motor vehicle

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1) comprising an internal combustion engine (2), an air filter assembly (6) for supplying the internal combustion engine (2) with combustion air, an exhaust gas treatment assembly (8) for treating exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine (2), a cooling water circuit (10) into which the internal combustion engine (2) is integrated, a fuel line (4) leading from a fuel tank (3) to the internal combustion engine (2), and a heater (13) integrated into the cooling water circuit (10) for generating heated cooling water, wherein the heater (13) is connected to the air filter assembly (6) and is supplied with air via the air filter assembly (6), and the heater (13) is connected to the exhaust gas treatment assembly (8) for removing and treating exhaust gas resulting from the combustion of the fuel, characterized in that the heater (13) is connected to the fuel line (4) and is supplied with fuel via the fuel line (4),wherein the air filter device (6) has a first pressure zone (6a) through which the internal combustion engine (2) is supplied with air, and a second pressure zone (6b) through which the heater (13) is supplied with air, with different pressures, and / or the exhaust gas treatment device (8) has a first pressure zone (8a) into which the exhaust gas line (9) coming from the internal combustion engine (2) opens, and a second pressure zone (8b) into which the exhaust gas line (18) coming from the heater (13) opens.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, an air filter device for supplying the internal combustion engine with combustion air, an exhaust gas treatment device for treating exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, a cooling water circuit in which the internal combustion engine is integrated, a fuel line leading from a fuel tank to the internal combustion engine, and a heating device integrated into the cooling water circuit for generating heated cooling water, wherein the heating device is connected to the air filter device and is supplied with air via the air filter device, and the heating device is connected to the exhaust gas treatment device for removing and treating exhaust gas resulting from the combustion of the fuel.

[0002] Modern vehicles, in addition to standard components such as the internal combustion engine, air filter system, exhaust aftertreatment system, cooling system, and fuel tank, often also have an auxiliary heater, commonly called a parking heater. This heater allows the vehicle to warm the coolant without the engine running. The heated coolant then flows through a heat exchanger, generating warm air that is blown into the vehicle's interior to heat it. The coolant circulates in the cooling system, which includes both the internal combustion engine and the heater. Typically, the cold coolant flows to the engine and into its cooling channels. From there, it flows to the heater, where it is warmed before finally reaching the heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to the air being heated.The cooling circuit naturally includes a suitable water pump and a standard radiator, which serves to cool the cooling water during normal operation of the internal combustion engine.

[0003] The heater is powered by fuel supplied from a separate line running from the fuel tank to the heater, where it is burned in a combustion chamber. Combustion requires intake air, for which the heater has a corresponding air intake silencer, or one integrated with the heater, through which the air is drawn in. The exhaust gases produced during combustion are fed into an exhaust system located either on or downstream of the heater, through which the exhaust gases are ultimately discharged. Thus, apart from its connection to the cooling water circuit, the heater is connected to separate supply and exhaust components.

[0004] DE 195 20 122 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with a water heater comprising a burner, an engine filter, and a catalytic converter. Air is supplied to the burner and the engine of the motor vehicle via the engine filter. The common air supply splits at a junction, with combustion air being supplied to the engine and combustion air to a combustion chamber of the burner. Only one air line leads from the engine filter, which splits to the engine and to the burner. Furthermore, burner exhaust gas is introduced into an exhaust system upstream of the catalytic converter. Upstream of the catalytic converter, the burner exhaust gas is combined with the engine exhaust gas. It then flows into a common exhaust line leading to the catalytic converter.

[0005] US 5,320,523 A discloses an assembly of a burner for a motor vehicle, wherein the burner serves to temper an exhaust gas stream. The burner is supplied with air via an air inlet. Additionally, exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is introduced via an exhaust gas inlet. Both fluid streams meet in a mixing zone and enter a catalyst as a mixture.

[0006] DE 100 05 520 A1 discloses an intake air heating system comprising a heater and a motor. Both the heater and the motor are supplied with air via an air purifier and convey the exhaust gas produced by combustion to a catalyst via an engine exhaust pipe. The air supply and exhaust gas discharge for both the heater (or heating unit) and the motor (or internal combustion engine) are located at the air purifier and the catalyst, respectively, and are bundled together in a single line.

