OPENING WALL WEDGING A CONDUIT OF A SYSTEM
The wall opening with inward-projecting protuberances addresses conduit decoupling and noise issues by wedging the conduit, ensuring secure attachment and noise reduction without additional elements.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2021004124
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2021-04-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-26
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-04-21
AI Technical Summary
Conduits with undefined internal dimensions frequently decouple from equipment due to vibrations, causing potential uncoupling and noise when passing through walls, and additional elements like flanges are costly and inefficient.
A wall opening with inward-projecting protuberances wedges the conduit, preventing decoupling and noise by enhancing the conduit's hold within the opening.
The wedging mechanism securely maintains conduit ends with equipment, preventing decoupling and noise, without the need for additional elements like flanges, and facilitates easy insertion and removal.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: WALL WITH OPENING WEDGING A CONDUIT OF A SYSTEM Technical field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to systems comprising a conduit coupling two pieces of equipment, and more precisely to the walls which are crossed by such conduits. State of the art
[0002] Some systems comprise first and second equipment which are coupled to each other via a conduit. This is for example and not limited to the case of many vehicles, possibly of the automobile type.
[0003] Some conduits (or pipes) have an external section of which each dimension is guaranteed to belong to a fairly narrow range of predefined values, while no dimension of their internal section is guaranteed to belong to a range of predefined values compatible with the dimensional variations of the equipment to be coupled. This is particularly the case for conduits (or pipes) which are manufactured from plastic using a so-called "blowing" technology.
[0004] It therefore frequently happens that at least one of the opposite ends of such a conduit is mounted on the corresponding equipment with a slight play, which impairs its hold and can cause it to become decoupled (or uncoupled). It may even happen that the conduit falls when its two ends become decoupled. This type of decoupling, which can have more or less serious consequences in a system depending on the function of the conduit, has an increased probability of occurrence when the system is subjected to or produces vibrations. To avoid decoupling of one end of a conduit from a piece of equipment, a flange, a collar or a link could be placed on this end, but this is time-consuming and expensive.
[0005] Furthermore, when the conduit coupling two pieces of equipment must pass through an opening defined in a wall, it may strike this wall in the presence of vibrations and / or shocks, which may cause clashing noises.
[0006] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention
[0007] It proposes in particular for this purpose a wall, on the one hand, suitable for equipping a system comprising first and second equipment coupled via a conduit, and, on the other hand, comprising an opening intended to be crossed by this conduit.
[0008] This wall is characterized by the fact that its opening is delimited by an edge provided with at least one protuberance projecting towards the inside of the opening and capable of inducing a wedging of the conduit in the opening, against the edge.
[0009] This wedging of the conduit at the wall now prevents its two ends from decoupling respectively from the first and second equipment, even if they have play.
[0010] The wall according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:
[0011] - its edge may be provided with at least two protrusions projecting inwards from its opening;
[0012] - in the presence of the first option, the first and second protrusions can be defined in first and second opposite zones of its opening;
[0013] - in the presence of the last sub-option, a third protrusion can be defined in a third zone of its opening, located between the first and second zones;
[0014] - each protuberance may have a general convex semi-elliptical shape with a central flat surface for supporting the conduit;
[0015] - it may be intended to contribute to soundproofing within the system;
[0016] - in the presence of the last option, it can be made of pressed cotton.
[0017] The invention also proposes a system comprising first and second equipment coupled via a conduit, and at least one wall of the type presented above and the opening of which is crossed by this conduit.
[0018] For example, this system may constitute a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type. In this case, its first and second equipment may be respectively a heating and / or air conditioning installation and a storage compartment housing. Brief description of the figures
[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:
[0020] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, a part of an example of an engine compartment of a motor vehicle comprising an example of an embodiment of a wall according to the invention, the opening of which is crossed by a conduit coupling two pieces of equipment,
[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, a part of the wall of [Fig.l], before installation in a system, and
[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, the wedging of the conduit of [Fig.l] in the opening of the wall. Detailed description of the invention
[0023] The invention aims in particular to propose a wall PI comprising an opening OC and intended to form part of a system S comprising first El and second E2 equipment coupled via a CD conduit crossing this OC opening while being wedged inside.
[0024] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the wall PI is intended to be part of a system S constituting a vehicle of the automobile type, such as for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of system. It in fact relates to any system comprising first and second equipment coupled to each other via a conduit. Consequently, the invention relates in particular to vehicles (land, sea (or river) and air), installations (possibly of the industrial type), and buildings.
[0025] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates part of an example of an engine compartment of a system S constituting a motor vehicle and comprising an example of an embodiment of a wall PI according to the invention.
[0026] As illustrated, the system S (here a motor vehicle) comprises first E1 and second E2 equipment which are coupled to each other via a conduit CD, and a wall PI. More precisely, the conduit CD comprises a first end EC1 coupled to the first equipment E1, for example by fitting, and a second end EC2 (see [Fig.3]) opposite the first end EC1 and coupled to the second equipment E2, for example by fitting.
