Multi-compartment liquid reservoir for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Multi-compartment liquid reservoir (10), for a motor vehicle, including a first fluid compartment (14) equipped with a fluid inlet (18) and with a fluid outlet (22), and a second fluid compartment (16) equipped with a fluid inlet (20) and with a fluid outlet (24), the reservoir including a liquid-filling neck (12) and the compartments in fluid communication via at least one passage (30) allowing one of the compartments to be filled via the other of the compartments, the reservoir further including at least one shut-off system (44), able to move between a first position of opening of the at least one passage and a position of closure of the at least one passage, wherein the shut-off system is configured to adopt the first position by default and in the free state, and to be urged into the second position when the reservoir is in operation.

Claims

1. Multi-compartment liquid reservoir (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a first fluid compartment (14) equipped with a fluid inlet (18) and with a fluid outlet (22), and a second fluid compartment (16) equipped with a fluid inlet (20) and with a fluid outlet (24), the reservoir comprising a liquid-filling neck (12) and the first fluid compartment and the second fluid compartment being in fluid communication via at least one passage (30) allowing one of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment to be filled via the other of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment, the reservoir further comprising at least one shut-off system (44), able to move between a first position of opening of the at least one passage and a second position of closure of the at least one passage, wherein the shut-off system is configured to adopt the first position by default and in a free state, and to be urged into the second position, when the reservoir is in operation, by flow of a fluid that is circulating from the inlet to the outlet of one of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment or when a fluid operating temperature is reached.

2. Reservoir (10) according to claim 1, in which the shut-off system comprises at least one shutter (44).

3. Reservoir (10) according to claim 2, in which the shutter (44) is able to move by pivoting or linearly between the first position and the second position.

4. Reservoir (10) according to claim 1, in which the shut-off system comprises at least one thermostatic element.

5. Reservoir (10) according to claim 1, in which the first fluid compartment and the second fluid compartment (14, 16) communicate with one another by at least one venting and expansion tube (38), a lower end of which is connected to the first fluid compartment and an upper end of which is situated in the second fluid compartment and above a maximum level for liquid in the first fluid compartment (14).

6. Reservoir (10) according to claim 5, in which the second fluid compartment (16) is separated from the first fluid compartment (14) by at least one insulating space and/or by at least one insulating plate (26).

7. Reservoir (10) according to claim 6, in which the insulating space is a peripheral insulating space extending over at least one side of the second fluid compartment (16).

8. Reservoir (10) according to claim 6, in which the insulating plate (26) comprises either a static layer of air or a honeycomb cell structure to limit the velocity of the fluid at its surface.

9. Reservoir (10) according to claim 8, in which the insulating plate (26) bears the at least one venting tube (38).

10. Reservoir (10) according to claim 1, in which the shut-off system (44) is situated inside the second fluid compartment (16).

11. Reservoir (10) according to claim 10, in which the second fluid compartment (16) comprises limit stops (56) defining the first and second positions.

12. Reservoir (10) according to claim 10, in which the second fluid compartment (16) is situated below a minimum level for liquid in the first fluid compartment (14).

13. Reservoir (10) according to claim 1, in which the first and second fluid compartments (14, 16) form a one-piece assembly.

14. Multi-compartment liquid reservoir (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a first fluid compartment (14) equipped with a fluid inlet (18) and with a fluid outlet (22), and a second fluid compartment (16) equipped with a fluid inlet (20) and with a fluid outlet (24), the reservoir comprising a liquid-filling neck (12) and the first fluid compartment and the second fluid compartment being in fluid communication via at least one passage (30) allowing one of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment to be filled via the other of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment, the reservoir further comprising at least one shut-off system (44), able to move between a first position of opening of the at least one passage and a second position of closure of the at least one passage, wherein the shut-off system is configured to adopt the first position by default and in a free state, and to be urged into the second position, when the reservoir is in operation, when an operating temperature of the fluid is reached, wherein the shut-off system comprises at least one thermostatic element.

