COOLANT CONNECTING PIECE, HOUSING SYSTEM AND PRODUCTION THEREOF

Abstract

A coolant connecting piece (100) for conducting coolant between a first housing (201, 503) and a second housing (203, 507). The coolant connecting piece (100) comprises a cylindrical main body (101) with a coolant channel formed on an inner side of the main body (101), and a protective ring (103) with a drip edge (117), wherein a cross-section of the protective ring (103) is greater than a cross-section of the main body (101), and wherein the drip edge (117) is configured to let condensate running off on an outer side of the main body (101), opposite the inner side, drip off into a predetermined region (213).

Claims

1. A coolant connecting piece (100) for conducting coolant between a first housing (201, 503) and a second housing (203, 507), wherein the coolant connecting piece (100) comprises: a cylindrical main body (101) with a coolant channel formed on an inner side of the main body (101), a protective ring (103) with a drip edge (117), wherein a cross-section of the protective ring (103) is greater than a cross-section of the main body (101), and wherein the drip edge (117) is configured to let condensate running off on an outer side of the main body (101), opposite the inner side, drip off into a predetermined region (213).

2. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the protective ring (103) is arranged centrally on the main body (101), and the protective ring (103) is configured as a separate element or in one piece with the main body (101).

3. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coolant connecting piece (100) comprises a first sealing ring (105) above the protective ring (103) and a second sealing ring (107) below the protective ring (103).

4. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the protective ring (103) comprises a first region (121) and a second region (119), the first region (121) being thickened in a flow direction of the coolant channel in relation to the second region (119), and the second region (119) comprising the drip edge (117).

5. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (101) is rounded at its two ends (109, 111).

6. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (101) has an oblique surface (123) above the protective ring (103) in order to guide condensate running along the main body (101) onto the protective ring (103).

7. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the protective ring (103) has a radially circumferential groove (115) which is sloped toward the drip edge (117) at least in regions.

8. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 7, wherein the groove (115) is V-shaped.

9. The coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (101) comprises a plurality of radial projections spaced apart from one another, at least one projection of the plurality of projections having an oblique outer edge (125).

10. A housing system (200, 500), wherein the housing system (200, 500) comprises: a first housing (201, 503), a second housing (203, 507), a coolant connecting piece (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coolant connecting piece (100) connects a first receptacle (205, 511) of a first coolant channel (215) of the first housing (201, 503) and a second receptacle (207, 513) of a second coolant channel (217) of the second housing (203, 507) in a fluid-conducting manner, wherein the first housing (201, 503) and/or the second housing (203, 507) comprises a drainage channel (213) configured to receive condensate dripping from the drip edge (117) of the coolant connecting piece (100) and to discharge the condensate along a predetermined trajectory.

11. The housing system (200, 500) according to claim 10, wherein a cross-section of the first receptacle (205, 511) and of the second receptacle (207, 513) is greater than a cross-section of the main body (101) but smaller than a cross-section of the protective ring (103).

12. The housing system (200, 500) according to claim 10, wherein a first gap (209) is present between the protective ring (103) and the first receptacle (205, 511), and a second gap (211) is present between the protective ring (103) and the second receptacle (207, 513).

13. The housing system (200, 500) according to claim 10, wherein the first receptacle (205, 511) is longer than the second receptacle (207, 513).

14. The housing system (200, 500) according to claim 10, wherein the housing system (200, 500) comprises a joining aid (515), the joining aid (515) comprising an alignment pin (509) and a first bore (501) in the first housing (503) as well as a second bore (505) in the second housing (507).

15. A production method (600) for producing a housing system (200, 500) according to claim 10, in which a coolant connecting piece (100) is introduced into a first housing (201, 503) and a second housing (203, 507) in order to provide a fluid-conducting connection between the first housing (201, 503) and the second housing (203, 507).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Further advantages, features and details of the invention become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this respect, the features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination.

[0050] Shown are:

[0051] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a possible embodiment of the coolant connecting piece according to the invention,

[0052] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of the housing system according to the invention,

[0053] FIG. 3 a perspective view of the housing system according to FIG. 2,

[0054] FIG. 4 a further perspective view of the housing system according to FIG. 2,

[0055] FIG. 5 a possible embodiment of the housing system according to the invention with a joining aid,

[0056] FIG. 6 a possible embodiment of the production method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a coolant connecting piece 100. The coolant connecting piece 100 comprises a main body 101, a protective ring 103 as well as an optional first sealing ring 105 and an optional second sealing ring 107.

[0058] In the interior of the main body 101, a channel is formed through which coolant can flow between a first end 109 to a second end 111.

[0059] In the present case, the coolant connecting piece is mirror-symmetrical in order to prevent incorrect installation.

[0060] The first end 109 and the second end 111 are each radially rounded so that when the coolant connecting piece is introduced into a receptacle of a respective housing, only a linear contact occurs between the housing and the coolant connecting piece. This has the advantage that the connecting piece is centered only via the corresponding sealing ring 105 or 107. Accordingly, a forced position of the main body 101 and a resultant asymmetrical pressing or squeezing of the sealing ring 105 or 107 are avoided.

