Roof arrangement with a roof opening system and an air conditioning unit

The roof arrangement integrates water drainage channels for cooling, addressing heat-related issues in autonomous vehicles by optimizing heat dissipation and reducing component complexity, ensuring sensor reliability and design aesthetics.

DE102022113740B4Active Publication Date: 2026-02-05WEBASTO AG
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102022113740
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-05-31
Publication Date
2026-02-05
Estimated Expiration
2042-05-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing roof modules in autonomous vehicles face challenges with heat build-up that can cause sensor failure due to waste heat and external climate, leading to overheating and reduced availability of environment sensors, while current air conditioning solutions require additional components, increase maintenance, and occupy valuable installation space.

Method used

A roof arrangement with an integrated air conditioning device that utilizes existing water drainage channels as cooling channels, allowing for heat dissipation through a synergistic combination of water outlet and cooling ducts, reducing the need for additional components and optimizing installation space.

Benefits of technology

The solution effectively dissipates waste heat from electronic components, ensuring continuous sensor availability by minimizing component count and installation space, while maintaining a desirable aesthetic and improving design robustness and tightness.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Roof arrangement for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, comprising a surface component (12) that forms at least a portion of a roof skin (14) of the vehicle roof, which functions as an outer sealing surface, a roof opening system (108) with a cover part (110) that is designed for selectively opening or closing a roof opening (112) provided in the surface component (12), at least one electrical and / or electronic and / or electromagnetic component (16) and an air conditioning unit (22) through which waste heat emitted by the electronic component (16) and / or heat introduced from the outside can be dissipated, wherein the roof opening system (108) comprises at least one water drainage channel (118) through which at least one cooling channel (23) of the air conditioning unit (22) is formed, through which the waste heat of the component (16) and / or the heat introduced from the outside can be dissipated from the roof arrangement (9), characterized in thatthat the air conditioning unit (22) comprises at least one supply channel (21a) with a cooling air inlet (21), wherein the supply channel (21a) is flow-conductingly coupled to the water drainage channel (118), or that the air conditioning unit (22) comprises at least one further cooling channel (25) with a cooling air inlet (21), wherein the at least one further cooling channel (25) is at least partially flow-conductingly coupled to the water drainage channel (118).
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Description

The invention relates to a roof arrangement for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.Generic roof arrangements, in particular those which comprise a roof module, are widely used in vehicle construction. For example, roof modules are prefabricated as separate functional modules and connected to a roof frame structure (which is part of the body structure) at the assembly line. The roof module forms, at least in regions, a roof skin of the vehicle roof, which prevents moisture or air flow from entering the vehicle interior. The roof skin is formed by one or more planar components which can be manufactured from a stable material, for example painted sheet metal or painted or through-colored plastic. The roof module can be part of a rigid vehicle roof or part of an openable roof assembly, for example comprising a sliding roof.Furthermore, the development in vehicle construction is increasingly directed to autonomously or semi-autonomously driving motor vehicles. In order to enable the vehicle controller to control the motor vehicle autonomously or semi-autonomously, a plurality of environment sensors (e.g. lidar sensors, radar sensors, (multi) cameras, etc., together with further (electrical) components) are used, which are integrated into the roof module, detect the environment around the motor vehicle and determine a respective traffic situation from the detected environment data, for example. Roof modules which are equipped with a multiplicity of environment sensors are also known as Roof Sensor Modules (RSM). For this purpose, the known surroundings sensors transmit or receive electromagnetic signals, for example laser beams or radar beams, it being possible by signal evaluation to generate a data model of the vehicle surroundings and to use it for vehicle control.For the best possible and reliable operating mode, safety and availability of the autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode, the most uninterrupted or continuous availability of the environment sensors and of the further (electrical) components is required. One problem that exists, by which the (temporary) failure of a surroundings sensor can be caused, is, for example, the generation of a heat build-up around the surroundings sensor, by which it can overheat and consequently fail. Such a heat build-up can be caused not only by an operating inherent waste heat of the environment sensor, but alternatively or in addition also by a hot external climate, for example in high summer, i.e. ambient heat, and lead to overheating (for example also only of individual electronic components of the environment sensor). A hot external climate or a strong solar radiation can lead to a strong heating of the entire roof skin, in particular due to the exposed position of the environment sensors on the top side of the roof skin.In order to avoid these heat-induced problems, it is therefore desirable to prevent any heat build-up that may occur by using an air conditioning system. Although the advantages of using such air conditioning devices are known in principle, the latter are not yet used in extensive area-covering applications in present-day roof modules for autonomous or partially autonomous driving operation, so that at the present time, at least partially, uninterrupted availability of the environment sensors can still be ensured by effective heat dissipation from the environment sensors, antennas and further electronic components.Some technical approaches for air conditioning devices provide air inlets arranged on the outside of the roof skin, for example in the form of grilles, and in some cases even cooling fans arranged on the outside of the roof skin. Although these external cooling ribs and / or cooling fans basically provide an air flow required for cooling the electrical components of the roof module. However, such an arrangement also makes it possible for foreign particles and contaminants to easily enter the ventilation space and lead, for example, to an impairment of the cooling performance. Furthermore, known air conditioning devices or air conditioning concepts for a roof module fundamentally require an additional large number of components which have to be mounted and maintained, as a result of which a relevant outlay for mounting and maintenance is increased. In addition, existing approaches fundamentally require a large installation