Thermomanagement-Modul

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal management module (10), in particular a coolant and / or refrigerant management module for handling a fluid, in particular a coolant and / or refrigerant, within a vehicle (14), in particular an electric vehicle, having at least one central fluid distribution unit (18) and a plurality of components (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) arranged on the fluid distribution unit (18), in particular at least one pump and / or one valve. It is proposed that the fluid distribution unit (18) have at least one handling element (30) for receiving the thermal management module (10).

Description

State of the art

[0001] A thermal management module for fluidically coupling components of a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, has already been proposed, comprising at least one distribution unit and a component interface arranged on the distribution unit for fluidically connecting a component of the vehicle to the distribution unit. It is also known to connect components, such as pumps and valves, to a distribution unit. Disclosure of the invention

[0002] The invention is based on a thermal management module, in particular a coolant and / or refrigerant management module for handling a fluid, in particular a coolant and / or refrigerant, within a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, having at least one central fluid distribution unit and a plurality of components arranged on the fluid distribution unit, in particular at least one pump and / or one valve. It is proposed that the fluid distribution unit have at least one handling element for receiving the thermal management module.

[0003] The advantage of the present invention lies in the safe and efficient handling and installation of thermal management modules, which can have a correspondingly high weight of several kilograms due to their high integration with components. In many manufacturing plants, especially in OEM environments, line workers are often under extreme time pressure to install these units in vehicles. A particular problem is that there is no clear and designated area in which the heavy thermal management modules can be safely held. This increases the likelihood that the thermal management module will be picked up during assembly on the production line against sensitive components, such as electrical connections between components or delicate plastic covers.

[0004] The present invention solves this problem by providing a corresponding handling element, which is arranged on the fluid distribution unit and thus on a robust component close to the center of gravity. This handling element allows the thermal management module to be better picked up and handled in the production line. This optimizes both the ergonomics and the efficiency and safety of handling this module in production. Furthermore, a corresponding handling element can significantly improve both costs and quality, as damage and corresponding repairs to the sensitive components can be advantageously reduced.

[0005] The thermal management module is preferably provided for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle. The vehicle is preferably designed as a battery-powered and / or fuel cell-powered vehicle. Compared to vehicles equipped exclusively with combustion engines, the available space is limited due to the required energy storage units, electric motors, control electronics, and other components. At the same time, the number of heat sources that must be cooled, such as energy storage units, electric motors, control electronics, and inverters, increases. This leads to an increased complexity of the thermal management system, which in turn leads to an exponentially increasing space requirement due to the necessary fluid lines.

[0006] The thermal management module of the type in question here preferably has a central fluid distribution unit, which forms the core element of the fluid circuit and integrates a plurality of pumps and / or valves of the fluid circuit. For example, a valve could be provided to direct the flow of a coolant. For example, a pump could be provided to move and / or accelerate and / or circulate a coolant. In the thermal management module, the fluid distribution unit serves as a distribution or collection point for the fluid, in particular the coolant or refrigerant, within the fluid circuit. The components are preferably arranged on an outer surface of the fluid distribution unit and protrude at least partially beyond the contour of the fluid distribution unit.

[0007] The main function of the fluid distribution unit is to control the flow of fluid and direct it to various parts of the vehicle, such as the engine, the radiator, heating or cooling elements, and other components that require temperature regulation. According to an advantageous development of the invention, the fluid distribution unit has a plurality of fluid handling elements, in particular fluid channels and / or fluid inlet and outlet ports, to distribute the fluid to various areas within the thermal management system.

[0008] A "thermal management module" is to be understood in particular as an assembly which performs a cooling function, in particular at least partially, wherein the carrier fluid is designed as a coolant and / or refrigerant. In particular, the coolant is intended to absorb and transport heat away from the component to be cooled, in particular the drive. In particular, the thermal management module forms a single, prefabricated component with which preferably all components included in the thermal management module can be installed in the vehicle in a common assembly step. In particular, the thermal management module can be delivered in one piece to a vehicle assembly line. However, it is also conceivable for the thermal management module to be designed to be expandable or separable, at least in part.In particular, the thermal management module features defined interfaces designed for installation with suitable counterparts and / or suitable mounts of the respective vehicle. In particular, the thermal management module is designed for plug-and-play installation.

