HEATING SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE WITH A FLOOR PASSAGE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a heating system for a vehicle, in particular a caravan, with a water assembly for tempering domestic water, which has a water tank provided with a ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device has a ventilation line which, in the vehicle-mounted state, is led through the vehicle floor to the outside to a vehicle environment, and with a drainage line which, in the vehicle-mounted state, is led through a passage in the vehicle floor to the outside to the vehicle environment.

[0002] From DE 10 2021 005 383 A1 a heating system for a caravan vehicle is known, which is designed both for heating room air inside the caravan vehicle and for heating domestic hot water.

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2017 119 077 A1 discloses a heating device for a vehicle, designed to heat the air inside the vehicle. The heating device has a housing containing a combustion chamber assembly that is supplied with combustion air and fuel. It also includes a heat exchanger section with a heat exchanger housing that is externally fitted with heat transfer fins.

[0004] In known heating systems for caravans, certain functional groups require access to the outside environment through the vehicle floor. This is particularly relevant for a drainage line to divert leaks from the heating system or for venting a water tank in the heating system's water assembly. Currently, a separate penetration through the vehicle floor is provided for each of these penetrations.

[0005] US Patent 6,584,795 B1 discloses an air conditioning system comprising an air duct, an air conditioning unit, a condensate drain, and a floor penetration. The floor penetration features a connector with a first pipe, a second pipe, and a third pipe, which are joined at a common connection point. The first pipe is connected to the condensate drain. The second pipe is connected to the air duct. The third pipe terminates in the surrounding environment. These pipes can form a T-shaped or Y-shaped connector.

[0006] The object of the invention is to create a heating system of the type mentioned above that reduces the installation effort required on the vehicle side.

[0007] This problem is solved by providing a heating system with the features of claim 1.

[0008] In the heating system according to the invention, the drainage pipe and the ventilation pipe are connected via a floor penetration to divert leaks from the vehicle and / or to vent the water tank. A leak is understood to mean a liquid that escapes or flows out, particularly due to a leak or other defect. The solution according to the invention reduces the installation effort for the heating system in and on the recreational vehicle, as only a single floor penetration is required for both the drainage and ventilation functions. The heating system is advantageously a combination heating system, designed for both heating ambient air and domestic hot water. However, the heating system according to the invention can also be configured solely for temperature control, i.e., heating, domestic hot water. The heating system is used in recreational vehicles, particularly caravans.The floor penetration features a fitting with two connection spigots for two lines. Adjacent to these spigots is a drain channel, aligned with a flow direction component when fully assembled. This drain channel has a larger cross-section than the cross-section of a single connection spigot. This design consolidates the floor penetration into a single component for both lines, requiring only a single penetration in the vehicle floor. The larger cross-section of the drain channel ensures independent flow for each of the two lines.Since one of the pipes serves as a drainage pipe for removing fluid from the heating system to the outside of the vehicle, and the other as a vent pipe for a water tank in a water assembly of the heating system, it is ensured that air can be drawn in from the vehicle environment via the vent pipe and fluid can be discharged from the drainage pipe to the outside simultaneously. The orientation of the drain channel in its operational state, i.e., when installed in the vehicle floor penetration, with a downward slope component means that the drain channel, in this operational state, projects downwards relative to the vehicle floor. It can be inclined relative to a downward slope (i.e., a vertical direction) or oriented completely vertically, i.e., downwards in the direction of the vehicle's height.The direction of fall component is to be understood as a direction vector with respect to a vehicle-side coordinate system with a vehicle vertical direction, a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a vehicle transverse direction. The orientation of the drain channel must therefore be provided with a downward vector component in the vehicle vertical direction. Additionally, a further direction vector component in the vehicle transverse or vehicle longitudinal direction may be provided. The solution according to the invention is suitable for heating systems of recreational vehicles, particularly advantageous for towed caravans (motorhomes) and for caravans equipped with a drive system. The fitting is a one-piece component to which both the two connection spigots and the drain channel are integrally formed. The flow cross-section of the drain channel is larger than the cross-section of a single connection spigot.The drainage channel can be continuously or stepped widened. It can have a single channel section or multiple channel sections. The essential requirement is that the total flow cross-section of the drainage channel is larger than the pipe cross-section of each connection spigot. The fitting can be made of plastic or metal, preferably by injection molding.

