CA3120040C

CA3120040C - A vehicle with a floor heating arrangement

Info

Publication number: CA3120040C
Application number: CA3120040A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Kenan Dinler; Stefan PINTAG
Original assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
Current assignee: Alstom Transportation Germany GmbH
Priority date: 2018-11-21
Filing date: 2019-11-13
Publication date: 2023-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-13
Also published as: EP3883834B1; WO2020104278A1; PL3883834T3; EP3883834A1; DE102018129337A1; ES2965133T3; CA3120040A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) which has a carriage body (3) comprising an interior (4) with a floor (6), a heat- producing component, and a heat dispensing device (22) for discharging heat to the vehicle surroundings (2) in a controlled manner. The heat dispensing device (22) is connected to the component via an exhaust heat circuit (23). Additionally, a floor heating device (20) is provided in the region of the floor (6) of the vehicle (1) in order to heat the floor (6). The floor heating device can be connected to a heat circuit (21), among others, said heat circuit being designed to transport heat from a heat-producing component, in particular waste heat from one of the aforementioned components, to the floor heating device (20). Furthermore, the vehicle (1) has an adjustment device for adjusting the heat output of the floor heating device (20) and a humidity detection device for determining a humidity of the floor (6). A controller (30) and the adjustment device are designed such that the floor heating device (20) is activated in the event of a dryness criterion.

Description

Description A VEHICLE WITH A FLOOR HEATING ARRANGEMENT
Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a vehicle body and an interior for transporting passengers. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a vehicle.
Known prior art

[0002] In general, vehicles for transporting passengers are known, for example embodied as a public transport vehicle, in particular as trams, underground trains, commuter trains, buses, etc. The interiors of such vehicles are elaborately air-conditioned, such that the comfort for passengers is optimized.

[0003] In addition, the aforementioned vehicles comprise numerous devices which generate heat during operation. In this respect, it is necessary to enable a controlled dissipation of this heat to protect the devices from overheating.

[0004] The German patent application DE 10 2010 056 208 Al discloses a method for heating an interior of a vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a fuel cell, a climate measuring device by means of which a climate parameter of the interior of the motor vehicle is measured, and a heat transfer device for transferring heat. This makes it possible to heat the interior by regulating the heat generation of the fuel cell in dependence on the climate parameter.
Disadvantages of the prior art

[0005] However, the previously known technical solutions and embodiments are either designed in a very complex manner, do not allow for efficient energy use or discharge and/or have ergonomic shortcomings.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-29 Problem

[0006] The problem underlying the present invention therefore is to provide a vehicle that uses the energy supplied in an efficient manner and at the same time can prevent or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art.
Solution according to the invention

[0007] The aforementioned problem is solved by a vehicle and/or by a method according to the present disclosure. Further embodiments of said subject matter arise from the dependent claims and/or additionally discussed embodiments.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the vehicle comprises a vehicle body having an interior, which is supported on a surface in a moveable manner, for example by means of individual wheels or bogies. Furthermore, an interior with a floor is provided, in which sitting and/or standing passengers can be accommodated. Such a vehicle can be a public transit vehicle, such as a bus, tram, commuter train, underground train, local train or express train.

[0009] Furthermore, the vehicle comprises at least one heat-producing component. In particular, the vehicle has a traction motor, in particular an electric traction motor, an electric energy storage, a charging device for the same, power electronic arrangements, in particular for the traction motor, an on-board power converter for providing a specific on-board power voltage, a braking resistor for dissipating excess electrical energy and/or a compressor for providing a pressurized process medium. Such components have in common that they convert a certain proportion of received primary energy into heat energy to be dissipated ¨ hereinafter referred to as exhaust heat. According to a design, the component is cooled by means of a liquid.

[0010] In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a heat dissipation arrangement for the targeted dissipation of heat to an environment of the vehicle. This heat dissipation arrangement is connected to the component via an exhaust heat circuit, such that exhaust heat from the component can be transported via the exhaust heat circuit to the heat dissipation arrangement and discharged to the environment there.

