LIQUID TANK WITH A RADIATOR

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a liquid tank to accommodate liquid for use in a vehicle. The liquid tank may include a liquid tank shell including a concavity formed in the liquid tank shell that is accessible from an outer area of the liquid tank shell; and a heater disposed within the concavity and configured to heat the liquid tank shell.

Claims

1. A liquid tank to accommodate liquid for use in a vehicle comprising: a liquid tank shell comprising a concavity formed in the liquid tank shell that is accessible from an outer area of the liquid tank shell; and a heater disposed within the concavity and configured to heat the liquid tank shell.

2. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heater is connected in a heat-conducting manner to a dome wall of the concavity and is configured to heat the dome wall, and wherein the heater lies force-fitted, form-fitted, or bonded to the dome wall.

3. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a heat-conducting plastic configured to provide a heat-conducting connection between the heater and the liquid tank shell, the heat-conducting plastic comprising an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The liquid tank according to claim 3, wherein the heat-conducting plastic comprises heat-conducting fillers.

5. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a metallic heat-conducting element configured to provide a heat-conducting connection from the heater via the metallic heat-conducting element to the liquid tank shell via the heat-conducting plastic.

6. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heater comprises an electric heating element configured to heat the heater, and wherein the electric heating element is configured as an electric resistance heating element.

7. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the heater comprises an electric heating element configured to heat the heater, and wherein the electric heating element is configured as a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element.

8. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the concavity is configured as a cylindrical concavity and the heater is configured as a cylinder that is introduced into the cylindrical concavity, or wherein the concavity is configured as a conical concavity and the heater is configured as a cone that is introduced into the conical concavity.

9. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the liquid tank comprises a closure configured to close the concavity with the heater accommodated in it, and wherein an elastic element is arranged between the closure and the heater that is configured to act upon the heater with a force to fix the heater in a heat-conducting contact in the concavity.

10. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein an additional concavity is formed in the liquid tank shell that is accessible from the outer area of the liquid tank shell, and wherein the liquid tank comprises an additional heater arranged in the additional concavity, the additional heater configured to heat the liquid tank shell, and wherein the concavity and the additional concavity are arranged on the bottom of the liquid tank shell.

11. The liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the liquid tank shell comprises a first liquid tank half-shell with a first connection element that extends from a first inside wall of the first liquid tank half-shell into an internal space of the liquid tank, and wherein the liquid tank shell comprises a second liquid tank half-shell with a second connection element that extends from a second inside wall of the second liquid tank half-shell into the internal space of the liquid tank, the first connection element and the second connection element being connected to each other in the internal space of the liquid tank, and wherein the cavity extends from the outer area of the liquid tank shell into the first connection element or into the second connection element.

12. The liquid tank according to claim 11, wherein the first connection element comprises a first contact surface, wherein the second connection element comprises a second contact surface, and wherein the first contact surface is configured to be fastened to the second contact surface to connect the first connection element to the second connection element.

13. The liquid tank according to claim 11, wherein the first liquid tank half-shell comprises first stabilization elements configured to stabilize the first connection element on the first inside wall, and wherein the second liquid tank half-shell comprises second stabilization elements configured to stabilize the second connection element on the second inside wall, the first stabilization elements and the second stabilization elements configured as stabilization ribs, stabilization beads, or some combination thereof.

14. The liquid tank according to claim 13, wherein the first stabilization elements and the second stabilization elements are arranged on the inside of the corresponding connection element facing an internal space of the liquid tank or on the outside of the corresponding connection element facing an outside area of the liquid tank, and wherein the first stabilization elements and the second stabilization elements extend along the longitudinal direction of the corresponding connection element or the first stabilization elements and the second stabilization elements are arranged in stellate fashion or radially around the corresponding connection element.

15. The liquid tank according to claim 11, wherein the first liquid tank half-shell and the first connection element, the second liquid tank half-shell and the second connection element, or some combination thereof are formed in one piece as an injection-molded part.

16. The liquid tank according to claim 5, wherein the metallic heat-conducting element comprises an aluminum heat-conducting sheet.

