Arrangement for cooling a lighting assembly and motor vehicle

Abstract

Arrangement for cooling at least one lighting assembly (20) of a vehicle, wherein the at least one lighting assembly (20) is arranged in a space provided for this purpose (22) and the space (22) is arranged in the vicinity of a cooling system (24) for cooling at least one component of the vehicle, wherein at least one flow connection (40) exists between the space (22) of the at least one lighting assembly (20) and a fluid dynamic influence area (36) of a blower (38) of the cooling system (24), wherein a negative pressure can be generated in the fluid dynamic influence area (36) by the blower (38) and the at least one flow connection (40) comprises at least one check valve (42).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for cooling a lighting assembly of a vehicle according to patent claim 1 and a motor vehicle according to patent claim 8 with the arrangement.

[0002] Modern vehicles, such as motor vehicles, are known to have a wide variety of lighting systems, some of which can be highly powerful. This results in a corresponding heat buildup. The heating of the lighting systems themselves and the surrounding areas is further exacerbated by waste heat or ambient heat from various sources entering the area of ​​the lighting systems.

[0003] Conventionally, the installation spaces of such lighting devices are thermally shielded from adjacent areas using heat-shielding plates. However, the effectiveness of such measures is limited, and heating due to heat buildup in the area of ​​the lighting devices themselves is almost unavoidable. This can lead to critical temperatures, particularly in modern lighting devices such as LED headlights. Those skilled in the art are aware of the possibility of solving such problems with appropriate additional cooling systems. However, such a known approach proves disadvantageous, particularly in the automotive sector, with regard to costs, susceptibility to failure, and the vehicle's weight.

[0004] US 2002 / 0121357 A1 discloses a lighting assembly that is connected to a fan via a fluidic connection to direct an air flow into the installation space of the lighting assembly.

[0005] DE 101 28 398 A1 discloses a headlight connected to a fan via a ventilation duct. This directs an air flow into the headlight's installation space to prevent moisture from condensing inside the headlight.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of effectively dissipating waste heat from lighting devices in the area of ​​the surrounding installation spaces without having to provide additional cooling devices or having to systematically intervene in existing cooling devices.

[0007] The problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claims 1 and 8.

[0008] Further preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the remaining features mentioned in the subclaims.

[0009] The present invention relates to an arrangement for cooling at least one lighting assembly of a vehicle, in which the at least one lighting assembly is arranged in a dedicated installation space, and the installation space is located in the vicinity of a cooling system for cooling at least one unit of the vehicle. According to the invention, at least one fluidic connection exists or can be established between the installation space of the lighting assembly and a fluid-dynamic influence area of ​​a fan of the cooling system.

[0010] According to the invention, a negative pressure can be generated by the fan in the fluid-dynamic influence zone. Particularly preferably, the fluid-dynamic influence zone can be a spatially unused area of ​​the fan. Such fans are also known to those skilled in the art, for example, as fans, cooling fans, fan cowls, or fan star fans.

[0011] This offers the advantage that heat can be transported away from the installation space particularly effectively and efficiently.

[0012] According to the invention, the fluidic connection comprises at least one check valve.

[0013] This offers the advantage of preventing unwanted air flow back into the installation space of the lighting assembly due to flow dynamic effects.

[0014] This offers the advantage that effective heat dissipation from the installation space is possible solely through the action of the cooling system's existing fan. The arrangement according to the invention is therefore particularly simple and safe to implement.

[0015] The term "environment" of the cooling system can be defined more precisely as follows: The environment of the cooling system begins at the system boundary of the cooling system. If the definition of the environment ends within the meaning of the invention is to be determined, the person skilled in the art can determine its maximum extent using the following relationships: The minimum required length of the fluid connection is determined by the minimum distance from the system boundary of the installation space to the system boundary of the cooling system. The wider the surrounding area, the greater this minimum required length can be. Those skilled in the art are aware that with increasing length of the fluid connection, the pressure losses in the fluid connection also increase when a fluid flows through it. Friction losses are an example of a cause for this. This reduces the flow velocity of the fluid. However, for effective heat dissipation through the fluid connection, a certain minimum flow velocity is required. The skilled person determines this minimum flow velocity based on the desired heat balance between the lighting assembly and the installation space.The heat balance to be achieved is determined based on the technical requirements and conditions of the specific overall technical system. This can include, for example, the maximum permissible temperature of the lighting assembly, the pressures occurring upstream and downstream of the fluid connection, and the properties of the fluid. From the relationships described, under given conditions, a maximum permissible length of the fluid connection results, with which the minimum flow velocity can be maintained to achieve the desired cooling effect. Consequently, the maximum extent of the cooling system's surroundings is determined by the maximum permissible length of the fluid connection plus the spatial extent of the installation space of the lighting assembly itself, since this, by definition, is still located in the surroundings.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the installation space of the lighting assembly and / or the fluidic connection is thermally insulated from surrounding areas.