[0011] In addition, a floor heating arrangement for heating the floor is provided in the region of the floor of the vehicle. It may be connected, among other things, to a heating Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-29 circuit, which is designed to transport heat from a heat-generating component, in particular exhaust heat from one of the aforementioned components into the floor heating arrangement. This allows the floor of the vehicle, in particular the surface of the floor, to be heated.

[0012] Alternatively or additionally, it is possible that the floor heating arrangement has an independent heating device, which can provide heat for heating the floor independently of the component.

[0013]
Furthermore, the vehicle comprises an adjustment device for adjusting a heating capacity of the floor heating arrangement. In particular, the adjustment device is designed to adjust the heat transport from the component to the floor heating arrangement and/or to the heat dissipation arrangement.

[0014]
Principally, the vehicle comprises a dampness detecting arrangement for determining a dampness of the floor. Therein, the dampness detecting arrangement may be equipped with and/or connected to elements in the vehicle, such that a signal can be generated by the dampness detecting arrangement, which represents the degree of dampness of the floor and/or the presence of water on the floor. The signal may be binary, such that a first expression of the signal represents a damp and/or wet floor and a second expression represents a dry and/or less damp floor.

[0015]
According to a specific design of the dampness detecting arrangement, the degree of dampness of the floor can be quantifiable at least in discrete steps and can be represented by the signal accordingly.

[0016] In addition, the control arrangement for controlling the adjustment device and for receiving data from the dampness detecting arrangement is connected to the same devices. Furthermore, the control arrangement is designed in such a manner that it can at least derive a drying criterion from the received signal of the dampness detecting arrangement. Therein, the drying criterion represents whether the degree of dampness of the floor is acceptable or whether measures must be taken against the moisture. According to an embodiment, the drying criterion may take two states (positive and negative drying criterion), wherein the degree of dampness of the floor is acceptable in the presence of a negative drying criterion and no countermeasures need to be taken. On the other hand, a Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14 positive drying criterion shows that the floor is too damp and, consequently, countermeasures, in particular drying measures, must be taken.

[0017]
Accordingly, the control arrangement and the adjustment device are configured such that the floor heating arrangement is activated when the positive drying criterion is present. In particular, the control arrangement and the adjustment device are configured and connected such that, in the presence of a defined, in particular positive, drying criterion, a heat transport from the component to the floor heating arrangement is carried out.

[0018] For the first time, such a vehicle achieves a significant increase in passenger comfort and safety by being able to dry the floor of the vehicle as needed, in particular automatically, by activating the floor heating arrangement. Thus, if it is determined that the dampness of the floor exceeds an acceptable threshold ¨ for example, if the floor otherwise were to become too slippery or a corresponding coefficient of friction were to drop below a certain threshold ¨ the floor is heated such that undesirable moisture/dampness of the floor evaporates and is released into the interior.
This effectively prevents moisture, ice and/or snow from accumulating in the interior. This leads to a significant reduction in the risk of slipping and falling for passengers.

[0019]
According to an embodiment, the vehicle is a so-called electrically operated multi-system vehicle, which has an external power supply and an independent internal power supply. The external power supply can be carried out by means of a pantograph via an overhead line or a power rail. The internal power supply can be realized by means of an electrical energy storage, for example a battery or suitable capacitors, and by a charging device for the same. Such a multifunctional vehicle can be operated independently both on a non-electrified line and on an electrified line.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the dampness detecting arrangement comprises at least one dampness sensor for detecting moisture on the floor. For example, such a dampness sensor can allow for conclusions on the degree of dampness of the floor by means of resistance measurement. Therein, it is conceivable to check multiple areas of the vehicle floor, in particular in a door area of the vehicle, for the presence of moisture.

[0021] Additional or alternatively, the dampness detecting arrangement or the vehicle may have a rain sensor for detecting rain in the environment of the vehicle.
The mere Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14 knowledge of whether or not it is raining in the immediate environment of the vehicle allows for a drying criterion to be determined, especially in the case of vehicles with a high frequency of stops and passenger exchanges.

