CN112594046A

CN112594046A - Cooling system and vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN112594046A
Application number: CN202010965894.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M.迪德里克
Original assignee: Volkswagen Automotive Co ltd
Current assignee: Volkswagen Automotive Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-09-17
Filing date: 2020-09-15
Publication date: 2021-04-02
Also published as: DE102019214119A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling system for a vehicle, comprising: a first cooling element having two guides on a first side and a second cooling element having two insert elements on a first side, wherein the two insert elements can be inserted into the two guides in a common insertion direction and, in the inserted position, a scarf joint is produced such that the two insert elements (4, 4') define a pivot axis perpendicular to the insertion direction, so that the first cooling element can be pivoted about the pivot axis into a final position relative to the second cooling element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a cooling system according to the invention.

Description

Cooling system and vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cooling system for a vehicle and a vehicle comprising the cooling system.

Background

Cooling systems for vehicles are generally known. The cooling system may be, for example, a plug-in connection consisting of a charge air cooler and a water cooler.

However, such plug-in connections are often designed such that they cannot be released from one another in a non-destructive manner during the disassembly process.

For example, the publication DE 102009059930 a1 describes a cooling device with a water cooler and at least one further cooler which is connected to the water cooler by means of a plurality of plug-in connections, wherein fastening flanges or fastening rails designed as fastening elements on the cooler package are used together with screw nuts with screws.

DE 102006037761B 4 discloses a fastening device for a charge air cooler and a water cooler, which has a holding structure in a vehicle, so that the water cooler can be fixed to the holding structure without intermediate communication with the charge air cooler. The fastening flange or the fastening rail, which is designed as a fastening on the cooler package, is used here as required together with a bolt and nut, which is designed specifically and can be inserted into the fastening flange or the fastening rail, and to which the housing is fastened with a bolt or a latch, which is likewise designed specifically as required.

However, such a connection may lead to increased time consumption in assembly and disassembly and also may be deformed due to temperature fluctuations, and therefore cannot be released in a non-destructive manner.

The publication DE 102015108598 a1 shows a heat exchanger in which a connection opening is formed on the heat exchanger tank, which connection opening, for connection to a connection element, is integrated in the connection interface and can be combined with functionally different connection elements. In this case, a plug-in connection is also used, which cannot be released without destruction but is also secured only in one direction, so that it can be damaged or released by impact.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling system and a vehicle which at least partially overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a cooling system for a vehicle, comprising a first cooling element having two guides on a first side and a second cooling element having two insert elements on a first side, wherein the two insert elements can be inserted into the two guides in a common insertion direction and, in the inserted position, engage in such a way that they define a pivot axis perpendicular to the insertion direction, so that the first cooling element can be pivoted about the pivot axis into a final position relative to the second cooling element. According to a second aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a vehicle comprising a cooling system according to the invention.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a cooling system for a vehicle comprises a first cooling element having two guides on a first side and a second cooling element having two insert elements on a first side, wherein the two insert elements can be inserted into the two guides in a common insertion direction and, in the inserted position, engage in such a way that they define a pivot axis perpendicular to the insertion direction, so that the first cooling element can be pivoted about the pivot axis into a final position relative to the second cooling element.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a vehicle comprises a cooling system according to the first aspect.

As already discussed above, the known cooling systems or the connecting devices of the cooling systems have problems with regard to assembly time, with regard to disassembly time and with regard to costs due to the non-destructive solution of the connecting devices of the existing cooling systems.

Accordingly, some embodiments relate to a cooling system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first cooling element having two guides on a first side; and

a second cooling element having two insertion elements on a first side, wherein the two insertion elements can be inserted into the two guides in a common insertion direction and, in their insertion position, engage in such a way that they define a pivot axis perpendicular to the insertion direction, so that the first cooling element can be pivoted about the pivot axis into a final position relative to the second cooling element.

