Cooling circuit device

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling circuit device (12), in particular for an electric vehicle, comprising: at least one base body (20); at least one tank housing (32), which is formed by the base body (20) and which encloses a tank space (30), which is provided for storing at least a cooling liquid; and at least one fluid line (40, 42, 44), which is formed by the base body and which is provided for conducting a cooling liquid from and / or to a pumping unit (50, 52).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling circuit device. Background Art

[0002] Cooling circuit devices having a pump, a distributor, and a compensation reservoir have been proposed. The pump, the distributor, and the compensation reservoir exist in a multi-component form and are connected to each other by means of additional fluid lines. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a cooling circuit device, also referred to as a "thermal management device", especially for an electric vehicle, having: at least one base body; at least one reservoir housing formed by the base body and at least partially surrounding a reservoir space configured to store at least coolant; and at least one fluid line formed by the base body and configured to conduct coolant from a pumping unit and / or conduct coolant to the pumping unit.

[0004] The "cooling circuit device" should in particular refer to a device that is part of at least one cooling circuit. The "cooling circuit" should for example refer to a unit configured to transfer heat from an object to be cooled, i.e., a heat source, to an object to be heated, i.e., a heat sink, by means of a coolant, especially a cooling liquid, such as an ethylene glycol-water mixture. Here, depending on the operating state, at least one of the objects can act as either a heat source or a heat sink. In particular, the cooling circuit has at least one cooling body configured to discharge heat from the cooling circuit and dissipate it, for example, to the surrounding air.

[0005] For example, the reservoir housing can be configured as a reservoir bladder that surrounds the entire reservoir space. As an alternative, it is conceivable that the cooling circuit device has at least two reservoir housings connected in a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting manner, which together enclose the reservoir space. The fluid line can be free of direct connections, such as those formed by the base body, to the reservoir space. As an alternative, the cooling circuit device can have a connection member, especially formed by the base body, that connects the reservoir space to the fluid line. The reservoir housing and the fluid line are preferably configured in the same component. The reservoir housing and the fluid line are, for example, integrally formed with each other.

[0006] In particular, the tank space forms a compensating tank. The "compensating tank" can refer to a component that encloses the tank space and is arranged to be fluid-technologically connected to at least one cooling circuit. For example, the compensating tank is arranged to store coolant, receive gas from the cooling circuit, compensate for the thermal expansion of the coolant in the cooling circuit and / or compensate for the loss of coolant from the cooling circuit.

[0007] Preferably, the cooling circuit device has a pumping unit.

[0008] With the inventive design of the cooling circuit device, a particularly compact structural form can be achieved.

[0009] Preferably, the tank space does not contain fluid lines made of a matrix that are completely enclosed by the tank space. For example, the cooling circuit device can have at least one fluid line that is formed separately from the matrix and is guided in the matrix in such a way that the fluid line is completely surrounded by the tank space. Here, in particular, a fluid line should be considered "completely enclosed" if: the fluid line has at least one cross-section such that a line region is completely enclosed by one wall of the fluid line, and the wall is completely surrounded by the tank space. Thereby, in particular, simple manufacture can be achieved.

[0010] The fluid line can be partially enclosed and / or surrounded by the tank space. In particular, the wall of the fluid line can separate the tank space from the line region.

[0011] For example, a pumping seat can be constructed on the matrix, which is arranged to be connected to the pumping unit, in particular for forming a pump. In particular, the pumping unit has at least one motor and an impeller, which is arranged to be driven by the motor. In particular, the pumping seat forms a pump housing for the pumping unit. For example, the impeller of the pumping unit is exposed and is arranged to be surrounded by the pumping seat. For example, at least one inflow line and one return line are formed in the matrix, which lead into the pumping seat. In particular, a compact structural form and / or a high degree of integration can be achieved.

[0012] The fluid line advantageously leads into the pumping seat. For example, the fluid line is an inflow line or a return line of the pump. In particular, a compact structural form and / or a high degree of integration can be achieved.

