阅读说明：本技术 用于罐的结冰引导装置 (Ice guiding device for a tank ) 是由 T·马特维耶夫 于 2020-09-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及用于罐的结冰引导装置。本发明是一种适于容纳机动车辆的流体操作介质(200)的罐(100)。它具有带有外罐内侧(111)和外罐外侧(112)的外罐(110),其中外罐(110)封罩罐内部(300)。罐内部(300)能够被细分为操作介质体积(320)和补偿体积(310)。在这种情况下,结冰引导装置(150)被布置在外罐(110)上,其中结冰引导装置(150)为外罐外侧(112)的指向罐内部(300)中的至少一个凹部(151)的形式。(The present invention relates to an ice guiding device for a tank. The invention is a tank (100) adapted to contain a fluid-operating medium (200) of a motor vehicle. It has an outer tank (110) with an outer tank inner side (111) and an outer tank outer side (112), wherein the outer tank (110) encloses a tank interior (300). The tank interior (300) can be subdivided into an operating medium volume (320) and a compensation volume (310). In this case, an ice guiding device (150) is arranged on the outer tank (110), wherein the ice guiding device (150) is in the form of at least one recess (151) in the tank interior (300) of the outer tank outside (112).)

1. Tank (100) suitable for accommodating a fluid operating medium (200) of a motor vehicle, having an outer tank (110) with an outer tank inner side (111) and an outer tank outer side (112), wherein the outer tank (110) encloses a tank interior (300), which tank interior (300) can be subdivided into an operating medium volume (320) and a compensation volume (310), wherein an icing guide device (150) is arranged on the outer tank (110),

is characterized in that

The ice guiding device (150) is in the form of at least one recess (151) of the outer tank side (112) pointing into the tank interior (300).

2. The canister (100) of claim 1,

is characterized in that

The ice guiding device (150) is in the form of at least one protrusion (152) of the outer tank inner side (111).

3. Canister (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

is characterized in that

The icing guide (150) is arranged wholly or partially in the region of the operating medium volume (320).

4. Canister (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

is characterized in that

The outer tank (110) has an upper wall (120) with respect to a vertical axis of the vehicle, and the ice guiding device (150) is arranged on the upper wall (120).

5. Canister (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

is characterized in that

The at least one recess (151) of the outer tank outer side (112) is filled or fillable with an insulating material (153).

6. Canister (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

is characterized in that

The ice formation guide device (150) is in the form of a cavity in the outer tank outer side (112), which cavity has a cylindrical, in particular cylindrical, contour.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tank adapted to contain a fluid-operating medium of a motor vehicle, having ice-formation directing means, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Anti-icing devices relate essentially to any tank for a fluid operating medium in a motor vehicle, for example for an aqueous urea solution (trade name)) DEF or water (e.g., windshield or headlamp washer system cleaning liquid). Although such operating media usually have an anti-frost agent as anti-freeze protection, it can be expected that the fluid operating medium will freeze, i.e. freeze, if an external temperature of, for example, -10 ° to-30 ° is maintained for a long time.

The volume expansion during icing must be able to be tolerated or compensated for, inter alia, by tanks with liquid operating media which have a high freezing point of the liquid. Thus, the tank is usually not completely filled with operating medium. Instead, the compensation volume always remains as free space or compensation space for compensating the volume expansion during icing.

In the event of freezing of the liquid, a first ice layer is first formed on the outer edge of the interior of the tank and on the surface of the operating medium facing the compensation volume. Over time, the ice layer grows towards the interior of the can. At the same time, the ice layer bulges during growth, possibly forming a so-called "ice volcano". This bulging of additional ice volume can deform the entire can. The outer wall of the can is usually only able to accommodate plastic deformation and can therefore be permanently damaged.

