Air storage cooling device and cooling method for vehicle air spring

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of vehicle engineering technology, and specifically relates to an air storage cooling device and cooling method for a vehicle air spring. The air storage cooling device includes a cooling circuit unit and an air storage tank. The air storage tank is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet connected to its inner cavity. The air inlet is used to connect to an air compressor, and the air outlet is used to connect to the air spring's inflation solenoid valve. The cooling circuit unit passes through the air storage tank and is used to transport a refrigerant so that the refrigerant flows through the inner cavity of the air storage tank to cool the air in the air storage tank. The cooling circuit unit is used to cool the air in the air storage tank to adjust the temperature of the air in the air storage tank, so that the air storage cooling device for the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention can, when the air spring needs to be inflated, inject air within a preset temperature range into the air spring to mix and cool the air in the air chamber of the air spring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of vehicle engineering, and in particular relates to an air storage cooling device and a cooling method for an air spring of a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] With the rise of domestically produced new energy vehicles, some relatively high-end auto parts have also been transferred to mid- and low-end models. For example, more and more models are equipped with air suspension systems, which can effectively improve the comfort of the vehicle.

[0003] The air springs in the air suspension system adjust the vehicle's height through the control of the charge and discharge solenoid valves. To raise the vehicle, the charge solenoid valve opens, allowing air to flow from the high-pressure tank into the air spring. As the mass of the gas within the air spring increases, the air pressure increases, pushing the sprung mass upward. To lower the vehicle, the discharge solenoid valve opens, discharging air from the air spring into the atmosphere. As the mass of the gas within the air spring decreases, the air pressure decreases, causing the sprung mass to move downward. A pressure sensor monitors the pressure in the high-pressure tank. When the pressure falls below a certain threshold, the air compressor replenishes the tank.

[0004] When a vehicle equipped with an air suspension system is driving, the temperature of the gas in the gas chamber of the air spring will gradually increase due to bumps in the road. When the temperature of the gas in the gas chamber reaches a certain temperature value, it will have a significant impact on the vibration reduction performance of the air spring and reduce the comfort of the vehicle during driving.

[0005] However, since there is currently no mature technology for cooling the gas in the gas chamber of the air spring, existing air springs generally have a technical problem of being unable to cool the gas in the gas chamber, resulting in unstable vibration reduction performance. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, the present invention provides an air storage cooling device and a cooling method for a vehicle air spring to solve the technical problem that the existing air springs generally cannot cool the gas in the gas chamber, resulting in unstable vibration reduction performance.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows: an air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle comprises a cooling circuit unit and an air storage tank;

[0008] The air storage tank is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet connected to its inner cavity, the air inlet is used to be connected to the air compressor, and the air outlet is used to be connected to the inflation solenoid valve of the air spring;

[0009] The cooling circuit unit passes through the gas storage tank, and is used to transport refrigerant so that the refrigerant flows through the inner cavity of the gas storage tank to cool the air in the gas storage tank.

[0010] The cooling circuit unit is used to cool the air in the air tank to adjust the temperature of the air in the air tank, so that the air storage cooling device of the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention can, when the air spring needs to be inflated, rush air within a preset temperature range into the air spring to mix with the air in the gas chamber of the air spring to reduce the temperature; this solves the technical problem that the existing air springs generally cannot cool the gas in the gas chamber, which will cause unstable vibration reduction performance.

[0011] Furthermore, the gas storage tank is cylindrical and arranged along the first direction; the air inlet is opened at the first end of the gas storage tank, and the air outlet is opened at the second end of the gas storage tank;

[0012] The cooling circuit unit penetrates into the inner cavity of the gas storage tank from the second end, passes through the gas storage tank along the first direction, and then exits the gas storage tank from the first end;

[0013] The cooling circuit unit is used to deliver the refrigerant from the second end into the gas storage tank.

