MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A WATER PROVISION UNIT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A motor vehicle including a water provision unit for providing water to at least one water consumer. Here, a water collection tank, a primary water tank and at least one secondary water tank are provided. The water collection tank is or can be fluidically connected to a water source and the primary water tank, bypassing the water collection tank and the secondary water tank, is fluidically connected to the at least one water consumer. The water collection tank is fluidically connected both directly and indirectly via the at least one secondary water tank to the primary water tank, and the water provision unit includes a water conveying unit which is provided and designed for conveying the water out of the water collection tank in direction of the primary water tank by a gaseous conveying medium.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A motor vehicle, comprising: a water provision unit for providing water to at least one water consumer, a water collection tank, a primary water tank and at least one secondary water tank, wherein the water collection tank is fluidically connected to a water source and the primary water tank, bypassing the water collection tank and the secondary water tank, is fluidically connected to the at least one water consumer, wherein the water collection tank is fluidically connected both directly and indirectly via the at least one secondary water tank to the primary water tank, and wherein the water provision unit comprises a water conveying unit which is provided and designed for conveying the water out of the water collection tank in direction of the primary water tank by gaseous conveying medium.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the primary water tank is fluidically connected to the at least one water consumer via an extraction line which has a larger line cross section than a connection line via which the at least one secondary water tank is fluidically connected to the water collection tank and/or than a supply line via which the primary water tank is fluidically connected to the at least one secondary water tank.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the primary water tank is fluidically connected via a working water tank to the at least one water consumer.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the extraction line leads into the working water tank and the working water tank is fluidically connected to the primary water tank via a feed line which has a smaller line cross section than the extraction line.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the primary water tank and/or the working water tank in each case comprise a heating unit and/or in that the water collection tank and/or the at least one secondary water tank are in each case designed without heating.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein in the connection line, at least one of the following units is present: filter, ion exchanger, performance sensor and flushing pump.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the direct connection of the water collection tank to the primary water tank is present via a bypass line, which leads, on the one hand, into the primary water tank and, on the other hand, into the water collection tank or the connection line.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein an under-pressure pump is fluidically connected to the primary water tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium out of the primary water tank and/or in that an overpressure provision unit is fluidically connected to the water collection tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium in direction of the primary water tank.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the water consumer is a water injection of a drive unit of the motor vehicle or a windshield cleaning unit of the motor vehicle.

20. A method for operating a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a water provision unit for providing water to at least one water consumer, characterized by a water collection tank, a primary water tank and at least one secondary water tank, wherein the water collection tank is or can be fluidically connected to a water source and the primary water tank, bypassing the water collection tank and the secondary water tank, is fluidically connected to the at least one water consumer, wherein the water collection tank is fluidically connected both directly and indirectly via the at least one secondary water tank to the primary water tank, and wherein the water provision unit comprises a water conveying unit which at least from time to time conveys water out of the water collection tank in direction of the primary water tank by a gaseous conveying medium.

21. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the primary water tank is fluidically connected via a working water tank to the at least one water consumer.

22. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the extraction line leads into the working water tank and the working water tank is fluidically connected to the primary water tank via a feed line which has a smaller line cross section than the extraction line.

23. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the primary water tank and/or the working water tank in each case comprise a heating unit and/or in that the water collection tank and/or the at least one secondary water tank are in each case designed without heating.

24. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the direct connection of the water collection tank to the primary water tank is present via a bypass line, which leads, on the one hand, into the primary water tank and, on the other hand, into the water collection tank or the connection line.

25. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein an under-pressure pump is fluidically connected to the primary water tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium out of the primary water tank and/or in that an overpressure provision unit is fluidically connected to the water collection tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium in direction of the primary water tank.

26. The motor vehicle according to claim 13, wherein an under-pressure pump is fluidically connected to the primary water tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium out of the primary water tank and/or in that an overpressure provision unit is fluidically connected to the water collection tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium in direction of the primary water tank.

27. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein an under-pressure pump is fluidically connected to the primary water tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium out of the primary water tank and/or in that an overpressure provision unit is fluidically connected to the water collection tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium in direction of the primary water tank.

28. The motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein an under-pressure pump is fluidically connected to the primary water tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium out of the primary water tank and/or in that an overpressure provision unit is fluidically connected to the water collection tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium in direction of the primary water tank.

29. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein an under-pressure pump is fluidically connected to the primary water tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium out of the primary water tank and/or in that an overpressure provision unit is fluidically connected to the water collection tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium in direction of the primary water tank.

30. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein an under-pressure pump is fluidically connected to the primary water tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium out of the primary water tank and/or in that an overpressure provision unit is fluidically connected to the water collection tank for conveying the gaseous conveying medium in direction of the primary water tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0054] Below, the invention is explained in further detail in reference to the embodiment examples shown in the drawing, without limiting the invention. The drawing shows:

[0055] FIG. 1 a diagrammatic representation of a portion of a motor vehicle, which has a water provision unit in a first embodiment, and

[0056] FIG. 2 a diagrammatic representation of the motor vehicle, wherein the water provision unit is present in a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a region of a motor vehicle 1, namely a water provision unit 2 and a water consumer 3 of the motor vehicle. The water consumer 3 is present, for example, as cleaning unit or as water injection of a drive device of the motor vehicle 1. The water provision unit 2 is used for the provision of water to the water consumer 3. For this purpose, the water provision unit 2 comprises a water collection tank 4, a primary water tank 5 as well as at least one secondary water tank 6, in the embodiment example represented here, secondary water tanks 6, 7, 8. In addition, the embodiment example of the water provision unit 2 shown comprises a working water tank 9.

