A water pipe joint integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector

Abstract

The application discloses a water pipe joint integrated with a temperature sensing element and a connecting piece, relates to the technical field of thermal management of new energy vehicles and energy storage equipment, and comprises a water pipe body which is integrally injection molded by adopting a plastic material and has a flow channel for fluid passing through in the inside; a water pipe inlet and outlet joint which is integrally formed at the end of the water pipe body; an integrated mounting bracket which is located on the outer wall of the water pipe body and is integrally injection molded with the water pipe body, and at least one connecting part is formed on the integrated mounting bracket; and a temperature sensing element which is embedded in the water pipe body when the water pipe body is injection molded, and the temperature sensing element comprises a temperature sensing bag and a temperature sensing element terminal which is electrically connected with the temperature sensing bag. The water pipe body, the integrated mounting bracket, the temperature sensing element and the connecting piece are integrated and solidified into a whole component in the insert injection molding mode, the installation stress is reduced, the risk of structure cracking under long-term vibration is reduced, the temperature sensing path is shortened, and the sealing reliability is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of thermal management technology for new energy vehicles and energy storage equipment, specifically to a water pipe connector that integrates a temperature sensing element and a connector. Background Technology

[0002] In the thermal management systems of new energy vehicles and energy storage liquid cooling units, water pipe fittings are typically used to transport and connect coolant. Simultaneously, to accurately monitor and control the coolant temperature, temperature sensors (i.e., temperature sensing elements) need to be installed on the pipes. Current technical solutions combine the water pipe fittings and temperature sensing elements as two relatively independent components. One common approach is to manufacture the water pipe body using stainless steel, and then weld a base for mounting the temperature sensing element and a mounting bracket for securing the entire water pipe fitting onto the body. Nuts are usually welded onto the mounting bracket as connectors. Another common approach is to manufacture the water pipe fitting using plastic, pre-drill holes for the temperature sensing element in the body, and then install the temperature sensing element chip into the holes using thermally conductive silicone and hot-riveting or screw fixing.

[0003] However, from the perspective of on-site installation and maintenance personnel, existing stainless steel water pipe fittings present a thorny problem: the cumulative dimensional tolerances and weld fatigue risks caused by their multi-component welded structure pose significant unreliability risks to on-site installation. Specifically, the stainless steel fitting body, mounting bracket, connecting nut, and temperature sensing element base are all manufactured separately and then assembled by welding. During the welding process, due to thermal deformation and positioning errors, the relative positions of each component will have slight deviations. The cumulative tolerances of multiple components often result in the mounting bracket holes on the final product not being precisely aligned with the pre-set bolt holes on the vehicle frame or unit. When connecting pipes, on-site workers often need to forcibly pry or apply force to get the bolts through the bracket holes for fixing. This forced installation is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also introduces huge assembly stress at the weld between the water pipe body and the mounting bracket. Under the vibration and thermal shock of long-term vehicle or equipment operation, these welds with initial assembly stress are very likely to become the starting point of fatigue cracks, eventually leading to weld cracking, coolant leakage, system failure, or even safety accidents. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a water pipe connector that integrates a temperature sensing element and a connector, so as to solve the problems of installation difficulties and low weld reliability caused by the accumulation of tolerances due to the welding of multiple parts in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector, comprising a water pipe body integrally injection molded from plastic material, and having a flow channel inside for fluid to pass through;

[0006] The water pipe inlet and outlet joints are integrally formed at the ends of the water pipe body;

[0007] An integrated mounting bracket is located on the outer wall of the water pipe body and is integrally injection molded with the water pipe body. At least one connecting part is formed on the integrated mounting bracket.

[0008] A temperature sensing element is embedded in the water pipe body during injection molding. The temperature sensing element includes a temperature sensing bulb and a temperature sensing element terminal electrically connected to the temperature sensing bulb. At least a portion of the surface of the temperature sensing bulb is directly exposed inside the flow channel or is coplanar with the inner wall surface of the flow channel.

