HOUSING ASSEMBLY FOR A TURBOCHARGER AND METHOD FOR FIXING MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS TO A HOUSING

Abstract

A housing assembly comprising a housing that has at least one first connection opening and one second connection opening, a first connecting piece with a first flange and a second connecting piece with a second flange. The first connecting piece is connected to the first connection opening and the second connecting piece is connected to the second connection opening. The housing additionally has a projection with an overhang. The A locking part of the first flange is arranged in locking engagement with the overhang, and the first flange and the second flange are configured in such a way and arranged with respect to one another that a turning of the first flange is prevented by the second flange. A corresponding method of fixing multiple connections to a housing is also provided.

Claims

1. A housing assembly (10) for a turbocharger, comprising a housing (100) which has at least a first and a second connection opening (110) and one second connection opening (120), and a first connecting piece (200) with a first flange (210) and a second connecting piece 300 with a second flange (310), wherein the first connecting piece (200) is connected to the first connection opening (110) and the second connecting piece (300) is connected to the second connection opening (120), wherein the housing (100) has a projection (140) with an overhang (142), wherein a locking part (212) of the first flange (210) is arranged in locking engagement with the overhang (142), and wherein the first flange (210) and the second flange (310) are configured in such a way and arranged with respect to one another that a turning of the first flange (210) is prevented by the second flange (310).

2. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second flange (310) is fixedly connected to housing (100).

3. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting piece (200) and the second connecting piece (300) respectively comprise a tubular unit (220, 320), and wherein the tubular units (220, 320) extend through the respective flange (210, 310) into the corresponding first and second connection openings (110, 120).

4. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein a seal (600) is arranged in the respective connection openings (110, 120) between the connecting pieces (200, 300) and the housing wall.

5. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting piece (200) and the first flange (210) are configured in such a way that the first connecting piece (200) is inserted into the first connection opening (110) during the mounting of the housing assembly (10) and is subsequently turned so that the locking part (212) of the first flange (210) is rotated under the overhang (142).

6. The housing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first connecting piece (200) and the first flange (210) are configured in such a way that the first connecting piece (200) may be turned by at least 15 after it was inserted into the first connection opening (110).

7. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first flange (210) has an asymmetrical shape.

8. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first flange (210) has concave and convex regions along its periphery.

9. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first flange (210) and the second flange (310) have functionally corresponding geometries in lateral regions contacting one another.

10. The housing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first flange (210) is concave in a lateral region contacting the second flange (310), and the second flange (310) is convex in a lateral region contacting the first flange (210), or wherein the first flange (210) is convex in a lateral region contacting the second flange (310), and wherein the second flange (310) is concave in a lateral region contacting the first flange (210).

11. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing (100) has a third connection opening (130) and a third connecting piece (400) with a third flange (410).

12. The housing assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least parts of the second flange (310) and the third flange (410) overlap, such that the third connecting piece (400) may be fixed on the housing (100) together with the second connecting piece (300).

13. The housing assembly according to claim 12, wherein a borehole is provided in each of the overlapping parts of the second flange (310) and the third flange (410), through which borehole a screw (500) extends and fixes the third connecting piece (400) on the housing (100) together with the second connecting piece (300).

14. A method for fixing multiple connections to a housing (100), wherein the method comprises the following steps: inserting a first connecting piece (200) into a first connection opening (110) of the housing (100), wherein the first connecting piece (200) comprises a first flange (210); turning the first connecting piece (200) so that the locking part (212) of the first flange (210) is arranged in locking engagement with an overhang (142) of a projection (140) of the housing (100); inserting a second connecting piece (300) into a second connection opening (120) of the housing (100), wherein the second connecting piece (300) comprises a second flange (310), and wherein the first flange (210) and the second flange (310) are configured in such a way that a turning of the first flange (210) is no longer possible after the insertion of the second connecting piece (300); and fixing the second connecting piece (300) to the housing (100).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, prior to the fixing of the second flange (300) to the housing (100), a third connecting piece (400) with a third flange (410) is inserted into a third connection opening (130), and subsequently the third connecting piece (400) is fixed on the housing (100) together with the second connecting piece (300) via the third flange (410) and the second flange (310).

16. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second flange (310) is fixed on the housing (100) via a screw connection.

17. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting piece (200) and the second connecting piece (300) respectively comprise a tubular unit (220, 320), and wherein the tubular units (220, 320) extend through the respective flange (210, 310) into the corresponding first and second connection openings (110, 120), wherein the tubular units (220, 320) each comprise at least one part of a supply line (222, 322) and a connection sleeve (224 324).

18. The housing assembly according to claim 1, wherein a seal (600) is arranged in the respective connection openings (110, 120) between the connecting pieces (200, 300) and the housing wall, wherein the seal (600) is an O-ring.

19. The housing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first connecting piece (200) and the first flange (210) are configured in such a way that the first connecting piece (200) may be turned by at least 90 after it was inserted into the first connection opening (110).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of the housing assembly according to the invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the first embodiment;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a first enlarged view of a first embodiment of a connecting piece of the housing assembly according to the invention;

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a second enlarged view of a first embodiment of a connecting piece of the housing assembly according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a first enlarged view of a second embodiment of a connecting piece of the housing assembly according to the invention;

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a second enlarged view of a second embodiment of a connecting piece of the housing assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Embodiments of the housing assembly according to the invention for a turbocharger will subsequently be described based on the figures. In addition, a method is described for fixing multiple connections to a housing.

[0029] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a top view and a sectional view of the housing assembly 10 according to the invention. Housing assembly 10 comprises a housing 100 which has at least one first connection opening 110 and one second connection opening 120. In the example shown in FIG. 1, housing assembly 10 also has a third connection opening 130. First, second, and third connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 are provided with corresponding first, second, and third flanges 210, 310, 410. First connecting piece 200 is connected to first connection opening 110, second connecting piece 300 is connected to second connection opening 120, and third connecting piece 400 is connected to third connection opening 130. Housing 100 additionally has a projection 140 with an overhang 142, wherein a locking part 212 of first flange 210 is arranged under overhang 142. First flange 210 and second flange 310 are configured in such a way and arranged with respect to one another that a turning of first flange 210 is prevented by second flange 310 (see FIG. 1). Housing assembly 10 according to the invention has the advantage that a simple and secure mounting of two connecting pieces on housing 100 of housing assembly 10 is facilitated.

[0030] As is clear in particular from FIG. 2, a first part, locking part 212 of first flange 210 of first connecting piece 200, is arranged under overhang 142 of projection 140 of housing 100. This prevents the connecting piece from falling out of housing 100 or makes it impossible to pull the connecting piece out of housing 100. Second flange 310 of second connecting piece 300 functions as an anti-rotation means for first connecting piece 200. Thus, it is also impossible that the first connecting piece is turned in such a way that locking part 212 of the first flange is no longer positioned under overhang 142 (by which means it would be possible for it to fall out or be pulled out).

[0031] The design according to the invention advantageously facilitates that the two connecting pieces 200, 300 are securely fixed on the housing (i.e., there is no risk that the connecting pieces will detach from the housing) using few hand movements. In particular, the housing assembly according to the invention facilitates that the two connecting pieces (or three connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 as shown in FIG. 1) are securely fixed on housing 100 using, for example, only one single screw 500, which fixes second connecting piece 300 and third connecting piece 400 on housing 100 (as is seen in FIG. 1) via respective flange 310, 410. This contributes not only advantages in mounting with respect to time, but also simplifies the mounting in mounting locations for housing 100 that are narrow or difficult to access (for example, in the engine compartment of a vehicle), or makes the secure attachment of connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 possible in the first place for these types of mounting locations. In addition to the possibility for fixing three connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 on housing 100, as this is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, only two connecting pieces 200, 300 may naturally be fixed on the housing using the same principle (a first connecting piece then rotates with its flange under a projection and a second connecting piece is fixed in another way, for example, via a screw, on the housing and prevents a rotation of the first connecting piece). Third connecting piece 400 is then omitted. This may be advantageous in installation locations that are particularly difficult to access, in which a combined fixing of two connecting pieces with one screw is not possible (as is shown in FIG. 1 for second and third connecting pieces 300 and 400).