[0009] Preferably, the components to be cooled, such as an electric motor and / or a battery and / or a housing of the motor to be cooled, in particular an electric motor and / or an entire drive train or the like, are connected to the thermal management module at least via the cooling circuit. Preferably, the fluid distribution unit at least partially forms a housing of the thermal management module. Preferably, the thermal management module has a plurality of components arranged on the fluid distribution unit. Preferably, the components are designed as pumps and / or valves. Preferably, the components are fluidically connected to one another via the fluid handling elements of the fluid distribution unit.

[0010] The fluid distribution unit is preferably provided to distribute the coolant in at least one cooling circuit and, alternatively or additionally, also the refrigerant in at least one refrigerant and / or to enable control and / or regulation of different cooling circuits. The fluid distribution unit preferably has a plurality of connections, in particular for distributing the coolant and / or refrigerant. The connections are preferably provided to connect one and / or more cooling circuits and / or refrigerant circuits to the thermal management module. In particular, the fluid distribution unit is provided to guide and / or distribute coolant and / or refrigerant, in particular in a closed circuit. The fluid distribution unit is preferably formed at least partially from a plastic. It is conceivable for the fluid distribution unit to have insulation.Preferably, the fluid distribution unit is manufactured at least partially as a plastic injection-molded part.

[0011] According to an advantageous development, a particularly easy-to-manufacture, lightweight thermal management module can be provided in that the fluid distribution unit is at least partially formed from plastic. The fluid distribution unit is preferably made of plastic and is produced, for example, by means of a plastic injection molding process. The fluid distribution unit preferably has a fluid distribution element base and a fluid distribution element cover, which are connected to one another in such a way that the internal fluid space of the fluid distribution unit is formed or delimited. The fluid distribution unit preferably has fluid handling elements, in particular fluid channels. The fluid distribution element base and / or the fluid distribution element cover preferably have structures that form the fluid handling elements inside the fluid distribution unit.Preferably, a fluid handling element is formed by connecting a fluid distribution element base and a fluid distribution element cover as a circumferentially closed fluid guide. Preferably, the at least one fluid handling element is formed circumferentially by the housing of the fluid distribution unit or sealed from other components in an interior space of the fluid distribution unit.

[0012] A particularly simple connection of the fluid distribution element base and the fluid distribution element cover can be provided in particular by the fluid distribution element base and the fluid distribution element cover being connected in a substantially fluid-tight manner by means of welding, in particular by means of heated element welding, to form the fluid handling element.

[0013] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the handling element has at least one gripping section. According to an advantageous development of the invention, this gripping section is provided with an anti-slip element, in particular an anti-slip coating and / or an anti-slip surface, preferably anti-slip studs, so that the thermal management module can be picked up and installed particularly easily by a user. This stable reception can be particularly advantageously improved by the gripping section having an ergonomic grip contour, in particular grip recesses adapted to the contour of the fingers.

[0014] The thermal management module is preferably picked up with both hands. For this purpose, the thermal management module preferably has two handling elements, which are ideally designed at such an ergonomic distance from each other that the assembly torque can be advantageously reduced.

[0015] In order to reduce unwanted blocking of the installation space in the motor vehicle, it may be conceivable that the handling element has at least one hinge for folding the handle section onto the fluid distribution unit.

[0016] A particularly simple and space-saving embodiment of the invention can be provided in particular by the handling element being designed as an undercut and / or recess in the fluid distribution element.

