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EP-4473237-B1 - PLUG CONNECTOR WITH MOUNTING PROTECTION

EP4473237B1EP 4473237 B1EP4473237 B1EP 4473237B1EP-4473237-B1

Inventors

  • OBERDÖRFER, Alexander
  • HEINRICHS, EUGEN

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230201

Claims (16)

  1. Connector (1, 101, 201) for connecting a first fluid line to a mating connector (2), comprising a base element (4, 104, 204) with a through channel (6, 106, 206), wherein the through channel (6, 106, 206) is fluidically connected to an end of the base element (4, 104, 204) designed as a sleeve section (8, 108, 208), wherein a clamp cage (12, 112, 212) is arranged in a receptacle channel (10, 110, 210) of the sleeve section (8, 108, 208), wherein the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) can be inserted into the receptacle channel (10, 110, 210) of the sleeve section (8, 108, 208) in a mounting direction (M) and is held axially to the mounting direction (M) in a positive-locking manner, wherein two retaining arms (18, 118, 218) extending parallel to one another of a retaining clip (20, 120, 220) which can be inserted into the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) perpendicular to the mounting direction (M) project into a through opening (16, 116, 216) of the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) when the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are in a rest state and are designed to be elastically expandable radially to the through opening (16, 116, 216) into a tension state, wherein the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) can be moved radially to the through opening (16, 116, 216) from an insertion position into a blocking position and from the blocking position into the insertion position, wherein the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are expandable into their tension state in the insertion position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) and the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are blocked against expansion into the tension state in the blocking position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220), characterized in that the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) has two bearing arms (22, 122, 222) which are elastic radially to the through opening (16, 116, 216), and the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) fix the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) in the receptacle channel (10, 110, 210) axially to the mounting direction (M) in a positive-locking manner and in a rest state of the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) project into the through opening (16, 116, 216) and are designed to be elastically expandable radially to the through opening (16, 116, 216) into a tension state.
  2. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to claim 1, characterized in that while the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) are in the rest state and the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) is in the insertion position, the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) is blocked against displacement from the insertion position to the blocking position.
  3. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that while the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are in the tension state and the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) is in the insertion position, the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) is blocked against displacement from the insertion position to the blocking position.
  4. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that while the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) are in the rest state and the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) is in the blocking position, the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) is positively locked against displacement from the blocking position to the insertion position.
  5. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining bracket (20, 120, 220) is U-shaped and the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) and the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are connected via a connecting section (24, 124, 224) and extend in the same direction from the connecting section (24, 124, 224) to a free end in each case and the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) and the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are arranged axially spaced apart from one another.
  6. Connector (1,101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) has at least two pressure locking humps (174, 274) formed on the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) and/or on the connecting section (24, 124, 224) on the side pointing against the mounting direction (M), which are formed projecting against the mounting direction (M) in such a way that, in the blocking position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220), the pressure locking humps (174, 274) can be supported radially to the through opening (16, 116, 216) on an inner circumferential wall of the through opening (16, 116, 216), in particular that two pressure-locking humps (274) on the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are formed and arranged opposite each other in such a way that the pressure-locking humps (274) in the blocking position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) and the rest state of the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are arranged on an axis of symmetry, in particular an axis of symmetry extending perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220), of the through opening (16, 116, 216) within the through opening (16, 116, 216).
