Patent Description:
It is known to guide liquids through tubes or hoses. In order to create a flow-path connection between a container or other kinds of receptacle and the tube or hose, it is known to attach a spigot to the wall or the container or receptacle. The container wall is provided with an orifice and the spigot is inserted into- or attached to the orifice. The mechanical connection between the spigot and the wall should be sufficiently robust to withstand the forces to be expected and to be sealed. In the case of walls made of sheet metal, this is usually achieved by welding, soldering or brazing a protruding socket or male connector part onto the metal sheet. The spigot is then mounted to the socket or connected with the connector part.

The document <CIT> discloses a connector socket for a brake booster. The document <CIT> discloses flange plate for a bearing as used in a gear transmission having a double-layered collar structure where the folds are oriented in the radial direction. The document <CIT> discloses a collar provided on a portion reinforced by non-circular ribs.

The mounting normally requires tools, e.g. for screwing to generate a sufficient contact pressure for sealing the connection. This is burdensome and a source of potential errors.

The invention seeks to overcome these problems by providing a compact, light and easy to use connector assembly, plate for use with such an assembly and a cooling system including such an assembly.

This object is achieved by a connector socket according to claim <NUM>, a connector assembly according to claim <NUM>, a cooling plate according to claim <NUM> and a cooling system according to claim <NUM>.

The invention relates to a connector socket for connecting a spigot to an orifice, said connector socket including a sheet metal plate with said orifice and a protruding collar structure surrounding said orifice.

It is proposed that said collar structure is integrally made of the sheet metal of said sheet metal plate by a sheet metal form¬ing process.

By forming the collar structure integrally with the sheet metal plate using sheet metal forming process, additional manufacturing steps including brazing or welding can be avoided and the manufacturing process can be simplified. The collar structure can be very rigid and virtually impossible to break off. The structure itself forms a reinforcing rib. Impurities resulting from brazing or welding processes or leakage due to imperfect welding can be avoided. The sheet metal forming process may include different techniques such as stamping, deep-drawing, punching, blanking, stamping, embossing, bending, forming, tap extrusion or coil extrusion, optionally complemented by laser cutting.

The spigot may be designed e.g. for use with liquids such as coolants or cooling liquids.

The invention further proposes that the collar structure is configured to receive a male end of said spigot. This lends additional stability by a deep seating of the spigot in the socket.

It is proposed that the socket further includes a connector means mediating the connection of the spigot with the collar structure. Preferably, the connector means further includes a ring-shaped snap-on module configured to be fitted over the collar structure, said snap-on module including a cylindrical insertion part configured to be inserted into an orifice of said collar structure, wherein a remote end of the cylindrical insertion part in the insertion direction is provided with first snap-on structures engaging with the collar structure. The snap-on module enables an easy assembly even without tools while providing a reliable, robust and precise connection structure for the spigot.

The invention, in particular in the embodiment with the snap-on module, lends itself in particular to applications where the spigot has to be mounted from the outside of the container or receptacle if there is no possibility reach the inside thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector means is configured to create a snap-lock connection with both the collar structure and with the male end of the spigot. This enables an easy mounting of the entire assembly without tools.

It is further proposed the cylindrical inner wall of the insertion part of the ring-shaped snap-on module is provided a notch configured to receive an <NUM>-ring. The first <NUM>-ring can provide a reliable sealing between the inner wall of the orifice in the snap-on module and the outer wall of the male end of the spigot.

According to further embodiments of the invention, an inner circumference of the collar structure includes a structure such as a notch or a flange configured to support a second <NUM>-ring to be arranged between collar structure and the outer wall of the insertion part. The second <NUM>-ring can ensure a reliable sealing between the snap-on module and the collar structure.

The inventor further proposes that a second <NUM>-ring is provided around an outer wall of the collar structure and/or that the ring-shaped snap-on module further includes an outer wall surrounding said collar structure and a second <NUM>-ring provided in a gap between the outer wall of the snap-on module and the collar structure. The second <NUM>-ring can ensure a reliable sealing between the snap-on module and the collar structure. The <NUM>-ring on the inner side of the collar structure and the <NUM>-ring on the outer side of the collar structure may be used alone or in combination.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring-shaped snap-on module is a plastic part. This is a light, cost-saving and reliable solution. The plastic can be chosen according to the chemical and thermal requirements imposed by the application and may include fibre reinforcement or metal reinforcement if necessary.

