Multifunctional accessory device

Abstract

The invention relates to an accessory device (4) for a vehicle (1a). The accessory device (4) comprises a windscreen washer fluid container (5) and an illumination unit (6) integrated into the windscreen washer fluid container (5). The invention also relates to a vehicle (1a).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Multi functional accessory setup

[0003] The invention relates to an accessory device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle.

[0004] Traditionally, windshield washer fluid, which may contain antifreeze and cleaning additives, is used to clean vehicle windows, especially the windshields of rail vehicles. A windshield washer fluid reservoir, which is usually located somewhere in the front of the vehicle, is used to store and keep the washer fluid ready.

[0005] In addition, vehicles require vehicle lights to illuminate their surroundings, particularly headlights, which are traditionally combined in a headlight unit or lighting unit. Furthermore, especially in rail vehicles, additional components for automated train operation can be installed in the front of such a rail vehicle. Especially in rail vehicles, the space available in the front area is often severely limited, making it difficult to accommodate the various components mentioned there.

[0006] Until now, the washer fluid reservoir and the lighting unit were housed as separate components in the front area of ​​a rail vehicle. Such a conventional arrangement is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Pumps, filters, and level sensors are usually integrated into the washer fluid reservoir. However, the lighting unit is conventionally completely separated from the washer fluid reservoir, severely limiting the space available for additional components for automated driving.

[0007] The task is therefore to arrange the accessories required in the front area of ​​a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, in particular the windscreen washer reservoir and the lighting unit, in such a way that sufficient space is available for additional components, in particular for automated driving.

[0008] This object is achieved by an accessory device according to patent claim 1 and a vehicle according to patent claim 12.

[0009] The accessory device for a vehicle according to the invention has a washer fluid reservoir and a lighting unit integrated into the washer fluid reservoir. In this context, an accessory is to be understood as a technical object or a technical arrangement which is not absolutely necessary for the basic function of the vehicle, i.e. driving, but which improves the safety and comfort of ferry operation or expands the field of application of the vehicle. For example, both the washer fluid reservoir and the lighting unit enable a positive influence on visibility, for example in bad weather or in the dark or at dusk, and thus permit trouble-free and safe ferry operation even in adverse environmental conditions.The lighting unit generally comprises one or more lights which, unlike in the prior art, are not arranged separately from the washer fluid reservoir but are integrated directly into it. The lighting unit serves to illuminate the area around the vehicle or to identify the vehicle in poor visibility conditions, for example in the dark or in bad weather. For this purpose, the washer fluid reservoir comprises a shape specially adapted to the shape of the lighting unit to be integrated, preferably depressions or mounting receptacles into which the lighting unit can be inserted. Preferably, the mounting receptacles form, figuratively speaking, cutouts in the wall of the washer fluid reservoir or passages through the wall of the washer fluid reservoir, through which the lighting unit or individual lights of the lighting unit can be contacted from the interior of the washer fluid reservoir.The installation spectrum of the washer fluid reservoir is advantageously expanded compared to a conventional washer fluid reservoir because, unlike in the prior art, the washer fluid reservoir can be arranged in the position provided for the lighting unit. Furthermore, the degree of freedom in the design and arrangement of the lights of the lighting unit is increased. For example, the lights can be arranged horizontally, vertically or at an angle. The integration of the components mentioned particularly advantageously allows a compact design so that space is created for additional components in a front area of ​​a vehicle, preferably a rail vehicle, in particular in a front area of ​​such a vehicle. In particular, space is created there for components that are required for automated driving.Such components preferably include sensors, such as passive imaging systems, in particular cameras, or scanning systems, in particular lidar systems or radar systems, and components for operating said sensors. Said sensors are used, for example, to detect the vehicle's surroundings or for odometry in order to provide an automated control system of the vehicle with information about the surroundings or to determine a vehicle's position or pose.

[0010] The vehicle according to the invention, preferably a rail vehicle, has the accessory device according to the invention. The vehicle according to the invention shares the advantages of the accessory device according to the invention. Rail vehicles often have particularly little space for additional components in the front area, since the body of a rail vehicle usually ends at the windshield. Protruding components, such as those found in road vehicles, are avoided for the sake of clarity.

