EP2542767B1 - Device and method for cleaning a vehicle, and a cooling device - Google Patents

Device and method for cleaning a vehicle, and a cooling device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2542767B1
EP2542767B1 EP11706574.8A EP11706574A EP2542767B1 EP 2542767 B1 EP2542767 B1 EP 2542767B1 EP 11706574 A EP11706574 A EP 11706574A EP 2542767 B1 EP2542767 B1 EP 2542767B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
air filter
cooling
cooler
nozzles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP11706574.8A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2542767A2 (en
Inventor
Stefan Frank
Thomas GÄHR
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mahle International GmbH
Deutsche Bahn AG
Original Assignee
Mahle International GmbH
Deutsche Bahn AG
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Publication date
Application filed by Mahle International GmbH, Deutsche Bahn AG filed Critical Mahle International GmbH
Publication of EP2542767A2 publication Critical patent/EP2542767A2/en
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Publication of EP2542767B1 publication Critical patent/EP2542767B1/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01P11/00—Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01P1/00 - F01P9/00
    • F01P11/12—Filtering, cooling, or silencing cooling-air

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle, a cooler device for a vehicle and a method for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle.
  • a device or cooler device presented here can be used, for example, in a rail vehicle for cleaning plant fibers from a cooler grille.
  • the fine-meshed grille With a high air throughput and at the same time a high proportion of light vegetable fibers in the cooling air, the fine-meshed grille can clog over the course of a day, which significantly reduces the amount of cooling air and cooling capacity. Under certain circumstances, reliable operation of the vehicle can then only be guaranteed through daily maintenance, ie cleaning the filter or grille.
  • a harvesting machine which has a drive motor with a cooling circuit.
  • the cooling circuit comprises a cooler, followed by a fan and a filter upstream.
  • a vacuum chamber is assigned to a segment of the screen on the upstream side. Sieve and vacuum chamber can be rotated relative to each other, so that a continuous and segmental cleaning of the sieve is possible by suction of contaminants attached to it.
  • the cooling circuit comprises a cooler, followed by a fan and a filter upstream.
  • the backwash tube is connected to the fan via an inlet funnel in order to use part of the air drawn in by the fan to backwash the screen through the backwash openings.
  • the backwash tube is arranged on a rotatably mounted shaft so that by rotating the backwash tube a permanent segment-wise backwashing of the sieve is possible.
  • two blades are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft, which are arranged downstream of the sieve in the suction air flow of the fan and thereby drive the shaft in rotation.
  • two cover blades are rotatably connected to the shaft, which are arranged upstream of the sieve and run after the backwash tube in order to prevent the backwashed impurities from being sucked in again immediately.
  • a construction vehicle with a motor is known, the cooler of which is associated with a cleaning device.
  • the cleaning device works with compressed air, which acts on the cooler via stationary or adjustable distributor strips arranged upstream of the cooler with outlet openings, in order to blow away any impurities attached thereto or away from the cooler to blow through the radiator.
  • the outlet openings can be designed in such a way that the compressed air exits perpendicularly or at an angle to the plane of the cooler.
  • the air inlet grate is arranged horizontally, that is, lying, while the cooler is arranged vertically, that is, standing.
  • a blowing device is assigned to the air inlet grate, which works with compressed air and is arranged on the upstream side.
  • the air inlet grate has a corrugated structure and the blower device has an air supply bar which is arranged on an edge of the air inlet grate running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the corrugations of the corrugated structure so that the compressed air flows through nozzles into the valleys of the corrugated structure parallel to the longitudinal direction of the corrugations.
  • the blowing device is always activated when a reverse gear is engaged, since then a fan that intakes the cooling air inevitably has a reduced speed, at least temporarily.
  • the cleaning device for a cooler of an internal combustion engine, which acts on the cooler on the outflow side with a backwashing flow of compressed air.
  • the cleaning device comprises a stationary or adjustable, rust-like or lattice-like tubular structure with outlet openings for the compressed air.
  • the approach according to the invention is based on the knowledge that if compressed air is used to clean the air filter, a maintenance interval can be extended to several days until the radiator is next cleaned, even at times with a high proportion of fibers in the cooling air.
  • a device according to the approach presented here can be operated with energy sources present on the vehicle and can be constructed simply and robustly, so that it does not itself have to be the subject of intensive maintenance work.
  • the approach according to the invention offers the advantage that compressed air is already available, since it is used in almost all rail vehicles in the braking system. It can be controlled via low-maintenance solenoid valves.
  • the streamlined shape and the preferably small diameter of the tubes allow a small overall depth, since the cooling air flow is only slightly obstructed. Furthermore, excessive contamination cannot lead to clogging, damage or other failure of the devices according to the invention. These can be manufactured cost-effectively even with small quantities and can also be retrofitted to existing vehicles.
  • the approach according to the invention takes into account the problem that modern electric and diesel-powered multiple units are characterized by increasing performance and a high air requirement for cooling the drive components, while at the same time there is a desire by the operator of the multiple units for the longest possible maintenance intervals.
  • the approach presented here can help to ensure that these two issues no longer regularly lead to a conflict of objectives, e.g. when in summer the cooling air in some areas has a high proportion of light plant fibers such as poplar, dandelion, etc.
  • underfloor cooling systems which are arranged under the car floor, the fibers are deposited at the radiator inlet and can significantly hinder the air throughput through the radiator.
  • the required cooling capacity can be restored without having to manually vacuum the fiber residues on the air inlet side of the cooler up to once a day depending on the weather and application.
  • the approach presented here corresponds to the requirements of economical operation of the vehicles, which provide minimum intervals for the maintenance of several days.
  • the invention is based on the general idea of coupling the air filter to a vibrating device which vibrates the air filter for cleaning.
  • the impurities attached to the air filter can be loosened by a correspondingly higher-frequency vibration, so that they can fall due to gravity.
  • the air filter can expediently be held on a corresponding frame with vibration-capable fastening points.
  • elastomer bearings are suitable for attaching the air filter to the frame.
  • the air filter lies in an air filter plane, whose normal direction is inclined with respect to the main direction of the cooling air flow, for example in an angular range from 15 ° to 60 °, preferably from 15 ° to 30 °.
  • a solution in which the air filter is cleaned by means of the above-described compressed air backwashing in conjunction with the vibration described above is particularly advantageous.
  • the present invention thus provides, in particular, a device for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle, having the following features: a backwashing device comprising a pipe device with a connection for supplying compressed air and a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the compressed air in the direction of the air filter in order to clean the air filter , and a vibration device for vibrating the air filter to clean the air filter.
  • a backwashing device comprising a pipe device with a connection for supplying compressed air and a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the compressed air in the direction of the air filter in order to clean the air filter
  • a vibration device for vibrating the air filter to clean the air filter.
  • the respective device for cleaning can be arranged, for example, on a multiple unit of a rail vehicle or on a wagon of a rail vehicle.
  • the device can be used to cool a drive of the rail vehicle and, alternatively or in addition, to cool the interior of the rail vehicle.
  • the compressed air can be applied through the nozzles to a side of the air filter facing the nozzles, so that, for example, plant fibers on the side facing away from the nozzles can be lifted off and fall to the ground.
  • the air filter can be supplied with outside air, for example, by airflow.
  • the air filter can be a fine-meshed fleece or grid that is suitable, for example, to filter out fibrous materials of different sizes from the outside air.
  • the device can be arranged behind the air filter in the flow direction of the air flow to be cleaned by the air filter.
