Cooling arrangement for cooling at least one component of a motor vehicle which heats up during operation

Abstract

Cooling arrangement (1) suitable for cooling at least one component (2) of a motor vehicle (3) which heats up during operation, wherein the at least one heating component (2) is accommodated in a space (6) which is formed in the vertical direction of the vehicle above an underbody panel (5) of the motor vehicle (3), comprising - a cooling air inlet opening (4) which is formed in the underbody panelling (5) of the motor vehicle (3) and is arranged such that cooling air can flow into the installation space (6) through the cooling air inlet opening (4), and - a closure device (7) which is designed to automatically open or close the cooling air inlet opening (4) depending on the temperature, wherein the closure device (7) comprises a closure flap (8) which is designed to selectively open or close the cooling air inlet opening (4), and wherein the closure device (7) has a bimetallic actuator (9) which is connected to the closure flap (8), characterized in that the bimetallic actuator (9) is attached to the heating component (2) and in that at least one air guiding means (80) is arranged on an inner side of the closure flap (8), which air guiding means is designed to guide the cooling air flowing into the installation space (6) past the bimetallic actuator (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling arrangement for cooling at least one component of a motor vehicle which heats up during operation, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] During operation, numerous components of a motor vehicle can heat up to a greater or lesser extent, so that suitable design measures often have to be taken to effectively cool such components and thus protect them, in particular, from damage caused by overheating.

[0003] For example, DE 42 43 988 A1 discloses a cooling arrangement for a brake disc of a motor vehicle, wherein a bimetallic hinge with an air guide element is provided on the brake disc. When the brake disc heats up during operation, the air guide element is moved into an active position by means of the bimetallic hinge, thereby opening an air supply opening and directing an air flow onto the brake disc to effectively cool it.

[0004] A generic cooling arrangement for cooling at least one component of a motor vehicle that heats up during operation is known from DE 10 2014 016 353 A1. DE 10 2008 013 336 A1 and DE 10 2017 107 747 A1 disclose further cooling arrangements.

[0005] The present invention has for its object to provide a cooling arrangement for the simple and effective cooling of at least one component of a motor vehicle which heats up during operation, wherein the component is accommodated in a space which is formed in the vertical direction of the vehicle above an underbody panelling of the motor vehicle.

[0006] The solution to this problem is provided by a generic cooling arrangement with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

[0007] A cooling arrangement according to the invention, suitable for cooling at least one component of a motor vehicle which heats up during operation, wherein the component is accommodated in a space which is formed in the vertical direction of the vehicle above an underbody panel of the motor vehicle, comprises - a cooling air inlet opening formed in the underbody paneling of the motor vehicle and arranged such that cooling air can flow into the installation space through the cooling air inlet opening, and - a closure device which is designed to automatically open or close the cooling air inlet opening depending on the temperature, wherein the closure device comprises a closure flap which is designed to selectively open or close the cooling air inlet opening, and wherein the closure device has a bimetallic actuator which is connected to the closure flap, wherein it is provided according to the invention that the bimetallic actuator is attached to the heating component and that at least one air guiding means is arranged on an inner side of the closure flap, which air guiding means is designed to guide the cooling air flowing into the installation space past the bimetallic actuator.

[0008] The cooling arrangement according to the invention enables simple yet effective cooling of at least one component of the motor vehicle that heats up during operation in an automated process that advantageously requires no user intervention. The closure flap, in particular, enables a mechanically robust design of the closure device. The bimetallic actuator enables simple and reliable automated, temperature-dependent opening and closing of the closure flap.

[0009] According to the invention, the bimetal actuator is attached to the heating component. During operation, the component of the motor vehicle housed within the installation space heats up. This heating causes the bimetal actuator attached to this component, in particular flanged thereto, and connected to the closure flap to heat up and deform in such a way that the closure flap moves automatically from the closed position to the open position in which the cooling air inlet opening is exposed. The bimetal actuator is heated primarily by heat conduction. Heating of the bimetal actuator by radiant heat is, however, also possible in principle. When the closure flap is open, cooling air flows into the installation space through the cooling air inlet opening, so that the component housed therein can be effectively cooled.The cooling of the component housed within the installation space causes the bimetallic actuator to also cool down and return to its original position, in which the closure flap is once again in the closed position. Preferably, the closure flap can be flush with the underbody paneling of the vehicle in the closed position, thereby effectively improving the aerodynamic properties in particular.

[0010] According to the invention, at least one air guide means is arranged on an inner side of the closure flap, which is designed to guide the cooling air flowing into the installation space past the bimetallic actuator. This advantageously prevents cooling air from flowing directly onto the bimetallic actuator. A direct flow of cooling air onto the bimetallic actuator could, under certain circumstances, result in the actuator cooling down too quickly and the closure flap moving back into the closed position before the component to be cooled has been sufficiently cooled. The air guide means can preferably be designed such that the cooling air is directed directly onto the component to be cooled. Only when this component has been sufficiently cooled does the bimetallic actuator react to the lower temperature, so that the closure flap is automatically moved back into the closed position.

