CN112622722A

CN112622722A - Fluid-fillable bladder system and welding tool

Info

Publication number: CN112622722A
Application number: CN202011005048.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 埃里希·德尔弗勒; 迈克尔·舍尔布; 于尔根·鲍姆加特尔; 龙尼·格尔曼
Original assignee: Alfmeier Praezision SE
Current assignee: Alfmeier Praezision SE
Priority date: 2019-09-24
Filing date: 2020-09-22
Publication date: 2021-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-22
Also published as: DE102019214576B4; CN112622722B; DE102019214576A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid-fillable bladder system (1), in particular for a contour-adjustable component of a vehicle, comprising two or more bladders (3, 5) each formed by a flexible membrane (17, 18, 19, 20), at least one of the bladders having an opening (9) for the fluid to flow into and/or out of the bladder system (1). The inner spaces (11, 13) of two adjacent capsules are connected to one another via a fluid channel (7) so that the fluid can overflow, the fluid channel (7) being surrounded by a weld seam (15) which joins the two adjacent capsules to one another in each case. A contour region (25) surrounding the fluid channel is designed to be directed into the interior (11, 13) of at least one of the bladders, and has two or more regions (21, 27, 47) with different material thicknesses of the membranes (17, 18, 19, 20) forming the bladders.

Description

Fluid-fillable bladder system and welding tool

Technical Field

The invention relates to a fluid-fillable bladder system, to a welding tool and to a method for producing such a bladder system by means of a welding tool.

Background

Fluid-fillable bladders and multi-bladder systems are often used in the automotive field and typically include air-fillable membrane bladders or air chambers. The flexible membrane bag is filled, for example, by means of a compressed air supply system, wherein the air pressure can be variably adjusted in order to achieve, for example, different hardnesses and differently shaped support contours in the vehicle seat.

In general, multi-chamber systems have a compressed air supply system which opens into one of the chambers, wherein the other chamber is connected to an overflow channel and is therefore likewise supplied with compressed air. Different types of multi-chamber bladder systems are known from US 4,965,899, US 6,122,784 and DE 102011089749B 4, in which the individual chambers are connected to one another in such a way that air can overflow between adjacent bladders.

Known multi-chamber bladder systems often experience adverse conditions when filled with compressed air, particularly when external pressure is simultaneously applied to the bladder system, such as by the weight of a person located in a vehicle seat. The overflow channel or the fluid channel between two adjacent capsules is therefore often blocked in that a section of the second capsule opposite the fluid channel is pressed against the fluid channel. Only when the limit pressure in the first bag is exceeded does the second bag, which is closed up to this point, suddenly open, wherein noise is generated. Furthermore, a sudden opening can be uncomfortable and not conducive to material stability.

Disclosure of Invention

The purpose of the invention is: a bladder system having improved inflation performance is provided, as well as a welding tool and a method for manufacturing such a bladder system.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a bladder system according to claim 1 and a welding tool according to claim 8 or a method according to claim 14. Advantageous developments are listed in the dependent claims.

The fluid-fillable bladder system according to the invention, in particular for contour-adjustable components of a vehicle, such as a vehicle seat, a seat armrest, a console, a rear spoiler, comprises two or more bladders each formed from a flexible film, wherein at least one of the bladders has an opening for the fluid to flow into and/or out of the bladder system, and the interior spaces of two adjacent bladders are connected to one another via a fluid channel such that the fluid can overflow. The fluid passage is surrounded by a weld which joins two adjacent bladders, respectively. A contoured region surrounding the fluid passage is configured to be directed toward an interior space of at least one of the bladders, the contoured region having two or more regions of different material thicknesses of a membrane making up the bladder. Due to the fact that regions of different material thickness are formed in the contour region surrounding the fluid channel, there are unevennesses and the upper membrane of the second capsule can no longer rest flat against the membrane region surrounding the fluid channel and can no longer completely seal the fluid channel. This allows air to overflow into the second bladder already from the beginning of the filling process or in the case of a low threshold pressure. The filling pressure of the fluid, usually air, can thus act on the entire inner surface of the second bladder and cause this inner surface to rise continuously. Thereby preventing sudden inflation of the second bladder.

It may be particularly beneficial: profiled regions with regions of different material thickness are formed on both sides of the fluid channel, whereby one profiled region is directed toward each of two adjacent bladders. In a bladder system with three or more bladders, the two contour regions in the inner bladder then touch one another when the bladders are pressed together, i.e. the upper contour region of the first fluid channel which points toward the bladder and the lower contour region of the second fluid channel which points toward the same bladder. The mutual contact of the elevations and the depressions of the two profile sections additionally promotes the air through-flow.

Ideally, the film from which the bladder is formed is of a material suitable for high frequency welding, particularly polyurethane. The films can thus be heated and bonded together under pressure by applying a high-frequency alternating electric field, typically in the MHz range.

