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Title:
HOSE COUPLING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A HOSE CONNECTION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/082507
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A hose coupling assembly comprising: a hose 9 for conveyance of a fluid, said hose 9 having a hose end 10 with an outer surface 11; a hose coupling 1 having a sleeve portion 2 with a receptacle 4 having an inner surface 12 for receiving said hose end 10, said outer surface 11 of the hose end 10 being adhesively bonded to the inner surface 19 of the sleeve portion 2.

Inventors:
HERMANN SASCHA (DE)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2014/076329
Publication Date:
June 11, 2015
Filing Date:
December 03, 2014
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
EATON IND IP GMBH & CO KG (DE)
International Classes:
F16L33/207; F16L33/34
Domestic Patent References:
WO2012008371A12012-01-19
Foreign References:
DE3512988A11986-10-16
GB889092A1962-02-07
US20080309073A12008-12-18
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
EATON IP GROUP EMEA (Morges, CH)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. A hose coupling assembly comprising:

a hose (9) for conveyance of a fluid, said hose (9) having a hose end (10) with an outer surface (11);

a hose coupling (1) having a sleeve portion (2) with a receptacle (4) having an inner surface (12) for receiving said hose end (10), said outer surface (11) of the hose end (10) being adhesively bonded to the inner surface (12) of the sleeve portion (2).

2. The hose coupling assembly according to claim 1 wherein the hose end (10) is supported against the hose coupling (1) solely with its outer surface (11).

3. The hose coupling assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sleeve portion (2) is crimped onto the hose (9).

4. The hose coupling assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hose coupling (1) has a channel portion (6) with a fluid channel (7) for a flow of a fluid, said fluid channel (7) being connected to the hose (9) for conveyance of the fluid.

5. The hose coupling assembly according to claim 4 wherein the inner diameter of the fluid channel (D3) is smaller than the inner diameter (DO of the receptacle (4).

6. The hose coupling assembly according to any one of claims 4 or 5 wherein the fluid channel (7) has substantially the same inner diameter as the hose (9).

7. The hose coupling assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the fluid channel (7) is integrally formed with the sleeve portion (2).

8. The hose coupling assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hose coupling assembly further comprises a supporting sleeve (17) being inserted into the hose end (10).

9. The hose coupling assembly according to claim 8 wherein the supporting sleeve (17) has at least one aperture (20) in an outer surface (18).

10. The hose coupling assembly according to any one of claims 8 or 9 wherein the supporting sleeve (17) is press-fit into the hose end (10).

11. The hose coupling assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the supporting sleeve (17) is adhesively bonded within the hose end (10).

12. A method for establishing a hose connection comprising the steps of:

providing a hose (9) having a hose end (10) with an outer surface (11);

providing a hose coupling (1) having a sleeve portion (2) with a receptacle (4) having an inner surface (12);

inserting said hose (9) into the receptacle (4) of the sleeve portion (2);

adhesively bonding the outer surface (11) of the hose end (10) to the inner surface (12) of the sleeve portion (2).

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising applying an adhesive coating to at least one of the group comprising the inner surface (12) of the receptacle (4) and the outer surface (11) of the hose end (10) before inserting the tube (9) into the receptacle (4).

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the adhesive coating is a hot- melt adhesive, preferably a phenolic resin.

15. The method according to any one of claims 13 or 14 wherein the adhesive coating is applied by spraying, rolling or varnishing.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15 further comprising heating the hose coupling (1) with inserted hose (9) to a temperature fusing the hot- melt adhesive.

17. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 16 further comprising providing a support sleeve (17) and inserting said support sleeve (17) into the hose end (10).

18. The method according to claim 17 that the support sleeve (17) is pressed into the hose end (10).

19. The method according to any one of claims 17 or 18 further comprising applying an adhesive coating to at least one of the group comprising an outer surface (18) of the supporting sleeve (17) and an inner surface (21) of the tube end (10).

Description:
HOSE COUPLING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING

A HOSE CONNECTION

Description The present application relates to a hose coupling assembly and, more specifically, to a hose coupling assembly for use in high performance fluid systems, such as air conditioning systems for vehicles.

