WO2018197764A1 - Vehicle comprising a flexible tube with corrugated end(s) and helical groove - Google Patents

Abstract

A tube (T) for circulating a hydraulic fluid between two pieces of equipment comprises an intermediate part (PI), on the one hand, and two ends (E1-E2) opposite to one another, at least one of which is corrugated, with a pitch between corrugations, and, on the other hand, comprising a helical groove (R) with a pitch between turns which is strictly greater than the pitch between corrugations.

Description

 VEHICLE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE PIPE WITH EXTREMITE (S) ANNELEE (S) AND

 HELICOIDAL GROOVE

The invention relates to pipes which comprise two ends

 intended to be coupled fluidly and respectively to two devices of a system.

 In some systems, such as in certain vehicles (possibly of the automotive type), hoses are used to ensure the circulation of a hydraulic fluid between two devices. This is for example

 the case when the two equipment are respectively a reservoir of brake fluid and clutch and a hydraulic clutch control, or a tank of window cleaning fluid and spray nozzles, or a battery and a box.

 In order to allow coupling and proper alignment of the ends of the

 pipe on the "taps" of the two equipment, this pipe must be flexible at least at least one of its two ends. This flexibility is obtained by the definition of rings which are spaced periodically, in a not-inter-rings. As needed, the hose can

20 comprise only one annular end or two annular ends,

 or may be integrally corrugated, including in its intermediate portion which is extended on both sides by its two opposite ends.

When the intermediate part of the pipe is corrugated, and therefore the

 25 pipe is fully flexible, the latter can frequently contact a

 cable or other pipe located in its immediate environment. The friction of some rings during successive contacts with this cable or other pipe can induce damage to the latter, which can be dangerous. It can indeed occur an electrical fault or a loss

30 of a braking or clutch function, for example. To avoid this

disadvantage, we can define a cladding around the rings, but this leads to a relatively high cost and a reduction in flexibility. When the intermediate portion of the pipe is devoid of rings, it is no longer likely to damage a cable or other nearby pipe. However, this intermediate portion is found rigid, and therefore the pipe must be specifically shaped as needed. This introduces an important diversity and thus induces a significant additional cost and problems of stock management and storage. In addition, this conformation involves an additional operation in the manufacturing phase and therefore induces a high overhead. In addition, it makes it more difficult coupling and alignment of the ends of the pipe on the connections of the equipment concerned.

 The invention is therefore particularly intended to improve the situation.

 It proposes for this purpose a pipe, allowing the circulation of a hydraulic fluid, and comprising an intermediate portion extended by two ends opposite to each other and at least one of which is annealed having an inter-ring pitch.

 This pipe is characterized in that its intermediate portion comprises a helical groove having an inter-turns pitch strictly greater than the inter-rings pitch.

 This helical groove advantageously gives flexibility to the intermediate portion, without the risk of damage by friction of a neighboring cable or another nearby pipe.

 The pipe according to the invention may comprise other features that can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

 its helical groove may extend over the entire length of its intermediate portion;

 the inter-turns pitch can be between 8 mm and 22 mm;

 its helical groove may comprise a large winding diameter of between 25 mm and 35 mm;

 its helical groove may comprise an outer connecting radius, situated at the interface with a smooth (or plane) portion, and between 2 mm and 3 mm;

- its two ends can be annealed with the same interanneaux pitch; the inter-ring pitch may be between 2 mm and 4 mm;

 - It can be made of polypropylene (or PP) by extrusion and blowing.

 The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of automotive type, and comprising at least two equipment between which a hydraulic fluid circulates, and at least one pipe of the type of the one presented above and whose two opposite ends are fluidly coupled and respectively to both these equipments.

 For example, these two devices can be respectively a reservoir of brake fluid and clutch and a hydraulic clutch control.

 Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which:

 FIG. 1 schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, a part of an example of a brake and clutch fluid reservoir coupled to an embodiment of a pipe according to the invention also coupled to a hydraulic control of 'clutch,

 FIG. 2 schematically illustrates, in a side view, another embodiment of a pipe according to the invention,

 FIG. 3 schematically illustrates, in a longitudinal sectional view, one of the two annular ends of the pipe of FIG. 2, and

 - Figure 4 schematically illustrates, in a longitudinal sectional view, the intermediate portion of the pipe of Figure 2.

 The invention is particularly intended to provide a flexible pipe T and intended to allow the circulation of a hydraulic fluid between two equipment of a system.

In the following, we consider, by way of non-limiting example, that the system is a motor vehicle, such as a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of system. It concerns indeed any type of system comprising at least two devices to be fluidly coupled to one another. Therefore, the invention relates to any type of vehicle (land, sea (or fluvial), or air), the machines agricultural, household appliances, facilities, possibly industrial type, and buildings.

 Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the two devices are respectively a reservoir of brake fluid and clutch RL and a hydraulic clutch control CH. But the invention is not limited to this application. Indeed, a pipe T according to the invention can ensure the fluid coupling between any equipment. Thus, it can provide fluid coupling between a glass cleaning liquid tank and spray nozzles, or between a battery and a box, for example.

 As illustrated in the examples of Figures 1 and 2, a pipe T according to the invention comprises an intermediate portion PI extended on either side by two ends Ej (j = 1 or 2) which are opposite to each other.

 At least one of the two ends Ej of the pipe T is annealed with an inter-ring pitch p1. The term "ringed" is understood herein to mean rings AE periodically spaced at an inter-notch pitch p1, so as to impart considerable flexibility to the end Ej considered with a view to facilitating its coupling and its alignment on a "stitching" ( or an input and / or output) PE of a RL equipment. These rings AE can, for example and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 to 3, have a half-ring shape (half-circle section). But they could present other forms.

