Vibration damping mass for attachment to at least one vibrating element

Abstract

A vibration damping mass (10) for attachment to at least one vibrating element, in particular to a pipe section (12, 14), comprises at least one mass section (20) and at least one attachment section (22, 24). According to the invention, the vibration damping mass (10) comprises a first attachment section (22) for attachment to a first pipe section (12) and a second attachment section (24) for attachment to a second pipe section (14).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Vibration damping mass for attachment to at least one vibrating

[0004] element

[0005] State of the art

[0006] The invention relates to a vibration damping mass for attachment to at least one vibrating element according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] In air conditioning systems, such as heaters, air conditioners, heat pumps, or refrigerators, certain elements, such as pipe sections, can be caused to vibrate, for example, by the operation of pumps or compressors, which generates or amplifies sound. This is sometimes perceived as unpleasant by users. To reduce vibrations and oscillations in such elements, vibration-damping masses, also known as "mass inhibitors" or "barrier masses," are used. Such a vibration-damping mass is attached to a corresponding element or component, thereby reducing its resonant frequency and the vibration amplitude.

[0008] Disclosure of the invention

[0009] The problem underlying the invention is solved by a vibration damping mass having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are specified in subclaims.

[0010] The invention very effectively reduces vibrations in pipe sections, such as those typically found in heaters, air conditioners, heat pumps (here, particularly in a refrigeration circuit), and refrigerators. The vibration-damping mass is reliably held in place because it is not only attached to a single pipe section, but to (at least) two pipe sections. Furthermore, the vibration-damping mass according to the invention creates a connection between the two pipe sections, which also contributes to damping oscillations and vibrations.

[0011] Specifically, this is achieved by a vibration-damping mass for attachment to at least one vibrating element, in particular to a pipe section, for example, of a refrigeration circuit of a heat pump. The vibration-damping mass has at least one mass section and at least one attachment section.

[0012] Typically, the mass section has a significantly higher mass than the mounting section. The actual mass of the mass section can be selected depending on the application to achieve the desired vibration damping. For example, the mass section can be made of rubber and / or caoutchouc and / or metal.

[0013] The vibration-damping mass comprises a first fastening section for attachment to a first pipe section and a second fastening section for attachment to a second pipe section. The two fastening sections can be integrally connected to the mass section, for example, by being injected into the mass section. However, a positive connection between the fastening sections and the mass section is also possible. The two fastening sections can be made of plastic. As a further alternative, the fastening sections could also be made of rubber (e.g., a very hard EPDM). This would allow a vibration-damping mass to be manufactured from a single material (e.g., EPDM).

[0014] For example, the mass section can be arranged between the two mounting sections. The two mounting sections can protrude from the mass section in the manner of wings or lateral tabs. The pipe sections can be sections of the same pipe, but they can also be sections of different pipes that are located close to each other. The two mounting sections securely and permanently connect the vibration-damping mass to the respective pipe section, ensuring that the connection remains reliably intact even in the event of vibrations that may occur.

[0015] In a further development, at least one fastening section comprises or is designed as an elastic clip section that can be clipped onto the corresponding pipe section. This is a particularly easy-to-install design.

[0016] In a further development, the clip section comprises a circular-cylindrical shell that extends over slightly more than 180° in a circumferential direction, typically approximately 240°. This ensures reliable retention and can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

[0017] In a further development, a projecting longitudinal edge of the circular-cylindrical shell has at least one recess into which a nozzle of the pipe section can engage in the operating position. This provides a simple way of securing the vibration-damping mass in the axial direction of the pipe section.

[0018] In a further development, a longitudinal axis of the first fastening section is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second fastening section. This allows for easy installation with parallel pipeline sections.

[0019] In a further development, the two fastening sections are designed to be oriented in the same direction. "In the same direction" here means that an opening in one fastening section, through which the fastening section is pushed onto the pipe section, faces at least substantially in the same direction as a corresponding opening in the other pipe section. This makes it possible to apply the vibration-damping mass to the two pipe sections from one direction by means of an at least substantially purely translational movement. This has advantages in certain installation situations with regard to accessibility and assembly.

[0020] In an alternative development, the two fastening sections are designed to face in opposite directions. According to the previous definition, "face in opposite directions" here means that an opening in one fastening section, by means of which the fastening section is placed on the pipe section, faces at least substantially in the opposite direction to a corresponding opening in the other fastening section. This makes it possible to place the vibration-damping mass on the two pipe sections through an at least substantially purely rotational movement. This has advantages in other installation situations with regard to accessibility and assembly.

[0021] In a further development, the mass section is provided with a cylindrical shape. Such a mass section is easy to manufacture and can be easily placed between adjacent pipe sections. Alternatively, the mass section could also have other shapes, for example, a rectangular, oval, or similar cross-section.

