Cooling device for electrochemical or electrical components

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device (2) for electrochemical and electrical components, comprising a component housing (4), the component housing (4) being equipped with an inlet (10) and an outlet (12), the component housing (10) comprising a main valve (40) and a control valve (42), wherein a main valve (40) is arranged in a first region of the component housing (4) downstream of the inlet (10) and is designed to control a supply of coolant into the component housing (4), and wherein a control valve (42) is arranged in a second region of the component housing (4) and is in fluid connection with the main valve (40), the open position of the main valve (40) is adjusted as a function of the coolant filling level in the component housing (4). The invention further relates to a cooling system and to a valve assembly.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for cooling electrochemical or electrical structural elements. In particular, the present invention relates to a cooling device for battery cells used in movable devices, such as vehicles. The present invention also relates to a cooling system and a valve assembly. Background Art

[0002] It is known from the prior art that electrochemical or electrical components operate optimally within a predefined temperature window. For components that generate heat during their operation, it is also necessary to dissipate the generated heat again. Otherwise, the components may overheat, which depending on the component may only result in malfunctions at the component or safety-related situations.

[0003] For example, it is known from EP 2 503 199 A1 that when a plurality of individual battery cells are placed in a housing in a battery, it is advantageous to cool the battery or the battery system. A contact cooling part is known here, where the contact cooling part can be used as a pressureless system with an aqueous medium or an air-conditioning device based on fluorohydrocarbons or carbon dioxide. It is also known from EP 2 503 199 A1 a pressure balancing device for a battery system, which provides an opening element for pressure balancing of the dead volume in the battery system. The known element ensures gas exchange between the battery system and the environment in order to avoid overpressure and thus damage to the battery system, especially in the case of temperature fluctuations. Thus, it relates to a system in which the gaseous part of the coolant may be released into the environment, which results in a loss of coolant.

[0004] For example, other battery cooling systems are known from EP 3 113 279 A1. A two-phase fluid is used in the known battery system. Here, the gaseous coolant condenses in the uppermost module among a plurality of modules, or is guided via a gas line to a condenser. In the known mechanism, the height of the coolant is adjusted via the outlet of the lower module. This adjustment increases the consumption of the coolant.

[0005] WO 2016 / 118545 A1 discloses a high-performance two-phase cooling device. The cooling device is suitable for cooling semiconductor structural elements. Here, heat is absorbed or released through the phase change between the liquid and gaseous states. WO 2016 / 118545 A1 does not relate to the adjustment of the filling height.

[0006] In order to obtain an effective cooling effect, it makes sense to control the filling height of the liquid phase. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device for electrochemical or electrical structural elements, which improves the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a cooling device should be provided which has an adjustable coolant filling level.

[0008] This object is achieved in terms of the cooling device by the features of claim 1 and in terms of the valve assembly by the features of claim 18. Advantageous designs result from the corresponding dependent claims.

[0009] The cooling device according to the invention for electrochemical and electrical components comprises a component housing. The component housing is equipped with an inlet and an outlet. The component housing also includes a main valve and a control valve. Here, the main valve is arranged in a first region of the component housing downstream of the inlet and is designed to control the supply of coolant entering the component housing. The control valve is arranged in a second region of the component housing and is fluidly connected to the main valve. Here, the control valve is designed to adjust the opening position of the main valve according to the coolant filling level in the component housing. That is to say, when the control valve is open, the main valve opens or is opened, and when the control valve is closed, the main valve closes or is closed.

[0010] The housing body is in particular designed to be basin-shaped.

[0011] According to the invention, the cover is designed to be at least two-piece. Here, the first covering element is in particular designed such that the first covering element is placed planar on the housing body, and the first covering element and the housing body delimit the interior space. The outlet and / or the inlet are optionally constructed in the cover or in the housing body. The outlet and the inlet each have an opening and are suitably provided for attaching a pipeline or a hose respectively.

