Line system for fluids having volatile components

• US 20060236979A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ems-Chemie AG (Emesta Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Ems-Chemie AG (Emesta Holding AG)
• Inventors: Stolarz, Alex, Kettl, Ralph, Sturzel, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/01 Arrangement of fuel conduits chassis frame forming fluid conduit means B62D21/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/9015 Elastomeric or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/9038 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0017 related to fuel pipes or their connections, e.g. joints or sealings F02M55/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/20 characterised by means for preventing vapour lock
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 55/00 Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by their fuel conduits or their venting means; Arrangements of conduits between fuel tank and pump F02M37/00 venting in general B01D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 61/166 Selection of particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 9/19 Multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies

Abstract

A line system (1) for fluids having volatile components, which comprises at least one fluid line (2,3,4), each having a separate inlet (10) and outlet (11), the fluid lines (2,3,4) being enclosed by a first line wall (12) and extending jointly over a section (A) of the line system (1) close-fitting to one another, but being separated from one another at least by the first line wall (12) over the entire length of the fluid lines (2,3,4). The line system (1) is implemented as a plastic hollow profile at least over the section (A) and comprises a further fluid line (8), which is enclosed by a second line wall (13), and comprises one or more line chambers (8″,8′″), which are at least partially separated from one another by support webs (7), whose totality at least essentially encloses the fluid lines (2,3,4). In addition, the first and second line walls (12,13) and the support webs (7) of the plastic hollow profile being implemented from the same polymer material. The line system (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that the further fluid line (8) is implemented as a scavenging line (8) having scavenging chambers (8″,8′″) and is connected to a scavenging device, which is implemented for flushing or suctioning the scavenging line (8) and therefore for conveying away and collecting permeates originating from the fluid lines.

Claims

1. A line system for fluids having volatile components, which comprises at least one fluid line, each having a separate inlet and outlet, the fluid lines being enclosed by a first line wall and extending jointly over a section (A) of the line system close-fitting to one another, but being separated from one another at least by the first line wall over the entire length of the fluid lines, the line system being implemented as a plastic hollow profile at least over the section (A) and comprising a further fluid line, which is enclosed by a second line wall, and comprises one or more line chambers, which are at least partially separated from one another by support webs, whose totality at least essentially encloses the fluid lines, and the first and second line walls and the support webs of the plastic hollow profile being implemented from the same polymer material, wherein the further fluid line is implemented as a scavenging line having scavenging chambers and is connected to a scavenging device, which is implemented for flushing or suctioning the scavenging line and therefore for conveying away and collecting permeates originating from the fluid lines.

2. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second line walls and the support webs of the plastic hollow profile are implemented as a single-layered.

3. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the device for flushing or suctioning the scavenging line is a partial vacuum source connected to the outlet of the scavenging line or an overpressure source connected to the inlet of the scavenging line.

4. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of the scavenging line is connected to an absorbing unit, which at least temporarily bypasses and/or buffers a suction unit situated at the outlet of the scavenging line in order to capture permeate vapors.

5. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the scavenging line of the plastic hollow profile is permanently suctioned by partial vacuum and/or flushed using a liquid and/or a gas.

6. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile is implemented as a fuel line system for internal combustion engines, the fluid lines comprising at least one line which is selected from a group comprising flow lines, return lines, and ventilation lines.

7. The line system according to claim 6, wherein this plastic hollow profile is situated between a fuel container and an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, particularly between a fuel tank and an internal combustion engine of an automobile.

8. The line system according to claim 7, wherein the scavenging line is implemented as a ventilation line, which connects the fuel tank to the intake system of the engine.

9. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile is implemented as a fuel line system leading to and/or from a fuel tank, the fluid lines comprising at least one line which is selected from a group comprising transport lines, filling lines, tapping lines, and ventilation lines.

10. The line system according to claim 2, wherein the polymer material of the plastic hollow profile is resistant and limitedly permeable in relation to the fluid conveyed in the fluid lines, the fluid being selected from a group which comprises gasoline, diesel, ethanol, methanol, methane, and hydrogen.

11. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid lines and the scavenging line are situated one inside another or next to one another, preferably coaxially one inside another or parallel next to one another.

12. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile having fluid lines, scavenging line, and support webs is a one-piece extruded plastic hollow profile or a one-piece blowmolded plastic hollow profile.

13. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile is composed of one or more one-piece pre-extruded fluid lines and an external scavenging line, preferably applied in an extrusion molding machine having a transverse main matrix to the pre-extruded fluid lines, having support webs, which has been drawn together in the still warm state in a calibration matrix unit until the support webs are melted with the first line wall of the pre-extruded fluid lines.

14. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile is implemented as electrically conductive by adding electrically conductive fillers to the molding compound, which are selected from a group which comprises carbon black, carbon fibers, graphite fibrils, graphite particles, nanocarbon tubules, metal powder, metal fibers, and steel fibers and is electrically connectable to a ground potential.

15. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid lines and the scavenging line have line ends at their inlet and outlet, which are each connected to a connection element of a connection system.

16. The line system according to claim 15, wherein the line ends are connected to the particular connection elements to form a seal, preferably welded or glued.

17. The line system according to claim 15, wherein the particular connection elements are molded onto the line ends of the fluid lines and the scavenging line.

18. The line system according to claim 15, wherein the connection elements are implemented as plugs of a rapid connection system.

19. The line system according to claim 15, wherein the connection elements are implemented as electrically conductive by adding electrically conductive fillers to the molding compound, which are selected from a group which comprises carbon black, carbon fibers, graphite fibrils, graphite particles, nanocarbon tubules, metal powder, metal fibers, and steel fibers.

20. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile is based on molding compounds based on polyamides.

21. The line system according to claim 20, wherein the polyamides for the molding compound of the plastic hollow profile are selected from a group which comprises PA 6, PA 9T, PA 46, PA 66, PA 69, PA 610, PA 612, PA 1010, PA 1012, PA 11, PA 12, PA 1212, their mixtures, and copolyamides having these components.

22. The line system according to claim 20, wherein the polyamide molding compound for the plastic hollow profile is based on a polymer mixture made of partially crystalline aliphatic polyamides and partially aromatic polyamides, the proportion of the aliphatic polyamides preferably being greater than 50 wt.-percent, the numeric ratio of the aliphatic carbon atoms to the amide compounds in the aliphatic polyamides being in the range from 8:

1 to 12;

1, and the partially aromatic polyamides provided in shortage having further partially aromatic and/or aliphatic amide units in addition to hexamethylenterephthalamide (6T) units predominantly partially crystalline.

23. The line system according to claim 20, wherein the molding compound for the plastic hollow profile is a polyamide nanocomposite having layered silicates.

24. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the scavenging line has at least one additional barrier layer.

25. The line system according to claim 1, wherein the scavenging line has at least one additional adsorption layer.

26. The line system according to claim 25, wherein the adsorption layer comprises activated carbon or polyethylene.

27. A use of a line system according claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile is mounted as a supply line or drain line of a tank facility for fluids having volatile components which is mobile, buried, or installed in a building.

28. A use of a line system according to claim 1, wherein the plastic hollow profile is mounted as a fuel line between a fuel container and an internal combustion engine, particularly between the fuel tank and the engine of an automobile.