CA3027893C

CA3027893C - Vehicle heating system

Info

Publication number: CA3027893C
Application number: CA3027893A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jorg Keefer
Original assignee: Eberspaecher Climate Control Systems GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Eberspaecher Climate Control Systems GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2018-01-04
Filing date: 2018-12-17
Publication date: 2021-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-17
Also published as: CN110001357A; CA3027893A1; CN110001357B; RU2706742C1; DE102018100903A1

Abstract

A vehicle heating system including a heating receptacle (14) attached or attachable to a vehicle (10), a fuel-operated heating device (18) disposed in the heating receptacle (14) and a fuel tank (20) for the heating device (18) disposed in the heating receptacle (14).

Description

Vehicle Heating System Description The present invention relates to a vehicle heating system, which can be used to heat a parked vehicle.
Such vehicle heating systems, generally also referred to as auxiliary heating systems, are designed in such a manner that a fuel-operated heating device in a vehicle transferring heat to a medium to be heated is fixedly installed generally in the region of the engine compartment. The heating device is connected to a medium conducting system, for example, to feed air heated by the heating device via this medium conducting system into a vehicle interior or to feed heated liquid into the coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. Moreover, the heating device is connected to the electric on-board system of a vehicle, on the one hand, to supply electric energy to the heating device, in particular to an actuation device assigned to the heating device, and/or a pump for conveying fuel to the vehicle heating device, and on the other hand, to transmit information about the operating state of a vehicle, in particular about the thermal state, to the heating device.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a vehicle heating system which has, given a simple design, a high flexibility during operation and at the same time a good heating capacity for a vehicle to be heated.
This object is achieved according to the present invention by a vehicle heating system, including:
- a heating receptacle attached or attachable to a vehicle, - a fuel-operated heating device disposed in the heating receptacle;
- a fuel tank for the heating device disposed in the heating receptacle.

- 2 -The vehicle heating system constructed according to the present invention having its essential system components is designed as a system constructed principally independent from a vehicle. This means that the vehicle heating system in principal can also be operated independently from a vehicle. On account of this structural and functional separation of the vehicle heating system from a vehicle, on the one hand, it is easily possible to retrofit such a vehicle heating system into any vehicle or to operate such a vehicle heating system in connection with a wide variety of vehicles.
The vehicle heating system does not have to be carried along in a vehicle. The heating system or at least parts of it, for example, can remain in a garage, if a vehicle to be heated using such a system is being driven.
Since the vehicle heating system according to the present invention or essential system areas of the vehicle heating system is/are accommodated in a heating receptacle specifically provided for it, no substantial installation space for the heating system at or in the vehicle is required. For this reason, the cost for the integration of a vehicle heating system into a vehicle as well as also the effort required to couple a vehicle heating system to an electrical system of a vehicle, for example to the on-board voltage system or the data transmission system, are omitted. A further advantage is that a volume formed in the interior of the heating receptacle can also be used, for example, for accommodating other items to be transported in a vehicle.
In order to render the vehicle heating system further independent from the system areas of a vehicle, it is suggested that an actuation device disposed in the heating receptacle and/or a fuel pump disposed in the heating receptacle and/or at least one electric energy store is assigned to the heating device. In particular, providing at least one electrical energy store independent from a vehicle has the advantage that an on-board voltage system of a vehicle is not burdened by the vehicle heating system. The same applies to the fuel provided for the operation of a vehicle, since a fuel tank independent from a vehicle is assigned to the heating device. This allows the heating device to be operated, for example during combustion, using a fuel which has a smaller amount of exhaust emissions than the internal combustion engine of a vehicle. This structural and functional decoupling of the vehicle heating system from the vehicle makes the vehicle heating system suitable, in particular, also as an = - - =

