DE102019103209A1 - Water distribution pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water distribution pipe for introducing water into an internal combustion engine (42), the water distribution pipe (10) comprising an inlet opening (26), the water distribution pipe (10) having a connecting piece (12), a water injector (14) for injecting water into the internal combustion engine (42) and a hose piece (16), wherein the connecting piece (12) connects the water injector (14) fluidly communicating with the hose piece (16), wherein the hose piece (16) is fluidly connected to the inlet opening (26) and a having flexible material. Due to the flexible configuration of the hose section (16), the freezing of water in the water pipe (10) causes the hose section (16) to expand. This prevents damage to the water distribution pipe (10) due to the freezing of water inside the water distribution pipe (10).

Description

The invention relates to a water distribution pipe for introducing water into an internal combustion engine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Internal combustion engines, which consume fuel, are used to drive vehicles. The combustion engine emits exhaust gases when converting the fuel. In order to reduce the amount of exhaust gases emitted and to reduce fuel consumption, water can be injected into the internal combustion engine.

For this purpose, it is known to use a pump to transport water from a water tank in which demineralized water is stored via a pressure line into a water pipe which is connected to the internal combustion engine and injects the water into the internal combustion engine. However, vehicles are used in different weather conditions. When there is frost, water gains approx. 9% volume when it changes from liquid to solid. In order to avoid damage to the water pipe, it is known to make the water pipe very solid, so that it is not damaged by the pressure increase associated with the increase in volume. It is also known to use special flushing strategies at temperatures below freezing point in order to sufficiently empty the water pipe. In both cases, the water pipe must be heated if the temperatures drop below freezing point in order to remain operational.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved water pipe for the injection of water into an internal combustion engine.

Main features of the invention are specified in the characterizing part of claims 1 and 13. Refinements are the subject of claims 2 to 12 and 14.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a water distribution pipe for introducing water into an internal combustion engine, wherein the water distribution pipe comprises an inlet opening, it being provided according to the invention that the water distribution pipe has a connection piece, a water injector for injecting water into the internal combustion engine and a hose piece, wherein the connecting piece connects the water injector to the hose piece in fluid communication, and wherein the hose piece is connected in fluid communication to the inlet opening and comprises a flexible material.

The water distribution pipe is thus formed by the combination of the connecting piece and the hose piece. Water that is introduced into the water distribution pipe through the inlet opening can flow to the connecting piece via the hose piece. The water can flow further via the connector into the water injector, which injects the water into the internal combustion engine. Due to the flexible design of the hose section, the freezing of water in the water pipe causes the hose section to expand. This avoids damage to the water distribution pipe due to the freezing of water within the water distribution pipe.

Furthermore, a heating rod can be arranged at least partially in the hose piece.

In this way, water that is located in the hose piece can be heated at temperatures below freezing point. This ensures the operability of the water distribution pipe at temperatures below freezing point.

Furthermore, a heating element for heating a connecting piece can be arranged at least partially on the connecting piece.

The connecting piece can be heated by means of the heating element, which is at least partially arranged on the connecting piece, so that freezing of water in the connecting piece is avoided at temperatures below freezing point. This further increases the operability of the water distribution pipe at temperatures below freezing.

In a first alternative, the heating element can be a heating wire which extends at least partially around the connecting piece. The heating element can extend on the outside of the connecting piece.

The installation and operation of a heating wire are easy and inexpensive to carry out.

In a further alternative, the heating element can be an electrical cable that has no insulation on the connector.

The insulation can also bring about thermal insulation, so that heat is only given off at the connecting pieces through the electrical cable. This increases the efficiency of the heating power.

In a further alternative, the heating element can be a positive temperature coefficient heating element.

The Positive Temperature Coefficient heating element comprises a material that has a nonlinear has positive temperature coefficient. In this way, when the temperature drops, the heating output can automatically be increased without the need for special control of the heating output from outside. At high temperatures, the heating output is also automatically reduced. This simplifies the operation and increases the operational safety, since both overheating of the connector and the freezing of water in the connector are avoided.

The water distribution pipe can have a housing, wherein the connecting piece and the hose piece are arranged in the housing and wherein the housing is made of a thermally insulating material.

The water distribution pipe can be thermally insulated from the surroundings by means of the housing. In this way, temperature fluctuations in the environment are transmitted to the water distribution pipe with a long delay. Short-term frost periods therefore initially do not cause the water in the water distribution pipe to freeze. A hot environment, which can be caused by an internal combustion engine, is thermally shielded by the housing. Furthermore, the housing can be mechanically stable, so that the water distribution pipe is shielded from mechanical influences by the housing. In combination with a heating element, which is arranged on the outside of the connecting piece but inside the housing and can be damaged by mechanical influences, the housing provides protection for the heating element.

