DE102022117668A1 - Hose for heating a fluid and hose arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hose (10) for heating a fluid which can be conveyed through a cavity (12) in the hose (10). The hose (10) has a heating device (14) which comprises at least two electrodes (16, 18, 20, 22). The at least two electrodes (16, 18, 20, 22) are designed to introduce electrical energy into an electrically conductive plastic material (24) of the heating device (14) during a heating operation of the heating device (14). The heating device (14) at least partially surrounds the cavity (12) in the circumferential direction. At least the heating device (14) has a contour in cross section which is different from a rotationally symmetrical contour. The invention further relates to a hose arrangement with a hose (10) and with a connecting device arranged on the hose (10).

Description

The invention relates to a hose for heating a fluid which can be conveyed through a cavity in the hose. The hose has a heating device which includes at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes are designed to introduce electrical energy into an electrically conductive plastic material of the heating device during a heating operation of the heating device. The heating device at least partially surrounds the cavity in the circumferential direction. The invention further relates to a hose arrangement with a hose for heating a fluid and with a connection device arranged on the hose for dispensing the fluid.

The DE 20 2008 007 392 U1 describes a fluid line that can be used in motor vehicles, for example as a water line for the windshield wiper system. The fluid line consists of a heating line with an electrical heating element, the heating element consisting of an electrically conductive plastic material with embedded electrodes.

Another electrically heatable media line with an electrically conductive plastic material is in the DE 10 2010 051 550 A1 described.

Furthermore, it can be provided to lay heating wires in a hose for heating a fluid, such as a washing liquid for a window of a motor vehicle. Such a hose having heating wires can be used to introduce the washing liquid into a nozzle which is not arranged at a free end of the hose, but at a distance from the free end. In such a case, installing the nozzle often involves increased effort. It may be necessary to separate the hose and thus also the heating wires in the area of the nozzle into two sections. This is the case, for example, if the nozzle is also to be heated using the heating wires. Such increased assembly effort is disadvantageous.

In addition, in the case of a hose heated by heating wires, it is complex to design the heating power of the heating wires in such a way that no undesirably strong heating of the hose occurs when the heating wires are in operation. This is also disadvantageous.

The object of the present invention is to provide a hose of the type mentioned at the outset, which is improved with regard to the heating operation, and to create a hose arrangement that is improved with regard to the heating operation.

This object is achieved by a hose with the features of patent claim 1 and by a hose arrangement with the features of patent claim 12. Advantageous embodiments with useful developments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims and in the following description.

The hose according to the invention for heating a fluid which can be conveyed through a cavity of the hose has a heating device. The heating device includes at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes are designed to introduce electrical energy into an electrically conductive plastic material of the heating device during a heating operation of the heating device. The heating device at least partially surrounds the cavity in the circumferential direction. At least the heating device has a contour in cross section which is different from a rotationally symmetrical contour.

By applying electrical energy to the electrically conductive plastic material of the heating device via the at least two electrodes to heat the fluid or in the heating mode of the heating device, a high heating output can be achieved. The contour of at least the heating device, which is not rotationally symmetrical in cross section, is advantageous because the high heating output in the heating operation of the heating device can be achieved with a comparatively small amount of conductive plastic material. Therefore, the hose is improved in terms of heating operation.

This applies in particular in comparison to a design of the hose in which the heating device or the hose comprising the heating device is round in cross section. A higher heating output can therefore be achieved with a comparatively small amount of electrically conductive plastic material than would be the case with a heating device with a round contour in cross section.

Because of the non-rotationally symmetrical contour of the heating device, in particular the hose comprising the heating device, only comparatively little electrically conductive plastic material needs to be arranged between two adjacent electrodes which preferably have different electrical polarities. Nevertheless, during heating operation, a high level of heat is released in this plastic material due to the passage of electrical current, which ensures that the fluid is heated. The electrically conductive plastic material has a higher electrical resistance than the electrodes.

Due to the non-rotationally symmetrical contour of at least the heating device, in particular the hose comprising the heating device, it is particularly easy to ensure that the high heating output is provided by the heating device during heating operation by means of a suitable spatial distribution of the at least two electrodes. For a hose of a given length, the heating output can accordingly be increased by reducing the distance between the electrodes and/or by using more than two electrodes. Both can be implemented particularly well due to the non-rotationally symmetrical contour of at least the heating device.

If an outside of the hose is formed by the heating device, the hose therefore also has a contour or outer contour which is different from the rotationally symmetrical contour. In an analogous manner, a non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose can be caused by the heating device being surrounded by a casing or casing which has an at least essentially constant thickness. However, even if the thickness of the casing is not consistently constant, the entire hose can have an outer contour that is not rotationally symmetrical in cross section, namely if the casing itself has such a non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour.

On such a hose, which has an outer contour in cross section that is different from the rotationally symmetrical contour or outer contour, a nozzle or similar connecting device, for example, can be attached in a desired radial orientation in a process-reliable and simple manner. Due to the non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose, rotation of the nozzle relative to the hose can be avoided if the hose is in engagement with a corresponding receptacle of the nozzle. This is because the nozzle or such a connecting device for dispensing or forwarding the fluid is then coupled to the hose in a rotationally fixed manner. This is advantageous in terms of simple and low-effort assembly when attaching the at least one nozzle or similar connection device to the hose. In this case, the hose is also improved in terms of assembly.

The contour of at least the heating device can, for example, have a circumferentially closed U-shape in cross section or can be polygonal in cross section. Such shapes allow the advantages associated with the non-rotationally symmetrical cross-section of the contour of at least the heating device, in particular the hose comprising the heating device, to be achieved to a particular extent.

In particular, due to the non-rotationally symmetrical contour of at least the heating device, it can be provided that the at least two electrodes in the electrically conductive plastic material are arranged not symmetrically or asymmetrically. For example, with three electrodes or more than three electrodes which are arranged in the electrically conductive plastic material, the electrodes can be at different distances from one another. And with exactly two electrodes arranged in the conductive plastic material, the two electrodes can have a first distance from each other in a first direction surrounding the cavity, and in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, a second distance which is greater than that first distance. In this way, despite the non-rotationally symmetrical contour of at least the heating device, in particular the hose comprising the heating device, a very uniform distribution of the heat emitted by the heating device during heating operation can be ensured.

Additionally or alternatively, the asymmetrical arrangement of the at least two electrodes with the non-rotationally symmetrical contour of at least the heating device makes it possible to locally realize a particularly high heating output in the heating mode, namely where there is a comparatively small distance between two adjacent electrodes having different polarities.

In particular, by using more than two electrodes it can be ensured that there is a comparatively small distance between two adjacent electrodes in the circumferential direction around the cavity. This is advantageous with regard to a high heating output in the heating operation of the heating device. This is because a smaller distance between the electrodes means that in heating mode the current has to travel a shorter distance through the electrically conductive plastic material from one electrode to the neighboring electrode than if the electrodes are larger from one another. This is accompanied by a lower electrical resistance of the electrically conductive plastic material and accordingly with an increased heating output in the heating operation of the heating device.

