METALLIC FLUID TUBE

Abstract

A metallic fluid tube includes a metallic tube wall having a tube wall inner side which delimits an interior space and a tube wall outer side facing away from the interior space and toward an exterior area. The tube wall has a tube end with a tube opening connecting the interior space with the exterior area. The tube wall has an elevation which runs around the tube wall outer side and is arranged spaced apart from the tube end. The tube wall outer side has a circumferential sealing geometry extending on the tube wall outer side from the elevation to the tube end. The circumferential sealing geometry has turning grooves extending along a groove extension direction that runs transversely to a longitudinal extension direction of the fluid tube.

Claims

1. A metallic fluid tube for a fluid connection arrangement comprising: a metallic tube wall comprising a tube wall inner side which delimits an interior space of the fluid tube and a tube wall outer side which faces away from the interior space of the fluid tube and faces an exterior area of the fluid tube; wherein the tube wall comprises a tube end with a tube opening which connects the interior space of the fluid tube with an exterior area of the metallic fluid tube; wherein the tube wall has an elevation which runs around the tube wall outer side and is arranged such that the elevation is spaced apart from the tube end, wherein the tube wall outer side has a circumferential sealing geometry which is adapted to provide a fluid-tight connection between the metallic fluid tube and a further fluid-conducting component of the fluid connection arrangement, and wherein the circumferential sealing geometry extends on the tube wall outer side from the elevation to the tube end, and wherein the circumferential sealing geometry has turning grooves which extend along a groove extension direction, wherein the groove extension direction runs transversely to a longitudinal extension direction of the fluid tube.

2. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein the turning grooves are arranged on an entirety of the circumferential sealing geometry, and wherein the turning grooves are arranged at least in sections on the elevation.

3. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 2, wherein the turning grooves encircle the circumferential sealing geometry completely at least in sections.

4. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein the turning grooves run spirally around the circumferential sealing geometry from the tube end in a direction of the elevation.

5. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein the turning grooves form elevations and depressions in the circumferential sealing geometry.

6. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein an elevation front side of the elevation facing the tube end merges into the circumferential sealing geometry.

7. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein a rear step or a rear sphere is present on an elevation rear side of the elevation facing away from the tube end, wherein the rear step or the rear sphere connects the elevation rear side to a rear area of the tube wall outer side facing away from the tube end.

8. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein the fluid tube has a tube end outer diameter at the tube end, and wherein the fluid tube has an elevation outer diameter at the elevation, wherein the elevation outer diameter is greater than the tube end outer diameter, wherein the tube outer diameter of the circumferential sealing geometry is reduced uniformly from the elevation outer diameter to the tube end outer diameter.

9. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 8, wherein the fluid tube has a rear area outer diameter on a rear area of the tube wall outer side facing away from the tube end, wherein the rear outer diameter is smaller than the elevation outer diameter.

10. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein the tube wall inner side at the tube end has a tapering which runs around the tube wall inner side and extends from the tube end to an area of the tube wall inner side spaced apart from the tube end.

11. The metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, wherein a trough running around the tube wall inner side is arranged in an area of the tube wall inner side spaced apart from the tube end.

12. A fluid connection arrangement comprising a metallic fluid tube according to claim 1, and further comprising: a further fluid-conducting component which abuts on the circumferential sealing geometry of the metallic fluid tube, wherein the further fluid-conducting component has a thread; and a threaded connector comprising a counter thread complementary to the thread of the further fluid-conducting component, wherein the threaded connector is connected to the further fluid-conducting component by a screw connection and is adapted to press the further fluid-conducting component onto the sealing geometry of the metallic fluid tube such that a fluid-tight connection is formed between the metallic fluid tube and the further fluid-conducting component.

