Assembly for a cooling system of a motor vehicle with a heat exchanger, a control valve and an adjusting device

Abstract

Assembly (12) for a cooling system (1) of a motor vehicle with a heat exchanger (13), a control valve (16) and an adjusting device (18), characterized by - a first connection piece (24) and a second connection piece (25) which are fluidly connected to a first heat exchange side of the heat exchanger (13), and - a third connection piece (26) which is fluidly connected to a second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger (13), and - a connecting line (22) which fluidically connects the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger (13) to a first control opening (23) of the control valve (16).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly for a cooling system of a motor vehicle, comprising a heat exchanger, a control valve, and an actuating device. The invention further relates to a cooling system comprising such an assembly and a motor vehicle having a corresponding cooling system.

[0002] The cooling system according to the invention can in particular comprise a high-temperature subsystem in which a coolant can circulate, for which a relatively high coolant operating temperature is provided at least temporarily, and a low-temperature subsystem in which a coolant can circulate, for which a relatively low coolant operating temperature is provided at least temporarily compared to the coolant of the high-temperature subsystem.

[0003] “High temperature” is also abbreviated as HT and “low temperature” as NT.

[0004] Such a cooling system is known, for example, from WO 2008 / 080872 A1. In this cooling system, an internal combustion engine, an HT coolant cooler, a retarder, and an HT coolant pump are integrated into the HT subsystem. The LT subsystem comprises a charge air cooler, an LT coolant cooler, and an LT coolant pump. A control valve can be used to fluidically couple the HT subsystem and the LT subsystem as needed to allow the charge air cooler to be heated by relatively hot coolant from the HT subsystem.

[0005] DE 11 2013 002 728 T5 relates to various ways of integrating control valves into the structure of a heat exchanger. Accordingly, a heat exchanger assembly is provided comprising a heat exchanger and a valve integration unit. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of alternating first and second fluid passages in heat exchange relationship, and at least one inlet manifold and one outlet manifold interconnected by the plurality of first or the plurality of second fluid passages, wherein the valve integration unit is fixedly mounted to the heat exchanger and includes a fluid passage in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet and outlet manifolds. A valve mechanism is installed in the valve integration unit in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the valve mechanism controlling the flow of a heat exchange fluid through the fluid passage.

[0006] DE 10 2018 205 961 A1 discloses a charge air cooler of an internal combustion engine having a coolant flow path extending from a coolant inlet to a coolant outlet and a charge air path extending from a charge air inlet to a charge air outlet. Along an effective section, the charge air path is in heat exchange communication with the coolant flow path, wherein the coolant flow path has a bypass from a first point located upstream of the effective section at the charge air outlet to a second point located downstream of the first point and downstream of the effective section at the charge air inlet, with a diversion flow path different from a partial path of the coolant flow path extending between the first and second points. Furthermore, a corresponding method for charge air cooling is described.

[0007] DE 20 2013 100 932 U1 discloses a turbocharger arrangement comprising an internal combustion engine which can be charged by means of at least one turbocharger and a charge air cooler arranged between the turbocharger and the internal combustion engine in an intake tract, which charge air cooler is arranged in a cooling system, wherein the charge air cooler has a supply line for supplying coolant to the cooling system, wherein the supply line has a heat recovery element.

[0008] DE 10 2019 207 000 A1 discloses a cooling circuit arrangement of an internal combustion engine, comprising a high-temperature circuit and a low-temperature circuit, a first heat exchanger arranged in the high-temperature circuit, and a charge air cooler arranged in the low-temperature circuit; wherein the internal combustion engine has an inlet side and an exhaust gas side, which are connected to one another via at least one combustion chamber, wherein the exhaust gas side and the inlet side are additionally connected to one another via a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation line, via which an exhaust gas can be conveyed from the exhaust gas side back to the inlet side; wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged in thermally conductive connection with the low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation line, wherein the charge air cooler is provided for controlling the temperature of a gas that can be supplied via the inlet side of the at least one combustion chamber.wherein a second heat exchanger is arranged in both the high-temperature circuit and the low-temperature circuit, so that heat energy can be transferred between the high-temperature circuit and the low-temperature circuit via the second heat exchanger;

[0009] The object of the invention was to advantageously couple a cooling system comprising an HT subsystem and an NT subsystem in such a way that, if required, heat transfer is possible between the coolant flowing in the HT subsystem and the coolant flowing in the NT subsystem.