15. Multi-compartment liquid reservoir (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a first fluid compartment (14) equipped with a fluid inlet (18) and with a fluid outlet (22), and a second fluid compartment (16) equipped with a fluid inlet (20) and with a fluid outlet (24), the reservoir comprising a liquid-filling neck (12) and the first fluid compartment and the second fluid compartment being in fluid communication via at least one passage (30) allowing one of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment to be filled via the other of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment, the reservoir further comprising at least one shut-off system (44), able to move between a first position of opening of the at least one passage and a second position of closure of the at least one passage, wherein the shut-off system is configured to adopt the first position by default and in a free state, and to be urged into the second position, when the reservoir is in operation, when a fluid is circulating from the inlet to the outlet of one of the first fluid compartment or the second fluid compartment, wherein the first fluid compartment and the second fluid compartment (14, 16) communicate with one another by at least one venting and expansion tube (38), a lower end of which is connected to the first fluid compartment and an upper end of which is situated in the second fluid compartment and above a maximum level for liquid in the first fluid compartment (14).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will be better understood and other details, features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly upon reading the following description given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a liquid reservoir according to the invention,

(3) FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematic views, top, front and bottom, respectively, of the reservoir of FIG. 1,

(4) FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional schematic views along the lines V-V and VI-VI of FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 7 is a sectional schematic view along the line VII-VII of FIG. 2, and illustrates a shut-off system having a rotating shutter in a first position,

(6) FIG. 7a is an enlarged view of the detail I7 of FIG. 7,

(7) FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, and illustrates the shutter in a second position,

(8) FIG. 9 is an axial section schematic view of a plate bearing an alternative embodiment of the shut-off system having a thermostatic element, and

(9) FIG. 10 is a perspective schematic view of the shut-off system of FIG. 9,

(10) FIG. 11 is an axial section schematic view of the shut-off system of FIG. 9 and shows two positions, and

(11) FIG. 12 is a sectional schematic view of another alternative embodiment of the shut-off system having a linear shutter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIGS. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of a reservoir 10 having multiple, and in this case two, compartments according to the invention, which is able to be used in a cooling circuit of a motor vehicle.

(13) The reservoir 10 comprises a filling neck 12 and two compartments 14, 16 each equipped with an inlet 18, 20 and an outlet 22, 24.

(14) In the example shown, the reservoir 10 has a generally parallelepipedal shape and comprises an upper face 10a in this case including the filling neck 12, a lower face 10b, front 10c and rear 10d faces situated on the left and on the right in the drawing, respectively, and two lateral faces 10e extending between the front and rear faces.

(15) Conventionally, the neck 12 has an external threading for screwing on a plug (not shown) for sealed closure of the reservoir 10.

(16) The inlets 18, 20 of the compartments 14, 16 are in this case situated on the upper face 10a and the outlets 22, 24 thereof are situated on the lower face 10b. These inlets and outlets are formed by ducts.

(17) The reservoir 10 can be made from plastic. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 in particular, the reservoir 10 can be produced by assembling two shells, upper 11a and lower 11b, respectively. The shells 11a, 11b are manufactured independently of one another, for example by injection molding and are fixed to one another by welding or sticking in a substantially horizontal joint plane P. The lower shell 11b comprises, at the joint plane P, a peripheral rim 11ba for fixing to a peripheral rim 11aa of the upper shell 11a.

(18) The inlets 18, 20 are rigidly connected to and preferably formed as a single piece with the upper shell 11a. The outlets 22, 24 are rigidly connected to and preferably formed as a single piece with the lower shell 11b.

(19) The second compartment 16 is preferably situated at a lower end of the first compartment 14, as in the example shown. Moreover, the second compartment 16 preferably has an internal volume V2 that is less than that V1 of the first compartment 14. In the example shown, V2 represents less than 15% of V1.

(20) FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 make it possible to appreciate the shape and the position of the second compartment 16. This second compartment 16 in this case has a generally parallelepipedal shape, the lower face 16b of which is merged or aligned with the lower face 10b of the reservoir 10. The compartment 16 further has the front face 16c thereof and a lateral face 16e which are merged or aligned with the face 10c and a face 10e, respectively, of the reservoir. The second compartment 16 has a length, a width and a height which are less than those of the reservoir, such that the upper 16a and rear 16d faces thereof and the other lateral face 16e are situated inside the parallelepipedal external volume defined by the reservoir.

(21) The first compartment 14 on the whole comprises the rest of the volume of the reservoir 10 which is not occupied by the second compartment 16. In other words, the volume thereof is broken down into a substantially parallelepipedal upper portion, situated above the compartment 16, and an L-shaped portion (cf. FIG. 4) extending around this compartment 16.

(22) The outlet 24 of the second compartment is situated on the lower face 16b and the outlet 22 of the first compartment is situated on the L-shaped lower face 14b of this compartment.

(23) As is seen in particular in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the rear 16d and lateral 16e faces of the compartment 16 are at a distance from front 14c and lateral 14e faces with regard to the compartment 14, such that the compartments 14, 16 are separated from one another by a thermal insulation air peripheral space.

