Sealing element for sealing a component of a refrigerant circuit from the environment

Abstract

Sealing element (2) for sealing a component of a refrigerant circuit against substances from the environment, wherein the sealing element (2) comprises the component and a leakage area (3) is arranged around a connection zone (4), such that leaks of the component and leaks in the connection zone (4) between the component and the refrigerant circuit can be received by the sealing element (2) in the leakage area (3) and discharged from there into the environment, characterized in that a drainage element (5) with a sealing function is integrated into the sealing element (2) as a one-way element, wherein the drainage element (5) is sealed to the outside and to the inside at ambient pressure in the leakage area (3) and is designed to be permeable to the outside for fluids against the ambient pressure at overpressure in the leakage area (3). wherein the drainage element (5) has a collection area (8) with an outlet opening (7), wherein the outlet opening (7) is designed as a lip seal (9) and wherein the lip seal (9) consists of slit-like sealing lips lying on top of each other over a certain length and wherein the component sealed by the sealing element (2) is an expansion valve (1) of a refrigerant circuit.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sealing element for sealing and protecting a component of a refrigerant circuit against influences in the form of fluids and particles from the environment, while simultaneously draining and removing, for example, condensate from the area to be sealed.

[0002] The sealing function of the sealing element thus consists of enabling the targeted drainage of fluids or fluid-particle mixtures from the area to be sealed to the environment, whereas the penetration of particles or fluids, such as liquids or gases, from the environment into the area to be sealed is prevented.

[0003] The sealing element is used in particular for sealing expansion valves in air conditioning systems of motor vehicles.

[0004] Expansion valves in automotive air conditioning systems are often located in the engine compartment or outside the vehicle interior. This exposes these components to external environmental influences such as dust, dirt, and water from the road or the engine compartment. To prevent negative effects from these elements and any resulting malfunctions, expansion valves in such exposed locations are surrounded by foams, rubber seals, or similar materials. However, these protective measures and the resulting seal against the environment necessitate a drainage system at the lowest point of the components and assembly to drain condensation, for example, into the surrounding environment.

[0005] Various solutions are known in the prior art for draining condensation in such structural configurations and additionally minimizing noise from the engine compartment. For example, a drainage device for motor vehicles is known from JP H09-263 122 A. A similar component is disclosed in JP 2002-301 927 A.

[0006] DE 10 2015 100 093 A1 describes a sealing element for a housing, in particular a drainage system, of an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle.

[0007] Furthermore, JP H09 - 263122 A describes a sealing element to prevent the ingress of noise from the engine compartment.

[0008] A significant disadvantage of the current state of the art, however, is that sealing the expansion valve allows only small leaks of condensate or gas to be discharged to the outside. Sudden, explosive leaks, for example, from leaks in the evaporator tubes, connections, or seals, cannot be discharged by a standard drainage system. Because the component's seal obstructs the flow of leakage to the outside, back pressure can build up, causing harmful refrigerant to escape uncontrollably, for example, into the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a sealing element for sealing a component of a refrigerant circuit against the environment, which allows the reliable discharge of even large volume flows from the sealed component. At the same time, however, contamination and soiling of the component by influences and substances from the environment, and the resulting functional impairments, should be effectively prevented.

[0010] The problem is solved by an object having the features according to claim 1. Further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0011] The object of the invention is achieved in particular by a sealing element for sealing a component of a refrigerant circuit against substances from the environment, wherein the sealing element encompasses the component and a leakage zone is arranged around a connection zone, so that leaks from the component and leaks in the connection zone between the component and the refrigerant circuit can be received by the sealing element in the leakage zone and discharged from there into the environment. According to the invention, a drainage element with a sealing function is integrated into the sealing element as a one-way element. At ambient pressure in the leakage zone of the sealing element, the one-way element is sealed to the outside and to the inside, and at overpressure in the leakage zone, it is permeable to fluids relative to ambient pressure due to leaks occurring from the refrigerant circuit or due to accumulating condensate.The drainage element, as a one-way element, is thus permeable from the inside to the outside but impermeable from the outside to the inside. The drainage element has a collection area with an outlet opening, the outlet opening being designed as a lip seal. The lip seal consists of overlapping, slit-like sealing lips over a specific length. The component sealed by the sealing element is an expansion valve of a refrigerant circuit. The direction of fluid flow is therefore only possible from the inside, from the sealed area of ​​the component surrounded by the sealing element, outwards into the environment. Thus, environmental influences such as water, dust, or other particulate matter from the surroundings cannot penetrate the components of the refrigerant circuit and impair their function.