  7. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) has two windows (26, 126, 226) open radially to the through opening (16, 116, 216) and a reinforcing strut (28, 128, 228) extending axially to the through opening (16, 116, 216) is arranged in each of the windows (26, 126, 226), wherein the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) extend through the windows (26, 126, 226) in such a way that the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are arranged radially between the through opening (16, 116, 216) and the reinforcing struts (28, 128, 228) and, in the rest state, project into the through opening (16, 116, 216) of the clamp cage (12, 112, 212).
  8. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve section (8, 108, 208) and the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) each have at least two breakthroughs (30, 130) radial to the mounting direction (M), each breakthrough (30, 130) of the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) and the sleeve section (8, 108, 208) being arranged in the sleeve section (8, 108, 208) are arranged in alignment with one another, so that the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) can be inserted with the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) radially to the mounting direction (M) through the breakthroughs (30, 130) of the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) and the sleeve section (8, 108, 208) into the through opening (16, 116, 216) of the clamp cage (12, 112, 212), in particular that the radially open windows (26, 126, 226) for arranging and passing through of the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) are arranged axially to the mounting direction (M) at a distance from the breakthroughs for arranging and passing through the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) and preferably that the windows (26, 126, 226) and breakthroughs (30, 130) are arranged axially one behind the other with respect to the through opening (16, 116, 216).
  9. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) has radially outwardly pointing detents (32, 132), and the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) have bearing grooves (34, 134, 234) corresponding thereto, and the detents (32, 132) engage in the bearing grooves (34, 134, 234) in the rest state of the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) and the insertion position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220), and in the rest state of the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) block a displacement of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) from the insertion position into the blocking position in a positive-locking manner, and/or that the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) have radially inwardly pointing expanding means (36, 136, 236), and the expanding means (36, 136, 236) project into the through opening (16, 116, 216) in the insertion position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) and the rest state of the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) in such a way that the bearing arms (22, 122, 222) can be expanded via the expanding means (36, 136, 236) from the rest state into the tension state when the mating connector (2) is inserted in the mounting direction (M), so that a displacement of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) from the insertion position into the blocking position is enabled, in particular that the bearing grooves (34) are arranged behind the expansion means (36) in a direction of extension of the bearing arms (22), and a position groove (38) is formed between the respective bearing groove (34) and the respective expansion means (36), and the detent (32) of the clamp cage (12) is arranged in the position groove (38) in the rest state of the bearing arms (22) and in the blocking position of the retaining clip (20) in such a way that the expanding means (36) is supported in a force-locking manner on an outer circumference of the mating connector (2) and generates a resistance to a displacement of the retaining clip (20) from the blocking position into the insertion position.
  10. Connector (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the bearing arms (22) each have at least one expansion slope (40a, 40b) rising towards the free end of the bearing arms (22), wherein in each case one expansion slope (40a) opens above the bearing groove (34) and the bearing groove (34) directly adjoins the expansion slope (40a) and/or in each case one expansion slope (40b) opens above the positioning groove (38) and the positioning groove (38) directly adjoins the expansion slope (40b), or that the bearing grooves (134) are arranged in front of the expanding means (136, 236) in a direction of extension of the bearing arms (122, 222) and the detent (132) of the clamp cage (112, 212) is arranged in the bearing groove (134, 234) in the rest state of the bearing arms (122, 222) and in the insertion position of the retaining clip (120, 220) in such a way that a resistance to a displacement of the retaining clip (120, 220) from the insertion position into the blocking position is generated, in particular that the bearing arms (122, 222) each have at least one expansion slope (140a, 140b) rising towards the free end of the bearing arms (122, 222), wherein in each case one expansion slope (140a) opens above the bearing groove (134, 234) and the bearing groove (134, 234) directly adjoins the expansion slope (140a) and/or in each case one expansion slope (140b) is formed on the expansion means (136, 236), wherein in the rest state of the bearing arms (122, 222) and the blocking position of the retaining clip (120, 220), the expanding means (136, 236) can be supported in a force-locking manner on an outer circumference of the mating connector (2) and thereby generates a resistance to a displacement of the retaining clip (120, 220) from the blocking position into the insertion position, and/or in particular that the bearing arms (122, 222) are designed such that the expanding means (136, 236) of the bearing arms (122, 222) are arranged behind a center axis of the through opening (116, 216), at least in the insertion position of the retaining clip (120, 220), in each case pointing towards the free ends of the bearing arms (122, 222).
