SYSTEM FOR SAFELY CONNECTING A HOSE TO A CONNECTING ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for securely connecting a hose to a connection element, wherein a hose is fluidly connected to the connection element by means of a connection nozzle molded onto the connection element, wherein the connection nozzle is inserted into the hose end section.

[0002] A generic system is disclosed in documents DE 195 170 55 A1, EP 1 096 195 B1 or US 11 035 500 B2.

[0003] A disadvantage of these systems, however, is that certain minimum bending radii must be observed when routing hoses to prevent kinking, or alternatively, sufficient space must be provided for routing the hose (e.g., distance to adjacent components). In confined spaces, this can lead to kinking of the hose. Furthermore, the conventional hose and fitting system can only handle low fluid pressures. Higher fluid pressures can only be achieved with additional measures such as cable ties or hose clamps.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system for securely connecting a hose to a connecting element that can achieve higher fluid pressures and at the same time prevents unwanted kinking of the hose.This problem is solved in the present case by a system for securely connecting a hose to a connection element, wherein a hose is fluidly connected to the connection element by means of a connection nozzle molded onto the connection element, wherein the connection nozzle is inserted into the hose end section, wherein a clamping shell that can be attached to the hose is provided, wherein the clamping shell overlaps the hose end section with a clamping area from the outside and additionally clamps the hose end section between the connection nozzle and the clamping area of ​​the clamping shell, wherein the clamping shell also has a hose guide section adjoining the clamping area, which receives a hose section adjacent to the hose end section, wherein the hose guide section is designed in such a way that it defines a specific bend in this hose section.

[0005] The clamping area of ​​the clamping shell, in combination with the connecting piece, increases the clamping effect of the hose end section. Simultaneously, the hose section is guided precisely by the geometry of the hose guide section, preventing kinking. The hose guide section is preferably also shell-shaped and thus overlaps the hose section. The system according to the invention offers a cost-effective solution for increasing the system fluid pressure. No additional elements, such as cable ties or hose clamps, are required. Naturally, the inner dimension of the clamping area is adapted to the outer dimension of the hose end section so that the clamping area can securely fix the hose end section.

[0006] The clamping shell is preferably formed in one piece. In particular, the clamping shell can be manufactured in one piece using an injection molding process. The clamping area of ​​the clamping shell can be designed such that it overlaps the hose end section in a cross-sectional angle range of at least 190° to a maximum of 260°, preferably at least 200° to a maximum of 240°. The aforementioned angle range allows for an optimal compromise between low forces for attaching or snapping the clamping area onto the hose end section, while simultaneously ensuring a sufficiently high clamping effect. The clamping shell is preferably made of a thermoplastic material. More preferably, it is made of a thermoplastic material comprising polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), or a PC-ABS compound.

[0007] The hose guide section preferably has a length in the range of 30 mm to 300 mm, and more preferably in the range of 40 mm to 150 mm.

[0008] The connector may have a collar projecting from the connector, which serves as an end stop for the hose end section. The collar may be fully circumferential, but it may also be only partially circumferential or segmented.

[0009] The clamping area can have at least one opening that allows for visual verification of the correct positioning of the hose end section on the connector. Through this opening, it is possible to visually determine whether the hose end section is mounted far enough onto the connector. If at least the clamping area is made of a transparent material, an opening would obviously be unnecessary.

[0010] The connector can have teeth, ribbing, or locking lugs on its outer surface. Such designs are known from the prior art and also serve to fix the hose end section to the connector. In addition, the clamping area can have a projection (for example, a rib), preferably a circumferential projection, on its side facing the hose end section. This projection is arranged relative to the connector in such a way that it presses a portion of the hose end section into the space between the teeth, ribbing, or locking lugs of the connector. This further increases the fluid tightness of the system.

[0011] The connecting element can, in particular, be a spray nozzle for a cleaning fluid, a compressed air nozzle, or a fluid distribution element. A further part of the invention is an exterior trim component for a vehicle, comprising a system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The exterior trim component can, in particular, be a door lower edge trim, a bumper trim, a tailgate outer trim, a fender trim, a radiator trim, a sill trim, a front fascia, a rear spoiler, or a side spoiler. A front fascia is that part of a vehicle where the radiator grille was located in combustion engine vehicles. Particularly in electric vehicles, this front fascia is no longer designed as an air intake for the radiator (which is no longer present), but rather as a design element in the center of the vehicle. Examples of implementation

[0012] The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings, which illustrate only exemplary embodiments. The drawings schematically show: Fig. 1 a rear view of an outer cladding part with a system according to the invention for securely connecting a hose to a connection element; Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through a partial area of ​​the system according to the invention; Fig. 3 a top view of the attachable clamping shell of the system; Fig. 4 a cross-section through the clamping area of ​​the clamping shell; Fig. 5 a bottom view of the clamping area of ​​the clamping shell.