  • the compressed air escaping from the nozzles can thus flow in the direction of flow the opposite of the air flow.
  • the pipe device can have, for example, one or more interconnected round pipes through which the compressed air can flow.
  • the nozzles can be formed by openings in the pipe device, so that the compressed air flowing through the pipe device can be released through the nozzles in order to act on the air filter.
  • the connection for supplying the compressed air to the pipe device can be arranged in the one round pipe or one of the plurality of round pipes.
  • the connection can be, for example, a valve, in particular a pulse valve, via which the time and the duration of the drainage process can be controlled.
  • the connection can be connected directly or indirectly via a further connection to a compressed air line of the vehicle.
  • the device can have a frame element with a compressed air connection for connecting the frame element to a compressed air line.
  • the frame element can be designed to receive the pipe device in such a way that the compressed air connection can be connected to the connection of the pipe device.
  • the frame element can e.g. are a stable rectangular construction that is designed to accommodate the frame element and the air filter.
  • the frame element can advantageously be designed as a sealing frame which can accommodate the air filter in such a way that no plant fibers can penetrate past the edges of the air filter into the device and the interior of the vehicle and, for example, can impair the function of the radiator.
  • the tube device can have a plurality of tubes arranged adjacent to one another and two distributor tubes for receiving opposite ends of the plurality of tubes.
  • the plurality of tubes can have the plurality of nozzles.
  • the tubes can be arranged parallel to one another.
  • the nozzles can be evenly distributed over an entire length of the pipes.
  • the distribution pipes can have a larger diameter than the pipes, so that the compressed air can be distributed easily and quickly to the pipes.
  • Such a configuration of the pipe device has the advantage that the compressed air can be applied uniformly and over the entire area to the air filter and this can be cleaned uniformly.
  • the plurality of nozzles can each be arranged on a side of the plurality of pipes facing the air filter.
  • the nozzles are thus directed against the air flow coming from the outside, so that an efficiency of cleaning by means of compressed air is optimal.
  • a nozzle jet direction of the nozzles with which the nozzles emit the compressed air in the direction of the air filter is inclined with respect to a normal direction of a plane in which the air filter extends, e.g. in an angular range from 15 ° to 75 °. If the nozzle direction is not arranged at right angles to the filter grille, compressed air can be applied to a large area with just a few nozzles. Due to the angle of the nozzles, a greater distance from the filter grille can be achieved, the conical air jet generated then covering a substantially larger area than in the case of a right-angled arrangement.
  • At least one of the nozzles can be designed in such a way that it generates a nozzle jet rotating about a main emission direction. This can be achieved by rotating the respective nozzle itself or by arranging a rotating element in the stationary nozzle which generates the rotating nozzle jet. It is also possible to move a tube which has a plurality of nozzles in a circle, so that the individual nozzles each revolve around their main emission direction. The rotation can be generated by the connected compressed air or a separate additional drive. Such a rotation of the nozzles or of the jet stream can further improve the cleaning process, since with fewer nozzles a larger area can be acted upon with a high impulse and the dirt can be loosened more easily from the filter grille.
  • the cleaning performance is very good.
  • the number of nozzles can be kept very low, which has a positive effect on air pressure and air consumption.
  • the compressed air supply to the pipe device can be controlled with the aid of a pulse valve, such that the backwashing takes place with the aid of pulse-like backwashing pulses.
  • Short, impulsive compressed air blasts have a particularly high cleaning effect with a comparatively low air consumption. It is clear that multiple pressure surges can also be generated to intensify cleaning.
  • the air filter can be designed as a grid.
  • the grid can be designed as a fine-mesh stainless steel grid.
  • the use of a grating has the advantage that, due to its smooth surface properties, it can be cleaned of fibers well by means of air conveyed at high pressure.
  • a metal grille has the advantage of a long service life and is also dimensionally stable even with high air pressure.
  • the filter grille can be inclined, with the result that the dirt particles may already fall off the grating due to the force of gravity. At least it supports cleaning.
  • the air filter can be designed as a cooler.
  • an additional air filter can be used to increase the filter effect.
  • an additional air filter can be dispensed with, so that fewer components are required for the device presented here, as a result of which a maintenance effort can advantageously be reduced.
  • the present invention further provides a radiator device for a vehicle, having the following features: a device for cleaning according to one of the preceding claims; the air filter for filtering the cooling air; and a cooler for cooling the cooling air, the device, the air filter and the cooler being arranged adjacent to one another in a flow direction of the cooling air such that the air filter and / or the cooler can be cleaned by the device.
  • the cooler device can be used, for example, to cool a drive of a railcar of a rail vehicle.
  • the cooling air can be outside air that can flow through the air filter into the cooler device when the rail vehicle is moved.
  • the cooler can be designed so that the cooling air can flow through it.
  • the device can be arranged in the flow direction of the cooling air in a second position behind the air filter or alternatively in a second position behind the cooler or alternatively in a third position behind the air filter and the cooler.
  • the cooler device can have a fan for conveying the cooling air in the flow direction.
  • the fan can be a fan, which can be arranged in the last position in the cooling device in the flow direction of the cooling air.
  • the use of the fan in the cooler device has the advantage that the cooling air can reach the cooler faster and in larger quantities.
  • the device can be arranged in the flow direction of the cooling air in front of the cooler.
  • Such an arrangement of the device offers the advantage that the cooling air striking the cooler is already filtered.
  • An alternative arrangement of the device in the flow direction of the cooling air after the cooler can make the use of the air filter superfluous if the cooler is also used as an air filter.
  • the cooler can be cleaned by the device. If an air filter is arranged in front of the cooler, as seen in the direction of flow, the air filter can be cleaned by the compressed air of the device which flows through the cooler.
  • the more suitable of the two designs of the cooler device presented can be used.
  • the cooler device presented here can be part of an underfloor cooling system of a rail vehicle. Underfloor cooling systems of this type are frequently used to cool propellant drives. Due to the proximity of such systems to the ground and the associated high degree of contamination of the filter component, the approach presented here of efficient and economical filter cleaning is of particular importance.
  • the present invention furthermore provides a method for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle by means of a device for cleaning the air filter, which has a backwash device and / or a vibration device, the method comprising the following steps: detecting a state of motion of the vehicle and / or an operating state of a vehicle Fans for generating and / or supporting a cooling air flow; Actuating the backwashing device and / or the vibration device depending on the state of movement and / or operating state in order to clean the air filter by means of compressed air and / or by means of vibration.
  • the state of motion can relate to an acceleration or a speed of the vehicle.
  • the compressed air and / or vibration can be applied to the device at the end of an acceleration process.
  • the end of the acceleration process can be provided, for example, by means of a corresponding signal to a control device of the cleaning device.
  • the control unit can e.g. control a vibration generator and / or a valve of the connection in order to supply compressed air from a compressed air line of the vehicle to the pipe device.
  • the cleaning can be triggered, for example, when the vehicle is outside a town.
  • the operating status of the respective fan can be taken into account.
  • the respective fan generates or intensifies the cooling air flow, which creates the accumulation of contaminants on the air filter. If there is little or no cooling requirement, the fan can be switched off or only generate a comparatively weak cooling air flow. As a result, the cleaning effect can be improved if the cleaning takes place in operating phases in which the fan is not operating or is operating only with reduced power.
  • a corresponding control can monitor the power consumption of the fan or a signal correlated therewith in order to carry out the cleaning of the air filter preferably when the power of the fan is below a predetermined limit value.
  • Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a basic arrangement of a cooler device 100 of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a filter unit 110 and a cooler-fan unit 120 of the cooler device 100 are shown.
  • the filter unit 110 comprises an air filter or grille 125, a frame element 130 and a pipe device or a nozzle assembly 135.
  • the cooler-fan unit 120 comprises a cooler 140 and a fan 145.
  • a flow direction of a cooling air 150 is at three locations in FIG Fig. 1 indicated by an arrow.
  • the exemplary embodiment of the cooler device 100 shown is constructed such that a flow of the cooling air 150 first passes through the air filter 125, then the frame element 130, then the pipe device 135, then the cooler 140 and finally the fan 145.
  • the air filter 125, the frame element 130, the pipe device 135 and the cooler 140 have an essentially identical rectangular cross section, so that they can be easily inserted into a common housing, for example.
  • the frame element 130 and the pipe device 135 together form a device 155 for cleaning the air filter 125.
  • the pipe device 135 is here composed of a plurality of pipes 160 and two distributor pipes 165. For the sake of clarity, only one of the tubes 160 and the distributor tubes 165 is provided with a reference symbol.
  • the frame element 130 is embodied here as a sealing frame with a compressed air connection 170, which is connected to an in Fig. 1 Compressed air line of the vehicle, not shown, can be connected.
  • a connection of the pipe device 135 can be connected to the compressed air connection 170, so that compressed air can flow through the pipe device 135.
  • the frame element 130 is also designed to tightly enclose the grille 125 in an assembled state of the cooler device 100, so that no plant fibers can penetrate further into the cooler device 100 between the edges of the grille 125 and the frame element 130.
  • Fig. 2 shows in a further exploded view a further embodiment of a grille according to the invention with an integrated compressed air nozzle stick.
  • the exemplary embodiment of a cooler device 200 shown here has the same components as those related to Fig. 1 explained cooler device, but there is an alternative arrangement of the components such that a position of the cooler 140 and the device 155 are interchanged here, so that a cooling air flow 150 after passing through the air filter 125 first flows through the cooler 140 and then the device 155 .
  • the operation of the cooler device 200 is similar to that in FIG Fig. 1 explained cooler device, with the difference that compressed air for cleaning the air filter 125 is passed through the cooler 140 before hitting the air filter 125 (in Fig. 2 Not shown).
  • cooler device 200 shown there is the option of omitting the air filter 125, for example if the cooler 140 simultaneously has a filter function. However, this is in Fig. 2 Not shown.
  • Fig. 3 shows in a perspective view a structure of the pipe device or the nozzle assembly 135 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Three tubes or nozzle tubes 160 and a distributor tube 165 connecting the tubes 160 are shown.
  • the in Fig. 3 The section of the pipe device 135 shown shows that the pipes 160 are arranged parallel to one another and each open at a right angle into the distributor pipe 165.
  • Each of the tubes 160 has a plurality of nozzles 310.
  • the pipe device 135 forms, together with the nozzles 310, a backwashing device 600. Arrows here show how compressed air 320 flows into the distributor pipe 165 and flows out of the nozzles 310.
  • Fig. 3 the outflow of compressed air 320 is indicated with a reference symbol.
  • the nozzles 310 point essentially in one direction, so that the compressed air 320 can be ejected essentially, for example, in the direction of an air filter, not shown here.
  • Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a pollution from the air filter 125, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a section of the nozzle tube 160 and the air filter 125 are shown, which have already been explained with reference to the preceding figures in connection with exemplary embodiments.
  • the pipe 160 and the air filter 125 are shown in a side view.
  • the air filter 125 is designed here in the form of a filter grille. How from Fig. 4 As can be seen, compressed air 320 flows into the pipe 160 during the cleaning process 400 of the air filter 125 in order to be expelled again through the nozzle 310 in the direction of the air filter 125.
  • the direction of flow of the compressed air 320 is again shown by means of corresponding arrows.
  • Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a pollution from the air filter 125, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a section of the nozzle tube 160 and the air filter 125 are shown, which have already been explained with reference to the preceding figures in connection with exemplary embodiments
  • FIG. 4 shows that contamination of a side of the air filter 125 facing away from the nozzle pipe 160 in the form of fibers 410 can be released by the compressed air 320 flowing through the openings of the grille 125 in order to then fall off the air filter 125.
  • Fig. 4 only one of the fibers 410 is provided with a reference symbol for the sake of clarity.
  • the air filter 125 which is designed here as a grille, can extend in a filter or grille plane 501, the normal direction 502 of which is inclined with respect to a main flow direction 503 of the cooling air 150.
  • an angle of inclination 504 is approximately 15 °. This angle of inclination can also have other values, for example between 5 ° and 45 °.
  • the impurities 410 accumulate on the upstream side of the grid 125.
  • the pipe device 135 is shown here in the area of two pipes 160, each of which can have a plurality of nozzles 310, of which in FIG Fig. 5 however only one is recognizable at a time.
  • the respective nozzle 310 creates a conical shape expanding jet 505, which in Fig. 5 is symbolized by five arrows.
  • the respective jet stream 505 has a central jet direction 506, which is symbolized here by the middle of the five arrows of the jet stream 505. It can be seen in the Fig. 5
  • the jet direction 506 is inclined with respect to the normal direction 502 of the air filter 125. In the example, a corresponding angle of inclination is approximately 60 °.
  • Fig. 6 shows in simplified form four tubes 160 of the tube device 135, each with a plurality of nozzles 310, each having a nozzle jet 505 with nozzle jet directions 506 inclined with respect to the normal direction 502 of the filter plane 501. This can be seen with a reduced number of nozzles 310 and with an increased distance from the air filter 125 in essentially the entire downstream surface of the air filter 125 is pressurized with compressed air.
  • a vibration device 508 is also indicated in a highly simplified manner, which interacts in a suitable manner with the air filter 125 in accordance with a double arrow 509 in order to excite the air filter 125 to vibrate.
  • impurities 410 can be virtually shaken off.
  • the air filter 125 can be excited to vibrate in accordance with the double arrow 509 in the filter plane 501.
  • vibration excitation in the normal direction 502 is also conceivable.
  • the air filter 125 is expediently fastened to the frame element 130 via elastomer bearings 510, so that the air filter 125 is suspended in the frame element 130 so that it can vibrate.
  • the vibrator 508 can be independent to the backwashing device 600 formed by the pipe device 135 and the nozzles 310 or activated together with it.
  • At least one nozzle 310 or all nozzles 310 are configured such that they generate a nozzle jet 505 which rotates with respect to a main emission direction. Additionally or alternatively, the nozzles 310 can be moved in a circular manner with respect to the main emission direction. Both measures serve to enlarge the area of the air filter 125 which is acted upon by the respective nozzle 310.
  • the nozzle assembly 135 comprising a plurality of preferably round tubes 160, preferably with nozzle-shaped openings, is attached between the grille 125 and an inlet surface of the cooler 140, through which the grille 125 can be pressurized from behind, as shown in FIGS Figures 1 and 3rd is shown. If a cooling air blower is switched off at the same time, plant fibers 410 adhering to the grid 125 loosen and fall down, as shown in FIG Fig. 4 can be seen.
  • the exemplary embodiment of the cooler device 200 shown shows that, depending on the installation situation and the geometry of the cooler 140, it may also be expedient to arrange the nozzle assembly 135 behind in the cooler 140 and optionally to dispense with the grille 125, as shown in FIG Fig. 2 is shown.
  • cleaning with compressed air can preferably be done on the open road if the drive power of the vehicle is reduced after an acceleration process and the full cooling power can be temporarily dispensed with.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
  • Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung bezieht sich auf eine Vorrichtung zum Abreinigen eines Luftfilters eines Fahrzeugs, eine Kühlervorrichtung für ein Fahrzeug sowie ein Verfahren zum Abreinigen eines Luftfilters eines Fahrzeugs. Eine hier vorgestellte Vorrichtung bzw. Kühlervorrichtung kann beispielsweise in einem Schienenfahrzeug zum Abreinigen von Pflanzenfasern von einem Kühlergitter eingesetzt werden.The present invention relates to a device for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle, a cooler device for a vehicle and a method for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle. A device or cooler device presented here can be used, for example, in a rail vehicle for cleaning plant fibers from a cooler grille.