[0010] This object is achieved by means of a cooling system according to patent claim 8. An assembly which advantageously enables the coupling between the subsystems of such a cooling system is the subject of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the assembly according to the invention and of the cooling system according to the invention are the subject of the further patent claims and / or emerge from the following description of the invention.

[0011] According to the invention, an assembly for a cooling system of a motor vehicle is provided, which comprises at least one heat exchanger, a control valve and an actuating device. Furthermore, the assembly comprises - a first connection piece and a second connection piece, which are fluidly connected to a first heat exchange side of the heat exchanger, - a third connection piece which is fluidically connected to a second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger, and - a connecting line which fluidically connects the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger to a first control opening of the control valve.

[0012] An "assembly" is understood to mean a coherent object that can be handled as a unit and consists of at least the aforementioned components. Preferably, all of the associated components are rigidly connected to one another.

[0013] An assembly according to the invention advantageously enables a coupling between an HT subsystem of a cooling system according to the invention, which can preferably also integrate an internal combustion engine, and an NT subsystem to be realized in a particularly easy-to-handle and thus advantageously mountable manner and with a relatively small installation space requirement, wherein by means of the heat exchanger of the assembly, a heat transfer between an HT coolant flowing in the HT subsystem and an NT coolant flowing in the NT subsystem is possible without an exchange or mixing of the various coolants of these subsystems occurring.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, this assembly can also - a fourth connection piece which is fluidly connected to a second control opening of the control valve, and - a fifth connection piece, which is fluidically connected to a third control opening of the control valve, wherein the control valve can be controlled by means of the adjusting device at least in - a first valve position can be brought into which a fluid flow from the second control opening into the third control opening is released and a fluid flow through the first control opening is prevented; and - a second valve position can be brought into which a fluid flow from the first control opening into the third control opening is released and a fluid flow through the second control opening is prevented.

[0015] This allows for advantageous flow through the cooling system to be achieved using a relatively small number of valve positions, and in particular using only these two valve positions. However, additional intermediate valve positions can also be advantageously provided.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, said assembly can comprise a bypass line that fluidically connects the third connection piece to a fourth control opening of the control valve. According to an advantageous further development of such an assembly according to the invention, it can then be provided that the control valve can also be brought into a third valve position by means of the actuating device, in which a fluid flow from the fourth control opening into the third control opening is permitted and a fluid flow through the first control opening and preferably also through the second control opening is prevented. This makes it possible to provide heat transfer between the coolants of the HT subsystem and the LT subsystem only when required, in that the bypass can be used to prevent the LT coolant from flowing through the heat exchanger.According to a further preferred development of an assembly according to the invention with a bypass line, it can also be provided that in the first valve position and / or in the second valve position of the control valve, fluid flow is also prevented through the fourth control opening. This also allows advantageous control of coolant flows in a corresponding cooling system according to the invention to be realized by means of the assembly.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of a cooling system according to the invention, which also enables advantageous control of coolant flows in the cooling system, it can be provided that the first connection piece and the second connection piece are integrated into the HT subsystem and at least the third, preferably also the fourth and fifth connection pieces (if provided) are integrated into the NT subsystem. In this case, in particular, an arrangement - the first connection piece (preferably directly) downstream of an EGR cooler integrated into the HT subsystem and / or - the second connection piece (preferably directly) upstream of an HT coolant pump integrated into the HT subsystem and / or - the third connection piece (preferably directly) downstream of an NT coolant pump integrated into the NT subsystem and / or - the fourth connection piece (preferably immediately) downstream of an NT coolant cooler integrated into the NT subsystem and / or - the fifth connection piece (preferably directly) upstream of a charge air cooler integrated into the NT subsystem.

[0018] According to the invention, a “coolant cooler” is understood to mean a heat exchanger in which heat transfer from coolant to ambient air can be realized with the primary or exclusive purpose of cooling the coolant.

[0019] It can preferably be provided that an assembly according to the invention has a main housing, which may be multi-part and accommodates the heat exchanger and / or the control valve and / or the actuating device, preferably all of these components, and which ensures the structural integrity or structural cohesion of these components. It can further preferably be provided that the main housing (integrally) forms the first connection piece and / or the second connection piece and / or the third connection piece and / or the fourth connection piece (if present) and / or the fifth connection piece (if present) and / or the connecting line and / or the bypass line (if present), particularly preferably all of the provided fluid-conducting elements.Compared to a separate design of these fluid-conducting elements, this enables the assembly of the module to be as simple and quick as possible, because the individual connection of these fluid-conducting elements to other elements / components of the module can be omitted.