[0013] Furthermore, it is proposed that the cooling circuit device has at least one additional fluid line, which is connected to the fluid line at least materially and is in particular fluid-technologically connected and materially connected to the inner side of the tank shell in at least one operating state. In particular, a high degree of flexibility in the line routing and / or high durability can be achieved.

[0014] In addition, the base body can be formed by at least two base elements, which are connected to each other in a material-locking manner. In particular, two or more base elements are manufactured separately from each other in one or more injection molding processes and are then bonded or welded to each other. According to an alternative, the base body can be formed by two or more base elements, which are already connected to each other, in particular manufactured in a single injection molding process, and the base elements are folded onto each other to form the base body, wherein the shape after folding onto each other is fixed by means of one or more adhesive seams and / or weld seams. Thereby, in particular, simple manufacturing and / or high flexibility in product design can be achieved.

[0015] Preferably, at least two of the base elements each form a tank shell, and the tank shells jointly enclose a tank space. For example, these two base elements only jointly form a fluid line. In particular, simple manufacturing and / or high flexibility in product design can be achieved.

[0016] According to another design, it is proposed that at least one fluid line is part of a coolant distributor unit. "Coolant distributor unit" should in particular refer to a unit that is arranged to distribute a coolant flow to at least two sub-cooling circuits. For example, the coolant distributor unit has at least one coolant channel, which has branches. For example, valves can be arranged at the branches. At least one of the valves can be configured as a multi-way valve here. In addition, the coolant distributor unit can have at least three, in particular a plurality of, coolant interfaces, which are arranged to be connected to fluid lines, in particular coolant hoses, which lead to the cooling circuit components to be cooled or heated. Thereby, in particular, a compact structural form can be achieved.

[0017] Advantageously, the base body does not contain the following connection unit, which is arranged to connect the tank space to the fluid line in fluid technology. In particular, the cooling circuit device has a connection unit, which is arranged to connect the tank space to the fluid line in fluid technology. The connection unit is in particular formed by components that are formed separately from the base body. For example, the components of the connection unit can be connected to the base body and / or the fluid line in a force-locking, form-locking and / or material-locking manner. In particular, high flexibility can be achieved.

[0018] In addition, a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, having at least one of the previously described cooling circuit devices is proposed. In particular, the vehicle has at least one cooling circuit, which is arranged to cool at least one motor, such as an electric motor. In particular, the cooling circuit is arranged to cool or heat at least one battery. In particular, the cooling circuit is arranged to discharge heat to the passenger compartment.

[0019] The cooling circuit device according to the present invention should not be limited to the applications and embodiments described above. In particular, the cooling circuit device according to the present invention can have a different number of individual elements, components and units mentioned herein in order to perform the principle of operation described herein. In addition, for the numerical ranges specified in this disclosure, the numerical values within the mentioned limits should be considered as disclosed and can be used arbitrarily. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other advantages result from the following description of the drawings. Three embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a large number of features in combination. A person skilled in the art will also appropriately consider the features individually and summarize them into other meaningful combinations.

[0021] Wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 A vehicle according to the present invention is shown schematically;

[0023] Figure 2 A cooling circuit device according to the present invention is shown schematically;

[0024] Figure 3 A cooling circuit device according to the present invention is shown in a schematic sectional view;

[0025] Figure 4 A cooling circuit device according to the present invention is shown in a schematic perspective view; and

