Liquid System and Motor Vehicle Comprising such a Liquid System

Abstract

A liquid system for a motor vehicle has at least one supply line which can be supplied with a liquid, and at least one functional unit which can be arranged on a movable component of the motor vehicle and is connected in a communicating manner to the supply line. The supply line has at least one immovable line portion which can be arranged on an immovable component of the motor vehicle and at least one movable line portion which can be arranged on the movable component and is connected to the functional unit. In order to ensure a leakage-proof supply of the functional unit with the liquid, the supply line has at least one rotary coupling via which the immovable line portion is connected in a communicating manner to the movable line portion.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A liquid system for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one supply line which is capable of being supplied with a liquid; at least one functional unit which is arrangeable on a movable component of the motor vehicle and which has a communicating connection to the supply line, wherein the supply line has at least one immovable line portion, which is arrangeable on an immovable component of the motor vehicle, and at least one movable line portion, which is arrangeable on the movable component and which is connected to the functional unit, and the supply line has at least one rotary coupling by which the immovable line portion has a communicating connection to the movable line portion.

15. The liquid system according to claim 14, wherein the rotary coupling has an immovable coupling part, which is connected to the immovable line portion, and a movable coupling part, which is connected to the movable line portion, the two coupling parts are connected to one another rotatably about an axis of rotation, and the axis of rotation is identical to a pivot axis of a hinge by which the movable component is arranged pivotably on the immovable component.

16. The liquid system according to claim 15, wherein the two coupling parts are designed such that, in an unconnected state, each is closed in liquid-tight fashion and, when transferred into a state in which they are connected to one another, the two coupling parts are opened so as to conduct liquid.

17. The liquid system according to claim 15, wherein each coupling part is in the form of an angled pipe.

18. The liquid system according to claim 14, wherein the immovable line portion and/or the movable line portion are of flexible or rigid form.

19. The liquid system according to claim 14, further comprising: at least one return line which has a communicating connection to the functional unit, wherein the return line has at least one immovable line portion, which is arrangeable on the immovable component, at least one movable line portion, which is arrangeable on the movable component, and at least one rotary coupling, by which the immovable line portion of the return line has a communicating connection to the movable line portion of the return line.

20. The liquid system according to claim 19, wherein the supply line, the functional unit and the return line form a liquid circuit which has at least one pump for circulating the liquid in the liquid circuit and at least one set of control electronics for controlling the pump.

21. The liquid system according to claim 14, wherein the functional unit has at least one heat exchanger which is capable of being supplied with the liquid.

22. The liquid system according to claim 14, wherein the liquid has an antifreeze agent.

23. A motor vehicle, comprising: at least one immovable component of a body of the motor vehicle, at least one movable component which is connected to the immovable component pivotably about a pivot axis; and at least one liquid system according to claim 14.

24. The motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the movable component is a vehicle side door or is a front or rear flap.

25. The motor vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the functional unit has a thermally conductive connection to a door paneling.

26. The motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the at least one rotary coupling is integrated into a hinge by which the movable component is connected pivotably to the immovable component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0032] In the figures, identical or functionally identical components are denoted by the same reference designations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention.

[0034] The motor vehicle 1 has an immovable component 2 of a body 3 of the motor vehicle 1. The immovable component 2 has a sill 4 and a B pillar 5.

[0035] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 has a movable component 7 which is connected to the immovable component 2 pivotably about a pivot axis 6 and which is in the form of a vehicle side door and of which FIG. 1 shows only hinge parts 8 of hinges 9 by means of which the movable component 7 is connected pivotably to the immovable component 2.

[0036] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 comprises a liquid system 10. The liquid system 10 has a supply line 11 which is capable of being supplied with a liquid and has a functional unit (not shown) which is arranged on the movable component 7 of the motor vehicle 1 and which has a communicating connection to the supply line 11. The functional unit may have at least one heat exchanger (not shown) which is capable of being supplied with the liquid and which has a thermally conductive connection to a door paneling (not shown) of the movable component 7. The liquid may have an antifreeze agent.

[0037] The supply line 11 has an immovable line portion 12, which is arranged on the immovable component 2, and a movable line portion 13, which is arranged on the movable component 7 and which is connected to the functional unit. Furthermore, the supply line 11 has a rotary coupling 14 by means of which the immovable line portion 12 has a communicating connection to the movable line portion 13. At least one line portion 12 and/or 13 may be of flexible or rigid form.