Um zu verhindern, dass Fasern tief in Luftrippen eines Kühlers eindringen, hat sich der Einsatz von Luftfiltern, z.B. feinmaschigen Edelstahlgittern, bewährt, die mit einem abgedichteten Rahmen auf der Lufteintrittsseite des Kühlers befestigt werden können. Ein derartiges Luftfilter bzw. Gitter lässt sich mit einem Industriestaubsauger reinigen, und es ist eine einfache optische Kontrolle des dahinterliegenden Kühlers möglich.In order to prevent fibers from penetrating deeply into the air fins of a cooler, the use of air filters, e.g. fine-meshed stainless steel grilles, proven, which can be attached to the air inlet side of the cooler with a sealed frame. Such an air filter or grille can be cleaned with an industrial vacuum cleaner and simple visual inspection of the cooler behind it is possible.

Bei hohem Luftdurchsatz und gleichzeitig hohem Anteil an leichten Pflanzenfasern in der Kühlluft kann sich das feinmaschige Gitter im Laufe eines Tages zusetzen, wodurch sich Kühlluftmenge und Kühlleistung deutlich reduzieren. Der zuverlässige Betrieb des Fahrzeugs ist dann unter Umständen nur noch durch tägliche Wartung, d.h. Reinigung des Filters oder Gitters, zu gewährleisten.With a high air throughput and at the same time a high proportion of light vegetable fibers in the cooling air, the fine-meshed grille can clog over the course of a day, which significantly reduces the amount of cooling air and cooling capacity. Under certain circumstances, reliable operation of the vehicle can then only be guaranteed through daily maintenance, ie cleaning the filter or grille.