(24) FIGS. 5 to 8 make it possible to see the inside of the reservoir 10. The second compartment 16 has the upper face thereof which is defined by a plate 26 added in the lower shell 11b (welded, clipped, etc.). This plate 26 has a honeycomb structure and comprises a substantially planar lower face and an upper face which is covered with honeycomb cells 27. Advantageously, the lower face of the plate is inclined or truncated, as will be seen hereafter. The aim of the honeycomb structure is to thermally insulate the upper face of the compartment 16. In operation, liquid is contained in these cells and does not circulate. Therefore, it stagnates upon contact with the plate, and this makes it possible to limit the heat exchanges through the plate 26.

(25) As is seen in FIG. 5, this plate 26 comprises three holes 28, 30 and 32. The hole 28 is connected to a lower end of the duct 34 forming the inlet 20 of the second compartment 16. This duct 34 vertically passes through the first compartment 14. The lower end thereof connected to the hole 28 is vertically orientated and the upper end thereof is bent and orientated in the forward direction after having passed through the upper face 10a of the reservoir 10.

(26) Although not visible, the duct 35 which forms the inlet of the compartment 14 is similar to the duct 34 and comprises a lower end leading into the compartment 14 and an upper end bent and orientated in the forward direction after having passed through the upper face 10a of the reservoir 10.

(27) As is seen in FIG. 7a, the plate 26 can comprise on the upper face thereof a guiding bush 36 defining the hole 28 and facilitating the blind insertion of the lower end of the duct 34 when assembling the shells 11a, 11b. This bush 36 comprises, for example, an internal bore including a truncated upper portion widened in the upward direction and a cylindrical lower portion, the diameter of which is a function of the external diameter of the duct 34 in order to allow it to be fitted into the bush. This also makes it possible to provide a seal between the two compartments 14 and 16.

(28) The bush 36 can be of the type having a double coaxial cylindrical wall, the internal cylindrical wall 36a mounted around the duct 34 being movable in the radial direction by elastic deformation with respect to the external cylindrical wall 36b, in order to further facilitate the aforementioned blind mounting.

(29) The hole 30 forms a passage for fluid communication between the compartments 14, 16. It preferably has a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portion widened in the downward direction with a generally truncated shape or being hemispherical (FIG. 7).

(30) The hole 32 is connected to a lower end of a venting and expansion tube 38 which is substantially vertical and extends into the first compartment 14. The upper end of the tube 38 is situated in the first compartment 14, above the maximum level N2 for liquid of the first compartment 14 and of the reservoir in general. This level N2 is produced by a protruding mark formed on the outside of the reservoir, for example on one of the lateral faces 10e thereof (cf. FIG. 1). The reservoir 10 also comprises a minimum level N1 for liquid which is produced by another protruding mark formed on the outside of the reservoir (cf. FIG. 1).

(31) The venting tube 38 has, for example, a generally cylindrical shape. Advantageously, the internal volume of the tube 38 situated between the plate 26 and the level N2 is greater than the internal volume of the duct 34. This can be characterized by a tube 38 with a diameter greater than that of the duct 34, as in the example shown.

(32) As is seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the holes 28 and 30 are substantially aligned on a same line parallel to the lateral faces 10e, 16e of the compartment 16 or of the reservoir 10. The holes 28, 30 are situated in proximity to the merged lateral faces 10e, 16e and lead into a lateral half-portion of the compartment 16, which lateral half-portion is situated on the side of these lateral faces. This half-portion is separated from the other lateral half-portion of the compartment 16 by an internal partition 40 extending over most of the length of the compartment 16. The partition 40 is connected to the upper, lower and front ends of the compartment and is at a distance from the rear end thereof such as to leave an opening 42 for communication between the two half-portions of the compartment 16. The outlet 24 of the compartment 16 is connected to the other half-portion (cf. FIG. 6), thus creating a circulation flow from the hole 28 to the outlet 24 inside the compartment 16.

(33) The hole 32 of the venting tube 38 is situated at the opening 42 (FIGS. 5 and 7). The plate 26 can be slightly inclined such that the gases, which are lighter than the liquid, are forced to circulate as far as the venting tube. Advantageously, the lower face of the plate 26 is truncated, with the summit forming the highest point and is situated at the hole 32 for communication with the tube 38, in order to facilitate the venting of the compartment 16.

