HOSE MADE FROM AN ELASTIC MATERIAL

Abstract

Hose made from an elastic material, which is designed to be fitted on a hose connection by means of a hose endpiece of the hose being pushed over the hose connection, and which is designed to be fastened on the hose connection by a hose clip to be arranged in a fitting region of the hose endpiece, wherein the hose endpiece has at least one thickened area which protrudes from the outer side of the hose, said thickeded area protruding from the outer side of the hose at least to such an extent that a hose clip suitable for fastening the hose on the hose connection is held on the hose endpiece by the thickened area, with respect to the influence of gravity when this is effective in the longitudinal direction of the hose endpiece. The invention further relates to a hose having at least two branch-off points.

Claims

1. A battery system, comprising: a first battery element having a first plurality of battery cells; a second battery element having a second plurality of battery cells; a battery cooling hose comprising a first end piece disposed at a first branch-off point of the battery cooling hose and configured to fluidly couple the battery cooling hose with the first battery element, and a second end piece disposed at a second branch-off point of the battery cooling hose and configured to fluidly couple the battery cooling hose with the second battery element; a main body of the first end piece and a protrusion of the first end piece extending outward from an outer surface of the main body of the first end piece; a main body of the second end piece and a protrusion of the second end piece extending outward from an outer surface of the main body of the second end piece; a first hose connector configured to couple between the first end piece and the first battery element; a second hose connector configured to couple between the second end piece and the second battery element; a first clip configured to maintain a coupling between the first end piece and the first hose connector, wherein the protrusion of the first end piece is configured to retain the first clip on the first end piece; and a second clip configured to maintain a coupling between the second end piece and the second hose connector, wherein the protrusion of the second end piece is configured to retain the second clip on the second end piece.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the first battery element comprises the first hose connector, and wherein the second battery element comprises the second hose connector.

3. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the first end piece comprises an outermost diameter greater than an inner diameter of the first clip.

4. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the first clip comprises an inner diameter that is adjustable.

5. The battery system of claim 4, wherein the first clip comprises a crimping region that, when crimped, is configured to reduce the inner diameter of the first clip such that an inner surface of the first clip comprising the inner diameter exerts a compressive force against the outer surface of the main body of the first end piece, wherein the compressive force is configured to maintain the coupling between the first end piece and the first hose connector.

6. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the first end piece is tapered outwardly from an end face of the first end piece toward the first branch-off point such that the protrusion of the first end piece comprises a diameter that tapers down toward the end face of the first end piece.

7. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the protrusion of the first end piece is circumferentially segmented into a first portion and a second portion disposed on opposing sides of the first end piece.

8. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the first end piece comprises an additional protrusion disposed longitudinally adjacent the protrusion of the first end piece with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first end piece, wherein the protrusion of the first end piece and the additional protrusion of the first end piece are separated by an assembly region of the first end piece, and wherein the assembly region of the first end piece is configured to receive the first clip.

9. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery cooling hose comprises an inner surface having an elastic material configured to directly contact a coolant of the battery system.

10. The battery system of claim 1, wherein the battery cooling hose comprises an elastic material.

11. The battery system of claim 1, comprising a coolant source configured to supply a coolant to the battery cooling hose, wherein the battery cooling hose is configured to supply the coolant to the first end piece and the second end piece, wherein the first end piece is configured to supply the coolant to the first battery element via the first hose connector, and wherein the second end piece is configured to supply the coolant to the second battery element via the second hose connector.

12. The battery system of claim 1, comprising an additional battery cooling hose, wherein the additional battery cooling hose comprises: an additional first end piece disposed at an additional first branch-off point of the additional battery cooling hose and configured to fluidly couple the additional battery cooling hose with the first battery element; and an additional second end piece disposed at an additional second branch-off point of the additional battery cooling hose and configured to fluidly couple the additional battery cooling hose with the second battery element, wherein an additional first hose connector is configured to couple between the additional first end piece and the first battery element, wherein an additional second hose connector is configured to couple between the additional second end piece and the second battery element; wherein the battery cooling hose is configured to be an inlet manifold to the first and second battery elements, and wherein the additional battery cooling hose is configured to be an outlet header of the first and second battery elements.

