Connection unit

Abstract

A connection unit having a connector and at least one fluid line that is connected to the connector, wherein the connector has at least two connection ends and a connector section that connects the connection ends to one another. A fluid line end of a fluid line engages with at least one connection end of the connector. At least one compensation element is connected to the fluid line in the area of the fluid line end of the fluid line, the compensation element being supportable on at least one support stop via at least one spring element. Due to a pressure increase in the connector section, the compensation element is movable against the restoring force of the spring element in the direction of the support stop, with an increase in the internal volume of the connector section.

Claims

1. A connection unit having a connector and at least one fluid line that is connected to the connector for conducting an aqueous urea solution, wherein the connector has at least two connection ends and a connector section that connects the connection ends to one another, wherein at least one fluid line end of a fluid line engages with a connection end of the connector, wherein in an area of the fluid line end of the fluid line at least one compensation element is connected to the fluid line or to the fluid line end, the compensation element being supportable on at least one support stop via at least one spring element, wherein due to a pressure increase in the connector section, the compensation element is movable against a restoring force of the spring element in a direction of the support stop, with an increase in the internal volume of the connector section, wherein a connector housing is provided that accommodates the connector, and wherein the at least one fluid line end that engages with a connection end of the connector and the compensation element that is connected in the area of a fluid line end, together with the spring element associated with the compensation element, are accommodated in the connector housing, and wherein the compensation element is situated outside the connector and inside the connector housing.

2. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector has three connection ends, wherein the connector section connects the three connection ends to one another.

3. The connection unit according to claim 2, wherein two of the three connection ends in each case enclose an angle of approximately 120.

4. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid line end of the fluid line engages with each connection end, of the connector, and wherein the at least one compensation element is connected to the fluid line or to the fluid line end in the area of each fluid line end, and wherein each compensation element is supportable or on at least one support stop via at least one spring element in each case.

5. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support stop for at least one compensation element is situated in the connector housing and is an integral part of the connector housing.

6. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support stop is designed as a housing wall of the connector housing, and is situated transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the associated fluid line or of the associated fluid line end.

7. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the compensation element is fixedly connected to the associated fluid line end or to the associated fluid line.

8. The connection unit according to claim 7, wherein the compensation element is connected to the associated fluid line end or to the associated fluid line in a form-fit or force-fit manner.

9. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the compensation element protrudes from the outer surface of the associated fluid line end or of the associated fluid line.

10. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the compensation element has a compensation flange that is situated transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the associated fluid line end or of the associated fluid line, the compensation flange being supported on the support stop via the at least one spring element.

11. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the fluid line is designed as a heatable fluid line.

12. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector is heated with at least one heating element that protrudes into one of a fluid channel of the connector and the interior of a fluid line end.

13. The connection unit according to claim 12, wherein the compensation element encloses a heating element that is provided for heating the connector.

14. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the compensation element is configured to move against a restoring force of the spring element due to a pressure increase by formation of ice pressure in the connection section.

15. The connection unit according to claim 1, wherein the connector is designed as a heatable connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, which illustrate a single exemplary embodiment. The schematic illustrations show the following:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a connection unit according to the invention in cross section;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail A from FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the operating principle of the connection unit according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The figures show one preferred embodiment of a connection unit according to the present disclosure, having a connector 1 and three fluid lines 2 that are connected to the connector. In the depicted embodiment, the connector 1 and the fluid lines 2 connected thereto may be an integral part of an SCR system of a motor vehicle, and an aqueous urea solution flows through same. In principle, however, the connection unit according to the invention may also be used for other applications, in particular for fluid media in motor vehicles.

(6) In the depicted embodiment, the connector 1 has three connection ends 3 and a connector section 4 that connects the three connection ends 3 to one another. The fluid line ends 5 of the three fluid lines 2 each engage with a connection end 3 of the connector, and in the depicted embodiment protrude up to a middle section 16 of the connector 1. In the depicted embodiment according to FIG. 1, the connector has a Y-shaped design, and two of the three connection ends 3 in each case enclose an angle of 120. In the depicted embodiment according to FIG. 1, the design of the connector 1 and of the fluid lines 2 connected thereto is star-shaped, in a manner of speaking. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the operating principle of the connection unit according to the invention. The connector 1 or the connection unit is shown here with a simplified T shape. In principle, the connector 1 may also have such a T-shaped design.

(7) Preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, a compensation element 6 is connected in each case to the fluid line 2 or to the fluid line end 5 in the area of each fluid line end 5 of the fluid lines 2. Advantageously, and in the depicted embodiment, the compensation elements 6 are designed in the form of compensation flanges that are rotationally symmetrical with respect to the associated fluid line 2 or the associated fluid line end 5. As proven suitable in practice, and in the depicted embodiment, the compensation elements 6 or compensation flanges are in each case situated in front of an end face of a connection end 3 of the connector 1. Advisably, and in the depicted embodiment, the compensation elements 6 or compensation flanges are fixedly connected to the respective fluid line 2, preferably connected to the fluid line 2 in an integrally joined and/or in a force-fit manner, and in particular welded to the fluid line 2 or to the fluid line end 5.