Aus der EP 0566 981 B1 ist eine Erntemaschine bekannt, die einen Antriebsmotor mit Kühlkreis aufweist. Der Kühlkreis umfasst einen Kühler, dem ein Lüfter nachgeschaltet und ein Sieb vorgeschaltet ist. Einem Segment des Siebes ist anströmseitig eine Unterdruckkammer zugeordnet. Sieb und Unterdrucckammer sind relativ zueinander drehbar, so dass eine fortlaufende und segmentweise Reinigung des Siebes durch Absaugung von daran angelagerten Verunreinigungen möglich ist.From the EP 0566 981 B1 a harvesting machine is known which has a drive motor with a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit comprises a cooler, followed by a fan and a filter upstream. A vacuum chamber is assigned to a segment of the screen on the upstream side. Sieve and vacuum chamber can be rotated relative to each other, so that a continuous and segmental cleaning of the sieve is possible by suction of contaminants attached to it.

Aus der US 3,155,473 ist eine weitere Erntemaschine bekannt, die einen Antriebsmotor mit Kühlkreis aufweist. Der Kühlkreis umfasst einen Kühler, dem ein Lüfter nachgeschaltet und ein Sieb vorgeschaltet ist. An der Abströmseite des Siebs ist ein Rückspülrohr angeordnet, das eine Vielzahl von Rückspülöffnungen besitzt, die zum Sieb hin ausgerichtet sind. Das Rückspülrohr ist über einen Einlasstrichter an den Lüfter angeschlossen, um einen Teil der vom Lüfter angesaugten Luft zum Rückspülen des Siebs durch die Rückspülöffnungen zu verwenden. Das Rückspülrohr ist dabei auf einer drehbar gelagerten Welle angeordnet, so dass durch Drehen des Rückspülrohrs ein permanentes segmentweises Rückspülen des Siebs möglich ist. Mit der Welle sind außerdem zwei Laufschaufeln drehfest verbunden, die im Saugluftstrom des Lüfters stromab des Siebs angeordnet sind und dadurch die Welle drehend antreiben. Schließlich sind noch zwei Abdeckschaufeln drehfest mit der Welle verbunden, die stromauf des Siebs angeordnet sind und dem Rückspülrohr nachlaufen, um ein sofortiges Wiederansaugen der rückgespülten Verunreinigungen zu vermeiden.From the US 3,155,473 Another harvester is known which has a drive motor with a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit comprises a cooler, followed by a fan and a filter upstream. On the downstream side of the sieve there is a backwash tube which has a large number of backwash openings which are oriented towards the sieve. The backwash tube is connected to the fan via an inlet funnel in order to use part of the air drawn in by the fan to backwash the screen through the backwash openings. The backwash tube is arranged on a rotatably mounted shaft so that by rotating the backwash tube a permanent segment-wise backwashing of the sieve is possible. In addition, two blades are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the shaft, which are arranged downstream of the sieve in the suction air flow of the fan and thereby drive the shaft in rotation. Finally, two cover blades are rotatably connected to the shaft, which are arranged upstream of the sieve and run after the backwash tube in order to prevent the backwashed impurities from being sucked in again immediately.

Aus der US 2007/0137837 A1 ist ein Baufahrzeug mit Motor bekannt, dessen Kühler eine Reinigungseinrichtung zugeordnet ist. Die Reinigungseinrichtung arbeitet mit Druckluft, die über stromauf des Kühlers angeordnete, stationäre oder verstellbare Verteilerleisten mit Auslassöffnungen den Kühler beaufschlagt, um daran angelagerte Verunreinigungen vom Kühler wegzublasen oder durch den Kühler hindurchzublasen. Die Auslassöffnungen können so gestaltet sein, dass die Druckluft senkrecht oder geneigt zu Ebene des Kühlers austritt.From the US 2007/0137837 A1 a construction vehicle with a motor is known, the cooler of which is associated with a cleaning device. The cleaning device works with compressed air, which acts on the cooler via stationary or adjustable distributor strips arranged upstream of the cooler with outlet openings, in order to blow away any impurities attached thereto or away from the cooler to blow through the radiator. The outlet openings can be designed in such a way that the compressed air exits perpendicularly or at an angle to the plane of the cooler.

