DE102016001473A1 - Tank delivery module for a reducing agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tank (9) for reducing agent with a tank delivery module (1), which comprises a housing (2) in which at least one pump (3), a heater (4) and a sensor (5) is accommodated. In this case, a holder (10, 17) is formed in the housing (2) in a bottom region (6), by means of which it is fastened on an inner tank base surface (8) of the tank (9). Furthermore, a suitably prepared tank conveyor module (1) and a production method for such a tank system are specified.

Description

The present invention relates to a tank delivery module comprising a housing in which at least one pump, a heater and a sensor can be accommodated.

It is known to place tank conveyor modules on or in a tank to remove liquid in the tank as needed. The focus here is a tank delivery module, which is suitable to promote a reducing agent solution (in particular urea-water solution) from a corresponding tank. The reducing agent is used in particular for exhaust gas aftertreatment in motor vehicles.

Exhaust gas treatment devices for cleaning exhaust gases of mobile internal combustion engines use, for example, the so-called SCR process (SCR = Selective Catalytic Reduction), in which nitrogen oxide compounds in the exhaust gas are reacted with the aid of an ammonia-containing reducing agent. Since ammonia in motor vehicles usually can not be stored directly, the storage and provision of a liquid ammonia precursor solution, in particular urea-water solution, is often proposed. A urea-water solution with a urea content of 32.5% is commercially available under the trade name AdBlue ^®. The urea-water solution can be converted into ammonia within the exhaust gas system, ie within the exhaust system or exhausts outside, for example in a dedicated reactor outside the exhaust system.

The problem with providing such reducing agents is that the water-based liquid can freeze at low temperatures. The urea-water solution with the urea content of 32.5%, for example, freezes at about -11 ° C. The tanks for storing this reducing agent must therefore be designed so that they can withstand ice pressure occurring during freezing. In addition, it is regularly necessary to provide heaters with which the liquid can be melted when it is frozen. It is also necessary that tanks and conveyors to convey the liquid reductant be resistant to urea-water solution.

It has already been proposed a variety of different configurations for the integration of a tank conveyor module in a reducing agent tank. The different embodiments relate on the one hand the placement of the tank conveyor module on an upper side, on a side wall or on the tank bottom. In addition, various fastening methods have already been discussed, but focus essentially on so-called flange solutions, with which a mounting from the outside to the tank is realized.

Nevertheless, there is still an increased need to find here further integration possibilities of the tank conveyor module in a reducing agent tank, in which the available volume for the tank can be better utilized, a mountability of the tank conveyor module is improved towards the tank and / or the Tightness of the tank is further improved.

On this basis, it is an object of the present invention, at least partially alleviate the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, a tank delivery module or a tank with a tank delivery module is to be specified, which can be provided in a space-saving and also with high tightness requirements and also favors the assembly or production.

These objects are achieved with a tank delivery module according to the features of patent claim 1 and a tank with a tank delivery module according to the features of claim 3. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. Furthermore, a method for producing a tank with a tank delivery module has been specified, which is characterized by the features or steps of claim 11.

It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims in any technologically meaningful way, can be combined with each other and show other embodiments of the invention. In particular, the features of the claims and specifications from the description or the figures are added, with further embodiments of the invention are given.

Contributing to this is a tank delivery module comprising a housing in which at least one pump, a heater and a sensor is accommodated, the housing having in a bottom region a holding device for fastening the housing on an inner tank base of a tank.

The housing may be formed with metal and / or plastic. The housing may be formed in several parts, for example, a pot-like basic design may be selected, which consists for example of a flat lid and a substantially cylindrical side wall, and comprises a bottom. The housing, in particular the entry of in-tank Reducing reducing agent into the interior of the housing, can accommodate several relevant for the storage and / or promotion of reducing agent components, in particular a pump for conveying the reducing agent along a separately formed in the housing conveyor channel, a heater for heating the housing inner area and / or the area around the outside of the housing, and a sensor for determining a property of the reducing agent in the delivery channel and / or is accommodated in the tank. Consequently, the housing has corresponding dimensions to accommodate all these components inside. Of course, several heaters, several (different) sensors, filters, return lines, valves, diaphragms and the like may be included in the housing. Due to the arrangement of these components, in particular the pump, the heater and the sensor, it can be seen in which position the tank delivery module is installed in the tank. In this respect, it is also unproblematic to determine where a bottom region of the housing is located, namely the region of the housing which is closest to the tank base surface of the tank after installation. This floor area may, for example, cover the lowest level and / or from there, an area up to a maximum height of 20% of the total height of the housing. In this floor area, a holding device for fastening the housing is now provided on an inner tank base of a tank. The holding device may comprise, for example, a male and / or a female part of a positive-locking element.

