WO2011037499A1

WO2011037499A1 - Fluid hose and vehicle comprising a fluid hose

Info

Publication number: WO2011037499A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/000427
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sigurd Sonderegger; Jonas LEXÉN; Olle Rolfsson
Original assignee: Volvo Lastavagnar Ab
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2009-09-25
Publication date: 2011-03-31
Also published as: EP2480812A1; EP2480812A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid hose (10), wherein the hose (10) is elastically bendable. The hose (10) comprises at least two hose portions (12, 14), wherein an inner hose portion (12) is insertable into an outer hose portion (14) in a telescopic manner. At least one sealing element (16) is provided for sealing the inner hose portion (12) against the outer hose portion (14). The fluid hose is especially applicable as fuel hose, hydraulics hose or air hose for a vehicle as a car or truck and can be manufactured in a standardized way thus reducing number of parts, simplifying assembly, increasing quality and saving costs.

Description

D E S C R I P T I O N

Fluid hose and Vehicle comprising a Fluid Hose TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the art of manufacturing a vehicle. More particular, the invention relates to a fluid hose, wherein the hose is elastically bendable and a vehicle comprising a fluid hose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the prior art to use fuel pipes, air pipes or hydraulic pipes for connections between vehicle components, such as engine-to-tank/brake-to- hydraulic fluid container or pneumatic gas container connections for exchanging a fluid like a liquid or a gas. Usually, pipes, tubes or hoses used as such

connections are pre-cut to right length and pre-assembled with fittings, length and/or fittings differing from one type of vehicle to another. Therefore, a huge variety of pipes, tubes or hoses with different lengths and different connectors have to be pre-assembled and increase complexity, assembly time, production effort and storage costs. Today, common fuel pipe applications consist of several hundreds of parts for one production line of a vehicle or vehicle platform with varying models. Special pre-assembly stations and also storage stations in the factory are needed to cope with this complexity and some small changes in the packaging require more or less permanent update work at design departments.

Concerning for instance fuel pipes for different vehicles on an assembly line, it is known to cut the pipes to the right length and to assemble fuel fittings with a manual pneumatic tool. In this way, every fuel pipe is manually adapted to right length and has to be configured just in time in an assembly line work chain. This method of production implies several difficulties and disadvantages: The scrap rate for assembling fuel pipes is high, the cycle-time on the assembly line is long, an application of a fitting with a manual tool takes more time than with an automatic tool, no pre-assembly of fuel pipes is possible, and the quality level _ ₂ _ 09 000427 obtained with a manual tool is worse than with an automatic tool being used for a p re-assembled pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly versatile fluid hose which can be employed in vehicles of different types particularly with different length requirements.

Another object is to provide a fluid hose for a vehicle having a minimized

complexity, resulting in reductions of manufacturing costs and assembly time which allow for pre-assembly by a supplier or pre-assembly station inside a factory. Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid hose being adaptable for different vehicle lengths of a large number of vehicle varieties.

These objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims, the drawings and the description disclose advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a fluid hose is proposed, wherein the hose is elastically bendable, comprising at least two hose portions, wherein an inner hose portion is insertable in an outer hose portion in a telescopic manner. Thereby, at least one sealing element is provided for fluid-sealing the inner hose portion against the outer hose portion. The fluid can be a gas or a liquid.

In other words, the invention proposes a fluid hose comprising two or more hose portions having different diameters being adapted to fit into each other in a telescopic way, whereby at least one sealing element is provided for fluid-sealing between two hose portions. Each hose portion may comprise at least one sealing element for fluid-sealing against the other hose portion. Since the different hose portions can slide into one another, the fluid hose can be adapted to each different length between a maximum length corresponding to the sum of lengths of all hose portions and a minimum length corresponding mainly to the length of the longest hose portion. The, sealing element of each hose portion seals the inner hose portion against the outer hose portion for a fluid-tight connection between the hose portions and is adapted to allow an extension of both hose portions by using a low pulling force. Being once expanded to the desired length, the seal provides a fluid tight arrangement throughout the use of the fluid hose which is permanently installed in the vehicle with the desired length. Furthermore, the hose is elastically bendable and can be easily arranged according to the actual environment straight or with one or more bends as needed. The same kind of fluid hose can be employed as non-variable part in a large-scale series production. The fluid hose can be used in a large variety of vehicles without changing the design of the fluid hose simply by making use of the telescopic characteristic of the fluid hose which allows an easy adjustment to each required length in a vehicle. Such non-variable parts can save production costs as a large number of non-variable parts can be produced at a lower price than a large number of parts of varying design such as varying length.

