Collector for an air-conditioning unit for vehicles

Abstract

Improved collector for an air-conditioning unit for vehicles comprising a cylindrical pipe ( 11, 11 ′) provided at one end with an opening ( 11 A) for the insertion of an integrated filtering and/or drying means, a substantially cylindrical cap ( 100 ) that can be inserted axially into the opening ( 11 A), as well as a stop element ( 20 ), which can be positioned on the top of the cap ( 100 ) and in engagement with the cylindrical pipe ( 11, 11 ′), wherein the stop element is an elastic safety ring ( 20 ) comprising a C-shaped body ( 22 ) and plurality of wings projecting outwards ( 23 ) coplanar to the body ( 22 ) and wherein the cylindrical pipe ( 11, 11 ′) is provided in a portion adjacent to the opening ( 11 A) with a plurality of slits, or slots, ( 21 ) lying on a common diametric plane and suitable for housing the wings ( 23 ) of a shape substantially matching the shape of the slits ( 21 ) and in a position corresponding to the same slits ( 21 ).

1 . Improved collector for an air-conditioning unit for vehicles comprising a cylindrical pipe ( 11 ,  11 ′) provided at one end with an opening ( 11 A) for the insertion of an integrated filtering and/or drying means, a substantially cylindrical cap ( 100 ) that can be inserted axially into said opening ( 11 A) , as well as a stop element ( 20 ), which can be positioned on the top of said cap ( 100 ) and in engagement with said cylindrical pipe ( 11 ,  11 ′), characterised in that said stop element is an elastic safety ring ( 20 ) comprising a C-shaped body ( 22 ) and plurality of wings projecting outwards ( 23 ) coplanar to said body ( 22 ) and in that said cylindrical pipe ( 11 ,  11 ′) is provided in a portion adjacent to said opening ( 11 A) with a plurality of slits, or slots, ( 21 ) lying on a common diametric plane and suitable for housing said wings ( 23 ), said wings ( 23 ) being of a shape substantially matching the shape of said slits ( 21 ) and in a position corresponding to the same slits ( 21 ).  
   
   
       2 . Collector according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said wings projecting outwards ( 23 ) and said slits ( 21 ) are, respectively, two in number and arranged on said common plane in a diametrically opposite position.  
   
   
       3 . Collector according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said elastic safety ring ( 20 ) is equipped with a plurality of secondary wings ( 24 ) projecting inwards from said body ( 22 ) and coplanar to it.  
   
   
       4 . Collector according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said cylindrical pipe ( 11 ′) comprises reinforcement elements ( 25 ) arranged in a position tangent to the edges of the holes ( 21 ).  
   
   
       5 . Collector according to  claim 4 , characterised in that said reinforcement elements are longitudinal reinforcement ribs ( 25 ).  
   
   
       6 . Collector according to  claim 5 , characterised in that said longitudinal ribs ( 25 ) extend along the entire length of the pipe ( 11 ).  
   
   
       7 . Collector according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said cap ( 100 ) is made up of a plurality of elements ( 12 ,  13 ,  16 ) stably coupled together and forming a succession of cylindrical portions with substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of the pipe ( 11 ) and seats ( 15 ) with a smaller diameter for housing elastic sealing rings ( 14 ).  
   
   
       8 . Collector according to  claim 7 , characterised in that a first moulded element ( 12 ) is internally hollow and equipped in said recess ( 32 ) with at least one transversal wall ( 33 ), projecting at one end to form a gripping fin ( 34 ).  
   
   
       9 . Collector according to  claim 7 , characterised in that a third element ( 16 ) is moulded integrally with a spacer shaft ( 30 ) suitable for being connected to a cartridge containing the filtering and/or drying means.