FR2933763A1 - Banjo type hydraulic connector for connecting e.g. coolant transfer tube to turbocompressor, has joints integrated to body, where one of joints is placed between lower surface of screw head and upper surface of body - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydraulic connection of banjo type for connecting a tube of a hydraulic circuit to a member of said circuit, comprising: - a body (1) comprising a radial bore (10) adapted to be connected to said tube, and a bore longitudinal shaft adapted for the passage of a screw (2), - a screw (2) adapted to pass into the body (1), having a thread (23) adapted to be screwed into said member (5), the screw comprising a radial bore (24) communicating with a longitudinal bore (23) opening into the member, - a first seal (3) between the lower face (201) of the head (20) of the screw (2) and an upper face (20). 101) of the body (1), - a second seal (4) between a lower face (102) of the body (2) and an upper face (501) of the member (5), and in which at least one said seals (3, 4) are integral with the body (1). The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a coupling.

Description

HYDRAULIC CONNECTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a banjo type hydraulic connection. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Banjo type hydraulic fittings are widely used in the automotive industry to connect a tube of a hydraulic circuit (for example, bringing a brake fluid, a coolant, etc.) to a member intended to be fed by this liquid (for example, a turbocharger, a hydraulic pump, etc.). For this purpose, the banjo type connections are typically in the form of a body pierced with a radial bore and adapted to be connected to the tube of the hydraulic circuit, the body being pierced with a longitudinal bore allowing the passage 15 a hollow screw adapted to be screwed into the body. The hollow screw has at the end of the rod opposite the head, a thread for screwing into the body. The screw furthermore has a radial bore which, when the screw is screwed into the body through the body, is in the extension of the radial bore of the body, and a longitudinal bore pierced between the radial bore and opening at the end of the screw shank. To ensure the tightness of the connection and prevent the screw from being unscrewed by the vibrations of the body, two joints are placed on either side of the body: one between the screw head and the body, the other between the body and the organ. Since the seals are made of a material which is less hard than that of the body, the screw and the body, they absorb the vibrations and avoid unscrewing. Such connectors have already been the subject of publications, such as US Patent 6,685,232 for example. In this document, the hydraulic coupling comprises a body having a nozzle for connecting a tube of a braking circuit, a hollow screw 30 having a radial bore communicating on the one hand with the end of the body and on the other hand part with a longitudinal bore provided in the rod of the screw and opening into a brake caliper. Two joints are provided on the one hand between the screw head and the body and on the other hand between the body and the brake caliper.

To simplify the assembly, the two joints are connected by a connecting portion and therefore constitute a single piece. Furthermore, the seal located on the side of the screw head has a bent tongue coming to cover a radial rib of the screw head, thus avoiding any unscrewing once the connector is assembled.

However, this device does not guarantee the impermeability of the joints before assembly. It also requires intervention of the operator who must position the body on the body, position the joints concentrically with respect to the longitudinal bore of the body, and finally screw the screw into the body.

But it is delicate manual operations because of the small size of the parts to handle (10 to 20 mm in diameter), and penalizing from the point of view of the assembly time. Moreover, there is a risk that the operator screws the hollow screw on the body through the body omitting the joints, which would cause leakage at the connection. A first object of the invention is therefore to provide a hydraulic connection of the banjo type for simplified assembly and ensuring in particular the seal of the cap and their good positioning relative to the body. However, the seals must be disassembled to be changed during repair or maintenance of the fitting. Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing such a connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a hydraulic connection of the banjo type for connecting a tube of a hydraulic circuit to a member of said circuit, comprising: a body comprising a radial bore adapted to be connected to said tube and a longitudinal bore adapted for the passage of a screw, a screw adapted to pass into the body, having a thread adapted to be screwed into said member, the screw comprising a radial bore communicating with a longitudinal bore opening into the member a first seal between the lower face of the head of the screw and an upper face of the body, a second seal between a lower face of the body and an upper face of the body. The coupling is characterized in that one at least one of said seals is integral with the body. Particularly advantageously, at least one of said seals has at least one tongue crimped on the body, for example three tabs distributed at 120 ° intervals on its periphery and crimped on the body. According to a variant, at least one of said seals has a flange crimped on the body. The joints are made of copper or aluminum. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first seal further comprises at least one tongue crimped on the head of the screw. Another object of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a banjo type hydraulic connection for connecting a tube of a hydraulic circuit to a member of said circuit, said coupling comprising: a body comprising a radial bore capable of being connected to said tube, and a longitudinal bore adapted for the passage of a screw, a screw adapted to pass into the body, having a thread adapted to be screwed into said member, the screw comprising a radial bore communicating with a longitudinal bore opening into the member, a first seal between the lower face of the screw head and an upper face of the body, a second seal between a lower face of the body and an upper face of the member, said method being characterized in that it comprises the joining of at least one of said seals on the body.

Particularly advantageously, at least one of said seals has at least one tongue or flange and the method comprises crimping said tongue or flange on the body. More preferably, the method further comprises crimping at least one tongue of the first seal on the head of the screw.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connection according to the invention, FIG. presents a front view and a sectional view of said coupling, FIG. 3 illustrates a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the hydraulic connection shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a body 1 which, in this example, has a substantially cylindrical shape. The body 1 comprises a radial bore 10 which is capable of being connected by brazing, crimping or screwing, to a tube of the hydraulic circuit (not shown).

