Modular Coolant Supply Assembly for Low-Resistance Vehicle Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrical component cooling systems in environmental-friendly vehicles face challenges in integrating and connecting various components efficiently, leading to increased complexity, longer assembly processes, and higher loads on water pumps due to layout constraints and hose routing complications.
Innovation Solution
A modular water supply system that integrates a coolant module with a reservoir tank, direction switching valve, and coolant pump, along with a component assembling part that includes a vehicle mounting portion and coolant flow paths, allowing for reduced component count, simplified assembly, and improved coolant flow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If various components are individually mounted and connected in the vehicle, then the cooling system can satisfy various uses (heating, cooling, waste heat recovery), but the layout space is limited, making it difficult to dispose components and design hose routes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple components (radiator, condenser, evaporator, water pump, expansion tank, and various valves) into a single modular assembly unit. This merging approach allows the cooling system to maintain versatility for multiple functions (heating, cooling, waste heat recovery) while reducing layout complexity by pre-arranging all components and connections in one package, eliminating the need for complex individual component disposal and hose routing in the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is divided into a modular assembly that can be treated as a single unit for installation purposes. This segmentation separates the complex internal component arrangement from the external vehicle integration, allowing the versatile multi-functional system to be installed as one module rather than requiring individual component mounting and complex hose routing throughout the vehicle.
2Ease of manufacture
If components and hoses are mounted and connected individually, then the system can be assembled, but a large number of processes are required to mount and connect the components and hose
Solution Approach 1:
All components (radiator, condenser, evaporator, water pump, expansion tank, valves, and hoses) are pre-assembled and pre-connected into a complete modular unit during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming individual mounting and connection processes at the vehicle assembly stage, significantly reducing assembly time and process complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized modular production.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining all components and connections into a single pre-assembled module, the system reduces the number of separate mounting and connection processes required. The integrated design allows the entire cooling system to be installed as one unit, dramatically reducing assembly time and simplifying the manufacturing process compared to individual component installation.
3Ease of operation
If components are mounted individually with complicated hose routes, then the system can be assembled, but flow resistance increases at the coolant side
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating all components into a compact modular assembly with optimized internal routing, the system minimizes coolant flow path length and complexity. The pre-arranged hose connections within the module eliminate long, complicated routes that would increase flow resistance, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining ease of operation through simple module-level installation.
4Reliability
If individual components are connected with complicated routes, then the system can function, but a high load is applied to a water pump
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design pre-optimizes the coolant flow paths and component arrangements during manufacturing, ensuring efficient flow distribution before the system is installed in the vehicle. This preliminary optimization reduces flow resistance and minimizes the power required by the water pump while maintaining reliable system function, as all connections are pre-configured for optimal performance rather than ad-hoc assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular design reduces the number of components and assembly processes, enhances mounting convenience, improves thermal management system performance and durability, and decreases the load on water pumps by minimizing coolant flow resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant pump configured to pump the coolant
Implementation Method 2
the water supply module may further include one or more heat exchangers
Implementation Method 3
the reservoir tank may be disposed above the component assembling part based on a gravitational direction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a water supply module including a coolant module including a reservoir tank configured to accommodate a coolant therein, a direction switching valve configured to control a flow of a coolant in a plurality of directions, and a coolant pump configured to pump the coolant, and a component assembling part to which the coolant module is configured to be coupled, the component assembling part having a vehicle mounting portion formed to be coupled to a vehicle, and a coolant flow path in which the coolant flows, such that the components for the thermal management may be connected in an integrated manner, thereby reducing the number of components and the number of working processes, improving the mounting convenience by means of modularization, reducing a load of a water pump, and improving expandability in coupling the components.