Insulated hoses and insulated hose assemblies

Abstract

This product provides a highly versatile insulated hose that offers sufficient thermal insulation while accommodating various cable routing layouts. [Solution] The insulated hose 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical inner layer 2, an outer layer 3 provided to cover the outer circumference of the inner layer 2, and an air-filled insulation layer 5 provided between the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3. The inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 are made of rubber or resin, and are further provided with a metal wire 9 embedded in any of the inner layer 2, the outer layer 3, and the insulation layer 5 to maintain a wiring shape that corresponds to part or all of the wiring layout.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a heat-insulating hose and a heat-insulating hose assembly.

Background Art

[0002] In an electric vehicle that generates less heat than an engine vehicle, in addition to driving, the energy of the battery is also used for cooling components such as the battery, motor, and inverter, and for heating and cooling in the vehicle interior. Therefore, in an electric vehicle, it is important to manage heat energy (heat management) efficiently.

[0003] For example, when using heating and cooling in an electric vehicle, a large amount of electric power may be consumed, which may shorten the cruising range. To suppress such problems, in an electric vehicle, it is important to transport the generated heat energy without loss and use it efficiently. Therefore, in a hose that transports a heat medium such as water or refrigerant used in an electric vehicle, it is required to sufficiently enhance the heat insulation property in order to suppress the loss of heat energy. Therefore, conventionally, a heat insulating material has been wound around a hose used as a pipe for transporting a heat medium to enhance the heat insulation property.

[0004] By the way, in electric vehicles and the like, the space for piping is very narrow, and the routing layout of the piping for the heat medium is also very complicated. Conventionally, pipes have been formed using molds or short pipes have been joined together to realize piping with a complicated wiring layout.

[0005] In addition, as prior art document information related to the invention of this application, there is Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0006] )

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0007] However, the routing layout of piping for heat transfer fluids generally differs depending on the automobile manufacturer and model. Therefore, traditionally, piping design and mold manufacturing had to be done separately for each automobile manufacturer and model, resulting in challenges such as increased maintenance and costs.

[0008] Furthermore, conventional methods of wrapping insulation around pipes have drawbacks such as increased pipe weight and larger pipe diameters, making it sometimes impossible to route pipes in narrow routing spaces.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a highly versatile insulated hose and insulated hose assembly that has sufficient heat insulation properties while being compatible with various cable routing layouts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention aims to solve the above problems and provides an insulated hose comprising a hollow cylindrical inner layer, an outer layer provided so as to cover the outer circumference of the inner layer, and an air-containing insulating layer provided between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are made of rubber or resin, and further comprises a metal wire embedded in any of the inner layer, the outer layer, and the insulating layer to maintain a cable routing shape that corresponds to part or all of the cable routing layout. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a highly versatile insulated hose and insulated hose assembly that have sufficient heat insulation while being able to accommodate various cable routing layouts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This figure shows an insulated hose according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and (b) is a perspective view. [Figure 2] (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views showing a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of an insulating hose according to one modified example of the present invention. [Figure 3] (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views showing a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of an insulating hose according to one modified example of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of an insulated hose according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of an insulated hose assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing an insulated hose according to one modified example of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] Figure 1 shows an insulated hose 1 according to this embodiment, where Figure 1(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and Figure 1(b) is a perspective view. The insulated hose 1 is used, for example, in electric vehicles to pass heat transfer fluids such as water or refrigerants.

[0015] The insulated hose 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical inner layer 2, an outer layer 3 provided to cover the outer circumference of the inner layer 2, and an air-containing insulating layer 5 provided between the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3. A heat transfer medium, such as water or a refrigerant, flows through the hollow portion 2a surrounded by the inner layer 2.

[0016] In this embodiment, the heat insulating layer 5 consists of an air layer 5a and is provided with one or more ribs 4 that connect the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 in the radial direction. Here, we show the case where three ribs 4 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0017] The air layer 5a is partitioned into three regions in the circumferential direction by three ribs 4. By having the air layer 5a as the heat insulation layer 5 between the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3, it becomes possible to suppress the leakage of the heat of the heat medium flowing through the hollow portion 2a to the outside, that is, to suppress heat loss, without winding a heat insulating material around the heat insulating hose 1.