It further comprises a longitudinal bore adapted for the passage of a screw 2. In a manner known per se, the screw 2 which is intended to cooperate with the body 1 to fix the tube on a member of a hydraulic circuit comprises a head 20 and a rod having at its end opposite the head 20 a threaded portion 21 for screwing into the member (shown partially in 5 in the sectional view of Figure 2). In the illustrated example, the head of the screw has a hexagonal hollow end for the introduction of a screwing tool. Of course, the head may be different without departing from the scope of the present invention. The diameter of the rod is adapted to the internal diameter of the longitudinal bore of the body 1. The screw 2 has, on the other hand, a longitudinal bore 23 and a radial bore 24 communicating and which cooperate with the radial bore 10 of the body 1 of the so that when the screw 2 is screwed into the body through the body 1, the tube communicates with the radial bore 24 of the screw. When the connection is assembled, the connection of the tube with the member is ensured: the circulation of the fluid from the tube towards the member takes place successively in the radial bore 10 of the body 1, in the radial bore 24 of the screw and in the longitudinal bore 23 of the screw, which opens into a bore provided in the member 5. To seal this connection, there are two seals 3 and 4. A first seal 3 is disposed between the lower face 201 of the screw head 20 and an upper face 101 of the body 1 and a second seal 4 is disposed between the upper surface 501 of the member 5 and a lower face 102 of the body 1.

The joints are made of a material that is less hard than that of the body, the screw and the member, so that they make it possible to absorb the vibrations imposed on the connection and to avoid unscrewing the screw during operation. By way of example, the joints are made of copper or aluminum and have a thickness of 1.5 mm. This thickness may vary depending on the quality of the material used.

Particularly advantageously, at least one of the joints, but preferably both, is secured to the body 1 by means of one or more tongues 30, 40 which are crimped onto the body. Any suitable tool, such as a clamp, may be employed, but for mass production a crimping tool will advantageously be used. In the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the joints 3 and 4 have an annular shape and each have a plurality of tabs distributed around their periphery, for example three tongues arranged at 120 ° from each other. To promote the retention of the tongues 30 and 40 on the body 1, the longitudinal face 103 (104) of the body on which they are crimped is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the body so as to form an undercut preventing a detaching the tongues by sliding. Thus, before the use of the coupling, the joints 3 and 4 are integral with the body 1, which avoids any risk of loss.

Furthermore, during assembly of the connector and the connection of the tube on the body, the manual operation is simplified since it avoids the manipulation of small joints. Finally, the fact that the seals are crimped on the body allows disassembly, during a maintenance operation, without requiring the use of a specific tool, and their replacement if they are damaged, which avoids replacing the whole body. According to a particular embodiment of the coupling, the body 1 comprises an indexing shim 11, which facilitates the orientation of the body and the tube relative to the body. Referring to Figure 3, is possible to secure the body, the screw and the joints by integrating the seal 3 located under the head of the screw a tongue 31 long enough to be crimped on the screw head partially overlapping the top. This crimping operation is performed once the fitting is in place and the screw 2 screwed into the member 5. This configuration avoids accidental unscrewing of the screw. According to a variant, illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, one and / or the other of the joints 3 and 4 has, instead of one or more tongues, a continuous peripheral flange 32 (respectively 42) crimped onto the body 1. This variant can simplify the process of making the seal and its crimping on the body 1. Finally, it will be understood that the illustrations of the connector are given as an example and that the invention covers all other possible forms. for the body, the screw and the seals. 25

Claims (4)

REVENDICATIONS1. A banjo type hydraulic coupling for connecting a tube of a hydraulic circuit to a member of said circuit, comprising: a body (1) comprising a radial bore (10) adapted to be connected to said tube, and a longitudinal bore adapted for the passage of a screw (2), a screw (2) adapted to pass into the body (1), having a thread (23) adapted to be screwed into said member (5), the screw comprising a radial bore (24) communicating with a longitudinal bore (23) opening into the member, a first seal (3) between the lower face (201) of the head (20) of the screw (2) and an upper face (101) of the body (1), a second seal (4) between a lower face (102) of the body (2) and an upper face (501) of the member (5), said coupling being characterized in that at least one of said seals (3) 4) is integral with the body (1). 2. Hydraulic connection according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said seal (3, 4) has at least one tongue (30, 40) crimped on the body 20 (1). 3. Hydraulic coupling according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of said seals (3, 4) comprises three tabs (30, 40) distributed at 120 ° intervals on its periphery and crimped on the body (1). 4. Hydraulic connection according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first seal (3) further comprises at least one tongue (31) crimped on the head (20) of the screw (2). . Hydraulic coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said seals (3, 4) has a flange (32, 42) crimped onto the body (1). 6. Hydraulic coupling according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seals (3, 4) are copper or aluminum. A method of manufacturing a banjo type hydraulic connector for connecting a tube of a hydraulic circuit to a member of said circuit, said coupling comprising: a body (1) comprising a radial bore (10) adapted to be connected to said tube, and a longitudinal bore adapted for the passage of a screw (2), a screw (2) adapted to pass into the body (1), having a thread (23) adapted to be screwed into said member (5), the screw comprising a radial bore (24) communicating with a longitudinal bore (23) opening into the member, a first seal (3) between the lower face (201) of the head (20) of the screw (2) and a upper face (101) of the body (1), a second seal (4) between a lower face (102) of the body (2) and an upper face (501) of the member (5), said method being characterized in that it comprises the securing of at least one of said seals (3, 4) on the body (1). 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one of said seals (3, 4) has at least one tongue (30, 40) or flange (32, 42) and that said method comprises crimping said tab (30, 40) or said flange () on the body (1). 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises crimping at least one tongue (31) of the first seal (3) on the head (20) of the screw (2).