Secure tube coupling with automatic connection

Abstract

A tube coupling including a female connector a body into which a male connector having an annular collar is inserted axially, and a connection element is provided. The connection element extends in a transverse direction within the body of the female connector. The connection element is designed to interfere mechanically with the collar during insertion of the male connector and to move transversely of its own accord towards the inside of the female connector. The connection element includes a locking hook that cooperates with a locking catch provided in the female connector. The hook goes past the catch as a result of the mechanical interference of the collar that drives axial and radial elastic deformation of the connection element. The hook locks against the catch when the connection element is fully pushed into the female connector.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tube coupling that is adapted to be connected to a male connector, the tube coupling comprising:
 a female connector having a body defining an orifice, and  
 a male connector having an annular collar which is designed to be inserted into the orifice of the female connector along an axial direction, and 
 a connection element that, when inserted into said body of said female connector, extends along a transverse direction in a recess in said body of said female connector and that is deformed elastically radially towards an outside of said female connector by mechanical interference with said an annular collar of a male connector during said an insertion of said the male connector into said female connector and, in reaction to said radial elastic deformation, springs back along said transverse direction towards the inside of said female connector, said connection element comprising at least one locking hook, the at least one locking hook closing on at least one locking catch provided in said body of said female connector in a locking position when said connection element is fully inserted into said body of said female connector, 
 wherein said connection element and said body of said female connector have a first position wherein said at least one locking hook is above said at least one locking catch in said transverse direction and initially projected axially into said body of said female connector, an intermediate position wherein said connection element is axially, radially and elastically deformed and said at least one locking hook is, in the transverse direction, at a same level as said at least one locking catch, and a closure position wherein a part of said at least one locking hook is placed below said at least one locking catch in the transverse direction so as to prevent an upwards displacement of said at least one locking hook in said transverse direction, 
 wherein the tube coupling is arranged so that said connection element and said body of said female connector achieve said first position before said intermediate position, and said connection element and said body of said female connector achieve said intermediate position before said closure position when said the male connector is inserted into said female connector, 
 wherein said connection element is in the form of two forks, with a first U-shaped fork forming a lock for said collar and a second U-shaped fork forming a yoke, said forks being connected together at bases of the U-shapes, said second U-shaped fork having two branches, each branch provided with one of said at least one locking hook extending in the transverse direction and with an opening facing radially towards an inside of the orifice in the body of the female connector, wherein a front interference face of each branch is formed by an oblique surface that slopes relative to said axial direction and that is arranged below a middle of said axial orifice of said female connector in order to interfere with the annular collar of the male connector. 
 
     
     
       2. A coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein said connection element is in the form of two forks, with a first U-shaped fork forming a lock for said collar and a second U-shaped fork forming a yoke, said forks being connected together at bases of the U-shapes, said second U-shaped fork having two branches, each branch provided with one of said at least one locking hook extending in the transverse direction and with an opening facing radially towards an inside of the orifice in the body of the female connector. 
     
     
       3. A coupling according to claim  2  1, wherein before said connection element and said body of said female connector achieve said intermediate position, said opening of each of said at least one locking hook is located above a respective locking catch of said at least one locking catch, and in said closure position, each of said at least one locking catch forms an abutment for each of said at least one locking hook, and in said recess of said body of said female connector each of said at least one locking catch is arranged in a clearance zone configured so that each locking hook can move axially therein. 
     
     
       4. A coupling according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said at least one locking hook of said connection element is provided with a retaining finger that prevents said connection element from moving transversely in said clearance zone inside said recess of said female connector. 
     
     
       5. A coupling according to  claim 2 , wherein a front interference face of each branch is formed by an oblique surface that slopes relative to said axial direction and that is arranged below a middle of said axial orifice of said female connector in order to interfere with said collar of said male connector. 
     
