FUNCTIONAL ELEMENT WITH FILTER PORTION

Abstract

A functional element is provided which comprises a functional layer with at least one filter portion, a covering part on each side of the functional layer, at least one fluid passage in the functional element which passes through a passage area of the at least one filter portion, and a sealing segment which surrounds the passage area in a circumferentially closed manner with sealing material of the sealing segment permeating the filter portion to provide a seal in the filter portion and between the covering parts and the filter portion.

Claims

1. Functional element comprising a functional layer with at least one filter portion, a covering part on each side of the functional layer, at least one fluid passage in the functional element which passes through a passage area of the at least one filter portion, and a sealing segment which surrounds the passage area in a circumferentially closed manner with sealing material of the sealing segment permeating the filter portion to provide a seal in the filter portion and between the covering parts and the filter portion.

2. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the functional element is a flat gasket.

3. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is an additional material arranged on at least one of the covering parts.

4. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material comprises a matrix material and a filler material.

5. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material comprises at least one of an elastomer and/or fluorine.

6. Functional element according to claim 4, wherein the matrix material comprises at least one of an elastomer and/or fluorine.

7. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material comprises a blowing agent.

8. Functional element according to claim 7, wherein the blowing agent comprises hollow particles encapsulating an expanding material.

9. Functional element according to claim 4, wherein the filler material occupies within the sealing segment single, separated and scattered blowing regions.

10. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein regions between single sealing segments are free of sealing material.

11. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is arranged to form a sealing line around the passage area.

12. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the sealing material is provided to the at least one covering part in a distance to an opening corresponding to the fluid passage passing through the passage area of the filter portion.

13. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the functional layer comprises a mesh which extends essentially throughout the whole functional layer, and provides the at least one filter portion.

14. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein a side facing towards the functional layer of at least one covering part has a flat surface onto which the sealing material is provided.

15. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein at least one covering part is a flat layer.

16. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein at least one covering part is a metal layer.

17. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein at least one outer side of the functional element has a flat surface.

18. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein at least one outer side of the functional element is provided with at least one sealing element for sealing with a mating part.

19. Functional element according to claim 18, wherein the at least one sealing element on the outer side is formed as a line to provide a sealing line on this outer side.

20. Functional element according to claim 1, wherein the two covering parts are connected to each other by clinching.

21. Component for a motor vehicle comprising a functional element according to claim 1.

22. Fluid controlled component comprising at least two control bodies with fluid channels in respective channel sides, wherein a functional element according to claim 1 is arranged in between the at least two control bodies and the channel sides are facing towards respective outer sides of the functional element and sealing elements are provided which seal between the functional element and the respective control body.

23. Motor vehicle comprising a functional element according to claim 1.

24. Method for producing a functional element comprising the following steps: providing a functional layer with at least one filter portion, a covering part for each side of the functional layer with each covering part having at least one breakthrough for at least one fluid passage, aligning the breakthroughs to a passage area of the at least one filter portion for providing at least one fluid passage in the functional element which passes through the passage area, and providing a sealing segment which surrounds the passage area in a circumferentially closed manner with sealing material of the sealing segment provided to permeate the filter portion for providing a seal in the filter portion and between the covering parts and the filter portion.

25. Method according to claim 24, wherein the sealing material is attached to a side of at least one of the covering parts, in particular by screen printing.

26. Method according to claim 24 directed to a method, wherein providing the sealing material comprises subjecting the sealing material to a curing process.

27. Method according to claim 24 directed to a method, wherein providing the sealing material and the sealing segment comprises an expanding process of the sealing material.

28. Method according to claim 24 directed to a method, wherein providing the sealing material and the sealing segment comprises expanding the sealing material and curing the sealing material in an expanded state.

29. Method according to claim 24 directed to a method, wherein providing the sealing segment comprises aligning the coverings parts with respect to the functional layer and pressing the covering parts with the functional layer in between together for having the sealing material permeating the filter portion in the region of the sealing segment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0254] In the drawings:

[0255] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a functional element;

[0256] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the functional element;

[0257] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a filter portion of a functional layer and covering parts designed as layers in an exploded view;

[0258] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a sealing segment in a filter portion similar to the exploded view of FIG. 3;

[0259] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sketch of sealing material of the sealing segment;

[0260] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram for a method producing a functional element;

[0261] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of a fluid controlled component with two control bodies and a functional element in between;

[0262] FIG. 8 shows an outer side of a covering part which faces towards a mating part and is provided with sealing elements along a line structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0263] An embodiment of a functional element which is designated as a whole with 100 and shown exemplarily in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises a functional layer 112 with at least one filter portion 118 and a covering part 114 and 116 on each side of the functional layer 112.

