Heated media cable and method for producing a heated media cable

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a heatable media line with a tubular media line, at least one heating element arranged on the outside of the tubular media line and at least one fixing device for fixing the position of the at least one heating element on the outside of the tubular media line, a prefabricated heatable media line with such a heatable media line and a method for producing such a heatable media line, wherein at least one tubular media line is wound with at least one heating element on the outside.

[0002] Such heatable media lines and methods for their production are known in the prior art. They are used, in particular, in vehicles for conveying liquid media that are capable of freezing or are at risk of freezing. The heatable media line has an inner line lumen through which the medium can flow. At low temperatures, the medium flowing through the heatable media line is at risk of freezing, so it is known to provide heating by providing heating elements along the media line and, if necessary, connecting components connected to it. Media at risk of freezing are understood here to be media that, due to a relatively high freezing point, tend to freeze even at relatively high ambient temperatures, which can impair or even significantly disrupt the functionality of a vehicle, for example.This is particularly evident in water-bearing media lines, as well as in media lines through which an aqueous urea solution flows as a medium, such as AdBlue ®<, which is used as a NO x reaction additive for diesel engines with so-called SCR catalysts (SCR = Selective Catalytic Reduction). Therefore, a heating option is usually provided for the media line, or at least parts of it, and often also for the connecting components, in order to prevent the medium from freezing within the prefabricated heatable media line or to enable the thawing of an already frozen medium.

[0003] When arranging at least one heating element on the outside of the tubular media line, said element is fixed in position on the outside of the tubular media line by at least one fixing device in order to prevent a change in the position of the heating element and thus a change in the heatability of the media line or the medium flowing through it. To fix the at least one heating element on the outside of the tubular media line, it is known to use an adhesive, fabric, or fabric adhesive tape, which is arranged above the at least one heating element, in particular following the course of the heating element, and adheres adhesively to the outside of the tubular media line.

[0004] Such tubular media lines equipped with at least one heating element are typically prefabricated as continuous material, cut to length as required, and provided with at least one line connector at the end to enable the thus manufactured and fully assembled heatable media line to be connected, for example, to an aggregate or another media line. To attach the at least one line connector to the end of the cut-to-length media line and in particular to contact the at least one heating element arranged on the outside of the media line, it is usually necessary to at least partially remove the fixing device from the outside of the media line and the heating element, in particular from its external insulating sheath.If a laser-welded connection is to be provided for connecting the tubular media line to a line connector, in particular a plug-in connector, problems arise with regard to laser welding if residues of fixing agent, in particular adhesive residue, remain on the tubular media line after the fixing device has been removed. Accordingly, it is usually necessary to remove such residues of fixing agent, in particular adhesive residue, from the outside of the tubular media line in a further processing step after the fixing device has been removed. However, this proves to be complex and also leads to additional costs when assembling a heatable media line with at least one line connector when laser welding is provided at the connection point(s).The assembly of a media line is understood to be the final stage in the production of a ready-to-install heatable media line, wherein the heatable media line is connected at the end to at least one line connector so that it can subsequently be installed, for example, in a motor vehicle. Due to the requirement of a cleaning process to remove residues of fixing agent, such as adhesive residues, from the outside of the tubular media line before it is assembled with at least one line connector, if a laser-welded connection is to be provided, the production of a pre-assembled heatable media line takes correspondingly longer and is more complex than is the case when providing a different connection between tubular media line and line connector, in which the removal of residues of fixing agent, in particular adhesive residues, is not necessary.

[0005] From US 4 194 536 A, a composite pipe product is known which comprises at least one tubular fluid line and a number of layer-like layers of flexible, fire-resistant, low-chlorine, low-volume glass fiber elements contained in a resin binder, each of the layers being wound around the other and around the line to form a thermally insulating barrier element around the line. A heating line is arranged spirally and in a heat-transferring manner on the tubular fluid line. A binder element is arranged in arrangement on the conductors and the line, which preferably holds the conductors and the line in coherent contact. The binder element can be a Mylar film. The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a heatable media line and a method for producing such a heatable media line, in whichwhich no longer causes the problems mentioned above to occur, and by means of which a comparatively simpler and faster assembly is possible than before, even when laser welding the heatable media line with a line connector to be attached to the end of the line.