The first cooling element as well as the second cooling element may be known cooling elements, such as charge air coolers, water coolers, high temperature coolers, oil coolers, cooling fans, liquid coolers, fuel coolers, etc., which are respectively designed to prevent thermal overload, oil burning, etc. due to too high a temperature of the component.

The first cooling element may have two guides on the first side.

This results in the advantage that a hinge function can be provided, thus defining a firmly defined axis.

The first side may be either side of the first cooling element, however the first side typically has no curvature (or the curvature of the first side is below a certain threshold, in other words the first side is typically almost straight), so that when the two guides are arranged almost parallel on the first side, an imaginary (straight) line or axis may be passed.

Thus, assembly can be advantageously simplified, since the assembly position is predefined.

The two guides can have the same design overall, and can be, for example, cylindrical bores and angular grooves, etc. The two guides can also have different designs. For example, one guide part may be a cylindrical hole and the other guide part may be an angular groove, wherein the invention should not be limited to these two embodiments of the guide part.

The second cooling element can have two insertion elements on the first side, whereby the second cooling element can be advantageously inserted into the first cooling element.

The first side of the second cooling element may extend linearly as discussed for the first cooling element.

The two insertion elements may be designed identically or differently and may comprise one of a mandrel, a tongue, a pin or the like, whereby the insertion of the second cooling element may be simplified and/or made more stable due to the different mechanical stresses of the insertion elements.

As with the two guides, the two insertion elements usually have a common insertion direction, so that they can be arranged parallel if they have the same design or non-parallel (or possibly also parallel) if they are of different design, thus defining a pivot axis perpendicular to the insertion direction, which as mentioned above can simplify assembly.

The first and/or second cooling element can be rotated (that is to say pivoted) about a pivot axis, so that in the system of engagement of the first and second cooling element a degree of freedom is predefined by the pivot axis, which advantageously simplifies assembly when the system of engagement is placed in the final position, in other words when the first and second cooling element are pivoted to one another so that they can each be connected to one another on the second side.

In order to be able to connect the first and second cooling elements to one another on the second side, in some embodiments, the first cooling element has a further guide on the second side and the second cooling element has a further insert element on the second side, which engages with the further insert element when the first and second cooling elements are in the final position.

The further guide (and the further insert element) may have a different or identical design to the two guides (or the two insert elements) on the first side of the first (or second) cooling element, whereby mechanical stability may advantageously be ensured.

In general, the fastening direction of the further insert element relative to the further guide is predefined by means of the pivoting direction, so that the insertion direction of the further insert element into the further guide can be different from the common insertion direction of the two insert elements of the first side of the second cooling element, thus advantageously simplifying assembly.

In some embodiments, the first and second cooling elements are detachably connected to each other in the final position.

This results in the advantage that disassembly can be carried out in a non-destructive manner.

For example, a fastening element can be provided which allows the connection of the respective second side as a fixed support in the final position, wherein the fastening element can be designed reversibly, for example with a retaining clip and a thread or the like.

Thus, in some embodiments, the first cooling element also has a fastening device, which is movably connected with the other guide.

The other guides may have grooves (e.g. at least holes and ring-milled parts, etc.) so that the fastening means can be connected with the other guides. In other embodiments the fastening means may also be embedded in and enclose other guides, etc.

Known fastening methods can thus advantageously be used.

In some embodiments, the other insertion element is a mandrel.

In some embodiments, the mandrel further has a groove that opens into the mandrel.

It is thus possible, for example, for the fastening means (for example a retaining clip) connected to the further guide to engage in the recess when the mandrel is inserted into the further guide, so that the final position is fixed, with the result that a mechanically stable connection can be achieved.

In some embodiments, the connection of the first cooling element to the second cooling element is established in that two insert elements on the first side of the second cooling element are brought into engagement with two guides on the first side of the second cooling element.