[0264] The functional layer 112 comprises a flat mesh 122 which provides several filter portions 118.

[0265] For example, mesh 122 essentially extends throughout the whole functional layer 112 and in particular builds up the functional layer 112.

[0266] The mesh 122 comprises a plurality of intersecting wires 124 with the wires 124 being arranged to provide gaps 126 which are sufficiently large to let a working fluid passing through but small enough to prevent contaminates passing through the mesh 122. Such contaminates are for example small particulates.

[0267] The working fluid is preferably a liquid in particular a hydraulic medium, for example an oil.

[0268] The mesh 122 extends essentially in a geometric functional plane 128 of functional layer 112 and the wires 124 run essentially in the functional plane 128 intersecting each other at least partly.

[0269] For example, the mesh 122 provides within the functional plane 128 an open area of at least approximately 60%, that is in particular in a projection of the mesh 122 onto the functional plane 128 the projection of gaps 126 covers at least approximately 60% of the functional plane 128 and the other at least approximately 40% are covered by the projection of the wires 124.

[0270] The wires 124 run essentially along a direction of longitudinal extension of themselves within the functional plane 128, however with a slightly up and down between crossings 132 with other wires. In particular at least approximately each of the wires 124 crosses other wires 124 and alternate by above and below the other wire at respective crossings 132.

[0271] Preferably, the mesh 122 is calendared, such that its height perpendicular to the functional plane 128 is less than twice the typical diameter of the wires 124 and in particular to provide a stability to the mesh 122.

[0272] The wires 124 extend elongated in a direction of longitudinal extension at least through one respective filter portion 118, preferably throughout the whole extend of the mesh 122. The wires have a much larger extend in the direction of longitudinal extension than transverse to this direction and have for example a typical diameter of at least approximately 50 micrometer in the direction transverse to the direction of longitudinal extension.

[0273] In particular the plurality of wires 124 comprises a first group of wires 124 and a second group of wires and the wires 124 are arranged such that the direction of longitudinal extension of the wires 124 of the one group runs obliquely, in particular at least approximately perpendicular, to the direction of longitudinal extension of the wires 124 of the other group and preferably the directions of longitudinal extension of wires 124 within one group run at least approximately parallel to each other.

[0274] Preferably, wires 124 of one group of the plurality of wires 124 are distanced to each other with a distance which is at least approximately in the range between 125 micrometers and 175 micrometers.

[0275] The gaps 126 are formed between neighboring wires 124 and have in particular a typical extend in the functional plane 128 within the range in between of at least approximately 125 micrometers to 175 micrometers.

[0276] The covering parts 114 and 116 comprise metallic layers 144 and 146 respectively which face each other with respective sides 152, 154, the surfaces of which are in particular essentially flat and run preferably at least approximately parallel to the functional plane 128.

[0277] The functional layer 112 with the mesh 122 extends in between the inner sides 152, 154 of the two covering parts 114 and 116 with the inner sides 152 and 154 facing towards the functional layer 112.

[0278] The layers 144, 146 have outer sides which are opposite to their respective inner side 152 and 154 and provide in this embodiment outer sides 156 and outer side 158 of the functional element 100 which are in particular opposite outer sides of the functional element 100.

[0279] In particular, the outer sides 156, 158 have flat surfaces which preferably run at least approximately within geometrical planes which run at least approximately parallel to the functional plane 128.

[0280] The covering parts 114, 116 and the functional layer 112 are fixed together at mounting spots 162.

[0281] Preferably, the covering layers 144 and 146 are clinched together with the mesh 122 having respective cutouts 164 at the mounting spots 162, such that the layers 144, 146 are clinched directly together and the functional layer 112 is in particular clamped in between.

[0282] The functional element 100 has several fluid passages 212, 214 for a working fluid which run through the covering layers 144, 146 and the functional layer 112 and in particular from one outer side 156 to the other outer side 158.