(34) The reservoir 10 further comprises a shut-off system having a shutter 44 that is able to move, and more precisely pivoting. It is situated in the compartment 16 and pivotably mounted between two positions, a first position shown in FIG. 7 in which the hole 30 or the passage for fluid communication between the compartments 14, 16 is free, i.e. open, and a second position, respectively, shown in FIG. 8 in which this hole is closed and therefore the compartments 14, 16 are isolated from one another.

(35) The shutter 44 has a generally elongated shape and has an elongation axis A. It is movably mounted around a transverse axis B, substantially perpendicular to the axis A and situated substantially midway between the longitudinal ends thereof.

(36) The shutter 44 can be formed as a single piece. The pivoting axis B can be defined by two cylindrical pins 46 extending on either side of a body 48 of the shutter 44 (FIG. 6). The pins 46 are, for example, engaged by elastic snap-fitting into recesses, of complimentary shape, of the plate 26. The plate 26 thus comprises means (not visible) for supporting and pivoting the shutter 44, in this case on the lower face thereof.

(37) At each of the longitudinal ends thereof, the body of the shutter 44 bears a block 50, 52. A first block 50 has a generally circular or cylindrical shape and is intended to engage the hole 28. In the position shown in FIG. 7, the periphery of the block bears on an internal peripheral edge of the hole 28, or a lower peripheral edge of the internal cylindrical wall 36a of the bush 36, as can be seen in FIG. 7a. This internal peripheral edge preferably comprises radial notches 54 to allow through air and/or liquid here when the reservoir is being filled.

(38) The second block 52 has a generally circular shape and has, in section, a convex rounded shape at the upper end thereof, which is intended to engage the seat, of complimentary shape, formed by the lower portion of the hole 30. In the position of FIG. 8, the periphery of the block bears on the seat of the hole 30 in order to provide a sealed contact.

(39) As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, limit stops 56 are provided in the second compartment 16 in order to engage the blocks 50, 52 of the shutter and define the travel end positions thereof. The limit stops 56 project from the lower face of the compartment, substantially in line with the holes 28, 30, respectively.

(40) In the example shown, the reservoir 10 is formed from the shells 11a, 11b forming, after assembly, a one-piece assembly, from the plate 26, from the venting tube 38 and from the shutter 44. The shutter 44 and the plate 26 can be firstly assembled, then the plate is assembled by clipping, welding, etc., in the shell 11b, the venting tube 38 is mounted on the plate 26, and the shell 11a is fixed to the shell 11b.

(41) The filling neck 12 or the plug thereof is advantageously equipped with a valve preventing an excess pressure in the reservoir 10.

(42) The operation of the reservoir 10 according to the invention is as follows:

(43) Filling Phase without Prior Evacuation (After-sales service)

(44) The two compartments are filled via the neck 12, up to the maximum level N2. Given that the engine/motor has stopped, the shutter 44, under the weight thereof, adopts the position of FIG. 7 (or possibly assisted by an elastic element, of spring type—not shown) in which it leaves the hole 30 open. By means of simple gravity, due to the fact of the block 52 thereof being overdimensioned with respect to the block 50, the block 52 bears on the limit stop 56. The communication between the two compartments 14 and 16 is therefore possible. However, the two ducts 34 and 35, extending the inlets 20 and 18, respectively, do not fill up since no venting system is provided.

(45) First Start-Up/Stop After Filling

(46) Upon first start-up, the air contained in the duct 35 will be pushed by the liquid inside the compartment 14 above the maximum level N2 of the reservoir 10. Upon stopping, the duct 35 will not empty since the end thereof is completely submerged below the minimum level N1 of the reservoir 10.

(47) Upon first start-up, the air contained in the duct 34 will be pushed by the liquid inside the compartment 16. If the liquid flow rate is sufficiently weak such as to not allow the shutter 44 to shut off the hole 30, the air expelled in this manner will move above the level N2 via the hole 30. If the liquid flow rate is strong, the shutter 44 will then be moved up to the position of FIG. 8 in which it will shut off the hole 30. The liquids exerts a force on the block 50 which will come to bear on the limit stop 56. The air expelled in this manner will move above the maximum level N2 via the tube 38, the end of which is the high point of the compartment 16. The liquid contained in this tube 38 before start-up will then be incorporated into the compartment 16. Given that the volume of the tube 38 is greater than the volume of the duct 34, the liquid level at the end of venting will be above the plate 26, making it possible to have a compartment 16 without air. During the temperature increase of the second circuit, the liquid will expand via the tube 38. If, however, the liquid were to overflow into the compartment 14, it would be reincorporated upon stopping as described hereafter. Upon stopping, the duct 34 will not empty since the end thereof is completely submerged below the minimum level N1 of the reservoir 10. The shutter 44, under the weight thereof, or assisted by an elastic element that is not shown, will tilt in order to open the hole 30 and will make communication possible between the two compartments 14, 16: the liquid having possibly overflowed via the tube 38 upon the temperature increase of the second circuit will then be reincorporated while accompanying the fall in temperature of the second circuit. Given that the compartment 16 is situated below the minimum level N1 of the reservoir 10, it will remain full of liquid without air.

