Fastening system and method for connecting a pipe for flowable media to an apparatus

The present invention relates to a fastening system for connect ing a pipe for flowable media to an apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a fastening system for connect ing a gas pipe to a gas burner assembly. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus connected or connectable to at least one pipe, in particular a gas burner assembly connected or connectable to at least one gas pipe. Moreover, the present in vention relates to a gas cooking appliance. Additionally, the present invention relates to a method for connecting the pipe for flowable media to the apparatus, in particular for connect ing the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly and/or to the gas valve.

A fastening system for connecting a pipe for flowable media to an apparatus requires several elements for a reliable connection between the pipe and the apparatus. Usually, several steps are necessary for connecting the pipe to the apparatus. For example, the connection of a gas pipe to a gas burner assembly is often very complex.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastening system for connecting a pipe for flowable media to an apparatus, wherein said pipe is reliably connectable to the apparatus by a simple way.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the fastening system according to claim 1. According to the present invention a fastening system for con necting a pipe for flowable media to an apparatus is provided, wherein : the fastening system comprises the pipe, - the fastening system comprises a support device provided for receiving an end portion of the pipe, said support device is a part of the apparatus or a compo nent of said apparatus, the end portion of the pipe includes a widening enclosing said pipe, the support device includes an opening for receiving the widening of the pipe, the support device includes at least one protrusion arranged beside the opening and extending away from the support de vice and parallel to the pipe connected to said support de vice, and the fastening system comprises a fastening element connecta ble or connected to the protrusion, so that the fastening element and the protrusion enclose the pipe.

The core of the present invention is that the pipe is connecta ble to the apparatus by only two linear movements. At first, the end portion of the pipe is moved into the opening of the support device. Then, the fastening element is connected to the protru- sion by a linear movement. In particular, the fastening element is moved perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. These two steps allow an automatic connecting of the pipe to the apparatus and the fastening element to the protrusion. The support device in cluding the protrusion and the opening can be manufactured di- rectly by a die-casting process, so that further production steps are not required. Preferably, the widening of the pipe is secured or fixable within the opening of the support device by the fastening ele ment. The fastening element keeps the widening of the pipe within the opening of the support device. For example, the wid- ening is a sleeve or ring enclosing the pipe and attached at said pipe. Alternatively, the pipe and the widening are formed as a single-piece part.

In particular, the fastening element is formed as a U-shaped spring element, wherein preferably said U-shaped spring element is bent from a leaf spring. Alternatively, the fastening element may be formed as a U-shaped clip element, wherein preferably said U-shaped clip element is bent from a ring-shaped element, so that the U-shaped clip element includes two parallel U-shaped clips spaced from each other and connected to each other at both ends of said U-shaped clip element. For example, the fastening element is made of metal, preferably spring steel. Alterna tively, the fastening element may be made of plastics or metal sheet.

Further, the fastening element is connectable or connected to the protrusion by at least one snap-in mechanism. The snap-in mechanism simplifies the automatic connecting of the pipe to the apparatus .

For example, the snap-in mechanism includes at least two snap-in noses and at least two corresponding recesses, wherein prefera bly said snap-in noses and recesses are arranged at or in the fastening element and protrusion, respectively.

Alternatively, the snap-in mechanism may include at least two snap-in edges and at least two complementary snap-in edges, wherein preferably said snap-in edges are arranged at end por tions of the fastening element and said complementary snap-in edges are arranged at the protrusion. Moreover, the support device may include a channel extending from the opening into the interior of said support device. In this case, the opening of the support device may be a widening of said channel. Additionally, the pipe may include an end piece arranged between the widening and the end of said pipe, wherein preferably said end piece is received or receivable by the channel of the sup port device. Preferably, the widening and end piece of the pipe on the one hand and the opening and channel of the support de vice on the other hand are complementary to each other.

Furthermore, the fastening system may comprise at least one gas ket arranged or arrangeable between the widening of the pipe and the opening of the support device. Preferably, said gasket en- closes the end piece of the pipe. The gasket allows a seal be tween the pipe and the support device.

For example, the gasket is an elastic O-ring, wherein preferably said gasket is squeezed between the widening of the pipe and the opening of the support device in the mounted state of said pipe.

