Air backflow prevention device for vehicle fluid storage tank

Abstract

The present invention provides an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank, which can install an air backflow prevention pipe extending into the coolant on a connector of the fluid storage tank connected to an exhaust hose, and form an openable or closable air collecting slit hole connected to the upper space of the fluid storage tank on the upper part of the air backflow prevention pipe, thereby easily preventing the air in the fluid storage tank from flowing back to the engine and easily collecting the air introduced from the engine side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid tank, and more particularly, to an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid tank that can prevent coolant and air in the fluid tank from backflowing to an engine. Background Art

[0002] As is known to all, coolant is circulated between the engine and the radiator by the driving of a water pump to cool the engine of an internal combustion engine vehicle.

[0003] 1 showing an engine cooling system, a reservoir tank 30 storing coolant is connected between a radiator 10 and an engine 20 through separate lines.

[0004] The coolant inflow line 31 is connected between the inlet side of the reservoir tank 30 and the radiator 10 , and the coolant discharge line 32 is connected between the outlet side of the reservoir tank 30 and the engine 20 .

[0005] Therefore, when the coolant temperature of the radiator 10 rises above a predetermined temperature and its volume increases, the coolant overflows from the radiator 10 and is introduced into the reservoir tank 30 along the coolant inflow line 31, and when the amount of coolant introduced into the reservoir tank 30 exceeds a predetermined level, the coolant is discharged through the coolant discharge line 32 so as to be circulated toward the engine 20.

[0006] Meanwhile, the engine includes a coolant line through which coolant circulates, and when air (eg, air bubbles, etc.) exists in the coolant line, cooling performance is degraded and coolant flowing sound may be generated.

[0007] To solve this problem, as shown in Figure 1, a degassing hose 33 is connected between the upper space 35 of the reservoir 30 (the space not filled with coolant) and the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 where air needs to be collected (for example, the coolant line of the turbocharger).

[0008] Therefore, air (eg, air bubbles, etc.) generated in a portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 where air needs to be collected intensively is introduced through the exhaust hose 33 and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 .

[0009] At this time, since the pressure of the coolant circulation line between the radiator 10 and the engine 20 is lower than the pressure in the liquid storage tank 30 under the specific working conditions of the engine, as shown in FIG. 2 , the following phenomenon may occur: the coolant in the liquid storage tank 30 flows back to the radiator 10 along the coolant inflow line 31, or the air collected in the liquid storage tank 30 flows back through the exhaust hose 33 to the part of the coolant line of the engine 20 where the air needs to be collected.

[0010] In particular, when the air collected in the tank 30 flows back through the exhaust hose 33 to the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 where the air needs to be collected, it may cause problems such as instantaneous generation of noise such as coolant flow sound and a decrease in engine cooling performance.

[0011] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Summary of the invention

[0012] The present disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned traditional problems, and the purpose of the present disclosure is to provide an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid tank, in which an air backflow prevention pipe extending into the coolant can be installed on a connector of the fluid tank connected to an exhaust hose, and an air collecting slit hole that is connected to the upper space of the fluid tank and can be opened or closed is formed on the upper part of the air backflow prevention pipe, thereby easily preventing the air in the fluid tank from flowing back to the engine and easily collecting the air introduced from the engine side.

[0013] In order to achieve the purpose, the present disclosure provides an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank, the device comprising: an air backflow prevention pipe, the upper end of which is connected to the rear of a connector of the fluid storage tank connected to an exhaust hose, and the lower end of which extends into the coolant in the fluid storage tank; an air collecting slit hole formed in the upper part of the air backflow prevention pipe and connected to the upper space of the fluid storage tank; and an opening and closing structure, which is arranged in the air backflow prevention pipe to open or close the air collecting slit hole, and the air collecting slit hole is opened only when the collected air is introduced into the air backflow prevention pipe from the exhaust hose.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening and closing structure includes a buoyancy ball which is inserted into the air backflow prevention tube and floats on the coolant in the reservoir tank by buoyancy.

[0015] The buoyancy ball is configured to close the air collection slit hole in a state of floating on the coolant by buoyancy, and to move downward to open the air collection slit hole by the pressure of the collected air introduced into the air backflow prevention pipe from the exhaust hose.

[0016] Preferably, a partition wall is formed on the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank around the lower end of the air backflow prevention tube to prevent the buoyancy ball from being separated.

[0017] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening and closing structure includes a buoyancy tube which is inserted into the air backflow prevention tube and floats on the coolant by buoyancy.

[0018] The buoyancy tube is configured to close the air collection slit hole in a state of floating on the coolant by buoyancy, and to move downward to open the air collection slit hole by the pressure of the collected air introduced into the air backflow prevention tube from the exhaust hose.

[0019] Preferably, the vertical length of the buoyancy tube is adjusted according to the formation position of the air collecting slit hole formed in the air backflow prevention tube.