  11. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) each have formed a retaining groove (42, 142, 242) which is open radially outwards and which is designed to correspond to a blocking means (44, 144, 244) of the clamp cage (12, 112, 212) in such a way that in the tension state of the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) and in the insertion position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) the blocking means (44, 144, 244) is arranged in the retaining groove (42, 142, 242) in such a way that a displacement of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220) from the insertion position into the blocking position is blocked, in particular that a first groove wall of the retaining groove (42, 142, 242) is formed by a bearing element (46, 146, 246) projecting radially outwards from the retaining arm (18, 118, 218) and pointing towards the free end of the retaining arm (18, 118, 218), wherein in the rest state of the retaining arm (18, 118, 218) and the blocking position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220), the bearing element (46, 146, 246) bears against the blocking means (44, 144, 244), pointing radially outwards towards the through opening (16, 116, 216), in such a way that radial expansion of the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) is blocked and transfer of the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) from the rest state to the tension state is blocked, and/or in particular that the reinforcing struts (28, 128, 228) serve as blocking means (44, 144, 244), so that the reinforcing struts (28, 128, 228) designed as blocking means (44, 144, 244) are arranged in the retaining grooves (42, 142, 242) in the rest state of the retaining arms (18, 118, 218) and in the insertion position of the retaining clip (20, 120, 220).
  12. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining clip (20) has at least one, in particular two, support arms (50), which are arranged between the bearing arms (22) and are designed to extend parallel to the bearing arms (22) to form a support head (52), wherein in the blocking position of the retaining clip (20) the support head (52) is arranged in a correspondingly designed head receptacle (54) in the outer circumference of the clamp cage (12).
  13. Connector (1, 101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining clip (20) has at least one guide pin (56), which is arranged between the retaining arms (18) and is designed to extend parallel to the retaining arms (18) to a support end, wherein in the blocking position of the retaining clip (20) the guide pin (56) bears with its support end against an outer circumference of the clamp cage (12), in particular that the clamp cage (12) has a guide channel (58) which corresponds to the guide pin (56) and in which the guide pin (56) engages radially to the through opening (16) in the blocking position of the retaining clip(20).
  14. Connector(1, 101, 201) according to any one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the retaining clip (120, 220) has at least one, in particular two, radially elastic gripping arms (166) which lie opposite one another and which extend from a section formed on the connecting section (124, 224) and/or the retaining arms (118, 218) in the direction of the free ends of the retaining arms (118, 218), wherein the gripping arms (166) each having an end section radially spaced from the retaining arms (118, 218), so that the gripping arms (166) can be elastically deformed towards the retaining arms (118, 218) by a force acting radially on the end section.
  15. Connector (1,101, 201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamp cage (112, 212) is held in a positive-locking manner by means of at least one radially elastic latching arm (168, 268) with a radially outwardly projecting latching extension (170, 270), which in the inserted state engages in a positive-locking manner in a recess (172) in a circumferential wall of the sleeve section (108, 208), wherein the latching arm (168, 268) being integrally formed on the outer circumference of the clamp cage (112, 212), in particular that the clamp cage (112) is held in a positive-locking manner by means of at least two radially elastic latching arms (168) with radially outwardly projecting latching projections (170), which in the inserted state engage in a positive-locking manner in a recess (172) in the circumferential wall of the sleeve section (108), wherein the latching arms (168) being integrally formed on the outer circumference of the clamp cage (112).
  16. Connector (201) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining clip (220) has between the bearing arms (220) at least one pin (276) projecting radially towards the through opening (216), the sleeve section (208) and the clamp cage (212) each having at least one through opening (278) radial to the mounting direction (M), wherein a respective through opening (278) of the clamp cage (212) and of the sleeve section (208) are arranged in alignment with one another in an inserted state of the clamp cage (212) in the sleeve section (208), so that the retaining clip (220) can be inserted with the pin (276) radially to the mounting direction (M) through the through opening (278) of the clamp cage (212) and of the sleeve section (208), in particular that the clamp cage (212) has the radially elastic latching arm (268) with the radially outwardly projecting latching extension (270) formed on the outer circumference radially opposite the through opening (216) of the feedthrough opening (278), which in the inserted state engages in a positive-locking manner in the recess in the circumferential wall of the sleeve section (208).

