Connection element for connecting lines for conducting a fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection elements for refrigerant circuits in air-conditioning systems face challenges in achieving high rigidity and leak-tightness while maintaining low weight and production costs, particularly when using plastic materials, as conventional solutions often require metal components and axial seals that can fail under high thermal and pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A two-part connection element design featuring a metal attachment means and a polymer connection means, with an axial seal, allowing for a form-fitting and force-fitting connection that ensures fluid-tightness even at high pressures and temperatures, using materials like aluminum, steel, or high-performance plastics for the attachment means and polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyamide for the connection means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal components are used to ensure high rigidity and leak-tightness, then reliability and sealing performance are improved, but weight and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection element combines metal and plastic materials in a single integrated component. The metal portion (aluminum or steel) provides the necessary rigidity and structural strength, while the plastic portion (polyamide, polyethylene, or polypropylene) provides corrosion resistance and sealing surfaces. This composite structure achieves reliable leak-tight connections without requiring separate metal and plastic components, thereby reducing overall weight and manufacturing complexity.
2Weight of moving object
If plastic materials are used to reduce weight and improve corrosion resistance, then weight and ease of manufacture are improved, but rigidity and mechanical stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connection element uses a composite structure where the metal portion (aluminum or steel) provides the necessary rigidity and mechanical strength for structural support, while the plastic portion (polyamide, polyethylene, or polypropylene) provides corrosion resistance and contributes to overall strength. This division of functional requirements between materials allows the component to achieve both lightweight construction and sufficient rigidity without requiring the entire component to be made of heavy metal.
3Device complexity
If connection elements are designed as single integrated components, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different connection requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection element incorporates different material properties and geometric features in different regions of the single integrated component. The metal portion has properties optimized for structural strength and rigidity, while the plastic portion has properties optimized for corrosion resistance and sealing. This local differentiation of material and functional properties within a unified component structure provides adaptability to various connection requirements while maintaining relatively simple overall design.
Data Source
AI summary
A connection element for connecting lines for conducting a fluid, in particular of a fluid circuit of an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, is based on the object of specifying a connection element which has high rigidity and low weight and which allows a fluid-tight connection with low production costs. This object is achieved in that the connection element has an attachment means and a connection means, wherein the connection means is arranged in a recess in the attachment means.