13. The battery system of claim 1, comprising a control unit configured to: receive data indicative of a first temperature of the first battery element, of a second temperature of the second battery element, or both; and control, based on the data, a flow of coolant toward the first battery element, toward the second battery element, or both.

14. A thermal management system of a battery system, the thermal management system comprising: a battery cooling hose comprising an end piece disposed at a branch off point of the battery cooling hose, wherein the end piece is configured to fluidly couple the battery cooling hose with a battery element via a hose connector of the battery element, and wherein the end piece comprises a main body and a protrusion extending outward from an outer surface of the main body; and a clip configured to maintain a coupling between the end piece and the hose connector, wherein the clip comprises an inner diameter that is adjustable between a constricted state and a loose state, and wherein the protrusion of the end piece is configured to retain the clip on the end piece when the clip is in the loose state.

15. The thermal management system of claim 14, wherein the protrusion of the end piece comprises an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the clip when the clip is in the constricted state or when the clip is in the loose state.

16. The thermal management system of claim 14, wherein the protrusion of the end piece is circumferentially segmented into a first portion and a second portion disposed on opposing sides of the end piece, such that at least one space is circumferentially defined between the first and second portions.

17. The thermal management system of claim 14, comprising a coolant source configured to supply a coolant to the battery cooling hose, wherein the battery cooling hose is configured to supply the coolant to the end piece, wherein the end piece is configured to supply the coolant to the battery element via the hose connector.

18. The thermal management system of claim 14, wherein the battery cooling hose comprises an additional end piece disposed at a second branch off point of the battery cooling hose, wherein the additional end piece is configured to fluidly couple the battery cooling hose with a second battery element via a second hose connector of the second battery element, and wherein the additional end piece comprises a second main body and a second protrusion extending outward from an outer surface of the second main body of the second end piece.

19. The thermal management system of claim 18, comprising a second clip configured to maintain a coupling between the additional end piece and the second hose connector, wherein the second clip comprises an inner diameter that is adjustable between a constricted and a loose state, and wherein the protrusion of the additional end piece is configured to retain the second clip on the additional end piece when the second clip is in the loose state.

20. A battery cooling hose of a battery system, the battery cooling hose comprising: an end piece disposed at a branch-off point of the battery cooling hose, wherein the end piece is configured to fluidly couple the battery cooling hose with a battery element via a first hose connector of the battery element, and wherein the end piece comprises: an end face disposed at a distal end of the end piece; a tubular main body disposed adjacent the end face; and a protrusion extending outward from an outer surface of the tubular main body, wherein the protrusion is tapered outwardly from the end face of the end piece toward the tubular main body, such that the protrusion comprises an outer diameter proximate the branch-off point that is larger than a second outer diameter proximate the end face, and wherein the protrusion is configured to retain a clip on the end piece.

21. The battery cooling hose of claim 21, comprising a second end piece disposed at a second branch-off point of the battery cooling hose, wherein the second end piece is configured to fluidly couple the battery cooling hose with a second battery element via a second hose connector of the second battery element, and wherein the second end piece comprises: a second end face disposed at a distal end of the second end piece; a second tubular main body disposed adjacent the second end face of the second end piece; and a second protrusion extending outward from an outer surface of the second tubular main body of the second end piece, wherein the second protrusion is tapered outwardly from the end face of the second end piece toward the second branch-off point, such that the second protrusion of the second end piece comprises a first outer diameter of the second protrusion proximate the second branch-off point that is larger than a second outer diameter of the second protrusion proximate the second end face of the second end piece, and wherein the second protrusion is configured to retain a second clip on the second end piece.

22. The battery cooling hose of claim 21, wherein the battery cooling hose comprises a tubular central body extending in a first longitudinal direction, wherein the branch-off point and the second branch-off point are each disposed on the tubular central body of the battery cooling hose, such that the end piece and second end piece respectively disposed at the branch-off point and second branch-off point extend in a second longitudinal direction, and wherein the first longitudinal direction is transverse to the second longitudinal direction.

