DE102009033869A1 - Container arrangement for motor vehicle, has containers arranged at distance from each other, and filling level detection device arranged between two containers and detecting filling levels of operating mediums at containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement has a container (10) for receiving an operating medium (12) e.g. petrol or diesel, of a motor vehicle, and another container (16) for receiving another operating medium (18) i.e. urea-water solution, of the motor vehicle. The two containers are arranged at a distance from each other in a spatial direction. A filling level detection device (22) is arranged between the two containers and detects filling levels (14, 20) of the operating mediums at the containers, respectively. The filling level detection device is partially accommodated in a common housing.

Description

The The invention relates to a container arrangement for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

In motor vehicles and their internal combustion engines, increasingly stringent exhaust gas limit values exist, which is why the internal combustion engines are usually followed by increasingly effective exhaust aftertreatment devices. These exhaust aftertreatment devices generally require auxiliaries for various chemical reactions with the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine. For example, in diesel-powered internal combustion engines to reduce the nitrogen oxide (NO _x ) in the exhaust stream, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is performed, in which the nitrogen oxides by means of reducing agents such as a urea-water solution (HWL, AdBlue) to nitrogen and water be reduced.

such Aids are generally stored in a tank and over a line transported to a dosing, with which the Aid at a suitable location in the exhaust aftertreatment device or an exhaust pipe are injected.

For a proper and safe operation of the motor vehicle, in particular its internal combustion engine and its exhaust aftertreatment device, it is essential that the stock levels of fuel and auxiliaries in the respective tanks are constantly monitored. It is therefore known (cf. WO 2009/001195 ), to equip the fuel tank with a level sensor for detecting the fuel level and to equip the reducing agent tank with another level sensor for detecting the reducing agent level, wherein both level sensors are connected to the engine control.

For detecting the level, various other devices are known in addition to mechanical arrangements with floats and the like. For example, this describes the DE 100 03 226 A1 a level measuring device having an antenna device for emitting electromagnetic wave signals in the shortwave region from above into a container and a receiving device for receiving the wave signals reflected by the medium. From the duration of the wave signals can be closed on the level of the medium in the container.

The JP 2004-101486 A discloses a level sensor for a motor vehicle having a transmitter for emitting ultrasonic waves into a liquid fuel in a container and an ultrasonic detector of reflected ultrasonic waves. Based on the transit time differences between the ultrasonic waves reflected at the liquid surface and the ultrasonic waves reflected at a reference plate, the level in the container can be determined. In the case of DE 43 07 635 C2 For example, the wave signals reflected at the liquid surface are compared with wave signals generated by reflections on a plurality of reflectors immersed in the liquid.

From the WO 2008/008019 A1 a fuel tank in the form of a saddle tank is known, which is equipped with a level detection device for detecting the levels in the two subregions of the saddle tank. For this purpose, sound waves are emitted from a common transducer via two waveguides in the liquid in the two tank areas and detects the respective reflected wave signals.

It It is an object of the invention to provide an improved container assembly for a motor vehicle with a first and a second To create containers in which in a simple way the Levels detected in the two containers can be.

These Task is solved by a container arrangement with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are in the dependent Claims specified.

The Container arrangement for a motor vehicle has a first container for receiving a first operating medium of the motor vehicle and a second container for receiving a second operating medium of the motor vehicle, wherein the first and the second container in at least one spatial direction are arranged adjacent to each other. Furthermore, a level detection device is provided, at least partially between the first and second containers is arranged and for detecting a level of the first Operating medium in the first container and for detecting a level formed of the second operating medium in the second container is.

Of the first and second containers are in at least one spatial direction adjacent, d. H. in close proximity to each other arranged. This can advantageously heat transfer between take place the two operating media. For example, a reducing agent in the second container because of the spatial proximity to the fuel in the first tank of that in operation or warmer fuel already at startup record and thus even at low outside temperatures freezing.

These allows each other adjacent arrangement of the two containers it also, a common level detection device provide, at least partially, between the first and the second container is arranged and both for detecting a level of the first operating medium in the first Container as well as for detecting a level formed of the second operating medium in the second container is. There are therefore no two separate level sensors required, reducing the structure of the entire container assembly can be made more compact and cheaper.

In In one embodiment of the invention, the level detection device a first electrical resonant circuit and a second electrical Have resonant circuit, wherein at least one parameter of the first electrical resonant circuit depending on the level of the first operating medium in the first container changed and at least one parameter of the second electrical resonant circuit depending on the level changed the second operating medium in the second container. This at least one parameter of the first and the second electrical Oscillatory circuit may be selected, for example, from a resonant frequency and an impedance value of the respective resonant circuit.

