Motor vehicle with a vehicle cabin and a cabin ventilation device

Abstract

Motor vehicle (10) with a vehicle cabin (12) and a cabin ventilation device (14), with an inlet opening (16) arranged in the vehicle cabin (12) and an outlet opening (20) arranged in an exterior area (18) of the motor vehicle (10), which is fluidically connected to the inlet opening (16) via a channel (22) so that exhaust air (24) can be directed from the vehicle cabin (12) into an environment (26) of the motor vehicle (10) via the channel (22), wherein the exterior area (18) is arranged at the rear (28) of the motor vehicle (10) such that when the motor vehicle (10) is moving forward, a suction (30) can be generated at the outlet opening (20) that directs the exhaust air (24) from the vehicle cabin (12), characterized in that a heat exchanger (32) is arranged in the channel (22) around which the exhaust air (24) can flow. and / or is permeable, with a heat recovery device being provided,which includes the heat exchanger (32) and wherein a blower (38) is arranged in the channel (22), through which the exhaust air (24) can be directed through the channel (22).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a vehicle cabin and a cabin ventilation device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A motor vehicle, which can be configured as either a car or a truck, typically has an air conditioning system that regulates the air temperature in the vehicle cabin or interior. This system can function as a heating and / or cooling unit. Air conditioning systems often operate by drawing air from the vehicle's surroundings into the cabin via a heat exchanger. Furthermore, regardless of the air conditioning system's design, the vehicle may have a cabin ventilation system to remove stale air from the cabin.

[0003] DE 100 37 067 A1 comprises a tailgate for a motor vehicle, which has a license plate recess on its outer surface. The tailgate has a ventilation duct with at least one air outlet opening leading into the recess and at least one air inlet opening formed on the inside of the tailgate, which communicates with the interior of the vehicle when the tailgate is closed. The ventilation duct has a duct component attached to the inside with an outlet section connected to the air outlet opening.

[0004] Other relevant publications are DE 10 2017 123 698 B4, DE 20 2017 107 610 U1, DE 10 2020 106 486 A1 and KR 10 1999 0 021 079 A.

[0005] DE 10 2019 006 147 A1 discloses a cabin ventilation device. Furthermore, DE 10 2013 205 735 A1 discloses a method for removing air from a passenger compartment of a vehicle.

[0006] Both air conditioning systems and cabin ventilation systems typically consume energy. Therefore, especially with the increasing electrification of vehicle powertrains, it is desirable to use particularly efficient air conditioning systems and / or cabin ventilation systems.

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle and a method for removing exhaust air from a vehicle cabin of a motor vehicle, which can remove or convey exhaust air from the vehicle cabin particularly efficiently in order to achieve, in particular, for example, a positive influence on the range of the motor vehicle.

[0008] This problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, as well as in the description and the drawing.

[0009] A first aspect of the invention comprises a motor vehicle with a vehicle cabin and a cabin ventilation device. The motor vehicle can be, for example, a passenger car or a truck.

[0010] According to the invention, the cabin ventilation device of the motor vehicle comprises an inlet opening arranged in the vehicle cabin and an outlet opening arranged in an exterior area of ​​the motor vehicle, which is fluidically connected to the inlet opening via a channel, so that exhaust air from the vehicle cabin can be directed through the channel into the surrounding area of ​​the motor vehicle. In other words, the motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a cabin ventilation device through which the vehicle cabin is fluidly connected to the surrounding area of ​​the motor vehicle, so that an exchange of air between the vehicle cabin and the surrounding area can take place via the cabin ventilation device. Because an exchange of air between the surrounding area and the vehicle cabin can take place, exhaust air from the vehicle cabin can also be directed through the cabin ventilation device or through its channel.The inlet opening is located in the vehicle cabin and is situated, for example, in a trim panel of the vehicle interior, which is installed within the cabin. The inlet opening leads into the channel that leads to the outlet opening. The exterior area where the outlet opening is located is designed, for example, as a body component, in particular as an outer skin component.

[0011] In order for the vehicle according to the invention to solve the problem in a particularly advantageous manner, the exterior area is arranged at the rear of the vehicle in such a way that, when the vehicle is traveling forward, a negative pressure or suction can be generated at the outlet opening, which directs the exhaust air out of the vehicle cabin. In other words, the exterior area is located at the rear of the vehicle, specifically at a point where, due to aerodynamics, when the vehicle is traveling forward (i.e., when it is not in reverse), the suction or negative pressure is generated by an airflow around the vehicle. This suction or negative pressure thus also draws exhaust air out of the vehicle cabin via the fluidically conductive channel through the outlet opening.

[0012] In other words, the cabin ventilation or its outlet opening at the rear of the vehicle is arranged in such a way that, particularly at higher speeds of the vehicle, the outlet opening is located in a low-pressure area prevailing at the rear of the vehicle, resulting in a suction effect at the cabin ventilation.

