Air conditioner pipe mounting structure and thermal management system

Abstract

The application provides an air conditioner pipe mounting structure and a thermal management system. The air conditioner pipe mounting structure comprises: a pipe body, two ends of which are oppositely fixed; two pressing plates, two ends of the pipe body are rotatably connected to the two pressing plates respectively; a first pair of hand tools, one end of the pipe body is connected to the first pair of hand tools through one pressing plate; a second pair of hand tools, the other end of the pipe body is connected to the second pair of hand tools through the other pressing plate, the second pair of hand tools can move relative to the first pair of hand tools in a first direction and / or a second direction, so that when an installation position of the two ends of the pipe body has an error in a third direction, the connection between the pipe body and the first pair of hand tools and the second pair of hand tools can be realized by adjusting the relative positions of the first pair of hand tools and the second pair of hand tools in the first direction and / or the second direction and rotating the pipe body, and the first direction, the second direction and the third direction intersect with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of thermal management technology, and in particular to air conditioning pipe installation structures and thermal management systems. Background Technology

[0002] In integrated thermal management systems, such as those in automobiles, the space available for arranging air conditioning pipes on the refrigerant piping side is limited. Common air conditioning pipes include flexible hose sections and rigid hose sections at both ends of the flexible hose sections for connecting to components such as receiver condensers and heat exchangers. The junction of flexible and rigid air conditioning pipes has a lower limit on the extension dimension, which cannot be less than the standard requirement. This results in a lower limit on the overall size of the air conditioning pipes, and their ability to adapt to confined spaces needs improvement.

[0003] In contrast, if the air conditioning pipes are made into one-piece rigid pipes, the lower limit of the extension dimension can be avoided at the junction of soft and rigid pipes, resulting in a shorter overall length and better suitability for confined spaces. However, for example, the plates of plate heat exchangers have tolerances, and the cumulative tolerance of multiple plates in the stacking height direction is relatively large. Using rigid pipes will lead to assembly difficulties due to tolerances, which may cause leakage risks. Utility Model Content

[0004] To solve or alleviate at least one of the technical problems mentioned in the background art, this application provides an air conditioning pipe installation structure and a thermal management system.

[0005] The air conditioning pipe installation structure provided in this application includes: a pipe body with its two ends fixed relative to each other; two pressure plates, with the two ends of the pipe body rotatably connected to the two pressure plates respectively; a first pair of fittings, with one end of the pipe body connected to the first pair of fittings via one of the pressure plates; and a second pair of fittings, with the other end of the pipe body connected to the second pair of fittings via another pressure plate. The second pair of fittings is movable relative to the first pair of fittings in a first direction and / or a second direction, so that when there is an error in the installation position of the two ends of the pipe body in a third direction, the connection between the pipe body and the first pair of fittings and the second pair of fittings can be achieved by adjusting the relative positions of the first pair of fittings and the second pair of fittings in the first direction and / or the second direction, and by rotating the pipe body. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other.

[0006] In at least one embodiment, the tube body includes a first extension section, and each end of the first extension section is provided with a second extension section whose axis is perpendicular to the surface of the pressure plate. The second extension section is rotatable relative to the pressure plate, and the end of the second extension section is installed into the mounting holes of the first and second clamping members.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, the second extension section is provided with a flange or a step, and the pressure plate presses the second extension section against the first or second opponent through the flange or step.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, the second extension section includes a first portion of a tube body, the pressure plate includes a tube body mounting hole for receiving the tube body, the tube body mounting hole includes a first portion of a mounting hole located radially outward of the first portion of the tube body and having a clearance between them that allows relative rotation, the second extension section includes a second portion of a tube body adjacent to the first portion of the tube body, the diameter of the first portion of the tube body is smaller than the diameter of the second portion of the tube body, the tube body mounting hole includes a second portion of a mounting hole located radially outward of the second portion of the tube body, and the axial end face of the first portion of the mounting hole facing the second portion of the mounting hole abuts against the axial end face of the second portion of the tube body facing the first portion of the tube body.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, a third part of the tube body is further provided on the side of the second part of the tube body away from the first part of the tube body. The first and second opposing parts include mounting holes. The third part of the tube body extends into the mounting holes to realize communication between the tube body and the first opposing part, and communication between the tube body and the second opposing part. A sealing ring is provided on the radially outer side of the third part of the tube body.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, the tube is a rigid tube made of metal or rigid plastic.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, the pressure plate further includes a fixing hole spaced apart from the tube mounting hole, the fixing hole being fixed to the first or second pair of components by screws or bolts.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the first and / or the second pair of components includes a mounting hole for the component, which is fixed to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system via a bolt or screw. The diameter or length of the mounting hole is greater than the diameter of the bolt shank or the screw shank, such that the first and / or the second pair of components can be adjusted in a fixed position relative to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system, and is configured to adjust the position in a first direction and / or a second direction.

