Manifold and method for manufacturing manifold

Abstract

To provide a manifold and a method for manufacturing the same in which two members are strongly joined by heat welding.SOLUTION: A manifold includes: a first joined body W formed on a resin first member; and a second joined body R formed on a resin second member. Joint surfaces of the first joined body W and the second joined body R are integrated by heat welding, and a flow passage space is formed between the integrated first member and second member. At a position adjacent to a welded face MT of the first joined body W and the second joined body R, a projecting part 30 extending from at least one of the first joined body W and the second joined body R toward the other is integrally formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a manifold and a method for manufacturing a manifold.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a retainer for holding a case and an instrument panel to which the retainer is attached are joined to each other by infrared welding. In this infrared welding, the welding end face (120c) of the rib (120b) of the retainer (designated as 120 in the document, and the reference numerals will be described in the same manner hereinafter) and the welding end face (131d) of the rib (131c) of the panel base material (131) face each other in parallel, and the facing direction is in a state that coincides with the pressing direction due to the relative movement during the assembly of the retainer (120) and the panel base material (131).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When thermally welding a thermoplastic resin, a process is performed in which a pair of opposing joint surfaces are heated and melted, the respective joint surfaces are brought into contact, and they are integrated by the action of pressure. In such a process, the temperature distribution is such that the temperature of the outer edge portion is lower compared to the temperature of the central portion among the pair of opposing joint surfaces during heating.

[0005] Due to such a temperature distribution, when a pair of heated joint surfaces are pressed against each other, the amount of resin at the outer end portion that is integrated by melting tends to be lower than that at the central portion, and insufficient strength at the outer edge portion may be caused due to the shortage of the resin in the molten state. When there is a portion with insufficient strength in a part of the joint portion in this way, the stress acting on the portion with insufficient strength increases, which may lead to breakage.

[0006] That is, at the central portion of the welding surface, a sufficient amount of molten resin is in a state of being mixed, but at the outer edge portion of the welding surface, the amount of molten resin is less than that at the central portion and the mixing is insufficient, resulting in insufficient strength. Thus, in the manifold in which two members are joined by thermal welding, breakage at the thermally welded portion was also a concern.

[0007] For these reasons, there is a need for a manifold in which two members are firmly joined by thermal welding, and a method for manufacturing a manifold in which two members are firmly joined by thermal welding.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] The characteristic configuration of the manifold according to the present invention has a first joining body formed on a first resin member and a second joining body formed on a second resin member, and the joining surfaces of the first joining body and the second joining body are integrated by being thermally welded to each other, and a flow path space is formed between the integrated first member and the second member. A manifold, wherein at a position adjacent to the welding surfaces of the first joining body and the second joining body, a convex portion extending from at least one of the first joining body and the second joining body toward the other is integrally formed.

[0009] According to this configuration, when the first joining body and the second joining body are thermally welded, the convex portion suppresses the flow of the molten resin flowing from the central portion of the welding surface in the direction in which the convex portion is formed, so that an increase in the amount of resin used for welding is realized even at a position away from the center of the welding surface. Further, since the flow of the molten resin is suppressed by the convex portion in this way, an increase in the amount of molten resin flowing in the direction in which the convex portion is not formed from the central portion of the welding surface is also possible, and an increase in the amount of resin used for welding is also realized. Therefore, a manifold in which two members are firmly joined by thermal welding is configured.

[0010] Further, in the method for manufacturing a manifold according to the present invention, in the method for manufacturing the manifold, a heating step of heating the first joint surface and the second joint surface to the melting temperature by irradiation with infrared rays in a state where the infrared rays acting on the convex portion are blocked, and after the heating step, a welding step of welding the first joint body and the second joint body by pressing the first joint surface and the second joint surface together are included.

[0011] According to this configuration, in the heating step, the first joint surface and the second joint surface are heated to the melting temperature by infrared rays in a state where the convex portion is not melted by the infrared rays, and then, in the welding step, the first joint surface and the second joint surface are pressed together. Due to this pressing, the molten resin between the first joint surface and the second joint surface is mixed and reaches the welded state. Further, when the first joint body and the second joint body are heat-welded in this pressing, the convex portion suppresses the flow of the molten resin flowing from the central portion of the welded surface in the direction in which the convex portion is formed, so that an increase in the amount of resin used for welding is realized even at a position away from the center of the welded surface. Also, since the flow of the molten resin is suppressed by the convex portion in this way, an increase in the amount of molten resin flowing in the direction in which the convex portion is not formed from the central portion of the welded surface is also possible, and an increase in the amount of resin used for welding is also realized. Therefore, a method for manufacturing a manifold that firmly joins two members by heat welding is configured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

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Figure 10

Figure 11

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the manifold according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as an example of the manifold, one that controls the flow of cooling water in a vehicle is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0014] 〔Basic Configuration〕 As shown in FIG. 1, a manifold M is configured that includes a plurality of cylindrical ports 1, a pair of valves 2, and a pair of pumps 3, and forms a plurality of flow path spaces LS (see FIGS. 2 to 4) through which fluid flows inside.

