METHOD FOR TREATING A PIPE, PIPE AND PIPE CONNECTION DEVICE

Abstract

A method for treating a pipe, in particular a motor vehicle pipe, wherein a flare is generated at least at one pipe end of the pipe. At least areas of the flare are provided with at least one layer, which changes the friction properties of the coated surface of the flare. The flare is coated by means of plasma coating.

Claims

1. A method for treating a pipe, wherein a flare is generated at least at one pipe end of the pipe, and wherein at least areas of the flare are provided with at least one layer, which changes the friction properties of the coated surface of the flare, and that the flare is coated by means of plasma coating.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least areas of the rear flare side that faces the pipe are provided with a first layer via plasma coating, and wherein the first layer has a friction value μ1.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least areas of the front flare side that faces away from the pipe and forms an end face of the pipe are provided with a second layer via plasma coating, and wherein this second layer has a friction value μ2.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a first layer with a friction value μ1 is applied at least in areas to the flare by means of plasma coating, that a second layer with a friction value μ2 is applied at least in areas to the flare by means of plasma coating, and that the second friction value μ2 is larger than the first friction value μ1.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flare is generated as an F-flare or as an E-flare.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pipe is used that consists of metal or essentially consists of metal.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one layer applied via plasma coating consists or essentially consists at least of one material from the “metal; metal salt; polymer, fluoropolymer” group.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein plasma coating is performed at normal pressure or at atmospheric pressure.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein plasma coating is performed as a physical vapor deposition and/or as a chemical vapor deposition.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plasma coating device s used for plasma coating, and that the material for coating is fed to the plasma coating device as a powder.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the material for coating in the plasma coating device is converted into the gas phase, and then deposited in a solid form onto at least areas of the flare of the pipe.

12. A pipe, treated according to claim 1, wherein a flare is present at least at one pipe end, wherein at least areas of the flare are provided with at least one layer applied by means of plasma coating.

13. A pipe connection device for connecting pipes, with at least one pipe treated according to claim 1, and with at least one screw element forming a screw fitting, wherein at least one of the surfaces of the screw element is in contact with a plasma-coated flare surface.

14. The pipe connection device according to claim 13, wherein the screw element is in contact with the plasma-coated rear flare side.

15. The pipe connection device according to claim 13, wherein at least areas of the screw element have a thread coating, and wherein the friction value μ3 of the thread coating is higher than the friction value μ1 of the layer applied via plasma coating on the rear flare side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The disclosure will be described in more detail below based upon a drawing that only illustrates an exemplary embodiment. Shown schematically on:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a pipe according to the disclosure with a flare coated according to the disclosure,

[0020] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a pipe connection device with the subject matter according to FIG. 1, and

[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a plasma coating device suitable for the method according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a pipe 1 according to the disclosure treated based on the method according to the disclosure. In a preferred embodiment and in the exemplary embodiment, the pipe 1 is a motor vehicle pipe. Present at one pipe end of this pipe 1 is a flare 2, which preferably and in the exemplary embodiment is designed as an F-flare. In an especially recommended configuration and in the exemplary embodiment, the rear flare side 3 of the flare 2 is provided with a first layer 4, which preferably has a small friction value μ1. The layer present on the rear flare side 3 was applied according to the disclosure via plasma coating, specifically and preferably with a plasma coating device 5 shown on FIG. 3.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the front flare side 6 that forms an end face of the pipe 1 is provided with a second layer 7, which has a friction value μ2. Advantageously this second layer 7 is also applied with the help of a plasma coating. It lies within the framework of the disclosure that the friction value μ2 of this second layer 7 is larger and preferably significantly larger than the friction value μ1 of the first layer on the rear flare side 3. In the exemplary embodiment, the friction value μ2 can be three times as large as the friction value μ1.—The pipe 1 advantageously consists of metal, and the flare 2 or F-flare likewise consists of metal, and is preferably integrally molded onto the pipe 1.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pipe connection device according to the disclosure with a connected pipe 1 according to FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the pipe 1 is preferably connected to a connection element or to a connection block 8, wherein this connection block 8 best has an integrated second pipe 9 in the exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the pipe penetrates an axial bore 10 of a screw fitting 11, wherein this screw fitting 11 has a male thread 12. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the screw fitting 11 is screwed into a corresponding complementary female thread with its male thread 12. In this screwed in state, the end face 13 of the screw fitting 11 acts on the rear flare side 3 of the flare 2. The screw fitting 11 presses the flare 2 or the front flare side 6 against a sealing surface 14 of the connection block 8.

[0025] The first layer 4 on the rear flare side 3 with the small friction value μ1 diminishes the friction between the end face 13 of the screw fitting 11 and the rear flare side 3, making it possible to effectively prevent a torsion of the pipe 1 in this way. The disclosure is based upon the knowledge that coating the rear flare side 3 with the first layer 4 by means of plasma coating here leads to especially advantageous results.—In one embodiment and in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the male thread 12 of the screw fitting 11 has a third layer 15, which has a friction value μ3. In the exemplary embodiment, this friction value μ3 of the third layer 15 is preferably larger, and especially preferably distinctly larger, than the friction value μ1 of the first layer 4 on the rear flare side 3. In the exemplary embodiment, the friction value μ3 of the layer 15 on the male thread 12 of the screw fitting 11 can be at least three times as large as the friction value μ1 of the first layer on the rear flare side 3. Furthermore, it also lies within the framework of the disclosure that the end face 13 of the screw fitting 11 is provided with a layer that has a small friction value. The same layer that was also applied to the rear flare side 3 can basically be involved here. It further lies within the framework of the disclosure that the coating on the end face 13 of the screw fitting 11 likewise is applied via plasma coating. The third layer 15 on the male thread 12 of the screw fitting 11 with the high friction value μ3 can basically also be applied via plasma coating. The disclosure is based upon the knowledge that the friction value of the layers can be set in an especially targeted and precise manner when applying the layers via plasma coating.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a plasma coating device 5 that is preferably used for implementing the method according to the disclosure. FIG. 3 shows the coating of the rear flare side 3 with the first layer 4 via plasma coating. In a known manner, the plasma coating device 5 has an electrode 16 as well as a gas supply line 17. Otherwise provided is a channel 18, through which the material for plasma coating is preferably introduced as a powder. Also shown is the plasma jet 19 for coating the rear flare side 3.