In this way, a fluid hose is configured which minimizes complexity in a production line with different variations of vehicles, whereby the fluid hoses by way of example can be pre-assembled by a supplier and can be provided in high volumes thus further reducing fabrication costs by reducing the assembly time. Due to an automatic fitting assembly process, an improved quality of fluid hoses for instance for fuel, gas and hydraulic media can be achieved. In this way, a telescopic fluid hose for instance employed as a fuel hose can be used to connect an engine with a fuel tank whereby engine and fuel tank can be positioned at arbitrary locations of a vehicle.

According to a favourable embodiment of the invention, the fluid hose can comprise at least one sealing element being arranged at the inner hose portion providing one or more fluid-tight sealing rings. By arranging a sealing element at the inner hose portion, a fluid-tight sealing can be achieved by inserting the inner hose portion into the outer hose portion without additional assembling steps concerning the outer hose portion. Furthermore, a sealing element being arranged at the inner hose portion prevents fluid from infiltrating into the small gap between the overlapping region of outer wall of inner hose portion and inner wall of outer E2009/000427 hose portion, so that concerning the length where inner hose portion sticks into the outer hose portion the fluid hose provides a double stacked wall being more durable. A fluid hose comprising more than two hose portions can favourably be assembled with sealing elements being arranged at the inner hose portion, wherein all smaller hose portions can be inserted into the cascadingly arranged respective outer hose portions.

According to another favourable embodiment of the invention, the fluid hose may comprise at least one sealing element being arranged at the outer hose portion. A sealing element being arranged at the outer hose portion can be assembled and maintained more easily and does not decrease the radius of the inner hose diameter. Furthermore a sealing element arranged at the outer hose portion is accessible in use enabling a visible inspection and a simple maintenance.

In a favourable embodiment, the fluid hose portion can comprise at least one sealing element being plugged into a hose portion. A sealing element being pluggable into a hose portion can be assembled easily with an automatic tool, thus decreasing assembling time, manufacturing costs and secure a fluid-tight, form- closed and force-fitted connection between hose portion and sealing element. For instance, a sealing element can be shaped as a fir tree hose connector having circumferential beaded rims which provide a fluid-tight and force fitted connection between hose portion and sealing element.

In a favourable embodiment, the fluid hose can comprise at least one sealing element being fixedly connected to the hose portion, preferably welded to the hose portion. A fixed connection, especially a welded connection ensures a fluid-tight and high-quality connection, guaranteeing long life and durable assembly of a fluid hose. Generally, the sealing elements sealing the inner hose portion against the outer hose portion can be made from arbitrary material in an arbitrary form. In a favourable embodiment, at least one sealing element comprises at least two O- rings. Most fluid hoses have a circular cross-section, wherein an O-ring as sealing element matches perfectly for a fluid-tight sealing of inner hose against outer hose - portion. Furthermore, flexible fluid-tight O-rings as gasket elements are very common in use e.g. as liquid-tight sealing elements and can be provided in all different sizes and quality at a very low price. By using two O-rings as sealing elements, a higher reliability of the sealing between inner hose portion to outer hose portion is guaranteed, since two O-rings independently from another seal the two hose portion diameters against each other. Often two O-rings may be used wherein one of the O-rings covers one temperature range and the second O-ring covers another temperature range resulting in an increased total temperature range of the sealing element. With improved temperature-resistant material one O- ring may by enough to cover the complete temperature range.

A telescopic fluid hose comprising two hose portions has two extremal positions, a minimal retracted position, in which the inner hose sticks fully in the outer hose, so that the end of the inner hose pokes out the opposite end of the outer hose portion and a maximal extracted position, in which the inner hose portion and the outer hose portion are likely to fall apart. For preventing such a crucial extreme position of inner hose portion to outer hose portion, in a favourable embodiment a stop element may be provided for blocking a separation of the at least two hose portions in the at least maximal extracted position. A stop element prevents the at least two hose portions from falling apart, so that a maximum size of length cannot be exceeded.

