Device for reducing the pressure resulting from a fluid-pipe portion being frozen

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for receiving an expanding volume of a fluid in a pipe, having at least one fluid-pipe portion (2), and having at least one receiving region (7), the fluid-pipe portion (2) and the receiving region being in fluid communication with one another, the receiving region (7) being formed by a spatially delimited chamber, and at least one spatial dimension of the receiving region (7) being variable by moving a boundary.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Device for reducing pressure due to freezing of a fluid line section

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The invention relates to a device for receiving an expanding volume of fluid in a pipe, comprising at least one fluid pipe section and at least one receiving area, wherein the fluid pipe section and the receiving area are in fluid communication with each other.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Various fluids are used in motor vehicles, including water and water-based liquids. Especially during the winter months, there is a risk of water pipes and containers freezing at sub-zero temperatures. Water and water-based fluids expand when they freeze. This is particularly relevant for motor vehicles, where water-carrying systems such as cooling circuits, windshield washer systems, and fuel lines can be affected. If water freezes in these lines, the expansion caused by freezing can lead to damage to the pipes and containers.

[0007] To prevent damage, there are basically two approaches. One involves effectively preventing freezing. This is achieved by surrounding pipes and containers with insulating material. This reduces heat transfer and makes it more difficult for the liquid to freeze. Additionally, rooms with water pipes could be heated to keep the temperature above freezing.

[0008] Additional insulation or heating devices increase the required installation space and represent additional cost factors. Furthermore, heating elements have an additional energy requirement, which increases the overall energy consumption of the vehicle. Therefore, these aids are not optimal.

[0009] Another approach is to design the pipes and vessels in such a way that they are more robust against the pressures generated by freezing, thus preventing damage to the pipes and vessels. This can be achieved, for example, by using thicker materials or by specifically incorporating buffer spaces that accommodate the expanding fluid.

[0010] The problem of damaged pipes due to freezing arises particularly in the area of ​​pipe connections and fittings. Since these areas are usually designed to be especially rigid in order to ensure a sufficient connection between the components, they are not very flexible and are prone to damage.

[0011] Description of the invention, problem, solution, advantages

[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to create a device which makes it possible to absorb or redirect the pressure caused by the freezing of the liquid in such a way as to avoid damage to the respective line.

[0013] The problem with regard to the device is solved by a device having the features of claim 1.

[0014] One embodiment of the invention relates to a device for receiving an expanding volume of fluid in a conduit, comprising at least one fluid conduit section and at least one receiving area, wherein the fluid conduit section and the receiving area are in fluid communication with each other, the receiving area being formed by a spatially limited chamber, and wherein at least one spatial dimension of the receiving area is variable by the displacement of an interface. A fluid conduit section is, in particular, a pipeline through which a fluid can flow. The conduit can be more or less flexible. The expansion capacity of the conduit itself determines how much pressure the conduit can withstand before it suffers structural damage.

[0015] A particularly advantageous design for the fluid line section is a connector designed to join different pipe sections together. The fluid line section can have one or more connectors, which can be male or female. A pipe section can be inserted into a female connector, while a male connector can be inserted into a suitable receptacle, for example, another female connector. The connectors advantageously have suitable locking mechanisms or rust-locking devices. Many different embodiments for locking pipe sections together are known in the prior art. The rust-locking mechanism can be removable or permanently non-removable.

[0016] A receiving area is connected to the fluid line section, which is in fluid communication with the fluid-carrying section of the fluid line. The receiving area is formed by a spatially limited volume, such as a housing. An advantageous design provides a tubular section branching off from the fluid line section. This branching can occur at a predetermined angle, with a 90-degree angle being particularly preferred, as this allows the expansion pressure generated by a freezing fluid to be advantageously dissipated into the receiving area.

[0017] To enable the receiving area to accommodate an expanding volume, it is advantageous for the internal volume of the receiving area to be variable. For example, a wall defining the receiving area can be movable, allowing the receiving area to be selectively enlarged. It is particularly advantageous if the receiving area is formed on one side by a movable piston, which is mounted within the receiving area so as to be translationally displaceable.

[0018] A movable piston, which is movably mounted within the internal volume of the receiving area, is particularly advantageous because, under normal operating conditions when the fluid is not frozen, it forms a limiting wall. However, since the piston is movably mounted, it can be displaced by the freezing fluid, thus enlarging the receiving area.

