Fluid container for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid container for a motor vehicle, having a container wall that bounds a storage volume for storing liquid with respect to an environment, a heating element that is arranged in the storage volume, and a housing, wherein the housing encloses the heating element in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the supply volume.

Claims

1. A liquid container for a motor vehicle, comprising: a container wall, which delimits with respect to surroundings a storage volume for storing liquid; a heating element, which is arranged in the storage volume; a housing, wherein the housing encloses the heating element in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the storage volume; a cable leadthrough, wherein at least one cable for the supply of energy to the heating element is led from the heating element into the surroundings of the liquid container; wherein the cable leadthrough has a first passage opening, which is formed on the housing, and has a second passage opening, which is formed on the container wall; and wherein, in the region of the cable leadthrough, the housing and the container wall are connected in a liquid-tight manner.

2. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a profile extending in the direction of the heating element is integrally formed on the container wall; the profile delimits the second passage opening; and the profile, at an end side, is welded in a liquid-tight manner, or is locked with detent action in a liquid-tight manner, to the housing.

3. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the region of the first passage opening, the housing is sealed off with respect to the surroundings.

4. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plug-in connector provided at one cable end of the cable is able to be led through the second passage opening.

5. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing and the container wall are welded to one another by a welding ring.

6. The liquid container as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the housing has a housing collar which delimits the first passage opening and extends in the direction of the surroundings in a manner facing away from the heating element and at least sectionally, extends within the second passage opening, wherein the housing collar is welded to the container wall by the welding ring.

7. The liquid container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the container wall has a wall collar which delimits the second passage opening and extends in the direction of the surroundings in a manner facing away from the heating element, wherein the wall collar is welded to the housing by the welding ring.

8. A liquid container for a motor vehicle, comprising: a container wall, which delimits with respect to surroundings a storage volume for storing liquid; a heating element, which is arranged in the storage volume; a housing, wherein the housing encloses the heating element in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the storage volume; at least one cable for the supply of energy to the heating element is led from the heating element to a plug-in connector; the plug-in connector has a connection region which is arranged outside the storage volume and which faces surroundings of the liquid container; and the plug-in connector is, in the region of a passage opening of the container wall, connected in a liquid-tight manner to the container wall and closes off the passage opening in the manner of a plug.

9. The liquid container as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the plug-in connector has a peripheral collar, which is arranged within the storage volume and is connected in a materially bonded and liquid-tight manner to a collar, facing the storage volume, of the container wall; and/or the plug-in connector is, at least sectionally, seated in the passage opening of the container wall.

10. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a plurality of support elements extend from the container wall in the direction of the heating element; and the housing bears on the support elements, and/or is connected to the support elements, such that the heating element is at a distance from the wall.

11. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the heating element is a plate-type heating means; and/or the heating element is a PTC heating element; and/or the heating element is a PTC heating polymer; and/or the heating element is, at least sectionally, at a distance from the container wall, which delimits the storage volume; and/or the heating element spans at least 20% of the surface of a container base of the container wall; and/or the heating element and the housing have passage openings, and/or cutouts, in which shaped elements or functional units of the liquid container are arranged.

12. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the heating element is cast in the housing; and/or the housing comprises HDPE and/or PP; and/or the housing is formed in one piece; and/or a wall thickness of the housing is 0.5 mm to 3 mm.

13. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a sleeve which faces away from the storage volume is, as transport protection and/or an assembly aid for cables, plug-in connectors, or contacts, fastened to the housing; and/or a sleeve which faces away from the storage volume is, as part of the housing, connected in a liquid-tight manner to the container wall, in particular that an end section, facing away from the heating element, of the sleeve is welded, and/or adhesively bonded, in a liquid-tight manner to the container wall.

14. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein provision is made on the container wall of at least one rib, which forms a stop for the positioning of the housing within the storage volume.

15. The liquid container as claimed in claim 14, wherein two or more ribs are assigned to sides of the housing that face away from one another, and border the housing at least on two sides, wherein the ribs bear in particular against the sides of the housing that face away from one another.

16. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein provision is made on the container wall of at least one holding-down means, which forms a stop for the positioning of the housing within the storage volume.

17. The liquid container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element has two or more bar-like segments which are arranged with an angular offset in a fan-like manner and/or are arranged in a row in a chain-like manner.

18. The liquid container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bar-like elements have electromechanical connection means which act in a form- and/or force-fitting manner in order for the bar-like segments to be connected to one another and electrically contacted with one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of a drawing, which illustrates exemplary embodiments. In the drawing, in each case schematically:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a liquid container according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a heating element;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a housing shell;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the housing shell from FIG. 3 with the heating element from FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the housing shell from FIG. 3 with the heating element from FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a housing with a sleeve;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a half-shell of a further liquid container according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a cross section along VIII-VIII from FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a further liquid container according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a further liquid container according to the invention;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a further liquid container according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a segment of a heating element;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a heating element made up of segments;

(15) FIG. 14 shows a further heating element made up of segments; and

(16) FIG. 15 shows a further segment of a heating element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(17) FIG. 1 shows a liquid container 2 for a motor vehicle in a cross section. The liquid container 2 has a top shell 4 and a bottom shell 6. The top shell 4 and the bottom shell 6 are welded to one another. In the present case, the top shell 4 and the bottom shell 6 consist of plastic.

(18) The top shell 4 and the bottom shell 6 form a container wall 8, which delimits with respect to surroundings U a storage volume 10 for storing liquid.

(19) It goes without saying that the liquid container 2 has the usual inlets and outlets (not illustrated here) for liquid extraction, for filling and/or for deaeration of the container.

(20) The liquid container 2 has a heating element 12, which is arranged in the storage volume 10. The liquid container 2 has a housing 14, which is likewise arranged in the storage volume 10, wherein the housing 14 encloses the heating element 12 in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the storage volume 10.

(21) The liquid container 2 has a cable leadthrough 16, wherein at least one cable 18 for the supply of energy to the heating element 12 is led from the heating element 12 into the surroundings U of the liquid container 2. The cable leadthrough 16 has a first passage opening 20, which is formed on the housing 14. The cable leadthrough 16 has a second passage opening 22, which is formed on the wall 8 of the bottom shell 6. In the region of the cable leadthrough 16, the housing 14 and the wall 8 are connected in a liquid-tight manner, welded to one another in the present case.

(22) A profile 24 extending in the direction of the heating element 12 is thus integrally formed on the container wall 8, wherein the profile 24 delimits the second passage opening 22, and wherein the profile, at an end side, is welded in a liquid-tight manner to the housing 14. A peripheral weld connection 26 is formed between the housing 14 and the profile 24. As a result of the weld connection 26, the storage volume 10 is delimited in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the surroundings U in the region of the cable leadthrough 16.

(23) The housing 14 is furthermore sealed off with respect to the surroundings U in the region of the first passage opening 20, so as to protect the heating element 12 from environmental influences. For this purpose, the heating element 12 has, together with the cable 18, been cast in the housing 14.

(24) A plug-in connector 28 provided at one cable end of the cable 18 is able to be led through the second passage opening 22. It is thus possible for the heating element 12 to be cast with the cable in the housing 14 and, prior to the fitting of the top shell 4, placed into the bottom shell 6, wherein the plug-in connector 28 is led through the second passage opening 22.

(25) The heating element 12 is designed as a plate-type heating means 12 in the present case and consists of a PTC heating polymer. The heating element 12 is at a distance a from the container wall 8, which delimits the storage volume 10. The distance a is greater than twice the wall thickness b of the heating element 12 designed as a plate-type heating means. The heating element 12 spans more than 30% of the surface of a container base 30 of the container wall 8.

(26) According to the variant in FIG. 1, the housing 14 is formed in one piece and, apart from the region of the first passage opening 20, fully encloses the heating element 12.