[0283] Some fluid passages 212 let the working fluid essentially unobstructed through by providing an essentially hollow passage through the functional element 100 without any interfering sections therein.

[0284] For these fluid passages 212 the covering layers 144 and 146 have breakthroughs 222, 224 extending from the respective inner side 152, 154 throughout the layer 144, 146 to the opposite side 156, 158 respectively. At these fluid passages 212 the functional layer 112 has a breakthrough 226 which is in this embodiment a cutoff in the mesh 122. In particular, the breakthroughs 222, 224, 226 are aligned with respect to each other to overlap and thereby providing the free fluid passage 212 for the working fluid.

[0285] Other fluid passages, here fluid passages 214, pass through a passage area 232 of respective filter portions 118 provided by the mesh 122.

[0286] Aligned with the respective filter portion 118 there are breakthroughs 236 and 238 in covering layers 144 and 146, respectively, which overlap with the passage area 232 such that the working fluid can flow through the fluid passage 214 from one side of the functional element to another side of the same by passing through one of the breakthroughs 236, 238, passing through the passage area 232 of filter portion 118 and passing the other one of breakthroughs 236, 238.

[0287] An extend of the fluid passage 214 transverse to the direction of flow of the working fluid through the passage 214, in particular an extend of the passage 214 at least approximately parallel to the functional plane 128, is much larger than the extend of the gaps 126, for example at least five times lager, in particular at least ten times larger than the typical extend of the gaps 126.

[0288] The breakthroughs 236, 238 open at respective openings 242, 244 in layers 144, 146 at their respective inner sides 152, 154. The openings 242, 244 face towards the functional layer 112 and overlap with the passage area 232 of the respective filter portion 118.

[0289] Around the passage area 232, there is a sealing segment 252 which surrounds the passage area 232 in a circumferentially closed manner, such that in particular with respect to the functional plane 128 the passage area 232 is fully enclosed by the sealing segment 252, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0290] Sealing material 254 is provided in the sealing segment 252 to inner sides 152, 154 of both covering layers 144, 146 around openings 242, 244 and the sealing material 254 elevates over the surface of inner sides 152, 154 and permeates the filter portion 118.

[0291] The sealing material 254 forms a fluid impermeable structure which extends from the inner side 152, 154 of one of the covering layers 144, 146 to the other inner side 154, 152 of the other covering layer 146, 144 thereby embedding the filter portion 234 in the sealing segment 252 and which fully encloses the fluid passage 214 in a direction transverse to the flow of the fluid.

[0292] Thereby the sealing material 254 seals the filter portion 118 in the sealing segment 252 cross-sectionally impermeable for the working fluid.

[0293] In particular, sealing segment 252 is provided as a sealing line 256 running along a contour 262 which surrounds the openings 242, 244 and the passage area 232 in a circumferentially closed manner and extending transverse with a width W which is several times larger than the typical extend of the gaps 126 and the typical diameter of wires 124 such that transverse to the direction of fluid flow several neighboring gaps 126 are closed by the sealing material 254. The width W of sealing line 256 is measured transverse, in particular at least approximately perpendicular, to the contour 262.

[0294] The sealing segment 252 is spaced from the apertures 242, 244 in the direction transverse, in particular, at least approximately perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow such that there is a clearance in between and the sealing material 254 is at least a distance D apart from the apertures 242 and 244 with the distance D being in particular at least 0.1 mm large and for example at least approximately 0.5 mm large.

[0295] The distance D is in particular measured from an edge of the respective aperture 242, 244 to the sealing material 254 in a direction transverse, in particular at least approximately perpendicular, to the direction of fluid flow through the fluid passage 214, in particular in a direction which runs at least approximately parallel to the functional plane 128 and which runs from the point of the edge of the aperture 242, 244 to the nearest located part of sealing material 254.

[0296] The sealing material 254 comprises a rubber based matrix material 272 and a filler material 274 with the filler material 274 occupying a plurality of individual, separated blowing regions 276 which are scattered around the sealing segment 252 and at least approximately each of the blowing regions 276 is fully enclosed by a matrix 278 formed from the matrix material 272, as exemplarily sketched in FIG. 5.

[0297] Accordingly, the matrix material 272 forms a matrix structure 278 which expands throughout the sealing segment 252 and in particular provides a fluid impermeable barrier structure from one inner side 152, 154 to the other inner side 154, 152 of the covering layers 144, 146 and continuously expanding surrounding around the passage area 232 in a circumferentially closed manner.