[0026] Figure 5 Shown in a schematic sectional view according to Figure 4 the basic elements of the cooling circuit device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Figure 1 and 2 shows the first design of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 1Vehicle 10 is shown. Vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle and has an electric motor 16, or alternatively multiple electric motors, in order to drive vehicle 10. In addition, vehicle 10 has a storage battery unit 14, also referred to as a "battery pack". The storage battery unit 14 can consist of one or more enclosed units. In addition, vehicle 10 has a cooling circuit 11. The cooling circuit 11 has a cooling circuit device 12. In addition, the cooling circuit 11 has a heat exchanger 18, also referred to as a "cooler", which is arranged to dissipate heat from the cooling circuit 11 to the ambient air. The cooling circuit 11 has another heat exchanger 19, which is arranged to discharge heat to the passenger compartment of vehicle 10 in at least one operating state. The cooling circuit 11 is arranged to cool at least one electric motor 16. The cooling circuit 11 is arranged to cool or heat the storage battery unit 14. The cooling circuit device 12, also referred to as a "temperature management unit", is arranged to connect the components of the cooling circuit 11 to each other. The cooling circuit 11 accordingly has coolant lines, which connect the cooling circuit device 12 to the electric motor 16, the storage battery unit 14, the heat exchangers 18, 19 and / or other components.

[0029] According to an alternative design, as an alternative or supplement to the electric motor, the vehicle has at least one internal combustion engine, which is part of the cooling circuit.

[0030] The cooling circuit device 12 has a base body 20. The base body 20 has three basic elements 22, 24, 26. The first and second basic elements 22, 24 of the basic elements each have a tank shell 32, 34, which together enclose a tank space 30. The tank shells 32, 34 are each formed by the base body 20 and each partially enclose the tank space 30. The tank space 30 is arranged to store at least coolant. The tank space 30 forms a compensation tank of the cooling circuit 11. The three basic elements 22, 24, 26 are connected to each other in a material-locking manner. The third basic element 26 of the basic elements is only directly connected to the second basic element 24. The second basic element 24 is directly connected to the first basic element 22. The first and third basic elements 22, 26 are only connected to each other via the second basic element 24.

[0031] According to an alternative design, the cooling circuit device has only two basic elements.

[0032] The cooling circuit device 12 has fluid conduits 40, 42 which are formed by the base body 20 and which are provided for guiding coolant from the pumping units 50, 52 and / or for guiding coolant to the pumping units. A first group of the fluid conduits 40 is constructed in the first base element 22. A second group of the fluid conduits 40 is constructed in the second base element 24. The fluid conduits 40, 42 each open into a fluid connection which is provided for connection to one of the coolant conduits. The fluid conduits 40, 42 each form an inflow conduit and / or a return conduit for a sub-cooling circuit.

[0033] The cooling circuit device 12 has additional fluid conduits 44, 46 which are constructed in the third base element 26.

[0034] The tank space 30 does not contain the fluid conduits 40, 42, 44 constructed in the base body 20, and the fluid conduits are completely surrounded by the tank space 30. The fluid conduits 40, 42 and the additional fluid conduits 44 all extend outside the tank space 30.

[0035] On the base body 20, in the present case on the third base element 26, pumping seats 51, 53 are constructed which are provided for connection to one of the pumping units 50, 52 respectively, in particular for forming pumps respectively. A part of the additional fluid conduits (not shown in detail) each opens into one of the pumping seats 51, 53 and is provided for connecting the respective pumping seat 51, 53 to the fluid conduits 40, 42.

[0036] According to an alternative design, as an alternative or in addition, the pumping seats are constructed on the first or second base element.

[0037] The fluid conduits 40, 42 can be formed by the base elements 22, 24 individually or jointly here.

[0038] The fluid conduits 40, 42 are part of a coolant distributor unit 60 which is also referred to as a "manifold". The coolant distributor unit 60 has a valve unit 62 which is provided for connecting different pumping units 50, 52 to different fluid conduits 40, 42 in different operating states and / or for distributing the coolant flow differently to the fluid conduits 40, 42. The valve unit 62 has, for example, at least one multi-way valve. The valve unit 62 is arranged on the first base element 22.

[0039] Another part of the additional fluid conduit 44 opens into a fluid connection 49 which is provided for connection to the heat exchanger 18. Another part of the additional fluid conduit 44 is provided for connecting the coolant distributor unit 60 to the fluid connection 49 leading to the heat exchanger 18.

