Structure for supplying media

Abstract

To provide a structure for supply of media.SOLUTION: A structure (1) for supply of media comprises at least one base body (2). The base body (2) forms at least one wall (3). The wall (3) delimits, at least in prescribed sections, two flow channels (4, 5) formed in the base body (2). The flow channels (4, 5) are separated from one another by at least one separating body (6) arranged in the base body (2) at least in prescribed sections.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure for supplying a medium comprising at least one base body forming at least one wall defining at least two flow channels formed in the base body. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the field of electromobility, structures for supplying media are required. Batteries in electric vehicles, especially lithium-ion batteries, only perform optimally within a limited temperature range. This creates a need to heat or cool the batteries depending on the surrounding temperature. For this purpose, electric vehicles are equipped with a temperature control circuit having a pipe structure. Through this pipe structure, a temperature control medium, for example a temperature control liquid, is supplied to the battery cells to control the temperature of the battery cells within a desired temperature range. Due to the limited installation space, it is desirable for the temperature control unit to be as compact as possible.

[0003] Furthermore, the temperature of the components of the entire drive unit of the electric vehicle may be controlled, which may require heating or cooling depending on the operating conditions. In addition to the battery, the drive unit includes power electronics and an electric motor or electric motors. The temperature control unit may also control the temperature of the charging electronics and associated plug connections and cables. This is particularly relevant for fast charging processes.

[0004] In addition to the use in the drive unit, there are further application areas related to the temperature control of other vehicle electronics, especially sensors and on-board computers. If the vehicle is equipped for autonomous driving, powerful sensors and powerful computers are required, and the system becomes redundant. Due to the limited installation space in the vehicle, these systems also have special requirements for the temperature control unit that controls the temperature of the components.

[0005] Temperature control media are also used in air conditioning systems. Air conditioning systems, in particular mobile air conditioning systems, comprise a pipe structure that allows the supply of the temperature control media between the individual units of the air conditioning system. In mobile air conditioning systems, for example those used for climate control of the interior of vehicles, the pipe structure has a relatively complex structure and can consist of different materials, for example pipes made of metal, pipes made of thermoplastic material, pipes made of rubber-like material. Although the operating conditions of the pipes can be optimally adapted to the respective requirements, the pipe structure is costly, complex to assemble and difficult to recycle.

[0006] A pipe construction for the supply of a temperature control medium is known from EP 3919299 A1, in which a base body forms at least one wall which defines a plurality of flow channels formed in the base body. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for dispensing a medium which has a compact design, yet is capable of having multiple flow paths, and which is inexpensive to manufacture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This object may be achieved by means of the features of claims 1 and 15. The dependent claims set out advantageous embodiments.

[0009] The structure for supplying a medium according to the invention comprises at least one base body, the base body forming at least one wall, the at least one wall defining, at least in a given section, two flow channels formed in the base body, the flow channels being separated from each other, at least in a given section, by at least one separator arranged in the base body.

[0010] The base body defines a flow passage and forms the outer wall of the flow passage in a given section. The flow passage is arranged inside the base body and terminates in a passage opening towards the outside. For example, the passage opening is formed as a pipe socket. The pipe socket is suitable for receiving a pipe or a hose. Units such as pumps, heat exchangers, etc. may be connected to the passage opening. The flow passage forms a pipe section. The separators arranged in the base body form flow passages of complex shape. A plurality of flow passages can be arranged in the base body, so that the structure can form a pipe joint or a manifold.

[0011] The separators make it possible to form further channels in the base body. Many variations are possible, especially with regard to the structure and the direction of the channels. For example, the channels may be arranged above one another and adjacent to one another. As a result, the structure is particularly compact and at the same time has many channels.

[0012] The separator is preferably formed separately from the base body, whereby the base body and the separator form two components that can be physically joined together. The separately formed separator allows for more diversification of the flow channels and their structures in the base body. The separator is fixed to the base body by a physical bond, a frictional connection, or a positive connection.

[0013] The base body is preferably designed as a blow-molded part. By blow molding, the base body can be manufactured in complex shapes. In the process, the base body forms a hollow body having one or more walls that define the channels arranged in the base body. By blow molding, a wide variety of channel shapes can be manufactured.

[0014] As material for the base body, plastics such as thermoplastic polymers or thermoplastic elastomers are preferably used. Depending on the pressure conditions of the medium fed through the flow channels, the base body can be formed not only in a single layer but also in a multi-layer. A multi-layer design is particularly advantageous, for example to prevent the different components of the mixed fluid from spreading out. The flow channels can be shaped according to the installation location, for example they can be curved. Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the flow channels can be freely selected.

