Releasable plug coupling with protective sleeve

• US 6,557,899 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Original Assignee: A Raymond Et Compagnie
• Inventors: Moretti, Erminio, Martin-Cocher, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US10/158,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 285/81, 285/84, 285/85, 285/305, 285/308, 285/316
• US Class Current: 285/81
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/0985 the flexible hook extending radially inwardly from an outer part and engaging a bead, recess or the like on an inner part F16L37/0982 takes precedence

Abstract

The releasable plug coupling is used for connecting fluid lines, particularly, fuel lines of motor vehicles. The plug coupling comprises a tubular plug-in part (3) with an annular retaining lip (4) as well as a coupling housing (1) with a cylindrical receiving space (2) for inserting the plug-in part (3) and a separate retaining element (7) with elastic retaining edges (11) that project radially into the receiving space (2) and that grip behind the retaining lip (4) after the plug-in part (3) is inserted into the receiving space (2). The retaining edges (11) are attached to support bodies (12) that are connected at their ends by elastic connecting pieces (14) that form a V to pressure plates (15). These plates extend outwards through corresponding openings (16) in the housing wall (17) and are pressed together from the outside for releasing the coupling. On the head part (6) of the coupling housing (1) there is a protective sleeve (18) that can move axially and that covers the pressure plates (15) when the plug-in part (3) is inserted in order to prevent unintentional release of the coupling. This protective sleeve (18) is integrally connected by a radial connection ring (19) to an inner guidance sleeve (20) that, in turn, is connected at their free inner edge (21) by two opposing connecting pieces (22) to a ring (23). This has the effect that the retaining lip (4) pushes against the ring (23) when the plug-in part (3) is inserted and thus, the protective sleeve (18) is automatically moved by the retaining ring (4) over the pressure plate (15). Between the connection ring (19) and the front wall (25) of the housing head (6), there is a spiral spring (24) that keeps the protective sleeve (18) ready for movement.

Claims

1. Releasable plug coupling for connecting fluid lines comprising a tubular plug-in part (3) with an annular retaining lip (4), a coupling housing (1) with a cylindrical receiving space (2), and a separate retaining element (7) with elastic retaining edges (11) that project radially into the receiving space (2) for gripping behind the retaining lip (4) after the plug-in part (3) is inserted into the receiving space (2), wherein the retaining edges (11) are attached to support bodies (12) that extend into corresponding recesses (13) in the housing wall (17) when the retaining element (7) is installed, and wherein the support bodies (12) are connected at their ends by elastic connecting pieces (14) that form a V to pressure plates (15) that extend outwards through corresponding openings (16) in the housing wall (17) and that can be pressed from the outside for releasing the coupling, as well as a protective sleeve (18) that can be moved against a spring force over the pressure plates (15) of the retaining element (7), characterized in that the protective sleeve (18) is integrally connected by a radial connection ring (49) to an inner sleeve (20), whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the retaining lip (4) and whose inner edge (21) is connected by two connecting pieces (22) to a ring (23), whose inner diameter corresponds to the pipe diameter of the plug-in part (3) and whose outer diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the retaining lip (4), wherein the connection ring (19) of the protective sleeve (18) is supported by a spiral spring (24) at the front wall (25) of the housing head (6) and the inner wall (21) of the protective sleeve (18) has pairs of opposing, inwardly projecting locking tabs (26) that are angled against the insertion direction and that are guided in axis parallel grooves (27) in the outer wall (17) of the housing head (6), wherein the grooves (27) end shortly before the front wall (25) with a stop (28).

2. Releasable plug coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that sleeve-wall sections (30) of the width of the pressure plates (15) have cuts from the edge (29) of the protective sleeve (18) between every two locking tabs (26) and the wall sections cover the pressure plates (15) of the retaining elements (7) when the plug-in part (3) is inserted.

3. Releasable plug coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that the sleeve wall sections (30) can be pressed elastically against the pressure plates (15) and they have cross grooves (31) in the outer wall.

4. Releasable plug coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that additional wall strips (32) are cut out on both sides of the locking tabs (26) from the edge (29) of the protective sleeve (18) and these strips enable the locking tabs (26) to bend when the protective sleeve (18) is pressed onto the housing head (6).

5. Releasable plug coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting pieces (22) are long enough that the ring (23) at the end of the connecting pieces (22) are moved by the retaining lip (4) of the plug-in part (3) far enough into the receiving space (2) that the wall sections (30) completely cover the pressure plates (15) for locking with the retaining edges (11).

6. Releasable plug coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that additional wall strips (32) are cut out on both sides of the locking tabs (26) from the edge (29) of the protective sleeve (18) and these strips enable the locking tabs (26) to bend when the protective sleeve (18) is pressed onto the housing head (6).

7. Releasable plug coupling according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting pieces (22) are long enough that the ring (23) at the end of the connecting pieces (22) are moved by the retaining lip (4) of the plug-in part (3) far enough into the receiving space (2) that the wall sections (30) completely cover the pressure plates (15) for locking with the retaining edges (11).

8. A releasable plug coupling comprising:

a coupling housing having a cylindrical receiving space and a housing wall;

a detachable retaining element that couples to said housing, said retaining element comprising;

elastic retaining edges that project radially into said receiving space for retaining a tubular plug-in part therein;

at least two pressure plates formed integral to said retaining edges that extend outwards through openings in said housing wall, said pressure plates being operative to cause the retaining edges to release said plug-in part when compressed; and

a detachable, spring loaded protective sleeve that attaches to said coupling housing such that said sleeve covers said pressure plates when the plug-in part is inserted into the receiving space, said protective sleeve including bendable wall sections that cover the pressure plates such that compressing said wall sections causes the pressure plates to release said plug-in part.

9. The releasable plug coupling according to claim 8 wherein the bendable wall sections include cross grooves that allow the wall sections to elastically bend against the pressure plates.