Connection arrangement device for fluid line

Abstract

A connection arrangement device for making a secure connection with at least one tube in a fluid line includes a connecting block receiving the at least one tube. The connecting block includes an insert having a passage hole and an adapter body formed with the insert as a single unit. The adapter body includes a passage bore to communicate with the at least one tube. The passage hole of the insert is arranged outward around the passage bore of the adapter body to structurally support the passage bore of the adapter body in a radial direction. Further, the adapter body includes a flange fixedly formed on a second surface of the adapter body as a single unit such that the flange of the adapter body is supported by the insert in an axial direction when the connecting block is securely assembled with a mating component of the fluid line.

Description

CONNECTION ARRANGEMENT DEVICE FOR FLUID LINEFIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connection arrangement in a fluid line assembly. In particular, the present disclosure relates to the connection arrangement having a connecting block for making a secure connection in a motor vehicle.BACKGROUND

[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

[0003] Connection arrangements are generally used in a fluid line assembly in a motor vehicle. In particular, the connection arrangements are used in air conditioning systems, cooling systems (e.g., coolant circuits), valve units, and pump units. The design has to be particularly compact and lightweight in a limited space, and also the pipe or tube connections in the air conditioning systems may be comprised of metallic, rubber, and plastic materials. In addition, the pipe or tubes are attached via adapters, which are provided with sealing elements. Accordingly, it is necessary to connect the adapters firmly and with durable sealing both to the pipe and detachably to a further pipe or to another component in the air conditioning system. However, in addition to high pressures and temperatures, vibrations occur and are transmitted within the components of the air conditioning system. The connection arrangements used in the air conditioning system, therefore, have to be constructed in such a way that a durable connection is provided in spite of vibrations and high pressures, and that fluid leakage cannot occur.

[0004] Generally, it is important that the fluid line system such as the air conditioning system in the motor vehicle is constructed to be lightweight and also durable in a limited space. However, we have discovered that the number of fastening means fixing together the components of the fluid line system are limited, and also it is difficult to configure the adapters for providing durable sealing of the connection arrangements for making a secure connection in the fluid line system. To effectively arrange the sealed and secured fluid line in the vehicle, a number of devices and methods for the connection arrangements are continuously developed and used in various fluid line systems.SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure relates to a connection arrangement device for making a secure connection with at least one tube in a fluid line. The connection arrangement device of the present disclosure makes it possible to produce a stable and durable connection with a light weight in a fluid line system such as an air conditioning system in a vehicle. Further, in the connection arrangement device of the present disclosure, a sealing on both ends of a connecting block is robust and able to withstand the high pressure. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the connection arrangement device includes a connecting block receiving at least one tube of the fluid line. The connecting block includes an insert having a passage hole, and an adapter body formed with the insert as a single unit and including a passage bore to communicate with the at least one tube. The passage hole of the insert is arranged outward around the passage bore to structurally support the passage bore of the adapter body. Further, the passage hole of the insert completely circumscribes the adapter tube portion of the adapter body.

[0006] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the adapter body includes an adapter tube portion formed with the passage bore having a fluid channel with a first outlet and a second outlet. The adapter tube portion projects outwardly from both a first surface and a second surface of the adapter body such that the first outlet is disposed beyond the first surface and the second outlet is disposed beyond the second surface.

[0007] The adapter body further includes a flange fixedly formed on a second surface of the adapter body as the single unit such that the flange is structurally supported by the insert in an axial direction when connecting block is securely assembled with a mating component in the fluid line.

[0008] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the insert includes a through hole arranged parallelly with the passage hole and connected to the passage hole by a connecting member in a lateral direction. The insert further includes at least one fin member radially protruding outward from the through hole and being spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the through hole. For example, the insert includes three fin members radially protruding outward from the through hole and being spaced apart from each of the fin members and the connecting member along a circumferential direction of the through hole. When the connecting block is securely attached to a mating component of the fluid line with a fastening element engaged with the through hole of the insert, the atleast one fin member is configured to structurally support a head of the fastening element in an axial direction to prevent plastic creep of the connecting block.

[0009] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the insert is formed of a metallic or polymer material and the adapter body is formed of a plastic material. The connecting block is made by an overmolding process or an injection molding process. For example, the adapter body is overmolded around the insert.

