Motor vehicle having a water supply device and method for operating a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (1) having a water supply device (2) for providing water for at least one water consumer (3). A collecting tank (4), a primary tank (5) and at least one secondary tank are provided, wherein the collecting tank (4) is connected or can be connected to a water source in terms of flow technology, and the primary tank (5) is connected to at least one water consumer (3) in terms of flow technology, bypassing the collecting tank (4) and the secondary tank (6, 7, 8), wherein the collecting tank (4) is connected to the primary tank (5) in terms of flow technology not only directly but also only indirectly via the at least one secondary tank (6, 7, 8), and wherein the water supply device (2) has a water conveying device (23) which is provided and designed to convey water from the collecting tank (4) in the direction of the primary tank (5) by means of a gaseous conveying medium. The invention also relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle having a water supply device for supplying water to at least one water consumer. The invention also relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, for example, patent document US Pat. No. 10 018 156 B1 is known, which describes a method and a device for injecting water into an internal combustion engine.

[0003] Patent document US2014 / 0 165 948A1 describes an intake manifold suitable for uniformly releasing oil or water from a liquid storage. The intake manifold has: an introduction section for introducing air into a combustion chamber of an engine; a liquid storage arranged below the introduction section for storing a liquid medium; a differential pressure tank having a first chamber, a second chamber, and a differential pressure valve for regulating a flow from the second chamber to the first chamber; a recirculation line, which allows the liquid medium collected in the liquid storage to return from the liquid storage to the first chamber when the pressure in the second chamber is greater than the pressure in the first chamber; and an exhaust line, which is used to release the liquid medium flowing from the first chamber into the second chamber into the introduction section when the pressure in the second chamber is less than the pressure in the first chamber.

[0004] Furthermore, patent document DE 10 2019 105 194 A1 is known from the prior art. This patent document describes a method and a system for utilizing water on a vehicle. Here, a method for optimizing the utilization of water obtained or generated on a vehicle is provided. Depending on the amount of water to be delivered and the current water level with reference to the predicted future water level, the amount of water selected for spraying or flushing purposes and the order in which the water is sprayed are changed as a response to different vehicle operating conditions. The method makes it possible to maximize the utilization of water, especially when the availability of water is limited. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle with a water supply device which has advantages compared to known motor vehicles, in particular in that a particularly reliable water supply is achieved while allowing for a flexible arrangement of the water tank of the motor vehicle.

[0006] According to the invention, this is achieved by a motor vehicle according to the invention. The motor vehicle is characterized in that a collecting tank, a primary tank / main tank and at least one secondary tank / auxiliary tank are provided, wherein the collecting tank is connected or can be connected to a water source in terms of flow technology, and the primary tank is connected to at least one water consumer in terms of flow technology while bypassing the collecting tank and the secondary tank, wherein the collecting tank is connected to the primary tank in terms of flow technology both directly and indirectly via the at least one secondary tank, and wherein the water supply device has a water conveying device which is provided and designed to convey water from the collecting tank in the direction of the primary tank by means of a gaseous conveying medium.

[0007] The motor vehicle has a water supply and at least one water consumer. In principle, any number of water consumers may be present, for example only a single water consumer or a plurality of water consumers. If only the water consumer or the at least one water consumer is mentioned within the scope of the present description, the embodiments are always similar to one or more water consumers. In the case of a plurality of water consumers, the embodiments for the water consumer or the at least one water consumer can preferably also be used for a plurality of the water consumers or for each of the water consumers.

[0008] The water consumer can be designed in any way. For example, the water consumer can be in the form of a cleaning device, in particular a windshield washer device. In this case, the water is used to clean the motor vehicle, in particular the windshield of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the water is applied, in particular sprayed or injected, onto the surface of the motor vehicle, in particular the windshield. For this purpose, the water is discharged, for example, via at least one nozzle or the like. For example, a cleaning agent and / or an anti-fogging agent is mixed into the water before the water is discharged.

[0009] However, the water consumer is particularly preferably a water spray device of a drive unit of a motor vehicle. The drive unit is used to drive the motor vehicle and in this respect to provide a drive torque for driving the motor vehicle. The drive unit has at least one power unit, which is preferably in the form of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has at least one combustion chamber in which fuel is burned together with oxygen. In order to increase the power and / or efficiency of the power unit and / or to cool it, it is provided in the case of a water spray device that water is at least temporarily / occasionally supplied to the internal combustion engine, in particular to the combustion chamber.

