Assembly kit for a fluid-carrying device, fluid-carrying device and method for assembling a fluid-carrying device

Abstract

Assembly kit for an exhaust gas-conducting device (1), with at least one first fluid line (2) having a first connecting flange (4), a second fluid line (3) having a second connecting flange (5), and a connecting clamp for fastening the two fluid lines (2, 3) designed as exhaust gas lines to one another by engaging around the connecting flanges (4, 5), characterized in that holding means (6) are arranged on the first connecting flange (4) and the second connecting flange (5), which holding means cooperate to hold the connecting flanges (4, 5) to one another before the connecting clamp engages around the connecting flanges (4, 5) and are received in the connecting clamp after the engagement, wherein the holding means (6) are present as suspension means, so that after the suspension means have been brought into engagement, the influence of gravity prevents the connection between the two connecting flanges (4, 5) established by means of the suspension means from becoming detached.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly kit for an exhaust gas-conducting device, comprising at least one first fluid line having a first connection flange, a second fluid line having a second connection flange, and a connecting clamp for fastening the two fluid lines configured as exhaust gas lines to one another by encompassing the connection flanges. The invention further relates to a fluid-conducting device and a method for assembling a fluid-conducting device.

[0002] The fluid-conducting device comprises at least the first fluid line and the second fluid line. The first fluid line has the first connection flange, and the second fluid line has the second connection flange. The two connection flanges serve to connect, in particular to connect, the two fluid lines to one another in a fluid-tight manner. For this purpose, for example, a corresponding seal is arranged between the first connection flange and the second connection flange.

[0003] The two fluid lines serve to convey a fluid, which can, in principle, be of any type. For example, the two fluid lines are designed as exhaust lines, so that the fluid is present as a gas, in particular exhaust gas. One of the fluid lines can be located on an exhaust system device, for example, an exhaust gas turbocharger, a manifold, an exhaust gas purification device, or the like.

[0004] The two fluid lines are preferably round in cross-section. They are attached to each other by arranging the two connecting flanges adjacent to each other and then attaching the connecting clamp to them. The connecting clamp engages both connecting flanges and forces them toward each other.

[0005] From the prior art, for example, the document US 2003 / 0030272 A1 is known, which enables a connection system for creating sterile connections between two pipes.

[0006] It is an object of the invention to propose an assembly kit for a fluid-carrying device which has advantages over known assembly kits, in particular enabling simpler and faster assembly of the fluid-carrying device.

[0007] This is achieved according to the invention with an assembly kit having the features of claim 1. It is provided that holding means are arranged on the first connecting flange and the second connecting flange, which cooperate with one another before the connecting flanges are encompassed by the connecting clamp to hold the connecting flanges to one another and are received in the connecting clamp after the encompassing, wherein the holding means are present as suspension means, so that after engagement of the suspension means, the influence of gravity prevents a release of the connection between the two connecting flanges established by means of the suspension means.

[0008] When assembling a fluid-carrying device using a conventional assembly kit, one problem is that the two fluid lines or the two connecting flanges have to be held together and, at the same time, the connecting clamp for fastening the two fluid lines to one another has to be attached. However, two hands are usually required to hold the two connecting flanges together, which makes attaching the connecting clamp difficult. Secondly, the orientation of the two connecting flanges to one another, which must be established before connection, is often unclear because they are rotationally symmetrical. Therefore, before connecting the two fluid lines to one another, it is first necessary to carry out a complex check to determine the position in which the two connecting flanges should be arranged relative to one another.

[0009] For this reason, retaining elements are provided on the two connecting flanges, which hold them together even before the connecting clamp is attached. When assembling the fluid-carrying device, the two fluid lines or the two connecting flanges are first secured to each other using the retaining elements, and only then is the connecting clamp attached to them to permanently secure the connecting flanges together.

[0010] The holding means are preferably designed for the reversible fastening of the two connecting flanges to one another. This means that although the connecting flanges can be fastened to one another using the holding means, they can always be easily detached from one another afterwards. Disassembly of the fluid-carrying device can therefore be carried out in the reverse order of assembly: First, the connecting clamp is removed from the connecting flanges. Even after the connecting clamp has been removed, the two connecting flanges initially continue to be held together by the holding means. However, the holding means allow the two connecting flanges to be easily removed from one another by manually grasping them, so that the two connecting flanges and thus the two fluid lines can be separated from one another.

[0011] The retaining means are designed to be protected from access after the connecting clamp has been attached. For this purpose, they should be accommodated in the connecting clamp after the connecting clamp has been attached to the connecting flanges, i.e., they should be covered and / or concealed by the connecting clamp, preferably completely. This design of the retaining means provides additional protection against tampering and increases the strength of the connection between the connecting flanges.