13. A method for producing a metallic fluid tube with a circumferential sealing geometry, the method comprising: providing a tube precursor comprising a metallic tube wall, wherein the metallic tube wall comprises a tube wall inner side which delimits an interior space of the tube precursor and a tube wall outer side which faces away from the interior space of the tube precursor and faces an exterior area of the tube precursor, wherein the tube wall comprises a tube end with a tube opening which connects the interior space of the tube precursor to an exterior area of the tube precursor, removing metal with a turning tool from the tube wall outer side of the metallic tube wall in an area of the tube wall outer side extending from the tube end of the tube precursor, removing metal with a cutting tool from a tube edge delimiting the tube end of the tube wall outer side of the metallic tube wall, and solid forming the tube precursor with a forming tool to obtain the metallic fluid tube, wherein the tube wall of the obtained metallic fluid tube has an elevation which runs around the tube wall outer side and is arranged spaced apart from the tube end, wherein the tube wall outer side has a circumferential sealing geometry which is adapted to provide a fluid-tight connection between the metallic fluid tube and a further fluid-conducting component of the fluid connection arrangement, and wherein the circumferential sealing geometry extends on the tube wall outer side from the elevation to the tube end, and wherein the circumferential sealing geometry has turning grooves which extend along a groove extension direction, wherein the groove extension direction runs transversely to a longitudinal extension direction of the fluid tube.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: introducing a circumferential tapering into the tube wall inner side at the tube end with a further cutting tool, wherein the circumferential tapering extends from the tube end to an area of the tube wall inner side spaced apart from the tube end; wherein the circumferential tapering is introduced between the removing of metal at the tube edge delimiting the tube end and the solid forming of the tube precursor.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the removing of metal on the tube wall outer side of the metallic tube wall, the removing of metal on a tube edge delimiting the tube end, and the introduction of the circumferential tapering into the tube wall inner side at the tube end are carried out sequentially by a tool device which comprises the turning tool, the cutting tool, and the further cutting tool.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the solid forming the tube precursor comprises: forming turning grooves which encircle the circumferential sealing geometry completely at least in sections.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the turning grooves run spirally around the circumferential sealing geometry from the tube end in a direction of the elevation.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the turning grooves form elevations and depressions in the circumferential sealing geometry.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the solid forming the tube precursor further comprises: forming a rear step or a rear sphere is present on an elevation rear side of the elevation facing away from the tube end, wherein the rear step or the rear sphere connects the elevation rear side to a rear area of the tube wall outer side facing away from the tube end.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the fluid tube has a tube end outer diameter at the tube end, and wherein the fluid tube has an elevation outer diameter at the elevation, wherein the elevation outer diameter is greater than the tube end outer diameter, wherein the tube outer diameter of the circumferential sealing geometry is reduced uniformly from the elevation outer diameter to the tube end outer diameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Examples of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a metallic fluid tube according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a circumferential sealing geometry of the metallic fluid tube shown in FIG. 1 according to an example of the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a view of a fluid connection arrangement comprising a metallic fluid tube according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, which is connected to a further fluid-conducting component;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a method for producing a metallic fluid tube according to an example;

[0053] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a tube precursor before and after metal removing, respectively, according to an example; and

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of removing metal from a tube precursor using a turning tool according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a metallic fluid tube according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0056] The metallic fluid tube 100 is used in the context of a fluid-tight fluid connection arrangement shown in FIG. 3. In particular, the metallic fluid tube 100 is used in a vehicle for conducting pressurized fluids, in particular gases, in particular hydrogen.

[0057] The metallic fluid tube 100 consists of a metal, in particular iron or steel.

[0058] The metallic fluid tube 100 comprises a metallic tube wall 101, which has a tube wall inner side 103, which delimits an interior space 105 of the fluid tube 100, and which has a tube wall outer side 107, which faces away from the interior space 105 of the fluid tube 100 and faces an exterior area 109 of the fluid tube 100. The metallic fluid tube 100 extends along a longitudinal extension direction 111.

[0059] The tube wall 101 has a tube end 113 with a tube opening 115 which connects the interior space 105 of the fluid tube 100 with the exterior area 109 of the metallic fluid tube 100.

[0060] The tube wall 101 has an elevation 117 which runs around the tube wall outer side 107 and is arranged spaced apart from the tube end 113.

[0061] The tube wall outer side 107 has a circumferential sealing geometry 119, which is adapted to provide a fluid-tight connection between the metallic fluid tube 100 and a further fluid-conducting component of the fluid connection arrangement not shown in FIG. 1. The circumferential sealing geometry 119 extends on the tube wall outer side 107 from the elevation 117 to the tube end 113.

[0062] Even if this is only shown schematically in FIG. 1, the circumferential sealing geometry 119 has turning grooves 121 which extend along a groove extension direction 123, wherein the groove extension direction 123 runs transversely to a longitudinal extension direction 111 of the fluid tube 100.

[0063] Even if this is not apparent in FIG. 1, the turning grooves 121 are arranged on the entire circumferential sealing geometry 119.

[0064] In particular, the turning grooves 121 encircle the circumferential sealing geometry 119 at least in sections, in particular completely.