In particular, the fastening system is provided for connecting a gas pipe to a gas burner assembly, wherein the support device is a part of the gas burner assembly or a component of said gas burner assembly. Preferably, the support device is a part of an injector holder. Further, the support device may be a part of an orifice holder or a gas valve. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus connected or connectable to at least one pipe, in particular a gas burner assembly connected or connectable to at least one gas pipe, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one fastening system mentioned above, wherein the support device is a part of the ap paratus or of a component of said apparatus.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a gas cooking appli ance comprising at least one burner assembly and/or at least one fastening system mentioned above.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for con necting a pipe for flowable media to an apparatus, comprising the steps of: - receiving an end portion of the pipe by a support device be ing part of the apparatus or a component of said apparatus, wherein a widening enclosing the pipe is received by an opening of said support device, and connecting a fastening element to a protrusion arranged be- side the opening and extending away from the support device and parallel to the pipe, so that the fastening element and the protrusion enclose the pipe.

Preferably, the method comprises a first step of arranging a gasket at the end portion of the pipe before said end portion is received by the support device, wherein preferably said gasket encloses an end piece arranged between the widening and the end of said pipe. In particular, the method is provided for at least one fastening system, at least one apparatus and/or at least one gas cooking appliance mentioned above. Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a fastening system for connecting a gas pipe to a gas burner assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the fastening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner as sembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the fas tening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the fastening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner as sembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 5 illustrates a further schematic perspective view of the fastening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 6 illustrates a detailed schematic perspective view of the fastening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG 7 illustrates a schematic perspective sideview of the fas tening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 8 illustrates a schematic sectional perspective view of the fastening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 9 illustrates a further schematic perspective sideview of the fastening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 10 illustrates a schematic sideview of the fastening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present inven- tion, and

FIG 11 illustrates a schematic sectional sideview of the fas- tening system for connecting the gas pipe to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a fastening system 10 for connecting a gas pipe 12 to a gas burner assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In general, the fastening system 10 according to the present inven tion is provided for connecting an arbitrary pipe for flowable media to a corresponding apparatus. The fastening system 10 comprises the gas pipe 12 and a support device 14. Said support device 14 belongs to the gas burner as sembly. Preferably, the support device 14 is an integrated part of the gas burner assembly or a component of said gas burner as- sembly. For example, the support device 14 is an integrated part of an injector holder of the gas burner assembly.

An end portion of the gas pipe 12 includes a widening 16. Said widening 16 is a cylindrical pipe section and axially symmetric relating to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. The widen ing 16 of the gas pipe 12 is received by an opening 28 of the support device 14. Said opening 28 is a widening of a gas chan nel 30 inside the support device 14. Substantially, said opening 28 has the same shape as the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. The inner diameter of the opening 28 of the support device 14 is marginally bigger than the outer diameter of the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 of the support device 14 by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longitudinal axis.

The gas pipe 12 is secured at the support device 14 by a fas tening element 20. In this example, the fastening element 20 is formed as a U-shaped spring element. The support device 14 in cludes a protrusion 22 arranged beneath or besides the opening 28. Said protrusion 22 extends away from the opening 28 and par allel to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. The fastening element 20 and the protrusion 22 enclose the gas pipe 12 in front of the opening 28. The fastening element 20 is fixed to the protrusion 22 by a snap-in mechanism. In this embodiment, the fastening element 20 includes two recesses 26, while the protrusion 22 includes two corresponding snap-in noses 24. Al ternatively, the fastening element 20 may include two snap-in noses, while the protrusion 22 may include two corresponding re cesses. Further, the fastening element 20 may include one recess 26 and one snap-in nose 24 at opposite sides, while the protru sion 22 may complementary include one snap-in nose 24 and one recess 26 at opposite sides. In the latter case, the fastening element 20 and the protrusion 22 form a poka-yoke system. Said poka-yoke system ensures that the fastening element 20 is fixa ble by only one way at the protrusion 22. The poka-yoke system prevents a wrong fixation of the fastening element 20 at the protrusion 22. The protrusion 22 includes a broadened end portion 23. Said broadened end portion 23 supports the fastening element 20, so that the fastening element 20 is reliably aligned at the widen ing 16 of the gas pipe 12. In this example, the broadened end portion 23 supports the end portions of said fastening element 20.

The fastening element 20 is fixable at the protrusion 22 by mov ing said fastening element 20 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12 and towards said protrusion 22. In this example, the fastening element 20 is fixable at the protrusion 22 by a downward movement of the fastening element 20.

The fastening element 20 holds the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 within the opening 28 of the support device 14, so that the gas pipe 12 is reliably connected to the support device 14. At first, the end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 of the support device 14 by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longitudinal axis. Then, the fastening element 20 is fixed at the protrusion 22 by the downward movement of said fas- tening element 20. FIG 2 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the fastening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner as sembly according to the first embodiment of the present inven tion.

