Tube arrangement

A tube arrangement, comprising a tube made of a polymer material which is provided with an embedded reinforcement. At least one tube end is slid onto a short metal or plastic pipe. A pipe clamp, especially a screw pipe clamp, secures the tube end onto the pipe. A retaining sleeve on the tube end secures the pipe clamp to the tube. This retaining sleeve is made of a polymer material and comprises a one piece molded part which is pushed onto the tube end. The retaining sleeve comprises the following components: a retainer ring with an inner diameter which is positioned over the outer diameter of the tube end; a clamp receiving element in the form of at least two axially extending retaining elements which are connected to the retainer ring at one end; a retaining collar at the other end of each retaining element; and a collar ring with an inside diameter connecting the retaining collars.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicants claim priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 of German Application No. 100 30 335.8 filed Jun. 27, 2000. Applicants also claim priority under 35 U.S.C. 120 of PCT/DE01/02175 filed Jun. 12, 2001. The international application under PCT article 21(2) was not published in English.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a tube arrangement that comprises a tube made of a polymer material. In particular, said tube is provided with an embedded reinforcement, whereby at least one end of the tube is pushed over a short connection pipe made of metal or plastic, and whereby the end of the tube is pressed onto the short connection pipe by a pipe clamp, in particular by a screw clamp.

A tube arrangement of the present type is widely employed especially in the field of motor vehicle building. The short pipe may be a part of an aggregate (cylinder head, water pump, cooler etc.). A short motor vehicle aggregate pipe is described, for example in published patent document EP 0 367 136 B1.

A short pipe may be also a T-shaped structural part on which three tube segments are mounted. Reference is made in this regard to published patent document DE 33 36 940 C2.

However, no solution has been available to this date in connection with which pipe clamps, in particular screw clamps can be mounted in the opened condition on the end of the tube in a manner securing it in its position and against rotation.

Now, the problem of the invention against the background of said problems is to pre-mount the opened pipe clamp on the end of the hose in a defined manner and in a way it cannot be lost; to assure the clamp is installed in such a way that is secured against rotation; as well as to simplify the installation of the clamp in places that are difficult to access. Furthermore, the aim is that the installation of the clamp is not depending on any structural part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem is solved in that the end of the tube is provided with a retaining sleeve made of polymer material and mounted on said end, whereby the retaining sleeve comprises within the framework of a single-piece molded part the following structural components:

A retainer ring with an inside diameter Dl that grips around the end of the hose with an outside diameter D;

an element for receiving the clamp in the form of two axially extending retaining elements, which each are connected with the retainer ring via one of their ends; as well as

a retaining sleeve located at the other end of each retaining element.

Useful further developments of the tube arrangement as defined by the invention are also specified below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a retaining sleeve 1 that comprises a retaining ring 2 as well as two axially extending retaining elements 3 of the same width, which in turn each are provided with a retaining collar 4 . The retaining elements are arranged in this connection in such a way that a small spacing A, on the one hand, and a large spacing B on the other are formed in the peripheral direction Y of the retainer ring between the two retaining elements. The large spacing B preferably amounts to two to three times the small spacing A.

According to FIG. 2 , the retaining sleeve 1 comprises a retaining ring 2 , whereby three retaining elements 3 of the same width are provided in the present case, which in turn each are provided with a retaining collar 4 . The three retaining elements are arranged in the circumferential direction Y of the retainer ring in such a way that at least the two spacings C 1 and C 2 are the same. In particular, the following spacing variations are used in this connection:

Now, FIG. 3 shows a retaining sleeve 1 with a retainer ring 2 and a total of four of the retaining elements 3 . Said retaining elements are arranged in such a way that in the circumferential direction Y of the retainer ring, the two small spacings E 1 , E 2 within a group of three retaining elements, on the one hand, and between the two outer retaining elements of said group and the fourth retaining element with the two large spacings F 1 , F 2 , on the other hand, are formed, whereby the two small spacings E 1 , E 2 and the two large spacings F 1 , F 2 each are constant among each other. The large spacings F 1 , F 2 preferably amount to five to six times the small spacings E 1 , E 2 .

While in the exemplified embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the individual retaining collars 4 and 41 are separated from each other in the circumferential direction Y of the retainer rings 2 and 2 , respectively, whereby the width of a retaining collar corresponds with about the width of the respective retaining element, in the exemplified embodiment according to FIG. 3 , the individual retaining, collars 4 are connected with each other in the circumferential direction Y, notably with formation of a retaining collar ring 6 , which can be referred to also as the second retainer ring. In the axial direction X, the retainer ring 2 is wider than the collar ring 6 .

In the exemplified embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3 , the width of each retaining element in the circumferential direction Y amounts to about 30 , whereby, furthermore, reference is made to FIG. 5 in this regard.

Now, with respect to the exemplified embodiment according to FIG. 2 (spacing variation: C 11 C 2 C 3 ), constructional details of the tube arrangement and the retaining sleeve are described in the following.

According to FIG. 4 , the retaining sleeve 1 with the retainer ring 2 and the retaining elements 3 extending in the axial direction X is mounted on the tube end 7 with an outside diameter D, whereby the retaining collar 4 is facing the face side 8 of the tube end. The retaining collars serve for elastically supporting the pipe clamps. The clamp, in particular the screw clamp is located within the receiving space 9 (not shown here).

Now, FIG. 5 shows again the retaining sleeve 1 within the framework of a radial sectional representation. In this connection, the retainer ring 2 has an inside diameter D 1 . The retaining collars 4 of the total of the three retaining elements 3 are constructed in such a way that ring segments with a formal inside diameter D 2 are formed.

Now, referring to the exemplified embodiment according to FIG. 2 , if the individual retaining collars 4 are connected with each other in the circumferential direction Y of the retaining ring 2 , a collar ring with an inside diameter D 3 is formed.

The inside diameters D 1 , D 2 and D 3 are preferably the same. Furthermore, it is useful if the inside diameter D 1 of the retaining ring is smaller than the outside diameter D of the end of the tube, notably with formation of an initially tensioned retaining sleeve, whereby the initial tension amounts to about 5 to 10%. In this way, pre-mounting is assured to be particularly secured against loss of the sleeve.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the tube or the end of the tube and the retaining sleeve are made of an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer (abbreviated designation: TPE). The retaining sleeve has in this connection a higher Shore hardness than the tube or end of the tube.

In conjunction with said material-specific properties, the end of the tube can be easily pushed over the short pipe even if the retaining sleeve is initially tensioned. The short pipe may be provided with a supporting bead, if need

Furthermore, in the visible area, the retaining sleeve may have an installation and mounting marking preferably in the form of a color marking or embossing, whereby reference is made by way of example to the marking 5 in the zone of the retainer ring 2 according to FIG. 1 .

Moreover, the retaining sleeve and/or the pipe clamp may additionally have adhesive points.

The retaining sleeve contains a solution that is independent of the structural component because it can be mounted on all tube ends having the same diameter. This is a solution that is favorable in cost as well.

Furthermore, the clamp can be pre-installed on the retaining sleeve with a different opening measure because adequate space is available in the peripheral direction Y between the individual retaining elements.

List of Reference Symbols

5 Installation and mounting marking

6 Collar ring

7 End of tube

8 Face side of end of tube

9 Space for receiving the pipe clamp

D Outside diameter of end of tube

D 1 Inside diameter of retainer ring

D 2 Formal inside diameter of collar ring segments

D 3 Inside diameter of collar ring

A, B Spacings between two retaining elements

C 1 , C 2 , C 3 Spacings between three retaining elements

X Axial direction

Y Circumferential direction of retainer ring