TEMPERATURE-CONTROL DEVICE FOR COMPONENTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature-control device for controlling the temperature of a component part, in particular a wheel rim. The temperature-control device has a housing, in which an at least partly closed temperature chamber is formed, wherein the component part can be arranged in the temperature chamber. The temperature-control device further has a nozzle matrix having a plurality of nozzles, wherein a tempering medium can be flowed through the nozzles on the component part. The temperature-control device further has a control unit, which is coupled to the nozzle matrix. The control unit is configured to control a first group of nozzles of the nozzles and a second group of nozzles independent from each other, such that the first group of nozzles flows a first tempering medium having a first temperature-control characteristic and the second group of nozzles flows a second tempering medium having a second temperature-control characteristics on the component part.

Claims

1. Temperature-control device for controlling the temperature of a component part, in particular a wheel rim, the temperature-control device having: a housing, in which an at least partly closed temperature chamber is formed, wherein the component part is arrangeable in the temperature chamber, a nozzle matrix having a plurality of nozzles, wherein a tempering medium can be streamed through the nozzles on the component part, a control unit, which is coupled to the nozzle matrix, wherein the control unit is configured to control a first group of nozzles having at least one of the nozzles and a second group of nozzles having at least one of the nozzles independently from each other, such that the first group of nozzles flows a first tempering medium having a first temperature-control characteristics and the second group of nozzles flows a second tempering medium having a second temperature-control characteristics on the component part.

2. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a first wall and a second wall, which is in particular opposite to the first wall, and wherein the first wall and the second wall form the temperature chamber at least partially.

3. Temperature-control device according to claim 2, wherein the first group of nozzles is formed at the first wall, and the second group of nozzles is formed at the second wall.

4. Temperature-control device according to claim 2, wherein the first group of nozzles and the second group of nozzles are formed at the first wall.

5. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a ceiling and a bottom, which is in particular arranged opposite to the ceiling, wherein the ceiling and the bottom form the temperature chamber at least partly, wherein the first group of nozzles is formed at the ceiling and the second group of nozzles is formed at the ceiling or at the bottom.

6. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a door element, which forms the temperature chamber at least partly, wherein the door element selectively opens and closes the temperature chamber, so as to convey the component part into the temperature chamber or out of the temperature chamber, wherein the first group of nozzles and/or the second group of nozzles is formed at the door element.

7. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, further having a further nozzle matrix having further nozzles, wherein a further tempering medium is flowable through the nozzles on the component part, wherein the control unit is coupled to the further nozzle matrix and is configured to control a further first group of nozzles of the further nozzles and a further second group of nozzles of the further nozzles independently from each other, such that the further first group of nozzles flows a further first tempering medium having a further first temperature-control characteristics and the further second group of nozzles flows a further second tempering medium having a further second temperature-control characteristics on the component part.

8. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, wherein the first tempering medium differs from the second tempering medium, or wherein the first tempering medium and the second tempering medium are the same.

9. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, wherein the first tempering medium is a gaseous medium, in particular air or inert gas, and wherein the second tempering medium is a liquid medium, in particular water.

10. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, further having a further housing, which surrounds the housing, wherein a flow channel is formed between the housing and the further housing, wherein at least one fluid conduit traverses the flow channel and is coupled to the nozzles of the nozzle matrix, so as to supply the nozzles with the first tempering medium and/or the second tempering medium, wherein a third tempering medium for controlling the temperature of the fluid conduit is flowable through the flow channel.

11. Temperature-control device according to claim 10, wherein the housing has a fluid outlet, in particular having further nozzles, which forms a fluid communication between the flow channel and the temperature chamber, such that the third tempering medium is effusable into the temperature chamber.

12. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, further having a conveying device, which is formed to convey the component part within the temperature chamber, wherein the conveying device is coupled to the control until, such that the component part is movable relative to the nozzles.

13. Temperature-control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nozzles is adjustable relative to the component part, such that an effuse angle of the nozzles and/or a distance between the nozzle and the component part is adjustable.