(27) The liquid container 2 further has a plurality of support elements 32, which extend from the container wall 8 in the direction of the heating element 12. The housing 14 bears on the support elements 32 and is connected in a materially bonded manner to the support elements 32. The support elements 32 define the distance a.

(28) The housing 14 consists of a plastic in the present case and is welded in a homogeneous manner to the container wall 8. The wall thickness c of the housing is 2 mm in the present case. (Wall thickness c)

(29) FIG. 2 shows a further heating element 34 for a liquid container according to the invention. The heating element 34 is connected to a plug-in connector 40 via cables 36, 38. The heating element 34 has cutouts 42, which leave space free within a storage volume for functional units or for structures projecting into the storage volume, such as baffle walls or the like.

(30) FIG. 3 shows a bottom shell 44 of a housing 46 that is configured to receive the heating element 34 together with cables 36, 38 and a plug-in connector 40. The bottom shell 44 has a first passage opening 48 for leading through the plug-in connector 40 and the cables 36, 38. A shaped element 50 (FIG. 2) formed between the plug-in connector 40 and the heating element 34 is configured to be received in a peripheral collar 52 of the passage opening 48 and to be connected in a liquid-tight manner to the collar 52.

(31) FIG. 4 shows the heating element 34, which is received in the bottom shell 44. It goes without saying that the bottom shell 44 can be provided independently of and separately from the heating element 34, or else can be formed by encapsulation of the heating element 34.

(32) FIG. 5 shows the bottom shell 44 with the heating element 34 in a perspective view from below.

(33) FIG. 6 shows the heating element 34 which is then fully received in the housing 46, wherein a top shell 52 has then been added to the bottom shell 44 such that the heating element 34 is fully enclosed by the housing 46. In the present case, the plug-in connector 40 and the cables 36, 38 are enclosed by a sleeve 54, so as to protect the plug-in connector 40 and the cables 36, 38 from damage during the fitting of or the welding to a half-shell of a liquid container. The sleeve 54 may remain on the housing 46 as transportation protection until the final fitting in a motor vehicle.

(34) According to alternative embodiments of the invention, the sleeve 54 may remain on the housing 46 as a constituent part of the housing 46 and, with a sleeve end facing away from the heating element, be welded in a liquid-tight manner to a bottom shell 6 (cf. FIG. 1).

(35) With the aid of the peripheral collar 56, the housing 46 can be welded to a profile of a second passage opening of a half-shell of a liquid container, as is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1.

(36) FIG. 7 shows a lower half-shell 60 of a further liquid container according to the invention, which has a container wall 64, which delimits with respect to surroundings U a storage volume 66 for storing liquid, a heating element 68, which is arranged in the storage volume 66, and a housing 70, wherein the housing 70 encloses the heating element 68 in a liquid-tight manner with respect to the storage volume 66.

(37) For the supply of energy to the heating element 68, cables 72, 74 are led from the heating element 68 to a plug-in connector 76. The plug-in connector has a connection region 78 which is arranged outside the storage volume 66 and which faces surroundings U of the liquid container. The plug-in connector 76 is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the container wall 64 in the region of a passage opening 80 of the container wall 64. The plug-in connector 76 closes off the passage opening 80 in the manner of a plug.

(38) FIG. 8 shows a cross section with the passage opening 80, the plug-in connector 76, the cables 72, 74 and a detail of the wall 64. The plug-in connector 76 has a peripheral collar 82, which is arranged within the storage volume 66 and is welded in a liquid-tight manner to a collar 84, facing the storage volume, of the container wall. The plug-in connector 76 is accordingly seated in the passage opening 80 of the container wall 64 in the present case.

(39) FIG. 9 shows a further liquid container 86 for a motor vehicle in a cross section. The liquid container 86 differs from the above-described exemplary embodiments in that a housing 88 and a container wall 90 are welded to one another by means of a welding ring 92.

