DEVICE FOR PREVENTING BACKWARD AIR FLOW OF RESERVOIR TANK FOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a device for preventing the backward air flow of a reservoir tank for a vehicle, which may mount an backward air flow prevention tube extending to coolant on a connector of a reservoir tank to which a degassing hose is connected, and form an air collection slit hole communicating with an upper space of the reservoir tank in the upper portion of the tube to be openable or closable, thereby easily preventing the phenomenon in which the air within the reservoir tank flows back toward an engine, and easily collecting the air introduced from the engine side.

Claims

1. A device for preventing the backward air flow of a reservoir tank for a vehicle comprising: a backward air flow prevention tube having an upper end connected to a rear portion of a connector of a reservoir tank, the rear portion of the reservoir tank being connected to a degassing hose, and a lower end extending to an inside of coolant within the reservoir tank; an air collection slit hole communicating with an upper space of the reservoir tank in the upper end of the backward air flow prevention tube; and an opening and closing structure disposed within the backward air flow prevention tube to open the air collection slit hole to open or close the air collection slit hole when the collected air is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube from the degassing hose.

2. The device for preventing the backward air flow of the reservoir tank for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing structure comprises a buoyancy ball inserted into the backward air flow prevention tube, and floating on the coolant within the reservoir tank.

3. The device for preventing the backward air flow of the reservoir tank for the vehicle of claim 2, wherein the buoyancy ball is configured to close the air collection slit hole when floating on the coolant, and to open the air collection slit hole by moving downward by the pressure of the collected air introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube from the degassing hose.

4. The device for preventing the backward air flow of the reservoir tank for the vehicle of claim 2, wherein a partition wall surrounding the lower end of the backward air flow prevention tube is formed on the bottom surface of the reservoir tank in order to prevent the buoyancy ball from being separated.

5. The device for preventing the backward air flow of the reservoir tank for the vehicle of claim 1, wherein the opening and closing structure comprises a buoyancy pipe inserted into the backward air flow prevention tube and floating on the coolant.

6. The device for preventing the backward air flow of the reservoir tank for the vehicle of claim 5, wherein the buoyancy pipe is configured to close the air collection slit hole when floating on the coolant, and to open the air collection slit hole by moving downward by the pressure of the collected air introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube from the degassing hose.

7. The device for preventing the backward air flow of the reservoir tank for the vehicle of claim 5, wherein the buoyancy pipe has a vertical length adjusted according to a formation location of the air collection slit hole formed in the backward air flow prevention tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] The above and other features of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary examples thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings which are given herein below by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure, and wherein:

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams illustrating a configuration of an engine cooling system of the prior art.

[0027] FIG. 3A illustrates a backward air flow phenomenon within a reservoir tank, and FIG. 3B is a cross-section diagram illustrating a state where only an backward air flow prevention tube is mounted within the reservoir tank.

[0028] FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-section diagrams illustrating a device for preventing the backward air flow of a reservoir tank for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a device for preventing the backward air flow of a reservoir tank for a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a device for preventing the backward air flow of a reservoir tank for a vehicle according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the disclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in section by the particular intended application and use environment.

[0032] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent sections of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Hereinafter, a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] As described above with reference to FIG. 1, when the air (e.g., air bubble or the like) exists within the coolant line included in the engine, the cooling performance may deteriorate, and the coolant flow sound may be generated, such that a degassing hose 33 is connected between the upper space 35 (the space in which coolant is not filled) of the reservoir tank 30 and the portion (e.g., the coolant line of the turbo-charger) of the coolant line of the engine 20 in which the air collection is intensively needed.

[0035] Therefore, the air (e.g., air bubble or the like) generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 in which the air collection is intensively needed may be introduced into and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the degassing hose 33.

[0036] However, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3A, there may occur the phenomenon in which the air collected within the reservoir tank 30 flows back to the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 in which the air collection is intensively needed through the degassing hose 33 again in a specific operation condition of the engine, thereby generating noise such as the momentary coolant flow sound due to the backward air flow, and degrading the engine cooling performance due to the backward-flowed air.

[0037] To eliminate the phenomenon in which the air within the reservoir tank flows back toward the engine through the degassing hose, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, an backward air flow prevention tube 100 may be mounted within the reservoir tank 30.

