Plastic AC Pipe-Metal Joint Using Vulcanized Elastomer Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning pipes, whether metal or plastic, face challenges in achieving a strong, tight, and vibration-resistant connection due to issues like corrosion, weight, cost, and reliability of adhesive or screw connections, especially in applications requiring high tightness and resistance to pressure and vibration.
Innovation Solution
A plastic air conditioning pipe with an integrated metal connection is developed, where the pipe is coated with an adhesion promoter, and the metal connection features a bore with an annular gap that is filled with an elastomer, which is vulcanized to both the pipe and the metal surface, enhancing the connection's strength and tightness through a combination of adhesion and form fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal pipes are used for air conditioning systems, then pressure resistance and vibration resistance are improved, but weight increases and corrosion resistance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure combining plastic pipe with metal flange components, achieving both light weight and high strength. The plastic pipe provides corrosion resistance and low weight, while the metal flange provides the necessary strength for pressure and vibration resistance at connection points.
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesive bonding is used to attach plastic pipes to metal connections, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but connection reliability deteriorates due to embrittlement with age
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the bonding mechanism from chemical adhesive bonding to mechanical interlocking through vulcanization. The elastomer is vulcanized to create strong chemical bonds with both the plastic pipe and metal flange, preventing embrittlement and maintaining reliability over time while keeping manufacturing relatively simple.
3Device complexity
If plastic flanges with screw connections are used, then device complexity is reduced, but connection reliability deteriorates due to creep at screw points
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite connection structure where the elastomer vulcanized to both plastic and metal surfaces provides superior reliability compared to simple screw connections, while the overall design remains relatively simple and integrated.
4Reliability
If laser welding is used to attach metal pipes to flanges, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the joining method from laser welding to vulcanization bonding, achieving comparable or superior reliability through chemical bonding of the elastomer to both surfaces, while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing equipment requirements.
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 configuration provides a strong, tight, and vibration-resistant connection that can withstand high pressures and vibrations, with the elastomer also serving as a seal, improving the connection's reliability and security.
Implementation Method 1
coating the plastic air conditioning pipe with an adhesion promoter at at least one end region and by having the metal connection have at least one bore corresponding to the air conditioning pipe, wherein the bore has a diameter dimensioned such that, when the end region of the air conditioning pipe is inserted into the bore, there is an annular gap of predetermined width between the air conditioning pipe and the bore, and the bore is coated with an adhesion promoter on its surface associated with the air conditioning pipe, and the annular gap is filled with an elastomer that is firmly vulcanized to both the air conditioning pipe and the inside of the bore of the metal connection by means of the respective adhesion promoter
Implementation Method 2
the annular gap is filled with an elastomer that is firmly vulcanized to both the air conditioning pipe and the inside of the bore of the metal connection
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an air conditioning pipe (1, 2) made of plastic with an integrated metal connection (3). The invention was based on the objective of creating an air conditioning pipe (1, 2) made of plastic with an integrated metal connection (3) of the type described above, which is particularly suitable for air conditioning lines with regard to the tightness of the pipe-flange connection.This task is solved by coating the air conditioning pipe (1, 2) made of plastic with an adhesion promoter at at least one end region (10) and the metal connection (3) having at least one bore (4) corresponding to the air conditioning pipe (1, 2), wherein the bore (4) has a diameter dimensioned such that when the end region (10) of the air conditioning pipe (1, 2) is inserted into the bore (4), an annular gap (6) of predetermined width exists between the air conditioning pipe (1, 2) and the bore (4), and the bore (4) is coated with an adhesion promoter on its surface associated with the air conditioning pipe (1, 2), and the annular gap (6) is filled with an elastomer (9) that is firmly vulcanized to both the air conditioning pipe (1, 2) and the inside of the bore (4) of the metal connection (3) by means of the respective adhesion promoter.