Coupling device for a tube
A coupling device includes a hollow body defining a housing having an opening, a locking ring arranged in the housing and intended to engage with an inserted tube, a first stop, a cartridge against which the tube is intended to abut in order to impose a connection state on the cartridge, and a spring exerting a force against the cartridge. The cartridge can slide between a first and a second position. The passage of the cartridge from the second position the first position causes the locking ring to abut against the first stop, and the passage of the cartridge from the first position to the second position places the locking ring at a distance from the first stop.
1 . A coupling device for a tube, comprising:
a hollow body defining a housing having an opening configured to receive a tube therein in a sliding manner along an insertion direction, the housing being delimited by an inner surface of the hollow body having a rotational symmetry about a main axis parallel to the insertion direction;
a locking ring arranged in the housing coaxially with the direction of insertion and configured to be in engagement with a tube inserted into the housing;
a first stop arranged in the housing upstream of the locking ring in the direction of insertion and against which the ring is capable of abutting;
a cartridge against which the tube, already engaged with the locking ring and inserted by a predetermined length, abuts upon insertion of the tube to impose on the cartridge a connection state, the cartridge in the connection state being able to slide between a first position and a second position to accompany the sliding of the tube engaged with the locking ring, the passage of the cartridge from the second position to the first position forcing the tube to slide in an extraction direction, opposite to the insertion direction, to abut the locking ring against the first stop, while the passage of the cartridge from the first position to the second position allows a sliding of the tube in the insertion direction to place the locking ring at a distance from the first stop, the cartridge comprising a sleeve extending from a free end in the direction of insertion, the sleeve guiding the tube during insertion of the tube into the housing, the cartridge configured to be held by at least one locking feature in a locked state in which any sliding of the cartridge toward the second position is prohibited, the passage from the locked state to the connection state being induced by the insertion, in the direction of insertion, of a length of tube equal to the predetermined length; and
a spring exerting a force against the cartridge in the direction of extraction to force the cartridge, in the connection state, to adopt the first position.
2 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature comprises a second stop and a flexible lever, the second stop being formed on the inner surface, the flexible lever, supported by the sleeve, extending divergently with respect to the sleeve and comprising a blocking end configured to abut the second stop when the cartridge is in the locked state, the flexible lever configured to bend convergently inside the sleeve during insertion of the tube to position the blocking end so as to be set back from the second stop.
3 . The coupling device of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve comprises an end stop opposite the free end thereof, against which stop the tube abuts upon insertion of a length of the tube at least equal to the predetermined length.
4 . The coupling device of claim 3 , wherein the cartridge comprises a liner mechanically secured to the sleeve via an end of the sleeve opposite the free end, the liner comprising a flange against which the spring exerts a force on the cartridge.
5 . The coupling device of claim 4 , wherein the cartridge comprises a lug that, when the cartridge is in the locked state, is located in a slot of the locking ring to impose a stress thereon, resulting in a spacing greater than a spacing in the free state of the locking ring.
6 . The coupling device of claim 5 , further comprising a dust cover ring in the opening upstream of the first stop in the direction of insertion.
7 . The coupling device of claim 6 , further comprising an O-ring in the housing upstream of the first stop in the direction of insertion.
8 . The coupling device of claim 7 , wherein the first stop forms a ring at least partially embedded in the dust cover ring.
9 . The coupling device of claim 8 , further comprising another O-ring downstream of the locking ring in the direction of insertion.
10 . The coupling device of claim 9 , wherein the inner surface of the hollow body comprises an abutment shoulder against which the spring bears.
11 . The coupling device of claim 6 , wherein the dust cover ring is engaged with the hollow body by way of a snap-fitting.
12 . The coupling device of claim 6 , wherein the first stop forms a ring at least partially embedded in the dust cover ring.
13 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a liner mechanically secured to the sleeve via an end of the sleeve opposite the free end, the liner comprising a flange against which the spring exerts a force on the cartridge.
14 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge comprises a lug that, when the cartridge is in the locked state, is located in a slot of the locking ring to impose a stress thereon, resulting in a spacing greater than a spacing in the free state of the locking ring.
15 . The coupling device of claim 1 , further comprising a dust cover ring in the opening upstream of the first stop in the direction of insertion.
16 . The coupling device of claim 15 , further comprising an O-ring in the housing upstream of the first stop in the direction of insertion.
17 . The coupling device of claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring downstream of the locking ring in the direction of insertion.
18 . The coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the hollow body comprises an abutment shoulder against which the spring bears.