Equalizing reservoir with fill level sensor

Abstract

The present development relates to a closure cap for an equalizing reservoir of a motor vehicle cooling arrangement. The closure cap includes a cap body and a fill level sensor arranged on the cap body. The fill level sensor enables the fill level of the coolant inside the equalizing reservoir to be measured. The cap body may be disposed removably on the equalizing reservoir and typically closes off a filling opening of the equalizing reservoir. The configuration of the fill level sensor on the cap is extremely versatile, and can be used for a very wide range of equalizing reservoirs, which in principle can be closed with the same cover.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An equalizing reservoir for a motor vehicle cooling system comprising: a tank having an interior volume in fluid communication with the motor vehicle cooling system and a filling port formed therein; a cap body releasably mounted on the tank to cover the filling port; and an electronic fill level sensor extending from the cap body and configured to measure a fluid level in the tank.

17. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 16, wherein the electronic fill level sensor comprises an elongated first sensor element protrudes into the interior volume of the equalizing reservoir when the closure cap is mounted on the equalizing reservoir.

18. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 17, wherein the electronic fill level sensor comprises a second sensor element.

19. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 18, wherein the second sensor elements comprises a second elongated sensor element extending parallel to the first elongated sensor element.

20. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 16, wherein the electronic fill level sensor comprises a first sensor element and a second sensor element, at least one of the first or second sensor elements comprises an electrical sensor element.

21. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 16, wherein the electronic fill level sensor comprises a first sensor element and a second sensor element, at least one of the first or second sensor elements comprises a capacitive measuring electrode.

22. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 16, wherein the electronic fill level sensor comprises a first sensor element and a second sensor element, at least one of the first or second sensor elements having an electrical insulating coating.

23. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 16, further comprising an insert protruding from a bottom side of the cap body for sealing the filling port of the tank with the closure cap arranged on the tank.

24. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 23, wherein the electronic fill level sensor is arranged on the insert.

25. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 16, further comprising a gasket arranged on the cap body, which is movable towards a top side of the cap body against a restoring force generated by a spring.

26. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 25, wherein the electronic fill level sensor is arranged on the gasket.

27. The equalizing reservoir according to claim 16, further comprising a connector extending from an outer surface of the cap body and connected in electrically conductive manner to the electronic fill level sensor.

28. The equalizing reservoir according claim 27, wherein the connector is formed on the cap body and raised above a cap wall of the cap body.

29. An equalizing reservoir for a motor vehicle cooling system comprising: a tank having an interior volume in fluid communication with the motor vehicle cooling system and a filling port formed therein; a cap body releasably mounted on the tank to cover the filling port; an electronic fill level sensor including an elongated first sensor element and an elongated second sensor element, wherein the electronic fill sensor extends from the cap body and is configured to measure a fluid level in the tank; and a connector extending from an outer surface of the cap body and connected in electrically conductive manner to the electronic fill level sensor.

30. A motor vehicle cooling system comprising: a heat source; a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the heat source; and an equalizing reservoir fluidically connected to the heat exchanger via a coolant circuit, the equalizing reservoir including: a tank having an interior volume in fluid communication with coolant circuit and a filling port formed therein; a cap body releasably mounted on the tank to cover the filling port; and an electronic fill level sensor extending from the cap body and configured to measure a fluid level in the tank.

31. The motor vehicle cooling system according to claim 29, wherein the electronic fill level sensor comprises a first sensor element and a second sensor element, at least one of the first or second sensor elements comprises an electrical sensor element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a side view of a motor vehicle;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle cooling arrangement in the form of a block diagram;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross-section through an equalizing reservoir;

[0038] FIG. 4 is an enlarged representation of the region of the closure cap in FIG. 3; and

[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective representation of the closure cap separated from the equalizing reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

[0041] The motor vehicle 1 represented schematically in FIG. 1 includes a self-supporting vehicle body 2 with an interior space 3 which functions as a passenger cabin. An engine compartment 5 in which a heat source 30 with a coolant circuit 6 as represented schematically in FIG. 2 is provided in front of interior space 3. Heat source 30 may particularly be embodied as an internal combustion engine. Besides heat source 30, the coolant circuit 6 represented schematically in FIG. 2 has a heat exchanger 31, a pump 32 and a coolant line 33. This serves to ensure that a coolant 34 is circulated in controlled manner through the closed coolant circuit 6.

[0042] Heat exchanger 31 may be embodied as a water cooler, which is typically arranged in a front section of vehicle body 2 and across which an airstream due to the vehicle's movement flows. A further heat exchanger 35 may also be arranged downstream from heat source 30 in the coolant circuit, by which the interior space 3 of motor vehicle 1 may be heated according to needs.

[0043] Coolant circuit 6 also includes an equalizing reservoir 40, which is typically disposed upstream of pump 32 in coolant circuit 6. Equalizing reservoir 40 includes a reservoir wall 41 and an opening 42 which is closable with a closure cap 20. Opening 42 is located on a top side of reservoir wall 41. In this region, as is shown particularly in FIG. 4, a filling port 43 is provided which protrudes upwards at least slightly above the top side of reservoir wall 41. The outer side of filling port 43 has a threaded section 44. Threaded section 44 is designed as an outer thread or an inner thread. A coolant 34 may be poured into the interior volume 45 of equalizing reservoir 40 through filling port 43 and the opening 42 formed thereby in the top side of reservoir wall 41.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a closed position of closure cap 20 on equalization reservoir 40. Closure cap 20 has a cap body 21 with a lateral cap wall 22. As shown schematically in FIG. 5, lateral cap wall 22 may be furnished with a kind of fluting, by which cap body 21 may be enclosed particularly well, with particularly effective slip protection. A threaded section 24 which cooperates with the outer thread or inner thread and with threaded section 44 of filling port 43 is also provided on an inner side of lateral cap wall 22. Threaded section 24 is embodied as an inner thread. Accordingly, closure cap 20 is embodied as a screw cap.

