SYSTEM FOR STORING AN AUXILIARY LIQUID AND SUPPLYING SAME TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for storing and feeding an auxiliary liquid to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle or to parts of the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, having a storage vessel for the fluid, having at least one delivery pump for the fluid, and having at least one line system comprising an inflow to a consumer and a return flow into the storage vessel, the system comprising a connector module which is inserted into an opening of the storage vessel, the connector module having fluid ducts which communicate with the storage vessel and are connected to an inflow line and to a return flow line of the line system, and the connector module comprising a module block which is configured as a thermally conductive and/or heatable body.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A system for storing and feeding an auxiliary liquid to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle or to parts of the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, having a storage vessel for the auxiliary liquid, having at least one delivery pump for the auxiliary liquid, and having at least one line system comprising an inflow to a consumer and a return flow into the storage vessel, the system comprising a connector module which is inserted into an opening of the storage vessel, the connector module having fluid ducts which communicate with the storage vessel and are connected to an inflow line and to a return flow line of the line system, and the connector module comprising a module block which is configured as a thermally conductive and/or heatable body, and the connector module being configured as a switchable multiway valve which, in the case of corresponding actuation, makes ventilation and/or emptying of the line system possible, wherein the module block comprises thermally conducting elements which extend into the volume of the storage vessel, the thermally conducting elements being spaced apart from the line system.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connector module is configured to expand the return flow of the auxiliary liquid within the storage vessel.

16. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connector module comprises a ventilation connector which can be activated operably and upstream of which a filter is connected.

17. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the connector module comprises an electric defrosting heater, and in that the thermally conducting body is configured as a heating body of the electric defrosting heater.

18. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the system is configured to ventilate and/or empty the line system after shutdown of the internal combustion engine.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the system is configured to control the ventilation and/or emptying of the line system in a manner which is dependent on the operating state of the internal combustion engine.

20. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein an extraction point of the inflow line, said extraction point is provided in the storage vessel, is arranged upstream of a siphon or a riser pipe in the inflow line.

21. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein a check valve is provided in the return flow line in the storage vessel or upstream of or at the opening thereof into the storage vessel, the check valve prevents auxiliary liquid being sucked back out of the storage vessel into the line system upon the ventilation and/or emptying of the system.

22. A method for operating a system for storing and feeding an auxiliary liquid to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle or to parts of the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14, wherein ventilation and/or emptying of the line system are/is provided in each case after shutdown of the internal combustion engine and in a manner which is dependent on the ambient temperature.

23. A heatable connector module for a water injection tank as a storage vessel for a system for storing and feeding auxiliary liquid to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] One exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in the following text using the appended drawings, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1a shows a partial sectional view through a storage vessel having a connector module in accordance with the invention;

[0031] FIG. 1b shows a view along the arrows a-a in FIG. 1a;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a view which corresponds to FIG. 1b and in which the objective switching functions of the multiway valve are shown symbolically;

[0033] FIGS. 3a-g show different operating states of the system which are illustrated in each case by way of different switching states of the multiway valve;

[0034] FIG. 4a shows a view of an arrangement of expansion nozzles with an impeller wheel which is arranged in front of them;

[0035] FIG. 4b shows a plan view of the impeller wheel which is shown in FIG. 4a;

[0036] FIG. 5a shows a plan view of a rotatable nozzle assembly which is configured as a water reaction wheel;

[0037] FIG. 5b shows a side view of the nozzle assembly which is shown in FIG. 5a;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a side view of an expansion nozzle with a deflector body (conical distributor) which is arranged in front of it;

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic graphic illustration of the different operating states of the system; and

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a program flow chart which illustrates the diagrammatic sequence of different operating cycles of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Reference will be made first of all to FIG. 1b. FIG. 1b shows part of a storage vessel 1 and the connector module 2 which is connected to the storage vessel and which has a ventilation connector 2a, a return flow connector 2b and an inflow connector 2c. The connector module 2 is configured as a closure body for an opening 3 in the storage vessel 1. The connector module 2 comprises a module body or module block which is configured as a thermally conductive body and which comprises thermally conducting elements 4 which extend into the volume of the storage vessel 1. The thermally conducting elements 4 serve as a heating body which is part of an electric defrosting heater.