- 3 -auxiliary system for electrically operated vehicles, which in general do not have fuel tanks.
For a space saving design it is proposed that at least one electrical energy store is disposed in the heating receptacle. Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one electrical energy store is disposed in a vehicle carrying the heating receptacle, and an electric connection to the heating device is to be established by a line to be guided out of the vehicle. In order to be able to recharge such an electrical energy store independent of the operation of a vehicle, it is proposed that at least one electrical energy store is removable from the vehicle heating system and that it is electrically connectable to the vehicle heating system via an interface. An energy store removed from the vehicle heating system or a vehicle can then be connected to the electrical network provided in a garage or a building for recharging, for example while the vehicle is being driven, thus when the vehicle heating system is not being operated.
In one variant embodiment, it can be provided that a charging unit is assigned to at least one electrical energy store.
For example, such a charging unit can include a solar module carried on the heating receptacle, which preferably is positionally changeable, and/or can include a wind turbine unit carried on the heating receptacle, which preferably is positionally changeable. In this way it becomes possible to recharge the at least one electrical energy store using the charging unit also during heating operation or during driving operation of the vehicle. Particularly advantageous in this instance is the positionally changeable location of a solar module or wind turbine unit on the heating receptacle because, in so doing, in particular also carried out independently by a respective charging unit, an optimal alignment in relation to the sun or an airflow and, thus, an efficient charging operation can be ensured.
For transferring heat provided during heating operation of the heating device, it is proposed that a heating medium duct arrangement for conducting the heating The present invention is subsequently described in greater detail on the basis of the appended illustrations. In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows in basic illustration a vehicle equipped by a vehicle heating system;
Fig. 2 shows an illustration corresponding to Figure 1, having an alternatively configured vehicle heating system;
Fig. 3 shows a view of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle heating system, which illustrates the introduction of heated air into a vehicle interior;
Fig.4 shows a frontal view of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle heating system;
Fig. 5 shows another side view of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle heating system;
Fig. 6 shows a top view onto a vehicle equipped with a vehicle heating system, the vehicle heating system including a covering which covers the vehicle;
Fig. 7 shows a side view of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle heating system having a covering;
Fig 8 shows an illustration corresponding to Figure 7, in which the vehicle heating system includes a covering which only partially covers a vehicle;
Fig. 9 shows a partial sectional view of a covering;
Fig. 10 shows an illustration corresponding to Figure 9 of an alternative configuration of the covering;
Fig. 11 shows the covering of Figure 10 viewed from a different viewing direction;

Fig. 12 shows a partial view of a vehicle including a vehicle heating system having a covering partially covering the vehicle and an air feed unit situated in the interior of the vehicle.
Figure 1 shows a basic illustration of a vehicle 10 having a vehicle heating system 12 provided thereon. The vehicle heating system 12 is configured or operable substantially independent from vehicle 10 and includes a heating receptacle 14 attached or attachable on the outside of vehicle 10. In the example in Figure 1, this heating receptacle is designed as a roof box and is attached to roof 16 of vehicle 10, for example a roof rail.
In the interior of the heating receptacle, a fuel-operated heating device, generally denoted with reference to character 18, is disposed. The heating device includes a combustion air blower, which supplies air required for the combustion to a combustion chamber assembly of heating device 18. In the interior of heating receptacle 14, a fuel tank 20 assigned to heating device 18, in which the fuel required for the combustion of combustion air can be stored, is furthermore provided. A
fuel pump 22, for example a metering pump, can supply this fuel to the combustion chamber assembly of heating device 18 to form a mixture from combustion air and fuel therein. The waste gas generated during combustion can, by a not-shown waste gas removal system, be transferred from heating device 18 and the heating receptacle in the outside direction.
It is to be noted that such a heating device 18 generally also includes a heat exchanger, in which the medium to be heated, thus, for example the air to be fed into a vehicle interior, absorbs heat from the combustion waste gas. Such a heat exchanger can also include a heat exchanger housing, which at its inner side is able to be flown around or is through-flowable by the combustion waste gas, and which at its outer side or by a heat carrier medium flow volume formed therein is able to be flown around or is through-flowable by the medium to be heated. A duct open to the surroundings can, in the case in which air is used as the medium to be heated, conduct this air conveyed through a blower to heating device 18 disposed in the interior of the heating receptacle.

