Arrangement consisting of a temperature control media distributor and a first adapter and assembly method

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (100, 100', 300') comprising a temperature control media distributor (101) and a first adapter (104, 104') attached to a distributor adapter port (103) of the temperature control media distributor (101), the first adapter being selected from a set of different adapters, wherein the temperature control media distributor (101) is configured to output or receive a temperature control media volume flow rate at the distributor adapter port (103), wherein each adapter (104, 104') of the set of different adapters has an identical adapter distributor port (105) configured to fit fluid-tightly with the distributor adapter port (103), and wherein each adapter (104, 104') of the set of different adapters has a different adapter component port configured to connect to a component adapter port of a to fit together the predetermined hydraulic component (107, 107') in a fluid-tight manner.

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement comprising a temperature control medium distributor and a first adapter which is fastened to a distributor adapter connection of the temperature control medium distributor and is selected from a set of different adapters, and to an assembly method of this arrangement.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, may contain coolant circuits and refrigerant circuits, for example in order to cool a traction battery of the vehicle and / or to temperature control / air condition a passenger compartment. In this sense, a temperature control medium is referred to as coolant, which does not carry out any phase conversion in the circuit (but rather is always present in liquid form), whereas a temperature control medium is referred to as refrigerant, which carries out a phase conversion, in particular between liquid and gaseous form.Such cooling / refrigerant circuits can comprise a hydraulic unit (for example a so-called "flexible thermal unit"-FTU), which combines individual components of the cooling / refrigerant circuits in a compact and space-saving manner. For this purpose, the components can be mounted, for example, on a temperature control medium distributor which distributes cooling medium or refrigerant to the individual components, in particular conducts it towards and / or away from the latter, and has corresponding connections for this purpose.In this context, DE 10 2022 208 108 A1 shows an FTU in which a plurality of coolant pumps, a plurality of electronic expansion valves, a plurality of coolant valves, a condenser, a battery heat exchanger and a storage container are contained.Disclosure of the InventionAccording to the invention, an arrangement comprising a temperature control medium distributor, in particular a coolant and / or refrigerant distributor, and a first adapter which is selected from a set of different adapters, and an assembly method of this arrangement having the features of the independent patent claims are proposed. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and of the following description.The invention concerns an arrangement of a temperature control medium distributor and a first adapter which is fastened to a distributor adapter connection of the temperature control medium distributor and is selected from a set of different adapters. The temperature control medium distributor is configured to output or receive a temperature control medium volume flow of a temperature control medium at the distributor adapter connection. Each adapter of the set of different adapters has the same adapter manifold port that is configured to fluidly mate with the manifold adapter port. Furthermore, each adapter of the set of different adapters has a different adapter component connection which is configured to fit together in a fluid-tight manner with a component adapter connection of a predetermined hydraulic component.Within the scope of the present invention, an arrangement is proposed in which differently configured hydraulic components can be connected to the same type of temperature control medium distributor by means of the first adapter. As a result, a uniform construction of the temperature control medium distributor can be used for different embodiments of the arrangements, which can have in particular a plurality of different hydraulic components. This contributes, for example, to a cost saving, since the temperature control medium distributor does not have to be adapted to the different embodiments, as a result of which development costs and costs for the conversion of a corresponding production can be reduced in particular. In addition, uniform tools can be used, in particular during the assembly or disassembly of the arrangement, whereby cost savings can likewise be achieved.The temperature control medium distributor can be part of a thermal management system of a vehicle, wherein the temperature control medium provided or received by the temperature control medium distributor can be a refrigerant of a refrigerant circuit or a coolant of a coolant circuit and can serve indirectly or directly for temperature control (cooling or heating) of an engine and / or a battery and / or a cabin etc. of a vehicle.The hydraulic component, which is connected to the temperature control medium distributor by means of the first adapter, can be a hydraulic pump or a compressor, which conveys or compresses the temperature control medium through a corresponding hydraulic circuit (refrigerant or coolant circuit) to the components to be cooled, for example to the engine or to the battery.The hydraulic component, which is connected to the temperature control medium distributor by means of the first adapter, can also be a heat exchanger or evaporator.A plurality of hydraulic components can be connected to the temperature control medium distributor by means of a first adapter in each case, wherein the hydraulic components and also the adapters can each be configured differently. In particular, the hydraulic components can comprise hydraulic pumps or compressors with different capacities and / or sizes and in particular have differently configured component adapter connections. The proposed arrangement can be adapted to different requirements in a simple and cost-effective manner, in particular since a uniform design of the temperature control medium distributor can be used, to which hydraulic components of different design can be connected by means of the respective first adapter.The