[0298] In particular, the sealing material 254 has been provided onto both inner sides 152, 154, for example as explained below.

[0299] Accordingly, there is in fact an interface 279 in the sealing segment 252 between the sealing materials 254 provided to either side of inner sides 152, 154.

[0300] However, as each part of the sealing segment 252 are arranged to be in sealing contact, in particular by pressing the two covering layers 144 and 146 together, no fluid can pass along the interface 279 and therefore the sealing materials 254 provided to either side of inner sides 152, 154, in particular their respective matrix structures 278 together, build nonetheless a fluid impermeable barrier.

[0301] The matrix material 272 is in particular an elastomer, for example a fluorinated elastomer, which has been cured by vulcanization.

[0302] Enclosed within the matrix material 272 is distributed in a plurality of single blowing regions 276 the filler material 274, which in particular provides stability to the sealing line 256 without disturbing the continuously closed barrier structure of the matrix material 272.

[0303] Preferably, the filler material 274 comprises hollow particles 282 which are filled with an expanding material 284, that is the particles 282 have a shell surrounding an interior in which the expanding material 284 is located. Preferably the shell of the particles 282 is made from a thermoplastic material.

[0304] Preferably, the particles 282 are adhesively connected to the matrix material 272 in addition to being surrounded by the same.

[0305] The expanding material 284 is in particular a solvent which has a boiling temperature which is smaller than the temperature at which the matrix material 272 vulcanizes, such that during the vulcanization of the matrix material 272 the expanding material 284 is in a gaseous state for expanding the sealing material 254.

[0306] For example the expanding material 284 is an alkane.

[0307] The sealing material 254 is provided to each of the covering layers 144 and 146 in particular by screen printing and curing the matrix material 272 thereafter.

[0308] The sealing material 254 provided on both covering layers 144, 146 at their respective inner sides 152, 154 is provided with a height H over the surface of the inner side 152, 154. For example, height H is at least larger than one fifth of the thickness of the mesh 122. In particular, the height H is measured in a direction at least approximately perpendicular to the surface of the inner side 152, 154 and at least approximately at the contour 262.

[0309] The respective sealing lines 256 at each inner side 152, 154 of the covering layers 144 and 146 run correspondingly to each other such that with assembling the functional element 100 the sealing lines 256 at each inner sides 152, 154 are aligned to each other and enclose a corresponding section of the filter portion 118 in the sealing segment 252 in between and permeating through the gaps 126 and sealingly attach to each other as well as sealingly enclosing the wires 124 and their crossings 132, such that the sealing segment 252 forms a cross-sectionally seal impermeable for the working fluid.

[0310] In particular, around the breakthrough 226 in mesh 122 for the free fluid passage 212 there is also provided a sealing segment comprising a sealing material for cross-sectional sealing of the fluid passage 212 in the area of the mesh.

[0311] Preferably, similar sealing lines as sealing lines 256 are provided around openings in inner sides 152 and 154 corresponding to the breakthroughs 222 and 224 in covering layers 144 and 146 and therefore reference is made to the description given above.

[0312] In particular, the outer sides 156 and 158 of the functional element 100 which are here the opposite sides to the inner sides 152, 154 of the covering layers 144, 156 are designed for assembling to and sealing with mating parts.

[0313] Therefore, on the outer sides 156, 158 sealing elements 292, 294 are provided to seal between the functional element 100 and the respective mating part, for example around openings 296 and 298 at the outer sides 156 and 158 of the respective breakthroughs 222 and 224 and/or at fluid channels of the mating part.

[0314] Preferably the sealing elements 292 and 294 are provided as sealing lines made of rubber based sealing material attached on the in particular flat surfaces of the outer sides 156, 158 for example by screen printing.

[0315] Advantageous sealing material and preferred provision of the sealing lines correspond essentially to the above given explanations, such that it is fully referred thereto. The sealing material of the outside sealing elements 292, 294 is preferably the same as the one for the inner sealing segment 252 but can be also a different sealing material or one that has only some components in common.

[0316] In particular, sealing elements 292, 294 run at least partly around the openings 296 and 298 in a manner corresponding to sealing lines 256 around openings 242 and 244.

