DE20015918U1 - Flange connection between a functional unit of an internal combustion engine and an associated mounting base - Google Patents

Description

Description;

Flange connection between a functional unit of an internal combustion engine and an associated mounting base

The present invention relates to a flange connection between a functional unit, in particular a fuel or oil filter or oil-water heat exchanger, an internal combustion engine and an associated mounting base, which is part of the engine block or a sub-unit of the internal combustion engine attached thereto, wherein the flange connection forms a sealing connection between two channel sections of at least one channel carrying a liquid, which runs from the mounting base into the functional unit or vice versa, by means of a flange surface of the functional unit and a counter flange surface of the mounting base,

Flange connections of the type mentioned are known in practice in two different common designs. In a first design, the flange connection has two flanges that are almost oval in plan view, which are connected on two opposite sides outside the liquid channel with two screws, whereby a seal adapted to the shape of the flanges with a large opening for the liquid channel and two small openings for the screws is used for sealing. The screws are usually inserted through smooth holes in the mounting base into threaded holes in the flange of the functional unit.

In order for the threaded holes to be able to absorb the necessary forces, they must not be installed directly in the housing, which is usually made of light metal, or other parts of the functional unit; instead, steel inserts are required into which the threads are cut. This means that the necessary forces can be absorbed, but the steel inserts make the production of the functional unit more complicated and therefore more expensive.

If it is not possible to attach the screws in the manner described above for reasons of space, a connection method is used in which relatively long screws are passed through the entire functional unit from a side of the functional unit opposite the flange connection. The geometric shape of the flange connection is unchanged compared to the design described above; only the routing of the screws is different here, which means that the threaded holes are inevitably located in the mounting base and the flange of the functional unit has smooth through holes for the long screws. Although spatial problems can be solved in this way, the long screws are complex and expensive connecting elements, and their installation is also difficult due to their great length. In addition, corresponding passages must be provided in the inner areas of the functional unit through which the long screws pass. This creates additional sealing points that represent an increased risk of leakage when the functional unit is in operation.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a flange connection of the type mentioned at the outset which avoids the disadvantages described and which enables a faster, simpler and spatially more flexible production of the connection while at the same time providing high

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Safety against leaks is possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a flange connection of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that it comprises at least one flange plate arranged on the functional unit with a flange surface and at least one wedge-shaped clamping body with a clamping screw for each flange plate, wherein the flange plate with its flange surface can be pressed against the counter flange surface in a direction essentially perpendicular to the flange surface by screwing the clamping screw into the mounting base by means of the clamping body acted upon by the clamping screw, the longitudinal direction of which runs parallel or at an acute angle to the flange plate plane.

The flange connection according to the invention advantageously ensures that the longitudinal direction of the clamping screw and the pressing direction between the two interacting flange surfaces can run approximately at right angles to one another. The screw therefore no longer has to be attached in the direction in which the flange surfaces have to be pressed against one another. This allows for significantly greater freedom in the arrangement and alignment of the screw for producing the flange connection. At the same time, the wedge-shaped clamping body acted upon by the clamping screw ensures the pressing force between the interacting flange surfaces required for reliable sealing. The flange connection according to the invention can therefore be used particularly advantageously in spatial problems with cramped installation conditions, while at the same time the assembly of the functional unit as a whole can be simplified and accelerated.

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In a further embodiment, it is preferably provided that the clamping body has a first sliding surface that interacts with a rear side of the flange plate and a second inclined sliding surface that interacts with an opposite support surface on the mounting base, the rear side of the flange plate and the sliding surface that interacts with it being either flat or having an inclination opposite to the second sliding surface. In the first embodiment, a simple plate of constant thickness can be used as the flange plate on the functional unit, so that no particularly complicated shape is required on the side of the functional unit. The second embodiment offers the advantage that the functional unit is also effectively secured against movement relative to the mounting base in a direction parallel to the flange surfaces, although this makes the shape of the flange plate somewhat more complicated due to the necessary inclination or slope.

The clamping body preferably has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, with the associated clamping screw running between the U-legs of the clamping body. In this way, the clamping body is symmetrically subjected to the thrust force applied by the clamping screw. In addition, the installation space for the clamping body and screw is advantageously minimized. Alternatively, the clamping body can also completely surround the clamping screw by providing the clamping body with a through hole for the clamping screw.

In a further embodiment of the clamping body, it is preferably provided that the free ends of the U-legs form the first sliding surface and that the U-bend forms the second sliding surface. This ensures a symmetrical load on the clamping body in its clamped state, which ensures that undesirable deformations

tions of the clamping body do not occur.

