EP1494904A1

EP1494904A1 - Heatable liquid container for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1494904A1
Application number: EP03735265A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jochen Bauck; Matteo Piazzi
Original assignee: Seeber AG and Co KG
Current assignee: Seeber AG and Co KG
Priority date: 2002-04-18
Filing date: 2003-04-22
Publication date: 2005-01-12
Also published as: WO2003093080A1; DE10391856D2; ITBZ20020020A1; AU2003236777A1; US20050036771A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a container (15) comprising a wall for receiving a liquid that is to be heated in a vehicle. The inventive container (15) is provided with a heating device (16) and is characterized by the fact that said heating device is fed by an electrical power unit.

Description

description

Heated liquid container for a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a container with a wall for receiving a liquid to be heated for a vehicle, the container having a heating device.

Containers of this type are known for supplying a device in a motor vehicle, for example an automobile, with a liquid, in particular a liquid for a washing system for washing the windshield or rear windows or the front headlights or signal lights of a motor vehicle. Depending on the weather conditions, the driver is dependent on providing a clear view by actuating the windscreen wiper system, and there is also a desire to melt frozen washing liquid by means of suitable measures in order to ensure that the temperature drops below 0 ° C or even lower, in which a washing liquid provided with an additive lowering the melting point is frozen, so that it can melt again. However, it can happen that the driver forgets to add a sufficient amount of the antifreeze, or that very low temperatures occur for which the amount of antifreeze in the washing liquid is insufficient.

It has already been proposed to introduce frozen washing medium into the latter from above via the lid of such a container for a windshield washer fluid and to allow a heated engine cooling water to flow through it through a stainless steel tube construction similar to an immersion heater. This solution to the problem proves to be cumbersome and expensive.

DE 44 25 214 A1 discloses a container for a windshield washer device with a chamber for holding a washing liquid. The known container is characterized in that it has at least one further chamber which is separate from the washing liquid chamber and through which a heating medium, for example heated engine cooling water, flows according to the principle of the heat exchanger. The chamber can also have the shape of a channel or, for example, several channels or lines for the heating medium can run through the container. The heating medium chamber is preferably connected to the engine cooling circuit, so that Heating medium is provided with the engine running to thaw the frozen washing liquid.

The heating medium chamber is formed, for example, on the bottom of the container, where it is located between the bottom wall of the container and a partition which separates it from the washing liquid chamber located above. This means that the heat exchanger is located just below the pump, among other things, so that this area is melted faster than the rest.

It is the object of the invention to provide an alternative solution for heating a liquid in a motor vehicle.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a container of the type mentioned in the introduction in that the heating device is fed by an electrical energy source.

The invention relates to the heating of all types of liquids, including the cooling water for the engine, the fuel which, in the case of diesel fuel, tends to flocculate at temperatures below freezing, particularly without the addition of volatile hydrocarbons. The liquid can also be an engine or hydraulic oil that loses the desired viscosity below certain temperatures and becomes viscous.

In particular, the liquid is intended for cleaning windows, headlights or other signal lights of the vehicle. Liquids can also be provided on or in the vehicle for cleaning other objects. Because the liquid is heated by an electrical / energy source, it can be brought to the desired temperature regardless of the working time of the internal combustion engine or the time at which it is ignited. Just shortly after the vehicle has started, the driver wishes to clear the windows of precipitation, in particular frozen precipitation, and contaminants. In the case of windshield wiper systems according to the prior art, it is dependent on the engine cooling water already being heated.

Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the in the

Washing fluid flowing heat is needed after starting the engine while it is still cold. Even with low-consumption engines, even a small loss of heat delays the heating of the engine that it does not reach the optimal operating temperature as quickly as desired.

The invention remedies this by heating the liquid electrically. The starter battery of a vehicle or an additional battery, such as is present in vehicles with auxiliary heaters, serves as the electrical energy source for this. Particularly in the case of batteries that will be used in the future and that provide a voltage of 42 V, electrical heating of a liquid, in particular the windshield washer liquid, is possible in the vehicle. A container heater according to the invention can thus be activated either together with the auxiliary heater at a point in time before the internal combustion engine starts. Or the container heating can be switched on at the same time as the combustion engine. In any case, a frozen liquid is thawed in a short time. In particular, rapid wiping water heating to 35 ° C is achieved, as is common in contemporary automobiles.