Aus der DE 699 33 803 T2 ist ein Fahrzeug mit Motor und Kühler bekannt, wobei dem Kühler ein Lufteinlassrost vorgeschaltet ist. Der Lufteinlassrost ist dabei horizontal, also liegend angeordnet, während der Kühler vertikal, also stehend angeordnet ist. Dem Lufteinlassrost ist eine Blaseinrichtung zugeordnet, die mit Druckluft arbeitet und anströmseitig angeordnet ist. Der Lufteinlassrost besitzt eine Wellenstruktur und die Blaseinrichtung besitzt eine Luftzuführleiste, die an einem quer zur Längsrichtung der Wellen der Wellenstruktur verlaufenden Rand des Lufteinlassrostes so angeordnet ist, dass die Druckluft über Düsen in die Täler der Wellenstruktur parallel zur Längsrichtung der Wellen strömt. Die Blaseinrichtung wird immer dann aktiviert, wenn ein Rückwärtsgang eingelegt wird, da dann zwangsläufig ein die Kühlluft ansaugender Lüfter zumindest vorübergehend eine reduzierte Drehzahl besitzt.From the DE 699 33 803 T2 a vehicle with an engine and radiator is known, the radiator being preceded by an air inlet grille. The air inlet grate is arranged horizontally, that is, lying, while the cooler is arranged vertically, that is, standing. A blowing device is assigned to the air inlet grate, which works with compressed air and is arranged on the upstream side. The air inlet grate has a corrugated structure and the blower device has an air supply bar which is arranged on an edge of the air inlet grate running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the corrugations of the corrugated structure so that the compressed air flows through nozzles into the valleys of the corrugated structure parallel to the longitudinal direction of the corrugations. The blowing device is always activated when a reverse gear is engaged, since then a fan that intakes the cooling air inevitably has a reduced speed, at least temporarily.

Aus der DE 29 23 465 A1 ist eine weitere Reinigungseinrichtung für einen Kühler einer Brennkraftmaschine bekannt, welche den Kühler abströmseitig mit einer Rückspülströmung aus Druckluft beaufschlagt. Die Reinigungseinrichtung umfasst hierzu eine stationäre oder verstellbare, rost- oder gitterartige Rohrstruktur mit Austrittsöffnungen für die Druckluft.From the DE 29 23 465 A1 Another cleaning device for a cooler of an internal combustion engine is known, which acts on the cooler on the outflow side with a backwashing flow of compressed air. For this purpose, the cleaning device comprises a stationary or adjustable, rust-like or lattice-like tubular structure with outlet openings for the compressed air.

Aus der DE 22 32 738 ist ein selbstreinigendes Drehsieb zum Reinigen von einem Kühler einer Brennkraftmaschine zugeführter Kühlluft bekannt, bei dem die Kühlluft stromauf des Kühlers durch einen Ansaugbereich des Drehsiebs angesaugt wird und stromab des Kühlers durch einen Ausblasbereich des Drehsiebs ausgeblasen wird. Eine im Drehsieb angeordnete stehende Wand trennt dabei den Ansaugbereich vom Ausblasbereich, so dass durch die Drehung des Drehsiebs permanent eine segmentweise Rückspülreinigung des Drehsiebs erfolgt. Aus der DE 10 2006 043 110 A1 ist eine Unterflurkühlanlage eines Schienenfahrzeugs bekannt.From the DE 22 32 738 discloses a self-cleaning rotary screen for cleaning cooling air supplied to a cooler of an internal combustion engine, in which the cooling air is drawn in upstream of the cooler through a suction area of the rotary screen and is blown out downstream of the cooler through a blow-out area of the rotary screen. A standing wall arranged in the rotary screen separates the suction area from the blow-out area, so that the rotary screen permanently cleans the rotary screen in segments. From the DE 10 2006 043 110 A1 an underfloor cooling system of a rail vehicle is known.

Es ist die Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, eine verbesserte Vorrichtung und ein verbessertes Verfahren zum Reinigen eines Luftfilters sowie eine verbesserte Kühlvorrichtung zu schaffen.It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved device and an improved method for cleaning an air filter as well as an improved cooling device.

Diese Aufgabe wird durch eine Vorrichtung zum Abreinigen eines Luftfilters eines Fahrzeugs gemäß Anspruch 1, gelöst.This object is achieved by a device for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle according to claim 1.

Der erfindungsgemäße Ansatz basiert auf der Erkenntnis, dass bei einem Einsatz von Druckluft zum Abreinigen des Luftfilters ein Wartungsintervall bis zur nächsten Reinigung des Kühlers auf mehrere Tage verlängert werden kann, auch zu Zeiten mit einem hohen Anteil an Fasern in der Kühlluft. Eine Vorrichtung gemäß dem hier vorgestellten Ansatz kann mit auf dem Fahrzeug vorhandenen Energiequellen betrieben werden und einfach und robust aufgebaut sein, so dass sie nicht selbst Gegenstand von intensiver Wartungsarbeit zu werden braucht.The approach according to the invention is based on the knowledge that if compressed air is used to clean the air filter, a maintenance interval can be extended to several days until the radiator is next cleaned, even at times with a high proportion of fibers in the cooling air. A device according to the approach presented here can be operated with energy sources present on the vehicle and can be constructed simply and robustly, so that it does not itself have to be the subject of intensive maintenance work.

