Filling system for operating fluid containers

Abstract

The invention discloses a filling system for an operating fluid container (1) of a motor vehicle, comprising a filling hose (10) and at least one filling hose holding device (20). The filling hose holding device (20) can be fastened in an installation space of the motor vehicle, and the filling hose (10) can be fluid-connected to an operating fluid container (1) and to a filling neck (30). The filling hose (10) can be fastened in the installation space of the motor vehicle by means of the filling hose holding device (20) in such a manner that the filling hose (10) follows a contour defined by the filling hose holding device (20).

Claims

1. A filling system for an operating fluid container of a motor vehicle, comprising (a) a filling hose and (b) at least one filling hose holding device comprising a contoured portion, wherein (i) the filling hose holding device is configured to be fastened in an installation space of the motor vehicle; (ii) the entire filling hose is flexible and is configured to be fluidically connected to the operating fluid container and to a filling neck; and (iii) the filling hose is configured to be fastened in the installation space of the motor vehicle by engagement with the at least one filling hose holding device such that a portion of the filling hose, when engaged with filling hose holding device, assumes a S-shaped contour defined by the contoured portion of the filling hose holding device.

2. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose holding device comprises at least one undercut configured to engage the filling hose.

3. The filling system of claim 2, wherein the undercut is of elastic design.

4. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose holding device configured to define a contour shell.

5. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose holding device is configured to define a contour comprising at least one bend, and wherein the filling hose when engaged with the filling hose holding device assumes the bend of the filling hose holding device.

6. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose holding device comprises at least one predetermined break point.

7. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose holding device comprises at least one fire barrier and/or one impact barrier.

8. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose holding device is configured as a wheel house shell with integrated holding device for holding the filling hose.

9. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose is a multi-layer filling hose comprising an integrated barrier layer for hydrocarbons.

10. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose comprises a coaxial recess defining a concave cross section.

11. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose comprises at least one corrugated portion.

12. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose comprises at least one portion comprising a helically wound reinforcement structure disposed along the exterior the filling hose.

13. The filling system of claim 1, wherein the filling hose is a double hose comprising an inner hose disposed within an outer hose.

14. The filling system of claim 13, wherein the outer hose comprises corrugated hose, and the inner hose comprises smooth hose.

15. The filling system of claim 13, wherein the outer hose comprises a reinforcement structure disposed helically on the exterior of the outer hose.

16. The filling system of claim 13, wherein the inner hose is a multi-layer inner hose comprising an integrated barrier layer for hydrocarbons, and/or the outer hose is a multi-layer outer hose comprising an integrated barrier layer for hydrocarbons.

17. An operating fluid container comprising the filling system of claim 13, wherein the inner hose and the outer hose of the filling hose are each fluidically connected to the operating fluid container and to the filling neck; an operating fluid can be filled into the operating fluid container via the filling neck and the inner hose; and an intermediate space between the outer hose and the inner hose of the filling hose forms a venting line between the interior of the operating fluid container and the filling neck.

18. A motor vehicle comprising the operating fluid container of claim 17, wherein the filling hose holding device is fastened in an installation space of the motor vehicle; the filling hose is held in the installation space of the motor vehicle by the filling hose holding device; and a first end of the filling hose is fluidically connected to the operating fluid container and a second end of the filling hose is fluidically connected to the filling neck.

19. The filling system of claim 13, wherein the inner hose is connected to the outer hose at least in certain sections via material webs in such a way that the position of the inner hose is secured in the outer hose.

20. An operating fluid container comprising a filling neck and the filling system of claim 1, wherein a first end of the filling hose is fluidically connected to the operating fluid container and a second end of the filling hose is fluidically connected to the filling neck; and wherein the filling hose can be fastened in the installation space of the motor vehicle by engagement with at least one filling hose holding device such that the filling hose follows at least one contour defined by the at least one filling hose holding device.

21. A motor vehicle comprising the operating fluid container of claim 20, wherein the filling hose holding device is fastened in an installation space of the motor vehicle; the filling hose is held in the installation space of the motor vehicle by the filling hose holding device; and the first end of the filling hose is fluidically connected to the operating fluid container and the second end of the filling hose is fluidically connected to the filling neck.

Description

(1) Further advantages, details and features of the invention can be found below in the explained exemplary embodiments. In this context, in particular:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an operating fluid container according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a filling system according to the invention with a filling hose holding device embodied as a contour shell, and with a filling hose embodied as a corrugated hose;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a filling hose holding device of a filling system according to the invention illustrated alone;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a filling hose embodied as a corrugated pipe, with a coaxial recess;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional illustration of the filling hose illustrated in FIG. 4, with a venting line arranged in the recess;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional illustration of a filling hose comprising an outer line and an inner line;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a filling hose embodied as a double hose, with two bends; and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a filling hose or of an outer line with a helical reinforcement structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) In the description which now follows, identical reference symbols denote identical components or identical features, with the result that a description performed concerning a component with respect to a figure also applies to the other figures, so that a repetitive description is avoided.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an operating fluid container 1 according to the invention together with a filling system according to the invention which is connected thereto. The operating fluid container 1 is fluidically connected to a filling neck 30 via a filling hose 10 of the filling system. The filling hose 10 is fastened in the installation space of the motor vehicle by means of a plurality of filling hose holding devices 20. In this context, the filling hose holding devices 20 are secured in the installation space of the motor vehicle at fastening points 40.