In this way, the invention is suitable to replace the known systems for heating a liquid based on the heat exchanger principle and to propose the design of a heatable container for vehicles which guarantees a quick reaction to the start of the engine, regardless of the operating state of the engine and others Systems for heating within the vehicle are not affected.

Advantageous developments of the invention result from the subclaims and from the description in conjunction with the drawings.

The vehicle battery is advantageously used as an energy source, because this means that no additional battery has to be inserted into the vehicle. Taking into account the additional function of heating one or more liquids, it can be provided that a vehicle battery with a higher capacity than that normally used for the respective vehicle type is used. In a further advantageous embodiment of the container, the heating device is firmly connected to the wall of the container. In particular, the container can also be formed in two parts, so that the heater can be easily connected to a lower container part. This results in constructive simplifications when assembling and installing the container in the motor vehicle. If the heater occupies the entire wall of a liquid container or the bottom region and the region of the side walls or only the bottom region or a part of the bottom of the container, it is ensured that the heater heats a large surface of the liquid in a short time. In particular, the heating can also take place in the immediate vicinity of feed pumps, which can be arranged in particular in the region of the bottom or the side walls, in which a removal of the liquid is possible at the same time. A washer fluid reservoir is equipped, for example, with three feed pumps, each of which is provided for the front window, the rear window and the front lamps and signaling devices of the vehicle.

If the heating device is designed as a thick-film heater with a resistance element, a technique can be used which has been tried and tested in the construction of kettles or kitchen machines. Such a kitchen machine is known, for example, from DE 102 26 939 A1.

In an advantageous alternative embodiment, the container is equipped with a heating device which projects through an opening in the wall of the container.

A particular advantage of this solution is that an opening that is present anyway and is usually used as a filling opening only for refilling the used liquid serves a dual purpose. A heating rod, a heating plate, a heating coil, a heating spiral or the like is attached to the lid, which are preferably each dimensioned such that complete removal of the lid from the container for refilling the liquid is not hindered. In these refinements of the invention, too, care is taken that the heating device takes up as large an area as possible. This can be achieved in particular with a heating plate which is advantageously placed in the vicinity of one pump or a plurality of pumps, provided that there are several pumps in the vehicle. The lid is connected to the container, for example via a screw, a bayonet or a snap lock. Wires are connected to the outside of the cover, through which wires the heating device is connected through the cover to the electrical energy source.

The heating device can be designed in various forms; it is preferably at least partially designed as a rod or as a plate. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the heating device is of helical or spiral design.

Likewise, a container is advantageously used in which the heating device comprises a rod and a plate attached to a free end of the rod.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the container, it is provided that the heating device is arranged at least partially in the vicinity of a feed pump for conveying the liquid out of or into the container. In the latter case, this prevents inflow lines connected to the pumps from becoming clogged by broken chunks or particles of the liquid.

It is also advantageous if an electrical battery arranged on board a motor vehicle is used as the energy source. However, it is also possible that the vehicle is connected to the electrical network of the garage or a building via an electrical cable while it is standing in the garage, for example.

In a special embodiment of the invention, the heating device arranged in the container is part of a circuit which also includes the energy source, in which a first switch, in particular a relay, which can be activated by an ignition device for igniting an internal combustion engine, is arranged between the heating device and the energy source , This is switched with the onset of the current in the circuit when, for example, the battery current begins to flow when the motor key is inserted into the motor lock or when the motor is switched on. It is also advantageous if a control device, in particular a second switch, which can be controlled by the fill level of the liquid, is arranged in a circuit comprising the heating device and the energy source. Overheating of the heating device and the associated risk of an electrical short circuit can thereby be prevented. To determine the heating duration and / or the heating energy with which the liquid is heated in the container or in a supply line leading to the container for supplying or discharging the liquid, a first thermostat for setting the temperature is advantageously present.

The first thermostat is advantageously designed such that it opens or interrupts the supply line above a certain temperature value.

