CLOSURE PLUG FOR A COLLECTOR OF A REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT

Abstract

A closure plug for a collector of a refrigerant circuit with a substantially cylindrical base body with a circumferential wall, wherein a first circumferential groove, in which an O-ring is arranged, is provided in the circumferential wall, wherein an elastomer ring is injection molded onto the circumferential wall at an axial distance from the first circumferential groove.

Claims

1. A closure plug for a collector of a refrigerant circuit, the closure plug comprising: a substantially cylindrical base body with a circumferential wall; a first circumferential groove in which an O-ring is arranged, the first circumferential groove being provided in the circumferential wall; and an elastomer ring that is injection molded onto the circumferential wall at an axial distance from the first circumferential groove.

2. The closure plug according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential wall has a second circumferential groove, and wherein the molded-on elastomer ring also engages in or is injection molded into the second circumferential groove.

3. The closure plug according to claim 2, wherein the elastomer ring fills the second circumferential groove and protrudes from the second circumferential groove in the radial direction.

4. The closure plug according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer ring has a substantially angular, rectangular, round, or oval cross section.

5. The closure plug according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential wall forms a shoulder, and wherein the shoulder is situated adjacent to the second circumferential groove (7).

6. The closure plug according to claim 1, wherein a third circumferential groove is arranged axially between the first circumferential groove and the molded-on elastomer ring or between the first circumferential groove and second circumferential groove.

7. The closure plug according to claim 1, wherein the closure plug has a first axial end face and a second axial end face, and wherein the closure plug has at least one recess on the first axial end face and/or on the second axial end face.

8. The closure plug according to claim 7, wherein the first axial end face has a first recess or a substantially dome-shaped recess.

9. The closure plug according to claim 7, wherein the second axial end face has a tool receptacle, in particular a hexagon socket or an Allen socket.

10. The closure plug according to claim 9, wherein the second axial end face has further second recesses, which are arranged around tool receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a closure plug of the invention for a collector of a refrigerant circuit; and

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of a closure plug according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 show, in various views, an exemplary embodiment of a closure plug 1 of the invention for a collector of a refrigerant circuit. The collector can be formed as a cylindrical component with a circumferential wall and with a round opening into which closure plug 1 can be inserted. In this regard, the collector can, for example, be connected to or integrated into a condenser of the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit is part of a motor vehicle, for example.

[0023] Closure plug 1 for a collector of a refrigerant circuit has a substantially cylindrical base body 2 with a circumferential wall 3. Base body 2 is preferably made of plastic or metal, therefore, for example, of a polymer or a metal alloy, such as polyamide or an aluminum alloy.

[0024] A first circumferential groove 4, in which an O-ring 5 is arranged, is provided in circumferential wall 3. O-ring 5 preferably has a round cross section and is made of rubber or of an elastomeric material. O-ring 5 protrudes radially beyond and out of first circumferential groove 4.

[0025] Furthermore, an elastomer ring 6 is injection molded onto circumferential wall 3 at an axial distance ‘a’ from circumferential groove 4. This elastomer ring 6 is thus injection molded onto circumferential wall 3 during the manufacturing process and is thus attached to it.

[0026] For this purpose, circumferential wall 3 can optionally have a second circumferential groove 7. The molded-on elastomer ring 6, placed in this way, can also engage in second circumferential groove 7 or be injection molded into it. As can be seen from FIG. 2, elastomer ring 6 can fill second circumferential groove 7 and protrude from second circumferential groove 7 in the radial direction.

[0027] It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that elastomer ring 6 has a substantially angular or rectangular cross section in section. Alternatively, elastomer ring 6 can also have a different cross section in section, for example, partially angular and partially round or oval. The elastomer ring 6 ideally assumes the shape of circumferential groove 7.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment shown, circumferential wall 3 has a shoulder 8 which protrudes radially. Shoulder 8 is situated adjacent to second circumferential groove 7.

[0029] In an advantageous exemplary embodiment, a third circumferential groove 9 is arranged axially between first circumferential groove 4 and the molded-on elastomer ring 6 or between first circumferential groove 4 and second circumferential groove 7. This circumferential groove 9 can promote the elasticity of the closure plug.

[0030] According to the exemplary embodiment, closure plug 1 has a first axial end face 10 and a second axial end face 11. First axial end face 10 is advantageously end face 10 which faces inwardly in the collector and second end face 11 thereby faces out of the collector when closure plug 1 is placed in the collector.

[0031] Closure plug 1 preferably has at least one recess 12, 13, 14 on first axial end face 10 and/or on second axial end face 11.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows that first axial end face 10 has a first recess 12, in particular a substantially dome-shaped recess 12. Said recess 12 serves to improve the seal by means of O-ring 5, because the end region of closure plug 1 with recess 12 expands under internal pressure in the collector and holds O-ring 5 better on the collector.

[0033] Second axial end face 11 has an optional tool receptacle 15 as a recess 13, in particular a hexagon socket or an Allen socket.

[0034] Optionally, it can also be provided that second axial end face 11 has further second recesses 14, which are arranged in particular around tool receptacle 15.

[0035] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.