[0014] By making the cooling circuit unit deliver the refrigerant from the second end to the air tank, the delivery direction of the refrigerant (from the second end to the first end) is opposite to the inflation direction of the gas in the air tank to the air spring (from the first end to the second end), so that the refrigerant can preferentially cool the air in the area of ​​the air tank close to the air outlet side (the air that is usually filled into the air spring, that is, the air in the area of ​​the air tank close to the air outlet side), thereby ensuring that the air filled into the air spring has been sufficiently cooled.

[0015] Furthermore, a plurality of partitions are provided in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank and are spaced apart along the first direction, so as to divide the inner cavity of the gas storage tank into a plurality of air chambers arranged in sequence along the first direction; and a connecting hole is provided on each of the partitions to connect two adjacent air chambers;

[0016] After the cooling circuit unit penetrates the inner cavity of the gas storage tank, it passes through each of the partitions in sequence along the first direction.

[0017] As the refrigerant continuously absorbs heat and heats up during the process of flowing through each of the air chambers from the second end to the first end, the air temperature in each of the air chambers will gradually increase from the second end to the first end. When the air spring is inflated using the air storage cooling device of the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention, there is no need to consider the overall cooling effect of the cooling circuit unit on the air in the air tank. It is only necessary to ensure that the air temperature in the air chamber near the second end is within the effective range to ensure that the air temperature transmitted to the air spring is within the effective range, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the cooling circuit unit and reducing energy consumption.

[0018] Furthermore, the cooling pipe section of the cooling circuit unit located in any of the air chambers is spiral-shaped.

[0019] By configuring the cooling pipe sections of the cooling circuit unit located in any of the air chambers to be spiral, the heat exchange area between the refrigerant in the cooling circuit unit and the air in each of the air chambers can be effectively increased, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0020] There are many ways to set up the cooling circuit unit, such as but not limited to: utilizing the vehicle's existing air conditioning refrigeration circuit, modifying the air conditioning refrigeration circuit, and setting up an independent coolant circulation circuit. The specific technical solutions of the cooling circuit unit include but are not limited to:

[0021] In one technical solution, the cooling circuit unit includes a compressor branch and a passenger compartment refrigeration branch arranged in parallel;

[0022] The compressor branch is provided with a compressor and a condenser in sequence, the passenger compartment refrigeration branch is provided with a first expansion valve and an evaporator in sequence, and the gas storage tank is installed on the passenger compartment refrigeration branch;

[0023] The gas storage tank is installed on the passenger compartment refrigeration branch between the first expansion valve and the evaporator, or on a side of the evaporator away from the first expansion valve;

[0024] The compressor is used to deliver the refrigerant to the condenser and then to the passenger compartment refrigeration branch to cool the passenger compartment of the vehicle and cool the air in the gas tank.

[0025] In another technical solution, the cooling circuit unit includes a compressor branch, a passenger compartment cooling branch, and an air tank cooling branch arranged in parallel;

[0026] The compressor branch is provided with a compressor and a condenser in sequence, the passenger compartment cooling branch is provided with a first expansion valve and an evaporator in sequence, and the gas tank cooling branch is provided with a second expansion valve and the gas tank in sequence;

[0027] The compressor is used to deliver the refrigerant to the condenser and then to the passenger compartment cooling branch and / or the air spring cooling branch.

[0028] In another technical solution, the cooling circuit unit includes a coolant circulation circuit and a radiator and a water pump installed on the coolant circulation circuit; the air storage tank is installed on the coolant circulation circuit;

[0029] The water pump is used to pump the refrigerant so that the refrigerant circulates in the coolant circulation loop.

[0030] Furthermore, the air storage cooling device of the vehicle's air spring further includes a controller and a temperature sensor provided on the inner wall of the air storage tank;

[0031] The temperature sensor is used to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank and send the collected air temperature information to the controller;

[0032] The controller is used to control the start and stop of the cooling circuit unit according to the received air temperature information, so as to control whether the refrigerant flows through the inner cavity of the gas storage tank.

[0033] Furthermore, the temperature sensor is arranged on the inner wall of the air chamber closest to the second end portion, and is used to collect air temperature information in the air chamber closest to the second end portion.