According to the invention, the collar structure is a cylindrical double layer structure obtained by folding the sheet metal back, the rim of the sheet metal being arranged on the inside of the collar structure. The rim may then be used as a stable, sharp and well-defined engagement point for latching structures of the spigot or of the ring-shaped snap-on module. It is further proposed that the male end of said spigot includes at least one latching structure on a radial outside surface of its end portion, said latching structures being configured to interact with corresponding latching structures on a cylindrical inner surface of said connector means. This enables an easy and simple snap-on assembly of the spigot without requiring special tools.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the latching structure on the radial outside surface of the end portion of the spigot is configured to engage around a rim of the cylindrical inner surface of said connector means. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical inner surface of said connector means is a cylindrical inner surface of said ring-shaped snap-on module. By insertion and latching of the spigot into the snap-on module, the module is firmly secured towards the collar structure and the snap-on module is locked in place. It should be noted that both the snap-on connection between the snap-on module and the collar structure and the snap-on connection between the spigot and the snap-on module may be releasable, e.g. by rotating the spigot and the snap-on module or other elements against each other. In this case, the collar and/or the snap-on module may have a segmented shape such that the connection can be released by aligning the appropriate segments.

A yet further aspect of the invention relates to a cooling system, in particular for battery assemblies, including a connector socket and/or connector assembly as defined above.

Further features and advantages of the invention can be derived from the following description of the embodiments of the invention. The specification as a whole, the claims and the figures disclose features of the invention in specific combinations. The skilled person will consider these features in isolation and combine them to obtain further combinations or sub-combinations thereof in order to adapt the invention as defined in the claims to his specific needs.

<FIG> show a connector socket and a connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention. The connector assembly is configured for use in a battery cooling system of an electric or hybrid vehicle and guides the cooling liquid to a heat exchanger. One of the walls of the heat exchanger is a sheet metal plate <NUM> having an orifice 10a. A spigot <NUM> is to be attached to the orifice 10a. The spigot <NUM> has an internal, angular flow path for liquid, e.g. coolant or water ending in an orifice 10c of the spigot 10c arranged within the orifice 10a of the plate <NUM>. Connector means <NUM> are provided for connecting the spigot <NUM> to the metal plate <NUM> so as to guide the liquid flowing in the flow path through the orifice 10c. The connector means <NUM> include a connector socket, which has a protruding collar structure <NUM> surrounding the orifice 10a.

As illustrated in <FIG> the collar structure <NUM> is integrally made of the sheet metal of said sheet metal plate <NUM> by a sheet metal forming process such as punching and deep-drawing. The circular cylindrical collar structure <NUM> protrudes from the sheet metal plate <NUM> as a roughly cylinder-barrel shaped circular wall in a direction perpendicular to a main plane or tangential plane of the sheet metal plate <NUM>. From a viewpoint of stiffness, the collar structure is a circular reinforcing rib of the sheet metal plate.

The collar structure <NUM> lends stability to the connection between the spigot <NUM> and the sheet metal plate <NUM> and stabilizes the rim of the orifice 10a provided in the centre of the collar structure <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the collar structure <NUM> has double layer structure obtained by folding the sheet metal back, the rim of the sheet metal being arranged on the inside of the collar structure <NUM>.

The connector means <NUM> further includes a ring-shaped snap-on module <NUM> formed as an injection-moulded plastic part configured to be fitted over the collar structure <NUM>. The snap-on module <NUM> includes a cylindrical insertion part 18a configured to be inserted into an orifice 10a of said collar structure <NUM>, wherein a remote end of the cylindrical insertion part 18a in the insertion direction is provided with a plurality of latches 18b with snap-fitting protrusions protruding radially outward as first snap-on structures engaging with the lower rim of the collar structure <NUM>.

The cylindrical inner wall of the insertion part 18a of the ring-shaped snap-on module <NUM> is provided with a notch 18c configured to receive a first O-ring <NUM>.