14. Temperature-control device according to claim 13, further having an adjusting device, which is configured to adjust at least one of the nozzles relative to the component part, wherein the adjusting device is coupled to the control unit, such that an effuse angle of the at least one nozzle and/or a distance between the at least one nozzle and the component part is adjustable.

15. Method for controlling the temperature of a component part, in particular a wheel rim, the method having arranging the component part in a housing, in which an at least partly closed temperature chamber is formed, flowing a first tempering medium having a first temperature-control characteristics on the component part by a first group of nozzles having at least one nozzle of nozzles of a nozzle matrix, and flowing a second tempering medium having a second temperature-control characteristics on the component part by a second group of nozzles having at least one nozzle of nozzles of the nozzle matrix, wherein the first group of nozzles of the nozzles and the second group of nozzles of the nozzles are controlled independently from each other by a control unit, which is coupled to the nozzle matrix.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Embodiment examples are described in the following for a further discussion and for a better understanding of the present invention in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a temperature-control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of a temperature-control device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which the temperature chamber is formed in addition with a bottom area; and

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a nozzle matrix in a wall of a temperature chamber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Same or similar components in different drawings are provided with same reference numerals. The illustrations in the drawings are schematic.

[0036] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show schematic illustrations of a temperature-control device 100 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows, by difference to FIG. 2, a housing 101, which forms an open bottom area 106. FIG. 2 shows a housing 101, which forms a closed bottom area 106.

[0037] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a temperature-control device 100 for controlling the temperature of a component part (or element) 150, in particular a wheel rim. The temperature-control device 100 may have a housing 101, in which an at least partly closed temperature chamber may be formed, wherein the component part 150 may be arrangeable in the temperature chamber. The temperature-control device 100 further may have a nozzle matrix 110 having a plurality of nozzles, wherein a tempering medium 102 may be flowable through the nozzles on the component part 150. Furthermore, the temperature-control device may have a control unit 103, which may be coupled to the nozzle matrix 110. The control unit 103 may be configured to control a first group of nozzles (or nozzle group) 111 of the nozzles and a second group of nozzles 112 of the nozzles independently from each other, such that the first group of nozzles 111 may flow a first tempering medium having a first temperature-control characteristics and the second group of nozzles 112 may flow a second tempering medium having a second temperature-control characteristics on the component part 150.

[0038] The housing may form an at least partly closed or fully closed temperature chamber. The housing 100 may be formed, for example, as a hood (FIG. 1) and may thus cover, for example, the bottom area 106, on which the component part 150 may be arranged. In other words, the housing 101 may for example be put over the bottom area 106. Furthermore, the housing may form a fully closed temperature chamber (FIG. 2). In this example, the temperature chamber may have at least one door element and/or an opening area, which can be opened and closed selectively, so as to bring the component part 150 into, or bring it out of, the temperature chamber.

[0039] The housing may have a first wall 104 and an, in particular arranged opposite to the first wall, second wall 105, which [together] may form the temperature chamber at least partly. The housing further may have a ceiling 107 and an, in particular arranged opposite to the ceiling 105, bottom 106, which [together] may form the temperature chamber at least partly.

[0040] The nozzle matrix 110 may refer to an arrangement of the plurality of nozzles. The nozzle matrix 110 may be arranged at the wall 104, and the further nozzle matrix 120 may be fixed at the wall 105. For example, an area of the nozzle matrix 110 may have a nozzle formation, which consists of, for example, four rows and four columns (44 matrix). A group of nozzles 111, 112, 121, 122 may describe a group of nozzles, which together may flow out the same tempering medium 102 having the same temperature-control characteristics and may be controlled as a unit by the control unit. A group of nozzles 111, 112, 121, 122 may be formed of a fixed number of nozzles. Furthermore, a group of nozzles 111, 112, 121, 122 may be defined variably by the control unit 103, such that during an operation of the temperature-control device 100 and/or during a temperature-control process of the component part 150, different nozzles in a different number may belong to a particular group of nozzles 111, 112, 121, 122.