temperature control medium distributor and / or the first adapter can be formed from a material which is selected from metal, such as aluminum or steel, for example, and plastic, for example polyamide or polypropylene. A temperature control medium distributor or a first adapter made of metal can be particularly mechanically stable, while plastic is particularly cost-effective and has a lower weight.In one embodiment, there is a cohesive connection between the adapter distributor connection of the first adapter and the distributor adapter connection of the distributor. The connection between the adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection is in particular fluid-tight.By means of the materially bonded connection, in particular the first adapter can be connected to the temperature control medium distributor in a mechanically particularly stable and fluid-tight manner, as a result of which, for example, the probability of a leak of the temperature control medium at the connection between the first adapter and the temperature control medium distributor can be reduced.In a further embodiment, the cohesive connection between the adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection is produced by means of heating element welding, welding and / or adhesive bonding.The material connection between the adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection can be produced by means of heating element welding, in particular if the first adapter and the temperature control medium distributor or the corresponding adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection are formed from plastic, in particular from a thermoplastic. By means of heating element welding, a mechanically particularly stable, in particular fluid-tight, connection can be produced easily and cost-effectively.A fluid-tight connection of the first adapter to the temperature control medium distributor can be produced by means of welding or adhesive bonding, in particular if the first adapter and / or the temperature control medium distributor or the corresponding adapter distributor connection and / or the distributor adapter connection are formed from a material, for example metal, which cannot be connected by means of heating element welding. A welded connection can be particularly stable mechanically and particularly tight, and an adhesive connection can be produced particularly cost-effectively and easily.The connection between the first adapter and the temperature control medium distributor can alternatively also be produced by a screw connection, wherein a corresponding seal, for example a sealing ring, can be introduced between the adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection.In a further embodiment, there is a detachable connection between the adapter component connection of the first adapter and the component adapter connection of the component. According to a further embodiment, the releasable connection is a screw connection.By means of the detachable connection, for example, the hydraulic component, which is connected to the adapter component connection by means of the component adapter connection, can be easily attached to the respective adapter or separated from the latter. As a result, for example during maintenance or repair, the hydraulic component can be easily separated from the respective adapter. The production process can also be simplified, since the hydraulic component can be connected to the respective adapter simply and quickly, in particular by means of the screw connection.The first adapter can have a plurality of adapter component connections, so that the first adapter can be connected to a plurality of hydraulic components, in particular hydraulic components of different design.In a further embodiment, the hydraulic component is a hydraulic pump or a compressor. As described above, the coolant can be conveyed by means of the hydraulic pump, for example via a hydraulic circuit, to the components to be cooled, for example to the engine or to the battery of the vehicle. The coolant delivered by means of the hydraulic pump can thereby circulate through the hydraulic circuit and, for example, emit thermal energy at a heat exchanger and absorb thermal energy at the components to be cooled. The compressor may compress a gaseous refrigerant.In a further embodiment, the temperature control medium is propane (R290). Propane as refrigerant has in particular a liquid aggregate state which can be produced in particular by compression. Propane has advantageous thermodynamic properties, in particular a high thermal conductivity, which enables, for example, efficient heat transport and thus efficient cooling of the components to be cooled. Propane is also a natural refrigerant with a low greenhouse potential, especially compared to synthetic refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFC). Alternatively, for example, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or OAT-based refrigerants can be used as the refrigerant.The invention further relates to an assembly method of a proposed arrangement. A first adapter is selected from a set of different adapters depending on a predetermined hydraulic component. The first adapter is arranged on the temperature control medium distributor in such a way that the adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection can be connected in a fluid-tight manner, and a connection between the first adapter and the temperature control medium distributor is produced, such that there is a cohesive connection between the adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection. This material connection can be produced in particular by means of heating element welding, welding, or adhesive bonding.In one embodiment of the assembly method, the hydraulic component is arranged on the first adapter in such a way that the adapter component connection of the adapter and the component adapter connection of the component are connected in a fluid-tight manner. The hydraulic component and the first adapter are connected such that there is a detachable connection between the adapter component connection and the component adapter connection. The releasable connection can be produced in particular by means of a screw connection.Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawing.The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing on the basis of exemplary embodiments and is described below with reference to the drawing.Brief Description of the DrawingsFigures 1a and 1b schematically show embodiments of the proposed arrangement. FIGS. 2a to 2c schematically show a connection process between the adapter distributor connection and the distributor adapter connection. FIGS. 3 aand 3 b show schematically embodiments of the proposed arrangement with a plurality of hydraulic components or a temperature control medium distributor, to which a plurality of hydraulic components can be attached.Embodiment(s) of the InventionFIG. 1 ashows a schematic embodiment 100 of a proposed arrangement.This embodiment 100 comprises a temperature control medium distributor 101 which has a distributor opening 102 with a round cross-sectional area. This distributor opening 102 is bordered by a distributor adapter connection 103, wherein the distributor adapter connection 103 is connected to the temperature control medium distributor 101, in particular in a materially bonded manner. The distributor adapter connection 103 has an annular cross-sectional area and can be designed in particular as a monolithic part of the temperature control medium distributor 101.Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment 100 comprises a first adapter 104, which has an adapter distribution connection 105. The adapter distributor connection 105 is substantially geometrically identical to the distributor adapter connection 103. The adapter distributor connection 105 in this case has in particular a substantially identical annular cross-sectional area and can be formed as a monolithic part of the first adapter 104.The adapter distributor connection 105 can be connected to the distributor adapter connection 103 in particular in a materially bonded and fluid-tight manner.The first adapter 104 can have an adapter distributor opening which is bordered by the adapter distributor connection 105 and in particular has a round cross-sectional area which is substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the distributor opening 102. The first adapter 104 has a substantially cylindrical outer contour on which a plurality of threaded elements 106 are formed.The first adapter 104 also has an adapter component connection, which is arranged on the side of the first adapters 104 facing away from the adapter distributor connection 105. This adapter component connection can have, in particular, an annular cross-sectional area.Embodiment 100 also includes a hydraulic component 107 having a component adapter port. This component adapter connection is connected, in particular in a detachable manner, to the adapter component connection. This releasable connection can be produced by means of screws 108, which are each guided through a corresponding fastening element 109, such as brackets or eyes, which is formed as part of the hydraulic component 107 or is connected thereto, and fixed by means of the corresponding threaded element 106.The connection between the component adapter connection and the adapter component connection is in particular fluid-tight.The hydraulic component 107 is in particular a hydraulic pump which is configured to exchange a coolant as a temperature control medium between the temperature control medium distributor 101 and the coolant circuit. As a result, for example, an engine or a battery of a vehicle can be cooled.The first adapter is selected in particular from a set of different adapters. The set of different adapters comprises in particular adapters which all have an adapter distributor connection of identical design, but in each case a differently designed adapter component connection. The adapter distributor connection of identical design can be connected in particular in a fluid-tight manner to the distributor adapter connection. The first adapter is selected such that the adapter component connection can be connected fluid-tightly to the component adapter connection of a respective hydraulic component.In Fig. 1b, a further embodiment 100' of the proposed arrangement is schematically shown.This embodiment 100' comprises a temperature control medium distributor 101 which corresponds to the temperature control medium distributor 101 in FIG. 1 a, in particular having a distributor opening 102 with a round cross-sectional area and a distributor adapter connection 103 around the distributor opening 102.The illustrated arrangement 100' further comprises a first adapter 104' which is different from the adapter 104 according to FIG. 1a, but which has an adapter distribution connection 105 which corresponds to the adapter distribution connection 105 of the embodiment 100 shown in FIG. 1a. The adapter distributor connection 105 can be connected in particular in a materially integral manner to the distributor adapter connection 103.The first adapter 104' has, analogously to the first adapter 104 in FIG. 1 a, a cylindrical outer contour on which a plurality of threaded elements 106' are formed. The cross-sectional area enclosed by the cylindrical outer contour of the first adapter 104' is smaller than the corresponding cross-sectional area of the first adapter 104 in the embodiment 100 shown in FIG. 1a.The first adapter 104' also has a transition region 110, in which the cross-sectional area of the adapter distribution connection 105 is adapted to the cross-sectional area enclosed, in particular smaller, by the cylindrical outer contour of the first adapter 104'.On the side facing away from the adapter distribution connection 105, the first adapter 104' has an adapter component connection which differs from the adapter component connection according to FIG. 1 a, which in particular has a smaller cross-sectional area than the adapter distribution connection 105.Further, the illustrated embodiment 100' includes a hydraulic component 107' that is analogous to the hydraulic component 107. FIG. 1 a distinguishes, in particular, a hydraulic pump which has a component adapter connection. This component adapter connection is connected, in particular in a fluid-tight and detachable manner, to the adapter component connection. According to the embodiment 100 shown in FIG. 1 a, the releasable connection can be produced by means of screwing, wherein in each case a screw is guided through a corresponding fastening element 109' and fixed by means of the threaded element 106'. The fastening element 109' is likewise formed as part of the hydraulic component 107' or connected to it.The hydraulic component 108' corresponds in terms of construction in particular to the hydraulic component 108 shown in FIG. 1a, but is smaller.The proposed arrangement 100, 100' is particularly advantageous since the temperature control medium distributor 101 can be