LIQUID TANK WITH A PLASTIC SHELL

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fluid tank for storing fluid for use in a motor vehicle. The fluid tank may include a fluid tank shell that defines a chamber of the fluid tank; a heating device in the chamber of the fluid tank and configured to heat the fluid in the fluid tank; and a plastic jacket that encloses at least a portion of the heating device.

Claims

1. A fluid tank for storing fluid for use in a motor vehicle, comprising: a fluid tank shell that defines a chamber of he fluid tank; a heating device disposed inside the chamber of the fluid tank and configured to heat the fluid in the fluid tank; and a plastic jacket that encloses at least a portion of the heating device.

2. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the fluid tank shell and the plastic jacket are constructed of a plastic material and wherein the plastic jacket is fusion-bonded to the fluid tank shell.

3. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the plastic jacket is integrally formed in one piece together with the fluid tank shell.

4. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heating device comprises an outside wall connected to the plastic jacket.

5. The fluid tank according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of ribs are disposed on the outside wall, wherein the plurality of ribs define a plurality of grooves on the outside wall, with the ribs and grooves establishing a connection between the outside wall and the plastic jacket.

6. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein an inside wall of the fluid tank shell facing the inside chamber of the fluid tank comprises an accommodating contour configured to accommodate the heating device, and the accommodating contour further configured as an indentation or as a cavity in the inside wall.

7. The fluid tank according to claim 6, wherein the heating device is configured to be snapped or pressed into the accommodating contour to form a force-fitted and/or form-fitting connection between the heating device and the accommodating contour.

8. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heating device comprises an electrical heating element for heating the heating device, the electrical heating element comprising an electrical resistive heating element, a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device, or a PTC film,

9. The fluid tank according to claim 8, wherein the heating device comprises an interior chamber of the heating device configured to accommodate the electrical heating clement, the electrical heating element installed through a heating device opening of the heating device in the inside chamber of the heating device such that the electrical heating element is positioned in the heating device, and wherein the heating device opening connects art outside surface of the fluid tank to the inside chamber of the heating device, wherein the opening in the heating device is configured to be closed by a closing element on the heating device, and at least one insulating element disposed at the opening of the heating device, on the closing element of the heating device, or a combination thereof.

10. The fluid tank according to claim 8, wherein the heating device comprises a spring element configured to actuate the electrical heating element with a force such that the electrical heating element is pressed against an outside wall of the heating device.

11. The fluid tank according to claim 8, wherein the heating device comprises at least one heat-conducting element configured to create a heat-conducting connection between the electrical heating clement and an outside wall of the heating device, wherein the heat-conducting element comprises a heat-conducting sheet metal or a heat-conducting film.

12. The fluid tank according to claim 11, wherein the heating device comprises, a heat-conducting medium disposed between the electrical heating element and the heat conducting element and configured to establish a heat-conducting connection between the electrical heating element and the outside wall of the heating device, wherein the heat-conducting medium comprises a heat-conducting film, a heat-conducting fluid, or a heat-conducting paste.

13. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the fluid tank comprises a pump module configured to pump fluid out of the fluid tank, wherein the pump module is disposed inside the chamber of the fluid tank and the pump module comprises an additional heating device configured to heat the pump module the fluid tank shell, or a combination thereof.

14. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heating device is configured in the form of a plate or a cylinder, and the plate configured as an acoustic plate configured to inhibit the movement of fluid in the fluid tank.

15. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the fluid tank shell is formed by a lower half shell of the fluid tank and an upper half-shell of the fluid tank, and wherein the heating device is disposed on an inside wall of the upper half-shell of the fluid tank, wherein the inside wall faces the chamber of the fluid tank.