space, which is available as a narrow resource in the automobile sector, however. If there is also not sufficient installation space, in known cooling concepts an air conditioning device is also at least partially removed from one or more attachments to the roof module. This is in contrast to a desired visual appearance of the roof module. On the other hand, such approaches result in disadvantages with regard to a desired robustness in the design of components of the roof module and often make it difficult to provide a required tightness and dirt resistance (for example of a fan) of the roof module. In air cooling systems there is also the difficulty that water can penetrate into the air guidance system and lead there to corrosion, for example. Thus, in existing solution approaches, for example, dewatering concepts are always necessary, which often have to be designed to be complex.These disadvantages are to be eliminated or reduced by the integrated solution of this invention which is optimized in terms of installation space, production and assembly.Further prior art can be taken from DE 692 19 968 T2, DE 10 2004 051 380 A1, JP S59-143 776 A, DE 10 2004 022 012 B4 and DE 20 2019 101 094 U1.An object of the invention is in the present case to propose a roof arrangement with an improved, in particular space-optimized, configuration, which at least reduces the above-described disadvantages of the prior art known in the art.This object is achieved by a roof arrangement according to the teaching of claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a motor vehicle having at least one roof arrangement according to the invention.Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. Moreover, all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the description, the claims and / or the figures fall within the scope of the invention. It is understood that the embodiments made into the roof arrangement relate equivalently to a motor vehicle according to the invention without being mentioned separately for the latter. It is understood in particular that standard language transformations and / or a corresponding replacement of respective terminology within the scope of conventional language practice, in particular the use of synonyms supported by the generally accepted language literature, are encompassed by the present disclosure content without being explicitly mentioned in their respective interpretation.The roof arrangement according to the invention comprises a surface component which at least in regions forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof which functions as an outer sealing surface. Furthermore, the roof arrangement comprises a roof opening system having a cover part which is designed for the selective opening or closing of a roof opening provided in the planar component. The roof arrangement likewise comprises at least one electrical and / or electronic and / or electromagnetic component and an air conditioning device, by means of which waste heat emitted by the electronic component and / or heat introduced from the outside can be discharged. The roof arrangement is characterized in that the roof opening system comprises at least one water outlet channel, by means of which at least one cooling channel of the air conditioning device is formed, by means of which the waste heat of the component and / or the heat introduced from the outside can be conducted out of the roof arrangement. The air conditioning device comprises at least one supply duct with a cooling air inlet, wherein the supply duct is coupled to the water outlet duct in a flow-conducting manner. Alternatively, the air conditioning device comprises at least one further cooling duct having a cooling air inlet, wherein the at least one further cooling duct is coupled to the water outlet channel in a flow-conducting manner at least in sections.In particular in future (partially) autonomous driving vehicles, a surface-covering use of the thermal management concept according to the invention is desirable. For this purpose, the air conditioning device according to the invention is particularly suitable for heat dissipation from environment sensors and further electrical or electronic components. The roof arrangement is particularly preferably a roof sensor module (Roof Sensor Module). The solution according to the invention also makes it possible for fewer air inlets and / or outlets (if required) to be provided and for these additionally to be able to be positioned more optimally (along the edge region), as a result of which styling and an optical appearance of the roof module is improved.According to the invention, the at least one cooling channel, which is formed at least partially (preferably, but not necessarily in interaction with further components) by the at least one water outlet channel, can be used for effective heat dissipation of waste heat and / or external heat from the roof arrangement. In this case, the water drain channel of the roof opening system, which is already functionally present, can be additionally used for heat dissipation in a technically synergistic manner. The air conditioning device according to the invention has the advantage that the utilization of the water drain channel(s) in the edge region around the roof opening is optimized in terms of installation space. The solution according to the invention makes it possible to dissipate the waste heat from a plurality of electronic components which are installed along the edge contour of the roof arrangement by means of a common cooling duct which is formed by the water outflow channels. The water drainage channels preferably follow the edge contour of the roof opening in terms of shape. It is thus possible, with only one cooling channel, which is preferably provided as a self-contained frame channel surrounding the roof opening, by the water outlet channels, to jointly discharge the waste heat from all electrical and / or electronic components of the roof arrangement. In this way, components are saved compared to known concepts and assembly of the air conditioning device is also significantly improved. In particular, the invention allows simple production or simple assembly of the air conditioning device. In this way, a simple integration of the air conditioning device can take place in a single operation in the production line. Water management within the air conditioning device can likewise be improved according to the invention. Due to the reduced component requirement, a design and styling of the roof arrangement can also be improved according to the invention compared to conventional roof arrangements. In other words, according to the present invention, a degree of freedom in design increases.The electrical or electronic components can be those which interact with a surroundings sensor. Alternatively or additionally, these may also be components which are located only in the physical vicinity of the environment sensor (i.e. in an adjacent installation space) and can heat up the latter quasi passively by their waste heat. The air conditioning device can therefore effectively prevent the environment sensor from being heated by surrounding components. It is thus ensured that the environment sensor functions in a thermally stable manner. In principle, the at least one electronic component can also be a computing unit and / or an evaluation unit and / or an antenna (or an antenna module) and / or a light source (or a light module) and / or other waste