Preassembled media line

[0001] The object of this invention is a ready-made media duct having the features according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Fluids that freeze at low temperatures must often be sent to different places in vehicles, e.g. aqueous urea solutions freeze at temperatures ⁰C. Therefore, heating of the media hoses necessary for this is known. Currently manufactured vehicles have an increasingly compact structure, so heated fluid pipes must be laid also in those places of the vehicle that are exposed to very high temperatures during its operation, e.g. 160⁰C and more. In addition, it is important to provide heating for the entire media duct, i.e. the media duct with fittings.

[0003] It is known from WO 2005/124219 such a ready-made media cable. The wire coupling is here sealed to the cooperating coupling portion via two matching members joined by insertion, but the coupling segment and the cooperating coupling segment are of such type that the coupling segment is inserted into the cooperating coupling segment. and it is tightly fixed in it. The coupling segment is heated inside the housing enclosing the end of the conduit inserted into the coupling segment. The connection of the cooperating coupling segment and the coupling segment is located outside the housing, so that this connection zone is not sufficiently heated, which is a disadvantage.

[0004] From European patent application 0 379 635 a heat-insulated coupling for heated flexible pipes is known, in which the ends of these pipes are wrapped together with a casing pipe, so that it is possible to provide direct heating also in the connection zone. However, both connected hoses are not detachably connected to each other.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a ready-made media conduit in which, firstly, direct heating is possible and, secondly, good thermal protection against external influences is provided, in particular in the critical connection zone between the media conduit and the connector.

[0006] This task is solved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the housing in its banding portion of the coupling segment has hooking means for a snap connection with the cooperating coupling member. By separating, according to the invention, the sealing function and the fixing function, the heating wire can be led through the zone of the hooking means formed on the connector body and the housing, which allows the connector to be heated to a considerable extent. The housing, preferably consisting of thermal insulation material, covers the connector body on one side and the media cable end on the other, which provides thermal insulation of the connection point between the media cable and the cable connector. The housing according to the invention, which is preferably made of two housing half shells, which then allows them to be positioned around the connector body with a media cable connected and with a heating wire attached to the periphery of the coupling segment, the housing according to the invention simultaneously having the function of fixing the cable connector and cable for media. In addition, it serves as thermal insulation protecting against external heat radiation. At the same time, the housing according to the invention also serves as a screen for the heat generated by the heating wire, so that it cannot penetrate outside. The connector according to the invention can be matched with the properties of its material to the flowing fluid in order to obtain the highest possible thermal conductivity and chemical resistance. For example, the connector body can be made of stainless steel when the conduit is intended to transfer urea solutions. In addition, due to the two-part configuration of the conduit connector consisting of the inner body of the connector and the outer casing, it is possible to choose the dimensions of both parts in such a way that there is an internal, peripheral air gap between them, and thus gap insulation can be realized. Separation of the connector body and the housing also allows adaptation to the given requirements of the housing length in the area of ​​the spigot connection of the media hose, so that the housing can overlap the media hose as far as is needed to protect the media hose and its connection. Preferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims, in particular an even heat distribution over the entire coupling segment of the wiring connector is achieved by the fact that a heat conducting element is arranged on the coupling segment in a zone not heated directly by the heating wire which transfers the heat. from the heated part to the remainder of the coupling segment.

[0007] The invention is explained below in the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0008] They present:

Fig. 1 a longitudinal section of the assembled cable according to the invention,

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the housing half-shell according to the invention,

Fig. 3 a side view in partial section of the assembled cable according to the invention in a further embodiment,

Fig. 4 an exploded view of the cable according to Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of the assembled cable according to the invention in a further embodiment,

Fig. 6 a longitudinal section of the connector body according to Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 view of the connector body according to Fig. 6,

Fig. 7a a view of Fig. 7 in the direction of arrow VII,

Figures 8a to 8d, various embodiments of the heat conducting elements according to the invention,

Figures 9 and 10 of the housing half shells according to the invention seen from the side,

Fig. 11 a view of two partial views of the different position of the fastening arms according to the invention, Fig. 12 a view of another variant embodiment of the connector body according to the invention, and Fig. 13 a longitudinal section of the connector body according to Fig. 12.