[0040] At least the first and second base elements 22, 24 that together form the tank space 30 do not contain the connection unit 70, which is arranged to fluid-technically connect the tank space 30 to the fluid lines 40, 42. The connection unit 70 is configured as a component separate from the base body 20. The connection unit 70 is arranged to connect the tank space 30 to one of the additional fluid lines 46, which in turn leads into the coolant distributor unit 60.

[0041] In Figures 3 to 5 two further embodiments of the invention are shown. The following description and the drawings are basically limited to the differences between the embodiments, where with respect to identically designated components, in particular with respect to components having the same reference signs, reference can in principle also be made to other embodiments, in particular Figures 1 to 2 to the drawings and the description of Figures 3 to 5 them. To distinguish the embodiments, the letter a or b is added to the reference signs of the embodiments in

[0042] Figure 3 Another coolant circuit device 12a with a base body 20a is shown. The base body 20a forms a tank shell 32a, which encloses the tank space 30 and is arranged to store at least coolant. The coolant circuit device 12a also has fluid lines 40a, 42a, which are formed by the base body 20a and are arranged to conduct coolant from one or more pumping units 50a, 52a and / or to conduct coolant to one or more pumping units.

[0043] The fluid lines 40a, 42a are part of the coolant distributor unit 60a.

[0044] The tank space 30a does not contain the fluid lines that are formed by the base body 20a and are completely enclosed by the tank space 30a.

[0045] On the base body 20a, a pumping seat is constructed, which is arranged to be connected to the pumping units 50a, 52a, in particular in order to form pumps respectively.

[0046] The fluid lines 40a, 42a each lead to at least one of the pumping seats in the pumping seat.

[0047] The cooling fluid circuit device 12a has two additional fluid lines 48a which are connected to the fluid lines 40a, 42a at least materially locked and also fluid-technically in at least one operating state. The additional fluid lines 48a are materially locked to the inner side of the tank housing 32a. The additional fluid lines 48a are provided for connecting the coolant distributor unit 60a to the fluid connection 49a which in turn is provided for connection to a heat exchanger of a vehicle having the cooling circuit device 12a. The tank space 30a is arranged between the fluid connection 49a and the coolant distributor unit 60a.

[0048] The base body 20a can be formed by one or more basic elements 22a which are materially locked to each other.

[0049] Figure 4 and 5 Another cooling circuit device 12b is shown. The cooling circuit device 12b has a base body 20b. The base body 20b forms a tank housing 32b which encloses a tank space 30b which is provided for storing at least coolant. The cooling circuit device 12b also has a fluid line 40b which is formed by the base body 20b and which is provided for guiding coolant from the pumping unit 50b and / or for guiding coolant to the pumping unit.

[0050] The tank space 30b does not contain fluid lines formed by the base body 20b which are completely enclosed by the tank space 30b. The fluid line 40b is guided completely outside the tank space 30b.

[0051] According to an alternative design, it can be envisaged that at least one of the fluid lines projects partially and in particular not completely into the tank space in the circumferential direction and / or is partially and for example not completely surrounded by the tank space in the circumferential direction such that the wall of the fluid line forms the wall of the tank space.

[0052] On the base body 20b, a pumping seat 51b is constructed which is provided for connection to the pumping unit 50b in order to form a pump. The fluid line 40b opens into the pumping seat 51b. The base body 20b also has a fluid connection 49b into which the fluid line 40b opens. The fluid connection 49b is provided for connecting the cooling circuit device 12b to the coolant distributor unit and / or to the cooling circuit.

[0053] The base body 20b is formed by two basic elements 22b, 24b, which are connected to each other in a material-locking manner. The first basic element 22b of the basic elements forms the storage tank shell 32b, the fluid line 40b and the pumping seat 51b. The second basic element 24b of the basic elements forms the upper storage tank shell 34b. The upper storage tank shell 34b has an inlet and / or filling port for coolant, which is closed by a lid.