[0020] According to one embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, it can be provided that the heat exchanger and / or the control valve and / or the actuating device (each) have an individual housing, wherein the individual housing(s) is / are connected to one another and / or (in particular directly) to the overall housing (if present). This can have advantages with regard to the manufacture of these components and also with regard to the assembly of the assembly. Alternatively, however, the overall housing can also serve as a housing for a heat exchanger core, i.e. for all of the elements of the heat exchanger through which the various fluids / coolants flow and which are in contact with one another for heat exchange. Likewise, the overall housing can form a control chamber of the control valve, in which a valve body that is adjustable, i.e. in particular displaceable and / or rotatable, by means of the actuating device is arranged.In addition, the overall housing can serve to support a drive element of the actuating device, in particular an electric servo motor and, if necessary, also a gear.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a wheel-based and non-rail-bound motor vehicle (preferably a car or a truck), with a cooling system according to the invention. The preferably provided combustion engine, which is then integrated into the HT subsystem of the cooling system, can be provided in particular for the (direct or indirect) provision of traction drive power for the motor vehicle.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1: a cooling system according to the invention; Fig. 2: an assembly according to the invention in a front view; and Fig. 3: the assembly in a rear view.

[0023] The Fig. 1 shows a cooling system 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle. The cooling system comprises an HT subsystem 2 and an LT subsystem 3, in each of which coolant can be pumped by means of at least one coolant pump 4. The subsystems 2, 3 of the cooling system 1 are fluidically separated from one another, i.e. there is no mixing, not even temporary, of the HT coolant flowing in the HT subsystem 2 and the LT coolant flowing in the LT subsystem 3 due to a corresponding linking of cooling circuits of the two subsystems 2, 3. However, this does not preclude the two subsystems 2, 3 from being fluidically connected to a common expansion tank (not shown) of the cooling system 1.

[0024] In addition to a first, electric motor-driven HT coolant pump 4, the HT subsystem 2 also includes a heater heat exchanger 7, i.e., a heat exchanger by means of which ambient air intended for temperature control of an interior of the motor vehicle can be heated as needed. Furthermore, the HT subsystem 2 includes an EGR cooler 8, i.e., a heat exchanger by means of which exhaust gas, which is recirculated as needed from an exhaust system (not shown) into a fresh gas system (not shown) of an internal combustion engine 9, can be cooled. The internal combustion engine 9, and specifically a cylinder head 10 and a crankcase 11 of the internal combustion engine 9, are also integrated into the HT subsystem 2. This also applies to a second HT coolant pump 5, which is driven mechanically, ie by the combustion engine 9, as well as to a first heat exchange side of a heat exchanger 13 of an assembly 12 according to the invention and to a coolant distribution module 14.By means of the coolant distribution module 14, a demand-based distribution of the HT coolant for flowing through those components of the HT subsystem 2 which have a temperature control functionality, ie the combustion engine 9, the heating heat exchanger 7, the EGR cooler 8 and the heat exchanger 13 of the assembly 12, can be realized.

[0025] The HT subsystem 2 may further comprise additional components not shown, in particular those with a temperature control functionality, such as an HT coolant cooler.

[0026] In addition to the low-temperature coolant pump 6, the low-temperature subsystem 3 also includes a low-temperature coolant cooler 15, a second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13 of the assembly 12, a control valve 16 of the assembly 12, and a charge air cooler 17. By means of the charge air cooler 17, fresh gas, which is supplied to the combustion engine 9 via the fresh gas line and which has been compressed by a compressor integrated into the fresh gas line, can be cooled as needed.

[0027] A more detailed representation of an assembly 12 according to the invention, which in a cooling system 1 according to the Fig. 1 can be applied, is in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. According to this embodiment, each of the components of the assembly 12, i.e., the heat exchanger 13, the control valve 16, and an actuating device 18 based on an electric servomotor (not visible) for adjusting the control valve 16, each comprises an individual housing 19, 20, 21, wherein these individual housings 19, 20, 21 are rigidly connected to one another. A direct connection is provided between the individual housing 21 of the actuating device 18 and the individual housing 20 of the control valve 16, while the individual housing 20 of the control valve 16 is indirectly connected to the individual housing 19 of the heat exchanger 13 via a connecting line 22 of the assembly 12, designed as a rigid pipe. The connecting line 22 fluidly connects the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13 to a first control opening 23 of the control valve 16.