In this respect, it is very particularly preferred that the holding device comprises an element of an SAE ring gland. This element may, for example, extend radially outwardly around the housing in the bottom area and cooperate with a corresponding ring gland receptacle positioned on the tank bottom surface of the tank. Thus, for example, a kind of bayonet closure can be achieved via a swivel. Thus, the tank conveyor module or its housing is specially prepared to be bolted to a corresponding tank on an inner tank base.

To solve the above object also contributes to a tank with a tank delivery module, wherein the tank delivery module comprises a housing in which at least one pump, a heater and a sensor is received, wherein the housing forms a holder in a bottom area, by means which it is mounted on an inner tank base of the tank.

Essentially, the above arrangement of tank with tank delivery module describes the assembled embodiment of a tank delivery module on a tank, as stated above. In contrast to this, it is stated that a mounting between the inner tank base surface and the bottom region of the housing now concretely forms. The term "holder" is here an umbrella term for various holding devices, so that a holder in this sense comprises a holding device.

Under a bracket is understood in particular at least one screw or a weld. These two variants also represent preferred embodiments of such attachment to the inner tank base.

It is very particularly preferred that the housing of the tank conveyor module is arranged completely in the tank. In other words, this means in particular that no area of the housing is in direct contact with the outer tank environment and / or the housing is completely enclosed in the inner tank volume. Thus, the housing can in particular be located completely above a tank base wall, and / or under no circumstances extend through this tank base wall.

Next is considered advantageous that the holder also forms a seal against stored in the tank reducing agent. In particular, in the case when the holder is formed encompassing the housing and / or completely encompassing, this holder forms a seal, so that no reductant get past this holder or through this holder under the housing or in the region of the inner tank base that are covered by the housing. This opens up the possibility of placing accesses for fluid lines and / or electrical lines in the housing in the region of this holder and / or below the housing.

Most preferably, the tank is formed with an upper shell and a lower shell, wherein the lower shell comprises the inner tank base. The two-part (or multi-part) configuration of the tank allows easy mounting of the housing towards the inner tank base of the lower shell.

It is further proposed that the tank has at least one tank opening or an outlet in a tank base wall, which is arranged below the housing and within the holder. As already stated, such a variant is particularly advantageous if the holder has a sealing effect at the same time. Otherwise, at the tank opening and / or the tank outlet ( additional) seals may be provided. The tank opening can be designed, for example, with a (resealable) flap, which provides access to the bottom area of the housing, for example to allow repair there and / or connect devices and / or make a visual inspection. The outlet is in particular a connection possibility for a metering line with which the reducing agent removed from the tank is then passed on to the point of addition in the exhaust system.

The tank may be configured such that the tank delivery module has an inlet through the housing for stored in the tank reducing agent and at least one delivery channel for reducing agent within the housing, wherein the pump and a sensor are in contact only via the delivery channel with the reducing agent. Preferably, a single conveying channel is formed within the housing, wherein optionally a plurality of sensors and / or at least one additional valve may be provided on this conveying channel. A valve is particularly useful when a branch of this delivery channel is provided, which forms, for example, a return line for reducing agent back into the tank.

The inner tank base of the tank can form a positioning seat in the region of the holder. This can for example be realized by at least one bulge, at least one groove or the like, which is realized in one piece in the tank base wall and / or by separate components. This positioning seat is used in particular to achieve a directional or exact positioning of the housing on the tank base. The positioning seat can for example also have adapted counter-elements to a holding device on the housing, such as a corresponding element for a SAE ring gland.

• a. Bereitstellen eines Tanks mit einer Oberschale und einer Unterschale, wobei die Unterschale eine innere Tankgrundfläche bildet;
• b. Bereitstellen eines Tank-Fördermoduls, welches ein Gehäuse umfasst, in dem mindestens eine Pumpe, eine Heizung und ein Sensor anordenbar sind;
• c. Befestigen des Tank-Fördermoduls über eine an einem Bodenbereich des Gehäuses ausgebildete Halterung auf der inneren Tankgrundfläche;
• d. Fügen von Oberschale und Unterschale zu einem Tank.

