Conduit Connector

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a conduit connector for a fluid line, having a housing, which has at least one first connection geometry and one second connection geometry, each for connecting to a fluid line. In the housing, a fluid-conducting channel is formed between the first connection geometry and the second connection geometry. In order to avoid damage due to freezing of a liquid located in the channel or the connected fluid lines, the housing has a volume equalization device, which is connected to the channel.

Claims

1. A conduit connector for a fluid line comprising a housing, which has at least one first connection geometry and one second connection geometry, each for connecting to a fluid line, wherein in the housing a fluid-conducting channel is formed between the first connection geometry and the second connection geometry, wherein the housing has a volume equalization device, which is connected to the fluid-conducting channel.

2. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the volume equalization device is configured in a projection protruding outwardly from the housing.

3. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the volume equalization device has a chamber which is separated from the fluid-conducting channel by a flexible fluid-tight membrane.

4. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the flexible fluid-tight membrane is integrated in an insert which is inserted in a projection protruding outwardly from the housing.

5. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the chamber is configured inside the insert.

6. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein a compressible element is arranged in the projection.

7. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the compressible element has a closed-pore foamed material.

8. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the volume equalization device is configured as a cylindrical element which is arranged coaxially in the fluid-conducting channel.

9. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cylindrical element has a closed-pore foamed material.

10. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first connection geometry is configured as an insert connector and the second connection geometry is configured as a connector receiver, wherein the volume equalization device is arranged closer to the first connection geometry than to the second connection geometry.

11. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has a third connection geometry, wherein at a branching a further channel branches off to the third connection geometry from the fluid-conducting channel between the first connection geometry and the second connection geometry.

12. The conduit connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the volume equalization device is arranged in a region of the branching.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a conduit connector of a first embodiment,

[0021] FIGS. 2a-2c show different embodiments of an insert,

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through a conduit connector of a second embodiment and

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a conduit connector of a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] A conduit connector 1 which has a housing 2 with a first connection geometry 3 and a second connection geometry 4 is shown in FIG. 1. In the housing 2, a channel 5 is formed between the first connection geometry 3 and the second connection geometry 4. In this case, the first connection geometry 3 is configured as an insert connector and the second connection geometry 4 is configured as a connector receiver. A projection 6 which protrudes outwardly from the housing 2 is formed in the region of the first connection geometry 3. In this case, a through-passage is formed in the housing 2 between the channel 5 and an interior of the projection 6.

[0025] The projection 6 and/or the chamber 8 is closed outwardly by a cover 7 which, in particular, is welded and thus is pressure-tight. Thus a chamber 8 which is connected to the channel 5 at least in a pressure-transmitting manner via the through-passage is formed in the interior of the projection 6.

[0026] A penetration of liquid from the channel 5 into the chamber 8 is prevented in this case by a flexible fluid-tight membrane 9, which in this embodiment is integrated in an insert 10.

[0027] When the volume of the liquid in the channel 5 increases, for example during freezing, the membrane 9 bulges into the chamber 8 and thus reduces a pressure acting on the housing 2. The insert 10 which is inserted in the projection 6 thus forms with the chamber 8 a volume equalization device 11.

[0028] Different variants of an insert 10 are shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c. The variant in FIG. 2a corresponds in this case to the insert 10, as used in the embodiment according to FIG. 1. In this case, the insert 10 is cup-shaped, wherein the membrane 9 constitutes a base of the insert 10. Annular side walls 12 extend therefrom and when inserted in the projection 6 bear sealingly against inner faces of the projection 6. This results in a fluid-tight and pressure-tight connection, wherein the through-passage to the channel 5 is covered by the membrane 9 on the base of the insert 10.

[0029] FIG. 2b shows a variant of the insert 10 in which the chamber 8 is configured as a closed volume inside the insert 10. When pressure is applied to the membrane 9, said membrane is deformed into the chamber 8 and thus reduces a pressure inside the conduit connector 1.

[0030] A further variant of the insert 10 is shown in FIG. 2c in which the insert 10 has an H-shaped cross section. In contrast to the variant according to FIG. 2a, the membrane 9 is not arranged at the ends of the side walls 12 but approximately centrally.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a conduit connector 1 with an alternative embodiment of the volume equalization device 11. The volume equalization device 11 in this case comprises a cylindrical element 13 which is arranged coaxially in the channel 5. In this case, the housing 2 of the conduit connector 1 is designed such that an annular space which represents the chamber 8 is formed around the cylindrical element 13. The chamber 8 is thus separated by the cylindrical element 13 from the channel 5.

[0032] The cylindrical element 13 is produced, for example, from a closed-pore foamed material which does not absorb any water. When liquid freezes in the conduit connector 1 and/or in the channel 5, this liquid expands, whereby the cylindrical element 13 is deformed into the chamber 8. As a result, a pressure acting on the conduit connector 1 is reduced.

[0033] The remaining configuration of the conduit connector 1 corresponds to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, wherein a projection is not required, however. From the outside the volume equalization device 11 is not able to be identified, but rather the conduit connector 1 maintains its external shape.

[0034] In FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the conduit connector 1 the time which in addition to the first connection geometry 3 and the second connection geometry 4 has a third connection geometry 14. Such a T-shaped year conduit connector 1 serves, for example, for dividing a fluid line into two further fluid lines. To this end, a further channel, which is connected in a fluid-conducting manner via the branching to the channel 5 formed between the first connection geometry 3 and the second connection geometry 4, branches off at a branching in the interior of the housing 2.

[0035] In the region of the branching the conduit connector 1 has a projection 6 in which a volume equalization device 11 is arranged. The volume equalization device 11 corresponds in its configuration, in particular, to the volume equalization device 11 as shown in FIG. 1. In particular, an insert 10 as shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c is also received in the projection 6. The volume equalization device 11 is thus connected both to the channel between the first connection geometry 3 and the second connection geometry 4 and to the further channel between the branching and third connection geometry 14.

[0036] The invention is not limited to one of the above-described embodiments but may be modified in many different ways. Thus, in particular, the shape of the conduit connector may deviate from the shape shown. Moreover, additional elements may be provided, such as for example heating elements wound outside around the fluid line and/or the conduit connector. These elements serve, therefore, for rapid thawing of a liquid located in the conduit connector and/or the fluid lines, as is required for example in motor vehicles with urea injection.

[0037] All of the features and advantages disclosed in the claims, the description and the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be essential to the invention both per se and in very different combinations.

[0038] All the features and advantages, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, which follow from the claims, the description and the drawing can be fundamental to the invention both on their own and in different combinations. It is to be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed herein, but rather is defined solely by the claims below. Furthermore, the statements contained in the foregoing description relate to particular embodiments and are not to be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or on the definition of terms used in the claims, except where a term or phrase is expressly defined above. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed embodiment(s) will become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such other embodiments, changes, and modifications are intended to come within the scope of the appended claims.

[0039] As used in this specification and claims, the terms for example, for instance, such as, and like, and the verbs comprising, having, including, and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0040] 1 Conduit connector [0041] 2 Housing [0042] 3 First connection geometry [0043] 4 Second connection geometry [0044] 5 Channel [0045] 6 Projection [0046] 7 Cover [0047] 8 Chamber [0048] 9 Membrane [0049] 10 Insert [0050] 11 Volume equalization device [0051] 12 Side walls [0052] 13 Cylindrical element [0053] 14 Third connection geometry