[0038] More specifically, the upper end of the backward air flow prevention tube 100 is connected to the rear portion of a connector 34 of the reservoir tank 30, to which the degassing hose 33 is connected, and the lower end thereof extends to and is arranged inside the coolant within the reservoir tank 30, such that the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 in which air exists becomes a state of being blocked with the degassing hose 33 by the coolant.

[0039] Therefore, as described above, the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 in which air exists becomes the state of being blocked with the degassing hose 33, thereby preventing the air existing in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 from flowing back to the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 in which air collection is intensively needed again through the degassing hose 33.

[0040] At this time, the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 in which the air collection is intensively needed passes through the degassing hose 33, and then may be introduced into and collected in the coolant stored in the reservoir tank 30 through the backward air flow prevention tube 100.

[0041] However, when the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 in which air collection is intensively needed is in a hot steam state, there is a problem in that as the coolant is boiled by the hot steam, a boiling noise is generated.

[0042] To solve the problem, the present disclosure may prevent the phenomenon in which the air within the reservoir tank flows back toward the coolant line of the engine through the degassing hose, and be configured such that the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed may be easily introduced into and collected in the upper space (the space in which coolant is not filled) of the reservoir tank.

[0043] FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a backward air flow prevention device of a reservoir tank for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the backward air flow prevention tube 100 is mounted within the reservoir tank 30.

[0045] That is, the upper end of the backward air flow prevention tube 100 is connected to the rear portion of the connector 34 of the reservoir tank 30 to which the degassing hose 33 is connected, and the lower end thereof extends to and is arranged inside the coolant within the reservoir tank 30, such that the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 in which air exists becomes a state of being blocked with the degassing hose 33 by the coolant.

[0046] At this time, an air collection slit hole 110 communicating with the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 is formed in the upper portion of the backward air flow prevention tube 100.

[0047] Particularly, an opening and closing structure 200 floating on the coolant is embedded inside the backward air flow prevention tube 100 in order to open or close the air collection slit hole 110.

[0048] The opening and closing structure 200 is normally arranged at a location of closing the air collection slit hole 110 inside the backward air flow prevention tube 100, and serves to open the air collection slit hole 110 by moving downward only when the collected air is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 from the degassing hose 33.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the opening and closing structure comprises a buoyancy ball 210 which is inserted into the backward air flow prevention tube 100, and floats on the coolant within the reservoir tank 30.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the buoyancy ball 210 closes the air collection slit hole 110 when floating on the coolant, normally, that is, before the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 through the degassing hose 33.

[0051] Therefore, the backward air flow prevention tube 100 communicating with the degassing hose 33 and the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 may become the state of being blocked by the buoyancy ball 210 closing the air collection slit hole 110, thereby easily preventing the phenomenon in which the air existing in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 flows back to the portion of the coolant line of the engine 20 in which the air collection is intensively needed through the degassing hose 33 again.

[0052] On the other hand, if the collected air (the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed) is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 from the degassing hose 33, the buoyancy ball 210 moves downward by the pressure of the collected air, such that the air collection slit hole 110 becomes a state of being opened.

[0053] Therefore, the collected air, that is, the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed may be easily introduced into and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collection slit hole 110 being in the opened state.

[0054] Meanwhile, to prevent the buoyancy ball 210 from being separated from the backward air flow prevention tube 100, a partition wall 36 surrounding the lower end of the backward air flow prevention tube 100 may be further formed on the bottom surface of the reservoir tank 30.

[0055] As described above, the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may prevent the phenomenon in which the air within the reservoir tank 30 flows back toward the coolant line of the engine through the degassing hose 33, and also be configured such that the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed may be easily introduced into and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30.

[0056] FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a device for preventing the backward air flow of a reservoir tank for a vehicle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the backward air flow prevention tube 100 is mounted within the reservoir tank 30.

[0058] That is, the upper end of the backward air flow prevention tube 100 is connected to the rear portion of the connector 34 of the reservoir tank 30 to which the degassing hose 33 is connected, and the lower end thereof extends to and is arranged inside the coolant within the reservoir tank 30, such that the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 in which air exists becomes a state of being blocked with the degassing hose 33 by the coolant.

