Tube connector

A tube connector (1) for attachment to a tube (7) of a pressurized fluid system, wherein the tube connector (1) comprises:

• a housing (3), a main sealing element (9), a gripping element (11) and a cone element (13),
• the housing (3) comprising a receptacle (5) for receiving the tube (7), the receptacle (5) being delimited by an insertion end (21) for which the tube (7) can be inserted into the receptacle (5), and an abutment end (23) for delimiting a maximum insertion of the tube (7) into the housing (3),
• the main sealing element (9) being provided for preventing a fluid from flowing out of a pressurized fluid system at a connection of the tube (7) and the tube connector (1),
• the gripping element (11) comprising a passage (12) for receiving the tube (7), the gripping element (11) being arranged in the receptacle (5) and comprising a gripping edge (25) for engaging with an outer surface (24) of the tube (7) received in the passage (12) of the gripping element (11), wherein the gripping element contacts the main sealing element,
• the cone element (13) being arranged in the receptacle (5) for delimiting a movement of the gripping element (11) towards the insertion end (21),
• the tube connector (1) further comprising an integrated release element (15) arranged at least partially in the receptacle (5) and movable along a direction pointing from the insertion end (21) to the abutment end (23), the release element (15) comprising a passage (36) for the tube (7), a tubular part (31) and an environmental sealing element (35),
• a release edge (37) of the tubular part (31) being adapted for engaging with the gripping element (11) and moving the gripping element (11), such that the gripping element (11) releases the tube (7) inserted into the passage (12) of the gripping element (11),
• the environmental sealing element (35) providing a sealing of the receptacle (5) from an environment, and
• the environmental sealing element (35) being adapted for sealing the release element (15) towards an inner surface (19) of the housing (3) and towards the outer surface (24) of the tube (7) inserted into the passage (36) of the release element (15), wherein:
• the integrated release element (15) comprises a top part (33) providing an actuation surface for pushing the release element (15) towards the abutment end (23),
• the top part (33) of the release element (15) forms a collar (39) extending at least partly between the cone element (13) and the inner surface (19) of the housing (3), a first protrusion (41) is formed at the top part (33) and a second protrusion (43) is formed at the cone element (13), and
• the first protrusion (41) and the second protrusion (43) are adapted to engage for delimiting a maximum movement of the release edge (37) in a direction away from the abutment end (23) to a first predefined distance.