[0006] The object is achieved by a heatable media line according to claim 1. At least one high-temperature-resistant film element made of a polymer material, which can be exposed to temperatures of 150°C and more without damage, is provided and arranged on the outside of the tubular media line wound with the at least one heating element, wherein the high-temperature-resistant film element serves as a fixing device for fixing the at least one heating element to the outside of the tubular media line and for preventing the fixing agent from adhering to the outside of the tubular media line. For a method for producing such a heatable media line, the object is achieved by a method according to claim 7.On the outside of the tubular media line, at least one high-temperature-resistant foil element made of a polymer material, which can be exposed to temperatures of 150°C and above without damage, is applied over the winding of the tubular media line with at least one heating element. Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0007] This creates a heatable media line with a tubular media line, at least one heating element and at least one fixing device, as well as a method for producing such a heatable media line, in which at least one high-temperature-resistant film element is applied over the winding of the tubular media line with the at least one heating element in order to prevent fixing agent or adhesive fixing agent, such as glue, from getting from the fixing device to the outside of the tubular media line and / or the at least one heating element. A high-temperature-resistant film element is understood to be a film element that can be exposed to temperatures of 150 °C and more without being damaged. This proves to be advantageous when installing such a heatable media line orA prefabricated media line is advantageous in a hot area of a vehicle, such as the area of the vehicle engine, since correspondingly high temperatures can occur there during vehicle operation.

[0008] By providing the high-temperature-resistant film element, it is possible to protect the outside of the tubular media line from the adhesion of fixing means, such as adhesive, of the fixing device. The high-temperature-resistant film element thus prevents contact between the fixing means of the fixing device and the outside of the tubular media line and / or an outer insulating sheath of the at least one heating element, i.e., its outside. Accordingly, it is no longer necessary to laboriously remove residues of the fixing means, in particular adhesive residues, after detaching a fixing device, in particular in the form of an adhesive, fabric, or fabric adhesive tape, in order to laser-weld the tubular media line to a line connector for assembling the heatable media line from the outside of the tubular media line and / or the insulating sheath of the at least one heating element.Since the insertion of the high-temperature-resistant foil element between the fixing device and the outside of the tubular media line and / or the outside of an insulating sheath of the at least one heating element prevents any fixing agent, such as adhesive, from entering the device, a complex cleaning process to remove such residues of a fixing agent, such as adhesive, is no longer necessary. The manufacturing process or the assembly process of the heatable media line with at least one line connector arranged or to be arranged on the end thereof is thus simplified and also more cost-effective, since the additional effort for removing fixing agent residues, such as adhesive residues, is eliminated.

[0009] The at least one high-temperature-resistant film element is arranged on the outside of the tubular media line wound with the at least one heating element. The at least one fixing device can accordingly be arranged above the high-temperature-resistant film element. This ensures that the fixing device, which is designed in particular as an adhesive, fabric, or fabric adhesive tape, does not touch the outside of the tubular media line, thus preventing the adhesive layer or the fixing means of the fixing device from coming into contact with the outside of the tubular media line.Since the at least one heating element is arranged under the high-temperature-resistant film element, the at least one fixing device, in particular in the form of an adhesive, fabric or fabric adhesive tape, also does not come into contact with it, but can extend on the outside of the film element along the at least one heating element, i.e. can follow the course of the at least one heating element or the winding with the at least one heating element on the outside of the high-temperature-resistant film element.

[0010] The high-temperature-resistant film element is applied so firmly to the outside of the tubular media line and the winding thereof with the at least one heating element that this also enables the position of the at least one heating element to be fixed on the tubular media line. The additional provision of a fixing device can be omitted. The high-temperature-resistant film element is arranged so firmly or closely over the at least one heating element surrounding the outside of the tubular media line that no further fixing device is required to fix it on the outside of the tubular media line. The high-temperature-resistant film element serves as a fixing device for fixing the at least one heating element to the outside of the tubular media line. Depending on how firmly orIf the high-temperature-resistant foil element is or will be arranged closely surrounding the outside of the tubular media line with heating element wrapping, the additional provision of a fixing device, in particular in the form of an adhesive, fabric or fabric adhesive tape, can thus be omitted.