[0013] The air that is directed or flows through the duct from the direction of the vehicle cabin into the surrounding area – i.e., the outgoing exhaust air – can be referred to as cabin exhaust air flow.

[0014] The invention is based on the understanding that, for example, the use of a heat exchanger in the cabin exhaust air stream to recover heat contained in the exhaust air, particularly cabin heat, requires the operation of an additional fan, especially a continuous one, to overcome the additional pressure loss caused by the recovery process. Operating this additional fan consumes additional energy. Furthermore, the positioning of the exhaust air opening in the prior art severely limits the space-optimized design of a cabin exhaust air heat recovery system.

[0015] The design, and in particular the positioning, of the outlet opening of the vehicle according to the invention allows, for example, pressure losses of the heat exchanger, which can be designed as an evaporator, a cabin heat recovery system, or the heat recovery unit to be compensated. This can, for example, at least reduce the blower power or eliminate it entirely. Furthermore, the outlet opening or vent allows for the particularly space-saving installation of a heat recovery device – the heat recovery unit.If the vehicle is electrically powered, the space that is provided for an exhaust system or exhaust outlet in vehicles powered by internal combustion engines can be used to accommodate a large part of the cabin ventilation system – in particular the duct and the outlet opening. Furthermore, the duct can be arranged so that condensation drains directly through the duct and the low-lying vent opening.

[0016] The vehicle according to the invention offers several advantages. Firstly, it allows for a reduction in the blower power of the cabin heat recovery system, particularly at higher speeds when the vehicle is traveling forward. A further advantage of the vehicle according to the invention lies in an integrated condensate drain with an outlet opening located low, especially at the rear, thus preventing, for example, the accumulation of germs in the drain. Furthermore, the outlet opening can be positioned at the location of previously existing exhaust openings as a prominent design element, resulting in a particularly aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, it can provide a visible indication of a particularly efficient cabin heat recovery technology.

[0017] The motor vehicle according to the invention should not be limited to one channel and one inlet or outlet opening, but can, for example, comprise at least one channel, at least one outlet opening and at least one inlet opening.

[0018] In this embodiment of the invention, a heat exchanger, in particular an evaporator and / or a condenser, is arranged in the duct, which the exhaust air can flow around and / or through. In other words, a heat exchanger is arranged in the cabin exhaust air stream of the cabin ventilation system. The heat exchanger can, for example, be an evaporator of a heat pump, such as in a vehicle's air conditioning system. The heat exchanger can, for example, absorb waste heat from the exhaust air. This offers the advantage that air can be particularly advantageously routed around or through a heat exchanger.

[0019] In this embodiment of the invention, a heat recovery device is provided, which includes the heat exchanger. In other words, the motor vehicle has a device by which heat contained in the exhaust air, which would otherwise be lost to the environment when the exhaust air is discharged from the vehicle cabin, is used, for example, to supply a heat pump with thermal energy. The heat recovery device includes the heat exchanger, which is permeable or permeable to the exhaust air and is particularly advantageous for absorbing the heat contained in the exhaust air. Furthermore, the heat recovery device, or cabin exhaust air heat recovery system, includes, for example, a condenser from which the heat can be released.For example, the heat recovery system is designed as a heat pump with a condenser, an evaporator, and two refrigerant lines. An expansion valve is located in the first of these lines, and a compressor in the second. The compressor enables a refrigerant flow from the evaporator to the condenser, with a return flow occurring via the other refrigerant line and its expansion valve. This design offers the advantage of particularly efficient operation of the vehicle with its heat recovery system, as, for example, the flow of exhaust air around or through the heat exchanger can be especially efficient.