[0015] The manifold M controls cooling water (hereinafter, may also be referred to as "fluid") as a cooling medium that flows between a cooling target (not shown) such as a battery, an inverter, and a driving motor mounted on an electric vehicle, and a heat dissipation unit (not shown) such as a radiator and a chiller. Note that long-life coolant (LLC) containing ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, etc. is used as the cooling water.

[0016] Based on signals from sensors such as a battery temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the temperature of the battery and a fluid temperature sensor (not shown) that measures the temperature of the fluid, the pair of valves 2 and the pair of pumps 3 of this manifold M are independently controlled. By this control, a cooling target is selected to supply cooling water, and the flow rate of the cooling water to the supply target is set.

[0017] The electric vehicle includes, for example, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), etc.

[0018] 〔Manifold〕 The manifold M is provided in the electric vehicle in the posture shown in FIG. 1. In the following description, the vertical positional relationship will be described based on this posture. Also, in the posture shown in FIG. 1, the left and right ends may be referred to as both ends.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the manifold M integrally forms a plurality of flow path spaces LS inside by thermally welding the lower opening 10S of the upper housing 10 (an example of the first member) made of a thermoplastic resin and the upper opening 20S of the lower housing 20 (an example of the second member) made of the same material as the upper housing 10.

[0020] The upper housing 10 (the first member) and the lower housing 20 (the second member) are molded products using a glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin. Note that the fiber used for reinforcement is not limited to glass fiber and may be a high-strength fiber such as carbon fiber. The thermal welding will be described later.

[0021] The pump 3 of the manifold M unitizes a pump motor and an impeller driven by this pump motor, and is inserted and arranged in the hole portions at both ends of the upper housing 10, and is connected and fixed to the upper housing 10 by a flange 4.

[0022] A pair of valves 2 includes a rotary valve body 6 accommodated in the cylindrical wall portion 12 on the upper surface of the upper housing 10, and a valve drive unit 7 that controls the rotational posture of the valve body 6.

[0023] The pair of valves 2 controls the supply and discharge of cooling water between the plurality of flow path spaces LS and the plurality of cylindrical ports 1 by rotating the valve body 6 about the vertical valve axis X.

[0024] 〔Upper housing〕 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper housing 10 is rectangular in plan view, and a vertical wall portion 11 is formed in a region surrounding the outer periphery. A plurality of cylindrical ports 1 project outward in a horizontal posture so as to penetrate the vertical wall portion 11.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper housing 10 has a cylindrical wall portion 12 formed in a cylindrical shape centered on the valve axis X, and a bottom plate 13 is integrally formed at the lower end portion of the cylindrical wall portion 12. The bottom plate 13 is provided with an annular portion 14 coaxial with the valve axis X on the bottom surface side.

[0026] The upper housing 10 includes a plurality of partition wall portions 15 that connect between the vertical wall portion 11 and the cylindrical wall portion 12 so as to form a plurality of flow path spaces LS between the vertical wall portion 11 and the cylindrical wall portion 12. The cylindrical wall portion 12 has the valve body 6 inserted from above and abuts against the bottom plate 13 to determine the lower end position.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, at the lower opening 10S of the upper housing 10, an upper joint surface 10T (an example of a first joint surface) is formed at the lower end of each of the vertical wall portion 11, the cylindrical wall portion 12, the annular portion 14, and the partition wall portion 15. This upper joint surface 10T (first joint surface) is arranged on a single plane. In the following description, each of the vertical wall portion 11, the cylindrical wall portion 12, the annular portion 14, and the partition wall portion 15 may be collectively referred to as a wall body W (an example of a first joint body) (see FIG. 6).

[0028] Further, the upper joint surface 10T is formed such that each of the vertical wall portion 11, the cylindrical wall portion 12, the annular portion 14, and the partition wall portion 15 has an equal width T. The direction along this width T may also be referred to as the width direction.