The electrically conductive plastic material of the heating device preferably has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC). In this way, the heating device is intrinsically safe during heating operation ensured. Since the electrical resistance of the plastic material increases as the temperature of the plastic material increases, the hose can be prevented from reaching an undesirably high operating temperature during heating operation. It is also advantageous to achieve very rapid heating of the fluid, since the low initial resistance of the PTC heating device results in a high initial output of the heating device.

In particular, it can be ensured in this way that the temperature of the hose does not exceed approximately 110 ° C during heating operation of the heating device. It is preferably provided that the hose reaches a temperature of no more than approximately 70 ° C when the heating device is in heating mode.

Preferably, at least the heating device has a rectangular cross-sectional contour, with a respective electrode being arranged in four corner regions of the heating device. Such a hose with the heating device having the four electrodes in the four corner regions and therefore having a rectangular cross section, in particular a substantially square heating device in cross section, delivers a particularly high heating output with a particularly low use of electrically conductive plastic material. In addition, such a geometry can ensure particularly short distances from a respective electrode to the electrode adjacent to the cavity in the circumferential direction, which the electrical current has to travel through the electrically conductive plastic material during heating operation. This is advantageous in view of the high heating output.

In particular, with a polygonal contour of at least the heating device, in particular the hose comprising the heating device, in which a respective electrode is arranged in the corner regions of the heating device, short distances from each of the electrodes to the adjacent electrode can advantageously be realized. For example, if the heating device has an octagonal contour, eight electrodes can be embedded in the electrically conductive plastic material. This is advantageous in terms of the heating output that can be achieved.

Providing a significantly larger number of electrodes in the electrically conductive plastic material in turn entails increased effort with regard to the electrical connection of the electrodes and increased effort for providing the electrodes themselves and embedding the electrodes in the plastic material. It can therefore be provided that the hose preferably has no more than eight electrodes and in particular exactly the four electrodes arranged in the corner regions of the heating device.

The electrodes can have a round cross-sectional area. This means that the electrodes can be provided particularly easily and with little effort.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the electrodes are band-shaped. A width of the respective band-shaped electrode is preferably at least three times, more preferably at least five times, the thickness of the band-shaped electrode. This is accompanied by a large contact area between the respective electrode and the adjacent plastic material. Due to the resulting lower electrical resistance, this is advantageous for high heating output.

The electrodes can be designed in the manner of strands, which have a plurality of wires or individual wires, in particular twisted together. In particular, silver-plated individual wires can be used to ensure a very high electrical conductivity of the electrodes. The design of the electrodes as strands is advantageous in view of the fact that the hose provided with the electrodes can be bent and is therefore flexible, but still has a certain flexural rigidity. This bending stiffness can be increased further by twisting the individual wires.

Preferably, the electrodes are arranged symmetrically in the plastic material with respect to at least one plane of symmetry, which includes a central axis of the tube. In this way, very uniform heating of the fluid flowing through the cavity when using the hose can be achieved in heating mode. This applies in particular if the heating device completely surrounds the cavity in the circumferential direction.

Preferably, the hose has at least one passage opening through which the fluid can be conveyed out of the cavity in a lateral direction into an area surrounding the hose during operation of the hose. In this way, a fluid outlet from the hose can be achieved not only in the region of one end of the hose, but also in a hose section spaced from respective end regions of the hose. This can be advantageous if, during operation of the hose, areas spaced apart from one another, such as areas of the surface of a window of a motor vehicle or another surface of the motor vehicle to be cleaned, are to be exposed to the heated fluid.

For example, this is advantageous if the fluid is designed as a washing liquid for a windshield washer system of the motor vehicle. In such a case, freezing of the fluid can be avoided by operating the heating device, even if the washing liquid contains only a small proportion of antifreeze or no antifreeze at all. This is advantageous with regard to reliable cleaning of a surface, in particular the surface of a window of the motor vehicle, due to the use of the heated fluid. Additionally or alternatively, the fluid can be designed as a washing liquid, which, when the hose is used, is intended to free or keep free of contamination from a viewing area or detection area of at least one sensor and/or at least one lamp, such as a headlight of the motor vehicle.

The hollow space of the hose through which the fluid flows during operation of the hose can in particular have a round cross section. This is advantageous in terms of low flow resistance when flow through the cavity. However, geometries of the cavity that deviate from an inner diameter with a strictly round cross section can also be provided, with a corner-free cross section of the cavity being preferred in order to achieve the advantageously low flow resistance.

The cavity can be limited to the conductive plastic material by a lining of the hose, which is preferably formed from an electrically non-conductive material. This ensures electrical insulation of the heating device from the fluid. This is particularly advantageous if the fluid contains electrically conductive components. In addition, a lining can be advantageous if the conductive plastic material does not have sufficient chemical resistance to the fluid or ingredients of the fluid.

The at least one passage opening can be produced in the tube, for example, by punching and/or drilling and/or by melting the material of the tube, for example using a laser. In particular, a precisely designed passage opening through which the fluid can easily flow can be provided with little effort. Due to the non-round contour of the hose in cross-section, the hose can be positioned in a tool or a holder in such an oriented manner that the passage opening can in any case be created at a sufficient distance from the electrodes.

Advantageously, the hose can have two passage openings arranged in alignment with one another, in particular in a radial direction, through which the fluid can be conveyed from the cavity in a lateral direction into the surroundings of the hose. Providing the two through openings arranged in alignment with one another has the advantage that residues, in particular of the plastic material, remaining in the cavity of the hose during production can be avoided. This is advantageous in terms of low-cost production. This is because no such residues need to be removed from the cavity during the production or manufacture of the hose. Furthermore, the two through openings arranged in alignment with one another can be produced particularly easily in one work step, in particular by punching and/or drilling and/or laser cutting.

In addition, due to the provision of the two through-openings arranged in alignment with one another, a smaller flow-through cross-section of the respective through-opening can be present than would be the case to provide a specific volume flow of the fluid if only one through-opening was provided in the hose. This is particularly advantageous in view of the fact that, due to the small size of the through-openings aligned with one another, damage to the electrodes arranged in the plastic material can be avoided particularly easily when producing the through-openings.

In order to convey a certain volume flow of the fluid out of the cavity in the lateral direction into the surroundings of the hose, with two passage openings only half as large a flow-through cross-section per passage opening must be provided as would be the case if only one passage opening was provided. In other words, the flow rate of fluid per passage opening can be halved. And by providing the two small passage openings aligned with one another, damage to the electrodes in the course of producing the passage openings can be particularly largely avoided.

Preferably, at least one connection device designed to dispense the fluid is arranged on a hose section of the hose, which is spaced from respective end regions of the hose. Here, the fluid can be introduced into the connection device via the at least one passage opening during operation of the hose.

