Plug-in connection with leakage protection

• US 6,089,540 A
• Filed: 04/14/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VOSS Automotive GmbH (Park-Ohio Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Armaturenfabrik Hermann Voss GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Heinrichs, Gundolf, Offenloch, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/059,982
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 251/149.6, 251/149.1
• US Class Current: 251/149.6
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0841 by means of a transversally slidable locking member surrounding the tube
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/40 with a lift valve being opened automatically when the coupling is applied

Abstract

A plug-in connection (1) for connecting a plug-in part (2)--especially one formed by one end of a pipe line (4)--consisting of a receiving housing (10) with a plug-in opening (12) for the plug-in part (2), a circumferential seal (14) for sealing a circular gap between the receiving housing (10) and the inserted plug-in part (2) as well as a valve element (16), which, when it is disconnected, automatically closes the receiving housing (10) in order to provide run-out protection and which valve element, when it is inserted, is to be opened by means of the plug-in part (2). The valve element (16)--in order to close the receiving housing (10)--directly engages the same circumferential seal (14), which seals the plug-in part (2).

Claims

1. A plug-in connection for connection with a plug-in part, comprising a receiving housing with a plug-in opening for the plug-in part, a circumferential seal for sealing a circular gap between the receiving housing and the plug-in part as well as a valve element, which, when the connection is disconnected, the valve element automatically closes the receiving housing to provide run-out protection, and when the plug-in part is inserted into the housing, the valve element is opened by the plug-in part and the valve element closing the receiving housing, by engaging the circumferential seal, whereby the valve element includes a contact section for the purpose of a direct contact with the plug-in part which is constructed such that contact between an outlet opening of the plug-in part and the contact section forms at least one flow passage, the contact section comprising of at least two essentially radial ridges jointly defining an essentially conical outer enveloping surface with a point which is turned toward the plug-in part, and the contact section of the valve element having a maximum diameter, which is larger than the inner diameter of the outlet opening of the plug-in part such that the outlet opening with its opening edge reaches a contact position in the intermediate region of the contact section.

2. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential seal, in the disconnected state, is disposed directly in the circular gap between the receiving housing and the valve element, and in the connected state directly between the receiving housing and the plug-in part.

3. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein the valve element includes a sealing region, with an outer circumferential contour, which essentially corresponds to that of the plug-in part and which acts jointly with the circumferential seal in order to close the receiving housing.

4. The plug-in connection according to claim 3, wherein the sealing region of the valve element essentially has the same outer diameter as the plug-in part.

5. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein the valve element is guided according to the direction of insertion of the plug-in part in an axially movable manner, and that it is acted on by a spring force in the direction of closure.

6. The plug-in connection according to claim 5, wherein the valve element, in its closure position occasioned by the spring force, while being sealed by means of the circumferential seal, makes an axial contact with an end stop in the receiving housing.

7. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein the valve element is a part of a pre-assembled valve cartridge which comprises of an inner insert housing, the valve element, located inside the insert housing, and a spring element, which generates a spring force acting on the valve element in the direction of closure.

8. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein in the region between the circumferential seal and the plug-in opening a second sealing element is disposed for sealing the annular gap between the receiving housing and the plug-in part.

9. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, further comprising a locking device for releasable interlocking of the inserted plug-in part.

10. The plug-in connection according to claim 9, wherein the interlocking device includes a retaining element which can be elastically deformed in a radial direction for the form-fitting engagement of a circular step of the plug-in part.

11. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein the receiving housing includes at least one pipe union for connecting a pipe line or a hose, where the pipe union points in a direction corresponding to the insertion axis into the opposite direction from the plug-in opening, or it is directed transversely to the axis of insertion.

12. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein in the connected state a flow cross-section for an effective flow is present at every part of the flow path, which cross-section is at least about equal to the interior cross-section of the plug-in part and that of the pipe union.

13. The plug-in connection according to claim 1, wherein the valve element is part of a pre-assembled valve cartridge which comprises an inner insert housing, the valve element, located inside the insert housing, and a spring element, which generates a spring force acting on the valve element in the direction of closure.