(12) As is apparent from FIG. 1, owing to the filling hose 10 being secured in the installation space of the motor vehicle by means of the filling hose holding device 20, said filling hose 10 follows a contour which is defined by the filling hose holding device 20.

(13) In a very simple embodiment, the filling hose holding device 20 can be embodied as a pipe clamp which is secured in the installation space of the motor vehicle and which holds the filling hose 10 in the installation space. In the schematic arrangement of the filling hose holding devices 20 from FIG. 1, an S-shaped contour is imposed on the filling hose 10, with the result that the filling hose 10 has two bends. Owing to the flexibility of the filling hose 10, it is bendable and could also follow other contours defined by the filling hose holding devices 20.

(14) In the event of an intrusion (for example in the event of an accident of the motor vehicle) into the receptacle space of the filling hose 10, said filling hose 10 can move away from the intrusion, with the result that the filling hose 10 can be prevented from tearing off from the operating fluid container 1 and/or the filling neck 30 or this tearing off is at least counteracted. Owing to the flexibility of the filling hose 10 and of the associated possibility of the filling hose 10 moving away in the case of an intrusion into the receptacle space, the filling hose is not squashed, or is squashed to a lesser degree, by vehicle body parts.

(15) Consequently, the filling system according to the invention and the operating fluid container 1 according to the invention provide the advantage that in the event of an accident the escape of operating fluid from the operating fluid container 1 is counteracted.

(16) The operating fluid container 1 can be, for example, a fuel container 1 for diesel fuels or for gasolines. In addition, the operating fluid container 1 can also be configured as an SCR container 1 which is provided for holding an aqueous urea solution which can be injected into the exhaust train of a motor vehicle, in order to reduce the nitrogen oxide emissions.

(17) In the case of the filling system which is illustrated in FIG. 2, the filling hose holding device 20 is embodied as a contour shell 20. The contour shell 20 comprises here two side walls 23 which run parallel to one another and between which the filling hose 10 can be positioned. Consequently, the contour shell 20 forms, when considered in cross section, a U-shaped receptacle space for the filling hose 10. In addition, the filling hose holding device 20 which is embodied as a contour shell 20 comprises a plurality of undercuts 21 which are embodied as fastening tongues 21 and which engage behind the filling hose 10 which is arranged between the side walls 23 of the contour shell 20. Consequently, the undercuts 21 hold the filling hose 10 reliably between the side walls of the contour shell 20, with the result that the filling hose 10 cannot be readily detached from the contour shell 20.

(18) In the case of a predetermined force effect which can occur, for example, in the event of an accident being exceeded, the filling hose 10 can however become detached from the contour shell 20 in that the holding tongues 21 yield, owing to their flexibility and elasticity, and permit the filling hose 10 to become detached. In addition, the contour shell 20 can also have one or more predetermined break points which cause the filling hose holding device 20 to break in a defined fashion when a predetermined force effect is exceeded. As a result, the filling hose 10 can move away further in the case of an accident from an intrusion into the installation space, wherein parts of the contour shell 20 continue to be connected to the filling hose 10.

(19) The filling hose holding device 20 can also serve as impact protection and/or heat protection by being embodied as an impact barrier and/or as a heat barrier or comprising the latter.

(20) It is apparent from FIG. 2 that the filling hose 10 has two bends 22 of approximately 180 each, with the result that the filling hose 10 has an S-shaped contour.

(21) FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a filling hose holding device 20, embodied as a contour shell 20, of a filling system according to the invention illustrated alone, i.e., without the filling hose 10. From FIG. 3 it is apparent that the contour which is formed by the contour shell 20 has a bend 22 of 180. A filling hose 20 which is held by means of the contour shell 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 follows the contour defined by the contour shell 20 and consequently also has a bend of 180. From FIG. 3 it is also apparent that the end pieces of the contour shell 20 are embodied in a closed fashion, with the result that a filling hose 10 cannot become detached from the contour shell 20. The center section of the contour shell 20 is configured in an open way, however, with the result that a filling hose 20 can be detached from the contour shell 20 in this region.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a schematic spatial illustration of a filling hose 10 according to the invention which is embodied as a corrugated pipe 10 or as a corrugated hose 10. A corrugated hose 10 provides the advantage that it has a degree of flexibility which is increased even further, with the result that the corrugated hose 10 can follow even better a contour which is defined by the filling hose holding device 20. Consequently, relatively small bending radii are possible by virtue of the embodiment as a corrugated hose 10.

(23) From FIG. 4 it is apparent that the filling hose 10 which is embodied as a corrugated hose 10 has a recess 12 which runs coaxially with respect to the filling hose 10 and is of concave design in cross section. As illustrated in the schematic cross section in FIG. 5, for example a venting line 16 can be arranged in the recess 12. In addition, it is also possible for an electric lead to also be arranged in the coaxial recess 12.