[0038] The rotary coupling 14 has an immovable coupling part 15, which is connected to the immovable line portion 12, and a movable coupling part 16, which is connected to the movable line portion 13. The two coupling parts 15 and 16 are connected to one another rotatably about an axis of rotation which is identical to the pivot axis 6 of the hinge 9. The coupling parts 15 and 16 may be designed such that, in a state in which they are not connected to one another, they are each closed in liquid-tight fashion and, when transferred into a state in which they are connected to one another, they are opened so as to conduct liquid. Each coupling part 15 and 16 is in the form of a 90-angled pipe.

[0039] The liquid system 10 furthermore has a return line 17 which has a communicating connection to the functional unit. The return line 17 has an immovable line portion 18, which is arranged on the immovable component 2, a movable line portion 19, which is arranged on the movable component 7, and a rotary coupling 20, by means of which the immovable line portion 18 of the return line 17 has a communicating connection to the movable line portion 19 of the return line 17. The return line 17 is constructed correspondingly to the supply line 11, for which reason, in order to avoid repetitions, reference is made to the above description relating to the supply line 11.

[0040] The supply line 11, the functional unit and the return line 17 may form a liquid circuit which has at least one pump (not shown) for circulating the liquid in the liquid circuit and at least one set of control electronics (not shown) for controlling the pump.

[0041] The supply line 11 and the return line 17 are led through a common opening 35 on the B pillar 5 and run so as to be in contact with one another. Alternatively, the supply line 11 and the return line 17 may be arranged separately from one another.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 1. The liquid system 21 of the motor vehicle 1 differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the immovable line portions 11 and 17 are arranged separately from one another, in that the rotary couplings 14 and 20 are arranged in an identical manner, and in that the coupling part 15 of the respective rotary coupling 14 or 20 is produced monolithically with the respective immovable line portion 12 or 18. Owing to the identical arrangement of the rotary couplings 14 and 20, two possible joining directions are realized, which are indicated by the arrows 22 and 23. In order to avoid repetition, reference is otherwise made to the above description relating to FIG. 1.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. The liquid system 24 of the motor vehicle 1 differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in that the rotary coupling 25 is integrated into a hinge 26 by means of which the movable component 7 is pivotably connected to the immovable component (not shown).

[0044] The hinge 26 has a male hinge element 27 which forms one coupling part of the rotary coupling 25 and which is in the form of a 90-angled pipe and which is connected to the immovable line portion (not shown) of the supply line 11 or of the return line 17. The hinge element 27 may be fastened by means of a base plate 28 connected thereto to the immovable component. An angled liquid channel 29 runs through the hinge element 27.

[0045] The hinge 26 furthermore has a female hinge element 30 which forms the other coupling part of the rotary coupling 25 and which is in the form of a 90-angled pipe and which is connected to the movable line portion (not shown) of the supply line 11 or of the return line 17. The hinge element 30 is fastened by means of a base plate 31 connected thereto to the movable component 7. An angled liquid channel 32 runs through the hinge element 30, which liquid channel has a communicating connection to the liquid channel 29 of the hinge element 27. The hinge elements 27 and 30 are sealed off with respect to one another by means of two seal rings 33 and 34.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0046] 1 Motor vehicle [0047] 2 Immovable component [0048] 3 Body [0049] 4 Sill [0050] 5 B pillar [0051] 6 Pivot axis [0052] 7 Movable component [0053] 8 Hinge part [0054] 9 Hinge [0055] 10 Liquid system [0056] 11 Supply line [0057] 12 Immovable line portion of 11 [0058] 13 Movable line portion of 11 [0059] 14 Rotary coupling of 11 [0060] 15 Coupling part [0061] 16 Coupling part [0062] 17 Return line [0063] 18 Immovable line portion of 17 [0064] 19 Movable line portion of 17 [0065] 20 Rotary coupling of 17 [0066] 21 Liquid system [0067] 22 Arrow (joining direction) [0068] 23 Arrow (joining direction) [0069] 24 Liquid system [0070] 25 Rotary coupling [0071] 26 Hinge [0072] 27 Hinge element [0073] 28 Base plate [0074] 29 Liquid channel of 27 [0075] 30 Hinge element [0076] 31 Base plate [0077] 32 Liquid channel of 30 [0078] 33 Seal ring [0079] 34 Seal ring [0080] 35 Opening on 5