Furthermore, the flange connection according to the invention is provided with at least one additional screw that runs parallel to the clamping screw and with which the functional unit can be clamped in the axial direction of the additional screw against a stop on the mounting base. This design of the flange connection ensures a particularly durable and permanent connection between the functional unit and the mounting base. This connection remains permanently secure even when it is exposed to strong mechanical stress from vibrations, such as inevitably occur in an internal combustion engine during operation.

In order to be able to absorb and divert the forces introduced into the mounting base by the clamping body in a favourable manner, it is preferably provided that the flange plate protrudes laterally from the rest of the functional unit and, when assembled, projects into a wedge-shaped, narrowing space cut out in the mounting base, which also accommodates the clamping body and has a threaded hole for the clamping screw extending from its inner end. The mounting base can easily be made sufficiently stable on both sides of the space cut out in it, since the cut out space is in an area that is sufficiently far away from the additional device. If required, reinforcing ribs or greater material thicknesses can be provided on the mounting base.

In order to transfer the thrust force exerted by the clamping screw onto the clamping body without damaging the clamping body, it is further provided that the clamping screw has a head provided with a protruding collar or washer, which is attached to the higher or wider front side of the wedge-shaped

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the clamping body.

Depending on the design of the functional unit and the mounting base, one or more channels can run in a flange connection. For certain additional devices
it is advantageous or even necessary that two channels are arranged at a relatively large distance from each other. Especially for these cases,
that the flange connection is used to connect two
channels arranged at a distance from each other mirror-symmetrically
in duplicate on two outer edge areas of the functional unit, whereby the
Flange surfaces in one plane or in two parallel
planes with rectified surface normals.
Despite the potentially relatively large distance between the
Both flange connections do not affect the respective
others in a negative way, so that here too a reliable
Sealing and permanent security of the
connection is achieved. An offset of the flange surfaces of the two flange connections relative to each other is not harmful, so that here too, given spatial conditions can be flexibly taken into account
can.

To seal the flange connection, it is preferred that the flange surface or the mating flange surface that interacts with it has an annular groove with an O-ring inserted into it as a seal. In this way, flat seals, which usually have to be specially manufactured and require greater care when installed, can be avoided. Standardized O-rings can usually be used for the seal.
which are more cost-effective and easier to install.

In the following, an embodiment of the invention is explained with reference to a drawing. The figures of the drawing

show:

Figure 1 shows a functional unit connected to a mounting base by means of a flange connection, here a heat exchanger, in cross section,

Figure 2 shows a clamping body as part of the flange connection from Figure 1, in perspective view,

Figure 3 the flange connection from Figure 1, now before the sealing connection is made, also in cross section,

Figure 4 the functional unit and the mounting base in view according to viewing direction IV in Figure 1 and

Figure 5 shows a partial section through the functional unit and the mounting base according to the section line V-V in Figure 4.

Figure 1 of the drawing shows a functional unit 1 in its upper part, here an oil-water heat exchanger, which consists of a plate pack 10. The plates form a flow path inside them for a liquid to be cooled, here engine oil of an internal combustion engine; between and around the individual plates 10 there is a flow path for a cooling liquid, here the cooling water of the internal combustion engine. The functional unit 1 is connected to a mounting base 2 by means of a flange 11. The mounting base 2 can be part of the engine block of the associated internal combustion engine or part of a sub-unit attached to the engine block, such as an oil filter or fuel filter of the internal combustion engine.

The mentioned flange 11 of the functional unit 1 comprises a flange plate 12 which in cross section, as shown in Figure

1 shows, is rectangular. A channel section 15 runs through the flange plate 12 and continues in the mounting base 2 in the channel section 25. The engine oil flows through this channel 15, 25, for example in the direction of the heat exchanger. The engine oil flows away from the heat exchanger through another channel in the background and therefore not visible.

The channel sections 15, 25 are designed here with a circular cross-section and abut one another in the area of flange surfaces 13, 23 of the flange plate 12 and a counter flange 21 on the mounting base 2. The flange 21 on the mounting base 2 has a flat flange surface 23 which is opposite the associated flange surface 13 of the functional unit 1. A circumferential annular groove 16 is cut into the flange plate 12 in the area of its flange surface 13, into which an O-ring 16 is inserted as a seal.

