Integrated type reservoir for vehicles
An integrated reservoir with dual chambers and a pressure regulation system addresses the inefficiencies of separate reservoirs, reducing costs and space while ensuring optimal pressure management for vehicle cooling systems.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102020122998
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2019-12-16
- Filing Date
- 2020-09-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-12
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-09-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle cooling systems require two separate reservoirs for high- and low-pressure cooling lines, increasing manufacturing costs, complexity, and space requirements, while also facing challenges in pressure equalization between these lines.
An integrated reservoir with a single housing containing high- and low-pressure storage chambers and a valve system that maintains constant internal pressure, allowing for a unified cap design compatible with both pressure levels, and includes a pressure regulation mechanism to equalize pressures automatically.
Reduces manufacturing costs and space requirements, improves fuel efficiency, and enhances durability and venting performance by integrating two reservoirs into one, while maintaining optimal pressure levels for both high- and low-pressure cooling lines.
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Abstract
Description
BACKGROUND(a) Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle reservoir, and in particular an integrated type reservoir comprising in a body produced by joining an upper and a lower housing, a high-pressure storage chamber configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a high-pressure cooling line, and a low-pressure storage chamber configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a low-pressure cooling line, as well as a valve installed to maintain the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber and the low-pressure storage chamber constant. (b) Related technology
[0002] In general, a vehicle's internal combustion engine cooling system includes a radiator designed to cool the coolant, the temperature of which is increased in the engine; a cooling fan designed to ventilate the radiator; a water pump designed to supply the coolant cooled in the radiator to a coolant passage of the engine; and a reservoir located in the coolant line. The reservoir, also known as a storage tank, holds a predetermined amount of coolant and prevents a vacuum from forming in the cooling system.
[0003] Furthermore, a hybrid vehicle, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), as in Fig.Figure 1 of the related technology shows a cooling line for an internal combustion engine 1 and a cooling line for cooling various power electronics (PE) components 2 such as a motor, a DC-DC converter, an inverter, or a high-voltage battery. Therefore, the cooling system's radiator is also divided into two radiators. One is a high-temperature radiator (HTR) 3, installed in the internal combustion engine cooling line, and the other is a low-temperature radiator (LTR) 4, installed in the power electronics component cooling line.
[0004] Furthermore, a reservoir (HTR RSVR) for the high-temperature cooler 5 is installed on a cooling line between the high-temperature cooler 3 and the internal combustion engine 1, while a reservoir (LTR RSVR) for the low-temperature cooler 6 is installed on a cooling line between the low-temperature cooler 4 and the power electronics component 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes an electric water pump (EWP) 7, which is installed between the low-temperature cooler reservoir 6 and the power electronics component 2. However, the related technique is problematic insofar as two reservoirs, namely the HTR RSVR 5 and the LTR RSVR 6, are to be used as described above, thereby increasing the cost and process time for manufacturing the two reservoirs.
[0005] Additionally, in the case of the cooling line for the internal combustion engine 1, the pressure within the cooling line itself increases to up to 1.1 bar. The specification of a cap for shielding the top of the HTR RSVR 5, used in the corresponding cooling line, is therefore defined to operate at a pressure level of 1.1 bar. However, in the case of the cooling line for the power electronics component 2, the pressure within the cooling line itself is approximately 0.7 bar, which corresponds to a pressure level of less than 1.1 bar. The cap of the LTR RSVR 6 used in the corresponding cooling line is used in conjunction with the HTR RSVR 5 used in the internal combustion engine cooling line. The reason for this is that it is difficult to dualize the specification of the cap used in the reservoir with regard to productivity.However, in order to efficiently remove air from the cooling line for the power electronics component, the LTR RSVR 6 used in the cooling line for the power electronics component should reduce the pressure of the cap. Therefore, a method for reducing the pressure of the cap is required.
[0006] For example, from CN 2 06 600 198 U, an integrated type reservoir is known, comprising a high-pressure storage chamber configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a high-pressure cooling line, and a low-pressure storage chamber configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a low-pressure cooling line, as well as a valve installed to maintain constant internal pressure in the high-pressure storage chamber and the low-pressure storage chamber.
[0007] Furthermore, for example, a coolant expansion tank for a motor vehicle with an upper and a lower housing is known from CN 2 01 747 450 U.
[0008] Other reservoirs with pressure equalization valves are known, for example, from CN 1 09 519 270 A and CN 2 08 734 425 U. BRIEF EXPLANATION
[0009] The present invention provides an integrated reservoir comprising a single reservoir to solve a problem in related technology where two reservoirs are installed in an internal combustion engine cooling line and a PE cooling line (PE being short for "power electronics," e.g., "Leistungselektronik," hereinafter referred to as PE). Furthermore, the invention provides an integrated reservoir with a cap, lid, or closure (hereinafter referred to as cap) that can be used at both 1.1 bar, the pressure of an internal combustion engine cooling line, and 0.7 bar, the pressure of a PE cooling line. Moreover, the invention provides an integrated reservoir capable of satisfactorily fulfilling the unique functions of a reservoir, namely the coolant inlet and supply function, the pressure relief function, and the pressure relief function.to release pressure and to allow pressure to enter or equalize it in the event of negative pressure. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated type reservoir that automatically performs pressure equalization within it.
[0010] According to the invention, an integrated reservoir with the features of claim 1 is provided for this purpose. Further embodiments of the reservoir are described in the dependent claims.
[0011] This means that an integrated type reservoir or container (hereinafter referred to as: reservoir) (e.g., with two separate reservoirs in a single housing) of a vehicle (e.g., motor vehicle) is provided, which, in an (e.g., integral) body produced by joining an upper housing and a lower housing, has a high-pressure storage chamber configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a high-pressure cooling line, and a low-pressure storage chamber configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a low-pressure cooling line, as well as a valve designed according to the claim, which is installed to maintain the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber and the low-pressure storage chamber constant.