[0028] The individual housing 19 of the heat exchanger 13 forms a first connection piece 24 and a second connection piece 25, by means of which the integration of the first heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13 into the HT subsystem 2 of a cooling system 1 according to, for example, the Fig. 1 is possible. The first connection piece 24 is in the cooling system 1 according to the Fig. 1 is arranged directly downstream of the EGR cooler 8, and the second connection piece 25 is arranged upstream of the two HT coolant pumps 4, 5. The first heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13 is thus integrated into the HT subsystem 2 between the EGR cooler 8 on the one hand and the HT coolant pumps 4, 5 in such a way that HT coolant, which is pumped by at least one of the HT coolant pumps 4, 5, first flows through the EGR cooler 8 and only then through the first heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13. With regard to an intended flow direction for the HT coolant in a corresponding cooling circuit of the HT subsystem 2, which can be achieved by a corresponding operation of at least one of the HT coolant pumps 4, 5, the first connection piece 24 accordingly represents an inlet piece and the second connection piece 25 represents an outlet piece for the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13.

[0029] The individual housing 19 of the heat exchanger 13 of the assembly 12 further forms a third connection piece 26, which in the cooling system 1 according to the Fig. 1 is arranged immediately downstream of the NT coolant pump 6.

[0030] The individual housing 20 of the control valve 16 forms a fourth connection piece 27, which is fluidically connected to a second control opening 28 of the control valve 16 and which in the cooling system 1 according to the Fig. 1 is integrated into the NT subsystem 3 directly downstream of the NT coolant cooler 15. Furthermore, the individual housing 20 of the control valve 16 forms a fifth connection piece 29, which is fluidly connected to a third control opening 30 of the control valve 16 and which is arranged upstream of the charge air cooler 17.

[0031] Depending on a valve position of the control valve 16 set by means of the adjusting device 18, low-temperature coolant, which is pumped by the low-temperature coolant pump 6, can first be guided through the low-temperature coolant cooler 15 and / or the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13 and / or through a bypass line 31 and then through the charge air cooler 17. Accordingly, the third connecting piece 26 represents an inlet connection for the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13 and for the bypass line 31, and the second control opening 28, which is fluidly connected to the fourth connecting piece 27, represents a first inlet of the control valve 16. A second inlet of the control valve 16 is formed by the first control opening 23, which is fluidly connected to the connecting line 22. The connecting line 22 is also connected to an outlet of the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13.A fourth control opening 32 of the control valve 16, which is fluidically connected to the bypass line 31, represents a third inlet of the control valve 16. The third control opening 30, which is fluidically connected to the fifth connection piece 29, represents an outlet of the control valve 16.

[0032] The control valve 16 can be moved by means of the actuating device 18 into a first valve position, in which a flow of the low-temperature coolant from the second control opening 28 into the third control opening 30 is permitted and a flow of the low-temperature coolant via the first control opening 23 and also the fourth control opening 32 is prevented. The low-temperature coolant pumped by the low-temperature coolant pump 6 is then consequently pumped in a circuit that additionally includes only the low-temperature coolant cooler 15 and the charge air cooler 17.

[0033] The control valve 16 can also be moved into a second valve position by means of the actuating device 18, in which a flow of the low-temperature coolant from the first control opening 23 into the third control opening 28 is permitted and a flow of the low-temperature coolant via the second control opening 28 and also the fourth control opening 32 is prevented. The low-temperature coolant pumped by the low-temperature coolant pump 6 is then consequently pumped in a circuit that additionally encompasses only the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger 13 and the charge air cooler 17.

[0034] Finally, the control valve 16 can be moved by means of the actuating device 18 into a third valve position, in which a flow of the low-temperature coolant from the fourth control opening 32 into the third control opening 30 is permitted and a flow of the low-temperature coolant through the first control opening 23 and the second control opening 28 is prevented. The low-temperature coolant pumped by the low-temperature coolant pump 6 is then consequently pumped in a circuit that additionally includes only the bypass line 31 and the charge air cooler 17.

[0035] In principle, any number of intermediate positions can be provided between the first and the second valve position and / or between the second and the third valve position and / or between the first and the third valve position, so that any distribution of coolant for a simultaneous flow through the NT coolant cooler 15 and / or the heat exchanger 13 and / or the bypass 31 is also possible.