[0007] A burner concept similar to DE 100 05 520 A1 is also described in DE 199 25 915 A1, both with regard to the design of the air supply and the exhaust gas removal.

[0008] DE 195 45 677 A1 discloses a fuel-operated heater for a vehicle, with an atmospheric vaporizing burner, a fuel line between the combustion chamber and the metering pump, the suction line of which can be connected to a fuel tank, and a shut-off valve arranged in the fuel line which is open during operation of the heater. The shut-off valve is an on / off shut-off valve or a spring-loaded pressure valve which is biased into the closed position towards the metering pump by a spring. This prevents the formation of air bubbles and the evaporation of steam from the fuel line.

[0009] DE 195 02 082 A1 discloses a vehicle heater comprising a burner, a blower, a heat exchanger, and a control unit. In its auxiliary heater configuration, it is housed within a base casing approximately in the shape of a cuboid or half-cylinder with a substantially flat, continuous upper casing surface. The auxiliary heater configuration can be converted into an engine-independent parking heater by adding an auxiliary control unit. A complete parking heater can be created from the auxiliary heater configuration simply by attaching an extension casing. The auxiliary heater and the parking heater configuration each require approximately the same installation space.

[0010] The invention is based on the problem of specifying a motor vehicle that is improved in comparison.

[0011] To solve this problem, in a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, the invention provides that the heater is connected to the fuel line and supplied with fuel via the fuel line, wherein the air filter device has a first pressure area, through which the internal combustion engine is supplied with air, and a second pressure area, through which the heater is supplied with air, with different pressures, and / or the exhaust gas treatment device has a first pressure area, into which the exhaust gas line coming from the internal combustion engine opens, and a second pressure area, into which the exhaust gas line coming from the heater opens.

[0012] In the motor vehicle according to the invention, the heating unit is integrated into the supply and disposal system of the internal combustion engine, or rather, coupled to its supply and disposal components. Thus, according to the invention, no separate line is laid between the fuel tank and the heating unit; instead, the fuel is supplied to the heating unit via the fuel line that also supplies the internal combustion engine. This allows components belonging to this system, such as fuel extraction from the tank, filtration, etc., to be used.

[0013] Furthermore, the heater is connected to the air filter system that supplies air to the combustion engine; that is, the heater is supplied with air via the air filter system. A separate air intake silencer, or a corresponding connection to one, is therefore unnecessary. This allows the heater to utilize components already present in the air supply system, such as the ability to draw air from a cooler area, water separation, air filtration, and acoustic damping.

[0014] Finally, the heater is also connected to the exhaust gas treatment system, which treats and cleans the exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. This means that exhaust gas produced by the heater is also routed and cleaned via the vehicle's existing exhaust gas cleaning system. A separate exhaust system for the heater is therefore no longer necessary. Components already part of the exhaust system, such as acoustic damping, thermal shielding against adjacent components, the exhaust gas measuring device, and the exhaust aftertreatment system, can also be used in this system.

[0015] This means that, according to the invention, the operation of the heating device is carried out via existing components that are required for the operation of the internal combustion engine; thus, these components are given an additional or secondary use, while corresponding separate components that were exclusively required for the operation of the heating device are no longer needed.

[0016] Regarding the fuel supply, two different routing options are conceivable. According to the first option, a supply line leading to the heater can branch off from the fuel line leading to the internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the fuel line can also branch into two supply lines, one leading to the internal combustion engine and the other to the heater.

[0017] Since the heater only needs to be supplied with fuel occasionally, namely when it is required for operation, it is practical to connect one or both of its supply lines to the fuel line via a switchable valve. This allows you to define whether the internal combustion engine or the heater is being supplied with fuel. One supply line is closed while the other is open.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, a fuel pump is further provided, which supplies both the heater and the internal combustion engine with fuel. A fuel pump for the internal combustion engine is usually provided anyway. According to the invention, the heater is now also supplied via this fuel pump, meaning that a separate fuel pump that meters the fuel to the heater is also unnecessary.