The housing can further comprise shell elements which are connected to one another in the manner of a shell. The housing can be installed by closing the shell elements.

Furthermore, the connecting piece can arrange the hose piece and the water injector at an angle of 80 ° to 100 °, preferably 90 °, to one another.

The hose section can thus be guided outside an internal combustion engine, the water injector leading the water to the internal combustion engine in order to introduce the water into the internal combustion engine via an outlet opening.

It is also advantageous if the connecting piece has a quick connector onto which the tube piece can be plugged.

In this way, the water distribution pipe can be manufactured from modular components in a short time. This reduces the manufacturing costs and provides a simple connection between the hose piece and the connection piece.

It can further be provided that the connecting piece is connected in a fluid-communicating manner to a further hose piece, the connecting piece connecting the further hose piece to the inlet opening in a fluid-communicating manner, the further hose piece being able to be connected to a further connecting piece in a fluid-communicating manner, the further connecting piece fluid-communicating to a further water injector connects to the other piece of hose.

The connecting piece can thus connect two hose pieces to one another, whereby both hose pieces can be supplied with water via the inlet opening of the water distribution pipe. The connection piece thus branches off part of the water flowing through the hose pieces in order to direct it to the water injector. This means that the water distribution pipe can be extended and equipped with a further connector and a further water injector. The further connecting piece can also be designed like the previous connecting piece and connect two pieces of tubing to one another. Alternatively, the further connecting piece can only be connected to a hose piece. In this case, the further connecting piece forms an end piece of the Wasservertei lerrohrs.

The connecting piece can be arranged between the tube piece and the further tube piece, the connecting piece, the tube piece and the further tube piece being arranged at an angle of 170 ° to 190 °, preferably 180 °, to one another.

A straight or slightly curved water distribution pipe is thus formed by the hose pieces, which can extend in a straight or only slightly curved path along an internal combustion engine.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a water distribution pipe according to the preceding description, an outlet opening of the water injector being arranged in the internal combustion engine.

Advantages and effects as well as further developments of the vehicle result from the advantages and effects and further developments of the water distribution pipe described above. Reference is therefore made to the preceding description in this regard.

The vehicle can furthermore have a water tank, a pump arranged in the water tank for pumping out the water tank and a pressure line, the pressure line being connected in fluid communication with the pump and the inlet opening.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wasserverteilerrohrs,
• 2a-c schematische Darstellungen der Komponenten des Wasserverteilerrohrs,
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Heizstabs im Wasserverteilerrohr,
• 4a, b schematische Darstellungen von Heizelementen, und
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeugs.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a water distribution pipe,
• 2a-c schematic representations of the components of the water distribution pipe,
• 3 a schematic representation of a heating rod in the water distribution pipe,
• 4a, b schematic representations of heating elements, and
• 5 a schematic representation of a vehicle.

The water distribution pipe for introducing water into an internal combustion engine is identified in its entirety with the reference symbol 10 referred to as in 1 is shown.

The water distribution pipe includes 10 an inlet port 26th through which water enters the water distribution pipe 10 can be introduced. In fluid communication with the inlet opening 26th includes the water distribution pipe 10 a piece of hose 16 that is fluidly communicating with a connector 12th connected is. The piece of hose 16 can with a connector at both ends 12th be connected. The connector 12th further comprises a fluid-communicating connection to a water injector 14th , which can be used to inject water into an internal combustion engine. The water injector 14th and the hose piece 14th are arranged orthogonally to one another.

The connector 12th can continue with two pieces of hose 16 be connected, it being the two pieces of tubing 16 fluid-communicating connects with each other and between the two hose pieces 16 is arranged. Here are the means of the connector 12th connected pieces of tubing 16 arranged on a straight line. They enclose a 180 ° angle.

It can thus create a chain of connectors 12th and pieces of tubing 16 are formed, which are arranged alternately and connected to one another to a line of the water distribution pipe 10 to train.

In this embodiment according to 1 are three pieces of tubing 16 and four connectors 12th with four water injectors 14th shown. This includes the last connector 12th , this in 1 is arranged on the far right, only a direct connection to a piece of hose 16 . This connector 16 forms an end piece of the water distribution pipe 10 .