[0011] Advantageously, however, the high-temperature-resistant foil element can be secured by at least one adhesive fixing tape at the end or at the end and in the central region of the tubular media line provided with the at least one heating element and the at least one high-temperature-resistant foil element. Thus, a fixing device in the form of a fixing tape, particularly designed as an adhesive, fabric, or fabric adhesive tape, is not arranged entirely along the longitudinal extent of the winding with the high-temperature-resistant foil element on its outer side, but only in the end region of the heatable media line and possibly also in its central region.To assemble the heatable media line, the media line pre-assembled with the heating elements and the high-temperature-resistant foil element is first cut to a predeterminable length, which can vary from case to case, the high-temperature-resistant foil element is secured against loosening and / or detachment in at least one predeterminable section by at least one adhesive fixing tape, the high-temperature-resistant foil element is removed at the end up to the adhesive fixing tape and the at least one heating element is exposed and rewound up to the adhesive fixing tape.To prevent the high-temperature-resistant film element from becoming loose and / or detached along the heatable media line to be used, the adhesive fixing tape is applied to the high-temperature-resistant film element, particularly in an end section or region and in a middle section or region of the heatable media line. In particular, two adhesive fixing tapes can be applied side by side in the longitudinal direction of the heatable media line, spaced apart from one another, or overlapping. The first adhesive fixing tape, arranged closer to the end of the heatable media line or its exposed tubular media line, serves to reattach the high-temperature-resistant film element and the at least one heating element to the tubular media line.The adjacent second adhesive fixing tape serves only to re-fix the high-temperature-resistant film element in order to prevent it from accidentally becoming loose and / or detached from the outside of the heatable media line or the tubular media line with the windings of the at least one heating element wound thereon. In principle, this second adhesive fixing tape is sufficient to re-fix the high-temperature-resistant film element on the outside of the tubular media line wound or provided with the at least one heating element. The adhesive fixing tape arranged closer to the end of the heatable media line can accordingly also be omitted. If two fixing tapes arranged next to one another are provided, a slight gap or a slight overlap can be provided between them, for example a gap of 0 mm to 2.5 mm oran overlap of 0 mm to 2.5 mm with a fixation tape width of, for example, 9 mm + / - 1 mm or 15 mm + / - 1 mm. In particular, at least one of the two adhesive fixation tapes is designed as a fabric adhesive tape.

[0012] The foil element can be applied to the tubular media line above the heating element winding by spiral winding and / or axially folded. For axially folded application, an aid can be used that allows the foil element to be folded laterally in its axial or longitudinal direction, similar to the process used for cable sheathing by a so-called tape former from TapeFormers.com, Leicester, England. The foil element can also be applied to the tubular media line above the at least one heating element in a spiral winding system.

[0013] The high-temperature-resistant film element can be arranged in an axially folded manner on the tubular media line and the at least one heating element, and the fixing device in the form of a tape having an adhesive surface, such as an adhesive, fabric, or fabric adhesive tape, can be axially inserted externally on the film element. It is applied in an overlapping manner and bonded to the film element with a longitudinal pitch of up to 60 mm. The application of the at least one film element to the outside of the tubular media line provided with the at least one heating element can take place in the same station as the application of the fixing device in a sequential sequence. It is also possible to apply the film element in a first station and the fixing device in a subsequent second station.

[0014] Furthermore, it is possible to manufacture the heatable media line in an endless process, wherein the tubular media line is kept wound on a spool and, depending on the design variant, is provided with the at least one heating element, in particular in the form of a heating strand, and the film element and, if applicable, the fixing device.

[0015] The high-temperature-resistant film element consists of a polymer material, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyethylene terephthalate typically has an operating temperature of Ts ≤ 180 °C. In the melt state, PET has a temperature of 250 °C. The provision of a high-temperature-resistant film element proves advantageous at the temperatures encountered, both during operation of a prefabricated heatable media line and during the bending of the prefabricated heatable media line, in order to ensure sufficient temperature resistance and prevent degeneration of the film element. The PET film can be transparent and biaxially oriented.