[0010] For example, the water can be introduced into the combustion chamber directly or only indirectly, for example, via an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine. In the indirect case, for example, a nozzle for introducing water into the combustion chamber leads directly into the combustion chamber. In the direct case, the nozzle leads, for example, into an intake pipe of the internal combustion engine, which is connected to the combustion chamber in terms of flow technology via at least one gas exchange valve, in particular an intake valve. Thus, when the gas exchange valve is open, the water injected into the intake pipe flows into the combustion chamber together with the fresh gas.

[0011] It is usually provided that the water supply device is filled with water from time to time by the user of the motor vehicle. In current motor vehicles, this involves a certain amount of effort / cost. That is, the engine compartment must usually first be opened and then the storage container for the water must be opened and then the water must be filled into the storage container through the filling opening, for example with the aid of a kettle or the like. In particular, in the case of at least one water consumer being designed as a cleaning device, a cleaning agent and / or an anti-fogging agent may optionally also be added to the water. This requires additional work steps.

[0012] Only then are the storage container and the engine compartment closed again and the water consumer available. The storage container must be arranged appropriately in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle and have a volume that allows the water consumer to be used over a reasonable period of time. This means that the installation space in the engine compartment used for the storage container cannot be used for other purposes, especially since the storage container must be able to be filled by the user and must at the same time be of sufficient size.

[0013] For this reason, according to the invention, the collecting tank, the primary water tank and the secondary water tank are components of the motor vehicle. The collecting tank corresponds most closely to the storage container in terms of its design, since it is connected or can be connected to a water source in terms of flow technology. This means that the collecting tank can be filled with water manually, for example, by a user. Particularly preferably, the collecting tank has a standardized interface for this purpose, which can be connected to a hose connector. Examples here are, for example, standard hose connectors commonly used in household appliances or in the gardening sector. In this case, the water source is, for example, a tap or the like.

[0014] Additionally or alternatively, an onboard water source of the motor vehicle is used as a water source. Such an onboard water source is, for example, a collection device for surface water, in particular rainwater, which falls from the external environment of the motor vehicle to the motor vehicle. Likewise, the onboard water source can be a collection device for condensed water that occurs on or in the motor vehicle. The collection device is in particular arranged and configured to collect condensed water that occurs during operation of an optional air conditioning system of the motor vehicle. However, condensed water can also be obtained from the exhaust gas of the drive or power unit. Additionally or alternatively, process water, for example of a hydrogen drive, is collected and supplied to a water collecting tank.

[0015] In this case, the collecting tank is used only for the first reception of water and is not used, for example, to store water until it is needed by the water consumer. Instead, the water is quickly conveyed onwards from the collecting tank, i.e. into a primary water tank and / or a secondary water tank and / or a working water tank. In particular, if the water source is an onboard water source, the volume of the collecting tank can be significantly reduced compared to a conventional storage container. For example, the collecting tank has a volume of maximum 5 l, maximum 2.5 l, maximum 2 l, maximum 1.5 l or maximum 1 l.

[0016] The primary water tank is used to supply water to at least one water consumer. Accordingly, the primary water tank is fluidically connected to the water consumer in such a way that the water present in the primary water tank is supplied to the water consumer directly, i.e. not via a collecting tank and a secondary water tank. The fluidic connection between the primary water tank and the water consumer is accordingly not realized via a collecting tank and a secondary water tank, but bypasses both. The primary water tank has, for example, a similar volume as the collecting tank, in particular the same volume. For example, the volume of the primary water tank is a maximum of 10 l, a maximum of 7.5 l, a maximum of 5 l or a maximum of 2.5 l.

[0017] In addition to the collecting tank and the primary water tank, the motor vehicle also has at least one secondary water tank. This means that exactly one secondary water tank or a plurality of secondary water tanks can be provided. If the secondary water tank or the at least one secondary water tank is mentioned within the scope of this description, these embodiments always have the same meaning. In the case of a plurality of secondary water tanks, the embodiments for the secondary water tank or the at least one secondary water tank are preferably always applicable to a plurality of the secondary water tanks or to each of the secondary water tanks. The secondary water tank increases the storage volume available for water. For example, the secondary water tank has a volume of maximum 10 l, maximum 7.5 l, maximum 5 l or maximum 2.5 l.

[0018] The primary water tank and in particular the secondary water tank are preferably arranged in a structural part, more precisely a body component, of the motor vehicle. For example, the primary water tank and / or the secondary water tank are located in a strut / crossbeam or the like of the motor vehicle, i.e. are at least partially surrounded in the circumferential direction by a load-bearing component of the motor vehicle, which is preferably made of metal. This allows a particularly high space efficiency and at the same time simple fillability. For this purpose, the collecting tank can also be located in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle, similar to the storage container, but is designed to have a relatively small volume.

