DRAINAGE CONNECTOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a drainage connector (1) having a cup-shaped housing (2) which comprises a housing base (3) and a housing wall (4). A connection geometry (5) is arranged on the outside on the housing wall (4) for inserting into a container opening, wherein an inlet pipe (9) of an inlet side (7) is guided to an outlet side (8) through the housing base (3) and an annular collecting chamber (10) is formed between the inlet pipe (9) and the housing wall (4). In order to discharge denser fluid which can accumulate in the collecting chamber, the housing (2) has a discharge channel (11), which leads from the collecting chamber (10) to the outlet side (8) and can be closed from the outlet side (8). The drainage connector is intended to be producible in a cost-effective manner at low cost and to have a low mass. For this purpose, the inlet pipe (9) on the outlet side (8) merges into an outlet pipe (13) which has a closing element (16) that can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein the housing (2) comprising the connection geometry (5), the inlet pipe (9) and the outlet pipe (13) is formed from plastic as a single piece.

Claims

1. A drainage connector (1) having a cup-shaped housing (2) which comprises a housing base (3) and a housing wall (4), wherein a connection geometry (5) is formed on the outside of the housing wall (4) for insertion into a container orifice, wherein an inlet pipe (9) is guided from an inlet side (7) to an outlet side (8) through the housing base (3) and a collecting chamber (10) is formed between the inlet pipe (9) and the housing wall (4), wherein the housing (2) has a discharge channel (11) which leads from the collecting chamber (10) to the outlet side (8) and can be closed from the outlet side (8), characterized in that, on the outlet side (8), the inlet pipe (9) merges into an outlet pipe (13) which has a closing element (16) which can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein the housing (2) with the connection geometry (5), the inlet pipe (9) and the outlet pipe (13) is formed from plastic material as a single piece.

2. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the inlet pipe opens into an outlet pipe wall (17) of the outlet pipe (13), wherein the outlet pipe (13) extends in particular substantially perpendicularly to the inlet pipe (9).

3. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the discharge channel (11) can be closed by a valve element (12) which is guided in particular perpendicularly to the discharge channel (11) and is possibly formed as a screw.

4. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (16) is inserted into the outlet pipe (13) by one end (14) and is axially displaceably mounted in the outlet pipe (13), wherein a sliding block guideway (18) is formed in particular between an outlet pipe wall (17) and the closing element (16).

5. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (16) has an annular chamber (29), wherein, in the open position, the annular chamber (29) is positioned in the region of an opening of the inlet pipe (9) into the outlet pipe (13).

6. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in the closed position, the closing element (16) is positioned completely on one side of the opening of the inlet pipe (9) in the outlet pipe (13).

7. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that sealing elements (30, 31, 32) are arranged in particular on both sides of the annular chamber (29) between the closing element (16) and the outlet pipe wall (17), which sealing elements are held in particular in annular grooves (33, 34, 35) which are formed in the closing element (16) or the outlet pipe wall (17).

8. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (16) has radially outwardly projecting guide ribs (36) which abut against an inside wall of the outlet pipe (13), in particular in a region of the outlet pipe (13) which has an increased diameter.

9. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closing element (16) has at least one blind hole (37, 38) which is formed in particular such that it is open to the side remote from the opening of the inlet pipe (9).

10. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a cap (24) is arranged on the closing element (16), which cap extends in the direction of the inlet pipe (9) and surrounds the outlet pipe (13), wherein it is latched in particular to the closing element (16), wherein a head (21) of the closing element (16) possibly projects through the cap (24).

11. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a cap (41) is provided which, in the fitted state, covers the end of the closing element (16) which projects out of the outlet pipe (13) as well as the outlet pipe (13), at least over an axial length which corresponds to an adjustment path of the closing element (16) from the open position into the closed position, wherein the cap (41) is held on the outlet pipe (13) in particular by a securing device (42).

12. The drainage connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, on the outside of the housing wall (4), a ring seal (6) is held on the base-side end of the connection geometry (5), wherein a radially outwardly projecting stop (23) is formed in particular on a side of the ring seal (6) which is remote from the connection geometry (5).