[0009] A connector, which is embedded in the connecting part during the injection molding of the integrated mounting bracket, is used to connect with an external fixing structure.

[0010] Furthermore, a sealing part is provided on the outer wall of the water pipe inlet and outlet joint. The sealing part is a multi-stage sealing structure with a bamboo joint head, which is used to seal the connection with the connecting pipe.

[0011] Furthermore, the integrated mounting bracket is formed by extending radially outward from the outer wall of the water pipe body.

[0012] Furthermore, the water pipe body, the integrated mounting bracket, and the sealing part are all integrally injection molded from the same plastic material.

[0013] Furthermore, the connecting parts are symmetrically formed on both sides of the integrated mounting bracket, and reinforcing ribs are provided at the connection between the integrated mounting bracket and the water pipe body.

[0014] Furthermore, the connector is a metal nut, which is embedded in the connecting part of the integrated mounting bracket, and the connecting part has a through hole corresponding to the threaded hole of the nut.

[0015] Furthermore, the temperature sensing element also includes a temperature sensing element connector, one end of the temperature sensing element terminal is connected to the temperature sensing bulb, and the other end extends into the temperature sensing element connector, the temperature sensing element connector and the water pipe body are integrally injection molded.

[0016] Furthermore, the temperature sensing element is located in the central region of the flow channel.

[0017] Furthermore, the temperature sensing bulb is completely covered by the plastic material of the water pipe body, and its inner surface is coplanar with the inner wall surface of the flow channel.

[0018] Furthermore, it also includes a quick connector, which is installed on the outer wall of the water pipe inlet / outlet connector and sealed to it.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a water pipe connector that integrates a temperature sensing element and a connector.

[0020] 1. By using plastic injection molding to integrally mold the water pipe body, integrated mounting bracket, and connectors, the traditional process of welding and assembling multiple independent components such as the body, mounting bracket, and temperature sensing element base in stainless steel water pipe joints has been changed.

[0021] This invention pre-places the connector as an insert in the corresponding position of the mold before the water pipe body is injection molded, and simultaneously places the temperature sensing element as an insert in the corresponding position of the flow channel. Through a single injection molding process, the water pipe body, integrated mounting bracket, connector, and temperature sensing element are integrated and solidified into a single component. This method avoids the problem of accumulated positional tolerances caused by welding multiple components. The relative position between the connector on the mounting bracket and the external fixing structure is directly guaranteed by the mold precision. During on-site installation, there is no need to forcibly align or force the mounting holes, thus eliminating the potential for additional stress introduced by forced assembly at welds or joints, and reducing the risk of structural cracking or coolant leakage under long-term vibration.

[0022] 2. In this invention, the temperature-sensing element is embedded into the water pipe body during injection molding. The surface of the temperature-sensing bulb is directly coplanar with or exposed within the flow channel wall. The coolant temperature does not need to be transferred through multiple layers of thermally conductive silicone or other media, resulting in a shorter temperature feedback path and facilitating timely temperature data acquisition by the thermal management system. Simultaneously, the integrated mounting bracket provides a stable support foundation for the temperature-sensing element, its terminals, and connectors, reducing electrical connection problems such as wiring fatigue or poor terminal contact caused by pipeline vibration. The multi-stage sealing structure at the pipe opening is integrally molded with the water pipe body, forming a multi-stage sealing interface when connected to a rubber hose, improving the sealing performance of the pipeline connection. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0024] Figure 1 An isometric view of the overall structure of the water pipe connector with integrated temperature sensing element and connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 A side view of the overall structure of the water pipe connector with integrated temperature sensing element and connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a vertical internal structural cross-sectional view of the water pipe body provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the water pipe body and the integrated mounting bracket provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the water pipe body and quick connectors provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0030] 1. Water pipe body; 101. Water pipe inlet and outlet joints; 101a. Sealing part; 2. Integrated mounting bracket; 201. Connecting part; 3. Temperature sensing element; 301. Temperature sensing bulb; 302. Temperature sensing element terminal; 303. Temperature sensing element connector; 4. Connecting piece; 5. Flow channel; 6. Quick connector. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] As attached Figure 1 To be continued Figure 5 As shown:

[0033] Example 1:

[0034] This embodiment provides a water pipe connector that integrates a temperature sensing element and a connector. This water pipe connector is mainly used in the thermal management system of new energy vehicle batteries or the liquid cooling unit of energy storage equipment for connecting coolant pipelines and real-time monitoring of fluid temperature.