[0013] In at least one embodiment, the first pair of components is a plate heat exchanger, and the stacking direction of the plates of the plate heat exchanger is a third direction.

[0014] The thermal management system provided in this application includes the aforementioned air conditioning pipe installation structure.

[0015] This application uses a rigid tube with both ends relatively fixed instead of a flexible tube, resulting in a smaller overall size. By using a rotatable tube body and relatively movable first and second pairing components to absorb tolerances, this application allows for the use of a rigid tube while also mitigating tolerances, thus avoiding the risk of leakage caused by the tube body or pairing components not being able to be installed or by shaft hole misalignment after installation. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the pipe body and pressure plate of an air conditioning pipe installation structure according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the air conditioning pipe installation structure according to an embodiment of this application is shown, showing the pipe body, pressure plate, and connecting parts in a connected state.

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the rotation of the pipe body of the air conditioning pipe mounting structure according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0019] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the air conditioning pipe installation structure in the image.

[0020] Figure 5 A frontal view structural schematic diagram of a thermal management system according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0021] Figure 6 A rear view schematic diagram of the thermal management system according to an embodiment of this application is shown.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0023] 10 tube body;

[0024] 110 One end;

[0025] 120 at the other end;

[0026] 130 First extension section;

[0027] 140 Second extension section;

[0028] 141 The first part of the tube body;

[0029] 142 The second part of the tube body;

[0030] 143 Axial end face;

[0031] 144 The third part of the tube body;

[0032] 145 Sealing ring;

[0033] 20 pressure plates;

[0034] 210 Surface;

[0035] 220 Pipe mounting hole;

[0036] 221 Mounting Hole First Part;

[0037] 222 Mounting Hole Part 2;

[0038] 223 Axial end face;

[0039] 230 fixing hole;

[0040] 240 screws;

[0041] 250 gap;

[0042] 30 First pair of parts;

[0043] 40 Second pair of parts;

[0044] 50 mounting holes for the components;

[0045] X is the first direction;

[0046] Y is the second direction;

[0047] Z Third Direction Detailed Implementation

[0048] Exemplary embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these specific descriptions are for teaching those skilled in the art how to implement this application only, and are not intended to exhaustively describe all possible methods of this application, nor to limit the scope of this application.

[0049] This application provides an air conditioning pipe installation structure and a thermal management system.

[0050] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The air conditioning pipe installation structure may include a pipe body 10, two pressure plates 20, a first pair of fittings 30 and a second pair of fittings 40.

[0051] The pipe body 10 can be a rigid pipe with both ends fixed, unlike existing air conditioning pipes where the middle section is flexible and both ends are rigid. The pipe body 10 of this application can be a rigid pipe manufactured by a one-piece molding process, or it can be a rigid pipe spliced ​​from multiple sections. Here, a rigid pipe can be understood as a pipe that will not deform unless a significant force is applied. This distinguishes it from, for example, silicone pipes or rubber pipes. As an example, the rigid pipe here can be made of metal or rigid plastic.

[0052] The two ends of the tube body 10 are configured to be rotatably connected to two pressure plates 20. The specific method of rotation will be described later, but it should be understood that this refers to the tube body 10 and the pressure plates 20 being able to rotate relative to each other during the assembly process. After the tube body 10 is assembled, the tube body 10, the pressure plates 20, and the opposing parts (first opposing part 30 and second opposing part 40) remain relatively fixed.

[0053] One end 110 of the tube body 10 is connected to the first pair of fittings 30 via a pressure plate 20, and the other end 120 of the tube body 10 is connected to the second pair of fittings 40 via another pressure plate 20. Exemplarily, the first pair of fittings 30 can be a liquid storage tank, and the second pair of fittings 40 can be a heat exchanger. More specifically, an electronic expansion valve and its valve island can be installed on the heat exchanger, and the first pair of fittings 30 can be the valve island. In another example, the first pair of fittings 30 can be a water-cooled condenser, and the second pair of fittings 40 can be a heat exchanger.