Around To achieve a compact design, can also be a part the components of the first electrical resonant circuit and a part the components of the second electrical resonant circuit common Components of the first and second electrical resonant circuit be.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the level detection device a first transmitting element for irradiating electromagnetic waves in the first container, a first receiving element for Receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from the first Container, wherein the wave signal received by the first receiving element from the level of the first operating medium in the first Container depends, a second transmitting element to Radiation of electromagnetic waves in the second container and a second receiving element for receiving reflected electromagnetic Waves from the second container, that of the second Receive element received wave signal from the level of the second operating medium in the second container depends.

To the Achieving a compact design, the first transmitting element and the second transmitting element of the level detecting device be designed as a common transmitting element and / or can the first receiving element and the second receiving element of the level detection device be formed as a common receiving element.

In In another embodiment of the invention, the level detection device at least partially housed in a common housing be.

In In yet another embodiment of the invention, the level detection device can Level of the first operating medium in the first container and the level of the second operating medium in the second Capture containers in temporal change.

The Inventive container arrangement is particularly advantageous in container arrangements can be used, in which the first operating medium is a fuel for an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle and the second operating medium an adjuvant (eg, a reducing agent) for an exhaust aftertreatment device of the motor vehicle.

Above as well as other features, advantages and applications The invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred Embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings better understandable. Showing:

1 a schematic representation of the structure of a container assembly according to the present invention; and

2 several schematic representations to illustrate different possible arrangements of the two containers of the container assembly according to the present invention.

In the 1 The container arrangement shown by way of example comprises a first container 10 for receiving a first operating medium 12 of the motor vehicle and a second container 16 for receiving a second operating medium 18 of the motor vehicle.

The first operating medium 12 is, for example, a fuel (gasoline, diesel) for the internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, and the second operating medium 16 is for example an aid (eg reducing agent such as HWL) for the exhaust aftertreatment device of the motor vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to these operating media or this combination of operating media. For example, the two containers can also accommodate two fuels or two aids; The two containers can also be either two identical or two different ones Absorb operating supplies.

As in 1 is the second container 16 within the first container 10 arranged. In the context of the present invention, however, other container arrangements are possible in which the first and the second container 10 . 16 are arranged adjacent to each other in at least one spatial direction. So shows 2a For example, two juxtaposed container 10 . 16 which are separated by a bulkhead. In 2 B ) is the second container 16 as a squeezed volume of the first container 10 emerged. As in 2c ) are also two separate containers 10 . 16 possible, for example, welded together or clipped together. 2d ) corresponds to the arrangement of 1 ,

The shapes and sizes of the two containers 10 . 16 are basically arbitrary and not limited to the embodiments shown.

Due to the spatial proximity of the two containers 10 and 16 to each other, can also advantageously a heat transfer between the first and the second fuel 12 . 18 occur. For example, the reducing agent 18 inside the second container 16 from the warmer fuel during operation or already during the startup process 12 Absorb heat and thus be prevented even at low outside temperatures from freezing.

For safe and proper operation of the vehicle, the level must 14 of the first operating medium 12 in the first container 10 and also the level 20 of the second operating medium 18 in the second container 16 be monitored continuously or at least regularly. For this purpose, the container assembly with a level detection device 22 Mistake.

As in 1 indicated, this level detection device 22 at least partially between the first container 10 and the second container 16 arranged. In addition, the level detection device 22 a two containers 10 and 16 common level detection device. In other words, this serves a level detection device 22 both for detecting the level 14 of the first operating medium 12 in the outer first container 10 as well as to detect the level 20 of the second operating medium 18 inside the second container 16 ,

The detection of fill levels 14 and 20 in the two containers 10 . 16 can, depending on the embodiment of the level detection device 22 alternatively in parallel, ie at the same time, or in a temporal change. Moreover, it is advantageous if the level detection device 22 at least partially housed in a common housing and / or when some components of the level detection device 22 both the first container 10 as well as the second container 16 are assigned together, so that a compact design with as few components is achieved.

The level detection device 22 Optionally, it can have elements associated with the operating media 12 . 18 in contact with or dive into, or consist exclusively of elements that are outside the container 10 . 16 and thus the operating media 12 . 18 are arranged.

The level detection device 22 gives the recorded measured values of the fill levels 14 . 20 to the engine control on.

It Now two different types of level detection device explained without the present invention to this Both embodiments should be limited.

So the level detection device 22 For example, have a first electrical resonant circuit and a second electrical resonant circuit. Both resonant circuits each have a capacitor and a coil, wherein capacitor and / or coil in the immediate vicinity or within the respective operating medium 12 . 18 are arranged. The resonant frequency of the resonant circuits is preferably above 3 MHz, ie for example in the high frequency range (3 to 30 MHz) or in the ultra high frequency range (0.3 to 3 GHz).