Bei einem Einsatz bei Schienenfahrzeugen bietet der erfindungsgemäße Ansatz den Vorteil, dass Druckluft bereits zur Verfügung steht, da sie bei nahezu allen Schienenfahrzeugen im Bremssystem genutzt wird. Eine Ansteuerung kann über wartungsarme Magnetventile erfolgen. Zudem erlauben die strömungsgünstige Form und der vorzugsweise geringe Durchmesser der Rohre eine geringe Bautiefe, da der Kühlluftstrom nur wenig behindert wird. Ferner können auch übermäßige Verschmutzungen nicht zum Verstopfen, Beschädigen oder sonstigen Ausfall der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtungen führen. Diese können auch bei geringen Stückzahlen kostengünstig hergestellt und auch an bestehenden Fahrzeugen nachgerüstet werden.When used in rail vehicles, the approach according to the invention offers the advantage that compressed air is already available, since it is used in almost all rail vehicles in the braking system. It can be controlled via low-maintenance solenoid valves. In addition, the streamlined shape and the preferably small diameter of the tubes allow a small overall depth, since the cooling air flow is only slightly obstructed. Furthermore, excessive contamination cannot lead to clogging, damage or other failure of the devices according to the invention. These can be manufactured cost-effectively even with small quantities and can also be retrofitted to existing vehicles.

Der erfindungsgemäße Ansatz trägt der Problematik Rechnung, dass moderne elektrische und dieselbetriebene Triebzüge durch zunehmende Leistungsfähigkeit und einen hohen Luftbedarf für die Kühlung der Antriebskomponenten geprägt sind, während gleichzeitig ein Wunsch der Betreiber der Triebfahrzeuge nach möglichst langen Wartungsintervallen besteht. Der hier vorgestellte Ansatz kann dazu beitragen, dass diese beiden Sachverhalte nicht mehr regelmäßig zu einem Zielkonflikt führen, z.B. wenn im Sommer die Kühlluft in manchen Gebieten einen hohen Anteil leichter Pflanzenfasern von beispielsweise Pappeln, Löwenzahn, etc. aufweist. So lagern sich insbesondere bei sogenannten Unterflurkühlanlagen, die unter dem Wagenboden angeordnet sind, die Fasern am Kühlereintritt ab und können den Luftdurchsatz durch den Kühler erheblich behindern. Mit dem hier vorgestellten Ansatz kann die erforderliche Kühlleistung wieder hergestellt werden, ohne dass dazu die Faserrückstände auf der Lufteintrittsseite des Kühlers je nach Witterung und Einsatzgebiet bis zu einmal täglich manuell abgesaugt werden müssen. Somit entspricht der hier vorgestellte Ansatz den Anforderungen eines wirtschaftlichen Betriebs der Fahrzeuge, die Mindestintervalle für die Wartung von mehreren Tagen vorsehen.The approach according to the invention takes into account the problem that modern electric and diesel-powered multiple units are characterized by increasing performance and a high air requirement for cooling the drive components, while at the same time there is a desire by the operator of the multiple units for the longest possible maintenance intervals. The approach presented here can help to ensure that these two issues no longer regularly lead to a conflict of objectives, e.g. when in summer the cooling air in some areas has a high proportion of light plant fibers such as poplar, dandelion, etc. For example, in so-called underfloor cooling systems, which are arranged under the car floor, the fibers are deposited at the radiator inlet and can significantly hinder the air throughput through the radiator. With the approach presented here, the required cooling capacity can be restored without having to manually vacuum the fiber residues on the air inlet side of the cooler up to once a day depending on the weather and application. Thus, the approach presented here corresponds to the requirements of economical operation of the vehicles, which provide minimum intervals for the maintenance of several days.

Bei der Lösung beruht die Erfindung auf dem allgemeinen Gedanken, das Luftfilter mit einer Vibrationseinrichtung zu koppeln, die das Luftfilter für das Abreinigen zum Vibrieren bringt. Durch eine entsprechende höherfrequente Vibration lassen sich die am Luftfilter angelagerten Verunreinigungen lösen, so dass diese schwerkraftbedingt herabfallen können. Zweckmäßig kann hierzu das Luftfilter mit schwingungsfähigen Befestigungsstellen an einem entsprechenden Rahmen gehalten sein. Beispielsweise eignen sich hierzu Elastomerlager zum Befestigen des Luftfilters am Rahmen. Vorteilhaft ist weiter eine Ausführungsform, bei welcher das Luftfilter in einer Luftfilterebene liegt, deren Normalrichtung gegenüber der Hauptrichtung der Kühlluftströmung geneigt ist, z.B. in einem Winkelbereich von 15° bis 60°, vorzugsweise von 15° bis 30°.In the solution, the invention is based on the general idea of coupling the air filter to a vibrating device which vibrates the air filter for cleaning. The impurities attached to the air filter can be loosened by a correspondingly higher-frequency vibration, so that they can fall due to gravity. For this purpose, the air filter can expediently be held on a corresponding frame with vibration-capable fastening points. For example, elastomer bearings are suitable for attaching the air filter to the frame. Also advantageous is an embodiment in which the air filter lies in an air filter plane, whose normal direction is inclined with respect to the main direction of the cooling air flow, for example in an angular range from 15 ° to 60 °, preferably from 15 ° to 30 °.

Besonders vorteilhaft ist dabei eine Lösung, bei welcher die Reinigung des Luftfilters mittels der vorbeschriebenen Druckluftrückspülung in Verbindung mit der vorstehend beschriebenen Vibration erfolgt.A solution in which the air filter is cleaned by means of the above-described compressed air backwashing in conjunction with the vibration described above is particularly advantageous.

Die vorliegende Erfindung schafft somit insbesondere eine Vorrichtung zum Abreinigen eines Luftfilters eines Fahrzeugs, mit folgenden Merkmalen: einer Rückspüleinrichtung, umfassend eine Rohreinrichtung mit einem Anschluss zum Zuführen von Druckluft und einer Mehrzahl von Düsen zum Ausstoßen der Druckluft in Richtung des Luftfilters, um das Luftfilter abzureinigen, und einer Vibrationseinrichtung zur Schwingungsanregung des Luftfilters, um das Luftfilter zu reinigen.The present invention thus provides, in particular, a device for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle, having the following features: a backwashing device comprising a pipe device with a connection for supplying compressed air and a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the compressed air in the direction of the air filter in order to clean the air filter , and a vibration device for vibrating the air filter to clean the air filter.