If a stop element is used according to the aforementioned embodiment, it is furthermore favourable to plug the stop element into the outer hose portion

Since the lateral end of the outer hose portion defines the maximum extension length of the inner hose portion sticking out of the outer hose portion, a stop element being plugged into the lateral end of outer hose portion efficiently prevents the inner hose portion from falling apart out of the outer hose portion. Favourably the stop element can be shaped as a fir tree connector.

In contrast thereto or additionally thereto, it is also favourable in a distinguished embodiment to fixedly connect the stop element to the hose portion, preferably by welding the stop element to the hose portion. Alternatively to plugging a stop element a fixed connection in form. of welding, screwing, squeezing etc. can _ _R _ ensure a highly reliable connection of stop element to hose portion which can also resist extreme high pulling forces preventing the fluid hose to collapse.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the at least two hose portions can be elastically bendable. In a favourable embodiment, the at least two hose portions can be made of polyamide. Polyamide is a polymer containing monomers of amides joint by peptide bonds. It has a polymer architecture providing high elasticity and ductility and being perfectly suitable for all kinds of fluids like water, fuel, aggressive chemicals, add pressurized air, etc. Furthermore due to its elasticity and durability it is a perfect material for hose portions of a fluid hose being weldable and also suitable for applying fir tree hose connectors.

A fluid hose especially for use in a vehicle has to sustain a large variety of mechanical stresses and temperature ranges. Therefore, in a favourable

embodiment the fluid hose can be adapted to block separation of the at least two hose portions under overpressure within the at least two hose portions. In this way, the fluid hose, especially the sealing element, stop element and the material of the hose portions should be designed for sustaining overpressure within different temperature ranges, mechanical pressures and pulling forces, thus preventing fluid from outpouring in case of an accident, overpressure,

underpressure, aging or malfunctioning of the vehicle.

According to another aspect of the invention a vehicle is proposed comprising at least one fluid hose according to one of the aforementioned embodiments. A vehicle comprising a telescopic fluid hose according to anyone of the features of the above-described fluid hose can be assembled with minimized complexity, with pre-assembled pipes and fluid hoses directly from a supplier which fluid hoses can be produced economically in large-scale production and with an improved quality during an automatic production and fitting assembly process. Thus, such a vehicle can be produced with higher efficiency, lower costs and in a higher variety of model versions.

A favourable embodiment of such a vehicle can comprise at least one fluid hose being configured for permanent connection to an engine and/or one or more tanks. _

In this way, a vehicle comprising one or more telescopic fluid hoses may use such fluid hoses as permanent connection connecting the vehicle's engine to one or more fuel tanks. In this way, one type of fluid hose can be assembled in a large variation of vehicles for permanent installation, achieving above-mentioned advantages of the invention.

A vehicle comprising a telescopic fluid hose can be constructed with an arbitrary assembly method for attaching a fluid hose to the vehicle. In a distinguished embodiment, at least one fluid hose is attached to a frame beam of the vehicle. Due to the fact that the fluid hose is elastically bendable, it is very convenient and easy to attach the fluid hose to a frame beam of the vehicle, thus saving assembly time and increasing flexibility of mounting the fluid hose to the vehicle. In such a way, by way of example a fuel hose can be clamped on the chassis on the fixed pipe part and after assembly of components, such as engine or fuel tanks, the hose can be extended to a perfect length and connections to other components such as engine or tank can be installed where after a final clamping can be made. In this way, minimized complexity results in high annual volumes for pre- assembled pipes from a supplier or pre-assembly station inside the factory. Favourably, the vehicle can be a truck, as a large number of fluid hoses are required in trucks for fuel, air, hydraulic, pneumatic fluids etc. The same type of fluid hose can be used for a large variety of truck variants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention together with the above-mentioned and other objects and advantages may best be understood from the following detailed description of the embodiments, but not restricted to the embodiments, wherein is shown

schematically:

Fig. 1 a length-sectional view of a telescopic fluid hose according to a first

embodiment of the invention; _ _

Fig. 2 a iength-sectional view of a second embodiment of a telescopic fluid hose; and