[0012] The component sealed by the sealing element is an expansion valve of a refrigerant circuit, which is located, for example, in the underbody of the vehicle. The expansion valve may therefore be exposed to increased stress from water containing dirt particles, for example, under adverse operating conditions or during vehicle underbody washing.

[0013] Preferably, the drainage element has a collection area for condensate or fluid leakage from the refrigerant circuit component. The collection area is complemented by an outlet opening through which the fluid leakage or condensate can escape into the environment.

[0014] Preferably, the outlet opening of the drainage element is designed as a lip seal, which, in the sense of the invention, is understood to mean a seal by two opposing sealing lips made of an elastic material.

[0015] Particularly preferred is the pressure difference to the ambient pressure and the divertible fluid volume flow from the drainage element over the length of the lip seal, and advantageously also scalable via the material properties and the dimensioning of the sealing lips.

[0016] The lip seal of the drainage element is advantageously designed as a slot-shaped element with a rectangular contour. This creates a linear seal formed by the two overlapping lips. If the lips bulge due to increased internal pressure, the lip seal becomes leaky and thus permeable to the outside at lower ambient pressure, allowing condensate and leakage to escape.

[0017] Particularly preferred are several drainage elements connected in series, so that a high level of reliability of the so-called one-way sealing function can be achieved, since several drainage elements connected in series each form a lock that only allows passage in one direction for fluid volume flows.

[0018] The sealing element is particularly preferably designed to be made of an elastic material, for example ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), for use in refrigerant circuits, for example with harmful refrigerant such as R1234yf.

[0019] The sealing element is preferably designed for use in the refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle.

[0020] The advantages of the invention lie particularly in the fact that the sealing element, designed as a one-way expansion valve seal, prevents external influences from acting on the expansion valve and the surrounding components, such as pipes and housings. Nevertheless, small, intermittent, as well as large, explosive gas and fluid leaks can be discharged through the sealing element or the drainage element integrated therein.

[0021] The concept of the invention thus consists in the fact that a one-way element is integrated into the sealing element, which in principle can be integrated into any rubber seal.

[0022] The solution is based on a self-sealing element that prevents external influences from the road and / or engine compartment from penetrating the area of ​​the refrigerant circuit component sealed by the sealing element, even if these influences are very strong and directed. This can occur, for example, through vapors, odors, or splashing water.

[0023] The advantages of the invention are very diverse, with particular emphasis on the increased safety, since neither particles nor gaseous hazardous substances, such as refrigerants or refrigerant-oil mixtures, can enter the interior of the motor vehicle in the event of a system or material failure, as these can be safely discharged into the environment through the one-way element and thus do not enter the interior of the motor vehicle.

[0024] Another significant advantage is that the expansion valve itself, due to its effective external shielding, can meet lower specifications and thus be manufactured with less design and technical complexity, thereby reducing costs. A possible second sealing element, required to seal pipes to the interior, can also meet lower specifications, as the invention prevents high pressures from building up at this point, since these are dissipated to the environment through the sealing element's drainage feature.

[0025] For the drainage of suddenly occurring gaseous substances, the one-way element can be inserted in any area and at any position within the refrigerant circuit. The embodiment of the invention can also prevent strong, targeted, radial liquid influences on the components of the refrigerant circuit. For example, the effects on a valve installed in the underbody during underbody washing are very significant, but according to the invention, they cannot damage the components surrounded by the sealing element.

[0026] The invention can be adapted for various leakage requirements and is exceptionally scalable. This also applies to very large leaks, as the rectangular design allows for longer slot-shaped elements which, under appropriate load, can create a large drainage opening and thus large drainage volume flows. Furthermore, several such elements can be placed one behind the other and, if necessary, in parallel, thereby maintaining the stability of the entire sealing element while increasing the drainage potential as desired. Another advantage of the invention is that external noise is minimized or prevented, while simultaneously maintaining a good seal.