[0018] The inner layer 2, the outer layer 3, and the ribs 4 are made of rubber or resin that is flexible and excellent in vibration absorption. Examples include rubbers such as ethylene propylene diene rubber and silicone rubber, resins such as soft polyvinyl chloride, and thermoplastic elastomers such as polyurethane-based, polyamide-based, polyester-based, and polyolefin-based. In the present embodiment, the inner layer 2, the outer layer 3, and the ribs 4 are made of the same material. However, it is not limited to this, and for example, the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 and the ribs 4 may be made of different materials. The inner diameter of the inner layer 2 is, for example, about 10 mm, and the outer diameter of the outer layer 3 (the outer diameter of the heat insulating hose 1) is, for example, about 20 mm.

[0019] The heat insulating hose 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a metal wire 9 for maintaining the laying shape of the heat insulating hose 1. As the metal wire 9, for example, single wires such as soft copper wire, copper wire, aluminum wire, and iron wire can be used, and it is desirable to use a material that is easy to bend (easy to plastically deform) and hard enough to be cut with pliers or nippers. More preferably, it is desirable to use a metal wire 9 made of lightweight and easily plastically deformable aluminum. After the heat insulating hose 1 is bent and processed into a laying shape corresponding to a part or all of the laying layout, the laying shape can be held by the metal wire 9.

[0020] For example, in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, the piping for the heat medium has a different wiring layout in which cables are routed depending on the automobile manufacturer and vehicle type, and often has a wiring layout with complex bends. According to the present embodiment, the heat-insulating hose 1 can be pre-bent into a wiring shape so as to correspond to various wiring layouts. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the wiring work of the heat-insulating hose 1 while bending it along the wiring layout. Furthermore, since the heat-insulating hose 1 includes the heat-insulating layer 5, it is not necessary to wrap a heat-insulating material around it. That is, by using the heat-insulating hose 1 according to the present embodiment, the wiring work of the piping for the heat medium can be performed very efficiently, and it is possible to correspond to various wiring layouts at low cost.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the metal wire 9 is embedded in the rib 4. Therefore, the metal wire 9 and the heat-insulating hose 1 are arranged in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the heat-insulating hose 1, similar to the rib 4. Here, the metal wire 9 is provided in each of the three ribs 4, and three metal wires 9 are provided, the same number as the ribs 4.

[0022] It is desirable that the metal wire 9 is not tightly fixed to the surrounding resin or rubber (here, the rib 4). In other words, it is desirable that the metal wire 9 is provided so as to be relatively movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to the surrounding resin or rubber (here, the rib 4). This makes the heat-insulating hose 1 easier to bend. A lubricant may be provided between the metal wire 9 and the surrounding resin or rubber (here, the rib 4).

[0023] In this embodiment, the thickness of the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 are the same, but the thickness of the outer layer 3 may be thinner than the thickness of the inner layer 2. This makes it possible to increase the volume of the air layer 5a while maintaining the same outer diameter, thereby improving the heat insulation performance. In order to increase the volume of the air layer 5a and improve the heat insulation performance, it is desirable to make both the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 thin, but if they are made too thin, the heat-insulating hose 1 will be prone to buckling. Therefore, the thickness of the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 should be made thin enough to prevent buckling, taking into consideration the material of the heat-insulating hose 1. In addition, if the inner layer 2 is made thin, the hollow portion 2a through which the heat transfer medium flows will be prone to collapsing, so it is preferable that the thickness of the inner layer 2 be thicker than the outer layer 3.

[0024] Furthermore, the insulated hose 1 has a rib position indicator section 6 on the outer surface of the outer layer 3 (i.e., the outer surface of the insulated hose 1) that displays the position of the ribs 4. In this embodiment, the rib position indicator section 6 is configured to display the position of the ribs 4 with lines. However, the form in which the position of the ribs 4 is displayed in the rib position indicator section 6 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the position of the ribs 4 may be displayed with arrows or symbols, or the position of the ribs 4 may be displayed by forming concave grooves or convex ribs on the outer surface. By having a rib position indicator section 6, it becomes possible to determine at what position to bend the insulated hose 1, taking into account the position of the ribs 4. For example, the position of the ribs 4 may be made visible by forming the outer layer 3 with a transparent material and the ribs 4 with a colored material.

[0025] The insulated hose 1 can be formed, for example, by extrusion molding. In extrusion molding, resin is extruded from between the die and nipple of the extruder. By providing a closing section in the nipple that blocks the flow path of the hollow section 2a and the air layer 5a, it is possible to prevent resin from entering the hollow section 2a and the air layer 5a during extrusion molding, thereby enabling the insulated hose 1 to be extruded in one piece. Furthermore, during extrusion molding, the resin is molded while feeding metal wire 9 into the rib section 4.

