EP2762696B1 - Expansion tank and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an expansion tank for a cooling system of a, in particular agricultural, motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

Cooling systems for internal combustion engines of motor vehicles usually have a compensating tank for a coolant connected to a coolant circuit. It is known to form surge tank as a multi-chamber expansion tank, wherein a chamber can serve as a coolant reservoir for the coolant circuit and a further receiving the expanding coolant. The chambers can be arranged one above the other. The cooling system of an internal combustion engine is tuned to the respective internal combustion engine, wherein usually also the expansion tank is adjusted so that different expansion tanks are to be provided for different internal combustion engines, which requires an increased design effort and increased production costs.

From the DE 198 38 220 A1 is an expansion vessel which has a main body in the form of a profile element produced by extrusion, which is joined together at its two ends with two other components, wherein the main body forms part of the outer walls of the expansion vessel. The interior of the profile element is divided by slices to be introduced, which are arranged in the interior of the profile element. The arrangement of the discs within the profile element determines the arrangement of the chambers.

From the US 2007/0235458 A1 a liquid reservoir of modular construction is known.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a reservoir for a cooling system of a motor vehicle, which allows a reduced design effort and a cheaper production. In addition, a method for producing a surge tank for an internal combustion engine cooling system is provided be, which allows a more cost-effective production of the expansion tank.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The expansion tank for a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, for example a diesel engine, a, in particular agricultural, motor vehicle, for example a self-propelled harvester or a tractor, is designed in the form of a two-chamber expansion tank.

The connection piece can be connected to a coolant pump of the cooling system. The at least one vent pipe can, for example, be fluid-permeable to a component of the cooling system, for example a heat exchanger or the internal combustion engine, wherein the vent pipe can each be fluidly connected to the highest point of the cooling system in the respective component, whereby a venting of the component, for example Heat exchanger or internal combustion engine, and an overflow for an expanding coolant can be formed in the surge tank. Of the at least one vent pipe can open in an upper region of the coolant chamber. Several vent pipes can be arranged in pairs and / or individually on opposite side walls and / or edge in the top of the surge tank. The vent pipe can protrude into the coolant chamber and be bent downwards and / or cranked within the coolant chamber.

The coolant chamber can serve as a reservoir for the coolant. The coolant chamber is via a Überströmleituna. which may have a round cross section, fluidly connected to an expansion chamber for receiving an expanding coolant. The overflow conduit has first and second ends for connecting an upper portion of the coolant chamber to a lower portion of the expansion chamber. Upon expansion of the coolant, with increasing volume of the coolant and with increasing pressure, the coolant chamber may be completely filled, and with a further increase in the volume and pressure, coolant may flow from the coolant chamber through the overflow line into the expansion chamber. With a reduction in the volume and the pressure of the coolant, coolant can flow back from the expansion chamber into the coolant chamber, for example by a negative pressure in the coolant chamber.

In an installed position of the expansion tank, an upper side of the expansion tank can be arranged substantially horizontally. The expansion chamber can be arranged in the installation position of the expansion tank below the coolant chamber. The coolant chamber and the expansion chamber are fluid-tightly separated from each other by a partition wall. The compensating body has a body which is closed in a fluid-tight manner by at least two covering elements. The main body may have an upper side, side walls and a bottom. The top of the body may correspond to the top of the surge tank. The main body may be in the form of a portion of an extruded profile extending along a longitudinal axis. The extruded profile may have a longitudinal axis along which the profile extends. The extruded profile may be, for example, an extruded profile. By cutting or separating a section from the profile, for example by separating the profile substantially transversely to its longitudinal axis, the base body in a desired length to be generated. A length of the profile, the section of the profile and the body can be determined along the longitudinal axis. In the longitudinal direction, along the longitudinal axis of the profile, the main body can be designed as an open profile from the front to the back in a fluid-permeable manner.

