Fluid unit and method for manufacturing a fluid unit

Abstract

The present invention provides a fluid unit and a method for manufacturing a fluid unit. The fluid unit includes at least one plug connector and at least one corrugated pipe, and at least one plug connector is integrally designed with at least one corrugated pipe. Among them, the fluid unit has at least one corrugated pipe profile section and at least one plug connector profile section integrally molded thereon. In the method for manufacturing such a fluid unit, a continuous pipe is formed by extrusion, which includes a section with a corrugated pipe profile and at least one section with two plug connector profile sections designed to be mirror images of each other. The continuous pipe is demolded, and the continuous pipe is separated between at least two fluid units in the region of at least one section with two plug connector profile sections designed to be mirror images of each other. Each fluid unit has at least one corrugated pipe profile section and at least one plug connector profile section integrally molded on the end side thereof.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid unit comprising at least one plug connector and at least one bellows, and to a method for manufacturing such a fluid unit and an extrusion device for carrying out the method. Background Art

[0002] In various design variants of the prior art, bellows and plug connectors for connecting at least two components (e.g., two media pipes) or for connecting a media pipe to a component are known. The plug connector is, for example, manufactured as an injection molding. It can be designed either as an insertion part or as a sleeve part. An insertion part arranged on one end side on the media pipe or the component is inserted into a sleeve part arranged on one end side, for example, on another media pipe or the component. It is also known to provide at least one retaining element for fixing the insertion part in the sleeve part. For example, from WO 2018 / 019421 A1, there are retaining elements of various configurations. For arranging the retaining element, in particular, the plug connector in the form of an insertion part has at least one receiving section. The retaining element incorporated there serves to releasably hold the insertion part in the sleeve part. For this purpose, it is also known to design the retaining element to be radially expandable in at least one section, wherein at least one retaining arm of the retaining element is provided with at least one laterally protruding latching lug, the retaining element has at least one retaining arm, a free end, and an end fixed to the retaining element body, and is elastically movable in the radial direction relative to the insertion part to lock at least one latching lug to at least one locking surface or a locking hole of at least one sleeve part, and for releasing it.

[0003] The bellows, for example, serves as an outer casing to insulate a hose or a tubular media pipe, and the air in the clearance space between the outer side of the media pipe and the inner side of the bellows is used to insulate the flowing medium (e.g., fluid) flowing through the media pipe. Such a bellows can, for example, be mounted on the outer insulating cover of the plug connector, for example, by a form - fit or a material - fit connection. It is also known to directly connect such a bellows to the plug connector, for example, by a flaring connection (Dornverbindung) or a welded connection. After connecting the plug connector and the bellows, a fluid unit is formed. The fluid unit formed by the bellows and the connected plug connector (in particular, in the form of an insertion part) can, for example, be fixed to a component such as a battery cooling plate of a vehicle battery, especially by insertion into its inlet or outlet nozzle.

[0004] In the fluid unit produced, it has been proven disadvantageous to have cut-off points or connection points between the plug-in connector and the bellows and / or a medium tube surrounded by it, i.e., in the form of an expanded-diameter connection or a welded connection, because it must meet the high requirements of the automotive industry. In addition, the cost of manufacturing injection-molded parts in the form of plug-in connectors and assembling them on the corresponding bellows or the corresponding medium tube is relatively high. Precisely on the module for battery cooling of a vehicle battery, there are many inlets and outlets, so the number of plug-in connectors fixed there is relatively large, thus resulting in relatively high costs. All cut-off points between the plug-in connector and the medium tube or the bellows surrounding it must meet high-quality requirements due to the pressure that occurs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a fluid unit including at least one bellows and at least one plug-in connector, and a method for manufacturing the above fluid unit, by which the number of cut-off points between the plug-in connector and the bellows is significantly reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost, and still ensuring the high quality of the produced fluid unit.