In some exemplary embodiments, the connection is also established in that, if a stop is realized by the engagement position, the second cooling element is rotated in a fastening direction predetermined by the pivot axis, so that the spindle is inserted into the other guide, so that the assembly direction is advantageously predetermined, which also results in a time saving during assembly.

In some embodiments, the connection is also established in that the fastening device is designed to be able to reach the assembly position starting from the fastening position when the mandrel is guided into the other guide, and to reach the fastening position again when the mandrel has reached a predefined point in the other guide, in order to fasten the mandrel.

This results in the advantage that a stable fastening or connection can be achieved.

When the mandrel is guided into the other guide, the fastening device can be caused to move according to the invention from its basic position (fastening position) as the mandrel presses against the fastening device, there advantageously being no gap between the mandrel and the other guide as the mandrel usually has a thickness or volume which corresponds to the thickness or volume of the other guide.

If the mandrel reaches a position in which the recess (which may be the position in which the thickness of the mandrel is smaller) is at the same height as the fastening device (relative to the other guides), the fastening device can be returned again into its basic position (or fastening position) (or into the fastening position by means of a support, for example by means of a spring, itself), so that the mandrel is fixed in the other guides. In order to be able to release the fastening device, the fastening device can be withdrawn, for example manually, so that it is possible to advantageously effect the detachment in a non-destructive manner.

In some embodiments, as discussed above, the first and second cooling elements comprise one of a high temperature cooler, a charge air cooler, a heat exchanger, and a water cooler.

In some embodiments, the connection of the first side of the cooling element defines a floating support and the connection of the second side of the cooling element defines a fixed support, so that expansion (e.g. as a function of temperature) advantageously does not adversely affect the functioning of the cooling system. However, in some embodiments, the two sides may be fixed support sides or floating support sides, or the second side is a floating support side and the first side is a fixed support side.

The expansion (for example as a function of temperature) can thus advantageously be compensated for on the floating bearing side.

In some embodiments, the second cooling element also has two guides on the first side and other guides on the second side, so that a third cooling element can be inserted into the second cooling element.

The advantage thus arises that further connections according to the invention can be established with further cooling elements.

In some embodiments, the material of the two insert elements of the first sides of the two cooling elements comprises one of metal and plastic.

However, any arbitrary material may be used in other embodiments. Furthermore, one of the two insert elements can have a metal and the other insert element a plastic, wherein each metal (and alloys) and each plastic (and multi-component plastics) (or mixtures of one or more metals and one or more plastics) can in principle be suitable for providing the connection in the cooling system according to the invention.

In some embodiments, the metal comprises aluminum. Known processing methods (e.g., production lines) can thus be advantageously used and increases in costs (and material costs) can be avoided.

Some embodiments comprise a vehicle comprising a cooling system according to the invention.

The vehicle may represent any arbitrary vehicle driven by an engine (e.g. an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, etc.), such as a car, a motorcycle, a lorry, a bus, a tractor and a train for agriculture or forestry, etc., in which there may be a cooling system.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example and with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a cooling system according to the present invention;

fig. 2 shows the connection of one of the two insert elements of the second heat exchanger to the guide of the first heat exchanger;

fig. 3 shows further embodiments of the connection of the insertion element with the guide;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for scarf joining a second heat exchanger;

FIG. 5 shows the connection of the respective first sides and the connection of the respective second sides of the heat exchangers;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of how the second side of the second heat exchanger is inserted into the second side of the first heat exchanger;

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of how the heat exchanger is assembled; and

fig. 8 shows a vehicle according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cooling system 1, which cooling system 1 comprises a first heat exchanger 2 (first cooling element) and a second heat exchanger 3 (second cooling element), wherein the two

heat exchangers

2 and 3 have been connected to each other according to the invention.

The second heat exchanger 3 has two insert elements 4 on a first side and is connected to the first heat exchanger 2 on a second side by

connections

5 and 6.