[0022] It might be useful to determine or estimate the number of passengers boarding in this context. The determination of the drying criterion could then proceed as follows: As soon as it rains beyond a certain threshold at a stop of a vehicle, and a certain threshold number of passengers is exceeded, the drying criterion would have to be able to be determined in such a manner that the floor would have to be dried (positive drying criterion is present).

[0023] In extension of the basic principle, it is proposed to be able to connect the dampness detecting arrangement with external data sources on the weather condition of the environment of the vehicle. For example, data from a rain radar, analogous to the rain sensor, can be used to determine or estimate whether it is raining in the immediate environment of the vehicle.

[0024] According to a further embodiment, the vehicle comprises a first humidity measuring device for measuring a humidity in the interior of the vehicle and/or a first temperature measuring device for measuring an interior temperature. These measuring devices can be associated with the dampness detecting arrangement in such a manner that a conclusion can be drawn on the basis of these data about the dampness status of the .. floor. In particular, measurement results on temperature and humidity in the interior in combination with the previously described sensors and/or data could allow for precise statements on the dampness status of the floor, such that the drying criterion can be precisely determined.

[0025]
Measurement data on temperature and/or moisture in the interior can be used .. particularly advantageously if the vehicle has an air conditioning arrangement for manipulating the interior temperature and/or moisture in the interior. In particular, the control arrangement may be connected to the air conditioning arrangement in such a manner that the air conditioning arrangement performs measures for drying the air in the interior when the humidity exceeds a certain threshold value. This threshold value may in turn depend on the temperature in the interior.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14

[0026] This means that, on the one hand, the floor of the interior can be dried by means of the floor heating arrangement if a positive drying criterion is present, i.e., if the floor is too damp. The moisture that then evaporates into the interior is in turn dissipated into the environment by means of the air conditioning arrangement. In this way, the floor can be dried in a targeted manner, but an increase in the humidity in the interior is effectively avoided. This ensures comfort for passengers in the interior while increasing travel safety.

[0027] It is furthermore conceivable to provide a second humidity measuring device for measuring a humidity of the environment of the vehicle and/or a second temperature measuring device for measuring an ambient temperature.

[0028] All or part of said measuring devices are connected to the control arrangement of the vehicle at least for exchanging data or for transferring data to the control arrangement.

[0029]
Furthermore, the vehicle comprises a process medium for transporting the heat of the component into the heating circuit and/or into the exhaust heat circuit. The process medium can be a liquid at least during a heat transfer from the component to the process medium.

[0030] In the context of this invention, the terms "heating circuit" and "exhaust heat circuit" do not necessarily have to be interpreted as circuits which are closed within themselves, but can also refer to functional portions of a fluid circuit. For example, if heat is transported from the component to the floor heating arrangement, the process medium circulates in a, preferably closed, circuit between a component heat exchanger of the component and a heat exchanger of the floor heating arrangement. Alternatively formulated, the process medium in this case circulates between the heating circuit and the component. When the heat of the component is transported to the heat dissipation arrangement, the process medium circulates between the component and the exhaust heat circuit.

[0031]
According to a preferred embodiment, a fluid circuit with a phase transition of the process medium is provided, wherein the heating circuit and/or the exhaust heat circuit is/are at least part of the fluid circuit. In particular, the heating circuit and/or exhaust heat circuit is/are designed as a fluid circuit with a phase transition of the process medium.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14 Accordingly, at least one condensing device and a gasification device may be provided in the heating circuit and/or in the exhaust heat circuit and/or at an appropriate location in an involved (partial) fluid circuit. In this way, the heat transport can be optimized such that, for example, the component is cooled to a greater extent, a higher heating capacity is achieved for the floor heating arrangement and/or more heat can be emitted via the heat dissipation arrangement.

[0032]
According to an embodiment, the adjustment device may comprise at least one fluid manipulator, in particular however, at least two fluid manipulators.
These can be used to influence whether the process medium circulates between the heating circuit and the component and/or between the exhaust heat circuit and the component.