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Steckverbinder zum Verbinden von einer ersten Fluidleitung mit einem Gegensteckverbinder. Der Steckverbinder weist einen Grundkörper mit einem Durchgangskanal auf. Der Durchgangskanal ist fluidisch mit einem als Muffenabschnitt ausgebildeten Ende des Grundkörpers verbunden, wobei in einem Aufnahmekanal des Muffenabschnitts ein Klammerkäfig angeordnet ist. Der Klammerkäfig ist in eine Montagerichtung in den Aufnahmekanal des Muffenabschnitts einsteckbar und formschlüssig axial zur Montagerichtung gehalten. Zwei parallel zueinander verlaufende Haltearme einer senkrecht zur Montagerichtung in den Klammerkäfig einsteckbaren Halteklammer ragen in einem Ruhezustand der Haltearme in eine Durchgangsöffnung des Klammerkäfigs hinein und sind radial zur Durchgangsöffnung elastisch in einen Spannungszustand aufweitbar ausgebildet. Die Halteklammer ist radial zur Durchgangsöffnung von einer Einführstellung in eine Blockierstellung und von der Blockierstellung in die Einführstellung verschiebbar ausgebildet. Die Haltearme sind in der Einführstellung der Halteklammer in ihren Spannungszustand aufweitbar. Zudem sind die Haltearme in der Blockierstellung der Halteklammer gegen eine Aufweitung in ihren Spannungszustand blockiert. Aus der WO 2015/181396 A2 ist ein Steckverbinder zum Anschluss eines Gegensteckverbinders bekannt. Bei diesem Steckverbinder weist der Klammerkäfig sich in Montagerichtung erstreckende Rastzungen auf, welche im eingesteckten Zustand in Ausnehmungen in eine Umfangswand des Muffenabschnitts in axialer Richtung formschlüssig rastend eingreifen. Weiterhin weist dieser Steckverbinder sich gegen die Montagerichtung erstreckende Rastarme auf, welche die Bewegung des Gegensteckverbinders gegen die Montagerichtung verhindern. Als nachteilig hat sich herausgestellt, dass die Rastzungen, welche den Klammerkäfig formschlüssig im Muffenabschnitt halten, derart groß dimensioniert werden müssen, dass ein relativ großer Bauraum benötigt wird. Die WO 2015/181396 A2 sieht zur Vermeidung eines ungewollten Lösens des Gegensteckverbinders ein am Außenumfang des Muffenabschnitts angeordnetes Verriegelungselement vor. Das Verriegelungselement ist axial zur Montagerichtung verschiebbar angeordnet, wobei das Verriegelungselement in einer Verriegelungsstellung eine radiale Spreizung der Rastarme und dadurch eine Freigabe des Gegensteckverbinders verhindert. Hierbei hat sich gezeigt, dass das Verriegelungselement auch ohne eingesteckten Gegensteckverbinder in die Verriegelungsstellung übergehen kann und ein Einstecken des Gegensteckverbinders verhindert. Weiterhin sind zum Verriegeln zusätzliche Montageschritte notwendig, welche ebenfalls den Montageaufwand vergrößern. Aus WO 2021/190897 A1 ist ein gattungsbildender Steckverbinder bekannt. Der Steckverbinder weist einen Klammerkäfig auf, der in einem Aufnahmekanal angeordnet ist. Der Klammerkäfig wird durch eine Kombination aus einem Formschlusselement, einem Haltemittel und einem Verriegelungselement fixiert. Aus EP 3 171 066 A1 und US 2017/067588 A1 sind Steckverbinder bekannt, bei denen der Gegenstecker einen Kragen aufweist. Der Gegenstecker liegt mit dem Kragen an einer Seite an einem Haltearm einer Halteklammer und an einer gegenüberliegenden Seite des Kragens an einem Flansch der Halteklammer an. Ein weiterer Nachteil sind die Rastarme, welche den Steckerschaft des Gegensteckverbinders zur Wahrung der radialelastischen Eigenschaften über eine bestimmte axiale Länge überdecken, dabei allerdings nur eine relativ geringe flächenmäßige Überdeckung des Gegensteckverbinders bieten. Speziell bei großen Baugrößen und Vibrationen, insbesondere bei Gegensteckverbindern mit einem Steckdurchmesser über 14 mm, kann es daher unter besonderen Voraussetzungen zu einem Versagen und einem Lösen des Gegensteckverbinders vom Steckverbinder kommen. Als nachteilig hat sich zudem herausgestellt, dass es bei großer Zug- oder Druckbelastung zu Leckagen oder Beschädigungen des Klammerkäfigs kommen kann. Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, einen Steckverbinder zur Verfügung zu stellen, welcher die aus dem Stand der Technik bekannten Nachteile überwindet und insbesondere zumindest die Widerstandsfähigkeit, die Dichtigkeit und/oder die Montage verbessert. Die Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch die Merkmale des kennzeichnenden Teils des Anspruchs 1 gelöst. Dadurch, dass die Halteklammer zwei radial zur Durchgangsöffnung elastische Lagerarme aufweist und die Lagerarme den Klammerkäfig in dem Aufnahmekanal axial zur Montagerichtung formschlüssig fixieren und in einem Ruhezustand der Lagerarme in die Durchgangsöffnung hineinragen und radial zur Durchgangsöffnung elastisch in einen Spannungszustand aufweitbar ausgebildet sind, wird die axiale Erstreckung des Klammerkäfigs verkürzt, so dass Bauraum gespart wird, welcher optional zusätzlichen Dichtmitteln zur Verfügung gestellt werden kann. Weiterhin hat die erfindungsgemäße Halteklammer den Vorteil, dass sie sowohl den