[0034] Based on the air storage cooling device for the air spring of a vehicle provided by the present invention, the present invention also provides an air storage cooling method for the air spring of a vehicle, the air storage cooling method comprising:

[0035] Using a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank, and sending the collected air temperature information to a controller;

[0036] The controller performs detection based on the received air temperature information and controls the start and stop of the cooling circuit unit according to the detection result, so as to cool the air in the air storage tank when the air temperature in the air storage tank is too high.

[0037] Furthermore, the gas storage cooling method comprises the following steps:

[0038] Step 1: Using a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank, and sending the collected air temperature information to a controller;

[0039] Step 2: The controller obtains a first air temperature value in the inner cavity based on the received air temperature information, and performs a test based on the first air temperature. If the first air temperature value is not less than a first preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit to open, so that the refrigerant in the cooling circuit unit flows through the inner cavity of the air storage tank to cool the air in the air storage tank, and then proceeds to Step 3. If the first air temperature value is less than the first preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit to remain closed, and returns to Step 1.

[0040] Step 3: Using a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank, and sending the collected air temperature information to the controller;

[0041] Step 4: The controller obtains a second air temperature value in the inner cavity based on the received air temperature information, and performs detection based on the second air temperature. If the second air temperature value is greater than a second preset temperature value, the controller returns to Step 3; if the second air temperature value is not greater than the second preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit to close and returns to Step 1.

[0042] Wherein, the first preset temperature value is greater than the second preset temperature value.

[0043] By adopting the above method, the air temperature in the gas storage tank can be maintained within an effective range (ie, between the second preset temperature value and the first preset temperature value).

[0044] The air storage cooling device and cooling method for the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0045] 1. The cooling circuit unit is used to cool the air in the air tank to adjust the temperature of the air in the air tank, so that the air storage cooling device of the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention can, when the air spring needs to be inflated, rush air within a preset temperature range into the air spring to mix with the air in the air chamber of the air spring to reduce the temperature; this solves the technical problem that the existing air springs generally cannot cool the gas in the gas chamber, which will cause unstable vibration reduction performance.

[0046] 2. By making the cooling circuit unit deliver the refrigerant from the second end to the air tank, the delivery direction of the refrigerant (from the second end to the first end) is opposite to the inflation direction of the gas in the air tank to the air spring (from the first end to the second end), so that the refrigerant can preferentially cool the air in the area of ​​the air tank close to the air outlet side (the air that is usually filled into the air spring, that is, the air in the area of ​​the air tank close to the air outlet side), thereby ensuring that the air filled into the air spring has been sufficiently cooled.

[0047] 3. Since the refrigerant will continuously absorb heat and heat up in the process of flowing from the second end to the first end through each of the air chambers in sequence, the air temperature in each of the air chambers will gradually increase from the second end to the first end. Therefore, when the air spring is inflated by the air storage cooling device of the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention, there is no need to consider the overall cooling effect of the cooling circuit unit on the air in the air storage tank. It is only necessary to ensure that the air temperature in the air chamber near the second end is within the effective range to ensure that the air temperature transmitted to the air spring is within the effective range, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the cooling circuit unit and reducing energy consumption.

[0048] 4. By setting the cooling pipe section of the cooling circuit unit located in any of the air chambers to be spiral, the heat exchange area between the refrigerant in the cooling circuit unit and the air in each of the air chambers can be effectively increased, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the implementation. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some implementation methods of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0050] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the cooling circuit unit and the gas storage tank in Example 1;

[0051] Figure 2 is a perspective schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the cooling circuit unit and the gas storage tank in Example 1;

[0052] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the portion of the cooling circuit unit passing through the gas storage tank in Example 1;

[0053] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the topological structure of the air storage cooling device of the air spring of the vehicle in Example 1;

[0054] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the topological structure of the air storage cooling device of the air spring of the vehicle in Example 2;

[0055] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the topological structure of the air storage cooling device of the air spring of the vehicle in Example 3;

[0056] Among them, 1—cooling circuit unit, 2—gas storage tank;

[0057] 2.1—air inlet, 2.2—air outlet, 2.3—first end, 2.4—second end, 2.5—partition, 2.6—air chamber;