[0026] The insulated hose 1 may also be formed by methods other than extrusion molding. For example, it is possible to form the insulated hose 1 using a 3D printer. In this case, the inner layer 2, outer layer 3, and rib 4 may be formed by 3D printing with holes formed in the parts where the metal wire 9 will be inserted, and the insulated hose 1 may be formed by pushing the metal wire 9 into the holes in the rib 4.

[0027] (modified version) In this embodiment, a case in which three ribs 4 and three metal wires 9 are provided has been described, but the number of ribs 4 and metal wires 9 are not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 2(a), there may be four ribs 4, or as shown in Figure 2(b), there may be one rib 4. Also, when multiple ribs 4 are provided, some ribs may not have metal wires 9. Figure 2(a) shows a case in which ribs 4 with metal wires 9 and ribs 4 without metal wires 9 are provided alternately in the circumferential direction. When multiple ribs 4 are provided, it is more desirable to provide the ribs 4 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in order to prevent the insulated hose 1 from becoming difficult to bend in certain directions due to the influence of the ribs 4. Also, the fewer the number of ribs 4, the larger the volume of the air layer 5a, which improves both heat insulation and lightness. Therefore, it is more preferable that the number of ribs 4 be four or less. In this embodiment, the ribs 4 are formed in a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the insulated hose 1.

[0028] Furthermore, the number of metal wires 9 should be determined considering the material of the insulated hose 1, so as not to cause buckling when bent. If providing multiple metal wires 9 makes the insulated hose 1 more prone to buckling, then the number of metal wires 9 should be reduced to one. Also, by placing the metal wires 9 as close to the center of the insulated hose 1 as possible, it is possible to further suppress buckling of the insulated hose 1. For this reason, it is more desirable to place the metal wires 9 at the center of the rib 4 in the radial direction, or radially inward from that center.

[0029] In this embodiment, the case in which the metal wire 9 is provided in the rib 4 has been described, but the metal wire 9 is not limited to this, and may be embedded in any of the inner layer 2, outer layer 3, or heat insulating layer 5. For example, as shown in Figure 3(a), the metal wire 9 may be embedded in the outer layer 3, or as shown in Figure 3(b), the metal wire 9 may be embedded in the inner layer 2. However, when the metal wire 9 is embedded in the inner layer 2 or outer layer 3, it is necessary to form the inner layer 2 or outer layer 3 to be thicker, which may reduce the volume of the air layer 5a and decrease the heat insulating performance. Therefore, when the heat insulating layer 5 is composed of an air layer 5a, it is more desirable to embed the metal wire 9 in the rib 4.

[0030] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes a case where the outer layer 3 is a single layer, the outer layer 3 may consist of two or more layers. That is, the insulated hose 1 may be constructed by concentrically arranging multiple outer layers 3 with an air layer 5a in between, and connecting radially adjacent outer layers 3 with one or more ribs 4.

[0031] Furthermore, the ribs 4 and metal wires 9 may be configured in a spiral shape so as to rotate around the central axis of the insulated hose 1. This makes it less likely for the insulated hose 1 to buckle when it is bent.

[0032] (Other embodiments) Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an insulated hose 1a according to another embodiment of the present invention. The insulated hose 1a shown in Figure 4 has an insulating layer 5 made of a braided layer 5b consisting of a braid made by weaving together metal wires 9 and resin wires (not shown), and is an example in which the metal wires 9 are embedded in the insulating layer 5. Examples of resin wire materials include polyester, polyamide, and acrylic. The illustrated example shows the case in which four metal wires 9 are used, but the number of metal wires 9 used can be changed as appropriate. The braided layer 5b contains a mesh, and because air is contained in this mesh, it functions as an insulating layer 5. In the braided layer 5b, the metal wires 9 are woven diagonally, so when viewed as a whole, the metal wires 9 are arranged spirally so as to rotate around the central axis of the insulating hose 1. By constructing the insulating layer 5 with a braided layer 5b, the ribs 4 can be omitted, making the insulating layer 5 more flexible, making the insulating hose 1a easier to bend, and improving the vibration absorption of the insulating hose 1a. Alternatively, cotton thread, paper string, or jute can be used instead of resin wire.