The arrangement of the coolant chamber, the expansion chamber and the partition wall is predetermined by the configuration of the cross section of the profile. The partition is formed integrally with the base body. By parallel separating cuts, for example horizontally perpendicular and vertical or inclined to the longitudinal axis, for example, a base body for a surge tank can be generated, the coolant chamber and expansion chamber have substantially equal volumes. By means of separating cuts which are not parallel in the horizontal and / or vertical direction, it is possible to generate a base body for an expansion tank whose coolant chamber and expansion chamber have different volumes. The at least two cover elements can be arranged in an assembled state on the front side and the rear side of the main body and close them in a fluid-tight manner. At the front and / or back of the body several cover elements can be arranged in the same or different numbers. The cover elements may be materially connected to the end face of the base body and / or disposed within the base body and connected to an inner side of the base body cohesively. The cover elements may have a substantially planar or at least partially curved shape. By virtue of an at least partially curved cover element, the volume of the coolant chamber and / or of the expansion chamber can be increased or reduced in relation to a flat cover element.

The formation of the main body in the form of a section of an extruded profile has the advantage that the volumes of the coolant chamber and the expansion chamber can be adapted by a corresponding determination of the length of the body to a new cooling system, wherein the cover can remain unchanged. Thereby, the design effort in an adaptation of a surge tank to a new cooling system of an internal combustion engine can be reduced. Changing the volumes of the surge tank by changing the length of the body and separating a corresponding portion of the body Profils can, in particular with unchanged cover elements, allow a more cost-effective production.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the partition is arranged in an installation position obliquely at an angle of 10 degrees to 30 degrees, preferably of 20 degrees to the horizontal. In the installation position of the expansion tank, the top of the surge tank and / or the base body can be arranged substantially horizontally. The partition may be formed integrally with the base body. The angle at which the dividing wall can be arranged in the installation position relative to the horizontal and / or the top of the expansion tank is substantially from 10 degrees to 30 degrees, preferably 20 degrees. By arranged at an angle in the expansion tank partition may be formed in a lower region of the coolant chamber between the partition and a side wall, a first coolant sump, which may form the lowest region of the coolant chamber. The connection piece can be arranged in the side wall of the expansion tank such that the connection piece can fluidly connect the first coolant sump to the coolant pump of the cooling system, whereby a coolant supply of the coolant pump can be made possible even with a low coolant level in the coolant chamber. The side wall may be formed in the lower region of the coolant chamber, in particular above the connecting piece, inwardly, for example at an angle of substantially 20 degrees to the horizontal. This has the advantage that the connection piece does not protrude beyond the outer dimensions of the expansion tank. In addition, the first coolant sump can be formed by an inwardly extending side wall in the horizontal direction further inward and in the vertical direction higher in the surge tank, as without an inwardly extending side wall. As a result, the geodetic height difference between the inlet cross-section of the coolant pump and the reference level at the first coolant sump can be increased. Due to the oblique arrangement of the partition, the usability of a residual amount of coolant in the coolant chamber, in particular in an inclined position of the motor vehicle and the surge tank, can be improved.

Particularly preferably, a bottom of the main body has a first and a second bottom region, wherein the first and the second bottom region are V-shaped are arranged. The bottom of the base body is arranged opposite the upper side of the expansion tank or base body on an underside of the expansion tank and / or base body. The bottom of the body may correspond to the bottom of the surge tank. The bottom can form the bottom of the expansion chamber. The floor has a first and a second floor area, which may be of substantially the same size or of different sizes. The first or second floor area may be arranged substantially parallel to the partition wall. The first and second bottom portions may be V-shaped with each other, and the included angle between the first and second bottom portions may be from 130 degrees to 150 degrees, preferably 140 degrees. By virtue of the V-shaped arrangement of the first and second floor regions, a second coolant sump can be formed in the expansion chamber, with the second coolant sump forming substantially the lowest region of the expansion chamber. The second end of the overflow line can be arranged in the region of the second coolant sump, wherein the second coolant sump can be fluid-permeably connected to the coolant chamber via the second end of the overflow line.