In addition, a method for producing a tank with a tank delivery module is proposed, comprising at least the following steps:

• a. Providing a tank having an upper shell and a lower shell, the lower shell forming an inner tank base;
• b. Providing a tank conveyor module comprising a housing in which at least one pump, a heater and a sensor can be arranged;
• c. Attaching the tank conveyor module via a holder formed on a bottom portion of the housing on the inner tank base;
• d. Joining of upper shell and lower shell to a tank.

According to step a. First, a (at least) two-part tank is provided, which has an upper shell and a lower shell. The lower shell is arranged in the installed state in the motor vehicle below and forms lying inside, so towards the tank interior volume, an inner tank base. According to step b. a tank delivery module is provided, wherein a housing is provided which can accommodate at least one suitable for the purpose described here pump, heater and sensor. According to step c. Then, the tank conveyor module is attached via a formed on a bottom portion of the housing holder on the inner tank base. It should be noted that this can also be done in a state in which the housing is not yet equipped with the pump, the heater and / or the sensor. Optionally, these components can be individually and / or assembled later also still mounted in the housing. If the required preparations for the tank delivery module have been completed, the upper shell and lower shell can be removed in accordance with step d. be joined with the already attached housing inside to the closed tank.

Favor is that in step c. the housing of the tank conveyor module is bolted or welded onto the inner tank base. Depending on the material of the housing and / or the tank for this purpose, a suitable, preferably reducing agent density, fastening method can be selected.

It is obvious that the devices described here can be produced by the method explained and vice versa, with the method described here, the proposed devices can be produced. Therefore, the explanation of the method can be readily used to explain the device, and vice versa.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to figures. It should be noted that the figures are schematic in nature and are not particularly suitable for illustrating size relationships. It should also be pointed out that the figures show combinations of features which are not mandatory, but rather individual features from one figure can be combined with features from another figure and / or the description, unless this is explicitly excluded.

Showing:

1 a first embodiment of a tank with a tank conveyor module,

2 a second embodiment of a tank conveyor module to a tank base wall in detail, and

3 schematically a motor vehicle with a tank including tank delivery module.

1 shows schematically and in cross section a tank conveyor module 1 in a tank 9 in which reducing agent 14 , In particular, a urea-water solution is added. The Tank 9 is made in two parts and has an upper shell 15 and a lower shell 16 on. The lowest part of the lower shell 16 is from the tank base wall 19 formed, lying inside an inner tank base 8th formed. The inner tank base 8th is at least partially with reducing agent 14 wetted. On this inner tank base 8th of the tank 9 is the case 2 a tank conveyor module 1 attached.

The tank conveyor module 1 includes itself a housing 2 in which at least one pump 3 , a heater 4 and a sensor 5 are included. In the variant illustrated here, the outer circumference is around the housing 2 and in the reducing agent 14 a filter 23 also positioned with the tank delivery module 1 connected is. To promote the reducing agent 14 indicates the tank conveyor module 1 an inlet 20 on, via the means of the pump 3 the reducing agent 14 from the tank 9 can be sucked. Starting from this inlet 20 becomes the reducing agent 14 along a given conveyor channel 21 , which is formed for example with pipes and / or holes in a solid body, passed and so with the pump 3 and a sensor 5 brought into contact before the reducing agent 14 the tank conveyor module 1 and the tank 9 via an outlet 18 leaves. In this respect, in this embodiment, the tank base wall 19 almost completely closed and provides only a tank base wall opening, through which alone this outlet 18 can extend through. In any case, (generally) this is significantly smaller than the cross section of the housing 2 of the tank conveyor module 1 ,

2 schematically shows in detail a further embodiment of a variant on the lower shell 16 attached housing 2 of the tank conveyor module 1 , On the inner tank base 8th is here by appropriate material assemblies a positioning seat 22 formed, which extends into the tank inside. There (and with a small distance to the tank base wall) is the housing 2 fixed fixed and aligned, with a holder in the left area schematically 7 in the manner of a weld 12 and a holder on the right 7 in the manner of a screw connection 11 is indicated. Both brackets can also be formed alone and / or fully around the housing 2 around. Both mounts 7 can also be kind of a seal 13 be executed and thus prevent reducing agent can penetrate into areas that are below the floor area 6 of the housing 2 lie or in an area where the outlet for the reducing agent and / or an electronic plug 30 available. This especially opens up the possibility of being in the lower shell 16 an additional tank opening 17 provide, for example, access to an electronic control unit 28 is possible. Such an electronic control unit 28 For example, it is set up in such a way that the commissioning or deactivation and / or monitoring of various components in the interior of the housing is required 2 of the tank conveyor module 1 is possible. So can data lines 29 to several heaters 4 , different sensors 5 and / or the pump 3 be made available on demand as a promotion of reducing agent carried out or can be controlled.