[0033] In Figure 4, the braided layer 5b is shown as a single layer. However, the insulation layer 5 may be constructed by adding a resin braided layer made of only resin wires inside, outside, or both of the braided layer 5b, thereby increasing the air content in the insulation layer 5 and improving its insulation properties. Alternatively, a nonwoven fabric or a porous resin (for example, a sponge-like resin) may be used instead of the resin braided layer. This configuration also improves the vibration absorption of the insulation hose 1.

[0034] Furthermore, the insulation layer 5 may be made of a resin braided layer, a nonwoven fabric, or a porous resin, and the metal wire 9 may be spirally wound around the insulation layer 5 so that the metal wire 9 is embedded in the insulation layer 5. Conversely, the metal wire 9 may be wound around the inner layer 2 before the insulation layer 5 is provided so that the metal wire 9 is embedded in the insulation layer 5.

[0035] (Insulated hose assembly 10) Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the insulated hose assembly 10 according to this embodiment. It is a plan view of the insulated hose assembly 10. The insulated hose assembly 10 is constructed by connecting an insulated hose 1 and another hose 12 that does not have a metal wire 9. The connecting member 11 that connects the insulated hose 1 and the hose 12 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a hose connector, a pipe (tubular member) made of metal or resin, etc. Alternatively, the insulated hose 1 and the hose 12 may be directly connected by heat fusion or bonding using an adhesive, etc.

[0036] For the hose 12, it is preferable to use one with high thermal insulation properties so that there is no need to wrap it with insulation material, and it is desirable to use one that is the same as the insulated hose 1 but without the metal wire 9. In other words, the hose 12 should be made up of a hollow cylindrical inner layer 2, an outer layer 3 provided so as to cover the outer circumference of the inner layer 2, and an air-filled thermal insulation layer 5 provided between the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3.

[0037] The insulated hose assembly 10 is constructed by adjusting the lengths of the hoses 12 and 1, etc., so that the hose 12 without metal wires 9 is used in the straight-routed sections (or sections with a large bending radius), and the insulated hose 1 with metal wires 9 is used in the bent-routed sections (sections with a small bending radius), depending on the routing layout when it is routed in an electric vehicle or the like. In the illustrated example, two hoses 1 and 12 are shown connected, but the insulated hose assembly 10 may also be constructed by connecting three or more hoses. By using the insulated hose assembly 10 designed according to the routing layout, the handling and transport of the insulated hose 1 becomes easier, such as by bending the hose 12 in the section without metal wires 9 for transport, and even if the insulated hose 1 is pre-formed into a shape according to the routing layout, handling becomes easier. As a result, routing work can be performed efficiently.

[0038] Here, we have described the case where a hose 12 without metal wires 9 is connected to an insulated hose 1 with metal wires 9. However, the invention is not limited to this, and as shown in Figure 6, it is also possible to configure the insulated hose 1 to have or not have metal wires 9 in each of the longitudinally partitioned regions A and B. In other words, the insulated hose 1 may have a region A in a part of its longitudinal direction that does not have metal wires 9. In this case, it is desirable to provide identification markings using letters, colors, symbols, lines, etc., to distinguish between region B with metal wires 9 and region A without metal wires 9. For example, the presence or absence of metal wires 9 may be indicated by changing the color or line type (solid line, dashed line, etc.) of the rib position indicator 5. Alternatively, for example, the outer layer 3 and ribs 4 may be made of transparent material to make the metal wires 9 visible. Color-plated metal wires 9 may be used to make them even easier to see.

[0039] (Operation and Effects of the Embodiment) As described above, the insulated hose 1 comprises an air-filled insulation layer 5 provided between the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3, and a metal wire 9 embedded in either the inner layer 2, the outer layer 3, or the insulation layer 5 to maintain the routing shape. This ensures sufficient insulation with the insulation layer 5, while the metal wire 9 allows the insulated hose 1 to maintain its shape when bent. The routing layout of piping for heat transfer fluids in electric vehicles and the like varies depending on the car manufacturer and model, but by using the insulated hose 1 according to this embodiment as piping for heat transfer fluids, it becomes possible to easily accommodate various routing layouts, eliminating the need to maintain a large number of molds for piping as in the past, and simplifying maintenance. In other words, according to this embodiment, it is possible to realize a highly versatile insulated hose 1 that has sufficient insulation while being able to accommodate various routing layouts.

