HOSE CONNECTION WITH AN ELASTOMER HOSE

Abstract

The invention concerns an elastomer hose to connect to a nozzle, wherein the elastomer hose comprises a circumferential edge at least at a longitudinal end. In one exemplary approach a support structure protrudes from a first circumferential section of the circumferential edge and by which the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose is connectable in a positively form-locking manner to a complementary counter-support structure on the nozzle. Additionally, a grip structure protruding from the circumferential edge in a second circumferential section, which is offset from the first circumferential section in a circumferential direction, at which the longitudinal end, is manually grippable when connecting the elastomer hose to the nozzle axially pullable up on to the nozzle.

Claims

1. An elastomer hose to connect to a nozzle, the elastomer hose comprising: a circumferential edge at least at a longitudinal end of the elastomer hose; a support structure protruding from a first circumferential section of the circumferential edge and by which the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose is connectable in a positively form-locking manner to a complementary counter-support structure on the nozzle; and a grip structure protruding from the circumferential edge in a second circumferential section, which is offset from the first circumferential section in a circumferential direction, at which the longitudinal end is manually grippable when connecting the elastomer hose to the nozzle and axially pullable up on to the nozzle.

2. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein at least one of: the support structure extends in the circumferential direction across a maximum of 90; and the grip structure extends across a maximum of 90 in the circumferential direction.

3. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein the grip structure is offset from the support structure by at least 90 and a maximum of 180 in the circumferential direction.

4. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein the support structure and the grip structure are arranged diametrically opposite to one another.

5. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein: the longitudinal end has an oval cross-section such that the circumferential edge has two diametrically opposite short circumferential sections and two diametrically opposite long circumferential sections, the long circumferential sections having curvature of radii that are larger than and offset by 90 from curvature of radii of the short circumferential sections; and the support structure is arranged within one of the short circumferential sections and the grip structure is arranged within the other of the short circumferential sections.

6. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein the grip structure includes a first grip section radially protruding from the circumferential edge and a second grip section axially protruding from the first grip section.

7. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a bracket that axially protrudes from the circumferential edge and extends in the circumferential direction, the bracket having a holding contour inside in a radial direction and on which the counter-support structure is engageable in the positively form-locking manner to attach the longitudinal end.

8. The elastomer hose according to claim 7, wherein: the bracket includes a bracket opening that extends radially into the bracket; and the holding contour axially limits the bracket opening on a side remote from the circumferential edge.

9. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal end has a circumferential fitting groove radially on an outside of the elastomer hose, into which a clamp is insertable to attach the longitudinal end on the nozzle.

10. The elastomer hose according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer hose is designed as a bellow or includes at least one longitudinal section designed as a bellow.

11. A hose connection comprising: an elastomer hose having: a circumferential edge at least at a longitudinal end of the elastomer hose; a support structure protruding from a first circumferential section of the circumferential edge; and a grip structure protruding from the circumferential edge in a second circumferential section, which is offset from the first circumferential section in a circumferential direction, at which the longitudinal end is manually grippable; and a nozzle having a counter-support structure on an outside of the nozzle, the counter-support structure being formed complementary to and engageable with the support structure of the elastomer hose in a positively form-locking manner to connect the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose to the nozzle.

12. The hose connection according to claim 11, wherein the nozzle includes at least one axial end-stop on the outside, which interacts with an axial face side of the circumferential edge when connecting the elastomer hose.

13. The hose connection according to claim 12, wherein the axial end-stop abuts the axial face side of the circumferential edge in the circumferential direction between the support structure and the grip structure.

14. The hose connection according to claim 12, wherein the at least one axial end-stop includes two axial end-stops diametrically opposite to one another.

15. The hose connection according to claim 11, wherein: the grip structure and the support structure are configured such that the elastomer hose and the nozzle are connectable to each other via a two-phase assembly; during a first assembly phase, the support structure of the elastomer hose is attached to the counter-support structure of the nozzle in such a way that the grip structure is axially spaced away from the nozzle at an end of the first assembly phase; and during a second assembly phase, the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose is pulled up onto the nozzle in such a way that a distance between the grip structure and the nozzle decreases.

16. The hose connection according to claim 11, wherein the support structure and the counter-support structure are designed to match each other in such a way that the support structure and the counter-support structure, when attached to each other, define a swivel axis around which the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose is able to be swiveled when being pulled up over the nozzle.

