PIPE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE TRANSPORT OF TEMPERATURE CONTROL MEDIUM

Description

Pipe arrangement for the transport of temperature control medium

[0001] The invention relates to a pipe arrangement for transporting a temperature control medium and a temperature control circuit. The invention further relates to a method for producing a pipe arrangement for transporting a temperature control medium.

[0002] Temperature control media are required in electromobility. Electric vehicle batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, only perform optimally within a limited temperature range. Therefore, depending on the ambient temperature, it may be necessary to heat or cool the batteries. Therefore, the drive unit of an electric vehicle typically features a temperature control circuit with a pipe arrangement through which temperature control media can be fed to the battery cells to maintain their temperature within a desired temperature range. Due to space constraints, the temperature control system should be as compact as possible.

[0003] Furthermore, it may be necessary to temperature-control, particularly cool, components of the entire drive unit of electric vehicles. This includes the battery, the power electronics, and the electric motor. The charging electronics and the associated connectors and cables can also be cooled using the temperature control system. This is particularly relevant in connection with rapid charging processes.

[0004] In addition to use in a drive unit, another area of application is in connection with the rest of the vehicle's electronics, particularly sensors and on-board computers. If a vehicle is equipped for autonomous driving, powerful sensors and powerful computers are required, with redundant systems. Due to the limited installation space, these systems also require temperature control / cooling via a temperature control system.

[0005] Temperature control media are also used in air conditioning systems. Air conditioning systems, especially mobile air conditioning systems, comprise a pipe arrangement that enables the transport of temperature control media between the individual components of the air conditioning system. In mobile air conditioning systems, such as those used to air condition the interiors of motor vehicles, the pipe arrangement is a comparatively complex structure and often includes pipes made of various materials, such as metal pipes, thermoplastic pipe sections, and rubber-like pipe sections. Although the operating conditions of the pipe sections can be optimally tailored to the respective requirements, the pipe arrangement is costly, complex to assemble, and difficult to recycle.

[0006] JP H05 24101 A discloses a method for manufacturing a pipe arrangement with a main line and a secondary line. The main line and secondary line are each produced in independent cavities using a preform and then connected to each other. Finally, a flow connection is established between the main line and secondary line. Further pipe arrangements are known from WO 01 / 12415 A1, GB 2239302 A, and DE 202015106952 U1.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a pipe arrangement for the transport of temperature control medium which can be produced simply and cost-effectively.

[0008] This object is achieved by the features of claims 1, 7, 9, and 10. The subclaims, which refer back to them, refer to advantageous embodiments.

[0009] To achieve the object, the pipe arrangement for transporting temperature control medium comprises a base body made of polymer material produced by blow molding, wherein at least one functional element is arranged in the base body, which is in operative connection with the temperature control medium.

[0010] Pipe assemblies of temperature control circuits contain several functional elements required for the proper functioning of the air conditioning system. These include, for example, throttle valves, check valves, switchable valves, pumps, flow sensors, and temperature sensors. In the pipe assembly according to the invention, at least some of the functional elements are arranged in the base body, i.e., within the pipe assembly, so that they are in contact with the temperature control medium.

[0011] The tube assembly consists of a base body made of polymer material, produced by blow molding. Blow molding makes it possible to produce a base body with a complex shape. For example, the base body can comprise one or more channels, which can be shaped, for example curved, in the required form for the installation location. Furthermore, it is particularly easy to mold cross-sectional changes into the channels. For example, sections of the channels can be circular, while other sections of the channels are non-circular, for example oval or rectangular. This allows the tube assembly to be designed to be particularly space-saving and adapted to the installation location. Because the functional elements are integrated directly into the base body, assembly is simple and cost-effective.

[0012] The base body comprises at least one channel, wherein, according to the invention, the at least one functional element is assigned to the channel. As a result, the functional element is in direct contact with the temperature control medium and can either directly influence the volume flow of the temperature control medium or directly record status data of the temperature control medium, such as temperature, volume flow, or pressure. The functional element can also be designed as a cooler, which is in contact with the temperature control medium and influences the temperature of the temperature control medium.

[0013] The base body has several channels, with a channel wall between them. This allows the base body to accommodate different pipe sections of a temperature control circuit, for example, the channel section upstream and downstream of an evaporator. The channel wall separates the two flow streams from each other.

[0014] Depending on the number and design of the channels, the pipe arrangement can also function as a distributor and / or connector.

[0015] At least one functional element can be formed from the base body. This is particularly conceivable if the functional element is a passive functional element and has no moving parts. For example, the functional element can form a throttle valve. A throttle valve, or expansion valve, reduces the pressure of the temperature control medium flowing through it by locally constricting the flow cross-section and simultaneously causes the temperature control medium to expand. The throttle valve is designed as an unregulated throttle valve and forms a constriction of the channel. Because the throttle valve is formed directly from the base body, the pipe arrangement is particularly cost-effective and easy to manufacture. The functional element can also be designed as a fluid distribution element. It is also conceivable for the functional element to be designed as a connecting element or connector.This means that the pipe arrangement can be equipped to be connected to other components of a temperature control circuit.