[0022] In a further development, the mass section has a holding section made of a first material and a mass body made of a second material, wherein the second material has a higher density than the first material. This has particular advantages when it is not possible to provide the desired mass using a one-piece element. The holding section could then be made, for example, from the rubber / caoutchouc / plastic mentioned above, and the mass body, for example, from metal, for example steel, copper or lead. In principle, it is conceivable for the holding section and the fastening sections attached to it to be identical for different applications, and only the mass body is adapted to the specific application in terms of shape, mass and / or dimensions.In this case, the vibration damping mass would be one of a set of vibration damping masses with the same holding section but different mass bodies.

[0023] In a further development of this, it is provided that the mass body is made of metal and the holding section is made of plastic, and that the mass body is injected into the holding section or anchored in the holding section by at least one form fit, which also includes a press-fit mounting of the mass body in the holding section. This reliably anchors the mass body in the holding section.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a vibration damping mass attached to two pipe sections of a refrigeration circuit of a heat pump;

[0026] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vibration damping mass of Figure 1;

[0027] Figure 3 is a partially sectioned top view of the vibration damping mass and the pipe sections of Figure 1 immediately before attachment;

[0028] Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 immediately after attachment;

[0029] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a vibration damping mass attached to two pipe sections of a refrigeration circuit of a heat pump;

[0030] Figure 6 is a partially sectioned top view of the vibration damping mass and the pipe sections of Figure 5 immediately before attachment;

[0031] Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 immediately after fastening; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a vibration damping mass before mounting a mass body; and

[0032] Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 after assembly of the mass body.

[0033] In the following, functionally equivalent elements and areas in different figures and in different embodiments bear the same reference symbols. They are normally explained in detail only when first mentioned. Furthermore, for reasons of clarity, not all reference symbols are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0034] In Figure 1, a vibration damping mass bears the reference numeral 10. In the present case, it is fastened to two mutually parallel pipe sections 12 and 14 of a U-shaped bent pipe 16. In the present case, the pipe 16 belongs, for example, to a refrigeration circuit of a heat pump 18. In embodiments not shown, the pipe could be part of a heating system, an air conditioning system, a refrigerator, etc. Typically, the heat pump 18, just like the other systems or devices mentioned, includes at least one electrically driven pump and / or an electrically driven compressor, by which elements of the system or device, for example also the above-mentioned pipe sections 12 and 14, can be excited to oscillate or vibrate.

[0035] As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the vibration damping mass 10 comprises a mass section 20, a first fastening section 22 and a second fastening section 24. In an embodiment not shown, a third fastening section could also be present, and possibly even further fastening sections, for fastening to other elements and / or pipe sections. The mass section 20 is designed here as an elongated cylindrical body with a solid cross-section. It can be made, for example, from rubber or a high-density plastic. The two fastening sections 20 and 22 are designed here, for example, as elastic clip sections in the form of a circular-cylindrical half-shell which extends over slightly more than 180° in a circumferential direction 26, in this case over an angular range of approximately 240°.In this example, the opening angle is approximately 120°. The fastening sections 20 and 22 are made of plastic, for example. Depending on the elasticity of the selected plastic, the opening angle can also be greater or smaller than 120° in other embodiments. In this example, the two fastening sections 22 and 24 are injection-molded into the mass section. In an embodiment not shown, the fastening sections could also be anchored to the mass section by a positive fit, for example, by pins in the plastic material of the fastening sections, which are anchored in the rubber or caoutchouc material of the mass body.

[0036] In the present example, the inner diameter of the circular-cylindrical half-shells of the two fastening sections 20 and 22 is the same. In an embodiment not shown, the inner diameters of the two fastening sections are different, so that they can be fastened to pipe sections with different outer diameters. It can be seen that each circular-cylindrical shell of a fastening section 20 and 22 has two recesses 28 on its projecting longitudinal edge, into which a nozzle 30 of the right-hand pipe section 14 in Figure 1 can engage in the operating position shown in Figure 1.

[0037] In the embodiment of a vibration-damping mass 10 shown in Figures 1-4, the two fastening sections 22 and 24 are designed to face in opposite directions. This means that an opening 32 of one fastening section 22 points at least substantially in the opposite direction (arrow 34 in Figure 3) than a corresponding opening 36 of the other fastening section 24 (arrow 38 in Figure 3). It can also be seen in Figure 3 that a longitudinal axis 40 of the first fastening section 22, a longitudinal axis 42 of the second fastening section 24, and a longitudinal axis 44 of the mass section 20 are substantially parallel.All of this enables assembly of the vibration damping mass 10 as shown in Figures 3 and 4: Accordingly, the vibration damping mass 10 is first arranged with the mass section 20 centrally between the two pipeline sections 12 and 14, in such a way that the longitudinal axis 44 of the mass section 20 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes (not shown) of the two pipeline sections 12 and 14. The vibration damping mass 10 is then rotated about the longitudinal axis 44 of the mass section 20 such that the openings 32 and 36 of the fastening sections 22 and 24 move toward one of the pipeline sections 12 and 14, respectively. In the present example, this means that the vibration damping mass 10 is rotated clockwise about the longitudinal axis 44.