Furthermore, it is provided according to a preferred embodiment of the invention that the profile has at least one of the coolant chamber and / or the expansion chamber associated baffle. The at least one of the coolant chamber and / or expansion chamber associated baffle can be integrally formed with the, in particular extruded, profile. A plurality of baffles may be disposed opposite to each other on the partition wall in the coolant chamber and expansion chamber, and may be formed integrally with the base body formed from the profile and the partition wall, for example. The baffle within the coolant chamber and / or the expansion chamber may have at least one fluid-permeable opening. Characterized in that the baffle is formed integrally with the, in particular extruded, profile, the baffle can be formed integrally with the base body and the expansion tank. By the baffle, movement of the coolant within the coolant chamber and / or expansion chamber can be damped. In addition, an increase in the rigidity of the expansion tank can be made possible especially by a pairwise opposite arrangement of baffles on the partition.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the coolant chamber and / or the expansion chamber has at least one closure unit. The closure unit may comprise an opening in the coolant chamber and / or the expansion chamber and a closure for closing the opening in a fluid-tight manner. The closure unit may comprise a collar arranged on the opening, wherein the closure may be arranged fluid-tightly on the outside, spaced from a surface of the expansion tank on which the collar can be arranged. The closure can be arranged flush with the surface of the expansion tank, wherein the closure unit can be arranged for example in a trough of the compensation body. The coolant chamber and / or the expansion chamber may each have at least one closure unit. The closure unit can be arranged in an upper region, for example on the upper side, of the coolant chamber. The closure unit can be arranged in an upper region, for example a side wall, of the expansion chamber. By the closure unit access to the coolant chamber and / or the expansion chamber can be made possible, whereby, for example, a filling of the coolant chamber can be made possible with a coolant.

Particularly preferably, the closure unit has a pressure relief valve and / or a vacuum valve. The pressure relief valve and / or vacuum valve may be arranged in the closure and / or collar of the closure unit. The pressure relief valve can reduce the overpressure in the cooling system to a presettable value when the pressure in the cooling system increases, for example due to a temperature-induced expansion of the coolant. When the pressure in the cooling system drops, a negative pressure in the cooling system can be limited to a presettable value via the vacuum valve.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the overflow is at least partially disposed outside of the surge tank, wherein the overflow has a first end and a second end for connecting an upper portion of the coolant chamber with a lower portion of the expansion chamber. The overflow line may be partially disposed inside and outside the surge tank. The outside of the coolant tank arranged overflow can be arranged without contact and / or spaced from the surge tank. The first end of the overflow line can be arranged to be fluid-permeable to, in particular the collar, of the first closure unit and guided outside the expansion tank to a fluid-permeable connection with the expansion chamber. The overflow line may be partially disposed within the expansion chamber. The second end of the overflow line can be arranged within the expansion chamber in the region of the second coolant sump.

In a preferred embodiment, a sight glass and / or a float switch is provided. The sight glass can be arranged in a side wall, for example above the connecting piece, on the coolant chamber. The float switch may be disposed in a cover member on the coolant chamber.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the extruded profile and / or the cover elements made of aluminum or plastic. The profile of aluminum, of which a section can serve as the main body of the expansion tank, may be in the form of an extruded, for example extruded, aluminum profile. An extruded profile may be made by a forming process, such as extrusion or extrusion, that is adaptable to pressure forming. The cover elements may be formed, for example in the form of aluminum plates. The formed in the form of a portion of the aluminum profile body, in particular with an integrally formed partition, can be closed fluid-tight at the front and / or back by one or more cover elements made of aluminum. The covering elements made of aluminum can be materially joined, for example by gluing or welding, with the base body made of aluminum produced from the aluminum profile. Due to the thermal conductivity of aluminum, an aluminum surge tank can release heat energy from the coolant to the environment. The profile made of plastic, of which a section can serve as a base body of the expansion tank, may be in the form of an extruded plastic profile. The cover elements may be formed, for example, in the form of plastic plates. The plastic may be a fiber reinforced plastic. The cover made of plastic can cohesively, for example by gluing and / or plastic welding, for example ultrasonic welding, with the base body made of plastic produced from the plastic profile get connected. By a plastic surge tank, the weight of the surge tank can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The invention further relates to an agricultural vehicle with at least one compensating tank, which has been designed and developed as described above. By means of the expansion tank according to the invention, the construction effort when adapting a compensation tank to a new cooling system of an internal combustion engine can be reduced and the production costs reduced.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing a compensating container, which has been developed and developed as described above, for a motor vehicle, in particular an agricultural vehicle, comprising the production steps of claim 10.