Description

[0031] Further features, details and advantages of the invention are revealed in the wording of the claims and in the description below of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, which show:

[0032] FIG. 1 a drainage connector in a three-dimensional illustration;

[0033] FIG. 2 the drainage connector according to FIG. 1 with a cap;

[0034] FIG. 3 the drainage connector according to FIG. 2 in a sectional illustration;

[0035] FIG. 4 the drainage connector in a sectional illustration with an alternative cap.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a drainage connector 1 in a three-dimensional illustration, which can be inserted into a container orifice in order to enable liquids of different densities to be discharged separately from one another. The drainage connector 1 has a cup-shaped housing 2 having a housing base 3 and a housing wall 4 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), wherein a connection geometry 5 in the form of an outside thread is integrally formed on an outside of the housing wall 4. The drainage connector can moreover be screwed into a corresponding container orifice, for example of a fuel tank, in fluid-tight manner until a radially outwardly projecting circumferential stop 23 comes to bear against an outside of the container. For additional sealing, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a ring seal 6 is provided on the base-side end of the connection geometry 5, which ring seal is held in an annular groove which is integrally formed in the housing wall 4.

[0037] The housing base 3 separates an inlet side 7, which lies for example inside a fuel tank, from an outlet side 8, which is accessible for a user. To direct fuel away, for example, the drainage connector comprises an inlet pipe 9 which is formed in a single piece with the housing 2 and penetrates through the housing base 3. The inlet pipe, which projects into the container when the drainage connector is fitted, thereby produces a fluid-directing connection between the inlet side 7 and the outlet side 8.

[0038] An annular collecting chamber 10 is formed on the inlet side, between the inlet pipe 9 and the housing wall 4. When the drainage connector 1 is fitted, the liquid with the higher density collects in the collecting chamber 10 and can be discharged via a discharge channel 11 which opens into the collecting chamber 10 and leads to the outlet side 8. It is, for example, thereby possible for water collecting in a fuel tank to be discharged via the discharge channel 11 without likewise allowing the fuel, which has a lower density than water, to be discharged at the same time. The fuel is then conveyed away during operation via the inlet pipe 9, which extends further than the housing wall 4 on the inlet side, i.e. into the container.

[0039] For the controlled discharge of the liquid out of the collecting chamber 10, a valve element 12 is provided which closes and opens the discharge channel. The valve element 12, which is formed as a screw in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, is freely accessible here from the exit side 8.

[0040] The inlet pipe 9 merges on the exit side 8 into an outlet pipe 13 which is formed in a single piece with the inlet pipe 9. The inlet pipe 9 and the outlet pipe 13 are arranged in a T shape here so that the outlet pipe 13 has two free ends 14, 15.

[0041] Whilst liquid, in particular fuel, can be conveyed away via the end 15 and a connection geometry is integrally formed on the end 15 for the connection of subsequent lines, a closing element 16 is inserted into the other end 14. The closing element can be moved axially between an open position, in which liquid flows out of the inlet pipe 9 into the outlet pipe 13, into a closed position in which a through-flow is prevented.

[0042] A sliding block guideway 18 is formed between an outlet pipe wall 17 and the closing element 16 so that, when a rotational movement is introduced into the closing element 16, this also moves axially with respect to the outlet pipe 13. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the sliding block guideway 18 is formed by a pin 19 of the closing element 16 in conjunction with a groove 20 which is incorporated in the outlet pipe wall 17. The groove 20 extends here in a circumferential direction at its ends so that the closing element 16 is secured in its respective end positions, which correspond to the open position and closed position. The groove 20 can additionally be provided with a latching means there, for example in the form of a brief narrowing.

[0043] To introduce a rotational movement into the closing element 16, torque application surfaces 22 are integrally formed on a head 21 of the closing element 16, which torque application surfaces can be actuated for example by a spanner. The head 21 is located outside the outlet pipe 13 here both in the closed position (illustrated in FIG. 3) and the open position (illustrated in FIG. 1) of the closing element 16.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows the drainage connector according to FIG. 1, wherein a cap 24 is provided which covers the sliding block guideway 18 and thus part of the outlet pipe 13. The cap 24 is cylindrical in form and has an opening in its base through which the head 21 of the closing element 16 extends. The cap 24 is held in latching manner on the head 21 by radially inwardly projecting latching arms 25, 25 so that it is moved at least axially with the closing element 16 upon a movement of this latter. The cap 24 has an axial extent here, which corresponds at least to the length of the adjustment path of the closing element so that, both in the open position and in the closed position, the sliding block guideway and the part of the closing element 16 which projects out of the outlet pipe 13 are also covered with the exception of the head 22 and are thus protected from dirt. With this embodiment of the cap 24, an actuation of the closing element 16 is possible without previously removing the cap 24.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows the drainage connector 1 according to FIG. 2 in a sectional illustration, wherein the closing element 16 is located in the closed position. The closing element 16 here has an annular chamber 29 which is formed between two radially outwardly projecting collars 27, 28 and is sealed axially by sealing elements 30, 31, 32 which is sealed in corresponding annular grooves 33, 34, 35 which are formed in the collars 27, 28. The annular chamber 29 extends here axially at least to the extent that it can completely cover the opening of the inlet pipe 9. As soon as the closing element 16 is in the closed position, liquid is therefore prevented from flowing out of the outlet pipe 13.