[0011] The dependent claims and the following description each contain particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention. Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, the various features of different embodiments and claims can also be combined to form new embodiments.

[0012] In one embodiment of the accessory device according to the invention, the washer fluid reservoir comprises a cooling unit arranged in the interior of the washer fluid reservoir in contact with the lighting unit for cooling the lighting unit. The contact of the cooling unit with the lighting unit allows the cooling unit to absorb and dissipate heat energy generated by the lighting unit, preventing the lighting unit from overheating.

[0013] The cooling unit preferably has a heat dissipation system for discharging heated air. The heat dissipation system is preferably integrated into the washer fluid reservoir. For this purpose, the washer fluid reservoir preferably comprises a mounting receptacle in which the heat dissipation system is arranged. Advantageously, the heat dissipation system can form, figuratively speaking, a heat transport path that is guided past the lighting unit in order to absorb heat from the lighting unit and dissipate it from the washer fluid reservoir.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the cooling unit comprises a heat dissipation system which has an air duct system with an air inlet for sucking in cool air and an air outlet for discharging heated air. The air duct system is preferably integrated into the washer fluid reservoir. For this purpose, the washer fluid reservoir comprises a tunnel-like mounting receptacle in which the air duct system is arranged. Advantageously, a type of "draft" can be generated via the air duct system, i.e. an air flow which can be sucked in via the air inlet, is guided past the lighting unit, absorbs heat from the lighting unit and leaves the washer fluid reservoir again via the air outlet. The air duct system of the accessory device according to the invention preferably comprises a first air duct with an air inlet for sucking in cooling air.The first air duct is used to draw in cooling air from the area surrounding the washer fluid reservoir. This cooling air is then directed past the lighting unit to be cooled, where it warms up, and is then guided out of the air duct system. This creates a so-called chimney effect, which generates the necessary negative pressure in the area of ​​the first air duct to draw in the cooling air and move it through the air duct system. This advantageously eliminates the need for an additional fan to draw in fresh cooling air.

[0015] The air duct system of the accessory device according to the invention also preferably comprises a cooling second air duct arranged in the interior of the washer fluid reservoir on the end face, preferably the front face, of the washer fluid reservoir. This second air duct guides cool air, which was sucked in via the aforementioned air inlet of the first air duct, past the lighting unit and absorbs heat energy from the lighting unit in order to cool it. The cooling second air duct preferably comprises an air outlet in order to release the heated air into the environment of the washer fluid reservoir and thus achieve a cooling effect for the lighting unit.

[0016] The lighting unit preferably comprises a high beam and a signal light, and the cooling second air duct is preferably designed to run along the high beam. Due to the increased light output, the high beam generates the most waste heat, which must be dissipated to protect against overheating. It is therefore advantageous to route the cooling second air duct directly past the high beam, which generates particularly high levels of heat, in order to dissipate the generated heat efficiently. The cooling second air duct preferably runs past the high beam of the lighting unit, preferably in a vertical direction, in order to cool the high beam, which generates particularly high levels of heat, particularly effectively and to utilize the chimney effect of the warming, upwardly rising air, and thus to be able to dispense with the installation of an additional fan or other active means for generating air movement in the air duct system.

[0017] Preferably, the first air duct of the air duct system of the accessory device according to the invention, which comprises the air inlet, is connected to the second air duct and, due to the aforementioned chimney effect of the second air duct, draws in cooling air, which is fed to the second air duct and guided past the lighting unit. There, the drawn-in air heats up and is guided out of the washer fluid reservoir via the air outlet of the second air duct. Preferably, the first air duct is arranged horizontally on the floor on the inside of the washer fluid reservoir. Advantageously, the first air duct is located lower than the second air duct, so that heated air can rise in the second air duct and, due to the chimney effect, cooling air is drawn in from the first air duct into the second air duct.

