DE102016211195B4 - RESERVE TANK FOR A VEHICLE THAT ACQUIRES COOLANT AND HAS A SEALING ELEMENT IN THE COOLANT INLET - Google Patents

Abstract

A reserve tank (1) to be mounted in a vehicle, comprising: a body (2) in which a coolant is accommodated, a coolant inlet (3A) formed in an upper portion of the body (2), a cover (4) detachably mounted on the coolant inlet (3A) and having an atmospheric path (5c) communicating between inside and outside of the body (2); anda sealing member (8) which is arranged inside the body (2) and the outer periphery (8a) of which is arranged in close contact with an inner wall (3a) of the coolant inlet (3A), the sealing element (8) being inclined Wall (8A) formed on a lower portion of the sealing member (8), the inclined wall (8A) having a central portion (8c) which is a lower level in a vertical direction than the outer periphery (8a) of the Sealing member (8), and wherein the central portion (8c) of the inclined wall (8A) has a communication hole (8d) formed in a vertically lowest portion of the inclined wall (8A), the communication hole (8d) communicating therebetween a top (8e) and a bottom (8f) of the sealing element (8).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical area

The present invention relates generally to a reserve tank for vehicles, and more particularly to such a reserve tank which is connected to a radiator which is mounted in the vehicle and accommodates cooling water or a coolant therein which is supplied to the radiator.

Current state of the art

Typically, a radiator is installed in vehicles, such as automobiles, to cool an internal combustion engine. A conduit connecting the internal combustion engine and the radiator defines a coolant path through which the coolant circulates.

A reserve tank is typically mounted in the coolant path, which holds the coolant in order to absorb a change in volume of the coolant which results from a change in temperature of the same, or to compensate for a lack of the coolant. In a top of the reserve container, an atmospheric path is formed that connects inside and outside of the reserve container to maintain a coolant receiving chamber in the reserve container at atmospheric pressure.

If the vehicle suddenly starts or stops or travels on a rough road so that the vehicle body rattles or vibrates, this causes the coolant in the reserve tank to slosh around and partially enter the atmospheric path, causing the coolant to leak from the reserve tank can lead. If the reserve tank is designed to have a compact size and a reduced vertical extent, the distance between the surface of the coolant and the atmospheric path is small, resulting in an increased risk of the coolant leaking from the atmospheric path.

Increasing a distance between the surface of the coolant and the atmospheric path reduces the risk of leakage of the coolant from the reserve tank, but results in an increased vertical expansion of the reserve tank, resulting in an increased overall size of the reserve tank. Thus, it is difficult to prevent the coolant from leaking without increasing the size of the reserve tank.

The pamphlet JP H09-295 661 A Fig. 13 shows a reserve tank for washing water in a vehicle, with a cover provided at an upper end of a nozzle of the reserve tank. The cover is connected to a guide ring via a connecting arm. An overflow pipe is an integral part of the cover. On the outside of the connector there is a first projection for vertical positioning of the guide ring and a second projection for positioning the guide ring in the circumferential direction.

The pamphlet JP 3 984 068 B2 describes a reserve tank for cooling water in a vehicle, in which a labyrinth channel is provided at its cooling water inlet, which is formed by a first baffle plate and a second baffle plate.

The pamphlet DE 601 03 818 T2 describes a ventilation system for a liquid container and in particular a fuel container in a vehicle, wherein a receiving space with an outlet device is provided in order to collect and hold back liquid from the container. The receiving space is connected to a float valve via a line. The system enables the container to be ventilated even when it is tilted. Furthermore, the liquid is prevented from leaking out of the container in the event of its inclination or the occurrence of liquid waves inside the container. In addition, the volume of the container is regulated and a filling of the container beyond a predetermined volume is prevented. Furthermore, the container is vented during filling and it is automatically closed if it is turned over.

The pamphlet JP S63-49 538 Y2 teaches mounting a disc-shaped flap between an atmospheric path of the reserve container and the surface of the coolant received in the reserve container to prevent the coolant from leaking out of the reserve container without increasing the volume of the reserve container. As the coolant moves or sloshes around within the reserve container, the reserve container eases the impact of the coolant on the underside of the door to prevent the coolant from escaping through the atmospheric path and into the exterior of the reserve container.

The arrangement of the disc-shaped flap between the atmospheric path of the reserve container and the surface of the coolant received in the reserve container runs the risk of the coolant undesirably accumulating on the flap within the reserve container.

This can cause the coolant to leak from the atmospheric path as it has accumulated on the flap.