The water injector 14th who is in 1 is arranged on the far right, thus forming a final outlet of the water distribution pipe 10 . However, an arbitrarily larger or smaller number of water injectors can be used 14th and the number of connectors 12th and the hose pieces 16 adjusted accordingly and combined with one another.

Next is in 1 a heating element 18th shown in the embodiment according to 1 in the form of a heating wire 32 is trained. At least parts of the heating element 18th extend around parts of the connectors 12th . Here are the parts of the heating element 18th each at a transition from the connector 12th to the one with the connector 12th connected water injector 14th arranged. This causes the heating element 18th a heating of water passing through the connector 12th to the water injector 14th to be led. In this way, water can freeze in the area between the connector 12th and the water injector 14th be avoided.

Between the connectors 12th extends the heating element 18th along the hose pieces 16 . Part of the heating wire 32 can use a connector 16 be wrapped.

A housing is also shown 20th that the hose pieces 16 , the heating element 18th and parts of the connectors 12th encloses. The case 20th is made of a thermally insulating material. The case 20th thus causes thermal insulation for the connecting pieces 12th , the hose section 16 and the heating element 18th against the outside world.

The one through the case 20th The thermal protection effected causes cold outside temperatures from the interior of the housing 20th in which the hose pieces 16 , Parts of the connectors 12th as well as the heating element 18th are arranged to be kept away. Likewise, hot outside temperatures, which z. B. can be generated in an engine compartment when an internal combustion engine is operating, from the interior of the housing 20th screened so that overheating of the water and possibly evaporation of the water in the water distribution pipe 10 is avoided.

The housing can continue 20th be designed to be mechanically stable, so that there are external mechanical effects on the water distribution pipe 10 catches. This has the effect of protecting the components of the water distribution pipe 10 . In particular the heating element 18th is mechanically through the housing 20th protected, the heating element 18th in this embodiment as a heating wire 32 is formed, which can be easily damaged by mechanical influences.

The case 20th can have shell elements which, in the assembled state, enclose a space in which the hose pieces 16 and the manifolds 12th formed line is arranged. The shell elements can be connected to one another in the manner of a clam shell, so that an assembly of the shell elements in the form of folding the shell elements together around the tube pieces 16 , Parts of the connectors 12th and the heating element 18th can be effected. The space in which the hose pieces 16 , Parts of the connectors 12th and the heating element 18th in the case 20th are arranged, can be larger than that of the hose pieces 16 and the distribution pieces 12th required volume to use a in the housing 20th the enclosed air layer to obtain additional thermal insulation.

With reference to 2a includes the connector 12th including quick connector 28 to connect to the hose section 16 to manufacture the in 2 B is shown, the hose piece 16 with one end over the quick connector 28 is pulled. The quick connector 28 can have a Christmas tree shape in order to allow the hose section to be pulled open 16 to facilitate. This shape also enables the hose section to be loosened or pulled off 16 from the quick connector 28 difficult, making the connection between the hose piece 16 and the connector 12th is secured.

The water injector 14th includes according to 2c a fastener 30th with which the water injector 14th with the connector 12th can be connected. The water injector continues 14th an outlet port 11 on that in an internal combustion engine 42 can be arranged.

The water distribution pipe 10 is through the components of the 2a to 2c modular and can be expanded as required. Nevertheless, the water distribution pipe 10 be handled and installed as a complete unit.

3 is the water distribution pipe 10 shown as a sectional view. There is also a heating element 22nd shown that via electrical connections 24 is supplied with electrical power. The heating rod 22nd is at least partially in the hose piece 16 arranged. According to the example 3 extends the heating rod 22nd through all pieces of hose 16 of the water distribution pipe 10 and at least partially through all of the connectors 12th . Here is the heating rod 22nd in a lumen of the tube pieces 16 or the connecting pieces 12th arranged.

The heating rod 22nd can create an electrical connection to the heating element 18th have to the heating element 18th to be supplied with electrical energy.

Alternative embodiments for the heating element 18th are in the 4a and 4b shown.

In 4a is a positive temperature coefficient heating element 34 shown. The positive temperature coefficient heating element 34 comprises a material that has a positive, non-linear temperature coefficient. In this way, the heating power of the heating element is automatically regulated 18th caused by the outside temperature.

For every connector 12th can use a separate piece of material from the positive temperature coefficient heating element 34 be provided and arranged.