[0018] The washer fluid reservoir of the accessory device according to the invention preferably comprises a cable feed leading from an outer side, preferably the rear of the washer fluid reservoir, through the interior or arranged in the interior of the washer fluid reservoir to the lighting unit for supplying the lighting unit with electrical current. The cable feed can be inserted into a tunnel-shaped recess in the washer fluid reservoir in a similar way to the cooling unit. Advantageously, the cables are protected from damage by external influences due to their integration into the washer fluid reservoir. In addition, the cables are protected from contact with the washer fluid in the washer fluid reservoir by the preferably waterproof cable feed enclosing them.The accessory device according to the invention preferably has fastening options for a mounting plate for additional components, preferably for automated driving, that can be mounted externally on the washer fluid reservoir. Advantageously, additional components, in particular components used for automated driving, such as sensors, can be mounted on the washer fluid reservoir in a space-saving and resource-saving manner.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the accessory device according to the invention, the lighting unit is arranged on a front side of the washer fluid reservoir. The front side of the washer fluid reservoir is understood to be the front of the washer fluid reservoir when the washer fluid reservoir is arranged as intended in a vehicle, in particular the front area of ​​the vehicle.

[0020] Preferably, the air ducts and the cable feeds simultaneously serve to stiffen the washer fluid reservoir or the accessory device, so that increased stability of the accessory device is achieved.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures using exemplary embodiments. They show:

[0022] FIG 1 is a schematic front view of a rail vehicle with a conventional arrangement of headlights and a washer fluid reservoir,

[0023] FIG 2 is a schematic perspective view of the combination of a washer fluid reservoir and a headlight shown on the right in FIG 1,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of a rail vehicle with two integrated accessory devices according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a vertically aligned integrated accessory device according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0025] FIG 5 is a perspective view of a horizontally aligned integrated accessory device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0026] FIG 1 shows a schematic representation of a conventional rail vehicle 1 with two headlight units 2 and a washer fluid reservoir 3 in the lower area of ​​the front of the rail vehicle 1. The components 2, 3 mentioned are each positioned independently of one another in the front area of ​​the rail vehicle 1. The washer fluid reservoir 3 shown comprises a water feed pump, a filter and a fill level sensor (not shown). The headlight units 2 each comprise a high beam and a signal light. The two separate units 2, 3 take up a relatively large amount of space in the front area of ​​the rail vehicle 1, so that little room remains for the installation of additional components in the front area.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates in detail the assembly consisting of a headlight unit 2 and a washer fluid reservoir 3, already shown in the right-hand part of FIG. 1. As already mentioned, the assembly takes up a relatively large amount of space in the front area, so that the space for additional components, for example, for units for automated driving, is severely limited.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of a rail vehicle 1a with two integrated accessory devices 4 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Similar to the headlight units 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the integrated accessory devices 4 shown in FIG. 3 comprise two headlights arranged one above the other, a high beam and a signal light. FIG. 4 shows a detailed perspective view of a vertically aligned integrated accessory device 4 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The integrated accessory device 4 shown in FIG. 4 comprises an integrated windshield washer fluid reservoir 5.The integrated washer fluid reservoir 5 differs from a conventional washer fluid reservoir 3 (see FIG 2) in that in its front area it comprises a lighting unit 6 with headlights 6a, 6b (high beam 6a, signal light 6b), integrated add-on parts 7, a cooling unit 8 with ventilation shafts or air shafts 8a, 8b and a cable feed 9 with cable ducts 9a, 9b arranged one above the other (an upper cable duct 9a for the signal light 6b and a lower cable duct 9b for the high beam 6a), which in addition to feeding the cables to the headlights 6a, 6b also have the function of mechanically stabilizing the overall construction of the integrated accessory device 4. On the top side of the integrated accessory device 4 there are fastening options for an additional mounting area 10 or.a mounting plate for additional ATO components (ATO = automatic train operation, not shown).