[0029] 〔Lower housing〕 As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the lower housing 20 is rectangular in plan view, and a vertical wall rib 21 surrounding the outer periphery and a bottom wall 26 are integrally formed.

[0030] The lower housing 20 is provided with a cylindrical rib 22, an annular rib 24, and a plurality of partition ribs 25 protruding upward from the bottom wall 26 at positions facing the cylindrical wall portion 12, the annular portion 14, and the plurality of partition wall portions 15 of the upper housing 10, respectively.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the upper opening 20S of the lower housing 20, a lower joining surface 20T (an example of a second joining surface) is formed at the upper end of each of the vertical wall rib 21, the cylindrical rib 22, the annular rib 24, and the partition rib 25. This lower joining surface 20T (second joining surface) is arranged on a single plane. In the following description, each of the vertical wall rib 21, the cylindrical rib 22, the annular rib 24, and the partition rib 25 may be collectively referred to as a rib R (an example of a second joining body).

[0032] Further, the lower joining surface 20T is formed such that each of the vertical wall rib 21, the cylindrical rib 22, the annular rib 24, and the partition rib 25 has an equal width T. The direction along this width T may also be referred to as the width direction. In particular, the width T of the lower joining surface 20T and the width T of the upper joining surface 10T are set to have equal widths.

[0033] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the boundary portion where the upper joining surface 10T and the lower joining surface 20T are thermally welded may also be referred to as a welding surface MT (see FIG. 7).

[0034] 〔Welding Method〕 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, this manifold M heats the upper joining surface 10T exposed at the lower opening 10S of the upper housing 10, heats the lower joining surface 20T exposed at the upper opening 20S of the lower housing 20, overlaps them, and pressurizes them to join and integrate the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 by thermal welding.

[0035] In this thermal welding, as shown in Fig. 6, the width T of the upper joint surface 10T and the width T of the lower joint surface 20T are in a positional relationship where they completely overlap. That is, the center in the width direction of the upper joint surface 10T and the center in the width direction of the lower joint surface 20T coincide with each other.

[0036] Also, in order to achieve reliable welding, a convex portion 30 in a non-molten state is provided in the vicinity of the welding surface MT. This convex portion 30 is formed in a posture rising from the welding surface MT at a position continuous with at least one of the lower joint surface 20T or the upper joint surface 10T before welding is performed.

[0037] The convex portion 30 is integrally formed with the rib R in a form having a vertical surface 30a protruding above the lower joint surface 20T at a position continuous with the lower joint surface 20T of the rib R. Further, on the side surface of the wall body W (the first joint body) corresponding to the convex portion 30, a wall side surface Wa is formed in a posture along the vertical surface 30a of the convex portion 30.

[0038] In the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the convex portion 30 is formed partially (in the region indicated by the two-dot chain line) along the vertical wall rib 21, the cylindrical rib 22, the annular rib 24, and the partition rib 25.

[0039] In the heating step, as shown in Fig. 6, the mask 34 as a jig is disposed at a position to block infrared rays from the infrared heater 35 so that the convex portion 30 does not melt. It is conceivable to use a ceramic material or the like excellent in heat resistance for the mask 34.

[0040] In the heating step, with the mask 34 disposed, the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are heated by irradiating infrared rays from the infrared heater 35. After confirming that the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T have exceeded the melting temperature of the resin by this heating, the infrared heater 35 and the mask 34 are separated, and in the welding step, the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are pressed against each other with an appropriate pressure.

[0041] Here, when observing the temperature distribution of the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T irradiated with infrared rays, the temperature is the highest at the center in the width direction and the lowest at the outer end position in the width direction. For this reason, when the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are press-connected, a sufficient amount of resin in a molten state is mixed well at the center in the width direction of each joint surface, and good welding is performed.

[0042] On the other hand, since the amount of resin in a molten state (hereinafter, may also be referred to as molten resin) at the outer end position in the width direction of the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T is less than that at the center position in the width direction, the mixing of the resin is less compared to the center in the width direction, and there were cases where the strength was insufficient after welding.

[0043] To solve such problems, the convex portion 30 described above is formed at a position continuous with the lower joint surface 20T of the rib R.

[0044] In the welding step, as shown in FIG. 7, the heated upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are press-connected. In this welding step, when the heated upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are press-connected, a force acts to flow the molten resin from the center in the width direction to the outside in the width direction due to the pressure.