[0016] At least one functional element can be formed separately from the base body. Functional elements are preferably formed separately from the base body, which have components made of non-thermoplastic material and / or are actively controllable. Such functional elements include, for example, throttle valves made of metallic material, switchable valves, check valves with metallic spring bodies, sensors, for example temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or flow sensors, pumps, connecting elements, or connectors for connecting the pipe arrangement to units or the like. The separately formed functional elements are arranged within the base body. The base body, in turn, consists of a base body made of polymer material produced by blow molding, which is formed from the same material and in one piece.The separately formed functional elements are placed inside the blank forming the base body before the base body is formed using the blow molding process. After blow molding, the fluidic functional elements are fixedly arranged within the base body. This enables the production of a functional tube arrangement with a complex geometry using simple process steps.

[0017] In a use according to the invention, the pipe arrangement forms part of a temperature control circuit.

[0018] According to a first embodiment, the pipe arrangement is part of an air conditioning circuit of an air conditioning system. In this case, the air conditioning system can be designed in particular as a mobile air conditioning system. The mobile air conditioning system, in turn, can be a component of a motor vehicle, wherein the air conditioning system serves to air-condition the vehicle interior. Because the base body of the pipe arrangement has a complex geometry and can contain several fluidic functional elements, the pipe arrangement is nevertheless easy to assemble and has only a few parts. In this respect, the pipe arrangement according to the invention simplifies the complexity, in particular, of a mobile air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. This is particularly advantageous with regard to electrically powered motor vehicles, since these only have very limited installation space due to the rechargeable battery required for the electric drive.The blow molding process allows the pipe arrangement to be adapted to the available installation space, whereby the channels for the transport of the temperature control medium are dimensioned in such a way that optimal transport of the temperature control medium is possible.

[0019] According to a second embodiment, the pipe arrangement is part of a temperature control circuit of the drive unit of an electric vehicle. The pipe arrangement supplies a temperature control medium to the elements of the drive unit that are to be temperature-controlled, so that the elements can be temperature-controlled within a desired temperature range. For example, the batteries can be heated or cooled as required. Furthermore, power electronics components and plug connections can be cooled using a temperature control medium. Cooling plug connections is particularly advantageous during rapid charging processes, since the high charging currents can cause significant heating of plug connections during rapid charging. Because the pipe arrangement is blow-molded, it can be manufactured in a wide variety of shapes.This is particularly advantageous in view of the limited and complexly shaped installation space of the aforementioned components for a pipe arrangement.

[0020] In a method according to the invention for producing a pipe arrangement for transporting a temperature control medium according to a first embodiment, a preform consisting of polymeric material is provided, wherein the preform is arranged in a blow mold, and the pipe arrangement is formed by means of a blow molding process, wherein the blow mold is designed such that at least one fluidic functional element is molded into the pipe arrangement. The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for providing a pipe arrangement for the air conditioning circuit of an air conditioning system, wherein the fluidic functional element is designed as a throttle valve that is molded directly into a channel of the pipe arrangement.

[0021] In a method according to the invention for producing a pipe arrangement for transporting a temperature control medium according to a second embodiment, a preform consisting of polymeric material and at least one functional element to be arranged inside the pipe arrangement are first provided, wherein the at least one functional element is arranged inside the preform, wherein the preform with the at least one functional element arranged therein is arranged in a blow mold, and the pipe arrangement is formed using a blow molding process. Accordingly, the functional element is arranged in the base body before the latter receives its final shape in the blow molding process. Due to the plastic deformation of the material of the base body, the functional elements can be firmly embedded in the interior of the base body. As a result, the elements are captively and permanently positioned in the base body.The fact that the functional elements are integrated directly into the base body simplifies the assembly of the tube assembly. Furthermore, the functional elements are directly connected to the temperature control medium due to their arrangement inside the tube assembly.

[0022] It is also conceivable for a first functional element to be molded directly into the base body during the blow molding process, while a second functional element is arranged inside the preform before molding and is placed in place after the blow molding process is completed. In this respect, the two aforementioned processes are combined. This makes it possible, for example, to form a throttle valve in a channel of the tube arrangement during the blow molding process and to place additional functional elements, such as check valves, sensors, pumps, or connection blocks, in the base body.

[0023] Some embodiments of the pipe arrangement according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show, schematically: Fig. 1 shows a pipe arrangement with a throttle valve molded into the base body; Fig. 2 shows a pipe arrangement with several separately formed functional elements; Fig. 3 shows another pipe arrangement with several separately formed functional elements.

[0024] Figure 1 shows a pipe arrangement 1 for the transport of temperature control medium, comprising a base body 2 made of polymer material produced by blow molding. In At least one functional element 3, which is operatively connected to the temperature control medium, is arranged on the base body 2. The functional element 3 is arranged in a channel 4, wherein the functional element 3 is formed integrally from the base body 2. The functional element 3 forms a throttle valve and is formed by a cross-sectional constriction of the channel 4.