[0035] The water pipe connector includes a water pipe body 1, which is integrally molded from hydrolysis-resistant and high-temperature-resistant engineering plastic using an injection molding process. For example, glass fiber reinforced PA66 or PPS materials can be used. The interior of the water pipe body 1 forms a flow channel 5 for the flow of coolant. In this embodiment, the flow channel 5 is a straight-through structure with one inlet and one outlet, but the specific direction and number of branches of the flow channel 5 do not constitute a limitation on the invention.

[0036] The two ends of the water pipe body 1 are integrally formed with water pipe inlet and outlet connectors 101. Each water pipe inlet and outlet connector 101 has a sealing part 101a on its outer wall. The sealing part 101a is specifically in the form of a bamboo joint multi-stage sealing structure. This bamboo joint multi-stage sealing structure consists of at least two annular protrusions surrounding the outer wall of the connector. When connected to a rubber hose, each annular protrusion can form an interference fit with the inner wall of the hose, thereby forming multiple sealing interfaces to prevent coolant leakage under pressure.

[0037] An integral mounting bracket 2 extends radially outward from the outer wall of the water pipe body 1. The integral mounting bracket 2 and the water pipe body 1 are integral structures formed in the same injection molding process, without any interface or connecting weld between them. Two symmetrically arranged connecting parts 201 are formed on the integral mounting bracket 2. The position and spacing of the connecting parts 201 are pre-set according to the fixing hole positions on the frame or unit. In the transition area between the integral mounting bracket 2 and the outer wall of the water pipe body 1, reinforcing ribs are integrally formed to enhance the load-bearing capacity and vibration resistance of the bracket.

[0038] In this embodiment, the connector 4 is a metal nut with internal threads. Before injection molding the integrated mounting bracket 2, the metal nut is placed as an insert in the injection mold at the position corresponding to the connector 201. After the molten plastic is injected into the mold cavity and cools and solidifies, the metal nut is tightly encased in the plastic material and fixed inside the connector 201. The connector 201 also has a through hole coaxial with the threaded hole of the nut for the bolt to pass through.

[0039] In this embodiment, the temperature sensing element 3 is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor temperature sensor. The temperature sensing element 3 is also integrated as an insert during the injection molding of the water pipe body 1. Specifically, the temperature sensing element 3 includes a temperature sensing bulb 301, a temperature sensing element terminal 302, and a temperature sensing element connector 303. A thermistor chip is encapsulated inside the temperature sensing bulb 301. Before injection molding, the entire assembly, including the temperature sensing bulb 301, temperature sensing element terminal 302, and temperature sensing element connector 303, is pre-fixed in a predetermined position within the mold cavity, corresponding to the central area near the center of the flow channel 5. After injection molding, the temperature sensing bulb 301 is completely covered and fixed by the plastic material of the water pipe body 1, and the surface of the temperature sensing bulb 301 facing the flow channel 5 remains coplanar with the inner wall surface of the flow channel 5. Thus, the coolant flowing in the flow channel 5 can directly contact the thin layer of plastic on the surface of the temperature sensing bulb 301, resulting in a short heat conduction path and a fast temperature response. One end of the temperature sensing element terminal 302 is soldered to the chip pin inside the temperature sensing bulb 301, and the other end extends to the internal pin of the temperature sensing element connector 303. The temperature sensing element connector 303 is also integrally injection molded with the water pipe body 1 to form a standardized electrical interface for plugging into external wiring harnesses.

