Sealing element for sealing fluid lines in a feed-through opening of a wall and sealing arrangement with the sealing element and method for mounting the sealing arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing arrangements for refrigerant and coolant lines in vehicle air conditioning systems require additional components and space, leading to increased production and mounting costs, while also failing to meet leak test and noise reduction requirements.
Innovation Solution
A sealing element with a circumferential wall and expansion function, allowing for the integration of refrigerant and coolant lines through a common feed-through opening, minimizing installation space and using an integrated bellows for easy mounting and leak testing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate sealing elements are used for refrigerant and coolant lines, then sealing reliability is improved, but device complexity and mounting effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing elements (first sealing element for refrigerant lines, second sealing element for coolant lines, and third sealing element for the common opening) into a single integrated sealing unit. This integration maintains the functional separation and sealing reliability for different fluid lines while reducing device complexity and mounting effort by installing all seals simultaneously through one component.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sealing element serves multiple functions: it seals the common feed-through opening (third sealing element), seals refrigerant connection lines (first sealing element with first insertion openings), and seals coolant connection lines (second sealing element with second insertion openings). This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate sealing elements.
2Volume of moving object
If a common feed-through opening is used for both refrigerant and coolant lines, then installation space is reduced, but sealing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common feed-through opening is segmented into distinct sealing zones within the integrated sealing element. The first insertion openings are dedicated to refrigerant lines with the first sealing element, while the second insertion openings are dedicated to coolant lines with the second sealing element. The third sealing element seals the common opening itself. This segmentation maintains functional separation and simplifies sealing within the constrained space of a common opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure employs a nested arrangement where the first and second sealing elements are integrated within the overall sealing unit that also includes the third sealing element. The first and second insertion openings are positioned within the common feed-through opening, allowing nested installation of multiple fluid lines through a single opening while maintaining organized sealing zones.
3Reliability
If additional components are added to meet leak test and noise reduction requirements, then sealing performance is improved, but production and mounting costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates all necessary sealing functions into a single manufactured component, eliminating the need for multiple separate parts that would require additional assembly steps. The integrated design allows for streamlined production processes and reduced mounting effort, as the entire sealing assembly can be installed in one operation, thereby reducing production and mounting costs while maintaining leak test performance.
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
The solution reduces mounting effort and production costs while ensuring minimal sound passage and effective sealing, meeting leak test requirements with a simplified design.
Implementation Method 1
The circumferential wall (7-1, 7-2) is formed with an expansion function for expanding the sealing element (2) in the axial direction (x)
Implementation Method 2
The sealing elements are configured to guarantee, apart from the air tightness, the water tightness as well
Implementation Method 3
the sealing elements serve to absorb tolerance of the components to be sealed, such as between the connection lines guided through the through-feed opening and the border of the feed-through opening
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing element for sealing fluid connection lines in a feed-through opening of a wall, in particular of a vehicle body. The sealing element has a first front wall with at least two first insertion openings for receiving first fluid connection lines, and at least two second insertion openings for receiving second fluid connection lines. The second insertion openings are formed in a second front wall. In doing so, the front walls are respectively arranged in a plane formed by y, z directions and connected to one another with a circumferential wall aligned in an axial direction x of the fluid connection lines. The circumferential wall is formed with an expansion function for variably spacing the front walls in the axial direction x.