16. The fluid tank according to claim 2, wherein the plastic jacket is welded to the fluid tank shell.

17. The fluid tank according to claim 4, wherein the outside wall is an outside, metal wall.

18. The fluid tank according to claim 4, wherein the outside wall is fusion-bonded to the plastic jacket.

19. The fluid tank according to claim 14, wherein the heating device is further configured with rounded-off edges.

20. The fluid tank according to claim 14, wherein the plate configured as the acoustic plate is an anti-slosh baffle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Examples of the present disclosure are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in greater detail below.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a fluid tank with a cylinder-shaped heating device according to the first example;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a fluid tank with a plate-shaped heating device according to the second example;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a cross-section through a cylinder-shaped heating device according to the first example;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic view of a cross-section through another cylinder-shaped heating device according to the first example; and

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic view of a cross-section through a plate-shaped heating device according to the second example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a fluid tank with a cylinder-shaped heating device according to the first example. The fluid tank 100 is designed, in particular, as a urea, tank for storing an aqueous urea solution. To reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides during the operation of an internal combustion engine, specifically a diesel engine, in a motor vehicle, the method of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is used, in which a urea solution is fed into the exhaust gas system of the motor vehicle. To this end, the urea solution to be provided can be stored in the fluid tank 100. Because the freezing point of the urea solution used is approximately 11 C., it is necessary, during periods of low outdoor temperatures, to heat the urea solution in the fluid tank 100 in order to prevent the urea solution from freezing.

[0047] The fluid tank 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a fluid tank shell 101 that defines the chamber 103 inside the fluid tank 100, with the fluid shell 101 having an inside wall 105 facing the chamber 103. The fluid tank shell 101 is formed, in particular, of a plastic material and is, for example, a molded plastic part that is produced by means of injection molding. The plastic materials can include, for example, polyolefins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyamide, and/or polyoxymethylene (POM), in particular high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

[0048] Disposed inside the chamber 103 of the fluid tank 100 is a heating device 107 that is designed to heat the fluid, in particular an aqueous urea solution, stored in the fluid tank 100. To this end, the heating device 107 is connected to the fluid tank shell 101, in particular, to the inside wall 105 of the fluid tank shell 101, in particular, by means of a fusion-bonded, form-fitting, and/or force-fitted connection. The heating device 107 shown in FIG. 1 is configured in the form a cylinder that, in particular, has rounded-off edges and that is vertically positioned inside the chamber 103 of the fluid tank 100. To this end, the heating device 107 can be disposed on the lower half-shell 101-1 of the fluid tank and/or on the upper half-shell 101-2 of the fluid tank.

[0049] The fluid tank 100 comprises, in particular, a plastic jacket 109 that encloses at least portions of the heating device 107. The plastic materials include, for example, polyolefins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, polyamide, and/or polyoxymethylene (POM), in particular, high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The plastic material of the plastic jacket 109 can be identical to the plastic material of the fluid tank shell 101. The plastic jacket 109 can be fusion-bonded, in particular welded, to the plastic shell 101 of the fluid tank, in particular to the inside wall 105 of the fluid tank shell 101. This creates a connecting bridge 111 between the plastic jacket 109 and the fluid tank shell 101. To this end, the plastic jacket 109 can, in particular, be integrally formed in one piece with the fluid tank shell 101. Thus, the plastic jacket 109 ensures that the heating device 107 is especially effectively affixed to the fluid tank shell 101.

[0050] The inside wall 105 can also comprise an accommodating contour (not shown in FIG. 1) for accommodating the heating device 107, with the accommodating contour being configured especially in the form of an indentation or a cavity in the inside wall 105. To this end, the heating device 107 can, in particular, be snapped into the accommodating contour, so as to establish a force-fitted connection between the heating device 107 and the accommodating contour. As an alternative, the heating device 107 can, in particular, be fitted so as to conform to the accommodating contour, thereby creating a form-fitting connection between the heating device 107 and the accommodating contour.

[0051] Due to the fact that the heating device 107 is disposed inside the chamber 103 of the fluid tank 100, it can be ensured that the fluid, in particular the aqueous urea solution, is effectively heated in the fluid tank 100. To this end, the size and the heat output of the heating device 107 can he adapted to the space restrictions of the fluid tank and to the heat output required. Securing the heating device 107 to the inside wall 105 ensures that the fluid tank shell 101 is conveniently impermeable to fluid and that there is no need for electrical lines to supply the heating device 107 with electrical energy to he passed through the fluid tank shell 101.