[0058] 2.5.1—Communication holes;

[0059] 1.1—Cooling pipe section, 1.2—Compressor, 1.3—Condenser, 1.4—First expansion valve, 1.5—Evaporator, 1.6—Second expansion valve, 1.7—Intermediate heat exchanger, 1.8—Coolant circulation loop, 1.9—Radiator, 1.10—Water pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0061] Example 1:

[0062] like Figure 1 As shown, embodiment 1 provides an air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle, comprising a cooling circuit unit 1 and an air storage tank 2;

[0063] The air tank 2 is provided with an air inlet 2.1 and an air outlet 2.2 communicating with the inner cavity thereof. The air inlet 2.1 is used to connect to the air compressor, and the air outlet 2.2 is used to connect to the inflation solenoid valve of the air spring.

[0064] The cooling circuit unit 1 passes through the gas storage tank 2 , and is used to transport a refrigerant so that the refrigerant flows through the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2 to cool the air in the gas storage tank 2 .

[0065] The cooling circuit unit 1 is used to cool the air in the air tank 2 to adjust the temperature of the air in the air tank 2, so that the air storage cooling device of the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention can, when the air spring needs to be inflated, rush air within a preset temperature range into the air spring to mix with the air in the gas chamber of the air spring to reduce the temperature; this solves the technical problem that the existing air springs generally cannot cool the gas in the gas chamber, which will cause unstable vibration reduction performance.

[0066] In one embodiment, Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the gas storage tank 2 is cylindrical and arranged along a first direction; the air inlet 2.1 is opened at a first end 2.3 of the gas storage tank 2, and the air outlet 2.2 is opened at a second end 2.4 of the gas storage tank 2;

[0067] The cooling circuit unit 1 penetrates the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2 from the second end 2.4, passes through the gas storage tank 2 along the first direction, and then exits the gas storage tank 2 from the first end 2.3;

[0068] The cooling circuit unit 1 is used to deliver the refrigerant into the gas storage tank 2 from the second end 2.4.

[0069] By having the cooling circuit unit 1 deliver the refrigerant from the second end 2.4 into the gas tank 2, the delivery direction of the refrigerant (from the second end 2.4 to the first end 2.3) is opposite to the charging direction of the gas in the gas tank 2 into the air spring (from the first end 2.3 to the second end 2.4), so that the refrigerant can preferentially cool the air in the area near the air outlet 2.2 in the gas tank 2 (the air that is usually charged into the air spring, that is, the air in the area near the air outlet 2.2 in the gas tank 2), thereby ensuring that the air charged into the air spring has been sufficiently cooled.

[0070] Preferably, in this embodiment 1, Figure 2 As shown, the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2 is provided with a plurality of partitions 2.5 (specifically, in this embodiment 1, the number of partitions 2.5 is three) spaced apart along a first direction, so as to divide the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2 into a plurality of air chambers 2.6 (specifically, in this embodiment 1, the number of air chambers 2.6 is four) arranged sequentially along the first direction. Each partition 2.5 is provided with a connecting hole 2.5.1 connecting two adjacent air chambers 2.6.

[0071] After the cooling circuit unit 1 penetrates the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2, it passes through each partition 2.5 in sequence along the first direction.

[0072] As the refrigerant flows through each air chamber 2.6 in sequence from the second end 2.4 to the first end 2.3, the refrigerant will continuously absorb heat and increase in temperature, causing the air temperature in each air chamber 2.6 to gradually increase from the second end 2.4 to the first end 2.3. Therefore, when the air spring is inflated using the air storage cooling device for the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention, there is no need to consider the overall cooling effect of the cooling circuit unit 1 on the air in the air storage tank 2. It is only necessary to ensure that the air temperature in the air chamber 2.6 near the second end 2.4 is within an effective range to ensure that the air temperature transmitted to the air spring is within the effective range, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the cooling circuit unit 1 and reducing energy consumption.

[0073] Preferably, in this embodiment 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the cooling pipe section 1.1 of the cooling circuit unit 1 located in any air chamber 2.6 is spiral-shaped.