Fig. 3 a vehicle comprising a third embodiment of a fluid hose connecting an

engine with a fuel tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, equal or similar elements are referred to by equal references numerals. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not indented to portray specific parameters of the invention. Moreover, the drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 depicts schematically a length-cross-sectional view on a telescopic fluid hose 10. The telescopic fluid hose comprises an inner hose portion 12 and an outer hose 14, whereby the outer diameter of the inner hose 12 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer hose portion 14. A sealing element 16 is fixedly connected to the outer hose portion 14. The sealing element 16 is connected to the outer hose portion 14 by welding. The tube thickness of the wall of the inner hose portion 12 and the outer hose portion 14 can preferably vary e.g. between 1 to 3 mm. The sealing element 16 comprises two O-ring-shaped gaskets 22. The O-rings 22 are assembled in circular grooves of the sealing element. The two O-rings 22 provide a fluid-sealed gasket between the inner wall of the outer hose portion 14 and the outer wall of the inner hose portion 12. At the lateral end of the inner hose portion 12, which sticks into the outer hose portion 14, a stop element 24 is fixedly mounted by laser-welding or clamped. The geometry of the stop element 24 is designed to prevent the inner hose portion 12 from falling out of the outer hose portion 14 in a maximal extracted length position, whereby the stop element 24 is supported by the sealing element 16 thus preventing to fall out of the outer hose portion 14. A method for producing a fluid hose as depicted in Fig. 1 can comprise the following steps:

- Cutting hose portion 14 to the right length, in particular 0.5 to 1m;

- Attaching sealing element 16 (connector) with pre-assembled gasket O- rings 22 to outer hose portion 14 by laser-welding or clamping;

Pushing inner hose portion 2 all the way through outer hose portion 14, whereby grease or other friction-lowering media can be necessary and useful;

- Assembling stopping element 24 (stopping sleeve) to inner hose portion 12;

- Moving inner hose portion 12 backwards to final position of stopping

element 24 inside outer hose portion 14 near the lateral pipe and outer hose portion 14;

- Assembling standard connectors (not shown) to the outer lateral ends of inner hose portion 12 and outer hose portion 14 - preferably as fir tree hose connectors, push-in connectors or laser welded connectors;

- Finishing assembly, packing and shipping telescopic fluid hose 10.

Fig. 2 shows a length-sectional view according to a second embodiment of a telescopic fluid hose 10. Also this embodiment comprises an inner hose portion 12 and an outer hose portion 14, whereby a sealing element 16 is plugged into the lateral end of the inner hose portion 12 by a fir tree connection. The fir tree hose connection sealing element 16 comprises two gasket O-rings 22 and functions as inner sealing element 18. At the outer lateral end of the outer hose portion 14, a stop element 24 is assembled particularly by laser-welding prohibiting the inner hose portion 12 to fall out of the outer hose portion 14. In case of pulling the fluid hose 10 to a maximum length, the sealing element 16 is prevented from falling out of the lateral end of the outer hose portion 14 by the stop element 24. The _ - . geometry of the stop element 24 is therefore configured to have a minimal inner diameter, which matches more or less exactly the outer diameter of the inner hose portion 12, so that at least the gasket O-rings 22 of the inner sealing element 18 are caught by the stop element 24. When the inner hose portion 2 is pushed on the fir tree (sealing element 16), it expands and its outer diameter is increased. This increased diameter is not shown in Fig. 2, but the increased diameter can be used as the corresponding stop geometry.

The sealing element 16 comprises two hook rings which stick into the inner wall of the inner hose portion 12, providing a fir tree connection thus ensuring a tightly fixed connection between stop element 16 and inner hose portion 12. Means for blocking separation of the two hose portions 12, 14 under overpressure are provided by the inner sealing element 18 in combination with the outer stop element 24.

According to an embodiment not explicitly depicted in the drawings, the outer hose 14 and/or the inner hose 12 may be covered with an additional insulating material which is heat-resistant. The insulating material may be connected to the hose 12, 14 by extrusion for instance, particularly the hose and the cover can be

manufactured by co-extrusion. Today, by way of example, a fluid pipe has to be mantled with a separate long rubber sleeve at least in regions which are close to hot components in the vehicle. Favourably, mounting time and costs for rubber sleeves can be saved. Finally, Fig. 3 depicts schematically a vehicle 28, comprising a combustion engine 30 and a fuel tank 32. The engine 30 is connected to the fuel tank 32 by a fluid hose 10 for providing the engine 30 with liquid fuel. The fluid hose 10 is telescopic, comprising an inner hose portion 12 and an outer hose portion 14, which stick into each other within an adjustable length. The fluid hose 10 is attached to a frame beam 34 of the vehicle 28 by clamps or other mounting devices. In this way, a fuel connection as hose-in-hose solution is provided. The fitting between the two hose portions is preferably attached on the outer hose portion 14 by welding and contains an opening to push in the pipe with the smaller dimension. The sealing between the hose portions 12, 14 can comprise O-rings, the outer surface of the _ _ inner hose 12 may be sprayed with oil to decrease friction. The dimensions of the inner and the outer hose portions 12, 14 are adapted to each other.