[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the fitting is provided on its outer surface with at least one fastening section for fixing the fitting to or within a passage in a vehicle floor. This fastening section serves to secure the fitting's position and fix it relative to the vehicle floor in a specific installation state. The fastening section can be a tab, a rib, a flange, or an external thread on the fitting. Preferably, the fastening section is integrally formed with the fitting. If an external thread is provided as the fastening section, the fitting is screwed into the passage in the vehicle floor, which either has a complementary internal thread or such an internal thread is cut into the passage when the fitting is screwed in.The locking mechanism securing the fitting relative to the vehicle floor ensures that the fitting remains in a consistent position even while the caravan is in motion. This reliably prevents the fitting from tilting and thus also prevents kinking of hoses connected to the fitting.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, a mounting flange is provided as a fastening section. This flange can be placed on an edge of the vehicle floor opening and, in the placed position, can be fastened to the vehicle floor by means of at least one fastening element, in particular by means of at least one screw connection. The mounting flange is advantageously formed by two flange webs projecting to opposite sides, which are integrally formed on the fitting. Each flange web has a hole, preferably a bore, through which screws can be passed to fasten the fitting in an edge region of the vehicle floor opening.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the fitting is designed as a one-piece plastic housing. The plastic component is formed by a plastic fitting housing that includes the two connection ports, the drain channel, and preferably at least one mounting section.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, the flow cross-section of the drain channel is widened, particularly conically, towards an end face remote from the connection nozzles. This results in an easily manufactured widening that ensures reliable drainage of liquid while simultaneously allowing the intake of ambient air.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the drainage channel has two separate, parallel channel sections into which the cross-sections of the connecting nozzles open. Either continuously separate flow channels can be provided, forming a transition from the cross-section of each connecting nozzle to the respective flow channel, or the division of the drainage channel into two separate channel sections occurs – viewed in the direction of flow – at a distance from a corresponding connection end of the respective connecting nozzle.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the end faces of the connection spigots and the drain channel are each provided with a circumferential chamfer. The chamfers ensure that flexible hoses can be pushed on and attached without damage. The respective chamfers can be straight and / or convexly curved, i.e., they can have a radius at least in certain areas.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, one connection spigot is aligned coaxially or parallel to a vertical axis of the fitting, and the other connection spigot is aligned orthogonally to the vertical axis. In a further embodiment of the invention, the drain channel is aligned flush with the connection spigot that extends coaxially or parallel to the vertical axis of the fitting. These embodiments are particularly advantageous for connecting a vent line of a water tank and a drainage line of the heating system.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, a connecting piece of the fitting, to which the drainage line is connected, is positioned vertically below an inlet of the drainage line when mounted on the vehicle. This ensures that the drainage line, in particular a flexible drainage hose, runs continuously downwards when mounted on the vehicle, thus preventing unwanted accumulation of liquid in the hose.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the water tank is housed in a casing, on which the inlet of the drainage line is mounted or positioned in a base area of ​​the casing. In the vehicle-mounted and operational state, this base area of ​​the casing is higher than the corresponding connection fitting of the fitting, also in the vehicle-mounted state of the fitting. The inlet of the drainage line corresponds to an outlet from the casing and is also referred to as the casing outlet.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the drainage line and the ventilation line are formed by flexible hoses whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the respective connection fitting of the fitting. This allows the hoses to clamp themselves onto the connection fittings when they are pushed on. Additionally, hose clamps can be provided to further improve the hold of the hoses on the connection fittings.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, a flexible hose is attached to the end face of the drain channel, wherein the inner diameter of the hose is smaller than the outer diameter of the end face of the drain channel. Advantageously, both the outer circumference of the drain channel and the outer circumference of each connecting piece have a cylindrical diameter. This ensures particularly easy sliding and attaching of the hoses to the connecting pieces and to the drain channel.

[0020] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows in a perspective, schematic representation an embodiment of a heating system according to the invention in the ready-to-use, assembled state on a vehicle floor, Fig. 2 the heating system according to Fig. 1In a partially cutaway view, Fig. 3 shows a schematic functional representation of the heating system according to the Figs. 1 and 2 Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of a floor penetration for the heating system according to the Figs. 1 to 3 , Fig. 5 the floor penetration according to Fig. 4 In perspective view, Fig. 6, the floor penetration according to the Fig. 4 and 5 in a fully assembled state on a vehicle floor, Fig. 7 an embodiment of the floor penetration in a perspective, longitudinally sectioned view, Fig. 8 the floor penetration according to Fig. 7 in a longitudinal section and Fig. 9 the floor penetration according to the Figs. 7 and 8 in perspective.

