Hinger HTR tube bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10106111-B2
Application number	US-201715417379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Jan 29, 2016
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A fastening element for holding fluid conduit ends of a motor vehicle air conditioning system on an air conditioning system housing in a region of a conduit interface the fastening element including at least one U-shaped conduit clamping region between two opposing U-leg regions connected to one another by a curved or straight U-shaped base region, wherein at least one fluid conduit end, which is aligned with its conduit axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped conduit clamping region, can be clamped in the U-shaped conduit clamping region. At least one pivotable spacer is connected as an integrated component of the fastening element to one of the U-leg regions by means of a film hinge, and is capable of at least partially filling and/or bridging the U-shaped conduit clamping region by means of a pivoting movement in the direction of the respectively opposite U-leg region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening element for holding fluid conduit ends of a motor vehicle air conditioning system on an air conditioning system housing in a region of a conduit interface, the fastening element comprising:
a first U-shaped conduit clamping region formed between two opposing U-leg regions connected to one another by a curved or straight U-shaped base region configured to hold a first fluid conduit end and a second fluid conduit end oriented with a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first U-shaped conduit clamping region and clamped into the first U-shaped conduit clamping region, wherein a first pivotable spacer is connected as an integrated component of the fastening element to a first one of the U-leg regions by a film hinge and at least partially fills or bridges the first U-shaped conduit clamping region by a pivoting movement in a direction of a second one of the U-leg regions, the first spacer defining a space between the first fluid conduit end and the second fluid conduit end respectively aligned with the first axis and the second axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first U-shaped conduit clamping region, the first fluid conduit end and the second fluid conduit end arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the first U-shaped conduit clamping region.

2. The fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein the first spacer is integrally connected by the film hinge to one of the first one of the U-leg regions and the second one of the U-leg regions or is integral therewith.

3. The fastening element according to claim 1 , further comprising a second U-shaped conduit clamping region disposed in a plane defined by the first U-shaped conduit clamping region, wherein the first U-shaped conduit clamping region and the second U-shaped conduit clamping region are formed together in a double U-shape with two outer U-leg regions and two inner U-leg regions.

4. The fastening element according to claim 3 , further comprising a second spacer, the first spacer and the second spacer connected in each of the first U-shaped conduit clamping region and the second U-shaped conduit clamping region to one of the outer U-leg regions and configured to be pivoted in a direction of a respective one of the inner U-leg regions.

5. The fastening element according to claim 1 , wherein a locking hook is provided for fixing the first spacer on the first one of the U-leg regions of the first U-shaped conduit clamping region, the locking hook disposed opposite the film hinge and configured to cooperate with a snap-in element formed on the spacer.

6. The fastening element according to any of claims 1 , further comprising a guiding element formed on the fastening element configured to cooperate with a guide element on the air conditioning system housing for attaching the fastening element to the air conditioning system housing in the region of the conduit interface.

7. The fastening element according to claim 6 , wherein the guide element includes guiding rails aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first U-shaped conduit clamping region, the guide rails including guide grooves for attaching the fastening element to the air conditioning system housing.

8. The fastening element according to claim 1 , further comprising a support region formed above or below a plane defined by the first U-shaped conduit clamping region configured to support fluid conduits in a direction of the first axis and the second axis.

9. The fastening element according to claim 8 , wherein the support region is configured to support curved fluid conduits with fluid conduit sections that border the first fluid conduit end and the second fluid conduit end, and wherein an axis of each of the curved fluid conduits is perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

10. A method for attaching fluid conduit ends to the air conditioning system housing in the region of the conduit interface using the fastening element according to claim 1 , the method comprising steps of:
a) pushing the fastening element with the first U-shaped conduit clamping region, which is released by folding out the first spacer, pivotable by means of the film hinge, onto the first fluid conduit end along a mounting direction which runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first U-shaped conduit clamping region and perpendicular to the first axis of the first fluid conduit end to receive the first fluid conduit end in the first U-shaped conduit clamping region,
b) attaching a fastening element to a housing part of the air conditioning system housing in the region of the conduit interface, and
c) folding in the first spacer to clamp the first conduit end in the first U-shaped conduit clamping region.

Assignees

• Hanon Systems

Inventors

• Hoffmann Michael
• Wiesmann Ralph
• Ferreira Antonio Marques

Classifications

• F16L3/237

  for two pipes · CPC title

• B60H1/00521

  Mounting or fastening of components in housings, e.g. heat exchangers, fans, electronic regulators · CPC title

• F16L3/1075

  with two members, the two members being joined with a hinge on one side and fastened together on the other side · CPC title

• B60R16/08 Primary

  fluid · CPC title

• B60H1/00557

  Details of ducts or cables · CPC title