Method for producing tube device

Abstract

To provide a simple method for producing a tube device, in which a complexly shaped functional element can be placed in the tube device.SOLUTION: In a tube device having a base body with at least one passageway, the passageway being assigned to at least one functional element, the functional element is placed on a tool support (5), the tool support (5) is placed between blow molds (8), a tubular preform (9) is introduced into the blow molds (8) to cover the tool support (5) provided with the functional element (4), and the tube device is produced by blow molding. The tool support (5) has at least one cutting edge, and when the blow molds (8) are closed, blow molding tools (6, 7) abut against the at least one cutting edge and press the preform so as to create a separation region (11).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing a tubing arrangement, which comprises a base body with at least one channel, the channel being assigned at least one functional element.

[0002] In electric mobility, piping systems are used to guide temperature-regulating media to various components of an electric vehicle, such as a battery or a heat exchanger for temperature regulation in the passenger compartment. Since batteries only perform optimally within a limited temperature range, the battery may need to be heated or cooled depending on the ambient temperature. Similarly, the passenger compartment may need to be cooled or heated depending on the ambient temperature. The piping systems allow temperature-regulating media of various temperatures to be distributed and supplied to the various components.

[0003] Due to the limited construction space available in electric vehicles, there is a demand for particularly compact tubing arrangements, and it is known to incorporate various functional elements directly into the tubing arrangement. It is also known to manufacture tubing arrangements by a blow molding process, where the tubing arrangement can have multiple passages, and the functional elements are placed in the tubing arrangement during the blow molding process. Such an arrangement is known, for example, from EP 4067048 A1.

[0004] The functional elements associated with the tubing arrangement may be accommodated within the tubing arrangement or may protrude from the tubing arrangement. The protruding functional elements may be connecting elements, via which the tubing arrangement can be connected to other components, such as pipes. The connecting elements may be, for example, tube pieces or connectors. The connecting elements are introduced directly into the preform during the blow molding process and are firmly connected to the tubing arrangement by the blow molding process.

[0005] In the blow molding process, a tubular preform is placed in a blow mold, and the blow molding tool of the blow mold presses against the preform from the outside, defining the outer contour of the tube. The blow mold usually contains two blow molding tools with cavities, which are movable relative to each other. When the blow molding tools close, the preform is pressed against the edge area of the cavity of the blow molding tool. A seam is formed in this area of the tube to be produced, and the tube is formed in the cavity area, leaving a slug of protruding material outside the cavity. The slug is removed from the tube after the blow molding process is completed.

[0006] In the case of cylindrical functional elements that protrude from the tube arrangement, the blow molding tool can abut directly against the functional element, thereby allowing the protruding material to be removed directly. However, in the case of non-cylindrical functional elements, such as angled or bent connection components, problems may arise in that the protruding material cannot be easily removed.

[0007] The problem underlying the invention is to provide a simple method for producing a pipe arrangement, in which complexly shaped functional elements can be arranged.

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous configurations.

[0009] A method for producing a tube device, the tube device having a base body with at least one passageway, in which at least one functional element is assigned, comprises placing the functional element on a tool support, placing the tool support between the blow molding tools of a blow molding mold, introducing a tubular preform into the blow molding mold and placing it over the tool support with the functional element, closing the blow molding mold, producing a tube device from the preform by blow molding, and connecting the at least one functional element to the tube device in a material-tight and / or form-tight manner, the tool support having at least one cutting edge, and when the blow molding mold is closed, the blow molding tool pressing the preform against the at least one cutting edge to produce a separation region.

[0010] In the method according to the invention, the cutting edge of the tool support comes into contact with the preform and presses the preform together with the blow molding tool in the area of the cutting edge, thereby creating a separation area through which the protruding material can be removed from the tube device.

[0011] The cutting edge can be designed in this case so that the protruding material is already separated from the preform and the resulting tube device when the blow molding tool is closed. However, it is also conceivable to remove the protruding material after the blow molding process is completed, for example by cutting or tearing. Advantageously, a defined separation region is produced regardless of the functional element, so that functional elements with complex geometries can also be introduced into the tube device, and the protruding material can also be removed from the region of the complexly shaped functional element.

[0012] The tool support may be elongated. Such elongated tool supports are also called lances or spears. Preferably, the tool support is designed to accommodate a plurality of functional elements. For this purpose, the tool support has a receiving portion in which the functional elements can be arranged. The receiving portion may, for example, be designed as a recess in the tool support. The functional elements are attached to the tool support prior to the blow molding process. A holding element can be arranged in the recess, which fixes the functional elements in the correct position on the tool support.

[0013] The tool support may be box-shaped and may have a top surface and two side surfaces. Receptacles for the functional elements are preferably provided on the top surface. Preferably, the tool support is configured such that the functional elements arranged on the tool support protrude from the tool support, and the protruding sections of the functional elements are material-tightly and / or form-tightly connected to the tube device during the blow molding process. The sections of the functional elements accommodated in the tool support protrude from the tube device after blow molding.