[0027] Further details, features, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1: Sectional view of an expansion valve with sealing element and Fig. 2: Detailed view of a drainage element of the sealing element.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an expansion valve 1, which is enclosed by a sealing element 2. The sealing element 2 encloses, in particular, a leakage area 3, which is formed within the sealing element 2 and has a space for receiving leakage from the refrigerant circuit component. In addition to receiving the leakage, the leakage area also serves to collect any condensate that may form and collect there. Typically, the leakage area 3 is arranged around a so-called connection zone 4, since leaks are most likely to occur in this connection zone 4, as the seals and sealing systems located there (not shown) can become leaky over time due to the high mechanical stress on the component.Connection zone 4 refers to the locations and areas where the components of the refrigerant circuit are connected. The drainage element 5 is integrated into the sealing element 2 and its contour, positioned so that it allows the accumulated condensate or leakage fluid to escape at the lowest point of the leakage area 3. The ingress of foreign matter 6, indicated by the arrow pointing into the sealing element 2 and thus towards the expansion valve 1, is prevented by the complete enclosure of the expansion valve 1 by the sealing element 2 and its internal sealing function. The design of the drainage element 5 as a one-way element prevents the ingress of foreign matter into the sealed area near the expansion valve 1.

[0029] In Fig.Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the drainage element, detailing the wall of the sealing element 2 and the design of the drainage element 5, which consists of a collection area 8 and a lip seal 9. The lip seal 9 includes the outlet opening 7, through which the accumulated condensate and leakage fluid can escape from the sealed area into the surrounding environment. The lip seal consists of overlapping, slit-like sealing lips over a specific length. The length of the lips, the thickness of the lip material, and the material properties of the lip significantly determine the sealing function. The length of the lip also determines the opening and geometry of the outlet opening 7, allowing for precise determination and control of the outgoing volume flows and the required pressure differentials when dimensioned accordingly.

[0030] If several drainage elements 5 are arranged in parallel or in series, any leakage that occurs can be quickly and reliably drained away through the appropriately sized outlet openings. This creates a sluice gate effect, which allows for a more reliable sealing and one-way function. This enables the safe drainage of leakage and condensate from the sealed component of the refrigerant circuit in a simple manner, while the component itself is reliably protected from harmful external influences using simple design features. Reference symbol list 1 Expansion valve 2 sealing elements 3 Leakage area 4 Connection zone 5 drainage element 6. Foreign substance ingress 7 Exit opening 8 Collection area 9 Lip seal

Claims

[1] Sealing element (2) for sealing a component of a refrigerant circuit against substances from the environment, wherein the sealing element (2) comprises the component and a leakage area (3) is arranged around a connection zone (4) so ​​that leaks of the component and leaks in the connection zone (4) between the component and the refrigerant circuit can be received by the sealing element (2) in the leakage area (3) and can be discharged from there into the environment, characterized by , that a drainage element (5) with a sealing function is integrated into the sealing element (2) as a one-way element, wherein the drainage element (5) is sealed to the outside and to the inside at ambient pressure in the leakage area (3) and is designed to be permeable to fluids against the ambient pressure to the outside at overpressure in the leakage area (3), wherein the drainage element (5) has a collection area (8) with an outlet opening (7), wherein the outlet opening (7) is designed as a lip seal (9) and wherein the lip seal (9) consists of slit-like sealing lips lying on top of each other over a certain length and wherein the component sealed by the sealing element (2) is an expansion valve (1) of a refrigerant circuit. [2] Sealing element (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the expansion valve (1) is located in the underbody of a motor vehicle. [3] Sealing element (2) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the pressure difference to the ambient pressure and the fluid volume flow rate that can be derived from the drainage element (5) are designed to be scalable over the length of the lip seal (9). [4] Sealing element (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the lip seal (9) of the drainage element (5) is designed as a slot-shaped element and has a rectangular contour. [5] Sealing element (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that several drainage elements (5) are connected in series or in parallel. [6] Sealing element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the sealing element (2) is made of elastic material. [7] Sealing element (2) according to claim 6, characterized by that the elastic material is an ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM). [8] Sealing element (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the sealing element (2) is designed for use in the refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle.

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