Therefore, at least in the area where the formation of an ice volcano is expected, a space must always be maintained between the surface of the liquid and the bottom side of the upper wall of the tank. This position is usually arranged in the center of the liquid surface. Such compensation space undesirably limits the volume of liquid which is in any case limited by the tank geometry which must be complex due to the available space in the motor vehicle. For example, the SCR tank loses about 3 liters of volume available for liquid.

As an alternative to the compensation space, the icing process is controlled by an insulating construction of the tank surface. In this way, more cold is introduced in a specific area of the tank than in other areas. In this respect, for example, EP2376751B1 discloses a hood-like insulation on the top side of the tank, while the bottom of the tank remains uninsulated. Thus, although icing is not prevented, the manner in which the volume expands during icing is influenced in a targeted manner. However, such insulation will also take up space and lead to increased costs due to additional expenditure in terms of materials and parts.

Furthermore, the icing process must be controlled in such a way that the liquid is prevented from being enclosed by ice, the so-called "cavity". Various possibilities for controlled icing of tanks and for protecting fixtures are known in the prior art.

DE102015204621a1 relates to a tank for a liquid operating medium for a motor vehicle, which tank has a dip tube which is arranged in the region of an ice compensation volume. In order to prevent damage to the immersion tube when the operating medium freezes, the immersion tube is at least partially elastically deformable.

Controlled icing is proposed in US10023048B2, in which the individual wall parts of the tank wall are formed with different insulation, that is to say with different wall thicknesses or wall materials. The compensation space provided is furthermore reduced, since the distance between the surface of the liquid and the upper tank wall is maintained only locally and in particularly vulnerable areas.

US2017/0328255a1 discloses a tank plant for an aqueous urea solution having a separate bottom part mounted on a tank housing. On the top side of the separate bottom part a layered structure is formed. In case the urea solution freezes, the layered structure creates a predetermined breaking point, which prevents the formation of cavities.

WO2010/069636a1 proposes a tank with an ice pressure element which, in particular by virtue of its compressibility, guides reducing agent which has not yet frozen into the free space in the tank in order to prevent cavities. The ice pressing element is in the form of a rod and extends substantially in a vertical direction through the tank.

In view of the stated prior art, controlled icing of tanks with a fluid operating medium still has potential for improvement.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is based on the object of avoiding damage to the tank and the vehicle due to freezing of the fluid-operating medium. Furthermore, the aim is to maximize the amount of operating medium that can be introduced into the tank interior provided by the tank.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a tank adapted to accommodate a fluid-operated medium of a motor vehicle, the tank having an ice guiding device having the features of claim 1. Further advantageous configurations of the invention are contained in the dependent claims.

It should be noted that the features and measures specified individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any desired technically meaningful way and disclose further improvements of the invention. The present invention is additionally characterized and described in the specification, particularly in conjunction with the appended drawings.

The present invention relates to a tank suitable for containing a fluid-operating medium of a motor vehicle. The tank has an outer tank with an outer tank inner side and an outer tank outer side, wherein the outer tank encloses a tank interior which can be subdivided into an operating medium volume and a compensation volume. In this case, an ice guide means is arranged on the outer tank in the form of at least one recess on the outside of the outer tank directed into the tank interior.

Based on the solution proposed according to the invention, icing of the fluid operating medium is influenced in a targeted manner and damage to the tank through ice formation is avoided. During the freezing of the fluid-operating medium, the flow of cold ambient air directed on the outside of the outer tank and/or the flow of the fluid-operating medium in the interior of the tank changes the process of freezing. At least one recess on the outside of the outer tank directed inwards or towards the inside of the tank interior locally enlarges the contact surface between the operating medium and the inside of the outer tank. Due to the enlarged contact surface in the region of the recess, cold ambient air can initiate the formation of an ice layer there. In other words, additional ambient cooling is provided to the fluid operating medium in order to influence the freezing or ice formation of the operating medium. Alternatively or additionally, for this purpose the fluid operating medium is locally displaced along the inside of the locally enlarged outer tank. The ice guiding device can then freeze the critical area first and the ice layer expands in those places where sufficient space is available without risk of damaging the tank.