heat-generating electronics.By "at least one / one" is meant that the roof arrangement may comprise one or more of the component in question. The ambient heat introduced from the outside can be, for example, waste heat from further electrical and / or electronic components which are installed in the roof arrangement. In addition to the at least one cooling channel, which is formed according to the invention at least partially by the water outlet channel, the "air conditioning device" can comprise further cooling components, in particular further cooling channels, cooling air inlets and / or cooling air outlets, which together form the air conditioning device. The air conditioning device can be a cooling device and / or a heating device. Thus, the air conditioning device is preferably not only designed to remove heat and / or waste heat from the at least one component, but can also be used in principle to heat the at least one component, for example, before a start of a trip. The air conditioning device is provided in its entirety to cool or to temperature control one or more electrical and / or electronic and / or mechanical and / or mechatronic components which are arranged in the roof arrangement (this can optionally also mean heating of components, depending on the ambient conditions). The air conditioning device comprises all components which participate directly or indirectly in the temperature control of the roof arrangement.In a preferred embodiment, the roof opening system and / or the air conditioning device is / are designed to bring the cover part into an in particular minimum opening position in order to improve an air exchange between a vehicle exterior and the water outlet channel, by means of which the at least one cooling channel of the air conditioning device is formed. The roof opening system can, for example, cause the cover part to be adjusted into a predetermined climate position by actuating a drive by means of a control command. The predetermined climate position can be, for example, a predetermined opening position of the cover part, at which an air exchange is made possible without the covering effect of the cover part being influenced. The cover part can be lifted off from a seal, for example, in order to allow air to enter and / or circulate between the water drain channel and the exterior, but without rainwater, for example, being able to pass through the roof opening into an interior of the vehicle. For example, the cover part can be opened only a few millimeters to a few centimeters. The opening can be effected by a translatory movement and / or a rotatory movement of the cover part.In a preferred embodiment, the at least one water outlet channel is arranged in an edge region of the roof opening, in particular encircling the roof opening, and is designed to discharge water entering the roof opening from the roof arrangement via at least one water outlet arranged at the rear and / or at the bow and / or laterally. Preferably, a plurality of water outlets can also be provided, so that water can be discharged, for example, all around the roof arrangement. The water outlet can also be effected, for example, via an A-pillar and / or B-pillar and / or C-pillar and / or D-pillar of a vehicle body on which the roof arrangement is arranged. The water outlet is preferably coupled to at least a portion of one of the water outlet channels in a flow-conducting or liquid-conducting manner, so that water entering the water outlet channel(s) can be discharged from the roof arrangement via the at least one water outlet. The water drain channel(s) is / are preferably designed in the form of a trough and is preferably opened outwards in the direction of the surroundings of the vehicle at least when the cover part is open. The water drain channel(s) can / can preferably be arranged on the surface component and / or another frame structure and / or support structure of the roof arrangement, preferably around the roof opening. As a result, liquid penetrating into the roof opening via an edge of the roof opening can be collected through the water drain channel(s) independently of the point of penetration. The water drain channel(s) preferably form / form a channel frame which is arranged around the roof opening below the surface component (in the direction of a vehicle interior).According to the invention, the air conditioning device comprises at least one supply duct having a cooling air inlet, wherein the supply duct is coupled to the water outlet duct in particular in a flow-conducting manner. In this embodiment, the cooling air inlet is coupled in a flow-conducting manner, for example via the feed duct, directly to at least one of the water outlet channels. In this way, external air can enter via the cooling air inlet into the cooling channel formed by the water outlet channel(s) and thus into the roof arrangement and enable heat dissipation. This configuration makes it possible to save a large number of otherwise required components for the air conditioning device. The water outlet channels provided in any case, on the other hand, are used synergistically (also) for heat dissipation. Particularly preferably, in this embodiment, the at least one component is thermally coupled at least in sections directly or indirectly to the at least one water outlet channel in order to enable a heat transfer from the component to the water outlet channel in this way. For example, the water drain channel can be in direct contact with a housing of the component in sections, so that a heat transfer takes place through this contact. Indirect thermal coupling with the interposition of further components is also possible.In alternative embodiments, the air conditioning device can be designed to suck in a required cooling air from a vehicle interior and / or a vehicle foot space and / or an air conditioning system of a vehicle. In this embodiment, the air conditioning device therefore does not necessarily have to comprise a cooling air inlet, but rather can also draw in and / or receive the cooling air or air conditioning air from a region of the vehicle.According to the invention, the air conditioning device comprises at least one further cooling duct having a cooling air inlet, wherein the at least one further cooling duct is coupled at least in sections to the water outlet channel, in particular in a flow-conducting manner.This embodiment represents a preferred alternative to a direct flow-guiding coupling with the water drain channel. The air conditioning device comprises a further cooling channel which preferably guides the cooling fluid or the cooling air, starting from the cooling air inlet past the at least one component, to the at least one water outlet channel in order ultimately to discharge it again from the water outlet (when the cover part is closed) or from the roof opening (when the cover part is at least partially open). In a preferred embodiment, the at least one further cooling channel is coupled to the at least one component in a directly or indirectly heat-conducting manner. For example, the further cooling channel can be in direct contact with a housing of the component in sections, so that a heat transfer takes place through this contact. Indirect thermal coupling with the interposition of further components is also possible.In a preferred embodiment, the roof opening system comprises at least one roof opening kinematics and at least one guide rail in which the cover part is guided movably, in particular