[0317] An exemplary method for producing an embodiment of a functional element 100 comprises in particular the following steps which are also sketched in FIG. 6.

[0318] At a step 312 covering layers 154 and 146 are provided as covering parts 114, 116 and the same are provided with breakthroughs 222 and 224 for fluid passages 212 and breakthroughs 236 and 238 for fluid passages 214.

[0319] In a following step 314 an initial composition of the sealing material 254 is provided, wherein the initial composition comprises the matrix material 272 and in the filler material 274 and a solvent such that the initial composition is capable to be provided along pre-defined line structures on the respective sides of layers 144 and 146, in particular by screen printing.

[0320] For example, the initial composition comprises more solvent than matrix material and filler material, for example the solvent accounts for at least approximately 60% of the initial composition.

[0321] The provided initial composition is then attached on the surfaces of the respective sides 152, 154 of the covering layers 144, 146 along the predefined line structure which comprise the areas for sealing segments 252. The attaching of the initial composition is preferably done by screen printing.

[0322] In particular, the regions in between the sealing lines on the surfaces of the sides 152, 154 are let vacant.

[0323] In particular, the initial composition is provided with a distance D apart from the openings 242 and 244 and from other openings, if applicable.

[0324] Thereafter, the initial composition is dried for example at a temperature less than 100° C. for release of the solvent such that essentially only the matrix material 272 and the filler material 274 remains on the surfaces. Accordingly, the amount of material along the line structures is diminished essentially during the drying process and for example after drying the sealing material 254 has along the line structures only a typical height of at least approximately within the range of 20 micrometer to 60 micrometers.

[0325] In the next step 316 the matrix material 272 is cured and the filler material 274 which comprises the hollow particles 282 encapsulating the expanding material 284 is expanded. Therefore, the sealing material 254 is heated at least to a curing temperature of the matrix material 272, in particular to temperatures above 100° C., for example up to temperatures larger than 180° C. and for example to temperatures of at least approximately 200° C.

[0326] In particular, the sealing material 254 is sufficiently heated such that at least the vulcanization temperature of the matrix material 272 is reached and the matrix material 272 vulcanizes. As a boiling temperature of the expanding material 284 is lower than the temperature to which the sealing material 254 is brought the expanding material 284 becomes gaseous and expands and with it the shell of the particles 282 expands. As the shell of the particles 282 expands with the expanding material 284 the latter is still enclosed by the shells and at least most of it does not disappear out of the to be formed sealing segment despite of being volatile.

[0327] In particular, in this step the particles 282 increase their size, for example their size increase at least by a factor of 1,5, preferably at least by a factor of 2.

[0328] During expansion, the filler material 274 stays surrounded by the matrix material 272, for example due to adhesion, and the whole sealing material 254 increases its volume. As the matrix material 272 maintains surrounding the particles 282 the continuously matrix structure 278 is formed and the matrix material is cured, in particular vulcanized, in this matrix structure 278 due to the heating process.

[0329] After the heating process the sealing material 254 returns to a normal temperature, for example room temperature, but due to the cured matrix material 272 the sealing material 254 remains at an enlarged state compared with the state before the heating process despite that the hollow particles 282 partially collapse due to the reduced volume of the expanding material 284 at the normal temperature. For example, a full collapse to the initial volume of the particles 282 is prevented by the cured matrix material 272 to which the shell of the particles 282 sticks adhesively.

[0330] In corresponding steps, the outer sides 156 and 158 are provided with sealing elements 292, 294, in particular formed by a similar sealing material as sealing material 254, in particular comprising the same or a similar material as matrix material 272 but without a filler material as this is not necessarily needed for providing sealing lines which reliably seal with the typically flat sealing surfaces of the mating parts.

[0331] In a further step 318 the mesh 122 as the functional layer 112 with the filter portions 118 is provided and the cutouts 164 for the mounting spots 162 and the breakthroughs 226 for the fluid passages 212 are cut.

[0332] Further in this step, the mesh 132 is arranged between the covering layers 144 and 146 with their inner sides 152 and 154 facing towards the mesh 122 and the filter portions 118 being aligned to the openings 242 and 244. If applicable, also other portions like the breakthroughs 226 or the cutouts 164 are aligned with corresponding openings of breakthroughs 222 and 224 and with the corresponding mounting spots 162, respectively.

[0333] Following of the arrangement the layers 144, 112, 146 are attached to each other, in particular by clinching at the mounting spots 162.

