EXPANSION TANK FOR A COOLANT CIRCUIT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An expansion tank for a coolant circuit of a motor vehicle includes a housing with an upper part with an upper joint and a lower part with a lower joint. An inlet is arranged on the upper part. An outlet is arranged on the lower part. The upper part is connectable by the upper joint to the lower joint of the lower part in at least two different orientations.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An expansion tank for a coolant circuit in a motor vehicle comprising: a first housing part having a first housing interface; an inlet formed in the first housing part; a second housing part having a second housing interface connected to the first housing interface; and an outlet formed in the second housing part; wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are connectable in a first orientation to provide a first geometric configuration for the expansion tank and in a second orientation to provide a second geometric configuration for the expansion tank.

17. The expansion tank according to claim 16, wherein the first housing part and the second housing part forming a closed hollow space for accommodating a fluid.

18. The expansion tank according to claim 16, wherein the first and second housing interfaces are connected to one another in a fluid-tight fashion.

19. The expansion tank according to claim 18, wherein the first and second housing interfaces are integrally connected to one another.

20. The expansion tank according to claim 16, wherein the first and second housing interfaces comprise a closed geometry referred to a circumference of the first housing part and the second housing part.

21. The expansion tank according to claim 16, wherein the first housing interface forms a first boundary of the first housing part and the second housing interface forms a second boundary of the second housing part.

22. The expansion tank according to claim 16, wherein the first and second housing interfaces are invariant with respect to a rotation about a center point axis of at least one of the first housing part or the second housing part.

23. The expansion tank according to claim 22, wherein the first and second housing interfaces comprise an oval shape.

24. The expansion tank according to claim 22, wherein the first and second housing interfaces comprise a circular shape.

25. The expansion tank according to claim 16, wherein a shape of the first and second housing interfaces comprise a regular polygon.

26. The expansion tank according to claim 16, wherein the first and second housing interfaces respectively lie in an imaginary joint plane.

27. The expansion tank according to claim 26, wherein the first and second housing interfaces are symmetrical relative to a geometric center point of the respective housing interfaces.

28. The expansion tank according to claim 27, wherein the first and second housing interfaces are respectively mirror-symmetrical relative to a mirror line extending through a center point and lies in the imaginary joint plane.

29. The expansion tank according to claim 16, further comprising at least one mounting element extending outwardly from at least one of the first housing part and the second housing part.

30. An expansion tank set comprising a first and second expansion tanks according to claim 16, wherein the first and the second expansion tank are assembled from identical first housing parts and second housing parts, and wherein the mutual orientation between the first housing part and the second housing part of the first expansion tank differs from that of the second expansion tank.

31. An expansion tank for a coolant circuit in a motor vehicle comprising: a first housing part having a first housing interface; an inlet formed in the first housing part; a second housing part having a second housing interface connected to the first housing interface in a fluid-tight manner such that the first housing part and the second housing part form a closed hollow space for accommodating a cooling fluid; an outlet formed in the second housing part; and at least one mounting element extending outwardly from at least one of the first housing part and the second housing part; wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are connectable in a first orientation to provide a first geometric configuration for the expansion tank and in a second orientation to provide a second geometric configuration for the expansion tank.

32. A engine cooling circuit for a motor vehicle comprising: an engine having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet; a radiator having in fluid communication with an engine via a cooling lines downstream of the coolant outlet and upstream of the coolant inlet; and an expansion tank in fluid communication with the cooling lines between the coolant outlet and the radiator, the expansion tank including: a first housing part having a first housing interface; an inlet formed in the first housing part; a second housing part having a second housing interface connected to the first housing interface; an outlet formed in the second housing part; and wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are connectable in a first orientation to provide a first geometric configuration for the expansion tank and in a second orientation to provide a second geometric configuration for the expansion tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a motor vehicle;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a coolant circuit with an expansion tank;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an expansion tank;

[0040] FIG. 4 shows an expanded view of the expansion tank in a first configuration;

[0041] FIG. 5 shows an expanded view of the two housing halves of the expansion tank according to FIG. 3 in another configuration;

[0042] FIG. 6 shows another expanded view of the two housing halves in another orientation;

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the two housing halves in another orientation; and

[0044] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of an upper part and a lower part with respective hexagonal joints.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] 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.

[0046] The motor vehicle 1, which is illustrated in the form of a schematic side view in FIG. 1, includes a vehicle body 2 with an interior 3 that serves as a passenger compartment. The motor vehicle 1 is furthermore provided with an engine in the form of an internal combustion engine 5 that is located underneath a front hood. The engine 5 is thermally coupled to at least one heat exchanger 6 by a coolant circuit 4 that is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0047] The heat exchanger 6 is realized, for example, in the form of a radiator. It is typically arranged behind a radiator grill in the front car body panel. The heat exchanger 6 is thermally coupled to the engine 5 by various coolant lines 7. The coolant circuit 4 furthermore includes a thermostat 9, as well as a heating element 8 that serves for tempering the vehicle interior 3. An expansion tank 10 is arranged in the coolant circuit 4 downstream of the engine 5 and upstream of the thermostat 9, as well as upstream of a pump 36.

