PERPENDICULAR CLAMPING INTERFACE FOR FACE SEALING

A clamping mechanism used for connecting one or more conduits or hoses to a housing. The clamping mechanism uses bolt tension and a wedge interface, where the perpendicular movement of the wedge interface reduces the interface distance and creates compression in the desired direction. At least one clamping component is assembled from one axis perpendicular from the clamping to achieve desired sealing. The interface of the clamp, a tube flange, and a housing create a progressive clamping force based on several wedge-shaped features. A portion of the interface may be molded into a separate part such that there are multiple connections using a single clamping mechanism.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a clamping mechanism used for connecting one or more conduits or hoses to a housing, such that the connection between the conduit and the housing compresses a seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electric vehicles typically have cooling systems for providing thermal management of various components. These cooling systems include various modules, valve assemblies, etc., for distributing coolant to the various components of the cooling system. The modules or valve assemblies are typically connected to one or more conduits. The connection between each conduit and the housing of the module must minimize or eliminate the potential for leaking.

Current designs incorporate the use of various connector assemblies to connect one or more conduits to the housing of the module. However, these current designs do not have an efficient or suitable solution to providing a connection between at least one conduit and a housing which provides suitable sealing, minimizing or eliminating leaks. Most current designs have a connector assembly where one or more seals are compressed as a fastener is connected and tightened. This typically results in the compressive force on the seal and the clamping force from the fastener being in the same direction (i.e., parallel to one another). Because of the orientation of the fasteners relative to other components of the connector assembly, many typical current connector assembly designs do not facilitate easy replacement of seals or other components.

Accordingly, there exists a need for connection between one or more conduits and a housing of a module, where the connection prevents leaks, and is easily serviced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a clamping mechanism used for connecting one or more conduits or hoses to a housing.

In an embodiment, the clamping mechanism of the present invention uses bolt tension and a wedge interface, where the perpendicular movement of the wedge interface reduces the interface distance and creates compression in the desired direction.

At least one clamping component is assembled from one axis perpendicular from the clamping to achieve desired sealing. The interface of the clamp, tube flange, and housing create a progressive clamping force based on several wedge-shaped features.

In an embodiment, a portion of the interface is molded into a separate part such that there are multiple connections using a single clamping mechanism.

In an embodiment, the present invention is a clamping assembly, which includes a first clamping component, a first angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the first clamping component, and a second angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the first clamping component. The clamping assembly also includes a second clamping component, where at least one angled clamping surface is integrally formed as part of the second clamping component. The clamping assembly also includes at least one circular flange portion integrally formed with a conduit, at least one angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the at least one circular flange portion, a housing portion, at least one semicircular flange portion integrally formed with the housing portion. and at least one angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the at least one semicircular flange portion.

In an embodiment, the first clamping component is assembled to the second clamping component such that both the first angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the first clamping component and the angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the second clamping component are in contact with and apply force to the angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the circular flange portion, and the second angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the first clamping component is in contact with and applies force to the angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the semicircular flange portion.

In an embodiment, the clamping assembly includes at least one mating surface integrally formed as part of the housing portion, a groove integrally formed with the mating surface integrally formed as part of the housing portion, a seal disposed in the groove, and at least one mating surface integrally formed as part of the circular flange portion of the conduit. When the first clamping component is assembled to the second clamping component, the mating surface integrally formed as part of the conduit is in contact with the mating surface integrally formed as part of the housing portion, and the seal is compressed.

In an embodiment, the clamping assembly includes at least one semicircular recess integrally formed as part of the first clamping component, the first angled clamping surface and the second angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the first clamping component being part of the semicircular recess integrally formed as part of the first clamping component. At least one semicircular recess is integrally formed as part of the second clamping component, and the angled clamping surface integrally formed as part of the second clamping component being part of the semicircular recess integrally formed as part of the second clamping component. The semicircular recess integrally formed as part of the first clamping component and the semicircular recess integrally formed as part of the second clamping component are adjacent one another when the first clamping component is connected to the second clamping component, forming at least one clamping recess.

In an embodiment, the clamping assembly includes at least one fastener, at least one aperture integrally formed as part of the first clamping component, and at least one threaded aperture integrally formed as part of the second clamping component. The fastener is inserted into the aperture and into the threaded aperture to secure the first clamping component to the second clamping component.