[0019] Several design variations are conceivable with regard to the coupling of the heater to the air filter unit. For example, an air duct can lead directly from the air filter unit to the heater. The air filtered by the air filter unit then reaches the heater via this separate air duct. Alternatively, but not according to the invention, it is conceivable that an air duct leading to the heater branches off from an air duct leading from the air filter unit to the internal combustion engine. Finally, according to a third variant not according to the invention, it is conceivable that an air duct leading from the air filter unit branches into two air ducts, one leading to the internal combustion engine and the other to the heater. In these last two variants, only one air duct leads from the air filter unit, which then leads to the internal combustion engine and the heater, respectively, in the aforementioned different configurations.The airflow in the air filter device can be designed in such a way that the combustion air for the heating device is drawn in from a pressure-neutral area or a separate chamber.

[0020] Here too, it is advantageous if the air filter unit or the heater and the air line, or two air lines, are connected via a switchable valve. Again, the heater should only be supplied with air when it is to be operated. The switchable valve(s) can then be used to precisely control whether the internal combustion engine or the heater is supplied with air. The valve(s) are, of course, switched synchronously with the valve(s) that regulate the fuel supply.

[0021] Several options are conceivable regarding the connection between the heating appliance and the exhaust gas treatment system. In one configuration, an exhaust pipe can lead directly from the heating appliance to the exhaust gas treatment system. Here, too, the heating appliance is connected to the exhaust gas treatment system via a separate exhaust pipe, where the heating appliance's exhaust gas is ultimately cleaned and discharged. A second alternative involves an exhaust pipe from the heating appliance terminating in an exhaust pipe leading from the internal combustion engine to the exhaust gas treatment system. In this case, a relatively short exhaust pipe is laid from the heating appliance to the exhaust pipe coming from the internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas then travels through this exhaust pipe to the exhaust gas treatment system, or rather, the exhaust gas cleaning system.A third alternative involves combining exhaust pipes from the heater and the internal combustion engine into a single exhaust pipe leading to the exhaust aftertreatment system. The heater's exhaust system can be designed to supply other components of the vehicle's thermal management system with residual heat from the exhaust gas, independent of the internal combustion engine's exhaust system. These components can include the interior, electronics, batteries, etc.

[0022] Here too, exhaust gas is only produced by the heating appliance when it is in operation. Therefore, connecting the heating appliance to the exhaust gas treatment system is only necessary when the heating appliance is running. For this purpose, the exhaust gas treatment system, the heating appliance, the exhaust pipe, or two exhaust pipes can be connected via a switchable valve, allowing for appropriate switching of the respective flow paths depending on the operation of the corresponding components.

[0023] Naturally, this or these valves, which regulate the exhaust flow, will also be switched synchronously with the valve(s) that regulate the fuel supply and the air supply.

[0024] Finally, the heater can be controlled via a control unit that also controls the operation of at least one other vehicle component. This achieves a further simplification, as no separate control unit is required for the heater's operation. Instead, the control functionality is integrated into an existing control unit belonging to a vehicle component that is already present, or existing functionalities can be used. The control unit of the internal combustion engine is preferably used for this purpose. This is particularly advantageous because the heater and the internal combustion engine are typically installed relatively close to each other.

[0025] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the drawings. The drawings are schematic representations and show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle of a first embodiment not according to the invention, and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle of a second embodiment according to the invention.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 not according to the invention in a purely schematic representation, where only the essential, invention-relevant components are shown.

[0027] The diagram shows an internal combustion engine 2, i.e., a typical combustion engine. Fuel is stored in a fuel tank 3 and is supplied to the internal combustion engine 2 via a fuel line 4 with an associated fuel metering pump 5.

[0028] Furthermore, an air filter device 6 is provided, from which an air line 7 leads to the internal combustion engine 2 in order to supply it with air.

[0029] Furthermore, an exhaust gas cleaning device 8 is provided, through which exhaust gases produced by the internal combustion engine are cleaned and discharged. The internal combustion engine 2 is connected to the exhaust gas cleaning device 8 via an exhaust pipe 9.

[0030] Furthermore, a cooling water circuit 10 is provided, in which cooling water used to cool the internal combustion engine 2 circulates. For this purpose, a water pump 11 and a radiator 12 are provided, in which the cooling water heated during operation of the internal combustion engine 2 is cooled again.

[0031] Furthermore, a heating unit 13 is provided, which functions as an auxiliary heater or parking heater and is then operated when, for example, the ambient temperature is very low and the passenger compartment is to be warmed before the passengers board, and similar situations.