[0019] In order to ensure a particularly rapid water supply, the collecting tank is directly connected to the primary tank in terms of flow technology. In this regard, the water present in the collecting tank is conveyed to the primary tank at least partially bypassing the secondary tank. Nevertheless, in order to be able to use the storage volume of the secondary tank, the collecting tank is additionally connected to the primary tank in terms of flow technology via at least one secondary tank. Thus, water is conveyed at least temporarily from the collecting tank to the secondary tank, in particular via the secondary tank to the primary tank.

[0020] If there are multiple secondary tanks, these are preferably connected in series with each other in terms of flow technology, that is, the collecting tank is connected to the primary tank in terms of flow technology through the series connection of multiple secondary tanks. Thus, the secondary tanks can have a small volume individually, but overall provide a large storage volume for water.

[0021] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that at least two of the plurality of secondary tanks are connected in parallel with one another in terms of flow technology. This means that the secondary tanks are therefore not only connected in series in terms of flow technology, but are also additionally connected in parallel with one another. This ensures that the primary tank is supplied with water from the collecting tank in a particularly reliable manner, and in particular, low pressure losses are present in the flow connection between the collecting tank and the primary tank via at least one secondary tank, since, due to the additional parallel connection of the secondary tanks, the water does not have to flow through each of the secondary tanks in order to reach the primary tank from the collecting tank. On the contrary, one or more of the secondary tanks can be bypassed in terms of flow technology.

[0022] Since the primary tank is used to supply water consumers directly, water only needs to be conveyed between the collecting tank and the primary tank with a relatively low delivery mass flow, in particular via at least one secondary tank. For example, water of a determined withdrawal mass flow is conveyed to the water consumers, in particular from the primary tank, at least temporarily. However, water is conveyed from the collecting tank to the primary tank, in particular via the secondary tank, with a smaller delivery mass flow, which is at most 75%, at most 50% or at most 25% of the withdrawal mass flow.

[0023] Due to the small delivery mass flow, no pump is required for conveying water between the individual tanks, so that water can be conveyed from the collecting tank into the primary tank, in particular via the secondary tank, at least temporarily without a pump, i.e. by means of a water conveying device that conveys water using a gaseous conveying medium. This is understood to mean conveying an overpressure to at least one of the tanks and / or a negative pressure to another of the tanks, wherein the overpressure or the negative pressure or their combined effect causes the water to be conveyed from the collecting tank in the direction of the primary tank.

[0024] The described embodiment of the motor vehicle has the advantage that the water is stored in a decentralized manner, namely in a collecting tank, a primary water tank and at least one secondary water tank. The volumes of the individual water tanks can therefore be selected to be relatively small compared to the volumes of storage containers used hitherto. Furthermore, it is not necessary to achieve high delivery mass flows between the water tanks, since a sufficient amount of water is reserved in the primary water tank for a defined operation of at least one water consumer.

[0025] A development of the invention provides that the primary water tank is fluidically connected to at least one water consumer via a withdrawal line, which withdrawal line has a larger line cross-section than a connecting line for fluidically connecting at least one secondary water tank to a collecting tank and / or a supply line for fluidically connecting the primary water tank to at least one secondary water tank.

[0026] The withdrawal line connects the primary water tank to at least one water consumer. For example, the withdrawal line opens directly into the primary water tank. However, it can also be provided that the withdrawal line only indirectly connects the primary water tank to the water consumer in terms of flow, for example via a working water tank. In this case, the withdrawal line is preferably connected directly in terms of flow to the working water tank, whereas the flow connection between the primary water tank and the working water tank is established via the supply line.

[0027] For example, it can be provided that the supply line has the same line cross section as the withdrawal line. However, the line cross section of the supply line can also be smaller than the line cross section of the withdrawal line. The withdrawal line, or more precisely its line cross section, is determined in such a way that water can be supplied to the water consumer with a withdrawal mass flow.

[0028] Between the collecting tank and the secondary tank, a connecting line is arranged in terms of flow technology. For example, the connecting line opens directly into the secondary tank on the one hand and directly into the collecting tank on the other hand. Thus, water can be conveyed from the collecting tank to the secondary tank via the connecting line. It can be provided that the collecting tank is arranged geodetically above the secondary tank, so that water is discharged from the collecting tank through the connecting line in the direction of the secondary tank due to the effect of gravity.