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1, the ready-made hose according to the invention consists of a wire connector 1, which has a body 2 with a spigot connection 3, to which the media hose 4 is connected, and a coupling segment 6 for sealing. preferably a detachable connection with a cooperating coupling member. This cooperating coupling member is not shown in the drawing, as it is a simple cooperating member which in particular allows a detachable plug connection with the coupling segment 6.

[0010] The media cable 4 is provided with a heating wire 7, the wire being in a state of connection of the connector body 2 and the media cable 4 extending so that it is located at least partly on the coupling segment 6. It is envisaged according to the invention that in the conduit connector 1, the seal function between this connector and the cooperating coupling member, and the function of fixing this coupling member are separated between the body 2 of the connector and the housing 8 surrounding the end of the body 2 and the media line 4. The housing 8 is preferably formed of two housing half shells 9 which are connected to each other in shape and / or clamp, in particular snap-on. To this end, corresponding coupling means 11 are formed on the outer periphery in the connection zone of the two half shells 9 of the housing. The half shells 9 of the housing can also be glued or welded. Preferably, the coupling segment 6 has sealing means 12 that serve to seal against the mating coupling member, and the housing 8 has hooking means 13 for latching connection with the mating coupling member.

[0011] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the latching means 13 are formed on the housing part 14 including the coupling segment 6. These means comprise in particular the peripherally shaped latching cam 16 and formed in front of it, looking towards it connection X, hook groove 17. After the coupling segment has been inserted, this hook groove 17 can enter e.g. resilient coupling means formed on the cooperating coupling member. In addition, the housing 8 according to the invention, when viewed in the direction of attachment X, has an outer stop 18 in front of the circumferential hook groove 17 which limits the movement of the coupling segment 6 plugged into the cooperating coupling member.

[0012] As has been seen, especially in Fig. 1, a circumferential recess 19 housing the media duct 4 is formed between the housing 8 and the connector body 2 in the region of the stub pipe. In the region of the hooking means 13, between the housing 8 and the spigot connection 3, there is a peripheral gap 21 through which the heating wire 7 extends, the heating wire 7 being laid in particular in the form of a spiral winding surrounding the coupling segment 6. Thus, according to the invention, the heating wire 7 is routed from the media conductor 4 to the coupling segment zone, where, in the form of a heating winding 42, it surrounds the coupling segment 6. Thanks to this, heating of the ready-made wiring according to the invention begins on the cooperating coupling member, i.e. this ready-made duct can be heated practically along the entire length. The coupling body 2 according to the invention has such dimensions that the coupling segment 6 projects from the housing 8 on the male and female section 22 with a circular-cylindrical cross-section. The plug and sealing section 22 has on its peripheral surface a peripheral groove 23 with a peripheral seal 24 arranged therein, in particular in the form of an O-ring. Peripheral groove 23 and peripheral seal 24 are sealing means 12. Within the scope of the invention, other possible seals between the coupling body 2 and the cooperating coupling member may also be provided in accordance with the state of the art. The plug and sealing section 22, as well as the introductory section 26 of the housing 8 with a circular-cylindrical cross-section, have a uniform outer diameter. As can be seen, especially in Fig. 2, at the rear end of the insertion section 26, viewed in the direction of attachment X, the engagement means 13 are formed.