linearly, along the at least one guide rail for the selective opening or closing of the roof opening, wherein the at least one guide rail comprises the at least one water drain channel. Particularly preferably, the at least one guide rail runs substantially (±10%) parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction. Particularly preferably, at least the water drainage channels, which run substantially parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction, are formed by the at least one guide rail. Particularly preferably, the roof opening comprises two edge regions which run substantially parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction and two edge regions which run substantially (±10%) orthogonally to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The water drain channel can be formed, for example, as a further groove in the guide rail, in which the cover part is not movably guided.In a preferred embodiment, a seal is provided between a sealing flange of the surface component and the cover part, which seal is designed to prevent moisture from entering the roof opening at least in a closed position of the cover part. In the closed state, the cover part preferably ends flush with the surrounding surface component. The seal is preferably arranged, for example plugged on, circumferentially around the cover part, for example on an edge of the cover part. Alternatively, the seal can also be arranged on the sealing flange of the surface component. In the closed state of the cover part, the seal comes to bear against the sealing flange (if it is arranged on the cover part) or against the edge of the cover part (if it is arranged on the sealing flange) and thereby prevents moisture from entering the roof opening.In a preferred embodiment, the at least one water outlet channel comprises an abutment seal which is arranged at an edge of the water outlet channel and is designed to prevent moisture from entering between the water outlet channel and the cover part. The contact seal is, for example, plugged onto an edge of the water outlet channel(s). The contact seal seals an intermediate space between the water drain / s and the cover part. The contact seal is preferably in sealing or contact with the cover part in the closed position and / or during the opening and / or closing movement.In a preferred embodiment, the cooling channel is bounded circumferentially, at least in the closed position of the cover part, by the water outlet channel, the contact seal, the cover part, the seal and the sealing flange. The cooling channel formed by the water drain channel preferably extends as a kind of hollow channel along the edge region of the roof opening. Particularly preferably, the cooling channel surrounds the entire edge region of the roof opening as a channel frame. The cooling channel has a hollow cross section, viewed orthogonally to its longitudinal extension. A bottom-side wall side (pointing in the direction of a vehicle interior) of the cooling duct is preferably formed by the water outlet channel. A side wall of the cooling channel directed in the direction of a roof opening center is preferably formed by a protruding wall section of the water drain channel, on the free-standing edge of which the contact seal is fastened, for example plugged on. The wall section together with the contact seal preferably forms a channel side wall. A ceiling-side (facing in the direction of an exterior of the vehicle) duct wall of the cooling duct is preferably formed by the cover part in moisture-proof cooperation with the seal. A channel side wall formed in the region of the edge of the roof opening and preferably protruding from the surface component in the direction of a vehicle interior is preferably formed by the sealing flange formed on the surface component and a protruding wall section of the water drainage channel, which is particularly preferably fastened directly to the surface component or indirectly to the surface component via a carrier structure.In a preferred embodiment, the at least one cooling channel is configured to receive a cooling fluid supply from outside the roof arrangement. It is thus possible, for example, for the roof arrangement to comprise one or more inlet openings, for example in the form of ventilation slots, through which fresh air can be guided from the outside into the roof arrangement. This at least one inlet opening can preferably be provided on the front side in the region of a front side transverse rail or longitudinal rail of the roof arrangement in a lateral region parallel to at least one of the at least two longitudinal rails. A lateral cooling fluid supply (inlet opening) is advantageous in this case, since rainwater cannot enter the cooling channel as easily. Preferably, a type of grating or filter is installed in such an inlet opening, by means of which grating or filter particles from the sucked-in ambient air can be captured and thus do not enter the air conditioning device. Such an arrangement of at least one air inlet has the advantage that, during a movement of the vehicle, an air flow forced through due to the driving movement is formed, so that preferably at least from a predetermined speed limit of the vehicle, no additional, noise-emitting fans are required for forming the cooling fluid flow. Thus, low-noise operation is possible by avoiding or at least reducing the use of cooling fans in the roof construction space.In a preferred embodiment, the at least one water outlet channel or the cooling channel formed thereby at least partially is formed circumferentially around the roof opening. In this embodiment, at least one water drainage channel is preferably formed in one piece or at least continuously, so that an ingress of moisture into the roof opening all around the roof opening can be prevented or moisture entering there is collected by the at least one water drainage channel.In a preferred embodiment, the at least one electrical and / or electronic component is arranged in a drying compartment of the roof arrangement protected from moisture, and the waste heat emitted by the electrical and / or electronic component can be discharged from the drying compartment by means of the air conditioning device. It is thus possible to arrange the electrical and / or electronic component protected from moisture, for example in a housing or the like. A heat dissipation from such a housing can take place directly to the cooling channel, which is formed at least partially by the water outlet channel. For this purpose, the housing can be in direct contact with the cooling channel via at least one surface, for example. Alternatively, the housing can also be connected to the cooling channel in a heat-transferring manner via a heat-conducting element. This allows a more free placement of the electrical and / or electronic component in the installation space of the roof arrangement. By delimiting between a dry compartment and a wet compartment formed by the air conditioning device, it is possible to wet the cooling fluid stream, for example, in order thus to increase an amount of heat absorbed.It is therefore preferred that the at least one electrical and / or electronic component is connected by at least one heat conducting element directly or indirectly in a heat-transferring manner to the cooling channel provided by the water outlet channel and / or to a further cooling channel. It may also be preferred if the at least one air conditioning device comprises