Fluid conveying hose coupling assemblies are well known in the art for transferring a fluid between two or more components that cannot be linked by a rigid conduit. Due to an increased demand for higher performance fluid systems, it is becoming increasingly difficult for traditional hose coupling assemblies to satisfactorily operate without leakage, particularly in high pressure fluid systems that convey a fluid that is notoriously difficult to contain, such as a refrigerant. In addition, especially in the automotive sec- tor, there is an increasing demand of fluid conveying hose coupling assemblies being cost efficient, easy to assemble and reliable.

Conventional hose coupling assemblies usually comprise a hose coupling having a connecting nipple and a compression sleeve which is used to hold the hose to be con- nected on the nipple. Such a connection is disclosed in US 2008/0309075 Al wherein the connecting nipple is provided with an annular ring which is encompassed by a plastically deformed connecting area of the compression sleeve. The connecting area secures the compression sleeve on the connecting nipple in a form-closed manner. As opposed to this, the hose fitting section of the compression sleeve presses the hose against the peripheral surface of the connecting nipple, thus securing said connecting nipple in a sealed manner.

Another conventional hose coupling assembly of this type is disclosed in US 2009/0026760 Al also comprising a hose coupling having a connecting nipple and a compression sleeve wherein the hose is securely pressed onto the outer peripheral surface of the connecting nipple by the compression sleeve. In addition, between the hose and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting nipple a sealing ring is provided.

Due to the fact that the hose is secured on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting nipple, or, in other words, the sealing nipple is inserted into the hose the inner diameter of the hose and the inner diameter of the connecting nipple are different. The inner diameter of the connecting nipple is smaller than the inner diameter of the hose so that a fluid flow is subject to a pressure drop over the hose coupling assembly. In addition, a number of separate parts have to be provided in order to establish a coupling between the hose coupling and the hose.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a hose coupling assembly having a smaller pressure drop in the fluid flow and enabling an easy assembly and having reliable sealing properties.

The object is achieved with a hose coupling assembly according to claim 1 and a method for establishing a hose connection according to claim 12. Preferred embodi- ments will be apparent from the sub-claims.

The hose coupling assembly comprises a hose for conveyance of a fluid, said hose having a hose end with an outer surface; and a hose coupling having a sleeve portion with a receptacle having an inner surface for receiving said hose end, said outer sur- face of the hose end being adhesively bonded to the inner surface of the sleeve portion.

The adhesively bonded connection between the outer surface of the hose and the inner surface of the receptacle provides for a reliable sealing characteristic of the hose coupling assembly without the necessity to provide a separate sealing element such as an O-ring.

The hose coupling assembly according to the invention does not comprise a connecting nipple having a sealing contact between the inner surface of the hose end and the outer surface of the connecting nipple. In the present invention the sealing property is established between the outer surface of the hose end and the inner surface of the receptacle. Hence, it is not necessary to provide a further element pressing the hose against a sealing surface of the hose coupling. The hose end is supported against the hose coupling solely with its outer surface.

In order to enable a smooth and easy insertion of the hose end into the receptacle before assembly of the hose coupling assembly the inner diameter of the receptacle may be slightly bigger than the outer diameter of the hose end. In order to provide support of the outer surface of the hose end against the inner surface of the receptacle the sleeve portion is crimped onto the hose after the hose end has been inserted into the receptacle. In this instance crimping means that the diameter of the sleeve portion is decreased so that also the inner diameter of the receptacle is decreased. However, the diameter is only decreased in such an amount that a press-fit between the hose end and the receptacle is established. It should be avoided to crimp the sleeve portion to an amount that the tube end collapses.

In order to avoid a collapse of the tube a supporting sleeve may be provided which is press-fit into and/or adhesively bonded to the hose end. The supporting sleeve serves to increase the radial stability of the hose end. Preferably, the supporting sleeve is adhesively bonded within the hose end. Alternatively or in addition, the hose end may be provided with at least one aperture in an outer surface so that the elastic material of the hose end can be pressed into the at least one aperture when crimping the sleeve portion of the hose coupling and providing a better fit of the supporting sleeve within the hose end.