[0020] Through the above-described configuration, the present disclosure provides the following effects.

[0021] First, an air backflow prevention tube extending into the coolant is installed on the connector of the reservoir tank connected to the exhaust hose, thereby preventing the air in the reservoir tank from flowing back into the coolant pipeline of the engine through the exhaust hose, thereby solving the previous problems such as the occurrence of noise caused by air flow sound generated by air backflow and the problem of reduced engine cooling performance.

[0022] Second, by forming an air collecting slit hole connected to the upper space of the liquid storage tank at the upper part of the air backflow prevention tube, and embedding an opening and closing structure such as a buoyancy ball or a buoyancy tube for opening or closing the slit hole into the air backflow prevention tube, the air collecting slit hole is opened only when the opening and closing structure moves downward by the pressure of the collected air introduced from the engine side by the exhaust hose, so that the collected air (for example, the air generated in the part of the engine's coolant pipeline where the air needs to be collected) can be easily introduced through the air collecting slit hole and collected in the upper space of the liquid storage tank.

[0023] It is understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or other similar terms used herein generally include motor vehicles, such as passenger vehicles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including various ships and boats, aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel (e.g., fuels produced from resources other than petroleum) vehicles. As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more power sources, such as gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and other features of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain illustrative examples shown in the accompanying drawings, which are given hereinafter by way of illustration only and thus do not limit the present disclosure, wherein:

[0025] 1 and 2 are diagrams showing the configuration of a related art engine cooling system.

[0026] FIG. 3A shows a phenomenon of air backflow in the liquid storage tank, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where only the air backflow prevention tube is installed in the liquid storage tank.

[0027] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle reservoir tank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 6 and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle reservoir tank according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle reservoir tank according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather present a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrating the basic principles of the present disclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes, will be determined in part by specific intended applications and use environments.

[0031] Reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, preferred exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] As described above with reference to Figure 1, when there is air (e.g., bubbles, etc.) in the coolant pipeline included in the engine, the cooling performance may decrease and the coolant flow sound may be generated, so an exhaust hose 33 is connected between the upper space 35 of the reservoir 30 (the space not filled with coolant) and the part of the coolant pipeline of the engine 20 where air needs to be collected (e.g., the coolant pipeline of the turbocharger).

[0034] Therefore, air (eg, bubbles, etc.) generated in a portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 where air needs to be collected intensively may be introduced through the exhaust hose 33 and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 .

[0035] However, as shown in Figures 2 and 3A, under certain operating conditions of the engine, the air collected in the reservoir tank 30 may flow back again through the exhaust hose 33 to the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 where the air needs to be collected centrally, thereby generating noise such as a brief coolant flow sound caused by the air backflow, and the cooling performance of the engine may be reduced due to the air backflow.

[0036] In order to prevent the air in the liquid storage tank from flowing back to the engine through the exhaust hose, as shown in FIG. 3B , an air backflow prevention pipe 100 may be installed in the liquid storage tank 30 .

[0037] More specifically, the upper end of the air backflow prevention tube 100 is connected to the rear of the connector 34 of the liquid storage tank 30 connected to the exhaust hose 33, and the lower end of the air backflow prevention tube 100 is arranged to extend into the coolant in the liquid storage tank 30, so that the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 where air exists is blocked by the coolant and the exhaust hose 33.

[0038] Therefore, as described above, the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 containing air is blocked from the exhaust hose 33, thereby preventing the air in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 from flowing back through the exhaust hose 33 to the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 where air needs to be collected.

[0039] At this time, the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 where air needs to be collected intensively may be introduced into the coolant stored in the reservoir tank 30 through the air backflow prevention pipe 100 after passing through the exhaust hose 33 .

[0040] However, when the air generated in the portion where the air needs to be collected intensively in the coolant line of the engine 20 is in a high-temperature steam state, there is a problem in that boiling noise is generated because the coolant boils by the high-temperature steam.

[0041] In order to solve this problem, the present invention can prevent the air in the reservoir tank from flowing back to the coolant line of the engine through the exhaust hose, and is constructed so that the air generated in the part of the coolant line of the engine where air needs to be collected can be easily introduced and collected in the upper space of the reservoir tank (the space not filled with coolant).

[0042] Figure 4 and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle reservoir tank according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the air backflow prevention tube 100 is installed in the liquid storage tank 30.

[0044] That is, the upper end of the air backflow prevention tube 100 is connected to the rear of the connector 34 of the liquid storage tank 30 connected to the exhaust hose 33, and the lower end is arranged to extend into the coolant in the liquid storage tank 30, so that the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 where air exists is in a state of being blocked by the coolant and the exhaust hose 33.

[0045] At this time, an air collecting slit hole 110 communicating with the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 is formed at the upper portion of the air backflow prevention tube 100 .