A male end of said spigot <NUM> is configured to be inserted into an orifice 10b of the ring-shaped snap-on module <NUM> and thus into the collar structure <NUM> and locked in place by interacting with the connector means <NUM>. A flange <NUM> of the spigot limits the depth of its insertion into the snap-on module <NUM>. The inward deflection of the latches 18b is blocked by the inserted spigot <NUM>. The male end of said spigot <NUM> includes a plurality latching structure on a radial outside surface of its end portion, the latching structures being configured to engage with the lower rim of the cylindrical inner surface of the ring-shaped snap-on module <NUM>. When inserting the cylindrical insertion part 18a into the orifice 10a of the collar structure <NUM>, the latches 18b are deflected radially inward and snap back upon reaching the final engagement position. As illustrated in <FIG>, the latching ends of the spigot <NUM> protrude slightly over the inner (lower) surface of the snap-on module <NUM>.

The ring-shaped snap-on module <NUM> further includes an outer wall surrounding the collar structure <NUM> and abutting to the radially outer wall of the collar structure <NUM> such that the overall profile of the ring-shaped snap-on module <NUM> is that of a reverse U-shape clipped onto the collar structure <NUM>.

A second O-ring <NUM> sealing the connection between the snap-on module <NUM> and the metal plate <NUM> is arranged on an inner circumference of the collar structure <NUM>, wherein the latter includes a flange 16a protruding radially inward configured to support the second O-ring <NUM> arranged between collar structure <NUM> and the outer wall of the insertion part 18a.

The remote end of the spigot <NUM> is configured with a barb structure fitting into a coolant hose, which may for example be further fixed by a hose clamp. However, the structure of the remote end of the spigot <NUM> is not particularly limited and may be of any structure suitable for connecting hoses or tubes.

<FIG> is an explosion view of the connector assembly including the spigot <NUM>, the snap-on module <NUM>, the first O-ring <NUM> sealing the connection between spigot <NUM> and snap-on module <NUM> and the second O-ring <NUM> sealing the connection between the snap-on module <NUM> and the metal plate <NUM>.

The ring-shaped snap-on module <NUM> may be pre-assembled and snapped on the collar structure <NUM> of the metal plate <NUM> in an easily transportable unit without requiring special tools. The pre-assembled structure is illustrated in <FIG>. The pre-assembled unit can be transported without risk of loss of the snap-on module <NUM> and the spigot <NUM> and a hose can then be attached in the final assembly of the application using the connector assembly.

The sheet metal plate <NUM> with the collar structure <NUM> is part of a cooling plate, heat exchanger or battery plate assembly but is not limited thereto. The invention can be applied to an easy connectable spigot <NUM> for all kinds of receptacles in any material.

The sheet metal plate <NUM> and the connector assembly are suitable for use in a cooling system, in particular for battery assemblies, for transporting cooling liquids.

<FIG> show a connector assembly , a collar structure, a spigot and a snap-on module, not parts of the present invention.

In order to avoid repetitions, the following specification of these further embodiments is limited to differences to the first embodiment of the invention. Regarding the unchanged features, the skilled person is referred to the above specification of the first embodiment. The same reference signs are used for identical features of features having a similar effect in order to emphasize the similarities.

In <FIG>, an O-ring <NUM> is provided in a gap between the outer wall and the collar structure <NUM> to seal the connection between the snap-on module <NUM> and the sheet metal plate <NUM>. The flange on the inside of the collar structure <NUM> can be dispensed with in this embodiment.

Claim 1:
Connector socket for connecting a spigot (<NUM>) to an orifice (10a) , said connector socket including a sheet metal plate (<NUM>) with said orifice (10a) and a protruding collar structure (<NUM>) surrounding said orifice (10a), said collar structure (<NUM>) protruding from the sheet metal plate (<NUM>) as a cylinder-barrel shaped circular wall in a direction perpendicular to a main plane of the sheet metal plate (<NUM>) and said orifice(10a) of said collar structure (<NUM>) being configured to receive a cylindrical insertion part (18a) of a ring-shaped snap-on module (<NUM>) of connection means (<NUM>) for connecting the spigot (<NUM>),
wherein said collar structure (<NUM>) is integrally made of the sheet metal of said sheet metal plate (<NUM>) by a sheet metal forming process,
characterized in that
the collar structure (<NUM>) is a cylindrical double layer structure with a rim being arranged on a side of said orifice (10a) radially on the inside of the collar structure (<NUM>),
wherein an inner circumference of the collar structure (<NUM>) includes a flange (16a) protruding radially inward configured to support an O-ring (<NUM>) between an outer wall of the collar structure (<NUM>) and an outer wall of the insertion part (18a).