[0015] The separator is preferably designed as an insert part, which is inserted into the blow mould before blow moulding and covered with the material of the base body, so that after blow moulding the separator is embedded in the base body.

[0016] The separator is formed to be substantially planar. As a result, the separator has a simple shape, which makes it easy and inexpensive to manufacture. The material may be a polymeric material or a metallic material. Materials that can be injection molded or blow molded may also be used.

[0017] The separator can be formed with at least one further flow passage. In this embodiment, the separator is preferably designed as a hollow body. For this purpose, it is conceivable, for example, to design the separator as a pipe and embed it in the base body. In this embodiment, the peripheral wall of the pipe defines the further flow passage on the inner circumference side, and on the outer circumference side, in a given section, the two flow passages formed from the base body. However, in this case, it is particularly conceivable that the separator only partially defines the two flow passages. In such a case, the proportion of the partition wall of the two flow passages occupied by the separator varies depending on the design of the flow passages and the structure of the separator in the base body.

[0018] The separator can be designed as a blow molded part, so that it can also have a complex shape, in particular a number of channels arranged within it.

[0019] At least one separator may form a wall separating the flow channel from the further flow channel.The separator may be surrounded by the base body in a shell-like manner.

[0020] When designing a structure with a base body that is a blow-molded product and a separator that is a blow-molded product, very complex pipe structures can be realized. In this case, the channels can be arranged (one above the other and adjacent to each other) both in a first plane and in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. Furthermore, the channels can cross and / or run adjacent to each other in some sections and be arranged above and below in other sections.

[0021] In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of separators may be provided, which are embedded in the base body. According to an advantageous embodiment, the separators are at least partially surrounded by other separators. The separators may also be designed as hollow bodies and may be provided with channels inside. Thus, a particularly large number of channels can be provided in the structure, since the structure comprises a base body and / or a plurality of separators nested in one another.

[0022] Thus, several embodiments and configurations of the separator are possible: A first advantageous embodiment provides a single separator located within or corresponding to the base body.

[0023] A second advantageous embodiment provides for a plurality of separators arranged on the base body, each of which defines a flow path. For example, the separators may be arranged adjacent to one another on the base body. In this way, each separator may be assigned a flow path. However, depending on the arrangement of the separators, one separator may define a first flow path on one side and another flow path on the other side.

[0024] According to a third embodiment, a plurality of separators, for example at least two separators, are provided. The separators are nested within each other. In this embodiment, for example, the structure may form a heat exchanger.

[0025] According to a fourth embodiment, a plurality of separators are arranged on the base body, the first separators being arranged adjacent to each other and the second separators being arranged nested within each other, which allows for inexpensive and easy manufacture of particularly complex structures.

[0026] At least one functional element may be provided on the base body, which influences at least one flow path. The functional element either directly influences the volumetric flow rate of the medium led to the flow path or records data of the state of the medium, such as temperature, volumetric flow rate or pressure. In this way, the functional element influences the medium in one, several or all of the flow paths provided in the structure. The functional element may be formed as a cooler or a heater.

[0027] The functional element may be formed from the base body. Such an arrangement may be applied in particular if the functional element is a passive functional element and has no moving parts, for example the functional element forms a throttle valve.

[0028] The medium supplied to the flow passages is preferably a temperature control medium, particularly a water based liquid temperature control medium, such as a water-glycol mixture, hi alternative embodiments the medium is an oil based liquid or a dielectric liquid supplied to the flow passages.

[0029] The functional element may be a valve, which has an opening in contact with the flow passages. The valve can affect one or more of the flow passages, opening or closing one or more of the flow passages or changing the cross section of one or more of the flow passages to change the volumetric flow rate.

[0030] According to an advantageous embodiment, the valve is a rotary valve. The rotary valve is used in a temperature control circuit to control a temperature control medium. The rotary valve comprises a valve housing with a valve chamber. The valve chamber comprises a peripheral wall with at least two fluid openings. The valve chamber accommodates a valve core. The valve core comprises a channel structure cooperating with the fluid openings. The valve core rotates in the valve chamber. Such a rotary valve is known, for example, from EP 4008935 A1.

[0031] In this embodiment, the valve housing may be integrally formed with the base body and made from the same material. Alternatively, the valve housing of the rotary valve may be made from several parts, the base body forming the outer component of the valve housing. The rotary valve is preferably at least partially embedded in the base body. In the case of a rotary valve, the flow of the temperature control medium can advantageously be adjusted by rotating the valve core. The actuator for rotating the valve can be designed and controlled in a simple manner.

