Magnetic connecting device for joining pipes.

Abstract

Title of the invention: Magnetic connecting device for securing pipes. Pipe (A, B) intended to equip a motor vehicle and suitable for carrying a fluid (8), in particular a fluid intended to circulate in a hydraulic circuit, in particular a cooling circuit, the pipe (A, B) comprising a connecting device (1) for fixing the pipe (A, B) to a support, characterized in that the connecting device (1) comprises at least one magnet (14) integral with the pipe (A, B) in order to hold the pipe (A, B) against the support, in particular a metallic support, such as a vehicle body. Abstract figure: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Magnetic connecting device for securing pipes.

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of mechanics and automobiles and more particularly concerns magnetic connecting devices used to hold a plurality of pipes together.

[0002] Currently, the connecting devices used in motor vehicles for holding together pipes present in an engine compartment consist of clips or spacers. These pipes may be pipes of a cooling circuit for example. Such clips or spacers comprise one or more housings configured to insert at least a first pipe and a second pipe in order to associate them together.

[0003] These connecting devices known from the state of the art may have quality defects. The clips and spacers wear over time, possibly leading to breakage, resulting in a failure of the pipe holding function. Indeed, the breakage causes a separation between the pipe and the connecting device, which causes the two pipes previously connected by connecting devices to come into contact, thus causing wear of the pipes in the engine compartment. Furthermore, due to the wear of these connecting devices leading to breakage, the latter cannot be reusable.

[0004] It is then necessary to use a connecting device which on the one hand holds the pipes in the engine compartment in a durable manner, and on the other hand is reusable, which allows a saving of space and consequently savings to be made.

[0005] The present invention proposes to overcome at least in part the drawbacks of the prior art, and in particular by means of a magnetic connecting device fitted to a motor vehicle, the connecting device being intended to attach a plurality of pipes together, thus saving space in the engine compartment and ensuring a fixed position of the pipes which does not hinder their function.

[0006] In this context, the main subject of the present invention is a pipe intended to equip a motor vehicle, and capable of channeling a fluid, in particular a fluid intended to circulate in a hydraulic circuit, in particular a cooling circuit, the pipe comprising a connecting device intended to fix the pipe to a support, characterized in that the connecting device comprises at least one magnet secured to the pipe in order to hold the pipe against the support, in particular a metal support, such as a body of the vehicle.

[0007] The term connecting device implies the action of securing the pipe to a support from the engine compartment.

[0008] According to another characteristic, the magnet is arranged against an external peripheral surface of the pipe to which it is attached.

[0009] In one embodiment, the connecting device comprises a wall secured to the external peripheral surface of the pipe, the wall and external peripheral surface assembly defining a chamber inside which the magnet is arranged.

[0010] It is understood here that the magnet is arranged outside the internal part of the pipe. Consequently, the magnet being housed inside a chamber and this chamber being external to the internal part of the pipe, is protected against potential attacks caused by the fluid circulating within the internal part of the pipe, or else by the various external elements present in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0011] According to another characteristic, the wall is made integral with the pipe by overmolding.

[0012] Alternatively, the wall which delimits the chamber is made integral with the pipe by any other means of fixing other than overmolding, for example by welding.

[0013] According to an advantageous characteristic of this embodiment, the material of the wall and the material of the pipe are identical.

[0014] According to another advantageous characteristic, the magnet extends over an angular portion of between 5° and 45° around the pipe.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, the magnet is a ring which surrounds the pipe to which it is attached.

[0016] According to an advantageous characteristic, in this variant embodiment, the ring comprises at least a first semi-cylindrical portion defining a first magnetic pole and a second semi-cylindrical portion defining a second magnetic pole opposite the first magnetic pole.

[0017] The ring forms the connecting device, which therefore consists of the magnet. The connecting device is divided into a first semi-cylindrical portion and a second semi-cylindrical portion. The first semi-cylindrical portion comprises a first part of the magnet having a first magnetic pole. The second semi-cylindrical portion comprises a second part of the magnet having a second magnetic pole opposite the first magnetic pole. Then, the first semi-cylindrical portion of a first connecting device belonging to a first pipe has the ability to associate with the second semi-cylindrical portion of a second connecting device belonging to a second pipe, resulting in the first pipe being secured to the second pipe by complementarity of magnetic poles.