For example, a desirable temperature value is 35 ° C as it is is sought today in many automobiles. The liquid is heated as long as the temperature is below 35 ° C. Because the heating is independent of the motor, there is no risk of malfunction. When a temperature of 35 ° C is reached, the heating is switched off. In a further advantageous embodiment of the container, however, it can be provided that the first thermostat is preceded by a second thermostat serving as a safety thermostat and that it switches the control device on or off, in particular opens or closes the switch, when a certain temperature value is exceeded. This temperature value is advantageously chosen at 50 ° C.

This prevents an uncontrolled increase in the temperature of the liquid and the container by interrupting the supply of electrical energy when the temperature reaches 50 ° C. A display can also be provided, for example on the dashboard, which shows the driver that the control thermostat of the vehicle has failed.

A level sensor can be provided in the container, which interrupts the heating if the liquid level is too low. This information can be passed on to the driver and displayed to him, for example, on the dashboard. The container is advantageously produced as a plastic blow molded part or as a plastic injection molded part.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the container has a lower and an upper part and that the heating device is arranged at least in the lower part. It is advantageous if at least one, in particular a helical, electrical heating wire is embedded in the wall of the lower part.

A level sensor can also be provided in the container.

In addition, it can also be provided according to the invention that lines for conveying the liquid and nozzles to which the liquid is transported are also heated.

The invention is explained in more detail in exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. These show:

Fig. 1 is an electrical circuit diagram for a heater and

Fig. 2-4 schematic views of containers with a heating device. A container 1 (FIG. 1) for a liquid to be heated in a vehicle contains an electrical coil 2 which is connected via a line 3 to one of the poles 4 of an electrical energy source 5, the other pole 6 of which is connected to the other via a different line Connection of the heating coil or coil 2 is connected.

Another electrical line 8, which serves as a control line, also originates from the electrical energy source 5. It is connected to a relay 9, which is in a connecting line 7 to close it when the relay 9 is switched, for. B. when starting the engine with the onset of battery power. A level sensor 10 is also arranged in the circuit of the line 8, which actuates an interrupter 11 when the liquid in the container 1 falls below a predetermined level, in order to prevent the liquid in the container 1 from overheating and thus also preventing heat damage to the latter. A display unit 12 is connected to the interrupter 11, which indicates to the driver that the liquid level is too low.

In order finally to maintain a minimum temperature of the liquid to be heated, there is another control thermostat 13 in line 8 which switches at a certain temperature and closes line 8 and is supplied with current via coil 2. So the temperature is above a certain value, e.g. B. kept above 35 ° C.

In order in the event of malfunction of the thermostat 13 to avoid the supply of the coil 2 continuing and the liquid being heated further, a safety thermostat 14 is interrupted to the thermostat 13, which drops and opens the connection of the electrical line 8 when a certain one Temperature is exceeded. This temperature is very much higher than the temperature set on the control thermostat 13. This temperature can e.g. B. can be set to 50 ° C.

Of course, it can serve with all possible ads that serve other purposes, such as: B. for a battery failure, or be equipped with devices that report the failure of the control thermostat 13.

In one embodiment of the invention (FIG. 2), a heating device 16 introduced into a container 15 made of plastic has a cover plate 17 on the outside of a wall 18 of the container 15. The cover plate 17 projects beyond an opening (not shown) in the wall 18 through which a heating element 19 is put through. The cover plate 17 and, in the area adjacent to the wall 18, also the heating element 19 consist of a thermally and electrically insulating material, so that the plastic of the wall 18 cannot be heated or melted. Inside, the container 15 is at least partially filled with a liquid to be heated, which is pumped out via pumps 20, 21, 22 attached to the bottom of the container 15 and conveyed via supply lines to the washing devices of the front and rear windows and the front lights and headlights of the vehicle can be. The proximity of the plate 23 to the pumps 20 to 22 ensures that these and the lines connected to them for transporting the liquid do not become clogged with frozen particles of the liquid. In addition, it can also be provided that heating devices are provided on the lines themselves and / or on the outlet-side nozzles of the lines, from which the liquid is sprayed onto the panes or headlights.

The liquid is heated both by the heating rod 19 and by a plate 23 attached to its lower end. The heating rod 19 and the plate 23 are traversed by a continuous heating wire 24, which is additionally arranged helically in the plate 23 and forms an ohmic resistance heater.