[0021] A heating system 1 according to the Figs. 1 to 3 is intended for use in a recreational vehicle, in this case a self-propelled caravan (motorhome) or a towed caravan (caravan). The illustrations according to the Figs. 1 and 2Figure 1 shows the heating system 1 in its fully assembled state on the floor B of the recreational vehicle. For clarity, other parts or sections of the recreational vehicle are not shown. The floor B extends – relative to a vehicle coordinate system with a vertical axis, a transverse axis, and a longitudinal axis – in a plane defined by the longitudinal and transverse axes. Thus, the heating system 1, in its fully assembled state, is mounted approximately horizontally on a surface of the floor B.

[0022] Heating system 1 is a combination heater designed for both heating the interior air of a recreational vehicle and heating domestic hot water. Heating system 1 therefore includes an air assembly (not shown in detail) and a [missing information] Figs. 1 to 3A recognizable hydraulic engineering unit is present. As described, this hydraulic engineering unit serves to heat the domestic hot water.

[0023] In an embodiment of the invention not shown, the heating system comprises exclusively a water assembly, i.e., the heating system is intended only for heating domestic hot water.

[0024] In the present heating system 1 according to the Figs. 1 to 3 Both the air and water components are housed in a common casing, which has an upper shell 2 and a lower shell 3. The lower shell 3 of the casing is firmly mounted at a short distance above the top of the vehicle floor B by means of several bases 4, as shown by the Fig. 1This is clearly visible. The base of the lower shell 3 runs parallel to and at a distance from the vehicle floor B. The upper shell 2 is detachably attached to the lower shell 3. The upper shell 2 and the lower shell 3 are aligned at a parting line that runs parallel to the vehicle floor B at approximately half the height of the housing.

[0025] The housing contains a water tank 11, to which an unspecified heat exchanger is assigned in order to enable the heating of domestic water located in the water tank 11 ( Fig. 3 ). Based on the Fig. 3A water level is visible in water tank 11. Above the unspecified fill level line is air. A cold water line K and a hot water line W are connected to water tank 11. For frost protection, a temperature-dependent control valve C is assigned to both the cold water line K and the hot water line W. This valve opens automatically when the ambient temperature of the recreational vehicle is low to prevent frost damage to the water system. Water can also be manually drained via the control valve. Control valve C also serves as a pressure relief valve for the water system, with a maximum pressure of 4.5 bar not exceeding this limit.

[0026] The water system also includes a vent valve 6, which allows air to flow into the water tank 11 when it is being emptied, ensuring complete drainage. The vent valve 6 has a locking ball that closes when the water tank 11 is filled with water. When water is drained, the locking ball in the vent valve 6 opens, allowing air to enter the water tank 11. For this purpose, a vent line is provided at the vent valve 6, which in this case has a flexible vent hose 7 connected to the vent valve 6. The vent line runs through the vehicle floor B and down to the vehicle environment, as described in more detail below.

[0027] The housing also includes a drainage line, which serves to drain any leakage accumulating in the lower housing shell 3 from the housing 3 and from the vehicle interior. The drainage line connects to a housing outlet 9, i.e., a drain, in a base area of ​​the lower housing shell 3 and is also routed downwards through the vehicle floor B, as described in more detail below. The drainage line has a flexible drainage hose 8, which is connected to the base outlet 9 of the lower housing shell 3.

[0028] In order to route both the ventilation pipe and the drainage pipe through the vehicle floor B, a passage 17 is provided in the vehicle floor ( Fig. 6 ) provided for, in which a based on the Figs. 4 to 6The floor penetration 5, shown in more detail, is mounted. The floor penetration 5 is designed as a one-piece fitting. The fitting has two connection spigots 12 and 13 and a drain channel 14. One connection spigot 12 serves to continue the ventilation line, the other connection spigot 13 serves to continue the drainage line. Accordingly, the ventilation hose 7 is attached to connection spigot 12 and the drainage hose 8 to connection spigot 13. Both connection spigot 12 and connection spigot 13 are designed as essentially hollow cylindrical spigot sections of a fitting housing made of plastic for the one-piece fitting of the floor penetration 5. The term "hollow cylindrical" or"Cylindrical" is also intended to include cylindrical shapes with slight deviations due to manufacturing processes (especially in the single-digit degree range), such as draft angles that may be intended for removal from an injection mold. In the fully assembled state, as shown in the... Fig. 1, 2 and 6As can be seen, the connecting piece 12 is oriented vertically in the direction of the vehicle's height, so that the ventilation hose 7 is pushed onto the outer casing of the connecting piece 12 from above. The connecting piece 13 for the drainage hose 8 projects orthogonally to this, resulting in a right-angled orientation between the two connecting pieces 12 and 13. Both connecting pieces 12 and 13 have a circumferential chamfer F on their inlet-side end faces, onto which the ventilation hose 7 and the drainage hose 8 are pushed, respectively, thus enabling easy and damage-free connection of the ventilation hose 7 and the drainage hose 8. The corresponding inner diameters of the ventilation hose 7 and the drainage hose 8 are selected such that the corresponding outer diameters of the connecting pieces 12 and 13 are larger than these inner diameters.This ensures reliable clamping of the ventilation hose 7 and the drainage hose 8 onto the connection fittings 12 and 13 when pushed on. Additional securing with a hose clamp is possible, but not necessary.