[0029] In addition to the connecting line, a delivery line is additionally present, i.e., fluidically between at least one secondary tank and the primary tank. For example, the delivery line opens into the secondary tank on the one hand and into the primary tank on the other hand, thereby establishing a direct flow connection between the secondary tank and the primary tank. If there are a plurality of secondary tanks, these are preferably fluidically connected in series via the delivery line, wherein exactly one of the secondary tanks is fluidically directly connected to the primary tank via the delivery line. The other secondary tanks are fluidically connected to the primary tank only indirectly, i.e., via the secondary tanks.

[0030] Particularly preferably, both the connecting line and the delivery line each have a smaller line cross section than the withdrawal line. For example, the diameter of the line cross section is respectively a maximum of 10 mm or a maximum of 7.5 mm, but preferably a maximum of 5 mm or a maximum of 2.5 mm. For example, the line cross section of the connecting line corresponds to the line cross section of the delivery line. However, it can also be provided in each case that the line cross section of the delivery line is larger than the line cross section of the connecting line.

[0031] Preferably, however, the line cross section of the connecting line is larger than the line cross section of the delivery line. Thus, water can be delivered more quickly from the collecting tank to the secondary tank than from the secondary tank to the primary tank. This ensures that the water supply device can be filled quickly with water, in particular from an external water source, via the collecting tank.

[0032] It is particularly preferred that the volume of the secondary water tank, which is directly connected to the collecting tank in terms of flow technology via a connecting line, is relatively large. For example, the volume of the secondary water tank is at least 2 times, at least 3 times, at least 4 times or at least 5 times greater than the volume of the collecting tank. Such a design of a motor vehicle allows for an outstanding availability of water and at the same time rapid filling with water.

[0033] A development of the invention provides that the primary water tank is fluidically connected to at least one water consumer via a working water tank. Thus, in addition to the collecting tank, the primary water tank and at least one secondary water tank, there is additionally a further water tank, namely the working water tank. The working water tank is fluidically arranged between the primary water tank and the water consumer. Thus, the water to be supplied to the water consumer is not taken directly from the primary water tank, but rather from the working water tank. In other words, the water supplied to the water consumer is reserved in the working water tank and supplied to the water consumer from the working water tank.

[0034] Compared to the primary water tank, the working water tank is arranged flow-technically closer to the water consumer. For example, it is provided that the working water tank is located directly at the water consumer or is even a component thereof. For example, the working water tank has a volume of at most 0.75, at most 0.5 or at most 0.25 relative to the volume of the primary water tank. In this case, a space-saving design of the working water tank in the vicinity of the water consumer is achieved, wherein the availability of water to the water consumer is essentially ensured by means of the primary water tank. However, it is of course also possible to provide that the working water tank has a volume corresponding to or even greater than the volume of the primary water tank. In principle, the rapid availability of water for the water consumer is ensured by means of the working water tank.

[0035] A development of the invention provides that the withdrawal line opens into the working water tank and the working water tank is fluidically connected to the primary water tank via a supply line, which has a smaller line cross section than the withdrawal line. The withdrawal line is thus directly connected to the working water tank and is thus only indirectly connected to the primary water tank via the working water tank. A supply line is fluidically located between the working water tank and the primary water tank, via which water is at least temporarily conveyed from the primary water tank to the working water tank.

[0036] Since the withdrawal mass flow for supplying the water consumer with water is ensured by means of the working water tank, the supply line has a smaller line cross section than the withdrawal line. Alternatively, it can obviously also be provided that the line cross section of the supply line corresponds to the line cross section of the withdrawal line in order to ensure a high withdrawal mass flow over a longer period of time. In any case, the use of the supply line and the working water tank enables a particularly flexible arrangement and a compact design of the water supply device.

[0037] A development of the invention provides that the primary water tank and / or the working water tank each have a heating device, and / or the collecting tank and / or at least one secondary water tank each are designed without a heating device. The heating device serves to heat the respective water tank, or more precisely the water present in the respective water tank. Preferably, the heating device is an electric heating device. With the aid of the heating device, frozen water present in the respective water tank can be thawed and thus made available to the water consumer.

[0038] Since the normal operation of the water consumer can already be ensured for a certain period of time by means of the primary water tank and / or the working water tank, it is sufficient for only one or both of these water tanks to have such a heating device. On the other hand, the other water tanks may not have a heating device, i.e. cannot be heated. The described design ensures efficient operation of the motor vehicle.

[0039] Additionally or alternatively, provision can be made for an additive to be supplied to at least one of the described water tanks, for example the primary water tank and / or the working water tank. The additive is mixed in the corresponding water tank with the water located therein, so that the water then has the additive. For example, the additive can be an antifreeze agent or a cleaning agent. Cleaning agents are used in particular when the water is used to operate a cleaning device, in particular a windshield cleaning device, of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the additive can be used to change at least one property of the water, for example the hardness. In this case, the additive is a softener or a decalcifying agent.