[0014] A cutting edge extending in the longitudinal direction of the tool support can be arranged at the edge between the top and side surfaces. During blow molding, the preform is pressed against the cutting edge, resulting in a separation region on one side of the tube device and a protruding section, or slug, on the other side. The cutting edge can be configured so that the tube device is already completely separated from the protruding region during blow molding. However, it is also possible to subsequently remove the protruding region along the separation region by post-processing, for example by tearing or cutting. Arranging the cutting edge between the top and side surfaces allows free access to the functional elements in the completed tube device. Preferably, the cutting edge is linear, which also results in a linear separation region.

[0015] Preferably, receptacles for the functional elements are arranged on the upper surface of the tool support.

[0016] The preferably box-shaped tool support allows the preform to likewise assume a box shape in this region, enclosing a volume in which the section of the functional element that protrudes from the tube arrangement is accommodated. Complexly shaped functional elements, such as angled or bent functional elements, can also extend into this volume. Cutting edges arranged on the tool support allow the box-shaped region to be opened after blow molding, thereby exposing the functional element.

[0017] If the receiving portion is located on the top surface and the cutting edge is located on the edge between the top surface and the side surface, a linear separation region is created, which leaves only the section of the preform associated with the top surface in the tube device, which is the blow-molded part. The sections of the tool support associated with the side and bottom surfaces are removed after blow-molding or automatically separate from the tube device during blow-molding. This allows free access to the sections of the functional elements that protrude from the tube device, and removal of the protruding material is easily possible even for complexly shaped functional elements.

[0018] The functional element may be a connecting component, for example a pipe piece or a connector, by means of which further components, for example lines, valves etc., can be connected to the tubing system.

[0019] The functional element may consist of a plastic or metal material.

[0020] The blow molding tool can press the preform against the functional element during blow molding, resulting in a material-tight and / or form-tight connection. This allows the functional element to be positioned firmly and media-tight within the tubing. When material-tightly connected, the functional element is media-tightly connected to the tubing. When the functional element is connected to the tubing at least form-tightly, a sealing element such as an O-ring can be provided between the functional element and the tubing to improve the seal.

[0021] The functional element can have an undercut. For example, the functional element can form an angled or bent connecting component. The functional element can be formed as a pipe element, for example, bent by 90°. The method according to the invention allows such a functional element to be connected to the pipe system without any problems.

[0022] The pipe arrangement according to the invention is obtained by the method described above.The functional element may be a connecting component of complex geometry.

[0023] Some configurations of the tube arrangement according to the invention and the method according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, each of which is shown diagrammatically. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a blow molding mold. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 illustrates the position of a tool support inside a preform during the manufacture of a tube device.

[0025] 1 shows a piping arrangement 1 for transporting a medium. The piping arrangement 1 forms a distribution structure for a temperature-regulating medium and is used in the temperature-regulating circuit of an electric vehicle. Via the piping arrangement 1, the temperature-regulating medium can be distributed and led to the components to be temperature-regulated, such as the storage battery, the electric motor, the power electronics or the heat exchanger of the passenger compartment temperature regulation.

[0026] The pipe arrangement 1 comprises a base body 2 formed as a blow-molded part, from which a plurality of passages 3 are formed. Functional elements 4 are assigned to the passages 3, and in this case, the functional elements 4 form connecting components. In this case, the functional elements 4 are configured as connecting elements for direct connection to a vehicle battery. Alternatively, the functional elements 4 may be configured as connecting pipe pieces and can be used to receive hoses for connecting components to the pipe arrangement 1.

[0027] The first functional element 4' is cylindrically shaped and the second functional element 4'' has an angle of 90°. In this case, at least the bent functional element 4'' has an undercut.

[0028] The base body 2 is also made of a polymer material, as are the functional elements 4. In this embodiment, the base body 2 is made of polypropylene, and the functional elements 4 also consist of polypropylene. The functional elements 4 are produced by an injection molding process, and the plastic for the functional elements 4 is formed so that its glass transition temperature is within the temperature range required for molding the base body 2 by a blow molding process, so that the functional elements 4 are bonded to the base body 2 in a material-tight manner during the blow molding process.

[0029] The functional element 4 is directly connected to the base body 2 in a material-tight and loss-proof manner, in this case in a flow-guiding manner to the passage 3. The material connection connects the functional element 4 to the base body in a medium-tight manner.

[0030] The functional element 4 can also be fixed to the base body in a form-locking manner, in which case a sealing element can be arranged between the base body 2 and the functional element 4, so that the functional element 4 is connected to the base body 2 in a medium-tight manner.

[0031] 2 shows a blow mould 8 with two blow moulding tools 6, 7 which are movable relative to one another, each of which has a cavity 19 formed therein which defines the outer contour of the tube device 1.

