Assembly for transporting media
The assembly addresses the challenge of achieving a tight bond between base body and functional elements by forming a material-tight connection during blow molding, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs while ensuring a reliable seal.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025536321
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-12-20
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-16
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
Existing assemblies for transporting media in electric vehicles face challenges in achieving a permanently tight bond between a base body and functional elements, which complicates manufacturing and increases costs.
The assembly integrates a base body and functional elements with flow paths connected via openings, secured by a material-tight connection formed during blow molding, eliminating the need for additional sealing elements and ensuring a medium-tight bond through a form-locking and material-tight connection.
This approach simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacturing by integrating a material-tight connection during the blow molding process, enhancing mechanical stability and ensuring a reliable medium-tight seal without additional sealing elements.
Smart Images
Figure 2026501541000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for transporting media, which has a substrate formed as a blow-molded member and at least one functional element fixed to the substrate. [Background technology]
[0002] Such assemblies are used, for example, in electric vehicles, to transport a temperature-regulating medium toward the various components of the electric vehicle and heat or cool these components as required. For this purpose, the drive unit of the electric vehicle may be equipped with a temperature-regulating circuit including a pipe assembly, through which the temperature-regulating medium is guided to the battery cells, thereby regulating the drive unit components, particularly the battery, within a desired temperature range. In addition to the battery, other components that need to be regulated may be the power electronics and the electric motor. In connection with the fast charging process, temperature regulation of the charging electronics and corresponding plug-in connections as well as the lines may also be considered. Demands may also arise in other areas of vehicle electronics, such as sensors and on-board computers that may be equipped for autonomous driving.
[0003] In order to construct a compact and inexpensive assembly for transporting media, it is known to integrate functional elements directly into a base body formed as a blow-molded part, which, if a flow-guiding connection exists between the base body and the functional element, can cause problems with regard to a permanently tight bond between the base body and the functional element. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The problem underlying the present invention is to provide an assembly for transporting media that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. [Means for solving the problem]
[0005] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous configurations.
[0006] The assembly according to the present invention for conveying a medium comprises a base body formed as a blow-molded part and at least one functional element fixed to the base body, the base body and the functional element each having at least one flow path, the flow path of the base body and the flow path of the functional element being connected so as to guide the flow through openings machined into the base body and the functional element, and the base body and the functional element being connected to each other in a medium-tight manner by at least one material-tight connection surrounding the opening.
[0007] The base body and the functional element are firmly and media-tightly connected to one another by a material-tight connection surrounding the opening. It is particularly advantageous that the medium-tight connection can be produced simply and inexpensively. In particular, the material-tight connection can be produced during the shaping of the base body by a blow molding process. In this case, no additional sealing elements, such as flat seals or O-rings, are required between the base body and the functional element.
[0008] Preferably, the material-tight bond between the substrate and the functional element is formed during the shaping of the substrate by the blow molding process. This eliminates an additional manufacturing step for producing a tight bond between the substrate and the functional element. Depending on the blow molding method used, after shaping the substrate and forming the material-tight bond between the substrate and the functional element, the area of the substrate that defines the opening may be covered by a part of the preform that forms the substrate. This may require removing material from the preform in the area of the opening in a subsequent manufacturing step. For this purpose, holes may be machined into the substrate to form the opening, or the wall of the substrate may be cut away in the area of the opening.
[0009] In principle, it is conceivable that the substrate could be coupled to a plurality of functional elements, each in fluid communication with the substrate through a separate opening. Another configuration specifies that a plurality of openings are provided between the substrate and the functional elements.
[0010] The basic body and the functional element can be held together in a form-locking manner, which results in a better mechanical load-bearing capacity, in particular because the additional form-locking connection reduces the mechanical force exerted on the material-tight connection between the basic body and the functional element, which ensures a medium-tight connection between these two components.
[0011] Preferably, the base body and the functional element are made of plastic. This allows for an inexpensive and easy-to-manufacture assembly. The base body is formed as a blow-molded part. The functional element may also be formed as a blow-molded element. Alternatively, the functional element can be manufactured by injection molding.