[0016] The film element can, for example, have a material thickness of 20 µm and a shrinkage rate at 150 °C of > 0.5%, in particular > 1.5%, preferably 2%. For the bending process, the entire prefabricated heatable media line is typically placed in a heating device, such as an oven, and heated therein, in particular to a temperature of approximately 150 °C. Subsequently, the prefabricated heatable media line is placed or inserted into the desired shape and cooled therein to stabilize the set shape.

[0017] In addition to shrinking during the forming process of the heatable media line, a separate process step for shrinking the at least one high-temperature-resistant film element can also be provided, for example, to fix the positioning of the heating element(s) on the outside of the tubular media line when an additional fixing device is omitted. The high-temperature-resistant film element is not loosely arranged on the heating element and tubular media line, but rather is shrunk onto it and thus tightly fits the outside of the at least one heating element, in particular its insulating sheath, and the tubular media line.

[0018] The high-temperature-resistant foil element provides additional external protection against abrasion for both the heating elements, which are provided with an insulating sheath, and the tubular media line. The achievable abrasion resistance can be adjusted by selecting the material thickness of the high-temperature-resistant foil element and the degree of overlap when wrapping the tubular media line, with or without the heating element(s) arranged above it. In particular, however, the foil element is thinner in terms of material thickness than the fixing device, particularly in the form of a tape with an adhesive surface, in particular an adhesive, fabric, or fabric adhesive tape.The abrasion resistance that can still be achieved ensures that the fixation of the heating element(s) on the outside of the tubular media line is not destroyed during operation, for example, by abrasion of a sheathing tube, in particular a corrugated tube, provided for the external insulation of the heatable media line. To achieve abrasion resistance, the at least one high-temperature-resistant film element can be wound, in particular, with an overlap of 0 to 90%, preferably 0 to 80%, in particular 0 to 50%. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the shrinkage rate of the high-temperature-resistant film element such that a sufficient material thickness remains after shrinking to ensure sufficient abrasion resistance even when the sheathing tube chafes against the film element.

[0019] To connect the heatable media line to a line connector, i.e., to assemble the media line, the tubular media line, which is stored on a spool as described above and is provided with heating element(s) and foil element(s), as well as a fixing device if necessary, is first prefabricated as a heatable media line, cut to the desired length, the foil element is removed from the end of the tubular media line, the line connector is attached, and secured there, in particular by laser welding. The at least one high-temperature-resistant foil element can be provided with a perforation in the area of cut edges for easier removal, in order to enable better manual separation of a section of the high-temperature-resistant foil element in the end region or at the ends of the tubular media line.This allows the high-temperature-resistant foil element to be removed quickly and easily from the end area of the tubular media line. Of course, the section of the foil element to be removed can also be separated by other means, such as by incising and cutting. The high-temperature-resistant foil element can thus be easily removed manually, which can be assisted by a suitable selection of the material thickness and / or texture of the foil element and the aforementioned perforation, particularly serrated perforation, at the cut or separating edges of the foil element.

[0020] It is thus advantageously possible, on the one hand, to provide a high-temperature-resistant film element in order to prevent the transfer of fixing agent, such as an adhesive, from the at least one fixing device, in particular in the form of a tape provided with an adhesive surface, such as an adhesive, fabric or fabric adhesive tape, to the outside of the tubular media line and / or the outside of the heating elements, in particular from their external insulating sheath, and, on the other hand, to fix the at least one heating element to the outside of the tubular media line, wherein in the latter case the provision of an additional fixing device, in particular in the form of an adhesive, fabric or fabric adhesive tape, can be omitted. Since no fixing agent transfer, in particular adhesive transfer, to the outside of the tubular media line takes place, no cleaning process is required, which leads to cost savings.Furthermore, potential leaks caused by leaky laser welds can be avoided, which can otherwise occur in the prior art due to incomplete removal of fixing agent residues, such as adhesive residues, from the outside of the tubular media line. The resulting reduction in scrap also leads to cost savings compared to the previously practiced method of removing fixing agent residues, such as adhesive residues, from the outside of the tubular media line.

