LINE TERMINATION ELEMENT FOR A VENTILATION OUTLET OF A FLUID CONTAINER, AND FLUID CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a line termination element (4) for a ventilation outlet of a fluid container (5), having a main body (2) which is formed as a closure element for a free end (3) of the ventilation outlet and which is cross-sectionally matched to the cross section of the ventilation outlet, comprising at least one flow passage as an insect barrier, which flow passage is smaller than a mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet, and also at least one valve body (10), which, in a first position, closes off the mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet and, in a second position, opens up the mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet.

Claims

1. A line termination element (4) for a ventilation outlet of a fluid container (5), having a main body (6) which is formed as a closure element for a free end of the ventilation outlet (3) and which is cross-sectionally matched to the cross section of the ventilation outlet, comprising at least one flow passage as an insect barrier, which flow passage is smaller than a mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet, and also at least one valve body (10), which, in a first position, closes off the mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet and which, in a second position, opens up the mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet.

2. The line termination element (4) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the main body (6) is formed as a closure cap for the free end of the ventilation outlet.

3. The line termination element (4) as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the main body (6) surrounds a receiving space (7) for the free end of the ventilation outlet (3), and a valve chamber (9).

4. The line termination element (4) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the valve body (10) delimits the receiving space (7) for the free end of the ventilation outlet (3).

5. The line termination element (4) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the valve body (10) delimits the valve chamber (9) in the direction of the receiving space (7) for the free end of the ventilation outlet (3).

6. The line termination element (4) as claimed in one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the main body (10) has, as insect barrier, a multiplicity of flow passages which are preferably formed as circumferentially at least partially encircling slots (8).

7. The line termination element (4) as claimed in one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the valve body (10) is formed as a mushroom valve having a flexible valve shield (11) and a shaft (12), wherein, in the first position, the valve shield (11) covers the mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet.

8. The line termination element (4) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the valve shield (11) and the shaft (12) are formed integrally.

9. The line termination element (4) as claimed in one of claims 5-8, characterized in that the receiving space (7) for the free end of the ventilation outlet (3) has enclosure walls which have, projecting into the receiving space (7), locking depressions which interact with corresponding locking depressions of the ventilation outlet.

10. The line termination element (4) as claimed in one of claims 7-9, characterized in that the shaft (12) of the valve body (10) passes through an end-side opening (15) of the main body (6).

11. The line termination element (4) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the main body (6) has an external, end-side depression which is formed as a blind hole (13) and which has a base (14) in which the opening (15) for receiving the shaft (12) of the valve body (10) is provided.

12. A fluid container (5) composed of thermoplastic having at least one ventilation outlet, comprising a line termination element (4) having a main body (6) which is formed as a closure element for a free end of the ventilation outlet (3) and which is cross-sectionally matched to the cross section of the ventilation outlet, comprising at least one flow passage as an insect barrier, which flow passage is smaller than a mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet, and also at least one valve body (10), which, in a first position, closes off the mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet and which, in a second position, opens up the mouth cross section (17) of the ventilation outlet.

13. The fluid container (5) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the main body (6) is formed as a closure cap or closure plug for the free end of the ventilation outlet (3) and is removably connected to the free end of the ventilation outlet.

14. The fluid container (5) as claimed in either of claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the free end of the ventilation outlet (3) has an insertion profile, and in that the insertion profile is removably inserted into a receiving space (7) of the main body (6).

15. The fluid container (5) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the insertion profile interacts in a form-fitting manner with means of the line termination element (4) that are formed in a complementary manner with respect thereto.

16. The fluid container as claimed in one of claims 12-15 having the features of one of claims 1-11.

Description

[0034] The invention is explained below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

[0035] In the drawings:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a ventilation line on a fluid container, wherein the fluid container itself is not illustrated in the figure,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the line termination element according to the invention,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a connection housing on a fluid container according to the invention having a ventilation outlet onto which a line termination element according to the invention is fitted,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view (partial section) of a line termination element according to the invention with an inserted end of a ventilation outlet,

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a line termination element according to the invention with an inserted end of a ventilation outlet, wherein the ventilation outlet has a fir-tree profile,

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a perspective sectional view through the line termination element according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a perspective sectional view through the line termination element according to the invention with an inserted ventilation outlet, and,

[0043] FIG. 8 shows a perspective end-side view of the line termination element.

[0044] Reference is firstly made to FIG. 1, which shows, as a ventilation outlet, a ventilation line 1 of a fluid container (not illustrated in FIG. 1 for reasons of simplification). The fluid container is formed for example as a urea container for selective catalytic exhaust-gas denitrification. The ventilation line is connected to the fluid container via a connection housing 2.