17. The hose connection according to claim 11, wherein: the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose defines a hose-longitudinal centre axis; the nozzle defines a nozzle-longitudinal centre axis; after attaching the support structure of the elastomer hose to the counter-support structure of the nozzle and before pulling up the longitudinal end onto the nozzle 4, the hose-longitudinal centre axis runs at an incline to or parallel to the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis.

18. A method to produce a hose connection having an elastomer hose and a nozzle, the method comprising: during a first assembly phase, attaching a support structure of the elastomer hose to a counter-support structure of the nozzle in such a way that a grip structure of the elastomer hose is axially spaced away from the nozzle at the end of the first assembly phase, the support structure and the grip structure protruding from respective circumferential sections of a circumferential edge offset from each other in a circumferential direction at a longitudinal end of the elastomer hose; and during a subsequent second assembly phase, pulling the longitudinal end onto the nozzle in such a way that the distance between the grip structure and the nozzle decreases.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein pulling the longitudinal end onto the nozzle includes swiveling the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose around a swivel axis defined by the support structure and the counter-support structure when attached to each other during the first assembly phase.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein at the end of the first assembly phase, a hose-longitudinal centre axis defined by the longitudinal end of the elastomer hose runs at an incline to or parallel to a nozzle-longitudinal centre axis defined by the nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] On a schematic level respectively, the figures show

[0031] FIG. 1 to 6 respectively an isometric view of a hose connection in the case of various installation states and various perspectives,

[0032] FIG. 7 an axial view of a longitudinal end of an elastomer hose of the hose connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In accordance with FIG. 1 to 6, a hose connection 1, which can, for example be used within a fresh-air system 2 of an internal combustion engine (which is, by the way, not shown), and elastomer hose 3 and a nozzle 4. In the case of the example shown here, the nozzle 4 is shaped onto an air-filter housing 5 of a fresh-air system 2 as a pure example (which is, by the way, not shown). Thereby, in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6, the elastomer hose 3 can lead to an outlet end 6 of a crankcase venting device 7 (which is, by the way, not shown) designed as a pipe section for example.

[0034] The elastomer hose serves to connect to the said nozzle 4. In FIG. 1 to 4, the elastomer hose 3 is still not connected to the hose 4; the hose connection 1 is then still not established. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the elastomer hose 3 is connected to the nozzle 4; the related hose connection 1 is then established.

[0035] The elastomer hose 3 comprises a circumferential edge 9 at least at a longitudinal end 8, which comprises a support structure 11 protruding from the edge in a first circumferential section 10 and a grip structure 13 protruding from the edge 9 in a second circumferential section 12. The support structure 11 can be attached to the nozzle 4 on a counter-support structure 14 when connecting the elastomer hose 3 which is designed complementary to the support structure 11 and which is shaped onto the nozzle 4 in an integral manner. In FIGS. 1 and 2, this support structure 11 is not yet attached to the counter-support structure 14. In FIG. 3 to 6, in contrast, a state shown where the support structure 11 is attached to the counter-support structure 14. The grip structure 13 is designed in such a way that it can be gripped manually by the installer, for example between his/her thumb and index finger in order to be able to pull up the longitudinal end 8 of the elastomer hose 3 onto the nozzle 4 an axle direction by means of this when connecting the elastomer hose 3 to the nozzle 4. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a state before using the support structure 11 and before using the grip structure 13. After attaching the support structure 11 to the counter-support structure 14, the state in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4 exists. Then, the grip structure 13 can be used to pull up the longitudinal end 8 onto the nozzle 4. In the state in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6, the longitudinal end 8 is already pulled up over the nozzle 4.

[0036] The first circumferential section 10 and the second circumferential section 12 are arranged offset to each other in the circumferential direction. Thereby, the circumferential direction refers to the edge 9 on the longitudinal end 8 of the elastomer hose 3 and is indicated in the figures by a double arrow and with the number 15. The support structure 11 and the grip structure 13 extend in the circumferential direction 15 across a maximum of 90. In the case of the example shown here, the grip structure 13 extends across a smaller angular range than the support structure 11. Thereby, an embodiment where the support structure 11 and the grip structure 13 on the edge 9 are primarily diametrically opposite to one another is preferred. The grip structure 13 is then arranged at the edge 9 offset in the circumferential direction 15 by approximately 180 to the support structure 11.