[0334] During attaching to each other, the layers 144 and 146 are brought at their inner sides 152 and 154 in contact with a respective sides of the mesh 122. Thereby the sealing lines 256 with the sealing material 254 are pressed into the mesh 122 in the area of the sealing segment 252 and close the gaps 126 and sealingly align to the wires 124 such that in the sealing segment 252 due to the permeating sealing material 254 a cross-sectionally seal surrounding the passage area 232 is formed.

[0335] The functional element 100 as described before is in particular designed as an element of a fluid control component designated as a whole with 350, for example as a flat seal or separator plate thereof with additional functionality due to the fluid passages 214 with filter portions 118.

[0336] In particular, the component 350 is a component for a motor vehicle and for example part of an automatic transmission unit.

[0337] The fluid control component 350, exemplarily shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, comprises two control bodies 352 and 354 which face each other with respective sides 356, 358.

[0338] Fluid passages are provided in the respective bodies 352, 354 and from one body 352, 354 to the other body 354, 352.

[0339] For example, the bodies 352, 354 have channels 362 at their sides 356, 358 with corridors 364 allowing the working fluid to flow therein from one point at the side 356, 358 to another point at this side and the corridors 364 being bounded by channel walls 366 but open towards the respective side 356, 358.

[0340] In particular, the channel walls 366 extend along the corridors 364 and have upper end surfaces 368 facing towards the functional element 100 and the other body 354, 352. The upper end surfaces 368 of a respective body 352, 354 extend in particular at least approximately within one common geometrical surface plane of the respective side 356, 358.

[0341] The fluid passages within the fluid control component 350 are provided for operating control functions by having pressure differentials being submitted by the working fluid in the fluid passages and/or by a flow of the working fluid through the fluid passages.

[0342] In particular, there are several control elements in the fluid control component 350 for operating the control functions, for example valves 372, 374 and/or sliders 378 for providing, controlling and/or regulating the flow of the working fluid and/or pressure differentials therein.

[0343] The functional element 100 is provided in between the control bodies 352, 354, which are in this embodiment the mating parts mentioned above, for sealing the channels 362 at their open sides and to allow the working fluid to pass through the fluid passages 212, 214 in a defined manner from one control body 352, 354 to the other control body 354, 352.

[0344] For example, the openings 296, 298 at the outer sides 156 and 158 of the functional element 100 are aligned with respective points at the channels 362 for connecting on channel 362 at one control body 352, 354 to another channel 362 at the other control body 354, 352.

[0345] With the filter portion 118 in the fluid passages 214 contaminants and pollutants which might be in the working fluid are prevented to pass along the functional element 100 and to be distributed within the fluid passages of the fluid control component 350 and for example to harm other control elements, such as the valves 372, 374 and sliders 378 therein and/or to block channels 362 and to adversely affect the transmission of fluid flow and/or pressure differentials there through.

[0346] The outer sides 156 and 158 of the functional element 100 are assembled to the sides 356 and 358 of the control bodies 352, 354, respectively. The sealing elements 292, 294 are in sealing contact with the upper end surfaces 368 of the channel walls 366 when the fluid control component 350 is assembled to seal the channels 362.

[0347] Accordingly, the sealing elements 382 follow on the outer sides 156 and 158 respective line structures according to the fluid channels 362 of the respective control body 352, 354, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 8.

[0348] Preferably, the sealing elements 292, 294 are formed by rubber based additional sealing material put on the outer side 156, 158 for example by screen printing, as mentioned above.

[0349] Advantageously, the sealing material of the sealing elements 292, 294 has one or more features of the sealing material 254 described above and therefore it is fully referred to the explanations of sealing material 254 above.

[0350] Preferably, the sealing elements 292, 294, in particular the sealing lines with sealing material, are aligned on the outer sides 156, 158 at least essentially as described above in connection with the sealing lines 256 with one or more afore-mentioned features and therefore it is fully referred to the explanations given above in connection with the sealing segment 252, the sealing material 254 and the corresponding sealing lines 256.

[0351] In order to not interfere with the channel walls 366, the mounting spots 162 are preferably aligned within a corridor 364 or aligned at an area of the functional element 100, which is not in contact with the mating part, such as the bodies 352, 354, for example an area extending out of the assembled bodies 352, 354.