Fluid housing for a fluid collection or fluid distribution system and fluid collection or fluid distribution system

Abstract

A fluid housing for a fluid collection system or a fluid distribution system is described, which comprises at least two fluid housing modules adjoining one another along an alignment direction. On each fluid housing module at least one fluid connection is provided, which is connected fluidically to a first central fluid duct via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct. In addition, on each of the fluid housing modules at least two contact surfaces are provided, which protrude with respect to an assigned fluid housing module basic body along the alignment direction. Adjacent fluid housing modules are positioned in relation to one another via the contact surfaces. Furthermore, a fluid collection system or a fluid distribution system with such a fluid housing is presented.

Claims

1. A fluid housing for a fluid collection system or a fluid distribution system, with at least two fluid housing modules adjoining one another along an alignment direction and a first central fluid duct, which extends along the alignment direction and is formed by first central fluid duct sections of the adjoining fluid housing modules, wherein on each fluid housing module at least one fluid connection is provided, which is connected fluidically to the first central fluid duct via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct, wherein on each of the fluid housing modules at least two contact surfaces are provided, which protrude with respect to an assigned fluid housing module basic body along the alignment direction and adjacent fluid housing modules are positioned in relation to one another via the contact surfaces.

2. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein adjacent fluid housing modules are positioned in relation to one another exclusively via the contact surfaces.

3. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein adjacent fluid housing modules are positioned in relation to one another in the alignment direction via the contact surfaces.

4. The fluid housing according to claim 1, including a second central fluid duct, which is separate from the first central fluid duct, extends along the alignment direction and is formed by second central fluid duct sections of the adjoining fluid housing modules, wherein on each of the fluid housing modules at least one fluid connection is provided, which is connected fluidically to the second central fluid duct via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct.

5. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein on each fluid housing module two fluid connections are provided, which are connected fluidically to the first central fluid duct via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct.

6. The fluid housing according to claim 4, wherein on each fluid housing module two fluid connections are provided, which are connected fluidically to the second central fluid duct via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct.

7. The fluid housing according to claim 4, wherein at least one of adjacent central fluid duct sections forming the first central fluid duct and of adjacent central fluid duct sections forming the second central fluid duct are each connected to one another fluidically via a sealing component.

8. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein the fluid housing modules are manufactured from plastics.

9. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein in each of the lateral fluid ducts a valve is arranged, by means of which the fluid connection assigned to the respective lateral fluid duct can selectively be connected fluidically to the assigned central fluid duct or separated fluidically therefrom.

10. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are spaced apart from one another and are arranged distributed along a connecting side of the assigned fluid housing module.

11. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein one of the contact surfaces is a section of the front end, oriented in the alignment direction, of a wall of one of the central fluid duct sections.

12. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact surfaces are end surfaces of wall sections which are each thickened compared with the other walls of the fluid housing module, the end surfaces being oriented in the alignment direction.

13. The fluid housing according to claim 12, wherein the thickened wall sections extend in the alignment direction over at least 25% of a length of the assigned fluid housing module in the alignment direction.

14. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the contact surfaces is positioned in an edge region of a connecting side of the assigned fluid housing module.

15. The fluid housing according to claim 4, wherein a surface area of the contact surfaces decreases with a distance from at least one of the first central fluid duct and the second central fluid duct.

16. The fluid housing according to claim 1, wherein adjacently-arranged fluid housing modules are connected to one another via a coupling device and the coupling device comprises at least two coupling units, wherein the coupling units are arranged in a direction transverse to the alignment direction on opposite sides of the central fluid duct.

17. The fluid housing according to claim 16, wherein the coupling units in pairs are respectively equidistant from a central axis of the central fluid duct.

18. The fluid housing according to claim 16, wherein one of the contact surfaces respectively runs annularly around one of the coupling units.

19. A fluid collection system or fluid distribution system with the fluid housing according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 a fluid collection or fluid distribution system according to the invention with a fluid housing according to the invention according to a first embodiment, wherein the fluid housing is represented in two pieces separate from one another,

(2) FIG. 2 a detail II of the fluid collection or fluid distribution system from FIG. 1,

(3) FIG. 3 a section III-Ill through the fluid collection or fluid distribution system from FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 4 a section IV-IV through the fluid collection or fluid distribution system from FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 5 a circuit diagram belonging to the fluid collection or fluid distribution system from FIG. 1 in which two fluid housing modules are to be seen,

(6) FIG. 6 a fluid collection or fluid distribution system according to the invention with a fluid housing according to the invention according to a second embodiment,

(7) FIG. 7 a section VII-VII through the fluid collection or fluid distribution system from FIG. 6 and

(8) FIG. 8 a circuit diagram belonging to the fluid collection or fluid distribution system from FIG. 6 in which only one fluid housing module is to be seen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIGS. 1 to 5 show a fluid collection system 10 with a fluid housing 12 according to a first embodiment. Here the fluid housing 12 is represented in two pieces 12a, 12b separate from one another. This serves purely for illustration. In the functional state, the two pieces 12a, 12b of the fluid housing 12 shown in FIG. 1 are of course coupled to one another.