     
       6. A tube coupling according to  claim 3 , that is adapted to be connected to a male connector, the tube coupling comprising:
 a female connector having a body defining an orifice, and 
 a connection element that, when inserted into said body of said female connector, extends along a transverse direction in a recess in said body of said female connector and that is deformed elastically radially towards an outside of said female connector by mechanical interference with an annular collar of a male connector during an insertion of the male connector into said female connector and, in reaction to said radial elastic deformation, springs back along said transverse direction towards the inside of said female connector, said connection element comprising at least one locking hook, the at least one locking hook closing on at least one locking catch provided in said body of said female connector in a locking position when said connection element is fully inserted into said body of said female connector, 
 wherein said connection element and said body of said female connector have a first position wherein said at least one locking hook is above said at least one locking catch in said transverse direction and initially projected axially into said body of said female connector, an intermediate position wherein said connection element is axially, radially and elastically deformed and said at least one locking hook is, in the transverse direction, at a same level as said at least one locking catch, and a closure position wherein a part of said at least one locking hook is placed below said at least one locking catch in the transverse direction so as to prevent an upwards displacement of said at least one locking hook in said transverse direction, 
 wherein the tube coupling is arranged so that said connection element and said body of said female connector achieve said first position before said intermediate position, and said connection element and said body of said female connector achieve said intermediate position before said closure position when the male connector is inserted into said female connector, 
 wherein said connection element is in the form of two forks, with a first U-shaped fork forming a lock for said collar and a second U-shaped fork forming a yoke, said forks being connected together at bases of the U-shapes, said second U-shaped fork having two branches, each branch provided with one of said at least one locking hook extending in the transverse direction and with an opening facing radially towards an inside of the orifice in the body of the female connector, 
 wherein before said connection element and said body of said female connector achieve said intermediate position, said opening of each of said at least one locking hook is located above a respective locking catch of said at least one locking catch, and in said closure position, each of said at least one locking catch forms an abutment for each of said at least one locking hook, and in said recess of said body of said female connector each of said at least one locking catch is arranged in a clearance zone configured so that each locking hook can move axially therein, 
 wherein each branch of said connection element has a back face opposite from an interference front face, which back face is provided with a peg whereby said connection element bears against said body of said female connector in order to force said branch to twist under an effect of said the mechanical interference of said the annular collar of the male connector against said connection element. 
 
     
     
       7. A coupling according to  claim 1 , wherein when said connection element is fully inserted into said recess of said female connector, said connection element is flush with an outside surface of said body of said female connector, and in this position said connection element masks a visual indicator for verifying proper assembly that is applied to said connection element. 
     
     
       8. A coupling according  claim 1 , further comprising a clip designed to be inserted in said connection element when said connection element is fully inserted in said body of said female connector, said clip serving as an indicator for verifying that said coupling is properly assembled. 
     
     
       9. A coupling according  claim 1 , wherein said connection element moves automatically inside said female connector. 
     
     
       10. A tube coupling that is adapted to be connected to a male connector, the tube coupling comprising:
 a female connector including a body, the body defining an axial opening and a radial opening that is transverse to the axial opening, the body including a first locking catch and a second locking catch within the radial opening;   a connection element including a first flexible branch and a second flexible branch, the first flexible branch including a first locking hook at a first terminal end thereof, and the second flexible branch including a second locking hook at a second terminal end thereof;   wherein the connection element is positionable in the radial opening of the female connector in a pre-assembly position, an intermediate position, and a locking position;   wherein, in the pre-assembly position, the first and second locking hooks of the connection element are positioned above the first and second locking catches, such that movement of the connection element into the radial opening is obstructed by the first and second locking catches;   wherein, in the intermediate position, the first and second flexible branches are axially and radially deformed in response to engagement of an annular collar of a male connector with the first and second flexible branches, and the first and second locking hooks are, in a transverse insertion direction, at a same level as the first and second locking catches;   wherein, in the locking position, the first and second locking hooks engage the first and second locking catches, respectively, to prevent displacement of the connection element from the radial opening in the body of the female connector;   wherein the connection element is operable to transition from the pre-assembly position to the intermediate position in response to a mechanical interference of the annular collar of the male connector with the first and second flexible branches of the connection element;   wherein the connection element is further operable to transition from the intermediate position to the locking position by deflection of the first and second flexible branches around the annular collar of the male connector which causes the connection element to automatically move within the radial recess of the female connector in the transverse insertion direction; and   wherein each of the first and second flexible branches includes an oblique surface that is sloped relative to an axial direction of the female connector to interfere with the annular collar of the male connector.   
     