The profile is an extruded profile, such as an aluminum profile or a plastic profile. The assembly is carried out on the base body, with or without connected cover elements, of at least one closure unit, for example for the coolant chamber and / or the expansion chamber. The assembly of the closure unit may include attaching the opening, attaching or forming a collar, and / or mounting a closure.

A first End of the overflow can be connected, for example, with a closure unit of the coolant chamber and a second end of the overflow with a second coolant sump in the expansion chamber. The overflow line can be mounted at least partially outside the expansion tank and / or the base body. At least one baffle can be mounted in the base body. In at least one fluid-permeable opening for the coolant can be introduced in integrally formed with the base body baffles. An assembly of the nozzles may include the assembly of at least one outlet nozzle and / or a bleed nozzle, in particular on the coolant chamber, with the formation of corresponding openings in the base body. The fluid-tight connection of the cover with the body can be done by material joining. The cohesive joining can, depending on the material, by gluing, welding or plastic welding, such as ultrasonic welding done. The adaptation of the surge tank to a new cooling system by adjusting the length of the portion of the profile, which serves as a base body of the surge tank, together with uniform cover elements, a cost-effective method for producing the surge tank can be provided. Most preferably, the method further comprises the step of cutting the extruded profile. The profile can be separated in a length corresponding to the desired volumes of the coolant chamber and the expansion chamber be, for example, by separating the profile substantially transverse to its longitudinal axis, whereby a portion of the profile can be provided as a base body. The section of the profile to be provided as a base can be separated from the profile in two substantially parallel cuts. As a result, the front side and the rear side of the main body can be arranged substantially parallel, as a result of which the coolant chamber and the expansion chamber, depending on the profile cross-section, can have substantially equal volumes. By separating sections which are not parallel in the horizontal and / or vertical direction, it is possible to generate a base body for a compensation container whose coolant chamber and expansion chamber have different sized volumes.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1:

eine geschnittene, perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Ausgleichsbehälters;

Fig. 2:

eine Ansicht des in Fig. 1 gezeigten Ausgleichsbehälters mit Abdeckelementen;

Fig. 3 A-C:

eine Darstellung des Kühlmittelflusses bei einem Betriebsdruck, einem Überdruck und einem Unterdruck in dem Kühlsystem;

Fig. 4:

eine Darstellung eines teilgefüllten und geneigten Ausgleichsbehälters; und

Fig. 5 A-B:

eine Darstellung eines extrudierten Profils.

Show it:

Fig. 1:

a sectional perspective view of a surge tank according to the invention;

Fig. 2:

a view of the in Fig. 1 shown reservoir with cover elements;

Fig. 3 AC:

a representation of the coolant flow at an operating pressure, an overpressure and a negative pressure in the cooling system;

4:

a representation of a partially filled and inclined surge tank; and

Fig. 5 AB:

a representation of an extruded profile.

In Fig. 1 an inventive compensation tank 10 for a cooling system of a, in particular agricultural, motor vehicle is shown. The cooling system is used in particular for cooling an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. Agricultural motor vehicles may, for example, self-propelled harvesters or Be tractors. The expansion tank 10 has a coolant chamber 12 for receiving a coolant of the cooling system. The coolant chamber 12 is fluid-permeable connected to the cooling system via a connecting piece 14 and vent pipe 16. The coolant chamber 12 is disposed above an expansion chamber 18, wherein the coolant chamber 12 and the expansion chamber 18 are fluid-tightly separated from each other by a partition wall 20. The partition wall 20 is inclined in an installed position of the surge tank 10, at an angle of about 20 degrees to the horizontal, arranged. An overflow line 22, which is partially disposed outside of and spaced from the surge tank 10, has a first end 24 and a second end 26 for connecting an upper portion of the coolant chamber 12 to a lower portion of the expansion chamber 18.

The expansion tank 10 has a base body 28, which is in the form of a portion of an extruded profile (not shown) with a longitudinal axis (not shown) is formed. The main body 28 is frame-shaped, open and has, a top 30 with a bottom 32 connecting, side walls 34. The frame-shaped, open base body 28 has a front and a back, which are closed by at least one cover 36. The front side and / or rear side of the main body 28 can each be closed by a plurality of cover elements 36 which each cover a partial area of the front or rear side. The cover elements 36 and the base body 28 can be connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner by integral joining, such as gluing, welding or plastic welding, for example ultrasonic welding.