[0012] The region of the component housing can be a region of the bottom or the side wall of the housing body or a region of the cover. In particular, the first region of the component housing is a region different from the second region of the component housing.

[0013] In a design, the main valve is arranged in the edge region of the cover of the component housing or at the side of the component housing body.

[0014] Suitably, the main valve is designed as a spring-loaded diaphragm valve (Membranventil). The second covering element can be designed as a support for the spring.

[0015] In the design, the main valve has a main valve inlet, a main valve outlet, and a main valve body. Here, the main valve inlet is connected to the inlet. The main valve outlet is connected to the internal space of the component housing. The main valve body has a membrane that can move between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the main valve inlet having a main valve inlet chamber is connected to the main valve outlet having a main valve outlet chamber, while in the closed position, there is no fluid connection through the main valve body between the main valve inlet and the main valve outlet. Appropriately, the membrane is pressed to the closed position by a spring. The spring is suitably a helical spring.

[0016] In the design, the control valve is arranged especially centrally in the cover of the component housing. Alternatively, the control valve can also be arranged in the edge region of the cover.

[0017] According to the design, exactly one control valve is provided.

[0018] According to an alternative design, two control valves, especially exactly two control valves, are provided. The two control valves are connected to the main valve in such a way that when both control valves are closed, the main valve is closed, and when one of the two control valves is open or both control valves are open, the main valve is open.

[0019] Appropriately, the control valve is arranged in the cover of the component housing, especially in regions of the cover that are remote from each other, for example in opposite edge regions of the cover. By being arranged at locations that are remote from each other in the cover, especially when the component housing is tilted, the coolant filling level can be determined with increased precision. The two control valves can be designed to be the same or different, as described below for the control valve.

[0020] In other designs, the control valve is a float valve. The float valve has the advantage of not requiring an additional height sensor. The float valve is arranged in the cover of the component housing. The float valve can have a lower stop to limit the downward movement of the floating body, i.e., away from the cover. This stop can represent the lower threshold of the coolant filling height. If the float valve is arranged centrally, it is less sensitive to the oblique attitude relative to the housing body than when it is arranged in the edge region.

[0021] Within the scope of the present invention, the floating body is understood to be a body that floats in or on a liquid, a liquid coolant. Such a floating body can be made of a material with a lower density than the liquid or the floating body can have a cavity filled with a gas, especially filled with air, especially as an open or closed cavity. The floating body can, for example, be disc-shaped or have a surrounding edge, where the surrounding edge extends, for example, perpendicular to the floating body main body.

[0022] Alternatively, the control valve can be designed as a solenoid valve. In this design, a sensor is additionally provided, which adjusts the control valve according to the filling level. The sensor is suitably arranged in the central region near the cover.

[0023] The float valve suitably has a floating body with a sealing element, wherein when the coolant received in the internal space of the component housing exceeds the upper threshold of the coolant filling height, the floating body with the sealing element closes the opening of the control valve. When the coolant filling height is below the upper threshold, the floating body opens the float valve, wherein the floating body is guided in a guide portion arranged in the internal space of the component housing in particular.

[0024] In an alternative design, the float valve has a rod and a floating body with a sealing element, wherein when the coolant received in the internal space of the component housing exceeds the upper threshold of the coolant filling height, the sealing element closes the opening of the control valve. When the coolant filling height is below the upper threshold, the floating body with the rod opens the float valve. The rod is connected to the cover, in particular to the first covering element, in a hinged manner on one side, and is connected to the floating body in a rigid or hinged manner on the opposite side. The floating body can be guided in a guide portion arranged in the internal space of the component housing in particular.

[0025] A control channel is suitably arranged between the main valve and the control valve, wherein the control channel is connected to the inlet via a throttle portion arranged in the main valve, and wherein the control channel is connected to the internal space of the component housing via the control valve, and wherein in the open state of the control valve, the inlet is fluidly connected to the internal space of the component housing via the throttle portion through the control channel. In particular, the coolant can flow from the inlet through the throttle portion and into the internal space of the component housing through the control channel.