[0021] To further explain the invention, exemplary embodiments are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view through a heatable media line not according to the invention with a high-temperature-resistant foil element applied directly to the tubular media line. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through an embodiment of a heatable media line according to the invention, wherein a high-temperature-resistant foil element surrounds both two heating elements and a tubular media line on the outside. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view through an embodiment of a heatable media line, wherein a high-temperature-resistant foil element is arranged on the outside of a tubular media line and heating elements wound thereon, wrapped on the outside by a fixing device in the form of an adhesive tape. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through an embodiment of a heatable media line in which a tubular media line is provided with two heating elements wound on the outside.wherein the two heating elements are fixed in position on the tubular media line by a fixing device in the form of an adhesive tape, wherein the adhesive layer of the adhesive tape faces outwards away from the tubular media line and wherein a high-temperature-resistant film element is arranged on the outside over the adhesive tape, and Figure 5 shows a sketch of a preparation of one end of a heatable media line according to the invention in order to prepare it for assembly with a line connector.

[0022] Figure 1shows a section of a heatable media line 1, which comprises a tubular media line 2. A high-temperature-resistant film element 3 is arranged surrounding the tubular media line 2. This film element can be folded in axially or wound spirally around the tubular media line. Two heating elements 4, 5 are arranged spirally wound above the film element. In order to fix this position, a fixing device 6, which is in the form of an adhesive, fabric or fabric adhesive tape, is arranged outside above the heating elements 4, 5. The fixing device 6 is arranged with its adhesive side, i.e. its adhesive surface 60, in the direction of the film element 3 and the respective outer side of the heating elements 4, 5 and is glued to them. By arranging the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 in overlap with the tubular media line 2, the adhesive surface orThe adhesive of the fixing device 6 does not adhere to the outer side 20 of the tubular media line. Accordingly, after cutting the heatable media line 1 to a desired length in order to be able to assemble it with line connectors, such as plug-in connectors, it is possible to attach these to the ends of the tubular media line 2, e.g., by laser welding, without any subsequent processing to remove adhesive residues from the surface or outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2. Figure 5 a cut-to-length heatable media line 1 can be removed, the further assembly of which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0023] Such residues of fixing agent, in this case adhesive residues, usually remain on the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2 after the fixing device 6 has been removed if the fixing device 6 is bonded directly to the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2 with its adhesive surface 60. This is avoided, however, by inserting the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 between the fixing device 6 and the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2. Accordingly, to assemble the heatable media line 1, it is only necessary to remove the high-temperature-resistant film element 3, since this also removes the adhesive tape or the fixing device 6 attached to it. The two heating elements 4, 5 can then be connected to electrical supply lines in order to be able to connect them to a power source orcan be connected there with other heating elements that surround, for example, a cable connector, in particular by crimping.

[0024] The high-temperature-resistant film element 3 can be applied to the tubular media line 2, for example, using a spiral winding system. In order to withstand subsequent bending of the prefabricated heatable media line or even an already heatable media line, the film element 3 is high-temperature-resistant, i.e., it consists of a material suitable for high temperatures, in particular temperatures above 100°C. During bending, the line is heated in an oven to a temperature of approximately 150°C, formed into shape, and then cooled, so that materials that can withstand these temperatures are particularly suitable for the film element. The high-temperature-resistant film element can accordingly be made of PET, i.e., polyethylene terephthalate, for example. It can, in particular, have a material thickness of 20 µm and a shrinkage rate of more than 0.5%, in particular more than 1.5%, preferably 2%, at 150°C.