[0040] An improved solution of the present invention provides that at least one of the following devices is present in the connecting line: a filter, an ion exchanger, a water quality sensor and a flushing pump, in particular with a parallel non-return valve. Therefore, at least one of the devices is located between the collecting tank and the secondary water tank in terms of flow technology. The filter is arranged and constructed to filter out particles, or more precisely dirt particles, from the water from the collecting tank. The ion exchanger is also arranged and constructed for water purification. Conversely, the water quality sensor is used to determine the degree of dirtiness of the water and / or the composition of the water. In this regard, the water quality sensor can also be called a quality sensor. The degree of dirtiness corresponds, for example, to the number of particles per unit volume in the water. For example, the water quality sensor is an optical or chemical sensor, or has such a sensor.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, a flushing pump can be present in the connecting line. The flushing pump serves to convey water from the collecting tank in the direction of the primary and / or secondary tanks, i.e., in particular with a greater mass flow than the water conveying device. The flushing pump is provided, for example, for flushing the water supply device in the case of motor vehicle maintenance or the like. The flushing pump can be connected in parallel with a non-return valve, so that water can also flow from the collecting tank in the direction of the primary and / or secondary tanks via the connecting line when the flushing pump is not activated.

[0042] For example, all of the devices are present in the connecting line. In any case, the following sequence is provided in the flow direction starting from the collecting tank towards the secondary water tank: flushing pump, filter, ion exchanger and water quality sensor. For example, when the quality of the water detected by the water quality sensor is sufficient, the water is delivered to the primary water tank and / or the secondary water tank. If, on the other hand, the water quality is not good enough, the water is discharged from the water supply device. In this case, the water quality is understood, for example, as the degree of dirtiness and / or composition. In general, a particularly flexible operation of the motor vehicle is achieved thereby.

[0043] A development of the invention provides that the collecting tank is directly connected to the primary tank via a bypass line, which opens into the primary tank on the one hand and into the collecting tank or into the connecting line on the other hand. In this regard, the bypass line serves to bypass the at least one secondary tank. For example, the bypass line opens into the collecting tank on its side facing away from the primary tank. Preferably, however, the bypass line opens into the connecting line, i.e. preferably downstream of at least one flushing pump. Particularly preferably, the bypass line opens into the connecting line downstream of the filter and / or the ion exchanger and / or the water quality sensor and / or the flushing pump.

[0044] In the bypass line, a switching valve is particularly preferably arranged, wherein in a first switching position of the switching valve, the switching valve releases the bypass line and in a second switching position the bypass line is fluidically disconnected. Preferably, therefore, in the first switching position of the switching valve, a flow connection exists via the bypass line between the primary tank on the one hand and the collecting tank or the connecting line on the other hand.

[0045] It can be provided that the bypass line has a line cross section which corresponds to the line cross section of the supply line. However, the bypass line can also have a larger line cross section than the supply line. In principle, the bypass line and the supply line can open into the primary tank independently of one another. However, it can also be provided that the supply line opens into the bypass line outside the primary tank and thus extends together with the bypass line to the primary tank. In any case, the described design achieves a high degree of flexibility with a low space requirement.

[0046] An improved solution of the present invention provides that a negative pressure pump for conveying a gaseous conveying medium from a primary water tank is fluidically connected to the primary water tank, in particular via a working water tank, and / or an overpressure providing device for conveying a gaseous conveying medium in the direction of the primary water tank is fluidically connected to the collecting tank. The negative pressure pump is used to provide negative pressure, and the overpressure providing device is used to provide overpressure. If the negative pressure pump is used to convey the conveying medium, the negative pressure pump is connected to the water tank in such a way that water is pumped from the collecting tank in the direction of the primary water tank or the working water tank. In the case of an overpressure providing device, the overpressure providing device is connected to the water tank in such a way that water is pressed from the collecting tank in the direction of the primary water tank or the working water tank.

[0047] In this regard, the negative pressure pump is directly connected to the primary water tank or (if present) to the working water tank and is only connected to the other water tanks via the primary water tank or the working water tank. The overpressure providing device is connected at least to the collecting tank in terms of flow technology and is, for example, only indirectly connected to the other water tanks. However, it can also be provided that the overpressure providing device is directly connected to a plurality of the water tanks, in particular the collecting tank, the primary water tank and / or the at least one secondary water tank. In this case, the water tanks can be individually and purposefully loaded with the overpressure provided by the overpressure providing device. Overall, in this way, an efficient water transport is achieved.