[0010] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the first outlet and the second outlet of the adapter body are formed in a straight-flow direction in the fluid line. One of the tubes is inserted into the first outlet of the connecting block and connected to the connecting block in a firmly bonded matter such as a welding. Further, a sealing ring is placed around the second outlet of the connecting block and configured for sealing in the fluid line when the second outlet is connected with one of the tubes or attached to a mating component of the fluid line. The sealing ring is placed on a surface of a flange such that the sealing ring is arranged between the connecting block and the mating component.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a connecting arrangement device for making a secure connection with at least one tube in a fluid line comprises a connecting block receiving the at least one tube, and including an insert having a through hole and an adapter body formed with the insert as a single unit. The adapter body includes a passage bore with a first outlet and a second outlet to communicate with the at least one tube. The insert includes at least one fin member radially protruding outward from the through hole and being configured to structurally support a fastening element when the connecting block is securely attached to a mating component of the fluid line in an assembled configuration.

[0012] Further details and benefits will become apparent from the following detailed description of the appended drawings. The drawings are provided herewith purely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a connection arrangement device including a connecting block and a mating component in accordance with an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a connecting block having an insert and an adapter body in accordance with an exemplary form of the present disclosure, FIG. 2B shows another perspective view of the connecting block of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C shows a cross sectional view of the connecting block, taken along line 2C-2C of FIG. 2A; andFIG. 3A shows a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of the adapter body of FIG. 2A.

[0016] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure or its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0018] A connection arrangement device of the present disclosure is illustrated in connection with a fluid line system such as an air conditioning system or a cooling system, etc. in a motor vehicle. As an example, the connection arrangement device of the present disclosure is used in an air conditioning system having a compressor, a condenser, heat exchangers, evaporators, and also midline connections. In particular, the connection arrangement device is provided for the air conditioning system having a low weight, and having a durable and tight connection of components of the air conditioning system in the motor vehicle. Further, in the connection arrangement device, a sealing on both ends of a connecting block is robust and able to withstand the highest pressures. However, the connection arrangement device of the present disclosure is not limited and is also used in other fluid line systems such as cooling systems (e.g., coolant circuits), valve units, pump units, etc.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a connection arrangement device 10 having a connecting block 100, which is securely attached to a part or component 12 of the fluid line system by a fastening element 22 such as a screw. Generally, the connection arrangement device 10 is fixed to a fluid line system such as an air conditioning system (not shown) by the fastening element22 for a fluid line such as a refrigerant in an automotive vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1 , the connecting block 100 includes an adapter tube portion 101 formed with a passage bore 102 with a fluid channel, and includes at least two outlets such as a first outlet 104 and a second outlet 106 formed at each end of the adapter tube portion 101 such that the first outlet 104 communicates with the second outlet 106 through the passage bore 102.

[0020] Further, each of the first and second outlets 104 and 106 projects outwardly from a first surface 109 and a second surface 111 of the connecting block 100 such that the first outlet 104 is disposed beyond the first surface 109 of the connecting block 100 and the second outlet 106 is disposed beyond the second surface 111 of the connecting block 100. In addition, the connecting block 100 includes a first flange 114 protruding from the first surface 109 and a second flange 115 protruding from the second surface 111 along an axial direction X. In general, the first and second flanges 114 and 115 are formed with a circular shape around each of the first and second outlets 104 and 106. But in another approach, the flanges could be formed with other geometrical shapes. Also, each of the first and second outlets 104 and 106 is generally connected with a tube or hose for making a secure connection in the fluid line system. Further, the first outlet 104 and the second outlet 106 are arranged in a straight flow direction, defined as an axial direction X. In another approach, the connecting block may have more than two outlets such that it is not limited to two outlets, and also the first and second outlets may be angled to create a desired flow direction such as 90 degrees, 45 degrees, etc.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1 , the first outlet 104 of the connecting block 100 is in a form of a hollow-cylindrical receptacle to receive a first tube 14 to be connected by one of various bonding methods, in particular by a welding such that the first tube 14 is inserted into the first outlet 104, and is securely connected to the connecting block 100. For example, the bonding connection is provided by welding methods such as a spin welding, an ultra-sonic welding, an induction welding, a solvent welding, or a laser welding. In particular, for the laser welding, the connecting block 100 may be made of a laser-transparent material and also the materials of the connecting block 100 and the tube 14 is selected with regard to weldability. Further, the bonded connection is provided by other bonding methods such as a gluing.