[0012] Within the scope of the invention, the holding means are provided as suspension means. The suspension means enable the two connecting flanges to be held together in a form-fitting manner. The suspension means are brought into engagement with each other, whereupon the influence of gravity subsequently prevents the connection between the two connecting flanges established by the suspension means from becoming loose. The connection between the two connecting flanges can only be released by manually influencing the suspension means against the influence of gravity.

[0013] The suspension means are arranged or configured on the connecting flanges in such a way that the connecting flanges are pressed together by the influence of gravity at a location spaced apart from the holding means. In this respect, the holding means are arranged, for example, at the top with respect to the influence of gravity in an assembly position of the fluid-conducting device, in particular in an upper half of the connecting flanges.

[0014] A further development of the invention provides that a rear grip projection is arranged on the first connecting flange and a rear grip receptacle is arranged on the second connecting flange. When arranged in the rear grip receptacle, the rear grip projection engages the second connecting flange in a form-fitting manner to hold the connecting flanges together. The rear grip projection and the rear grip receptacle are components of the holding means or suspension means.

[0015] A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the engagement projection is completely present on one side of a circumferential enveloping surface of the first connecting flange and / or, viewed in the circumferential direction, is continuously in contact with the circumferential enveloping surface. The circumferential enveloping surface is understood to be a surface that is continuous in the circumferential direction of the respective connecting flange and has the basic shape of the corresponding connecting flange.

[0016] In a connection flange with a round cross-section, the circumferential envelope surface, or at least part of it, is also round in cross-section, for example, circular-cylindrical or truncated-conical. The circumferential envelope surface is defined by a radially outer end face of the respective connection flange. It can be provided that the engagement projection fits snugly against the circumferential filling surface, viewed in the circumferential direction, i.e., rests against it continuously on one side.

[0017] The engagement projection now lies entirely on one side of the circumferential envelope, specifically on its radially inner side. This ensures that after the fluid-carrying device has been installed, the connecting clamp can easily accommodate the retaining elements. For this purpose, after the fluid-carrying device has been installed, the connecting clamp is positioned on the other side of the circumferential envelope, i.e., on the side of the circumferential envelope opposite the engagement projection.

[0018] A preferred further embodiment of the invention provides that the rear grip receptacle is formed in the second connecting flange with an open edge, penetrating a circumferential enveloping surface of the second connecting flange. The above statements regarding the circumferential enveloping surface of the first connecting flange apply analogously to the circumferential enveloping surface of the second connecting flange, so that reference is made to the corresponding statements. The rear grip receptacle is formed in the second connecting flange with an open edge, thus penetrating an end face located radially outward. In this case, the rear grip receptacle also penetrates the circumferential enveloping surface.

[0019] A further embodiment of the invention provides that the rear engagement projection and the rear engagement receptacle are designed such that, when the rear engagement projection is arranged in the rear engagement receptacle, the rear engagement projection is completely present on the one hand on the circumferential enveloping surface of the second connecting flange and / or, viewed in the circumferential direction, is in continuous contact with the circumferential enveloping surface. After assembly of the fluid-conducting device, the rear engagement projection is therefore not only arranged on the one hand on the circumferential enveloping surface of the first connecting flange or is in contact with it, but this also applies to the circumferential enveloping surface of the second connecting flange. In this way, it is ensured that the holding means do not impair the fastening of the two connecting flanges to one another by means of the connecting clamp.

[0020] A further development of the invention provides that the holding means are arranged such that, in an assembly position of the fluid-conducting device, they are arranged above an imaginary plane that accommodates a longitudinal center axis of the first connecting flange and / or a longitudinal center axis of the second connecting flange and is perpendicular to a direction of gravity. In other words, the holding means are arranged or formed in the upper half of the first connecting flange and / or the second connecting flange in the assembly position.

[0021] With this type of arrangement of the retaining elements, the force of gravity acting on the connecting flanges causes them to be forced toward each other on the side facing away from the retaining elements, i.e., below the imaginary plane. Accordingly, the connecting flanges are reliably held together until they are finally fastened together using the connecting clamp.

[0022] Finally, within the scope of a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the holding means are secured after the connecting clamp has been gripped, in particular the rear grip projection is held in the rear grip receptacle. The holding means are arranged in such a way that they cannot be released while the connecting clamp is present on the connecting flanges. This achieves a particularly high level of strength in the connection between the connecting flanges. If the holding means are designed in the form of the rear grip projection and the rear grip receptacle, then, for example, the connecting clamp covers an opening of the rear grip receptacle after it has been arranged on the connecting flange, so that the rear grip projection is held in the rear grip receptacle and cannot escape from the rear grip receptacle through the opening.