[0045] Since the manifold M is provided with the convex portion 30, among the molten resin, the resin that has flowed from the center in the width direction of the welding surface MT toward the convex portion 30 has its flow velocity decreased by contacting the vertical surface 30a of the convex portion 30 and stays in the vicinity of the convex portion 30. Due to this stay, a sufficient amount of molten resin for joining is mixed in the region closer to the convex portion 30 than the center in the width direction of the welding surface MT, and strong welding is realized.

[0046] In addition, although a part of the molten resin that has contacted the vertical surface 30a flows through the gap with the wall side surface Wa, a large resistance acts on the resin flowing through this gap, and the staying state is not impaired. When the resin reaches the upper end of the gap, a burr portion 31 is formed at the upper end of the gap.

[0047] In addition, due to the retention of the molten resin in contact with the vertical surface 30a of the convex portion 30, the amount of the molten resin flowing from the center of the welding surface MT to the region where the convex portion 30 is not arranged also increases. For this reason, the amount of the molten resin increases in the region of the welding surface MT where the convex portion 30 is not arranged, and a sufficient amount of the molten resin is mixed to realize a strong weld.

[0048] In addition, a part of the molten resin flowing in the direction away from the convex portion 30 along the surface on which the welding surface MT is formed flows out to the outside, and a burr portion 31 is formed outside the welding surface MT.

[0049] 〔Operational Effects of Embodiment〕 In this way, by simply forming the convex portion 30 at a position continuous with the welding surface MT for joining the two members of the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 20 by thermal welding, a sufficient amount of molten resin is supplied to the welding surface, and strong thermal welding of the two members is realized. As a result, it becomes possible to manufacture a highly durable manifold M by strong thermal welding.

[0050] In addition, when the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are pressed against each other in the welding step, since the convex portion 30 is not melted, for example, by bringing the wall side surface Wa of the upper housing 10 (wall body W) into contact with the vertical surface 30a of the convex portion 30, it becomes possible to use this convex portion 30 as a guide, and high-precision alignment is realized.

[0051] 〔Another Embodiment〕 The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the above-described embodiment (components having the same functions as those in the embodiment are given the same numbers and reference signs as those in the embodiment).

[0052] (a) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper joint surface 10T (first joint surface) of the wall body W (first joint body) is formed into a shape in which the center in the width direction protrudes in a semi-circular shape, and the lower joint surface 20T (second joint surface) of the rib R (second joint body) is formed into a concave shape in which the center in the width direction is recessed in a semi-circular shape. In this configuration, the radius of the upper joint surface 10T and the radius of the lower joint surface 20T are set to equal values. Also, in this configuration, the width T of the upper joint surface 10T and the width T of the lower joint surface 20T are set to equal values.

[0053] At both ends in the width direction of the lower joint surface 20T (second joint surface), convex portions 30 are formed so as to rise upward in a posture along the outer surface of the wall body W. Each of the pair of convex portions 30 is formed at a position continuous with the lower joint surface 20T. Incidentally, in this alternative embodiment (a), the pair of convex portions 30 are formed in a posture rising with respect to the welding surface at the center of the lower joint surface 20T.

[0054] In this alternative embodiment (a), in the heating step shown in FIG. 8, a pair of masks 34 as jigs are arranged at positions that block infrared rays from the infrared heater 35 so that the convex portions 30 do not melt. After confirming that the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T have exceeded the melting temperature in this heating step, in the welding step as shown in FIG. 9, the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are pressed against each other with an appropriate pressure.

[0055] In the welding step, since the convex portions 30 are provided, when the heated upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are pressed against each other, a force acts to cause the molten resin to flow from the center in the width direction to the outside in the width direction due to the pressure.

[0056] Among the molten resin flowing in this way, by flowing from the center in the width direction of the welding surface MT toward the convex portions 30, the flow velocity decreases by contacting the convex portions 30 and stays in the vicinity of the convex portions 30, and a sufficient amount of molten resin is mixed in the region closer to the convex portions 30 than the center in the width direction of the welding surface MT to achieve strong welding.

[0057] Part of the resin in a molten state that has come into contact with the convex portion 30 flows through the gap between the convex portion 30 and the wall side surface Wa, flows out from the upper end of this gap, and forms a burr portion 31 outside the welding surface MT.

[0058] (b) As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the upper joint surface 10T (first joint surface) of the wall body W (first joint body) is formed flat, and the lower joint surface 20T (second joint surface) of the rib R (second joint body) is formed flat at the bottom of the concave structure.

