Heatable Media Line Assembly Without Adhesive Residue

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of heatable media lines with external heating elements is complicated and costly due to the need to remove adhesive residues from the tubular media line for laser welding connections, which requires a cleaning process and increases production time and expense.

Innovation Solution

A high-temperature-resistant film element is applied above or below the heating element to prevent adhesive fixing agents from reaching the tubular media line, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and allowing for simpler and faster assembly through laser welding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If adhesive fixing agents are used to secure heating elements on the tubular media line, then the heating element is firmly fixed in position, but adhesive residues are deposited on the tubular media line requiring complex cleaning processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stability of heating elementVSAvoidadhesive residues on tubular media line
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A transfer tape is introduced as an intermediary component between the heating element and the tubular media line. The transfer tape carries the adhesive fixing agent, ensuring that the adhesive is contained on the tape surface and does not transfer to the tubular media line during the heating element attachment process. This mediator solves the contradiction by maintaining firm fixation while preventing harmful residue deposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing system is segmented into distinct functional layers: the heating element, the transfer tape with adhesive, and the tubular media line. By separating the adhesive function into a dedicated transfer tape component, the system achieves secure fixation while isolating the adhesive from the tubular media line surface, eliminating the need for cleaning processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If adhesive fixing agents are applied to secure heating elements, then reliable fixation is achieved, but additional cleaning steps are required for laser welding preparation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliability of heating elementVSAvoidcleaning process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer tape serves as a mediator that provides reliable adhesive fixation for the heating element while simultaneously acting as a barrier that prevents adhesive from reaching the tubular media line. This eliminates the need for cleaning steps before laser welding, reducing device complexity while maintaining fixation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transfer tape is pre-applied to the heating element or positioned on the tubular media line before the adhesive is activated. This preliminary placement ensures that the adhesive remains confined to the transfer tape area, providing reliable fixation from the start while preventing any subsequent cleaning requirements for laser welding preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional adhesive application methods are used, then heating elements are securely attached, but production time and costs increase due to cleaning requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stability of heating elementVSAvoidproduction efficiency of heated media line
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer tape intermediary enables secure heating element attachment while eliminating the time-consuming cleaning step required in traditional methods. By containing the adhesive on the transfer tape surface, the process achieves stable attachment without reducing productivity, as no additional cleaning operations are needed before laser welding or assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive function is extracted from the direct contact interface between the heating element and tubular media line, and relocated to the transfer tape. This extraction eliminates the harmful side effect of adhesive residues on the tubular media line, allowing production to proceed directly to assembly without cleaning steps, thereby improving productivity while maintaining attachment stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution prevents adhesive residues from forming on the tubular media line, simplifying the assembly process, reducing costs, and ensuring a smoother surface for laser welding connections, thereby enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of heatable media line production.

Implementation Method 1

A high-temperature-resistant film element is applied above or below the heating element to prevent adhesive fixing agents from reaching the tubular media line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

electrical heating elements are provided in an arrangement that at least partially encloses the flow channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3234434B1Heatable media line and method for producing a heatable media line
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 VOSS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP3234434B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3234434B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3234434B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a heatable media line (1), comprising a tubular media line (2), at least one heating element (4, 5) arranged externally on the tubular media line (2), and at least one fixing device for fixing the position of the at least one heating element (4, 5) on the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2). According to the invention, at least one high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is provided for preventing fixing agent from adhering to the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2). The invention further relates to a method for producing a heatable media line (1), wherein at least one tubular media line (2) is provided externally, in particular wrapped, with at least one heating element (4, 5). According to the invention, at least one high-temperature-resistant film element (3) is applied to the outside (20) of the tubular media line (2) over and/or under the wrapping of the tubular media line with the at least one heating element (4, 5) in order to enable comparatively simple and fast assembly of the heatable media line without the necessity of removing residues of fixing agent from the outside of the media line before the assembly.