[0037] In the case of the examples shown here in FIG. 1 to 6, the elastomer hose 3 comprises a circular cross-section at least in the area of the longitudinal end 8. As a pure example, in FIG. 7, another embodiment shown where the elastomer hose 3 comprises an oval cross-section at least in the area of the longitudinal end 8. In the case of such an oval cross-section, the edge 9 possesses two short circumferential sections 16, 17 diametrically opposite to one another, which each comprise a smaller curvature radius R1 and R2, as well as two diametrically opposite long circumferential sections 18, 19, which each have a larger curvature radius R3 and R4. The long circumferential sections 18, 19 are thereby arranged into short circumferential sections 16, 17 in the circumferential direction 15 offset toward one another by 90. In the example in FIG. 7, the oval cross-section is designed to be elliptical so that, on the one hand the small radii R1 and R2 are identical in size and, on the other hand, the large radii R3 and R4 are identical in size. In the case of such an oval cross-section or elliptical cross-section, the support structure 11 is arranged within a short circumferential section 16, while the grip structure 13 is arranged within the other short circumferential section 17.

[0038] As can be particularly seen in FIG. 1 to 6, the grip structure 13 can comprise a first grip section 20 radially protruding from the edge 9 and a second grip section 21 radially intruding from the first grip section 20. By means of this, an L-profile for the grip structure 13 results in the longitudinal end section of the longitudinal end 8. The grip structure 13 can be easily manually engaged on the grip sections 20, 21.

[0039] In contrast, the support structure 11 possesses a bracket 22 extending in the circumferential direction 15 and axially protruding from the edge 9. This bracket 22 has a support contour 23 radially on the inside, at which the counter-support contour 14 of the nozzle 4 can engage or engages in a positively form-locking manner to attach the longitudinal end 8. In the example, the bracket 22 comprises a bracket opening 24 that radially penetrates the bracket 22. As an alternative to this, an embodiment is also possible where the bracket opening 24 is only a depression and does not fully penetrate the bracket 22 in a radial direction. The previously mentioned support contour 23 axially limits the bracket opening 24 on a side remote from the edge 9. In particular, it can be provided that the bracket open 24 is immediately axially delimited by the edge 9 on a side facing the edge 9.

[0040] In the embodiments shown here, the longitudinal end 8 possesses a fully circumferential fitting groove 25 radially on the outside, into which a clamp 26 inserted. Using the clamp 26, the longitudinal end 8 attached to the nozzle 4 can be fixed to the nozzle 4. Furthermore, here, it is provided that the elastomer hose 2 is designed as a bellow 27. In another embodiment, in contrast, it can be provided that the elastomer hose 3 comprises at least one longitudinal section designed as a bellow 27.

[0041] Furthermore, the nozzle 4 can additionally comprise at least one axial end-stop 28 in addition to the counter-support contour 14, which interacts with an axial face side 29 of the edge 9 when mounting the elastomer hose 3 in order to define a predetermined axial relative position between the elastomer hose 3 and the nozzle 4. For better positioning, furthermore, it can be provided that, on the face side 29 of the edge 9, a depression 30 is formed that is complementary to the axial end-stop 28, into which the axial end-stop 28 engages in a positively form-locking manner when reaching the predetermined axial and rotary relative position. This state can be recognized in FIGS. 5 and 6. In the mounted state, the axial end-stop 28 is positioned in the circumferential direction 15 between the support structure 11 in the grip structure 13 on the face side 29 of the edge 9. Furthermore, it is provided here that to such axial and stops 28 a provided on the nozzle 4 that are diametrically opposite to one another.