The rear side 13' of the flange plate 12, which in the drawing points upwards and faces away from the flange surface 13, is also flat. A clamping body 3 with a lower flat sliding surface 33 is supported on this rear side 13'. The clamping body 3 is wedge-shaped, with the higher front end 34 pointing to the right and the lower front end 35 pointing to the left. On the upper side, the clamping body 3 has an inclined sliding surface 32 which is supported on a counter surface 22 in the mounting base 2 which is inclined at the same angle. A recess runs through the clamping body 3 in its longitudinal direction, through which a clamping screw 4 is guided. The clamping screw 4 has a head 40 with a radially projecting collar which rests on the higher front end 34 of the clamping body 3 pointing to the right. The threaded end of the clamping screw 4 pointing to the left is screwed into a threaded hole 24 which is provided in the mounting base 2. The flange plate 12 and

the clamping body 3 lies within a wedge-shaped space 20 in the mounting base. When the clamping screw 4 is tightened as shown in Figure 1, the clamping body 3 exerts a downward pressure force on the flange plate 12 in the direction of the flange surface 23 of the flange 21 due to the inclined sliding surface 32 and the inclined counter surface 22 supporting it. This causes the flange plate 12 with its flange surface 13 to be brought into sealing contact with the counter flange surface 23 of the mounting base 2 with the O-ring 16' in between.

As Figure 1 further illustrates, the functional unit 1 can be inserted into the mounting base 2 from right to left, with the flange plate 12 moving into the space 20 in the mounting base 2. The clamping body 3 can also be inserted in the same direction into the space 20 within the mounting base 2. Finally, the clamping screw 4 is also inserted in the same direction from right to left through the clamping body 3 into its associated threaded hole 2 4 and screwed into it. All assembly processes are therefore carried out from one side and in the same direction, which makes the assembly work quick and easy to carry out.

Figure 2 of the drawing shows the clamping body 3 from Figure 1, now in perspective view. Figure 2 shows that the clamping body 3 is essentially U-shaped in cross section, with the U-bend 30 forming the inclined sliding surface 32 and the U-legs 31, which point downwards here, forming the flat sliding surface 33 with their free end. The higher front end 34 of the clamping body 3, with which the clamping screw 4 interacts in the assembled state, is facing the viewer here. In the background is the low front end 3 5 of the clamping body 3, which is not visible here. Between the U-legs 31

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There is sufficient space for the passage of the clamping screw 4, which is not shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 3 of the drawing, the flange connection according to Figure 1 is shown in a state before the sealing connection. The functional unit 1 has already been introduced into the mounting base 2 from the right. In addition, the clamping body 3 has already been partially introduced into the space 20 within the mounting base 2. As can be seen in the area of the flange surfaces 13, 23, no sealing system has yet been created here, so that the O-ring 16' is still partially visible in the gap between the flange surfaces 13, 23.

To ensure that the flange connection is tight, the clamping screw 4 must then be inserted from the right through the clamping body 3 into the threaded hole 24. Up to this point, all assembly steps can be carried out quickly and easily manually; automated assembly on a production line can also be carried out without any problems. Finally, the clamping screw 4 must be tightened until the two flange surfaces 13, 23 come into firm contact with one another. In this state, the flange connection is then tight and mechanically secured, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 of the drawing shows the flange connection between the functional unit 1 and the mounting base 2 in a view according to the viewing direction IV in Figure 1. At the bottom and left in Figure 4 is the mounting base 2 with its flange 21. The top of the flange 21 is formed by the flange surface 23.

In the upper right part of Figure 4, the functional unit 1, here the heat exchanger with its fin pack 10, can be seen. On the underside of the functional unit 1

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the associated flange 11 is attached, through which the channel section 15 runs. At the bottom, the flange 11 ends in the flange surface 13. To the left, i.e. outwards as seen from the functional unit 1, the flange plate 12 extends as part of the flange 11. The clamping body 3 rests with its flat sliding surface 33 on the upward-facing rear side 13' of the flange plate 12. The higher front end 34 of the clamping body 3 faces the viewer. The clamping screw 4, of which the head 40 can be seen here in plan view, exerts a thrust on this front end 34, which presses the clamping body 3 into the wedge-shaped, narrowing space 20 within the mounting base 2. This results in a resulting force on the flange 11 of the functional unit 1 downwards in the direction of the counter flange surface 23 of the flange 21 on the upper side of the mounting base 2, as already explained with reference to Figure 1.

As Figure 4 shows, the clamping body 3 and its associated clamping screw 4 are located here in the left-hand side area of the flange 11 of the functional unit 1. For additional mechanical securing and fixing of the functional unit 1 to the mounting base 2, in the embodiment shown, a further screw 4' is attached, which runs offset to the right on the right-hand side of the channel section 15 through the flange 11 of the functional unit 1. The channel section 15 continues downwards in the channel section 25 in the mounting base 2. A mirror-symmetrical arrangement of flanges 11, 21 with clamping body 3 and screw 4 as well as a further screw 4' is present on the right-hand side of the functional unit 1, which is not visible in Figure 4.