In order to avoid such a leak, it can be proposed to increase the distance between the flap and the atmospheric path, but this results in an undesirable increase in the vertical extent of the reserve container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It is an object of the invention to provide a reserve tank for vehicles which is designed to be compact in size and which minimizes the risk of fluid leakage therefrom.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is a vehicle-mountable reserve tank comprising: (a) a body in which a coolant is received; (b) a coolant inlet formed in an upper portion of the body; (c) a cover removably mounted on the coolant inlet and having an atmospheric path communicating between the interior and exterior of the body; and (d) a sealing member disposed inside the body and having an outer periphery disposed in close contact with an inner wall of the coolant inlet. The sealing member includes an inclined wall formed on a lower portion of the sealing member. The inclined wall has a central portion that has a lower level in a vertical direction than the outer periphery of the sealing member. The central portion of the inclined wall has a communication hole formed in a vertically lowest portion of the inclined wall. The connection hole establishes a connection between an upper side and a lower side of the sealing element.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

In particular, the reserve tank is designed so that the atmospheric path is closer to the surface of the coolant, but it acts to facilitate the impact of the coolant on the inclined surface of the sealing element, thereby minimizing the risk of the coolant escaping from the atmospheric path and a reduction in the size of the reserve tank is made possible.

Figure list

The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, are not to be construed as limiting the invention to the specific embodiment, but for purposes of illustration and understanding .

• 1 eine Ansicht, die eine Ausführungsform eines Reservebehälters für ein Fahrzeug der Erfindung und eine Vorderansicht des Reservebehälters zeigt;
• 2 eine Ansicht, die eine Ausführungsform eines Reservebehälters für ein Fahrzeug der Erfindung und eine Draufsicht auf den Reservebehälter zeigt;
• 3 eine Ansicht, die eine Ausführungsform eines Reservebehälters für ein Fahrzeug der Erfindung und eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie III-III in 2 zeigt;
• 4 eine Ansicht, die eine Ausführungsform eines Reservebehälters für ein Fahrzeug der Erfindung und eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie IV-IV in 2 zeigt;
• 5 eine Ansicht, die eine Ausführungsform eines Reservebehälters für ein Fahrzeug der Erfindung und eine Vorderansicht eines Abdichtelements zeigt; und
• 6 eine Ansicht, die eine Ausführungsform eines Reservebehälters für ein Fahrzeug der Erfindung und eine Draufsicht auf ein Abdichtelement zeigt.

In the drawings is:

• 1 Fig. 11 is a view showing an embodiment of a reserve tank for a vehicle of the invention and a front view of the reserve tank;
• 2 Fig. 11 is a view showing an embodiment of a reserve tank for a vehicle of the invention and a plan view of the reserve tank;
• 3 FIG. 13 is a view showing an embodiment of a reserve tank for a vehicle of the invention and a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG 2 shows;
• 4th FIG. 13 is a view showing an embodiment of a reserve tank for a vehicle of the invention and a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG 2 shows;
• 5 Fig. 11 is a view showing an embodiment of a reserve tank for a vehicle of the invention and a front view of a sealing member; and
• 6th Fig. 3 is a view showing an embodiment of a reserve tank for a vehicle of the invention and a plan view of a sealing member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Using the drawings, a reserve tank for vehicles according to the present invention will be described below.

The 1 to 6th are views showing the reserve tank of an embodiment of the invention. In the 1 and 2 directions marked “up”, “right” and “front” are directions from the point of view of a driver sitting in a driver's seat of the vehicle 1 sits.

First, a structure will be described.

As in the 1 and 2 shown is the reserve tank 1 with a body 2 equipped, in which the coolant is received. The Body 2 is mounted on a radiator, not shown, mounted in vehicles such as automobiles. The radiator is connected to an engine, not shown, by a hose not shown. The radiator functions to exchange thermal energy between the coolant and the outside air to supply the coolant at a low temperature to the engine, thereby cooling the engine.

The volume of the in the corpus 2 absorbed coolant is regulated so that a surface W between a level 2a FULL and one level 2 B LOW while the coolant is kept cold. In this embodiment, a predetermined amount of the coolant is at the level 2a FULLY recorded.

The body 2 is with a hollow cylinder 3 which is formed at an upper portion thereof. As in the 3 and 4th shown is in an upper portion of the cylinder 3 a coolant inlet 3A formed through which the body 2 is filled with the coolant. In particular is the coolant inlet 3A this embodiment in the upper portion of the body 2 educated.

On the coolant inlet 3A is a cover 4th removably attached. The cover 4th is with a duct exposed to the atmosphere 5 and a connecting line 6th fitted. Refilling the body 2 with the coolant is reached by the cover 4th from the coolant inlet 3A is removed and the coolant through the coolant inlet 3A through into the body 2 is fed.

The line exposed to the atmosphere 5 is integral with the cover 4th trained as in 3 clearly shown. In the line exposed to the atmosphere 5 is an atmospheric path defined with one open end 5a that is the inside of the body 2 facing, and one open end 5b that corresponds to the exterior of the body 2 is facing.