The fastening system 10 comprises the gas pipe 12 and the sup port device 14. For example, said support device 14 is an inte grated part of the injector holder of the gas burner assembly. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 includes the widening 16 formed as cylindrical pipe section. Said widening 16 is axially symmetric relating to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. Thus, the gas pipe 12 is insertable into the opening 28 of the support device 14 in an arbitrary angle relating to the longitu- dinal axis of said gas pipe 12. The opening 28 of the support device 14 has substantially the same shape as the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 of the support device 14 by only moving said gas pipe 12 along its longitudinal axis.

The gas pipe 12 is secured at the support device 14 by the fas tening element 20 formed as the U-shaped spring element. The support device 14 includes the protrusion 22 arranged beneath or besides the opening 28. Said protrusion 22 extends away from the opening 28 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. The fastening element 20 and the protrusion 22 enclose the gas pipe 12 in front of the opening 28. The fastening element 20 is fixed to the protrusion 22 by the snap-in mechanism. In this example, the snap-in mechanism includes two recesses 24 in the end portions of the fastening element 20 and two corresponding snap-in noses 26 at the protrusion 22 of the support device 14. The broadened end portion 23 of the protrusion 22 supports the fastening element 20, so that the fastening element 20 is relia bly aligned at the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. In this exam ple, the broadened end portion 23 supports the end portions of said fastening element 20.

The fastening element 20 is fixable at the protrusion 22 by the movement of said fastening element 20 perpendicular to the lon gitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. In this example, the fas- tening element 20 is fixable at the protrusion 22 by the down ward movement of the fastening element 20.

The fastening element 20 secures the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 within the opening 28 of the support device 14, so that the gas pipe 12 is reliably connected to the support device 14. Af ter the end portion of the gas pipe 12 has been inserted into the opening 16 of the support device 14 by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longitudinal axis, the fastening element 20 is fixed at the protrusion 22 by the downward movement of said fas- tening element 20.

FIG 3 illustrates a schematic sectional side view of the fas tening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The fastening system 10 comprises the gas pipe 12 and the sup port device 14. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 includes the widening 16 formed as cylindrical pipe section and axially sym- metric relating to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. Further, the gas pipe 12 includes an end piece 18 arranged be tween the end of said gas pipe 12 and the widening 16. In this example, the end piece 18 has the same diameter as the rest of the gas pipe 12 except the widening 16. The support device 14 includes the opening 28 and the gas chan nel 30. The opening 28 is arranged at the end of the gas channel 30. The opening 28 is a widening of said gas channel 30. The opening 28 and a part of the gas channel 30 are complementary to the end piece 18 and the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. In this example, the end piece 18 and the opening 28 of the support de vice 14 as well as the end piece 18 and the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 are axially symmetric relating to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12 and gas channel 30. Thus, the end piece 18 and the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 are insertable into the opening 28 and gas channel 30, respectively, of the support device 14 in an arbitrary angle relating to the longitudinal axis of said gas pipe 12 and gas channel 30. The opening 28 and the gas channel 30 of the support device 14 have substantially the same shapes as the widening 16 and the end piece 18, respec tively, of the gas pipe 12. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 and gas channel 30 of the sup port device 14 only by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longi- tudinal axis.

Further, the fastening system 10 comprises a gasket 32 arranged between the gas pipe 12 and the support device 14. In this exam ple, said gasket 32 is formed as an elastic O-ring. The gasket 32 encloses the end piece 18 of the gas pipe 12 and is squeezed between the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 and the opening 28 of the support device 14. The dashed lines in FIG 3 indicate the original cross-section of the gasket 32. The gasket 32 allows a reliable seal between the gas pipe 12 and the support device 14.

The O-ring guarantees the sealing. The O-ring 32 encloses the gas pipe 12 and its outer side touches the opening 28 of the support device 14. The widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 allows some pivoting of said gas pipe 12. Mainly, the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 keep closed the space where the sealing element 32 is located. Further, the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 pre vents that the sealing element 32 is moved away from the support device 14.

FIG 4 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the fastening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner as sembly according to a second embodiment of the present inven tion.

The fastening system 10 comprises the gas pipe 12 and the sup port device 14, wherein said support device 14 belongs to the gas burner assembly. Preferably, the support device 14 is inte grated within the gas burner assembly or a component thereof. For example, the support device 14 is an integrated part of the injector holder of the gas burner assembly.