[0054] This application also configures the second counterpart 40 to be capable of operating relative to the first counterpart 30 in a first direction X and / or a second direction Y (see...). Figure 5 , Figure 6 The movement allows the installation positions of both ends of the tube 10 to be adjusted so that, when an error occurs in the third direction Z, the relative positions of the first pair of fittings 30 and the second pair of fittings 40 in the first direction X and / or the second direction Y can be adjusted, and the tube 10 can be rotated (see, for example, see...). Figure 3 , Figure 4 With one end 110 as the center of rotation, the tube body 10 is connected to the first pair of parts 30 and the second pair of parts 40 by rotating around an axis perpendicular to the surface 210 of the pressure plate 20 (e.g., in the second direction Y).

[0055] It is understandable that setting the second pairing component 40 to be movable relative to the first pairing component 30 in the first direction X and / or the second direction Y means that the installation position of the second pairing component 40 relative to the first pairing component 30 can be adjusted during installation. After installation, the positions of the second pairing component 40 and the first pairing component 30 are fixed.

[0056] The adjustment of the mounting position of the second pair of parts 40 can be achieved, for example, by using a mounting bolt hole slightly larger than the bolt diameter, or by using a long hole.

[0057] The first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z can intersect each other. Optionally, the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z can be perpendicular to each other. The third direction Z can be the direction in which tolerances occur. For example, when the second pair of components 40 is a plate heat exchanger, the third direction Z is the stacking direction of the plates of the plate heat exchanger.

[0058] This application uses a rigid tube with relatively fixed ends instead of a flexible tube, avoiding the limitation on the lower limit of the extension dimension imposed by the junction of the rigid and flexible parts of the flexible tube, and thus the overall size can be smaller. This application absorbs tolerances through a rotatable tube body 10 and relatively movable first and second pairing members 30 and 40. For example, when the two ends of the tube body 10 deviate in the third direction Z, by widening or narrowing the distance between the first pairing members 30 and the second pairing members 40 in the first direction X, the tube body 10 rotates but its length remains unchanged. This allows the use of a rigid tube while absorbing tolerances, avoiding the risk of leakage caused by the tube body 10 and the pairing members not being able to be installed or by shaft hole misalignment after installation.

[0059] In one implementation, see Figure 1 , Figure 4 The tube body 10 includes a first extension section 130 whose axis is parallel to the surface 210 of the pressure plate 20. The two ends of the first extension section 130 are respectively provided with a second extension section 140 whose axis is perpendicular to the surface 210 of the pressure plate 20. The second extension section 140 can rotate relative to the pressure plate 20.

[0060] Of course, the axis of the first extension section 130 does not necessarily have to be parallel to the surface 210; for example, the axis of the first extension section 130 can be an arc. There can be a transition section with an arc axis between the first extension section 130 and the second extension section 140.

[0061] In one implementation, see Figure 4 The second extension section 140 is provided with a flange or a step, and the pressure plate 20 presses the second extension section 140 against the first pair of parts 30 or the second pair of parts 40 through the flange or step (for example, at the junction of the first part 141 and the second part 142 of the tube body described later).

[0062] In one implementation, see Figure 4 The second extension section 140 may include a first portion 141 of the tube body, and the pressure plate 20 includes a tube body mounting hole 220 for receiving the tube body 10. The tube body mounting hole 220 includes a first portion 221 of the mounting hole, which is located radially outside the first portion 141 of the tube body and has a clearance 250 between them that allows relative rotation. Thus, the tube body 10 can rotate relative to the pressure plate 20.

[0063] In one implementation, see Figure 4The second extension section 140 may include a second section 142 of the pipe body adjacent to the first section 141, the diameter of the first section 141 being smaller than the diameter of the second section 142. The pipe body mounting hole 220 includes a second mounting hole 222 located radially outside the second section 142, with the axial end face 223 of the first section 221 facing the second mounting hole 222 abutting against the axial end face 143 of the second section 142 facing the first section 141. This end face contact further enhances the sealing performance, preventing liquids such as coolant from entering the gap 250. It is understood that the second mounting hole 222 is not optional.

[0064] In one implementation, see Figure 4 A third part 144 is also provided on the side of the second part 142 of the tube body away from the first part 141 of the tube body. The first pair of fittings 30 and the second pair of fittings 40 include mounting holes, and the third part 144 of the tube body extends into the mounting holes to realize the communication between the tube body 10 and the first pair of fittings 30, and the communication between the tube body 10 and the second pair of fittings 40.

[0065] In one implementation, see Figure 4 A sealing ring 145 is provided on the radially outer side of the third part 144 of the pipe body. The sealing ring 145 contacts the wall of the mounting hole to further enhance the sealing performance.

[0066] In one implementation, see Figure 4 The pressure plate 20 also includes fixing holes 230 spaced apart from the pipe body mounting hole 220, the fixing holes 230 being connected by bolts or screws 240 (e.g., Figure 2 (As shown) It is fixed to the first opposing member 30 and the second opposing member 40. Of course, this application does not limit the fixing form of the pressure plate 20 itself.