To illustrate the preferred use of such a tank conveyor module shows 3 schematically a motor vehicle 24 with an internal combustion engine 31 and associated exhaust pipe 25 , In the exhaust pipe 25 is a catalytic converter 26 provided, in particular a so-called SCR catalyst, in front of which the reducing agent 14 via an adding device 27 can be added to the exhaust stream. There is a tank for this 9 in the motor vehicle 24 provided in which the reducing agent 14 is stored, using the tank conveyor module 1 as required and via a metering line 32 reducing agent 14 to the adding device 27 can be promoted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Tank delivery module

2

casing

3

pump

4

heater

5

sensor

6

floor area

7

holder

8th

inner tank base

9

tank

10

bracket

11

screw

12

Weld

13

poetry

14

reducing agent

15

Upper shell

16

subshell

17

tank opening

18

outlet

19

Tank base wall

20

inlet

21

delivery channel

22

positioning seat

23

filter

24

motor vehicle

25

exhaust pipe

26

catalytic converter

27

adding device

28

control unit

29

data line

30

plug

31

Internal combustion engine

32

addition line

Claims (12)

Tank delivery module comprising a housing in which at least one pump, a heater and a sensor is accommodated, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) in a ground area ( 6 ) a holding device ( 7 ) for fastening the housing ( 2 ) on an inner tank base ( 8th ) of a tank ( 9 ) having. Tank conveyor module according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device ( 7 ) comprises an element of a SAE ring gland. Tank with a tank delivery module, which comprises a housing in which at least one pump, a heater and a sensor is accommodated, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) in a ground area ( 6 ) a holder ( 10 ), by means of which it is deposited on an inner tank base ( 8th ) of the tank ( 9 ) is attached Tank according to claim 3, characterized in that the holder ( 10 ) at least one screw connection ( 11 ) or a weld ( 12 ). Tank according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) of the tank conveyor module ( 1 ) completely in the tank ( 9 ) is arranged. Tank according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the holder ( 10 ) also a seal ( 13 ) opposite in the tank ( 9 ) stored reducing agent ( 14 ) trains. Tank according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the tank ( 9 ) with an upper shell ( 15 ) and a lower shell ( 16 ), the inner tank base ( 8th ) is formed. Tank according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the tank ( 9 ) at least one tank opening ( 17 ) or an outlet ( 18 ) in a tank base wall ( 19 ), which is below the housing ( 2 ) and inside the bracket ( 10 ) is arranged. Tank according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the tank conveyor module ( 1 ) an inlet ( 20 ) through the housing ( 2 ) for in the tank ( 9 ) stored reducing agent ( 14 ) and at least one delivery channel ( 21 ) for reducing agents ( 14 ) within the housing ( 2 ), whereby the pump ( 3 ) and a sensor ( 5 ) only via the delivery channel ( 21 ) with the reducing agent ( 14 ) are in contact. Tank according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the inner tank base ( 8th ) of the tank ( 9 ) in the area of the holder ( 10 ) a positioning seat ( 22 ) trains. Method for producing a tank with a tank delivery module, comprising at least the following steps: a. Providing a tank ( 9 ) with an upper shell ( 15 ) and a lower shell ( 16 ), wherein the lower shell ( 16 ) an inner tank base ( 8th ) forms; b. Provision of a tank conveyor module ( 1 ), which is a housing ( 2 ), in which at least one pump ( 3 ), a heater ( 4 ) and a sensor ( 5 ) can be arranged; c. Fastening the tank conveyor module ( 1 ) over one at a floor area ( 6 ) of the housing ( 6 ) trained bracket ( 10 ) on the inner tank base ( 8th ); d. Joining of upper shell ( 15 ) and lower shell ( 16 ) to a tank ( 9 ). The method of claim 11, wherein in step c. the housing ( 2 ) of the tank conveyor module ( 1 ) on the inner tank base ( 8th ) is screwed or welded.

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