(48) Subsequent Start-Up Operations

(49) With the two circuits having been purged of air upon first start-up, the compartment 14 will behave like a conventional venting reservoir and the compartment 16 will behave like an expansion capacity for the second circuit (via the tube 38 and the volume above the level N2 of the reservoir 10). The two circuits will be separated by the shutter 44 which will tilt as soon as the flow rate of the liquid of the second circuit will be sufficient.

(50) Sensitivity to the Traffic Conditions (Instance of Acceleration, Breaking and Bends)

(51) The compartment 14 is designed in a conventional manner such that the liquid permanently covers the outlet 22 regardless of the traffic conditions.

(52) The compartment 16 does not contain air and the communication between the two compartments is sealed, and the compartment is therefore unaffected by the traffic conditions even if the plate 26 were to be no longer submerged, partially or completely, on the compartment 14 side.

(53) In the example described above, the reservoir only comprises two compartments. However, it could comprise three or more thereof, each additional compartment substantially having the same features of the second compartment described above.

(54) The operation of the reservoir 10 would be similar in the case where the shutter would be replaced by another shut-off system of the linear shutter (ball, etc.) or thermostatic element (wax, shape memory wire, etc.) type and for which the shut-off would only take place during the operation of the engine/motor.

(55) FIGS. 9 to 12 show alternative embodiments of the shut-off system.

(56) In the case of FIGS. 9 to 11, the shut-off system comprises a thermostatic element. The pieces of this system or of the adjacent zone, which have been described above, are designated by the same references. This is the case of the plate 26 and of the duct 34 in particular.

(57) The shut-off system is mounted in the hole 30 and fixed in the latter by means of a crimped, clipped or welded peripheral ring 60. The shut-off system bears a fixed external body 62 containing a movable internal body 64. The fixed body comprises a peripheral ring 66 inserted between the ring 60 and the plate 26, and two clamps, upper 68 and lower 70, respectively. The movable body 64 is mounted between the clamps 68, 70 and comprises a lower cylinder 72 including an internal cavity 73 for receiving a heat-sensitive wax and a piston disc 74, the shaft 76 of which bears upon the upper clamp 68. A sealing element, of O-ring 78 type, is fixed on this lower cylinder 72. The piston is fixed with respect to the upper clamp and the body, and the cylinder 72 can move axially, from the top to the bottom, from a high position shown on the left in FIG. 11, wherein liquid can circulate through the hole 30 by passing through the clamps 68, 70, as far as a low position shown on the right in the same figure, wherein the O-ring 78 is squeezed between a peripheral rim of the cylinder 72 and the peripheral edge of the hole 30. A compression spring 80 urges the cylinder into the high position thereof, which is therefore the position by default thereof. It is therefore understood that, by default, the shut-off system is open and allows the liquid to pass between the compartments of the reservoir. In operation, once the liquid has reached an operating predetermined temperature, the wax is heated and expands, which causes the cylinder to move and the shut-off system to close. The wax is chosen according to the required closing temperature of the reservoir.

(58) In the case of FIG. 12, the shut-off system comprises a linear movement shutter, which is in the form of a ball 82. The ball 82 is configured to be moved by the flow of liquid. The ball 82 is trapped in a bent tube 84, the two ends of which are connected to the openings 28, 30, respectively. The ball can move from a low position, shown on the left in the drawing, as far as a high position, shown on the right in the drawing, and wherein the ball bears in a sealed manner on a seat, of complimentary shape, of the hole 30. The through-slots 86 of the tube 84 then allow the fluid to flow from the inlet (tube 34) toward the outlet hole 24. It is therefore understood that the low position of the ball is the default position, in the absence of liquid flow, and wherein the shut-off system is open and allows the liquid to pass between the compartments of the reservoir. In operation, once the liquid reaches the ball, it moves it as far as the high position which makes it possible to isolate the compartments from one another.