The heating wire 24 is embedded in an electrically insulating mass 25 within the heating element 19 and the plate 23.

In a further embodiment (FIG. 3), a loop-shaped heating element 26 is present in the container 15, which is likewise introduced into the container 15 via the cover plate 17 through an opening. It goes without saying that instead of a single loop, a plurality of loops in the manner of an immersion heater can be present.

In a further exemplary embodiment (FIG. 4), a container 27 has a lid 28 and a lower part 29. The cover 28 has a projection 30 through which it is connected to other structural parts of the vehicle. An inlet nozzle 31 is also provided for refilling the liquid.

In its lower part 29, the container 27 has a wall made of an electrically insulating and heat-resistant material, inside which a heating wire 32 (shown in the broken part of the lower part 29) is present to heat the liquid in the container 27.

The outside of the wall of the lower part 29 and preferably also of the cover 28 is preferably made of a thermally insulating material in order to prevent the heat from flowing out of the interior of the container 27 and undesirable heating of the surroundings of the container 27 in the vehicle.

The heater introduced into the wall of the container 27 is constructed approximately in the manner of a thick-film heater with a resistance heating element, in which thin heating tracks are printed on an enamelled stainless steel plate facing the interior of the container 27. A protective varnish, which is applied to the heating tracks, is used for passivation. To protect against mechanical and electrical influences from the outside of the container, the paint is covered by another layer.

Claims

claims

1. Container (1, 15) with a wall for receiving a liquid to be heated in a vehicle, the container (1, 15) having a heating device (16), characterized in that the heating device (16) is powered by an electrical energy source becomes.

2. Container (1, 15) according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy source is a vehicle battery.

3. Container (1, 15) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heating device (16) with a wall (18) of the container (1, 15) is connected.

4. Container (1, 15) according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating device (16) is designed as a thick-film heater with a resistance element.

5. Container (1, 15) according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating device (16) projects through an opening in the wall (18) of the container (1, 15) in this.

6. Container (1, 15) according to claim 5, characterized in that the opening is a filling opening for receiving the liquid in the container (1, 15).

7. Container (1, 15) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the heating device (16) is at least partially designed as a heating element (19) or as a plate (23).

8. container (1, 15) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the heating device (16) is helical or spiral.

9. A container (1, 15) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the heating device (16) comprises a heating element (19) and a plate (23) attached to a free end of the heating element (19).

10. Container (1, 15) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the heating device (16) at least partially in the vicinity of a feed pump (20, 21, 22) for conveying the liquid from the container (1, 15 ) out or into it.

11. Container (1, 15) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the energy source is an electric battery arranged on board a motor vehicle.

12. Container (1, 15) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that in a circuit comprising the heating device (16) and the energy source, a first switch which can be activated by an ignition device for igniting an internal combustion engine, in particular a relay (9 ), is arranged between the heating device (16) and the energy source.

13. Container (1, 15) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that in a circuit comprising the heating device (16) and the energy source, a control device, in particular a second switch (10), which can be controlled by the fill level of the liquid is.

14. Container (1, 15) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that in the container (1, 15) or in a to the container (1, 15) leading supply line for supplying or removing the liquid a first Thermostat (13) is arranged to adjust the temperature.

15. Container (1, 15) according to claim 14, characterized in that the first thermostat (13) opens or interrupts the supply line above a certain temperature value.

16. Container (1, 15) according to claim 15, characterized in that the temperature value is 35 ° C.

17. A container (1, 15) according to claim 14, 15 or 16, characterized in that, the first thermostat (13) is preceded by a second thermostat (14) serving as a safety thermostat and that the control device switches on when a certain temperature value is exceeded - or switches off, in particular opens or closes a second switch.

18. Container (1, 15) according to claim 17, characterized in that the temperature value is 50 ° C.

19. Container (1, 15) according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it is designed as a plastic blow molded part or as a plastic injection molded part.

20. Container (1, 15) according to claim 19, characterized in that it has a lower (29) and an upper part (28) and that the heating device (16) is arranged at least in the lower part (29).

21. Container (1, 15) according to claim 20, characterized in that in the wall of the lower part (29) at least one, in particular helical, electrical heating wire (32) is embedded.

22. Container (1, 15) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a level sensor (10).