In an embodiment, the clamping assembly includes at least one mating surface being part of the first clamping component, at least one mating surface integrally formed as part of the second clamping component, and at least one mating surface integrally formed as part of the housing portion. The first clamping component is assembled to the second clamping component such that the mating surface of the first clamping component contacts the mating surface formed as part of the second clamping component and the mating surface of the first housing portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A clamping assembly according to the present invention which is used for connecting one or more conduits or hoses to a housing is shown in the Figures generally at10. Referring toFIGS.1and5, the clamping assembly10includes a first clamping component12, and a second clamping component14, where the second clamping component14may be integrally formed with two housing portions16a,16b, or the second clamping component14may be a separate component and connected to the housing portions16a,16b. In the embodiment shown, the second clamping component14and the housing portions16a,16bare integrally formed with one another.

Referring toFIGS.1-2,5,6A, and6C-6D, the first clamping component12includes semicircular recesses, shown generally at18a,18b, respectively, and the second clamping component14also includes two semicircular recesses, shown at20a,20b, respectively, such that when the first clamping component12is attached to the second clamping component14, two clamping recesses are formed, which are used for securing two conduits to the housing portion16a. Although each clamping component12,14includes two semicircular recesses18a,18b,20a,20b, it is within the scope of the invention that each clamping component12,14may have more or less recesses to accommodate more or less conduits.

The first semicircular recess18a,20aof each clamping component12,14is described, but it is within the scope of the invention that the description applies to the other recesses18b,20bas well.

In the embodiment shown, the angle70aof the first semicircular recess18aof the first clamping component12is approximately 180° and angle70bof the first semicircular recess20aof the second clamping component14is also approximately 180°, but it is within the scope of the invention that each semicircular recess18a,20amay be smaller or larger, depending upon the application. The first semicircular recess18aincludes two angled clamping surfaces22a,22b. Referring toFIG.6C, the angle24between the angled clamping surfaces22a,22bof the first clamping component12in the embodiment shown is approximately 90°, but it is within the scope of the invention that other angles may be used. There is also an angled clamping surface26integrally formed as part of the first semicircular recess20aof the second clamping component14. As shown inFIGS.3-4, the angled clamping surface26is also located at an angle28relative to a mating surface30aof the first housing portion16a.

The first clamping component12also includes several mating surfaces32a,32b,32c, which are in contact with several corresponding mating surfaces34a,34b,34cformed as part of the second clamping component14when the first clamping component12is attached to the second clamping component14.

Referring toFIGS.2-5, the first housing portion16ahas two semicircular flanges36a,36b. The first semicircular flange36aof the first housing portion16ais described, but it is within the scope of the invention that the description applies to the other semicircular flange36bas well. In the embodiment shown, the angle70cof the first semicircular flange36ais approximately 180°, but it is within the scope of the invention that angle70cof the first semicircular flange36amay be smaller or larger, depending upon the application. The first semicircular flange36aincludes an angled clamping surface38, which is located at an angle40relative to an exterior surface42of the second housing portion16b.

Integrally formed as part of the first housing portion16ais a groove44, and an aperture46. Disposed in the groove44is a seal48, which in this embodiment is an O-ring. The first housing portion16aalso includes mating surfaces50a,50b,50cwhich are in contact with the mating surfaces32a,32b,32cof the first clamping component12when the first clamping component12is attached to the second clamping component14.

As mentioned above, the clamping recesses are used to connect one or more conduits to the housing portion16a. Referring toFIGS.4-5, a conduit52is shown. The conduit52has a circular flange portion54which circumscribes the conduit52. The circular flange portion54has an angled clamping surface56. When the conduit52is assembled to the first housing portion16a, half of the circular flange portion54is in contact with the first clamping component12, and the other half of the circular flange portion54is in contact with the second clamping component14. More specifically, half of the angled clamping surface56is in contact with the angled clamping surface22aof the first clamping component12, and the other half of the angled clamping surface56is in contact with the angled clamping surface26of the second clamping component14. Also, when assembled, the conduit52includes a mating surface30bwhich is in contact with the mating surface30aof the first housing portion16a.

The clamping assembly10also includes at least one fastener, and in this embodiment, there are two fasteners58a,58b. The first clamping component12includes two apertures60a,60bwhich are non-threaded, and the second clamping component14include two apertures62a,62bwhich are threaded.