[0061] A further advantage of the linear contact is that, in the case of an offset of receptacles in respective housings to be connected, the respective housings can slide on the main body when the coolant connecting piece 100 is tilted in a respective receptacle. In particular, the line contact minimizes a frictional force between the coolant connecting piece 100 and the housing when the coolant connecting piece 100 is tilted and enables its movement in a respective receptacle.

[0062] In the present case, the protective ring 103 has, by way of example, an oblique surface 113 in a groove 115 so that condensate flowing into the groove 115 flows to a drip edge 117 and drips from the drip edge into a predetermined region. In the present case, the groove 115 is V-shaped by way of example.

[0063] The protective ring 103 comprises an inner region 119, whose cross-section overlaps with a cross-section of the main body 101. Furthermore, the protective ring 103 comprises an outer region 121, whose cross-section is greater than the cross-section of the main body 101. Accordingly, the outer region 121 extends beyond the main body 101.

[0064] The outer region 121 of the protective ring 103 is in particular flat on a lower side of the protective ring 103 in the direction of gravity so that condensate adhering to the drip edge 117 cannot run inward, i.e., in the direction of the main body 101.

[0065] The drip edge 117 is pointed in order to achieve a controlled dripping of condensate in the Z-direction or into a predetermined region.

[0066] The protective ring 103 is designed to be as thin as possible in order to minimize an amount of condensate potentially adhering to the protective ring 103.

[0067] On the inner region 119 of the protective ring 103, the coolant connecting piece 100 in the present case comprises a slope, i.e., an oblique plane 123, as a result of which condensate running off on the main body is guided onto the protective ring 103 and accordingly to the drip edge 117. The oblique plane 123 can be formed by the main body 101 or by the protective ring 103.

[0068] Furthermore, it can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 that the coolant connecting piece 100 is sloped or beveled on its outer projections 125 and 127. Since, in the installed state, the outer projections 125 and 127 are positioned on an outer edge of a receptacle of a housing for receiving the coolant connecting piece 100, the bevel of the outer projections 125 and 127 enables a gas exchange in the respective receptacle and minimizes, as a result thereof, a capillary effect in the receptacles which would retain condensate in the receptacles.

[0069] As a result of the bevel of the outer projections 125 and 127, a contour of the outer projections 125 and 127 is recessed inward in order to avoid a continuous constant gap which would facilitate penetration of condensate into a receptacle. The contour of the outer projections 125 and 127 brings about a sufficient distance between the coolant connecting piece 100 and the respective receptacles so that the receptacles are sufficiently ventilated and oxygen depletion and a resultant accelerated corrosion creep do not occur in the region of the sealing rings 105 and 107.

[0070] The dimensions of the sealing rings 105 and 107 are selected such that their cord thickness is large, i.e., larger, in comparison to the inner diameter. This achieves a long sealing section, as a result of which a time until corrosion creep of the sealing rings 105 and 107 is maximized.

[0071] A Shore hardness of the sealing rings 105 and 107 is, for example, more than 60 Shore, preferably 70 Shore, in order to prevent the sealing rings 105 and 107 from being able to be pushed over the projections of the main body 101 and the sealing rings 105 and 107 from becoming damaged during a production process for connecting two housings by means of the coolant connecting piece 100.

[0072] Optionally, the sealing rings 105 and 107 can comprise a sliding coating, a sliding lacquer or a lubricant in order to facilitate a production process for connecting two housings by means of the coolant connecting piece 100. This additionally has the advantage that the coolant piece 100 can be aligned more easily in the case of an axial offset between respective receptacles of the housings.

[0073] By way of example, the coolant connecting piece 100 is designed as a plastic injection-molded part.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a housing system 200. The housing system 200 comprises a first housing 201, such as an electronics housing, and a second housing 203, such as a battery housing.

[0075] The first housing 201 comprises a first bore or a receptacle 205, which is part of a first coolant channel 215 for conducting coolant through the first housing 201.

[0076] The second housing 203 comprises a second bore or a second receptacle 207, which is part of a second coolant channel 217 for conducting coolant through the second housing 203.

[0077] A coolant connecting piece, in the present case by way of example the coolant connecting piece 100 according to FIG. 1, is introduced both into the first receptacle 205 and into the second receptacle 207, and connects, as a result, the first coolant channel 215 of the first housing 201 to the second coolant channel 217 of the second housing 203 in a fluid-conducting manner.

[0078] It can be clearly seen in FIG. 2 that the coolant connecting piece 100 is designed such that the protective ring 103 with its drip edge 117 is reliably spaced at a first distance 209 from the first housing 201 and at a second distance 211 from the second housing 203.