[0065] In particular, the turning grooves 121 run spirally around the circumferential sealing geometry 119, more particular, the turning grooves 121 run spirally around the circumferential sealing geometry 119 from the tube end 113 in the direction of the elevation 117.

[0066] In particular, the turning grooves 121 form elevations and depressions in the circumferential sealing geometry 119.

[0067] For further details of the circumferential sealing geometry 119 shown in FIG. 1, reference is made to the illustration in FIG. 2.

[0068] As can be seen from FIG. 1, an elevation front side 125 of the elevation 117 facing the tube end 113 merges into the circumferential sealing geometry 119.

[0069] As can be seen from FIG. 1, a rear step 129 is present on an elevation rear side 127 of the elevation 117 facing away from the tube end 113, which step 129 connects the elevation rear side 127 with a rear area 131 of the tube wall outer side 107 facing away from the tube end 113.

[0070] The fluid tube 100 has a tube end outer diameter 133 at the tube end 113. The fluid tube 100 has an elevation outer diameter 135 at the elevation 117, which is greater than the tube end outer diameter 133, wherein the tube outer diameter of the circumferential sealing geometry 119 is reduced, in particular reduced uniformly, from the elevation outer diameter 135 to the tube end outer diameter 133.

[0071] The fluid tube 100 has a rear area outer diameter 137 on a rear area 131 of the tube wall outer side 107 facing away from the tube end 113, which is smaller than the elevation outer diameter 135.

[0072] The tube wall inner side 103 has at the tube end 113 a tapering 139 which runs around the tube wall inner side 103 and extends from the tube end 113 to an area 132 of the tube wall inner side 103 spaced apart from the tube end 113.

[0073] In the area 132 of the tube wall inner side 103 spaced apart from the tube end 113, a trough 141 is arranged, which runs around the tube wall inner side 103.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a circumferential sealing geometry of the metallic fluid tube shown in FIG. 1 according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0075] In FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a section of a circumferential sealing geometry 119, arranged on the tube wall outer side 107 between the elevation 117 and the tube end 113, of the metallic fluid tube 100 shown in FIG. 1 is shown.

[0076] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the longitudinal extension direction 111 of the fluid tube 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the turning grooves 121 arranged on the circumferential sealing geometry 119 extend along the groove extension direction 123 transversely to the longitudinal extension direction 111 of the fluid tube 100.

[0077] It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the turning grooves 121 are arranged spaced apart from each other on the circumferential sealing geometry 119.

[0078] Even if only a section of the circumferential sealing geometry 119 of the fluid tube 100 is shown in FIG. 2, the turning grooves 121 encircle the circumferential sealing geometry 119 at least in sections, in particular completely.

[0079] FIG. 3 shows a view of a fluid connection arrangement comprising a metallic fluid tube according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, which is connected to a further fluid-conducting component.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows the metallic fluid tube 100 of the fluid connection arrangement 300 already shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein reference is made here to the extensive explanations for FIGS. 1 and 2, and wherein, for reasons of clarity, only the circumferential sealing geometry 119 of the metallic fluid tube 100 is marked in FIG. 3.

[0081] The fluid connection arrangement 300 shown in FIG. 3 has a further fluid-conducting component 301, which abuts on the circumferential sealing geometry 119 of the metallic fluid tube 100.

[0082] In order to achieve a fluid-tight connection between the metallic fluid tube 100 and the further fluid-conducting component 301 within the fluid connection arrangement 300, the metallic fluid tube 100 and the fluid-conducting component 301 have to be pressed against one another.

[0083] This is achieved by a threaded connector 303 of the fluid connection arrangement 300 shown in FIG. 3. The threaded connector 303 has a counter thread 305, shown only schematically in FIG. 3, in an area facing the further fluid-conducting component 301, which is complementary to a thread 307, shown only schematically in FIG. 3, in an area of the further fluid-conducting component 301 facing the threaded connector 303. The threaded connector 303 can therefore be screwed onto the further fluid-conducting component 301 as part of a screw connection.

[0084] The threaded connector 303 further comprises a pressing area 309 which engages behind the elevation 117 of the metallic fluid tube 100 shown in FIG. 3, in particular the rear step 129 of the elevation 117.

[0085] When the threaded connector 303 is screwed onto the further fluid-conducting component 301, the pressing area 309 of the threaded connector 303 is pressed against the metallic fluid tube 100, so that a press connection is obtained between the sealing geometry 119 of the metallic fluid tube 100 and the further fluid-conducting component 301, and thereby a fluid-tight connection is provided between the metallic fluid tube 100 and the further fluid-conducting component 301.