The hose coupling has a channel portion with a fluid channel for a flow of fluid, said fluid channel being connected to the hose for conveyance of the fluid. The fluid channel can be at one end of the hose coupling and the sleeve portion at an opposite end of the hose coupling wherein the fluid channel can be further connected to a component of a fluid circuit.

The inner diameter of the fluid channel is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve portion, particularly in such an amount that the fluid channel has substantially the same inner diameter as the hose. Thereby, a pressure drop is decreased or even avoided compared to conventional hose coupling assemblies. The fluid channel can be formed integrally with the sleeve portion, so that the hose coupling is one piece.

The object is also solved by a method for establishing a hose connection comprising the steps of providing a hose having a hose end with an outer surface; providing a hose coupling having a sleeve portion with a receptacle having an inner surface; inserting said hose into the receptacle of the sleeve portion; and adhesively bonding the outer surface of the tube end to the inner surface of the sleeve portion.

The adhesively bonding can be enabled by applying adhesive coating to at least one of the group comprising the inner surface of the receptacle and the outer surface of the hose end before inserting the tube into the receptacle. Preferably, the adhesive coating is a hot-melt adhesive, such as a phenolic resin.

Hereby the adhesive coating can be applied by spraying, rolling or varnishing or any other well known process for applying a coating or dye.

The method further comprises heating the hose coupling with inserted hose to a temperature fusing the hot-melt adhesive. In order to avoid a collapse of the hose end a support sleeve may be inserted into the hose end before inserting the sleeve portion onto the hose end.

The support sleeve can be pressed into the hose end in order to provide a press-fit. The method may further or alternatively comprise applying an adhesive coating on at least one of the group comprising an outer surface of the support sleeve and an inner surface of the tube end.

Embodiments of the exemplary hose coupling assembly will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of a hose coupling assembly;

Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of a hose coupling assembly; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a support sleeve according to Figure 2.

Now referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a partial longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of a hose coupling assembly is shown. The hose coupling assembly comprises a hose coupling 1 and a connection element 3. The hose coupling assembly further comprises a high pressure hydraulic hose 9 which is joined to a sleeve portion 2 of the hose coupling 1 and which can be part of, for example, a fluid circuit of an air conditioning system. The hose coupling 1 and the connection element 3 are connected by brazing but can also be made as an integral part in one piece.

The sleeve portion 2 of the hose coupling 1 has a receptacle 4 which opens towards a first end 5 of the hose coupling assembly. The connection element 3 comprises a channel portion 6 with fluid channel 7. The fluid channel 7 opens to a second end 8 of the hose coupling assembly which is opposite to the first end 5. The fluid channel 7 merges into a tube end 13 of the hose coupling 1 and the tube end 13 merges into the receptacle 4 for conveyance of a fluid between the first end 5 and the second end 8.

The hose 9 is inserted into the receptacle 4 with a hose end 10 and is joined to the sleeve portion 2 of the hose coupling 1. In order to provide for an easy insertion of the hose 9 into the receptacle 4 in an un-assembled condition the inner diameter Di of the receptacle 4 is slightly bigger than the outer diameter D 2 of the hose end 10 so that the hose end 10 can easily been inserted into the receptacle 4. The outer surface 11 of the tube end 10 is adhesively bonded to the inner surface 12 of the receptacle 4. In order to bond the hose end 10 to the sleeve portion 2 the outer surface 11 of the tube end 10 and/or the inner surface 12 of the receptacle 4 are provided with a coating of an adhesive, preferably a hot-melt adhesive. After the hose end 10 has been inserted into the receptacle 4 the sleeve portion 2 is slightly crimped onto the hose end 10 in order to provide a press-fit abutment of the outer surface 11 of the hose end 10 against the in- ner surface 12 of the receptacle 4.

As mentioned above, the adhesive preferably is a hot-melt adhesive so that for bonding the hose end 10 to the receptacle 4 the hose coupling assembly has to be heated to a temperature at which the adhesive coating or coatings melt and are fused to join the outer surface 11 of the hose end 10 with the inner surface 12 of the receptacle 4.

The advantage of this embodiment is that the hose coupling 1 does not have a connection nipple which is inserted into the hose end 10 which would result to a fluid channel portion within the connection nipple having a smaller diameter than the hose. This would result to a pressure drop within the fluid flow over the hose coupling assembly.

