Connection unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023392530-A1
Application number	US-202318327678-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2023
Priority date	Jun 2, 2022
Publication date	Dec 7, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A connection unit connects an electrical supply line to an exhaust-gas heater of an exhaust system. The connection unit includes a connection element having an electrically conductive connection-element body. The connection element has an exhaust-gas heater connection region in a first axial end region and has a supply-line connection region in a second axial end region. The supply-line connection region includes an end portion of the connection-element body and a radial projection adjoining the end portion. A carrier element fixes the connection unit to an exhaust-system component. The carrier element has a carrier-element opening wherethrough the connection-element body passes. A support unit axially and radially supports the connection element on the carrier element.

First claim

1 . A connection unit for connecting an electrical supply line to an exhaust-gas heater of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system having an exhaust-system component, the connection unit comprising:
a connection element having an electrically conductive connection-element body defining a longitudinal axis (L) and said electrically conductive connection-element body being elongated along said longitudinal axis (L); said connection element having first and second axial end regions; said connection element having an exhaust-gas heater connection region in said first axial end region and having a supply-line connection region in said second axial end region; said the supply-line connection region including an end portion of said connection-element body and a radial projection of said connection-element body adjoining said end portion; a carrier element for fixing said connection unit to the exhaust-system component; said carrier element defining a carrier-element opening wherethrough said connection-element body passes at a radial distance from said carrier element; a support unit for axially and radially supporting said connection element on said carrier element; said support unit including a first support element of electrically insulating material supported on said carrier element in a first axial direction (R 1 ) and radially outwardly and supported with respect to said radial projection in a second axial direction (R 2 ) opposite to said first axial direction (R 1 ); and, said support unit further including a second support element of electrically insulating material supported on said carrier element in said second axial direction (R 2 ) and radially outwardly.

2 . The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
i) said radial projection forms an integral constituent part of said connection-element body; and, ii) said connection-element body is cylindrical.

3 . The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein said radial projection defines an outer circumferential region; and, said connection unit further comprises a tool engagement formation in said outer circumferential region of said radial projection.

4 . The connection unit of claim 3 , wherein said tool engagement formation comprises two mutually parallel outer-circumference surface portions of an outer circumferential surface of said radial projection.

5 . The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
i) said end portion has a cylindrical outer circumferential contour; and, ii) there is an external thread realized on said end portion.

6 . The connection unit of claim 1 , further comprising a first support formation for axially and radially supporting said first support element on a first axial side of said carrier element and a second support formation for axially and radially supporting said second support element on a second axial side of said carrier element.

7 . The connection unit on claim 6 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
i) said first support formation comprises a first support recess bounded in said first axial direction (R 1 ) by a first recess base and bounded radially outwardly by a first recess wall; and, ii) said second support formation comprises a second support recess bounded in said second axial direction (R 2 ) by a second recess base and bounded radially outwardly by a second recess wall.

8 . The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein said carrier element is constructed with metal material.

9 . The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
i) said first support element is constructed with ceramic material; ii) said second support element is constructed with ceramic material; iii) said connection element passes through a first support-element opening of said first support element without radial movement play; and, iv) said connection element passes through a second support-element opening of the second support element without radial movement play.

10 . The connection unit of claim 1 , further comprising an axially elastic preloading unit; and,
said radial projection being supported in said first axial direction (R 1 ) with respect to said first support element by said axially elastic preloading unit.

11 . The connection unit of claim 10 , wherein the preloading unit comprises at least one preloading spring.

12 . The connection unit of claim 11 , wherein said preloading spring is a disk spring.

13 . The connection unit of claim 11 , wherein said at least one preloading spring is supported on the first support element, in said first axial direction (R 1 ), by a first disk-type transmission element.

14 . The connection unit of claim 13 , wherein said first disk-type transmission element is constructed with metal material.

15 . The connection unit of claim 1 , wherein the connection element is supported on said second support element, in the second axial direction (R 2 ), by a second disk-type transmission element.

16 . The connection unit of claim 15 , wherein said second disk-type transmission element is constructed with metal material.

17 . The connection unit of claim 15 , wherein the second transmission element is fixed to the connection-element body by material bonding.

18 . The connection unit of claim 17 , wherein said material bonding is a weld.

19 . An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising:
an exhaust-system component that carries exhaust gas; at least one exhaust-gas heater arranged in the exhaust-system component; at least one exhaust-gas treatment unit downstream of said at least one exhaust-gas heater; and, at least one connection unit being fixed to said exhaust-system component in association with said at least one exhaust-gas heater; and, said connection unit including: a connection element having an electrically conductive connection-element body defining a longitudinal axis (L) and said electrically conductive connection-element body being elongated along said longitudinal axis (L); said connection element having first and second axial end regions; said connection element having an exhaust-gas heater connection region in said first axial end region and having a supply-line connection region in said second axial end region; said the supply-line connection region including an end portion of said connection-element body and a radial projection of said connection-element body adjoining said end portion; a carrier element for fixing said connection unit to said exhaust-system component; said carrier element defining a carrier-element opening wherethrough said connection-element body passes at a radial distance from said carrier element; a support unit for axially and radially supporting said connection element on said carrier element; said support unit including a first support element of electrically insulating material supported on said carrier element in a first axial direction (R 1 ) and radially outwardly and supported with respect to said radial projection in a second axial direction (R 2 ) opposite to said first axial direction (R 1 ); and, said support unit further including a second support element of electrically insulating material supported on said carrier element in said second axial direction (R 2 ) and radially outwardly.

Assignees

• Purem GmbH

Inventors

• Brenner Holger

Classifications

• F01N3/2013 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• H01R4/302

  having means for preventing loosening of screw or nut, e.g. vibration-proof connection · CPC title

• F01N3/027 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• F01N13/1827

  Sealings specially adapted for exhaust systems (sealings in general F16J15/00) · CPC title

• F01N2240/16

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