[0025] In the Figure 2 A variant of the heatable media line 1 is shown, which here is already surrounded on the outside by a sheathing tube 7. The sheathing tube 7 can in particular be designed as a corrugated tube. It serves to insulate the outside of the heatable media line, wherein for this purpose an air volume 8 is enclosed between the heatable media line 1 and the sheathing tube 7, which serves for insulation. Figure 2In the embodiment shown, the high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 is arranged above the heating elements 4, 5, which in turn are arranged surrounding the tubular media line 2. During the manufacture of the heatable media line 1, the tubular media line 2 is thus first wound with the two heating elements 4, 5 and subsequently the high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 is applied to the outside of the tubular media line 2 wrapped with the two heating elements 4, 5. In particular, the foil element 3 is wound spirally and applied so tightly that the positioning predetermined for the winding of the tubular media line 2 with the two heating elements 4, 5 can be fixed by the foil element 3. The high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 serves in the embodiment according to Figure 2 thus as a fixing device, so that an additional fixing device, particularly in the form of an adhesive tape, can be omitted here.

[0026] At the Figure 3In the heatable media line 1 shown, the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 is again arranged on the outside of the tubular media line 2, which is wound with the two heating elements 4, 5 on the outside. In particular, the film element 3 is arranged loosely so as to cover the heating elements 4 and 5 as well as the tubular media line 2. The film element 3 can again be arranged either spirally wound or axially folded on the outside of the heating elements 4, 5 and the tubular media line 2. The fixing device 6, in particular in the form of an adhesive, fabric or fabric adhesive tape, is applied to at least partially surround the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 on the outside, wherein the adhesive surface 60 of the fixing device 6 points in the direction of the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 and is adhesively connected or bonded to it.In this embodiment, it is also possible for the adhesive surface 60 of the fixing device 6 not to touch the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2 and, in this case, also the respective outer side 40, 50 of the two heating elements 4, 5. The two heating elements 4, 5 each have an insulating sheath 41 or 51, which surrounds an inner heating wire 42, 52 on the outside. Accordingly, the high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 rests on the outer side 40 or 50 of the two heating elements 4, 5 and on the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2.

[0027] As a variation to the Figure 3In the embodiment variant shown, the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 can furthermore be arranged on the outside of the tubular media line and the two heating elements 4, 5 in an axially folded manner. The fixing device 6, which is designed in particular in the form of an adhesive tape or fabric tape or fabric adhesive tape, can furthermore be inserted axially on the outside and glued to the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 in the longitudinal direction of the tubular media line 2 with a pitch of up to 60 mm. The film element is first drawn in in an axially folded manner and arranged on the outside of the tubular media line wound with the heating elements 4, 5, and then the fixing device is wound in an overlapping manner, in particular in the form of a tape provided with at least one adhesive surface 60, with the aforementioned pitch.The application of the high-temperature-resistant film element 3 and the fixing device 6 can be carried out sequentially in one and the same production station or in two consecutive stations.

[0028] The abrasion resistance can be adjusted via the material thickness of the high-temperature-resistant foil element and the degree of overlap during winding. The high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 forms, depending on the thickness of the application over the heating elements 4, 5, an external protection for these with regard to any abrasive contact that may occur through the cladding tube 7 with the respective insulation sheath 41 or 51 of the two heating elements 4, 5. Especially in the case of vibrations in the vehicle compartment, a relative movement can occur between the cladding tube 7 and the heatable media line 1 or its heating elements 4, 5, which can lead to a short-circuit-related failure of the heating of the heatable media line in the event of severe damage to the insulation sheath 41 or 51 of the two heating elements 4, 5. By applying the high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 to the outside of the respective heating elements 4, 5, i.e. their insulation sheath 41 or51 on the outside, these can be protected against abrasion and thus damage, so that an even safer operation of the heating of the heatable media line 1 is possible.

[0029] Figure 4shows the heatable media line 1, in which the tubular media line 2 is initially wound with the two heating elements 4, 5 on the outside. To fix the positioning of the heating elements 4, 5 on the outside of the tubular media line 2, the fixing device 6 is arranged, in particular, extending along the two heating elements 4, 5. To prevent fixing agent or, in particular, adhesive agent from reaching the outside, in particular of the tubular media line 2, the adhesive surface 60 of the fixing device 6 is directed away from the tubular media line 2 or its outside 20. The adhesive surface 60 of the fixing device 6 is bonded to the high-temperature-resistant film element 3, which is applied over the outside thereof.The high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 can extend both over the fixing device 6 and over the areas of the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2 that are not wound or provided with the fixing device 6. Since the adhesive surface 60 of the fixing device 6 is not directed toward the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2, but rather away from it, the application of adhesives to the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2 and also to the respective outer sides 40 and 50 of the two heating elements 4, 5 or their insulation sheathing 41 and 51 can again be successfully and reliably avoided. Accordingly, removal of the fixing device 6 arranged on the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2 and the high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 is also possible here without any problems and without residues of fixing or adhesives on the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2.In this embodiment, it is again possible to provide a perforation, in particular a serrated perforation, on the cut edges of the film element 3 in order to be able to manually separate the film element more easily and to remove it from the outside of the tubular media line 2 in order to be able to connect it to a line connector, in particular by laser welding.