[0048] The expansion tank 10, which is illustrated in the form of a perspective view in FIG. 3, has an approximately spherical housing 11 with an upper housing part 12 and a lower housing part 22. An inlet 13 is arranged on the upper part 12. An outlet 23 is arranged on the lower part 22. The inlet 13 and the outlet 23 extend radially outward referred to the spherical or radial symmetry of the housing 11. The inlet 13 extends radially outward from a shell-like curved section of the upper part 12 whereas the outlet 23 is presently arranged on a lower end section of the lower part 22, which faces away from the upper part 12. The outlet 23 abuts on the lower part about centrical or radially centrical. It likewise extends radially or tangentially outward.

[0049] FIG. 5 furthermore shows that a round collar 28 is arranged on an inner side of the lower part 22 and encloses an outlet opening that is connected to the outlet 23. The collar 28 includes individual webs 29 that are respectively realized in the form of a segment of a circle and separated from one another by slots 31 in the circumferential direction of the collar 28. The slots 31 act as a rake of sorts in order to retain any gas bubbles in the expansion tank 10.

[0050] A riser 25 is furthermore arranged on an inner side of the upper part 12 and connects the inlet 13 to the hollow space 15 and to the interior of the expansion tank 10 in the form of a fluidic connection only. Starting from the inlet 13, the riser 25 extends downward and may downwardly protrude from the edge of the upper part 12 formed by the upper housing interface or joint 14. During the operation, an open end 27 of the riser 25, which faces away from the inlet 13, is arranged below a level of the coolant located in the expansion tank.

[0051] The end 27 is preferably arranged radially outside the collar 28 in order to improve the degassing of the coolant in the interior of the expansion tank 10. If a suction effect in the coolant circuit 4 is generated at the inlet 13, the riser 25 exclusively draws liquid coolant into the coolant circuit.

[0052] As an alternative to the illustrated arrangement of the riser 25 and the collar 28, the riser may protrude into the hollow space 15 formed by the upper part 12 and the lower part 22 from above in a radially centrical or radially central fashion whereas the outlet 23 is fluidically connected to one or more outlet openings arranged radially outside the collar 28.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the upper part 12 furthermore includes a closable filler opening 20. This filler opening is provided with an external thread 21 in the embodiment shown. It can be closed in a gas-tight and fluid-tight fashion by a screw cap that is not explicitly illustrated. The inlet 13 and the outlet 23 are realized in the form of fluid-conveying connection pieces that protrude from the housing 11 of the expansion tank 10 and can be respectively connected to a hose or to a coolant line 7 of the coolant circuit 4 in a fluid-conveying fashion. In the assembled state, the upper part 12 and the lower part 22 form an extensively closed hollow space 15.

[0054] According to FIGS. 4-7, the upper part 12 furthermore includes two mounting elements 18, 19 that extend radially outward approximately parallel to one another. These mounting elements serve for mounting the expansion tank 10 on the vehicle body 2.

[0055] The coolant can be initially introduced into the coolant circuit 4 through the filler opening 20. The expansion tank 10 is in accordance with its intended use only partially or incompletely filled with the coolant circulating in the coolant circuit 4. An upper part of expansion tank 10 is free of liquid. The expansion tank 10 insofar serves for a gas-liquid separation in the coolant circuit. Any gas bubbles that reach the expansion tank 10 through the inlet 13 remain in the expansion tank 10 and accumulate in the interior thereof, i.e. in the hollow space 15, whereas the coolant accumulating on the bottom of the expansion tank 10 once again flows back into the coolant circuit 4 through the outlet 23 largely free of gas bubbles.

[0056] With respect to the production and assembly technology, an upper housing interface or joint 14 and a lower housing interface or joint 24 are respectively provided for the upper part 12 and for the lower part 22. The upper joint 14 is located on a lower edge or lower end of the upper part 12 that faces the lower part 22. The lower joint 24 is accordingly located on the upper edge of the lower part 22 that faces the upper part 12. The upper joint 14 and the lower joint 24 are realized corresponding or complementary to one another, namely in such a way that the upper part 12 and the lower part 22 can be connected to one another and permanently fixed relative to one another in at least two different orientations.