[0059] As a result, convex portions 30 are formed so as to protrude upward along the wall side surface Wa of the wall body W at both ends in the width direction of the lower joint surface 20T (second joint surface). Each vertical surface 30a of this pair of convex portions 30 is formed at a position continuous with the lower joint surface 20T.

[0060] In this alternative embodiment (b), in the heating step shown in FIG. 10, a pair of masks 34 as jigs are arranged at positions that block infrared rays from the infrared heater 35 so that the convex portions 30 do not melt. After confirming that the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T have exceeded the melting temperature in this heating step, in the welding step shown in FIG. 11, the upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are pressed against each other with an appropriate pressure.

[0061] In the welding step, since the convex portions 30 are provided at both ends in the width direction of the welding surface MT, when the heated upper joint surface 10T and the lower joint surface 20T are pressed against each other, a force acts to cause the resin in a molten state to flow from the center in the width direction to the outside in the width direction due to the pressure.

[0062] Among the resin in a molten state flowing in this way, the resin that has flowed from the center in the width direction of the welding surface MT toward the convex portion 30 has its flow velocity decreased by contacting the convex portion 30 and stays in the vicinity of the convex portion 30, and a sufficient amount of resin in a molten state is mixed in the region closer to the convex portion 30 than the center in the width direction of the welding surface MT to achieve strong welding.

[0063] Part of the molten resin that has come into contact with the convex portion 30 flows through the gap between the vertical surface 30a of the convex portion 30 and the wall side surface Wa, flows out from the upper end of this gap, and forms a burr portion 31 outside the welding surface MT.

[0064] (c) In the configurations of the above-described embodiment, alternative embodiment (a), and alternative embodiment (b), a configuration in which the positional relationship between the rib R and the wall body W is reversed up and down is also feasible.

[0065] (d) The convex portion 30 is provided on each of the wall body W (first joining body) and the rib R (second joining body). The specific configuration of this configuration is such that the convex portion 30 is provided on one side in the width direction of the wall body W (first joining body), and the convex portion 30 is provided on the other side in the width direction of the rib R (second joining body). Even with such a configuration, in each of the convex portions 30 provided on the wall body W (first joining body) and the convex portions 30 provided on the rib R (second joining body), by restricting the flow of the molten resin by the convex portion 30, a strong joint can be surely performed.

[0066] (e) The convex portion 30 does not need to be formed along all of the regions where the vertical wall rib 21, cylindrical rib 22, annular rib 24, and partition rib 25 that constitute the lower housing 20 are formed. For example, in some regions, it is also possible to form them at set intervals. Similarly, it is also possible to form them at predetermined intervals in some regions along the vertical wall portion 11, cylindrical wall portion 12, annular portion 14, and partition portion 15 that constitute the upper housing 10.

[0067] In addition, the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiment (including alternative embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction. Also, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this, and can be appropriately modified within the scope not departing from the object of the present invention.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the following configurations are recalled. A manifold M having a first joint (wall W) formed on a first resin member (upper housing 10) and a second joint (rib R) formed on a second resin member (lower housing 20), wherein the joint surfaces of the first joint (wall W) and the second joint (rib R) are integrally formed by heat welding, and a flow path space LS is formed between the integrated first member (upper housing 10) and the second member (lower housing 20). The manifold is characterized in that a convex portion 30 extending from at least one of the first joint (wall W) and the second joint (rib R) toward the other is integrally formed at a position adjacent to the welding surface MT of the first joint (wall W) and the second joint (rib R).

[0069] According to this, in a state where the first joint (wall W) and the second joint (rib R) are heat welded, the non-molten convex portion 30 is provided at a position adjacent to the welding surface MT of the first joint (wall W) and the second joint (rib R) and extends from at least one of them toward the other. From such a configuration, when the first joint (wall W) and the second joint (rib R) are heat welded, the convex portion 30 suppresses the flow of the molten resin from the central portion to the outer edge portion of the welding surface MT, and suppresses the inconvenience that the amount of resin used for welding decreases at the outer edge portion of the welding surface MT. As a result, a strong connection is realized over the entire surface of the welding surface MT.

[0070] (2) In the manifold M of (1), it is preferable that the convex portion 30 is located outside the welding surface MT.

[0071] According to this, when the first joint (wall W) and the second joint (rib R) are heat welded, the convex portion 30 at the outer end position of the flow of the molten resin suppresses the flow of the molten resin from the central portion to the outer edge portion of the welding surface MT, enabling strong welding.

[0072] (3) In the manifold M of (1), it is preferable that the convex portion 30 is formed continuously with the welding surface MT.

