DE102021106361A1 - FLUID-FILLABLE BLADDER SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid-fillable bladder system (1), in particular for a contour-adjustable component of a vehicle, comprises a line (3) having an outside (19) and an interior (21), and a bladder (9), the bladder (9) on the outside (19) of the line (3) is connected in a fluid-tight manner, the interior (21) of the line (3) having at least one internal cross section (45, 63, 71, 73) with at least one internal diameter (33, 67, 79, 81) comprises, wherein the line (3) comprises at least one first opening (35), wherein the at least one first opening (35) protrudes into the bladder (9) for filling the bladder (9) with a fluid (39) or for emptying one Fluids (39) from the bladder (9) and a surface (47, 65, 75, 77) of the at least one internal cross-section (45 , 63, 71, 73) of the line (3).

Description

The invention relates to a fluid-fillable bladder system, in particular for a contour-adjustable component of a vehicle, with a line having an outside and an interior, and a bladder, the bladder being fluid-tightly connected to the outside of the line, the interior of the line comprises at least one internal cross-section with at least one internal diameter, the line comprising at least one first opening, the at least one first opening protruding into the bladder for filling the bladder with a fluid or for emptying a fluid from the bladder.

Bladder systems of the above type that can be filled with fluid are often used in seat arrangements for vehicles, but also in medical technology. It is of particular interest to fill a bladder with a fluid or to empty the fluid from the bladder, with the fluid flowing into or out of the bladder with as little turbulence as possible.

the EP 2 026 951 B1 describes a tool for HF-welding an insert part with two films to form a bag, such as is used in medical device technology to produce bags into which a tubular opening is inserted.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a fluid-fillable bladder system which allows a fluid to flow into or out of the bladder with as little noise as possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a fluid-fillable bladder system according to claim 1, which comprises a surface of the at least one internal cross section of the line that widens adjacent to the first opening and in a direction toward the first opening. The area of the at least one internal cross section of the line that widens adjacent to the first opening and in a direction toward the first opening can be designed for the fluid to flow through without stalling.

Flowing through the fluid without stalling has the technical effect, in particular, of reducing noise pollution when the fluid flows through the line, since turbulence is reduced adjacent to the first opening. The fluid can include a gas or the fluid can include a liquid, wherein the fluid can also include a mixture of liquid and gas.

The bladder can advantageously comprise a rubber membrane or a plastic film. Furthermore, the duct may comprise a plastic material or a metal, whereby the duct may also comprise a combination of plastic material and metal.

In one embodiment, the bladder can be formed as a sealing tube for sealing the bladder to the outside of the line, and in particular the sealing tube can comprise an adhesive layer for connection to the line. In this case, the adhesive layer can be applied to an inside of the welding tube or can form at least on the inside or on an outside of the welding tube as a result of an external supply of energy to the welding tube. External application of energy may include radio frequency (RF) welding. In this case, the welding tube can be introduced into an HF welding arrangement, in which case the HF welding arrangement can comprise at least two electrodes, in the space between which a rapidly changing electric field is generated. A rapidly alternating magnetic field can also be generated in the space between the two electrodes of the HF welding arrangement, or a rapidly alternating electric field and a rapidly alternating magnetic field can also be generated. A rapidly changing electric field or a rapidly changing magnetic field or a rapidly changing electric field and a rapidly changing magnetic field can be referred to as an RF field. The external application of energy may also include an electromagnetic field or may detect thermal radiation.

Advantageously, the material of the bladder can be adapted for high frequency welding for connection to the outside of the duct. In HF welding, at least one HF field can be generated for injecting energy into the sealing tube, for welding the sealing tube to the outside of the conduit. Alternatively, during high-frequency welding, at least one electromagnetic field can be generated to feed energy into the sealing tube, to weld the sealing tube to the outside of the line.

In one embodiment, the outside of the conduit may include at least one edge facing from the interior for contacting the bladder with the outside.

Advantageously, the at least one edge pointing away from the interior of the line can be designed as at least one ring running around the line. Alternatively, the ring does not have to necessarily encircle the line, but can be designed in such a way that ring sections encompass the line. The ring sections can be connected to one another, but can also be arranged separately from one another.