The invention can provide an improved fluid hose being especially suitable as fuel hose, air hose or hydraulics hose with variable length for a vehicle minimizing costs, reducing complexity and enhancing quality for a high annual production volume of a large variety of vehicles in a mass production assembly line process.

Claims

P23 Per / SE 2009 / 00 Ο- 2WO 2011/037499 _ ^ _ PCT/SE2009/000427 ¾09 C L A I M S

1. A fluid hose (10), wherein the hose (10) is elastically bendable, comprising

at least two hose portions (12, 14), wherein an inner hose portion (12) is insertable into an outer hose portion (14) in a telescopic manner, wherein- at least one sealing element (16) is provided for sealing the inner hose portion (12) against the outer hose portion (14).

2. The fluid hose according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sealing

element (18) is arranged at the inner hose portion (12) providing one or more fluid tight sealing rings.

3. The fluid hose according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one sealing

element (20) is arranged at the outer hose portion (14).

4. The fluid hose according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one sealing

element (16) is plugged into the hose portion (12, 14).

5. The fluid hose according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one sealing

element (16) is fixedly connected to the hose portion ( 2, 14), preferably welded to the hose portion (12, 14).

6. The fluid hose according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one

sealing element (16) comprises at least one O-ring (22).

7. The fluid hose according to any preceding claim, wherein a stop element

(24) is provided for blocking a separation of the at least two hose portions

(12, 14).

8. The fluid hose according to claim 7, wherein the stop element (24) is

plugged into the outer hose portion (14).

27

9. The fluid hose according to claim 7, wherein the stop element (24) is fixedly connected to the hose portion ( 2, 14), preferably welded or clamped to the hose portion (12, 14). .

10. The fluid hose according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least two hose portions (12, 14) are made of polyamide.

11. The fluid hose according to any preceding claim, being adapted as fuel hose, air hose or water hose.

12. The fluid hose according to any preceding claim, being adapted to block separation of the at least two hose portions (12, 14) under overpressure within the at least two hose portions (12, 14).

13. A vehicle (28) comprising at least one fluid hose (10) according to any

preceding claim.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the at least one fluid hose (10) is attached to a frame beam (34) of the vehicle (28).

15. The vehicle according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the at least one fluid hose (10) is configured for permanent connection to an engine (30) and/or one or more tanks (32).

16. A fluid hose, wherein the hose is elastically bendable, comprising at least two hose portions, wherein an inner hose portion is insertable into an outer hose portion in a telescopic manner, wherein at least one sealing element is provided for sealing the inner hose portion against the outer hose portion.

17. The fluid hose according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sealing

element is arranged at the inner hose portion providing one or more fluid tight sealing rings.

18. The fluid hose according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the at least one sealing element is arranged at the outer hose portion.

19. The fluid hose according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sealing

element is plugged into the hose portion.

20. The fluid hose according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sealing

element is fixedly connected to the hose portion, preferably welded to the hose portion.

21. The fluid hose according to claim 16, wherein the at least one sealing

element comprises at least one O-ring.

22. The fluid hose according to claim 16, wherein a stop element is provided for blocking a separation of the at least two hose portions.

23. The fluid hose according to claim 22, wherein the stop element is plugged into the outer hose portion.

24. The fluid hose according to claim 22, wherein the stop element (24) is

fixedly connected to the hose portion, preferably welded or clamped to the hose portion.

25. The fluid hose according to claim 16, wherein the at least two hose portions are made of polyamide.

26. The fluid hose according to claim 116, being adapted as fuel hose, air hose or water hose.

The fluid hose according to claim 16, being adapted to block separation of the at least two hose portions under overpressure within the at least two hose portions.

28. A vehicle comprising at least one fluid hose according to claim 16. The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the at least one fluid hose attached to a frame beam of the vehicle.

The vehicle according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the at least one fluid hose is configured for permanent connection to an engine and/or one or more tanks.