[0019] It is also advantageous if the piston is subjected to a force component that counteracts the force generated by the expansion of the fluid. A force component acting on the piston is beneficial because it ensures that, in normal operating conditions without freezing fluid, the piston remains in its initial position if the force component acting on it is greater than the pressure generated by the flowing fluid. Only when the pressure generated by the fluid balances or exceeds the force component is the piston displaced by the fluid. This ensures that the receiving area is not already filled with fluid in normal operating conditions and thus unable to fulfill its function as a receiving area.

[0020] To prevent the unwanted ingress of fluid into the receiving area past the piston, a seal can be provided between the piston and the wall along which the piston is guided. This could be, for example, an O-ring.

[0021] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the receiving area is formed by a tubular branch extending from the fluid line section, which is closed at the end facing away from the fluid line by an end cap. A tubular branch, preferably having the cross-sections of the actual fluid line, is particularly advantageous. It is especially preferred that the receiving area be very similar to, or even identical to, the connectors otherwise arranged on the fluid line section. In particular, the cross-sections, steps, and locking devices are very similar to, or identical to, the connectors, especially the male ones. This is advantageous because the receiving area can thus be formed at virtually any point along the fluid line section.If the fluid line section is designed as a T-piece, for example, with at least two of the line sections being designed as male connectors, the receiving area can be designed on one of the two male connectors.

[0022] For this purpose, the piston and the element generating the counterforce are inserted into the male connector and covered with an end cap. The end cap preferably engages in the locking mechanism of the male connector.

[0023] The identical connectors allow for flexible arrangement of the recording area and enable the use of the proven and partially standardized design of the connectors.

[0024] The end cap, for example, has circumferential recesses into which the locking devices formed on the male connector engage.

[0025] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the receiving area can also be formed by a pipe section inserted into a female connector, which in turn has locking devices similar to a male connector to which the end cap can be attached. The receiving area can thus be modular and either permanently connected to the fluid pipe section, forming a male connector, or designed as a pluggable pipe section that can be inserted into a female connector. In this case, the pipe section has locking elements suitable for forming a durable connection with the female connector.

[0026] It is also preferable if the end cap is connected to the wall forming the receiving area by means of a snap-fit ​​device. This is advantageous for ensuring easy assembly. Furthermore, if the receiving area is very similar to or identical to a male connector on its outer surface, this is advantageous because the end cap can then be used universally and fitted to different male connectors.

[0027] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the locking device has a predetermined breaking point that depends on the force acting on the end cap. A pre-defined breaking point allows for a second locking mechanism. The first locking mechanism is the receiving area itself, which has a defined volume that can be filled by the freezing fluid. If this volume is sufficient to accommodate the expansion of the fluid, no second locking mechanism is required.

[0028] However, if the expansion of the fluid is greater than the volume provided by the receiving area, there is still a risk that the fluid line will be damaged uncontrollably at an unpredictable point.

[0029] If the end cap is attached in such a way that the connection breaks when a certain pressure threshold is exceeded and the end cap falls off, the freezing fluid can push out the piston and the component generating the spring force, and escape through the open receiving area. Thus, the failure of the fluid line is deliberately shifted to the location of the device according to the invention. This has the advantage that this location can be positioned in a maintenance-friendly location within the vehicle. In particular, it prevents the fluid line from bursting in a hard-to-reach area where repair would be especially difficult. The end cap can advantageously be colored in a special signal color so that the detached end cap can be easily identified, allowing for a quick conclusion that the fluid line has frozen.Furthermore, the end cap could, for example, be equipped with a Near-Field Communication Device, so that when the end cap falls off, a signal can be sent to the vehicle and, for example, a service indicator is triggered and / or the process is stored in the vehicle's fault memory.

[0030] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the fluid line section has male and / or female connectors via which it can be connected to upstream and / or downstream fluid line elements. The connectors are standardized interfaces for connecting fluid lines in motor vehicles. The male and / or female connectors make it particularly easy to connect other line sections and components. In an advantageous embodiment, the receiving area is designed as a separate component and, in addition to a tubular housing, includes the piston, the spring element, and the end cap. The tubular housing is then designed either to be inserted into a female connector or to be attached to a male connector.The connectors regularly feature continuous steps or locking lugs and corresponding recesses that can be inserted into one another to create a secure, durable connection.

[0031] It is also advantageous if the locking device has the same geometry and dimensions as the male and / or female connectors. This allows for a simple and versatile connection.

[0032] Furthermore, it is advantageous to have a spring element positioned between the end cap and the piston, which transmits a force component from the end cap to the piston. This spring element can be a conventional metal spring. Alternatively, spring elements made of plastic can also be used. The force applied to the piston can be adjusted as needed by modifying the design of the spring element.