[0073] According to this, when the first joined body (wall body W) and the second joined body (rib R) are heat-welded, the convex portion 30 at a position continuous with the welding surface MT suppresses the flow of the molten resin on the welding surface MT, and realizes strong welding.

[0074] (4) In the manifold M of (1), the convex portion 30 is arranged at an end in the width direction of the welding surface MT on one of the first joined body (wall body W) and the second joined body (rib R), and has a vertical surface 30a rising from the welding surface MT at a portion continuous with the welding surface MT. It is preferable that the other of the first joined body (wall body W) and the second joined body (rib R) has a wall side surface Wa facing the vertical surface 30a.

[0075] According to this, when the resin in a molten state flows in a direction approaching the convex portion 30 on the welding surface MT formed between the first joined body (wall body W) and the second joined body (rib R) during welding of the welding surface MT, it comes into contact with the vertical surface 30a of the convex portion 30 and stays between the first joined body (wall body W) and the second joined body (rib R), and joining can be surely performed by the molten resin. Further, even if a gap is formed between the vertical surface 30a and the wall side surface Wa facing it, a large resistance acts on the resin flowing into this gap, the outflow of the resin is suppressed, and the retention amount of the resin in a molten state is not decreased.

[0076] (5) In the manifold M of (1) to (4), it is preferable that a burr portion 31 is formed where the molten resin flows out to the outside from an end in the width direction of the welding surface MT where the convex portion 30 is not arranged.

[0077] According to this, since the molten resin on the welding surface MT flows out from the end, the flow of the molten resin is restricted by the convex portion 30, and the burr portion 31 is formed on the opposite side of the position where the convex portion 30 is arranged, it can be confirmed that the molten resin has flowed to the end in the width direction of the welding surface MT.

[0078] (6) In the manufacturing method of any one of the manifolds M of (1) to (5), in a state where infrared rays acting on the convex portion 30 are blocked, a heating step of heating the first joint surface (upper joint surface 10T) of the first member (upper housing 10) and the second joint surface (lower joint surface 20T) of the second member (lower housing 20) to the melting temperature by irradiation with infrared rays, and after the heating step, a welding step of welding the first member (upper housing 10) and the second member (lower housing 20) by pressing the first joint surface (upper joint surface 10T) and the second joint surface (lower joint surface 20T) are preferably included.

[0079] According to this, in the heating step, the first joint surface (upper joint surface 10T) and the second joint surface (lower joint surface 20T) are heated to the melting temperature without melting the convex portion 30, and in the welding step, the first joint surface (upper joint surface 10T) of the first member (upper housing 10) and the second joint surface (lower joint surface 20T) of the second member (lower housing 20) are pressed against each other, enabling reliable joining in a state where the convex portion 30 retains the molten resin.

Industrial Applicability

[0080] The present invention can be used in a manifold and a method for manufacturing a manifold.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0081] 10: upper housing (first member), 10T: upper joint surface (first joint surface), 20: lower housing (second member), 20T: lower welding surface (second joint surface), 30: convex portion, 30a: vertical surface, 31: burr portion, LS: flow path space, M: manifold, MT: welding surface, R: rib (second joint body), W: wall body (first joint body), Wa: wall side surface

Claims

1. A manifold having a first bonded body formed on a first member made of resin and a second bonded body formed on a second member made of resin, wherein the bonded surfaces of the first bonded body and the second bonded body are thermally welded together to form an integrated manifold, and a flow path space is formed between the integrated first member and the second member, A manifold having a protrusion integrally formed therewith, extending from at least one of the first bonded body and the second bonded body toward the other, at a position adjacent to the welding surfaces of the first bonded body and the second bonded body.

2. The manifold according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is located outside the welding surface.

3. The manifold according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is formed so as to be continuous with the welding surface.

4. the protrusion is disposed at an end in a width direction of the welding surface of one of the first and second joining bodies, and has a vertical surface rising from the welding surface at a portion continuous with the welding surface, 2. The manifold according to claim 1, wherein the other of the first joining body and the second joining body has a wall side surface facing the vertical surface.

5. The manifold according to claim 4, wherein a flash portion is formed by molten resin flowing out from an end portion of the welding surface in the width direction where the protrusion is not located.

6. The method for manufacturing a manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a heating step of heating the first bonding surface of the first member and the second bonding surface of the second member to a melting temperature by irradiating infrared rays in a state where infrared rays acting on the convex portion are blocked; a welding step of welding the first member and the second member by pressing the first joining surface and the second joining surface together after the heating step.

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