[0011] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is possible for the closure flap to be arranged and designed in such a way that it can be moved from the underbody paneling toward a roadway during the opening movement. This can effectively improve the flow of cooling air.

[0012] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the enclosed Fig. 1, which shows a cooling arrangement 1 for cooling a component 2 of a motor vehicle 3 which heats up during operation in a schematically highly simplified form.

[0013] The cooling arrangement 1 comprises a cooling air inlet opening 4, which is formed in an underbody panel 5 of the motor vehicle 3. The component 2 of the motor vehicle 3, which heats up during operation and is to be cooled by means of the cooling arrangement 1 presented here, is accommodated within a space 6 located above the underbody panel 5 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The component 2 of the motor vehicle 3, which heats up during operation, can be, for example, a transmission, a hydraulic system, or a steering drive. In principle, other components 2 of the motor vehicle 3, which heat up during operation, can also be cooled by means of the cooling arrangement 1 presented here.

[0014] The cooling arrangement 1 further comprises a closure device 7, which is configured to automatically open or close the cooling air inlet opening 4 depending on the temperature. In this case, the closure device 7 comprises a closure flap 8, by means of which the cooling air inlet opening 4 can be opened or closed, as well as a bimetallic actuator 9, which is flanged to the heating component 2 and also connected to the closure flap 8 and by means of which the opening or closing movement of the closure flap 8 can be automatically controlled depending on the temperature.

[0015] The closure device 7 is designed such that, in the embodiment shown here, the closure flap 8 opens during the opening movement toward a roadway 10 on which the motor vehicle 3 is located. This measure results in improved flow characteristics of the cooling air. The forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle 3 is symbolized by an arrow 11.

[0016] During operation, component 2 of motor vehicle 3, housed within installation space 6, heats up. This heating causes the bimetallic actuator 9, which is flanged to component 2 and connected to the closure flap 8, to heat up and deform in such a way that the closure flap 8 automatically moves from the closed position A to the open position B. Heating of the bimetallic actuator 9 occurs primarily through thermal conduction. However, heating of the bimetallic actuator 9 through radiant heat is also possible in principle.

[0017] In the open position of the closure flap 8, cooling air flows through the cooling air inlet opening 4 into the installation space 6, so that the component 2 housed therein can be effectively cooled. The cooling of the component 2 housed within the installation space 6 causes the bimetallic actuator 9 to also cool and move back to its initial position, in which the closure flap 8 is in the closed position A. This terminates the cooling air supply.

[0018] Preferably, at least one air guide means 80 is arranged on the inside of the closure flap 8, which is designed to guide the cooling air flowing into the installation space 6 in such a way that a direct flow of cooling air onto the bimetallic actuator 9 can be prevented. This direct flow of cooling air onto the bimetallic actuator 9 could, under certain circumstances, result in the actuator cooling down too quickly and the closure flap 8 moving into the closed position A before the component 2 has cooled down sufficiently. The air guide means 80 ensures that the cooling air is preferably directed directly onto the component 2 to be cooled. Only when this component 2 has cooled down sufficiently does the bimetallic actuator 9 react to the lower temperature, so that the closure flap 8 is moved into the closed position A, in which it is preferably flush with the underbody paneling 5.

[0019] By means of the cooling arrangement 1 presented here, effective automated cooling of the component 2 accommodated within the installation space 6 can be achieved in a simple manner. The bimetallic actuator 9 provides a robust opening and closing mechanism for the closure flap 8 of the closure device 7, which causes the closure flap 8 to open or close automatically depending on the temperature.

Claims

[1] Cooling arrangement (1) suitable for cooling at least one component (2) of a motor vehicle (3) which heats up during operation, wherein the at least one heating component (2) is accommodated in a space (6) which is formed in the vertical direction of the vehicle above an underbody panel (5) of the motor vehicle (3), comprising - a cooling air inlet opening (4) which is formed in the underbody panelling (5) of the motor vehicle (3) and is arranged such that cooling air can flow into the installation space (6) through the cooling air inlet opening (4), and - a closure device (7) which is designed to automatically open or close the cooling air inlet opening (4) depending on the temperature, wherein the closure device (7) comprises a closure flap (8) which is designed to selectively open or close the cooling air inlet opening (4), and wherein the closure device (7) has a bimetallic actuator (9) which is connected to the closure flap (8), characterized by that the bimetal actuator (9) is attached to the heating component (2) and that at least one air guiding means (80) is arranged on an inner side of the closure flap (8), which is designed to guide the cooling air flowing into the installation space (6) past the bimetal actuator (9). [2] Cooling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the closure flap (8) is arranged and designed in such a way that it can be moved from the underbody paneling (5) in the direction of a roadway (10) during the opening movement.

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