[0040] Furthermore, with the insulated hose 1, there is no need to wrap insulation material around the hose as in conventional technology, making it possible to lighten and reduce the diameter of the heat transfer fluid piping, and making it easy to route. The insulated hose 1 according to this embodiment has high heat insulation performance, is lightweight and small in diameter, and is particularly suitable as piping for heat transfer fluid in electric vehicles. By applying the insulated hose 1 of the present invention to an electric vehicle, it becomes possible to improve the efficiency of heat utilization in cooling and heating / cooling of batteries, motors, inverters, etc., such as improving the efficiency of heat utilization when using heat generated by motors and inverters for heating, and to efficiently manage thermal energy (thermal management). As a result, it becomes possible to reduce battery power consumption and extend the driving range. In other words, in a vehicle using the insulated hose 1 according to this embodiment as piping for a heat transfer fluid, heat loss in the piping is suppressed, weight reduction is possible, and routing work is easier, which greatly contributes to improving the driving range, especially in electric vehicles.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the case in which the insulated hose 1 is used as piping for a vehicle was described. However, the use of the insulated hose 1 is not limited to piping for vehicles. For example, it can be suitably used as piping for heat transfer fluids used in various industrial devices, or as piping for air conditioners, or any other piping that requires heat insulation.

[0042] (Summary of the embodiments) Next, the technical concept understood from the embodiments described above will be described using the reference numerals and other symbols from the embodiments. However, the reference numerals and other symbols in the following description are not limited to the components in the claims that are specifically shown in the embodiments.

[0043] [1] An insulated hose (1) comprising a hollow cylindrical inner layer (2), an outer layer (3) provided so as to cover the outer circumference of the inner layer (2), and an air-containing insulating layer (5) provided between the inner layer (2) and the outer layer (3), wherein the inner layer (2) and the outer layer (3) are made of rubber or resin, and further comprising a metal wire (9) embedded in any of the inner layer (2), the outer layer (3), and the insulating layer (5) for maintaining a wiring shape that corresponds to part or all of the wiring layout.

[0044] [2] The insulated hose (1) according to [1], wherein the insulating layer (5) consists of an air layer (5a), and is provided with one or more ribs (4) that radially connect the inner layer (2) and the outer layer (3), and the metal wire (9) is embedded in the ribs (4).

[0045] [3] The heat insulating hose (1a) according to [1], wherein the heat insulating layer (5) includes a braid made by weaving together the metal wire (9) and the resin wire.

[0046] [4] The insulating hose (1a) according to [1], wherein the insulating layer (5) is made of a nonwoven fabric, a braided resin wire, or a porous resin, and the metal wire (9) is provided so as to be embedded in the insulating layer (5).

[0047] [5] The heat insulating hose (1a) described in [1], wherein the metal wire (9) is arranged spirally around the central axis of the inner layer (2).

[0048] [6] The insulated hose (1) according to [1], wherein the metal wire (9) is made of aluminum.

[0049] An insulated hose assembly (10) comprising connecting an insulated hose (1) described in any of [7][1] to [6] with another hose (12) that does not have the metal wire (9).

[0050] (Note) Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments described above do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential for solving the problem of the invention. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1…Insulated hose 2…Inner layer 2a...Hollow part 3…Outer layer 4… Ribs 5…Insulation layer 5a...Air layer 6...Rib position indicator 9… Metal wire 10…Insulated hose assembly

Claims

1. A hollow cylindrical inner layer, An outer layer provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the inner layer, The system comprises an insulating layer containing air provided between the inner layer and the outer layer, The inner layer and the outer layer are made of rubber or resin. The device further comprises a metal wire embedded in any of the inner layer, the outer layer, and the heat insulating layer, which maintains a cable routing shape that corresponds to part or all of the cable routing layout. Insulated hose.

2. The aforementioned insulating layer consists of an air layer, The inner layer and the outer layer are provided with one or more ribs connecting them radially, The aforementioned metal wire is embedded in the rib. The heat-insulating hose according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned heat insulating layer includes a braid made by weaving together the metal wire and the resin wire, The heat-insulating hose according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned insulation layer consists of a nonwoven fabric, a braided resin wire, or a porous resin. The aforementioned metal wire is provided so as to be embedded in the heat insulating layer. The heat-insulating hose according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned metal wire is arranged spirally around the central axis of the inner layer. The heat-insulating hose according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned metal wire is made of aluminum. The heat-insulating hose according to claim 1.

7. The heat-insulating hose described in any of claims 1 to 6 is connected to another hose that does not have the metal wire, Insulated hose assembly.

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