[0023] The invention further relates to an exhaust gas-conducting device, in particular assembled from an assembly kit according to the above embodiments, with at least one first fluid line having a first connection flange, a second fluid line having a second connection flange, and a connecting clamp enclosing the connection flanges for fastening the two fluid lines designed as exhaust gas lines to one another. It is provided that holding means are arranged on the first connection flange and the second connection flange and are received in the connecting clamp, wherein the holding means are present as suspension means, so that after engagement of the suspension means, the influence of gravity prevents the connection between the two connection flanges established by means of the suspension means from becoming detached.

[0024] The advantages of such a design of the assembly kit or fluid-carrying device have already been pointed out. Both the fluid-carrying device and the assembly kit for its installation can be further developed according to the above explanations, so reference is made to these in this regard.

[0025] Finally, the invention relates to a method for assembling an exhaust gas-conducting device, in particular for assembling a fluid-conducting device according to the above embodiments and / or using the above-described assembly kit. The fluid-conducting device has at least one first fluid line having a first connection flange, a second fluid line having a second connection flange, and a connecting clamp for fastening the two fluid lines configured as exhaust gas lines to one another by engaging around the connection flanges.

[0026] It is provided that holding means are arranged on the first connecting flange and the second connecting flange, which cooperate to hold the connecting flanges to one another before the connecting flanges are encompassed by the connecting clamp and are received in the connecting clamp after the encompassing, wherein the holding means are arranged to cooperate before the encompassing and then the connecting flanges are fastened to one another by means of the connecting clamp, wherein the holding means are present as suspension means, so that after the suspension means have been brought into engagement, the influence of gravity prevents the connection between the two connecting flanges produced by means of the suspension means from becoming loose.

[0027] With regard to advantageous embodiments of the fluid-carrying device, the assembly kit and the method, reference is again made to the above statements.

[0028] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, without limiting the invention. The sole drawing shows: Figure a schematic representation of a region of a fluid-carrying device.

[0029] The figure shows a portion of a fluid-conducting device 1, which has a first fluid line 2 and a second fluid line 3. The first fluid line 2 has a first connection flange 4, and the second fluid line 3 has a second connection flange 5. The two connection flanges 4 and 5 are each designed as a radial projection projecting in the radial direction. The two connection flanges 4 and 5 serve to fasten the fluid lines 2 and 3 to one another, namely by placing them against one another and subsequently encompassing them with a connecting clamp (not shown here).

[0030] In order to pre-fix the fluid lines 2 and 3 before they are connected to each other using the connecting clamp, retaining means 6 are provided on the connecting flanges 4 and 5. The retaining means 6 interact before the connecting clamp engages the connecting flanges 4 and 5. After the connecting clamp engages the connecting flanges 4 and 5, they are retained in the connecting clamp.

[0031] It is clear that the holding means 6 are in the form of suspension means. A rear engagement projection 7 is formed on the first connecting flange, whereas a rear engagement receptacle 8 is provided on the second connecting flange 5, into which the rear engagement projection 7 engages after the connecting flanges 4 and 5 are arranged against one another. The rear engagement projection 7 is provided, for example, as a stamped and formed part, in particular made of sheet metal. Alternatively, it can also be provided as a formed rivet or in the cast flange blank as a form and milled to size.

[0032] The rear engagement projection 7 and the rear engagement receptacle 8 are designed such that, when arranged in the rear engagement receptacle 8, the rear engagement projection 7 positively engages behind the second connection flange 5 and holds the first connection flange 4 to the second connection flange 5. The holding means 6, comprising the rear engagement projection 7 and the rear engagement receptacle 8, are arranged in the upper region with respect to an assembly position of the fluid-conducting device 1, for example, in a twelve o'clock position. This ensures that the two connection flanges 4 and 5 are pressed against each other by the influence of gravity acting on them, away from the holding means 6.

[0033] It is clearly visible that the rear engagement projection 7 is completely present on one side of a circumferential enveloping surface 9 of the first connecting flange 4. If it is arranged in the rear engagement projection 7, it is also present on the other side of a circumferential enveloping surface 10 of the second connecting flange 5. For easy arrangement of the rear engagement projection 7 in the rear engagement receptacle 8, the rear engagement receptacle 8 is designed with an open edge in the second connecting flange 5. In particular, it extends through the circumferential enveloping surface 10.