[0052] Disposed inside the chamber 103 of the fluid tank 100 is an optional additional heating device 113 that is disposed on a pump module (not shown in FIG. 1). The additional heating, device 113 is designed to heat the pump module and/or the fluid tank shell 101 in order to prevent the aqueous urea solution in the pump module from freezing. However, if the heat output of the heating device 107 is sufficient to effectively melt the urea in the fluid tank 100, it may be possible to omit the optional additional heating device 113.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a fluid tank with a plate-shaped heating device according to the second example. The fluid tank 100 according to the second example as shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the fluid tank 100 according to the first example as shown in FIG. 1, except that the heating device 107 shown FIG. 2 is not a cylinder, but a plate with rounded-off edges. A heating device 107 in the shape of a plate can be conveniently adapted to conform to a contour of the inside wall 105 of the fluid tank 100. The heating device 107 in the shape of a plate can also serve as an anti-slosh baffle that projects from the inside wall 105 into the chamber 103 of the fluid tank 100 and that is designed to inhibit the movement of the fluid in the fluid tank 100.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a cross-section through a cylinder-shaped heating device according to the first example. The heating device 107 according to the first example shown in FIG. 1 has the shape of a cylinder with rounded-off edges, the cross-sect on of which cylinder has a round shape. The heating device 107 comprises an outside wall 115 that consists, in particular, of aluminum and that is produced, in particular, by means of a continuous casting or extrusion molding process. Disposed on the outside wall 115 is a plurality of ribs 117 that defines a plurality of grooves 119. The grooves 119 are disposed between the ribs 117 on the outside wall 115. The grooves 110 are specifically designed to facilitate application of a plastic jacket 109 (only schematically shown in FIG. 3) to the outside metal wall 115. When hot plastic melt is applied to the outside wall 115, the plastic melt can conveniently flow through the grooves 119 before the plastic melt cools down and subsequently can effectively form the plastic jacket 109.

[0055] Disposed in the heating device 107 is an electrical heating element 123 that is designed to heat the heating device 107. To this end, the electrical heating element 123 can be installed through an opening of the heating device (not shown in FIG. 3) into an interior chamber 125 of the heating device that is defined by the outside wall 115. More specifically, the electrical heating element 123 can be installed from an outside surface section of the fluid tank 100 into the interior chamber 125 of the heating device. The opening of the heating device can be closed by means of a heating device closing element (not shown in FIG. 3), with at least one insulating element being disposed especially at the opening of the heating device and/or on the closing element of the heating device so as to ensure effective heat insulation.

[0056] The electrical heating, element 123 is here configured as a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) device that is disposed in a casing 127, in particular a plastic easing. The heating device 107 comprises a spring element 129 that is configured, in particular, in the form of a plastic or metal spring and that serves to actuate the electrical heating element 123 with force so as to press the electrical heating element 123 against the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107.

[0057] Thus, the spring element 129 ensures that it is not possible for air gaps to remain between the electrical heating element 123 and the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107, which air gaps could impair the transfer of heat from the electrical heating element 123 to the outside wall 115.

[0058] Disposed in the heating device 107 are heat-conducting elements 131 that serve to provide a heat-conducting connection between the electrical heating element 123 and the outside wall 115. The heat-conducting elements 131 can comprise heat-conducting sheet metals 131-1, in particular those formed of brass, copper, or aluminum, that serve to effectively discharge heat from the electrical heating element 123, especially from the plastic casing 127 of the electrical heating element 123. In addition, the heat-conducting elements 131 can also comprise heat-conducting films 131-2 designed to effectively transfer heat to the outside wall 115.

[0059] To this end, the spring element 129 presses the electrical heating element 123 together with the heat-conducting elements 131 against the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107 and thereby facilitates an effective transfer of heat between the heating elements 123 and the outside wall 115.

[0060] To affix the spring element 129 and the heat-conducting elements 131 to the inside of the heating device 107, fastening, elements 133, specifically rivets, can be used.

[0061] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic view of a cross-section through another cylinder-shaped heating device according to the first example. The shape of the heating device 107 corresponds to that of the first example shown in FIG. 1 and is configured in the form of a cylinder with rounded-off edges, the cross-section of which has a round shape. An outside wall 115 of the heating device 107 comprises a plurality of ribs 117 that defines a plurality of grooves 119, with a plastic jacket 109 being only diagrammatically defined in FIG. 4.