[0074] By setting the cooling pipe section 1.1 of the cooling circuit unit 1 located in any air chamber 2.6 to be spiral, the heat exchange area between the refrigerant in the cooling circuit unit 1 and the air in each air chamber 2.6 can be effectively increased, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0075] There are many ways to configure the cooling circuit unit 1, such as but not limited to: utilizing the vehicle's existing air conditioning refrigeration circuit, modifying the air conditioning refrigeration circuit, and configuring an independent coolant circulation circuit.

[0076] In this embodiment 1, Figure 4 As shown, the cooling circuit unit 1 includes a compressor branch and a passenger compartment refrigeration branch arranged in parallel;

[0077] The compressor branch is provided with a compressor 1.2 and a condenser 1.3 in sequence, the passenger compartment refrigeration branch is provided with a first expansion valve 1.4 and an evaporator 1.5 in sequence, and the gas storage tank 2 is installed on the passenger compartment refrigeration branch;

[0078] The gas storage tank 2 is installed on the passenger compartment refrigeration branch between the first expansion valve 1.4 and the evaporator 1.5, or on the side of the evaporator 1.5 away from the first expansion valve 1.4;

[0079] The compressor 1.2 is used to deliver the refrigerant to the condenser 1.3 and then to the passenger compartment refrigeration branch to cool the passenger compartment of the vehicle and cool the air in the air storage tank 2.

[0080] Specifically, in this embodiment 1, Figure 4 As shown, the cooling circuit unit 1 also includes an intermediate heat exchanger 1.7 arranged on the compressor branch. The intermediate heat exchanger 1.7 includes a first heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel. The inlet of the first heat exchange channel is connected to the refrigerant outlet of the condenser 8, and the outlet is connected to one end of the passenger compartment refrigeration branch. The outlet of the second heat exchange channel is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 7, and the inlet is connected to the other end of the passenger compartment refrigeration branch.

[0081] Specifically, in this embodiment 1, the air storage cooling device of the vehicle air spring further includes a controller and a temperature sensor provided on the inner wall of the air storage tank 2;

[0082] The temperature sensor is used to collect the air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2 and send the collected air temperature information to the controller;

[0083] The controller is used to control the start and stop of the cooling circuit unit 1 according to the received air temperature information, so as to control whether the refrigerant flows through the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2.

[0084] Specifically, in this embodiment 1, the temperature sensor is disposed on the inner wall of the air chamber 2.6 closest to the second end 2.4. The temperature sensor is used to collect air temperature information in the air chamber 2.6 closest to the second end 2.4.

[0085] Example 2:

[0086] Example 2 provides an air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle, wherein the structural features of the air storage tank 2 are the same as those of the air storage tank 2 in Example 1, and the difference lies in the different arrangement of the cooling circuit unit 1.

[0087] In this embodiment 2, Figure 5 As shown, the cooling circuit unit 1 includes a compressor branch, a passenger compartment refrigeration branch, and an air tank 2 cooling branch arranged in parallel;

[0088] The compressor branch is provided with a compressor 1.2 and a condenser 1.3 in sequence, the passenger compartment cooling branch is provided with a first expansion valve 1.4 and an evaporator 1.5 in sequence, and the gas tank 2 cooling branch is provided with a second expansion valve 1.6 and the gas tank 2 in sequence;

[0089] Compressor 1.2 is used to deliver refrigerant to condenser 1.3 and then to the passenger compartment cooling branch and / or air spring cooling branch.

[0090] Example 3:

[0091] Example 3 provides an air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle, wherein the structural features of the air storage tank 2 are the same as those of the air storage tank 2 in Example 1, and the difference lies in the different arrangement of the cooling circuit unit 1.

[0092] In this embodiment 3, Figure 6 As shown, the cooling circuit unit 1 includes a coolant circulation circuit 1.8 and a radiator 1.9 and a water pump 1.10 installed on the coolant circulation circuit 1.8; the air tank 2 is installed on the coolant circulation circuit 1.8;

[0093] The water pump 1.10 is used to pump the refrigerant so that the refrigerant circulates in the coolant circulation loop 1.8.