[0022] In addition, in FIG. 1 , the mating component 12 is formed with at least one channel 13 to receive the connecting block 100 such that the second outlet 106 of the connecting block 100 is placed inside the channel 13 of the mating component 12. In FIG. 1 , the mating component 12 includes a mating adapter 16 arranged inside the channel 13 to receive thesecond outlet 106 of the connecting block 100 such that the mating component 12 is securely connected with the second outlet 106 of the connecting block 100 and the second outlet 106 is communicated with an adapter bore 24 formed in the mating adapter 16. In another approach, the second outlet 106 may be directly connected to a component without the mating adapter 16 to communicate with one of the fluid line systems.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1 , the connection arrangement device 10 includes a seal washer 18 pushed onto the second outlet 106 of the connecting block 100 such that the seal washer 18 is placed around the second outlet 106. Accordingly, the seal washer 18 is configured to seal in the fluid line by locating between the connecting block 100 and the mating component 12 having the mating adapter 16. The seal washer 18 may be sized and configured such that an axial force on the washer creates a seal with radially extending surface along with the underside of the connecting block 100. As shown in FIG. 1 , further, the mating adapter 16 has an outlet 17 for receiving another tube or hose 20 (i.e., a second tube / hose) or for inserting the second tube or hose into the outlet 17 of the mating adapter 16 securely engaged with the mating component 12. Accordingly, the second outlet 106 of the connecting block 100 can securely communicate with the second tube 20 through the adapter bore 24 of the mating adapter 16.

[0024] As shown in the fluid line system of FIG. 1 , further, the first and second tubes 14 and 20 can be a single or multilayer tube, which is generally made of polyamide (PA 6, PA 12, PA 612, semi-aromatic polyamide (PA 9T), HDPE, PP, etc.), and which is weldable with the connecting block 100. Further, the seal washer 18 could be a sealing ring of an elastomer material, or could be an elastomer metal composite seal washer. In an assembled configuration of the connection arrangement device 10, the seal washer 18 receives the axially acting contact forces and also provides the sealing of the gap between the surface of the second flange 115 formed on the connecting block 100 and the mating adapter 16 securely engaged with the mating component 12. In another approach, the seal washer 18 comprises an annular elastomer portion which is attached to a support ring of the metallic material.

[0025] FIGS. 2A-2B show the connecting block 100 formed with two components, namely an insert 108 and an adapter body 110. An adapter tube portion 101 defines the passage bore 102 (with the first and second outlets 104 and 106) along an axial direction X and is integrally formed with the adapter body 110 and its insert 108 (or alternatively is separately formed and affixed to the adapter body 110 via the second flange 115, as discussed further below). FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the connecting block 100 andFIG. 2B is another perspective view of the connecting block 100. The insert 108 is formed of a metallic material such as an aluminum or a steel by one of the manufacturing processes such as an extrusion process, a cutting, machining, etc. , and the adapter body 110 is formed of polymer materials such as polyimide (PA), for example, polyamide 612 (PA 612). Also, to increase the strength and / or mechanical stability, the plastic material can be provided with fiber reinforcement such as glass fibers such that the adapter body 110 is formed with a pressure-resistant plastic material. Further, it is also possible to have a resin-based plastic material. The resin-based plastic materials result in hard, glass-like components, which are firmly three-dimensionally cross-linked via chemical bonds. These types of materials have a high thermomechanical strength in conjunction with a low density.

[0026] In addition, FIG. 2C shows a cross-section view of the connecting block 100. As shown in FIG. 2C, the connecting block 100 includes the passage bore 102 having the first outlet 104 to receive the first tube and the second outlet 106 to securely couple with the mating adapter 16 of the mating component 12 (see FIG. 1 ). The passage bore 102 is also formed of the plastic material, which is the same material as a part of the adapter body 110. The connecting block 100 has the first and second flanges 114 and 115, which are each formed by the plastic material as a part of the adapter body 110 configured to help with the injection molding process. In particular, the flanges 114 and 115 are each supported by the insert 108 such that it prevents plastic creep of the adapter body 110 when the connecting block 100 is securely coupled with the mating component 12 defined as an assembled configuration of the connecting block 100.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2C, further, the connecting block 100 includes the insert 108 formed with a through hole 112 for fastening the connecting block 100 to the mating component 12 by the fastening element 22. For example, the inner surface 113 of the through hole 112 is formed of the metallic material and is directly contacted and fastened with the fastening element 22 in the assembled configuration such that it provides the strength required to structurally support the connecting block 100 for securely attaching to the mating component 12 in the assembled configuration.