[0032] The heating unit 13 is also integrated into the cooling water circuit 10. How Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the internal combustion engine 2 and the heater 13 are connected via a corresponding pipe connection, so that the cooling water first flows to the internal combustion engine 2 and from there to the heater 13, from where it then flows on to downstream components. In pure internal combustion engine operation, i.e., when the heater 13 is not operating, the cooling water heated by the internal combustion engine 2 flows through the heater; since the heater is switched off, it is not heated there. In pure heater operation, the cooled cooling water flows through the inactive internal combustion engine 2 and is therefore not heated there, but is only heated in the heater 13.

[0033] In order to heat the cooling water via the heater 13, the following is required in the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a supply line 14 is provided for supplying the heater with fuel. This supply line 14 branches off from the fuel line 4, which leads to the internal combustion engine 2. A valve 15 can be used to allow the fuel flow to the internal combustion engine 2 and to block the fuel flow to the heater 13 as needed. This is the case when the vehicle is operating normally via the internal combustion engine 2, as the heater 13 is not then in operation. When the heater 13 is in operation, the fuel flow to the internal combustion engine 2 is blocked and the supply line 14 to the heater 13 is opened.

[0034] The fuel metering pump 5 supplies both the internal combustion engine 2 and the heater 13. The pressure of the delivered fuel can be varied depending on whether the fuel is supplied to the internal combustion engine 2 or the heater 13. The fuel metering pump 5 can, for example, be switched automatically when the valve 15 switches, i.e., operated depending on the valve position, in order to set the required fuel pressure.

[0035] The fuel is burned in a suitable combustion chamber in the heater 13. To enable this, a certain amount of combustion air must also be supplied. For this purpose, an air line 16 branches off from the air line 7 and leads to the heater. Air that is supplied or drawn in via the air filter assembly 6 thus reaches the heater already cleaned, via the air line 7 and the air line 16.

[0036] Here too, a valve 17 is provided which can be switched accordingly, either to open the air supply to the internal combustion engine 2 and to close the supply to the heater 13, or to close the supply to the internal combustion engine 2 and to open the supply to the heater.

[0037] During operation of the heater, exhaust gas is naturally produced as a result of fuel combustion. To remove this, an exhaust pipe 18 is provided, which, as Fig. Figure 1 shows the exhaust gas flowing into the exhaust pipe 9, which leads from the internal combustion engine 2 to the exhaust gas cleaning device 8. The exhaust gas from the heating appliance therefore flows into the exhaust pipe 9 and from there to the exhaust gas cleaning device 8, where it is cleaned, treated, and finally discharged.

[0038] Here again, a valve 19 is provided, which can be used to regulate the exhaust gas flow. Either the exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine 2 to the exhaust gas cleaning device 8 can be opened when the internal combustion engine 2 is operating, in which case the exhaust gas line 18 is closed. However, if the heater 13 and the internal combustion engine 2 are not operating, the exhaust gas line 9 is closed, while the exhaust gas line 18 is opened.

[0039] Since the heater 13 requires both fuel and air for operation and produces exhaust gas, the valves 15, 17 and 19 are preferably controlled synchronously so that the corresponding lines leading to the heater are opened and the lines leading to the internal combustion engine 2 are closed accordingly.

[0040] During operation of the heater, the coolant circulating in the cooling circuit 10 is heated as described. The heated coolant then passes to a heat exchanger 20, where the heat transported via the coolant is transferred to the air, which is then conveyed into the interior or passenger compartment via a blower (not shown) and corresponding air ducts.

[0041] An embodiment of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention is shown in the form of a schematic diagram in Fig. 2 shown, where the same reference symbols are used for identical components.

[0042] The system includes an internal combustion engine 2, a fuel tank 3, an air filter device 6, an exhaust gas purification device 8, a cooling water circuit 10 and a heating unit 13.

[0043] To supply the heater 13 with fuel, a supply line 14 branching off from the fuel line 4 and a common fuel pump 5 are provided. The cooling water circuit also includes the water pump 11, the radiator 12, and the heat exchanger 20.