[0041] The nozzles may be coupled to a conveying device, such as for example a fluid pump 116 or a ventilator, in order to convey (or transport) the tempering medium 102 to the nozzles in a desired temperature-control characteristics. For example, the first group of nozzles 111 may be coupled to a first fluid pump and/or a first ventilator, and the second group of nozzles 112 may be coupled to a second fluid pump and/or a second ventilator. The control unit 103 may control individually the first fluid pump and/or the first ventilator and the second fluid pump and/or the second ventilator independently from each other. Accordingly, a first temperature-control device for controlling the temperature of the first tempering medium and a second temperature-control device for controlling the temperature of the second tempering medium may be provided, wherein the temperature-control devices may be individually controllable by the control unit. In addition or alternatively, also a valve arrangement 116 may be arranged, which may selectively control a volume flow of the first tempering medium and/or of the second tempering medium by the control unit 103.

[0042] For each desired area of the component part, flexibly determined nozzles may be integrated as a first or a second group of nozzles 111, 112, in order to perform a desired temperature-control of the area of the component part. The control unit 103 may prescribe defined temperature-control sequences for each group of nozzles 111, 112, and accordingly may flow a defined tempering medium having desired temperature-control characteristics on the component part 150.

[0043] The first group of nozzles 111 of the nozzles thus may stream against a first area of the component part 150 with a first tempering medium having a first temperature-control characteristics, and the second group of nozzles 112 of the nozzles may stream against a second area of the component part 150 with a second tempering medium having a second temperature-control characteristics. For example, the first area of the component part 150 may be held at a defined temperature, while the second area of the component part 150 may be cooled with a predetermined cooling rate, in particular is chilled. The first group of nozzles 111 and the second group of nozzles 112 may be controlled such that a holding of the temperature, a heating up and a cooling down of the area of the component part that may be streamed against may be flexibly effected by the control unit 103.

[0044] The temperature-control device 100 may have a further nozzle matrix 120 having further nozzles, wherein a further tempering medium 108 may be flowable through the nozzles on the component part. The control unit 103 may be coupled to the further nozzle matrix 120, and may be configured to control a further first group of nozzles 121 of the further nozzles and a further second group of nozzles 122 of the further nozzles independently from each other, such that the further first group of nozzles 121 may flow a further first tempering medium having a further first temperature-control characteristics and the further second group of nozzles 122 may flow a further second tempering medium having a further second temperature-control characteristics on the component part.

[0045] As is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, one thus may control the temperature of component part areas of the component part 150 with different tempering media 102, 108 from opposite sidewalls 104, 105.

[0046] The temperature-control device 100 further may have a further housing 109, which may surround the housing 101, wherein a flow channel 113 may be formed between the housing 101 and the further housing 109. At least one fluid conduit 114 may traverse the flow channel and may be coupled to the nozzles of the nozzle matrix 110, 120, in order to supply the nozzles with the first tempering medium and/or the second tempering medium. A third tempering medium 115 may be flowable through the flow channel for controlling the temperature of the fluid conduit 114. For a better clarity, not all fluid conduits 114 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 between the nozzles and, for example, the pump arrangement and/or the valve arrangement 116 are provided with reference numerals.

[0047] The third tempering medium 115 may control the temperature of the housing walls 104, 105, 106, 107, so that thereby a basic temperature around the housing 101 and thus the temperature chamber can be adjusted. Furthermore, the fluid conduits, which may traverse the flow channel 113, may be held at a desired temperature.

[0048] In FIG. 1, furthermore, a conveying device 117 is illustrated, which may form the bottom 106 of the temperature chamber. The component part 150 may be coupled to the conveying device 117. The conveying device 117 may convey the component part out of the temperature chamber or into the temperature chamber, and also may selectively move the component part 150 during the temperature-control with according tempering media. The moving velocity and moving sequences may be controlled, for example, by the control unit 103.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows in particular a perspective illustration of a temperature-control device 100, wherein the housing 101 may surround the component part 150 to the full extent. For a better illustration, the cut-off walls in the front area and in the rear area of the temperature-control device are not represented. For example, a closable opening and/or a door device for selectively opening and closing may be arranged in these front and rear areas.