[0046] In particular, the opening and closing structure 200 floating on the coolant by buoyancy is embedded inside the air backflow prevention tube 100 to open or close the air collecting slit hole 110 .

[0047] The opening and closing structure 200 is normally arranged at a position closing the air collecting slit hole 110 in the interior of the air backflow prevention duct 100 , and moves downward to open the air collecting slit hole 110 only when the collected air is introduced into the air backflow prevention duct 100 from the exhaust hose 33 .

[0048] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the opening and closing structure includes a buoyancy ball 210 which is inserted into the air backflow prevention tube 100 and floats on the coolant in the liquid storage tank 30 by buoyancy.

[0049] like Figure 4 As shown, normally, that is, before the air generated in the part of the engine's coolant line where air needs to be collected is introduced into the air backflow prevention pipe 100 through the exhaust hose 33, the buoyancy ball 210 closes the air collection slit hole 110 while floating on the coolant by buoyancy.

[0050] Therefore, the air backflow prevention tube 100 connected to the exhaust hose 33 and the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 can be in a blocked state by closing the buoyancy ball 210 of the air collecting slit hole 110, thereby easily preventing the air existing in the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 from flowing back again through the exhaust hose 33 to the part of the coolant pipeline of the engine 20 where the air needs to be collected.

[0051] On the other hand, if the collected air (air generated in the part of the engine's coolant line where air needs to be collected centrally) is introduced from the exhaust hose 33 into the air backflow prevention pipe 100, the buoyancy ball 210 moves downward by the pressure of the collected air, so that the air collecting slit hole 110 is in an open state.

[0052] Therefore, the collected air, ie, the air generated in the portion where the air needs to be collected intensively in the coolant line of the engine, can be easily introduced and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collecting slit holes 110 in the open state.

[0053] Meanwhile, in order to prevent the buoyancy ball 210 from being separated from the air backflow prevention tube 100 , a partition wall 36 surrounding the lower end of the air backflow prevention tube 100 may be further formed on the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank 30 .

[0054] As described above, the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent the phenomenon that the air in the reservoir tank 30 flows back to the coolant line of the engine through the exhaust hose 33, and can also be configured so that the air generated in the part of the coolant line of the engine where the air needs to be collected can be easily introduced and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30.

[0055] Figure 6 and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle reservoir tank according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the air backflow prevention tube 100 is installed in the liquid storage tank 30.

[0057] That is, the upper end of the air backflow prevention tube 100 is connected to the rear of the connector 34 of the liquid storage tank 30 connected to the exhaust hose 33, and the lower end of the air backflow prevention tube 100 is arranged to extend into the coolant in the liquid storage tank 30, so that the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 where air exists is in a state of being blocked by the coolant and the exhaust hose 33.

[0058] At this time, the air collecting slit hole 110 communicating with the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 is formed at the upper portion of the air backflow prevention tube 100 .

[0059] In particular, the opening and closing structure 200 floating on the coolant by buoyancy is embedded inside the air backflow prevention tube 100 to open or close the air collecting slit hole 110 .

[0060] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening and closing structure includes a buoyancy tube 220 that is inserted into the air backflow prevention tube 100 and floats on the coolant in the liquid storage tank 30 by buoyancy.

[0061] The buoyancy tube 220 has a vertical long rod shape, normally closes the air collecting slit hole 110 while floating on the coolant by buoyancy, and moves downward to open the air collecting slit hole 110 by the pressure of the collected air introduced into the air backflow prevention tube 100 from the exhaust hose 33 .

[0062] At this time, when the air collecting slit hole 110 formed in the air backflow prevention tube 100 is close to the coolant surface, a phenomenon may occur in which the collected air in a high-temperature steam state introduced through the air collecting slit hole 110 directly contacts the coolant to boil the coolant.

[0063] To prevent this problem, the air collecting slit hole 110 formed in the air backflow prevention tube 100 is located higher than the coolant surface, and a buoyancy tube 220 having a vertical long rod shape is used as an opening and closing structure 200 for opening or closing the air collecting slit hole 110 .

[0064] like Figure 6 As shown, normally, that is, before the air generated in the part of the engine's coolant line where air needs to be collected is introduced into the air backflow prevention pipe 100 through the exhaust hose 33, the buoyancy tube 220 closes the air collection slit hole 110 while floating on the coolant by buoyancy.

[0065] On the other hand, if the collected air (air generated in the part of the engine's coolant line where air needs to be collected centrally) is introduced from the exhaust hose 33 into the air backflow prevention tube 100, the buoyancy tube 220 moves downward by the pressure of the collected air, so that the air collecting slit hole 110 is in an open state.

[0066] Therefore, the collected air, ie, the air generated in the portion where the air needs to be collected intensively in the coolant line of the engine, can be easily introduced and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collecting slit holes 110 in the open state.