[0042] Assembling the elastomer hose 3 and connecting the elastomer hose 3 to the nozzle 4 takes place in such a way that, initially, in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, the respective longitudinal end 8 is brought near the nozzle 4 in such a way that the support structure 11 can be hooked in at the counter-support structure 14 in order to ensure an axial fixation between the longitudinal end 8 and the nozzle 4 in this way. The approach between the elastomer hose 3 and the nozzle 4 is shown in this initial state in FIGS. 1 and 2. In contrast to this, FIGS. 3 and 4 show an intermediate state, in which the elastomer hose 3 is still not mounted to the nozzle 4, but the support structure 11 is already axially attached to the counter-support structure 14, One by one, for this purpose, the counter-support structure 14 engages into the bracket opening 24 in a positively form-locking manner. Then, the installer can grip the elastomer hose 3 on the grip structure 13 and pull it up on to the nozzle 4 subject to elastic deformation. Thereby, the longitudinal end 8 completely folds in with its edge 9 over the nozzle 4. In FIGS. 5 and 6, an end state is reached where the predetermined position between the elastomer hose 3 and the nozzle 4 has been reached. Thereby, recognizably, the edge 9 abuts the respective axial end-stop 28 on the front. As a result, the respective clamp 26 can be tightened to complete the assembly in order to fix the end state. In the case of a tightened clamp 26, the support structure 11 is relieved so that it must not contribute to the axial fixation between the elastomer hose 3 and the nozzle 4 in the assembled state of the hose connection 1. In accordance with this, support structure 11, just like the grip structure 13, is only an assembly aid to facilitate the connection of the elastomer hose 3 to the nozzle 4.

[0043] In accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6, the elastomer hose 3 can be attached at its other longitudinal end 31 in a conventional way to the pipe section of the output end 6 of the venting device 7. In principle, it is also possible that the elastomer hose 3 is also equipped with such a support structure 11 as well as with such a grip structure 13 at this other longitudinal end 31. In accordance with this, then, the output and 6 is conceived as a nozzle with a counter-support structure.

[0044] In the case of the examples shown here, the grip structure 13 and the support structure 11 are designed and arranged in such a way that a two-phase installation can be implemented to connect the elastomer hose 3 to the nozzle 4, meaning when producing the hose connection 1, wherein, during a first installation phase, the support structure 11 of the elastomer hose 3 is attached to the counter-support structure 14 of the nozzle 4 in such a way that the grip structure 13 is axially distanced away from the nozzle 4 at the end of the first installation phase and wherein the longitudinal end 8 of the elastomer hose 3 is pulled up onto the nozzle 4 during a subsequent second installation phase in such a way that the distance between the grip structure 13 and the nozzle 4 declines.

[0045] In addition or as an alternative, it can be provided that the support structure 11 or the counter-support structure 14 are designed and/or match each other in such a way that the support structure 11 attached to the counter-support structure 14 defines a swivel axis 32, around which the longitudinal end 8 of the elastomer hose 3 can be swivelled when pulling up over the nozzle 4. Furthermore, the longitudinal end 8 of the elastomer hose 3 defines a hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 while the nozzle 4 defines a nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34. The swivel axis 32 extends perpendicular to the hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 and perpendicular to the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34.

[0046] After the first assembly phase and before the second assembly phase, meaning after attaching the support structure 11 of the elastomer hose 3 to the counter-support structure 14 of the nozzle 4 and before pulling up the longitudinal end 8 onto the nozzle 4, the hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 runs at an incline to the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34. After the second assembly phase, meaning after attaching the support structure 11 of the elastomer hose 3 to the counter-support structure 14 of the nozzle 4 and after pulling up the longitudinal end 8 onto the nozzle 4, the hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 runs parallel to the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34.

[0047] A method to establish a hose connection 1 is therefore characterized by a two-phase assembly process as described in the above. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a state is evident, which represents the start the first assembly phase. Support structure 11 and grip structure 13 are still axially spaced away by the nozzle 4. The hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 in the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34 can run and inclined to another. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the end of the first assembly phase and the start the second assembly phase so that the support section 11 is attached to the counter-support section 14 while the grip section 13 is still axially spaced away from the nozzle 4. As a consequence, the hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 and the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34 are orientated and inclined to one another. Support section 11 and the counter-support section 14 defined the swivel axis 32 around which the longitudinal end 8 can be swivelled relative to the nozzle 4. This swivel movement allows the axial distance of the grip section 13 from the nozzle 4 to change. At the same time, been means of this the inclination of the hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 to the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34 and be changed. FIGS. 5 and 6 then show the end of the second assembly phase so that the longitudinal end 8 is pulled onto the nozzle 4. At the same time, by means of this, the hose-longitudinal centre axis 33 and the nozzle-longitudinal centre axis 34 are orientated parallel to one another.