THERMAL MANAGEMENT MODULE

Abstract

A thermal management module is provided that results in significantly improved collision behavior. The thermal management model includes a first module part, a second module part, a mount that has a first mount part and second mount part, the first module part is attached to the first mount part, and the second module part is attached to the second mount part, the two module parts are connected to one another for fluid exchange by connecting lines, the mount is designed such that it breaks apart between the first mount part and second mount part when subjected to the effects of a predefined force.

Claims

1. A thermal management module, comprising a first module part, a second module part, a mount that comprises has a first mount part and second mount part, wherein the first module part is attached to the first mount part, and the second module part is attached to the second mount part, wherein the two module parts are connected to one another for fluid exchange by connecting lines, wherein the mount is configured such that the mount breaks apart between the first mount part and second mount part when subjected to the effects of a predefined force.

2. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein the mount has a breaking point between the first mount part and second mount part.

3. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting lines are configured designed such that when the mount breaks apart, there is a sealed and flexible connection between the first module part and second module part.

4. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting lines are formed by hoses.

5. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein the first module part contains a refrigerant receiver and/or a first heat exchanger.

6. The thermal management module according to claim 1, wherein the second module part comprises, a second heat exchanger, a third heat exchanger, a first flange between the second heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger, and comprising fluid channels connecting the second heat exchanger to the third heat exchanger for fluid exchange, and further comprising a first receiver for a first valve assembly, and a second flange on one of the second heat exchanger or the third heat exchanger, wherein the second flange comprises a second receiver for a second valve assembly.

7. The thermal management module according to claim 2, wherein the breaking point is formed by a cross sectional tapering.

8. A motor vehicle that has a thermal management module according to claim 1.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the mount is attached to the body of the motor vehicle with one or both of the first mount part of the mount or the second mount part of the mount.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the motor vehicle is an electric vehicle.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the motor vehicle is an electric vehicle.

Description

[0015] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and shall be explained in greater detail below, in which the same reference symbols are used for the same, similar, or functionally similar components.

[0016] Therein, schematically:

[0017] FIG. 1: shows an illustration of a thermal management module according to the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2: shows an illustration like that in FIG. 1, but from another perspective; and

[0019] FIG. 3: shows an illustration of a mount according to the invention for the thermal management module according to the invention.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a thermal management module 1 according to the invention has a first module part 2 and a second module part 3, and a mount 4 (see FIG. 3). The mount 4 has a first mount part 5 and a second mount part 6 connected thereto, with the first module part 2 connected to the first mount part 5, and the second module part 3 connected to the second mount part 6. The mount 4 can be made of metal, for example, in particular aluminum, or it can be made of plastic. The first module part 2 can be screwed, connected in a form-fitting manner, snapped, or clamped to the first mount part 5. The second module part 3 can also be secured in a similar manner to the second mount part 6. The two module parts 2, 3 of the thermal management module 1 are connected to one another for fluid exchange by fluid lines.

[0021] The thermal management module 1 is used in a motor vehicle, e.g. an electric vehicle, and results in a controlled breaking in a collision, having a positive effect on the overall collision behavior. This is because the mount 4 is designed to act on the thermal management module when subjected to the effects of a predefined force such as that during a collision, in that it breaks apart between the first mount part 5 and second mount part 6. A possible break line 10 or breaking plane 9 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0022] This break line 10 or breaking plane 9 between the first mount part 5 and second mount part 6 can be obtained with a breaking point, in particular obtained with a cross section tapering or material weakening.

[0023] The connecting lines 7, only one of which is visible in FIG. 2, with the rest being underneath the first module part 2 and the second module part 3, are designed to form a flexible, sealed connection between the first module part 2 and second module part 3 when the mount 4 breaks apart at the breaking plane 9, or along the break line 10. This reliably prevents refrigerant leakage in particular. These connecting lines 7 can be formed by hoses or flexible tubes, for example.

[0024] Purely theoretically, the connecting lines 7 can also be designed to break in a collision, i.e. when the first module part 2 moves in relation to the second module part 3, and thus enable independent movement thereof.