[0045] In the connection housing 2, there may be arranged for example a diaphragm which is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable. On the end of the ventilation outlet for example may be run into a wheel housing of a passenger car. In order to prevent any entry of dirt and of insects into the ventilation outlet, a line termination element 4 according to the invention is fitted onto the free end 3 thereof.

[0046] Another variant of a ventilation outlet on a fluid container 5 is illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 partially illustrates only an upper container wall, in the installed position, of the fluid container 5. Inserted into the upper container wall of the fluid container 5 is a connection housing 2 which has, as ventilation outlet, a line connecting piece 20 onto which the line termination element 4 according to the invention is fitted.

[0047] The line termination element 4 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4-8 is formed as a closure cap having an approximately cylindrical main body 6. The main body surrounds a cylindrical receiving space 7 for the free end 3 of the ventilation outlet.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the line termination element 4 without the ventilation outlet inserted thereinto.

[0049] As can be seen in substantially all the figures, the main body 6 is provided at its circumference with a multiplicity of partially encircling slots 8 which, in the context of the invention, each form a flow passage as an insect barrier. It goes without saying that small holes or small, differently shaped perforations may be provided instead of slots.

[0050] The slots 8 open into a ventilation chamber 9 of the line termination element 4, which chamber is separated from the receiving space 7 for the free end 3 of the ventilation outlet by a valve body 10. The valve body 10 is formed as what is known as a mushroom valve having a valve shield 11 and a shaft 12. The valve shield 11 has the shape of a disk. The valve body 10 consists of a flexible and elastic material, for example of a thermoplastic elastomer. The shaft 12 is formed integrally on the valve shield 11.

[0051] Provided in the end side of the main body 6, is a depression, in the form of a blind hole 13, which has a base 14. Provided in the base is an opening 15 into which the shaft 12 of the valve body 10 is inserted. The shaft 12 is of conical design, wherein the shaft 12 is formed so as to taper to a point from the valve shield 11 to a remote end. The shaft 12 is furthermore provided at its circumference with two encircling collars 16 which hold the shaft 12 securely in the opening 15. On account of this configuration of the shaft 12, it is possible for the valve body 10 to be pressed into the opening 15 through the application of deformation forces.

[0052] On account of the design of the blind hole 13, it is possible for the valve body 10 to be fitted inside the volume surrounded by the main body 6 such that said valve body delimits the ventilation chamber 9 with respect to the receiving space 7 and, in the case of the free end 3 of the ventilation outlet inserted into the receiving space, bears against a mouth cross section 17 of the ventilation outlet.

[0053] In the configuration of the mushroom valve, or of the valve body 10, shown in the figures, the valve body 10 closes off the mouth opening 17 of the ventilation outlet if no positive pressure prevails inside the fluid container 5.

[0054] During the fitting of the line termination element 4 on the ventilation outlet, the ventilation outlet, or its free end 3, can be inserted so deeply into the receiving space 7 that the end side or the mouth cross section 17 of the ventilation outlet bears against the valve shield 11.

[0055] In the variant of the line termination element 4 shown in FIG. 4, the interior enclosure walls of the receiving space 7 are provided with ribs 18 which project into the receiving space 7 and bring about a narrowing of the cross section of the receiving space 7. If the ventilation outlet is correspondingly flexible, it will be clamped in the receiving space 7, as is illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0056] An alternative variant of the fastening of the line termination element 4 is illustrated in FIG. 5. The enclosure walls of the receiving space 7 are of smooth-walled design on the inside, while in contrast, the ventilation outlet is provided with an insertion profile which is formed as a fir-tree profile in the variant illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the line termination element 4 with internally encircling ribs 18 without the inserted free end 3 of the ventilation outlet.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration (sectional view) of the line termination element 4 according to FIG. 5.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a front-end view of the line termination element 4 which accords a view into the blind hole 13. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the shaft 12 inserted into the opening 15 is visible from the outside. This configuration of the line termination element 4 allows visual monitoring of the integrity of the mushroom valve.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0060] 1 Ventilation line

[0061] 2 Connection housing

[0062] 3 Free end of the ventilation outlet

[0063] 4 Line termination element

[0064] 5 Fluid container

[0065] 6 Main body

[0066] 7 Receiving space

[0067] 8 Slots

[0068] 9 Ventilation chamber

[0069] 10 Valve body

[0070] 11 Valve shield

[0071] 12 Shaft

[0072] 13 Blind hole

[0073] 14 Base

[0074] 15 Opening

[0075] 16 Collar

[0076] 17 Mouth cross section

[0077] 18 Ribs

[0078] 19 Bore

[0079] 20 Line connecting piece