[0013] According to the invention, it is further provided that, before the plug and sealing section 22, when viewed in the connection direction, there is a section 27 of the body which has a smaller outer diameter. A support ring 28 is formed on the peripheral surface of the body section 27 so that a key 29 is formed between this support ring 28 and the plug and sealing section 22 housing the mounting protrusion 30 formed on the inside of the housing 8 at its front end, looking in the direction joining. Due to this configuration, it is ensured that in the assembled state of the housing 8 it is form-fitted with the connector body 2. [0014] In Fig. 1 shows, formed at the end of the connector body 2 opposite the plug and sealing section 22, the plug pin 31 for pressure and / or shaped connection of the media hose 4. The media line 4 consists of an inner conduit 32, on the periphery of which, in particular, a spirally wound heating wire 7 is positioned, and an outer protective tube 33, which is in particular shaped as a corrugated tube. The heating wire 7 is fixed on the conduit tube 32 by means of the adhesive tape 34 that surrounds it. Thus, the plug pin 31 is connected by pressing with the conduit tube 32 and as a result a form and pressure connection is achieved. The line tube 32 is preferably a PA tube. Between the body section 27 of the reduced diameter and the plug pin 31 on the body 2 of the fitting there is a circumferential stop collar 35 for the media line 4. The outer diameter of this thrust ring 35 can be substantially matched to the outer diameter of the media conductor 4, with a gap 36 between the outer perimeter of the thrust ring 35 and the opposite inner wall of the housing 8 for routing the heating wire 7. The connector body 2 has a through hole 37 through which the medium from the media hose 4 is directed to the cooperating coupling member. The housing 8 preferably consists of a plastic material with good thermal insulation properties, in particular of glass fiber reinforced PPA (polyphthalamide). The housing 8 and body 2 of the coupling can be advantageously dimensioned so that in the winding zone of the heating wire 7 on the coupling segment 6 and in the transition zone to the spigot connection 3, an air gap is formed between them, which improves thermal insulation properties. The housing 8 within the peripheral cavity 19 has peripheral ribs 38 on its inner wall that engage in the recesses 39 of the protective tube 33 formed as a corrugated pipe. Thanks to this, the media cable 4 is fixed inside the housing 8.

[0015] Figs. 3 and 4 show a further variation of the assembly of the ready-made hose according to the invention. In this case, the same parts as in Figs. 1 and 2 are indicated with the same reference numerals.

[0016] Unlike the embodiment in Fig. 1, it is shown in Fig. 3 that the heating wire 7, which extends from the media line 4, is connected by a simple clamp connector 41 to a heating winding 42 wrapped around the coupling segment 6. The purpose rooms of this clamp connector 41 in housing 8, in order to increase the internal space, side bulges 43 are provided. The stop ring 35 serves as a stop for the inner conduit 32, the protective tube 33 not being fed to this stop ring 35 to leave free space for the clamp connector 41. The stop ring 35 has a polygonal, in particular hexagonal circumference, so that it serves as a twist protection. [0017] Within the scope of the invention, it may also be that, unlike in the described embodiments, an electric voltage supply cable is connected to the inside of the housing 8, which is connected to the heating wire 7 and the heating winding 42. In addition, the interior the housings 8 can be flooded with insulating mass. The coupling body 2 may also have one end shaped such that it is inextricably connected directly to the conduit 32, e.g. by welding or gluing. The parts to be joined can advantageously consist of similar materials. Instead of fixing the heating wire 7 with adhesive tape on the conduit 32, the heating wire 7 can also be covered with a layer of material constituting the material of the conduit 32.

[0018] In all the embodiments shown, the housing 8 performs both a protective function and also maintains the body 2 of the connector and the media cable 4.

[0019] Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the assembled cable according to the invention, wherein similar parts as in Figs. 1 to 4 are indicated with the same reference numerals.

