COOLING SYSTEM

Abstract

A cooling system mounted in a vehicle includes an engine that is a drive source of the vehicle; an inverter that drives the engine; a radiator; a washer fluid reservoir that stores a cleaning fluid for cleaning a windshield of the vehicle; and a circulation passage that allows the cleaning fluid stored in the washer fluid reservoir to circulate through the inverter, the engine, the radiator, and the washer fluid reservoir in an illustrated order, thereby causing the cleaning fluid to store heat of the engine and the inverter, and also causing heat of the cleaning fluid to be dissipated through the radiator.

Description

Technical FieldThe present disclosure relates to a cooling system mounted on a vehicle.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventional electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) include a water cooling circuit for cooling a built-in motor and inverter. Specifically, the HEVs include a cooling circuit for cooling the motor and the inverter, separately from a cooling circuit for cooling a motor (see, e.g., Patent Literature (hereinafter referred to as "PTL") 1).The cooling circuit for cooling the motor and the inverter includes a reserve tank, a pump for pumping coolant stored in the reserve tank, and a radiator for cooling the coolant that has heated after the coolant is pumped by the pump and cools (performs heat exchange) the inverter and the motor. The cooling circuit for cooling the engine and the inverter is accommodated in an engine room in the case of a passenger car and in a chassis part in the case of a passenger car.EP 3 715 192 A1 relates to a window washer system for a vehicle. The plant comprises a nozzle for spraying washer fluid onto the vehicle. The plant further comprises a connecting means by which a cooling system of the vehicle and the nozzle can be connected to each other to spray coolant provided by the cooling system as washing liquid onto the vehicle.DE 14 30 419 A relates to a container for window washer systems in motor vehicles. The container has on its base a suction depression which is situated centrally with respect to the container shape.Citation ListPatent LiteraturePTL 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2016-98650SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTechnical ProblemHowever, in a conventional refrigeration cycle, it is not preferable that the reserve tank occupies a space from the viewpoint of effective space utilization.An object of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling system capable of saving space, saving time and effort for exchanging refrigerant, and also improving the cleaning effect by a cleaning liquid.Solution of the ProblemA cooling system according to the present disclosure is a cooling system mounted on a vehicle, the cooling system including: a motor that is a drive source of the vehicle; an inverter that drives the motor; a radiator; a storage tank that stores a cleaning liquid for cleaning a windshield of the vehicle; and a circulation channel that allows the cleaning liquid stored in the storage tank to circulate through the inverter, the motor, the radiator, and the storage tank in an illustrated order, thereby causing the cleaning liquid to store heat of the motor and the inverter and also causing heat of the cleaning liquid to be discharged through the radiator. The cooling system further includes an inlet port disposed in the storage tank that protrudes from an inner floor and that is configured to receive the cleaning liquid from the storage tank when the windshield is cleaned; and a supply port disposed in the storage tank that protrudes from an inner floor and that is configured to supply the cleaning liquid from the storage tank to the circulation channel, wherein a height of the inlet port from the inner floor of the storage tank is greater than a height of the supply port from the inner floor.Advantageous Effects of the InventionAccording to the present disclosure, it is possible to save space, save time and effort for exchanging coolant, and improve the cleaning effect by a cleaning liquid.Brief Description of the DrawingsFIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cooling system according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a part of the cooling system according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for illustrating the configuration of a part of a cooling system according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a part of a cooling system according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure.DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTSHereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is an example and is not limited to this embodiment. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known facts, repeated descriptions for substantially the same configuration, and / or the like may be omitted.(Embodiment 1)<Konfiguration of Cooling System>First, a configuration of the cooling system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the cooling system 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of the configuration of the cooling system 1 according to the present embodiment.The cooling system 1 is installed in an EV or HEV, and includes an inverter 10, a motor 20, a radiator 30, a washer fluid tank 40, an inlet portion 41, a pump 50, and a pump 60.The inverter 10 converts direct current (DC) of a battery (not shown) into three-phase alternating current (AC), and supplies the three-phase alternating current to the motor 20 to drive the motor 20.The motor 20 is a drive source of a vehicle driven by the three-phase alternating current supply from the inverter 10. By being driven, the engine 20 drives the front wheels or the rear wheels (both not shown) of the vehicle.The radiator 30 cools the cleaning liquid 43 flowing through the radiator 30 by causing heat exchange between the cleaning liquid 43 flowing through the radiator 30 and the air (traveling wind) flowing through the radiator 30.The washer fluid container 40 is a storage tank that stores the washer fluid 43 for cleaning the windshield 70 of the vehicle.The inlet portion 41 is a cleaning liquid passage 43 configured to discharge the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 toward the windshield 70 of the vehicle. The inlet port 41 ais disposed at an end of the inlet portion 41. The inlet port 41 ais disposed in the washer fluid container 40, and receives the washer fluid 43 from the washer fluid container 40 into the inlet portion 41 when the windshield 70 of the vehicle is cleaned. At the other end of the inlet portion 41, there is an outlet port 71 for discharging the cleaning liquid 43 taken in the inlet portion 41 from