[0058] The water collection tank 4 is fluidically connected to the secondary water tank 6 via a connection line 10. In the connection line 10, in the example shown, a flushing pump 11 with a parallel connected check valve 12, a filter 13, an ion exchanger 14 and a performance sensor 15 are arranged. The secondary water tanks 6, 7 and 8 are fluidically connected to one another and to the primary water tank 5 in each case via a supply line 16. For example, the supply line 16 located farthest downstream, which starts from the secondary water tank 8, leads into a bypass line 17. The bypass line 17 branches from the connection line 10 and, on its side facing away from the connection line 10, leads into the primary water tank 5. A fluidic connection of the working water tank 9 to the primary water tank 5 is established via a feed line 18.

[0059] Moreover, the working water tank 9 is fluidically connected via an extraction line 19 to the water consumer 3. In the extraction line 19, a conveying pump 20 is arranged, which is provided and designed for extracting water from the working water tank 9 and for supplying the extracted water to the water consumer 3. It can be provided that the extraction line 19 and the feed line 18 have the same line cross section. In addition, it can be provided that the connection line 10 also has the same line cross section as the extraction line 19 and the feed line 18. The supply lines 16, on the other hand, are designed with a smaller line cross section, as is preferably the bypass line 17. However, it can be provided that the bypass line 17 between an inlet site of the supply line 16 into the bypass line 17 and the primary water tank 5, has a larger throughflow cross section, in particular the same throughflow cross section as the connection line 10.

[0060] With such a design, it is possible, in particular, to supply water through the connection line 10 both to the bypass line 17 and to the supply lines 16, so that, via the bypass line 17 and the supply lines 16, water is or can be conveyed in parallel from the water collection tank 4 into the primary water tank 5. Into the bypass line 17, a switching valve 21 is arranged, by means of which the bypass line 17 can be opened or interrupted as desired. Moreover, fluidically connected to the primary water tank 5 and to the working water tank 9 are venting valves 22 by means of which the respective tank can be vented. The additional tanks can also optionally comprise in each case such a venting valve 22. The venting valves 22 are preferably present as electric or electromagnetic switching valves.

[0061] The water provision unit 2 moreover has a water conveying unit 23 which here has an overpressure provision unit 24 with an overpressure pump 25 and with a pressure tank 26. The pressure tank 26 is fluidically connected via overpressure lines 27 in each case to the water collection tank 4, to the secondary water tank 6 and to the primary water tank 5, namely in each case directly connected. An overpressure switching valve 28 is present in each of the overpressure lines 27. By means of the water conveying unit 23, the water present in the water provision unit 2 can be conveyed by means of a gaseous conveyor medium from the water collection tank 4 in direction of the additional tanks. It can be provided that the water collection tank 4 has a connection nozzle 29 which is provided and designed for connecting an external water source to the water collection tank 4. The connection nozzle 29 comprises, for example, a connection for a conventional household hose coupling.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of the vehicle 1, wherein the water provision unit 2 is present in a second embodiment. The second embodiment corresponds at least partially to the first embodiment, so that reference is made to the above explanations and only differences will be addressed below. These differences consist in that the water conveying unit 23, instead of the overpressure provision unit 24, comprises an underpressure pump 30 which is fluidically connected directly to the working water tank 9. By means of the underpressure pump 30, the gaseous conveying medium can be suctioned from the working tank 9, so that a conveying effect on the fluid present in the water provision unit 2 results. The conveying effect of the underpressure pump 30 is assisted by means of a check valve 31 which is present in the feed line 18 and which opens in direction of the working water tank 9.

[0063] An additional difference is that an overpressure valve 32 is in each case associated with the secondary water tanks 6, 7 and 8, valve which is present essentially as check valve and which opens in direction of an outside environment of the water provision unit 2. Via the overpressure valves 32, overpressure from the secondary water tanks 6, 7 and 8 can be relieved. In addition, it is provided that the supply lines 16 not only connect the secondary water tanks 6, 7 and 8 to one another and to the primary water tank 5 but, in addition, they lead into the bypass line 17 in each case. Thereby, a targeted supply of water to each of the water tanks 6, 7 and 8 is possible.

[0064] In addition to the already mentioned lines, the water provision unit 2 in the second embodiment has a filling line 33 in which a switching valve 34 is preferably present. The filling line 33 connects the working water tank 9 to the connection line 10, namely downstream of the flushing pump 11. Via the filling line 33, by means of the flushing pump 11, a rapid direct filling of the working water tank 9 from the water collection tank 4 can be carried out.

[0065] The described design of the motor vehicle 1 and of the water provision unit 2 in the two different embodiments enables a reliable provision of water to the water consumer 3 with simultaneously exceedingly low space requirement.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0066] 1 Motor vehicle [0067] 2 Water provision unit [0068] 3 Water consumer [0069] 4 Water collection tank [0070] 5 Primary water tank [0071] 6 Secondary water tank [0072] 7 Secondary water tank [0073] 8 Secondary water tank [0074] 9 Working water tank [0075] 10 Connection line [0076] 11 Flushing pump [0077] 12 Check valve [0078] 13 Filter [0079] 14 Ion exchanger [0080] 15 Performance sensor [0081] 16 Supply line [0082] 17 Bypass line [0083] 18 Feed line [0084] 19 Extraction line [0085] 20 Conveying pump [0086] 21 Switching valve [0087] 22 Venting valve [0088] 23 Water conveying unit [0089] 24 Overpressure provision unit [0090] 25 Overpressure pump [0091] 26 Pressure tank [0092] 27 Overpressure line [0093] 28 Overpressure switching valve [0094] 29 Connection nozzle [0095] 30 Underpressure pump [0096] 31 Check valve [0097] 32 Overpressure valve [0098] 33 Filling line [0099] 34 Switching valve