(10) The fluid housing 12 comprises four fluid housing modules 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, which are arranged adjoining one another along an alignment direction 16. The fluid housing modules 14b and 14c are represented here in the decoupled state.

(11) The fluid housing modules 14a and 14b as well as 14c and 14d are connected to one another via a coupling device 18, which is to be seen only in the region between the fluid housing modules 14b and 14c. The coupling device 18 here comprises two coupling units 20a, 20b.

(12) Each of the coupling units 20a, 20b has on one of the fluid housing modules 14a-14d to be connected, in the present case on the fluid housing module 14c, a coupling extension 22, which is also called a tie rod. In the coupled state of the fluid housing modules 14a-14d this engages in a coupling opening 24 arranged on the respectively opposite fluid housing module 14a-14d, in the present case on the fluid housing module 14b. The coupling extension 22 is fixed therein by means of a fastening screw 26. The fastening screw 26 can have wedge- and/or cone-shaped sections, via which a contact pressure acting in the alignment direction 16 can be introduced into the coupling extension 22.

(13) The two coupling units 20a, 20b are arranged in a direction transverse to the alignment direction 16 on opposite sides of a first central fluid duct 28.

(14) In the embodiment represented, the coupling units 20a, 20b are moreover positioned equidistant from a central axis of the first central fluid duct 28, i.e. they are arranged symmetrically with regard to the central fluid duct 28.

(15) In the first embodiment example represented, there are provided on each of the fluid housing modules 14a to 14d nine contact surfaces 30a to 30i, which protrude with respect to an assigned fluid housing module basic body along the alignment direction 16.

(16) In other words, the contact surfaces 30a to 30i are raised with respect to an assigned fluid housing module basic body.

(17) Adjacent fluid housing modules 14a to 14d are positioned in relation to one another here exclusively via the contact surfaces 30a to 30i. They thus rest on one another exclusively via the contact surfaces 30a to 30i and optionally via a sealing component.

(18) The contact surfaces 30a to 30i are spaced apart from one another and arranged distributed over, i.e. along a connecting side 32 of the assigned fluid housing module 14a to 14d. The connecting side 32 of a fluid housing module 14a to 14d here is the side that lies opposite an adjacent fluid housing module 14a to 14d. A fluid housing module 14a to 14d, which is arranged between two fluid housing modules 14a to 14d, thus has two connecting sides 32.

(19) The contact surfaces 30a to 30d are positioned here in an edge region of the connecting side 32 of the assigned fluid housing module 14a to 14d. The contact surfaces 30a to 30d are here realized as end surfaces of wall sections 34a to 34d, which are each thickened compared with the other walls of the fluid housing module 14a to 14d.

(20) However, the thickened wall sections 34a to 34d are not continuous along the alignment direction 16 over an entire length of the assigned fluid housing module 14a to 14d, but extend only over at least 25% of this length.

(21) The contact surfaces 30e and 30f are arranged in the region of the first central fluid duct 28, but are spaced apart therefrom.

(22) The contact surfaces 30g and 30h run substantially annularly around one of the coupling units 20a, 20b. In the embodiment example represented, the two contact surfaces 30g, 30h run annularly around the coupling openings 24 and the coupling extensions 22.

(23) The contact surface 30i is formed by a section of a front end, oriented in the alignment direction 16, of a wall of the first central fluid duct 28. The contact surface 30i thus runs annularly around the central fluid duct 28.

(24) As can be recognized on the basis of an overall observation of all the contact surfaces 30a to 30i, a surface area of the contact surfaces 30a to 30i decreases substantially with a distance from the first central fluid duct 28.

(25) The first central fluid duct 28 is formed here by first central fluid duct sections of the adjoining fluid housing modules 14a to 14d.

(26) The central fluid duct 28 is thus created only by aligning the fluid housing modules 14a to 14d along the alignment direction 16. In this case adjacent first central fluid duct sections forming the first central fluid duct 28 are each connected fluidically to one another via a sealing component 36.

(27) On each of the fluid housing modules 14a to 14d at least one fluid connection 38 is provided, which is connected fluidically to the first central fluid duct 28 via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct 40 (see FIG. 5).

(28) In the first embodiment, each fluid housing module 14a to 14d comprises two fluid connections 38 and thus also two lateral fluid ducts 40 respectively connected to these. Both lateral fluid ducts 40 are connected fluidically to the first central fluid duct 28.

(29) Moreover, in each of the lateral fluid ducts 40 a valve 42 is arranged, by means of which the fluid connection 38 assigned to the respective lateral fluid duct 40 can selectively be connected fluidically to the central fluid duct 28 or separated fluidically therefrom.

(30) As can further be recognized from FIG. 5, in the embodiment represented, there is assigned to each of the lateral fluid ducts 40 a circulation duct 44 which opens into an assigned fluid circulation connection 46.

(31) The circulation ducts 44 are necessary in applications in which the fluid must not be held up. In such applications a flow path must be provided through which fluid which flows into the lateral fluid duct 40 via the fluid connection 38, can circulate, thus flow back, in the direction of its source. This must be guaranteed in particular if the valve 42 separates the lateral fluid duct 40 from the first central fluid duct 28.