at least one cooling fan and / or at least one cooling body and / or at least one heat exchanger and / or at least one heat pump and / or at least one heat conducting pipe. Other components known from thermal management (e.g. a compressor or a condenser) are also conceivable in principle.Alternatively or additionally, the air conditioning device can therefore have one or more cooling fans in order to be able to generate an air flow in the cooling duct of the air conditioning device by means of the one or more cooling fans, for example at only low speeds of the vehicle or when connected to the cooling circuit of the vehicle. Preferably, the one or more cooling fans is / are controllable in such a way that different volume flows through the cooling duct or the cooling ducts can be set. The cooling fans are preferably integrated into the cooling channel or the cooling channels.Alternatively or additionally, the at least one electrical and / or electronic component can be arranged at least in regions on the cooling duct and / or can be in heat-conducting connection with the cooling duct via a heat-conducting element. It is particularly preferred if the at least one electrical and / or electronic component is in direct, heat-conducting contact with the part of the cooling duct, which is preferably formed from metal, for example by means of its (metal) housing, so that loss-free heat transfer is possible. In this case, the (metal) housing of the at least one electrical and / or electronic component, which preferably forms the drying space, can be arranged, for example, via a planar contact surface on an outer side of the transverse rail or of the longitudinal rail of the roof module frame. In order to prevent heat transfer losses, a heat-conducting paste can preferably be applied between the contact surfaces.As an alternative to a direct arrangement of the at least one electrical and / or electronic component on the cooling duct, it is preferred to provide a heat transfer between the at least one electrical and / or electronic component and the cooling duct by means of one or more heat-conducting elements. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a heat sink and / or a heat exchanger and / or a heat pump and / or a sheet metal part and / or a heat pipe (heat pipe) is used as the heat-conducting element, and / or the heat-conducting element can be connected to a heat-conducting paste or another heat-conducting material. It is understood that a combination of the heat conducting elements listed above, i.e. not just one type of heat conducting element, can also be used. It is also understood that all heat-generating components of the roof arrangement can be provided with at least one heat-conducting element. For example, the at least one electrical and / or electronic component can comprise one or more heat conducting elements. In any case, the heat-conducting element forms a heat transfer bridge between the at least one electrical and / or electronic component and the at least one cooling duct, with the result that the waste heat or the ambient heat is transferred to the at least one cooling duct as free of losses as possible. The use of a heat-conducting element has the advantage that a degree of freedom of design is thereby increased, since the at least one electrical and / or electronic component does not have to be arranged directly on the cooling duct, but rather can be positioned more freely.Likewise, in order to increase the efficiency of the heat transfer between the at least one electrical and / or electronic component and the cooling channel and also to increase the heat conduction within the cooling channel, it may be advantageous for the air conditioning device to comprise a cooling body which preferably has a multiplicity of cooling ribs. For example, the heat sink can be a metallic component (preferably made of aluminum), which has a multiplicity of notches or elevations in order to increase its heat emission surface, in order to transfer as much heat as possible, which is emitted by the at least one electrical and / or electronic component, to the cooling fluid stream flowing in the cooling duct. Particularly preferably, the cooling body is arranged directly on the heat transfer surface between the at least one electrical and / or electronic component and the cooling channel and / or the further cooling channel (in the case of a direct arrangement of the environment sensor on the cooling channel). Alternatively, the cooling body can also be arranged, for example, at a heat introduction point of the heat-conducting element in order to conduct away the heat from the latter as efficiently as possible.In principle, which type of electrical and / or electronic components is cooled by the air conditioning device according to the invention is arbitrary. The at least one electrical and / or electronic component preferably comprises one or more antennas and / or an antenna module and / or a control device and / or a light module and / or a light generator and / or a surroundings sensor which is comprised in the roof module and which can transmit and / or receive electromagnetic signals through a see-through region in order to detect the vehicle surroundings.In a preferred specific embodiment, the at least one surroundings sensor includes a lidar sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or a camera sensor and / or a multi-camera sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor and / or rain sensors. Other types of sensors, not mentioned, which can be used in the field of roof modules are also included here.In a preferred embodiment, the roof arrangement comprises a roof module which is fastened as a structural unit, in particular by a roof module frame, to a vehicle body, in particular to a roof body frame, of a motor vehicle. The roof module can form a structural unit in which devices for autonomous or semi-autonomous driving assisted by driving assistance systems are integrated and which are mounted on a vehicle body shell as a unit on the side of a vehicle manufacturer, for example are fastened to a vehicle body and / or a roof frame structure. The longitudinal beams extend substantially along a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. The cross beams preferably extend in a vehicle width direction of the motor vehicle, i.e. transversely, preferably perpendicularly and substantially horizontally to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. Preferably, the roof module can be connected, for example glued, screwed and / or bolted, to the roof frame structure of a motor vehicle by the roof module frame. Furthermore, the roof module according to the invention can be designed as a pure fixed roof or also as a roof together with a roof opening system. The roof module can be placed on or inserted into the roof frame structure which forms part of a vehicle body. The roof module can be designed for use in a passenger car or in a commercial vehicle. The roof module can preferably be provided as a structural unit in the form of a Rof Sensor Module (RSM), in which the environment sensors and further electrical components for (partially) autonomous driving are provided. It is also conceivable for the roof module to comprise one or more antenna modules and / or further electrical components. It is also possible for the roof module to comprise one or more environment sensors and / or one or more antenna modules and / or further electrical or electronic components, wherein at least one selected of the aforementioned components can be cooled by the air conditioning device according to the invention.In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one roof arrangement according to any embodiment of the invention.It is understood that the aforementioned embodiments and exemplary embodiments still to be explained below can be implemented not only individually but also in any combination with one another without departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, all embodiments and exemplary embodiments of the roof arrangement relate in their full extent to a motor vehicle which has such a roof arrangement.Embodiments of the invention are schematically illustrated in the drawings and are explained below by way of example. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle having a roof module according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a detail of a roof module; FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a detail of a roof module; FIG. 4 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a roof module according to the invention; and FIG. 5 shows a top view of a further exemplary embodiment of a roof module according to the invention.FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof 100 of a vehicle 1000 (not shown completely), which comprises a roof arrangement 9 according to the invention. The roof arrangement 9 is designed as a roof module 10 in the present case. The roof module 10 comprises a surface component 12 for forming a roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof 100, which functions as an outer sealing surface. The roof module 10 optionally comprises a roof module frame on which the planar component 12 is arranged or to which the planar component 12 is non-detachably fastened, usually glued. The roof module 10 is arranged as a structural unit on a roof body frame 104 of the vehicle 1000, in the present case placed thereon. The roof body frame 104 comprises a front side and a rear side body cross member 102, wherein only the front side body cross member 102 is visible. Furthermore, the roof body frame 104 comprises at least two body longitudinal beams 106. The roof body frame 104 is in the present case part of the vehicle body of the motor vehicle 1000.The roof module 10 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a roof opening system 108, which is designed as a sliding roof. The roof opening system 108 comprises a roof opening kinematics, not shown in detail, and a cover part 110. The lid part 110 can be adjusted between an open position and a closed position by the roof opening kinematics. In the open position, a roof opening 112 in the panel member 12 is opened into a vehicle interior. In the closed position, the cover part 110 closes the roof opening 112 preferably in a moisture-proof manner. In the closed position, the cover part 110 preferably ends flush with the roof skin 14 or the planar component 12. The cover part 110 can be made of a plastic or a sheet metal or of glass. A seal 114, for example an annular collar seal, is preferably provided between the roof opening 112 and the cover part 110, so that the roof opening 112 is closed towards the inside in a moisture-proof manner in the closed position. According to FIGS. 2 and 3, the seal 114 is arranged on the cover part 110, in particular on an edge-side region of the cover part 110. The seal 114 interacts with a seal flange 116, which is provided circumferentially on the roof opening 112 at an edge region.During the opening of the cover part 110, the latter is raised at least in a partial movement, in particular pivoted about a pivot axis, in order in this way to extend over the roof skin 14. Subsequently, the cover part 110 is moved, for example via a rail guide, on the outside of the roof skin 14 in a rear direction in order to fully open the roof opening 112. In particular after rainfall or a washing cycle, moisture residues may remain on the cover part 110 and / or the roof skin 14 in the form of water drops. When the cover part 110 is tilted and / or when driving with the vehicle 1000, water drops of this type can enter the roof opening 112 via an edge region thereof. The vehicle interior would get wet as a result.In order to prevent moisture from entering via an edge region of the roof opening 112, known roof opening systems usually comprise water drainage channels 118 which are arranged on the edge side and circumferentially around the roof opening 112. The water drainage channels 118 can be formed as a component of the guide rails of the roof opening system 108, at least in the side region of the roof opening 112, which runs substantially parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction x. If water now penetrates into the roof opening 112 via the edge region thereof, said opening can be collected by at least one water outlet channel 118. The water is then preferably discharged via at least one water outlet 120, which leads out of the vehicle 1000, for example, on the rear side. It is understood that the roof module 10 and / or the motor vehicle 1000 can also comprise a plurality of water outlets 120. The water drainage channels 118 are preferably provided circumferentially around the roof opening 112 and preferably form a self-contained frame which encloses the roof opening 112. From this frame, the water can preferably be discharged at the rear through the at least one water outlet 120. In order to prevent water which has entered the water drainage channels 118 from entering an interior of the motor vehicle 1000, each of the water drainage channels 118 is sealed off from the cover part 110 via an abutment seal 122, in particular a lip seal. The contact seal 122 can be plugged onto an edge 123 of the water outlet channels 118 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ), for example. The edge 123, at least in a local region around the roof opening 112, is preferably aligned orthogonally with respect to the roof skin 14 and / or the surface component 12 and / or the cover part 110.Furthermore, the roof module 10 comprises an electrical and / or electronic component 16 in a front-side region (as viewed in the vehicle longitudinal direction x, which corresponds to a direction of travel of the motor vehicle 1000), symmetrically with respect to the vehicle longitudinal axis x. The electrical and / or electronic component 16 is in the present case a surroundings sensor 17. the surroundings sensor 17 is arranged directly behind a front body cross member 102, which defines a roof-side cowl in a connection to a windshield, not shown in more detail, of the vehicle 1000. Environment sensor 17 may be arranged on surface component 12 such that it can be moved in and moved out or rigidly. Environment sensor 17 is a lidar sensor in the present case. Other types of sensors, e.g., multi-directional cameras or cameras used in semi-autonomous or autonomous driving, may also be used. Other electrical and / or electronic components 16 can also be installed in the roof module 10.The roof module 10 (and / or the environment sensor 17) comprises a transparent area 18, which can be made, for example, from a preferably break-proof plastic, glass or other partially transparent or transparent material. Environment sensor 17 is oriented along an optical axis 20, which in the case of FIG. 1 is oriented parallel to vehicle longitudinal direction x. A field of view of environment sensor 17 extends conically around optical axis 20, in which environment sensor 17 may transmit and / or receive electromagnetic signals, in order to thus detect a vehicle environment.The roof module 10 according to the invention further comprises an air conditioning device 22, by means of which waste heat emitted by the electronic component 16, for example the environment sensor 17, and / or heat introduced into the roof module 10 from the outside can be discharged. According to the invention, the air conditioning device 22 comprises at least one cooling channel 23, which is formed by at least one of the water outflow channels 118. In this way, waste heat or heat can be dissipated from the water outlet 120 via the use of the water outlet channel 118 as cooling channel 23. As a result, a synergistic use of the water outlet channel 118 is also possible for heat dissipation. For heat dissipation, the component 16 can be connected to the at least one water outlet channel 118 in a heat-conducting, in particular flow-conducting, manner, for example via at least one further cooling channel 25. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the at least one component 16 to be connected to the at least one water drain channel 118 in a heat-conducting manner via a heat-conducting element (not shown), for example a heat-conducting plate, a heat-conducting tube or the like, in addition to the further cooling channel 25. Other thermal couplings are also conceivable. In principle, the roof module 10 or the air conditioning device 22 can have at least one air inlet 21 (viewed in the direction of travel x) laterally provided on the front side into a further cooling duct 25 (which the air conditioning device 22 comprises in addition to the cooling duct 23 formed by the water outlet channel 118). Cooling air can flow through the air inlet 21 into the further cooling channel 25. The further cooling channel 25 is coupled to the component 16 in a thermally or thermally conductive manner, such that waste heat from the component 16 can be introduced into the further cooling channel 25. The air flowing in through the air inlet 21 can absorb the waste heat. From the cooling air inlet 21, a first channel section 25 aof the further cooling channel 25 preferably leads to the component 16. a second channel section 25 bof the cooling channel 25 leads from the component 16 to the cooling channel 23 formed by the water outlet channel 118. the further cooling channel 25 or at least the second channel section 25 bis fluidically coupled to the at least one water outlet channel 118, so that the cooling air can flow out of the water outlet 120 via the water outlet channel 118 after it has absorbed the waste heat generated by the component 16 or a heat introduced from the outside. In this way, the waste heat / heat can be dissipated from a front-side part of the roof module 10 in a heat dissipation direction W A in a rear-side direction (opposite to the direction of travel x) and discharged from the roof module 10. The air conditioning device 22 according to the invention preferably does not require a cooling fan for generating a forced air flow. However, it is self-evident that the air conditioning device 22 can optionally comprise at least one cooling fan if, for example, the cooling effect can be increased as a result.When the cover part 110 is open, the heat escapes directly from the roof opening 112 according to the invention without a discharge from the water outlet 120 being necessary. Rather, the heat escapes at the location of the lowest escape resistance, thus at the location of the largest outflow cross section (see FIG. 2 ). FIG. 2 shows a sectional view parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction x. A rear part of the roof opening system 108 is shown.If the cover part 110 is closed, a preferably outwardly moisture- and air-tight channel is formed, which can be used as a flow channel for the heat dissipation, so that in this case the warm exhaust air can be discharged to the outside from the roof module 10 through the water outlet 120. In this case, the water outlet channel 118 forms a bottom-side wall and a part of a channel side wall. The contact seal 122, in interaction with the cover part 110, seals off the side wall outwards in the direction of the cover part 110 in a moisture-tight manner. The cover part 110, on which the seal 114 is arranged, also closes off the channel formed in this way outwards in interaction with the seal flange 116 of the surface component 12. In this way, the heated exhaust air, which flows into the water outlet channel 118 designed as a channel, can only escape through the water outlet 120 (see FIG. 3 ). FIG. 3 shows a sectional view parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction x. A rear part of the roof opening system 108 is shown.FIG. 4 shows a top view of a roof module 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The cover part 110 is indicated merely in phantom and in the closed position. During the travel of the vehicle 1000, external air is drawn into the air inlet 21 on account of the travel speed and is guided to the component 16 or the environment sensor 17 via the first duct section 25 aof the further cooling duct 25. The first channel section 25 ais connected to the second channel section 25 bvia a channel connection 25 c. The channel connection 25 cis arranged below the component 16 in the present case (as viewed into the plane of the sheet) and is therefore only indicated by dashed lines. The component 16 is coupled at least to the channel connection 25 cin a heat-transferring manner. For example, the waste heat of the component 16 can be discharged via a heat-conducting element (not shown) to the duct connection 25 cor to the further cooling duct 25. A thermal coupling via a heat conducting tube or the like is also possible. Alternatively or additionally, a housing in which the at least one component 16 is located can be thermally coupled to the further cooling channel 25. The further cooling channel 25 comprises the first channel section 25 a, the second channel section 25 band the channel connection 25 c. It goes without saying that the further cooling channel 25 can be embodied in one piece.The waste heat generated by the environment sensor 17 and / or heat introduced from the outside into the roof module 10 can be dissipated into the cooling duct 23 formed at least partially by the water drainage channels 118 via the further cooling duct 25, which is thermally and fluidically coupled to the water drainage channels 118 or the cooling duct 23 formed thereby. According to FIG. 4, the water drainage channels 118 form a channel frame surrounding the roof opening 112. In combination with the cover part 110 and the sealing flange 116 of the surface component 12, the water outlet channel 118 forms the cooling channel 23 which is closed in its circumferential direction. The water outlets 120 are arranged on the rear side in the direction of a vehicle rear, and on the right and left sides, as viewed in the direction of travel x. Through the water outlets 120, which also serve as cooling outlets, the heated exhaust air can be discharged from the roof module 10. It is understood that the further cooling channel 25 and / or the cooling channel 23 can each comprise any desired course and / or any desired cross section and the embodiments shown are not to be understood as restrictive. The direction of flow of the cooling air is indicated by arrows and dashed lines.By using the water outlet channel 118, the