[0040] The manufacturing process of this embodiment is briefly described as follows: First, a metal nut and a temperature-sensing element 3 are prepared as inserts. Second, the inserts are placed into the pre-set positioning structure in the water pipe connector injection mold, wherein the metal nut is located at the connecting part 201 and the temperature-sensing element 301 is located in the middle of the flow channel 5. Then, the mold is closed and molten engineering plastic is injected into the mold cavity, filling the cavity and encapsulating the inserts. After pressure holding and cooling to solidify, the mold is opened and the product is removed, thus obtaining the finished water pipe connector integrating the temperature-sensing element 3 and the connecting part 4.

[0041] During on-site installation, the operator inserts the rubber hose onto the bamboo-joint sealing part 101a of the water pipe inlet / outlet connector 101 and tightens it with clamps. Then, the entire water pipe connector is moved to the installation position, aligning the through hole on the integrated mounting bracket 2 with the mounting hole on the vehicle frame or unit. Bolts are then inserted and screwed into the pre-embedded connector 4 (metal nut) to complete the connector's fixation. Because the integrated mounting bracket 2 and its connecting holes are directly guaranteed by the mold precision, there is no hole position deviation caused by welding deformation, resulting in a smooth installation process without generating additional assembly stress inside the connector.

[0042] Example 2:

[0043] This embodiment has the same basic structure and manufacturing principle as Embodiment 1. The main difference lies in the embedding method of the temperature sensing element 3 and the external configuration of the water pipe connector.

[0044] In this embodiment, a water pipe inlet / outlet connector 101 is provided at each end of the water pipe body 1, and an integral mounting bracket 2 is integrally formed on the outer wall in the middle. The structural forms of the sealing part 101a, the integral mounting bracket 2 and the connector 4 are consistent with those in Embodiment 1.

[0045] The difference lies in the embedding depth of the temperature sensing element 3. In this embodiment, the temperature sensing element 301 is positioned deeper in the runner 5 before injection molding, so that after injection molding, at least a portion of the surface of the temperature sensing element 301 is directly exposed within the runner 5. That is, the inner surface of the temperature sensing element 301 is not covered by plastic, but is in direct contact with the coolant flowing within the runner 5. This structure further shortens the heat transfer path and is suitable for applications requiring higher temperature response speeds. To achieve this structure, the locating pin used to fix the temperature sensing element 301 in the injection mold must abut against the inner surface of the temperature sensing element 301 after mold closing to prevent molten plastic from covering this surface. After injection molding, the locating pin retracts, leaving a tiny groove communicating with the runner 5 at the corresponding position of the temperature sensing element 301, and the sensitive surface of the temperature sensing element 301 is exposed at the bottom of this groove. Since the outer shell of the temperature sensing element 301 itself has corrosion resistance, direct contact with the coolant will not affect its service life.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the integrated mounting bracket 2 has only one connecting part 201, located in the center of the bracket, which is suitable for installation scenarios requiring single-point suspension and fixation. The connector 4 is also a pre-embedded metal nut.

[0047] Other structural features, material selection, and beneficial effects of this embodiment are basically the same as those of Embodiment 1, and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that, regardless of whether the inner wall surface of the temperature sensing bulb 301 is coplanar or the temperature sensing bulb 301 is directly exposed, integration can be completed in one step during injection molding without the need for secondary potting or hot riveting processes, resulting in high manufacturing efficiency and good product consistency.

[0048] Example 3:

[0049] This embodiment has the same basic structure and manufacturing principle as Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2. The main difference lies in the external connection structure of the water pipe inlet and outlet joint 101.

[0050] In the aforementioned embodiment, a multi-stage sealing structure with a bamboo-joint head is integrally formed on the outer wall of the water pipe inlet / outlet connector 101, used for fastening the connection with the rubber hose via clamps. This structure is suitable for conventional applications where space is limited and cost is critical. In applications requiring frequent disassembly and maintenance or quick connection with external pipelines of different specifications, to further improve versatility and installation efficiency, this embodiment adds a quick connector 6 to the water pipe inlet / outlet connector 101.