The line exposed to the atmosphere 5 establishes a connection between the inside and the outside of the body 2 to an inner chamber of the body 2 keep at atmospheric pressure.

The connecting line 6th is integral with the cover 4th educated. In the connecting line 6th is a connection path 6A formed, the connection between the inside and the outside of the body 2 manufactures. An outer tube 11 is at one end to one end of the connecting line 6th connected that is outside the body 2 is located, and at the other end near a connection point of a pressure lock, not shown, of the cooler.

An inner tube 7th is at one end with the end of the connecting line 6th connected, which is located within the body 2 is located. The inner tube 7th is inside the body 2 arranged, and the other end extends below the level 2 B LOW down in the vertical direction.

The pressure lock is equipped with a pressurization valve and a vacuum valve, which are not shown. The pressurizing valve is opened when the coolant flowing through a coolant path defined by the engine, the radiator, an upper hose and a lower hose connecting the engine and the radiator becomes hot, so that the pressure in the coolant path is increased, thereby causing the coolant from the coolant path to the outer hose 11 , to the connection line 6th , to the inner tube 7th and then to the body 2 expires. The coolant is temporarily in the body 2 recorded.

The negative pressure valve is opened when the elevated temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant path has dropped, so that the pressure in the coolant path decreases, thereby causing the coolant to escape from the body 2 to the inner tube 7th , to the connection line 6th , to the outer tube 11 and then drains to the coolant path. The coolant path is then filled with the coolant.

The bottom of the inner tube 7th that is inside the body 2 of the reserve tank 1 This embodiment is arranged as described above, extends down below the level 2 B LOW, which allows the coolant to come off the body 2 is sucked in even if the surface of the coolant is at a lower level.

In this way the reserve tank takes 8th as described above, the coolant in response to a change in volume of the coolant resulting from a change in temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant path.

As in the 3 and 4th shown, the body 2 a sealing element 8th on, which is arranged in it. The sealing element 8th has an outer peripheral wall 8a on that are in close contact with a surface 3a an inner peripheral wall of the coolant inlet 4A is arranged. As in 3 clearly shown is in the sealing element 8th one Through hole 8b formed through which the connecting line 6th goes through.

As from the 5 and 6th can be seen, has the sealing element 8th a sloping wall 8A which is of an umbrella-like shape and extends from the outer peripheral edge 8a towards the middle section 8c of the sealing element 8th slopes or tapers so that the middle section 8c in the vertical direction is a lower level than the outer peripheral edge 8a Has. The middle section 8c the sloping wall 8A has a flat surface. In particular, the middle section 8c from the flat surface and a peripheral portion of the inclined wall 8A formed surrounding the flat surface.

In the middle section 8c and a vertically lowermost portion of the inclined wall 8A of the sealing element 8th is a plurality of communication holes 8d formed that a connection between a top 8e and a bottom 8f the sloping wall 8A produce. At the outer peripheral edge 8a of the sealing element 8th this embodiment, which is in close contact with the surface 3a the inner wall of the coolant inlet 3A is attached, it is an outer periphery of the inclined wall 8A . The top 8e the sloping wall 8A forms a top side of the sealing element 8th .

As in the 3 to 6th shown, has the sealing element 8th walls 8B formed on the top thereof. How out 3 can be seen, the walls extend 8B from the top 8e the sloping wall 8A covering the top of the sealing element 8th forms, in an interior 12 between the connecting holes 8d and the atmospheric path 5c inside. In 3 is the connecting hole 8d marked with a dashed line.

As in the 3 , 5 and 6th shown shows the sloping wall 8A a head start 8C on that on top 8e the sloping wall 8A is trained. The lead 8C extends from the top 8e the sloping wall 8A towards the open end 5a of the atmospheric path 5c . An upper edge of the ledge 8C substantially overlaps the open end 5a of the atmospheric path 5c in the vertical direction.

Inside the reserve container 1 having the above structure, when the vehicle suddenly starts or stops or travels on a rough road, the coolant usually sloshes or moves, so that the vehicle body rattles or vibrates greatly, thereby causing the coolant to escape from the atmospheric path 5c in the exterior of the body 2 caused.

To alleviate the above problem is the reserve tank 1 this embodiment designed so that the sealing element 8th in the body 2 is arranged so that the outer peripheral edge 8a in close contact with the surface 3a the inner wall of the coolant inlet 3A is located. The sloping wall 8A is on the lower portion of the sealing element 8th educated. The middle section 8c the sloping wall 8A is at a level lower than the outer peripheral edge in the vertical direction 8a of the sealing element 8th lies.

Therefore, when the vehicle body vibrates, the coolant runs as in FIG 4th shown, in the form of coolant flows WI along the surface 3a the inner wall of the cylindrical section 3 and then hits the sloping wall 8A . The coolant is then from the outer peripheral edge 8a towards the middle section 8c steered and drips down. This avoids generating a flow of the coolant towards the atmospheric path 5c .