[0045] Closure cap 20 further has an insert 25 which is disposed on a bottom side of cap body 21. Insert 25 is arranged rigidly on cap body 21 and seals filling port 43 of when closure cap 20 is fitted. A gasket 47 is fitted movably on or in the insert. In the basic position shown in FIG. 4. The lower, front face of gasket 47 facing interior volume 45 lies flush against insert 25 in sealing manner. It can be moved into a raised, detached position against the returning force of a spring 58, particularly when an overpressure greater than a permissible threshold value exists in interior volume 45.

[0046] Spring 58 may be compressed against an elastic restoring force in the axial direction, that is to say the vertical direction according to FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, so that gasket 47 in the form of a dished washer may be opened with a seal provided there, thus compensating for the overpressure or under pressure. A top end of spring 58 bears on insert 25. A bottom end of spring 58 bears on gasket 47.

[0047] In the released position, the raised counterpart to the basic position, an excess pressure relief may be provided. The liquid and/or gas-phase coolant 34 may be allowed to escape interior volume 45 in controlled manner. In this way both the equalization reservoir 40 and the entire coolant circuit 6 may be kept free from damage. The region above insert 25 and cap body 21 is permeable to gas and/or fluid, allowing them to escape to the ambient atmosphere.

[0048] A pass-through opening 48 is provided approximately in the middle of gasket 47, through which sensor elements 54, 55 are routed axially. A separate bushing 49 may be provided to enable sensor elements 54, 55 to pass through gasket 47. Bushing 49 may function as a casing for sensor elements 54, 55 or for corresponding cables 51, 53. The intermediate space between bushing 49, sensor elements 54, 55 or corresponding cables 51, 53 and an intermediate space between bushing 49 and pass-through opening 48 may be packed in sealing manner with a filling compound or a sealing compound. Sensor element 54, 55 and/or cables 51, 53 may be injection molded into bushing 49 and/or into gasket 47.

[0049] As represented in FIG. 4, insert 25 has a disc-like or cylindrical shape with a groove 26 which extends in a circle all around the outer wall thereof. A seal 27 is fitted circumferentially in groove 26. In the closed position as shown in FIG. 4, insert 25 engages in sealing manner with a correspondingly designed cylindrical section 46 of reservoir wall 41. Cylindrical section 46 is flared radially in the upward direction. In the basic configuration shown in FIG. 4, insert 25 is mounted supported inside cylindrical section 46 to form a seal.

[0050] A fill level sensor 50 is provided on bottom side 29 of cap body 21. Fill level sensor 50 is embodied as measuring probe 52, at least a section of which is immersed in coolant 34 when equalizing reservoir 40 is filled properly with coolant 34. In the present embodiment, fill level sensor 50 is equipped with a first sensor element 54 and a second sensor element 55. The first and second sensor elements 54, 55 extend parallel to each other. Sensor elements 54, 55 have an identical lengthwise extension. They may also be surrounded by an electrically insulating casing 59, or be positioned at a distance from each other without a casing, so that no electrical connection is created between them. Sensor elements 54, 55 are particularly embodied as capacitive measuring electrodes 56, 57 or include measuring electrodes of such kind.

[0051] Accordingly, sensor element 54, 55 may consist of corresponding measuring electrodes 56, 57. Or, the entire sensor 50 integrated in closure cap 20 may substantially be formed by sensor elements 54, 55. In this way, a particularly inexpensive, effective sensor arrangement may be created. The electrical signals from the sensor may be evaluated outside of the closure cap, in a region of the motor vehicle which is exposed to less extreme thermal loads.

[0052] Regarding installation, sensor elements 54, 55 are arranged on a bottom side of insert 25. In this way, it is ensured that they are immersed in the liquid in equalizing reservoir 40 when closure cap 20 is mounted properly on the reservoir. The capacitive measuring electrodes 56, 57 serve to measure a dielectric constant between the first and the second sensor elements 54, 55. When the fill level of the coolant 34 changes in interior volume 45 of equalization reservoir 40, the dielectric constant measurable between first and second sensor elements 54, 55 changes as well.

[0053] Sensor elements 54, 55 are connected to a connector 28 via cables 51, 53, elastic, conductive elements or a sliding contact device. In the illustration of FIG. 4, connector 28 is located on top side 23 of cap body 21. In the alternative variant shown in FIG. 5, connector 28 is located in lateral cap wall 22. In this case, the connector protrudes either from the top side 23 or from the cap wall 22. This renders it particularly easy to take hold of, and it may be connected particularly easily with a correspondingly formed plug. In the present example, connector 28 is embodied as a socket.

[0054] FIG. 2 further shows that closure cap 20 is or may be connected to an evaluation unit 60 or controller of motor vehicle 1 via a connection cable 62. Electrical signals which are or may be generated by first and second sensor elements 54, 55 may be transmitted to the evaluation unit 60 via cables 51, 53 and via the connection cable which is attached to closure cap 20. In the evaluation unit, the signals may be evaluated for measurement purposes. Evaluation unit 60 may be embodied as a separate evaluation unit. However, it may also be integrated in a motor vehicle controller or a central automobile control unit or a central controller of motor vehicle cooling assembly 10.

[0055] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment as contemplated herein. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.