[0012] The integrated reservoir provided for the vehicle of the present invention solves a problem in related technologies where two reservoirs are provided in the combustion engine cooling line and the PE cooling line, thereby reducing the number of reservoirs to one, thus lowering manufacturing costs and simplifying the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the present invention has the advantage of having a single reservoir, thereby reducing the vehicle's weight and improving fuel efficiency, and the reservoir occupies less space in the engine compartment compared to related technologies using two reservoirs, thus improving space utilization and making the equipment housing more efficient.The present invention also has the advantage that a low-pressure part of the reservoir is used at the level of 0.7 bar, so that the total pressure of the PE cooling line can be reduced to 0.7 bar, thereby increasing the durability of the PE cooling line due to the pressure reduction and improving the venting performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above-mentioned and other tasks and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood in the following detailed description, which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a representation showing a configuration of a conventional cooling piping system for a vehicle according to the related technology. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. Fig.3A is a detailed view of the upper housing according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 3B is a detailed view of the lower housing according to the present invention. Fig. 3C is an enlarged sectional view of an end surface of an upper partition according to the present invention. Fig. 3D is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an end surface of a lower partition wall according to the present invention. Fig. 4 a sectional view along line AA' of Fig. Figure 2 is to show an internal section of the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 5 shows a side view of a valve of the reservoir of an integrated type according to the present invention. Fig. 6A is a perspective exploded view of the valve according to the present invention. Fig.6B a sectional view along line BB' of Fig. Figure 5 is to show a section of the valve of the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 6C is a sectional view showing an operating or actuation state of the integrated type reservoir valve according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 7 is a sectional view of a cap of the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 8 is a representation showing the configuration of a cooling line system of a vehicle with the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. Fig. 9A is a representation showing the operating state when the high-pressure accumulator according to the present invention is under overpressure. Fig.9B is a representation showing the operating state when the low-pressure accumulator according to the present invention is under overpressure. Fig. 10A is a representation showing the operating state when the low-pressure accumulator according to the present invention is under negative pressure. Fig. 10B is a representation showing the operating state when the low-pressure accumulator according to the present invention is under overpressure. Fig. 10C is a representation showing the actuation state of the cap when filling the reservoir with coolant according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] It should be understood that the terms "vehicle" or "vehicle-..." or any similar term used herein include motor vehicles in general, such as passenger cars, including so-called sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, numerous commercial vehicles, as well as, for example, watercraft, including a variety of boats and ships, and also, for example, aircraft and the like, and furthermore, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other vehicles powered by alternative fuels (e.g., fuels produced from resources other than petroleum). A so-called hybrid vehicle, to which reference is made herein, is a vehicle that has two or more energy sources, e.g., vehicles that are powered by both gasoline and electricity.
[0015] Although the exemplary embodiment is described as using a plurality of units to perform an exemplary operation, it is clear that the exemplary operations can also be performed by one or more modules. Furthermore, it is clear that the term "control device / control unit" refers to a hardware unit that includes memory and a processor and is specifically programmed to perform the operations described herein. The memory is configured to store the modules, and the processor is specifically configured to execute said modules to perform one or more operations described below.
[0016] The terminology used herein serves only to describe certain embodiments and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are used herein to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the terms "possess" and / or "possessing," when used in this description, specify the presence of the aforementioned features, integers, steps, processes, elements, and / or components thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, processes, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" encompasses each and all combinations of one or more of the related items listed.
[0017] Unless otherwise stated or clear from the context, the term "approximately" used here means "within the usual tolerances for this technique," for example, within two standard deviations of the mean. "Approximately" can be understood as being within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from the context, all numerical values provided here are modified by the term "approximately."
[0018] The configuration and operation of an integrated reservoir according to the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are provided as an example to adequately convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.
[0019] Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. Fig. 3A to 3D detailed views showing an upper case and a lower case, where Fig. 3A a detailed view of the upper housing, Fig. 3B a detailed view of the lower casing, Fig. 3C an enlarged sectional view of an end face of an upper partition wall and Fig. 3D is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an end face of a lower partition wall. With reference to Fig.2 and 3A to 3D, the integrated type 10 reservoir of the present invention has a body which is produced by joining an upper housing 20 and a lower housing 30.
[0020] The upper housing 20 can have an upper plate 21, a rim 22 extending downwards from each side of the upper plate 21 to be perpendicularly curved (e.g., to transition into a perpendicular section via a curved section), and an upper partition 23 extending downwards from a central section of an inner surface of the upper plate 21 to be perpendicular to it, thus forming an end surface 24. The lower housing 30 can have a lower plate 31, a side wall surface 32 extending upwards from each side of the lower plate 31 to be perpendicularly curved (e.g., to transition into a perpendicular section via a curved section), and a lower partition 33 extending upwards from a central section of a surface of the lower plate 31 to be perpendicular to it, thus forming an end surface 34.
[0021] In the integrated reservoir of type 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 can be joined together by thermal forming. The upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 can be attached to one another and then heated, for example, by a heating plate. When a portion of the molten part has sufficiently melted, pressure is applied, and the heating plate is removed. Subsequently, a cooling process can be carried out until the molten part has hardened, thus joining the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 together.
[0022] When the upper casing 20 and the lower casing 30 are joined together by thermal fusion, the end face 24 of the upper partition 23 of the upper casing 20 and the end face 34 of the lower partition 33 of the lower casing 30 are also attached to each other. The interior of the integrated type 10 reservoir can be divided into two compartments by the upper partition 23 and the lower partition 33 being attached to each other.