Suitably, a first region of the profiled region at least partially surrounds the fluid channel and has a first material thickness, and a second region of the profiled region at least partially surrounds the first region and has a second material thickness. The different material heights prevent the opposing films from resting flat and tightly.

In an advantageous variant, the contour region comprises a third region which at least partially surrounds the second region and has the first material thickness or a third material thickness. Since each of the three regions has a different height than its respective adjacent region, the opposing membrane can only insufficiently fit this height profile of the profile region, thus further increasing the difficulty of sealing the flat rest of the fluid channel.

Ideally, the second material thickness of the second region is smaller than the first material thickness of the first region and/or smaller than the third material thickness of the third region. In this way, the second region becomes at least partially a recessed portion, and the opposing film can be insufficiently fitted into such a recessed portion. However, as explained below, such a second region that is deeper can also have a contour with a material thickness or height that is equal to or even exceeds the material thickness or height of the adjacent region.

Preferably, the first and/or second region is polygonal and/or curved in its lateral extension at the peripheral side. Since the tension which prevents the sealing is formed in the adjacent film, the more textured the contoured, i.e. raised or deepened, region of the contour region is formed, the less likely it is that a hermetic closure is possible with the adjacent film. In particular, angular textures such as polygons and stars are suitable instead of circles. Further, a shape having a combination of a circular outer edge and a circular, straight line, and an outer edge having an angle, such as a clover shape, may be configured.

If a plurality, in particular three or more, of capsules are arranged one above the other and thus a plurality of connections with fluid channels are arranged one above the other, the textured regions, in particular the polygonal and/or curved contours, can be arranged at an angular offset relative to one another. This angular offset, i.e. the same or similar patterns that are rotated in comparison with one another, is suitable in particular in the case of two contour regions that are located in one pocket and are thus opposite one another, i.e. in the case of an upwardly pointing contour region of one pocket on the first fluid channel and a downwardly pointing contour region of the same pocket on the second fluid channel. The pattern or texture of the polygonal and/or curved regions is therefore staggered and forms natural spacings between the contour regions, through which the air can pass from the fluid channel to the interior of the bladder particularly well toward the surrounding regions.

Preferably, the contour region has a spacer element and/or a flow-through channel. These shapes usually have a smaller areal extent than the regions mentioned above. The spacer elements are elevations which prevent the films from abutting flat against each other in the area surrounding the respective spacer element. The flow-through channel can be considered to be a deep recess which is large enough for the through-flow of air, but small enough for the membrane to not be sealingly fitted. The flow of air between the membranes is thus further improved in that the air flows between the spacer elements or into the flow-through channel. The spacer elements or flow-through channels may extend over one, two or all of the three regions, or beyond the third region into further surrounding membrane regions.

In a preferred variant, the spacer element is a ridge extending radially from the fluid channel, and the flow-through channel is a groove extending radially from the fluid channel. This provides substantially elongate textures pointing away from the fluid channel, which textures enable: the air flows particularly well into the further interior space of the second bladder.

In a further variant, the first and/or second region has two or more partial regions, each having a different material thickness in the circumferential direction with respect to adjacent partial regions. Thus, an unevenness in the circumferential direction is provided which prevents the upper membrane from resting flat on the lower membrane, whereby a flow of air in the radial direction can be achieved or improved. The partial regions can be in particular recesses or ridges.

In a further advantageous variant, the third region has two or more partial regions, each of which has a different material thickness in the circumferential direction than the adjacent partial regions. This additionally increases the difficulty of the upper membrane lying flat in the third region and improves the throughflow of air between the membranes.

The welding tool according to the invention for producing capsule systems, in particular the aforementioned capsule systems, comprises a welding die which is composed of a material which conducts a high-frequency alternating electric field. The welding die has a central recess and the welding tool further comprises an inner die arranged in the recess, which inner die is composed of a material which is not conducting a high-frequency alternating electric field and has a contour on the underside. A welding die, which may be made of aluminum, for example, establishes the connection of the membrane of the first bladder to the membrane of the second bladder by means of high-frequency welding. The two films are heated by a high-frequency alternating electric field and the intervening film material is connected in a locked manner by pressing the welding stamp against the bearing surface. The material projection which enters the central recess on the inner edge of the welding die is shaped here by an inner die which can be made of plastic, for example, and its contour. This allows the overall shape of the projections to be controlled and the profile to be shaped into sub-areas of different material heights. This makes it possible to achieve the desired overflow behavior during filling of the capsule system

Preferably, the height of the inner die relative to the welding die is adjustable. In this way, it is possible to process weld beads of different material quantities and thus different thicknesses depending on the film material and the welding parameters. Furthermore, it is possible to select: it should be possible to shape the projection essentially after it has been formed by pressing of the inner stamp, or by the inner stamp remaining in its final or forming position in such a way that it is already pressed under the inner stamp during the welding process.

Ideally, the inner die is replaceable. This allows the selection of an inner die with a different profile and the replacement of the inner die in case of possible wear.