[0032] To manufacture the tube device 1, in a first step the functional element 4 is placed on the tool support 5 and the tool support 5 with the functional element 4 is placed between the blow moulding tools 6, 7. Afterwards an extruded tubular preform 9 made of polymer material is introduced into the blow mould 8 and placed over the tool support 5 with the functional element 4.

[0033] The blow molding tools 6, 7 are then moved towards each other to close the blow mold 8 and produce the tube device 1 from the preform 9 by blow molding. For this, a lance in the interior of the preform 9 creates pressure, which forces the preform 9 against the wall of the cavity 19, thereby forming the tube device 1. Simultaneously with the shaping, the functional element 4 is material-tightly connected to the tube device 1. For this, the blow molding tools 6, 7 press the preform 9 against the functional element 4 for material-tight connection during blow molding.

[0034] After the blow molding tools 6, 7 are closed, the preform 9 is pressed against the edge of the cavity 19, inside which a tube device is formed, and at the opposite edge of the cavity 19 a seam with a first separation region 11' is created. The material pressed outside the cavity 19 is the protruding material 20, also called slug. The protruding material 20 is either removed along the separation region 11' after blow molding, or is separated along the separation region 11' already when the blow molding tools 6, 7 are closed.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a tool support 5 with a functional element 4, onto which a preform 9 is placed in a blow mold 8. The tool support 5 is made of a metal material, is elongated, box-shaped, and has a top surface 12 and two side surfaces 13, 14. A receiving space 17 for the functional element 4 is arranged on the top surface 12 of the tool support 5. To form the receiving space 17, the tool support 5 is provided with a recess, into which the functional element 4 can be inserted. The receiving space 17 further has a holding element so that the functional element 4 can be fixed in the receiving space 17 in the correct position.

[0036] The tool support 5 is provided with two cutting edges 10 against which the blow mould tools 6, 7 abut when the blow mould 8 is closed, pressing the preform so as to create a separation region 11.

[0037] The cutting edges 10 are arranged at edges 15, 16 between the top surface 12 and the side surfaces 13, 14 and extend in the longitudinal direction of the tool support 5. This arrangement results in two linear separation regions 11 in the tube device 1 after blow molding.

[0038] 4 shows in detail a region of the preform 9 or tube arrangement 1 in which the tool support 5 is housed during blow molding. The blow mold 8 is shaped in such a way that a box-shaped region 18 emerges from the preform 9 around the tool support 5, which opens after blow molding along the separation region 11 formed by the cutting edge 10, thereby exposing the functional element 4.

[0039] The recesses 17 arranged on the top surface 12 of the tool support 5 and the cutting edges 10 at the edges 15, 16 between the top surface 12 and the side surfaces 13, 14 create a linear separation region 11, which leaves only the section of the preform 9 associated with the top surface 12 after the separation of the protruding material 20. The sections of the tool support 5 associated with the side surfaces 13, 14 and the bottom surface 21 form the protruding material 20, which is removed after blow molding or automatically separates from the tube arrangement 1 during blow molding. This allows free access to the section of the functional element 4 that protrudes from the tube arrangement 1, and removal of the protruding material 20 is possible without any problems even for complexly shaped functional elements 4.

Claims

1. 1. A method for producing a tube device (1), the tube device having a base body (2) with at least one passage (3), the passage (3) having at least one functional element (4) assigned thereto, the method comprising: arranging the functional element (4) on a tool support (5); placing the tool support (5) between blow molding tools (6, 7) of a blow mold (8); introducing a tubular preform (9) into the blow mold (8) and placing it over the tool support (5) with the functional element (4); closing the blow mold (8); producing the tube device (1) from the preform (9) by blow molding; and connecting the at least one functional element (4) to the tube device (1) in a material-tight and / or form-tight manner, The method is characterized in that the tool support (5) has at least one cutting edge (10), and when the blow mold (8) is closed, the blow molding tools (6, 7) abut against the at least one cutting edge (10) and press the preform so as to create a separation region (11).

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tool support (5) is elongated.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tool support (5) is box-shaped and has a top surface (12) and two side surfaces (13, 14).

4. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein cutting edges (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the tool support (5) are arranged on edges (15, 16) between the top surface (12) and the side surfaces (13, 14).

5. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a receptacle (17) for a functional element (4) is arranged on the top surface (12) of the tool support (5).

6. 6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the blow mold (8) is formed in such a way that a box-shaped region (18) is generated from the preform (9) around the tool support (5) during blow molding, and the box-shaped region is opened along the separation region (11) formed by the cutting edge (10) after blow molding.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the separation region (11) is linear.

8. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the functional element (4) is a connecting component.

9. 9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the functional element (4) forms an undercut.

10. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the blow molding tool (6, 7) presses the preform (9) against the functional element (4) for a material-tight bond during blow molding.

11. A pipe arrangement (1) obtainable by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. 12. The tubing arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the functional element (4) is a connecting component.

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