[0007] Solutions to the Problems

[0008] The fluid unit according to an embodiment of the present invention solves the above problems by the following solution, that is: the fluid unit includes at least one plug-in connector and at least one bellows, and the at least one plug-in connector is integrally designed with the at least one bellows, wherein the fluid unit has at least one bellows profile section and at least one plug-in connector profile section integrally molded thereon.

[0009] The method for manufacturing the above fluid unit according to an embodiment of the present invention solves the above problems by the following solution, that is, the method includes the following steps: forming a continuous tube by extrusion, which includes a section with a bellows profile and at least one section with two plug-in connector profile sections designed mirror-symmetrically to each other; demolding the continuous tube; and separating the continuous tube in the region of at least one section with two plug-in connector profile sections designed mirror-symmetrically to each other, between the two plug-in connector profile sections, into at least two fluid units, each fluid unit having at least one bellows profile section and at least one plug-in connector profile section integrally molded on the end side. Other configurations of the present invention are defined in other embodiments.

[0010] Advantages of the Invention

[0011] Thereby, a fluid unit is realized, which includes at least one plug connector integrated with a corrugated pipe, thus realizing an integrated unit composed of the two, thereby eliminating the cutting point between the plug connector and the corrugated pipe. Through the integrated design of the corrugated pipe and the plug connector, on the one hand, the cost of separately forming the corrugated pipe and the plug connector is eliminated, and on the other hand, the cost of connecting the two to each other is eliminated. Since there is no longer a need to provide any material or form-fit connection between the corrugated pipe and the plug connector, but the two are integrally formed, therefore, the high-quality requirements prevalent especially in the automotive field can be met without any problems. Based on the integrated design of the plug connector and the corrugated pipe, or a fluid unit is formed by the corrugated pipe and the plug connector, which has at least one corrugated pipe profile section replacing the separate corrugated pipe and at least one plug connector profile section replacing the separate plug connector.

[0012] The plug connector profile section can be particularly designed as an insertion section profile section so that it can be attached as a mating part to a sleeve section of another medium pipe or component of another fluid unit, for example, by a plug connection. The integrated design of the corrugated pipe and the plug connector (especially in the form of the insertion section profile section) is achieved by extrusion in an extrusion device. Such an extrusion device for performing this method is advantageously designed as a corrugator and has at least two profile inserts and at least one jaw insert (Backeneinsatz) for forming at least two corrugated profile sections in the axial direction of the extrusion device, and the internal profile thereof corresponds to two plug connector profile sections arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other. Axially, at least one jaw insert can be arranged or is arranged between at least two profile inserts for forming at least two corrugated profile sections. At least one jaw insert and the profile inserts are each formed as at least two-piece, and the corresponding at least two parts are designed to be separable from each other in the radial direction to demold the extruded continuous pipe. In the case of an extrusion device designed as a corrugator, the extruded plastic material is attracted to the internal profile of the profile insert by a suction die (i.e., by means of negative pressure), and is also attracted to its internal profile in the area of the jaw insert. Thereby, the plastic material is laid on the respective internal profiles of the profile insert and the jaw insert, thus producing the desired shapes of the corrugated pipe and the insertion section profile section. Therefore, the extrusion device includes a profile insert for forming a corrugated profile section. In addition, at least one jaw insert is used to form two plug connector profile sections arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other. Subsequently, these two plug connector profile sections are separated from each other. The continuous pipe can thus include a plurality of sections with a corrugated pipe profile and a plurality of sections, each of which has two plug connector profiles or at least one plug connector profile section arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other.

[0013] After extruding a coiled tubing designed in this way, it is demolded and divided into at least two fluid units, which have at least one plug-in connector profile section arranged on the end side and at least one corrugated profile section, wherein separation is achieved in the region between two plug-in connector profile sections designed to be mirror images of each other.