[0028] FIG. 3A shows the insert 108 formed with the through hole 112, which is configured to secure the connecting block 100 with the fastening element 22 and a passage hole 116, which is configured to structurally support the passage bore 102 of the adapter body 110. The passage hole 116 is circumferentially arranged outward the passage bore 102 of the adapter body 110 such that it prevents any plastic creep of the passage bore 102. The through hole 112 is engaged with the fastening element 22 to securely attach theconnecting block 100 to the mating component 12 (see FIG. 1 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the through hole 112 and the passage hole 116 are parallelly arranged to each other along the axial direction X and connected to each other by a connecting member 122 in a lateral direction Y.

[0029] Further, the insert 108 includes one or more fin members 118, which protrude radially outward from the through hole 112 and are spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the through hole 112. In FIG. 3, for example, three fin members protrude outward from the through hole 112, and three fin members 118 and the connecting member 122 are each spaced from each other by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction of the through hole 112. In accordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of the fin members 118 may be varied and also the fin members 118 are spaced from each other by different angles such as 30, 60, 120, and 150 digress, etc. In addition, the fin members 118 formed of the metallic material is configured to directly support the head of the fastening element 22 when the connecting block 100 is securely attached to the mating component 12 by the fastening element 22 such that the fin members 118 of the insert 108 provide the strength required to support the fastening element 22 and also prevent plastic creep of the connecting block 100 in the assembled configuration of the connecting block 100.

[0030] FIG. 3B shows the adapter body 110 including the passage bore 102 with the first and second outlets 104 and 106, and the second flange 115 formed with the second outlet 106 and also fixedly attached to the second surface 111 of the adapter body 110 (see FIG. 2B). Further, the adapter body 110 includes a plurality of ribs 120 along the outer radial surface of the adapter body 110 to reduce material costs and weight of the connecting block 100. Referring back to FIGS. 2A-2C, the connecting block 100 having the insert 108 and the adapter body 110 is made by an injection molding process or an overmolding process such that the insert 108 and the adapter body 110 are formed as a single unit. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 , when the fastening element 22 such as a screw is used for the connecting block 100 to securely attach to the mating component 12 of the fluid line, the insert 108 of the connecting block 100 provides the strength required to support the compressive forces along the axial direction X for sealing between the connecting block 100 and the mating component 12 in the assembled configuration of the connecting arrangement device 10.

[0031] In FIGS. 2A and 2B, further, the connecting block 100 having the insert 108 and the adapter body 110 can be made by the injection molding process. The injection molding process involves injecting one shot of molten plastic into a mold that has a pre-placed insert108, which is preformed by one of the manufacturing methods (e.g., an extrusion process). So, as shown an exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3A, the insert 108 is pre-formed by the extrusion process and placed inside a cavity defined between the blow molds. After that, the molten plastic is injected into the blow mold, which already has the insert to form the adapter body 110 as shown in FIG. 3B such that the connecting block 100 is formed as a single unit (see FIG. 2A).

[0032] Further, the connection block 100 having the insert 108 and the adapter body 110 can be also made by the overmolding process. The overmolding process involves two shots of molten plastic (i.e. , different polymer materials) where the first shot creates the insert 108 formed of a polymer material and the second shot creates the overmolded component (i.e., adapter body 110). The first shot is injected into a cavity between the blow molds to form the insert 108, and the second shot is injected to overmold the insert 108 in the blow molds such that the overmolded connecting block 100 is formed as a single unit and can be formed of two different plastic materials.

[0033] The connection arrangement device 10 according to the present disclosure, is suitable for various fluid line systems such as an air conditioning system or a cooling system in motor vehicles. For example, the connection arrangement device 10 is suitable for cooling systems of hybrid or electric vehicles having cooling / tempering electronic components such as batteries. Further, the fluid line systems used in the vehicles should be lightweight as much as possible, but the fluid line systems are also provided with stable connections among the components because of the vibrations and shocks while the vehicles are operated. Accordingly, the connection arrangement device 10 of the present disclosure makes it possible to produce a stable and durable connection with a light weight.