In an advantageous variant, the cross section of the welding stamp is polygonal and/or curved on the outer circumferential side. The weld seam of the two films can thus, as already mentioned above, have a corresponding contour, as a result of which tension is generated particularly well in the upper film section when it rests on the contour region, in this way preventing the fluid channel from being sealed.

An outer die is preferably provided which at least partially surrounds the welding die and which has a material which does not conduct a high-frequency alternating electric field. This also makes it possible to shape and contour the welding bead produced on the outer circumference of the welding stamp in order to advantageously influence the overflow behavior of air or filling gas from the first bladder to the second bladder.

In a suitable variant, the welding stamp and/or the outer stamp each have a contour on the underside. In this way, subregions or contours can also be formed in the region of the original weld seam and in the region of the outer weld bead, which subregions or contours promote the through-flow of air particularly well. This can be achieved in particular by: the partial regions or contours are continuously guided from the inner weld bead to the weld seam and the outer weld bead, connected to one another, in order to be able to pass air from the flow channel up to the edge of the contour region. However, it is also conceivable: the welding die is designed on the underside in such a way that it not only provides the weld seam, but also the inner and outer weld bead with a contour and shape.

In a further advantageous variant, the welding tool comprises two opposite sides having said punch and punch structure texture for shaping and contouring the weld seam. This makes it possible to form contour regions on one fluid channel simultaneously and on both sides, i.e. below the two membranes to be connected and pointing toward the first bladder and in the upper region toward the second bladder. One welding die thus forms the bearing surface of the opposite welding die, with the two films to be joined arranged between them. The opposed die structure textures or die faces may have been twisted relative to one another to achieve the twisting of the polygonal and/or arcuate contours of the contour region areas as described above.

In a further variant, the welding tool comprises two sides facing away from each other, which sides have the stamp and the stamp structure texture for shaping a weld seam, respectively. In this way, contour regions directed toward one bladder can be formed simultaneously on the first fluid channel and contour regions directed toward the same bladder can be formed on the opposite second fluid channel. The molding surfaces can also be twisted relative to one another.

The invention further relates to a method for operating a welding tool, comprising the following method steps:

providing two films arranged one above the other, wherein the first film is at least partially arranged to form a first balloon and the second film is at least partially arranged to form a second balloon,

-welding the two films and forming a weld seam by pressing of the welding tool and applying a high frequency alternating electric field to the welding tool,

the welding projection formed by welding is formed from a film material, so that the welding projection has at least two partial regions of different material thicknesses.

After the welding process, a fluid channel may be punched centrally out of the two films. As a further alternative, each of the membranes may already have a recess corresponding to the fluid channel before welding, and the membranes may be stacked one on top of the other with respect to the fluid channel. Centering aids in the form of cones or cylinders can also be used for this purpose.

The weld bead is expediently shaped during the welding of the two films and thus during their production, or after the welding. The shaping and/or profiling may be performed as described above for the inboard and outboard weld bosses. If this shaping and profiling is done after the original welding process, this can be done by lowering either the inner die or the outer die. However, it is also possible to use a further tool in order to iron the profile under the effect of heat. This ironing may consist, for example, on the one hand of pressing the contour into the weld bead, i.e. forming regions of different material thicknesses by pressing the film material, but on the other hand also means ironing of undulations or irregularities without affecting the material thickness or without pressing the film material.

For the case that two side contour regions should be formed, it is advantageous: a bonding tool having two die surfaces as described above is used to form the two profile sections in a single machining operation. If a welding tool with opposing die surfaces is used, two contour regions can be formed on a fluid channel, one contour region pointing toward a first bladder and the other contour region pointing toward a second bladder of adjacent and then interconnected bladders. If a welding tool with two die surfaces pointing in opposite directions to one another is used, it is possible to form a contour region on the first fluid channel and a contour region on the second fluid channel, wherein both contour regions point to one and the same pocket. The bladder may then be closed, for example, by welding the edges of the upper and lower bladder halves. As an alternative, it is also possible to form the contour regions in succession and to this end to refit a welding tool having only one die side or welding side on a conventional bearing surface in each case.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with the aid of the figures. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an inflated dual-chamber bladder system;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a dual-chamber bladder system with fluid passageways closed by a second bladder;

FIG. 3A is a fluid channel according to the prior art, with the membrane of the second bladder resting on the weld boss on the side;

FIG. 3B is a fluid channel according to the prior art, with the membrane of the second bladder lying flat;

FIG. 3C is a fluid channel, with the membrane of the second bladder resting on the lateral weld lobe and the flow-through channel configured in the weld lobe;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a contoured area of the second bladder;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an example of a different shape of a second region of the contour region;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a bonding tool;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the contour region of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the contour region of the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the contour region of the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the contour region of the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a contour region of the second embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of the contour region of the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the contour region of the third embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the contour region of the third embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of the contour region of the third embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the contour region of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a contour region of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a side cross-sectional view of the contour region of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the contour region of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the contour region of the fifth embodiment;

fig. 21 is a side cross-sectional view of the contour region of the fifth embodiment.

Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an inflated bladder system 1, which comprises two chambers or

bladders

3, 5 formed by flexible membranes, which are connected via a fluid channel 7 such that compressed air delivered through an opening 9 can overflow from an interior space 11 of a first bladder 3 into an interior space 13 of a second bladder 5. The fluid channel 7 is surrounded by a weld seam 15, by means of which the two

bladders

3, 5 are connected to one another in an outwardly sealing manner. In this embodiment, the bladder system 1 comprises two

bladders

3, 5, however, the bladder system 1 may also have three or more bladders which are connected to one another via fluid channels 7, respectively, so that inflation can take place via one single air supply system 9. However, it is also possible to provide one or more air supply systems 9 on more than one bladder. The first bladder 3 has an upper half or section or membrane 17 and a lower half or section or membrane 19. The second pouch 5 has an upper half or section or membrane 18 and a lower half or section or membrane 20. These

sections

17, 18, 19, 20 can be present as separate films and welded one after the other to form the

bladders

3, 5. This may be achieved, for example, by welding

sections

17 and 20, and then welding

sections

17 and 19 and 18 and 20. However, different steps or underlying arrangements are equally possible.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of dual-chamber bag system 1, in which fluid passage 7 is shown closed by second bag 5. This view shows a state during the inflation process of the bladder system 1, in which the first bladder 3 has been at least partially inflated due to the internal pressure P and thus exerts a force F1 directed in all directions on the outer wall of the bladder 3. The upper section 18 of the second bag 5 rests on the lower section 20, since a force F2 acting from above acts on the bag system 1, for example by a vehicle occupant. In this embodiment, a welding projection 21 is formed on the weld seam 15, which projection forms a rise relative to the lower section 20 of the second pouch 5. The weld bead 21 is produced, for example, on the inner edge of the welding die when the weld seam 15 is formed by high-frequency welding.

Fig. 3A shows a part of the fluid channel 7 marked by a dashed line in fig. 2, wherein an adjoining weld seam 15 is shown, wherein the upper membrane section 18 of the second capsule 5 rests on the welding projection 21. In this view, which corresponds to the prior art, the weld lobe 21 has no contour, groove or ridge, so that the weld lobe 21 has the form of a continuous ring around the fluid channel 7. Weld lobe 21 now acts as a seal so that air cannot flow from first bladder 3 into the more outboard regions of second bladder 5. To fill second bladder 5 and raise upper membrane 18 against force F2, only the face of the size of fluid passage 7 reacts against force F2. According to the equation F ═ p × a (force ═ pressure × area), a high pressure must therefore first be applied in order to lift the membrane 18 in the case of a small area.

Fig. 3B shows a further view corresponding to the prior art, in which the weld bead 15 is produced without the weld bead 21. The upper membrane section 18 now rests flat against the lower membrane section 20 of the second capsule 5, so that the fluid channel 7 is likewise closed off in a gas-tight manner. The same problem as in fig. 3A occurs accordingly.

Fig. 3C shows an embodiment of the invention in which a welding lug 21 is formed, which, however, additionally has a contour. As in fig. 3A, the upper side section 18 of the second bag 5 rests on the welding projection 21. However, the air from the first bag 3 can now also flow into the side regions of the interior 13 of the second bag 5 via the contour 23, which can be, for example, a flow channel 23 (shown here by a dashed line) pressed in from above. The pressure P can thus act on the entire inner side of the second bag 5 in order to unfold it. The welding projections 21 with the contour 23 can also be formed on the opposite side of the weld seam 15, i.e. on the membrane sections 17, in particular in the central pocket of a three-or multi-pocket bladder system.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the contour region 25 of the second bladder 5. The region 25 of the lower membrane section 20 of the second capsule 5, which region is shown here by dashed lines and which surrounds the fluid channel 7 and in which a contour, i.e. a raised portion or a recessed portion, is formed to prevent the upper membrane 18 of the second capsule 5 from sealingly bearing against the fluid channel 7, is referred to as contour region 25. Such embodiments include: a first region 21 corresponding to the welding boss 21 and having a first material thickness; and a second region 27, which is formed in the region of the weld seam 15 or corresponds thereto. The second region 27 is produced by extrusion of a welding die and thus generally has a lower height profile than its surrounding region. The first region 21 generally corresponds to the film material pressed towards the inside by the welding stamp and is thus thicker than its surrounding region. The shape of the second region 27 on its outer circumferential side 28 comprises curved and straight sections and corners in order to additionally increase the difficulty of the upper film 8 resting flat by creating tension in the upper film 18 of the second pouch 5. In this embodiment, the contour 29 is formed in the first region 21 in such a way that the first region 21 is divided into a first subregion 29 and a second subregion 30, which correspond to the contours 29. The partial regions 29 are raised ribs, so that air can flow between these ribs and the upper membrane sections 18 (indicated by arrows). The ridge or contour 29 may also extend all the way into the second region 27. The contour region 25 can be formed on one side of the weld seam 15 in all the exemplary embodiments shown here or also on both sides. Thus, there may be only one contour region 25 on one fluid channel 7, which is directed toward one of the two

interconnected bags

3, 5, or there may be two contour regions 25, one of which is directed toward one of the two

bags

3, 5 and the other of which is directed toward the

other bag

3, 5. As already mentioned, this is advantageous in particular for the central bladder of a three-or multi-bladder system 1, since the contour regions 25 can be configured to twist relative to one another and the textures of the contour regions 25 can be staggered relative to one another when pressing one bladder together, so that air can flow particularly well between them.