[0014] It is also possible to vary the number and position of the individual plug-in connector profile sections along the coiled tubing depending on the application, so that fluid units of different lengths can be produced. For this purpose, in the extrusion device, jaw inserts can be provided at respectively different predeterminable intervals in the vicinity of the profile inserts for forming the corrugated profile sections, for producing at least one or two plug-in connector profile sections arranged mirror-image to each other.

[0015] The jaw inserts having an internal profile corresponding to the plug-in connector profile section are advantageously designed to be at least two-piece and separable radially from each other, so that the coiled tubing produced can be demolded unhindered along its longitudinal extension. Thus, two parts of the jaw insert can be provided over the entire circumference of the coiled tubing or the plug-in connector profile section to be produced, or more than two parts of the jaw insert can also be provided. For example, two parts of a jaw insert can be provided at an angle of 180°, or three parts or segments of a jaw insert can be provided at an angle of 120°, or four parts or segments of a jaw insert can be provided at an angle of 90°. It is also possible to provide unevenly distributed parts or segments of the jaw insert over the circumference of one or more plug-in connector profile sections to be produced. This also applies to the profile inserts for producing one or more corrugated profile parts of the fluid unit or the preformed coiled tubing.

[0016] In order to be able to demold unhindered in the opening direction of the extrusion device or the corrugating mill, it has proven advantageous to design at least one plug-in connector profile section without undercuts. If the profile or geometry of the plug-in connector profile section has no undercuts, demolding unhindered in the opening direction of the extrusion equipment is possible.

[0017] Advantageously, at least one plug connector profile section has at least one receiving section for arranging a retaining element. The plug-in connector profile section can also advantageously have at least one groove for arranging a sealing element, in particular an O-ring. The receiving section for arranging the retaining element in particular has an outer diameter smaller than the sections adjacent to its two sides. The receiving section can be designed to always be smooth on the outside. It is also possible to provide in particular annular raised portions, for example a reticulation, at intervals, in order to better hold the retaining element on the outside of the receiving section. By reducing the outer diameter in the region of the receiving section, the retaining arms of the retaining element can be engaged here and supported in the receiving section.

[0018] In addition, the receiving section for arranging the retaining element may have at least one anti-twisting device. For example, the receiving section may have irregularly shaped and / or flat and / or polygonal regions, which serve as anti-twisting devices. Here, a polygonal or at least one-side flat design of at least one region of the receiving section is particularly suitable. The retaining element is advantageously provided on its inner side with a correspondingly shaped (i.e., in particular flat or polygonal) shape, such that the inner surface of the retaining element can rest on the corresponding outer surface of the receiving section, i.e., in particular on its polygonal or flat region. In this way, the desired anti-twisting can be achieved.

[0019] In addition, it is possible that the receiving section for arranging the retaining element can be or is provided with at least one pressure locking device that interacts with the retaining element, which prevents the retaining element from unlocking when pressure is applied inside the fluid unit. Such a pressure locking device can, for example, include at least one element protruding from the outer side of the receiving section of the plug connector profile. For example, the protruding element can be designed as a pin or as a protruding element, such as a dot-like protrusion. In this case, the retaining element advantageously also includes at least one hole, which is particularly arranged in at least one retaining arm of the retaining element. If the plug connector profile section is designed as, for example, an insertion profile section and inserted into the sleeve section, it is particularly important that when pressure is applied inside the fluid unit, for example due to the pressurized medium flowing through here, the insertion profile section of the fluid unit and the sleeve section of another medium pipe or component will be firmly held together. If the retaining element is inserted onto the receiving section of the insertion profile element, when medium pressure is applied inside the fluid unit, the retaining element is advantageously locked and secured by the pressure locking device, in particular one or more elements protruding outwardly on the receiving section. By applying pressure to the fluid unit, an axial relative movement is generated between the retaining element and the insertion profile section. Here, the insertion profile section or the fluid unit moves axially in the reverse insertion direction, that is, out of the sleeve section against the insertion direction of the insertion profile section, while the retaining element is, for example, fixedly held axially immobile in the sleeve section. Due to the displacement of the retaining element axially relative to the insertion profile element in the fluid unit, for pressure locking, the protruding element on the outer side of the receiving section of the insertion component profile section is located outside the corresponding hole in the retaining element. This can prevent the radial movement of one or more retaining arms of the retaining element. Therefore, an axial clearance of the retaining element on the receiving section of the insertion profile section is advantageously provided, such that the protruding element on the receiving section is far enough away from the hole in the retaining element for receiving at least one protruding part. When at least one protruding element is located outside the hole in the retaining element on the outer side of the receiving section of the insertion part, the retaining arms of the retaining element are not in the release position. Due to the axial displacement between the fluid unit and the retaining element, the protruding element on the outer side of the receiving section of the insertion part moves out of the area of one or more holes in the retaining element, thereby radially locking the retaining arms of the retaining element.