[0026] In a design with two control valves, the first section of the control channel is suitably arranged between the main valve and one of the two control valves, and the second section of the control channel is arranged between the two control valves. The first section of the control channel is connected to the inlet via a throttle portion arranged in the main valve, and the control channel is connected to the internal space of the component housing via one or more control valves. In the open state of the two control valves or at least one control valve, the inlet is connected to the internal space of the component housing via the throttle portion through the control channel.

[0027] Alternatively, a control channel can also be constructed between each of the main valve and the control valve.

[0028] In the design solution, the cover includes a first covering element having an inner side and an outer side, and a second covering element having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the control channel is formed by a cavity between the first covering element and the second covering element. The control channel can in particular be formed by side walls extending from the first covering element to the second covering element and / or grooves formed in the first covering element. Alternatively, the control channel can be formed by a tubular element.

[0029] In other design solutions, one or more battery elements or accumulator elements are received in the component housing.

[0030] In the design solution, a semi-permeable element is arranged in the component housing, in particular in the first covering element, which guides the gaseous coolant from the interior space to the outlet.

[0031] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a valve assembly which consists of two control valves and a main valve, which are in particular designed for use with a cooling system according to the invention. The two control valves and the main valve are arranged at the component housing, which is at least designed with an inlet. The two control valves are connected to the main valve in such a way that when both control valves are closed, the main valve is closed, and when one of the two control valves is open or both control valves are open, the main valve is open.

[0032] Suitably, the control valves are arranged in the cover of the component housing, in particular in regions of the cover that are remote from each other, for example in opposite edge regions of the cover. By being arranged at locations remote from each other in the cover, in particular when the component housing is tilted, the coolant filling level can be determined with increased accuracy. The control valves can in particular be designed as, for example, float valves as described above.

[0033] According to another aspect of the invention, a cooling system is disclosed which includes a cooling device and also includes a compressor and a cooler arranged outside the component housing. The cooling device and the compressor and the cooler are connected to each other via pipelines. The cooler and the compressor re-liquefy the gaseous coolant. Alternatively, the cooling system can also include a heat exchanger or a condenser arranged outside the component housing, which re-liquefies the gaseous coolant. The cooling system forms a closed circuit. Description of the Drawings

[0034] The invention will be explained in more detail below with regard to other features and advantages based on the description of the embodiments and with reference to the drawings. They are each shown in schematic diagrams:

[0035] Figure 1 A top view of a partially open component housing of a first embodiment is shown,

[0036] Figure 2 Shows along according to Figure 1 the longitudinal section A-A of

[0037] Figure 3 shows a cooling system,

[0038] Figure 4a Figure b shows a detailed view of the main valve in the first design,

[0039] Figure 5a 、 Figure 5b shows a detailed view of the main valve in the second design,

[0040] Figure 6a 、 Figure 6b shows a detailed view of the control valve in the first design, and

[0041] Figure 7a 、 Figure 7b shows a detailed view of the control valve in the second design,

[0042] Figure 8 shows a top view of the partially open component housing of the second embodiment,

[0043] Figure 9 shows a top view of the closed component housing,

[0044] Figure 10 shows Figure 9 a cross-section along B-B of

[0045] Figure 11 shows Figure 9 a longitudinal section along A-A of DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] In Figure 1 shown, the cooling device 2 according to the present invention includes a component housing 4. The component housing 4 has a housing body 6 and a cover 8. The housing body 6 is designed to be basin-shaped, and the cover 8 closes the internal space of the housing body 6. The component housing 2 is also provided with an inlet 10 and an outlet 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet 10 and the outlet 12 each have a tubular protrusion. The cover 8 has a first covering element 16 on its upper side. A second covering element 24 is arranged above the first covering element 16, and the second covering element is removed in Figure 1 but shown in Figure 2 The first covering element 16 has an inner side 18 and an outer side 20, while the second covering element 24 has an inner side 26 and an outer side 28. The outer side 20 and the inner side 26 face each other.