connected to differently configured hydraulic components 107, 107' by means of the first adapter 104, 104' which is selected from a set of different adapters specifically for a respective hydraulic component 107, 107'. The proposed arrangement 100, 100' can thus be easily and economically adapted to different requirements by means of the first adapter 104, 104'.FIGS. 2 ato 2 cschematically show a connection process between the adapter distribution terminal 105 and the distributor adapter terminal 105, in particular by means of heating element welding. In this case, the adapter distributor connection 105 and the distributor adapter connection 103 are formed from a material which is suitable for heating element welding, in particular from a thermoplastic material.FIG. 2a shows the arrangement shown in FIG. 1a. In this case, a heated heating plate 201, in particular a heated metal plate, is introduced between the adapter distributor connection 105 and the distributor adapter connection 103. By establishing a thermal contact between the heating plate 201 and the adapter manifold connection 105 and between the heating plate 201 and the manifold adapter connection 103, the adapter manifold connection 105 or the manifold adapter connection 103 can be fused to a predetermined melting depth.The heating plate is then removed, so that the thermal contact is interrupted, and the fused adapter-distributor connection 105 is connected to the fused distributor-adapter connection 103. This connection process is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 b by the vertical arrow. In this case, in particular a mechanical pressure is maintained between the adapter distributor connection 105 and the distributor adapter connection 103 until the corresponding connection has cooled. In this way, in particular a mechanically stable, materially bonded and fluid-tight connection can be produced between the adapter distributor connection 105 and the distributor adapter connection 103.FIG. 2 cshows the corresponding embodiment of the proposed arrangement, in which the adapter distributor connection 105 and the distributor adapter connection 103 are connected, in particular in a materially bonded manner.FIG. 3 ashows an embodiment 300 of a temperature control medium distributor 301, which has four distributor openings 102.The distributor openings 102 each have a round cross-sectional area and are each surrounded by a distributor adapter connection 103, which is of annular design. Accordingly, the temperature control medium distributor 301 has four distributor adapter connections 103 of substantially identical design. The distributor openings 102 are also each substantially identical.FIG. 3b shows an embodiment 300' of the proposed arrangement, in which the distributor adapter connections 103 of the temperature control medium distributor 300 shown in FIG. 3a are each connected in a materially bonded manner to first adapters 104, 104' of different design. Hydraulic components 107, 107' are arranged on the first adapters 104, 104'.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2022 208 108 A1

[0004]

Claims

Arrangement (100, 100', 300') comprising a temperature control medium distributor (101) and a first adapter (104, 104') which is fastened to a distributor adapter connection (103) of the temperature control medium distributor (101) and is selected from a set of different adapters, wherein the temperature control medium distributor (101) is configured to output or receive a temperature control medium volume flow of a temperature control medium at the distributor adapter connection (103), wherein each adapter (104, 104') of the set of different adapters has a same adapter distributor connection (105) which is configured to fit together in a fluid-tight manner with the distributor adapter connection (103), and wherein each adapter (104, 104') of the set of different adapters has a different adapter component connection which is configured to, to fit a component adapter connection of a predetermined hydraulic component ( 107, 107') in a fluid-tight manner.Arrangement (100, 100', 300') according to claim 1, wherein there is a cohesive connection between the adapter distributor connection (105) and the distributor adapter connection (103).Arrangement (100, 100', 300') according to claim 2, wherein the cohesive connection is produced by means of heating element welding, welding and / or adhesive bonding.The assembly (100, 100', 300') of any preceding claim, further comprising the predetermined hydraulic component (107, 107'), wherein there is a releasable connection between the adapter component port and the component adapter port of the predetermined hydraulic component (107, 107').The assembly (100, 100', 300') of claim 4, wherein the releasable connection is a threaded connection.The assembly (100, 100', 300') according to any of claims 4 or 5, wherein the predetermined hydraulic component (107, 107') is a hydraulic pump or a compressor.Arrangement (100, 100', 300') according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature control medium is propane.Assembly method of an arrangement (100, 100', 300') according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: selecting a first adapter (104, 104') from a set of different adapters depending on a predetermined hydraulic component (107, 107'), arranging the first adapter (104, 104') on the temperature control medium distributor (101) such that the adapter distributor connection (105) and the distributor adapter connection (103) can be connected in a fluid-tight manner, and connecting the first adapter (104, 104') to the temperature control medium distributor (101) such that there is a cohesive connection between the adapter distributor connection (105) and the distributor adapter connection (103).The mounting method of claim 8, further comprising: arranging the hydraulic component (107, 107') on the first adapter (104, 104') such that the adapter component connection and the component adapter connection are connectable in a fluid-tight manner. connecting the hydraulic component (107, 107') and the first adapter (104, 104') so that there is a detachable connection between the adapter component connection and the component adapter connection.Assembly method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cohesive connection between the adapter distribution connection (105) and the distributor adapter connection (103) is produced by means of heating element welding, welding or adhesive bonding.

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