[0033]
According to a specific embodiment, the adjustment device is equipped with fluid manipulators in such a manner that different operating states for heating circuit and/or exhaust heat circuit can be achieved.

[0034]
According to a first operating state, the process medium circulates exclusively between the component and the heating circuit, such that exhaust heat of the component is dissipated exclusively via the heating circuit and the floor heating arrangement.

[0035]
According to a second operating state, the heating circuit is decoupled from the heat supply. The process medium thus circulates exclusively between the component and the exhaust heat circuit.

[0036] If the system is in the first or second operating state, the heating circuit and the exhaust heat circuit are at least materially separated from each other, such that the exhaust heat circuit is deactivated in the first operating state, and the heating circuit is deactivated in the second operating state.

[0037]
According to an embodiment, the adjustment device can control the fluid manipulator in such a manner that, according to a third operating state, the heating circuit and the exhaust heat circuit are operated in parallel. The process medium flowing through a component heat exchanger of the component is therefore fed by a fluid manipulator into the heating circuit and/or into the exhaust heat circuit, as needed, wherein the process medium is combined again downstream of the floor heating arrangement or the heat dissipation arrangement. The third operating state is particularly advantageous if the Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14 component provides more exhaust heat than the floor heating arrangement or the heat dissipation arrangement could dissipate on their own.

[0038]
Furthermore, according to a further additional or alternative embodiment, the adjustment device may be designed such that the process medium is applied to the floor heating arrangement and the heat dissipation arrangement in series. In this fourth operating state, fluid manipulators are provided in such a manner that the heating circuit and exhaust heat circuit are at least partially connected in series.

[0039]
According to an optional embodiment of one or more of the designs described above for different operating states, the process medium undergoes a phase transition from liquid to gaseous and back at a suitable location. In particular, it is conceivable that the process medium has a temperature of 40 C to 50 C downstream of the condensing device.

[0040] As the process medium is also handled with a phase transition during operation according to the fourth operating state, the serial configuration of the heating circuit and exhaust heat circuit can lead to a further improvement of the overall effect.
In particular, a condensing device shall be provided upstream of the floor heating arrangement in terms of flow, such that the energy added to the process medium by means of compression and condensing can be released into the interior via the floor heating arrangement in the form of heat for drying. A gasification device should be placed downstream of the floor heating arrangement in terms of flow and upstream of the heat dissipation arrangement.
In this manner, the condensation of the process medium would take place at least partially within the heat dissipation arrangement, such that it would absorb heat energy from the environment of the vehicle in the fourth operating state. In such a fourth operating state, the heat dissipation arrangement acts as a heat absorption device. After the process medium has passed through this heat absorption device, it is fed back to the component in a preheated state, where it is further heated up by the component heat exchanger.

[0041]
Furthermore, a method for operating a vehicle according to one of the preceding embodiments is disclosed, which includes at least the following steps:

[0042] The dampness detecting arrangement is used to determine the dampness, especially the degree of dampness, of the floor in the vehicle interior. This may also mean that the degree of dampness of the floor is estimated on the basis of indirect data, for Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14 example by checking whether it is raining in the environment of the vehicle and whether a certain number of passengers (e.g., with wet shoes) have boarded.

[0043] The drying criterion or a state of the drying criterion is determined at least partially dependent on the detected dampness of the floor, or depending on a signal of the dampness detecting arrangement. In the presence of a positive drying criterion, the adjustment device, in particular at least one fluid manipulator of the adjustment device, is controlled by the control arrangement in such a manner that a heat transport takes place from the component to the floor heating arrangement. If necessary, it is checked in advance whether the component is in an operating state in which excess heat is to be dissipated.

[0044] According to a further embodiment of the method, it is disclosed that the air conditioning arrangement, in particular during an operation of the floor heating arrangement, is controlled in such a manner that the humidity in the interior of the vehicle does not exceed a certain threshold value. In particular, the threshold value may also depend on the humidity and/or temperature of the environment, and/or on the temperature in the interior.