[0044] Unlike the design according to Fig. 1, where the air duct 16 branches off from the air duct 7 and the exhaust duct 18 flows into the exhaust duct 9, is designed according to Fig.2. The air line 16 is routed as a separate line from the air filter assembly 6 to the heater, just as the exhaust line 18 is routed as a separate line to the exhaust gas purification unit 8. The air filter assembly 6 is divided into two separate pressure zones 6a and 6b. One pressure zone 6a communicates with the air line 7, through which the air to be supplied to the internal combustion engine 2 is provided. The second pressure zone 6b, in which a different, usually lower pressure prevails than in the first pressure zone 6a, supplies the purified air to the heater 13. The supply line 16 is connected to this second pressure zone. Since the supply lines 7 and 16 are separate here, two separate valves 17 are also provided, which can be controlled independently but are alternately controlled, so that one valve 17 is open while the other is closed.

[0045] The exhaust gas purification system 8 is similarly configured. It also features a first pressure zone 8a and a second pressure zone 8b. The exhaust gas line 9, coming from the internal combustion engine 2, opens into the first pressure zone 8a. A valve 19 is provided here to open or close this exhaust gas branch. The exhaust gas line 18, coming from the heating unit 13, opens into the second pressure zone 8b. A separately switchable valve 19 is also provided here. The exhaust gas from each of the respective pressure zones 8a and 8b is then routed or expelled.

[0046] The pressure areas 6a and 6b as well as 8a and 8b can also be referred to as separate pressure chambers, since they can be implemented as separate structural sections within the air filter assembly 6 and the exhaust system 8 respectively.

[0047] The heating unit 13 is preferably controlled by the control device that controls the internal combustion engine 2, which is not shown here. A separate control device for the heating unit 13 is therefore not required.

Claims

Motor vehicle (1) comprising an internal combustion engine (2), an air filter assembly (6) for supplying the internal combustion engine (2) with combustion air, an exhaust gas treatment assembly (8) for treating exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine (2), a cooling water circuit (10) into which the internal combustion engine (2) is integrated, a fuel line (4) leading from a fuel tank (3) to the internal combustion engine (2), and a heater (13) integrated into the cooling water circuit (10) for generating heated cooling water, wherein the heater (13) is connected to the air filter assembly (6) and is supplied with air via the air filter assembly (6), and the heater (13) is connected to the exhaust gas treatment assembly (8) for removing and treating exhaust gas resulting from the combustion of the fuel, characterized in that the heater (13) is connected to the fuel line (4) and is supplied with fuel via the fuel line (4),wherein the air filter device (6) has a first pressure zone (6a) through which the internal combustion engine (2) is supplied with air, and a second pressure zone (6b) through which the heater (13) is supplied with air, with different pressures, and / or the exhaust gas treatment device (8) has a first pressure zone (8a) into which the exhaust gas line (9) coming from the internal combustion engine (2) opens, and a second pressure zone (8b) into which the exhaust gas line (18) coming from the heater (13) opens. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a supply line (14) leading to the heater (13) branches off from the fuel line (4), or that the fuel line (4) branches into two supply lines (14), one of which leads to the internal combustion engine (2) and the other to the heater (13). Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that one supply line (14) or the two supply lines (14) are connected to the fuel line (4) via a switchable valve (15). Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fuel pump (5) is provided, via which both the heater (13) and the internal combustion engine (2) can be supplied with fuel. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an air line (16) leads directly from the air filter device (6) to the heater (13). Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the air filter device (6) or the heater (13) and the air line (16) or two air lines (16) are connected to each other via a switchable valve (17). Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an exhaust pipe (18) leads directly from the heater (13) to the exhaust treatment device (8), or that an exhaust pipe (18) coming from the heater (13) opens into an exhaust pipe (9) leading from the internal combustion engine (2) to the exhaust treatment device (8), or that an exhaust pipe (9) coming from the heater (13) and an exhaust pipe (9) coming from the internal combustion engine (2) open into a common exhaust pipe (18) leading to the exhaust treatment device (8). Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the exhaust gas treatment device (8) or the heating device (13) and the exhaust pipe (18) or two exhaust pipes (18) are connected to each other via a switchable valve (19). Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating device (13) can be controlled via a control device controlling the operation of at least one further vehicle component. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the control device is the control device of the internal combustion engine (2).

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