[0036] The connecting pieces 24, 25, 26, 27, 29 of the Fig. 2 and Fig. The assembly 12 shown in Figure 3 are designed as simple plug-in connectors, to each of which a hose line of a cooling system according to, for example, the Fig. 1 can be plugged on. For a secure connection between the plug-in connectors and the hose lines, a fixation can then be provided using a simple hose clamp or spring band clamp.

[0037] According to an alternative embodiment of a cooling system according to the Fig. 1 and an assembly according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, it may be provided that the bypass line 31 is not provided. Accordingly, the control valve 16 of the assembly 12 would not have the fourth control opening 32 and would also not be adjustable to the third valve position. In such a cooling system 1, the possibility of conveying coolant by means of the low-temperature coolant pump 6 in a circuit that exclusively comprises the charge air cooler 17 as a component with temperature control functionality is therefore eliminated.

[0038] According to a further alternative embodiment of an assembly according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, it can be provided that the positions of the first connecting piece 24 and the third connecting piece 26 are interchanged, without the assignment of these connecting pieces 24, 26 to the components of a cooling system according to the Fig. 1 would change something. This allows for a diagonal or cross flow through the heat exchanger 13, which is advantageous in terms of heat transfer efficiency, to be realized by means of the HT coolant and the LT coolant.

Claims

[1] Assembly (12) for a cooling system (1) of a motor vehicle with a heat exchanger (13), a control valve (16) and an adjusting device (18), characterized by - a first connection piece (24) and a second connection piece (25) which are fluidly connected to a first heat exchange side of the heat exchanger (13), and - a third connection piece (26) which is fluidly connected to a second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger (13), and - a connecting line (22) which fluidically connects the second heat exchange side of the heat exchanger (13) to a first control opening (23) of the control valve (16). [2] Assembly (12) according to claim 1, characterized by - a fourth connection piece (27) which is fluidly connected to a second control opening (28) of the control valve (16), and - a fifth connection piece (29) which is fluidically connected to a third control opening (30) of the control valve (16), wherein the control valve (16) is actuated by means of the actuating device (18) in - a first valve position can be brought into which a fluid flow from the second control opening (28) into the third control opening (30) is released and a fluid flow through the first control opening (23) is prevented; and - a second valve position can be brought into which a fluid flow from the first control opening (23) into the third control opening (30) is released and a fluid flow through the second control opening (28) is prevented. [3] Assembly (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a bypass line (31) which fluidically connects the third connection piece (26) to a fourth control opening (32) of the control valve (16). [4] Assembly (12) according to claim 2 and claim 3, characterized bythat the control valve (16) can be brought into a third valve position by means of the adjusting device (18), in which a fluid flow from the fourth control opening (32) into the third control opening (30) is released and a fluid flow through the first control opening (23) is prevented. [5] Assembly (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a main housing accommodating the heat exchanger (13) and / or the control valve (16) and / or the adjusting device (18). [6] Assembly (12) according to claim 5, characterized by that the main housing forms the first connection piece (24) and / or the second connection piece (25) and / or the third connection piece (26) and / or the fourth connection piece (27) and / or the fifth connection piece (29) and / or the connecting line (22) and / or the bypass line (31). [7] Assembly (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the heat exchanger (13) and / or the control valve (16) and / or the adjusting device (18) have an individual housing (19; 20; 21), wherein the individual housing(s) (19; 20; 21) is / are connected to one another and / or to the overall housing. [8] Cooling system (1) for a motor vehicle with a high-temperature subsystem (2) and with a low-temperature subsystem (3), characterized by an assembly (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first connecting piece (24) and the second connecting piece (25) are integrated into the high-temperature subsystem (2) and at least the third connecting piece (26) is integrated into the low-temperature subsystem (3). [9] Cooling system (1) according to claim 8, characterized by the arrangement - the first connection piece (24) downstream of an EGR cooler (8) integrated into the high-temperature subsystem (2) and / or - the second connection piece (25) upstream of a high-temperature coolant pump (4, 5) integrated into the high-temperature subsystem (2) and / or - the third connection piece (26) downstream of a low-temperature coolant pump (6) integrated into the low-temperature subsystem (3). [10] Cooling system (1) according to claim 9, characterized by , that - the fourth connection piece (27) is integrated into the low-temperature subsystem (3) downstream of a low-temperature coolant cooler (15) and / or - the fifth connection piece (29) is integrated into the low-temperature subsystem (3) upstream of a charge air cooler (17).

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