17. The liquid tank according to claim 9, wherein the elastic element is a closure spring.

18. The liquid tank according to claim 11, wherein the first connection element, the second connection element, or a combination thereof is a column-like section of the first liquid tank half-shell, the second liquid tank half-shell, or some combination thereof.

19. The liquid tank according to claim 15, wherein the injection-molded part is a plastic-molded part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Examples of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings and further described below.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a liquid tank with a liquid tank shell;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a view of a liquid tank with a liquid tank shell;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a view of a liquid tank with a liquid tank shell and a heater accommodated in a concavity of the liquid tank shell;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a view of a liquid tank with a heater according to the first example; and

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a view of a liquid tank with a heater according to the second example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a liquid tank used to accommodate liquid with a liquid tank shell. The liquid tank 100 is designed specifically as a urea tank to accommodate an aqueous urea solution. The method of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is used to reduce the emission of NOx during operation of an internal combustion engine, especially a diesel engine, in a vehicle, the urea solution being fed to an exhaust system of the vehicle. The urea solution being supplied can be accommodated in the liquid tank 100. Because the freezing point of the urea solution employed here lies at about 1 C., the urea solution must be heated in the urea tank when the outside temperatures are low in order to prevent freezing of the urea solution.

[0050] The liquid tank 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a liquid tank shell 101 formed from a lower, first liquid tank half-shell 102 and an upper, second liquid tank half-shell 107. The first liquid tank half-shell 102 includes a first connection element 103 that extends from a first inside wall 105 of the first liquid tank half-shell 102 into an inside space 106 of the liquid tank 100. The second liquid tank half-shell 107 includes a second connection element 109 that extends from a second inside wall 111 of the second liquid tank half-shell 107 into the inside space 106 of liquid tank 100.

[0051] In production of the liquid tank 100, the second liquid tank half-shell 107 and the first liquid tank half-shell 102 are combined and joined to each other along their edges. A first contact surface 113 of the first connection element 103 then comes in contact with a second contact surface 115 of the second connection element 109. The first and the second contact surfaces 113 and 115 are welded or glued to each other. A mechanically strong connection is thus achieved between the first connection element 103 and the second connection element 109 and the strength of the liquid tank 100 is improved.

[0052] Connection with the first and second connection elements 103 and 109 may also occur in a different way. For example, the first or second connection element 103 or 109 may also include snap devices that, during assembly, snap the first and the second liquid tank half-shells 102 and 107 into the opposite second or first connection elements 103 or 109. Generally, all examples that permit a mechanically strong connection between the first connection element 103 and the second connection element 109 may be used, in which case defined movements up to a stopping point in one direction are permitted.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 1, the first contact surface 113 and the second contact surface 115 each has a recess 117 designed to accommodate welding or glue excess, which is formed during welding or gluing of the first contact surface 113 with the second contact surface 115. The recesses 117 may be arranged as a concentric circle, as several concentric circles, or as cross-like recesses 117 on the first contact surface 113 or second contact surface 115. During a melting or pressing process, displaced material is accommodated in the recesses 117 such that the strength of the connection site is improved.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the first liquid tank half-shell 102 has first stabilization elements 119 that are designed to stabilize the first connection element 103 against the first inside wall 105 of the first liquid tank half-shell 102, and the second liquid tank half-shell 107 has second stabilization elements 121 that are designed to stabilize the second connection element 109 against the second inside wall 111 of the second liquid tank half-shell 107. The stabilization elements 119, 121 are designed here as stabilization ribs, but may also be designed as stabilization beads. The stabilization elements 119, 121 are arranged on the inside of the corresponding connection elements 103, 109 facing the inside space 106 of the liquid tank 100 or on the outside of the corresponding connection elements 103, 109 facing an outer area 122 of the liquid tank 100. The stabilization elements 119, 121 extend along the longitudinal direction of the corresponding connection element 103, 109, and/or the stabilization elements 119, 121 are arranged in stellate fashion or radially around the corresponding connection elements 103, 109.