[0048] A further development of the invention provides that the water consumer is a water spray device of a motor vehicle power unit or a windshield cleaning device of a motor vehicle. Such a design of a water consumer has already been indicated above. It can be provided that the water supply device is used not only to supply water to the water spray device but also to supply water to the windshield cleaning device. In this case, the water supply device can be used flexibly.

[0049] The invention also relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle according to an embodiment in the context of the present description, wherein the motor vehicle has a water supply device for supplying water to at least one water consumer. The method is characterized by a collecting tank, a primary water tank and at least one secondary water tank, wherein the collecting tank is connected or can be connected to a water source in terms of flow technology, and the primary water tank is connected to the at least one water consumer in terms of flow technology while bypassing the collecting tank and the secondary water tank, wherein the collecting tank is connected to the primary water tank in terms of flow technology both directly and indirectly via the at least one secondary water tank, and wherein the water supply device has a water conveying device which conveys water at least temporarily from the collecting tank in the direction of the primary water tank by means of a gaseous conveying medium.

[0050] The advantages of this type of embodiment of a motor vehicle and this type of process have already been pointed out. Both the motor vehicle and the method for operating it can be improved according to the embodiments within the scope of this description, so that reference is made to these embodiments at this point.

[0051] A further development of the invention provides that when a motor vehicle, in particular with an inactive power unit, is parked, a weather forecast is queried or obtained. Water is drained from at least one of the lines of the water supply device in accordance with the weather forecast. For example, if it is determined in the weather forecast that there is a risk of freezing, water is drained from at least one line, in particular all lines. Conversely, if there is no risk of freezing, this may not be done. Obviously, for safety reasons, water may also be drained from at least one line or all lines each time the motor vehicle is parked.

[0052] A development of the invention provides that when the external water source is connected to the water collecting tank, a filling operation of the water supply device is carried out. During this, the water supply device is operated in such a way that all available water tanks are filled, in particular completely filled, with water provided by the external water source. For example, this is done in such a way that first at least the primary water tank and, if present, the working water tank are filled. Only then is the at least one secondary water tank filled. This allows a rapid start of the motor vehicle and rapid availability of water for the water consumers.

[0053] Additionally or alternatively, when an external water source is connected to the collecting tank, a flushing operation or a cleaning operation of the water supply device is performed. In this case, all water tanks of the water supply device are flushed with the water provided externally and then the water is drained again. For example, starting from the collecting tank to the primary water tank or the working water tank, the water flows through all water tanks and is drained from them. When flowing through the water tanks, the water carries away dirt, such as dirt particles and / or microorganisms, so that they are discharged from the water supply device. A cleaning agent is added to the externally provided water (in the case of a cleaning operation). In contrast, in a flushing operation, the water supply device is flushed with water without the use of a cleaning agent. Preferably, it is provided that the cleaning operation is performed first and then the flushing operation. Particularly preferably, a filling operation is then performed to fill the water supply device with water. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, without restricting the invention.

[0055] in:

[0056] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a portion of a motor vehicle having a water supply device in a first embodiment, and

[0057] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a motor vehicle is shown, in which a water supply device is present in a second specific embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an area of ​​a motor vehicle 1 is shown, namely a water supply device 2 and a water consumer 3 of the motor vehicle. The water consumer 3 is present, for example, as a water spray device for a cleaning device or a drive device of the motor vehicle 1. The water supply device 2 is used to supply water to the water consumer 3. For this purpose, the water supply device 2 has a water collecting tank 4, a primary water tank 5 and at least one secondary water tank 6, in the embodiment shown here, secondary water tanks 6, 7 and 8. In addition, the illustrated embodiment of the water supply device 2 has a working water tank 9.

[0059] The collecting tank 4 is fluidically connected to the secondary tank 6 via a connecting line 10. In the example shown, a flushing pump 11 with a check valve 12 connected in parallel, a filter 13, an ion exchanger 14 and a water quality sensor 15 are arranged in the connecting line 10. The secondary tanks 6, 7 and 8 are fluidically connected to each other and to the primary tank 5 via a delivery line 16, respectively. For example, the delivery line 16 located farthest downstream (which comes out of the secondary tank 8) opens into a bypass line 17. The bypass line 17 branches off from the connecting line 10 and opens into the primary tank 5 on its side facing away from the connecting line 10. A fluidic connection of the working water tank 9 to the primary tank 5 is established via a supply line 18.