heat dissipation can be designed in a space-optimized manner. If water is located in the cooling channel 23 formed by the water drain channel 118, a cooling effect can be improved due to utilization of vaporization enthalpy of the water located in the water drain channel 118.FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a roof module 10 in which the cooling air inlet 21 is connected in a flow-conducting manner via a feed duct 21 ato the water outlet channel 118. In this way, during travel with the motor vehicle 1000, travel wind can flow from the outside into the cooling air inlet 21 and be conducted via the feed duct 21 ainto the cooling duct 23. The waste heat from the at least one component 16 is introduced into the water drain 118 via a heat conducting element 24, which is at least thermally coupled to a part of the water drain channel 118, and is absorbed by the inflowing outside air. The warmed outside air leaves the vehicle 1000 again via the water outlet 120, which is arranged on the rear side. According to FIG. 5, the roof module 10 comprises a rear water outlet 120 and a front cooling air inlet 21 provided on the right side (as viewed in the direction of travel x). in this embodiment, the component 16 can therefore be cooled by means of the cooling duct 23 formed by the water outlet channel 118 without the interposition of further cooling ducts.List of reference characters9 Roof arrangement 10 Roof module 12 Planar component 14 Roof skin 16 Electrical and / or electronic component 17 Environment sensor 18 See-through region 20 Optical axis 21 Air inlet / cooling air inlet 21 a Duct 22 Air conditioning device 23 Cooling duct 24 Heat-conducting element 25 Further cooling duct 25 aFirst duct section 25 bSecond duct section 25 c Duct connection 100 Vehicle roof 102 Body cross member 104 Roof body frame, roof frame structure 106 Body longitudinal member 108 Roof opening system 110 Cover part 112 Roof opening 114 Seal 116 Sealing flange 118 Water outlet duct 120 Water outlet 122 Contact seal 123 Edge 1000 Motor vehicle, Vehicle x Vehicle longitudinal direction, Vehicle longitudinal axis, Direction of travel y Vehicle width direction W A Heat dissipation direction

Claims

Roof arrangement for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, comprising a planar component (12) which at least in regions forms a roof skin (14) of the vehicle roof, which skin functions as an outer sealing surface, a roof opening system (108) having a cover part (110) which is formed for the selective opening or closing of a roof opening (112) provided in the planar component (12), at least one electrical and / or electronic and / or electromagnetic component (16) and an air conditioning device (22), through which waste heat emitted by the electronic component (16) and / or heat introduced from the outside can be discharged, wherein the roof opening system (108) comprises at least one water outlet channel (118), through which at least one cooling channel (23) of the air conditioning device (22) is formed, A heat exchanger by which the waste heat of the component (16) and / or the heat introduced from the outside can be conducted out of the roof arrangement (9), characterized in that the air conditioning device (22) comprises at least one supply duct (21a) with a cooling air inlet (21), wherein the supply duct (21a) is coupled to the water outlet channel (118) in a flow-conducting manner, or in that the air conditioning device (22) comprises at least one further cooling duct (25) with a cooling air inlet (21), wherein the at least one further cooling duct (25) is coupled to the water outlet channel (118) in a flow-conducting manner at least in sections.Roof arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one water outlet channel (118) is arranged in an edge region of the roof opening (112), in particular encircling the roof opening (112), and is designed to discharge water which penetrates into the roof opening (112) from the roof arrangement (9) via at least one water outlet (120) arranged on the rear side and / or on the front side and / or on the side.Roof arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one further cooling duct (25) is coupled to the at least one component (16) in a directly or indirectly heat-conducting manner.Roof arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one component (16) is coupled to the at least one water outlet channel (118) in a directly or indirectly heat-conducting manner at least in sections.Roof arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roof opening system (108) comprises at least one roof opening kinematics and at least one guide rail, in which the cover part (110) is guided movably, in particular linearly, along the at least one guide rail for the selective opening or closing of the roof opening (112), wherein the at least one guide rail comprises the at least one water outlet channel (118).Roof arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal (114) is provided between a sealing flange (116) of the planar component (12) and the cover part (110), said seal being designed to prevent moisture from entering the roof opening (112) at least in a closed position of the cover part (110).Roof arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one water outlet channel (118) comprises an abutment seal (122) which is arranged on an edge (123) of the water outlet channel (118) and is designed to prevent moisture from entering between the water outlet channel (118) and the cover part (110).Roof arrangement according to Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that, in the closed position of the cover part (110), the cooling duct (23) is bounded on the circumferential side at least by the water outlet channel (118), the bearing seal (122), the cover part (110), the seal (114) and the sealing flange (116).Roof arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one electrical and / or electronic component (16) is arranged in a dry compartment of the roof arrangement (9) which is protected from moisture, and the waste heat emitted by the electrical and / or electronic component (16) can be discharged from the dry compartment by means of the air conditioning device (22).Roof arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one air conditioning device (22) comprises at least one heat-conducting element (24) and / or at least one cooling fan and / or at least one cooling body and / or at least one heat exchanger and / or at least one heat pump and / or at least one heat-conducting pipe.Roof arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one electrical and / or electronic component (16) comprises at least one antenna and / or an antenna module and / or a control device and / or a light module and / or a light generator and / or a surroundings sensor (17), in particular a lidar sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or a camera sensor and / or a multi-camera sensor, which can transmit and / or receive electromagnetic signals through a see-through region (18) in order to detect the vehicle surroundings.Roof arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a roof module (10) which is fastened as a structural unit, in particular by a roof module frame, to a vehicle body, in particular to a roof body frame (104) of a motor vehicle (1000).Motor vehicle (1000) comprising a roof assembly (9) according to any of the preceding claims.

Citation Information

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