The heated fluid can thus exit the hose section spaced from the end regions of the hose via the connection device be delivered. This is advantageous with regard to flexible use of the fluid. Furthermore, it is advantageous that that part of the fluid that continues to flow through the cavity and is not introduced into the connection device via the at least one passage opening also ensures that the connection device is heated.

Since the hose section passes completely through the connection device, when the heating device is in heating mode, heat is also released into the connection device over a correspondingly large length region of the hose that passes through the entire connection device. This is advantageous for good heating of the connection device. A particularly extensive heating of the connection device in the heating mode of the heating device can be achieved in particular if the hose section is in heat-conducting contact with the connection device. In this way, a very intensive heat transfer from the hose section or an outside of the hose section to the connection device can be ensured.

In particular, if the connection device has an outlet or an outlet opening, the heated fluid can advantageously be released via this outlet opening or outlet.

The connection device can be designed as a nozzle or similar dispensing element, which is designed to dispense the fluid into the environment. By designing the connection device as a nozzle, the fluid emerging from the cavity into the environment can be conveyed in a particularly targeted manner to a specific location on the surface to be acted upon by the fluid. This is advantageous. The latter applies both when the emerging fluid is accelerated by the nozzle or such a delivery element and when the connecting device does not influence the emerging fluid in this way.

In particular, if the fluid flowing through the cavity of the hose is a washing liquid, the connecting device can be designed as a connection of a wiper blade of a windshield wiper system, into which the fluid heated by the hose in heating mode can be introduced. Additionally or alternatively, the connection device can be designed as a fluid distributor or the like.

Even with such configurations of the connection device, it is advantageous that the connection device is heated by means of the fluid flowing through the cavity and heated during the heating operation of the heating device and, above all, by operating the heating device.

Preferably, the connection device, in particular the nozzle designed to dispense the fluid into the environment, has a receptacle with an inner contour which corresponds to a non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose. By pushing the hose into the receptacle, the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, can be positioned very easily in the hose section of the hose, which is spaced from the respective end regions of the hose. This is conducive to simple assembly when attaching the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, to the hose.

Advantageously, during the heating operation of the heating device, heat is transferred from the hose section passed through the receptacle to an interior of the connection device. As a result, the hose or heating hose with its heated surface also heats at least partial areas of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle. Particularly good heat transfer can be achieved if the connection device, in particular the nozzle, has a heat-conducting body, for example a metallic heat-conducting body, in the area of the receptacle.

If the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, is designed in two parts, for example, the two parts of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, can be connected to one another in the hose section which has at least one passage opening, so that the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, can be connected to the as desired Hose section is positioned. Even with such an assembly, it is advantageous if the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, has the receptacle with the inner contour, which corresponds to the outer contour of the hose, which is different from a rotationally symmetrical contour. In this way, a positioning of the connecting device or nozzle in the hose section that is secured against twisting can be achieved.

The connection device, which is designed in particular as a nozzle, can have an annular channel via which the fluid can be introduced from the two through openings arranged in alignment with one another into the connection device, in particular into the nozzle. In this way, a particularly unhindered exit of the fluid from the connecting device or nozzle can be achieved during operation of the hose.

Preferably, the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, is connected to the hose section in a fluid-tight manner. In this way, an undesirable leakage of fluid into the environment is prevented. This ensures efficient use of the fluid.

The fluid-tight connection of the connection device, in particular the nozzle, to the hose section can be achieved by gluing and/or welding, in particular laser welding, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, at least one sealing element, in particular in the form of at least one O-ring, can ensure a fluid-tight seal of the connection device, in particular the nozzle, relative to the hose. In addition, additionally or alternatively, after attaching the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, to the hose section, a sealing material can be arranged from the outside where the hose adjoins an outer wall of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle. For example, such sealing can be carried out by means of a casting material and/or an adhesive or the like, with which the outer wall of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, and the area of the hose adjacent to the outer wall are applied. In this way, good fixation of the connecting device or nozzle in the axial direction of the hose can also be ensured.

The hose preferably has at least one positioning element, by means of which the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, is arranged on the hose section in a predetermined radial orientation and secured against twisting. Here, the connection device, which is designed in particular as a nozzle, has a structural element that corresponds to the positioning element. In this way it is ensured that the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, is arranged on the hose section with exactly the desired radial orientation. Because the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, can only be attached to the hose in a precisely predetermined orientation or orientation in the hose section due to the provision of the at least one positioning element.

If, for example, the hose has an outer contour that is square in cross section and corresponds to a square inner contour of the receptacle of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, then four different radial orientations of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, relative to the hose are possible. Due to the provision of the at least one positioning element, the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, can only be attached to the hose in exactly one radial orientation, namely in the predetermined radial orientation, in the hose section. This is advantageous with regard to error-free and process-reliable assembly of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, on the hose section.

In particular, the at least one positioning element can be used as a guide when the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, is arranged in the hose section by being pushed onto the hose. This is also advantageous with regard to simple assembly of the connection device, in particular the nozzle. In addition, with such an assembly of the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, the hose does not need to be separated by sliding it onto the hose for the purpose of attaching the connecting device, in particular the nozzle, in the hose section. Nevertheless, when the hose is in operation, the heated fluid can be introduced into the connecting device, in particular the nozzle. In this way, heating of the connection device, in particular the nozzle, can be achieved by means of the fluid.

The at least one positioning element can be provided by an indentation and/or bulge and/or chamfer. This type of thing can be implemented particularly easily from a technical point of view.

The indentation and/or bulge and/or chamfer can be formed at least in a casing of the hose, with the casing of the hose enclosing the heating device on the outside. This allows the positioning element to be provided in an advantageous manner regardless of the shape of the heating device.

In addition, the cover advantageously provides a protective casing for the heating device, which in particular provides protection against exposure of the heating device to corrosive substances, for example in the form of salts or the like, and/or to UV light and/or to other undesirable ones influences. Furthermore, electrical insulation of the heating device can be achieved through the cover of the hose.

The shell or casing can be formed with very little effort from a plastic such as an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) and/or from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in particular a thermoplastic elastomer containing styrene, i.e. a TPS material.

The casing can have a thickness of up to approximately 0.6 mm, and in particular a thickness of the order of approximately 0.4 mm can be provided. In this way, good external protection of the heating device can be ensured with comparatively little use of material. Accordingly, the cover ensures good environmental resistance of the hose.

A connection device designed to release the fluid into the environment is preferably arranged on a free end region of the hose. In this way, the fluid that reaches the end region of the hose during heating operation can be introduced into the connection device in a heated state. This is advantageous, for example in order to also heat the connection device.

In particular, the connection device can be designed as an end nozzle or similar delivery element designed to deliver the fluid into the environment. As a result, during operation of the hose, the fluid can be applied via the end nozzle to a surface to be acted upon by the fluid, for example in the form of the window of the motor vehicle or the like.

