Housing component with a hydraulic line and the manufacture thereof

Abstract

A housing component includes a line segment of a hydraulic line. The line segment has at least one channel that opens into a widening. The widening extends to outside of the housing component. A spatially limited sealing surface enclosing the channel is provided in the widening. A seal comprising an adhesive is joined to the sealing surface at least adhesively. A method for manufacturing such a housing component includes layered manufacture of the sealing surfaces.

Claims

1. A housing component comprising: a solid body defining a line segment of a hydraulic line, the line segment having at least one channel that opens into a widening defined by the solid body, the widening opening to an outside of the solid body, wherein the solid body includes a spatially limited sealing surface that partially defines the widening and surrounds the channel; and a seal comprising an adhesive, the seal being joined to the sealing surface by at least the adhesive, wherein the seal comprises polyacrylate, and wherein the sealing surface comprises a structured surface that includes at least one score, furrow, groove, or dent that is larger than an average roughness of the sealing surface and is less than 10% of a depth of the widening.

2. The housing component according to claim 1, wherein the seal is an annular seal that surrounds the channel.

3. The housing component according to claim 1, wherein the widening has a depth defined extending into the block from the outside of the solid body of less than 2.0 mm.

4. The housing component according to claim 3, wherein the sealing surface of the solid body is annularly shaped, and the solid body further includes a circumferential surface extending from the sealing surface to the outside of the solid body, the circumferential surface defining the depth.

5. The housing component according to claim 1, wherein a roughness R.sub.z of the sealing surface is greater than 10 m.

6. The housing component according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive of the seal is hardened with UV light.

7. The housing component according to claim 1, wherein: the solid body is formed of a plurality of layers, at least in a region of the sealing surface, that are fused together.

8. A method for manufacturing a housing component, comprising: providing a housing component comprising a solid body that defines a line segment of a hydraulic line, the line segment having at least one channel that opens into a widening defined by the solid body, the widening opening to an outside of the solid body, wherein the solid body includes a spatially limited sealing surface that partially defines the widening and surrounds the channel; applying an adhesive to the sealing surface; and forming a seal from the adhesive, wherein the seal is joined to the sealing surface at least adhesively by the adhesive, wherein the seal comprises polyacrylate, and wherein the sealing surface comprises a structured surface that includes at least one score, furrow, groove, or dent that is larger than an average roughness of the sealing surface and is less than 10% of a depth of the widening.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the forming of the seal from the adhesive comprises hardening the adhesive with UV light.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein: providing the housing component further comprises manufacturing the solid body by building up the solid body in layers, at least in a region of the sealing surface, building up the solid body in layers including: a) providing a layer of loose material on a base; b) joining the layer to the solid body using a high-energy beam that follows a predetermined path along the layer; and c) repeating a) and b).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1: shows a magnetically operated sliding directional control valve of a hydraulic component,

(3) FIG. 2: shows the channel, the widening, the outer surface and the sealing surface according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view,

(4) FIGS. 3a-3c: show a representation of a method for assembling an arrangement comprising a housing component, an annular seal and a connection component,

(5) FIG. 4a: shows a top view of the housing component according to FIG. 3a without an annular seal

(6) FIG. 4b: shows a top view of the housing component according to FIG. 3b with an inserted annular seal,

(7) FIG. 5: shows a top view of a production line and a dispenser for a sealing adhesive,

(8) FIG. 6: shows a cross-section of a further implementation of the seal,

(9) FIG. 7: shows a representation of a method for manufacturing a housing component and

(10) FIG. 8: shows a housing component with a layered structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1 shows by way of example a number of further components that can comprise a line segment of a hydraulic line and a magnetically operated sliding directional control valve. This is implemented with a housing component 6 that is formed with a solid body 5 manufactured according to the method proposed here. A (possibly branched) hydraulic line 2 is formed in the housing component 6. The hydraulic line 2 illustrated here exits the solid body 5 at two points of the housing component 6. In each case a line segment 1 is formed there that has a channel 3 and a spatially limited sealing surface 4 enclosing the channel 3. The channel 3 opens into a widening 14 (cf. FIG. 2).

