Arrangement for the transport of media

Abstract

An Arrangement for transporting media, comprising a base body formed as a blow-molded part and at least one functional element, wherein the functional element is positively fixed to the base body, wherein the positive fit is formed by shaping the base body during blow molding, and a method for producing an arrangement.

Claims

1. An arrangement for transporting media, comprising a base body formed as a blow-molded part and at least one functional element, wherein the functional element is fixed to the base body as a positive connection, wherein the connection between the base body and at least one functional element is formed by shaping the base body during blow molding, the functional element having an edge area having a plurality of recesses extending through the edge area to define a plurality of holes into which the base body extends at least partially to form the positive connection, wherein the base body comprises at least one flow channel and the plurality of recesses are arranged circumferentially about the flow channel.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connection of the base body and at least one functional element is a substance-to-substance bond.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional element comprises at least one further flow channel.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one flow-conducting connection exists between the base body and the functional element.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional element is at least partially formed from plastic.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement forms a distribution structure for temperature control media.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional element is selected from the group consisting of an adapter, pump, cooler, sensor, valve or hose adapter.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the recesses form an undercut.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the base body comprises a first flow channel and the functional element comprises a second flow channel, and further comprising a seal fitted around the second flow channel and configured such that, upon blow molding the base body, the base body bears against the seal to elastically pretension the seal.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of recesses into which the base body extends are located radially outward of the seal.

11. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the functional element defines a nozzle having the seal positioned around the nozzle.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the base body extends through the plurality of holes and defines enlarged protrusions to form the positive connection.

13. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flow channel defines an inlet having a nozzle with a seal fitted around an outer circumference of the nozzle and facing radially, and wherein the base body is formed to extend radially inwardly around the outer circumference and seal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Some embodiments of the arrangement according to the disclosure are explained in more detail with reference to the figures. These show, each schematically:

(2) FIG. 1 an arrangement in top view;

(3) FIG. 2 the arrangement in exploded view;

(4) FIG. 3 in detail, the arrangement in the area of the recesses;

(5) FIG. 4 in detail, the arrangement in the area of the flow channels;

(6) FIG. 5 another arrangement in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The figures show an arrangement 1 for transporting media. In the present embodiment, the arrangement 1 is a distribution structure that forms part of a temperature control circuit of an electric vehicle. In this context, the arrangement 1 is used to transport and distribute temperature control media for controlling the temperature of elements of the electric vehicle whose temperatures are to be controlled, for example the batteries, the electric motors and the power electronics.

(8) The arrangement 1 comprises a base body 2 formed as a blow-molded part and two functional elements 3, which are positively fixed to the base body 2.

(9) The functional elements 3 are formed from injection-moldable plastic, wherein the glass transition temperature of the plastic selected for the functional elements 3 is above the temperature required for the blow molding process to produce the base body 2. In the present embodiment, the functional elements 3 form part of a pump, namely a pump cover.

(10) In alternative embodiments, however, the functional element 3 may also be formed as an adapter, pump, cooler, sensor, valve, hose adapter, or may be formed as a part of the aforementioned elements.

(11) The functional elements 3 are positively fixed to the base body 2. In this case, the positive fit is formed by deformation of the preform to produce the base body 2 during blow molding. The functional elements 3 have recesses 6, wherein the recesses 6 each form an undercut. The base body 2 extends into the recesses 6 to form the positive connection. In doing so, projections 7 are formed from the base body 2, which projections project into the recesses 6. The free ends of the projections 7 expand in the manner of mushroom heads, so that a loss-proof and positive connection is formed between the base body 2 and the functional elements 3. Alternatively, or additionally, the base body 2 can also form a substance-to-substance bond with the functional element 3 during blow molding.

(12) To produce the arrangement, the functional elements 3 and a preform consisting of polymeric material are first provided and arranged in a blow mold. In the blow molding process, the base body 2 is formed from the preform, wherein the preform bears against the functional elements 3 during the forming process.

(13) The base body 2 is made of plastic, wherein the glass transition temperature of the plastic selected for the base body 2 is below the glass transition temperature of the plastic selected for the functional elements 3.

(14) To create the positive connection, the preform extends partially into the recesses 6 during the forming process. In the process, protrusions 7 are formed, which widen within the recesses 6 and expand behind the undercuts like mushroom heads.

(15) FIG. 1 shows the arrangement 1 in top view. The two functional elements 3, each forming a pump cover, have an essentially circular basic shape. The recesses 6 are distributed around the circumference in the edge area of the functional elements 3. Projections 7 that are formed congruent with the recesses 6 are formed from the base body 2, wherein the projections 7 extend into the recesses 6.

(16) The base body 2 has several flow channels 4. The functional elements 3 in turn each have a further flow channel 5. There is a flow-conducting connection between the base body 2 and the functional element 3, wherein one flow channel 4 opens into the further flow channel 5 of the functional elements 3 in each case.

(17) FIG. 2 shows the arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 1 as an exploded view. It can be seen that the base body 2 is shaped congruently to the functional elements 3 in the area of the functional elements 3, which enables a particularly space-saving integration of the functional elements 3 in the base body 2. It can also be seen that the functional elements 3 have further flow channels 5 and supply lines belonging to the further flow channels 5, which are embedded in sections in the base body 2. The arrangement 1 is further equipped with further functional elements in the form of hose adapters, via which the integration of the arrangement 1 into the temperature control circuit of the electric vehicle takes place. The attachment of the base body 2 to the further functional elements has also been achieved by shaping the base body 2 during blow molding.

(18) FIG. 3 shows in detail and in section the arrangement 1 in the area of the recesses 6.

(19) FIG. 4 shows the arrangement 1 in detail in the area of the flow-conducting connection between the base body 2 and a functional element 3. The flow channel 4 of the base body 2 and the further flow channel 5 of the functional element 3 can be seen.

(20) A nozzle 8 is formed from the further flow channel 5, onto which a seal 9 in the form of an O-ring is fitted on the outer circumference. During the blow molding process, the preform bears against the outside of the nozzle 8 and against the seal 9, and after completion of the blow molding process, the base body 2 bears against the seal 9 on the outside and with elastic pretension to form a seal.

(21) FIG. 4 also shows that immediately after blow molding, the base body 2 blocks the flow-conducting connection between the flow channel 4 and the further flow channel 5. To establish the flow-conducting connection, the base body 2 is therefore opened in the area of the flow channels after completion of the blow molding process. This can be done, for example, by drilling a hole. In the process, the disk-shaped section 10 is at least partially removed.

(22) FIG. 5 shows another arrangement 1. The arrangement 1 shown here is substantially the same as the arrangement 1 shown previously. In this embodiment, however, the functional element 3 is formed as an adapter in the form of an adapter plate. The adapter plate is used to accommodate further functional elements, for example sensors, pumps, or valves.