Fig. 5 shows a top view of an example of a different shape of the second area 27 of the contour area 25, without limiting this option within the scope of the invention. Alternatively, a circular texture may be formed. Furthermore, the shape of the peripheral side 28 of the second area 27 is advantageous as a polygon that can be combined with an arc-shaped texture. Tension is thereby created in the upper section 18 when resting on the lower section 20, thereby increasing the difficulty of completely flat abutment against one another.

Fig. 6 shows a side sectional view of a welding tool 31 for welding two film materials and thus for connecting the first and

second balloons

3, 5 by means of a weld seam 15. The welding tool 31 comprises a welding die 33, which consists of a material conducting a high frequency alternating electric field, such as aluminum. The weld seam 15 is formed by heating and pressing the two films to be joined, in this case the lower film section 20 of the second capsule 5 and the upper film section 17 of the first capsule 3, against one another. The welding stamp 33 has a central recess 35 into which a heated film material can be pressed and thus form the welding lug 21. In this central recess 35, an inner die 37 is arranged, which has a contour on the lower side 39 in order to additionally shape or contour the weld bead 21. For this purpose, the inner stamp 37 can either be located in the lower position shown here, so that the material is pressed directly into the contour. The inner stamp 37 can likewise be moved vertically and pressed from above onto the weld boss 21 in order to further shape and contour it. An outer die 41, which at least partially surrounds the welding die and which is likewise composed of a material which is not conducting a high-frequency alternating electric field and which, like the inner die 37, shapes and/or contours the welding bead produced on the outer side 40 of the welding die 33, can be arranged on the outer circumferential side 40 or on the outer side 40 of the welding die 33. For this purpose, the outer stamp 41 can likewise be vertically movable and can have a contour on its underside 43. The outer circumferential side 40 or the outer side 40 of the welding die 33 has a shape for forming the weld seam 15 or the second region 27, and is thus, for example, polygonal, as shown in fig. 4 and 5. As a supplement, the underside 45 of the welding die 33 may also have a contour for forming the ridge 29 or the recess. The inner die 37 and the outer die 41 are suitably formed accurately according to the form fit of the welding die 33. The welding tool 31 can be mirror-symmetrical about a mirror axis which extends horizontally in this view at the top or bottom, so that the molding surfaces 39, 43, 45 are opposite or are present on both outer sides. In a first variant, two contour regions 25 can be formed simultaneously on one fluid channel 7 in such a way that the

membrane sections

17, 20 are welded together by pressing. In a second variant, two contour regions 25 can be welded simultaneously to the first and second fluid channels 7 of an inner bag of a three-or multi-bag system 1, the two contour regions 25 being directed toward this bag.

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a contour region 25 or lower section 20 of the second bladder 5 of the first embodiment. Three additional radial contours 23 are provided for the first region 21 or the weld bead 21 by means of the inner die 37, in this example in the form of flow channels 23 or grooves 23. As already shown in fig. 4, the first region 21 therefore has

partial regions

23, 30 which each have a different material thickness in the circumferential direction than the adjacent

partial regions

23, 30. The groove 23 extends up to a second region 27 which is shaped by a welding die 33 and which substantially corresponds to the weld seam 15 (fig. 1). A fluid passage 7 corresponding to the holes of the first and

second bladders

3, 5 is configured in the center.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the contour region 25 of the first embodiment of fig. 7. It can be seen that the second region 27 has a smaller material thickness or height by the pressing of the welding stamp 33 than the film region which surrounds it from the outside and than the first region 21 or the welding projection 21 which is arranged on the inside. The original film thickness can be reduced from 1.0mm to 0.6mm, for example, by material extrusion when the welding stamp 33 is pressed in the region 27. The groove 23 extends from the fluid channel 7 through the first region 21 into the second region 27.