[0020] In this embodiment of the invention, a blower is arranged in the duct, through which the exhaust air can be directed. In other words, a flow-generating device, for example in the form of a fan, is provided in the duct, which can generate and / or amplify the cabin exhaust airflow. The blower can be used, for example, when the cabin ventilation system is to be used when the vehicle is stationary, and thus in a situation where no negative pressure or suction can be generated at the rear. Furthermore, if, for example, only a slight negative pressure or suction is generated or prevails due to a low vehicle speed during forward travel, the direction or flow of the exhaust air can be amplified.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a blower control system is provided by which the blower is regulated and / or controlled depending on the strength of the negative pressure or suction. In other words, the vehicle has, for example, a control device designed to control and / or regulate the blower, wherein, for example, the strength of the negative pressure or suction detected by a flow sensor provides a control signal for controlling the blower. This makes it possible to use the blower only when needed, thus avoiding unnecessary operation of the blower. This results in the advantage that the motor vehicle can be operated particularly efficiently, especially in an energy-efficient manner.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one section of the channel, in particular a section bordering the outlet opening, has a slope towards the outlet opening. This is especially true when the vehicle is on a level surface and not on an inclined plane. The slope allows for a particularly advantageous drainage of liquids towards the outlet opening, enabling, for example, condensation forming on the heat exchanger in the channel to drain away effectively. This offers the advantage of integrating a condensate drain into the cabin ventilation system in a particularly simple and, therefore, space-saving manner.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a control valve is arranged in the duct. In other words, a device is provided in the duct by which the flow rate in the duct can be regulated. This allows the cabin exhaust airflow, in particular its intensity, to be controlled. For example, if a particularly strong suction effect occurs at the rear of the vehicle and thus at the exhaust opening due to a particularly high speed and a particularly strong negative pressure or suction, the control valve can reduce the cabin exhaust airflow, thereby enabling, for example, particularly efficient operation of an air conditioning system. This results in the advantage that the vehicle can be operated more efficiently.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle has an electric drive, and the outlet opening is located at an exhaust port or exhaust port position. In other words, due to the electric drive, the motor vehicle does not require an exhaust system, which includes, for example, an exhaust pipe, so that the outlet openings can be positioned at a suitable location on the motor vehicle instead of the exhaust ports. This offers the advantage that, for example, the vehicle exterior can be designed in a particularly advantageous manner. Furthermore, a particularly good positioning at the rear outlet area is possible, where the negative pressure or suction is especially high.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the outer surface comprises a guide element, particularly an aerodynamic one, which, by virtue of its shape, intensifies the negative pressure or suction during forward travel of the vehicle. In other words, a lip, spoiler, or wing element, for example, is arranged on the outer surface, serving as a guide element for the air flowing around the vehicle during travel and positioned such that, particularly at the outlet opening, the negative pressure and / or suction can be intensified due to the shape and / or position of the guide element. This offers the advantage of particularly efficient vehicle operation. Furthermore, the guide element could be variable in shape so that the strength of the negative pressure or suction can be adjusted to the vehicle speed.

[0026] A second aspect of the application concerns a method for extracting exhaust air from the cabin of a motor vehicle. In this method, exhaust air from the cabin is conveyed into the surrounding environment via a cabin ventilation device, comprising an inlet opening located in the cabin and an outlet opening located in an exterior area of ​​the motor vehicle, which is fluidically connected to the inlet opening via a channel.

[0027] In order to make the exhaust air removal particularly advantageous and thus enable the vehicle to be operated in a particularly energy-efficient manner, the exterior is arranged at the rear of the vehicle in such a way that when the vehicle is moving forward, a negative pressure or suction is generated at the outlet opening, which directs the exhaust air out of the vehicle cabin.

[0028] Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the application, and vice versa.

[0029] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those mentioned below in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0030] It shows: Fig. 1. A schematically cut side view of the rear of a motor vehicle with a cabin ventilation device for a vehicle cabin; and Fig. 2 in a schematic perspective view the motor vehicle of the Fig. 1 with the vehicle cabin and the cabin ventilation device.

[0031] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematically cut side view of a motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10, which can be designed in particular as a passenger car or truck, has a vehicle cabin 12, which is intended in particular as the vehicle interior for vehicle users. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 10 has a cabin ventilation device 14 by means of which the vehicle cabin 12 can be ventilated.

[0032] The motor vehicle 10 should be able to be operated in a particularly advantageous and thus particularly energy-efficient manner, so that the cabin ventilation device 14 has a particularly low or no negative impact on the range of the motor vehicle 10, which is particularly electrically powered.

[0033] The cabin ventilation device 14 has an inlet opening 16 arranged in the vehicle cabin 12 and further has an outlet opening 20 arranged in an exterior area 18 of the motor vehicle 10, which is fluidically connected to the inlet opening 16 via a channel 22, so that exhaust air 24 from the vehicle cabin 12 can be directed into an environment 26 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0034] To enable the motor vehicle 10 to be operated particularly advantageously and thus efficiently, the exterior area 18 is arranged at the rear 28 of the motor vehicle 10 such that, when the motor vehicle 10 is traveling forward, a negative pressure or suction 30 can be generated at the outlet opening 20, which directs the exhaust air 24 from the vehicle cabin 12. The efficiency of the operation of the motor vehicle 10 or the cabin ventilation device 14 can be increased in particular if a heat exchanger 32 is additionally arranged in the duct 22, wherein the heat exchanger 32 is designed, in particular, as part of a heat recovery device. The cabin exhaust air stream or the exhaust air 24 can be drawn, for example, by means of a [missing information] via the heat exchanger 32. Fig. In the heat pump 34 shown in Figure 2, which is part of the heat recovery system and is designed, for example, as an air conditioner, heat is extracted for recovery. The heat exchanger 32 is specifically designed as an evaporator, and the heat pump 34 may additionally have a condenser 36, which is also located in Fig. 2 is shown.