Furthermore, an actuation device is assigned to heating device 18, which, for example, can be integrated into heating device 18 and which controls or regulates the operation of different system areas of heating device 18. These system areas, for example, can include metering pump 22, an ignition element, thus, for example a glow plug, the combustion air blower and, provided that heating device 18 serves for heating air, also the blower for conveying the heated or to-be-heated air.
In order to supply these electrically actuatable system areas with electrical energy, vehicle heating system 12 furthermore includes at least one electrical energy store 24, thus, for example, an accumulator or the like. In the example shown in Figure 1, this electrical energy store 24 can be accommodated in the interior of vehicle 10 itself and, by an electrical line 26 to be guided out of vehicle 10, be connected to the to-be-electrically operated system areas of vehicle heating system 12, which are accommodated in the interior of heating receptacle 14. It is to be noted that electrical energy store 24 or, optionally also a further energy store, can of course be accommodated in the interior of heating receptacle 14 so that, optionally, an electrical line connection into the interior of vehicle 10 can be omitted.
Electrical energy store 24 can be fixedly installed in vehicle heating system 12.
Preferably, electrical energy store 24 is however configured in such a manner that it, in principal, can be removed from vehicle heating system 12 and be electrically coupled to the system areas of vehicle heating system 12 to be operated electrically via an interface. This allows the electrical energy store to be removed from vehicle heating system 12 or vehicle 10 for charging and to charge the electrical energy store in a building via a corresponding charging station.
To charge electrical energy store 24, alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that vehicle heating system 12 includes a charging unit generally denoted with reference character 28. This charging unit 28 can supply electrical energy for storage to electrical energy store 24 also during heating operation of vehicle heating system 12 or also during driving operation of vehicle 10.
' Charging unit 28, for example, can include a solar module 30. Preferably, solar module 30 is carried at heating receptacle 14. For example, an actuator can be assigned to solar module 30, by which the solar module can be extended and retracted and be independently aligned towards the position of the sun to so ensure an efficient charging operation.
Alternatively or additionally, charging unit 28 includes a wind turbine unit 32. This wind turbine is also preferably carried at heating receptacle 14 in such a manner that, by an actuator assigned to the wind turbine, the wind turbine in regard to the air flow flowing around heating receptacle 14 is aligned so to ensure an efficient charging operation.
Furthermore, Figure 1 illustrates that the vehicle heating system includes a covering 34 which, in the shown example, substantially completely covers vehicle 10.
For example, this covering can be connected to heating receptacle 14 and have such a design that it reaches down to the lower periphery of a vehicle body of vehicle 10. On the one hand, covering 34 prevents, for a vehicle parked outdoors and at low ambient temperatures, ice layers forming at the outside of vehicle 10; on the other hand, covering 34 forms a thermal insulation, which in a manner subsequently described in greater detail ensures that the heated medium transferred from heating device 18, thus for example heated air, can be used efficiently for heating vehicle 10.
Fig. 2 shows an alternative configuration of vehicle heating system 10. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, heating receptacle 14 having the system areas accommodated therein, in particular heating device 18, is carried in rear area 36 of the vehicle, for example on a not-shown trailer hitch or at a tail gate or a trunk lid of vehicle 10. Also in this embodiment, vehicle 10 can be covered by a covering 34.
Figure 3 illustrates how the medium heated by heating device 18, in the shown example heated air, can be fed into an interior 38 of vehicle 10. For this purpose, a heating medium duct arrangement, generally denoted with reference character 40, is provided. This heating medium duct arrangement includes a preferably flexible duct area 42 leading away from heating device 18 and out of heating receptacle 14, which conducts the air heated by heating device 18 in the direction of a heating medium transfer arrangement 44. In the example shown in Figure 3, heating medium transfer arrangement 44 is designed in such a manner that it is generally configured as being detached from vehicle 10 and, for example, can be disposed in the area of an open window 46 of vehicle 10. Heating medium transfer arrangement 44, for example, can include a box-like container, which receives heated air fed via duct area 42, and which transfers the air via a plurality of openings to be positioned, which are facing vehicle interior 38, into vehicle interior 38. For this purpose, heating medium transfer arrangement 44, for example, can be clamped through window 46 and, in this way, for example be held in the area of a door 48 of vehicle 10.
A further alternative embodiment of vehicle heating system 12 is shown in Figure 4.
In this exemplary embodiment, heating receptacle 14 is designed or dimensioned in such a way that it can be accommodated, in a similar manner as described previously in reference to Figure 3, in the area of an open window of vehicle 10 and, for example, it can be clamped through a window. Heating device 18, having the system areas previously also described and assigned to it, in particular also fuel tank and fuel pump 22, is disposed in the interior of heating receptacle 14. In order to transfer the heated medium, thus in the shown example, air, into interior 38 of vehicle 20 10, the heating receptacle at its side facing interior 38 can have one or a plurality of openings, through which the heated air can be guided out of the heating receptacle.
Alternatively or additionally, a duct area leading away from the heating device can be guided through heating receptacle 14 to one of the openings formed in the heating receptacle to then be able to release the heated air in this area into vehicle interior 38.
A further alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 5. Here also, the heating receptacle is disposed in rear area 36 of vehicle 10. In this exemplary embodiment, heating medium transfer arrangement 44 is fixedly installed in the vehicle and via an interface is coupleable with duct area 42 guiding the heated air or the heated medium out of heating receptacle 14. In particular, the embodiment can be designed in such a manner that, when heating receptacle 14 is attached to vehicle 10, a connection is automatically generated between duct area 42 and heating medium transfer arrangement 44.
Figures 6 and 7 show the configurations of vehicle heating system 10 having a covering 34 substantially completely covering vehicle 10. While in the exemplary embodiment for example shown in Figure 1, the covering is designed in such a manner that the covering, owing to its flexibility, abuts at the outside of vehicle 10 or abuts thereon, covering 34 shown in Figures 6 and 7 is configured so that it assumes, in particular during operation of vehicle heating system 12, a shape substantially independent from the shape of the vehicle. For this purpose, covering 34, attached to heating receptacle 14 can, for example in the top area, have a plurality of covering shaping chambers 50, into which air is fed by a blower configured separately from the heating device and, for example, be accommodated in heating receptacle 14, which can also be supplied with electrical energy from the electrical energy store assigned to heating device 18, for example. The air pressure built-up in such a manner, which for example can be maintained by the blower continuously operated during heating operation, the covering shaping chambers assume a defined form, which for example provides that an air cushion is created between the inside of covering 34 and the outside of vehicle 10.
In a variation particularly advantageous, in particular, for an energy efficient operation, it can be provided that the blower for building up the pressure in the covering shaping chamber(s) is only operated for conveying air and for building up the pressure. To maintain the air pressure in the covering shaping chamber(s), at least one valve inhibiting the escaping of air can be provided. For building up the air pressure, the blower can convey air via this valve. For the air pressure built-up in the covering shaping chamber(s) and missing feed pressure after deactivating the blower, the valve can independently switch into a blocking position. For releasing air from the covering shaping chamber(s), such a valve can, for example, be moved manually or, by activating an actuator assigned to the valve into a release position, so that air can escape from the covering shaping chamber(s). A plurality of valves can also be provided, and air can be fed via one or a plurality of the valves into the covering shaping chamber(s) and air can be released from the covering shaping chamber(s) via one or a plurality of other valves.
While in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, interior 52 covered by covering 34 substantially completely accommodates vehicle 10, covering 34 in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 8 is configured in such a manner that only the top part, which in particular also includes the window of the vehicle, is accommodated in this interior 52 and is covered by covering 34.
Figure 9 shows a section of covering 34 having covering shaping chambers 50 formed therein, into which air is fed through the already mentioned blower to give covering 34 the desired shape. Furthermore, medium conducting ducts 54 extend in covering 34, into which the medium heated by heating device 18, that is in particular heated air, is introduced. The medium through-flowing medium conducting ducts can transfer the heat transported therein via covering 34 to the air existing in covered interior 52, as a result of which the vehicle positioned in this interior 52 is heated. For example, it can be provided that the medium exits medium conducting ducts 54 in the bottom area of covering 34.
Figures 10 and 11 show openings 56 assigned to medium conducting ducts 54, via which the medium, that is for example the heated air, can escape into interior covered by covering 34. Thus, a direct thermal contact of the heated medium entering interior 52 with the area of vehicle 10 covered by covering 34 is enabled, as it is shown in Figure 12.
To ensure that the heat transferred to vehicle 10 is evenly distributed in vehicle interior 38, vehicle heating system 12 can further include an air feed unit 58 positioned or positionable in vehicle interior 38. This air feed unit can, for example, be positioned in the area of a windshield 60 of the vehicle and include one or a plurality of electrically operable blowers 62, which transfer(s) heated air from that area of vehicle 10 or from vehicle interior 38, in which air present therein is primarily heated, away into other areas of vehicle interior 38.

