COMPONENT NODE AND A COMPONENT CARRIER FOR THE COMPONENT NODE

Abstract

A component node for a vehicle is provided. The component node has an electric drive motor and an electric energy store. The component node includes at least one function component of a cooling circuit of the vehicle that can be flowed through by cooling liquid and a component carrier. On the component carrier, a component interface or the respective function component is moulded and the respective function component is detachably fastened to the component carrier via the component interface.

Claims

1. A component node for a vehicle having an electric drive motor and an electric energy store, the component node comprising: at least one function component of a cooling circuit of the vehicle through which cooling liquid can flow; and a component carrier, and wherein on the component carrier a component interface for the respective function component is moulded and the respective function component is detachably fastened to the component carrier via the component interface.

2. The component node according to claim 1, wherein: the component carrier is exclusively designed for carrying the at least one function component, or the component carrier is exclusively designed for carrying the at least one function component and for connecting the at least one function component to the cooling circuit of the vehicle.

3. The component node according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one function component is formed by an expansion tank that can be connected into the cooling circuit for collecting cooling liquid, and/or the at least one function component is formed by a pump that can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the at least one function component is formed by a chiller that can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the at least one function component is formed by a heat exchanger that can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the at least one function component is formed by a valve that can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the at least one function component is formed by a filter that can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the at least one function component is formed by an indirect condenser that can be connected into the cooling circuit.

4. The component node according to claim 1, wherein: the component interface is adapted for receiving the at least one function component, and/or the component interface forms the at least one function component in the regions.

5. The component node according to claim 1, wherein: the at least on function component is directly fluidically connected to a hose or a pipe or a connecting piece and, via the hose or the pipe or the connecting piece, can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the component node comprises at least two function components, wherein two of these function components are directly fluidically connected to one another via a hose or a pipe or a connecting piece and, via the hose or the pipe or the connecting piece, can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the component node comprises at least three function components wherein at least two of these function components are directly fluidically connected to the one function component in each case via a hose or a pipe or a connecting piece and, via the hose or the pipe or the connecting piece, can be connected into the cooling circuit.

6. The component node according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one function component is formed by an expansion tank that can be connected into the cooling circuit for collecting cooling liquid, and the component node comprises at least one function component other than the expansion tank, which is directly fluidically connected to the expansion tank.

7. The component node according to claim 1, wherein: the component node comprises at least one secondary component that cannot be connected into the cooling circuit, on the component carrier, a secondary component interface for the respective secondary component is moulded, and the respective secondary component is detachably fastened to the component carrier via the secondary component interface.

8. The component node according to claim 1, wherein in the component carrier, at least one fluid line, that can be flowed through by cooling liquid having connecting points moulded on both sided, is moulded.

9. The component node according to claim 8, wherein: the at least one function component is directly fluidically connected to the at least one fluid line and, via the at least one fluid line can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the component node comprises at least two function components, wherein two of these function components are directly fluidically connected to one another via the at least one fluid line and, via the at least one fluid line, can be connected into the cooling circuit, and/or the component node comprises at least three function components and in the component carrier at least two fluid lines are formed, wherein at least two of these function components are directly fluidically connected to the one function component via the fluid lines and, via the fluid lines, can be connected into the cooling circuit.

10. The component node according to claim 1, wherein on the component carrier, a fastening interface for fastening the component carrier and because of this the component node is moulded on a bodywork of the vehicle.

11. The component node according to claim 1, wherein the component carrier is formed out of multiple individual parts which are connected to one another in an integrally bonded manner, typically welded and/or glued, and/or positively connected to one another, typically screwed and/or clipped together.

12. The component node according to claim 1, wherein: the component node comprises at least one valve that can be connected into the cooling circuit, and the valve is installed in the component carrier of the component node.

13. The component node according to claim 12, wherein: the at least one valve is completely surrounded by the component carrier towards the outside, and/or the at least one valve is arranged in a hollow space formed within the component carrier and surrounded by the component carrier towards the outside, and/or the at least one valve comprises a valve housing, wherein the component carrier completely represents the valve housing for the at least one valve; and/or the at least one valve comprises a valve housing, wherein the valve housing is formed by a wall forming the component carrier.

14. The component node according to claim 12, wherein the at least one valve is fluidically connected to at least one function component.

15. A component carrier for the component node according to claim 1, the component carrier comprising: at least one component interface for fastening at least one functioning component of a cooling circuit of a vehicle having an electric drive motor and an electric energy store.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0025] FIGS. 1 to 3 show different views of a component node according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0026] FIGS. 1 to 3 show different views of a component node 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure for a vehicle having an electric drive motor and an electric energy store. The vehicle can be for example a purely battery-electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. Here, the component node 1 comprises a component carrier 2 and multiple function components 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the multiple function components 3 are a chiller 4, an expansion tank 5, two valves 6a and 6b and two pumps 7a and 7b. The function components 3 of the component node 1 and, if applicable, further components are fluidically connected to one another in a cooling circuit. In FIG. 1, the component node 1 is shown with view of the chiller 4; in FIG. 2 the component node 1 is shown with view of the expansion tank 5; and in FIG. 3 the component node 1 is shown with view of the pumps 7a and 7b. With reference to FIG. 2, the expansion tank 5 is formed of two tank halves 5a and 5b, which are flanged together in a fluid-tight manner.

[0027] The component carrier 2 is designed for carrying the function components 3 and comprises a component interface 8 each for the respective function component 3. Here, the respective component interface 8 is adapted to the shape and the size and the function of the respective function component 3. The individual component interfaces 8 thus differ from one another. The respective function component 3 is then detachably fastened to the component carrier 2 by way of the respective component interface 8. In addition, a fastening interface 9 is moulded onto the component carrier 2 via which the component carrier 2 and because of this the component node 1 can be fixed to a bodywork of the vehicle. The fastening interface 9 in this exemplary embodiment is formed by two openings 12a and 12b.

[0028] In addition, the component carrier 2 is designed for connecting at least some of the function components 3 to the cooling circuit of the vehicle. For this purpose, two fluid lines 10a and 10b are moulded in the component carrier 2. By way of the one fluid line 10a and a pipe 11a, the pump 7a is fluidically connected to the expansion tank 5. By way of the fluid line 10b and a pipe 11b the pump 7 is fluidically connected to a chiller 4. Otherwise, the pumps 7a and 7b, the pumps 11a and 11b, the valves 6a and 6b comprise multiple connectors 13, which are provided for connecting the function components 3 of the component node 1 to one another and to further components of the cooling circuit. For this purpose, hoses or pipes or connecting pieces can be used for example.

[0029] As is noticeable in FIGS. 1 to 3, the component carrier 2 is of a robust and trouble-free design. If required, the function components 3 can be exchanged individually and independently of one another. Altogether, the component node 1 is of a space-saving, robust and cost-effective design.

[0030] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.