During assembly, the conduit52is positioned as shown inFIG.4, where a portion of the clamping surface56is placed in contact with the angled clamping surface26of the second clamping component14. However, when the conduit52is initially placed in this position, the mating surface30bof the conduit52is not in contact with the mating surface30aof the first housing portion16a. The diameter of the O-ring48is such that at least a portion of the O-ring48protrudes out of the groove44when the O-ring is not compressed. Therefore, the mating surface30bof the conduit52is in contact with the mating surface30aof the first housing portion16a.

After the conduit52is placed in the position shown inFIG.4, the first clamping component12is attached to the first housing portion16aand the second clamping component14. To connect the first clamping component12to the second clamping component14, the first clamping component12is positioned such that part of the first angled clamping surface22aof the first clamping component12is in contact with at least a portion of the angled clamping surface56of the circular flange portion54, and part of the other angled clamping surface22bis in contact with a portion of the angled clamping surface38of the housing portion16a. One of the fasteners58ais then inserted into the aperture60aintegrally formed as part of the first clamping component12and into the threaded aperture62aintegrally formed as part of the second clamping component14b. Similarly, the other of the fasteners58bis then inserted into the aperture60bintegrally formed as part of the first clamping component12and into the threaded aperture62bintegrally formed as part of the second clamping component14. As the fasteners58a,58bare tightened, the first clamping component12moves in the direction of the arrow64, and force, also in the direction of the arrow64, is applied to the angled clamping surface38and the angled clamping surface56. Because of the shape of the angled clamping surfaces22a,22b,26,38,56, the movement of the first clamping component12in the direction of the arrow64forces the conduit52to move towards the housing portion16a, as indicated by the arrows66a,66b.

As the conduit52moves toward the housing portion16a, a compressive force, also in the direction indicated by the arrows66a,66b, is applied to the O-ring48, and the mating surface30aof the first housing portion16acontacts the mating surface30bof the conduit52. The clamping force, indicated by the arrow64, is parallel to the compressive force, indicated by the arrows66a,66b, applied to the O-ring48.

The fasteners58a,58bare tightened until the mating surface32aof the first clamping component12contacts the mating surface34aformed as part of the second clamping component14and the mating surface50aof the first housing portion16a, the mating surface32bof the first clamping component12contacts the mating surface34bformed as part of the second clamping component14and the mating surface50bof the first housing portion16a, and the mating surface32cof the first clamping component12contacts the mating surface34cformed as part of the second clamping component14and the mating surface50cof the first housing portion16a.

Once the fasteners58a,58bare tightened, the mating surface30aof the first housing portion16ais in contact with the mating surface30bof the conduit52, and the O-ring48is compressed. Also, when the mating surface30aof the first housing portion16ais in contact with the mating surface30bof the conduit52, the angle68between the angled clamping surface38of the first semicircular flange36aand the angled clamping surface56of the circular flange portion54is approximately 270°. The angle68between the angled clamping surface38of the first semicircular flange36aand the angled clamping surface56of the circular flange portion54and the angle24between the angled clamping surfaces22a,22bof the first clamping component12are complementary to one another. Furthermore, when the fasteners58a,58bare tightened, the angled clamping surface26integrally formed as part of the second clamping component14is complementary to the shape of the angled clamping surface56of the circular flange portion54.

Once the fasteners58a,58bare tightened, the conduit52is secured to the housing portion16a. The fasteners58a,58bbeing oriented perpendicular to the compressive force (indicated by the arrows66a,66b) applied to the O-ring48allows for easier access to the fasteners58a,58bwhen one or more tools are used to insert the fasteners58a,58binto the apertures60a,60band the threaded apertures62a,62b.

Although the connection of the one conduit52to the housing16ais described, it is within the scope of the invention that the clamping assembly10may be used to connect several conduits to the housing16a. In other embodiments, the first clamping component12and the second component14may have additional semi-circular recesses to accommodate the connection of additional conduits to the housing16a.

As mentioned above, the first clamping component12is attached to the second clamping component14using the fasteners58a,58b. However, it is within the scope of the invention that other types of fastening methods, such as, but not limited to, welding or the like, may be used.

It is also within the scope of the invention that in alternate embodiments, the angled clamping surface38may not be necessary, and the housing16amay have a top surface which is flat, similar to the bottom surface of the housing16a.