[0045] The embodiments described above can be combined as desired, but in particular in a meaningful manner from the point of view of the person skilled in the art;
for example, it is conceivable that the vehicle has multiple heat-emitting components, which in connection with one or multiple of the preceding embodiments release exhaust heat into the corresponding system or into the fluid circuit. Depending on the requirements, these components or their heat exchangers can be sensibly grouped, or may be arranged serially and/or in parallel.
Short description of the drawings

[0046] The enclosed drawing illustrates an embodiment and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. The elements of the drawing are shown relative to each other and not necessarily true to scale.

[0047] Fig. 1 shows a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14 Exemplary embodiments

[0048] Fig.
1 is used to represent an exemplary design of an embodiment of a vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 is embodied as a tram supported by rails 5 with a pantograph 7.
By means of the pantograph 7, a supply of electrical components, in particular of a traction motor 13, an electrical energy storage 11, a charging device 15 and of power electronic devices 12 with electrical energy is ensured, wherein the power lines and further control and switching elements which may be required for this purpose are not shown here.

[0049] A
vehicle body 3 of the vehicle 1 forms an interior 4 with a floor 6, wherein the interior 4 is designed for the standing and/or seated transport of passengers, and may further comprise a door arrangement (not shown) for boarding and disembarking, and/or a driver's cab.

[0050] A
floor heating arrangement 20 is installed in the floor 6 or in the immediate vicinity thereof, which can release a heat for drying Q2 into the interior 4 via the surface of the floor 6. For this purpose, the floor heating arrangement 20 may at least in portions have a heating circuit 21, which is connected in terms of flow to a heat exchanging device 10 of the electrical component for heat transport.

[0051] In this context, it should be noted that the special representation of a heat exchanging device 10 of an electrical component is not to be understood in a limiting manner. Rather, the heat exchanging device 10 optionally also represents a parallel and/or serial combination of multiple individual heat exchangers, for example the traction motor 13, the electric energy storage 11, the charging device 15, the power electronic devices 12 and/or a braking resistor 14.

[0052] These electrical components and the heat exchanging device 10 can be designed and arranged in such a manner that an exhaust heat Q1 of the electrical component is transferable to a process medium of the heat exchanging device 10.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the heat exchanging device 10 can be connected in series to the heating circuit 21 by means of suitable lines and fluid manipulators 24 and 25.

[0054] In addition, the heat exchanging device 10 can be connected serially with a heat dissipation arrangement 22 by means of suitable lines and fluid manipulators 24 and 25.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14

[0055] The fluid manipulators 24 and 25 are part of an adjustment device for adjusting the floor heating arrangement 20, and can be embodied as three-way valves, which can distribute a mass flow of the process medium to different lines according to demand.

[0056] In the present example, a condensing device 26 and a gasification device 27 are effectively provided in the fluid circuit, such that ¨ upon selection of a suitable process medium ¨a two-phase operation of the process medium is made possible.
Regardless, this embodiment is not to be understood restrictively. In particular, the gasification device 27 and the condensing device 26 can be omitted, wherein the corresponding fluid circuit operates in an analogous manner, but without the advantageous energy absorption and transfer characteristics of a two-phase operation.

[0057]
Furthermore, the vehicle 1 comprises a control arrangement 30 which, at least for the purpose of data reception, is connected to a dampness sensor 31 of the floor 6, to a first humidity measuring device 32 and a first temperature measuring device 33 of the interior 4, to a second humidity measuring device 34 and a second temperature measuring device 35 for the environment of the vehicle 2 and to a rain sensor 36 of the vehicle body 3. Furthermore, the control arrangement 30 may be equipped with means for receiving external data, in particular weather data, for example from the Internet. The connection of the control arrangement 30 to the aforementioned sensors is not to be understood restrictively, but such connections are to be provided meaningfully depending on the exemplary embodiment or operating state.

[0058] The control arrangement 30 is connected in an appropriate manner via control connections (not shown here) to fluid manipulators 24, 25, the condensing device 26, to a pump (not shown) of the fluid circuit, to a temperature sensor of the heat exchanging device 10, etc.