(24) The shaping of the coaxial recess 12 can be such that the coaxial recess 12 has itself undercuts, with the result that, for example, a venting line 16 can be clipped into the receptacle space defined by the recess 12. The undercuts of the recess 12 then engage behind the venting line 16 and can be removed from the recess 12 only with a force effect.

(25) The arrangement of a venting line 16 or of an electric lead in the recess 12 provides the advantage that no separate holding device has to be made available for the venting line 16 or for an electric lead. Consequently, in this case the filling hose holding device 20 also serves as a holding device for a possible venting line 16 or for an electric lead.

(26) Of course, it is also possible that a filling hose 10 which is embodied as a smooth pipe 10 has a recess 12 which runs coaxially with respect to the filling hose 10 and is of concave design in cross section.

(27) FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic cross section through a filling hose 10 which is embodied as a double hose 10. The filling hose 10 comprises here an outer line 14 and an inner line 15 which is arranged in the outer line 14. The intermediate space between the outer line 14 and the inner line 15 serves as a venting line 16. When an operating fluid is filled into the operating fluid container 1 via the inner line 15, the venting out of the operating fluid container 1 occurs via the venting line 16. However, since the inflow line 15 is separate from the venting line 16, the venting does not take place in a counter-current mode with respect to the operating fluid, with the result that high filling rates are made possible.

(28) FIG. 7 illustrates the profile of an inner line 15 in an outer line 15 which has two bends 22. During the bending of the filling hose 10, the inner line 15 bears tangentially against the outer line 14 at contact points 17, with the result that bending of the inner line 15 is avoided. Therefore, ventilation between the outer line 14 and the inner line 15 is not impeded by a bend in the filling hose 10. In addition, filling of the operating fluid via the inner line 15 is not impeded either since the inner line 15 does not have a kink as a result of it bearing tangentially against the outer line 14.

(29) Both the inner line 15 and the outer line 14 can be embodied either as smooth hoses or as corrugated hoses. An inner line 15 which is embodied as a smooth hose provides the advantage that it brings about smaller turbulence of the operating fluid during the filling process, with the result that the filling rates can be increased. An outer line 14 which is embodied as a corrugated hose provides the advantage that it can have relatively small bending radii, since an outer line 14 which is embodied as a corrugated hose 14 has increased flexibility.

(30) FIG. 8 shows a filling hose 10 or an outer line 14 which comprises at least in certain sections a reinforcement structure 10 which runs in a helical shape on the outer side. The reinforcement structure 11 which is embodied in a helical shape is preferably connected in a materially joined fashion to the filling hose 10 or to the outer line 14.

(31) As a result of the reinforcement structure 11 which is embodied in a helical shape, the filling hose 10 or the outer line 14 has increased rigidity in this region, with the result that correspondingly embodied regions can preferably be used in the case of straight connections between two filling hose holding devices 20.

(32) Of course it is also possible for the filling hose 10 to comprise in certain sections the helical reinforcement structure 11 which is illustrated in FIG. 8, and for it to be embodied at other sections as a corrugated pipe or corrugated hose. At other sections, the filling hose 10 can be embodied as a smooth pipe or smooth hose.

(33) The connection of the filling hose 10 to the operating fluid container 1 or to the filling neck 30 can be made, for example, by means of a welded or a bonded connection. In addition, these connections can also be embodied in a positively locking fashion. For this purpose it is possible for interface components (not illustrated in the figures) to be integrally injection molded onto the ends of the filling hose 10 at the end regions of the filling hose 10.

(34) Depending on the design, the connections or clip arrangements between the filling hose 10 and the filling hose holding device 20 can be selected in such a way that the securing of the filling hose 10 prevents the movement of the filling hose 10 at specific locations and in contrast permits the movement of the filling hose at other locations.

(35) In the event of the configuration of the filling hose holding device 20 as a contour shell 20, the latter is preferably manufactured using an injection molding method. As already mentioned above, the contour shells can also have further functions, specifically the function of protection against fire for the filling hose 10, the function of protection against the impact of stones, shearing wear or as a flat tire protection means, the function of securing venting hoses and/or filling hoses, cables, ropes and the like. In addition, a wheel house shell can have, on the side facing away from the wheel, a holding device for holding the filling hose 10, with the result that the wheel house shell is embodied as a filling hose holding device 20. The contour shell 20 can also perform an external supporting function of the filling hose 10 with the result that collapsing of the filling hose 10 is avoided. The filling hose holding device 20 can also be fastened to accommodating points of a reference point system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(36) 1 Operating fluid container/fuel container/SCR container 10 Filling hose/corrugated pipe/corrugated hose 11 Reinforcement structure (of the filling hose) 12 Recess 14 Outer line 15 Inner line 16 Venting line 17 Contact point (between inner line and outer line) 20 Filling hose holding device/contour shell/pipe clamp 21 Undercut/fastening clip/fastening tongue 22 Bend (of the contour) 23 Side wall (of the filling hose holding device) 30 Filling neck 40 Fastening point (in the installation space of the motor vehicle)