[0034] The foregoing description of various forms of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The forms discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various forms and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . A connection arrangement device for making a secure connection with at least one tube in a fluid line, the connection arrangement device comprising: a connecting block receiving the at least one tube, the connecting block comprising: an insert including a passage hole; and an adapter body formed with the insert as a single unit, the adapter body including a passage bore to communicate with the at least one tube, wherein the passage hole of the insert is arranged outward around the passage bore to structurally support the passage bore of the adapter body.

2. The connection arrangement device of claim 1 , wherein the adapter body includes an adapter tube portion formed with the passage bore having a fluid channel with a first outlet and a second outlet.

3. The connection arrangement device of claim 2, wherein the adapter tube portion projects outwardly from both a first surface and a second surface of the adapter body such that the first outlet is disposed beyond the first surface and the second outlet is disposed beyond the second surface.

4. The connection arrangement device of claim 2, wherein the passage hole of the insert completely circumscribes the adapter tube portion of the adapter body.

5. The connection arrangement device of claim 2, wherein the adapter body further includes a flange fixedly formed on a second surface of the adapter body as the single unit such that the flange is structurally supported by the insert in an axial direction when the connecting block is securely assembled with a mating component of the fluid line.

6. The connection arrangement device of claim 1 , wherein the insert further includes a through hole arranged parallelly with the passage hole and connected to the passage hole by a connecting member in a lateral direction.

7. The connection arrangement device of claim 6, wherein the insert includes at least one fin member radially protruding outward from the through hole and being spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the through hole.

8. The connection arrangement device of claim 6, wherein the insert includes three fin members radially protruding outward from the through hole and being spaced apart from each of the fin members and the connecting member along a circumferential direction of the through hole.

9. The connection arrangement device of claim 7, wherein, when the connecting block is securely attached to a mating component of the fluid line with a fastening element engaged with the through hole of the insert, the at least one fin member is configured to structurally support a head of the fastening element in an axial direction to prevent plastic creep of the connecting block.

10. The connection arrangement device of claim 1 , wherein the insert is formed of a metallic or polymer material, and the adapter body is formed of a plastic material.11 . The connection arrangement device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting block is made by an overmolding process or an injection molding process.

12. The connection arrangement device of claim 1 , wherein the adapter body is overmolded around the insert.

13. The connection arrangement device of claim 2, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet of the adapter tube portion are formed in a straight-flow direction in the fluid line.

14. The connection arrangement device of claim 2, wherein one of the tubes is inserted into the first outlet of the connecting block and connected to the connecting block in a firmly bonded matter such as a welding.

15. The connection arrangement device of claim 2, wherein a sealing ring is placed around the second outlet of the connecting block and configured for sealing in the fluid line when the second outlet is connected with one of the tubes or attached to a mating component of the fluid line.

16. The connecting arrangement device of claim 15, wherein the sealing ring is placed on a surface of a flange such that the sealing ring is arranged between the connecting block and the mating component.

17. A connection arrangement device for making a secure connection with at least one tube in a fluid line, the connection arrangement device comprising: a connecting block receiving the at least one tube, the connecting block comprising: an insert including a through hole; and an adapter body formed with the insert as a single unit, the adapter body including an adapter tube portion formed with a passage bore having a fluid channel with a first outlet and a second outlet to communicate with the at least one tube, wherein the insert includes at least one fin member radially protruding outward from the through hole and being configured to structurally support a fastening element when the connecting block is securely attached to a mating component of the fluid line in an assembled configuration.

18. The connection arrangement device of claim 17, wherein, in the assembled configuration, the at least one fin member is configured to structurally support a head of the fastening element in an axial direction such that it prevents plastic creep of the connecting block.

19. The connection arrangement device of claim 17, wherein the insert includes a passage hole arranged parallelly with the through hole and connected to the through hole by a connecting member in a lateral direction.

20. The connection arrangement device of claim 19, wherein the passage hole of the insert is arranged outward around the passage bore of the adapter body to structurally support the passage bore forming the fluid channel.

21. The connection arrangement device of claim 17, wherein the adapter body further includes a flange formed on a second surface of the adapter body as a single unit such that the flange is structurally supported by the insert in an axial direction in the assembled configuration.

22. The connection arrangement device of claim 17, wherein a sealing ring is placed around the second outlet of the adapter body and configured for sealing in the fluid line when the second outlet is connected with one of the tubes or securely attached to a mating component of the fluid line.

23. The connection arrangement device of claim 22, wherein the sealing ring is placed on a surface of a flange such that the sealing ring is located between the connecting block and the mating component of the fluid line.

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