However, the connecting device can also be designed as a component of a fluid-carrying wiper blade, into which the fluid heated during the heating operation of the heating device can be introduced via the free end region of the hose. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible to design the connection device as a fluid distributor or the like. In such applications it is also advantageous to heat, for example, a connection of the wiper blade or the fluid distributor by means of the heating device that emits heat in heating mode and by means of the heated fluid.

Preferably, the connecting device, in particular the end nozzle, is coupled in a fluid-tight manner to the free end region of the hose. The tightness between the free end region and the connection device can be ensured by welding, in particular laser welding, and/or by means of an adhesive and/or by providing at least one sealing element, in particular in the form of an O-ring or the like.

It can be provided that during assembly the free end region of the hose is pushed onto a connecting piece of the connecting device so that the free end region of the hose surrounds the connecting piece on the outside. In this way, too, heating of the connection device can be achieved by means of the hose that releases heat during heating operation of the heating device.

Preferably, the free end region of the hose is inserted into a base body of the connecting device, in particular the end nozzle. In this way, when the heating device is in heating mode, it can be easily ensured that the connecting device, in particular the end nozzle, is also heated by means of the heating device of the hose. In this way, it can be very efficiently prevented that fluid in the connecting device, in particular the end nozzle, freezes. Furthermore, the connection device, in particular the end nozzle, can be used as a heat storage device. Accordingly, particularly rapid heating of the fluid itself in the area of the connection device, in particular the end nozzle, can be ensured during operation of the hose.

These advantages apply in an analogous manner to the connection device, which is arranged on the hose section of the hose, which is spaced from the respective end regions of the hose, so that the hose section passes through the connection device.

In order to achieve good fixation of the end region of the hose inserted into the base body, the end region can be accommodated in an insertion region of the base body to form a press fit. This is conducive to a simple and at the same time secure connection of the connecting device, which is designed in particular as an end nozzle, to the end region of the hose.

Preferably, the base body has an inner contour in the insertion area, which corresponds to a non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose. In this way, it can be very easily ensured that the connection device, which is designed in particular as an end nozzle, is attached to the end region of the hose in a predetermined orientation when the end region of the hose is inserted or inserted into the insertion region of the base body. This is advantageous in terms of simple and reliable assembly.

In order to achieve good heat distribution in the connection device, a base body of the connection device can be formed from a heat-conducting plastic. Such a heat-conducting plastic can be provided, for example, by introducing metal particles and/or soot or the like into a plastic matrix. In this way, a high thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting plastic can be achieved, with the use of a suitable amount of such substances preferably ensuring that the plastic is thermally conductive, but not electrically conductive.

Preferably, at least one heat-conducting body is arranged in the base body of the connection device, by means of which heat emitted by the hose during heating operation of the heating device can be introduced into the base body of the connection device. With such a heat-conducting body, very good heat transfer from the hose into the connection device can be achieved. This is advantageous in terms of preventing fluid located in the connection device from freezing.

For example, the heat-conducting body can be formed from a material that conducts heat well, such as aluminum and/or copper and/or an alloy containing aluminum and/or copper. In particular, when producing the connection device in an injection molding process, such a heat-conducting body or bodies can be very easily integrated into the base body of the connection device.

Preferably, the at least one heat-conducting body is in direct heat-conducting contact with at least one of the electrodes. In this way, heat is introduced into the heat-conducting body via the heated metallic electrode and the connection device is thus heated. This allows very efficient and extensive heating of the connection device to be achieved. This applies in particular if a plurality of heat-conducting bodies are arranged in the base body, with a respective heat-conducting body being in thermal contact with at least one respective electrode.

In particular, if the heat-conducting body formed from the thermally conductive material is not electrically conductive, the heat-conducting body can be in heat-conducting contact with electrodes of different polarities. Furthermore, particularly in the case of a thermally and electrically conductive heat-conducting body, a plurality of electrodes of the same polarity can contact the heat-conducting body and thus introduce heat into the heat-conducting body during heating operation.

The at least one heat-conducting body can be designed in the manner of a sleeve into which an end section of the electrode is inserted. On the one hand, very good thermal contacting of the heat-conducting body can be achieved. On the other hand, the electrode can be inserted very easily into the inherently rigid sleeve if the end region is inserted into the insertion region of the base body when installing the connecting device, in particular the end nozzle, on the end region of the hose.

In particular, it can be provided that the electrode, which is designed in the manner of a strand, is inserted into a first sleeve. This ensures that a portion of the electrode provided with the first sleeve is stiffened. The first sleeve can in turn be inserted into a second sleeve, whereby a good connection of the two sleeves to one another can be achieved in particular by a press fit and/or by clamping the first sleeve by means of the second sleeve, in particular due to a deformation of the second sleeve. This creates a very intensive thermally conductive or heat-conducting contact between the electrode and the heat-conducting bodies designed as sleeves.

In particular, in the base body of the connection device, in particular the end nozzle, a plurality of heat-conducting bodies designed in the manner of a respective sleeve can be arranged, into which respective end sections of the respective electrodes are inserted. In this way, intensive and very rapid heating of the connection device, in particular the end nozzle, can be achieved.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the heat-conducting body is in electrically conductive contact with electrodes of different polarities, the heat-conducting body being formed from a thermally and electrically conductive material. In such a case, an electrical current or heating current can flow over the electrodes and the heat-conducting body in heating mode, which can be used to heat the connection device, which is designed in particular as the end nozzle. Such a heating current then flows in the heating mode in parallel to the current which flows through the electrically conductive plastic material in the heating mode. It is therefore important to ensure that the electrical resistance of the heat-conducting body is dimensioned appropriately. In particular, the heat-conducting body can also be provided by an electrically conductive plastic.

By providing the at least one heat-conducting body, it can be achieved in particular that the connection device, in particular the end nozzle, can be heated up to at least one outlet, via which the fluid can exit the connection device, in particular the end nozzle, into the environment during operation of the hose . The at least one outlet of the connecting device, in particular the end nozzle, can be designed as a radial outlet and/or as an axial outlet. Depending on the intended use of the nozzle, this allows the heated fluid to be applied to the area or surface in a targeted manner.

The hose arrangement according to the invention comprises a hose for heating a fluid, wherein the fluid can be conveyed through a cavity in the hose. The hose comprises a heating device with at least two electrodes, wherein the at least two electrodes are designed to introduce electrical energy into an electrically conductive plastic material of the heating device during a heating operation of the heating device. The heating device at least partially surrounds the cavity in the circumferential direction. A connection device for dispensing the fluid is arranged on the hose. Here, a hose section of the hose, which is spaced from respective end regions of the hose, is passed through a receptacle of the connecting device. The hose has at least one passage opening in the hose section, through which the fluid can be introduced into the connection device in a lateral direction out of the cavity during operation of the hose.