Fig. 9 shows a vertical section through the contour region 25 of the first embodiment shown in fig. 7 and 8, corresponding to the section axis IX of fig. 7. A fluid channel 7 for ventilation between the first and

second bladders

3, 5 extends centrally. The first region 21 surrounds the fluid channel 7 and has a first height H21.1 or material thickness H21.1. A second region 27 having a material thickness H27.1 is connected to the outside, surrounding the first region 21. Externally attached thereto is the remaining lower section 20 of the second bladder 5 having a height H20. In this view, the total material thickness can also be supplemented by the thickness of the film of first bladder 3, at least in the region of the weld. The groove 23 or the flow channel 23 extends from the fluid channel 7 up to the second region 27 and can also extend into the region 27 as shown in fig. 7 and 8. The recess 23 has a material thickness H21.2 in the region 21, which material thickness is maintained in extension into the region 27. As can be seen, the material thickness H21.2 of the recess 23 is smaller than the material thickness H27.1 of the second region 27, so that air can flow particularly well from the fluid channel 7 into the second region 27, in particular if the recess 23 extends all the way into the second region 27.

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of the contour region 25 or lower portion 20 of the second bladder 5 of the second exemplary embodiment, which has largely the same shape as the first exemplary embodiment, but instead of three recesses 23, elevations in the form of four ridges 29 are formed on the welding projection 21. The ribs 29 are formed only on the first region 21 in this example, since this is sufficient to space the upper film 18 apart and to enable air to flow between the ribs 29, as is already indicated by the arrows in fig. 4. However, the ribs 29 may also continue into the regions 27, in which the film 18 may rest further on the ribs 29.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the contour region 25 of the second embodiment. As in the first exemplary embodiment, the second region 27 has a smaller material thickness or height by pressing with the welding stamp 33 than the film region which surrounds it from the outside and than the first region 21 or the welding bead 21 which is arranged on the inside. Four ribs 29 extend from the fluid channel 7 over the first region 21.

Fig. 12 shows a side sectional view of the contour region 25 of the second embodiment shown in fig. 10 and 11, corresponding to the sectional axis XII of fig. 10. The fluid channel 7 extends centrally. The first region 21 surrounds the fluid channel and has a first height or material thickness H21.1. A second region 27 having a material thickness H27.1 is connected to the outside, surrounding the first region 21. Externally attached thereto is the remaining lower section 20 of the second bladder 5 having a height H20. The ridge 29 extends from the fluid channel 7 in the first region 21 and has a height H21.3, which in this embodiment is substantially equal to the height H20, but can also be greater or smaller than this. The ribs 29 thus project beyond the first region 21, so that air can flow between the ribs 29.

Fig. 13 shows a plan view of the contour region 25 or lower section 20 of the second bladder 5 of the third embodiment. The first region 21 substantially corresponds in size and shape to the preceding example. The second region 27 comprises a slightly larger face and has a greater number of corners and arc-shaped sections. In addition, eight ribs 29 are formed, which extend radially over the first and

second regions

21, 27. The first region 21 is thus divided into partial regions 30 and 29 (ribs 29) and the second region 27 into partial regions 32 and 29 (ribs 29).

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of the contour region 25 of the third embodiment. As in the preceding exemplary embodiments, the second region 27 has a smaller material thickness or height by pressing with the welding stamp 33 than the film region which surrounds it from the outside, but also than the first region 21 or the welding bead 21 which is arranged on the inside. Eight ribs 29 extend from the fluid channel 7 over the first region 21 and the second region 27. The ridges 29 in this case have a different height than the

subregions

30 and 32, respectively.

Fig. 15 shows a side sectional view of the profiled section 25 of the third embodiment shown in fig. 13 and 14, corresponding to the sectional axis XV of fig. 13. The fluid channel 7 extends centrally. The first region 21 surrounds the fluid channel 7 and has a first height or material thickness H21.1. A second region 27 having a material thickness H27.1 is connected to the outside, surrounding the first region 21. Externally attached thereto is the remaining lower section 20 of the second bladder 5 having a height H20. The ridge 29 extends from the fluid channel 7 via the first region 21 and the second region 27 as far as the edge thereof and has a height H21.3. It appears through the view only that the ridge 29 ends up in the centre of the second area 27. However, such variants are also conceivable. The height H21.34 of the ridge 29 is greater than the height H21.1 of the first region 21 and less than the height H20 of the surrounding lower section 20. However, it is also conceivable to set the height H21.3 equal to or higher than H20. It is also possible that: the ridge 29 is lowered in the region 27 to a slightly smaller height, as long as it remains above the height H27.1. As in the third embodiment, air can flow between the ridges 29.

Fig. 16 shows a plan view of the contour region 25 or lower section 20 of the second bladder 5 of the fourth embodiment. The contour region 25 comprises a first region 21, a second region 27 and additionally a third region 47, which can correspond to the outer weld bead 47. All three

areas

21, 27, 47 are substantially circular, wherein shapes corresponding to the above example are also possible. Furthermore, six ribs 29 are formed, which extend radially over the first, second and

third regions

21, 27, 47 and even beyond the third region 47. The third region 47 thus also has a subregion 50. Overall, therefore, the first region 21 has the

subregions

29, 30, the second region 27 has the

subregions

29 and 32 and the third region 47 has the

subregions

29 and 50. In this example, the ridge 29 extends over and beyond the

areas

21, 27 and 47. However, the groove 23, i.e. the deep recess or channel, may thus also extend over and beyond the

regions

21, 27 and 47.