The reserve tank 1 this embodiment, as described above, has the communication holes 8d on that in the middle section 8c and the vertically lowest section of the sloping wall 8A a connection between the top 8e and the bottom 8f the sloping wall 8A thereby minimizing the likelihood of coolant flowing through the communication holes 8d through the top 8e the sloping wall 8A reached.

When the coolant is undesirable through the communication holes 8d through the top 8e the sloping wall 8A reached, the coolant runs along the top 8e the sloping wall 8A into the connecting holes 8d in and then drips down, effectively preventing the coolant from getting out of the atmospheric path 5c escapes to the outside.

The reserve tank is accordingly 8th designed so that the atmospheric path 5c located close to the surface W of the coolant, but serves to reduce the risk of leakage of the coolant from the atmospheric path 5c to minimize when the vehicle body vibrates, thereby reducing the size of the reserve tank 1 is made possible.

As described above, the reserve tank is 1 this embodiment with the sloping wall 8A equipped, which is shaped like an umbrella and extends from the outer peripheral edge 8a to the middle section 8c of the sealing element 8th leans towards the middle section 8c a lower level in the vertical direction than the outer peripheral edge 8a Has.

Therefore, when the coolant through the communication holes 8d on top 8e the sloping wall 8A the inclined wall causes 8A that a stream of coolant is running down the top 8e towards the connecting holes 8d flows towards and then through the connecting holes 8d dripping down through it. This avoids leakage of the coolant from the atmospheric path 5c when the coolant sloshes around.

The walls 8B of the reserve tank 1 this embodiment are on top 8e the sloping wall 8A educated. The walls 8B protrude from the top 8e the sloping wall 8A in the interior 12 between the connecting holes 8d and the atmospheric path 5c inside.

This causes the coolant when it passes through the connecting holes 8d through to the top 8e the sloping wall 8A got on the walls 8B bounces, thereby preventing the coolant from heading toward the atmospheric path 5c is directed. This avoids the risk of the coolant leaking from the atmospheric path 5c before the coolant sloshes around.

The reserve tank 1 this embodiment is with the atmospheric path 5c equipped, its open end 5a inwards into the body 2 exposed. The reserve tank 1 is also with the lead 8C fitted that is on the top 8e the sloping wall 8A of the sealing element 8th is trained. The lead 8C extends from the top 83 the sloping wall 8A towards the open end 5a of the atmospheric path 5c .

The lead 8C therefore serves to keep the coolant flowing through the communication holes 8d through to the top 8e the sloping wall 8A has gotten from getting to the atmospheric path 5c to flow, causing the exit of the coolant to the exterior of the atmospheric path 5c avoided when the coolant sloshes around.

While the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiment in order to facilitate better understanding, it will be apparent that the invention can be embodied in various ways without departing from the principle of the invention. Therefore, the invention is to be understood to include all possible embodiments and modifications to the embodiment shown which can be carried out without departing from the principle of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims (4)

Reserve container (1) to be installed in a vehicle, comprising: a body (2) in which a coolant is accommodated, a coolant inlet (3A) formed in an upper portion of the body (2), a cover (4) detachably mounted on the coolant inlet (3A) and having an atmospheric path (5c) communicating inside and outside of the body (2); and a sealing element (8) which is arranged inside the body (2) and whose outer periphery (8a) is arranged in close contact with an inner wall (3a) of the coolant inlet (3A), wherein the sealing member (8) includes an inclined wall (8A) formed on a lower portion of the sealing member (8), the inclined wall (8A) having a central portion (8c) which is a lower level in a vertical direction than the outer periphery (8a) of the sealing member (8), and wherein the middle portion (8c) of the inclined wall (8A) has a communication hole (8d) formed in a vertically lowest portion of the inclined wall (8A), the communication hole (8d) communicating between a top (8e) and an underside (8f) of the sealing element (8). Reserve container (1) Claim 1 , wherein a wall (8B) is formed on the upper side (8e) of the sealing element (8), the wall (8B) from the upper side (8e) of the sealing element (8) into a space (12) between the connecting hole (8d) and the atmospheric path (5c) protrudes. Reserve container (1) Claim 1 or 2 wherein the atmospheric path (5c) has an open end (5a) facing the interior of the body (2), and wherein a protrusion (8C) is formed on the upper side (8e) of the sealing member (8), wherein the projection (8C) extends from the top (8e) of the sealing element (8) towards the open end (5a) of the atmospheric path (5c). Reserve container (1) after one of the Claims 1 to 3 wherein the inclined wall (8A) is shaped like an umbrella and inclines from the outer periphery (8a) to the central portion (8c) of the sealing member (8) so that the level of the central portion (8c) is lower in the vertical direction than the outer periphery (8a) is arranged.

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