(8) According to the present disclosure, a compensation element 6 is supportable on a support stop 8 via a spring element 7. The spring element 7 is preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, designed as a coil spring. Due to a pressure increase or volume increase in the connector section 4, in particular due to the formation of ice pressure in the connector section 4, a compensation element 6 is movable against the restoring force of the spring element 7 or the coil spring in the direction of the support stop 8, with an increase in the internal volume 15 of the connector section 4. This is indicated in the figures by a double arrow.

(9) Advantageously, and in the depicted embodiment, a connector housing 9 accommodating the connector 1 is provided. The connector housing 9, the same as the connector 1 in the depicted embodiment according to FIG. 1, has a Y-shaped design, and a housing connection section 17 is advantageously, and in the depicted embodiment, associated with each connection end 3 of the connector 1. As proven suitable in practice, and in the depicted embodiment, the fluid lines 2 each have a line sheathing 18, which preferably and in the depicted embodiment is designed in each case as a corrugated tube. The fluid lines 2 with their line sheathing 18 preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, each engage with a housing connection section 17 of the connector housing 9. The line sheathings 18 or the corrugated tubes of the fluid line are preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, fixed to the ends of the housing connection sections 17 of the connector housing 9 in a form-fit manner.

(10) Advantageously, and in the depicted embodiment, the fluid line ends 5 that engage with the connection ends 3 of the connector 1, as well as the compensation elements 6 that are connected in each case in the area of the fluid line ends 5 together with the associated spring elements 7 of the compensation elements, are accommodated in the connector housing 9. Preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, in each case a support stop 8 for a compensation element 6 is likewise situated in the connector housing 9, and advisably, and in the depicted embodiment, the support stops 8 are an integral part of the connector housing 9. Preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, the support stops 8 are designed as housing walls 10 of the connector housing 9 that are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the associated fluid line 2 or of the associated fluid line end 5. Advantageously, and in the depicted embodiment, the housing walls 10 are one-piece integral parts of the connector housing 9. Preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, the connector housing 9 is made up of two half-shells, of which only one half-shell 9.1 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, each half-shell 9.1 has housing wall parts 20 which complete the housing walls 10 that form the support stops 8 when the half-shells 9.1 are combined.

(11) It is apparent in the figures that a compensation element 6 protrudes from the outer surface 11 of the associated fluid line end 5 or of the associated fluid line 2, and in particular it is preferred, and in the depicted embodiment, that the compensation element protrudes perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal direction of the associated fluid line end 5 or of the associated fluid line 2. As stated above, the compensation element 6 is preferably designed as a compensation flange that encloses the fluid line 2 or the fluid line end 5. The spring element 7 is situated in each case between the compensation element 6 or the compensation flange and the support stop 8. Advantageously, and in the depicted embodiment, the compensation element 6 is placed outside the connector 1 and inside the connector housing 9.

(12) In the event of a volume increase or pressure increase in the connector section 4 of the connector 1, the fluid line end 5 in question is pressed out, in a manner of speaking, from the connector 1, and the compensation element 6 connected thereto is moved or pressed against the restoring force of the spring element 7 in the direction of the support stop 8. This is illustrated in a very schematic manner in FIG. 3. It is also apparent here that, preferably and in the depicted embodiment, O-rings 21 provide a seal between the movable fluid line ends 5 and the connection ends 3 of the connector 1.

(13) According to one recommended embodiment and in the depicted embodiment, the fluid lines 2 are designed as heatable fluid lines 2. For this purpose, at least one heating component, in particular a heating wire (not illustrated in the figures), is preferably wound around the particular fluid line 2. Preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, the connector 1 is also designed as a heatable connector 1. For this purpose, a heating element 14 which protrudes from a fluid line 2 and into a fluid channel 12 of the connector 1 is advantageously provided in each case. Advantageously, and in the depicted embodiment, this heating element 14 is also situated in the interior 13 of the fluid line 2. Preferably, and in the depicted embodiment, the heating element 14 is designed as a coil spring. This heating element 14 or the coil spring is heated, in a manner of speaking, due to the heating of the fluid line 2, and the heat is conducted into the fluid channel 12 of the connector 1 via the heating element 14 or via the coil spring, so that here as well, the fluid channel 12 or the interior of the connector 1 is heated. Also discernible in the depicted embodiment are crimp connections 19 via which heating components for heating the fluid lines 2 are connected to one another. It is apparent in particular in FIG. 2 that according to one preferred embodiment and in the depicted embodiment, a compensation element 6 or a compensation flange encloses the heating element 14 that is provided in each case for heating the connector 1.