[0020] The fluid unit is advantageously made of an extrudable material, such as at least one polymeric material. In particular, it can be made of polyamide, such as PA12 or polypropylene. These materials provide sufficient stability for at least one corrugated profile section on the one hand and sufficient stability for at least one plug-in connector profile section on the other hand. The fluid unit is particularly suitable for the thermal management of vehicles, for example, in the module area for battery cooling of vehicle batteries. The at least one plug-in connector profile section is designed in particular as an insertion profile section and is provided with retaining elements, so that a fluid connection can be provided to the inlets and outlets (i.e., inlet nozzles and outlet nozzles) on a module for battery cooling (such as a battery cooling plate) through the plug-in connection of the insertion profile section with the inlet nozzle and outlet nozzle designed as sleeve parts accordingly. The fluid unit provided with plug-in connector profile sections at at least one end is first advantageously provided with retaining elements and then with at least one sealing element, such as an O-ring. Then a direct plug-in connection with a sleeve part, such as the inlet nozzle and outlet nozzle on a module for battery cooling of a vehicle battery, can be achieved. Therefore, it is no problem to install a large number of fluid units onto a module for in-vehicle battery cooling provided with many inlets and outlets through simple and few implementable steps. Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a detail of a continuous tube according to the invention, the continuous tube having two corrugated profile sections and two plug-in connector profile sections designed mirror-symmetrically to each other to form a fluid unit according to the invention.

[0022] Figure 2 A perspective view showing a fluid unit according to the invention, the fluid unit having a corrugated profile section and a plug-in connector profile section in the form of an insertion profile section integrally molded on its end side.

[0023] Figure 3 A perspective view showing two fluid units according to the invention, each fluid unit having two plug-in connector profile sections arranged on the end sides and two corrugated profile sections, the two plug-in connector profile sections being designed mirror-symmetrically to each other and not yet separated from each other.

[0024] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view showing a jaw insert according to the invention of an extrusion device according to the invention for manufacturing a fluid unit according to the invention, wherein the jaw insert is used to shape at least one plug-in connector profile section.

[0025] Figures 5 to 7 Shows three assembly steps for assembling a retaining element and a sealing ring on a fluid unit according to Figure 2 the invention.

[0026] Figure 8 Shows a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of a fluid unit provided with a retaining element and a sealing ring according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 9 Shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an extrusion device according to the present invention for manufacturing a fluid unit according to the present invention.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals

[0029] 1 Fluid unit

[0030] 3 Retaining element

[0031] 4 O-ring

[0032] 20 End-side section

[0033] 21 Flange section

[0034] 22 Groove section

[0035] 23 Section

[0036] 24 Receiving section

[0037] 25 Transition section

[0038] 26 Outer side of 24

[0039] 30 Retaining arm

[0040] 31 Retaining arm

[0041] 32 Latching lug

[0042] 33 Latching lug

[0043] 34 Radially insertable locking element

[0044] 35 Latching lug

[0045] 36 Locking element

[0046] 37 Through hole

[0047] 38 Retaining arm

[0048] 39 Retaining arm

[0049] 40 Protruding element

[0050] 41 Through hole

[0051] 100 Continuous tube

[0052] 101 Bellows profile section

[0053] 102 Bellows profile section

[0054] 103 segments

[0055] 104 Plug - in connector profile segment / Insertion part profile segment

[0056] 105 Plug - in connector profile segment / Insertion part profile segment

[0057] 106 Separation point

[0058] 200 Extruder

[0059] 201 First profile plug

[0060] 202 Second profile plug

[0061] 203 Jaw plug

[0062] 204 Inner profile

[0063] 205 First part of 203

[0064] 206 Second part of 203

[0065] 207 Suction hole

[0066] 208 Groove

[0067] 209 Inner profile

[0068] d1 Outer diameter of 20

[0069] d2 Outer diameter of 21

[0070] d3 Outer diameter of 22

[0071] d4 Outer diameter of 23

[0072] d5 Outer diameter of 24

[0073] d6 Outer diameter of 25

[0074] P1 Arrow

[0075] P2 Double arrow

[0076] P3 Arrow Detailed implementation mode

[0077] To explain the present invention in more detail, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0078] In Figure 1A perspective view of a detailed portion of the coiled tubing 100 is shown, which has two bellows profile sections 101, 102 and a section 103 arranged therebetween, as well as two plug-in connector profile sections 104, 105 that are mirror-designed and interconnected with each other. The two plug-in connector profile sections 104, 105 communicate with each other. They have the configuration of an insertion section profile. The coiled tubing, together with its bellows profile sections 101, 102 and the two plug-in connector profile sections 104, 105, is designed as one component, i.e., integrally.

[0079] In order to produce a plurality of fluid units 1, the coiled tubing 100 is separated in the respective section 103 between the two plug-in connector profile sections 104, 105. This is indicated by the arrow P1 in Figure 1 and points to the separation point 106. Figure 2 The subsequently produced fluid unit 1 is shown, which has the bellows profile section 102 and the plug-in connector profile section 105 integrally molded on its end side. In a variant according to Figure 2 the plug-in connector profile section 105 is designed as an insertion section profile. The insertion section profile 105 has an end-side section 20 with an outer diameter of d1, an adjoining flange section (Wulstabschnitt) 21 with an outer diameter of d2 that slightly protrudes relative to the end-side section 20, and an adjoining groove section 22, whose outer diameter d3 is significantly smaller than the outer diameter d2 of the flange section 21 and also smaller than the outer diameter d1 of the end-side section 20. The insertion section profile 105 includes a section 23 adjacent to the groove section 22 and a receiving section 24, the outer diameter d4 of the section 23 roughly corresponding to the outer diameter d2 of the flange section 21, while the outer diameter d5 of the receiving section 24 roughly corresponds to the outer diameter d3 of the groove section 22. A transition section 25 is provided adjacent to the receiving section 24, which is connected to the bellows profile section 102. The transition section 25 has an outer diameter d6, which roughly corresponds to the outer diameter d4 or d2 of the section 23 and the flange section 21. Depending on the specific application scenario, the outer diameters of each of the sections 20 to 25 can also be configured differently from those described above or Figure 1 and 2 the shown implementation variant. In particular, each of these can also be dimensioned differently or not the same.

[0080] In Figure 3Two fluid units 1 are shown, each having an insertion profile section 104 or 105 at the end side and a section 103 that has not yet been divided into two insertion profile sections 2. Instead of the continuous tube 100, which has any number of bellows profile sections 101, 102 with plug-in connector profile sections arranged therebetween, or the continuous tube 100 has plug-in connector profile sections 104 or 105 molded at its two ends, it is also possible to provide one or two bellows profile sections with integrally molded insertion profile sections at their end sides. The lengths of the individual bellows profile sections 101 or 102 and the lengths of the plug-in connector profile sections 104, 105 arranged between them can vary according to the application. In particular, bellows profile sections 101 and 102 of different lengths can be designed in order to manufacture fluid units 1 of different lengths, the fluid units being provided with plug-in connector profile sections 104 or 105 at least at one end. The other end of the bellows profile section 101 or 102 can also be formed without a plug-in connector profile section, so that, for example, an independently manufactured plug-in connector, for example in the form of an independently manufactured sleeve section, is connected to this end in an expanded diameter manner, by welding or otherwise.