[0033] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the force component generated by the spring element is so high that the piston can only be moved by a pressure that exceeds the pressure expected during normal operation by a specified factor. This is beneficial so that the receiving area does not fill with fluid during regular operation.

[0034] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims and in the following description of the figures.

[0035] Brief description of the drawings

[0036] The invention will now be explained in detail using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings. The drawings show:

[0037] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a fluid line section with a device for reducing the pressure within the fluid line section due to freezing of the fluid, and

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through an embodiment of the invention.

[0039] Preferred embodiment of the invention

[0040] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a device 1 according to the invention. The device 1 has a fluid line section 2 which forms a female connector 3 at one end and a male connector 4 at the opposite end. The female connector 3 serves to receive a correspondingly shaped counterpart, such as a male connector, and to securely fix it by means of locking elements 5. The circumferential shoulder 6 on the male connector 4 serves as a counterpart, which is slid past the locking elements 5, which are designed as projections on the inner surface of the female connector 3, and is thus fixed.

[0041] The fluid line section 2 has a receiving area 7 which, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, projects from the fluid line section 2 at a 90-degree angle. The receiving area is formed by a tubular nozzle 8, which is closed at one end by a cap 9.

[0042] The receiving area 7 serves as an expansion space into which the fluid present in fluid line section 2 can expand when freezing.

[0043] Figure 2 shows a sectional view through the device 1 of Figure 1. The section shows how the receiving area 7 branches off upwards from the fluid line section 2. A piston 10 is arranged in the receiving area and is supported against the end cap 9 by a spring element 11.

[0044] The piston 10 rests against the inner surfaces of the pipe section 8, and a seal 12 is arranged between them as a sealing element. The piston 10 is movable translationally from the fluid line section 2 towards the end cap 9. The spring element 11 is formed by a helical spring, which is supported between the end cap 9 and the piston 10. The spring element 11 is dimensioned such that the force generated by the spring element 11 is sufficient to prevent the piston 10 from being moved by the pressure of the fluid flowing in the fluid line section 2 during normal operation. Only when the fluid freezes and the pressure on the piston 10 increases is the spring element 11 compressed by the piston 10 being pushed towards the end cap 9.

[0045] The end cap 9 is connected in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 by two locking lugs.

[0046] 12, which engage in corresponding recesses in the end cap 9, are fixed. In an alternative embodiment, which is also within the scope of the invention, the end cap can also be fixed by a snap-fit ​​connection based on the principle of a male and female connector. Thus, the tubular stub is designed as a male connector and the end cap as a female connector, so that the end cap can be attached to the tubular stub.

[0047] The embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 2 are not particularly limiting and serve to illustrate the inventive concept.

[0048] Reference symbol list

[0049] 1. Device

[0050] 2. Fluid line section 3. Female connector

[0051] 4. male connector

[0052] 5. Latching element

[0053] 6. To maintain current sales

[0054] 7. Recording area 8. Pipe section

[0055] 9. End cap

[0056] 10. Piston

[0057] 11. Spring element

[0058] 12. Resting lugs

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device (1 ) for receiving an expanding volume of a fluid in a conduit, comprising at least one fluid conduit section (2) and at least one receiving area (7), wherein the fluid conduit section (2) and the receiving area are in fluid communication with each other, characterized in that the receiving area (7) is formed by a spatially limited chamber, wherein at least one spatial dimension of the receiving area (7) is variable by the displacement of an interface.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving area (7) is formed on one side by a movable piston (10), wherein this piston (10) is mounted in the receiving area (7) so as to be translationally displaceable.

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piston (10) is subjected to a force component which counteracts the force generated by the expansion of the fluid.

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving area (7) is formed by a tubular branch (8) from the fluid line section (2), which is closed at the end area facing away from the fluid line by an end cap (9).

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end cap (9) is connected to the wall forming the receiving area (7) by means of a locking device (12).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (12) has a predetermined breaking point which depends on the force acting on the end cap (9).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid line section (2) has male and / or female connectors (3, 4) via which the fluid line section (2) can be connected to upstream and / or downstream fluid line elements.

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device has the same geometry and the same dimensions as the male and / or the female connectors (3, 4).

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring element (11) is arranged between the end cap (9) and the piston (10), which transmits a force component from the end cap (9) to the piston (10).

10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the force component generated by the spring element (11) is so high that the piston (10) can only be moved by a pressure which exceeds the pressure to be expected in normal operation by a specified factor.

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