[0051] Specifically, at the root of the outer wall of the water pipe inlet / outlet connectors 101 at both ends of the water pipe body 1, i.e., on the side of the multi-stage sealing structure near the water pipe body 1, an annular positioning step is provided. One end of the quick connector 6 has a snap-fit ​​structure on its inner wall that mates with this annular positioning step. The quick connector 6 can be axially pushed in and circumferentially secured onto the water pipe inlet / outlet connectors 101, achieving a reliable connection. The other end of the quick connector 6 has a standard interface compatible with external pipelines, such as a threaded interface, quick-connect interface, or flange interface.

[0052] This structural design makes the water pipe fittings more flexible and versatile in practical use. A water pipe body 1 of the same specification only needs to be equipped with quick-connect fittings 6 of different specifications to adapt to external pipelines of different diameters and connection types, without requiring the water pipe body 1 to be re-molded and manufactured, thus reducing the variety of spare parts and inventory pressure. When replacing or upgrading external pipelines, only the corresponding quick-connect fitting 6 needs to be replaced; the water pipe body 1, the internally integrated temperature sensing element 3, and the integrated mounting bracket 2 can remain unchanged.

[0053] During on-site installation, operators can select matching quick connectors 6 and pre-assemble them onto the water pipe inlet / outlet connectors 101 according to the pipeline layout requirements of the vehicle or unit. Then, the other end of the quick connector 6 is connected to the external pipeline. The remaining structural features, material selection, and manufacturing process of this embodiment are basically the same as those of Embodiment 1, and will not be described again.

[0054] The foregoing has only described certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention by way of illustration. Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art can modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector, characterized in that, include: The water pipe body (1) is made of plastic material and is injection molded in one piece. It has a flow channel (5) for fluid to pass through. The water pipe inlet / outlet connector (101) is integrally formed at the end of the water pipe body (1); An integrated mounting bracket (2) is located on the outer wall of the water pipe body (1) and is integrally injection molded with the water pipe body (1). At least one connecting part (201) is formed on the integrated mounting bracket (2). A temperature sensing element (3) is embedded in the water pipe body (1) during injection molding. The temperature sensing element (3) includes a temperature sensing bulb (301) and a temperature sensing element terminal (302) electrically connected to the temperature sensing bulb (301). At least part of the surface of the temperature sensing bulb (301) is directly exposed in the flow channel (5) or is coplanar with the inner wall surface of the flow channel (5). The connector (4) is embedded in the connecting part (201) during the injection molding of the integrated mounting bracket (2) for connection with the external fixing structure.

2. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the water pipe inlet / outlet joint (101) is provided with a sealing part (101a), which is a multi-stage sealing structure with a bamboo joint head, used for sealing connection with the connecting pipe.

3. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The integrated mounting bracket (2) is formed by the outer wall of the water pipe body (1) extending radially outward.

4. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The water pipe body (1), the integrated mounting bracket (2), and the sealing part (101a) are integrally injection molded from the same plastic material.

5. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting part (201) is symmetrically formed on both sides of the integrated mounting bracket (2), and a reinforcing rib is provided at the connection between the integrated mounting bracket (2) and the water pipe body (1).

6. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connector (4) is a metal nut, which is embedded in the connecting part (201) of the integrated mounting bracket (2). The connecting part (201) has a through hole corresponding to the threaded hole of the nut.

7. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature sensing element (3) also includes a temperature sensing element connector (303). One end of the temperature sensing element terminal (302) is connected to the temperature sensing bulb (301), and the other end extends into the temperature sensing element connector (303). The temperature sensing element connector (303) and the water pipe body (1) are integrally injection molded.

8. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature sensing element (3) contains a temperature sensing bulb (301) located in the central region of the flow channel (5).

9. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, The temperature sensor (301) is completely covered by the plastic material of the water pipe body (1), and its inner surface is coplanar with the inner wall surface of the flow channel (5).

10. A water pipe connector integrating a temperature sensing element and a connector according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a quick connector (6), which is installed on the outer wall of the water pipe inlet / outlet connector (101) and is sealed to it.

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