[0047] The control channel 44 is formed by a cavity between the first covering element and the second covering element 24.

[0048] The main valve 40 is arranged in the cover 8, in this embodiment in the first covering element 16. The main valve 40 is fluidly connected to the inlet 10. Furthermore, a control valve 42 is arranged centrally in the first covering element 16. A control channel 44 is arranged in the first covering element 16 and is fluidly connected to the main valve 40 and the control valve 42. The control channel 44 is formed here by a side wall extending from the first covering element to the second covering element and optionally by a groove formed in the first covering element. Optionally, the first covering element 16 includes a semi-permeable element in order to conduct away the gaseous coolant supplied to the outlet 12. In this case, the control channel 44 is separated from the following gap between the first covering element 16 and the second covering element 24 by the side wall, i.e., is not fluidly connected thereto, i.e., the gaseous coolant is guided through this gap.

[0049] Figure 2 A longitudinal section along A-A in Figure 1 of the cooling device is shown. The inlet 10 is connected to the main valve 40. In the case where the main valve 40 is open, coolant is guided from the inlet 10 into the interior space 14 of the component housing 4. In the case where the main valve 40 is closed, the inlet 10 is blocked. The main valve 40 has a membrane 52 and a spring 54 in the illustrated design. The control channel 44 extends in the first covering element 16 starting from the main valve 40. Currently, the control channel 44 is closed upwards by the second covering element 24. The control channel 44 extends to the control valve 42 and forms a fluid connection between the main valve 40 and the control valve 42.

[0050] The control valve 42 is configured as a float valve 58. It has a floating body 64 and an opening 60. Depending on the coolant sensing height 62, the control valve 42 is opened or closed by the floating body 64.

[0051] In Figure 3 a cooling system according to the invention is shown. The cooling device 2 is connected via its outlet 12 by a line 36 to a cooler 34 and a compressor 33, which again liquefies the gaseous coolant. Then, the liquid coolant can be supplied via the line 36 to the cooling device 2 such that it again reaches the interior space 14 of the component housing via the inlet 10 when the main valve 40 is open. In the component housing, the coolant is heated again by the waste heat from the components received in the component housing, in particular battery cells, and is at least partially converted into the gas phase. The coolant, in particular the gaseous coolant, is guided back to the compressor via the outlet 12.

[0052] Figure 4a and Figure 4bThe main valve 40 in the first embodiment is shown in more detail. The main valve 40 has a main valve inlet 46 and a main valve outlet 48. The main valve also has a main valve body 50, in which a diaphragm 52 and a spring 54 are arranged. In the closed state, the diaphragm 52 seals the valve from the valve seat 68. In the open state, a gap is formed between the diaphragm 52 and the valve seat 68. The spring 54, which can be configured as a helical spring, presses the diaphragm 52 against the valve seat 68. The spring 54 is supported against the second covering element 24 on the side opposite to the valve seat 68. The second covering element 24 suitably has a flange 66, which seals the valve body 50 from the upper side and circumferentially surrounds the spring 54. The control channel 44 extends from the valve body 50. In addition, the inlet 10 or the main valve inlet 46 is fluidly connected to the control channel 44 via a throttle portion 56.

[0053] In Figure 4a and Figure 4b the embodiment shown, the throttle portion 56 is arranged in the component housing 4 and configured as a channel, in particular a channel of the housing body 6.

[0054] Figure 5a and Figure 5b The second embodiment of the main valve 40 is shown. The second embodiment of the main valve 40 differs from the first embodiment in the position of the throttle portion 56. In this embodiment, the throttle portion 56 is arranged in the diaphragm 52. In this embodiment, the throttle portion 56 also provides a connection between the inlet 10 and the control channel 44.