[0030] Also in the Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the cladding tube 7, which encloses the air volume 8 between the outside of the heatable media line 1 and the cladding tube 7, is provided on the outside around the heatable media line 1 for external insulation of the heatable media line. The cladding tube 7 is advantageously applied to the media line during assembly; it can be pushed onto it axially or, if a slotted cladding tube is provided, radially.

[0031] The heatable media line can be manufactured in a continuous process, whereby the tubular media line 2 is unwound from a supply reel and, depending on the desired design variant, is provided with or wrapped with the heating elements 4, 5 as well as the high-temperature-resistant foil element 3 and, if applicable, the fixing device 6. After the thus prepared heatable media line 1 has been cut to the desired length, an end section of the heatable media line is exposed up to the outer side 20 of the tubular media line 2 in order to connect the heatable media line 1 to a line connector, i.e. the foil element 3 and fixing device 6 are removed there, and the heating elements 4, 5 are also unwound from there in order to subsequently provide a particularly laser-welded connection with the line connector. This is Figure 5 The dashed line shows Figure 5here the severed excess length 10 of the tubular media line. This can vary depending on the respective application. The section 10 is therefore provided with a number of longitudinal divisions 110, shown in dashed lines, to indicate where a separation could take place or which illustrate the respective intended excess length. Also shown is the exposed tubular media line 2. A first adhesive fixing tape 11 is applied to this by wrapping to fix the end of the unwound film element 3 and the partially unwound heating elements 4, 5. This is arranged on the film element 3 with heating elements 4, 5 arranged underneath, which rest on the tubular media line 2. Directly adjacent to the first adhesive fixing tape 11, a second adhesive fixing tape 12 is applied to the outside of the film element 3 by wrapping.The second adhesive fixing tape 12 is wider than the first adhesive fixing tape 11. For example, the first adhesive fixing tape 11 has a width b 11 of 9 mm + / - 1 mm, while the second adhesive fixing tape 12 can have a width b 12 of 15 mm + / - 1 mm. Of course, other dimensions of the fixing tapes 11 and 12 are also possible. Both fixing tapes can be designed as adhesive, fabric adhesive, or fabric tapes. Both serve to refix the film element 3, i.e., to prevent unwanted loosening and detachment (flagging) of the end of the film element next to the exposed section 13 of the tubular media line 2, which can subsequently be connected to a line connector, in particular by laser welding.

[0032] Instead of the two in Figure 5In addition to the adhesive fixing bands 11, 12 shown, only the second adhesive fixing band 12 can be provided if this already enables sufficient fixing of the end of the film element 3 after cutting the heatable media line to length and exposing the tubular media line 2.

[0033] The two adhesive fixing bands 11, 12 can be wrapped several times around the outside of the tubular media line equipped with heating elements 4, 5 and foil element 3, thus being applied in a bundled manner at the respective locations. The two adhesive fixing bands 11, 12 can be applied side by side in the longitudinal direction of the heatable media line with essentially no spacing, whereby a small gap can also be provided between them. In particular, the distance between the two adhesive fixing bands is 0 mm + / - 2.5 mm. Thus, a slight overlap of the two adhesive fixing bands in the longitudinal direction of the heatable media line can also be provided.

[0034] To bend the prefabricated heatable media line, it is heated, especially in an oven, and bent into the desired shape in a mold, cooled in this mold, and removed from the mold. Heating for bending takes place to a temperature of approximately 150 °C.