the inlet port 41a toward the windshield 70 of the vehicle.The pump 50 pumps the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 to the inverter 10.The pump 60 is disposed in the inlet portion 41, receives the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 via the inlet port 41 a, pumps the cleaning liquid to the outlet port 71, and discharges the cleaning liquid toward the windshield 70 of the vehicle via the outlet port 71 to clean the windshield 70.The circulation channel 80 allows the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 to circulate through the inverter 10, the motor 20, the radiator 30, and the washing liquid container 40 in this order. In the washing liquid container 40, supply ports 42 aare provided for supplying the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 to the circulation channel 80. A plurality of supply openings 42 aare arranged in the washing liquid container 40.The height h 1 of the inlet opening 41 afrom the inner bottom surface 40 aof the washer fluid container 40 is greater than the height h 2 of the supply openings 42 afrom the inner bottom surface 40 a(h1>h 2).<Operation of Cooling System>The operation of the cooling system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.First, the washer fluid container 40 stores cleaning fluid 43 with which a user has filled up the fluid tank.When an ignition switch of a vehicle (not shown) is turned on, the pump 50 starts to be driven under the control of an electronic control unit (ECU) (not shown). When the pump 50 is driven, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 circulates through the circulation channel 80.Specifically, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 is supplied through supply ports 42 ato the circulation channel 80 by the pump 50 that has been put into operation and pumped to the inverter 10.The cleaning liquid 43 pumped to the inverter 10 stores the heat generated in the inverter 10, and is then pumped to the motor 20 to store the heat generated in the motor 20.The cleaning liquid 43 that stores the heat generated in the engine 20 is cooled by exchanging the heat in the radiator 30 with the air (wind generated during traveling) flowing through the radiator 30.The cleaning liquid 43 cooled in the cooler 30 is returned to the washing liquid container 40 and stored there.When the pump 60 is driven by the operation of a user, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washer liquid container 40 is sucked into the inlet portion 41 through the inlet port 41 a, pumped to the outlet port 71, and discharged from the outlet port 71 toward the windshield 70 of the vehicle. Thus, the windshield 70 can be cleaned by the cleaning liquid 43.In the above-described operation, when the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washer liquid container 40 is used to clean the windshield 70, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washer liquid container 40 is reduced. In this case, when the height E of the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 from the inner bottom surface 40 aof the washing liquid container 40 becomes lower than the inlet port 41 a, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the cleaning liquid 43 cannot be received by the inlet port 41 a.However, even in this case, it is possible to guide the cleaning liquid from supply ports 42 ainto the circulation channel 80 by making the height h 2 of the supply ports 42 aof the inner bottom surface 40 abe lower than the height h 1 of the inlet port 41 aof the inner bottom surface 40 a. When the height E of the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 becomes lower than the inlet port 41 afrom the inner bottom surface 40 a, it is possible to prevent supply of the cleaning liquid 43 to the circulation channel 80 from being impossible by notifying the user of an alarm or the like and then replenishing the washing liquid container 40 with the cleaning liquid 43.Further, by disposing a plurality of supply ports 42 ain the washing liquid container 40, it is possible to reliably supply the cleaning liquid 43 to the circulation channel 80 even when the height E of the liquid level of the cleaning liquid 43 from the inner bottom surface 40 achanges due to vibrations or the like of the vehicle.Since the temperature of the cooling liquid in the cooling system 1 for cooling the motor 20 and the inverter 10 is lower than that in a cooling system for cooling an internal combustion engine, it is not necessary to add an additive for preventing boiling to the cooling liquid. Therefore, the cleaning liquid 43 can be used as the coolant unchanged. In addition, since a frost protection solution is used as the cleaning liquid 43, the cleaning liquid can be prevented from freezing when the cleaning liquid is used as the coolant for cooling the motor 20 and the inverter 10.As described above, in the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 is circulated through the inverter 10, the motor 20, the radiator 30, and the washing liquid container 40 in this order, whereby the heat of the motor 20 and the inverter 10 is stored in the cleaning liquid 43 and the heat of the cleaning liquid 43 is discharged through the radiator 30.This eliminates the need for a reserve tank for storing the coolant for cooling the motor 20 and the inverter 10, and thus makes it possible to save space and eliminate the trouble for exchanging the coolant. In addition, since the cleaning liquid 43 is heated by the motor 20 and the inverter 10, the cleaning effect of the cleaning liquid 43 on an oil film or the like adhering to the windshield 70 can be improved.(Embodiment 2)<Konfiguration of Cooling System>First, a configuration of a cooling system according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a part of the cooling system according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.Since the configuration of the cooling system according to the present embodiment except for the washer fluid container 140 is the same as that of the cooling system 1, a description of the same configuration is omitted. In FIG. 3, the same components as in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.The cooling system according to the present embodiment is installed in an EV or HEV, and includes inverter 10, motor 20, radiator 30, inlet portion 41, pump 50, pump 60, and washer fluid tank 140. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the inlet opening 41 ais omitted.The washer fluid container 140 is a storage tank that stores the washer fluid 43 for cleaning the windshield 70 of the vehicle.The inlet portion 41 is a cleaning liquid passage 43 configured to discharge the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 140 toward the windshield 70 of the vehicle. The inlet port 41 ais disposed in the washer fluid container 140, and receives the washer fluid 43 from the washer fluid container 140 into the inlet portion 41 when the windshield 70 of the vehicle is cleaned.The height of the inlet opening 41a from the inner bottom surface 40a of the washing liquid container 140 is higher than the height of the supply openings 142a from the inner bottom surface 40a.The pump 50 pumps the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 140 to the inverter 10.The pump 60 is disposed in the inlet portion 41 and receives the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 40 through the inlet port 41 a, pumps the cleaning liquid to the outlet port 71, and discharges the cleaning liquid to the windshield 70 of the vehicle through the outlet port 71 to clean the windshield 70.The circulation channel 80 allows the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 140 to circulate through the inverter 10, the motor 20, the radiator 30, and the washing liquid container 40 in this order. The circulation passage 80 is provided with supply ports 142 ato supply the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 140 to the circulation passage 80. A plurality of supply ports 142 aare disposed in the washer fluid container 140 and at all corners of the washer fluid container 140. For example, when the washer fluid container 140 is rectangular as viewed from above as shown in FIG. 3, the supply ports 142 aare disposed at four corners of the washer fluid container 140.By disposing the supply ports 142 aat the four corners, the cleaning liquid stored in the washing liquid container 40 can be supplied from the supply ports 142 ato the circulation channel 80 even when the vehicle is inclined in any direction, for example, forward, rearward, leftward, or rightward.Since the operation of the cooling system according to the present embodiment is the same as the operation of the cooling system 1 according to Embodiment 1, the description thereof is omitted.As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 140 is circulated through the inverter 10, the motor 20, the radiator 30, and the washing liquid container 140 in this order. Accordingly, the heat of the motor 20 and the inverter 10 is stored in the cleaning liquid 43, and the heat of the cleaning liquid 43 is discharged through the radiator 30, whereby the same effects as in the above-described Embodiment 1 can be obtained.(Embodiment 3)<Konfiguration of Cooling System>First, a configuration of a cooling system according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a part of the cooling system according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure.Since the configuration of the cooling system according to the present embodiment except for the washer fluid container 240 is the same as that of the cooling system 1, description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 4, the same components as in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.The cooling system according to the present embodiment is installed in an EV or HEV, and includes inverter 10, motor 20, radiator 30, inlet portion 41, pump 50, pump 60, and washer fluid tank 240.The washer fluid container 240 is a storage tank that stores the washer fluid 43 for cleaning the windshield 70 of the vehicle. The washing liquid container 240 includes a recessed portion 241 recessed in the bottom wall 242.The inlet portion 41 is a cleaning liquid passage 43 configured to discharge the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 240 to the windshield 70 of the vehicle. The inlet port 41 ais disposed in the washer fluid container 240 at a position other than the recessed portion 241, and receives the washer fluid 43 from the washer fluid container 240 into the inlet region 41 when the windshield 70 of the vehicle is cleaned.The pump 50 pumps the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 240 to the inverter 10.The pump 60 is disposed in the inlet portion 41 and receives the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 240 through the inlet port 41 a, pumps the cleaning liquid to the outlet port 71, and discharges the cleaning liquid to the windshield 70 of the vehicle through the outlet port 71 to clean the windshield 70.Through the circulation channel 80, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 240 can circulate through the inverter 10, the motor 20, the radiator 30, and the washing liquid container 240 in this order. The circulation passage 80 is provided with supply ports 42 ato supply the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 240 into the circulation passage 80. A plurality of supply ports 42 aare disposed in a recessed portion 241 of the washer fluid container 240.The height of the inlet opening 41a is higher than the height of the supply openings 42a in the washing liquid container 240.The supply holes 42 aare disposed in the recessed portion 241. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid 43 is stored in the recessed portion 241 even when the vehicle is inclined in arbitrary directions such as front, rear, left, and right. In this way, the cleaning liquid stored in the recessed portion 241 can be reliably supplied from the supply ports 42 ato the circulation channel 80.Since the operation of the cooling system according to the present embodiment is the same as the operation of the cooling system 1 according to Embodiment 1, the description thereof is omitted.As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid 43 stored in the washing liquid container 240 is circulated through the inverter 10, the motor 20, the radiator 30, and the washing liquid container 240 in this order. Accordingly, the heat of the motor 20 and the inverter 10 is stored in the cleaning liquid 43, and the heat of the cleaning liquid 43 is discharged through the radiator 30, whereby the same effects as in the above-described Embodiment 1 can be obtained.Note that the types, arrangements, numbers, and the like of the elements in the present disclosure are not limited to those in the above-described embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention, as a matter of course. For example, it is possible to suitably replace one component of the present disclosure with another having the same effect.Industrial applicabilityThe present disclosure is suitable for an in-vehicle cooling system.List of reference characters1 Cooling system 10 Inverter 20 Motor 30 Cooler 40 Washer fluid container 40 a Innere bottom surface 41 Inlet portion 41 a Opening 42 a Port 43 Washer fluid 50 Pump 60 Pump 70 Windshield 71 Outlet opening 80 Circulation channel 140 Washer fluid container 142 a Opening 240 Washer fluid container 241 Recessed part 242 Bottom wall