The formation of ice in the fluid-handling medium is thus influenced in such a way that during the volume expansion of the ice layer, if freezing occurs, no undesired pressure build-up or undesired pressure discharge through the ice volcano or cavity occurs in the first place. For a constant tank interior, the required compensation volume can be smaller, while the operating medium volume can be larger. Preferably, the compensation volume can be reduced to the minimum size required to compensate for the volume expansion of the ice layer. The "operating medium volume" is preferably understood to mean the volume of the largest quantity of fluid or liquid operating medium that can be introduced. Thus, a preferred embodiment according to the invention has a recess in the outer wall of the tank, which does not depend on the stability or rigidity of the tank or the available space for mounting the tank.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ice guiding means is in the form of at least one protrusion inside the outer tank. Such a projection on the inside of the outer tank can be produced directly by at least one recess on the outside of the outer tank. Such a protrusion causes a local displacement of the fluid operation medium. Therefore, an ice layer cannot be formed at the position of the displaced operation medium. Conversely, in those places where the volumetric expansion of the ice layer can be tolerated, the ice layer will grow inside the tank.

Preferably, the icing guide is arranged wholly or partially in the region of the operating medium volume. That is to say that the ice formation directing device is at least partially immersed in the operating medium in order to at least maximally allow filling of the tank with the fluid operating medium with maximum utilization of the provided operating medium volume. If the volume of the fluid operating medium decreases during operation due to consumption and the surface of the fluid operating medium also decreases, the ice guiding device may lose contact with the fluid operating medium. As the filling amount is reduced, the ice guiding device may eventually become superfluous, since the volume expansion of the ice layer is inevitably smaller and there is more compensation space for the expansion of the ice layer of the remaining fluid-working medium. In other words, the ice guiding device is always in direct contact with the fluid operation medium, at least for maximum filling.

In an alternative development of the invention, the outer tank has an upper wall relative to the vertical axis of the vehicle, wherein the ice guide device is arranged on the upper wall.

Due to the direction of gravity, the compensation volume is usually arranged above the surface of the operating medium volume. The direction of the vertical axis of the vehicle is oriented parallel to the direction of gravity. The compensation space is usually filled with air, gaseous or vaporized operating medium and insulates the fluid operating medium towards the top. The ice-formation-directing device bridges the insulation in the compensation space and is immersed in the operating medium. Thus, despite the compensation space, the fluid operating medium is in direct contact with the tank outer wall in the region of the ice guiding device and thus with the surrounding cold. Thus, ambient cold can also be transmitted intensively to the surface of the operating medium. In other words, cold from the surrounding air may be provided in the interior of the tank at a location in the operating medium where it does not come into contact with the outer wall of the tank if there is no ice guiding means.

The recess outside the outer tank may optionally be filled or may be filled with an insulating material. Thus, although the cold flow can be reduced in the region of the locally enlarged surface, a local displacement of the fluid operating medium is maintained. The insulation may be achieved by filling the recess of the ice guiding device completely or partially with the material of the outer tank. Impurities (e.g. sand, water, snow) that may enter the recess during operation of the tank of the motor vehicle have a similar insulating effect in the ice guiding device. Thus, the de-icing guide remains functional during operation, for example during operation of a motor vehicle, despite possible impurities.

In an alternative refinement of the invention, the ice formation guide is in the form of a cavity on the outside of the outer tank, which cavity has a cylindrical, in particular cylindrical, contour.