Fig. 17 shows a perspective view of the contour region 25 of the fourth embodiment. As in the previous exemplary embodiments, the second region 27, in particular the partial region 32, has a smaller material thickness or height than the first region 21. Likewise, the second region 27, in particular the subregion 32, is lower than the third region 47. The third region 47 is in turn higher than the remaining membrane region which surrounds it. The six ribs 29 in all

regions

21, 27, 47 are higher than the respective radial

partial regions

30, 32, 50 of these

regions

21, 27, 47 through them. In this case, the height of the ridge 29 in the first and

second regions

21, 27 is constant, while it rises in the third region 47.

Fig. 18 shows a side sectional view of the contour region 25 of the fourth embodiment shown in fig. 16 and 17, corresponding to the sectional axis XVIII of fig. 16. The fluid channel 7 extends centrally. The first region 21 surrounds the fluid channel and has a first height H21.1. A second region 27 having a material thickness H27.1 is connected to surround the first region 21 from the outside. Externally connected thereto is a third region 47 having a height H47.1 and the remaining lower section 20 of the second bag 5 having a height H20. The ridge 29 extends from the fluid channel 7 as far as beyond the third region 47 and has a height H21.3 essentially in the first and

second regions

21, 27 and a greater height H47.2 from just before the third region 47 to after this region. So that air can flow between the ribs 29 over all the

zones

21, 27, 47. Furthermore, the difficulty of the flat resting of the film is increased by the three

regions

21, 27, 47 of different height.

Fig. 19 shows a plan view of the contour region 25 or lower section 20 of the second bladder 5 of the fifth embodiment. This fifth embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment shown in fig. 7 to 9, however with a third region 47, which is an outer weld lobe 47. This fifth embodiment should be explained in particular: all embodiments can also have an outer welding projection 47, independently of their shape and of the presence of the contour in the form of the groove 23 and the ridge 29. In this example, recesses 23 are also formed, which extend in the first region 21 and extend as far as into the second region 27.

Fig. 20 shows a perspective view of the contour region 25 of the fifth embodiment. The outer region 47 is formed by a weld bead 47 which is formed by the extrusion of the film material during welding.

Fig. 21 shows a side sectional view of the contour region 25 of the fifth embodiment shown in fig. 19 and 20, corresponding to the sectional axis XXI of fig. 19. The first region 21 surrounds the fluid channel and has a first height H21.1. A second region 27 having a material thickness H27.1 is connected to the outside, surrounding the first region 21. Externally connected thereto is a third region 47 having a height H47.1 and the remaining lower section 20 of the second bag 5 having a height H20. The groove 23 has a height H21.2.

The principle of operation of the welding tool 31 is explained in detail below with the aid of the drawing.

Two

films

17, 20, which respectively form part of the

bags

3, 5, are stacked one above the other in order to be connected to one another in this orientation. The two

films

17, 20 are heated and welded to each other by pressing of the welding dies 33 of the welding tool 31 and applying a high frequency alternating electric field. In this case, a weld seam 15 is formed according to the shape of the underside 45 of the welding die 33, which weld seam corresponds to the second region 27 shown above. The parameters can be selected such that a first welding bead 21 is formed on the inner side of the welding stamp 33 and a second welding bead 47, also referred to as first region 21 and third region 47, is formed on the outer side of the welding stamp 33. The inner die 37 and the outer die 41 can deform and contour the

welding projections

21, 47, so that the

partial regions

23, 29, 30 are formed, which have different material thicknesses relative to one another or relative to the

regions

21, 47 in which they extend. Likewise, the underside 45 of the welding die 33 can have a contour, so that the region 27 of the weld seam 15 has, for example, the contour of the ridge 29. The

weld projections

21, 47 can be profiled during welding by pressing the material under the correctly positioned inner and outer dies 37, 41 or by pressing the two dies 37, 41 onto the

respective projections

21, 47 after they have been formed. For this purpose, the inner and

outer stamps

37, 41 can likewise be temperature-controlled, and the outer stamp 41 can have a width such that the region outside the weld bead 47 is also profiled. The

lower side

39, 45, 43 of the

punch

37, 33, 41 can be designed such that a continuous recess 23 or ridge 29 is formed in the three

regions

21, 27, 47. The fluid channel 7 is then blanked out. The recesses for the fluid channels can also be present in the

membranes

17, 20 beforehand, and the membranes can be stacked one above the other in alignment with the recesses.