Accordingly, in the heating operation of the heating device, not only the fluid that is conveyed through the cavity can be heated. Rather, the connecting device, which is spaced apart from the respective end regions of the hose, is fluidically connected to the heated hose in a simple and flexible manner. Furthermore, the heat emitted by the electrically conductive plastic material during heating operation of the heating device can additionally be introduced into the connection device in the area of the receiving device. Since the hose section is guided through the receptacle of the connecting device or passes completely through the receptacle, this introduction of the heating heat of the hose can take place over the entire length of the receptacle. Consequently, the connection device can also be heated in an advantageous manner using the hose. Therefore, the hose arrangement is improved in terms of heating operation.

Preferably, the connection device is in heat-conducting contact with the hose section. This can be achieved by the connection device in the area of the receptacle being in contact with an outside of the hose section, at least in some areas. Then, in the heating mode of the heating device, a very intensive heat transfer can take place from the outside of the hose section to the connecting device. A corresponding, very extensive heating of the connection device is advantageous.

The connection device can in particular be designed to release that part of the fluid which no longer flows through the cavity into the surroundings of the hose arrangement. Accordingly, the connection device can be designed as a dispensing element, in particular as a nozzle.

In particular, the hose described above can be used as the hose of the hose arrangement, in which at least the heating device, in particular the entire hose comprising the heating device, which has a different contour or outer contour in cross section from the rotationally symmetrical contour, or an advantageous development of this hose. In particular, the non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose is advantageous with regard to a simple and correct positioning of the connection device on the hose section.

The advantages and preferred embodiments described for the hose according to the invention also apply to the hose arrangement according to the invention and vice versa.

The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without the scope of to abandon invention. Embodiments which are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which emerge from the explained embodiments through separate combinations of features and can be generated are therefore also to be regarded as being included and disclosed by the invention. Versions and combinations of features that do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim are therefore also to be regarded as disclosed. In addition, versions and combinations of features, in particular through the statements set out above, are to be regarded as disclosed, which go beyond or deviate from the combinations of features set out in the references to the claims.

• 1 in einer schematischen Schnittansicht einen Schlauch zum Beheizen eines Fluids, bei welchem in jeweiligen Eckbereichen eines elektrisch leitfähigen Kunststoffmaterials einer Heizeinrichtung jeweilige Elektroden der Heizeinrichtung angeordnet sind;
• 2 eine Variante des Schlauchs gemäß 1, bei welcher die Elektroden bandförmig ausgebildet sind;
• 3 in einer schematischen Schnittansicht den Schlauch sowie eine auf den Schlauch aufgeschobene Düse, welche einen Ringkanal aufweist;
• 4 eine weitere Variante des Schlauchs gemäß 1, bei welcher der Schlauch Positionierelemente aufweist, um eine Radialorientierung der auf den Schlauch aufschiebbaren Düse vorzugeben;
• 5 in einer schematischen Längsschnittansicht den Schlauch mit der Düse gemäß 3 sowie mit einer weiteren Düse, welche als Enddüse ausgebildet ist;
• 6 schematisch die Kopplung eines Endbereichs des Schlauchs mit der Enddüse, wobei Elektroden des Schlauchs in jeweilige Hülsen eingeführt sind, welche in einem Grundkörper der Enddüse angeordnet sind;
• 7 eine Variante der Enddüse gemäß 6, bei welcher die Enddüse einen radialen Auslass aufweist; und
• 8 in einer schematischen Schnittansicht eine Variante des Schlauchs, bei welcher der Schlauch im Querschnitt eine geschlossene U-Form aufweist.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments and the drawings. Show:

• 1 in a schematic sectional view a hose for heating a fluid, in which respective electrodes of the heating device are arranged in respective corner regions of an electrically conductive plastic material of a heating device;
• 2 a variant of the hose according to 1 , in which the electrodes are band-shaped;
• 3 in a schematic sectional view the hose and a nozzle pushed onto the hose and having an annular channel;
• 4 another variant of the hose according to 1 , in which the hose has positioning elements in order to specify a radial orientation of the nozzle which can be pushed onto the hose;
• 5 in a schematic longitudinal section view of the hose with the nozzle 3 and with a further nozzle, which is designed as an end nozzle;
• 6 schematically the coupling of an end region of the hose with the end nozzle, electrodes of the hose being inserted into respective sleeves which are arranged in a base body of the end nozzle;
• 7 a variant of the end nozzle according to 6 , in which the end nozzle has a radial outlet; and
• 8th in a schematic sectional view a variant of the hose, in which the hose has a closed U-shape in cross section.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference numbers.

In 1 A hose 10 designed for heating a fluid is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view, which can therefore also be referred to as a heating hose.

The hose 10 or heating hose can be used, for example, as a fluid line for a fluid such as a washing liquid, with which, for example, a window or similar surface in a motor vehicle is to be applied. In particular if the window is designed as a windshield of the motor vehicle or motor vehicle, by applying heated washer fluid to the window, it can be largely prevented that the washer fluid freezes on the windshield at ambient temperatures below 0 ° C. Additionally or alternatively, the windshield can be freed from ice using the heated washer fluid. This ensures good visibility for a user of the motor vehicle looking through the windshield. For this purpose, at least one connecting device such as a nozzle 38 (see 5 ) and/or an end nozzle 68 (compare 5 ) and / or a (not shown) wiper blade and / or a (not shown) fluid distributor or the like can be connected.

Furthermore, the fluid can be used as a washing liquid to act on the surface of a viewing area or detection area of a sensor or similar device of the motor vehicle. In this regard, too, it is advantageous if heating the fluid prevents the fluid from freezing or causes the fluid to thaw quickly.

The hose 10 comprises a cavity 12 or fluid channel or flow channel through which the fluid can flow. Accordingly, the fluid can be conveyed through this cavity 12 of the hose 10, for example when a windshield washer system of the motor vehicle that conveys the fluid is in operation.

Furthermore, the hose 10 has a heating device 14, which comprises at least two electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22. The electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 are designed to apply electrical energy to an electrically conductive plastic material 24 of the heating device 14 in a heating operation of the heating device 14 or to introduce the electrical energy into the electrically conductive plastic material 24 in a heating operation of the heating device 14.

The heating device 14 surrounds the cavity 12, which in the present case has a round cross section 1 hose 10 shown as an example completely in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the cavity 12 is arranged within the electrically conductive plastic material 24 of the heating device 14.

In the case of the hose 10, the electrically conductive plastic material 24 or the heating plastic preferably has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC, Positive Temperature Coefficient). As a result, the heating device 14 is intrinsically safe, and the heating device 14 can be operated with a high output without an undesirably strong increase in the temperature of the hose 10 during heating operation.

The heating power of the heating device 14 of the hose 10 can be increased for a given length of the hose 10 by reducing the distance between the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 and/or by using several electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22. Accordingly, the heating device in the in 1 exemplary shown variant has exactly four electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22.