4b shows another embodiment of the heating element 18th . It includes the heating element 18th an electrical cable 38 that with an electrical insulation 36 is sheathed. At the positions where the electrical cable 38 on a connector 12th is arranged, is the electrical insulation 36 away. The conductor of the electrical cable is therefore at these positions 38 on the connector 12th arranged without thermal insulation to the heating power of the heating element 18th to increase.

5 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 40 . The vehicle 40 has an internal combustion engine 42 with which the water distribution pipe 10 connected is. The connection is made via at least some of the water injectors 14th of the water distribution pipe 10 , with at least one outlet opening in each case 11 the water injectors 14th in the internal combustion engine 42 are arranged. By the arrangement of the outlet openings 11 the water injectors 14th in the internal combustion engine 42 , is the water coming through the water distribution pipe 10 is provided in the internal combustion engine 42 injected.

The vehicle also has a water tank 44 on in which a pump 46 is arranged. The water tank 44 includes demineralized water. The pump 46 is designed to take water from the water tank 44 to pump out.

The pump 46 pumps the water out of the water tank 44 in a pressure line 48 . The pressure line 48 connects the inlet opening 26th of the water distribution pipe 10 in fluid communication with the pump 46 . This is how the water passes through the pressure pipe 48 is pressed into the water distribution pipe 10 for distribution in the internal combustion engine 42 .

The invention is not restricted to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways.

All of the features and advantages arising from the claims, the description and the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations.

List of reference symbols

10

Water distribution pipe

11

Outlet opening

12th

Connector

14th

Water injector

16

Hose piece

18th

Heating element

20th

casing

22nd

Heating rod

24

electrical connections

26th

Inlet opening

28

Quick connector

32

Heating wire

34

Positive temperature coefficient heating element

36

insulation

38

electrical cable

40

vehicle

42

Internal combustion engine

44

Water tank

46

pump

48

Pressure line

Claims (13)

Water distribution pipe for introducing water into an internal combustion engine (42), wherein the water distribution pipe (10) comprises an inlet opening (26), characterized in that the water distribution pipe (10) has a connector (12), a water injector (14) for injecting water into the internal combustion engine (42) and a hose piece (16), the connecting piece (12) fluidly connecting the water injector (14) to the hose piece (16), the hose piece (16) being fluidly connected to the inlet opening (26) and a having flexible material. Water distribution pipe after Claim 1 , characterized in that a heating rod (22) is arranged at least partially in the hose piece (16). Water distribution pipe after one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that a heating element (18) for heating a connecting piece (12) is arranged at least partially on the connecting piece (12). Water distribution pipe after Claim 3 , characterized in that the heating element (18) is a heating wire (32) which extends at least partially around the connecting piece (12). Water distribution pipe after Claim 3 , characterized in that the heating element (18) is an electrical cable (38) which has no insulation (36) on the connecting piece (12). Water distribution pipe after Claim 3 , characterized in that the heating element (18) is a positive temperature coefficient heating element (34). Water distribution pipe after one of the Claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that the water distribution pipe (10) has a housing (20), wherein the connecting piece (12) and the hose piece (14) are arranged in the housing (20) and wherein the housing (20) is made of a thermally insulating material is. Water distribution pipe after Claim 1 to 7th , characterized in that the connecting piece (12) the hose piece (16) and the water injector (14) at an angle of 80 ° to 100 °, preferably 90 °, to each other. Water distribution pipe after one of the Claims 1 to 8th , characterized in that the connecting piece (12) has a quick connector (28) onto which the hose piece (16) can be plugged. Water distribution pipe after one of the Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that the The connecting piece (12) is connected in a fluid-communicating manner to a further hose piece (16), the connecting piece (12) connecting the further hose piece to the inlet opening (26) in a fluid-communicating manner, the further hose piece (16) being connected in a fluid-communicating manner to a further connecting piece (12) , wherein the further connecting piece (12) connects a further water injector (14) to the further hose piece (16) in a fluid-communicating manner. Water distribution pipe after Claim 10 , characterized in that the connecting piece (12) is arranged between the tube piece (16) and the further tube piece (16), the connecting piece (12), the tube piece (16) and the further tube piece (16) at an angle of 170 ° up to 190 °, preferably 180 °, to each other. Vehicle with an internal combustion engine (42) and a water distribution pipe (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an outlet opening (11) of the water injector (14) is arranged in the internal combustion engine (42). Vehicle after Claim 12 , characterized in that the vehicle (40) has a water tank (44), a pump (46) arranged in the water tank (44) for pumping out the water tank (44) and a pressure line (48), the pressure line (48) communicating with fluid is connected to the pump (46) and the inlet port (26).

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