To supply air feed unit 58 with electrical energy, this air feed unit can be connected to an electrical energy store assigned to vehicle heating system 18. If this electrical energy store is accommodated in vehicle 10, as it is shown in Figure 1, the electrical coupling of air feed unit 58 to the electrical energy store can be carried out directly by an electrical line to be connected thereto. If such an electrical energy store is disposed in heating receptacle 14, that is outside from vehicle 10, as it is illustrated in Figure 12, the electrical connection between the electrical energy store and air feed unit 58 can include a wireless coupling section 64, for example positioned in the area of the windshield. Via this wireless coupling section 64, the electric energy can, for example by electromagnetic interaction, be transferred between a line area positioned outside of vehicle interior 38 and a line area positioned within vehicle interior 38.
The previously described vehicle heating system allows an operation substantially independent from the vehicle to be heated or from the system areas of such a vehicle. The vehicle heating system or its system areas generally is/are not linked to the system areas of the vehicle, for example, to supply electrical energy or fuel to the vehicle heating system or to transmit information about the thermal condition of the vehicle from the electrical system of the vehicle to the vehicle heating system. This allows such a vehicle heating system to be used in connection with various vehicles.
Furthermore, stresses to the energy store provided in the vehicle or also the consumption of fuel provided for the operation of the vehicle is avoided.
On the basis of this ensured operability of the vehicle heating system independent from the vehicle, the vehicle heating system can not only be used in different vehicles but in particular can also be used in connection with vehicles to be operated in an electromotive manner, which in general do not have a fuel tank.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A vehicle heating system, comprising:
- a heating receptacle (14) attached or attachable at a vehicle (10), - a fuel-operated heating device (18), disposed in the heating receptacle (14), - a fuel tank (20) for the heating device (18) disposed in the heating receptacle (14).

2. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 1, characterized in that an actuation device disposed in the heating receptacle (14) and/or a fuel pump (22) disposed in the heating receptacle (14) and/or at least one electrical energy store (24) is assigned to the heating device (18).

3. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 2, characterized in that at least one electrical energy store is disposed in the heating receptacle (14), and/or at least one electrical energy store (24) is disposed in a vehicle (10) carrying the heating receptacle (14), and or that at least one electrical energy store (24) is removeable from the vehicle heating system (12) and is electrically connectable to the vehicle heating system via an interface.

4. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a charging unit (28) is assigned to at least one electrical energy store (24).

5. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 4, characterized in that the charging unit (28) includes a preferably positionally changeable solar module (30) carried at the heating receptacle (14) and/or a preferably positionally changeable wind turbine (32) carried at the heating receptacle (14).

6. The vehicle heating system as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heating medium duct arrangement (40) for conducting heating medium released from the heating device (18) into a vehicle (10) is assigned to the heating device (18).

7. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 6, characterized in that the heating medium duct arrangement (40) includes a preferably flexible duct area (42) guiding heating medium away from the heating device (18) and/or that the heating medium duct arrangement (40) includes a heating medium transfer arrangement (44) for releasing heating medium into a vehicle (10).

8. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 7, characterized in that the heating medium transfer arrangement (44) is releasably attached or attachable to a vehicle (10) preferably in the area of an open window (46), or that the heating medium transfer arrangement (44) is fixedly installed at a vehicle and includes an interface for connecting the duct area (42).

9. The vehicle heating system as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a flexible covering (34) at least partially covering a vehicle (10) is provided.

10. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 9, characterized in that the medium transferred from the heating device (18) is released into an interior (52) covered by the covering (34), and/or that the medium transferred from the heating device (18) is released into medium conducting ducts (54) provided in the covering (34).

11. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 10, characterized in that openings (56) for transferring medium through-flowing the same into the interior (52) covered by the covering (34) are provided in the medium conducting ducts (54).

12. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claims 9 through 11, characterized in that the covering (34) comprises at least one covering shaping chamber (50), preferably wherein a blower for conveying air into the at least one covering shaping chamber (50) and/or at least one valve for retaining air in the at least one covering shaping chamber (50) is provided.

13. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claims 9 through 12, characterized in that an air feed unit (58) situated or situatable in a vehicle interior (38) to be heated having at least one electrically operable blower (62) is provided.

14. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 13, characterized in that the air feed unit (58) for supplying electrical energy is coupled or is coupleable with at least one electrical energy store assigned to the heating device (18).

15. The vehicle heating system as recited in Claim 14, characterized in that for coupling to the at least one electrical energy store, a wireless coupling section (64) is provided.

16. The vehicle heating system as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating receptacle (14) is configured to be attached - to a vehicle roof (16), and/or - to a trailer hitch, and/or - in the area of an open window (46), and/or - in a vehicle rear area (36), and/or that the heating device (18) is configured to heat the interior of the heating receptacle (14).