[0017] To ensure that the user does not damage any cable harnesses or components when inserting the thermal management module, a particularly advantageous development of the invention further provides for the components and handling elements to be arranged on opposite sides of the thermal management module. Preferably, the components are arranged on the fluid distribution element cover, and the handling element is arranged on the opposite fluid distribution element base. drawing

[0018] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate two exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0019] They show: Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a vehicle with a thermal management module, Fig. 2 shows a section of a first embodiment of a fluid distribution unit of a thermal management module, Fig. 3 a check valve subassembly in a perspective view, Fig. 4 a fluid distributor element base with a fastening means according to a first embodiment, Description of the embodiments

[0020] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 14. The vehicle 14 is designed as a car and / or truck and / or construction vehicle and / or comparable vehicle 14. The vehicle 14 has an electric drive unit 36. The electric drive unit 36 ​​includes an electric motor. The electric drive unit 36 ​​includes a battery. The drive unit 36 ​​could include further components of the electric drive unit 36, such as an entire drive train or individual components of the drive train. Alternatively, the vehicle 14 could also have an internal combustion engine or a hybrid drive as the drive unit 36. The vehicle 14 has a cooling and / or refrigerant circuit 12.

[0021] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the cooling and / or refrigerant circuit 12 is partially formed by the thermal management module 10. The cooling and / or refrigerant circuit 12 with the thermal management module 10 is intended at least to cool the drive unit 36 ​​of the vehicle 14. The thermal management module 10 is designed as a complete assembly that can be mounted in the vehicle 14.

[0022] The thermal management module 10 has at least one, preferably a plurality of, integrated components 16a, 16b, 16c. The components 16a, 16b, 16c can be designed, for example, as a coolant pump and / or coolant valve. The thermal management module 10 preferably has a plurality of components 16a, 16b, 16c. The components 16a, 16b, 16c are preferably connected to a fluid distribution unit 18, which can also be referred to as a manifold. The fluid distribution unit 18 is preferably designed to distribute the fluid between the components 16a, 16b, 16c and corresponding inlets and outlets of the fluid distribution unit 18. The fluid distribution unit 18 is designed as a central element to which the corresponding components 16a, 16b, 16c are directly arranged and fastened.

[0023] In Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a thermal management module 10. The thermal management module 10 according to the Fig. The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 is designed as a coolant management module and has a central fluid distribution unit 18 and components 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d arranged or fastened thereto.

[0024] According to the Fig. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, two pumps 16a, 16b and two valves 16c, 16d are attached, in particular screwed, to the fluid distribution unit. The components 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d protrude beyond the contour of the fluid distribution unit 18. The components 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d are preferably at least partially connected to one another by means of electrical connecting elements, in particular via corresponding cable harnesses arranged outside the fluid distribution unit 18. For reasons of clarity, the cable harnesses are shown in Fig. 2 not shown.

[0025] The fluid distribution unit 18 preferably has a fluid distribution element base 19 (here on the rear side of the thermal management module 10) and a fluid distribution element cover 20. The fluid distribution unit 18 is preferably formed at least partially from a plastic. The fluid distribution unit 18 is preferably formed at least partially as a plastic injection-molded part. Both the fluid distribution element base 19 and the fluid distribution element cover 20 are preferably each formed in one piece. The fluid distribution element base 19 and the fluid distribution element cover are preferably connected to one another by welding, in particular by hot-tool welding, such that at least one fluidically closed fluid channel 50 is created between the fluid distribution element base 19 and the fluid distribution element cover 20. The fluid distribution element base and / or the fluid distribution element cover are preferably designed as half-shells.

[0026] Due to the high integration of components in a common thermal management module 10, the module has a correspondingly high weight. Additionally, the thermal management module may be picked up during assembly on the production line by contact with sensitive components, such as the electrical connections between the components or sensitive plastic covers of the components themselves.