The partition wall 20 may be formed integrally with the base body 28 separated from an extruded profile. Within the coolant chamber 12 and the expansion chamber 18 can be arranged in pairs and each other on the partition 20 oppositely arranged baffles 38. The baffles 38 can at least partially penetrate these in a mounted state of the cover 36, whereby material-dependent, such as aluminum, a production-technically more favorable connection between baffle 38 and cover 36 can be made possible. By the obliquely formed partition wall 20 and a curved inwardly formed side wall 34 may adjacent to the connecting piece 14 in the coolant chamber 12, a first coolant sink 40 is formed be. The floor 32 has a first floor area 42 and a second floor area 44, which are arranged in a V-shaped manner against each other. The first and second bottom portions 42, 44 enclose an angle of approximately 140 degrees, thereby forming a second coolant sump 46 in the lower portion of the expansion chamber 18. The second bottom region 44 is arranged substantially parallel to the dividing wall 20. The second end 26 of the overflow line 22 is arranged in the second coolant sump 46. Via the overflow line 22, the second coolant sump 46 is connected in a fluid-permeable manner to a first closure unit 48 on the upper side 30 of the main body 28 and of the expansion tank 10. The first closure unit 48 is associated with the coolant chamber 12 and comprises a collar 50 on which the first end 24 of the overflow line 22 is fluid-permeable, and a closure 52 for fluid-tightly closing an opening (not shown), for example for replenishing a coolant into the coolant chamber 12. A second closure unit 54 is disposed in an upper portion of the expansion chamber 18 on a side wall 34. The second closure unit 54 also has a collar 50 and a closure 52. On the collar 50 of the second closure unit 54, a vent pipe 16 for the expansion chamber 18 is arranged.

The first and the second closure unit 48,54 each have a closure 52 in which a pressure relief valve 56 and a vacuum valve 58 are arranged to reduce an excess and negative pressure to a predetermined pressure ( Fig. 2 ). In an upper region of the coolant chamber 12, a sight glass 60 is arranged between the connection piece 14 and the first closure unit 48 in a region of the side wall 34 that is vertically aligned in the installed position. In the illustrated cover member 36, which is formed in two parts, a receptacle for holding a float switch 62 in the vertical direction is arranged substantially centrally on the coolant chamber 12 covering the cover member 36 at the front of the body 28, wherein the inclusion of the float switch 62 corresponding to a coolant level a residual volume of coolant may be arranged on the coolant chamber 12. The cover member 36 for fluid-tight closing of the front of the main body 28 is formed in two parts, wherein the baffles 38 penetrate the cover 36. On the side walls 34 of the surge tank 10 mounting bracket 64 for lateral mounting of the surge tank 10 are arranged.

In the Fig. 3A the expansion tank 10 is shown in a partially sectioned view, wherein the upper coolant chamber 12 is shown unlocked and arranged underneath expansion chamber 18 closed by a cover 36. The connecting piece 14 of the expansion tank 10 may be fluid-permeable connected to a coolant pump (not shown) of the cooling system. In one operating state, coolant can be sucked in from the coolant pump via the connecting piece 14 from the coolant chamber 12, which is filled substantially completely with coolant. At an overpressure ( Fig. 3B ) in the cooling system and an expansion of the coolant, the coolant can flow via the vent pipe 16 into the coolant chamber 12. Coolant, which can not be accommodated in the coolant chamber 12 and can not be removed via the connecting piece 14, flows via the overflow line 22 from the coolant chamber 12 into the expansion chamber 18. The coolant in the expansion chamber 18 preferably collects in the second coolant sump 46 on the bottom side of the base body 28. When the pressure drops, for example at a negative pressure, in the cooling system ( Fig. 3C ), the coolant flows from the expansion chamber 18 via the overflow line 22 back into the coolant chamber 12, wherein at the same time coolant can flow via the connecting piece 14 to the coolant pump.