[0020] In this embodiment, the hose connector 1 has a plastic connector body 51, for example made of fiberglass-reinforced polyamide, with a connection 52 for a media hose 4 and a coupling segment 53 for sealing tightly with the mating coupling member. , see also Figs. 6 and 7. Connection 52 is in the form of a tubular sleeve with an internal opening 54. Into this opening a media line 4 is inserted and fixed in it with its internal line tube 32. This line tube 32 is preferably made of plastic in such a way that this line tube 32 can be connected to connection 52 by laser welding. Winding section 55 is connected to connection 52, on which heating winding 42 is wound. Winding section 55 has a rib 56 circumferentially extending along a helical line on winding section 55. Between the turns of this rib 56 there is also a space 57 running along the helical line, which is used to place the turns of the second heating winding 42. Between the winding section 55 and the connection 52, at the beginning of the rib 56, two diametrically opposite fastening arms 58 are formed, which extend radially from the winding section 55, see Fig. 7a. These fastening arms 58 serve to fix the heating winding wire 42 and prevent this wire from unwinding itself in a partially assembled state. The fastening arms 58 have openings at the periphery 59, which are shaped in the form of hooks, allowing the insertion of the heating winding wire 42. The winding section 55 is between the connection 52 and the coupling segment 53, and with respect to the housing 70 the winding section 55, looking in the direction of connection X, is located in front of the housing part 14 comprising the hooking means 13, which is a difference to the variant of Figures 1 to 4. This results in the extension of the coupling segment 53 compared to the coupling segment 6 according to Figures 1 to 4. Inside the coupling segment 53 and the winding section 55 extends the opening 60, which intentionally has the same internal diameter as the internal opening 54. In the embodiment shown, there is a circumferential, radially inwardly projecting annular flange 61 between the internal opening 54 and the opening 60 limiter function. The annular flange 61 includes a passage 62. The radial height of the annular collar 61 intentionally corresponds to the wall thickness of the conduit 52, see Fig. 5. As a result, the flow cross section of the opening 62 is equal to the flow cross section of the conduit 32. As can also be seen in Fig. 5, within the winding section 55 and the coupling segment 53, a heat conducting element 63 of a heat-conducting material, in particular of metal, in particular copper, aluminum or possibly stainless steel, is located in its opening 60. In the embodiment shown, the heat conducting element 63 is shaped as a cylindrical sleeve with an internal through hole 64, the cross section of which corresponds to the cross-sectional area of ​​the through hole 62. Due to such dimensions of this cross-section, an equal flow cross-section is available from the conduit 32 to the end of the coupling segment 53. Thus, the heat conducting element 63 which is in the form of a tube has in particular a wall with the same thickness as the 32 conducting pipe. Heat conducting element 63 , which is in the form of a scale, is properly inserted into the opening 60, where the collar 61 acts as a depth stop. The heat conductive element 63 in the form of a husk is preferably embedded in the opening 60 by means of an interference fit, i.e. it is pressed into the opening 60. The heat conducting element 63 in the form of a husk can also be shaped and / or pressed in the hole 60 by means of hooking or holding elements. . As can be seen from Fig. 8d, for example, the heat conducting element 63 according to the invention can also be embedded in the connecting body 51 made of plastic injection. If the heat conducting element 63 is made of a heat conducting plastic, it is possible to manufacture the connecting body 51 and the heat conducting element 63 as one structural element by the so-called 2K method. Instead of the closed sleeve, the heat conducting element 63 may also have a longitudinal slot 64, see Fig. 8a, and is then shaped similar to the expansion pin. As shown in Fig. 8b, the thermally conductive sleeve member 63 may also have a funnel extension 65 at one end that serves as a stop and can be centrally embedded in the matching hole widening

60 in the region of its front opening 67. Fig. 8c shows a variant with an annular shoulder 66 that fits in a correspondingly fitted cavity of the opening 60 in the region of its front opening 67. With this extension 65 or the shoulder 66, an internal stop can be eliminated in coupling segment 53, and the heat conducting element inserted 63 then serves on one side as an internal stop for the insertion pipe 32.

[0021] The heat conducting element 63 may also consist of one or more e.g. heat conducting strip elements. Alternatively, it is also within the scope of the invention that the heat conducting sleeve 63 has at the end a dome connection housing a conduit 32. While the heat conducting element 63 is in direct contact with the liquid flowing in the conduit 32, it is expedient to make the heat conducting element 63 from corrosion-resistant metal or provide it with an anti-corrosive coating. It is also possible to treat the surface of the heat conducting element 63 to improve thermal conductivity and / or reduce roughness. By reducing the roughness, to a large extent, e.g. deposition on the wall of the heat conducting element urea crystals with the flow of the urea solution.