[0032] As is clear in FIG. 1, projection 140 with its overhang 142 is arranged in the surroundings/in the region of first connection opening 110. First flange 210, second flange 310, and third flange 410 are fixedly connected to the respective connecting piece 200, 300, 400 so that no rotation or translation of respective flange 210, 310, 410 is possible with respect to the remaining components of respective connecting piece 200, 300, 400 (for example, a tubular supply element, like a hose, a (supply) line, or a (supply) pipe).

[0033] In the example of FIG. 1 and of FIG. 2, second flange 310 and third flange 410, and thus second and third connecting pieces 300, 400, are fixedly connected to housing 100. To be able to easily mount second and third connecting pieces 300, 400, parts of second flange 310 and third flange 410 overlap, so that third connecting piece 400 may be fixed on housing 100 together with second connecting piece 300. As is clear in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a part of third flange 410 overlaps a part of second flange 310 for this purpose. This means, the shapes of second flange 310 and third flange 410 are selected in such a way that there are overlapping regions of flanges 310, 410 after inserting second and third connecting pieces 300, 400 into connection openings 120, 130. The shape may be teardrop shaped, as depicted in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 for second connecting piece 300. Alternatively, a part of second flange 310 may overlap a part of third flange 410. A borehole is provided in each of the overlapping parts of second flange 310 and third flange 410, through which borehole screw 500 extends and fixes third connecting piece 400 on housing 100 together with second connecting piece 300. Borehole 312 of second flange 310 is clear in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. A configuration of this type of second and third connecting pieces 300, 400 has the advantage that three connection sleeves 200, 300, 400 may be fixed on a housing in the simplest way (by applying one single screw). In particular, this simple configuration facilitates the attaching of three connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 on a single lateral surface 150 of a housing.

[0034] In alternative configurations, which are not depicted in the figures, a second projection with a second overhang may be provided on housing 100, wherein the third connecting piece (alternatively the second connecting piece) likewise has a locking part, and, corresponding to the first connecting piece during assembly, is inserted and turned chronologically before the second connecting piece (alternatively the third connecting piece), and consequently only the second connecting piece (alternatively the third connecting piece) is fixed on the housing with a screw. Alternatively, the second connecting piece (or the third connecting piece) may comprise an outer thread and may be screwed directly into a corresponding thread in the second connection opening (or the third connection opening). In these alternative embodiments, the second connecting piece prevents a turning of the first connecting piece and of the third connecting piece (alternatively, the second connecting piece prevents a turning of the first connecting piece and the third connecting piece prevents a turning of the second connecting piece).

[0035] First connecting piece 200, second connecting piece 300, and third connecting piece 400 each have a tubular unit 220, 320, 420, wherein tubular units 220, 320, 420 extend through respective flange 210, 310, 410 into corresponding first, second, and third connection openings 110, 120, 130. As is clear in FIG. 2, tubular units 220, 320, 420 each comprise at least one part of a supply line 222, 322, 422 and a connection sleeve 224, 324, 424. Supply lines 222, 322, 422 thereby project out of the respective flange and away from housing 100. Connection sleeves 224, 324, 424 are largely positioned in corresponding connection openings 110, 120, 130 (see FIG. 2). In particular, supply lines 222, 322, 422 are fixedly connected to connection sleeves 224, 324, 424. Supply lines 222, 322, 422 of three connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 may, for example, be a cooling water supply line, a cooling water discharge line, and an oil supply line (or oil discharge line). For example, first connecting piece 200 may comprise a cooling water supply line, third connecting piece 400 may comprise a cooling water discharge line, and second connecting piece 300 may comprise an oil supply line.

[0036] At least one seal 600 is arranged in each case in connection openings 110, 120, 130 between connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 and the housing wall. In particular, seals 600 may have at least one 0-ring. Seals 600 are arranged in grooves (see FIG. 2) in connection sleeves 224, 324, 424 of tubular units 220, 320, 420 of connecting pieces 200, 300, 400. By this means, seals 600 may be premounted on connecting pieces 200, 300 400 prior to the fixing of connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 on housing 100, so that connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 with seals 600 applied thereon may be inserted directly into connection openings 110, 120, 130 of housing 100.