Claims

A cooling system (1) mounted on a vehicle, the cooling system (1) comprising: a motor (20) that is a drive source of the vehicle; an inverter (10) that powers the motor (20); a radiator (30); a storage tank (40, 140, 240) that stores a cleaning liquid (43) for cleaning a windshield (70) of the vehicle; a circulation channel (80) that allows the cleaning liquid (43) stored in the storage tank (40, 140, 240) to circulate through the inverter (10), the motor (20), the radiator (30), and the storage tank (40, 140, 240) in the stated order, thereby causing the cleaning liquid (43) to store the heat of the motor (20) and the inverter (10) and also causing the heat of the cleaning liquid (43) to be discharged through the radiator (30); an inlet port (41a) disposed in the storage tank (40, 140, 240) that protrudes from an inner bottom (40a) and that is configured to receive the cleaning liquid (43) from the storage tank (40, 140, 240) when the windshield (70) is cleaned; a supply port (42a) disposed in the storage tank (40, 140, 240) protruding from the inner bottom (40a) and configured to supply the cleaning liquid (43) from the storage tank (40, 140, 240) to the circulation channel (80), wherein a height of the inlet port (41a) from the inner bottom (40a) of the storage tank (40, 140, 240) is greater than a height of the supply port (42a) from the inner bottom (40a).The cooling system (1) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of supply openings (42a), wherein the heights of the supply openings (42a) are substantially equal.The cooling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein: the storage tank (240) has a recessed portion (241) recessed in a bottom wall (242), the inlet port (41a) is disposed in the storage tank (240) except for the recessed portion (241), and the supply port (42a) is disposed in the recessed portion (241).The cooling system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of supply ports (142a) are disposed at all corners of the storage tank (140).

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