A pressure drop can further be limited or avoided with a design according to Figure 2 which provides a receptacle 4 having a bigger inner diameter Di than the inner diameter D 3 of the fluid channel 7 such that the inner diameter D 4 of the hose 9 is substan- tially the same as the inner diameter D 3 of the fluid channel 7. It will be appreciated that the inner diameter D 4 of the hose 9 can also be bigger or smaller than the inner diameter D of the fluid channel 7. The main advantage is that no further elements such as a coupling nipple is inserted into the hose end 10 so that a further diameter reduction of the over all fluid channel is avoided. Preferably, however, the inner diam- eter D of the fluid channel 7 is substantially the same as the inner diameter D 4 of the hose 9 and the inner diameter of the tube end 13 of the hose coupling 1.

The connection element 3 further comprises a flange 14 for connecting the hose coupling assembly to a connecting object such as a component of an air conditioning sys- tern. For this reason the flange 14 is provided with a fixation bore 15 orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis L. A screw can be inserted through the fixation bore 15 in order to fix the flange 14 to the connection object (not shown). The flange 14 is positioned between the second end 8 of the hose coupling assembly and the sleeve portion 2, wherein the channel portion 6 projects from the flange 14 in a longitudinal direction towards the second end 8. The channel portion 6 can be inserted into a part of the connection object in order to convey fluid from the hose coupling assembly to the connection object. In order to provide a sealed connection between the channel portion 6 and the connection object, the channel portion 6 has an outer circumferential groove 16 for accommodating a sealing ring such as an O-ring (not shown). Now referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a partial longitudinal section of the hose coupling assembly according to a second embodiment is shown. The second embodiment substantially corresponds to the first embodiment. Features and elements which correspond to the first embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals and are described in connection with the first embodiment.

The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the hose coupling assembly is provided with a supporting sleeve 17 which is inserted into the hose end 10. The supporting sleeve 17 is preferably press-fit into the hose end 10 in order to provide a reliable connection between the supporting sleeve 17 and the hose end 10. Additionally or alternatively, the supporting sleeve 17 can be adhesively bonded within the hose end 10. For this purpose the inner surface 21 of the hose end 10 and/or the outer surface 18 of supporting sleeve 17 are provided with an adhesive coating such as a hot-melt adhesive. The adhesive coating can be identical to the adhesive coating used for bonding the hose end 10 within the receptacle 4.

The supporting sleeve 17 can be provided with apertures 20 as disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 which reach from the inner surface 19 of the supporting sleeve 17 to the outer surface 18 of the supporting sleeve 17 and which are distributed about the circumference of the supporting sleeve 17. When crimping the sleeve portion 2 onto the hose end 10 the supporting sleeve 17 supports the hose end 10 in order to avoid a collapse of the hose end 10. Therefore, it is possible to provide a higher pressure between the inner surface 12 of the receptacle 4 and the outer surface 11 of the hose end 10. The apertures 20 provide a better fixation of the supporting sleeve 17 within the hose end 10 because the elastic material of the hose end 10 is pressed into the apertures 20.

The hose coupling 1 can be made of various materials, such as aluminium, steel or plastics. The hose can be made of an elastic material such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomere. Preferably, the hose 9 is made of a rubber such as for instance ethylene- propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), butyl rubber (IIR) or halogenated butyl rubber (CIIR) having a supporting layer and having an inner layer forming the inner surface 21 of the hose 9 made of a plastic or resin material which is resistant against aggressive fluids such as refrigerant fluids. The adhesive may be a phenolic resin which can be coated by spraying, rolling or varnishing to the respective surfaces.

Reference numerals

1 hose coupling

2 sleeve portion

3 connection element

4 receptacle

5 first end

6 channel portion

7 fluid channel

8 second end

9 hose

10 hose end

11 outer surface of hose end

12 inner surface of receptacle

13 tube end

14 flange

15 fixation bore

16 groove

17 supporting sleeve

18 outer surface of supporting sleeve

19 inner surface of supporting sleeve

20 aperture

21 inner surface of hose end

Di inner diameter of receptacle

D 2 outer diameter of hose end

D 3 inner diameter of fluid channel

D 4 inner diameter of hose

L longitudinal axis