassed by an outer sleeve consisting of plastic and including a pressuring flange, against which the fluid line end presses when slid onto the securing spike, wherein an annular insertion space for the fluid line end of the fluid line, is disposed between the securing spike and the outer sleeve, wherein the outer sleeve is connected to the securing spike by means of at least one break-away element, wherein the at least one break-away element is designed to break when the fluid line end is slid into the annular insertion space, such that the outer sleeve can be slid by the inserted fluid line onto the securing spike, or further onto the securing spike.

2. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector is a quick connector, and includes a connection section, which is equipped with a tube receiving opening for accommodating a tube.

3. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 2, wherein the tube receiving opening includes at least one locking projection, wherein the at least one locking projection can be engaged with by at least one projection element on the outer surface of the tube.

4. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one break-away element is disposed on a front end of the outer sleeve proximate to the connection section.

5. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 1, wherein the securing spike includes at least one securing contour on its outer surface, and wherein the fluid line end can be slid onto the at least one securing contour in a friction-locking manner.

6. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 5, wherein the at least one securing contour includes a conical section and wherein the conical section tapers toward a free front end of the securing spike.

7. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve lies with a front end against a stopping flange of the connector in an assembled state.

8. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 1, wherein the securing spike includes a conical section, wherein the conical section tapers toward a free front end of the securing spike, and wherein the outer sleeve can be slid in a friction-locking manner onto the conical section.

9. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 8, wherein the conical section of the securing spike is disposed in front of a stopping flange, when viewed from the direction in which the outer sleeve is slid on.

10. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 8, wherein the outer sleeve can be slid in a friction-locking manner with its pressuring flange onto the conical section.

11. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve is connected as a single unit to the securing spike by means of the at least one break-away element.

12. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 1, wherein at least a basic element of the connector is a single plastic element.

13. The motor vehicle assembly unit according to claim 12, wherein the basic element includes the connection section, the securing spike, and the outer sleeve and is a single injection molded component.

14. A method for the production of a motor vehicle assembly unit the method comprising the steps of providing a connector and a motor vehicle fluid line, wherein the connector has a basic element with a securing spike on an insertion end and with an outer sleeve encompassing the securing spike and connected to the securing spike by at least one break-away element, the outer sleeve consisting of plastic, sliding a fluid line end of the fluid line into an annular insertion space formed between the outer sleeve and the securing spike, pressing the fluid line end against a pressuring flange of the outer sleeve such that the at least one break-away element breaks, and sliding the fluid line end and the outer sleeve further onto the securing spike.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the basic element is produced by means of an injection molding process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention shall be explained in greater detail based on drawings depicting a single embodiment example. They show, in a schematic depiction:

(2) FIG. 1 a motor vehicle assembly unit according to the invention, in a first functional position,

(3) FIG. 2 the subject matter of FIG. 1 in a second functional position,

(4) FIG. 3 the subject matter of FIG. 1 in a third functional position, and

(5) FIG. 4 the subject matter of FIG. 1 in a fourth functional position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) The figures show a motor vehicle assembly unit according to the invention, comprising a quick connector 1 and a motor vehicle fluid line 2. The quick connector 1 includes an insertion end 3 in which the fluid line 2 is inserted. A connection section 8 of the quick connector 1 is preferably, and in the embodiment example, disposed at the end opposite the insertion end 3, which has a tube receiving opening 9 for accommodating a tube 10. The tube receiving opening 9 preferably, and in the embodiment example, includes locking projections 11, wherein the locking projections 11 can be engaged with by a projection element 12 designed in the form of an annular buckling on the outer surface of the tube 10. There is a securing spike 4 on the insertion end 3 of the quick connector 1, which is encompassed by an outer sleeve 5.

(7) An annular insertion space is disposed between the securing spike 4 and the outer sleeve 5, into which the fluid line 2, or the fluid line end, respectively, is inserted.

(8) FIG. 1 shows the quick connector 1 with the fluid line 2 not yet inserted. The outer sleeve 5 is designed for practical purposes, and in the embodiment example, as a cylinder, and preferably, and in the embodiment example, runs over the outer circumference of the quick connector 1, or the securing spike 4, respectively. Ideally, and in the embodiment example, the outer sleeve 5 is connected to the securing spike 4 by a break-away element 7 when the fluid line 2 has not yet been inserted. Preferably, and in the embodiment example, the break-away element 7 is an annular break-away element 7, which runs over the entire circumference of the securing spike 4, for practical purposes. The break-away element 7 ideally, and in the embodiment example, consists of plastic, as is the case with the outer sleeve 5 and the securing spike 4. The break-away element 7 is designed with the stipulation that it breaks, or tears, when the fluid line 2 is inserted in the insertion space 6, such that the outer sleeve 5 can then be slid from or with the inserted fluid line 2 further onto the securing spike 4. This can be derived in particular by means of a comparison with the FIGS. 2-4.