The end portion of the gas pipe 12 includes the widening 16 formed as cylindrical pipe section and axially symmetric relat- ing to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. The widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 is received by the opening 28 of the support device 14. Said opening 28 is the widening of the gas channel 30 inside the support device 14. Substantially, said opening 28 has the same shape as the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. The inner diameter of the opening 28 of the support device 14 is margin ally bigger than the outer diameter of the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 of the support device 14 by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longitudinal axis.

The gas pipe 12 is secured at the support device 14 by the fas tening element 20. In this embodiment, the fastening element 20 is formed as a U-shaped clip element. Said clip element 20 is bent from a ring-shaped element, so that the clip element in cludes two parallel U-shaped clips spaced from each other and connected to each other at both ends of said U-shaped clip ele ment 20. The support device 14 includes the protrusion 22 ar- ranged beneath or besides the opening 28. Said protrusion 22 ex tends away from the opening 28 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. The fastening element 20 and the pro trusion 22 enclose the gas pipe 12 in front of the opening 28. The fastening element 20 is fixed to the protrusion 22 by the snap-in mechanism. In this embodiment, the fastening element 20 includes two snap-in wedges 36 formed at the ends of the U- shaped clip element, while the protrusion 22 includes two corre sponding complementary snap-in wedges 34 arranged at opposite sides of said protrusion 22.

Also in this case, the snap-in wedges 36 of the fastening ele ment 20 and the snap-in wedges 34 of the protrusion 22 form a poka-yoke system. Said poka-yoke system ensures that the fas tening element 20 is fixable by only one way at the protrusion 22. The poka-yoke system prevents a wrong fixation of the fas tening element 20 at the protrusion 22.

The fastening element 20 is fixable at the protrusion 22 by mov ing said fastening element 20 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12 and towards said protrusion 22. Also in this embodiment, the fastening element 20 is fixable at the pro trusion 22 by the downward movement of the fastening element 20. The snap-in wedges 36 of the fastening element 20 and the corre sponding complementary snap-in wedges 34 of the protrusion 22 are engaged by said downward movement of the fastening element 20.

The fastening element 20 holds the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 within the opening 28 of the support device 14, so that the gas pipe 12 is reliably connected to the support device 14. At first, the end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 of the support device 14 by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longitudinal axis. Then, the fastening element 20 is fixed at the protrusion 22 by the downward movement of said fas tening element 20, so that the snap-in wedges 36 of the fas tening element 20 and the corresponding complementary snap-in wedges 34 of the protrusion 22 are engaged. FIG 5 illustrates a further schematic perspective view of the fastening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the pre sent invention. In FIG 5 hidden edges of said fastening system 10 and gas pipe 12 are represented by dashed lines.

FIG 6 illustrates a detailed schematic perspective view of the fastening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the pre sent invention.

The end portion of the fastening element 20 is complementary to the intermediate space between the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 and the snap-in wedge 34 of the protrusion 22. This guaran tees a secure hold of the fastening element 20 at the protrusion 22.

FIG 7 illustrates a schematic perspective sideview of the fas tening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the pre- sent invention.

The fastening element 20 is clamped between the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 and the snap-in wedge 34 of the protrusion 22. This guarantees that the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 is reli ably hold in the opening 28 of the support device 14.

Preferably, the fastening element 20 is formed as a single-piece part. The fastening element 20 is flexible and allows the snap- in mechanism between the snap-in wedges 36 of the fastening ele ment 20 and the corresponding complementary snap-in wedges 34 of the protrusion 22. The fastening element 20 is installable by an automatic installation system. Further, the flexible fastening element 20 pushes the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 towards the opening 28 of the support device 14. In other words, the flexi ble fastening element 20 is clamped between the opening 28 and the snap-in wedge 34. By this way, the gas pipe 12 and the sup port device 14 are held in tight position, while any movements in other directions are impeded. In particular, the snap-in wedge 36 of the fastening element 20 remains under the undercut formed by the snap-in wedge 34 of the protrusion 22. An arrow 40 represents forces generated by the flexible fastening element 20.

FIG 8 illustrates a schematic sectional perspective view of the fastening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the pre sent invention.