[0054] The storage tank shell 32b, that is, the first basic element 22b and / or the base body 20b, has a sensor opening for installing a filling level sensor 36b. The cooling circuit device 12b has a filling level sensor 36b, which is installed in the sensor opening. The fluid line 40b, that is, the first basic element 22b and / or the base body 20b, has another sensor opening. The another sensor opening is arranged for receiving a temperature sensor 64b. The fluid circuit device 12b has a temperature sensor 64b, which is arranged in the another sensor opening.

[0055] The base body 20b has a connection unit 70b, which is arranged for connecting the storage tank space 30b to the fluid line 40b in a fluid-technical manner. The connection unit 70b has a connection channel. The connection channel is arranged above the fluid line 40b in a geodetic sense and between the fluid line 40b and the storage tank space 30b, especially for reliably discharging gas from the cooling circuit.

[0056] The base body 20b has a connection element 70b, which is arranged for connecting the storage tank space 30b to the fluid line 40b in a fluid-technical manner. The connection unit 70b has a connection channel. The connection channel is arranged above the fluid line 40b in a geodetic sense and between the fluid line 40b and the storage tank space 30b, especially for reliably discharging gas from the cooling circuit.

[0057] The base body 20b, that is, the first basic element 22b, also has support ribs, which extend transversely to the fluid line 40b and are located between the fluid line 40b and the storage tank shell 32b, especially for stably connecting these components.

[0058] Fixing elements can also be arranged on the base body 20b, especially the first basic element 22b, which are arranged for connecting the cooling circuit device 12b to the vehicle.

[0059] According to another design proposal, it is proposed that the base body is formed by two basic elements, and the basic elements are along corresponding to Figure 5The cutting planes are connected to one another, in particular welded and / or glued, such that the fluid line is formed solely by the joint action of the two basic elements. In this way, in particular, simple manufacture of the basic elements can be achieved.

Claims

1. A cooling circuit device, especially for an electric vehicle, having: at least one base body (20); at least one tank housing (32), which is formed by the base body (20) and encloses a tank space (30) that is configured to store at least coolant; and at least one fluid pipeline (40, 42, 44), which is formed by the base body (20) and is configured to conduct coolant from a pumping unit (50, 52) and / or conduct coolant to the pumping unit.

2. The cooling circuit device according to claim 1, characterized in that The storage space (30) does not contain fluid pipelines formed by the base body (20), and the fluid pipelines are completely surrounded by the storage space (30).

3. The cooling circuit device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The fluid pipeline (40) is partially surrounded by the storage space (30).

4. The cooling circuit device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Pumping seats (51, 53) are constructed on the base body (20), and the pumping seats are arranged to be connected to a pumping unit (50, 52), in particular to form a pump.

5. The cooling circuit device according to claim 3, characterized in that The fluid pipeline (40) leads into the pumping seats (51, 53).

6. The cooling circuit device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one additional fluid pipeline (48), which is connected to the fluid pipelines (40, 42) at least materially and in particular fluid-technically in at least one operating state, and the additional fluid pipeline is materially connected to the inner side of the storage tank shell (32).

7. The cooling circuit device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The base body (20) is formed by at least two base elements (22, 24, 26) that are materially connected to each other.

8. The cooling circuit device according to claim 7, characterized in that At least two of the base elements (22, 24) respectively form storage tank shells (32, 34), the storage tank shells jointly enclose the storage space (30), and these two base elements (22, 24) jointly form only the fluid pipelines (40, 42).

9. The cooling circuit device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one fluid pipeline (40, 42) is part of a coolant distributor unit (60).

10. The cooling circuit device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The base body (20) does not contain a connection unit (70) that is arranged to fluid-technically connect the storage space (30) to the fluid pipelines (40, 42).

11. A vehicle, especially an electric vehicle, having the cooling circuit device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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