[0022] In addition, the connector body 51, in the zone between the winding section 55 and its front sealing section 22, has a thrust threshold 68 projecting radially outwardly. This resistance threshold is embedded in the matching annular recess 69 of the housing 70 behind the hooking means 13, looking at connection direction X so that the body 51 is additionally fixed in the housing in axial and radial directions. [0023] As shown in Fig. 5, the connector body 51 and the media pipe 4 in its terminal connection part are surrounded by a housing 70, which, as in Figs. 1 to 4, consists of two housing half shells 71 which can be connected together. These half-shells 71 forming the housing 70 embrace by fitting the body 51 of the connector and the end of the conduit 4 for the media. In the one depicted in Fig. 5 the exemplary embodiment there is a separation of the seal function and the fixing function between the body 51 and the housing 70, as described in Figs. 1 to 4. The housing 70, as described in Figs. 3 and 4, has diametrically opposed bulges 43, see Fig. 9 and 10. The bulges 43 are used to position the clamp connector 41 between the heating wire 7 and the heating winding 42. The bulges 43 can be filled with a potting compound 72, which is introduced through the side holes into the bulges 43. The housing 70 in the zone between the outer stop 18, which is formed by the housing wall radially oriented outwards, and the cavities 43 has a housing extension 73 whose internal diameter is larger than the internal diameter of the housing portion 74 that connects to this housing extension 73 towards the locking groove 17, and is smaller than the inside diameter within the bulges 43. The housing portion 74 has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the winding section 55 in the rib region 56, so that the winding section 55 projects radially into this housing portion 74. In addition, in particular in Fig. 9 it can be seen that a partition wall 75 is formed in the housing extension 73, i.e. wall portion 75a is formed in each housing half shell 71. The height of each wall fragment 75a is smaller than the width b of the mounting arms 58, see Fig. 11. In addition, each wall fragment 75a has a partial window opening 76, whose height h, see Fig. 11, is such that it can fit into fixing arms 58. The partition wall 75 is positioned in the housing extension 73 such that, when assembled, the mounting arms 58 at 90 ° to the subdivision plane of the housing 70 fall into these partial window openings 76, see the upper half in Fig. 11, and the arms those 58 located in the subdivision plane of the housing 70 lie between the wall portions 75a, see Fig. 11, bottom half. In both positions, by this arrangement, the openings of the holders 59 of the attachment arms 58 are closed. In the area between the partition wall 75 and the bulges 43 in the interior of the housing extension 73, circumferential stiffening ribs 78 are formed. The housing extension 73 can also be partially filled or completely with a sealing compound. On the opposite side of the extension 73, the housing 70 has an inlet 79 for media line 4. The inlet stub 79 has an introductory section 80 whose internal diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the media duct 4, and which ends at the bulges 43, a narrowed centering section 81 for the conduit 32. The centering section 81 has internal, circumferential ribs 82 with an internal diameter that matches up to the outside diameter of conduit 32. The transition wall 83 between the insertion section 80 and the centering section 81 serves in this case as a stop, e.g. for the outer protective tube 33 of the media duct 4, shaped as a corrugated tube. the half-shell

71 forming housing 70 are joined by hooking means 11, which may be hook tabs 84 and hooking projections 85, which are formed on the outside of the insertion section 80 and housing widening 73. The design of the housing half shells 71 allows them to be manufactured in one mold tool.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention there is also a connector body 90, which also has a snap function of a plug connection, so the housing itself does not need to be equipped with suitable hooking means. Such an embodiment is shown in Figs. 12 and 13. Parts and features that are the same here as in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 6 are designated with the same reference numerals. The variant shown is suitable for known SAE connections. As in the embodiment of Fig. 5 and 6, there is a connection 52 and a winding section 55 here. When viewed in the direction of connection X, two adjacent annular projections 91 connect to this section, which form a fixing key 92 between them, which serves to receive and fix the housing. shown in the picture. The coupling segment 53 further connects to them. It consists of a retaining section 93 connecting with the annular projections 93 terminated with an annular retaining ring 94. The retaining section 93 is used to receive fastening means located in a plug socket, not shown. An introduction and sealing section 95 is connected to the mounting ring 94, in which seals located in the plug-in seat tightly adhere in the seated condition. A heat conducting element 63 is arranged in the body 90 of the connector to dissipate heat generated on the winding section 55 to the introducing and sealing section 95, as shown in Figs. 4, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d.

[0025] According to the invention, it is also possible, in the embodiment of Fig. 1, to replace the plug pin 31 by the connection 52, and in the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 12 to replace the connector 52 by the plug pin 31. A heat conducting element 63 can also be provided in a variant embodiments according to Fig. 1.

[0026] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but also includes other embodiments with features equivalent to those already described and included in the claims. For example, the injection molded housing 8 may include as a molded body 2 a connector connected to a media line 4.