[0059] In the following, aspects of different operating states, embodiments and method steps are described on the basis of the concrete example according to Fig. 1:

[0060] After an exhaust heat Q1 of the heat-emitting components has been applied to the process medium in the heat exchanging device 10, the process medium is transferred into the corresponding fluid circuit ¨ depending on the operating state. A
pump can be provided for this purpose.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14

[0061]
According to an embodiment with a first operating state, the fluid manipulator 24 of the adjustment device is switched such that the entire process medium is fed to the condensing device 26. The process medium, which is then liquid and is additionally heated by the condensing, next passes through the heating circuit 21 and releases the heat for drying 02 to the floor 6 in a heat exchanger of the heating circuit 21 and heats the same.
As a result, liquid from the floor 6 evaporates into the interior 4.
Downstream of the heating circuit 21, the liquid process medium passes through the gasification device 27 and is conveyed back to the heat exchanging device 10 of the component via an appropriately switched fluid manipulator 25 (and via a return node 29). The gasification device 27 causes a cooling of the process medium, such that an increased temperature gradient exists between the process medium and the component dissipating the exhaust heat Q1 in the heat exchanging device 10.

[0062] In a second operating state, the entire process medium is guided by means of a corresponding position of the fluid manipulator 24 to the exhaust heat circuit 23 of the heat dissipation arrangement 22 of the vehicle 1 and from there back into the heat exchanging device 10. The heating circuit 21 is thus insulated and decoupled.
Thus, the exhaust heat Q1 of the component could be dissipated into the environment of the vehicle 2 in the form of heat Q3 dissipated by the heat dissipation arrangement 22.

[0063]
Regarding the second operating state, it is conceivable ¨ although this is not shown in Fig. 1 ¨ to meaningfully introduce a condensing device and a gasification device into the fluid circuit and/or into the exhaust heat circuit, such that a two-phase operation is possible even in pure cooling mode of the heat dissipation arrangement 22.

[0064]
According to a third operating state, the heating circuit 21 of the floor heating arrangement 20 and the exhaust heat circuit 23 of the heat dissipation arrangement 22 are operated parallel to the heat exchanging device 10. A suitable adjustment of the first fluid manipulator 24, and, if applicable, also the second fluid manipulator 25, leads to a portion of the process medium flowing through the heating circuit 21, another portion of the process medium through the exhaust heat circuit 23. Downstream of the floor heating arrangement 20 and the heat dissipation arrangement 22, both circuits can be combined again in the return node 29, whereupon the entire, combined process medium is fed back to the heat exchanging device 10.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14

[0065] The third operating state allows for an optimal operating point to be set depending on the quantity of available exhaust heat 01, depending on the heating and/or drying needs of the interior 4 and/or depending on the capacity of the heat dissipation arrangement 22. It may be possible that the third operating state could be realized either completely without two-phase operation or with two-phase operation in both circuits arranged in parallel. Accordingly, it could be useful to provide the condensing device and the gasification device in single or multiple instances.

[0066] An operational arrangement according to a fourth operating state involves switching the fluid manipulators 24 and 25 in such a manner that the heating circuit 21 and the exhaust heat circuit 23 are switched essentially in series. Accordingly, the process medium would be routed through the fluid manipulator 24 exclusively into the heating circuit 21. Following this, based on an appropriate switching of the fluid manipulator 25, the process medium would be guided exclusively and completely through the exhaust heat circuit 23 or through the heat dissipation arrangement 22. Subsequently, the process medium is returned to the heat exchanging device 10.

[0067]
Depending on the operating point and temperature gradient or depending on whether the process medium is used in one or two phases, the exhaust heat device 22 would release heat 03 into the environment of the vehicle 2 or alternatively even absorb heat 04 from the environment of the vehicle 2. The latter would effectively convert the exhaust heat device 22 into a heat absorption device:

[0068] Now that the process medium is fed through the condensing device 26 to the heating circuit 21 and flows through the same, the process medium, which flows out of the gasification device 27 to the device 22, would be able to absorb heat 04 from the environment of the vehicle 4. This increases the temperature level of the process medium overall, which could effectively increase the heating performance of the floor heating arrangement 20.