A partially filled with coolant reservoir 10 is in Fig. 4 illustrated, wherein the coolant chamber 12 is shown unlocked and the expansion chamber 18 is closed by a cover 36. The illustrated coolant levels in the surge tank 10 each correspond to an inclination of the surge tank 10 about 20 degrees to each side. In each position, the first coolant sump 40 is filled with coolant and the coolant can be sucked in via the connecting piece 14, so that a sufficient supply of coolant to the cooling pump can be made possible.

A portion of a profile 68 extruded along a longitudinal axis 66, such as extruded, is shown in FIG Fig. 5 shown. The section of the profile 68 is generated by separating a part of the profile 68 and is the base body 28 for the expansion tank 10. The length of the profile 68, the portion of the profile 68, and the base body 28 along the longitudinal axis 66 can be determined. The partition wall 20 and the baffles 38 ( Fig. 5B ) are integrally formed with the base body 28 and preformed in the extruded profile 68. By the fluid-tight partition wall 20, the coolant chamber 12 and the expansion chamber 18 are formed in the base body 28.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

surge tank

12

Coolant chamber

14

spigot

16

vent connection

18

expansion chamber

20

partition wall

22

overflow

24

first end

26

second end

28

body

30

top

32

ground

34

side walls

36

cover

38

baffles

40

first coolant sump

42

first floor area

44

second floor area

46

second coolant sump

48

first closure unit

50

collar

52

shutter

54

second closure unit

56

Pressure relief valve

58

Vacuum valve

60

sight glass

62

float switch

64

mounting brackets

66

longitudinal axis

68

profile

Claims (11)

1. A compensation tank for a cooling system of an in particular agricultural motor vehicle comprising a coolant chamber (12) for receiving a coolant, wherein the coolant chamber (12) can be connected in fluid-conducting relationship to the cooling system by way of at least one connecting portion (14) and at least one venting portion (16), an expansion chamber (18) separated from the coolant chamber (12) by a partition (20), wherein the expansion chamber (18) is disposed substantially below the coolant chamber (12), and an overflow conduit (22) which has a first and a second end (24, 26) for connecting an upper region of the coolant chamber (12) to a lower region of the expansion chamber (18), wherein the coolant chamber (12) and/or the expansion chamber (18) has at least one closure unit (48, 54) and wherein the compensation tank (10) has a main body (28) which is fluid-tightly closed by at least two cover elements (34) and which is in the form of a portion of an extruded profile (68),
   characterised in that
   at least one closure unit (48, 54) and/or a venting connection (16) is mounted by the provision of a corresponding opening in the main body (28).
2. A compensation tank according to claim 1 characterised in that in an installation position the partition (20) is arranged inclinedly at an angle of 10 degrees to 30 degrees, preferably 20 degrees, relative to the horizontal.
3. A compensation tank according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that a bottom (32) of the main body (28) has a first and a second bottom region (42, 44), wherein the first and second bottom regions (42, 44) are arranged in a v-shape.
4. A compensation tank according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the profile (66) has at least one baffle (38) associated with the coolant chamber (12) and/or the expansion chamber (18).
5. A compensation tank according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the closure unit (48, 54) has a pressure relief valve (56) and/or a vacuum relief valve (58).
6. A compensation tank according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the overflow conduit (22) which is at least partially arranged outside the compensation tank (10) has a first end (24) and a second end (26) for connecting an upper region of the coolant chamber (12) to a lower region of the expansion chamber (14).
7. A compensation tank according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that there is provided a sight glass (60) and/or a float switch (62).
8. A compensation tank according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the extruded profile (68) and/or the cover elements (36) are made from aluminium or plastic.
9. An agricultural motor vehicle having at least one compensation tank (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8.
10. A process for the production of a compensation tank according to one of claims 1 to 8 for an in particular agricultural motor vehicle including the steps:

    - providing a portion of an extruded profile (68) as a main body (28) for a compensation tank (10) including a coolant chamber (12), a partition (20) and an expansion chamber (18),

    - providing cover elements (36),

    - mounting at least one closure unit (48, 54) and/or a connection (14, 16),

    - mounting an overflow conduit (22), and

    - fluid-tightly connecting the main body (28) to cover elements (36),

    characterised in that
    for mounting the closure unit (48, 54) and/or the venting portion (16) corresponding openings are provided in the main body (28).
11. A process according to claim 10 and further including the step:

    - cutting the extruded profile (68) to length.

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