[0012] Preferably, the functional element forms at least one sealing contour surrounding the opening, which preferably extends beyond the surface of the functional element and faces the base body. During the production of the base body, in particular during shaping, the wall of the base body abuts against the functional element, and the extending sealing contour ensures that there is a linear contact between the base body and the functional element.
[0013] The sealing contour may be triangular or semicircular in cross section. It is also possible for the sealing contour to be web-shaped or trapezoidal. Preferably, the sealing contour is annular. This is particularly advantageous for circular openings. The shape of the opening depends on the available construction space and the volume flow to be conducted. Correspondingly, openings with irregular contours are also conceivable. In this case, it is advantageous for the sealing contour to extend parallel to the contour defining the opening. According to a further advantageous configuration, several sealing contours are provided and arranged concentrically. The sealing contours may be spaced apart from the edge defining the opening.
[0014] The base body and the functional element may be connected in a material-tight manner along a sealing contour. In particular, in the case of a sealing contour that extends beyond the surface of the functional element, the sealing contour contacts the functional element along the sealing contour when the base body is shaped by the blow molding process. In this case, the material preferably melts in the area of the sealing contour, forming a material-tight, medium-tight bond between the base body and the functional element. Accordingly, the sealing contour in this configuration forms a material-tight bond that surrounds the opening.
[0015] The simple and inexpensive manufacturability of the material-connective connection between the functional element and the base body is provided in particular when the base body and the functional element are made of plastic, where the plastic of the base body and the plastic of the functional element preferably have similar melting temperatures.
[0016] Polypropylene and / or polyamide are particularly suitable plastics for the substrate and the functional element. The substrate and the functional element can also be constructed in multiple layers, in which case different plastics can be used for each layer.
[0017] Some configurations of assemblies according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an assembly. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view showing the assembly. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic detail view showing the area of the cutout of the assembly. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic detail view showing a functional element with an opening and a sealing contour. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Each figure shows an assembly 1 for transporting a medium. In this configuration, the assembly 1 is a distribution structure forming a component of the temperature control circuit of an electric vehicle. In this case, the assembly 1 is used for transporting and distributing a temperature control medium, for example a coolant in the form of cooling water. Correspondingly, the assembly 1 is used to transport the coolant to components of the electric vehicle that are to be temperature controlled. Components of this type are, for example, batteries, electric motors and power electronics.
[0020] The assembly 1 comprises a base body 2 formed as a blow-molded part and two functional elements 3 fixed to the base body 2 in a form-locking manner.
[0021] The base body 2 and the functional element 3 are made of plastic, either polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene (PE, HDPE), according to a first configuration, or polyamide, according to a second configuration. The polyamide may be PA6, PA6.10, PA6.12, PA10.10, PA11, or PA12. It is particularly advantageous for PA11 and PA10.10 to be biobased and produced on the basis of renewable raw materials. In a further configuration, the plastic of the base body 2 and the plastic of the functional element 3 comprise recycled material. Preferably, the recycled content is 30%.
[0022] Correspondingly, the functional element 3 is made from an injection-moldable plastic, the plastic of the base body 2 and the plastic of the functional element 3 being selected so that they have similar melting temperatures: for polypropylene the melting temperature is approximately 160°C, for polyamide the melting temperature is approximately 190°C to 230°C depending on the configuration.
[0023] In this configuration, the functional element 3 forms part of the pump, in particular the pump cover. However, in alternative configurations, the functional element 3 may be formed as a cooler, a sensor, a valve, a hose adapter, or as a component part of each of the aforementioned elements. In a further alternative configuration, the functional element 3 may be formed as an adapter plate, which is used to mount further functional elements, for example a sensor, a pump, and / or a valve.
[0024] The base 2 and the functional element 3 each have a flow path 4, and the flow path 4 of the base 2 and the flow path 4 of the functional element 3 are connected via openings 5 machined and formed in the base 2 and the functional element 3.
[0025] The base body 2 and the functional element 3 are connected to one another in a medium-tight manner by a material-tight connection surrounding the opening 5. In this case, the material-tight connection between the base body 2 and the functional element 3 is formed by shaping the base body 2 during blow molding. A number of sealing contours 6 surrounding the opening 5 are formed from the functional element 3.