[0037] As is clear in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, first, second, and third connection openings 110, 120, 130 are arranged in a plane. For this purpose, housing 100 has a flat lateral surface 150, in which this plane lies. The first, second, and third connection openings are arranged in lateral surface 150. Alternatively, first, second, and third connection openings 110, 120, 130 may be arranged in two or three planes spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another. In another alternative, it is also possible that connection openings 110, 120, 130 are arranged at an angle to one another. Connecting pieces 200, 300, 400, in particular their flanges 210, 310, 410 are then correspondingly configured in order to be able to realize the functionality described herein for mounting and fixing connecting pieces 200, 300, 400.

[0038] As already mentioned, first connecting piece 200 and first flange 210 are configured in such a way that first connecting piece 200 may be inserted into first connection opening 110 during the mounting of housing assembly 10 and subsequently turned such that locking part 212 of first flange 210 rotates under overhang 142. First connecting piece 200 and first flange 210 may be configured, for example, so that the connecting piece 200 may be turned by at least 15, in particular may be turned by at least 90, after it was inserted into first connection opening 110.

[0039] As is depicted in particular in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, first flange 210 has an asymmetrical shape. According to the example from FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, first flange 210 has concave and convex regions along its periphery. Thus, first flange 210 and second flange 310 have functionally corresponding geometries on contacting lateral regions: as is very clear in FIG. 1, first flange 210 has a concave shape in the lateral region contacting second flange 310, and second flange 310 has a convex shape in a lateral region contacting first flange 210. Alternatively, first flange 210 may have a convex shape in a lateral region contacting second flange 310, and second flange 310 may have a concave shape in a lateral region contacting first flange 210. It is likewise possible that the two lateral regions of first and second flanges 210, 310 that contact one another are configured as straight lines. These functionally corresponding geometries of flanges 210, 310 have the effect that second flange 310 prevents a rotation of first flange 210 and thus of first connecting piece 200.

[0040] In regards to the configuration of the (peripheral) shape of first, second, and third flanges 210, 310, 410, reference is made in particular to FIGS. 1, and 3 through 6.

[0041] In the following, the method according to the invention is described for fixing multiple connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 to housing 100. Initially, the insertion of first connecting piece 200 into first connection opening 110 of housing 100 is carried out. The next step comprises the turning of first connecting piece 200 so that locking part 212 of first flange 210 is arranged under overhang 142 of projection 140 of housing 100. Subsequently, second connecting piece 300 is inserted into second connection opening 120 of housing 100. Due to the corresponding configuration of first flange 210 and second flange 310, a turning of first flange 210 is impossible after the insertion of second connecting piece 300. Finally, second connecting piece 300 is fixed on housing 100. In the embodiment shown in the figures, second connecting piece 300 is fixed on the housing by means of a screw 500 which protrudes through borehole 312 of second flange 210.

[0042] If three connection openings 110, 120, 130 and three connecting pieces 200, 300, 400 are provided, then the insertion of third connecting piece 400 into third connection opening 130 is carried out prior to the fixing of second flange 300[sic:310] to housing 100. Subsequently, third connecting piece 400 is fixed on housing 100 together with second connecting piece 300 via third flange 410 and second flange 310 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).

[0043] Although the present invention has been described and is defined in the attached claims, it should be understood that the invention may also be alternatively defined according to the following embodiments:

[0044] 1. A housing assembly (10) for a turbocharger, comprising [0045] a housing (100) which has at least one connection opening (110) and one second connection opening (120), [0046] a first connecting piece (200) with a first flange (210) and a second connecting piece 300 with a second flange (310), wherein the first connecting piece (200) is connected to the first connection opening (110) and the second connecting piece (300) is connected to the second connection opening (120), [0047] characterized in that the housing (100) has a projection (140) with an overhang (142), wherein a locking part (212) of the first flange (210) is arranged under the overhang (142), and wherein the first flange (210) and the second flange (310) are configured in such a way and arranged with respect to one another that a turning of the first flange (210) is prevented by the second flange (310).

[0048] 2. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 1, characterized in that the second flange (310) is fixedly connected to housing (100), in particular wherein the second flange (310) is fixed on the housing (100) via a screw connection.