Finally, Figure 5 shows a partial section along the line V - V in Figure 4 through the further screw 4'. How

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As shown in Figure 5, the screw 4 ¹ passes through a through hole 14' through the flange 11 and is screwed into a threaded hole 24' in the mounting base 2. The
The force exerted by the further screw 4' on the flange 11 presses the latter against a stop 26 which is formed on the mounting base 2. In this way,
the functional unit 1 relative to the mounting base 2 has a mechanically fixed and spatially defined seat, which
even under heavy mechanical stress
A clamping body 3 is not required for this additional screw 4', since the required contact pressure is applied to the two opposing
Flanges 11, 21 can be applied solely by the clamping screw 4 and the associated clamping body 3.
Need, especially for particularly large channel cross-sections
or with several channels in a flange connection,
can also be used on both sides of the canal sections and/
or a clamping body 3 with a clamping screw 4 can be provided between them.

Claims (9)

1. Flange connection between a functional unit ( 1 ), in particular a fuel or oil filter or oil-water heat exchanger, an internal combustion engine and an associated mounting base ( 2 ), which is part of the engine block or a sub-unit of the internal combustion engine attached thereto, the flange connection forming a sealing connection between two channel sections ( 15 , 25 ) of at least one channel running from the mounting base ( 2 ) into the functional unit ( 1 ) or vice versa and carrying a liquid, by means of a flange surface ( 13 ) of the functional unit ( 1 ) and a counter flange surface ( 23 ) of the mounting base ( 2 ), characterized in that the flange connection comprises at least one flange plate ( 12 ) arranged on the functional unit ( 1 ) with the flange surface ( 13 ) and at least one wedge-shaped clamping body ( 3 ) with a clamping screw ( 4 ) for each flange plate ( 12 ), the flange plate ( 12 ) with its flange surface ( 13 ) by screwing the clamping screw ( 4 ) into the mounting base ( 2 ) by means of the clamping body ( 3 ) acted upon by the clamping screw ( 4 ) , the longitudinal direction of which runs parallel or at an acute angle to the flange plate plane, in a direction essentially perpendicular to the flange surface ( 13 ). 2. Flange connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping body ( 3 ) has a first sliding surface ( 33 ) interacting with a rear side ( 13 ') of the flange plate ( 12 ) and a second inclined sliding surface ( 32 ) interacting with an opposite support surface ( 22 ) on the mounting base ( 2 ), wherein the rear side ( 13 ') of the flange plate ( 12 ) and the sliding surface ( 33 ) interacting with it are either flat or designed with an inclination opposite to the second sliding surface ( 32 ). 3. Flange connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the clamping body ( 3 ) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein the associated clamping screw ( 4 ) runs between the U-legs ( 31 ) of the clamping body ( 3 ). 4. Flange connection according to claim 3, characterized in that the free ends of the U-legs ( 31 ) form the first sliding surface ( 33 ) and that the U-bend ( 30 ) forms the second sliding surface ( 32 ). 5. Flange connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally comprises at least one further screw ( 4 ') which runs parallel to the clamping screw ( 4 ) and with which the functional unit ( 1 ) can be clamped in the axial direction of the additional screw ( 4 ') against a stop ( 26 ) on the mounting base ( 2 ). 6. Flange connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flange plate ( 12 ) projects laterally from the rest of the functional unit ( 1 ) and, in the assembled state, projects into a wedge-shaped, narrowing space ( 20 ) cut out in the mounting base ( 2 ), which also accommodates the clamping body ( 3 ) and from whose inner end a threaded bore ( 24 ) for the clamping screw ( 4 ) extends. 7. Flange connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping screw ( 4 ) has a head ( 40 ) provided with a protruding collar or a washer, which rests on the higher or wider end face ( 34 ) of the wedge-shaped clamping body ( 3 ). 8. Flange connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided for connecting two channels arranged at a distance from one another in a mirror-symmetrical manner in a double design on two outer edge regions of the functional unit ( 1 ), the flange surfaces ( 13 ) lying in one plane or in two parallel planes with rectified surface normals. 9. Flange connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flange surface ( 13 ) or the counter-flange surface ( 23 ) cooperating therewith has an annular groove ( 16 ) with an O-ring ( 16 ') inserted therein as a seal.