[0026] To produce the assembly, first the functional element 3 and a preform made of polymer material are provided and placed in a blow mold. The base body 2 is then formed from the preform by a blow molding process, the preform abutting against the functional element 3 during molding, with the preform contacting the sealing contour 6.
[0027] The sealing contours 6 protrude beyond the surface of the functional element 3 and are rib-like in this configuration. In this configuration, the functional element 3 is provided with three annular sealing contours 6 arranged concentrically around the opening 5. These sealing contours 6 have a triangular shape in cross section.
[0028] Due to the configuration of the sealing contour 6, the heat escape through the sealing contour 6 is limited, so that the sealing contour 6 melts as soon as the preform of the base body 2 comes into contact with the surface of the functional element 3 and thus with the sealing contour 6. The melting of the sealing contour 6 also results in a material-tight, medium-tight connection between the functional element 3 and the base body 2 in the region of the opening 5. After the end of the blow molding process, the base body 2 and the functional element 3 are connected in a material-tight, medium-tight manner along the sealing contour 6. Accordingly, in this configuration, the sealing contour 6 forms a material-tight connection surrounding the opening 5.
[0029] To improve the mechanical load-bearing capacity, the functional element 3 is also fixed in a form-locking manner to the base body 2. In this case, the form-lock is formed by the preform being deformed into the base body 2 during blow molding.
[0030] The functional element 3 has recesses 7, which each form an undercut. The base body 2 extends into these recesses 7 to create a form-locking connection. In this case, protrusions 8 are formed from the base body 2 and protrude into the recesses 7. The free ends of the protrusions 8 widen in the shape of a mushroom cap, which creates a form-locking connection between the base body 2 and the functional element 3.
[0031] 1 shows the assembly 1 in a plan view. The two functional elements 3, each forming a pump cover, have a substantially circular basic shape. Cutouts 7 are distributed around the periphery and machined into the edge region of the functional elements 3. Moulded from the base body 2 are protrusions 8 which are designed to fit exactly into the cutouts 7 and which extend into the cutouts 7.
[0032] The substrate 2 and the functional element 3 have channels 4 which are connected to each other via openings 5 .
[0033] Figure 2 shows the assembly 1 shown in Figure 1 in an exploded view. It can be seen that the base body 2 is shaped in the region of the functional element 3 so as to precisely match the functional element 3, which allows a particularly space-saving integration of the functional element 3 in the base body 2. Figure 3 shows the assembly 1 in the region of the cutout 7 in a detailed cross section.
[0034] 4 shows the functional element 3 in a detailed view before the joining process. Three annular sealing contours 6 can be seen, which concentrically surround the opening 5. In cross section, the sealing contours 6 have a triangular shape. The sealing contours 6 melt during the blow-molding process of the base body 2 and the resulting shaping, so that the functional element 3 is joined to the base body 2 in a material-tight, medium-tight manner in the region of the sealing contours 6.
Claims
1. An assembly (1) for transporting media, comprising a base body (2) formed as a blow-molded member and at least one functional element (3) fixed to the base body (2), In an assembly (1), the base (2) and the functional element (3) each have at least one flow path (4), and the flow path (4) of the base (2) and the flow path (4) of the functional element (3) are connected to guide flow through openings (5) machined in the base (2) and the functional element (3), Assembly (1), characterized in that the base body (2) and the functional element (3) are connected to each other in a medium-tight manner by at least one material-connecting joint surrounding the opening (5).
2. 2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the base body (2) and the functional element (3) is formed during the shaping of the base body (2) by a blow molding process.
3. 3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base body (2) and the functional element (3) are held together in a form-locking manner.
4. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base body (2) and the functional element (3) are made of plastic.
5. 5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the functional element (3) forms at least one sealing contour (6) surrounding the opening.
6. 6. An assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the base body (2) and the functional element (3) are joined in a materially connected manner along the sealing contour (6).
7. Assembly according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the sealing contour (6) is annular in shape.
8. 8. An assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it is provided with a plurality of concentrically arranged sealing contours (6).
9. 9. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the materials of the substrate (2) and the functional element (3) have similar melting temperatures.
10. 10. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the substrate (2) and / or the functional element (3) are made from polyolefins or polyamides.