[0018] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising pipes as previously described, characterized in that the support is one of the pipes such that the assembly of pipes comprises a first connecting device comprising at least a first magnet secured to a first of the pipes and a second connecting device comprising at least one second magnet secured to a second of the pipes, the first magnet and the second magnet each having at least two magnetic poles, the magnets being arranged relative to their respective pipes so as to hold the two pipes against each other.

[0019] The term connecting device implies the action of joining two separate pipes. It should be understood here that the first connecting device comprised by the first pipe is capable of attracting the second connecting device comprised by the second pipe in order to join the first pipe with the second pipe. This connecting device is capable of joining the two pipes by means of magnets which it comprises, allowing space to be saved in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle and representing an advantage in view of the ever-increasing space in the engine compartment which, over time, sees new components integrated.

[0020] Furthermore, the connecting device according to the invention thus forms a more effective hold than in the prior art because it comprises magnets which attract each other by a magnetic field, representing a durable and resistant solution against breakage, unlike staples and spacers whose physical properties wear out over time.

[0021] According to another characteristic of this embodiment, the first or second magnet comprises a first part having a first magnetic pole arranged against the external peripheral surface and a second part having a second pole magnetically opposite to the first magnetic pole arranged against the wall, the first or respectively the second magnet being interposed between the wall and the external peripheral surface.

[0022] A magnet systematically comprises two magnetically opposite poles, namely a North magnetic pole and a South magnetic pole. When a North magnetic pole and a South magnetic pole are arranged face to face, they attract each other, even coming into contact with each other. Conversely, when two North magnetic poles or two South magnetic poles, more generally two poles with the same magnetic field, are arranged face to face, they repel each other, preventing contact with each other.

[0023] The first magnetic pole is arranged opposite an external peripheral surface of a pipe comprising the connecting device. The second magnetic pole is arranged opposite a wall integral with this same pipe comprising the connecting device.

[0024] In this way, a first magnet having a first magnetic pole disposed towards the wall of a first pipe has the ability to associate with a second magnet having an opposite second magnetic pole disposed towards the wall of a second pipe, resulting in the contact of the wall of the first pipe with the wall of the second pipe, consequently in the joining of the first pipe to the second pipe by playing on the affinity of the two different magnetic poles.

[0025] The invention also relates to a powertrain for a motor vehicle comprising a pipe or a set of pipes according to the invention.

[0026] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a pipe equipped with the connecting device according to the invention and according to a first embodiment;

[0028] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically, the assembly of two pipes equipped with the device of connection of [Fig.l];

[0029] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a pipe equipped with the connecting device according to the invention and according to a second embodiment;

[0030] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the assembly of two pipes equipped with the device of connection of [Fig.3].

[0031] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

[0032] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0033] As shown in [Fig.l], a connecting device 1 according to the invention is intended to equip a pipe A or B housed in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle and makes it possible to provide a function of holding the pipe, in particular at least two pipes A, B together, or holding a single pipe A, B to a support, not shown in the figures. This connecting device 1 is particular in that it comprises a magnet 14, 24 referenced [Fig.2] and configured to secure at least two pipes A, B or a single pipe A, B to a body support, so as to gain compactness in the engine compartment and to avoid the use of spacers or staples used in the prior art, which tend to wear out and to break.

[0034] [Fig.l] thus schematically illustrates a pipe A, B according to a perspective view equipped with a connecting device 1 according to a first embodiment.

[0035] As detailed in [Fig.l], a pipe A, B is delimited by an external peripheral surface 4 of cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the pipe A, B comprises an internal surface 6 delimiting a channel configured for the passage of a fluid 8 within said pipe A, B.

[0036] The pipe A, B comprises in its external peripheral surface 4, a connecting device 1. The connecting device 1 is integral with the external peripheral surface 4. The connecting device 1 is delimited by a first chamber 10 which projects relative to the external peripheral surface 4. It can be seen that the first chamber 10 is not in contact with the fluid 8 passing in the pipe A, B. Thus, the first chamber 10 ensures a protective role for the connecting device 1.

[0037] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a first embodiment implementing the connecting device 1 to assemble a pipe A to a pipe B or alternatively to assemble a pipe A to a body support.

[0038] As detailed in [Fig. 2], the first chamber 10 extends from the outer peripheral surface 4 of a first pipe A to a wall 12. The wall 12 can be attached to the outer peripheral surface 4 by overmolding. To do this, the wall 12 is pressed over the magnet 14. The edges of the wall 12 are then scraped to the outer peripheral surface 4 of the first pipe A so as to form a wall 12 and outer peripheral surface 4 assembly that is integral, thus delimiting the first chamber 10.