[0081] An extrusion device 200 (also referred to as a corrugating rolling mill) is used to manufacture such a continuous tube 100. In Figure 9 a section of such an extrusion device 200 is shown. There, two profile inserts 201, 202 are shown, between which a jaw insert 203 is arranged. The two profile inserts 201, 202 are used to form the corrugated profiles of the bellows profile sections 101, 102, while the jaw insert 203 corresponds to the outer profile of the plug-in connector profile sections 104, 105 with respect to its inner profile 204. According to Figure 4 the embodiment shown in, two parts or segments 205, 206 of the jaw insert 203 and correspondingly two parts or segments of the first profile insert 201 and two parts or segments of the second profile insert 202 can be provided in the circumferential direction of the continuous tube 100 to be manufactured, such that the continuous tube 100 can be easily demolded after being extruded. In Figure 4 a two-piece jaw insert 203 can be seen, where the opening device for removal is indicated by the double arrow P2. Figure 4The longitudinal sections of the two parts 205, 206 of the jaw insert 203 are at the height of one of the two groove sections 22 of the profile for forming the subsequent plug-in connector profile sections 104 or 105. To support the pressing of the plastic material, especially extruded, against or onto the jaw insert 203 or its inner profile 204 as well as the profile inserts 201, 202 and their inner profiles 209, a negative pressure is applied to them, which acts towards the inside of the jaw insert 203 or the profile inserts 201, 202. Through the suction holes 207 and the grooves 208 arranged in the area of the inner profile 204, the plastic material is sucked into the inner profile.

[0082] It can also be seen from Figure 9 that the jaw insert 203 can be inserted into the corrugated rolling machine chain without hindrance, i.e., between the two profile inserts 201, 202, for forming the corrugated pipe profile sections 101, 102. Thereby, the jaw insert 203 can be integrated into the extrusion device (e.g., extrusion device 200) without hindrance for forming the continuous pipe 100 and the subsequent fluid unit 1.

[0083] As Figures 5 to 7 shown by the process of the assembly steps in, the retaining element 3 and the sealing ring in the form of an O-ring 4 here are attached to the plug-in connector profile section or the insertion profile section 104, 105, which are arranged on the end sides of the respective corrugated pipe profile sections 101, 102. The direction of pushing the retaining element 3 and the O-ring 4 is indicated by the arrow P3 in Figure 6 The retaining element 3 and subsequently the O-ring 4 are pushed onto the end of the insertion profile element in the direction of the arrow P3, i.e., first through its end-side part 20 and then through the flange part 21 for positioning in the groove section 22. After being assembled onto the insertion profile section 105, the retaining element 3 is basically positioned on its receiving section 24. This can also be seen in Figure 8 The retaining element 3 is supported on the section 23 on the end side on the one hand and on the transition part 25 of the insertion profile section 105 on the other hand.