[0049] 3. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, characterized in that the second flange (310) has a borehole (312) through which a screw (500) extends which fixes the second flange (310) on the housing (100).

[0050] 4. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the first connecting piece (200) and the second connecting piece (300) each comprise a tubular unit (220, 320), wherein the tubular units (220, 320) extend through the respective flange (210, 310) into the corresponding first and second connection openings (110, 120).

[0051] 5. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 4, characterized in that the tubular units (220, 320) each comprise at least one part of a supply line (222, 322) and a connection sleeve (224, 324).

[0052] 6. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that a seal (600) is arranged in the respective connection openings (110, 120) between the connecting pieces (200, 300) and the housing wall, in particular wherein the seal (600) is an O-ring.

[0053] 7. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the first and second connection openings (110, 120) are arranged in a plane, or characterized in that the first and second connection openings (110, 120) are arranged in two planes arranged spaced apart from one another and parallel to one another.

[0054] 8. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 7, first alternative, characterized in that the housing (100) has a flat lateral surface (150) which lies in the plane, and wherein the first and second connection openings (110, 120) are arranged in the lateral surface (150).

[0055] 9. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the first connecting piece (200) and the first flange (210) are configured in such a way that the first connecting piece (200) may be inserted into the first connection opening (110) during the mounting of the housing assembly (10) and may be subsequently turned so that the locking part (212) of the first flange (210) is rotated under the overhang (142).

[0056] 10. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 9, characterized in that the first connecting piece (200) and the first flange (210) are configured in such a way that the first connecting piece (200) may be turned by at least 15, in particular may be turned by at least 90, after it was inserted into the first connection opening (110).

[0057] 11. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the first flange (210) has an asymmetrical shape.

[0058] 12. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the first flange (210) has concave and convex regions along its periphery.

[0059] 13. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the first flange (210) and the second flange (310) have functionally corresponding geometries in lateral regions contacting one another.

[0060] 14. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 13, characterized in that the first flange (210) is concave in a lateral region contacting the second flange (310), and the second flange (310) is convex in a lateral region contacting the first flange (210), or [0061] characterized in that the first flange (210) is convex in a lateral region contacting the second flange (310), and the second flange (310) is concave in a lateral region contacting the first flange (210).

[0062] 15. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the housing (100) has a third connection opening (130) and a third connecting piece (400) with a third flange (410).

[0063] 16. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 15, characterized in that at least parts of the second flange (310) and the third flange (410) overlap, such that the third connecting piece (400) may be fixed on the housing (100) together with the second connecting piece (300).

[0064] 17. The housing assembly according to Embodiment 16, characterized in that a borehole is provided in each of the overlapping parts of the second flange (310) and the third flange (410), through which borehole the screw (500) extends and fixes the third connecting piece (400) on the housing (100) together with the second connecting piece (300).

[0065] 18. The housing assembly according to any one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the first flange (210) has a peripheral shape as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0066] 19. A method for fixing multiple connections to a housing (100), wherein the method comprises the following steps: [0067] inserting a first connecting piece (200) into a first connection opening (110) of the housing (100), wherein the first connecting piece (200) comprises a first flange (210); [0068] turning the first connecting piece (200) so that the locking part (212) of the first flange (210) is arranged under an overhang (142) of a projection (140) of the housing (100); [0069] inserting a second connecting piece (300) into a second connection opening (120) of the housing (100), wherein the second connecting piece (300) comprises a second flange (310), and wherein the first flange (210) and the second flange (310) are configured in such a way that a turning of the first flange (210) is no longer possible after the insertion of the second connecting piece (300); [0070] fixing the second connecting piece (300) to the housing (100).

[0071] 20. The method according to Embodiment 19, characterized in that the second connecting piece (300) is fixed on the housing by means of a screw (500) which projects through a borehole (312) of the second flange (210).

[0072] 21. The method according to Embodiment 19 or Embodiment 20, characterized in that, prior to the fixing of the second flange (300) to the housing (100), a third connecting piece (400) with a third flange (410) is inserted into a third connection opening (130), and subsequently the third connecting piece (400) is fixed on the housing (100) together with the second connecting piece (300) via the third flange (410) and the second flange (310).