Connection unit for an exhaust gas heater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11486286-B2
Application number	US-202117241423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2021
Priority date	Apr 27, 2020
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A connection unit for an exhaust gas heater in an exhaust gas system of a combustion engine includes an electrically conducting connection element, elongated in the direction of a connection element longitudinal axis (L). The connection element has an inner connection region for connection to a heating conductor and an outer connection region for connection to an electrical supply. A carrier arrangement surrounds the connection element and an insulating arrangement insulates the connection element with respect to the carrier arrangement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connection unit for an exhaust gas heater in an exhaust gas system of a combustion engine, the connection unit comprising:
a connection element being electrically conductive and defining a longitudinal axis (L) and being elongated along said longitudinal axis (L);
said connection element having an inner connection region for connecting to a heating conductor and an outer connection region for connecting to an electric supply;
a carrier arrangement surrounding said connection element; and,
an insulating arrangement insulating said connection element with respect to said carrier arrangement;
wherein said connection element has a support region between said inner connection region and said outer connection region for accommodating said insulating arrangement; and said support region is held on said carrier arrangement via said insulating arrangement, said support region comprising:
a first holding portion widening radially in a direction away from said inner connection region toward said outer connection region; and,
a second holding portion widening radially in a direction away from said outer connection region toward said first holding portion; wherein said carrier arrangement comprises:
a first carrier element configured so as to be fixed into the exhaust gas system; and,
a second carrier element configured so as to cause said first and second carrier elements to conjointly clamp said connection element,
said first carrier element defining a first carrying portion corresponding to said first holding portion and widening radially in a direction toward said second carrier element; and said second carrier element defining a second carrying portion corresponding to said second holding portion and widening radially in a direction toward said first carrier element.

2. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein said connection element has a first longitudinal end whereat said inner connection region is disposed and a second longitudinal end whereat said outer connection region is disposed.

3. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
said outer connection region comprises an external thread; and,
said inner connection region defines a receiving opening for receiving the heating conductor therein.

4. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
said first holding portion and said second holding portion mutually adjoin in their axial end regions of maximum radial dimension;
said first holding portion is configured so as to widen radially in a substantially conical manner; and,
said second holding portion is configured so as to widen radially in a substantially conical manner.

5. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein said insulating arrangement comprises at least one insulating sleeve surrounding said connection element.

6. The connection unit of claim 5 , wherein said insulating sleeve is made with ceramic material or mica material.

7. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein said insulating arrangement comprises a first insulating sleeve associated with said first holding portion and a second insulating sleeve associated with said second holding portion.

8. The connection unit of claim 7 , wherein said first insulating sleeve is configured to have an inner circumferential region and an outer circumferential region so as to widen radially in a direction toward said second insulating sleeve; and, said second insulating sleeve is configured in an inner circumferential region and an outer circumferential region so as to widen radially in a direction toward the first insulating sleeve.

9. The connection unit of claim 8 , wherein the at least one of said first and second insulating sleeves has an inner circumferential region and outer circumferential region widening radially in a substantially conical manner.

10. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second carrying portions is configured to widen radially substantially conically.

11. The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein said insulating arrangement comprises a first insulating sleeve associated with said first holding portion and a second insulating sleeve associated with said second holding portion; said first carrying portion surrounds said first holding portion to conjointly define a first interface therebetween; said first insulating sleeve is disposed at said first interface; said second carrying portion surrounds said second holding portion to conjointly define a second interface therebetween; and, said second insulating sleeve is disposed at said second interface.

12. The connection unit of claim 11 , wherein said first and second carrier elements are mutually coupled so as to permit said carrier elements to be displaceable relative to each other.

13. The connection unit of claim 12 , wherein said first and second carrier elements are mutually coupled by a threaded connection.

14. An exhaust gas system for a combustion engine, the exhaust gas system comprising:
an exhaust gas guide component for conducting a flow of exhaust gas; and,
an exhaust gas heater mounted in said exhaust gas guide component;
said exhaust gas heater including a heating conductor having first and second ends;
a connection unit mounted in said exhaust gas guide component;
said connection unit including:
a connection element being electrically conductive and defining a longitudinal axis (L) and being elongated along said longitudinal axis (L);
said connection element having an inner connection region connected to one of said ends of said heating conductor and an outer connection region for connecting to an electric supply;
a carrier arrangement surrounding said connection element; and,
an insulating arrangement insulating said connection element with respect to said carrier arrangement;
wherein said connection element has a support region between said inner connection region and said outer connection region for accommodating said insulating arrangement; and said support region is held on said carrier arrangement via said insulating arrangement, said support region comprising:
a first holding portion widening radially in a direction away from said inner connection region toward said outer connection region; and,
a second holding portion widening radially in a direction away from said outer connection region toward said first holding portion; wherein said carrier arrangement comprises:
a first carrier element fixed into the exhaust gas system; and,
a second carrier element configured so as to cause said first and second carrier elements to conjointly clamp said connection element,
said first carrier element defining a first carrying portion corresponding to said first holding portion and widening radially in a direction toward said second carrier element; and said second carrier element defining a second carrying portion corresponding to said second holding portion and widening radially in a direction toward said first carrier element.

15. The exhaust gas system of claim 14 , further comprising an additional connection unit corresponding to said connection unit and wherein the inner connection region of the connection element of said additional connection unit is connected to the other end of said heating conductor.

Assignees

• Purem GmbH

Inventors

• Kurpejovic Enver
• Uysal Fatih
• Prommersberger Holger
• Kuschel Dietmar
• Hoeckel Sandra

Classifications

• F01N3/2013 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• F01N2240/16

  an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater · CPC title

• H01R13/629 Primary

  Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure {electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances (separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26)} · CPC title

• H01R13/639

  Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} · CPC title

• H01R13/5219

  Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal · CPC title