(12) For illustration purposes, the operation of said magnetically operated sliding directional control valve will be briefly illustrated. Two magnets 7 are provided to the side of the housing component 6, using which a sliding control element 8 that is centrally disposed in the component housing 6 can be displaced. The sliding control element 8 can be displaced on both sides respectively by means of a rod 10 that can be moved by the magnets 7 and against a restoring spring 9. In the non-operated state, the sliding control element 8 is held in a central position or in a desired initial position by the restoring spring 9. The operation of the sliding control element 8 is carried out by means of the controllably switched magnets 7. The force produced by the magnets 7 acts via the rod 10 on the sliding control element 8 and displaces the sliding control element 8 out of the rest position thereof into the desired end position. As a result, the demanded volumetric flow direction as required is free. Following deactivation of the magnets 7, the sliding control element 8 is pushed back into the rest position thereof by the restoring spring 9.

(13) Because connection components are provided in the region of the two line segments 1, with which the hydraulic fluid under high pressure (in particular oil) is transported further, it is necessary to provide a permanent seal of the hydraulic line 2 against said components.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a detail of the housing component 6 in a partial section and in a perspective view, wherein the channel 3 is represented centrally with a center axis 12. The spatially limited sealing surface 4 is provided radially outside and enclosing the channel 3. In the example shown, the sealing surface 4 is essentially of a flat form between the radially inner boundary 13 and the radially outer boundary 13. A radius is formed in the transition region from the widening 14 to the outside 15.

(15) FIG. 3a shows a detail of the housing component 6 with the solid body 5 in a side view, wherein here in particular a detail of the channel 3 with the sealing surface 4 is illustrated. The channel 3 and also the bounding (essentially cylindrical) widening 14 are represented. The widening 14 extends from the outside 15 in the axial direction 17 over a certain depth 18 and has a predetermined diameter 19.

(16) According to FIG. 3b, in a first step sealing adhesive of a (still unformed) annular seal 20 is introduced into the widening 14. The annular seal 20 is of an approximately oval form in cross-section. The lower region of the annular seal 20 is in contact with the sealing surface 4. The upper region of the annular seal 20 protrudes beyond the outside 15 of the solid body 5. The annular seal 20 consists of an adhesive sealant, for example polyacrylate. In a further step (not shown), the introduced sealing adhesive of the annular seal 20 is hardened, for example by UV irradiation.

(17) Finally, in yet another step according to FIG. 3c a connection component 21, for example a valve, is disposed on the housing component 6 with contact to the annular seal 20. The housing component 6 formed with the solid body 5 is now a component of an arrangement 22 that comprises the connection component 21 as well as the annular seal 20, wherein the annular seal 20 is in contact with the sealing surface 4 with the adhesive surface 11 (cf. FIG. 6) and is pressed with the connection component 21 against the sealing surface 4 by means of a surface pressure 43 (cf. FIG. 6). Moreover, the annular seal 20 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the widening 14 in a shape-locking manner and is pressed against the inner wall surface of the widening 14. At the same time, there is a defined contact of the connection component 21 on the outside 15 of the housing component 6 (in the radial direction 16 adjacent to the channel 3), so that a specifically produced sealing effect is achieved.

(18) FIG. 4a shows a top view of the solid body 5 of the housing component 6 according to FIG. 3a without an annular seal 20. The sealing surface 4 is implemented as a circular ring and is disposed concentrically around the channel 3.

(19) FIG. 4b shows a top view of the solid body 5 of the housing component 6 according to FIG. 3b with an introduced annular seal 20. The annular seal 20 is implemented in an annular ring form in the top view and encloses the channel 3 concentrically and coaxially (in the axial direction 17).

(20) Advantageously, a 1K-adhesive hardened under UV irradiation can be used as a polyacrylic adhesive. Advantageously, the sealing adhesive is viscoplastic in the hardened state.

(21) FIG. 5 shows in a top view a production line 36 and a conveyer arrangement 37, for example a roller conveyer. A dispenser 38 for the sealing adhesive is integrated within the production line 36. The dispenser 38 comprises a tank 39 for the sealing adhesive, a pump 40 and a controlled robot 41 for applying the sealing adhesive to the sealing surface 4. A hardening device is denoted by 42, for example a UV irradiation device. It is also possible that instead of a production line 36, a guided process is carried out with a robot (not shown here). Said robot would then introduce the individual housing components successively in single stations, in which each of the individual processing steps disposed along the production line of the manufacturing process are carried out. Combined methods are also conceivable, which carry out the delivery of the housing component to the individual processing steps partly with a production line and partly with a robot.