[0025] The first module part 2 can contain a refrigerant receiver 11 and/or a first heat exchanger, while the second module part 3 can contain a second heat exchanger 12 and a third heat exchanger 13, for example. There can be a first flange 14 between the second heat exchanger 12 and the third heat exchanger 13, in which cooling channels are located that connect the second heat exchanger 12 to the third heat exchanger 13 for fluid exchange, and which has a first receiver for a first valve assembly 15, e.g. an expansion valve. A second flange 16 that has a second receiver for a second valve assembly, not shown in detail, can be located on the second heat exchanger 12 or third heat exchanger 13, in this case the third heat exchanger 13. This second flange 16 makes it possible to reduce the width of the first flange 14 and therefore reduce the necessary installation space.

[0026] In general, the thermal management module 1 can be attached to the body 17 of a motor vehicle 8 with its mount 4, i.e. its first mount part 5 and/or second mount part 6. In FIG. 3, the mount 4, and therefore the entire thermal management module 1, is only attached to the body 17 of the motor vehicle 8 by the first mount part 5. This allows the second mount part 6 to move independently of the first mount part 5 and the body 17 of the motor vehicle 8 in a collision.

[0027] Purely theoretically, it is also conceivable for the mount to be attached to the body 17 of a motor vehicle 8 with its first mount part 5 and second mount part 6, in which case the first mount part 5 can be attached to a different part of the body than the second mount part 6.

[0028] On the whole, a significantly improved collision behavior can be obtained with the thermal management module 1 according to the invention, by means of which battery cooling or air conditioning in a vehicle interior can be controlled, because the thermal management module 1 is no longer displaced as a cohesive, unified block in a collision, but instead can become deformed in individual parts, when the two mount parts 5, 6 break apart.

[0029] The specification can be readily understood with reference to the following Numbered Paragraphs: [0030] Numbered Paragraph 1. A thermal management module (1), comprising [0031] a first module part (2), [0032] a second module part (3), [0033] a mount (4) that has a first mount part (5) and second mount part (6), [0034] wherein the first module part (2) is attached to the first mount part (5), and the second module part is attached to the second mount part (6), [0035] wherein the two module parts (2, 3) are connected to one another for fluid exchange by connecting lines (7), [0036] wherein the mount (4) is designed such that it breaks apart between the first mount part (5) and second mount part (6) when subjected to the effects of a predefined force. [0037] Numbered Paragraph 2. The thermal management module according to Numbered Paragraph 1, characterized in that the mount (4) has a breaking point between the first mount part (5) and second mount part (6). [0038] Numbered Paragraph 3. The thermal management module according to Numbered Paragraph 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting lines (7) are designed such that when the mount (4) breaks apart, there is a sealed and flexible connection between the first module part (2) and second module part (3). [0039] Numbered Paragraph 4. The thermal management module according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the connecting lines (7) are formed by hoses. [0040] Numbered Paragraph 5. The thermal management module according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the first module part (2) contains a refrigerant receiver (11) and/or a first heat exchanger. [0041] Numbered Paragraph 6. The thermal management module according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the second module part (3) contains the following components, [0042] a second heat exchanger (12), [0043] a third heat exchanger (13), [0044] a first flange (14) between the second heat exchanger (12) and third heat exchanger (13), in which there are fluid channels for connecting the second heat exchanger (12) to the third heat exchanger (13) for fluid exchange, and a first receiver for a first valve assembly (15), and [0045] a second flange (16) on the second heat exchanger (12) or third heat exchanger (13), which has a second receiver for a second valve assembly. [0046] Numbered Paragraph 7. The thermal management module according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the breaking point is formed by a cross section tapering. [0047] Numbered Paragraph 8. A motor vehicle (8) that has a thermal management module (1) according to any of the Numbered Paragraphs 1 to 7. [0048] Numbered Paragraph 9. The motor vehicle according to Numbered Paragraph 8, characterized in that the mount (4) is attached to the body (17) of the motor vehicle (8) with its first mount part (5) and/or its second mount part (6). [0049] Numbered Paragraph 10. The motor vehicle according to Numbered Paragraph 8 or 9, characterized in that the motor vehicle (8) is an electric vehicle.