[0032] In the structure according to the invention, at least two flow channels end in an opening of the rotary valve arranged in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Often the openings of the rotary valve are arranged one above the other when viewed in the longitudinal direction, limiting the fluid control. In an embodiment according to the invention, the rotary valve may be provided with openings arranged in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This allows the volumetric flow rate in the direction of the flow channels to be controlled. Furthermore, the structure comprising the rotary valve can be made particularly compact.

[0033] The separator may form a heat conductor. In particular, a particularly effective heat conductor is obtained when the separator is made of a metallic material. To improve the conducting performance, the separator may be textured on the surface facing the flow passage. In this respect, the separator may be designed as a heat exchanger insert made of a metallic material. The heat conducting medium may be a water-based temperature control medium, such as a water-glycol mixture, an oil-based liquid or a dielectric liquid. The separator may have openings in communication with the flow passage.

[0034] The method for manufacturing a structure for supplying a medium according to the invention comprises, in a first step, placing at least one separator in a blow mould, then placing a preform formed from a polymeric material in the blow mould such that the separator is at least partially surrounded by the preform. In a second step, the structure is formed by blow moulding. A base body is formed by the preform, the base body forming at least one wall and defining at least two channels formed in the base body. The channels are separated from each other by the separator arranged in the base body.

[0035] According to a further method according to the invention, a preform made of a polymer material is placed in a blow mould and in a next step a structure is formed by blow moulding. A base body forming at least one wall is formed from the preform and subsequently the blow mould is opened to separate the base body and the two base body parts. In a next step at least one separator is inserted into the blow mould and the blow mould is closed again to materially bond and connect the two base body parts in a liquid tight manner. The base body at least partially surrounds the separator and defines at least two channels formed in the base body, the channels being separated from each other by the separator arranged in the base body.

[0036] Some embodiments of the structure for supplying a medium according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a structure according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a structure according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure according to FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] The figure shows a structure 1 for supplying a medium. In this embodiment, the structure 1 serves to supply a temperature control medium in the form of a coolant. The structure 1 is part of a temperature control unit of an electric vehicle. The temperature control medium in the form of a coolant therefore flows through channels 4, 5, 7 formed in the structure 1 to the battery, the power electronics, the charging electronics and the electric motor.

[0039] The structure 1 comprises a hollow base body 2. The base body 2 forms a wall 3 which defines flow channels 4, 5. A separator 6 is embedded in the base body 2 so as to separate the two flow channels 4, 5 from each other.

[0040] The base body 2 is designed as a blow-moulded part and is made from a polymeric material.

[0041] To manufacture the structure 1, the separator 6 is placed in a blow mold, and then a preform, which at least partially contains the separator 6, is placed in the blow mold. In this embodiment, the preform is formed as a tube and inserted onto the separator 6. Depending on the design of the structure 1, functional elements 9, such as valves, pumps, sensors, etc., are then installed in the blow mold. The blow mold is then closed and the base body 2 is formed from the preform in a blow molding process. The separator 6 is embedded in the base body 2 after blow molding, as the preform is inserted onto the separator 6. As a result of the blow molding, channels 4, 5, 7 are formed in the base body 2. The channels 4, 5, 7 are mutually defined by the separator 6 and the wall 3 of the base body 2.

[0042] According to an alternative method, firstly a preform is placed in a blow mould comprising two mould halves with a cavity. The preform is preferably formed as a tube. Then the two mould halves are moved towards each other and the blow mould is closed. Firstly, the base body 2 is formed by blow moulding. In a next step, the blow mould is opened. The base body 2 is fixed in the blow mould in such a way that the base body 2 is separated into two base body parts along the seam generated between the two mould halves. A separator 6 or several separators 6 and, if necessary, one or more functional elements 9 are inserted between the two base body parts and the blow mould is closed again. The two base body parts are again joined and materially bonded to form the base body 2. Preferably, the two base body parts are joined immediately after the moulding of the base body 2 so that the temperature of the base body parts is sufficient for material bonding.

[0043] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the structure 1. In this embodiment, the separator 6 is planar. In this embodiment, the separator 6 is made of a metallic material. In this embodiment, the separator 6 forms a heat conductor. In order to improve the thermal conductivity, the surface facing the channels 4, 5 is textured. According to an advantageous embodiment, the separator 6 is made of an injection-moldable plastic.

[0044] The structure in FIG. 1 has eight channels 4, 4', 4'', 4''' and channels 5, 5', 5'', 5'''. The channels 4, 4', 4'', 4''' are disposed one above the other. Similarly, the channels 5, 5', 5'', 5''' are disposed one above the other. The channels 4, 4', 4'', 4''' are adjacent to the channels 5, 5', 5'', 5'''. The adjacent channels 4, 4', 4'', 4''' and channels 5, 5', 5'', 5''' are separated from each other by a separator 6. The channels 4, 4', 4'', 4''' and channels 5, 5', 5'', 5''' disposed one above the other are defined by walls 3 formed from the base body 2.