[0023] Fig. 4 is a section view along line AA' of Fig.2, to show an internal section of the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. Of the two divided spaces, one space defines a high-pressure storage space V1 of the reservoir 10 of the present invention, while the other space defines a low-pressure storage space V2 of the reservoir 10 of the present invention. According to the exemplary representation of the present invention, one space on the left side in the Fig. The interior shown in section 4, when viewed from the front, is the high-pressure storage space V1, and a space on the right-hand side, when viewed from the front, is the low-pressure storage space V2.
[0024] Therefore, a first inlet pipe 25 can be connected to a first (e.g. in) Fig.4 left) side of the upper housing 20 to introduce coolant flowing from a high-temperature cooler 3 of an internal combustion engine cooling line into the high-pressure storage chamber V1, and may have a second inlet pipe 26 on a second (e.g. in Fig. 4 right) side of the upper housing 20 to introduce coolant flowing from a low-temperature cooler 4 of a PE cooling line into the low-pressure storage chamber V2. Additionally, a first outlet pipe 35 can be connected to a first (e.g. in Fig. 4 left) side of the lower housing 30 to discharge coolant received in the high-pressure storage chamber V1 into the cooling line of the internal combustion engine 1, and may have a second outlet pipe 36 on a second (e.g. in Fig. 4 right) side of the lower housing 30 shall be designed to discharge coolant which is received in the low-pressure storage chamber V2 into the cooling line of the PE component 2.
[0025] Furthermore, with reference to Fig. 3C and Fig. On the end face 24 of the upper partition 23 of the upper housing 20, a valve insertion groove 27 is formed to receive an upper part of the valve 40 or to form a seat for it, and on the end face 34 of the lower partition 33 of the lower housing 30, a valve insertion groove 37 is formed to receive a lower part of the valve 40 or to form a seat for it. The valve insertion grooves 27 and 37 can have exhaust valve grooves 27a and 37a, in which an exhaust valve 41 of the valve 40, which will be described later, is seated, as well as external spring grooves 27b and 37b, in which an external spring 45 of the valve 40 is seated.
[0026] If, therefore, as in Fig. 3C and Fig.As shown in the 3D diagram, the upper partition 23 of the upper housing 20 is attached, with the lower part of the valve 40 being inserted into the valve insertion groove 37 of the lower partition 33. The upper part of the valve 40 can then be inserted into the valve insertion groove 27 of the upper partition 23, thus enabling the valve 40 to be attached to both the upper partition 23 and the lower partition 33. The valve 40 can be coupled to a connection between the upper and lower partitions 23 and 33 to regulate or adjust the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 and the low-pressure storage chamber V2, which are subdivided by the partitions 23 and 33.
[0027] Furthermore, in order to allow air to flow from one room (e.g., the first room) to the other room (e.g., the second room) when the internal pressure of each of the rooms V1 and V2 is regulated by the valve 40, flow openings 29 and 39, which pass through the side walls 28 and 38 respectively, can be formed in the side wall 28 of a section in which the valve insertion groove 27 of the upper partition 23 is formed, and in the side wall 38 of a section in which the valve insertion groove 37 of the lower partition 33 is formed, wherein a first side that is open towards each of the side walls 28 and 38, and a second side that is open towards each of the valve insertion grooves 27 and 37, can be formed.
[0028] The configuration of valve 40 is described in detail below. Fig. Figure 5 is a side view of the integrated type reservoir valve according to the present invention. Fig.Figures 6A to 6C are detailed views of the integrated type reservoir valve according to the present invention, wherein Fig. 6A is a perspective exploded view of the valve, Fig. 6B a sectional view along line BB' of Fig. Figure 5 is to show a section of the integrated type reservoir valve according to the present invention, and Fig. Figure 6C is a sectional view showing an operating or actuation state of the integrated reservoir valve according to the present invention.
[0029] Referring to the corresponding FIGS., the valve 40 has the outlet valve 41. The outlet valve 41 has a body 413 with a lower surface 411 and an upper surface 412. An insert opening 415, extending from the lower surface 411 to the upper surface 412, is formed in a central section of the body 413, and a plurality of vent openings 414 are formed around the insert opening 415. Each vent opening 414 can extend from the lower surface 411 to the upper surface 412. In this respect, the diameter of the lower surface 411 is larger than the diameter of the upper surface 412, and the diameter of the insert opening 415 is larger than the diameter of the vent opening 414. Thus, the outlet valve 41 can have the shape of a truncated cone.
[0030] Furthermore, the outer spring 45 is arranged on the lower surface 411 of the outlet valve 41. A first side of the outer spring 45 faces the lower surface 411, while a second side of the outer spring 45 faces the side walls 28 and 38 of the insertion grooves 27 and 37. Therefore, the outlet valve 41 can be moved (e.g., rotated) within the interiors of the insertion grooves 27 and 37 by the elastic force of the outer spring 45 in the left-right direction of a high-pressure storage chamber V1 and a low-pressure storage chamber V2 (for simplicity, the direction of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 will be referred to as the left direction and the direction of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 as the right direction).
[0031] Additionally, a pressure or slide valve (hereinafter referred to as: pressure valve) 42 is coupled to the insertion opening 415 of the outlet valve 41. The pressure valve 42 has a flat, plate-shaped upper part 421, which has the vent opening 414 on the upper surface 412 (see left side in Figure 42). Fig. 6A) of the outlet valve 41 opens or closes, and extends an arm 422 from an underside of the upper part 421 (see right side in Fig.6A) extends downwards and has a pin hole 423 formed inwards from the end face 424. In particular, a length A1 of the arm 422 is longer than a length L1 of the outlet valve 41. A pin body 43 can be coupled to the arm 422 of the pressure valve 42. The pin body 43 can have a head 431 that comes into contact with the end face 424 of the arm 422, and a pin 432 that extends downwards from an underside of the head 431 and is inserted into or guided in the pin hole 423 of the arm 422.