Fig. 2 shows the connection of one of the two insertion elements 4 of the second heat exchanger 3 to the guide 7 of the first heat exchanger 2.

In this embodiment, the insertion element 4 comprises a plate with aluminum.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the connection of the insert element 4 'of the second heat exchanger 3 to the guide 7' of the first heat exchanger 2.

In this embodiment, the insert element 4' comprises plastic.

Fig. 4 shows a method 10 how the first side of the second heat exchanger 3 can be embedded into the first side of the first heat exchanger 2.

The second heat exchanger 3 has an insert element 4 on a first side, which insert element 4 is fed linearly in 11, i.e. in the insertion direction 12, to the guide 7.

For the sake of simplicity, this shows only one insert element 4, but in general a plurality of (at least two) insert elements can also be designed, so that the pivot axis described here is defined.

In 13, the second heat exchanger 3 is pivoted about a rotation point 14 (that is to say about a pivot axis) relative to the first heat exchanger 2 in a pivoting direction 15.

The final position is reached in 16.

Fig. 5 shows on the left side the connections 5 of the respective first sides of the

heat exchangers

2 and 3 and on the right side the connections 6 of the respective second sides of the

heat exchangers

2 and 3.

The connection 5 is established by means of a mandrel 21, which mandrel 21 is fixed in a guide 22, in which guide 22 a retaining clip 23 is embedded.

The connection 6 is established by means of a mandrel 24, which mandrel 24 is identical in its design to the mandrel 21, the mandrel 24 being fastened in the guide 25 by means of a retaining clip 26, which retaining clip 26 is embedded in the guide 25.

The retaining clip 26 is identical in its design to the retaining clip 23, but is embedded in the guide 25 in a different direction than the retaining clip 23 is embedded in the guide 22.

In general, the corresponding designs of the mandrel and retaining clip need not be identical, as discussed herein.

By the different directions in which the retaining clips 23 and 26 engage in the

respective guides

22 and 25, unintentional release of the

connections

5 and 6, for example due to a collision or the like, can be avoided.

Fig. 6 shows a method 30 of how the second side of the second heat exchanger 3 is inserted into the second side of the first heat exchanger 2.

The second heat exchanger 2 has a mandrel 21, which mandrel 21 has a recess 32. The first heat exchanger 3 has a guide 22 and a retaining clip 23, which retaining clip 23 matches in thickness with the groove 32.

The second heat exchanger 3 is pivoted in a direction 15 (as described with reference to fig. 4) in a direction 31 relative to the first heat exchanger 2.

In 33, when the mandrel 21 is inserted into the guide 22, the retaining clip 23 is pushed outward in the insertion direction 34 into the assembly position.

The final position is reached in 35 when the recess 32 of the mandrel 21 reaches the position of the retaining clip 23 and the retaining clip 23 thus reaches its basic position (fastening position) again.

Fig. 7 shows a method 40 according to the invention, how the

heat exchangers

2 and 3 are assembled.

In 41, the second heat exchanger 3 is conveyed linearly in the conveying direction 42 to the first heat exchanger 2, and the insertion element 4 of the first side of the second heat exchanger 3 is inserted in the insertion direction 43 into the guide 7 of the second heat exchanger 3.

In 44, the second heat exchanger is rotated in the pivoting direction 15 about a defined pivot axis (not shown), so that the mandrel of the second side of the second heat exchanger 3 can be inserted and fixed in accordance with the invention in the further guide of the first heat exchanger 2.

The final position is reached in 45. The connection of the respective first sides of the

cooling elements

2 and 3 is a floating support side and the connection of the respective second sides of the

cooling elements

2 and 3 represents a fixed support side.

Fig. 8 shows a vehicle 50 according to the invention, said vehicle 50 having a cooling system according to the invention at a location 51.

The invention, in particular the type of connection, is not generally limited to use on cooling systems (or other parts of the vehicle) and the person skilled in the art can implement the invention in all embodiments of modular assemblies that can be connected according to the invention.