Here, the first end surface of the cylindrical profile forms the opening of the recess and the second end surface forms the bottom surface. In order to maximally fill the operating medium volume with the fluid operating medium, in particular the bottom surface is always in contact with the fluid operating medium. The lower part of the lateral surface of the cylindrical pocket with respect to the vertical axis of the vehicle is also always in contact with the fluid operating medium in order to fill the operating medium volume to the maximum extent with the fluid operating medium. Such a profile can be formed and integrated into the wall of the outer vessel in a particularly inexpensive manner. Integration may be achieved by integrally forming the cavity with the wall of the outer tank during production of the tank. Alternatively, the pocket may be inserted as a separate insert in the wall of the outer vessel at a later stage and sealingly connected to said wall. However, the ice guiding device may also have a complex geometry, such as a finger-like geometry.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary prior art can,

figure 2 shows an exemplary icing process using a prior art tank,

fig. 3a to 3d show exemplary test results using a prior art can.

Further advantageous configurations of the invention are disclosed in the following figures of the drawings, in which:

figures 4a to 4b show cross-sectional views of exemplary embodiments of a tank according to the invention,

figure 5 shows an enlarged detail of a perspective view of the outside of the outer can of an exemplary can according to the present invention,

figures 6a to 6b show enlarged details of perspective views of the inside of the outer can of an exemplary can according to the invention,

figure 7 shows an exemplary icing process for a tank using an exemplary embodiment of a tank according to the present invention,

figures 8a to 8b show an exemplary icing process for a tank with an exemplary embodiment of a tank according to the present invention with an insulated icing guide and

fig. 9a to 9d show exemplary test results using an exemplary embodiment of a canister according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the different figures, identical components are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore generally described only once. For the sake of clarity, in the following, for the sake of simplicity, a liquid operating medium or working liquid is generally taken as a basis, even if all fluid operating media (i.e. having a liquid, gaseous or solid component) are covered by the wording.

In fig. 1a tank 100 of a liquid operating medium 200 for a motor vehicle, for example an SCR tank, is shown in an orientation relative to the force of gravity S during operation. The can 100 includes an outer can 110, shown in cut-away form, the outer can 110 may be of one-piece or multi-piece design and has an outer can interior 111 and an outer can exterior 112. The geometry of the outer tank 110 is substantially dependent on the available space during installation and the desired volume of the operating medium 200. The outer canister 110 encloses a canister interior 300. The tank interior 300 is partially filled with the fluid operating medium 200, so that an operating medium volume 320 is formed in the lower region, while a compensation volume 310 remains in the upper region. The surface 210 of the operating medium 200 is formed below the compensation volume 310 and above the operating medium volume 320. The addition of the operating medium volume 320 and the compensation volume 310 substantially results in the tank interior 300. In the event of freezing of the operating medium 200, a first ice layer 201 (see fig. 2) is first formed on the outer edge of the operating medium 200 and the surface 210 directed to the compensation volume 310. Over time, the ice layer 201 grows towards the center of the can 100. Meanwhile, the ice layer 201 is swelled during the growth process, thereby forming the ice volcano 220. This bulging of additional ice volume can deform the entire outer can 110. Therefore, the size of the compensation volume 310 must be large enough such that a distance a1 of, for example, 35mm is maintained between the surface 210 and the upper wall 120 of the outer tank 110, such that a distance a2 of, for example, 10mm is maintained between the layer of ice 201 and the upper wall 120 even after the formation of the ice volcano 220. As a result, it is therefore necessary to sacrifice, for example, 18% of the can interior 300 without using the compensation volume 310.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary freezing process of an operating medium 200 in a tank 100 of the prior art with a maximum filled operating medium volume 320 at three selected times t1-t 3. At a first time t1, the operating medium 200 is still liquid. If the operating medium 200 in the tank 100 freezes at time t2, an ice layer 201 is first formed on the outer tank inner side 111 of the outer tank 110. At the same time, the operating medium surface 220 freezes. At time t3, a volume of liquid operating medium 200 is enclosed within the interior in the vacuole 202 and forms a cavity. If the vacuole 202 of the enclosure eventually also freezes, there will be no room for volume expansion due to the enclosure by the layer of ice 201. Cracking of the ice layer 202 may eventually occur, which propagates generally in the direction of the upper wall 220 of the outer tank 110. This may damage the can 100.