[0055] Figure 6a and Figure 6b The first embodiment of the control valve 42 is shown. The control valve 42 has an opening 60, which connects the control channel 44 to the internal space 14 of the component housing 4. The control valve 42 has a floating body 64. In this embodiment, the floating body 64 is substantially cylindrical. The floating body 64 has a sealing element 70 in the center. The floating body 64 has protrusions 78 at its periphery, which can be fitted into the guide grooves. In the embodiment shown, the first covering element has a recess 80 around the opening 60 at its inner side 18, which can at least partially receive the floating body 64.

[0056] Figure 7a and Figure 7b The second embodiment of the control valve 42 is shown. The control valve 42 is also designed as a float valve 58 and has a floating body 64. As Figure 6a and Figure 6bIn a manner different from the illustrated embodiment, the floating body 64 is connected to the component housing 4 via a rod 74. In particular, the component housing 4 has a support portion 76, and the rod 74 is hingedly connected to the component housing 4 on a first side via this support portion. The rod 74 is hingedly connected to the floating body 64 on a second side. A sealing element 72 is arranged on the rod 74, i.e., on the side facing the first covering element 16, and this sealing element seals the opening 60 in the first covering element 16 in the closed state of the control valve 42. The advantage of this embodiment is that the control valve 42 can also be closed at a higher pressure in the control channel 44.

[0057] The functional principle of the control valve in the first and second embodiments is as follows: The floating body 64 floats on the coolant located in the internal space 14 of the component housing 4. If the coolant filling height 62 exceeds a predetermined threshold, i.e., the upper threshold, the sealing elements 70, 72 are pressed against the opening 60, so that the control valve 42 closes. The pressure in the control channel 44 rises through the closed control valve 42, and this control channel is connected to the inlet 10 via a throttle portion 56. This pressure rise causes the spring-loaded main valve 40 to be brought into its closed position. Thus, the coolant filling height 62 is bounded by the upper threshold because no other coolant can flow in to supplement the internal space 14. If the coolant filling height 62 drops below the upper threshold in the internal space 14, the floating body 64 descends and the sealing elements 70, 72 release the opening 60 of the control valve 42. By releasing the opening 60 of the control valve 42, a small amount of coolant can enter the internal space 14 through the control channel 44 and the opening 60. However, more importantly, the pressure in the control channel 44 drops, and the spring-loaded main valve 40 is thus brought from its closed position into the open position. The coolant can thus be guided again from the inlet 10 through the main valve 40 into the internal space 14. The coolant filling height 62 is supplemented until the upper threshold.

[0058] In Figure 8 The design of the cooling device 2 shown in Figure 8 includes a component housing 4. The component housing 4 has a housing body 6 and a cover 8. The housing body 6 is designed in a basin shape, and the cover 8 closes the internal space of the housing body 6. The component housing 2 is also provided with an inlet 10 and an outlet 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet 10 and the outlet 12 each have a tubular protrusion. The cover 8 has a first covering element 16 on its upper side. A second covering element 24 is arranged above the first covering element 16, which is removed in Figure 9 but shown in

[0059] The control channel 44 is formed by the cavity between the first covering element 16 and the second covering element 24.

[0060] The main valve 40 is arranged in the cover 8, and in this embodiment, it is arranged in the first covering element 16. The main valve 40 is fluidly connected to the inlet 10. In addition, two control valves 42a, 42b are arranged in the first covering element 16. The control channel 44 is arranged in the first covering element 16 and is fluidly connected to the main valve 40 and the control valves 42a, 42b. The main valve 40 can be designed as Figure 4a , Figure 4b or Figure 5a , Figure 5b shown.

[0061] Here, the control valve 42a is arranged adjacent to the main valve 40. The control valve 42a is fluidly connected to the main valve 40 via a first section 44a of the control channel 44. The control valve 42b is arranged on the side of the covering element 16 that is far in the longitudinal direction of the component housing 4. The control valve 42b is fluidly connected to the control valve 42a via a second section 44b of the control channel 44.