[0032] Furthermore, the inner spring 44 can be inserted into the outer spring 45 on the lower surface 411 of the outlet valve 41. One side of the inner spring 44 can face the lower surface 411 (e.g., make contact with it), while a second side of the inner spring 44 can face the head 431 of the pin body 43 (e.g., make contact with it). Therefore, the arm 422 of the pressure valve 42 can be moved (e.g., rotated) in the insertion opening 415 of the outlet valve 41 by the elastic force of the inner spring 44 in the left-right direction.
[0033] With reference to Fig. 6C, the valve 40 of the present invention, configured as described above, can be arranged between the upper partition 23 and the lower partition 33, which divide the space into the high-pressure storage space V1 and the low-pressure storage space V2, and thus automatically control the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage space V1 and the low-pressure storage space V2.
[0034] In other words, assuming that an area of the lower surface 411 of the outlet valve 41 is designated as "area B" (unit: m²) 2 ) and an area of the upper surface 412 as "area A" (unit: m²) 2 The internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 is designated as “X” Pa (unit: N / m³). 2 ) and the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 as “Y” Pa (unit: N / m³) 2 ) denoted, and the internal pressure of each space can be controlled by the force equilibrium equation such as the following equation 1. X*(Area A)=Y*(Area B)+S where S is the elastic force of, for example, the inner spring (unit: N).
[0035] Therefore, in the integrated reservoir of type 10 of the present invention, when the pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 is set to approximately 0.7 bar and the pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 is set to approximately 1.1 bar, a cap usable at the level of approximately 0.7 bar can be used as cap 50, which will be described later. By adjusting the upper surface 412 of the outlet valve, the lower surface 411, and the elasticity of the inner spring (e.g., and / or the outer spring) according to the force equation of Equation 1, the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 and the low-pressure storage chamber V2 can be automatically regulated by the valve 40. The operation of the valve 40 will be described later.
[0036] Fig.Figure 7 is a sectional view of the cap of the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention. In relation to the drawing, the cap 50 of the present invention is an element that is coupled to a cap coupling 60 provided on the upper plate 21 of the upper housing 20. The cap 50 can be connected to the cap coupling 60 to seal the interior of the integrated type reservoir 10 according to the present invention from the outside. The cap 50 can regulate the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 when the cap is connected to the cap coupling 60.
[0037] Accordingly, the cap 50 can have a holder 51 (e.g., a lid part), a side wall 53, and a cap valve part 54. The holder 51 can be in the form of a flat plate with a rim 52 extending downwards and allowing it to be held by the user's hand. The side wall 53 can extend downwards from the holder 51 and has a (e.g., external) thread 531. The cap valve part 54 can be installed in the space defined within the side wall 53 to be opened or closed depending on the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 and the high-pressure storage chamber V1 in the reservoir 10, thereby releasing air from the low-pressure storage chamber V2 to the outside of the cap 50 or introducing outside air into the low-pressure storage chamber V2.
[0038] In this context, the cap valve part 54 can have a base (e.g., base body) 55, an intermediate body 56, an upper element 58, a main spring 59a, a cam or plunger (hereinafter referred to as: cam) 57, and a secondary spring (hereinafter referred to as: secondary spring) 59b. The base 55 can have a flow opening 551, which is configured to communicate with a flow path 231 formed in the upper partition 23 and which opens towards the low-pressure storage chamber V2, with a first locking surface 552 being formed on an upper surface of the base. The intermediate body 56 can be installed on the top (e.g. above) of the base 55 and has a lower surface 561 that comes into contact with the first locking surface 552, and has a second locking surface 562 that extends into the lower surface 561 to come into contact with a head piece 571 of the cam 57.The upper element 58 can have an inner wall 581 coupled to the side wall 53 and a ceiling surface 582 integral or integral with the inner wall 581.
[0039] The main spring 59a can be inserted between the upper surface of the lower surface 561 of the intermediate body 56 and the top surface 582 of the upper element 58 (e.g., making contact with them) to move the intermediate body 56 up and down (e.g., to rotate it). The cam 57 can have a plate-shaped head 571, which is inserted into the intermediate body 56 to be locked by the second locking surface 562 of the intermediate body 56, and a piston 572 extending upward from the head 571. The secondary spring 59b can be inserted between an annular body 573, through which the upper end of the piston 572 of the cam 57 passes, and the head 571 of the cam 57 to move the cam 57 up and down (e.g., to rotate it).
[0040] To prevent air from escaping from the high-pressure storage chamber V1 to the cap 50, an O-ring 55-1 can be fitted to the underside of the base 55 to seal a coolant refill opening 63 of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 of the cap coupling 60, which will be described later. Furthermore, the cap coupling 60 provided on the upper housing 20 can have a coupling wall 61 having an internal thread 611 designed for connection with the cap 50 and extending upwards from the upper plate 21 of the upper housing 20, as well as an opening 62 formed through the coupling wall 61 to allow air to flow into the low-pressure storage chamber V2 of the integrated type 10 reservoir. Additionally, the coolant refill opening 63 can extend through the upper plate 21 of the upper housing 20 to refill the coolant into the high-pressure storage chamber V1.
[0041] In particular, when the cam 57 moves downwards, the outside air from the integrated reservoir type 10 flows into the opening 62 and then through the flow opening 551 of the base 55 into the low-pressure storage chamber V2. Conversely, when the cam 57 moves upwards, the air from the low-pressure storage chamber V2 flows through the flow opening 551 of the base 55 and can then be discharged through the opening 62 to the outside of the integrated reservoir type 10. A process for regulating the pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 through the opening 62 will be described later.