[0086] FIG. 4 shows a method for manufacturing a metallic fluid tube according to an example.

[0087] The method 200 comprises, as a first method step, the providing 201 of a tube precursor 143 with a metallic tube wall 101, which has a tube wall inner side 103 which delimits an interior space 105 of the tube precursor 143, and which has a tube wall outer side 107 which faces away from the interior space 105 of the tube precursor 143 and faces an exterior area 109 of the tube precursor 143, wherein the tube wall 101 has a tube end 113 with a tube opening 115 which connects the interior space 105 of the tube precursor 143 to an exterior area 109 of the tube precursor 143.

[0088] The method 200 comprises, as a second method step, the removing 203 of metal on the tube wall outer side 107 of the metallic tube wall 101 in an area 131 of the tube wall outer side 107 extending from the tube end 113 of the tube precursor 143 with a turning tool 151.

[0089] The method 200 comprises, as a third method step, the removing 205 of metal on a tube edge of the tube wall outer side 107 of the metallic tube wall 101, which edge delimits the tube end 113, with a cutting tool.

[0090] The method 200 comprises, as a fourth method step, the solid forming 207 of the tube precursor 143 by means of a forming tool, wherein the metallic fluid tube 100 is obtained, wherein the tube wall 101 of the obtained metallic fluid tube 100 has an elevation 117 which runs around the tube wall outer side 107 and is arranged spaced apart from the tube end 113, wherein the tube wall outer side 107 has a circumferential sealing geometry 119 which is adapted to provide a fluid-tight connection between the metallic fluid tube 100 and a further fluid-conducting component 301, and wherein the circumferential sealing geometry 119 extends on the tube wall outer side 107 from the elevation 117 to the tube end 113, and wherein the circumferential sealing geometry 119 has turning grooves 121 which extend along a groove extension direction 123, wherein the groove extension direction 123 runs transversely to a longitudinal extension direction 111 of the fluid tube 100.

[0091] In particular, the method comprises the further method step, which is carried out between the removing 205 of metal on the tube edge delimiting the tube end 113 and the solid forming 207 of the tube precursor 143: introducing a circumferential tapering 139 into the tube wall inner side 103 at the tube end 113 by means of a further cutting tool, wherein the circumferential tapering 139 extends from the tube end 113 to an area 132 of the tube wall inner side 103 spaced apart from the tube end 113.

[0092] In particular, the removing 203 of metal on the tube wall outer side 107 of the metallic tube wall 101, the removing 205 of metal on a tube edge delimiting the tube end 113, and in particular the introduction of a circumferential tapering 139 into the tube wall inner side 103 at the tube end 113 are carried out sequentially by a tool device which comprises the turning tool 151, the cutting tool, and in particular also the further cutting tool. The turning tool 151, the cutting tool, and in particular also the further cutting tool can thus be advantageously integrated into the tool device.

[0093] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a tube precursor before and after metal removing, respectively, according to one example.

[0094] In FIG. 5A, a tube precursor 143 according to an example is shown, which is provided according to the method 200 described in FIG. 4 for producing a metallic fluid tube 100 at the beginning of the manufacturing process.

[0095] The tube precursor 143 has a metallic tube wall 101, which in turn has a tube wall inner side 103, which delimits an interior space 105 of the tube precursor 143, and which has a tube wall outer side 107, which faces away from the interior space 105 of the tube precursor 143 and faces an exterior area 109 of the tube precursor 143. The tube wall 101 has a tube end 113 with a tube opening 115, which connects the interior space 105 of the tube precursor 143 with the exterior area 109 of the tube precursor 143.

[0096] After the providing 201 of the tube precursor 143 according to the method 200 described in FIG. 4, the next method step is the removing 203 of metal on the tube wall outer side 107 of the metallic tube wall 101 in an area 145 of the tube wall outer side 107 extending from the tube end 113 of the tube precursor 143 using a turning tool 151, wherein the corresponding area 145 is highlighted in the tube precursor 143 shown in FIG. 5B.

[0097] The turning tool 151 comprises in particular a turning chisel, in particular with a shapeless cutting edge 155, by means of which metal is removed in the corresponding area 145 and a new surface is provided which, at the end of the manufacturing process, corresponds to the circumferential sealing geometry 119 of the metallic fluid tube 100.