[0055] A concavity 123 and an additional concavity 125 are formed in the liquid tank shell 101, which, though not shown in FIG. 1, is accessible from the outer area 122 of the liquid tank 100. A heater not depicted in FIG. 1 may be arranged in the concavity 123 or the additional concavity 125 in order to heat the liquid tank shell 101. Though not shown in FIG. 1, the concavity 123 and/or the additional concavity 125 may be designed as a cylindrical concavity 123 or a conical concavity 123, in which the heater is formed as a cylinder or a cone, which is introduced into the corresponding cylindrical concavity 123 or conical concavity 123. An additional heater may also be accommodated in the additional concavity 125.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, the concavity 123 extends from the outer area 122 of the liquid shell 101 into the first connection element 103, and the additional concavity 125 extends into the second connection element 109. The first and/or second connection element 103, 109 is designed here as a column-like connection element 103, 109 and can have a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, or a stellate cross-section.

[0057] As an alternative, only the first connection element 103 can be formed with a concavity 123 or only the second connection element 109 can be formed with an additional concavity 125. A heater not depicted in FIG. 1 or an additional heater can be arranged in the concavity 123 and/or the additional concavity 125 in order to heat the liquid tank shell 101.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a view of a liquid tank with a liquid tank shell. The liquid tank 100, for example, is a tank for [containing] an aqueous urea solution for use in a vehicle. The liquid tank shell 101 comprises a first and second liquid tank half-shell 102 and 107, which are plastic molded parts, for example, produced using an injection molding method. The first liquid tank half-shell 102 and the first connection element 103 are formed here in one piece, and the second liquid tank half-shell 107 and the second connection element 109 are formed in one piece. The plastics can include polyolefins, like polyethylene or polypropylene, polyamide, or polyoxymethylene (POM), specifically high-density polyethylene (HDPE).

[0059] Both liquid tank half-shells 102 and 107 are glued or welded to each other in the edge area and form a liquid cavity in the inside space 106 of liquid tank 100 into which the liquid can be filled. For this purpose the liquid tank 100 has filling connectors 127, via which the liquid can be filled into the liquid tank 100.

[0060] By using an injection molding technique, the liquid tank half-shells 102 and 107 can be produced weight- and cost-optimized, for example, using precise definition of the required wall thicknesses. In addition, components like pump flanges, connectors, and mounts can be integrated without [the need for] additional manufacturing steps. A clearly simplified assembly is achieved in the tank interior, because good accessibility is guaranteed by the open liquid tank half-shells 102 and 107.

[0061] The strength of the liquid tank 100 can be deliberately influenced locally by adapting an arrangement and configuration of stabilization elements 119, 121 and baffles. Production of the liquid tank half-shells 102 and 107 by means of an injection molding method is particularly advantageous, because the connection elements 103 and 109 can be produced in a small volume in contrast to production by means of a blow-molding method. The volume of the liquid tank 100 can be increased on this account.

[0062] The liquid tank 100 depicted in FIG. 2 includes three sites at which the connection elements 103, 109 are arranged within an inside space 106 of liquid tank 100 not depicted in FIG. 2. The second connection elements 109 are integrated in one piece in the second liquid tank half-shell 107 and each form an additional concavity 125 on a second outside wall 129, which is accessible from an outer area 122 of the liquid tank shell 101. Though not shown in FIG. 2, the first connection elements 103 are integrated in one piece in the first liquid tank half-shell 102 and have a concavity 123 on a first outside wall 131, which is also accessible from the outer area 122 of the first liquid tank half-shell 102. The first connection element 103 and the second connection element 109 after assembly of the liquid tank half-shells 102, 107 can be joined to each other, for example, by welding or screw connection, and heaters not shown in FIG. 2 can be introduced in the concavity 123 and/or the additional concavity 125.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a view of a liquid tank with a liquid tank shell and a heater accommodated in a concavity of the liquid tank shell. The first and second liquid tank half-shells 102 and 107 depicted schematically in FIG. 3, as well as a first inside wall 105 and a first outside wall 131, as well as a second inside wall 111 and a second outside wall 129. A first connection element 103 extends from the first inside wall 105, and a second connection element 109 extends from the second inside wall 111 into the inside space 106 of the liquid tank 100.