[0013] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are given the same reference symbols.

[0014] In the Fig. 1 is an exterior trim part for a vehicle in the form of a spoiler or spoiler outer skin.

[0015] On the inside of the spoiler, a system according to the invention is provided for securely connecting a hose 1 to a connection element 2. Here, a hose 1 is connected by means of a connection fitting 3 molded onto the connection element 2 (see also Fig. 2 ) fluid-conducting connection element 2. The connection nozzle 3 is inserted into the hose end section 4 (see also Fig. 2 ).

[0016] A clamping shell 5 is provided that can be attached to the hose 1 (see in particular). Fig. 3 ), wherein the clamping shell 5 overlaps the hose end section 4 with a clamping area 6 from the outside and additionally clamps the hose end section 4 between the connection nozzle 3 and the clamping area 6 of the clamping shell 5 (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3(The hose is only schematically indicated there). The clamping shell 5 also has a hose guide section 7 adjoining the clamping area 6, which receives a hose section 8 adjacent to the hose end section 4, wherein the hose guide section 7 is designed in such a way that it defines a defined bend (here with a defined bending radius) of this hose section 8 (cf. Fig. 3 The clamping shell 5 is formed in one piece from a thermoplastic material. The clamping area 6 of the clamping shell 5 is designed such that it overlaps the hose end section 4 in a cross-sectional area within an angle range α of at least 190° to a maximum of 260° (see figure). Fig. 4 ). The adjacent hose guide section 7 is also designed accordingly in this embodiment.

[0017] The hose guide section 7 has a length in the range of 30 mm to 300 mm, preferably in the range of 40 mm to 150 mm.

[0018] The connecting piece 3 has a collar 9 projecting from the connecting piece 3, which serves as an end stop for the hose end section 4 (see Fig. 2 ).

[0019] The clamping area 6 has at least one opening 10 which makes it possible to recognize the correct positioning of the hose end section 4 on the connection nozzle 3 (see figure). Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 ).

[0020] The connecting piece 3 has teeth on its outer surface. The clamping area 6 has a circumferential projection 11 in the form of a rib on its side facing the hose end section 4, which is arranged in relation to the connecting piece 3 such that the projection 11 presses a part of the hose end section 4 into the space between the teeth of the connecting piece 3 (see figure). Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 ).

[0021] The connecting element 2 can in particular be a spray nozzle for a cleaning fluid or a compressed air nozzle or a fluid distribution element.

Claims

1. System for securely connecting a hose (1) to a connection element (2), wherein a hose (1) is connected to the connection element (2) in a fluid-conducting manner by means of a connection piece (3) formed on the connection element (2), wherein the connection piece (3) is inserted into the hose end section (4), wherein a clamping shell (5) is provided which can be attached to the hose (1) , wherein the clamping shell (5) engages the hose end section (4) from the outside with a clamping area (6) and additionally clamps the hose end section (4) between the connection piece (3) and the clamping area (6) of the clamping shell (5), characterized in that the clamping shell (5) also has a hose guide section (7) adjoining the clamping area (6), which accommodates a hose section (8) adjacent to the hose end section (4), wherein the hose guide section (7) is designed in such a way that it specifies a defined bend of this hose section (8).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping shell (5) is designed as a single piece.

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping area (6) of the clamping shell (5) is designed such that it overlaps the hose end section (4) in a cross-section at an angle (a) of at least 190° to a maximum of 260°.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping shell (5) is formed from a thermoplastic material, preferably from a thermoplastic material comprising polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), or a PC-ABS compound.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hose guide section (7) has a length in the range of 30 mm to 300 mm, preferably in the range of 40 mm to 150 mm.

6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection piece (3) has a collar (9) protruding from the connection piece (3), which serves as an end stop for the hose end section (4).

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping area (6) has at least one opening (10) which makes it possible to recognize the correct positioning of the hose end section (4) on the connection piece (3).

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection piece (3) has a toothing or a corrugation or locking cams on its outer side.

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the clamping area (6) has a projection (11), preferably a circumferential projection (11), on its side facing the hose end section (4) which is arranged in relation to the connecting piece (3) in such a way that the projection (11) presses part of the hose end section (4) into the space between the teeth or the corrugations or the locking cams of the connecting piece (3).

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (2) is a spray nozzle for a cleaning fluid or a compressed air nozzle or a fluid distributor element.

11. Exterior trim part for a vehicle, comprising a system according to one of claims 1 to 10.