[0017] This offers the advantage that, in addition to effective heat dissipation, it also prevents the installation space of the lighting assembly and the fluidic connection from heating up further.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the installation space of the lighting assembly is arranged so close to the fan that the fluidic connection has a maximum length of 100 mm.

[0019] This offers the advantage of minimizing pressure losses in the fluidic connection, significantly increasing the efficiency of the arrangements.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the fan is arranged in the region of a flow channel of the cooling system and, when the fan is switched off, a negative pressure can be generated by a driving air flow in the fluid-dynamic influence area of ​​the fan.

[0021] This offers the advantage that effective cooling is guaranteed in every operating condition of the vehicle.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the cooling system is a conventional cooling system for removing heat from an engine and / or a charge air compressor and / or an air conditioning system of a vehicle.

[0023] This offers the advantage that existing cooling systems can be used, thus minimizing the effort required to implement the arrangement.

[0024] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the installation space of the lighting assembly is arranged in a front region of the vehicle at most 100 mm above a region of the cooling system which comprises the fan and a heat exchanger.

[0025] This offers the advantage that existing installation space in the cooling system area is used efficiently and the fluidic connection can be designed to a minimum length.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the lighting assembly is a self-contained and sealed assembly of a headlight of the vehicle.

[0027] This offers the advantage of preventing air from being transported through the lighting assembly. Sensitive electrical components of the lighting assembly can thus be effectively protected while ensuring effective cooling at all times.

[0028] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one arrangement according to the invention for cooling at least one lighting assembly of a vehicle.

[0029] This offers the advantage of significantly increasing the safety and quality of the vehicle. Furthermore, the costs and weight of the vehicle are reduced.

[0030] The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless otherwise stated in the individual case.

[0031] The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention for cooling a lighting assembly of a vehicle in a preferred embodiment, and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention with the arrangement according to the invention in a preferred embodiment.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention for cooling a lighting assembly of a vehicle 10 in a preferred embodiment. Shown here is a cross-sectional view of a motor vehicle 12 through a region of a fender 14, a wheel house liner 16, and a bumper 18. The arrangement 10 comprises a lighting assembly 20, which is arranged in an installation space 22 provided on the motor vehicle 12. The installation space 22 is arranged in the vicinity of a cooling system 24 for cooling units of the motor vehicle 12 (not shown in detail here). Such units can be, purely by way of example, an engine, a charge air compressor, or an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle 12. The cooling system 24 can therefore be a conventional cooling system, which can include a fan 38 and a heat exchanger 46.The lighting assembly 20 can, purely by way of example, be a self-contained and sealed assembly of a headlight 26 of the motor vehicle 12. The lighting assembly 20 can be exposed to influences from various heat sources, causing the lighting assembly 20 to heat up. Heat, for example, in the form of solar energy 28, inherent heat 30 of the lighting assembly 20, waste heat 32 of the cooling system 24, or even waste heat 34 of the engine, can cause the lighting assembly 20 to heat up undesirably. The fan 38 of the cooling system 24 has a fluid-dynamic area of ​​influence 36. In the case of a conventional cooling system, this fluid-dynamic area of ​​influence 36 is located in the radial direction in the outer range of movement of the rotor blades or even outside this range of movement.There, for example, air turbulence as a result of air flows around the outer edges of the rotor blades can lead to a reduction in local pressure. In fans with such a fluid-dynamic influence area 36, ​​this is not conventionally assigned or used for a specific technical function. In the sense of the present invention, a fluidic connection 40, which in this exemplary embodiment can be opened and closed, exists between the installation space 22 of the lighting assembly 20 and the fluid-dynamic influence area 36 of the fan 38 of the cooling system 24. The fluidic connection 40 is designed to connect the installation space 22 to the fluid-dynamic influence area 36 of the fan 38 via a check valve 42 or to decouple them. Thus, an air flow 50 is only possible in the flow direction of the check valve 42. A negative pressure can be generated in the fluid-dynamic influence area 36 by the fan 38.The negative pressure allows an air flow 50 and thus heat transport from the installation space 22 through the fan 38 toward outlet openings 44 in the area of ​​the wheel house liner 16. The conventionally unused fluid-dynamic influence area 36 is thus assigned a new technical function. To further counteract heating of the lighting assembly 20, surrounding areas can be separated from the installation space 22 and the fluidic connection 40 by thermal insulation 47. The installation space 22 of the lighting assembly 20 can be arranged very close to the fan 38 to minimize pressure losses in the fluidic connection 40. The fluidic connection 40 has a maximum length L of 100 mm. For this purpose, the installation space 22 is preferably arranged in a front area of ​​the motor vehicle 12 above the beginning of the area of ​​the cooling system 24.The cooling system 24 includes the fan 38 and the heat exchanger 46. The fan 38 can be arranged in the region of a flow channel 48 for guiding an air flow 52 of the cooling system 24. Thus, even when the fan 38 is switched off, a negative pressure can be generated by an air flow 52 in the form of a driving air flow in the fluid-dynamic influence area 36 of the fan 38. The resulting suction effect can then produce the air flow 50.