[0038] This rotation continues until the circular cylindrical half-shells of the two fastening sections 20 and 22 are locked onto the pipe sections 12 and 14. In this case, the half-shell of a pipe section 12 or 14 is initially slightly widened at the projecting longitudinal edge until the opening width of the respective opening 32 or 36 corresponds to the outer diameter of the respective pipe section 12 or 14. Due to the elasticity of the fastening sections 22 and 24, the opening width is then reduced again. In this respect, the two fastening sections 12 and 14 are elastic clip sections. It can be seen that in this case the inner diameter of the half-shells of the fastening sections 22 and 24 essentially corresponds exactly to the outer diameter of the corresponding pipe section 12 or 14.In an embodiment not shown with differently designed pipe sections, the said inner diameters of the half shells of the fastening sections could also be different.

[0039] The embodiment of Figures 5-7 differs from that of Figures 1-4 essentially in that the two fastening sections 22 and 24 are not designed to rotate in opposite directions, but in the same direction. The openings 32 and 36 thus point in the same direction, corresponding to the arrows 34 and 38 in Figure 6. While in the embodiment of Figures 1-4 the vibration damping mass 10 is mounted on the pipe sections 12 and 14 essentially by rotation about the longitudinal axis 44 of the mass section 20, the vibration damping mass 10 of the embodiment of Figures 5-7 is attached to the pipe sections 12 and 14 essentially by a translational movement in the direction of the arrows 34 and 38.

[0040] As already mentioned above, the mass section 20 in the embodiments described here has, for example, a cylindrical shape. While the mass section 20 in the embodiments of Figures 1-7 is made from a solid material, in the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9 it comprises a holding section 46 and a mass body 48. The holding section 46 is made from a first material, for example a plastic, a rubber, or a rubber. The mass body 48 is made from a second material whose density is significantly greater than the density of the holding section 46. For example, the mass body 48 is made from a metal material, for example steel, copper, lead, or the like.

[0041] The holding section 46 is embodied as a hollow cylinder, whereas the mass body 48 is embodied, for example, as a cylindrical bolt. An outer diameter of the mass body 48 approximately corresponds to an inner diameter of the holding section 46. Preferably, the outer diameter of the mass body 48 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the holding section 46, so that the mass body 48 can be held in the holding section 46 with a press fit. However, it is also possible for the mass body 48 to be injection-molded into the holding section 46 or to be anchored therein by a form-fitting connection.

[0042] It can be seen from Figures 8 and 9 that, with this design, it is possible to produce a set of vibration-damping masses consisting of identical mounting and holding sections, but different mass bodies. For example, the mass bodies can be of different lengths or made of different materials. In this way, the mass of the mass section can be adapted to different applications without having to redesign the remaining components of the vibration-damping mass.

Claims

Claims 1. Vibration damping mass (10) for fastening to at least one vibrating element, in particular to a pipe section (12, 14), with at least one mass section (20) and at least one fastening section (22, 24), characterized in that the vibration damping mass (10) comprises a first fastening section (22) for fastening to a first pipe section (12) and a second fastening section (24) for fastening to a second pipe section (14).

2. Vibration damping mass (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one fastening section (22, 24) comprises an elastic clip section which can be clipped onto the corresponding pipe section (12, 14).

3. Vibration damping mass (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the clip section (22, 24) comprises a circular-cylindrical shell which extends over slightly more than 180° when viewed in a circumferential direction (26).

4. Vibration damping mass (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that a projecting longitudinal edge of the circular-cylindrical shell (22, 24) has at least one recess (28) into which a nozzle of the pipe section (12, 14) can engage in the operating position.

5. Vibration damping mass (10) according to at least one of claims 2-4, characterized in that a longitudinal axis (40) of the first fastening section (22) is parallel to a longitudinal axis (42) of the second fastening section (24).

6. Vibration damping mass (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two fastening sections (22, 24) are formed in the same direction.

7. Vibration damping mass (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1-5, characterized in that the two fastening sections (22, 24) are designed in opposite directions.

8. Vibration damping mass (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mass portion (20) has an overall cylindrical shape.

9. Vibration damping mass (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mass section (20) has a holding section (46) made of a first material and a mass body (48) made of a second material, wherein the second material has a higher density than the first material.

10. Vibration damping mass (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the mass body (48) is made of metal and the holding section (46) is made of plastic, and that the mass body (48) is injected into the holding section (46) or is anchored in the holding section (46) by at least one positive connection.

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