[0094] Example 4:

[0095] Based on the air storage cooling device for the air spring of a vehicle provided in Example 1, Example 4 provides an air storage cooling method for the air spring of a vehicle, the air storage cooling method comprising:

[0096] Using a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2, and sending the collected air temperature information to the controller;

[0097] The controller performs detection based on the received air temperature information and controls the start and stop of the cooling circuit unit 1 according to the detection result, so as to cool the air in the air storage tank 2 when the air temperature in the air storage tank 2 is too high.

[0098] Specifically, the gas storage cooling method includes the following steps:

[0099] Step 1: Use a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2, and send the collected air temperature information to the controller;

[0100] Step 2: The controller obtains a first air temperature value in the inner cavity based on the received air temperature information, and performs a test based on the first air temperature. If the first air temperature value is not less than a first preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit 1 to open, so that the refrigerant in the cooling circuit unit 1 flows through the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2 to cool the air in the gas storage tank 2, and then proceeds to step 3. If the first air temperature value is less than the first preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit 1 to remain closed, and returns to step 1.

[0101] Step 3: Using a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank 2, and sending the collected air temperature information to the controller;

[0102] Step 4: The controller obtains a second air temperature value in the inner cavity based on the received air temperature information, and performs a test based on the second air temperature. If the second air temperature value is greater than a second preset temperature value, the controller returns to step 3; if the second air temperature value is not greater than the second preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit 1 to shut down and returns to step 1.

[0103] The first preset temperature value is greater than the second preset temperature value.

[0104] By adopting the above method, the air temperature in the gas storage tank 2 can be maintained within an effective range (ie, between the second preset temperature value and the first preset temperature value).

[0105] The air storage cooling device and cooling method for the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0106] 1. The cooling circuit unit 1 is used to cool the air in the air tank 2 to adjust the temperature of the air in the air tank 2. Therefore, the air storage cooling device for the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention can inject air within a preset temperature range into the air spring when the air spring needs to be inflated, so as to mix and cool the air in the gas chamber of the air spring. This solves the technical problem that the existing air springs generally cannot cool the gas in the gas chamber, which causes unstable vibration reduction performance.

[0107] 2. By having the cooling circuit unit 1 deliver the refrigerant from the second end 2.4 to the air storage tank 2, the delivery direction of the refrigerant (from the second end 2.4 to the first end 2.3) is opposite to the inflation direction of the gas in the air storage tank 2 into the air spring (from the first end 2.3 to the second end 2.4), so that the refrigerant can preferentially cool the air in the area near the air outlet 2.2 in the air storage tank 2 (the air that is usually charged into the air spring, that is, the air in the area near the air outlet 2.2 in the air storage tank 2), thereby ensuring that the air charged into the air spring has been sufficiently cooled.

[0108] 3. As the refrigerant flows through each air chamber 2.6 in sequence from the second end 2.4 to the first end 2.3, the refrigerant will continuously absorb heat and increase in temperature, causing the air temperature in each air chamber 2.6 to gradually increase from the second end 2.4 to the first end 2.3. Therefore, when the air spring is inflated using the air storage cooling device of the vehicle air spring provided by the present invention, there is no need to consider the overall cooling effect of the cooling circuit unit 1 on the air in the air storage tank 2. It is only necessary to ensure that the air temperature in the air chamber 2.6 near the second end 2.4 is within the effective range to ensure that the air temperature transmitted to the air spring is within the effective range, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the cooling circuit unit 1 and reducing energy consumption.