[0042] The following describes in detail the operation of the integrated reservoir of type 10 according to the present invention, which is configured as such. Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle cooling system with the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention.
[0043] Referring to the FIGS., the integrated type reservoir 10 of the present invention continuously stores a predetermined quantity of coolant and prevents a vacuum from being created in the cooling system. The integrated type reservoir can be installed on a cooling line for cooling the internal combustion engine 1 in a hybrid vehicle, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), and on a cooling line for cooling various PE components 2, such as a motor, a DC-DC converter, an inverter, or a high-voltage battery.
[0044] In particular, the coolant flowing from the high-temperature cooler 3 of the combustion engine cooling line to the first inlet pipe 25, which is provided in the upper housing 20 of the integrated type 10 reservoir according to the present invention, can be introduced into the high-pressure storage chamber V1 at a pressure of 1.1 bar, and the coolant flowing from the low-temperature cooler 4 of the PE cooling line to the second inlet pipe 26, which is provided in the upper housing 20, can be introduced into the low-pressure storage chamber V2 at a pressure of 0.7 bar. The pressure of the cap 50 (e.g., acting on the cap), which is connected to the integrated type 10 reservoir, is approximately 0.7 bar.
[0045] The integrated reservoir of type 10 according to the present invention can discharge the coolant stored in the high-pressure storage chamber V1 through the first outlet pipe 35, arranged in the lower housing 30, into the cooling line of the internal combustion engine 1, and the coolant stored in the low-pressure storage chamber V2 through the second outlet pipe 36, also arranged in the lower housing 30, into the cooling line of the PE component 2. Accordingly, the operation of the pressure regulation of the internal combustion engine cooling line and the PE cooling line using the integrated reservoir of type 10 according to the present invention is described.
[0046] Fig. 9A and Fig. Figures 9B are illustrations showing the actuation state of the valve of the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention, wherein Fig.9A is a representation showing the operating state when the high-pressure storage chamber is under overpressure (also referred to as positive pressure), and Fig. Figure 9B is a representation showing the operating state when the low-pressure storage chamber is under overpressure (also referred to as positive pressure).
[0047] As described above, for the integrated reservoir of type 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 is approximately 1.1 bar and the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 is approximately 0.7 bar, in the state in which the system pressure of the combustion engine cooling line is set to approximately 1.1 bar and the system pressure of the PE cooling line is set to approximately 0.7 bar. Furthermore, a state in which the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is greater than approximately 1.1 bar, which corresponds to the reference pressure, is referred to as an overpressure state, and a state in which the internal pressure is less than approximately 0.7 bar is referred to as a negative pressure state.
[0048] First, with reference to Fig.Figure 9A, which illustrates the operating state when there is overpressure in the high-pressure accumulator, shows that when the internal pressure of the high-pressure accumulator chamber V1 exceeds a preset value, namely approximately 1.1 bar, the overpressure is applied to the upper surface 412 of the outlet valve 41 facing the corresponding chamber V1. Then, when the upper part 421 of the pressure valve 42, coupled to the upper surface 412 of the outlet valve 41, is pushed towards the low-pressure accumulator chamber V2 by the overpressure exerted on the corresponding chamber V1, the body 413 of the outlet valve 41, coupled to the pressure valve 421, is also moved towards the low-pressure accumulator chamber V2.
[0049] Furthermore, the movement of the outlet valve 41 creates an inclined relief path P1 between an inclined surface s1 of each of the insertion grooves 27 and 37 and the body 413 of the outlet valve 41. The fluid, e.g., air, from the high-pressure storage chamber V1 flows through the corresponding relief path P1 into each of the insertion grooves 27 and 37. The air flowing to each of the insertion grooves 27 and 37 can be discharged to the low-pressure storage chamber V2 through each of the flow openings 29 and 39 formed in the side walls 28 and 38 of the insertion grooves.
[0050] Since the positive internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 is reduced by the low-pressure storage chamber V2, the normal preset internal pressure of approximately 1.1 bar can be maintained. Specifically, because the outlet valve 41 is subjected to an elastic force by the external spring 45, acting towards the high-pressure storage chamber V1, the pressure in the corresponding chamber V1 exceeding approximately 1.1 bar is released, and the body 413 of the outlet valve 41 returns to its original position as it moves towards the high-pressure storage chamber V1. This allows the relief path P1, defined between the inclined surface s1 of each of the insertion grooves 27 and 37 and the body 413 of the outlet valve 41, to close, thus stopping the escape of air into the low-pressure storage chamber V1.
[0051] Next, the relevant process will be described with reference to Fig.As described in section 9B, when the low-pressure storage chamber V1 is under overpressure, the following occurs: If the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V1 exceeds the preset value of approximately 0.7 bar, the overpressure is exerted on the head 431 of the pin body 43, which is opposite the corresponding chamber V2. The pin body 43 is then pushed towards the high-pressure storage chamber V1 by the overpressure acting on the head 431, so that the pressure valve 42, which is coupled to the pin body 43, is also moved towards the high-pressure storage chamber V1.
[0052] Then, the upper part 421 of the pressure valve 42 is moved by the combined movement of the pressure valve 42 towards the high-pressure storage chamber V1, so that the vent opening 414 of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 of the outlet valve 41 can be opened. Thus, the air from the low-pressure storage chamber V2 flows through the flow openings 29 and 39 formed in the side walls 28 and 38 around the insertion groove and the insertion grooves 27 and 37, and can be discharged through the vent opening 414 into the high-pressure storage chamber V1. While the positive internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 is reduced by an outlet through or into the high-pressure storage chamber V1, the normal internal pressure of a preset approximately 0.7 bar can be maintained.