In addition, at least the heating device 14 in the in 1 The variant shown has a non-rotationally symmetrical, for example rectangular, contour in cross section. Accordingly, the four electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 are arranged in respective corner regions of the heating device 14. For example, the first electrode 16 is arranged in a first corner region 26, the second electrode 18 in a second corner region 28, the third electrode 20 in a third corner region 30 and the fourth electrode 22 in a fourth corner region 32 of the heating device 14.

The first electrode 16 and the third electrode 20 can have a first electrical polarity, and the second electrode 18 and the fourth electrode 22 can have a second polarity that deviates from the first polarity. As a result, during operation of the heating device 14, in which a voltage is applied to the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22, a current flows from one of the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 to the two electrodes 16, 18, 20, which are adjacent in the circumferential direction. 22 effects. This ensures that the fluid that flows through the cavity 12 is heated evenly.

Due to the rectangular contour of the heating device 14 and according to 1 of the entire hose 10 with the four electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22, a very high electrical output of the heating device 14 in heating mode is achieved with a particularly low use of electrically conductive plastic material 24.

The cavity 12 is at the in 1 Variant shown limited on the circumference by a lining 34, which is formed from an electrically insulating and / or chemically resistant material. Furthermore, the hose 10 in this case has a casing or casing 36, which, on the one hand, ensures a high level of resistance of the hose 10 with regard to external influences. On the other hand, electrical insulation of the heating device 14 is achieved by the casing 36, which is formed here from an electrically insulating material.

The electrically conductive plastic material 24 can in particular have a mixed polymer as a plastic matrix. The mixed polymer may, for example, comprise a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in particular a styrene-containing thermoplastic elastomer, i.e. a TPS.

Such an HDPE/TPS mixed polymer can be formed as the plastic matrix in which electrically conductive particles are embedded in order to provide the electrically conductive plastic material 24. In particular, the plastic material 24 can be given electrical conductivity by adding soot particles. Additionally or alternatively, the plastic matrix of the plastic material 24 may contain a metal powder or the like.

Furthermore, in addition to or as an alternative to the above-mentioned mixed polymer, the plastic matrix of the plastic material 24 can have a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in particular a thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPE-E), and thus as a PBT/TPE-E mixed polymer be trained. However, a suitable polymer other than the mixed polymers mentioned above as examples can also be used as the plastic matrix of the electrically conductive plastic material 24.

The shell 36 surrounds accordingly 1 the heating device 14, which has a rectangular contour in cross section, has an at least substantially constant thickness, so that the entire hose 10 has a rectangular contour in cross section. In variants not shown in detail, at least the heating device 14 or the entire hose 10 comprising the heating device 14 can have a contour other than the rectangular one.

At the in 1 and in 8th In the variants of the hose shown, a respective outer contour of the hose 10 is non-rotationally symmetrical or different from a rotationally symmetrical contour. This is because the shell 36 has a substantially constant thickness. Therefore, the contour of the heating device 14, which is not rotationally symmetrical in cross section, is noticeable in a corresponding contour or outer contour of the entire hose 10.

In a variant of the hose (not shown), it can be provided that the casing 36 has a different thickness along its circumference or in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible to design the contour of the electrically conductive plastic material 24 independently of the contour or outer contour of the entire hose 10 or heating hose comprising the cover 36.

In the 2 The variant of the hose 10 shown corresponds very largely to that in 1 shown variant. However, here the four electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22, which are arranged in the four corner regions 26, 28, 30, 32 of the heating device 14, are band-shaped. This means there is a large contact area che of the respective electrode 16, 18, 20, 22 to the conductive plastic material 24, in which the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 are embedded.

The tube 10 can in particular be produced in an extrusion process in which the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 are arranged in a corresponding extrusion system during the manufacturing process in such a way that they are embedded in the plastic material 24 during extrusion. This has the advantage that no additional manufacturing step is required to provide the heating device 14.

The rectangular cross-sectional contour of the heating device 14 or the hose 10 is not only advantageous with regard to the high heating output using comparatively little of the conductive plastic material 24, but also with regard to the attachment of at least one nozzle 38 to the hose 10. This should regarding 3 , 4 and 5 be explained.

The at least one nozzle 38 is preferably arranged on the hose 10, specifically in a hose section 40 which is spaced from respective end regions 42, 44 of the hose 10 (compare 5 ).

In the 3 in a schematic cross-sectional view and in 5 Nozzle 38 shown in a schematic longitudinal section makes it possible to bring the fluid flowing through the cavity 12 during operation of the hose 10 into an environment 46 of the hose 10 or out of the cavity in an area spaced from the end regions 42, 44, namely in the hose section 40 12 to promote out. The nozzle 38, which is spaced from the end regions 42, 44, can be easily pushed onto the hose 10.

Due to the non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose 10 in cross section, rotation of the nozzle 38 around the hose 10 is avoided. In other words, the nozzle 38 is secured against twisting, and when the nozzle 38 is pushed onto the hose 10, a desired radial orientation of the nozzle 38 can be achieved very easily.

In particular 5 In this regard, it can be seen that for this purpose the nozzle 38 preferably has a receptacle 48 with an inner contour which corresponds to the outer contour of the hose 10. At the in 1 and 2 As shown by way of example, the outer contour of the hose 10 is rectangular or essentially square in cross section, the inner contour of the receptacle 48 can therefore be rectangular or essentially square.

So that the fluid can get from the cavity 12 into the nozzle 38 and further via the nozzle 38 into the environment 46, the hose 10 points according to 3 and according to 5 at least one passage opening 50, 52, through which the fluid can be conveyed out of the cavity 12 in the lateral direction during operation of the hose 10. In the example in 3 and 5 In the variant shown, not only a first passage opening 50 is provided, which is preferably aligned with an outlet channel 54 formed in the nozzle 38. Rather, two passage openings 50, 52 are formed in the hose 10, which are arranged aligned with one another, in the present case aligned with one another in the radial direction. During operation of the hose 10, the fluid can enter an annular channel 56 of the nozzle 38 via these two passage openings 50, 52, which in turn is in fluid communication with the outlet channel 54 of the nozzle 38.

The through openings 50, 52, which are aligned with one another in the radial direction, can be created very easily in one manufacturing step or work step, for example by separating respective areas from the tube 10 by punching and/or drilling and/or cutting, in particular laser cutting, or the like. If the two passage openings 50, 52 are made in the hose 10 before the nozzle 38 is pushed onto the hose 10, it can be particularly easily prevented that residues of hose material remain in the cavity 12.

In addition, the two passage openings 50, 52 can each have comparatively small cross-sections through which flow can flow, and yet a comparatively large amount of fluid can be conveyed into the environment 46 via the outlet channel 54. This is particularly advantageous in view of the fact that impairment or damage to the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 can be avoided particularly easily and particularly largely when producing the two comparatively small through-openings 50, 52. This is because a punching tool and/or cutting tool and/or laser tool can be positioned very easily in such a way that it is arranged, for example, both between the adjacent electrodes 16, 18 and between the adjacent electrodes 20, 22.