At least one parameter of the first electrical resonant circuit changes as a function of the fill level 14 of the first operating medium 12 in the first container, and at least one parameter of the second electrical resonant circuit changes depending on the level 20 of the second operating medium 18 in the second container 16 changed. This is due to the fact that the conductivity and the dielectric properties of the operating media 12 . 18 affect the impedance and the resonance of the respective resonant circuits. The changes in the impedance value and / or the resonance frequency are proportional to the volume of the operating media 12 . 18 in the containers 10 . 16 ,

According to another embodiment, the level detection device 22 on: a first transmitting element for irradiating electromagnetic waves in the first container 10 a first receiving element for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from the first container 10 , wherein the emp by the first receiving element caught wave signal from the level 14 of the first operating medium 12 in the first container 10 depends, a second transmitting element for radiating electromagnetic waves in the second container 16 and a second receiving element for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from the second container 16 wherein the wave signal received by the second receiving element is of the level 20 of the second operating medium 18 in the second container 16 depends. For the electromagnetic waves, the frequency range above 3 MHz, ie, for example, the high frequency range (3 to 30 MHz) or the ultra high frequency range (0.3 to 3 GHz) is preferably used.

For recording the fill levels 14 . 20 in the two containers 10 . 16 For example, the propagation time differences or the transit times of the electromagnetic waves reflected at the media level are used in a known manner.

Further design options for the common level detection device 22 between the two containers 10 . 16 are for example the use of optical signals, acoustic signals and / or electrical signals whose transmission from a transmitter to a corresponding receiver is influenced by the intermediate operating medium and its volume.

The level detection device 22 should also have a calibration option to ensure that the correct levels are maintained 14 . 20 in the two containers 10 . 16 to be able to capture.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2009/001195 [0004]
• - DE 10003226 A1 [0005]
• - JP 2004-101486 A [0006]
• DE 4307635 C2 [0006]
• - WO 2008/008019 A1 [0007]

Claims (9)

Container arrangement for a motor vehicle, with a first container ( 10 ) for receiving a first operating medium ( 12 ) of the motor vehicle; and a second container ( 16 ) for receiving a second operating medium ( 18 ) of the motor vehicle, wherein the first and the second container ( 10 . 16 ) are arranged in at least one spatial direction adjacent to each other, characterized by a level detection device ( 22 ), which at least partially between the first and the second container ( 10 . 16 ) is arranged and for detecting a level ( 14 ) of the first operating medium ( 12 ) in the first container ( 10 ) and for detecting a filling level ( 20 ) of the second operating medium ( 18 ) in the second container ( 16 ) is trained. Container arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the level detection device ( 22 ) has a first electrical resonant circuit and a second electrical resonant circuit, wherein at least one parameter of the first electrical resonant circuit in dependence on the level ( 14 ) of the first operating medium ( 12 ) in the first container ( 10 ) is changed and at least one parameter of the second electrical resonant circuit in dependence on the level ( 20 ) of the second operating medium ( 18 ) in the second container ( 16 ) changed. Container arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that that the at least one parameter of the first and the second electrical resonant circuit is selected from a resonance frequency and an impedance value of the respective resonant circuit. Container arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized characterized in that a part of the components of the first electrical Oscillatory circuit and a part of the components of the second electrical resonant circuit common components of the first and second electrical resonant circuits are. Container arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the level detection device ( 22 ) a first transmitting element for irradiating electromagnetic waves in the first container ( 10 ), a first receiving element for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from the first container ( 10 ), wherein the wave signal received by the first receiving element is dependent on the level ( 14 ) of the first operating medium ( 12 ) in the first container ( 10 ), a second transmitting element for irradiating electromagnetic waves into the second container ( 16 ), and a second receiving element for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from the second container ( 16 ), wherein the received from the second receiving element wave signal from the level ( 20 ) of the second operating medium ( 18 ) in the second container ( 16 ) depends. Container arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the first transmitting element and the second transmitting element of the filling level detecting device ( 22 ) are formed as a common transmitting element and / or the first receiving element and the second receiving element of the filling level detecting device ( 22 ) are formed as a common receiving element. Container arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the level detection device ( 22 ) is at least partially housed in a common housing. Container arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the level detection device ( 22 ) the level ( 14 ) of the first operating medium ( 12 ) in the first container ( 10 ) and the level ( 20 ) of the second operating medium ( 18 ) in the second container ( 16 ) recorded in temporal change. Container arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first operating medium ( 12 ) is a fuel for an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle and the second operating medium ( 18 ) is an aid for an exhaust aftertreatment device of the motor vehicle.

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