[0039] The wall 12 can be made by overmolding a synthetic material in the case where the pipes A, B are made of synthetic material. Alternatively, the wall 12 can be welded when the pipes A, B are made of metallic material.

[0040] A first connecting device 1a equipping a first pipe A houses a first magnet 14, attached to a portion of the external peripheral surface 4 of the first pipe A. The first magnet 14 comprises a first part 16 and a second part 18. The first part 16 is arranged opposite the external peripheral surface 4 of the first pipe A. The second part 18 is arranged opposite the wall 12. The first part 16 delimits a first magnetic pole of the magnet 14. The second part 18 delimits a second magnetic pole of the magnet 14.

[0041] The second part 18 of the first magnet 14 has a north magnetic pole denoted N. The first part 16 of the first magnet 14 has a south magnetic pole denoted S. The first magnetic pole N is opposite the second magnetic pole S. A magnet always has two poles, a north pole and a south pole which, when placed face to face, attract each other. Conversely, if two identical poles are placed face to face, the magnets repel each other and do not adhere to each other. Thus, the second part 18 comprising the magnetic pole N of the first magnet 14 is intended to be positioned opposite another additional magnet having an opposite magnetic pole, in other words a magnetic pole S in order to connect to the magnetic pole N.

[0042] According to [Fig.2], the wall 12 secured to the first pipe A is arranged facing a wall 12b secured to a second pipe B. The wall 12b forms with an external peripheral surface 4 of the second pipe B, a second chamber 10b, housing a second connecting device 1b comprising a second magnet 24. The second magnet 24, in similarity to the first magnet 14 on the first pipe A, comprises a first part 16b and a second part 18b. In the same way as for the first pipe A, the magnet 24 comprises a first part 16b arranged opposite the external peripheral surface 4 of the second pipe B and a second part 18b arranged opposite a wall 12b of the pipe B.

[0043] In this way, a pipe A, B can be secured to a body support thanks to the connecting device 1a, 1b which it comprises, in particular thanks to the magnetic poles N, S of the magnet 14, 24 compatible with said support.

[0044] Unlike the first magnet 14, the first part 16b of the second magnet 24 comprises a first magnetic pole N and the second part 18b comprises a second magnetic pole S. The second part 18 of the first magnet 14 is arranged against the second magnetic pole S of the second magnet 24 via the walls 12, 12b of the two chambers 10, 10b. Thus, the first magnetic pole N of the second part 18 of the first magnet 14 is attracted by the second magnetic pole S of the second part 18b of the second magnet 24 so as to join the first pipe A with the second pipe B until the wall 12 of the pipe A and the wall 12b of the pipe B come into contact.

[0045] [Fig. 3] schematically illustrates a pipe A, B in a perspective view, equipped with a connecting device 1 according to a second embodiment.

[0046] The pipe A, B is delimited by an external peripheral surface 4 of cylindrical shape.

[0047] Furthermore, the cylindrical shape comprises an internal surface 6 configured for the passage of the fluid 8 within said pipe A, B.

[0048] The external peripheral surface 4 of the pipe A is surmounted by a first ring 26. The first ring 26 surrounds the external surface 4 of the pipe 2 on either side. The first ring 26 comprises within it the first connecting device 1a. It can be seen that the first ring 26 containing the connecting device 1a is not in contact with the fluid 8 passing through the pipe A, B. Thus, the first ring 26 provides a protective role for the connecting device 1a.

[0049] Furthermore, the first ring 26 comprises a first semi-cylindrical portion 28 as well as a second distinct semi-cylindrical portion 30. [Fig.4] illustrates schematically a second embodiment implementing the connecting device 1 to assemble a first pipe A to a second pipe B.