[0042] As can also be seen from FIG. 1a, the connector module 2 comprises, on the vessel side, an intake connector 5 and an expansion nozzle 6 which is configured as a distributor nozzle for expanding and returning the return flow.

[0043] The intake connector 5 which defines an extraction point within the storage vessel 1 forms a riser pipe or a siphon which protects an inflow line against inflowing water after emptying of the system, as will be described in the following text.

[0044] The connector module 2 can be heated electrically, for example inductively or by means of at least one electrically contacted heating element.

[0045] The system comprises a reversible delivery pump 7 which feeds water via the inflow line 8 from the storage vessel 1 to a plurality of injection nozzles 9 as consumers via a distributor. The water which is not injected is conveyed back into the storage vessel 1 via a return flow line 10 and the return flow connector 2b, the pressurized water being distributed upward within the storage vessel via the expansion nozzle 6. The heat of the hot return flow is transmitted via the thermally conductive module block and via the thermally conducting bodies 4 into the stored liquid. Should a cavity be formed within the fluid which has frozen in the storage vessel 1 during the starting phase of the internal combustion engine, thawing of the remaining ice takes place via a spray cone of the return flow, which spray cone is directed upward in the installed position of the system.

[0046] As can be gathered, in particular, from FIG. 2, the connector module is configured as a five/four-way valve (five switching positions/four paths).

[0047] The different switching positions or operating phases of the system are shown in FIG. 3. The connector module comprises a ventilation valve 2 A, an inflow valve 2 C and a return flow valve 2 B.

[0048] FIG. 3a illustrates an operating phase of the system, in which operating phase the connector module 2 is operated as a heating body (electric heater), the heat which is introduced into the storage vessel 1 via the thermally conducting bodies 4 being utilized to thaw the ice which adjoins the connector module directly on the vessel side. After said first thawing phase has ended, in the case of which the multiway valve is situated in the middle position in accordance with FIG. 2 and all connectors are closed, water is then also removed via the intake connector 5 with electric heating of the connector module (FIG. 3b) and is delivered to the injection nozzles 9 via the inflow connector 2c and the inflow line 8. A return flow is produced here, which is introduced into the storage vessel 1 by means of the expansion nozzle 6.

[0049] FIG. 3c shows a further operating phase of the system, in the case of which further operating phase no electric heating operation is provided; otherwise, however, the switching position of the multiway valve corresponds to that in FIG. 3b.

[0050] FIG. 3d shows an operating phase of the system, in the case of which operating phase the injection nozzles 9 are first of all flushed, for which reason the conveying direction of the delivery pump 7 is reversed in the case of open injection nozzles 9 and the intake connector 5 is connected to the inflow connector 2c.

[0051] In this operating phase, a sealing flap 11 closes the expansion nozzle 6. The return flow connector 2b and the ventilation connector 2a are closed, and the delivery pump 7 first of all draws the water which prevails upstream of the injection nozzles 9 back into the storage vessel 1. Afterward, the injection nozzles 9 are closed and the ventilation connector 2a is opened.

[0052] In order to prevent contaminants being introduced into the line system in the case of the rinsing of the injection nozzles 9, a filter can be provided in the return flow line 10.

[0053] FIG. 3e shows a further operating phase, in the case of which the inflow line 8 is ventilated or flushed. Here, the ventilation connector 2a is open toward the surroundings, and the delivery pump 7 can draw air via the ventilation connector 2a into the return flow line 10, to be precise until all of the liquid is conveyed out of the system back into the storage vessel 1 via the inflow line 8.

[0054] FIG. 3f illustrates a switching position of the multiway valve in the case of a completely shut down, ventilated system.

[0055] Finally, FIG. 3g illustrates the switching position of the multiway valve if the storage vessel 1 is to be emptied for servicing purposes.