[0034] Such a design of the fluid-conducting device or the connecting flanges 4 and 5 enables simple and quick assembly of the fluid-conducting device 1. It is merely necessary to arrange the two connecting flanges 4 and 5 together in such a way that the retaining means 6 cooperate to hold the connecting flanges 4 and 5 together. Only then is the connecting clamp attached, whereby this is done in such a way that the connecting flanges 4 and 5 are subsequently encompassed by the connecting clamp. The connecting clamp also serves to hold the rear grip projection 7 in the rear grip receptacle 8.

Claims

[1] Assembly kit for an exhaust gas-carrying device (1), with at least one first fluid line (2) having a first connection flange (4), a second fluid line (3) having a second connection flange (5) and a connecting clamp for fastening the two fluid lines (2, 3) designed as exhaust gas lines to one another by encompassing the connection flanges (4, 5), characterized by that holding means (6) are arranged on the first connecting flange (4) and the second connecting flange (5), which holding means cooperate with one another to hold the connecting flanges (4, 5) before the connecting flanges (4, 5) are encompassed by the connecting clamp and are received in the connecting clamp after the encompassing, wherein the holding means (6) are present as suspension means, so that after the suspension means have been brought into engagement, the influence of gravity prevents the connection between the two connecting flanges (4, 5) produced by means of the suspension means from becoming loose. [2] Mounting kit according to claim 1, characterized by that a rear grip projection (7) is arranged on the first connecting flange (4) and a rear grip receptacle (8) is arranged on the second connecting flange (5), wherein the rear grip projection (7), when arranged in the rear grip receptacle (8), engages the second connecting flange (5) in a form-fitting manner to hold the connecting flanges (4, 5) against one another. [3] Mounting kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the engagement projection (7) is completely present on the one hand on a circumferential enveloping surface (9) of the first connecting flange (4) and / or, viewed in the circumferential direction, lies continuously against the circumferential enveloping surface (9). [4] Mounting kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the rear grip receptacle (8) is formed in the second connecting flange (5) in such a way that it extends through a peripheral enveloping surface (10) of the second connecting flange (5) and is open at the edge. [5] Mounting kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the rear grip projection (7) and the rear grip receptacle (8) are designed such that when the rear grip projection (7) is arranged in the rear grip receptacle (8), the rear grip projection (7) is completely present on the one hand on the circumferential enveloping surface (10) of the second connecting flange (5) and / or, viewed in the circumferential direction, bears continuously against the circumferential enveloping surface (10). [6] Mounting kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the holding means (6) are arranged such that, in an assembly position of the fluid-conducting device (1), they are arranged above an imaginary plane which receives a longitudinal center axis of the first connecting flange (4) and / or a longitudinal center axis of the second connecting flange (5) and is perpendicular to a direction of gravity. [7] Mounting kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the holding means (6) are secured after being gripped by the connecting clamp, in particular the rear grip projection (7) is held in the rear grip receptacle (8). [8] Exhaust gas-carrying device (1), assembled from an assembly kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, with at least one first fluid line (2) having a first connection flange (4), a second fluid line (3) having a second connection flange (5) and a connecting clamp encompassing the connection flanges (4, 5) for fastening the two fluid lines (2, 3) designed as exhaust gas lines to one another, characterized bythat holding means (6) are arranged on the first connecting flange (4) and the second connecting flange (5), which holding means are accommodated in the connecting clamp, wherein the holding means (6) are present as suspension means, so that after engagement of the suspension means, the influence of gravity prevents a release of the connection between the two connecting flanges (4, 5) established by means of the suspension means. [9] Method for assembling an exhaust gas-carrying device (1) according to claim 8 and / or using an assembly kit according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, which has at least one first fluid line (2) having a first connection flange (4), a second fluid line (3) having a second connection flange (5) and a connecting clamp for fastening the two fluid lines (2, 3) designed as exhaust gas lines to one another by encompassing the connection flanges (4, 5), characterized byin that holding means (6) are arranged on the first connecting flange (4) and the second connecting flange (5), which holding means cooperate to hold the connecting flanges (4, 5) together before the connecting flanges (4, 5) are encompassed by the connecting clamp and are accommodated in the connecting clamp after the encompassing, wherein the holding means (6) are arranged to cooperate before the encompassing and then the connecting flanges (4, 5) are fastened to one another by means of the connecting clamp, wherein the holding means (6) are present as suspension means, so that after the suspension means have been brought into engagement, the influence of gravity prevents the connection between the two connecting flanges (4, 5) produced by means of the suspension means from becoming detached.

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