[0025] Figure 2 shows a pipe arrangement 1 according to Figure 1 , wherein the base body 2 comprises a plurality of functional elements 3, which are formed separately from the base body 2 and arranged inside the base body 2. The base body 2 has a plurality of channels 4, wherein a channel wall 5 is located between each of the channels 4.

[0026] The pipe arrangement 1 comprises several functional elements 3, including a check valve 3', a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor and a connector in the form of a connection block 3" for connecting the pipe arrangement 1 to adjacent units or pipelines. Furthermore, the pipe arrangement 1 has a throttle valve 3‴ molded directly into a channel 4, which is formed from the same material and in one piece from the base body 2.

[0027] Figure 3 shows an alternative design of the Figure 2 shown pipe arrangement 1. InThe pipe arrangement 1 contains several functional elements 3 in the form of a check valve 3' and several connectors 3ʺʺ.

[0028] The Figures 1 to 3 The pipe assemblies 1 shown form a component of an air conditioning circuit of an air conditioning system, wherein the air conditioning system is designed as a mobile air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. According to a further embodiment, the pipe assemblies 1 form a component of a temperature control circuit of the drive unit of an electric vehicle, wherein the pipe assemblies 1 supply temperature control medium to the cells of the accumulators as well as to the electrical control components and plug connections.

[0029] In a further embodiment, the tube arrangement 1 is part of a temperature control device designed to control the temperature of components of the drive unit of electric vehicles. This includes the battery, the power electronics, and the electric motors. Furthermore, the temperature control device is designed to cool the charging electronics and the associated connectors and cables, which is particularly advantageous in connection with rapid charging processes.

[0030] Furthermore, the temperature control device can be configured to control the temperature, in particular to cool, of components of the remaining vehicle electronics. Such components include, for example, sensors and computers for autonomous driving, as well as on-board computers.

[0031] In the method for producing a pipe arrangement 1 according to Figure 1A preform made of polymeric material is provided, wherein the preform is placed in a blow mold, and the tube assembly 1 is formed by means of a blow molding process. The blow mold is designed such that the functional element 3 is molded into the tube assembly 1.

[0032] In the method for producing a pipe arrangement 1 according to Figure 2First, a preform made of polymer material is provided for at least one functional element 3 to be arranged inside the pipe arrangement 1. The at least one functional element 3 is arranged inside the preform. The preform, with the at least one functional element 3 arranged therein, is arranged in a blow mold, and the pipe arrangement 1 is formed by means of a blow molding process. The throttle valve 3‴ is formed from the base body 2 during blow molding. Accordingly, in this process, the blow mold is also designed such that the functional element 3 in the form of the throttle valve 3‴ is molded into the pipe arrangement 1.

Claims

1. Pipe arrangement for the transport of temperature control medium, comprising a main body (2) made of polymer material and produced by means of blow molding, at least one functional element (3) being arranged in the main body (2), which functional element is in operative connection with the temperature control medium, characterized in that the main body (2) has a plurality of channels (4), at least one channel wall (5) being located between the channels (4), the at least one functional element (3) being assigned to a channel (4).

2. Pipe arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body (2) comprises a plurality of functional elements (3).

3. Pipe arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one functional element (3) is molded from the main body (2).

4. Pipe arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the functional element (3) molded from the main body (2) forms a throttle valve (3"'), connecting element or connector.

5. Pipe arrangement according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one functional element (3) is formed separately from the main body (2).

6. Pipe arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the functional element (3) formed separately from the main body (2) is designed as a valve, throttle valve (3"'), check valve (3'), sensor, pump, connecting element or connector (3"").

7. Temperature control circuit comprising a pipe arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims.

8. Temperature control circuit according to claim 7, wherein the temperature control circuit is arranged in a mobile device.

9. Method for producing a pipe arrangement (1) for the transport of temperature control medium according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the pipe arrangement has a main body (2) comprising a plurality of channels (4), wherein at least one channel wall (5) is located between the channels (4), in which channel wall a preform consisting of polymer material is provided, wherein the preform is arranged in a blow mold and the pipe arrangement (1) is molded by means of a blow molding process, wherein the blow mold is designed such that at least one functional element (3) is molded into the pipe arrangement (1).

10. Method for producing a pipe arrangement (1) for the transport of temperature control medium according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the pipe arrangement has a main body (2) comprising a plurality of channels (4), wherein at least one channel wall (5) is located between the channels (4), in which channel wall a preform consisting of polymer material and at least one functional element (3) to be arranged in the interior of the pipe arrangement (1) are first provided, wherein the at least one functional element (3) is arranged in the interior of the preform, wherein the preform having the at least one functional element (3) arranged therein is arranged in a blow mold and the pipe arrangement (1) is molded by means of a blow molding process.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the blow mold is designed such that during molding of the pipe arrangement (1) at least one functional element (3) is molded into the pipe arrangement (1) by means of blow molding.