[0060] Furthermore, the working water tank 9 is fluidically connected to the water consumer 3 via a withdrawal line 19. A delivery pump 20 is arranged in the withdrawal line 19, which is provided and designed to withdraw water from the working water tank 9 and to deliver the withdrawn water to the water consumer 3. It can be provided that the withdrawal line 19 and the supply line 18 have the same line cross section. It can also be provided that the connecting line 10 also has the same line cross section as the withdrawal line 19 and the supply line 18. Conversely, the supply line 16 is preferably also designed with a smaller line cross section than the bypass line 17. However, it can be provided that the bypass line 17 has a larger flow cross section between the point where the supply line 16 opens into the bypass line 17 and the primary water tank 5, in particular the same flow cross section as the connecting line 10.

[0061] This type of design makes it possible in particular to deliver water not only to the bypass line 17 but also to the delivery line 16 via the connecting line 10, so that water can be delivered or can be delivered from the collecting tank 4 to the primary water tank 5 in parallel via the bypass line 17 and the delivery line 16. The switching valve 21 is arranged in the bypass line 17, by means of which the bypass line 17 is selectively released or disconnected. In addition, a ventilation valve 22 is connected to the primary water tank 5 and the working water tank 9 in terms of flow technology, by means of which the corresponding water tank can be ventilated. Optionally, other water tanks can also each have such a ventilation valve 22. Preferably, the ventilation valve 22 is present as an electrical or electromechanical switching valve.

[0062] In addition, the water supply device 2 has a water conveying device 23, which has an overpressure providing device 24, which has an overpressure pump 25 and a pressure tank 26. The pressure tank 26 is fluidically connected to the collecting tank 4, the secondary water tank 6 and the primary water tank 5 respectively (i.e. respectively directly) via an overpressure line 27. An overpressure switching valve 28 is present in each of the overpressure lines 27. With the help of the water conveying device 23, the water present in the water supply device 2 can be conveyed from the collecting tank 4 to the other water tanks by means of a gaseous conveying medium. It can be provided that the collecting tank 4 has a connecting sleeve 29, which is arranged and constructed for connecting an external water source to the collecting tank 4. For example, the connecting sleeve 29 has a connector for connecting a conventional household hose.

[0063] Figure 2 The schematic diagram of a motor vehicle 1 is shown, in which a water supply device 2 of a second embodiment is present. The water supply device corresponds at least partially to the first embodiment, so that reference is made to the above-described embodiments and only the differences are explained below. The difference is that, instead of the overpressure providing device 24, the water delivery device 23 has a vacuum pump 30, which is directly connected to the working water tank 9 in terms of flow technology. With the help of the vacuum pump 30, a gaseous delivery medium can be drawn from the working water tank 9, so that a delivery effect is obtained on the fluid present in the water supply device 2. The delivery effect of the vacuum pump 30 is assisted by a non-return valve 31, which is located in the supply line 18 and opens in the direction of the working water tank 9.

[0064] Another difference is that each of the secondary tanks 6, 7 and 8 is assigned an overpressure valve 32 which is essentially a non-return valve and opens in the direction of the external environment of the water supply device 2. The overpressure in the secondary tanks 6, 7 and 8 can be reduced by the overpressure valve 32. In addition, it is provided that the supply line 16 does not only connect the secondary tanks 6, 7 and 8 to each other, but also to the primary tank 5, and that the supply line additionally opens into the bypass line 17 in each case. In this way, it is possible to charge each of the secondary tanks 6, 7 and 8 with water in a targeted manner.

[0065] In addition to the lines already described, the water supply device 2 in the second embodiment additionally has a filling line 33, in which a switching valve 34 is preferably present. The filling line 33 connects the working water tank 9 to the connecting line 10, i.e. downstream of the flushing pump 11. Via the filling line 33, the working water tank 9 can be quickly filled directly from the collecting tank 4 by means of the flushing pump 11.

[0066] The described configuration of the motor vehicle 1 , or more precisely of the water supply device 2 , in two different embodiments allows a reliable water supply to the water consumer 3 while requiring as little space as possible.