In order to ensure exactly a predetermined radial orientation of the nozzle 38 when it is pushed onto the hose 10, the hose 10 can have at least one positioning element, wherein the nozzle 38 has a structural element corresponding to the positioning element. As an example of such positioning elements are in 4 an indentation 58 or groove or notch and a bulge 60 designed in the manner of a pin-shaped projection and a chamfer 62 are shown schematically.

How out 4 As can be seen, such positioning elements can be formed in particular in the casing 36 of the hose 10. Then the geometry of the heating device 14 remains particularly unaffected by such positioning elements in an advantageous manner. Otherwise corresponds to the in 4 The variant of the hose 10 shown is essentially the one shown in 1 shown variant of the hose 10.

In 3 and 5 only a nozzle 38 spaced from the end regions 42, 44 is shown. However, several such nozzles 38 can also be attached to the hose 10. Out of 5 It can be seen that to seal the nozzle 38 from the hose 10, sealing elements can be provided, for example in the form of sealing rings 64, 66. Additionally or alternatively, the nozzle 38 can be attached to the hose 10 in a fluid-tight manner in the hose section 40 by means of an adhesive, by welding, in particular laser welding, by casting or the like.

The heating device 14 of the hose 10 can have a heating output of approximately 2.5 W/m ² at room temperature. Furthermore, the heating device 14 is preferably designed to be subjected to a low voltage in the range of, for example, 13.5 V to a maximum of 50 V. This is advantageous in terms of simply ensuring the electrical safety of the heating device 14.

In 5 a hose arrangement 88 is shown, which includes the hose 10 and at least one connection device, for example in the form of the nozzle 38, which is arranged on the hose 10 at a distance from the end regions 42, 44. Advantageously, when the heating device 14 is in heating mode, this connection device is heated by the fluid which flows through the connection device in the form of the nozzle 38 in the hose section 40.

Out of 5 It can also be seen that an end nozzle 68 can be arranged on the hose 10 in addition to or as an alternative to the nozzle 38 spaced from the end regions 42, 44. The nozzle 38 and/or the end nozzle 68 can in particular be made of plastic, for example polyoxymethylene (POM) and/or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The fluid can also be released into the environment 46 of the hose 10 via the end nozzle 68.

A free end region 44 of the hose can be inserted into a base body 70 of the end nozzle 68 to form a press fit (cf 5 ). Furthermore, the tightness between the end nozzle 68 and the inserted hose 10 can be ensured by welding, in particular laser welding, and/or gluing. Additionally or alternatively, the fluid-tight coupling of the end nozzle 68 to the free end region 44 of the hose 10 can be ensured by means of a sealing element in the form of a sealing ring 72 (see 5 ).

According to 5 one of the end regions 42, 44 of the hose 10, namely the free end regions 44, is attached to the base body 70 and is preferably inserted into the base body 70 of the end nozzle 68. In this way, the end nozzle 68 can also be heated very well using the hose 10.

Based on 6 and 7 Another option for heating the end nozzle 68 will be explained. Also at the in 6 The variant of the hose 10 shown has the base body 70 (analogous to that in 5 schematically shown representation of the end nozzle 68 attached to the free end region 44 of the hose 10) has an insertion region 74 with an inner contour which corresponds to the outer contour of the hose 10.

However, at the in 6 shown variant of the hose 10 end sections 76, 78 of two of the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 beyond the free end region 44 of the hose 10 into the base body 70 of the end nozzle 68. Accordingly, these free end sections 76, 78 are not covered by the electrically conductive plastic material 24. According to 6 70 recesses can be formed in the base body, into which the end sections 76, 78 of at least two of the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 are inserted.

For example, the end section 76 can belong to the first electrode 18 and the end section 78 to the second electrode 20. Heat can be introduced into the end nozzle 68 via these end sections 76, 78 of the electrodes 18, 20. For this purpose, heat conducting bodies 80, 82 can be arranged in the base body 70 of the end nozzle 68, which are in thermally conductive contact with one of the end sections 76, 78.

For example, the first heat-conducting body 80 may be in thermally conductive contact with the first end portion 76, and the second heat-conducting body 82 may be in thermally conductive contact with the second end portion 78 be thermally conductive contact. In an analogous manner, the other two, in 6 For reasons of simplicity, electrodes 16, 22, not shown, may be in thermally conductive contact with corresponding heat-conducting bodies of the end nozzle 68.

The heat-conducting bodies 80, 82 can be designed in the manner of sleeves with closed ends and/or sleeves or tubes with open ends, into which the end sections 76, 78 of the respective electrodes 18, 20 are inserted. This means that the end nozzle 68 can be heated very easily and efficiently.

For example, the sleeve-like or tube-like heat-conducting bodies 80, 82 can be formed from a material with good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum and/or copper, or from an alloy containing aluminum and/or copper.

In order to ensure good thermal conductivity within the end nozzle 68, the base body 70 can additionally or alternatively be formed from a heat-conducting plastic. For example, a plastic matrix of the base body 70 can be mixed with metal particles and/or soot in order to ensure good thermal conductivity of the base body 70.

As described for the end nozzle 68, the base body 70 can also be used in 3 and 5 Nozzle 38 shown may be formed from a heat-conducting plastic. This makes it possible to achieve very good heating of the nozzle 38 during the heating operation of the heating device 14.

Furthermore, at least one heat-conducting body can also be arranged in the base body 70 of the nozzle 38, as described here with reference to the end nozzle 68.

Especially at the in 6 In the variant of the hose 10 shown, an electrically conductive connection (not shown in the sectional view) can be provided between the two heat-conducting bodies 80, 82. For example, the electrically conductive connection can be formed by a sleeve made of metal or an electrically conductive plastic surrounding or enveloping the cavity 12. The current or heating current flowing through the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 during operation of the heating device 14 then also flows in parallel via this sleeve. This heating current can be used to specifically heat the end nozzle 68. Here, by appropriately adjusting an electrical resistance of the sleeve or the electrically conductive connection, it can be ensured that both the area of the hose 10 containing the electrically conductive plastic 24 and the end nozzle 68 are sufficiently heated.

At the in 6 In the variant of the hose 10 shown, the end nozzle 68 has an axial outlet 84. In contrast, in 7 End nozzle 68 shown schematically, a radial outlet 86 is provided. Also in 7 However, the end sections 76, 78 of the electrodes 18, 20 inserted into the heat-conducting bodies 80, 82, which are designed in the manner of sleeves or tubes, are indicated, which extend into the base body 70 of the end nozzle 68.

If the electrodes 20, 18 have a high inherent rigidity, for example by designing the respective electrodes 18, 20 as solid wires or the like, the electrodes 18, 20 are inserted into the heat-conducting bodies 80, 82 designed in the manner of sleeves or tubes 6 comparatively easy.