23. The battery cooling hose of claim 21, wherein the battery cooling hose comprises an inner surface having an elastic material configured to directly contact a coolant of the battery system.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0029] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments making use of drawings, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a hose and a hose clip and

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the hose according to FIG. 1 with fitted hose clip and

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a hose and a hose clip and

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the hose according to FIG. 3 with fitted hose clip and

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a hose and a hose clip and

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a hose segment in cross section and

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a hose and

[0037] FIG. 8 shows the hose according to FIG. 7 with fitted hose clip and

[0038] FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of a hose and

[0039] FIG. 10 shows the hose according to FIG. 9 with fitted hose clip and

[0040] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a hose with fitted hose clips and

[0041] FIG. 12 shows a battery arrangement for electric or hybrid vehicles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In the Figures, the same reference characters are used for corresponding elements.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a hose 1 and a hose clip 4. The hose 1 comprises a hose end piece 3, in which the hose 1 ends on an end face 14. In the direction facing away from the end face 14, the hose 1, on the other side of the hose end piece 3, extends over a hose section 24, which depending on the application can have a different length and in the Figures is only shown as a short hose piece for the sake of clarity. The hose end piece comprises an assembly region 13 for a hose clip 4. The hose clip 4 is pushed over the hose end piece 3 as far as into the assembly region 13 and can then be fixed. In general, the hose 1 comprises a hose section 25 protruding over the assembly region 13 toward the end face 14, since as a rule it is desirable that the hose clip is not assembled on the outermost end of the hose end piece 3.

[0044] The hose 1 according to FIG. 1 comprises a thickened portion 5 formed from the hose material protruding on the outside of the hose 1 in the hose section 25, which seen from the end face 14 is located in front of the assembly section 13. The thickened portion 5 is formed radially circumferentially about the outer circumference of the hose end piece 3. In the shown embodiment, the thickened portion 5 is formed with a taper in the direction of the end face 14, e.g. in the shape of a truncated cone.

[0045] The hose clip 4 likewise shown in FIG. 1 is of the crimping type. To this end, the hose clip 4 comprises a crimping region 25, which for fastening the hose clip 4 on the hose 1 is pressed together with a suitable tool. This reduces the diameter of the hose clip, which results in the hose being fixed on a hose connector.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the hose 1 and the hose clip 4 according to FIG. 1 with the hose clip 4 already pushed onto the hose 1. In addition, a hose connector 2 is shown, onto which the hose 1 with the hose clip 4 is to be pushed.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a hose 1, which additionally to the thickened portion 5 in the hose section 25, a further additional thickened portion 6 is arranged in a region of the hose end piece 3 located further away from the face end 14. The further thickened portion 6 in this case is arranged seen from the face end 14 behind the assembly region 13 for the hose clip 4. Here, the spacing 15 between the thickened portions 5, 6 is selected so that it is equal in size or slightly larger than the width 16 of the hose clip 4. Because of this, the hose clip 4 can be easily positioned in the assembly region 13 between the two thickened portions 5,6 and is prevented by the two thickened portions 5, 6 from being undesirably displaced in both directions in the longitudinal direction of the hose 1.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows the hose 1 and the hose clip 4 according to FIG. 3 with the hose clip 4 pushed over the hose 1.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a hose 1, in which a thickened portion 7 of ring-like shape is formed on the hose end piece 3, namely in the assembly region 13 for the hose clip 4.

[0050] The hose clip 4 in this case can be pushed over the thickened portion 7 with a slight exertion of force and because of the elasticity of the material of the thickened portion 7 and of the hose 1 is held in the respective position through pressure.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, the thickened portion 7 can be formed as a circumferential ring without interruptions. FIG. 6 shows an alternative configuration of the thickened portion 7, in which a multiplicity of small fins 8, which are arranged closely together, protrude from the outside of the hose 1. Here, the hose 1 is shown in a view of the end face 14 from the top, wherein FIG. 6 only shows a sector-like detail.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a hose 1, in which the hose end piece 3 branches off the hose 1 at an angle. Furthermore, a further embodiment of the mentioned thickened portions is shown by means of FIG. 7, namely two thickened portions 9, 10 radially located opposite each other, which starting out from the end face 14 are arranged in front of the assembly region 13. The thickened portions 9, 10 are formed approximately in the manner of a circular segment and have a profile extending tapered in the longitudinal direction of the hose end piece 3 in such a manner that starting out from the end face 14, an approximately ramp-like rise of the height of the thickened portions 9, 10 is obtained.