[0050] As detailed in [Fig.4], a first pipe A is surrounded by the first ring 26. The first semi-cylindrical portion 28 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 30 of the ring 26 comprise a first magnet 140. The first magnet 140 extends into a single body along the first ring 26. The first semi-cylindrical portion 28 comprises a first magnetic pole N of the first magnet 140. The second semi-cylindrical portion 30, for its part, comprises a second magnetic pole S of the first magnet 140, opposite the first magnetic pole N of the first magnet 140. The second semi-cylindrical portion 30 of the first ring 26 comprising the second magnetic pole S of the first magnet 140 is arranged opposite a second pipe B. In this second embodiment, the second pipe B comprises a second ring 26b.This second ring 26b comprises, in the same way as the first ring 26 comprised by the first pipe A, a second connecting device 1b as well as a first semi-cylindrical portion 28b and a second semi-cylindrical portion 30b which are distinct. The first semi-cylindrical portion 28b and the second semi-cylindrical portion 30b comprise a second magnet 240. The second magnet 240 extends into a single body along the second ring 26b. The first semi-cylindrical portion 28b comprises a first magnetic pole N of the second magnet 240. The second semi-cylindrical portion 30b, for its part, comprises a second magnetic pole S of the second magnet 240, opposite the first magnetic pole N of the second magnet 240. In this way, a pipe A, B can be secured to a body support thanks to the connecting device 1a, 1b which it comprises, in particular thanks to the magnetic poles N, S of the magnet 140, 240 compatible with said support.

[0051] Furthermore, if the first pipe A is placed opposite the second pipe B, the second semi-cylindrical portion 30 of the first pipe A containing the first magnet 140 having the second magnetic pole S will attract the first semi-cylindrical portion 28b of the second pipe B containing the second magnet 240 having the first magnetic pole N, the assembly leading to the first pipe A being brought closer to the second pipe B until contact is made.

[0052] In the same way, the first semi-cylindrical portion 28 comprising the first magnet 140 having the first magnetic pole N is intended to be opposite a second semi-cylindrical portion of another annex pipe not shown in [Fig.4] and comprising a magnet having a second magnetic pole S opposite the first magnetic pole N so as to attract each other to bring the first pipe A and the annex pipe together until contact is made.

[0053] It is understood that the ring configuration of the second embodiment allows a plurality of pipes to be connected together, since the ring comprising the connecting device 1 surrounds a pipe on either side of its external peripheral surface. Conversely, the first embodiment can only connect two pipes together, since the connecting device is located on only a single portion of the external peripheral surface of each of the two pipes.

[0054] The invention as just described achieves the aim it set for itself, and makes it possible to propose a connecting device bringing together several pipes which can be more efficient compared to the connecting devices currently used to ensure a holding function making it possible to optimize the space in the engine compartment of a vehicle, while ensuring better durability of the pipes concerned and preserving their function.

[0055] The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically effective combination of such means.

Claims

Claims

1. Pipe (A, B) intended to equip a motor vehicle, and capable of channeling a fluid (8), in particular a fluid intended to circulate in a hydraulic circuit, in particular a cooling circuit, the pipe (A, B) comprising a connecting device (1) intended to fix the pipe (A, B) to a support, the connecting device (1) comprising at least one magnet (14) secured to the pipe (A, B) in order to hold the pipe (A, B) against the support, in particular a metal support, such as a body of the vehicle, the magnet (14) being a ring (26) surrounding an external peripheral surface (4) of the pipe (A, B) with which it is secured, the pipe (A, B) being characterized in that the ring (26) comprises at least a first semi-cylindrical portion (28) defining a first magnetic pole (N, S) and a second semi-cylindrical portion (30) defining a second magnetic pole (N, S) opposite the first magnetic pole (N, S).

2. Pipe (A, B) according to claim 1, in which the connecting device (1) comprises a wall (12) integral with the external peripheral surface (4) of the pipe (A, B), the wall (12) and external peripheral surface (4) assembly defining a chamber (10) inside which Taimant (14) is arranged.

3. Pipe (A, B) according to claim 2, in which the wall (12) is made integral with the pipe (A, B) by overmolding.

4. Pipe (A, B) according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the material of the wall (12) and the material of the pipe (A, B) are identical.

5. An assembly comprising pipes (A, B) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support is one of the pipes (A, B) such that the assembly of pipes (A, B) comprises a first connecting device (1a) comprising at least one first magnet (14) secured to a first of the pipes (A, B) and a second connecting device (1b) comprising at least one second magnet (24) secured to a second of the pipes (A, B), the first magnet (14) and the second magnet (24) each having at least two magnetic poles (N, S), the magnets (14, 24) being arranged relative to their respective pipes (A, B) so as to hold the two pipes (A, B) against each other.

6. A powertrain for a motor vehicle comprising a pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or a set of pipes according to claim 5.

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