(22) With the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the sealing adhesive is applied to the provided sealing surfaces 4 by machine (only one is represented). For applying the sealing adhesive, the housing component 6 is clamped/positioned in the machine.

(23) The application of the annular seals 20 (only one is represented) of an NG6 valve is carried out in an automated manner in two layers using the dispenser 38 and lasts a total of 16 seconds. The applied sealing adhesive is then hardened over 20 seconds under UV radiation. Then the valve and seal 35 can be handled. I denotes the region of the housing components 6 loaded on the conveyer 37, II denotes the region of the application of the sealing adhesive, III denotes the region of the hardening of the sealing adhesive and IV denotes the region of the finished housing component 6 and annular seal 20.

(24) FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section of a further implementation of the seal 35. A lower, essentially rectangular part and an upper, essentially oval part are shown. The lower part comprises the adhesive surface 11, to which the seal 35 with the sealing surface 4 is fixedly joined. 43 denotes a surface pressure on the upper edge of the upper part, indicating the location at which the connection component 21 presses on the seal 35 and joins it elastically.

(25) FIG. 7 shows schematically an arrangement for carrying out a method for manufacturing a housing component 6 of the type proposed here. For this purpose, a container 23 is implemented with a base 25 that can be displaced (vertically) by means of a displacement device 24. A layer 26 of loose material 27 can be placed on said base 25 by means of the filling apparatus 28. When the predetermined depth of the layer is reached, a high-energy beam 29 that is produced in a beam generator 30 and possibly deflected by means of a lens 31 is passed to the loose material 27. In doing so, the high-energy beam 29 sweeps over a predetermined path 32 along the layer 26, wherein the loose material 27 is at least partly melted and sintered with the adjacent material. This enables a desired solid body 5 to be produced layer 26 for layer 26 in succession. The individual processes or apparatuses of the arrangement can be controlled by means of a control unit 33 and data lines 34 that are suitable for this purpose, so that the desired component geometry is achieved. In particular, the control unit 33, owing to the CAD data available thereto, specifically predetermines the movements of the filling apparatus 28, of the high-energy beam 29 (for example via the lens 31) and of the base 25.

(26) FIG. 8 shows a housing component 6 manufactured according to the method represented in FIG. 5. The surface of the sealing surface 4 can in this case be implemented as relatively rough. By the arrangement of an adhesive annular seal 20 that is made of an elastic sealant and glued onto the sealing surface 4, both the roughness of the sealing surface 4 is used for anchoring and also a complete sealing of the arrangement 22 against leakage losses by escaping oil is achieved.

(27) The disclosure has in particular been described with an example of an annular seal 20 as the seal 35. Seals 35 of a non-annular type, for example films, pads or similar are also included.

(28) In the exemplary embodiment that has been shown and described, the sealing surface 4 has been shown as a horizontal surface within the widening 14 and disposed at right angles in relation to the inner walls of the channel 3. The inner wall surface of the widening 14 that is disposed parallel to the inner wall surfaces of the channel 3 is also included as a sealing surface 4. Both surfaces can also be used as sealing surfaces 4 (cf. FIG. 3c).

REFERENCE CHARACTER LIST

(29) 1 line segment 2 hydraulic line 3 channel 4 sealing surface 5 solid body 6 housing component 7 magnet 8 sliding control element 9 restoring spring 10 rod 11 adhesive surface 12 center axis 13 boundary 14 widening 15 outside 16 radial direction 17 axial direction 18 depth 19 diameter 20 annular seal 21 connection component 22 arrangement 23 container 24 displacement device 25 base 26 layer 27 loose material 28 filling apparatus 29 high-energy beam 30 radiation generator 31 lens 32 path 33 control device 34 data line 35 seal 36 production line 37 conveyer 38 dispenser 39 tank 40 pump 41 robot 42 hardening device 43 surface pressure