(40) The housing 88 has a housing collar 94, which delimits the first passage opening 20 and extends in the direction of the surroundings U in a manner facing away from the heating element 12 and, at least sectionally, extends within the second passage opening 22, wherein the housing collar 94 is welded to the container wall 90 by means of the welding ring 92.

(41) The container wall 90 has a wall collar 96, which delimits the second passage opening 22 and extends in the direction of the surroundings U in a manner facing away from the heating element 12, wherein the wall collar 96 is welded to the housing 90, to the housing collar 94 in the present case, by means of the welding ring 92.

(42) FIG. 10 shows a further liquid container 98 for a motor vehicle in a cross section. The liquid container 98 differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in that the container wall 90 does not have a wall collar. In the present case, the welding ring 92 directly connects an outer side 100, facing away from the storage volume, of the container wall 90 to an end side 102, arranged at the height of the outer side 100, of the housing collar 94. The liquid containers 86, 98 have ribs 104, which are provided on the container wall 90 and form a lateral stop for the positioning of the housing 88 within the storage volume 10. The ribs 104 fix the horizontal position of the housing 88 relative to the container wall 90.

(43) The ribs 104 are assigned to sides of the housing 88 that face away from one another, and border the housing 88 on two sides, with the ribs 104 bearing against the sides of the housing 88 that face away from one another. It goes without saying that the container wall 90 may have further ribs 104, which, as seen in a direction perpendicular to the present cross section, fix the housing 88 horizontally with respect to the container wall 90.

(44) A liquid container 106 shown in FIG. 11 has detent projections 108, which are formed on the ribs 104 and allow snap-action or clip-type connections and engage around the housing 88 in the manner of barbs. This makes it possible to avoid lifting-off of the housing 88 from the container wall 90.

(45) Lifting-off of the housing 88 from the container wall 90 is furthermore avoided in that provision is made on the container wall 90 of holding-down means 110, which each form a stop for the positioning of the housing 88 within the storage volume 10.

(46) As an alternative to the above-described planar plate-type heating elements, a liquid container may have a heating element 112 which has two or more bar-like segments 114 which are arranged with an angular offset in a fan-like manner and/or are arranged in a row in a chain-like manner (FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14).

(47) The segments 114 have one or two connection or coupling regions 118, which serve for the electromechanical connection between them and possibly for the connection of a plug-in connector 28. The coupling region 118 may be concealed by a closure cap 120 so as to protect the coupling region from liquid contact. The bar-like segments 114 accordingly have electromechanical connection means 121 which act in a form- and/or force-fitting manner, such as a detent connection, a snap-action connection, a press-stud connection or the like, in order for the bar-like segments 114 to be connected to one another and electrically contacted with one another. The segments 114 may furthermore have a welding collar 122 in order to be welded to one another or to a container wall.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(48) 2 Liquid container 4 Top shell 6 Bottom shell 10 Storage volume 12 Heating element 14 Housing 16 Cable leadthrough 18 Cable 20 First passage opening 22 Second passage opening 24 Profile 26 Weld connection 28 Plug-in connector 30 Base 32 Support elements 34 Heating element 36 Cable 38 Cable 40 Plug-in connector 42 Cutouts 44 Bottom shell 46 Housing 48 First passage opening 50 Shaped element 52 Peripheral collar 54 Sleeve 56 Peripheral collar 60 Lower half-shell 62 Top shell 64 Container wall 66 Storage volume 68 Heating element 70 Housing 72 Cable 74 Cable 76 Plug-in connector 78 Connection region 80 Passage opening 82 Collar 84 Collar 86 Liquid container 88 Housing 90 Container wall 92 Welding ring 94 Housing collar 96 Wall collar 98 Liquid container 100 Outer side 102 End side 104 Ribs 106 Liquid container 108 Detent projections 110 Holding-down means 112 Heating element 114 Segments 118 Connection/coupling region 120 Closure cap 121 Electromechanical connection means 122 Welding collar a Distance b Wall thickness c Wall thickness U Surroundings