Advantageously, the duct may comprise a first wall thickness having a thickness in a range of 0.15 mm to 1.75 mm, preferably the duct may comprise the first wall thickness having a thickness in a range of 0.35 mm to 1.55 mm, more preferably the duct may have the first wall thickness with a thickness in a range from 0.65 mm to 1.25 mm. The conduit may further include a second wall thickness, the second wall thickness being disposed at the at least one first opening, the second wall thickness may be less than the thickness of the first wall thickness. The above terms of strength and thickness are to be understood analogously here. The conduit may comprise thermoplastic polyurethane. Advantageously, the conduit can have an outside diameter that can range from 2 mm to 8 mm, preferably the conduit can have the outside diameter that can range from 3 mm to 7 mm, more preferably the conduit can have the outside diameter , which can be in a range from 4 mm to 6 mm, more preferably the line can comprise the outer diameter, which can be in a range from 1.5 mm to 8.5 mm.

A junction between the first wall thickness and the second wall thickness can form an interior surface configuration of the conduit.

In particular, the inner surface arrangement can comprise at least one first curve, wherein the first curve can be arranged adjacent to the at least one first opening, wherein the first curve can comprise a radius of curvature, the radius of curvature of the first curve being in a range of 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm preferably the radius of curvature of the first curve can be in a range from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, more preferably the radius of curvature of the first curve can be in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

In particular, the interior surface arrangement may include at least a second curve, wherein the second curve may be located adjacent to the first curve and the second curve may be located inside the conduit and the second curve may include a radius of curvature, the radius of curvature of the second curve in one range from 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably the radius of curvature of the second curve can be in a range from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm, more preferably the radius of curvature of the second curve can be in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

In particular, the inner surface arrangement can comprise at least one third curve, wherein the third curve can be arranged between the first curve and the second curve and the third curve can comprise a radius of curvature, the radius of curvature of the third curve being in a range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm preferably the radius of curvature of the third curve can be in a range from 0.3 mm to 1.3 mm, more preferably the radius of curvature of the third curve can be in a range from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

In one embodiment, the conduit may comprise a tube or hose. in particular, the pipe or hose can be designed to be torsionally rigid. Alternatively, the pipe or hose can also comprise a flexible material, so that elastic deformation can be made possible. In a further alternative, the tube or hose may comprise a rigid material and comprise a flexible material. This can enable the effect of combining stable tubes or hose parts with an elastically deformable section.

In a further embodiment, the at least one internal cross section can have a circular surface or an elliptical surface.

• 1 einen Querschnitt durch ein vereinfachtes fluidbefüllbares Blasensystem;
• 2 eine Schnittansicht durch das vereinfachte fluidbefüllbare Blasensystem aus 1 entlang Ebenen, welche durch die gestrichelten Linien A-A bzw. B-B in 1 gekennzeichnet sind;
• 3 einen Querschnitt durch das erfindungsgemäße fluidbefüllbare Blasensystem;
• 4 eine Schnittansicht durch das erfindungsgemäße fluidbefüllbare Blasensystem entlang einer Ebene, welche durch die gestrichelte Linie C-C in 3 gekennzeichnet ist, oder durch eine Ebene E-E, welche in 6 gekennzeichnet ist;
• 5 eine Schnittansicht durch das erfindungsgemäße fluidbefüllbare Blasensystem aus 3 entlang einer Ebene, welche durch die gestrichelte Linie D-D in 3 gekennzeichnet ist, oder entlang einer Ebene F-F, welche in 6 gekennzeichnet ist;
• 6 einen Querschnitt durch eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen fluidbefüllbaren Blasensystems.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments that are shown in the figures. show it

• 1 a cross section through a simplified fluid-fillable bladder system;
• 2 Figure 12 shows a sectional view through the simplified fluid-fillable bladder system 1 along planes indicated by the dashed lines AA and BB, respectively, in 1 Marked are;
• 3 a cross section through the fluid-fillable bladder system according to the invention;
• 4 a sectional view through the fluid-fillable bladder system according to the invention along a plane which is defined by the dashed line CC in 3 is marked, or by a plane EE, which is in 6 is marked;
• 5 a sectional view through the fluid-fillable bladder system according to the invention 3 along a plane passing through the dashed line DD in 3 marked is, or along a plane FF, which is in 6 is marked;
• 6 a cross section through an embodiment of the fluid-fillable bladder system according to the invention.

Corresponding components, which are shown in the figures described above, are identified in the figures and in the following detailed description of the figures with the same reference symbols. Furthermore, alternative components with a corresponding effect such as the components of the fluid-fillable bladder system described above and below are considered to be interchangeable with the components of the fluid-fillable bladder system described above and below.