[0067] As described above, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent the phenomenon that the air in the reservoir tank 30 flows back to the coolant line of the engine through the exhaust hose 33, and can also be configured so that the air generated in the part of the coolant line of the engine where the air needs to be collected can be easily introduced and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30.

[0068] In addition, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can form an air collecting slit hole 110 at a position higher than the surface of the coolant in the air backflow prevention tube 100, and can also adopt a buoyancy tube 220 having a vertical long rod shape as an opening and closing structure 200 for opening and closing the air collecting slit hole 110, so that even if the collected air in a high-temperature steam state is introduced into the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 through the air collecting slit hole 110, direct contact between the collected air and the coolant is avoided to prevent the coolant from boiling.

[0069] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air backflow prevention device for a vehicle reservoir tank according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0070] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the vertical length of the buoyancy tube 220 may be adjusted according to the formation position of the air collecting slit hole 110 formed in the air backflow prevention tube 100 .

[0071] For example, Figure 8 and Fig. 9 As shown, the position of the air collecting slit hole 110 formed in the air backflow prevention tube 100 is as high as possible, so that even if the collected air in a high-temperature steam state is introduced into the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30, direct contact between the collected air and the coolant is fundamentally prevented, and in order to open or close the air collecting slit hole 110, a buoyancy tube 220 with a maximum vertical length can also be used.

[0072] like Figure 8 As shown in , normally, that is, before the air generated in the part of the engine's coolant line where air needs to be collected is introduced into the air backflow prevention pipe 100 through the exhaust hose 33, the buoyancy tube 220 closes the air collection slit hole 110 while floating on the coolant by buoyancy.

[0073] On the other hand, if the collected air (air generated in the part of the engine's coolant line where air needs to be collected centrally) is introduced from the exhaust hose 33 into the air backflow prevention tube 100, the buoyancy tube 220 moves downward by the pressure of the collected air, so that the air collecting slit hole 110 is in an open state.

[0074] Therefore, the collected air, ie, the air generated in the portion where the air needs to be collected intensively in the coolant line of the engine, can be easily introduced and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collecting slit holes 110 in the open state.

[0075] As described above, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent the air in the reservoir tank 30 from flowing back to the coolant line of the engine through the exhaust hose 33, and can also be configured so that the air generated in the part of the coolant line of the engine where air needs to be collected can be easily introduced and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30.

[0076] In addition, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can form an air collecting slit hole 110 in the air backflow prevention tube 100 at a position as high as possible that is as far away from the surface of the coolant as possible, and in order to open or close the air collecting slit hole 110, a buoyancy tube 220 with a maximum increased vertical length can also be applied to open or close the air collecting slit hole 110, so that even if the collected air in a high-temperature steam state is introduced into the upper space 35 of the liquid storage tank 30 through the air collecting slit hole 110, direct contact between the collected air and the coolant is fundamentally prevented to completely prevent the coolant from boiling.

[0077] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those skilled in the art will recognize that further modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations of the features of the disclosed embodiments are still possible.

Claims

1. An air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank, comprising: An air backflow prevention pipe, the upper end of which is connected to the rear of the connector of the liquid storage tank connected to the exhaust hose, and the lower end of which extends into the coolant in the liquid storage tank; An air collecting slit hole is formed at the upper portion of the air backflow prevention pipe and communicates with the upper space of the liquid storage tank; as well as An opening and closing structure is provided in the air backflow prevention pipe to open or close the air collection slit hole, and opens the air collection slit hole when the collected air is introduced from the exhaust hose into the air backflow prevention pipe.

2. The air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank according to claim 1, wherein: The opening and closing structure includes a buoyancy ball, which is inserted into the air backflow prevention tube and floats on the coolant in the liquid storage tank by buoyancy.

3. The air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank according to claim 2, wherein: The buoyancy ball closes the air collection slit hole in a state of floating on the coolant by buoyancy, and moves downward to open the air collection slit hole by pressure of the collected air introduced from the exhaust hose into the air backflow prevention pipe.

4. The air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank according to claim 2, wherein: A partition wall is formed on the bottom surface of the liquid storage tank around the lower end of the air backflow prevention tube to prevent the buoyancy ball from being separated.

5. The air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank according to claim 1, wherein: The opening and closing structure includes a buoyancy tube that is inserted into the air backflow prevention tube and floats on the coolant by buoyancy.

6. The air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank according to claim 5, wherein: The buoyancy tube closes the air collection slit hole in a state of floating on the coolant by buoyancy, and moves downward to open the air collection slit hole by the pressure of the collected air introduced from the exhaust hose into the air backflow prevention tube.

7. The air backflow prevention device for a vehicle fluid storage tank according to claim 5, wherein: The vertical length of the buoyancy tube is adjusted according to the formation position of the air collecting slit hole formed in the air backflow prevention tube.

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