List of reference numerals

1 Cooling System

2 first heat exchanger

3 second Heat exchanger

4. 4' insert element

5. 6 connecting part

7. 7' guide part

10 method for engaging a first side of a second heat exchanger

11 straight line transport of insertion elements

12 direction of insertion

13 rotation about a pivot axis

14 rotation point (Pivot axis)

15 pivoting/tightening direction

16 to a final position

21. 24 mandrel

22. 25 other guide part

23. 26 holding clamp

30 method for engaging a second side

31 pivoting of the second heat exchanger

32 grooves

33 mandrel inserted into the guide

34 direction of insertion of the mandrel

35 to a final position

40 method of assembling heat exchanger

41 straight transport of the second heat exchanger

42 conveying direction

43 direction of insertion

44 pivoting of the second Heat exchanger

45 to a final position

50 vehicle

51 location of cooling system

Claims

1. A cooling system (1) for a vehicle (50), comprising:

a first cooling element (2), the first cooling element (2) having two guides (7, 7') on a first side; and

a second cooling element (3), the second cooling element (3) having two insertion elements (4, 4 ') on a first side, wherein the two insertion elements (4, 4') can be inserted into the two guides (7, 7 ') in a common insertion direction (12) and engage in an insertion position such that the two insertion elements (4, 4') define a pivot axis (14) perpendicular to the insertion direction (12), such that the first cooling element (2) can be pivoted relative to the second cooling element (3) about the pivot axis (14) into a final position.

2. Cooling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first cooling element (2) has further guides (22, 25) on a second side and wherein the second cooling element (3) has further insert elements (21, 24) on a second side, the further insert elements (21, 24) and the further guides (22, 25) engaging when the first cooling element (2) and the second cooling element (3) are in the final position.

3. Cooling system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first cooling element (2) and the second cooling element (3) are detachably connected to each other in the final position.

4. Cooling system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first cooling element (2) further has a fastening device (23, 26), which fastening device (23, 26) is movably connected with the further guide (22, 25).

5. Cooling system (1) according to claim 4, wherein the further insert element (21, 24) is a mandrel.

6. Cooling system (1) according to claim 5, wherein the spindle (21, 24) further has a groove (32), the groove (32) opening in the spindle (21, 24).

7. Cooling system (1) according to claim 6, wherein the connection of the first cooling element (2) and the second cooling element (3) is established in that two insert elements (4, 4 ') on a first side of the second cooling element (3) are brought into engagement with two guides (7, 7') on a first side of the second cooling element (3).

8. Cooling system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the connection is established in that, when a stop is reached by the engagement, the second cooling element (3) is rotated in a fastening direction (15) which is predefined by the pivot axis (14), so that the mandrels (21, 24) are inserted into the further guides (7, 7').

9. Cooling system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the connection is established in that the fastening means (23, 26) are designed to reach the assembly position from the fastening position when the spindle (21, 24) is inserted into the other guide (7, 7'), and that the fastening means (23, 26) reach the fastening position again when the spindle reaches a predefined location in the other guide (22, 25), thereby fastening the spindle (21, 24).

10. The cooling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first cooling element (2) and the second cooling element (3) comprise one of a high temperature cooler, a charge air cooler, a heat exchanger and a water cooler.

11. Cooling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection of the first sides of the cooling elements (2, 3) defines a floating support and wherein the connection of the second sides of the cooling elements (2, 3) defines a fixed support.

12. Cooling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cooling element (3) further has two guides on a first side and other guides on a second side, so that a third cooling element can be inserted into the second cooling element.

13. Cooling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the two insert elements of the first sides of the two cooling elements comprises one of metal and plastic.

14. Cooling system (1) according to claim 13, wherein the metal comprises aluminium.

15. A vehicle (50) comprising a cooling system (1) according to one of the preceding claims.