[0053] FIG. 8 shows the hose 1 according to FIG. 7 with the hose clip 4 pushed over the hose end piece 3.

[0054] FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of a hose. In contrast with FIG. 7, further thickened portions 11, 12 are provided apart from the thickened portions 9, 10 in the hose section 25 of the hose end piece 3, which, starting out from the end face 14, are arranged behind the assembly region 13. The thickened portions 11, 12 are substantially formed with the same shaping as the thickened portions 9, 10, but with their sloping contour in the opposite direction to that of the thickened portions 9, 10.

[0055] FIG. 10 shows the hose 1 according to FIG. 9 with the hose clip 4 pushed over the hose end piece 3.

[0056] FIG. 11 shows a hose 1 with a plurality of branch-off points 17, 18, 19, 20, wherein in FIG. 11, four branch-off points are shown, however more or fewer branch-off points can also be advantageously realized. The branch-off points 17, 18, 19, 20 each have a hose end piece 3, 21, 22, 23. The hose end pieces 3, 21, 22, 23 are formed with thickened portions of the type described before, wherein in FIG. 11, the embodiment according to FIG. 8 is exemplarily shown. However, the other described embodiments can also be provided. Hose clips are pushed over the hose end pieces 3, 21, 22, 23 in each case.

[0057] FIG. 12 shows a battery arrangement for electric or hybrid vehicles. The battery arrangement comprises a plurality of battery elements 30, 31, 32, 33, wherein in FIG. 12 four battery elements are exemplarily shown, but more or fewer battery elements are also advantageously possible. The battery elements 30, 31, 32, 33 contain a plurality of individual battery cells, which require cooling in operation. For this reason, each battery element 30, 31, 32, 33 has an internal coolant distribution. For supplying the coolant, each battery element 30, 31, 32, 33 has its own coolant supply connection 34, 35, 36, 37. For discharging the coolant which has flowed through the respective battery element 30, 31, 32, 33, each battery element comprises a coolant discharge connection 38, 39, 40, 41. The coolant supply connections and the coolant discharge connections are each formed with a hose connector, which serves for assembling a hose for the supply and discharge of the coolant. The coolant supply connections 34, 35, 36, 37 are connected to a coolant source 44, 47 via a hose 42 of the type described before, in particular a hose according to FIG. 11. The coolant source 44, 47 comprises for example a cooling fluid pump 44 and cooling fluid reservoirs 47. Here, the hose 42 is connected to the cooling fluid pump 44. The cooling fluid pump 44 on the inlet side is in turn connected to a cooling fluid reservoir 47 via a further hose 46. The coolant discharge connections 38, 39, 40, 41 are connected to a coolant sink 47, 49 via a hose 43 of the type described before, in particular a hose according to FIG. 11. The coolant sink 47, 49 comprises for example a heat exchanger 49 and the cooling fluid reservoir 47. The hose 43 in this case is connected to an inlet connection of the heat exchanger 49. The heat exchanger 49 can for example be formed as a cooler. On the outlet side, the heat exchanger 49 is connected to the cooling fluid reservoir 47 via a further hose 48.

[0058] The battery arrangement according to FIG. 12 additionally comprises an electronic control unit 51, which monitors the temperature of the battery elements 30, 31, 32, 33 and dependent on this, controls the cooling fluid pump 44. To this end, each of the battery elements 30, 31, 32, 33 is provided with a temperature sensor 52, 53, 54, 55.

[0059] The temperature sensors 52, 53, 54, 55 are connected to the electronic control unit 51 via respective electric lines 56, 57, 58, 59. In addition, the electronic control unit 51 is connected to an electric motor 45 via an electric line 50. The electric motor 45 is connected to the cooling fluid pump 44 via a shaft. The electric motor 45 serves for driving the cooling fluid pump 44. The electronic control device controls the electric motor 55, e.g. via rotational speed control in such a manner that the battery elements 30, 31, 32, 33 are adequately supplied with the cooling fluid and the developing heat is discharged so that none of the battery elements 30, 31, 32, 33 is impermissibly heated up.