[0059] At this time, the air collection slit hole 110 communicating with the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 is formed in the upper portion of the backward air flow prevention tube 100.

[0060] Particularly, the opening and closing structure 200 floating on the coolant is embedded inside the backward air flow prevention tube 100 in order to open or close the air collection slit hole 110.

[0061] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening and closing structure comprises a buoyancy pipe 220 inserted into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 and floating on the coolant within the reservoir tank 30.

[0062] The buoyancy pipe 220 has a vertically long rod shape, and serves to normally close the air collection slit hole 110 when floating on the coolant, and to open the air collection slit hole 110 by moving downward by the pressure of the collected air introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 from the degassing hose 33.

[0063] At this time, when the air collection slit hole 110 formed in the backward air flow prevention tube 100 is close to the coolant surface, there likely occurs the phenomenon in which the collected air in the hot steam state introduced through the air collection slit hole 110 is in direct contact with the coolant to boil the coolant.

[0064] To prevent the problem, the air collection slit hole 110 formed in the backward air flow prevention tube 100 is formed at a location higher than the coolant surface, and also, the buoyancy pipe 220 having the vertically long rod shape is adopted as the opening and closing structure 200 for opening or closing the air collection slit hole 110.

[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the buoyancy pipe 220 closes the air collection slit hole 110 when floating on the coolant normally, that is, before the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 through the degassing hose 33.

[0066] On the other hand, if the collected air (the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed) is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 from the degassing hose 33, the buoyancy pipe 220 moves downward by the pressure of the collected air, such that the air collection slit hole 110 becomes a state of being opened.

[0067] Therefore, the collected air, that is, the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed may be easily introduced into and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collection slit hole 110 being in the opened state.

[0068] As described above, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may prevent the phenomenon in which the air within the reservoir tank 30 flows back toward the coolant line of the engine through the degassing hose 33, and also be configured such that the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed may be easily introduced into and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30.

[0069] Further, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may form the air collection slit hole 110 formed in the backward air flow prevention tube 100 at a location higher than the coolant surface, and also adopt the opening and closing structure 200 for opening or closing the air collection slit hole 110 as the buoyancy pipe 220 having the vertically long rod shape, thereby avoiding the direct contact with the coolant to prevent the coolant boiling phenomenon even if the collected air in the hot steam state is introduced into the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collection slit hole 110.

[0070] FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a device for preventing the backward air flow of a reservoir tank for a vehicle according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the buoyancy pipe 220 may have the vertical length adjusted according to the formation location of the air collection slit hole 110 formed in the backward air flow prevention tube 100.

[0072] For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the air collection slit hole 110 formed in the air backward prevention tube 100 is formed at a location as high as possible so as to fundamentally block the direct contact with the coolant even if the collected air in the hot steam state is introduced into the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30, and the buoyancy pipe 220 having maximally increased vertical length may also be applied in order to open or close the air collection slit hole 110.

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the buoyancy pipe 220 closes the air collection slit hole 110 when floating on the coolant normally, that is, before the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 through the degassing hose 33.

[0074] On the other hand, if the collected air (the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed) is introduced into the backward air flow prevention tube 100 from the degassing hose 33, the buoyancy pipe 220 moves downward by the pressure of the collected air, such that the air collection slit hole 110 becomes a state of being opened.

[0075] Therefore, the collected air, that is, the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed may be easily introduced into and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collection slit hole 110 being in the opened state.

[0076] As described above, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may prevent the phenomenon in which the air within the reservoir tank 30 flows back toward the coolant line of the engine through the degassing hose 33, and also be configured such that the air generated in the portion of the coolant line of the engine in which the air collection is intensively needed may be easily introduced into and collected in the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30.

[0077] Further, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may form the air collection slit hole 110 formed in the backward air flow prevention tube 100 at a location as high as possible which may be maximally away from the coolant surface, and also apply the buoyancy pipe 220 having maximally increased vertical length for opening or closing the air collection slit hole 110 in order to open or close the air collection slit hole 110, thereby fundamentally blocking the direct contact with the coolant to completely prevent the coolant boiling phenomenon even if the collected air in the hot steam state is introduced into the upper space 35 of the reservoir tank 30 through the air collection slit hole 110.

[0078] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize that still further modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof of the features of the disclosed embodiments are still possible.