# US 10,864,681 B2 · Plastic moulding for a moulding arrangement, corresponding moulding arrangement, and method for producing a moulding arrangement

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- Number: US 10,864,681 B2
- Document ID: US10864681B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/469,846
- Filed: 2017-12-11
- Published: 2019-10-24
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-19
- Assignees: Aft Automotive GmbH
- Applicants: Aft Automotive GmbH
- Inventors: Christoph Wehrmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864681B2

## CPC

- B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C 65/1635: {at least passing through one of the parts to be joined, i.e. laser transmission welding}
- B29C 66/12441: {being a single wall}
- B29C 66/12469: {being asymmetric}
- B29C 66/522: {Joining tubular articles (B29C66/53241 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/5344: {said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends (B29C66/5346 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/612: {Making circumferential joints}
- B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)}
- B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/73141: {Electrical conductivity}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- F16L 25/01: specially adapted for realising electrical conduction between the two pipe ends of the joint or between parts thereof
- F16L 47/02: Welded joints; Adhesive joints
- B29C 65/04: Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding {, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC}
- B29C 65/06: using friction, e.g. spin welding {(non-plastics elements to plastic elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/0672: {Spin welding}
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/10: using hot gases {(e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 65/1412: {Infrared [IR] radiation}
- B29C 66/7212: {characterised by the composition of the fibres}
- B29K 2105/0023: {improving electric conduction}
- B29K 2505/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, as filler
- B29K 2505/10: Copper
- B29K 2505/12: Iron
- B29K 2507/04: Carbon
- B29K 2995/0005: Conductive
- B29L 2031/24: Pipe joints or couplings (B29L2031/26 takes precedence)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

The application relates to a plastic moulding for a moulding arrangement including a housing for another plastic moulding of the moulding arrangement, wherein the housing is formed within a moulding body of the plastic moulding including a weldable material in at least some areas. It is contemplated therein that a contact element is arranged on the moulding body, the contact element at least partly including an electrically conductive material and limiting a recess of the moulding body adjoining the housing in at least some areas. The application further relates to a moulding arrangement and a method for producing a moulding arrangement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A plastic moulding for a moulding arrangement having a housing, stepped due to the formation of a step, for another plastic moulding of the moulding arrangement, wherein the stepped housing is formed within a moulding body of the plastic moulding, which moulding body consists of a weldable material in at least some areas, wherein on the moulding body, a contact element consisting at least partly of an electrically conductive material and limiting a recess of the moulding body adjoining the housing is arranged in at least some areas, wherein the contact element includes a protrusion arranged in the recess and projecting towards the housing up to an inner edge of the step.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The plastic moulding according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion abuts an inner circumferential surface of the moulding body limiting the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The plastic moulding according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion originates from a base body of the contact element, the base body being arranged at a front side of the moulding body, in particular abutting it.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The plastic moulding according to claim 1, wherein the plastic moulding includes a hollow cylinder element which is arranged within the recess and projects into the housing in a radial direction to limit the housing inwardly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The plastic moulding according to claim 1, wherein the hollow cylinder element consists of a laser-transparent material and/or has a wall thickness which is less than a wall thickness of the moulding body and/or a wall thickness of the protrusion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The plastic moulding according to claim 1, wherein the hollow cylinder element is mounted on the moulding body via the contact element and/or at least one crossmember.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The plastic moulding according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is continuously formed in a circumferential direction or includes spaced apart tabs in the circumferential direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The moulding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the other plastic moulding consists of an electrically conducting material in at least some areas, in particular solidly consisting of this material or including a conducting layer, in particular a conductive layer present as an inner coating, made up of this material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The moulding arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the other plastic moulding includes a support supporting the conducting layer, the support including a material which is electrically less conductive than the material of the conducting layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a laser beam used for welding is oriented such that it impinges the other plastic moulding and/or—at least temporarily—the protrusion while penetrating the moulding body.

### Claim 11

A moulding arrangement having a plastic moulding and another plastic moulding, wherein the plastic moulding includes a housing, stepped due to the formation of a step, for the other plastic moulding formed within a moulding body of the plastic moulding consisting of a weldable material in at least some areas, wherein on the moulding body, a contact element consisting at least partly of an electrically conductive material and limiting a recess of the moulding body adjoining the housing is arranged in at least some areas, wherein the contact element includes a protrusion arranged in the recess and projecting towards the housing up to an inner edge of the step.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The moulding arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the other plastic moulding, when arranged within the housing, abuts a hollow cylinder element of the plastic moulding limiting the housing, on the one hand, and an inner circumferential surface of the moulding body on the other.

### Claim 13

A method for producing the moulding arrangement having a plastic moulding and another plastic moulding, wherein the plastic moulding includes a housing for the other plastic moulding which is formed within a moulding body of the plastic moulding consisting of a weldable material in at least some areas, wherein on the moulding body, a contact element is arranged consisting at least partly of an electrically conductive material and limiting a recess of the moulding body adjoining the housing in at least some areas, wherein the contact element includes a protrusion arranged in the recess and projecting towards the housing, wherein the plastic moulding and the other plastic moulding are offset one towards the other in an off-setting direction during welding, wherein the protrusion is heated up during welding with force being applied onto it by the plastic moulding and the other plastic moulding being offset one towards the other such that it is deformed towards the base body and pressed against a front side of the other plastic moulding.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein welding may be performed as laser welding, spin welding, hot-gas welding, infrared welding, vibration welding, ultrasound welding, friction welding, or high-frequency welding.