[0069] The description of different operating states is not necessarily to be understood in such a manner that an embodiment must be able to assume all operating states. Rather, the operating states serve to present different and independent embodiments of the vehicle as an example, wherein an exemplary embodiment may only realize a single operating state or multiple operating states.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14

[0070] The control arrangement 30 controls connected components, in particular the fluid manipulators 24 and 25, for realizing the different operating states depending on the drying needs of the floor 6. The drying needs are determined by a dampness detecting arrangement for determining a dampness of the floor 6 and/or by determining a drying criterion. For this purpose, the control arrangement 30 is connected to temperature and humidity sensors 32, 33, 34 and 35 and to a dampness sensor 31 of the floor 6.

Furthermore, the control arrangement can be connected to the rain sensor 36.
The control arrangement 30 is able to determine the drying criterion on the basis of individual data or a plurality of the data received in this manner. In the presence of a positive drying criterion, the floor heating arrangement 20 is activated, which causes a drying of the floor 6 by means of heat for drying Q2. Accordingly, the fluid manipulator 24 could be controlled by the control arrangement 30, such that the heated process medium is fed from the heat exchanging device 10 to the heating circuit 21.

[0071]
Although a specific embodiment has been presented and described herein, it is within the scope of the present invention to appropriately modify the embodiment shown, without deviating from the scope of protection of the present invention. For example, the fluid circuit of the vehicle 1 can be designed with or without an optional phase transition of the process medium (liquid-gaseous). In such a case, the condensing device 26 and the gasification device 27 would be omitted from the fluid circuit of Fig. 1, or there could be switchable, bypass connections arranged in parallel for the condensing device 26 and the gasification device 27, such that the fluid circuit is operated exclusively with a liquid or gaseous process medium. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 shown here can be designed as a bus with a power supply by means of an overhead line (trolley bus), instead of as a tram. The following claims represent a first, non-binding attempt to define the invention in general.
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14 CA

Reference numbers 1 vehicle Q1 exhaust heat 2 environment of the vehicle 02 heat for drying 3 vehicle body Q3 dissipated heat 4 interior of the vehicle space 04 absorbed heat rail 6 floor 7 pantograph 8 air conditioning arrangement component heat exchanger 11 electrical energy storage 12 power electronic device 13 traction motor 14 braking resistor charging device floor heating arrangement 21 heating circuit 22 heat dissipation arrangement 23 exhaust heat circuit 24 first fluid manipulator second fluid manipulator 26 condensing device 27 gasification device 28 inlet node 29 return node control arrangement 31 humidity sensor 32 first humidity measuring device (inside) 33 first temperature measuring device (inside) 34 second humidity measuring device (outside) second temperature measuring device (outside) 36 rain sensor Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-14

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising ¨ a vehicle body having an interior of the vehicle and a floor disposed therein for accommodating passengers, ¨ at least one heat-producing component, ¨ a heat dissipation arrangement for deliberately dissipating heat into an environment of the vehicle, ¨ at least one exhaust heat circuit configured to transport heat from at least the component to the heat dissipation arrangement, ¨ a floor heating arrangement for heating the floor, ¨ at least one heating circuit configured to transport heat from at least the component to the floor heating arrangement, ¨ at least one adjustment device for adjusting the floor heating arrangement, ¨ a dampness detecting arrangement for determining a dampness of the floor, and ¨ a control arrangement connected to the adjustment device for controlling the adjustment device and for receiving data from the dampness detecting arrangement, and configured to determine a drying criterion at least on a basis of data from the dampness detecting arrangement, ¨ wherein the control arrangement and the adjustment device are configured such that the floor heating arrangement is activated depending on the drying criterion, ¨ wherein the adjustment device is configured to adjust a heat transport from the component to the floor heating arrangement and/or to the heat dissipation arrangement, and wherein the control arrangement and the adjustment device are configured such that a heat transport from the component to the floor heating arrangement is affected if a defined drying criterion is present.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-29

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the dampness detecting arrangement comprises at least one dampness sensor for detecting dampness of the floor and/or a rain sensor for detecting rain in the environment of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the dampness detecting arrangement is configured to receive data on a weather condition of the environment of the vehicle from a third source, in particular from the internet and/or from an online weather data service, and to evaluate the data to determine whether dampness is present in the environment of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a first humidity measuring device for measuring a humidity in the interior of the vehicle and/or a first temperature measuring device for measuring an interior temperature.

5. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising an air conditioning arrangement for manipulating an interior temperature and/or an air humidity in the interior of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, comprising a second humidity measuring device for measuring a humidity of the environment of the vehicle and/or a second temperature measuring device for measuring an ambient temperature.

7. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the component is embodied as a traction motor of the vehicle, an electrical energy storage, a charging device for an electrical energy storage, power electronic devices, in particular for the traction motor, on-board converter, braking resistor, compressor and/or not as a fuel cell.

8. The vehicle according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, comprising a process medium for transporting the heat of the component into the heating circuit and/or into the exhaust heat circuit, wherein the process medium is a liquid, at least during a heat transfer from the component into the process medium.

9. The vehicle according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, comprising a fluid circuit with a phase transition of the process medium, wherein the heating circuit and/or the exhaust heat circuit is/are at least part of the fluid circuit, and at least one condensing Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-29 device and gasification device is/are provided, in particular in the heating circuit and/or in the exhaust heat circuit.

10. The vehicle according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein the adjustment device, the heating circuit and the exhaust heat circuit are configured and/or adjustable such ¨ that, according to a first operating state, a heat transport takes place exclusively within the heating circuit, and/or ¨ that, according to a second operating state, a heat transport takes place exclusively within the exhaust heat circuit, and/or ¨ that, according to a third operating state, heating circuit and exhaust heat circuit can be connected, at least in portions, in parallel with one another, and/or ¨ that, bring to a fourth operating state, heating circuit and exhaust heat circuit can be connected, at least in portions, n series with one another.

11. A method for operating a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle body with an interior of the vehicle (one) and a floor arranged therein for accommodating passengers, at least one heat-producing component, a heat dissipation arrangement for a deliberate dissipation of heat into an environment of the vehicle , at least one exhaust heat circuit configured to transport heat from at least said component to said heat dissipation arrangement, a floor heating arrangement for heating said floor, at least one heating circuit configured to transport heat from at least the component to the floor heating arrangement, at least one adjustment device for adjusting said floor heating arrangement, a dampness detecting arrangement, and a control arrangement connected to said adjustment device for controlling said adjustment device and for receiving data from said dampness detecting arrangement, said method comprising the steps of:
¨ generating a signal by the dampness detecting arrangement representing the degree of dampness of the floor and/or the presence of water on the floor;

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-29 ¨ deriving a drying criterion based at least on the signal from the dampness detecting arrangement; and ¨ activating the floor heating arrangement depending on the drying criterion, wherein the drying criterion may be present in form of a positive or negative drying criterion, the method comprising the step of:
¨ checking a drying criterion, ¨ if a positive drying criterion is present, controlling an adjustment device such that a heat transport from the component to the floor heating arrangement takes place.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the drying criterion is determined at least using data of a rain sensor for detecting rain in the environment of the vehicle, a humidity sensor for detecting humidity of the floor, a humidity measuring device for measuring a humidity in the interior of the vehicle, and/or a first temperature measuring device for measuring an interior temperature in the interior of the vehicle, and/or based on a number of boarding passengers.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the vehicle comprises a first humidity measuring device for measuring a humidity in the interior of the vehicle, and/or a first temperature measuring device for measuring an interior temperature in the interior of the vehicle, and/or an air conditioning arrangement for manipulating an interior temperature and/or a humidity in the interior of the vehicle, and wherein the air conditioning arrangement is operated such that the humidity in the interior of the vehicle does not exceed a threshold value.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-11-29