[0109] 4. By setting the cooling pipe section 1.1 of the cooling circuit unit 1 located in any air chamber 2.6 to be spiral, the heat exchange area between the refrigerant in the cooling circuit unit 1 and the air in each air chamber 2.6 can be effectively increased, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0110] The above are only specific application examples of the present invention and do not constitute any limitation to the protection scope of the present invention. Any technical solutions formed by equivalent transformation or equivalent replacement shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for cooling an air storage of an air spring of a vehicle, characterized in that: The method is implemented based on an air storage cooling device of an air spring of a vehicle, wherein the air storage cooling device includes a cooling circuit unit, an air storage tank, a controller, and a temperature sensor provided on the inner wall of the air storage tank; The air storage tank is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet connected to its inner cavity, the air inlet is used to be connected to the air compressor, and the air outlet is used to be connected to the inflation solenoid valve of the air spring; The cooling circuit unit passes through the gas storage tank, and is used to transport refrigerant so that the refrigerant flows through the inner cavity of the gas storage tank to cool the air in the gas storage tank; The gas storage cooling method comprises the following steps: Step 1: Using a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank, and sending the collected air temperature information to a controller; Step 2: The controller obtains a first air temperature value in the inner cavity based on the received air temperature information, and performs a test based on the first air temperature. If the first air temperature value is not less than a first preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit to open, so that the refrigerant in the cooling circuit unit flows through the inner cavity of the air storage tank to cool the air in the air storage tank, and then proceeds to Step 3. If the first air temperature value is less than the first preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit to remain closed, and returns to Step 1. Step 3: Using a temperature sensor to collect air temperature information in the inner cavity of the gas storage tank, and sending the collected air temperature information to the controller; Step 4: The controller obtains a second air temperature value in the inner cavity based on the received air temperature information, and performs detection based on the second air temperature. If the second air temperature value is greater than a second preset temperature value, the controller returns to Step 3; if the second air temperature value is not greater than the second preset temperature value, the controller controls the cooling circuit unit to close and returns to Step 1. Wherein, the first preset temperature value is greater than the second preset temperature value.

2. An air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle, characterized in that: The air storage cooling device is used to perform the steps of the air storage cooling method for an air spring of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1; The gas storage tank is cylindrical and arranged along a first direction; the gas inlet is opened at a first end of the gas storage tank, and the gas outlet is opened at a second end of the gas storage tank; The cooling circuit unit penetrates into the inner cavity of the gas storage tank from the second end, passes through the gas storage tank along the first direction, and then exits the gas storage tank from the first end; The cooling circuit unit is used to deliver the refrigerant from the second end into the gas storage tank.

3. The air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inner cavity of the gas storage tank is provided with a plurality of partitions spaced apart along the first direction, so as to divide the inner cavity of the gas storage tank into a plurality of air chambers sequentially arranged along the first direction; and each partition is provided with a connecting hole connecting two adjacent air chambers; After the cooling circuit unit penetrates the inner cavity of the gas storage tank, it passes through each of the partitions in sequence along the first direction.

4. The air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cooling pipe section of the cooling circuit unit located in any of the air chambers is spiral-shaped.

5. The air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cooling circuit unit includes a compressor branch and a passenger compartment refrigeration branch arranged in parallel; The compressor branch is provided with a compressor and a condenser in sequence, the passenger compartment refrigeration branch is provided with a first expansion valve and an evaporator in sequence, and the gas storage tank is installed on the passenger compartment refrigeration branch; The gas storage tank is installed on the passenger compartment refrigeration branch between the first expansion valve and the evaporator, or on a side of the evaporator away from the first expansion valve; The compressor is used to deliver the refrigerant to the condenser and then to the passenger compartment refrigeration branch to cool the passenger compartment of the vehicle and cool the air in the gas tank.

6. The air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cooling circuit unit includes a compressor branch, a passenger compartment cooling branch and an air tank cooling branch arranged in parallel; The compressor branch is provided with a compressor and a condenser in sequence, the passenger compartment cooling branch is provided with a first expansion valve and an evaporator in sequence, and the gas tank cooling branch is provided with a second expansion valve and the gas tank in sequence; The compressor is used to deliver the refrigerant to the condenser and then to the passenger compartment cooling branch and / or the air spring cooling branch.

7. The air storage cooling device for an air spring of a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cooling circuit unit includes a coolant circulation circuit and a radiator and a water pump installed on the coolant circulation circuit; the air storage tank is installed on the coolant circulation circuit; The water pump is used to pump the refrigerant so that the refrigerant circulates in the coolant circulation loop.

Images