[0062] The arrangement of the control valve 42b is also shown in Figure 10 in a longitudinal section and in Figure 9 in a cross-section. The control valve 42b is arranged at the edge of the component housing 4, specifically on the side facing away from the outlet 12. The control valve 42b is designed as a float valve 58. It has a floating body 64 that moves away from or towards the cover 8 depending on the coolant filling height at the floating body. The float valve 58 also has a sealing element 70 that can close or open the sealing seat of the valve. As Figure 10 shown, the floating body 64 is connected to the first covering element 16 by means of a rod 74. The floating body can be guided in a guide at the side wall of the housing body 6. The other control valve 42a of the two control valves is suitably implemented in the same way.

[0063] The control channel 44 is formed here by the side wall extending from the first covering element 16 to the second covering element 24 and optionally by a groove formed in the first covering element. Optionally, the first covering element 16 includes a semi-permeable element 22 for discharging the gaseous coolant supplied to the outlet 12. In this case, the control channel 44 is separated from the gap between the first covering element 16 and the second covering element 24 by the side wall, i.e., it is not fluidly connected to it, and the gaseous coolant is guided through this gap. Here, the control channel has a first section 44a and a second section 44b, as Figure 8 shown. The first section 44a extends from the main valve 30 to the control valve 42a, and the second section 44b extends from the control valve 42a to the control valve 42b. Once one of the two control valves 42a, 42b is opened, the pressure in the control channel 44 drops so that the main valve 40 opens when pump pressure is applied at the inlet.

[0064] Explanation of reference numerals

[0065] 2 Cooling device

[0066] 4 Component housing

[0067] 6 Housing body

[0068] 8 Cover

[0069] 10 Inlet

[0070] 12 Outlet

[0071] 14 Internal space

[0072] 16 First covering element

[0073] 18 Inner side

[0074] 20 Outer side

[0075] 22 Semi-permeable element

[0076] 24 Second covering element

[0077] 26 Inner side

[0078] 28 Outer side

[0079] 33 Compressor

[0080] 34 Cooler

[0081] 36 Pipeline

[0082] 38 Safety element

[0083] 40 Main valve

[0084] 42, 42a, 42b Control valve

[0085] 44 Control channel

[0086] 44a First section

[0087] 44b Second section

[0088] 46 Main valve inlet

[0089] 48 Main valve outlet

[0090] 50 Main valve body

[0091] 52 Membrane

[0092] 54 Spring

[0093] 56 Throttle section

[0094] 58 Float valve

[0095] 60 Opening

[0096] 62 Coolant filling height

[0097] 64 Floating body

[0098] 66 Flange

[0099] 68 Valve seat

[0100] 70 Sealing element

[0101] 72 Sealing element

[0102] 74 Rod

[0103] 76 Rod support part

[0104] 78 Protrusion

[0105] 80 Recess

Claims

1. Cooling device (2) for electrochemical and electrical components, comprising a component housing (4), wherein the component housing (4) is provided with an inlet (10) and an outlet (12), wherein the component housing (10) includes a main valve (40) and a control valve (42), wherein the main valve (40) is arranged in a first region of the component housing (4) downstream of the inlet (10) and is designed to control the supply of coolant into the component housing (4), wherein the control valve (42) is arranged in a second region of the component housing (4) and is fluidly connected to the main valve (40), and wherein the control valve (42) is designed to adjust the opening position of the main valve (40) according to the coolant filling level in the component housing (4).

2. The cooling device (2) according to claim 1, comprising exactly one control valve (42).

3. The cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a control channel (44) is arranged between the main valve (40) and the control valve (42), wherein the control channel (44) is connected to the inlet via a throttle portion (56) arranged in the main valve (40), and wherein the control channel (44) is connected to the interior space (14) of the component housing (4) via the control valve (42), and wherein in the open state of the control valve (42), the inlet (10) is fluidly connected to the interior space (14) of the component housing (4) via the throttle valve (46) through the control channel (44).