[0053] Since the pin body 43 is meanwhile subjected to the elastic force by the internal spring 44 in the direction of the low-pressure storage chamber V2, the pressure of the corresponding chamber V2, which exceeds approximately 0.7 bar, is relieved, and the pin body 43 can be returned to its original position during its movement towards the low-pressure storage chamber V2. When the pressure valve 42, coupled to the pin body 43, moves along the pin body 43 towards the low-pressure storage chamber V2, and thus the upper part 421 of the pressure valve 42 closes the vent opening 414, the escape of air through the vent hole 415 into the high-pressure storage chamber V1 can be stopped.
[0054] Fig. Figures 10A to 10C are illustrations showing the actuation state of the cap of the integrated type reservoir according to the present invention, wherein Fig.10A is a representation showing the operating state when there is negative pressure in the low-pressure storage chamber, Fig. 10B is a representation showing the operating state when there is overpressure in the low-pressure storage chamber, and Fig. Figure 10C is a representation showing the actuation state of the cap when coolant is introduced into the reservoir.
[0055] The cap 50 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention regulates the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2, as shown in the FIGS., by circulating or exchanging the outside air of the integrated reservoir type 10 and the air of the low-pressure storage chamber V2. The cap 50 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention performs a process to regulate the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 to approximately 0.7 bar.
[0056] First, with reference to Fig.10A, the cam 57, which according to the present invention is installed in the cap valve part 54 of the cap 50, is subjected to the elastic force, so that the internal pressure of the cap 50 is maintained at approximately 0.7 bar by the lower spring 59b provided on the head piece 571. If, in this state, the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 is below approximately 0.7 bar, the pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 is lower than the internal pressure of the cap 50, and thus the lower spring 59b is relaxed by the high internal pressure of the cap 50 and the head piece 571 of the cam 57 is pressed downwards.
[0057] The second locking surface 562 of the intermediate body 56 then moves from a state in which it is in contact with the head 571 of the cam 57 to a state in which it is separated from the head 571 of the cam 57. The outside air of the integrated type 10 reservoir flows from the opening 62 formed in the cap coupling 60 through the interior of the upper element 58 and the outside of the piston 572 of the cam 57 into a gap between the second locking surface 562 and the head 571 of the cam 57, and is then discharged through the flow opening 551 of the base 55 into the flow path 231 of the upper partition 23, thereby introducing the air into the low-pressure storage chamber V2.
[0058] If the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 then rises under air supply and reaches the preset pressure of the corresponding chamber V2, namely approximately 0.7 bar, the head 571 of the cam 57 returns upwards due to the elastic force of the lower spring 59b, which moves from the relaxed state to the contracted state, since the internal pressure of the cap 50 is equal to the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2. This brings the head 571 of the cam 57 back into contact with the second locking surface 562 of the intermediate body 56 to block the airflow to the flow opening 551 of the base 55.
[0059] Furthermore, the operating state in case of overpressure in the low-pressure reservoir is determined with reference to Fig.10B described. The intermediate body 56, which according to the present invention is installed in the cap valve part 54 of the cap 50, is subjected to an elastic force so that the internal pressure of the cap 50 can be maintained at approximately 0.7 bar by the main spring 59a, which is arranged between the upper side of the lower surface 561 and the top surface 582 of the upper element 58. If, in this state, the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 is greater than approximately 0.7 bar, the air acts on the head 571 of the cam 57 through the flow opening 551 of the base 55 due to the high internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2, since the pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 is greater than the internal pressure of the cap 50. This allows the cam 57 to be pushed upwards, thereby contracting the main spring 59a.
[0060] Then, the second locking surface 562 of the intermediate body 56, which is in contact with the head 571 of the cam 57, can be moved upwards by the movement of the cam 57, and the intermediate body 56, on which the second locking surface 562 is provided, can also be moved upwards. Then, the first locking surface 552 of the base 55, which is in contact with the lower surface 561 of the intermediate body 56, is moved away from the lower surface 561 by the upward movement of the intermediate body 56. The internal air of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 flows through a gap between the flow path 231 and the flow opening 551 of the base 55 and a gap between the first locking surface 552 and the lower surface 561, and can be discharged through the opening 62 of the cap coupling 60 to the outside of the integrated reservoir type 10.
[0061] Subsequently, when the internal pressure of the venting low-pressure storage chamber V2 is reduced and the internal pressure of the corresponding chamber V2 reaches the preset pressure, namely approximately 0.7 bar, the head 571 of the cam 57 returns downwards to its original state due to the elastic force generated when the compressed main spring 59a relaxes, since the internal pressure of the cap 50 is equal to the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber V2. Thus, the second locking surface 562 of the intermediate body 56, which is in contact with the head 571 of the cam 57, can be moved downwards by the movement of the cam 57, and the intermediate body 56, on which the second locking surface 562 is provided, can also be moved downwards.
[0062] Additionally, the first locking surface 552 of the base 55, which is in contact with the lower surface 561 of the intermediate body 56, comes back into contact with the lower surface 561 as the intermediate body 56 moves downwards, thus preventing the internal air of the low-pressure storage chamber V2 from being discharged to the outside of the integrated reservoir 10 via the flow path 231, the flow opening 551, and the opening 62. Since the integrated reservoir 10 of the present invention automatically regulates the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 and the low-pressure storage chamber V2 of the reservoir 10 by means of the valve 40 and the cap 50, the unique function of the reservoir can be efficiently fulfilled. In other words, it is possible to efficiently discharge pressure in the event of overpressure and to efficiently compensate for suction pressure in the event of underpressure.