[0084] Figure 8 The fluid unit 1 is shown in, which has an insertion profile section 104 integrally arranged on the corrugated profile section 101 on the end side. It can be seen particularly from Figure 8 that the two retaining arms 30, 31 of the retaining element 3 are supported in the receiving part 24 of the insertion profile section 104 and are supported on its outer side 26 through their respective latching lugs 32, 33. In addition, in Figure 8The radially insertable locking element 34 of the holding element 3 can be seen, which clamps the holding arm 30 from below with the end-side latching lug 35 of the locking element 36, so that locking or latching is carried out to prevent radial movement. The locking element 36 clamps the through-hole 37 in the form of a small window in the holding arm 30. In the position inserted into the through-hole 37, the latching lug 35 is firmly seated on the edge of the holding arm 30 surrounding the through-hole 37 and fixes the locking element 36, thereby fixing the radially insertable locking element 34 against accidental loosening from the locked position. In this locked position, it is possible to prevent the other holding arms 38, 39 of the holding element 3 (such as as shown in Figure 6 and 7 ) from moving radially in the direction of the insertion part profile element 104, because the radially insertable locking element 34 can be Figure 8 as well as Figure 6 and 7 clamp these holding arms 38, 39 from the rear with a locking section not shown in the figure.

[0085] From Figure 6 and Figure 7 it can be seen that the receiving section 24 shown there has a pressure locking device in the form of a projecting element 40 that interacts with the holding element 3. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the holding element 3 from unlocking when pressure is applied inside the fluid unit 1. The projecting element 40 projects into or through the through-hole 41 in the holding arm 31. By applying pressure to the fluid unit 1, an axial relative movement is generated between the holding element 3 and the insertion part profile section 104. Here, the insertion part profile section 104 or the fluid unit 1 moves axially along the reverse insertion direction, that is, out of the sleeve section not shown in Figure 8 while the holding element 3 is fixed in the sleeve section, for example, axially immobile. Due to the displacement of the holding element 3 axially relative to the insertion part profile element 104 in the fluid unit 1, for pressure locking, the projecting element 40 is located on the outer side 26 of the receiving section 24 of the insertion part profile section 104. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the radial movement of the holding element 3 of the fluid unit 1 under medium pressure for safety purposes.

[0086] The continuous tube 100 and accordingly the fluid unit 1 made therefrom having a bellows profile section 101 or 102 and at least one insertion part profile section 104 or 105 arranged on the end side is made of a polymer material such as polyamide, for example PA12 or polypropylene. In principle, other polymer materials, especially different polymer materials, can also be used to manufacture the continuous tube 100.

[0087] In addition to the implementation variants of the fluid unit and its manufacturing method described above and shown in the drawings, many other forms can be provided, especially any combination of the above features, in which the bellows and the plug connector are integrally formed respectively, and the fluid unit or the continuous tube separated from it or forming at least one fluid unit has at least one bellows profile section and at least one plug connector profile section, especially an insertion part profile section.

Claims

1. A fluid unit (1) comprising at least one pluggable connector and at least one corrugated pipe, wherein the fluid unit (1) can be directly plugged and unplugged with a sleeve portion. Wherein, The at least one pluggable connector is integrally designed with the at least one corrugated pipe, wherein the fluid unit (1) has at least one corrugated pipe profile section (101, 102) and at least one pluggable connector profile section (104, 105) integrally molded thereon, characterized in that, The fluid unit has a retaining element (3) and a sealing ring (4). Wherein, the at least one pluggable connector profile section (104, 105) is an insertion part profile section and has at least one receiving section (24) for arranging the retaining element (3) and at least one groove section (22) for arranging the sealing ring (4); A transition section (25) is arranged adjacent to the receiving section (24), and this transition section (25) is connected to the corrugated pipe profile section (102). The pluggable connector in the form of a corrugated pipe and an insertion part profile section is integrally formed by extrusion in an extrusion device; The retaining element (3) and the sealing ring (4) are attached to the insertion part profile section, which is arranged on the end sides of the corrugated pipe profile sections (101, 102); The insertion part profile section has an end side section (20) with an outer diameter of d1, an adjacent flange section (21) with an outer diameter of d2 that slightly protrudes relative to the end side section (20), and an immediately adjacent groove section (22), whose outer diameter d3 is significantly smaller than the outer diameter d2 of the flange section (21), and is also smaller than the outer diameter d1 of the end side section 20; The insertion part profile section (105) includes a section (23) adjacent to the groove section (22), and the outer diameter d4 of the section (23) roughly corresponds to the outer diameter d2 of the flange section (21). Wherein, the receiving section (24) for arranging the retaining element (3) has an outer diameter d5 that is smaller than the sections (23, 25) adjacent to its two sides, so that the retaining arms (30, 31) of the retaining element (3) engage here and are supported in the receiving section (24), the outer diameter d5 of the receiving section (24) roughly corresponds to the outer diameter d3 of the groove section (22), and The retaining element (3) is supported on the section (23) on the end side on the one hand and on the transition part (25) of the insertion part profile section (105) on the other hand. The transition section (25) is adjacent to the receiving section (24), and the insertion part profile section (105) provided with the retaining element (3) is inserted into the sleeve part.

2. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one pluggable connector profile section (104, 105) has no undercut.

3. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The fluid unit (1) is made of a polymer material.

4. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fluid unit (1) is made of polyamide or polypropylene.

5. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fluid unit (1) is made of PA12.

6. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sealing ring (4) is an O-ring.

7. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving section (24) for arranging the retaining element (3) has at least one device that can prevent torsion.

8. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The device that can prevent torsion is the irregularly shaped and / or flat and / or polygonal area of the receiving section (24).

9. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving section (24) for arranging the retaining element (3) can be provided or is provided with at least one pressure locking device that interacts with the retaining element (3), and when pressure acts within the fluid unit (1), this pressure locking device prevents the retaining element (3) from unlocking.

10. The fluid unit (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The pressure locking device includes at least one element protruding from the outer side (26) of the receiving section (24) of the pluggable connector profile section (104, 105).

11. A method for manufacturing the fluid unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, including the following steps: forming a continuous tube (100) by extrusion, which includes sections (101, 102) having a corrugated profile and at least one section (103) having two pluggable connector profile sections (104, 105) that are mirror images of each other; the continuous tube (100) is demolded; and the continuous tube (100) is separated in the region of the at least one section (103) having two pluggable connector profile sections (104, 105) that are mirror images of each other, between the two pluggable connector profile sections, in at least two of the fluid units (1), and the fluid units (1) each have at least one corrugated profile section (101, 102) and at least one pluggable connector profile section (104, 105) integrally molded on the end side thereof, the at least one pluggable connector profile section (104, 105) is an insertion profile section and has at least one receiving section (24) for arranging the retaining element (3) and at least one groove section (22) for arranging the sealing ring (4); a transition section (25) is provided adjacent to the receiving section (24), and this transition section (25) is connected to the corrugated profile section (102), The pluggable connector in the form of a corrugated tube and an insertion profile section is integrally formed by extrusion in an extrusion device; The retaining element (3) and the sealing ring (4) are attached to the insertion profile part, which is arranged on the end sides of the corrugated profile sections (101, 102); The insertion profile section has an end side section (20) with an outer diameter of d1, an adjacent flange section (21) with an outer diameter of d2 that slightly protrudes relative to the end side section (20), and an immediately adjacent groove section (22), whose outer diameter d3 is significantly smaller than the outer diameter d2 of the flange section (21) and is also smaller than the outer diameter d1 of the end side section 20; The insertion profile section (105) includes a section (23) adjacent to the groove section (22), and the outer diameter d4 of the section (23) substantially corresponds to the outer diameter d2 of the flange section (21), wherein the outer diameter d5 of the receiving section (24) for arranging the retaining element (3) is smaller than the adjacent sections (23, 25) on both sides thereof, such that the retaining arms (30, 31) of the retaining element (3) engage here and are supported in the receiving section (24), Herein, the outer diameter d5 of the receiving section (24) substantially corresponds to the outer diameter d3 of the groove section (22), and the retaining element (3) is supported on the one hand on the section (23) at the end side and on the other hand on the transition section (25) of the insertion section profile (105), the transition section (25) being adjacent to the receiving section (24).

Images