4. The cooling device (2) according to claim 1, comprising two control valves (42, 42a, 42b), in particular exactly two control valves (42a, 42b).

5. The cooling device (2) according to claim 2, wherein when both control valves (42, 42a, 42b) are closed, the main valve (40) is closed, and when one of the two control valves (42a, 42b) is open or both control valves (42a, 42b) are open, the main valve (40) is open.

6. The cooling device (2) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the control valves (42, 42a, 42b) are arranged in the cover (8) of the component housing (4), in particular in regions of the cover (8) remote from each other.

7. The cooling device (2) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a first section (44a) of the control channel (44) is arranged between the main valve (40) and the first of the two control valves (42, 42a), wherein the first section (44a) of the control channel (44) is connected to the inlet via a throttle portion (56) arranged in the main valve (40), and wherein the first section of the control channel is connected to the interior space (14) of the component housing (4) via the control valve (42a). The second of the two control valves (42b) is connected to the first of the two control valves via a second section (44b) of the control channel (44), and in the open state of at least one of the control valves (42a, 42b), the inlet (10) is in fluid connection with the interior space (14) of the component housing (4) via the throttle (46) and the control channel (44).

8. The cooling device (2) according to claim 3 or 7, wherein the cover (8) comprises a first covering element (16) having an inner side (18) and an outer side (20) and a second covering element (24) having an inner side (26) and an outer side (28), wherein the control channel (44) is formed by a cavity between the first covering element and the second covering element (24).

9. The cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main valve (40) is arranged in the edge region of the cover (8) of the component housing (4) or at the side of the component housing body (6).

10. The cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main valve (40) is designed as a spring-loaded diaphragm valve.

11. The cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main valve (40) has a main valve inlet (46), a main valve outlet (48) and a main valve body (50), wherein the main valve inlet (46) is connected to the inlet (10), wherein the main valve outlet (48) is connected to the interior space (14) of the component housing (4), wherein the main valve body (50) has a diaphragm (52) movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position, the main valve inlet (46) is connected to the main valve outlet (48), and wherein in the closed position, there is no fluid connection through the main valve body (50) between the main valve inlet (46) and the main valve outlet (48).

12. The cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control valve (42) is arranged in the cover (8) of the component housing (4).

13. The cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the control valves (42) are float valves (58).

14. The cooling device (2) according to claim 13, wherein the float valve (58) has a rod (74) with a sealing element (70) and a float body (64), and when the coolant received in the interior space (14) of the component housing (4) exceeds the upper threshold of the coolant filling height (62), the float body (64) with the sealing element (70) closes the opening (60) of the control valve (42), and when the coolant filling height (62) is below the upper threshold, the float body (64) opens the float valve (58), and the float body (64) is guided in particular in a guide arranged in the interior space (14) of the component housing (4).

15. The cooling device (2) according to claim 13, wherein the float valve (58) has a rod (74) with a sealing element (72) and a float body (64), and wherein when the coolant received in the interior space (14) of the component housing (4) exceeds the upper threshold of the coolant filling height (62), the sealing element (72) closes the opening (60) of the control valve (42), and wherein when the coolant filling height (62) is below the upper threshold, the float body (64) with the rod (74) opens the float valve (58).

16. The cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more battery elements or accumulator elements are received in the component housing (4).

17. A cooling system, having a cooling device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims and a cooler (34) and a compressor (33).

18. A valve assembly, in particular for a cooling device (2), comprising two control valves (42a, 42b) and a main valve (40), wherein the two control valves (42a, 42b) are connected to the main valve (40) in such a way that when both control valves (42a, 42b) are closed, the main valve (40) is closed, and when one of the two control valves (42a, 42b) is open or both control valves (42a, 42b) are open, the main valve (40) is open, wherein the control valves (42a, 42b) are in particular arranged in the cover of the component housing.

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