[0033] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 12 according to the invention with the arrangement 10 according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. If reference numerals are used which are identical to those of Fig. 1 are identical, they describe the same characteristics. Fig. 1 The above applies at least in addition to Fig. 2. Fig. Figure 2 shows the motor vehicle 12 according to the invention in a front view (upper part of the Fig. 2), in a rear view (middle part of the Fig. 2) and in a side view (lower part of the Fig. 2). Preferred installation positions 54 of the arrangement 10 according to the invention in the motor vehicle 12 are shown here purely by way of example. List of reference symbols 10 Arrangement for cooling a lighting assembly of a vehicle 12 Motor vehicle 14 fenders 16 wheel house liner 18 bumpers 20 Lighting assembly 22 installation space 24 Cooling system 26 headlights 28 Solar energy 30 Self-heating 32 waste heat 34 Waste heat 36 fluid dynamic area of ​​influence 38 blowers 40 fluidic connection 42 Check valve 44 outlet openings 46 heat exchangers 47 thermal insulation 48 flow channel 50 airflow 52 Air flow 54 installation positions L length

Claims

[1] Arrangement for cooling at least one lighting assembly (20) of a vehicle, in which the at least one lighting assembly (20) is arranged in a construction space (22) provided for it and the construction space (22) is arranged in the vicinity of a cooling system (24) for cooling at least one unit of the vehicle, wherein at least one fluidic connection (40) exists between the construction space (22) of the at least one lighting assembly (20) and a fluid-dynamic influence area (36) of a fan (38) of the cooling system (24), wherein a negative pressure can be generated in the fluid-dynamic influence area (36) by the fan (38) and the at least one fluidic connection (40) comprises at least one check valve (42). [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the installation space (22) of the at least one lighting assembly (20) and / or the at least one fluidic connection (40) is thermally insulated from surrounding areas. [3] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the installation space (22) of the at least one lighting assembly (20) is arranged so close to the fan (38) that the at least one fluidic connection (40) has a length (L) of at most 100 mm. [4] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fan (38) is arranged in the region of a flow channel (48) of the cooling system (24) and, when the fan (38) is switched off, the negative pressure can be generated by a travel air flow in the fluid-dynamic influence area (36) of the fan (38). [5] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cooling system (24) is a conventional cooling system for removing heat from an engine and / or a charge air compressor and / or an air conditioning system of the vehicle. [6] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the installation space (22) of the at least one lighting assembly (20) is arranged in a front region of the vehicle at most 100 mm above a region of the cooling system (24) which comprises the fan (38) and a heat exchanger (46). [7] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one lighting assembly (20) is a self-contained and sealed assembly of a headlight (26) of the vehicle. [8] Motor vehicle (12), comprising at least one arrangement for cooling at least one lighting assembly (20) of a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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