Such damage or destruction to the outer vessel 110 is illustrated in fig. 3a to 3 d. First, according to fig. 3a, the upper wall 120 is deformed 121 due to the formation of the ice volcano 220 (see fig. 1), and as the layer of ice 201 grows, the ice volcano 220 pushes against the upper wall 120 from below. Then, for example according to fig. 3b, a tank 100 with a tank interior 300 or a 16 liter operating medium volume 320 will undergo a deformation 121 in the form of a bulge of the upper wall 120, which amounts to 1.13 millimeters. The deformation 121 is typically most pronounced at the center relative to the can width 123 and can depth 122. As a result of the deformation 121, the upper wall 120 may split and expose the ice layer 201 according to fig. 3c to 3 d. Without the ice directing device 150, such a tank 100 would fail if it were completely iced.

Fig. 4a and 4b show two views of the same tank 100 for a liquid operating medium 200 for a motor vehicle, wherein the outer tank 110 is shown in cut-away form. In contrast to the can 100 according to fig. 1, a icing guide 150 is provided. The ice formation guide means 150 is in the form of a recess 151 of the outer tank outside 112 directed towards the tank interior 300 and at the same time in the form of a projection 152 of the outer tank inside 111. The ice formation directing device 150 is arranged in part in the region of the compensation volume 310 and in part in the region of the operating medium volume 320 in a manner directed downwards from the upper wall 120. The proportion of the ice formation directing device 150 covered by the liquid operating medium 200 depends on the actual filling level of the operating medium volume 320. Since the ice guiding device 150 is immersed in the operating medium 200, the recess 151 makes it possible to exchange temperature directly with the surroundings 400 located in the center of the tank interior 300. Thus, despite the compensation space 310, the operating medium 200 is in direct contact with the outer tank interior 111 in the region of the ice guiding device 150 and thus with the surrounding cold. In this way, ambient cold may be transferred to the surface 210 of the operating medium 200. Due to the ice guiding device 150, the size of the compensation volume 310 may be reduced and thereby the size of the compensation volume 310 may be increased, for example to 85% of the tank interior 300. This is true even in view of the fact that the ice directing device 150 occupies space in the tank interior 300.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the outer tank outer side 112 of the upper wall 120 of the outer tank 110 with the recess 151 of the ice guiding device 150. The ice formation directing means 150 is for example in the form of a pocket in the outer tank outside 112 having a cylindrical profile, wherein a first end surface 151a of the cylindrical profile constitutes an opening of the recess 151 with respect to the surroundings 400. Integration of the ice guiding device 150 may be achieved by being integrally formed with the upper wall 120 of the tank 100. Alternatively, the recess 151 as a separate insert may be inserted into and sealingly connected to the upper wall 120 of the outer vessel 110 at a later stage.

Fig. 6a and 6b show an enlarged detail of the outer tank inner side 111 of the upper wall 120 of the outer tank 110 with the protrusion 152 of the ice guiding device 150. The protrusion 152 of the ice guiding device 150 on the outer tank inner side 111 may correspond to a pocket in the outer tank outer side 112, wherein the second end surface 152a of the cylindrical profile forms a bottom wall of the ice guiding device 150. In order to fill the operating medium volume 320 to the greatest extent with operating medium 200, in particular the bottom wall 200 is always situated below the surface 210 of the operating medium 200. The lower part of the side surface 152b of the cylindrical icing guide 150 is also always in a submerged state in order to fill the operating medium volume 320 to the maximum extent with operating medium 200. Such an ice formation directing device 150 can be formed in a particularly inexpensive manner.