[0067] In one implementation, see Figure 5 , Figure 6 The first pair 30 and / or the second pair 40 include a pair mounting hole 50, which is fixed to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system by bolts or screws. The diameter of the pair mounting hole 50 is larger than the diameter of the bolt shank or the screw shank of the screw 240, so that the first pair 30 and / or the second pair 40 can be adjusted in a fixed position relative to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system, and are configured to adjust their position in the first direction X and the second direction Y.

[0068] For example, an installation process of the air conditioning pipe installation structure provided in this application may include the following steps: Pre-installing (loosely) the first pair of fittings 30 and the second pair of fittings 40 to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system; installing both ends of the pipe body 10 to the first pair of fittings 30 and the second pair of fittings 40; and fixing the first pair of fittings 30 and the second pair of fittings 40 to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system. See also... Figure 3 After the first pair of components 30 and the second pair of components 40 are pre-installed (loosely) into the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system, for example, if the distance between the installation positions of the two ends of the tube body 10 in the third direction Z is too large when the corresponding bolts or screws are not tightened, the distance between the installation positions of the two ends of the tube body 10 in the first direction X can be reduced. That is, the positions of the first pair of components 30 and the second pair of components 40 are adjusted in the first direction X so that the tube body 10 can be successfully connected to the first pair of components 30 and the second pair of components 40 while the length remains unchanged.

[0069] The thermal management system provided in this application may include the aforementioned air conditioning pipe mounting structure. For example, the thermal management system may be a thermal management system in a vehicle.

[0070] The above are preferred embodiments of this application. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of this application, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An air conditioning pipe installation structure, characterized in that, include: The tube body has its two ends fixed relative to each other; Two pressure plates are provided, and the two ends of the tube are rotatably connected to the two pressure plates respectively; The first pair of components, one end of the tube body is connected to the first pair of components via a pressure plate; The second pair of components, the other end of the tube body is connected to the second pair of components via another pressure plate. The second opposing component is movable relative to the first opposing component in a first direction and / or a second direction, so that when there is an error in the installation position of both ends of the tube body in a third direction, the connection between the tube body and the first and / or second opposing components can be achieved by adjusting the relative positions of the first and second opposing components in the first and / or second directions, and by rotating the tube body. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other.

2. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tube body includes a first extension section, and each end of the first extension section is provided with a second extension section whose axis is perpendicular to the surface of the pressure plate. The second extension section is rotatable relative to the pressure plate, and the end of the second extension section is installed into the mounting holes of the first and second pairs of components.

3. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second extension section is provided with a flange or a step, and the pressure plate presses the second extension section against the first or second opponent through the flange or step.

4. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second extension section includes a first portion of a tube body. The pressure plate includes a tube body mounting hole for receiving the tube body. The tube body mounting hole includes a first portion of a mounting hole, which is located radially outward of the first portion of the tube body and has a clearance that allows relative rotation between them. The second extension section includes a second section of the tube body adjacent to the first section, wherein the diameter of the first section of the tube body is smaller than the diameter of the second section of the tube body. The pipe body mounting hole includes a second mounting hole portion, which is located radially outside the second pipe body portion. The axial end face of the first mounting hole portion facing the second mounting hole portion abuts against the axial end face of the second pipe body portion facing the first pipe body portion.

5. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, A third part of the tube is also provided on the side of the second part of the tube that is away from the first part of the tube. The first and second opposing components include mounting holes, and the third portion of the tube extends into the mounting holes to achieve communication between the tube and the first opposing component, and between the tube and the second opposing component. A sealing ring is provided on the radially outer side of the third part of the tube.

6. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tube is a rigid tube made of metal or hard plastic.

7. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pressure plate also includes fixing holes spaced apart from the pipe body mounting holes, and the fixing holes are fixed to the first or second pair of components by screws or bolts.

8. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and / or second pair of components includes a mounting hole for the component, which is fixed to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system by a bolt or screw. The diameter or length of the mounting hole is greater than the diameter of the bolt shank or the screw shank, so that the first and / or second pair of components can be adjusted and fixed relative to the fixing mechanism of the thermal management system, and is configured to adjust the position in a first direction and / or a second direction.

9. The air conditioning pipe installation structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first pair of components is a plate heat exchanger, and the stacking direction of the plates of the plate heat exchanger is the third direction.

10. A thermal management system, characterized in that, The air conditioning pipe installation structure includes any one of claims 1 to 9.

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