[0029] The valve body of the floor penetration 5 extends downwards from the opening of the connection 13 in a coaxial extension of the connection 12 into a drain channel 14, the flow cross-section D3 of which is larger than the cross-sections D1 of the connection 13 and D2 of the connection 12. This expansion of the flow cross-section D3 of the drain channel 14 begins at a lower opening end of the vertical connection 12, just above an inner opening end of the cross-section D1 of the connection 13. The expansion is created by an annular step R. Furthermore, the flow cross-section D3 of the drain channel 14 widens conically towards a flow-side end, as shown. Fig. 4This is clearly visible. The outer circumference of the drain channel 14 is cylindrical, with an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameters of the connecting nozzles 12 and 13. The drain channel 14 also has a circumferential chamfer F at its outlet end. In the illustrated embodiment, a drain hose 10 is also attached to the drain channel 14 in the fully assembled state, as can be seen from the Fig. 1, 2 and 6 is recognizable.

[0030] The length of the drain channel 14 is greater than the length of the connection nozzles 12 and 13. In the fully assembled state, the drain channel 14 is completely aligned in the direction of fall, i.e. coaxial with a vehicle vertical axis and thus also coaxial with the connection nozzle 12.

[0031] The passage 17 in the vehicle floor B is designed as a cylindrical bore, the diameter of which corresponds at least to the outer diameter of the drain channel 14 and preferably to an outer diameter of the drain hose 10.

[0032] The fitting of the floor penetration 5 is provided with a mounting section, designed as a support flange 15, a short distance below the connection stub 13 – referring to the fully assembled state. In the illustrated embodiment, the support flange 15 is integrally formed with the fitting of the floor penetration 5. The support flange 15 has two tab areas extending radially to a central longitudinal axis of the fitting on opposite sides, each tab area having a cylindrical mounting hole 16 that defines a mounting axis extending parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the fitting. Screw connections 18 are passed through the mounting holes 16 to secure the floor penetration 5 and fasten the support flange 15 to the upper surface of the vehicle floor B in a peripheral area around the penetration 17.The support flange 15 is positioned below the connection nozzle 13 in such a way that in the ready-to-use assembled state (. Fig. 6 ) the fitting of the connection nozzle 13 is positioned at a distance above the top of the vehicle floor B to allow easy sliding on or pulling off of the drainage hose 8.

[0033] Based on the Figs. 7 to 9 A further floor penetration 5a is shown, which is used in the same way in heating system 1 according to the Figs. 1 to 3 can be used, as is the case with regard to the floor penetration 5 according to the Figs. 4 to 6 This is the case. The floor penetration 5a is functionally integrated into the heating system 1 in the same way as the floor penetration 5. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the description of the embodiment according to the Figs. 1 to 3 and 4 to 6Reference is made to functionally identical sections and parts of the floor penetration 5a, which are marked with the same reference symbols, sometimes with the addition of the letter a. The differences of the floor penetration 5a are described below according to the... Figs. 7 to 9 received.

[0034] The floor penetration 5a is also designed as a one-piece fitting housing, as is the case with floor penetration 5. The two connection spigots 12a for the ventilation hose 7 on the one hand and 13a for the drainage hose 8 on the other are also cylindrical with the same outer diameters. Furthermore, both connection spigots 12a and 13a are oriented orthogonally to each other, with connection spigot 12a pointing upwards towards the vehicle in the fully assembled state and connection spigot 13a perpendicular to it. The key difference in the fitting of floor penetration 5a is that the cross-sectional areas D1 and D2 of connection spigots 13a and 12a do not open into a common drainage channel, but rather the drainage channel 14a remains divided into two sections. One section carries the drainage line of connection spigot 13a, and the other section carries the ventilation line of connection spigot 12a.Both channel sections together form a common flow cross-section D3, whereby each channel section of the drainage channel 14a remains separated from the other channel section by a partition T along the entire length of the drainage channel 14a. The drainage channel 14a is therefore also enlarged by its entire flow cross-section D3 compared to the pipe cross-sections D1 and D2 of the two connection spigots 12a and 13a. However, the vent pipe and the drainage pipe remain separate from each other along the entire length of the fitting of the floor penetration 5a. Based on the... Figs. 7 and 9It is also evident that the valve housing of the floor penetration 5a is bulged at one lower end of the connection spigot 12a, so that the drain channel 14a, with respect to its entire flow cross-section D 3, does not run coaxially to the connection spigot 12a, but rather parallel and offset downwards. The pipe cross-section D 1 of the connection spigot 13a transitions by means of a right-angled bend into the partial cross-section of the one determined by the Fig. 8 left channel section. The cross-sectional area D 2 of the connection stub 12a steps down in a stepped fashion into the bulge of the channel just above the connection stub 13a. Fig. 8 right channel section of the drainage channel 14a.