In 1 a simplified embodiment of a fluid-fillable bladder system 1 is shown. Here, a line 3, wherein the line 3 can comprise a pipe 4 or a hose 6, can be surrounded by a bladder 9. The bladder 9 can optionally be designed as a rubber membrane 11 or the bladder 9 can be designed as a film 13 or the bladder 9 can be designed as a welded-in tube 15 . Furthermore, an adhesive layer 17 can be applied to an inside 16 of the bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the foil 13 or the shrink-wrapping tube 15 . The adhesive layer 17 can be used to attach or glue the bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the film 13 or the shrink-wrapped tube 15 to an outer side 19 of the line 3 in a fluid-tight manner. In particular, attaching or gluing the bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the foil 13 or the sealing tube 15 can include high-frequency welding, with an externally supplied HF field, alternatively generally an externally supplied electromagnetic field, causing the bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the foil 13 or the sealing tube 15 can lead to the line 3. An adhesive layer 17 can be formed at least on an inside of the bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the film 13 or the sealing tube 15 by the high-frequency welding without this adhesive layer 17 having to be applied beforehand. However, high-frequency welding can be combined with the application of the aforementioned adhesive layer 17 . The adhesive layer 17 can in particular comprise a material of the bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the film 13 or the shrink-wrapping tube 15; however, the adhesive layer 17 can also comprise a material different from the material of the bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the foil 13 or the shrink-wrapping tube 15 .

In order to ensure a reliable fluid-tight connection between bladder 9 or rubber membrane 11 or foil 13 or shrink-wrapped tube 15 and line 3, at least one edge 23 pointing away from an interior 21 of line 3 can be formed on the outside 19 of line 3. The edge 23 pointing away from the interior 21 can also be designed as a ring 25 running around the line 3 in order to enable a large-area connection between the bladder 9 or rubber membrane 11 or foil 13 or shrink-wrapped tube 15 with the line 3 . Both the edge 23 and the ring 25 can be formed in the welding process, in particular in HF welding, by displaced material, in particular by displaced material of the line 3 or by displaced material of the line 3 and the bladder 9 or the line 3 and the rubber membrane 11 or the line 3 and the foil 13 or the line 3 and the sealing tube 15. The bladder 9 or the rubber membrane 11 or the foil 13 or the sealing tube 15 can be connected to the line 3 during welding, in particular during HF welding, by touching layers are heated to melting temperature and then pressed together. The aforementioned materials flow into each other and mix. This creates the connection without additional layers of adhesive. However, a further adhesive layer or a plurality of adhesive layers can nevertheless be provided in embodiments.

Depending on the particular application of the fluid-fillable bladder system 1, the line 3 may comprise a plastic material 27 or a metal 29 or a combination of plastic material 27 and metal 29. For example, the line 3, which includes the plastic material 27, can be used there in order to enable weight savings.

The duct 3 may comprise a first wall thickness 31, where the first wall thickness 31 may be chosen to withstand an internal pressure of the duct 3, which internal pressure may be positive or negative. In this case, the first wall thickness 31 can be dependent on a diameter or an external diameter of the line 3 , or the first wall thickness 31 can be selected according to a diameter or an external diameter of the line 3 . With a diameter of the line 3, in particular with an outside diameter of the line 3, of at least 1 mm, the wall thickness 31 can be in a range of 10% to 30% of the (outside) diameter. The line 3 can have an inner diameter 33 . The line 3 can preferably have a dimension of 6 mm outside diameter and 4 mm inside diameter, more preferably a dimension of 4 mm outside diameter and 2.6 mm inner diameter, more preferably comprise a dimension of 4 mm outer diameter and 2.4 mm inner diameter, more preferably comprise a dimension of 5 mm outer diameter and 3 mm inner diameter, more preferably comprise a dimension of 5 mm outer diameter and 3.1 mm inner diameter. Advantageously, the first wall thickness 31 can be at least 5 mm, but can also be selected to be thicker and can have a thickness of at least 10 mm or can also have a thickness of at least 15 mm. The internal pressure can develop in the interior space 21 , in which case the interior space 21 can include at least the inner diameter 33 . Advantageously, the inside diameter 33 can deviate from the aforementioned dimensions and can be at least 5 mm, preferably the inside diameter can be 1 cm, more preferably the inside diameter can be 15 mm, more preferably the inside diameter can be 20 mm. The line 3 can have a first opening 35 , with the first opening 35 being able to protrude into the bladder 9 or into the rubber membrane 11 or into the film 13 or into the shrink-wrapped tube 15 . The line 3 can furthermore have a second opening 37 which can lie on a side of the line 3 opposite the first opening 35 . Foils 13 which are welded can have a foil thickness of, for example, 0.3 mm or 0.38 mm. The films 13 which are welded can also have film thicknesses in a range from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm; the films 13 which are welded can preferably also have film thicknesses in a range from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.