[0067] List of Reference Numerals

[0068] 1Motor Vehicle

[0069] 2 Water supply device

[0070] 3 Water consumption device

[0071] 4 water collecting tank

[0072] 5. Primary water tank

[0073] 6 Secondary water tank

[0074] 7 Secondary water tank

[0075] 8 Secondary water tank

[0076] 9 Working water tank

[0077] 10Connecting pipes

[0078] 11Flushing pump

[0079] 12 Check valve

[0080] 13 Filters

[0081] 14Ion exchanger

[0082] 15 Water quality sensor

[0083] 16 Delivery pipeline

[0084] 17 Bypass pipe

[0085] 18 Supply pipeline

[0086] 19 Extraction pipeline

[0087] 20 Delivery Pump

[0088] 21 Switching valve

[0089] 22 Ventilation valve

[0090] 23 Water delivery device

[0091] 24 Overpressure providing device

[0092] 25 Overpressure pump

[0093] 26 Pressure tank

[0094] 27 Overpressure pipeline

[0095] 28 Overpressure switching valve

[0096] 29 Connecting sleeve

[0097] 30 Negative pressure pump

[0098] 31 Check valve

[0099] 32 Overpressure valve

[0100] 33 Filling line

[0101] 34 Switching valve

Claims

1. A motor vehicle (1) having a water supply device (2) for supplying water to at least one water consumer (3), the water supply device having a water collecting tank (4), a primary water tank (5), a plurality of secondary water tanks (6, 7, 8) connected to the water collecting tank (4) in terms of flow technology via a connecting line (10), and a bypass line (17), which opens on the one hand into the primary water tank (5) and on the other hand into the connecting line (10), a switching valve (21) being arranged in the bypass line (17), wherein: The collecting tank (4) is fluidically connected or connectable to a water source, the primary tank (5) is fluidically connected to at least one water consumer (3) bypassing the collecting tank (4) and the secondary tanks (6, 7, 8), wherein the water supply device (2) has a water conveying device (23) which is arranged and configured to convey water from the collecting tank (4) in the direction of the primary tank (5) by means of a gaseous conveying medium, wherein a negative pressure pump (30) for conveying the gaseous conveying medium from the primary tank (5) is fluidically connected to the primary tank (5), and / or An overpressure providing device (24) for conveying a gaseous conveying medium in the direction of a primary water tank (5) is fluidically connected to a collecting tank (4), characterized in that the collecting tank (4) is fluidically connected to the primary water tank (5) not only directly via a bypass line (17) but also indirectly via a secondary water tank (6, 7, 8) and a conveying line (16), wherein the secondary water tanks are fluidically connected in series via the conveying line (16) and the primary water tank (5) is fluidically connected directly to exactly one of the secondary water tanks (6, 7, 8) via the conveying line (16).

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The primary water tank (5) is fluidically connected to the at least one water consumer (3) via a withdrawal line (19), which has a larger line cross section than a connecting line (10) for fluidically connecting at least one secondary water tank (6, 7, 8) to a collecting tank (4) and / or a supply line (16) for fluidically connecting the primary water tank (5) to the at least one secondary water tank (6, 7, 8).

3. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The primary water tank (5) is fluidically connected to the at least one water consumer (3) via a working water tank (9).

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The withdrawal line (19) opens into the working water tank (9), and the working water tank (9) is fluidically connected to the primary water tank (5) via a supply line (18), the line cross section of the supply line being smaller than that of the withdrawal line (19).

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The primary water tank (5) and / or the working water tank (9) are respectively provided with a heating device, and / or the collecting tank (4) and / or at least one secondary water tank (6, 7, 8) are respectively designed without a heating device.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least one of the following devices is present in the connecting line (10): a filter (13), an ion exchanger (14), a water quality sensor (15) and a flushing pump (11).

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The water consumer (3) is a water spray device of a power unit of the motor vehicle (1) or a windshield cleaning device of the motor vehicle (1).

8. A method for operating a motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: A motor vehicle (1) has a water supply device (2) for supplying water to at least one water consumer (3), the water supply device having a collecting tank (4), a primary water tank (5), a plurality of secondary water tanks (6, 7, 8) fluidically connected to the collecting tank (4) via a connecting line (10), and a bypass line (17), the bypass line opening on the one hand into the primary water tank (5) and on the other hand into the connecting line (10), a switching valve (21) being arranged in the bypass line (17), wherein the collecting tank (4) is fluidically connected or can be connected to a water source, and the primary water tank (5) is fluidically connected to the at least one water consumer (3) bypassing the collecting tank (4) and the secondary water tanks (6, 7, 8), wherein the water supply device (2) has a water conveying device (23) which is designed and constructed for Water is conveyed from a collecting tank (4) toward a primary water tank (5) by means of a gaseous conveying medium, wherein a negative pressure pump (30) for conveying the gaseous conveying medium from the primary water tank (5) is fluidically connected to the primary water tank (5), and / or an overpressure providing device (24) for conveying the gaseous conveying medium toward the primary water tank (5) is fluidically connected to the collecting tank (4), characterized in that the collecting tank (4) is fluidically connected to the primary water tank (5) not only directly via a bypass line (17) but also indirectly via a secondary water tank (6, 7, 8) and a conveying line (16), wherein the secondary water tanks are fluidically connected in series via the conveying line (16) and the primary water tank (5) is fluidically directly connected to exactly one of the secondary water tanks (6, 7, 8) via the conveying line (16).

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