[0057] The different orientations 51, 52, 53, 54 of the upper part 12 and the lower part 22 are illustrated in the form of perspective views in FIGS. 4-7. According to FIGS. 4-7, the lower part 22 is always oriented identically whereas the upper part 12 is successively rotated about a center point axis 17. The center point axis represents an axis of symmetry of the dome-like or spherical shell-like upper part 12. The downwardly directed upper joint 14 is located on an imaginary joint plane 16. This also applies to the lower joint 24, which is located completely in or on an imaginary joint plane 26.

[0058] In the final assembly configuration according to FIG. 2, both joint planes 16, 26 essentially coincide. The two joint planes 16, 26 essentially extend parallel to one another in all illustrations according to FIGS. 4-7, in which the upper part 12 is in comparison with its final assembly position according to FIG. 13 respectively offset relative to the lower part 22 in the longitudinal direction of the center point axis 17. In this case, the center point axis 17 extends about perpendicular to the imaginary joint planes 16, 26.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3-7, both the upper and the lower joint 14, 24 are respectively realized circular and in the form of lower and upper lateral edges of the upper part 12 and the lower part 22. The joints 14, 24 are insofar essentially invariant with respect to a rotation of the upper part 12 and the lower part 22 about the center point axis 17.

[0060] The upper part 12 and the lower part 22 can be connected to and fixed on one another in any orientation referred to the center point axis 17. For example, the orientation 51 according to FIG. 4 can be changed to the orientation 52 according to FIG. 5 by rotating the upper part 12 about the center point axis 17 in the clockwise direction by approximately 90°. An additional rotation of the upper part 12 about the center point axis 17 in the clockwise direction by approximately 135° leads to the configuration or mutual orientation 53 of the upper part 12 and the lower part 22 according to FIG. 6.

[0061] For example, an additional rotation of the upper part 12 about the center point axis in the clockwise direction by approximately 45° leads to another orientation 54 that is illustrated in FIG. 7. The upper part 12 and the lower part 22 can be connected to one another by the corresponding joints 14, 24, which are respectively realized approximately circular, in each of the orientations 51, 52, 53, 54 shown. The joints 14, 24 may be engaged with one another in an interlocking fashion, for example, by being clipped to one another. The upper part 12 and the lower part 22 can be ultimately connected to and fixed on one another by a bonding or welding process. The upper part 12 may be permanently connected to the lower part 22 to one another by ultrasonic welding or similar plastic welding processes.

[0062] In the embodiment of an expansion tank 30 illustrated in FIG. 8, the parts to be connected to one another, namely an upper part 32 and a lower part 42, are merely indicated schematically. The upper part 32 and the lower part 42 may also have a spherical dome-like geometry or shape in this case. Instead of a circular joint 14, 24 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, the upper part 32 includes a hexagonal upper joint 34. The lower part 42 accordingly includes a hexagonal lower joint 44. In this case, the upper part 32 and the lower part 42 can in accordance with the hexagonal geometry be connected to one another in at least six different orientations. The upper part 32 and the lower part 42 can be arranged on and connected to one another in six different yet discreet orientations relative to one another.

[0063] As an example, FIG. 4 furthermore shows the geometric center point M of the lower joint 24 of the lower part 22. In this case, the geometric center point M coincides with the center point of the circular lower joint 24. A mirror line G is also illustrated in FIG. 4. This mirror line typically lies in the joint plane 26 and extends through the geometric center point M such that it divides the circular lower joint 24 into two equally large semicircles in the present exemplary embodiment.

[0064] Regardless of the illustrated geometric designs of the upper parts 12, 32 and lower parts 22, 42 and of the upper joints 14, 34 and lower joints 24, 44 provided thereon, the upper parts 12, 32 and the lower parts 22, 42 can be respectively connected to one another in at least two different orientations. Various mutual arrangements and orientations of the connections that protrude outward from the housing 11 of the expansion tank 10, 30, e.g. the inlet 13, the 23 and the filler opening 20, can conceivably be realized in accordance with the mutual orientation of the upper part 12 and the lower part 22, as well as the upper part 32 and the lower part 42.

[0065] The variety of mutual arrangements between the upper part 12, 32 and the lower part 22, 42 makes it possible to individually adapt the expansion tank 10 and its housing 11 to various structural space requirements and space conditions, for example, in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle 1.

[0066] In order to produce various expansion tanks 10 of the type illustrated, for example, in the form of first, second, third or fourth expansion tanks in FIGS. 4-7, it is merely required to always assemble and permanently connect one and the same upper part 12 to one and the same lower part 22 in different mutual orientations 51, 52, 53, 54. At least two of the different expansion tanks 10, 30 illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 or in FIG. 8 may form an expansion tank set. The number of tools required for the production of the upper part 12 and the lower part 22 can thereby be reduced to a minimum. Many different expansion tanks 10 can be produced with a small number of identical parts, for example with always one and the same upper part 12 and one and the same lower part 22.

[0067] 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, it being 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 and their legal equivalents.