[0045] In the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the separator 6 is a blow-moulded part and forms a hollow body. The separator 6 is made from a polymeric material by blow-moulding. The separator 6 forms further channels 7, 7', 7''.

[0046] The separator 6 forms a further wall 8 which separates the further channels 7, 7', 7'' from the channels 4, 4', 4'', 4''' and channels 5, 5', 5'', 5'''. The base body 2 surrounds the separator 6 in a shell-like manner. The structure therefore comprises 13 channels. The channels are arranged vertically and adjacent to one another in the base body 2.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure 1 shown in FIG. 1 along a plane passing through the base body 2. In this embodiment, the base body 2 is provided with one functional element 9 influencing the channels 4, 4', 4'', 4'''' and the channels 5, 5', 5'', 5'''', 5''''. The channels 5, 5', 5'', 5'''', 5'''' are arranged in a mirror image to the channels 4, 4', 4'', 4''''. All channels terminate in the functional element 9. In this embodiment, the functional element 9 is a valve. The functional element 9 has openings 10 in communication with the channels 4, 4', 4'', 4'''' and the channels 5, 5', 5'', 5'''', 5''''. In particular, the valve is a rotary valve.

[0048] In this case, the flow paths 4, 4', 4'', 4'''' and the flow paths 5, 5', 5'', 5'''', 5'''' terminate in an opening 10 of the rotary valve. The two openings 10 are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The flow paths 4, 4', 4'', 4'''' and the flow paths 5, 5', 5'', 5'''', 5'''' are arranged vertically, respectively. The flow paths 4, 5, the flow paths 4', 5', the flow paths 4'', 5'', the flow paths 4''', 5''' and the flow paths 4'''', 5'''' are opened adjacent to each other on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotating valve core of the rotary valve.

[0049] The base body 2 is provided with a further functional element (not shown) in the form of a check valve which influences the flow path.

Claims

1. A structure for supplying media comprising at least one base body, The base body defines at least one wall; The at least one wall defines at least two flow passages formed in the base body at least in a predetermined section; The at least two flow paths are separated from each other at least in a predetermined section by at least one separator disposed on the base body; At least one functional element is disposed on the base body; the functional element is capable of contacting a medium guided in the at least two flow paths; the functional element is a rotary valve having an opening in contact with the at least two flow paths; The at least two flow paths terminate at the opening of the rotary valve disposed in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rotary valve.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the separator is formed separately from the base body.

3. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the base body is a blow molded article.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the separator is formed substantially planar.

5. 10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the separator is formed from an injection moldable or metallic material.

6. 10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the separator has at least one additional flow channel formed therein.

7. 10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the separator is a blow molded article.

8. 7. The structure of claim 6, wherein the separator defines at least one further wall separating the further flow passage from the at least two flow passages.

9. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the base body surrounds the separator in a shell-like manner.

10. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the separator forms a thermal conductor.

11. 13. A method for manufacturing a structure for supplying a medium according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: In a first step, at least one separator is placed in a blow mold, and then a preform of a polymeric material is placed in the blow mold so as to at least partially surround the separator; In a second step, the structure is formed by blow molding; the preform forms the base body, the base body forming the at least one wall and defining the at least two flow channels formed in the base body; The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two flow paths are separated from each other by the separator disposed in the base body.

12. A method for manufacturing a structure for supplying a medium, comprising: at least one base body, the method comprising: The base body defines at least one wall; The at least one wall defines at least two flow passages formed in the base body at least in a predetermined section; The at least two flow paths are separated from each other at least in a predetermined section by at least one separator disposed on the base body; At least one functional element is disposed on the base body; the functional element is capable of contacting a medium guided in the at least two flow paths; the functional element is a rotary valve having an opening in contact with the at least two flow paths; the at least two flow paths terminate at the opening of the rotary valve disposed in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the rotary valve; The method comprises: In a first step, a preform of a polymeric material is placed in a blow mold; In a second step, the structure is formed by blow molding; the preform defines the base body forming the at least one wall; Then, the blow mold is opened to separate the base body and the two base body portions; In a next step, inserting the at least one separator into the blow mold and closing the blow mold again to materially bond the two base body parts; the base body at least partially surrounds the separator and defines at least two flow channels formed in the base body; The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two flow paths are separated from each other by the separator disposed in the base body.

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