[0050] The nozzle matrix 110, which may form the first group of nozzles 111 and the second group of nozzles 112, may be arranged at the lateral wall 104. The further group of nozzles 120, which may have the further first group of nozzles 121 and the further second group of nozzles 122, may be formed at the opposite wall 105. For reasons of clarity, the according groups of nozzles in FIG. 2 are not provided with reference numerals.

[0051] Furthermore, also a further nozzle matrix 140 having according groups of nozzles may be arranged in the ceiling area 107, and a further nozzle matrix 130 having according groups of nozzles may be arranged in the bottom area 106.

[0052] The temperature chamber may thus be formed of four sidewalls 104, 105, of which one sidewall 104, 105 may have the door element, and may be closed in addition at least with one ceiling 107 (ceiling wall part). A nozzle matrix 110, 120 may be formed respectively at the sidewalls 104, 105 as well as at the ceiling 107, wherein the control unit 130 may flow out a respective tempering medium 102, 108 having a predetermined temperature-control characteristics at each group of nozzles 110, 120. Furthermore, the temperature chamber may be formed with the bottom 106, wherein the bottom 106 may also have a nozzle matrix 110, 120. The component part may thus be applied with a tempering medium to the full extent, wherein each side of the component part may be applied with an individual temperature-control characteristics (for example, cooling characteristics).

[0053] The housing 101 may further have a fluid outlet 301 (see FIG. 3), in particular having further nozzles, which may form a fluid communication between the flow channel 113 and the temperature chamber, such that the third tempering medium 115 may be flowable out into the temperature chamber. For example, a constant basic temperature and/or basic streaming against the component part 150 may be ensured with the third tempering medium 115. Subsequently, an according tempering medium 102, 108 having quickly changing first and second temperature-control characteristics may be streamed flexibly against (or flowed on) the component part 150. Furthermore, the third tempering medium 115 may also be flowed through the fluid outlet 301 into the temperature chamber, so that the third tempering medium 115 may hold good for a carrier for the first and the second tempering medium, which may be flowed in respectively through the first group of nozzles 111, 121 and the second group of nozzles 112, 122. Thus, this may lead to an atomized spray principle, so as to sprinkle areas of the component part 150 homogeneously and steadily, and accordingly apply with desired temperature-control characteristics.

[0054] An according conveying device 117, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, may be arranged also in the illustrated to the full extent temperature chamber.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows schematically a nozzle matrix 110 in a wall 101 of a temperature chamber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The nozzle matrix 110 may consist of twelve nozzles, which may be arranged in a 34 matrix. The nozzles of the first column as well as of the lowest row may form the first group of nozzles 111, and the remaining nozzles may form a second group of nozzles 112. The control unit 103 may individually control the nozzles of the first group of nozzles 111 and of the second group of nozzles 112.

[0056] Furthermore, by way of example, fluid outlets 301 are illustrated in the wall 101. As has been described above, a third tempering medium 115 may be flowed out through the fluid outlets 101. The third tempering medium 115 may flow out in a gaseous form such that an atomized spray may be formed, for example, [together] with the liquid tempering medium flowing in through the first or second group of nozzles 111, 112, in order to sprinkle the component part 150, and thus bring it to a desired temperature effectively and rapidly.

[0057] Supplementary, it is to be noted that having (or comprising) does not exclude other elements or steps, and that a or an does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it is to be noted that features or steps, which are described with reference to one of the above embodiment examples, can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiment examples described above. Reference numerals in the claims are not to be considered as a limitation.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0058] 100 temperature-control device [0059] 101 housing/temperature chamber [0060] 102 tempering medium [0061] 103 control unit [0062] 104 first wall [0063] 105 second wall [0064] 106 bottom [0065] 107 ceiling [0066] 108 further tempering medium [0067] 109 further housing [0068] 110 nozzle matrix [0069] 111 first group of nozzles [0070] 112 second group of nozzles [0071] 113 flow channel [0072] 114 fluid conduit [0073] 115 third tempering medium [0074] 116 pump arrangement/valve arrangement [0075] 117 conveying device [0076] 120 further nozzle matrix [0077] 121 further first group of nozzles [0078] 122 further second group of nozzles [0079] 130 further nozzle matrix [0080] 140 further nozzle matrix [0081] 150 component part [0082] 301 fluid outlet