[0062] Disposed in the heating device 107 is an electrical heating element 123 that can be installed in the heating device 107 as shown in the practical example of FIG. 3.

[0063] The electrical heating element 123 is here configured as a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) film. The heating device 107 comprises a spring element 129 that is, in particular, configured as a plastic or metal spring and that serves to actuate the electrical heating element 123 with force so as to press the electrical heating element 123 against the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107.

[0064] Thus, the spring element 129 ensures that it is not possible for air gaps to remain between the electrical heating element 123 and the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107, which air gaps could impair the transfer of heat from the electrical heating element 123 to the outside wall 115.

[0065] Disposed in the heating device 107 are heat-conducting elements 131 that are designed to provide a heat-conducting connection between the electrical heating element 123 and the outside wall 115. The heat-conducting element 131 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a heat-conducting film 131-2 that serves to effectively transfer heat to the outside wall 115.

[0066] To this end, the spring element 129 presses the electrical heating element 123 together with the heat-conducting film 131-2 against the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107 and thereby facilitates an effective transfer of heat between the electrical heating element 123 and the outside wall 115.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic view of a cross-section through a plate-shaped heating device according to the second example. The heating device 107 according to the second example shown in FIG. 2 is configured in the form of a plate with rounded-off edges, the cross-section of which plate has an approximately rectangular shape. The heating device 107 comprises an outside wall 115 on which a plurality of ribs 117, which defines a plurality of grooves 119, is disposed. A plastic jacket 109 that is connected to the outside wall 115 is only diagrammatically defined in FIG. 5.

[0068] Disposed the heating device 107 is an electrical heating element 123 that serves to heat the heating device 107 and that, according to the practical example shown in FIG. 3, can be installed in the heating device 107.

[0069] The electrical heating element 123 is here configured in the form of a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) film. The heating device 107 comprises a spring element 129 that is configured, in particular, as a plastic or metal spring and that serves to actuate the electrical heating element 123 with force so as to press the electrical heating element 123 against the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107.

[0070] Thus, the spring element 129 ensures that it is not possible for air gaps to remain between the electrical heating element 123 and the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107, which air gaps could impair the transfer of heal from the electrical heating element 123 to the outside wall 115.

[0071] Disposed in the heating device 107 are heat-conducting elements 131 that serve to establish a heat-conducting connection between the electrical heating element 123 and the outside wall 115. The heat-conducting elements 131 can comprise heat-conducting films 131-2 that serve to effectively transfer heat to the outside wall 115.

[0072] Disposed between the spring element 129 and the electrical heating elements 123 each is a protective plate 135 made of a plastic material, which serves to protect the respective electrical heating element 123 from mechanical damage.

[0073] To this end, the spring element 129 presses the electrical heating element 123 together with the heat-conducting elements 131 and the protective plates 135 against the outside wall 115 of the heating device 107 and thereby provides an effective transfer of heat between the heating elements 123 and the outside wall 115.

[0074] All features discussed and shown in the individual examples of the disclosure can be used in different combinations to implement the subject matter according to the disclosure so as to simultaneously take advantage of their advantageous effects.

[0075] The protective scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims and is not limited to the features discussed in the description or illustrated in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0076] 100 Fluid tank [0077] 101 Fluid tank shell [0078] 101-1 Lower half-slid] of the fluid tank [0079] 101-2 Upper half shell of the fluid tank [0080] 103 Chamber of the fluid tank [0081] 105 Inside wall of the fluid tank shell [0082] 107 Heating device [0083] 109 Plastic jacket [0084] 111 Connecting bridge [0085] 113 Additional heating device [0086] 115 Outside wall [0087] 117 Rib [0088] 119 Groove [0089] 123 Electrical heating element [0090] 125 Inside chamber of the heating device [0091] 127 Casing [0092] 129 Spring element [0093] 131 Heat-conducting element [0094] 131-1 Heat-conducting sheet metal [0095] 131-2 Heat-conducting tilt [0096] 133 Fastening element [0097] 135 Protective plate