[0063] Table 1 below summarizes the actuation state of the integrated reservoir type 10 of the present invention based on the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber V1 and the low-pressure storage chamber V2. Table 1 shows that the valve 40 and the cap 50 of the integrated reservoir type 10 according to the present invention are actuated together depending on the internal pressure of the respective chamber. Table 1 Low-pressure storage chamber pressure state (right) < 0.7 bar (negative pressure) 0.7 bar (normal) > 0.7 bar (overpressure) High-pressure storage chamber pressure state (bottom)↓ > 1.1 bar (overpressure) The actuating valve of FIG.9A and the cap of Fig. 10A are executed simultaneously If the valve of Fig. When button 9A is activated, causing the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber to rise to overpressure, the cap is opened. Fig. 10B activated The actuation of the valve of Fig. 9A and the cap of FIG.10B are executed simultaneously. 1.1 bar (normal) Actuation of the cap of Fig. 10A is being executed Normal state Actuation of the cap of FIG.10B is carried out < 1.1 bar (negative pressure) The actuating valve of FIG.9B and the cap of Fig. 10A are executed simultaneously If the valve of Fig. When 9B is activated, causing the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber to drop to negative pressure, the cap of Fig. 10A activated The actuation of the valve of Fig. 9B and the cap of FIG.10B are executed simultaneously.
[0064] Fig.Figure 10C is a representation showing the actuation state of the cap when the coolant is introduced (e.g., filled) into the integrated reservoir of the present invention. When the coolant is introduced into the high-pressure storage chamber V1 and the low-pressure storage chamber V2 of the integrated reservoir 10 according to the present invention, the holder 51 of the cap 50, which is attached to the cap coupling 60 of the upper housing 20 of the integrated reservoir 10, rotates counterclockwise, and thereby the (e.g., external) thread 531 of the side wall 53 of the cap 50 disengages from the (e.g., internal) thread 611 formed on the coupling wall 61 of the cap coupling 60. Then the cap 50 can be separated from the cap coupling 60, and the flow path 231 formed in the upper partition 23 and the coolant refill opening 63 formed in the upper plate 21 are exposed as shown in the drawings.The exposed flow path 231 forms an inlet opening for refilling the coolant into the low-pressure storage chamber V2, and the coolant refill opening 63 forms an inlet opening for refilling the coolant into the high-pressure storage chamber V1.
[0065] Therefore, if, as described above, a user fills the coolant into the coupling wall 61 of the cap coupling 60 with the flow path 231 and coolant refill opening 63 exposed, then, as described above, part of the introduced coolant flows through the flow path 231 into the low-pressure storage chamber V2, and the remaining coolant flows through the coolant refill opening 63 into the high-pressure storage chamber V1, thus simultaneously refilling the coolant in both the low-pressure storage chamber V2 and the high-pressure storage chamber V1 of the integrated type 10 reservoir. Naturally, when the cap 50 is separated, the coolant can be added to the low-pressure storage chamber V2 via the flow path 231 and to the high-pressure storage chamber V1 via the coolant refill opening 63 to refill the respective chambers. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 Internal combustion engine 2 PE or power electronics component 3 high-temperature coolers 4 low-temperature coolers 5 High-temperature cooling reservoir 6 Low-temperature cooler reservoir 10 Reservoir 20 upper case 21 top plate 22 Rand 23 upper partition wall 33 lower partition wall 24 End surface of the upper partition 25 first inlet pipe 26 second inlet pipe 27 Valve insertion groove (insertion groove) 28 side wall 29 Flow opening 30 lower case 31 lower plate 32 side wall area 34 End surface of the lower partition 35 first outlet pipe 36 second outlet pipe 37 Valve insertion groove (insertion groove) 38 side wall 39 Flow opening 40 valve 41 Exhaust valve 42 Pressure valve 43 pen bodies 44 inner spring 45 outer spring 50 caps 51 holders 53 Side wall of the cap 54 Cap valve part 55 Base 56 Intermediate bodies 57 cams 58 upper element 59a Mainspring 59b Underspring 60 cap couplings 61 Coupling wall 62 Opening 63 Coolant refill opening 231 Flow path 411 lower surface 412 upper surface 413 bodies 414 Vent opening 415 Insert opening 421 Top 422 Arm 423 pinhole 431 Headpiece 432 pens 551 Base flow opening 552 first locking surface 561 lower surface of the intermediate body 562 second locking surface 571 Cam head 572 pistons 573 Ring bodies 581 Interior wall 582 ceiling area 611 Internal thread V1 High-pressure storage chamber V2 Low-pressure storage chamber
Claims
[1] An integrated type reservoir (10) comprising: an upper and a lower casing (20, 30) connected to form a body in which the integrated type reservoir (10) is housed, a high-pressure storage chamber (V1) configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a high-pressure cooling line, and a low-pressure storage chamber (V2) configured to introduce and discharge coolant flowing from a low-pressure cooling line, and a valve (40) which is installed to keep the internal pressure of the high pressure storage chamber (V1) and the low pressure storage chamber (V2) constant, wherein the valve (40) has an outlet valve (41), wherein the outlet valve (41) has a body (413) with a lower surface (411) and an upper surface (412), an insert opening (415) extending from the lower surface (411) to the upper surface (412) is formed in a central section of the body (413) and a plurality of vent openings (414) are formed around the insert opening (415), wherein an outer spring (45) is provided, wherein a first side of the outer spring (45) faces the lower surface (411) and a second side faces the side walls (28, 38) of the insertion grooves (27, 37), wherein a pressure valve (42) is coupled to the insertion opening (415) of the outlet valve (41), and wherein the pressure valve (42) has a flat plate-shaped upper part (421) that opens or closes the vent opening (414) on the upper surface (412) of the outlet valve (41), and an arm (422) that extends downwards from a lower surface of the upper part (421) and has a pin hole (423) formed inwards from the end surface (424). [2] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 1, wherein the high-pressure cooling line is a cooling line that introduces coolant flowing in from a high-temperature cooler (3) and discharges the coolant through the high-pressure storage chamber (V1) to a cooling line of an internal combustion engine (1), and wherein the low-pressure cooling line is a cooling line that introduces coolant flowing in from a low-temperature cooler (4) and