Fig. 7 shows an exemplary freezing process of the operating medium 200 in the tilted tank 100 with the largest filled operating medium volume 320 with the ice guiding device 150 at three selected times t1-t 3. Due to the inclination of the tank, the upper wall 120 is also inclined. At a first time t1, the operating medium 200 is still liquid, but cool air of the surroundings 400 enters through the recess 151 of the ice guiding device 150 into the region below the surface 210 of the operating medium 200. If the operating medium 200 in the tank 100 freezes at the time t2, an ice layer 201 forms on the outer tank inner side 111 of the outer tank 110 in the region of the operating medium volume 320. Due to the ice formation directing means 150, the surface of the outer tank inner side 111 and thus the surface of the outer tank inner side 112 is "locally" enlarged, so that the formation of ice also starts there. Thus, icing is affected, thereby preventing the liquid operating medium volume 200 from being enclosed inside the vacuole 202. Even for tanks 100 mounted in an inclined manner. Thus, until freezing is completed at time t3, space is available for the volumetric expansion of the ice layer 201. Damage to the tank 100 can thus be avoided even if the operating medium 200 freezes completely.

Fig. 8a and 8b show an exemplary freezing process of the operating medium 200 in the tank 100 with the largest filled operating medium volume 320 and the icing guide 150 at three selected times t1-t3 in front view and side view. At a first time t1, the operating medium 200 is still liquid, but the cavity 151 is filled with a material having a heat insulating effect, i.e. the heat insulating material 153. This insulating effect in the ice guiding device 150 may result in impurities, such as water, snow or sand 154 (see fig. 9a), which may be generated in the motor vehicle during operation of the tank 100. Due to the insulating material 153 of the ice guiding device 150, little or no cold air from the surroundings 400 enters the area below the surface 210 of the operating medium 200. However, due to the immersion of the projection 152 into the operating medium 200 as a result of the displacement of the operating medium 200, the operating medium 200 in the tank 100 is prevented from freezing in the region of the ice guiding device 150 at time t 2. Thus, despite the formation of the ice layer 201 on the outer vessel inner side 111 of the outer vessel 110, the operating medium 200 which has not yet frozen always has an open channel to the surface 210 which is not covered by ice and therefore has space for expansion. In particular, the region of ice volcano 220 (see FIG. 1) where the greatest deflection typically occurs is completely free of ice for a long period of time. Thus, icing is affected, thereby preventing the liquid operating medium volume 200 from being enclosed inside the vacuole 202. Therefore, until shortly before the complete icing at time t3, there is still room for the volumetric expansion of the ice formation. The tank 100 remains intact despite icing.

Such successful results for undamaged outer vessel 110 are shown in fig. 9 a-9 d. According to fig. 9a, the recess 151 of the ice guiding device 150 is filled with sand 154, the sand 154 having an insulating effect under the influence of cold. Even if the operation medium 200 is completely frozen, the deformation 121 of the upper wall 120 cannot be seen with the naked eye. Measurements have shown that a tank 100 with a tank interior 300 or a 16 litre operating medium volume 320 has a deformation 121, for example in the form of a bulge of the upper wall 120, which is only 0.14 mm. Preferably, according to fig. 9b, the ice guiding device 150 is to be arranged centrally on the upper wall 120 of the outer tank 110 with respect to the tank width 123 (exemplarily shown) and the tank depth 122 (exemplarily shown). Due to the success limit of the deformation 121, the upper wall 120 remains intact and undergoes the icing process according to fig. 9c to 9 d.

List of reference names

100 can

110 outer tank

111 inner side of outer tank

112 outside of the outer vessel

120 upper wall

121 deformation

Depth of 122 tank

123 can width

150 icing guiding device

151 concave part

151a first end surface, in particular the opening of the recess

152 projection

152a second end surface, in particular a bottom wall

152b side surface

153 thermal insulation

154 sand

200 operating medium

201 layer of ice

202 vacuole

210 surface

220 ice volcano

300 can interior

310 compensation volume

320 volume of operating medium

400 surroundings

Distance A1-A2

S gravity

time t1-t3