[0029] The cooling unit 8 shown in FIG 4 comprises an air duct system with a first horizontally running air duct 8a. This horizontally running air duct 8a is shown in FIG 4 at the bottom of the washer fluid reservoir 5. At its outer end (shown bottom right in FIG 4), the first air duct 8a comprises an air inlet 8c for sucking in cooling air. The first air duct 8a serves to take in cooling air from the outside of the washer fluid reservoir 5. This cooling air is then guided past the lighting unit 6 to be cooled, where it is heated up and subsequently guided out of the air duct system of the cooling unit 8 at the top of the washer fluid reservoir 5. This creates a so-called chimney effect which generates the necessary negative pressure in the region of the first air duct 8a for sucking in the cooling air.For this purpose, the air duct system of the cooling unit 8 shown in FIG 4 comprises a cooling second air duct 8b arranged in the interior of the washer fluid reservoir 5 for cooling the lighting unit 6 on the inside of the front of the washer fluid reservoir 5. This second air duct 8b guides cool air, which was sucked in via the already mentioned air inlet 8c of the first air duct 8a, past the lighting unit 6 and absorbs heat energy from this lighting unit 6 in order to cool it. The cooling second air duct 8b comprises an air outlet 8d at its outer end on the top side of the washer fluid reservoir 5 in order to release the heated air into the environment of the washer fluid reservoir 5 and thus achieve a cooling effect for the lighting unit 6 and a chimney effect or a negative pressure in the first air duct 8a.

[0030] The lighting unit 6 comprises a high beam 6a and a signal light 6b. Due to its increased light output, the high beam 6a generates the most waste heat, which must be dissipated to protect it from overheating. Therefore, the cooling second air duct 8b is first routed past the high beam 6a, which generates the most heat, in order to cool the high beam 6a as efficiently as possible.

[0031] The second air shaft 8b runs in a vertical direction past the high beam 6a of the lighting unit 6 in order to be able to use the chimney effect of the warming, upwardly rising air.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a horizontally aligned integrated accessory device 4 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the high beam 6a is shown on the left-hand side. In the integrated accessory device 4 shown in FIG. 5, the high beam 6a is also cooled by a cooling unit with a horizontally running first air shaft 8a and a vertically running second air shaft 8b. In this variant, the integrated add-on parts 7 are also integrated into the washer fluid reservoir 5, but on the side of the washer fluid reservoir 5 facing away from the headlights 6a, 6b. Since the two headlights 6a, 6b are arranged at the same height in the second exemplary embodiment in FIG. 5, here, unlike in the first exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4, the two cable ducts 9a, 9b for the signal light 6b and for the high beam 6a run next to one another and at the same level.Finally, it is pointed out once again that the methods and devices described above are merely preferred embodiments of the invention and that the invention may be varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims. For the sake of completeness, it is also pointed out that the use of the indefinite articles "a" or "an" does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features may be present in multiple instances.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Accessory device (4) for a vehicle (la), comprising: - a washer fluid reservoir (5) , - a lighting unit (6) integrated into the washer fluid reservoir (5).

2. Accessory device according to claim 1, wherein the washer fluid reservoir (5) comprises a cooling unit (8) arranged in the interior of the washer fluid reservoir (5) with contact to the lighting unit (6) for cooling the lighting unit (6).

3. Accessory device according to claim 2, wherein the cooling unit (8) has an air duct system with an air inlet (8c) for sucking in cool air and an air outlet (8d) for discharging heated air.

4. Accessory device according to claim 3, wherein the air duct system has a first air duct (8a) with the air inlet (8c) for sucking in cooling air.

5. Accessory device according to claim 4, wherein the air duct system comprises a cooling second air duct (8b) arranged in the interior of the washer fluid reservoir (5) for cooling the lighting unit (8) on the inside of the end face, preferably on the front face, of the washer fluid reservoir (5).

6. Accessory device according to claim 5, wherein the cooling second air duct (8b) comprises the air outlet (8d).

7. Accessory device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the lighting unit (6) comprises a high beam (6a) and a signal light (6b) and the cooling second air duct (8b) is formed running along the high beam (6a).

8. Accessory device according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the cooling second air shaft (8b) runs in the vertical direction.

9. Accessory device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the washer fluid reservoir (5) comprises a cable feed (9) arranged in the interior of the washer fluid reservoir (5) to the lighting unit (6) for supplying the lighting unit (6) with electrical current.

10. Accessory device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising fastening possibilities for a mounting plate (10) for additional components which can be mounted externally on the washer fluid reservoir (5), preferably for automated driving.

11. Accessory device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting unit (6) is arranged on an end face of the washer fluid reservoir (5).

12. Vehicle (1a) comprising an accessory device (4) according to one of the preceding claims.

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