A fluid 39, which can be in the bladder 9 or in the rubber membrane 11 or in the foil 13 or the sealing tube 15, can now be pumped through a pump arrangement, which can be arranged adjacent to the second opening 37 of the line 3 1 and the other figures but is not shown further, are sucked towards the first opening 35, are transported through the line 3 and reach the second end 37. Here, the fluid 39 is transported through an inner surface arrangement 41 of the line 3 , the inner surface arrangement 41 having a substantially non-widening surface or a substantially non-constricting surface 43 in a direction from the first opening 35 towards the second opening 37 .

This non-flaring or non-tapering inner surface assembly 41 is illustrated by the sectional view of FIG 2 further clarified. 2 shows two cross-sections along a plane in 1 , which are represented by the dashed lines AA and BB. In this case, the line 3 can have an internal cross section 45 which can be distinguished by an area 47 which is essentially constant over the line. Furthermore, the inner cross section 45 can be characterized by the inner diameter 33 already indicated above. Although the inner surface arrangement 41 of the fluid-inflatable bladder system 1 may have a substantially non-narrowing surface 43 , the conduit 3 may nevertheless have a slight restriction 49 which protrudes from the inner surface arrangement 41 into the interior of the conduit 3 . A second rounding 51 can convert the inner surface arrangement 41 or the surface 43 that does not narrow substantially into the narrowing 49 . Will that be in 1 fluid-fillable bladder system shown is used, for example, to suck a gaseous fluid through the first opening 35 into the line 3, turbulence or pressure differences can arise at a sharp-edged transition 53 of the first opening 35, which can lead to whistling noises. Correspondingly, when a liquid is sucked into the line 3 through the first opening 35, gurgling noises can occur.

This noise can be annoying, z. B. for an occupant of a vehicle seat or a patient in a hospital. However, the aforementioned noise development can be caused by the in 3 fluid-fillable bladder system 100 according to the invention shown can be minimized or even eliminated. For this purpose, instead of the sharp-edged transition 53, a largely continuous transition 54 can be provided, which can be arranged at the first opening 35. The continuous transition 54 may include a first edge 55 that may be positioned at the first opening 35 . A first curve 57 can adjoin the edge 55 towards the interior of the line 3 , with the first curve 57 being able to connect the edge 55 to a surface 59 . Surface 59 may form a surface of an expanding cylinder. The surface 59 can have a cross-sectional narrowing effect with respect to a longitudinal direction 61 pointing in the direction from the first opening 35 towards the second opening 37 . this is in 4 such as 5 shown where 4 a sectional view along a plane in 3 which is represented by the dashed line CC. Furthermore shows 5 a sectional view along a plane in 3 , which is represented by the dashed line DD. In doing so, an in 5 illustrated cross-section 63 through a larger area 65 compared to cross-section 45 in 4 be characterized, wherein the cross-section 45 may have a smaller area 47. Accordingly, a diameter 67 of the cross-section can be 63 in 5 larger than diameter 33 of cross-section 45 in 4 be. Optionally, surface 59 may have no curvature or may have a curvature show. The surface 59 can connect to an inner edge 68 of the inner surface arrangement 41 in a region 64 . Here, the area 64 can have a third rounding 66 . However, the area 64 does not have to have a rounding 66 in order to connect the surface 59 to the inner edge 68 of the inner surface arrangement 41 . A distance 69 can preferably be in a range from 2 mm to 3 mm, more preferably a distance can be in a range from 1 mm to 5 mm. The inner diameter 33 can be 3.1 mm, preferably the inner diameter 33 can be in a range from 2 mm to 3 mm, more preferably the inner diameter 33 can be in a range from 1 mm to 5 mm, more preferably the inner diameter 33 can be at most one Have the length of the distance 69, more preferably the inner diameter 33 can have at least a length of the distance 69. Advantageously, the distance 69 between the area 64 and the edge 55 can also be more than 3 mm, in particular at least 1 cm, preferably at least 2 cm, more preferably at least 5 cm, more preferably at least 10 cm.

In order to reduce or avoid the aforementioned, possibly disruptive, noise development, an embodiment 200 of the fluid-fillable bladder system as in 6 shown conceivable. In the aforementioned embodiment it can be provided that no rounding 57 as in 3 shown to arrange. In this case, surface 59 would connect edge 55 to region 64 directly. Here, the surface 59 can be analogous to that in 3 shown embodiment also have a cross-sectional narrowing effect. This is in turn based on the sectional views in the 4 and 5 shown. Here shows 4 a cross-section 71 along a plane in 6 , which is represented by the dashed line EE. 5 shows a cross-section 73 along a plane passing through the dashed line FF in 6 is shown. Here, the cross section 73 can differ from the cross section 71, i.e. in particular an area 75 of the cross section 73 can be larger than an area 77 of the cross section 71. This can equally mean that a diameter 79 of the cross section 73 can be larger than a diameter 81 of cross section 71.

