The invention relates to a hose coupling component with at least one insertion member for insertion into the end of a hose of flexible material and a connection piece for connec¬ tion to another hose coupling component.

Hose couplings are known in a number of different designs. They commonly consist of two parts, one of which is usually an insertion member to be connected to the end of a hose, the other being provided with means for connection to a tube, a valve or the like, or being provided with an insertion member for connection to another hose. To hold the hose securely to the insertion member in this type of hose coupling component, usually a separate fixing means, i.e. a hose clip, is used. This separate fixing means requires extra work to mount the hose coupling component on a hose, and it must be placed in the correct position and be mounted with the correct tighten¬ ing pressure to achieve the desired result.

The invention is intended to achieve a hose coupling compo- nent, which eliminates the need for separate fixing or clamp¬ ing means and makes possible rapid and simple connection be¬ tween the hose and the hose coupling component as well as assuring a good seal when used.

This purpose is achieved by means of a hose coupling compo¬ nent of the type described by way of introduction which, according to the invention, is characterized by those features disclosed in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

Suitable embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows two embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 shows a central longitudinal section through a hose coupling component according to a first embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 2 shows a central longitudinal section through a hose coupling component according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 of a hose coupling component according to the invention comprises an insertion member 1, which is designed to be inserted into the end of a hose 2 of flexible material, e.g. plastic, rubber or similar material.

The insertion member 1 is conical, with the narrower end facing towards the hose 2, to facilitate insertion of the insertion member 1 into the hose 2. In the drawing, the coni- city is exaggerated, and in practice the conicity can be eliminated or be very small, but still facilitating the in¬ sertion of the insertion member 1 into the hose 2.

The hose coupling component also comprises a connection piece 3, which, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, is made as a piece of tubing, which is provided with means (not shown) for coupling to a pipe or the like. The connection piece 3 can, however, also be made as a portion of a quick coupling of a type known per se, or as a mirror image hose coupling compo¬ nent according to the invention.

The connection piece 3 is securely joined to an annular sleeve 4, extending over the insertion piece 1 coaxial there¬ with. The sleeve 4, as is the connection piece 3, is made of a rigid material, e.g. metal or plastic. At the end of the sleeve 4 facing away from the connection piece 3, there is fixed at one end a sheeth 5 of a flexible, but relatively rigid material. The other end of the sheath 5 is joined to the portion of the insertion member 1 having the largest diameter. This means that the sheath 5 extends coaxially to the insertion member 1 spaced slightly -herefrom. This

spacing is selected so that the sheath 5 will lie in close contact with the hose 2 when the hose is pushed onto the insertion member 1. At the same time, the sheath 5 consti¬ tutes the only connection between the insertion member 1 and the sleeve 4. The connection between the sheath 5 and the sleeve 4, and the insertion member 1, can be effected in various manners, e.g. by gluing, welding or in another suit¬ able manner, depending on the materials in the different parts .

The sheath 5 is intended to clamp the hose 2 onto the in¬ sertion member 1 with the aid of a pressure differential be¬ tween the outside and the inside of the sheath 5. To achieve this pressure differential, there is, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, an annular bladder, which is disposed to surround the sheath 5. The outside of the annular bladder 6 rests against the sleeve 4. At at least one location, the interior of the annular bladder 6 is in communication with the inte¬ rior of the insertion member 1 and the hose 2. This means that the bladder 6 is expanded by the pressure in the hose 2, so that the inner circumference of the bladder will press against the sheath 5, which in turn will clamp the hose 2 to the insertion member 1. This means that it is possible to use the pressure in the hose 2, to achieve clamping of the hose on the insertion member 1. In this manner, it is possible to achieve the following effect : the higher the pressure is within the hose 2 and the insertion member 1, the tighter the hose 2 will be held on the insertion member 1. It is thus possible to guarantee both secure holding of the hose 2 and a satisfactory seal.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this case as well, a hose 2 is slipped onto an insertion member 1. The insertion member 1 is in this case made in one piece wich a connection piece 3a, which in this case is an insertion member directed in the opposite direction for insertion into a second hose 7. A device of this type is suitable for use for connecting two hoses in different contexts.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the insertion member 1 and the insertion member 3a, as well as the adjacent portions of the hoses 2 and 7, are surrounded by a sheath 5a, which is made of a flexible material, e.g. rubber or plastic. At the con- nections between sheath 5a and the hoses 2 and 7 respective¬ ly, sealing means (not shown) can be arranged, or, the sheath 5a can be dimensioned so that it seals tightly against the hoses 2 and 7 respectively, at its ends.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 functions as follows: The interior space of the sheath 5a, i.e. the space between the sheath 5a and the hoses 2 and 7 respectively, and the inser¬ tion members 1 and 3a respectively, is subjected to subatmo- spheric pressure. This can be done in any suitable manner, e.g. by pumping out existing air with the aid of an air pump (not shown) . A radial force is thus created, i.e. as indica¬ ted by the arrows in Fig. 2, and this force compresses the sheath 5a, thus clamping the hoses 2 and 7 respectively, onto the insertion members 1 and 3a respectively.

Fig. 2 shows the sheath 5a, for the sake of clarity, with a relatively pronounced curvature, but in practice the sheath 5a, even in its unloaded state, should lie relatively tightly against the hoses 2 and 7 respectively. For this embodiment as well, the conicity of the insertion members 1 and 3a respectively, shown in the drawing, will in practice be very little, or non-existent.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Rather, changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the following claims.