discharges the coolant through the low-pressure storage chamber (V2) to a cooling line of a power electronics component (2). [3] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper housing (20) has an upper plate (21) and an upper partition (23) which extends perpendicularly downwards from a central section of an inner surface of the upper plate (21) and forms an end surface (24), and wherein the lower housing (30) has a lower plate (31) and a lower partition (33) which extends perpendicularly upwards from a central section of an upper surface of the lower plate (31) and forms an end surface (34), and wherein the upper casing (20) and the lower casing (30) are attached to each other and an interior of the reservoir (10) is divided into two spaces by the upper partition (23) and the lower partition (33), which are attached to each other. [4] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first inlet pipe (25) is formed on a first side of the upper housing (20) to introduce the coolant from the high-temperature cooling line into the high-pressure storage chamber (V1), and a second inlet pipe (26) is formed on a second side of the upper housing (20) to introduce the coolant from the low-temperature cooling line into the low-pressure storage chamber (V2), and wherein a first outlet pipe (35) is formed on a first side of the lower housing (30) to discharge the coolant into the high-pressure cooling line, and a second outlet pipe (36) is formed on a second side of the lower housing (30) to discharge the coolant into the low-pressure cooling line. [5] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 3, wherein a valve insertion groove (27) is formed on the end face (24) of the upper partition (23) of the upper housing (20) and an upper section of the valve (40) sits therein, and wherein a valve insertion groove (37) is formed on the end face (34) of the lower partition (33) of the lower housing (30) and a lower section of the valve (40) sits therein, and wherein flow openings (29, 39) passing through side walls (28, 38) are formed in the side wall (28) of a section in which the valve insertion groove (27) of the upper partition (23) is formed, and in the side wall (38) of a section in which the valve insertion groove (37) of the lower partition (33) is formed. [6] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 1, wherein a pin body (43) is coupled to the arm (422) of the pressure valve (42) and the pin body (43) has a head piece (431) which comes into contact with the end surface (424) of the arm (422) and a pin (432) which extends downwards from a lower surface of the head piece (431) and is inserted into the pin hole (423) of the arm (422), and wherein the inner spring (44) is fitted into the outer spring (45) on the lower surface (411) of the outlet valve (41), wherein a first side of the inner spring (44) faces the lower surface (411) and a second side faces the head (431) of the pin body (43). [7] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 1 or 6, assuming that an area of the lower surface (411) of the outlet valve (41) is designated as ‘area B’ (unit: m²) 2 ) and an area of the upper surface (412) as "area A" (unit: m²) 2 ) the internal pressure of the high-pressure storage chamber (V1) is designated as “X” Pa (unit: N / m³). 2 ) and the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage chamber (V2) as “Y” Pa (unit: N / m³) 2 ) are designated, the internal pressure of each space is regulated by a force equilibrium equation such as the following Equation 1: X*(Area A)=Y*(Area B)+S where S is an elastic force of the inner spring (44) (unit: N). [8] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the cap (50) is coupled to a cap coupling (60) which is provided on the upper plate (21) of the upper housing (20), and the cap (50) has: a holder (51) which has the form of a flat plate with a downward-sloping rim (52), a side wall (53) extending downwards from the holder (51) and on which a thread is formed, and a cap valve part (54) installed in a space defined within the side wall (53) to be opened or closed according to the internal pressure of the low-pressure storage space (V2) and the high-pressure storage space (V1) in the reservoir (10) to discharge air from the low-pressure storage space (V1) to outside the cap (50) or to introduce outside air into the low-pressure storage space (V2). [9] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 8, wherein the cap valve part (54) comprises: a base (55) with a flow opening (551) which is configured to communicate with a flow path (231) which is formed in the upper partition (23) which is to be opened towards the low-pressure storage space (V2), wherein a first locking surface (552) is formed on an upper surface of the base (55), an intermediate body (56) that is installed on a top side of the base (55) and has a lower surface (561) that comes into contact with the first locking surface (552) and a second locking surface (562) that extends into the lower surface (561) to come into contact with a head piece (571) of the cam (57), an upper element (58) with an inner wall (581) coupled to the side wall (53) and a ceiling surface (582) integral with the inner wall (581), and a main spring (59a) arranged between a top surface of the lower surface (561) of the intermediate body (56) and the top surface (582) of the upper element (58) to move the intermediate body (56) up and down. [10] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 9, wherein the cap valve part (54) comprises: the cam (57) with the plate-shaped head piece (571) which is inserted into the intermediate body (56) in order to be lockable by the second locking surface (562) of the intermediate body (56), and a piston (572) which extends upwards from the head piece (571), and a lower spring (59b) which is arranged between a ring body (573) through which an upper end of the piston (572) of the cam (57) passes and the head piece (571) of the cam (57) to move the cam (57) up and down. [11] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising an O-ring (55-1) which shields a coolant refill opening (63) of the high pressure storage chamber (V1) of the cap coupling (60). [12] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the cap coupling (60) comprises: a coupling wall (61) having an internal thread (611) designed for connection with the cap (50) and extending upwards from the upper plate (21) of the upper housing (20), and an opening (62) which is formed through the coupling wall (61) so that air can flow into the low-pressure storage chamber (V2). [13] The integrated type reservoir (10) according to claim 12, wherein an opening (63) for refilling the coolant is formed through the upper plate (21) of the upper housing (20) in order to refill the coolant into the high pressure storage chamber (V1).
Citation Information
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