[0064] A first contact surface 113 of the first connection element 103 is fastened to a second contact surface 115 of the second connection element 109. The first and second contact surfaces 113, 115 are welded or glued to each other. An optional recess 117 of the first and/or second contact surface 113, 115 to accommodate the welding and/or glue flash is not shown in FIG. 3.

[0065] The first and second connection elements 103, 109 are designed as column-like sections of the first and second liquid tank half-shells 102, 107 and have a conical shape. A concavity 123 of the first liquid tank half-shell 102 extends into the first connection element 103, and an additional concavity 125 of the second liquid tank half-shell 107 extends into the second connection element 109. The concavity 123 and additional concavity 125 are each delimited by a dome wall 133.

[0066] A heater 135 is arranged in the concavity 123 of the first connection element 103, which is designed to heat the first connection element 103 and designed specifically as a heating cartridge. The heater 135 lies against the dome wall 133, specifically force-fitted, form-fitting, or bonded. The heater 135 includes an electrical heating element 139 designed specifically as an electrical resistance heating element, but as an alternative may be a PTC heating element. Though not shown in FIG. 3, the electrical heating element 139 is connected to an electric power supply in order to supply electrical power to the electrical heating element 139 to heat the first connection element 103.

[0067] The heater 135 may incorporate a heat-conducting plastic 137 in order to ensure effective heat conducting connection between the heater 135 and the dome wall 133. To ensure particularly effective heat transfer from the heating element 139 to the dome wall 133, the heat-conducting plastic 137 may include specifically heat-conducting fillers, such as metal particles. The heat-conducting plastic 137 may comprise specifically an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer or have elastically deformable properties that ensure effective fitting of the heater 135 into the concavity 123. The heat-conducting plastic 137 also provides electrical insulation between the heater 135 and the first connection element 103. To guarantee particularly effective heat transfer, the heater 135 may have a metallic heat-conducting element not shown in FIG. 3, the metallic heat-conducting element including specifically an aluminum heat-conducting sheet.

[0068] The heater 135, specifically the heating cartridge, may be pushed from the outer area 122 of the liquid tank 100 into the concavity 123 of the first liquid tank half-shell 102 and effectively positioned in concavity 123. By means of the heat-conducting plastic 137, effective accommodation of the heater 135 in the concavity 123 is ensured here, because the conically shaped heater 135 consisting of heat-conducting plastic 137 adapts to the conical shape of the concavity 123 in the first connection element 103. A tightly force-fitted, form-fitting, or bonded connection can be ensured on this account between the heater 135 and the concavity 123 such that gaps, or air sites that may compromise heat transfer, are avoided.

[0069] Though not shown in FIG. 3, liquid tank 100 may have a closure designed to close the concavity 123 with the heater 135 accommodated in it and therefore guarantee effective fixation of the heater 135 in the concavity 123. An elastic element, for example, a closure spring, is arranged between the closure and the heater 135 and is designed to act upon the heater 135 with a force in order to fix the heater 135 in the concavity 123.

[0070] In the example according to FIG. 3, a heater 135 is introduced into concavity 123. An additional heater may be introduced accordingly into the additional concavity 125 in order to heat the second connection element 109. It is also possible as an alternative that the heater 135 can be introduced into concavity 123 and an additional heater can be introduced into the additional concavity 125 in order to heat both the first connection element 103 and also the second connection element 109.

[0071] One or more heaters 135 can be accommodated in one or more concavities 123 of one or more first connection elements 103 in order to effectively heat the lower first liquid tank half-shell 102 and the liquid contained in it. This is particularly advantageous, because liquid introduced into the liquid tank 100 first collects by means of gravity after filling on the bottom of the first liquid tank half-shell 102.