In particular, the at least one internal cross section 45, 63, 71, 73 can have a circular surface 83 or an elliptical surface 85 to form a space-saving bladder system that can be filled with fluid.

Although in the above description the fluid can comprise a gas or a liquid or a gas and a liquid, it should be pointed out here in particular that the liquid can be characterized by a low or high viscosity. For example, a liquid with a high viscosity can be filled into the bladder with little turbulence using the invention described above. The bladder can also be designed as a container of any design but suitable for the purpose. It would therefore also be conceivable to conduct adhesive through the line 3 in order to fill the adhesive, for example in a filling station. A liquid analysis station could also include the fluid-fillable bladder system described above. In the case of biologically or chemically reactive substances in particular, it can be of great importance to generate minimal turbulence in order not to falsify an analysis result or to evaluate it as precisely as possible.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 2026951 B1 [0003]

Claims (15)

Bladder system (1, 100, 200) that can be filled with fluid, in particular for a contour-adjustable component of a vehicle, comprising a line (3) which has an outer side (19) and an inner space (21), and a bladder (9), the bladder ( 9) is connected to the outside (19) of the line (3) in a fluid-tight manner, the interior (21) of the line (3) having at least one internal cross section (45, 63, 71, 73) with at least one internal diameter (33, 67, 79 , 81), wherein the line (3) comprises at least one first opening (35), the at least one first opening (35) protruding into the bladder (9) for filling the bladder (9) with a fluid (39) or for emptying a fluid (39) from the bladder (9), characterized by a surface (47, 65, 75, 77) of the at least one internal cross-section (45, 63, 71, 73) of the line (3). Fluid-fillable bladder system claim 1 , wherein the bladder (9) comprises a rubber membrane (11) or a film (13) made of plastic. A fluid-fillable bladder system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conduit (3) comprises a plastics material (27) or a metal (29). Fluid-fillable bladder system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bladder (9) is designed as a weld-in tube (15) for welding the bladder (9) to the outside (19) of the line (3), and the weld-in tube (15) in particular Adhesive layer (17) included for connection to the line (3). Fluid-fillable bladder system according to one of Claims 1 until 3 wherein a material of the bladder (9) is adapted for high-frequency welding to be connected to the outside (19) of the conduit (3). Fluid-fillable bladder system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outside (19) of the line (3) comprises at least one edge (23) pointing away from the interior (21) for contacting the bladder (9) with the outside (19). Fluid-fillable bladder system claim 6 The at least one edge (23) pointing away from the interior (21) of the line (3) is designed as at least one ring (25) running around the line (3). Fluid-fillable bladder system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the line (3) comprises a first wall thickness (31) of at least 0.5 millimeters and a second wall thickness (55), wherein the second wall thickness (55) at the at least one first opening (35 ) is arranged, wherein the second wall thickness (55) has a lower thickness than the thickness of the first wall thickness (31). Fluid-fillable bladder system claim 8 , wherein a connection between the first wall thickness (31) and the second wall thickness (55) forms an inner surface arrangement (41, 43) of the conduit (3). Fluid-fillable bladder system claim 9 , wherein the inner surface arrangement (41, 43) comprises at least one first curve (57), the first curve (57) being arranged adjacent to the at least one first opening (35), the first curve (57) having a radius of curvature in a range from 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. Fluid-fillable bladder system claim 10 wherein the inner surface arrangement (41, 43) comprises at least a second curve (51), the second curve (51) being arranged adjacent to the first curve (57) and the second curve (51) being arranged inside the conduit (3). and the second curve (51) has a radius of curvature in a range from 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. Fluid-fillable bladder system claim 11 , wherein the inner surface arrangement (41, 43) comprises at least a third curve (66), the third curve (66) being arranged between the first curve (57) and the second curve (51) and the third curve (66) having a radius of curvature in a range from 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. Fluid-fillable bladder system according to one of Claims 8 until 12 , wherein the second wall thickness (55) has a lower thickness than the thickness of the first wall thickness. Fluid-fillable bladder system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the line (3) comprises a tube (4) or a hose (6). A fluid-fillable bladder system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one internal cross-section (45, 63, 71, 73) has a circular surface (83) or an elliptical surface (85).

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