     
       11. A tube coupling according to claim 10, wherein the connection element includes a first U-shaped fork and a second U-shaped fork, the second U-shaped fork including the first and second flexible branches, the first and second U-shaped forks being axially offset from each other and integrally joined together. 
     
     
       12. A tube coupling according to claim 10, wherein the first and second locking hooks of the connection element each include a retaining finger that prevents the connection element from moving transversely in the radial opening of the body of the female connector. 
     
     
       13. A tube coupling that is adapted to be connected to a male connector, the tube coupling comprising:
 a female connector including a body, the body defining an axial opening and a radial opening that is transverse to the axial opening, the body including a first locking catch and a second locking catch within the radial opening;   a connection element including a first flexible branch and a second flexible branch, the first flexible branch including a first locking hook at a first terminal end thereof, and the second flexible branch including a second locking hook at a second terminal end thereof;   wherein the connection element is positionable in the radial opening of the female connector in a pre-assembly position, an intermediate position, and a locking position;   wherein, in the pre-assembly position, the first and second locking hooks of the connection element are positioned above the first and second locking catches, such that movement of the connection element into the radial opening is obstructed by the first and second locking catches;   wherein, in the intermediate position, the first and second flexible branches are axially and radially deformed in response to engagement of an annular collar of a male connector with the first and second flexible branches, and the first and second locking hooks are, in a transverse insertion direction, at a same level as the first and second locking catches;   wherein, in the locking position, the first and second locking hooks engage the first and second locking catches, respectively, to prevent displacement of the connection element from the radial opening in the body of the female connector;   wherein the connection element is operable to transition from the pre-assembly position to the intermediate position in response to a mechanical interference of the annular collar of the male connector with the first and second flexible branches of the connection element;   wherein the connection element is further operable to transition from the intermediate position to the locking position by deflection of the first and second flexible branches around the annular collar of the male connector which causes the connection element to automatically move within the radial recess of the female connector in the transverse insertion direction; and   wherein each of the first and second flexible branches includes a back face opposite of a front interference face, the back face including a peg whereby the connection element bears against an interior of the female connector in order to force the first and second flexible branches to twist under an effect of the mechanical interference of the annular collar of the male connector with the first and second flexible branches of the connection element.   
     
     
       14. A tube coupling according to claim 10 wherein, in the locking position, the connection element is flush with an outside surface of the body of the female connector, and in this position the connection element masks a visual indicator for verifying proper assembly. 
     
     
       15. A tube coupling that is adapted to be connected to a male connector, the tube coupling comprising:
 a female connector including a body, the body defining an axial opening and a radial opening that is transverse to the axial opening, the body including a first locking catch and a second locking catch within the radial opening;   a connection element including a first flexible branch and a second flexible branch, the first flexible branch including a first locking hook at a first terminal end thereof, and the second flexible branch including a second locking hook at a second terminal end thereof;   wherein the connection element is positionable in the radial opening of the female connector in a pre-assembly position, an intermediate position, and a locking position;   wherein, in the pre-assembly position, the first and second locking hooks of the connection element are positioned above the first and second locking catches, such that movement of the connection element into the radial opening is obstructed by the first and second locking catches;   wherein, in the intermediate position, the first and second flexible branches are axially and radially deformed in response to engagement of an annular collar of a male connector with the first and second flexible branches, and the first and second locking hooks are, in a transverse insertion direction, at a same level as the first and second locking catches;   wherein, in the locking position, the first and second locking hooks engage the first and second locking catches, respectively, to prevent displacement of the connection element from the radial opening in the body of the female connector;   wherein the connection element is operable to transition from the pre-assembly position to the intermediate position in response to a mechanical interference of the annular collar of the male connector with the first and second flexible branches of the connection element;   wherein the connection element is further operable to transition from the intermediate position to the locking position by deflection of the first and second flexible branches around the annular collar of the male connector which causes the connection element to automatically move within the radial recess of the female connector in the transverse insertion direction; and   further comprising a clip to be inserted in the connection element when the connection element is in the locking position, the clip being an indicator for verifying that the coupling is properly assembly.