[0079] Even when the coolant connecting piece 100 is tilted, a minimum distance is maintained. This has the effect that the receptacles 205 and 207 can dry again when condensate or jet water has penetrated into them and the receptacles 205 and 207 are sufficiently ventilated. Accordingly, the sealing rings 105 and 107 are not permanently loaded with condensate, which leads to minimized corrosion creep of the seal.

[0080] The drip edge 117 is positioned such that condensate dripping off at the drip edge 117 drips into a drainage channel 213. The drainage channel 213 is oblique in order to discharge incident condensate on a predetermined path.

[0081] It can furthermore be clearly seen in FIG. 2 that the first receptacle 205 is longer than the second receptacle 207 so that a distance between one end of the first receptacle 205 and the coolant connecting piece 100 arises in order to enable a movement of the coolant connecting piece 100 in the receptacles 205 and 207.

[0082] During the production of the housing system 200, the coolant connecting piece 100 is first mounted in the second receptacle 207 of the second housing 203. In order to be able to reliably carry this out in an automated manner, the second housing 203 comprises, in the lower region of the second receptacle 207, a radius or a rounding which serves as a stop. This stop can already be produced in the die casting process for producing the second housing 203. Since the coolant connecting piece 100 is rounded at its ends 109, 111, contact between the second housing 203 and the coolant connecting piece 100 takes place only along a line or a very narrow region.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows the housing system 200 in an exterior view. It can be clearly seen in FIG. 2 that the drainage channel 213 discharges dripping condensate on a predetermined path, as indicated by arrows 301.

[0084] FIG. 4 likewise shows the housing system 200 in an exterior view.

[0085] Because the cross-section of the protective ring 103 is greater than the cross-section of the main body 101, condensate drips from the drip edge 117 into the drainage channel 213 and not into the second receptacle 207, as indicated by arrows 401.

[0086] FIG. 5 shows a housing system 500 with a joining aid 501. The joining aid 515 comprises a first bore 501 in a first housing 503 and a second bore 505 in a second housing 507 of the housing system. Furthermore, the joining aid 501 comprises an alignment pin 509.

[0087] Preferably, the alignment pin 509 is first introduced into the bore 501, 505 of the housing 503, 507 into which the coolant connecting piece is also introduced first. For example, the alignment pin 509 is pressed in a form-fitting connection so that movement tolerances between the housing 503, 507 and the alignment pin 509 are minimized.

[0088] As soon as the alignment pin is arranged in, for example, the second bore 505 of the second housing 507, the first housing 503 is positioned above the second housing 507 in the Z-direction and then guided in the direction of the second housing 507. In this case, the length of the alignment pin 509 is selected such that it enters the first bore 501 in the first housing 503 before the coolant connecting piece 100 engages in a corresponding first receptacle 511 on the first housing 503. As a result, a guided automatable production of the housing system 500 can take place and a misalignment of the first housing 503 relative to the second housing 507 does not occur during production.

[0089] The first bore 501 in the first housing 503 preferably has an insertion bevel which is large enough that the coolant connecting piece 100 can reliably find its way into the first receptacle 511 even in the case of non-alignment or slight tilting of the two housings 503, 507.

[0090] Preferably, the bores 501, 505 for the alignment pin 509 are located in direct proximity to the receptacles for the coolant connecting piece 100 so that tolerances of the receptacles relative to one another are minimized, as indicated by arrow 517.

[0091] The bores 501, 505 for the alignment pin 500 as well as the receptacles and the coolant channels are preferably machined in the same clamping operation, as a result of which tolerances relative to one another can be minimized. The housings 503, 507 are centered by means of the alignment pin 509 and not by the coolant connecting piece 100, which leads to a defined mounting situation.

[0092] FIG. 6 shows a production method 600 for producing, for example, the housing system 500 according to FIG. 5.

[0093] In a first step 601, the first housing 503 is aligned relative to the second housing 507, into which the coolant connecting piece 100 has been introduced, by means of the alignment pin 509 (not shown here), as indicated by arrow 607.

[0094] In a second step 603, the first housing 503 is attached to the second housing 507. In the process, the coolant connecting piece 100 is centered in the first receptacle on the first housing 503 via the first rounded end 109 on the coolant connecting piece 100.

[0095] It can be seen that the first sealing ring 105 is pressed only when the coolant connecting piece 100 has been centered via the rounded end 109 due to axial offset between the first receptacle 511 of the first housing 503 and a second receptacle 513 of the second housing 507. As a result, the first sealing ring 105 is protected against damage by squeezing during the production process.

[0096] In a third step 605, the coolant connecting piece 100 is automatically aligned in the two receptacles 511, 513 of the two housings 503 and 507. In the case of an axial offset between the two receptacles 511 and 513 of the two housings 503 and 507, the coolant connecting piece 100 is tilted since the second sealing ring 107 presses into a centered position during a pressing operation of the housings 503

[0097] and 507.

[0098] Since the coolant connecting piece 100 has sufficient clearance in the case of a defined tilting in the receptacles 511 and 513 of the housings 503 and 507, the coolant connecting piece is centered via the sealing rings 105 and 107 during the pressing operation.