Starting from the above-described embodiments of the capsule system 1 and of the welding tool 31, a wide variety of variants of these embodiments can be realized. Such three

regions

21, 27, 47 may also have a different form than what has been shown. In particular, the contour 29 in the form of a ridge 29 is not limited to a radial linear texture, but may also comprise curved or curved elements, for example. Furthermore, the spacer elements 29 or the contours 29 can also be elevations in the form of dots, which are formed in one or more of the three

regions

21, 27, 47. In addition, the height of the ridge 29 can vary and, for example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 18, it can also project further upward in the section of the first region 21 and/or have a height H47.2 and/or continue from the fluid channel 7 to the end of its extension with a height H47.2. All these variants ensure that: air may flow laterally from fluid passage 7 into second bladder 5. Furthermore, it is pointed out here that: the bonding tool 31 may be configured to: the film material is extruded as the inner and

outer welding projections

21, 47, i.e. to both sides of the welding stamper 33. It is likewise possible to extrude only the

weld bead

21, 47, i.e. either in the region 21 or in the region 47. This can be achieved, for example, by welding a correspondingly inclined underside 45 of the stamp 33. It is furthermore possible that: the

regions

21, 27, 47 do not directly border one another but are, for example, spaced apart, with further regions between the

regions

21, 27, 47.

Claims

1. Fluid-fillable bladder system (1), in particular for a contour-adjustable component of a vehicle, comprising two or more bladders (3, 5) each formed by a flexible membrane (17, 18, 19, 20), wherein at least one of the bladders (3, 5) has an opening (9) for the inflow and/or outflow of fluid into and/or out of the bladder system (1), and the interior spaces (11, 13) of two adjacent bladders (3, 5) are connected to one another via a fluid channel (7) such that the fluid can overflow, and the fluid channel (7) is surrounded by a weld seam (15) which joins the two adjacent bladders (3, 5) to one another, respectively, characterized in that: a contour region (25) surrounding the fluid channel (7) is designed to be directed toward the interior (11, 13) of at least one of the bladders (3, 5), and has two or more regions (21, 27, 47) with different material thicknesses (H21.1, H21.2, H21.3, H27.1, H47.1, H47.2, H20) of the membranes (17, 18, 19, 20) of the bladders (3, 5).

2. The bladder system according to claim 1, wherein: a first region (21) of the contour region (25) at least partially surrounds the fluid channel (7) and has a first material thickness (H21.1), and a second region (27) of the contour region (25) at least partially surrounds the first region (21) and has a second material thickness (H27.1).

3. The bladder system according to claim 2, wherein: the contour region (25) comprises a third region (47) which at least partially surrounds the second region (27) and has the first material thickness (H21.1) or a third material thickness (H47.1).

4. The bladder system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the second material thickness (H27.1) of the second region (27) is less than the first material thickness (H21.1) of the first region (21) and/or less than the third material thickness (47.1) of the third region (47).

5. The bladder system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the first region (21) and/or the second region (27) is polygonal and/or curved in its lateral extent on a peripheral side face (28).

6. The bladder system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the contour region (25) has spacer elements (29) and/or flow-through channels (23), in particular the spacer elements (29) are ribs (29) extending radially from the fluid channel (7), and the flow-through channels (23) are grooves (23) extending radially from the fluid channel (7).

7. The bladder system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the first region (21) and/or the second region (27) has two or more sub-regions (23, 29, 30, 32) which have different material thicknesses (H21.1, H21.2, H21.3, H27.1) in each case along the circumferentially opposite adjacent sub-regions (23, 29, 30, 32).

8. Welding tool (31) for manufacturing a capsule system (1), in particular a capsule system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a welding stamp (33) made of a material conducting a high frequency alternating electric field, characterized in that: the welding die (33) has a central recess (35) and the welding tool (31) further comprises an inner die (37) arranged in the recess (35), which inner die is made of a material that is not conductive to high-frequency alternating electric fields and has a contour on a lower side (39).

9. The bonding tool according to claim 8, wherein: the height of the inner die (37) can be adjusted relative to the welding die (33).

10. The bonding tool according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: the inner die (37) is replaceable.

11. The bonding tool according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein: the cross section of the welding die (33) is polygonal and/or curved on the peripheral side (40).

12. Welding tool according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized by an outer die (41) at least partly surrounding the welding die (33), the outer die having a material that is not conducting a high frequency alternating electric field.

13. The bonding tool according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein: the welding stamp (33) and/or the outer stamp (41) each have a contour on the lower side (45, 43).

14. Method for operating a bonding tool (31) according to one of the claims 8 to 13, comprising the following method steps:

providing two films (17, 20) arranged one above the other, wherein the first film (17) is at least partially provided for forming a first bag (3) and the second film (20) is at least partially provided for forming a second bag (5),

welding the two films (17, 20) by pressing the welding tool (31) and applying a high-frequency alternating electric field to the welding tool (31) to form a weld seam (15),

the welding lug (21, 47) formed by welding is formed from a film material in such a way that the welding lug (21, 47) has at least two partial regions (23, 29, 30, 50) of different material thicknesses.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein: the welding projections (21, 47) are shaped during the welding of the two films (17, 20) and thus during the production thereof, or the welding projections (21, 47) are shaped after the welding.