(32) To provide this functionality, a corresponding valve 42 must also be used.

(33) The fluid housing module 14b, which is represented on the left in FIG. 5, has in this context a valve 42 with which no circulation through the circulation duct 44 can be made possible. The fluid flowing in via the lateral fluid duct 40 thus comes to a stop therein if the lateral fluid duct 40 is separated from the first central fluid duct 28 by the valve 42.

(34) The fluid housing module 14c, which is represented on the right in FIG. 5, is identical to the fluid housing module 14b, but a different valve 42 is fitted.

(35) In a position in which it separates the lateral fluid duct 40 from the first central fluid duct 28, this makes possible a fluidic connection of the lateral fluid duct 40 to the circulation duct 44. Thus a fluid flowing in via the lateral fluid duct 40, for example, does not come to a stop or is not held up. Even in a valve position in which the valve 42 connects the lateral fluid duct 40 fluidically to the central fluid duct 28, a fluidic connection is produced between the lateral fluid duct 40 and the circulation duct 44, with the result that even in this state the fluid present in the circulation duct 44 does not come to a stop or is not held up.

(36) In FIGS. 6 to 8, a second embodiment of the fluid collection system 10 is represented. Only the differences from the first embodiment are considered in the following.

(37) The fluid collection system 10 of the second embodiment differs significantly from the fluid collection system 10 of the first embodiment in that next to the first central fluid duct 28 a second central fluid duct 48 is provided. This is separate from the first central fluid duct 28 and extends likewise along the alignment direction 16.

(38) The first central fluid duct 28 and the second central fluid duct 48 thus run substantially parallel.

(39) The second central fluid duct 48 is also formed here by central fluid duct sections of the adjoining fluid housing modules 14a, 14b.

(40) Moreover, the fluid collection system 10 now has three coupling units 20a to 20c, instead of just two.

(41) The coupling units 20a to 20c are arranged as a whole on a line that runs transverse to the alignment direction 16.

(42) They are also positioned in pairs equidistant from a central axis of the first central fluid duct 28 or equidistant from a central axis of the second central fluid duct 48. The respective pairs are thus arranged symmetrically either to the first central fluid duct 28 or to the second central fluid duct 48.

(43) With regard to the fluid connections, in addition to the two fluid connections 38, which are connected fluidically to the first central fluid duct 28 via the respectively assigned lateral fluid duct 40, the fluid collection system 10 according to the second embodiment also has two fluid connections 50, which are connected fluidically to the second central fluid duct 48 via a respectively assigned lateral fluid duct 52 (see FIG. 8).

(44) The central fluid duct sections forming the second central fluid duct 48 are also connected to one another via a sealing component 36. In the second embodiment two sealing components 36 are thus provided.

(45) In the fluid housing modules 14a, 14b according to the second embodiment, the same valves 42 are used in the example represented as are also used in the fluid housing modules 14a to 14d from FIG. 5.

(46) However, no circulation ducts are now provided, but rather so-called overflow ducts 54.

(47) In a state in which the valves 42 separate the fluid connection 38 and/or the fluid connection 50 from the first central fluid duct 28 or from the second central fluid duct 48, the assigned lateral fluid ducts 40 and 52 can be connected fluidically to one another by means of the overflow ducts 54, with the result that the fluid present is not held up.

(48) Even in a position of the valves 42 in which the lateral fluid ducts 40 and/or the lateral fluid ducts 52 are connected to the respectively assigned central fluid duct 28, 48, the flow path via the overflow ducts 54 is open. Thus a hold-up of the fluid does not occur even in this state.

(49) Variants are of course also conceivable in which circulation ducts are provided alternatively or in addition to the overflow ducts 54 in the fluid housing according to the second embodiment according to the embodiment example shown in FIG. 5.

(50) With regard to the contact surfaces, 15 contact surfaces 30a to 30o are now provided.

(51) Here the contact surfaces 30a to 30f are each positioned in an edge region of the connecting side 32 of the assigned fluid housing module 14a, 14b. They are formed substantially exactly like the contact surfaces 30a to 30d of the first embodiment, thus realized as end surfaces of wall sections 34a to 34f, which are each thickened compared with the other walls of the fluid housing module 14a, 14b.

(52) The contact surfaces 30k, 30m and 30o are annular and run around one of the coupling units 20a to 20c.

(53) The contact surface 30l further runs around the first central fluid duct 28 and the contact surface 30n around the second central fluid duct 48.

(54) In the second embodiment also the contact surfaces 30a to 30o are formed such that a surface area of the contact surfaces 30a to 30o decreases substantially with a distance from the first central fluid duct 28 and/or from the second central fluid duct 48.

(55) The fluid housing 12, more precisely the fluid housing modules 14a to 14d, are manufactured from a plastic in both embodiments. In the present case the fluid housing modules 14a to 14d are plastic injection-moulded parts.

(56) The above embodiment examples were explained by means of a fluid collection system. However, this is not to be understood restrictively. The above explanations also apply in analogous form to fluid distribution systems.