 It is important to note that the AE rings of an end Ej are not reported elements. They are indeed an integral part of their end Ej, and are therefore defined at the same time as the latter (Ej).

Note also that it is not mandatory that the entirety of an end Ej is annealed. Indeed, and as illustrated in non-limiting manner in FIGS. 1 to 4, an end Ej may comprise an annular portion PA (provided with the rings AE) and terminated by an end portion PT (devoid of a ring AE) intended to be connected to a stitching (or an inlet and / or outlet) PE of a RL equipment. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the first end E1 of the pipe T is connected to the PE tapping of a reservoir of brake fluid and clutch RL and the second end E2 of the pipe T is intended to be connected to a hydraulic control clutch CH.

 For example, when the outer diameter of a ring AE of an end Ej is equal to about 1 1 mm, the inter-ring pitch p1 may be between 2 mm and 4 mm. Thus, this inter-ring pitch p1 may, for example, be equal to 2.5 mm or 3 mm.

 In the two examples illustrated nonlimitingly in FIGS. 1 and 2, each pipe T comprises two annular ends Ej. But a pipe T according to the invention may comprise only one annular end.

 Also in the two examples illustrated nonlimitingly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two ends Ej have the same inter-ring pitch p1. But they could have different inter-rings.

 The intermediate portion PI comprises a helical groove R having an inter-turn pitch p2 strictly greater than the inter-ring pitch p1. This helical groove R is intended to impart flexibility to the intermediate portion PI, without the latter (PI) has on its outer surface protruding portion likely to damage by friction a neighboring cable or another adjacent pipe.

Thus, the pipe T no longer needs to be specifically shaped as needed. It can indeed be used in different environments, since it is substantially straight before installation, which facilitates storage, packaging and movement. By way of example, it can be used to fluidically connect a first piece of equipment situated as far right or left as above or below a second piece of equipment. This avoids diversity and therefore reduces costs and problems of stock management and storage. In addition, this makes it possible to avoid having to make a protective sheath.

Note that in the two examples illustrated nonlimitingly and respectively in Figures 1 and 2 and 4, the helical groove R extends over the entire length of the intermediate portion P1. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, the helical groove R can extend only over part of the length of the intermediate portion P1. It will also be noted that the inter-turn pitch p2 may, for example, be between 8 mm and 22 mm. Thus, this inter-turns pitch p2 may, for example, be equal to 10 mm or 15 mm.

 It will also be noted that the helical groove R may comprise a large winding diameter gd of between 25 mm and 35 mm. This large winding diameter gd is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. It corresponds to the diameter of an imaginary circle having a radius of curvature equal to that of the helical groove R. For example, the large winding diameter gd may be equal to 30 mm, especially when the transverse section of the intermediate portion PI has a diameter of about 1 1 mm. In general, the greater the large winding diameter gd is less the damage capacity of the helical groove R is important.

 It will also be noted that the helical groove R may comprise an external connecting radius gr, at the interface with a smooth portion, between 2 mm and 3 mm. This external connecting radius gr is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. In a longitudinal section plane, as represented in FIG. 4, this external connecting radius gr corresponds to the radius which is formed by the connection between a smooth portion of the intermediate portion PI and the bottom of the helical groove R. For example, the outer connecting radius gr may be equal to 2.5 mm, especially when the cross section of the intermediate portion PI has a diameter of about 1 1 mm. In general, the greater the outside radius of connection gr is important, the less the damage capacity of the helical groove R is important.

 Note also that the helical groove R may, for example and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 to 3, have a form of inverted half-ring in a longitudinal section. But it could have other forms, for example semi-elliptical or semi-trapezoidal.

It will also be noted that the thickness of the material delimiting the helical groove R may, for example and as illustrated nonlimitingly in FIGS. 2 and 4, be identical to the thickness of the material delimiting a smooth (or plane) portion of the helical groove R (located between two turns successive). But it could have a material thickness lower than that of a smooth portion (or flat) neighbor.

It will also be noted that the pipe T may, for example, be made of polypropylene (PP) by extrusion and blowing. But it can be also, for example, made of polyamide (PA) or polyethylene (PE). Furthermore, the embodiment can also be done, for example, by rotational molding. In addition, this pipe T is preferably monobloc. But alternatively it could be achieved by joining two ends Ej referred to its intermediate portion Pl.

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising at least two equipment (RL) between which a hydraulic fluid circulates, characterized in that it comprises at least one pipe (T) for the circulation of a hydraulic fluid, said pipe (T) comprising an intermediate part (PI ) extended by two ends (Ej) opposite to each other and at least one of which is annealed having an inter-ring pitch, characterized in that said intermediate portion (PI) comprises a helical groove (R) having a pitch of turns strictly greater than said inter-rings and in that the two ends (Ej) of said pipe are fluidly coupled respectively to said two devices (RL).  2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said helical groove (R) extends over the entire length of said intermediate portion (PI).  3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said inter-turn pitch is between 8 mm and 22 mm.  4. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said helical groove (R) comprises a large winding diameter of between 25 mm and 35 mm.  5. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said helical groove (R) comprises an outer radius of connection, at the interface with a smooth portion, between 2 mm and 3 mm.  6. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said two ends (Ej) are annealed with said inter-rings.  7. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said inter-ring pitch is between 2 mm and 4 mm.  8. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said pipe is made of polypropylene by extrusion and blowing.  9. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two equipment are respectively a reservoir of brake fluid and clutch (RL) and a hydraulic clutch (CH).