Connection Assembly for a Fluid System and Method for Producing a Connection Assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection assembly (1) for a fluid system, in particular for a coolant system, comprising a line, in particular a coolant line (2), and a connection element (3), wherein the line (2) is designed as a corrugated tube (4) with a corrugated structure (5), wherein the corrugated structure (5) extends up to at least one end (9) of the line (2), wherein the end (8) of the corrugated tube (2) is connected to a connecting piece (11) of the connection element (3), wherein the connecting piece (11) has an outer contour (12) in the shape of a pine tree, onto which the end (8) of the line (2) is pushed on using a plug-in length (10). According to the invention, the corrugated structure (5) on the end of the line is compressed across the push-in length (10). The invention also relates to a method for producing a connection assembly for a fluid system.

Claims

1. A connection arrangement for a fluid system comprising a line and a connecting element, wherein the line is in the form of a corrugated tube having a corrugated structure, wherein the corrugated structure extends as far as at least one end of the line, wherein the end of the corrugated tube is connected to a connecting piece of the connecting element, wherein the connecting piece has a fir tree-like outer contour onto which the end of the line is pushed by way of a plug-on length, and wherein the corrugated structure is compressed over the plug-on length at the end of the line.

2. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line is retained against the connecting piece in a force-fitting and frictionally engaging manner with an inner side under radial prestress.

3. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 1, wherein adjacent corrugation peaks of the corrugated structure bear at least partially against one another over the plug-on length.

4. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fir tree-like outer contour of the connecting piece has an outer diameter which corresponds to at least a minimum inner diameter of the line in a non-compressed state.

5. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has a corrugated outer contour and inner contour parallel thereto, both of which are formed as far as the at least one end of the line.

6. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line comprises a polyamide.

7. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line comprises a rubber.

8. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has an inner diameter that ranges between approximately 10 millimeters (mm) to 30 mm.

9. A method for producing a connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line is cropped to a desired length, and the end of the line is pushed onto the fir tree-like outer contour of the connecting piece such that the corrugated structure of the line is compressed over the plug-on length.

10. The method for producing a connection arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the compression shortens the line by approximately 25 percent (%) to 50% over the plug-on length.

11. The connection arrangement for a fluid system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inner diameter of the line ranges between approximately 10 millimeters (mm) to 15 mm.

Description

[0027] In the drawings:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a connection arrangement according to the invention,

[0029] FIG. 2 shows components of a connection arrangement.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a connection arrangement 1 according to the invention for a fluid system, in the form of a coolant system, for example of a motor vehicle. The two components of the connection arrangement 1a line 2 as a coolant line, and a connecting element 3are shown in FIG. 2. The coolant line 2 is in the form of a corrugated tube 4 having a corrugated structure 5, wherein the corrugated structure 5 can be divided into corrugation peaks 6 and corrugation troughs 7. The corrugated tube 4 may be in the form of a corrugated tube 4 having a parallel-type corrugated structure 5, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or else having a spiral-shaped corrugated structure. This second type of corrugated tube 4 is not illustrated in the figures. The corrugated structure 5 extends as far as at least one end 8 of the coolant line 2. Since no smooth end piece or other special connecting structure is required at the corrugated-tube end 8, adaptation of the length of the coolant line 2 to the required length is possible without any problems. The corrugated tube 4 may be cropped for example, it being necessary to take into account a loss of length owing to a compression 9 (FIG. 1) of the corrugated structure 5 over the plug-on length 10 at the end 8 of the corrugated tube 4.

[0031] The connecting element 3 has a connecting piece 11 with a fir tree-like outer contour 12 onto which the end 8 of the coolant line 2 is pushed by way of the plug-on length 10. The fir tree-like outer contour 12 of the connecting piece 11 is formed by at least one annular elevation 13 which projects in the radial direction and which has a run-on surface 14 and a retaining edge 14 which are joined at an angle . The run-on surface 15 serves the purpose of the coolant line 2 experiencing only a low resistance when being pushed onto the connecting piece 11. If the corrugated tube 4 has then been pushed onto the connecting piece 11, the retaining edge 14 prevents the line 2 from sliding back. The fir tree-like outer contour 12 optionally comprises a plurality of elevations 13.

[0032] In addition to the connecting piece 11, it is possible to provide on the connecting element 3 yet a further connecting structure 16 which allows a connection of the connection arrangement 1 to a container, tank or another tube. Furthermore, the entire connecting element 3 is formed with an inner hollow space which is open in the axial direction and which allows a fluid throughflow. The connection arrangement 1 is able to be used not only for coolants but also for other fluids.

[0033] The coolant line 2, or rather the corrugated tube 4, is plugged directly onto the connecting piece 11 with the fir tree-like outer contour 12. The fitting can thus be carried out very easily, quickly and without any special tool.

[0034] In FIG. 1, the compression 9 of the corrugated structure 5 of the coolant line 2 over the plug-on length 10 can be seen. As a result of the compression 9, adjacent corrugation peaks 6 bear at least partially against one another over the plug-on length 10. The compression 9 has the effect that the inner contour of the corrugated tube 2 is pressed on the fir tree-like outer contour 12 of the connecting piece 11. Consequently, radially inwardly acting forces are generated, which ensure a fluid-tight connection arrangement 1. In addition, as a result of the compression 9, those forces which counteract pulling-off of the corrugated tube 2 are intensified. Consequently, it is also possible for the coolant system to be operated in the case of positive pressure.

[0035] The invention is not restricted to one of the above-described embodiments, but may be modified in a variety of ways. It is in particular preferable here for the connection arrangement according to the invention to be used in a fluid system in the form of a coolant system, in which arrangement the line serves as a coolant line. A coolant system having a coolant line thus serves as an exemplary embodiment. Generally, a fluid system is to be understood as meaning a system for guiding, and possibly distributing, liquids.

[0036] All of the features and advantages which emerge from the claims, from the description and from the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0037] 1 Connection arrangement [0038] 2 (Coolant) line [0039] 3 Connecting element [0040] 4 Corrugated tube [0041] 5 Corrugated structure [0042] 6 Corrugation peaks [0043] 7 Corrugation troughs [0044] 8 End of the coolant line 2 [0045] 9 Compression [0046] 10 Plug-on length [0047] 11 Connecting piece [0048] 12 Fir tree-like outer contour [0049] 13 Elevation [0050] 14 Run-on surface [0051] 15 Retaining edge [0052] 16 Connecting structure [0053] Angle between run-on surface 15 and retaining edge 16