[0072] The heater 135 therefore ensures effective heat transfer from the heater 135 to the first connection element 103, because a large surface is guaranteed for heat transfer between the heater 135 and the first connection element 103. It is ensured by the heat-conducting plastic 137 that heat transfer is not interrupted by the interruption of heat-conducting paths, such as air inclusions. An employed heat-conducting plastic 137 optionally provided with heat-conducting fillers must have good heat-conducting properties, be electrically insulated, and have elastic properties and permanent heat transfer when separations occur. Elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers, for example, elastomers with heat-conducting fillers, are well suited here for use as heat-conducting plastics 137.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a view of a liquid tank with a heater according to the first example.

[0074] The heater 135 is designed as a cone, which is introduced into a conical concavity 123 not shown in FIG. 4 of the liquid tank 100 and lies against a dome wall 133 of the liquid tank 100 free of gaps in order to ensure loss-free heat transfer from the heater 135 to the dome wall 133.

[0075] The heater 135 includes electrical heating elements 139 that are made specifically as PTC heating elements. The electrical heating elements 139 are arranged on conducting elements 141 and connected by electrical current lines 143 to an electrical power supply in order to supply electrical power to the electrical heating element 139 for heating.

[0076] The heater 135 may incorporate a heat-conducting plastic 137 in order to ensure effective heat-conducting connection between the heater 135 and the dome wall 133. In order to ensure particularly effective heat transfer between the heating element 139 and the dome wall 133, the heat-conducting plastic 137 may include especially heat-conducting fillers, such as metal particles.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows a view of a liquid tank with a heater according to a second example.

[0078] The heater 135 is designed as a cylinder, which is introduced into a cylindrical concavity 123 of the liquid tank 100 not shown in FIG. 5 and lies against a dome wall 133 of the liquid tank 100 free of gaps in order to ensure loss-free heat transfer from heater 135 to the dome wall 133.

[0079] The heater 135 includes electrical heating elements 139 that are designed specifically as PTC heating elements. The electrical heating elements 139 are arranged on conducting elements 141 and connected by electrical current lines 143 to an electrical power supply in order to supply electrical power to the electrical heating element 139 for heating.

[0080] The heater 135 may incorporate a heat-conducting plastic 137 in order to ensure effective heat-conducting connection between the heater 135 and the dome wall 133. In order to ensure particularly effective heat transfer between the heating element 139 and the dome wall 133, the heat-conducting plastic 137 may include especially heat-conducting fillers, such as metal particles.

[0081] In order to improve heat transfer from the heating element 139 to the heat-conducting plastic 137, the heater 135 has a metallic heat-conducting element 145 that includes specifically an aluminum heat-conducting sheet. The metallic heat-conducting element 145 is specifically thermally connected to the heating element 139 in order to effectively divert heat generated by the heating element 139 and transfer it to the heat-conducting plastic 137 of the heater 135.

[0082] All features explained and depicted in conjunction with individual examples of the disclosure may be provided in different combinations with respect to the object according to the disclosure in order to simultaneously achieve their advantageous effects.

[0083] The protective scope of the present disclosure is stated by the claims and is not restricted by the features explained in the description or depicted in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0084] 100 Liquid tank [0085] 101 Liquid tank shell [0086] 102 First liquid tank half-shell [0087] 103 First connection element [0088] 105 First inside wall of first liquid tank half-shell [0089] 106 Inside space of the liquid tank [0090] 107 Second liquid tank half-shell [0091] 109 Second connection element [0092] 111 Second inside wall of the second liquid tank half-shell [0093] 113 First contact surface [0094] 115 Second contact surface [0095] 117 Recess [0096] 119 First stabilization element [0097] 121 Second stabilization element [0098] 122 Outer area of the liquid tank [0099] 123 Concavity [0100] 125 Additional concavity [0101] 127 Filling connector [0102] 129 Second outside wall [0103] 131 First outside wall [0104] 133 Dome wall [0105] 135 Heater [0106] 137 Heat-conducting plastic [0107] 139 Electrical heating element [0108] 141 Conducting element [0109] 143 Electrical current line [0110] 145 Metallic heat-conducting element