In particular, if the electrodes 18, 20 are designed as strands with a large number of preferably twisted individual wires, end regions of these strands can be inserted into a respective first sleeve (not shown) and fastened therein before being introduced into the end nozzle 68. The end regions of the respective stranded wire can be secured in the respective first sleeve, for example, by crimping. The first sleeves then serve to stiffen the end regions of the respective strand. Consequently, these stiffened end regions can then be introduced more easily into the end nozzle 68, in particular into the heat-conducting bodies 80, 82 arranged in the base body 70 of the end nozzle 68.

In 8th a further variant of the heating device 14 having the non-rotationally symmetrical contour or of the hose 10 having the non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour is shown in a sectional view. Accordingly, the heating device 14 can have a closed U-shape in cross section. Furthermore, the outer contour of the hose 10 can be such a U-shape that is closed on the circumference. Here, as an example, only the two electrodes 18, 20 are shown, which are as in the variant according to 2 can be band-shaped.

At the in 8th The arrangement shown is that in 8th upper electrode 18 close to a curved wall region 90 of the shell 36. In contrast, the in 8th lower electrode 20 close to a substantially flat wall region 92 of the casing 36, which lies opposite the curved wall region 90.

In a manner not shown in detail here, the electrodes 18, 20 can also be arranged in respective corner regions of the hose 10, which has a closed U-shape in cross section.

In order to connect the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 of the hose 10 to a voltage source (not shown), cutting claws or cutting clamps, not shown for reasons of clarity, can be attached to the hose 10 in this case. Such cutting claws or cutting clamps cut through the casing 36 and the plastic material 24 when attached to the hose 10 until they come into contact with the respective electrode 16, 18, 20, 22.

By using such cutting claws, through which contact elements of the hose 10 are provided for connecting the hose 10 to the voltage source, the electrical contacting of the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 can be achieved with very little effort, namely without the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 would need to be exposed.

With regard to the positioning or attachment of the cutting clamps or cutting claws, it is also advantageous that the hose 10 or heating hose has a non-rotationally symmetrical cross-section or outer contour. This allows the cutting claws or cutting clamps to be positioned clearly and easily.

In addition or as an alternative to the use of the cutting claws, it is possible to connect the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 by welding and/or crimping to corresponding contact elements, via which the electrodes 16, 18, 20, 22 are connected to the (not shown) Voltage source can be connected.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed 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.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202008007392 U1 [0002]
• DE 102010051550 A1 [0003]

Claims (12)

Hose for heating a fluid which can be conveyed through a cavity (12) of the hose (10), with a heating device (14) which comprises at least two electrodes (16, 18, 20, 22), the at least two electrodes ( 16, 18, 20, 22) are designed to introduce electrical energy into an electrically conductive plastic material (24) of the heating device (14) during a heating operation of the heating device (14), and wherein the heating device (14) fills the cavity (12). Circumferential direction at least partially surrounds, characterized in that at least the heating device (14) has a contour in cross section which is different from a rotationally symmetrical contour. Hose after Claim 1 , characterized in that at least the heating device (14) has a rectangular cross-sectional contour, with a respective electrode (16, 18, 20, 22) being arranged in four corner regions (26, 28, 30, 32) of the heating device (14). . Hose after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the, in particular band-shaped, electrodes (16, 18, 20, 22) are arranged symmetrically in the plastic material (24) with respect to at least one plane of symmetry, which contains a central axis of the hose (10). Hose according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hose (10) has at least one passage opening (50, 52), in particular two passage openings (50, 52) arranged in alignment with one another, through which the fluid flows during operation of the hose (10). can be conveyed in a lateral direction out of the cavity (12), which in particular has a round cross section, into an environment (46) of the hose (10). Hose after Claim 4 , characterized in that on a hose section (40) of the hose (10), which is spaced from respective end regions (42, 44) of the hose (10), at least one connection device designed for dispensing the fluid, in particular one for dispensing the fluid in the environment (46) formed nozzle (38), is arranged, wherein the fluid can be introduced into the connection device via the at least one passage opening (50, 52) during operation of the hose (10), and wherein the connection device has a receptacle (48). has an inner contour which corresponds to a non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose (10). Hose after Claim 5 , characterized in that the connection device has an annular channel (56) via which the fluid can be introduced into the connection device from the two through openings (50, 52) arranged in alignment with one another. Hose after Claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that the hose (10) has at least one positioning element (58, 60, 62), by means of which the connecting device, which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the hose section (40), is secured to the hose section in a predetermined radial orientation and against rotation ( 40) is arranged, wherein the connection device has a structural element corresponding to the positioning element. Hose after Claim 7 , characterized in that the at least one positioning element is provided by an indentation (58) and/or bulge (60) and/or chamfer (62) formed at least in a casing (36) of the hose (10), the casing (36 ) of the hose (10) surrounds the heating device (14) on the outside. Hose according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on a free end region (44) of the hose (10) there is a connection device designed for dispensing the fluid, in particular fluid-tightly coupled to the free end region (44), in particular one for dispensing the fluid the environment (46) formed end nozzle (68), is arranged, wherein the free end region (44) in a base body (70) of the connection device, in particular at least one radial outlet (86) and / or at least one axial outlet (84). is inserted, and wherein the base body (70) has an insertion area (74) with an inner contour which corresponds to a non-rotationally symmetrical outer contour of the hose (10). Hose after one of the Claims 4 until 9 , characterized in that in a base body (70) of the connecting device, in particular formed from a heat-conducting plastic, at least one heat-conducting body (80, 82) is arranged, by means of which heat emitted by the hose (10) during heating operation of the heating device (14) is transferred into the base body (70) of the connection device can be inserted. Hose after Claim 10 , characterized in that the at least one heat-conducting body (80, 82) is formed from a thermally conductive material which is thermally conductive There is contact with at least one of the electrodes (16, 18, 20, 22), the at least one heat-conducting body (80, 82) being designed in particular in the manner of a sleeve into which an end section (76, 78) of the electrode (16, 18 , 20, 22) is introduced. Hose arrangement with a hose (10) for heating a fluid, in particular with a hose (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid can be conveyed through a cavity (12) of the hose (10), the hose (10) being a Heating device (14) with at least two electrodes (16, 18, 20, 22), wherein the at least two electrodes (16, 18, 20, 22) are designed to convert electrical energy into an electrical energy in a heating operation of the heating device (14). to introduce conductive plastic material (24) into the heating device (14), the heating device (14) at least partially surrounding the cavity (12) in the circumferential direction, and with a connecting device arranged on the hose (10) for dispensing the fluid, characterized in that a Hose section (40) of the hose (10), which is spaced from respective end regions (42, 44) of the hose (10), is passed through a receptacle (48) of the connecting device, the hose (10) being in the hose section (40). has at least one passage opening (50, 52) through which the fluid can be introduced into the connection device in the lateral direction out of the cavity (12) during operation of the hose (10).

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