[0027] For this purpose, the thermal management module 10 has a handling element 30. The handling element 30 is arranged on the fluid distribution unit 18. According to the Fig. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, the handling element 30 has two gripping sections 32a, 32b for manually picking up the thermal management module 10 in the production line. The gripping sections 32a, 32b are designed according to the Fig. 2, the gripping portions are designed in a bow-shaped, particularly U-shaped, manner, so that the thermal management module 10 can be accommodated particularly ergonomically. Preferably, the width of the gripping portions 32a, 32b is adapted to the grip width.

[0028] According to an advantageous development of the invention, it can be provided that the handle sections are each provided with an anti-slip element 35a, 35b, in particular an anti-slip coating and / or an anti-slip surface, preferably with anti-slip studs. As in Fig. As can be clearly seen in Figure 2, the handle sections are each integrally formed with a section of the fluid distribution unit 18. Preferably, the handle sections 32a, 32b formed as handles are each molded on.

[0029] It is also conceivable that the handling element 30 has at least one hinge for folding the handle portion 32a, 32b onto the fluid distribution unit 18.

[0030] In Fig. 3a shows a further embodiment of a handling element 30. According to the Fig. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3a, the handling element 30 has two grip sections 32a, 32b, which are designed as an undercut with a corresponding support surface 37 for force transmission to the thermal management module 10. In Fig. 3b, the support surface 37 is according to Fig. 3a. As in Fig. 3b, the grip sections 32a, 32b each have an ergonomic grip contour, in particular grip recesses 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d adapted to the contour of the fingers.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention. According to the Fig. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, the handling element 30 is formed as a recess 33 in the fluid distribution element 18. The width of the recess 33 is preferably adapted to the width of the hand. Preferably, the recess 33 additionally has an undercut for engagement of the fingers. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4, the recess is arranged in a fluid distributor element base 19 and the components 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d on the fluid distributor element cover 20.

Claims

[1] Thermal management module (10), in particular a coolant and / or refrigerant management module for handling a fluid, in particular a coolant and / or refrigerant within a vehicle (14), in particular an electric vehicle, with at least one central fluid distribution unit (18) and a plurality of components (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) arranged on the fluid distribution unit (18), in particular at least one pump and / or one valve, characterized by that the fluid distribution unit (18) has at least a handling element (30) for receiving the thermal management module (10). [2] Thermal management module (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the handling element (30) has at least one handle section (32a, 32b). [3] Thermal management module (10) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the fluid distribution element (18) essentially comprises at least partially plastic, in particular is produced by means of a plastic injection molding process, wherein the handling element (30) is preferably connected in one piece to the fluid distribution element (18), in particular is injection-molded. [4] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the components (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) are arranged on the outer surface of the fluid distribution unit (18) and are connected to one another by one or more electrical connecting elements, in particular one or more cable harnesses. [5] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the handling element (30), in particular the handle section (32a, 32b) has an anti-slip element (35a, 35b), in particular an anti-slip coating and / or an anti-slip surface, preferably anti-slip knobs. [6] Thermal management module (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the handle section 32a, 32b is bow-shaped, in particular U-shaped and / or trough-shaped. [7] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fluid distribution unit (18) has at least two handle sections (32a, 32b) which are ergonomically spaced from one another. [8] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the handling element (30) has at least one hinge for folding the handle section (32a, 32b) onto the fluid distribution unit (18). [9] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the handling element (30) is designed as an undercut and / or recess (33) in the fluid distribution element (18). [10] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the handle section (32a, 32b) has an ergonomic handle contour, in particular grip recesses (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) adapted to the contour of the fingers. [11] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fluid distribution unit (18) has at least one fluid distribution element base (19) and at least one fluid distribution element cover (20) for forming the at least one fluid handling element (50) in the fluid distribution unit (18). [12] Thermal management module (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the components (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) and the handling element (30) are arranged on opposite sides of the fluid distribution unit, wherein preferably the components (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) are arranged on the fluid distribution element cover (20) and the handling element (30) is arranged on the fluid distribution element base (19).

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