(9) It can also be seen from FIG. 1 that, prior to inserting the fluid line 2, the break-away element 7 is preferably, and in the embodiment example, disposed at the connection section-side front end 14 of the outer sleeve 5, and this being directly at the connection section-side front end 14 of the outer sleeve 5. Moreover, preferably, and in the embodiment example, the break-away element 7 is disposed on a pressuring flange 15 running over the inner circumference of the outer sleeve 5, and this being such that the break-away element 7 is preferably oriented there toward the securing spike end. After the break-away element 7 is broken or torn, the fluid line 2 ideally, and in the embodiment example, presses against the pressuring flange 15 with its front end when slid further onto the securing spike 4, such that the outer sleeve 5 can be slid, or further slid, respectively, with the fluid line 2 onto the securing spike 4. The fluid line 2 thus preferably pushes the outer sleeve 5 in front of it when being slid on.

(10) Preferably, and in the embodiment example, the securing spike 4 includes two saw tooth shaped securing contours 13 on its outer surface. Ideally, the fluid line 2 can be slid in a force-locking manner onto these securing contours 13 (see, in particular, FIG. 4). The fluid line 2 is thus basically clamped between the outer sleeve 5 and the securing contours 13 here. Preferably, and in the embodiment example, the saw tooth shaped securing contours 13 each include a conical section 19, wherein the cone of the conical section 19 tapers toward the fluid line-side front end of the securing spike 4. This design facilitates the sliding of the fluid line 2 onto the securing spike 4.

(11) For practical purposes, and in the embodiment example, the outer sleeve 5 lies at its front end against a stopping flange 16 of the quick connector 1 after it has been slid onto the securing spike 4, or after it has been fully slid onto the securing spike 4, respectively. The outer sleeve 5 thus is held in place against this stopping flange 16 of the quick connector 1 after it has been fully slid into place. Preferably, and in the embodiment example, the stopping flange 16 runs over the outer circumference of the quick connector 1. It is recommended that the stopping surface of the stopping flange 16 is disposed such that it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the quick connector 1. Preferably, the front end surface of the front end of the outer sleeve 5 is also oriented such that it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the quick connector 1. The stopping flange 16 is, moreover, ideally, and in the embodiment example, disposed at the connection section-side end of the securing spike 4. It has been shown to be advantageous that the securing spike 4 includes a conical section 17, wherein the cone of this conical section 17 tapers toward the fluid line-side front end 18. According to a preferred embodiment, and in the embodiment example, the outer sleeve 5 can be slid in a force-locking or form-locking manner onto the conical section 17. This can be seen, in particular, through a comparison of the FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the outer sleeve 5 can be basically clamped onto the conical section 17, and ideally the pressuring flange 15 lies against the conical section 17 in a pre-tensioned manner. It can be seen in the figures that preferably, and in the embodiment example, the conical section 17 of the securing spike 4 is disposed in front of the stopping flange 16 of the quick connector 1, seen from the direction in which the outer sleeve 5, or the fluid line 2, respectively, is slid. For practical purposes, and in the embodiment example, when the outer sleeve 5 is fully slid on (FIG. 4), a front end 22 of the fluid line 2 lies in a sealing manner against the pressuring flange 15 of the outer sleeve 5. In this manner, an effective protection of the fluid line end from disadvantageous external influences, such as spray water, for example, is ensured.

(12) In the figures the quick connector 1 is depicted in the form of a basic element 20, wherein the basic element 20 includes the connection section 8, a middle section 21, the securing spike 4 and the outer sleeve 5. Preferably, and in the embodiment example, this basic element is designed as a one-piece injection molded component, and is thus produced in the framework of an injection molding procedure. Preferably, the outer sleeve 5, in particular, is connected in a one-piece manner to the securing spike 4 by means of the break-away element 7, prior to being slid onto the fluid line 2 (FIG. 1). As explained already above, the break-away element 7 breaks when the fluid line 2 is inserted, or when the break-away element 7 is pressed against by the fluid line 2.

(13) The basic element 20 depicted in the figures can fundamentally also be encompassed by a plastic sheathing, not shown. In this case, the basic element 20, together with this plastic sheathing, forms the quick connector 1. As such, the basic element 20 can be enclosed in a plastic, for example, or the basic element 20 can also be accommodated in a housing, which is not depicted.

(14) Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.