[0035] The valve housing of the bottom feedthrough 5a has a mounting section with a support flange 15a, similar to that of the bottom feedthrough 5. This mounting section is formed by two integrally molded sections projecting in a tab-like manner towards opposite sides. Each of these sections has a mounting hole 16a, through which a component is inserted in the same manner as in the embodiment according to the Figs. 4 to 6 Fastening elements in the form of screw connections, each with cap screws, can be passed through to secure the floor penetration 5a in the area of ​​the passage 17 on the vehicle floor B. Both connecting spigots 12a and 13a, as well as the drain channel 14a, also have a circumferential chamfer F on their end faces, as is also the case with the floor penetration 5 according to the Figs. 4 to 6 that is the case.

Claims

1. Heating system (1) for a vehicle, in particular a caravan vehicle, having an assembly for water which is used for controlling the temperature of service water and which has a water tank (11) which is provided with a ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device has a ventilation line which, in a state fitted in the vehicle, is led outwards into vehicle surroundings through a vehicle floor (B), and having a drainage line which, in a state fitted in the vehicle, is led outwards into the vehicle surroundings through a passage (17) in the vehicle floor (B), wherein the drainage line and the ventilation line are connected to a floor lead-through (5, 5a) in order to conduct leakage out of the vehicle and / or to ventilate the water tank (11), wherein the floor lead-through (5, 5a) has a fitting with two connection pieces (12, 13; 12a, 13a) for two lines that, remote from the connection pieces (12, 13; 12a, 13a), has a discharge channel (14, 14a) which, in a state fitted ready for operation, is oriented so as to have a drop-direction component, wherein the discharge channel (14, 14a) has a throughflow cross section (D3) which is widened in comparison with a line cross section (D1, D2) of a connection piece (12, 13; 12a, 13a), and wherein one connection piece (12, 12a) is oriented coaxially or parallel with respect to a vertical axis of the fitting and the other connection piece (13, 13a) is oriented orthogonally with respect to the vertical axis.

2. Heating system (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the fitting is provided at the outer side with at least one fastening portion (15, 15a) in order for the fitting to be fixed at or in the passage (17) of the vehicle floor (B).

3. Heating system (1) according to Claim 2, wherein provision is made as a fastening portion of a bearing flange (15, 15a) which is able to be mounted onto a periphery of the passage (17) of the vehicle floor (B) and which, in the mounted state, is able to be fastened to the vehicle floor (B) by means of at least one fastening element, in particular by means of at least one screw connection (18).

4. Heating system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fitting is designed as a one-piece plastic housing.

5. Heating system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the throughflow cross section (D3) of the discharge channel (14) widens, in particular conically, to an end-face region that is remote from the connection pieces (12, 13).

6. Heating system (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the discharge channel (14a) has two channel portions which are separate from one another and extend parallel to one another and into which the line cross sections (D1, D2) of the connection pieces (12a, 13a) open out.

7. Heating system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein end faces of the connection pieces (12, 13; 12a, 13a) and of the discharge channel (14, 14a) are provided in each case with a circumferential bevel (F).

8. Heating system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge channel (14, 14a) is oriented aligned with the connection piece (12, 12a) which extends coaxially or parallel with respect to the vertical axis of the fitting.

9. Heating system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one connection piece (13, 13a) of the fitting, to which the drainage line is connected, is, in a state fitted in the vehicle, positioned below an inlet of the drainage line in the vertical direction.

10. Heating system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the water tank (11) is accommodated in a housing at which the inlet of the drainage line (housing outlet (9)) is fitted in a base region of the housing.

11. Heating system (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the drainage line and the ventilation line are formed at least sectionally by flexible hoses whose inner diameter is smaller than an outer diameter of the respective connection piece (12, 13; 12a, 13a) of the fitting.

12. Heating system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a flexible hose is plugged onto the end face of the discharge channel (14, 14a), wherein an inner diameter of the hose is smaller than an outer diameter of the end face of the discharge channel (14, 14a).