[0035] In addition to the embodiments of a heatable media line described above and shown in the figures, as well as a method for producing such a heatable media line and a prefabricated media line comprising such a heatable media line, numerous further embodiments can be formed, in particular any combinations of the features mentioned above, wherein at least one high-temperature-resistant film element is always provided in order to prevent adhesion of fixing means, in particular adhesive means, or an adhesive surface of a fixing device on the outside of the tubular media line of the heatable media line.This is prevented by the fact that no additional fixing device with an adhesive surface is required, but rather the high-temperature-resistant foil element itself takes over the fixing function for the at least one heating element that is arranged on the tubular media line. List of reference symbols

[0036] 1 Heatable media line 2 Tubular media line 3 High-temperature-resistant foil element 4 Heating element 5 Heating element 6 Fixing device 7 Sheathing tube 8 Air volume 10 Excess length of 2 11 First adhesive fixing band 12 Second adhesive fixing band 13 Section of 2 20 Outside of 2 40 Outside 41 Insulation sheath 42 Heating strand 50 Outside 51 Insulation sheath 52 Heating strand 60 Adhesive surface 110 Longitudinal subdivisions

Claims

1. Heatable media line (1) having a tubular media line (2), at least one heating element (4, 5) arranged externally on the tubular media line (2), and at least one fixing device for fixing the position of the at least one heating element (4, 5) on the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2), wherein, in order to prevent fixing agent from adhering to the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2), there is provided at least one high-temperature-resistant film element (3) made of a polymer material which can be exposed to temperatures of 150°C or more without being damaged, wherein the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is arranged on the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2) around which the at least one heating element (4, 5) is wound, wherein the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) serves as the fixing device for fixing the at least one heating element (4, 5) to the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2).

2. Heatable media line (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) has a material thickness of 20 µm and a shrinkage rate at 150°C of > 0.5%, in particular > 1.5%, preferably 2%.

3. Heatable media line (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) consists of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

4. Heatable media line (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) made of polyethylene terephthalate is transparent and biaxially oriented.

5. Heatable media line (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at the end or at the end and in the middle region of the tubular media line (2) provided with the at least one heating element (4, 5) and the at least one high-temperature-resistant film element (3), fixing of the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is provided by at least one adhesive fixing tape (11, 12).

6. Prefabricated media line having at least one media line (1) according to any one of the preceding claims and having at least one line connector connected thereto at the end.

7. Method for producing a heatable media line (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one heating element (4, 5) is wound externally around at least one tubular media line (2), wherein at least one high-temperature-resistant film element (3) made of a polymer material which can be exposed to temperatures of 150°C or more without being damaged is applied to the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2) over the at least one heating element (4, 5) wound thereon.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is applied to the tubular media line (2) over the heating element winding (4, 5) by spiral winding and / or such that it is pulled in in an axially folded manner.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that a separate process step is provided in order to fix the positioning of the at least one heating element (4, 5) on the outside of the tubular media line (2) if an additional fixing means is omitted, wherein the at least one high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is shrunk onto the heating element (4, 5) and the tubular media line (2) and accordingly is applied tightly against the outside (20) of the at least one heating element (4, 5), in particular of the insulating covering (41, 51) thereof, and of the tubular media line (2).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the shrinkage rate of the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is adapted such that sufficient material thickness remains after shrinkage to ensure sufficient wear resistance if a cladding tube (9) provided for externally insulating the heatable media line (1) rubs against the high-temperature-resistant film element (3).

11. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that in order to connect the heatable media line (1) to a line connector, that is to say in order to prefabricate the media line, the tubular media line (2) stored on a spool, provided with heating element(s) (4, 5) and the high-temperature-resistant film element (3), prefabricated as a heatable media line (1), is cut to a desired length, the film element (3) is removed from the tubular media line (2) at the end, and the line connector is attached and fastened there by laser welding.

12. Method according to claim 11, characterised in that in order to facilitate its removal, the at least one high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is provided with a perforation in the region of cut edges, so as to permit better manual separation of a portion of the high-temperature-resistant film element (3) in the end region, or at the ends, of the tubular media line (2).