[0056] Furthermore, reference is made to FIG. 7 in respect of the method of operation of the system; S.sub.0, S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3, S.sub.4 and S.sub.5 denote the different switching positions of the multiway valve which are shown on a time axis. The switching states of the valves and the operating states of the delivery pump 7 and the metering unit (injection nozzles 9) are shown on the ordinate. The time period up to the switching position So is the idling state of the system. In this state, the starting heater is off, and the metering unit or the injection nozzles 9 are closed. The delivery pump 7 is off, and the ventilation valve 2 A, the return flow valve 2 B and the inflow valve 2 C are closed.

[0057] The switching position S.sub.0 is that state of the system in the case of which the electric thawing operation is carried out without circulation of the fluid. In the case of switching position S.sub.1, thawing is brought about by way of circulation of the fluid; the switching position S.sub.2 exists in the case of operation of the metering unit; the switching position S.sub.3 initiates the ventilation of the inflow line 8; the switching position S.sub.4 initiates the ventilation of the return flow line 10; and the switching position S.sub.5 is assumed in the case of idling of the system. The different operating states of the starting heater, the metering unit, the delivery pump 7, the ventilation valve 2 A, the return flow valve 2 B and the inflow valve 2 C can be read via the plotted graphs.

[0058] In order to bring about a more homogeneous distribution of the heated return flow volume of the fluid within the storage vessel 1, it is provided in accordance with one variant of the invention to arrange an impeller wheel 12 in front of the expansion nozzle 6, which impeller wheel 12 is mounted rotatably, can be loaded with the fluid, and can be driven via the fluid which exits from the expansion nozzle 6.

[0059] As shown, in particular, in FIG. 4a, it is provided in the case of said variant of the system according to the invention that two expansion nozzles 6 are connected to a return flow distributor which is configured as a Y-shaped distributor.

[0060] The impeller wheel 15 comprises two vanes which in each case have a hydraulically active profile. The expansion nozzles which are arranged symmetrically with regard to the impeller wheel expand the fluid in the direction of the impeller wheel 12 and bring about driving of the impeller wheel 12 which is set in rotation by way of the dynamics of the fluid. The spray cone which exits in each case from the expansion nozzle 6 is distributed over a comparatively large area within the storage vessel 1 by way of the rotation of the impeller wheel 12.

[0061] A further variant of the system in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 5 which shows a rotatable nozzle assembly 13, on which two expansion nozzles 6 are arranged which in each case have outlet openings which point in diametrically opposed directions. As a result, pulses which are opposed in each case are generated during the expansion of the fluid, which pulses introduce a turning moment into the nozzle assembly 13 and set it in rotation as a consequence. As a result, a homogeneous and large-area distribution of the expanded, heated fluid is generated in the manner of a lawn sprinkler.

[0062] A further variant of the system in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 6. Said system comprises an expansion nozzle 6, upstream of which a deflector body 14 is arranged. The deflector body 14 is configured as a cone/prism, the tip of the cone pointing in the direction of the expansion nozzle 6 and being arranged symmetrically with regard to an outlet opening of the expansion nozzle 6. In this way, the deflector body 14 reflects and multiplies the spray cone of the fluid which exits from the expansion nozzle 6.

[0063] In the case of each of the exemplary embodiments which are shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, means are provided for increasing/distributing the spray cone of the expanded fluid, which spray cone exits from one or a plurality of expansion nozzles 6, which means are arranged directly upstream of the relevant expansion nozzle 6.

List of Designations:

[0064] 1 Storage vessel

[0065] 2a Ventilation connector

[0066] 2b Return flow connector

[0067] 2c Inflow connector

[0068] 2 A Ventilation valve

[0069] 2 B Return flow valve

[0070] 2 C Inflow valve

[0071] 3 Opening in the storage vessel 1

[0072] 4 Thermally conducting body

[0073] 5 Intake connector

[0074] 6 Expansion nozzle

[0075] 7 Delivery pump

[0076] 8 Inflow line

[0077] 9 Injection nozzles

[0078] 10 Return flow line

[0079] 11 Sealing flap

[0080] 12 Impeller wheel

[0081] 13 Nozzle assembly

[0082] 14 Deflector body