[0098] By removing metal by the turning tool 151, the turning grooves 121 already described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are introduced into the corresponding area 145, which ensure a corresponding fluid-tight connection of the metallic fluid tube 100 with the further fluid-conducting component 301 in the corresponding circumferential sealing geometry 119 of the metallic fluid tube 100.

[0099] For further details regarding the removing of metal by means of the turning tool 151, reference is made to the following explanations of FIG. 6.

[0100] According to the method 200 described in FIG. 4, the next method step then follows, comprising the removing 205 of metal on a tube edge 147, which delimits the tube end 113, of the tube wall outer side 107 of the metallic tube wall 101 with a cutting tool. The corresponding tube edge 147 is shown in FIG. 5A. And the corresponding rounded area 149 of the removed tube edge 147 is shown schematically in FIG. 5B.

[0101] The cutting tool comprises in particular a shaped cutting edge by means of which a machining process is made possible.

[0102] Even if this is not shown in FIG. 4, the subsequent, optional, method step is to introduce a circumferential tapering 139 into the tube wall inner side 103 at the tube end 113 using a further cutting tool, wherein the circumferential tapering 139 extends from the tube end 113 to an area 132 of the tube wall inner side 103 spaced apart from the tube end 113. The circumferential tapering 139 in the tube precursor 143 is shown in FIG. 5B.

[0103] Subsequently, the last method step described in accordance with FIG. 4 is the solid forming 207 of the tube precursor 143 shown in FIG. 5B by means of a forming tool, wherein the metallic fluid tube 100 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

[0104] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of removing metal from a tube precursor using a turning tool according to an example.

[0105] FIG. 6 shows the second method step of the manufacturing method 200 of the metallic fluid tube 100, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 4 and which comprises: the removing 203 of metal on the tube wall outer side 107 of the metallic tube wall 101 in an area 145 of the tube wall outer side 107 extending from the tube end 113 of the tube precursor 143, using a turning tool 151.

[0106] As shown only schematically in FIG. 6, the tube precursor 143 rotates about a rotation axis 153 and the turning tool 151 with a shapeless cutting edge 155 moves parallel to the rotation axis 153 along the tube wall outer side 107 of the metallic tube wall 101 and cuts out a new surface in the area 145 extending from the tube end 113 of the tube precursor 143.

[0107] Due to the contact with the turning tool 151, the new surface in the area 145 has corresponding turning grooves 121, not shown in FIG. 6, which extend along a groove extension direction 123, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal extension direction 111 of the tube precursor 143.

[0108] The new surface with the turning grooves 121 in the area 145 provides the circumferential sealing geometry 119 in the metallic fluid tube 100.

[0109] All features explained and shown in connection with individual examples of the present disclosure can be provided in different combinations in the subject-matter of the present disclosure in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

[0110] The scope of the present disclosure is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0111] 100 Metallic fluid tube [0112] 101 Metallic tube wall [0113] 103 Tube wall inner side [0114] 105 Interior space of the fluid tube [0115] 107 Tube wall outer side [0116] 109 Exterior area of the fluid tube [0117] 111 Longitudinal extension direction of the fluid tube [0118] 113 Tube end [0119] 115 Tube opening [0120] 117 Elevation [0121] 119 Circumferential sealing geometry [0122] 121 Turning grooves [0123] 123 Groove extension direction [0124] 125 Elevation front side [0125] 127 Elevation back side [0126] 129 Rear step [0127] 131 Rear area of the tube wall outer side [0128] 132 Area of the tube wall inner side spaced apart from the tube end [0129] 133 Tube end outer diameter [0130] 135 Elevation outer diameter [0131] 137 Rear area outer diameter [0132] 139 Tapering [0133] 141 Trough [0134] 143 Tube precursors [0135] 145 Area of the tube wall outer side extending from the tube end of the tube precursor [0136] 147 Tube edge [0137] 149 Rounded area of the removed tube edge [0138] 151 Turning tool [0139] 153 Rotation axis of the tube precursor [0140] 155 Shapeless cutting edge of the turning tool [0141] 200 Method for manufacturing a metallic fluid tube [0142] 201 First method step: providing a tube precursor [0143] 203 Second method step: removing metal with a turning tool [0144] 205 Third method step: removing metal with a cutting tool [0145] 207 Fourth method step: solid forming the tube precursor [0146] 300 Fluid connection arrangement [0147] 301 Further fluid-conducting component [0148] 303 Threaded connector [0149] 305 Counter thread of the threaded connector [0150] 307 Thread of the further fluid-conducting component [0151] 309 Pressing area of the threaded connector