[0027] It is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the first equipment E1 is a heating and / or air conditioning installation installed in the engine compartment of the vehicle S, and the second equipment E2 is a housing of a storage compartment installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle S and which must be subject (on request) to internal refrigeration via the conduit CD. For example, this storage compartment E2 may be a glove box installed in the dashboard of the vehicle S in front of the front passenger seat.
[0028] The wall PI comprises an opening OC which is intended to be crossed by the conduit CD (see figures 1 and 3).
[0029] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the opening OC is delimited by an edge BO. The latter (BO) is provided with at least one protuberance PBj projecting towards the inside of the opening OC and capable of inducing a wedging of the conduit CD in this opening OC, against this edge BO.
[0030] It will be understood that each protuberance PBj locally induces a reduction in the surface area which is available in the opening OC to allow the passage of the conduit CD. Consequently, if the distance separating two protuberances PBj or a protuberance PBj and a part of the edge BO devoid of protuberance PBj is less than the diameter of the conduit CD, then, when the conduit CD is pushed into the opening OC, its outer wall comes into contact with these two protuberances PBj or the protuberances PBj and part of the edge BO devoid of protuberance PBj, and so this conduit CD is wedged in this opening OC. Thanks to this wedging of the conduit CD at the level of the wall PI, its two ends EC1 and EC2 can no longer decouple respectively from the first E1 and second E2 equipment, even if they have play. Indeed, the portion of the conduit CD located between its first end EC1 and the wall PI is prevented by the latter (PI) from translating, and the other portion of the conduit CD located between its second end EC2 and the wall PI is also prevented by the latter (PI) from translating. In other words, we take advantage of the crossing of the opening OC to prevent any decoupling of the conduit CD, without using an additional element such as a flange, a collar, a link, a staple or a clip. In addition, we also take advantage of the wedging in the opening OC to prevent the conduit from hitting the wall PI, which makes it possible to avoid the generation of clashing noises.
[0031] It will also be noted that when the opening OC is not closed, which is the case in the example illustrated non-limitingly in FIGS. 1 to 3, the conduit CD can not only be very easily introduced and wedged in the opening OC, but also very easily decoupled from this opening OC.
[0032] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the edge BO may be provided with at least two protrusions PBj projecting towards the inside of the opening OC. In this case, the first PB1 (j = 1) and second PB2 (j = 2) protrusions may be defined in first ZI and second Z2 opposite zones of the opening OC (i.e. substantially opposite one another). This makes it possible to increase the wedging force exerted by the edge BO of the wall PI on the conduit CD.
[0033] It will be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, that a third protuberance PB3 (j = 3) can also be defined in a third zone Z3 of the opening OC located between the first Z1 and second Z2 zones, possibly at equal distances. For example, the third protuberance PB3 can be offset by an angular sector of +90° relative to the first protuberance PB1 and offset by an angular sector of -90° relative to the second protuberance PB2. This makes it possible to further increase the wedging force exerted by the edge BO of the wall PI on the conduit CD.
[0034] It will also be noted, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, that each protuberance PBj (here j = 1 to 3) can have a general semi-elliptical convex shape with a central flat MC for supporting the conduit CD. This makes it possible to increase the contact surface between the conduit CD and each protuberance PBj (which it contacts) and therefore to increase the wedging force exerted by the edge BO of the wall PI on the conduit CD. But other convex shapes can be envisaged, and in particular triangular shapes.
[0035] For example, the wall PI may be intended to contribute to soundproofing within the system S. In the case of a vehicle S, the wall PI is located substantially at the interface between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment in order to dampen the noise generated in this engine compartment.
[0036] When the PI wall is used for soundproofing, it can, for example, be made of pressed cotton. Its shape (including that of its opening OC) is then defined by a cutting tool.
Claims
Claims
1. Wall (PI) suitable for equipping a system (S) comprising first (El) and second (E2) equipment coupled via a conduit (CD), said wall (PI) comprising an opening (OC) intended to be crossed by said conduit (CD), said opening (OC) being delimited by an edge (BO) provided with at least one protuberance (PBj) projecting towards the inside of said opening (OC) and suitable for inducing a wedging of said conduit (CD) in said opening (OC), against said edge (BO), characterized in that the wall (PI) is made of pressed cotton, each protuberance (PBj) having a generally convex semi-elliptical shape with a central flat (MC) for supporting said conduit (CD), the wall being intended to participate in soundproofing within said system (S).
2. Wall according to claim 1, characterized in that said edge (BO) is provided with at least two protrusions (PBj) projecting towards the inside of said opening (OC).
3. Wall according to claim 2, characterized in that first (PB1) and second (PB2) protrusions are defined in first (Z1) and second (Z2) opposite zones of said opening (OC).
4. Wall according to claim 3, characterized in that a third protrusion (PB3) is defined in a third zone (Z3) of said opening (OC) located between said first (Z1) and second (Z2) zones.
5. System (S) comprising first (El) and second (E2) equipment coupled via a conduit (CD), characterized in that it further comprises at least one wall (PI) according to one of the preceding claims, the opening (OC) of which is crossed by said conduit (CD).
6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that it constitutes a vehicle.
7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that said first (El) and second (E2) equipment are respectively a heating and / or air conditioning installation and a storage compartment housing.