The fastening system 10 comprises the gas pipe 12 and the sup port device 14, wherein the end portion of the gas pipe 12 in cludes the widening 16 formed as cylindrical pipe section and axially symmetric relating to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. Further, the gas pipe 12 includes the end piece 18 ex tending from the end of said gas pipe 12 to the widening 16. In this example, the end piece 18 has the same diameter as the rest of the gas pipe 12 except the widening 16. The support device 14 includes the opening 28 and the gas chan nel 30. The opening 28 is arranged at the end of the gas channel 30 and formed as a widening of said gas channel 30. The opening 28 and a portion of the gas channel 30 are complementary to the end piece 18 and the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12. In this ex ample, the end piece 18 and the opening 28 of the support device 14 as well as the end piece 18 and the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 are axially symmetric relating to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12 and gas channel 30, so that the end piece 18 and the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 are insertable into the opening 28 and gas channel 30, respectively, of the support de vice 14 in an arbitrary angle relating to the longitudinal axis of said gas pipe 12 and gas channel 30. The opening 28 and the gas channel 30 of the support device 14 have substantially the same shapes as the widening 16 and the end piece 18, respec tively, of the gas pipe 12. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 and gas channel 30 of the sup port device 14 only by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longi tudinal axis.

Further, the fastening system 10 comprises the gasket 32 formed as elastic O-ring and arranged between the gas pipe 12 and the support device 14. The gasket 32 encloses the end piece 18 of the gas pipe 12 and is squeezed between the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 and the opening 28 of the support device 14. The 0- ring guarantees the sealing. The O-ring 32 encloses the gas pipe 12 and its outer side touches the opening 28 of the support de vice 14. The widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 allows some pivoting of said gas pipe 12. Mainly, the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 keep closed the space where the sealing element 32 is located. Further, the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 prevents that the sealing element 32 is moved away from the support device 14. When the flexible fastening element 20 pushes the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 towards the opening 28 of the support device 14, then the gasket 32 is squeezed and provides sealing between the gas pipe 12 and the support device 14.

FIG 9 illustrates a further schematic perspective sideview of the fastening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The arrows 38 in FIG 9 clarify the movement direction of the fastening element 20, when said fastening element 20 is fixed at the protrusion 22. The geometric shape of the fastening element 20 provides the required elasticity for engaging of the snap-in wedges 34 and 36 to each other.

FIG 10 illustrates a schematic sideview of the fastening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly ac cording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The fastening element 20 is clamped between the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 and the snap-in wedge 34 of the protrusion 22, so that the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 is reliably hold in the opening 28 of the support device 14.

FIG 11 illustrates a schematic sectional sideview of the fas tening system 10 for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the gas burner assembly according to the second embodiment of the pre sent invention.

The opening 28 and the gas channel 30 of the support device 14 have substantially the same shapes as the widening 16 and the end piece 18, respectively, of the gas pipe 12. The end portion of the gas pipe 12 is inserted into the opening 16 and gas chan nel 30 of the support device 14 only by moving said gas pipe 12 along its longitudinal axis. Further, the gasket 32 formed as elastic O-ring is arranged be tween the gas pipe 12 and the support device 14. The gasket 32 encloses the end piece 18 of the gas pipe 12 and is squeezed be tween the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 and the opening 28 of the support device 14. The O-ring guarantees the sealing. The 0- ring 32 encloses the gas pipe 12 and its outer side touches the opening 28 of the support device 14. The widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 allows some pivoting of said gas pipe 12. Mainly, the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 keep closed the space where the sealing element 32 is located. Further, the widening 16 of the gas pipe 12 prevents that the sealing element 32 is moved away from the support device 14.

The connection of the gas pipe 12 to the support device 14 is realisable only by a few simple steps. At first, the gas pipe 12 with the gasket 32 around the end piece 18 is linearly moved into the opening 28 of the support device 14. Then, the fas tening element 20 is fixed at the protrusion 22 by the movement of said fastening element 20 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gas pipe 12. In particular, the connection of the gas pipe 12 to the support device 14 may be performed by an au tomatic process.

The embodiments of the fastening system 10 mentioned above are provided for connecting the gas pipe 12 to the support device 14, wherein preferably said support device 14 belongs to the gas burner assembly. In general, the fastening system 10 according to the present invention is provided for connecting an arbitrary pipe for any flowable media to the corresponding apparatus. Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying draw ings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the in vention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the ap pended claims.

List of reference numerals

10 fastening system 12 pipe, gas pipe 14 support device

16 widening

18 end piece

20 fastening element 22 protrusion 23 broadened end portion

24 snap-in nose 26 recess

28 opening

30 channel, gas channel 32 gasket

34 snap-in element, snap-in wedge

36 snap-in element, snap-in wedge

38 arrow

40 arrow