[0035] The heat exchanger 32 in the duct 22 can cause additional pressure losses because the exhaust air 24 releases the heat it contains. In conventional cabin ventilation systems, this additional negative pressure is compensated for by a blower 38, which usually runs continuously and therefore consumes energy.

[0036] The motor vehicle 10 shown here, with its cabin ventilation device 14, allows the blower 38 to be switched off, run at reduced power, or, in certain applications, completely omitted, at least during forward travel of the motor vehicle 10. For this purpose, a blower control unit 40 is provided, by which the blower 38 is regulated and / or controlled depending on the strength of the negative pressure or suction 30.

[0037] By arranging at least one outlet opening 20 at the rear 28 of the motor vehicle 10, an aerodynamic low-pressure area can be created behind the vehicle 10 during driving, reducing or even partially eliminating the additional blower power required by the blower 38. This offers the advantage of particularly efficient operation of the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore, this design creates more space for installing components such as the heat exchanger 32 of the heat pump 34 and thus the heat recovery system. Consequently, the cabin ventilation device 14 of the motor vehicle 10 shown can be designed to be particularly compact.

[0038] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, a particularly low positioning of the outlet opening 20 or vent opening is possible, thus enabling, for example, the direct drainage of condensate, which may form on the heat exchanger 32, without the need for additional components. This also eliminates the need for a separate condensate drain. Advantageously, at least one section of the channel 22, which is located, for example, in the area of ​​the outlet opening 20, or the area between the heat exchanger 32 and the outlet opening 20, has a slope towards the outlet opening 20, allowing liquid to flow towards the outlet opening 20.

[0039] Advantageously, a control valve 42 can be arranged in the channel 22, which, for example, at particularly high speeds during forward travel, can prevent a suction effect caused by the low-pressure area at the rear 28 from becoming too strong. In this way, the cabin exhaust airflow can be regulated particularly advantageously via the control valve 42.

[0040] Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the exterior 18 of the motor vehicle 10 includes, for example, an aerodynamic guide element 44, which, through its shape, increases the suction 30 when the motor vehicle 10 is moving forward.

[0041] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of motor vehicle 10. Fig.Figure 1 shows a possible positioning of the outlet openings 20 at the rear of the vehicle – the rear 28 – where these are located in the area of ​​an exhaust system required for motor vehicles 10 powered by internal combustion engines. Thus, the exhaust system can be omitted in the electrically powered motor vehicle 10, freeing up the installation space for an advantageous positioning of, for example, the duct 22 and the outlet openings 20 of the cabin ventilation device 14.

[0042] The cabin ventilation device 14 shown enables a method for removing the exhaust air 24 from the vehicle cabin 12 of the motor vehicle 10, wherein in the method, by means of an arrangement of the exterior area 18 at the rear 28 of the motor vehicle 10 to generate a suction 30, a forward movement of the motor vehicle is used by which the exhaust air 24 can be directed out of the vehicle cabin 12.

[0043] The presented method and the presented motor vehicle 10 with the cabin ventilation device 14 enable the realization of an optimized cabin ventilation opening for electrically powered vehicles in the area of ​​the former exhaust system. In particular, the arrangements in place of the former exhaust system allow for a particularly advantageous shaping of the vehicle's exterior, thus providing a visible indication of the highly efficient technology of the motor vehicle 10.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (10) with a vehicle cabin (12) and a cabin ventilation device (14), with an inlet opening (16) arranged in the vehicle cabin (12) and an outlet opening (20) arranged in an exterior area (18) of the motor vehicle (10), which is fluidically connected to the inlet opening (16) via a channel (22) so that exhaust air (24) can be directed from the vehicle cabin (12) into an environment (26) of the motor vehicle (10) via the channel (22), wherein the exterior area (18) is arranged at the rear (28) of the motor vehicle (10) such that when the motor vehicle (10) is moving forward, a suction (30) can be generated at the outlet opening (20) which directs the exhaust air (24) out of the vehicle cabin (12), characterized by, that a heat exchanger (32) is arranged in the channel (22), which can be surrounded and / or flowed through by the exhaust air (24), wherein a heat recovery device is provided which includes the heat exchanger (32) and wherein a blower (38) is arranged in the channel (22), through which the exhaust air (24) can be directed through the channel (22). [2] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that a blower control (40) is provided by which the blower (38) can be regulated and / or controlled depending on the strength of the suction (30). [3] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one section of the canal (22) has a gradient towards the outlet opening (20). [4] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a control valve (42) is arranged in the channel (22). [5] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the motor vehicle (10) has an electric drive and the exhaust opening (20) is located at an exhaust position. [6] Motor vehicle (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the outer area (18) includes a guiding element (44) which, through its shape, increases the suction (30) when the motor vehicle (10) moves forward.

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