[0046] Since the outlet pipe 13 has a smaller inside diameter in the direction towards the outlet end 15 than in the opposite direction starting from the opening of the inlet pipe 9, the collar 27 and the sealing element 30 likewise have a smaller diameter than the collar 28 and the sealing elements 31, 32. The sealing element thus loses its contact with the inside wall of the outlet pipe 13 upon the displacement of the closing element 16 from the closed position into the open position. Since the diameter is already increased in the opening region, this prevents the seal from expanding into the inlet pipe 9 during the displacement, which would place it under a heavy load. On the whole, a relatively long useful life of the sealing element 30 is achieved in this way.

[0047] The outlet pipe 13 has an increased diameter in the region of the end 14 in which the sliding block guideway is also formed. The closing element 16 is supported on the inside of the outlet pipe 13 in this region by guide ribs 36. This results in a stable bearing. The necessary adaptation of the diameter of the closing element to the outlet pipe is provided here by these guide ribs whilst the actual body of the closing element retains a substantially constant diameter. This results in a saving on material and thus on cost and weight.

[0048] For a further saving on weight, the closing element 16 is provided with two mutually flush blind holes 37, 38 which start one from the head 21 and one from the opposing end face. A wall 39, which prevents liquid from flowing out, remains between the blind holes.

[0049] A circumferential bearing surface 40, which has a greater diameter than the greatest inside diameter of the outlet pipe 13, is located on the head 21. In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3, the bearing surface 40 abuts with its end face against the outlet pipe 13 and prevents the closing element from rotating in further. The load on the pin 19 of the sliding block guideway 18 is therefore relieved.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows the outlet connector 1 with an alternative embodiment of the cap 41. In contrast to the cap 24 in the embodiment described above, the cap 41 in this embodiment has to be removed before the actuation of the closing element. The cap 41 is held on the outlet pipe 13 here by a resilient securing device 42 in such a way that it cannot be removed completely even after it has been taken off.

[0051] The cap 41 has a length here which is sufficient to also be able to receive the closing element 16 in its open position, which is then in its maximally withdrawn position. With this, the cap 41 covers at least the region of the outlet pipe 13 in which the sliding block guideway is arranged. This is protected accordingly from dirt. In the simplest case, the cap 41 is held on the outlet pipe 13 by press fit, i.e. by friction fit, and can therefore be pulled off relatively easily if required.

[0052] The invention is not restricted to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in a variety of ways. Therefore, the annular chamber can be formed for example by a constriction and the closing element can moreover have a constant diameter. It is also conceivable for the outlet pipe to be arranged at a different angle to the inlet pipe rather than perpendicularly. The outlet pipe can also possibly be connected with material fit to the inlet pipe by means of plastic welding or another method, if this brings about production-related advantages.

[0053] All of the features and advantages demonstrated in the claims, the description and the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be fundamental to the invention in themselves and also in a wide range of combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0054] 1 Drainage connector [0055] 2 Housing [0056] 3 Housing base [0057] 4 Housing wall [0058] 5 Connection geometry [0059] 6 Ring seal [0060] 7 Inlet side [0061] 8 Outlet side [0062] 9 Inlet pipe [0063] 10 Collecting chamber [0064] 11 Discharge channel [0065] 12 Valve element [0066] 13 Outlet pipe [0067] 14 End [0068] 15 End [0069] 16 Closing element [0070] 17 Outlet pipe wall [0071] 18 Sliding block guideway [0072] 19 Pin [0073] 20 Groove [0074] 21 Head [0075] 22 Torque application surface [0076] 23 Stop [0077] 24 Cap [0078] 25 Latching arm [0079] 26 Latching arm [0080] 27 Collar [0081] 28 Collar [0082] 29 Annular chamber [0083] 30 Sealing element [0084] 31 Sealing element [0085] 32 Sealing element [0086] 33 Annular groove [0087] 34 Annular groove [0088] 35 Annular groove [0089] 36 Guide ribs [0090] 37 Blind hole [0091] 38 Blind hole [0092] 39 Wall [0093] 40 Bearing surface [0094] 41 Cap [0095] 42 Securing device