Die jeweilige Vorrichtung zum Abreinigen kann beispielsweise an einem Triebzug eines Schienenfahrzeugs oder an einem Waggon eines Schienenfahrzeugs angeordnet sein. So kann die die Vorrichtung zum Kühlen eines Antriebs des Schienenfahrzeugs und alternativ oder zusätzlich zur Innenraumkühlung des Schienenfahrzeugs eingesetzt werden. Bei dem Abreinigen mittels Druckluft kann die Druckluft durch die Düsen auf eine den Düsen zugewandte Seite des Luftfilters aufgebracht werden, so dass z.B. Pflanzenfasern auf der von den Düsen abgewandten Seite Luftfilters abgehoben werden können und zu Boden fallen. Das Luftfilter kann beispielsweise durch Fahrtwind mit Außenluft beaufschlagt werden. Bei dem Luftfilter kann es sich um ein feinmaschiges Vlies oder Gitter handeln, das geeignet ist, z.B. Faserstoffe unterschiedlicher Größen aus der Außenluft herauszufiltern. Die Vorrichtung kann in Strömungsrichtung des durch den Luftfilter zu reinigenden Luftstroms hinter dem Luftfilter angeordnet sein. Somit kann die aus den Düsen entweichende Druckluft der Strömungsrichtung des Luftstroms entgegengesetzt sein. Die Rohreinrichtung kann z.B. ein oder mehrere miteinander verbundene Rundrohre aufweisen, die von der Druckluft durchströmt werden können. Die Düsen können durch Öffnungen in der Rohreinrichtung gebildet sein, so dass die die Rohreinrichtung durchströmende Druckluft durch die Düsen entlassen werden kann, um das Luftfilter zu beaufschlagen. Der Anschluss zum Zuführen der Druckluft zu der Rohreinrichtung kann in dem einen Rundrohr oder einem der Mehrzahl von Rundrohren angeordnet sein. Es kann sich bei dem Anschluss z.B. um ein Ventil, insbesondere Impulsventil handeln, über das sich der Zeitpunkt und die Dauer des Ablassvorgangs steuern lässt. Der Anschluss kann direkt oder mittelbar über einen weiteren Anschluss mit einer Druckluftleitung des Fahrzeugs verbunden sein.The respective device for cleaning can be arranged, for example, on a multiple unit of a rail vehicle or on a wagon of a rail vehicle. The device can be used to cool a drive of the rail vehicle and, alternatively or in addition, to cool the interior of the rail vehicle. When cleaning with compressed air, the compressed air can be applied through the nozzles to a side of the air filter facing the nozzles, so that, for example, plant fibers on the side facing away from the nozzles can be lifted off and fall to the ground. The air filter can be supplied with outside air, for example, by airflow. The air filter can be a fine-meshed fleece or grid that is suitable, for example, to filter out fibrous materials of different sizes from the outside air. The device can be arranged behind the air filter in the flow direction of the air flow to be cleaned by the air filter. The compressed air escaping from the nozzles can thus flow in the direction of flow the opposite of the air flow. The pipe device can have, for example, one or more interconnected round pipes through which the compressed air can flow. The nozzles can be formed by openings in the pipe device, so that the compressed air flowing through the pipe device can be released through the nozzles in order to act on the air filter. The connection for supplying the compressed air to the pipe device can be arranged in the one round pipe or one of the plurality of round pipes. The connection can be, for example, a valve, in particular a pulse valve, via which the time and the duration of the drainage process can be controlled. The connection can be connected directly or indirectly via a further connection to a compressed air line of the vehicle.

Gemäß einer Ausführungsform kann die Vorrichtung ein Rahmenelement mit einem Druckluftanschluss zum Verbinden des Rahmenelements mit einer Druckluftleitung aufweisen. Das Rahmenelement kann ausgebildet sein, um die Rohreinrichtung so aufzunehmen, dass der Druckluftanschluss mit dem Anschluss der Rohreinrichtung verbunden werden kann. Bei dem Rahmenelement kann es sich z.B. um eine stabile rechteckige Konstruktion handeln, die ausgebildet ist, um zum einen das Rahmenelement und zum anderen das Luftfilter aufzunehmen. Das Rahmenelement kann vorteilhafterweise als ein Dichtrahmen ausgebildet sein, der das Luftfilter so aufnehmen kann, dass keine Pflanzenfasern an den Kanten des Luftfilters vorbei in die Vorrichtung und das Innere des Fahrzeugs eindringen können und beispielsweise die Funktion des Kühlers beeinträchtigen können.According to one embodiment, the device can have a frame element with a compressed air connection for connecting the frame element to a compressed air line. The frame element can be designed to receive the pipe device in such a way that the compressed air connection can be connected to the connection of the pipe device. The frame element can e.g. are a stable rectangular construction that is designed to accommodate the frame element and the air filter. The frame element can advantageously be designed as a sealing frame which can accommodate the air filter in such a way that no plant fibers can penetrate past the edges of the air filter into the device and the interior of the vehicle and, for example, can impair the function of the radiator.

Gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform kann die Rohreinrichtung eine Mehrzahl von benachbart angeordneten Rohren und zwei Verteilerrohre zum Aufnehmen gegenüberliegender Enden der Mehrzahl von Rohren aufweisen. Dabei kann die Mehrzahl von Rohren die Mehrzahl von Düsen aufweisen. Beispielsweise können die Rohre parallel zueinander angeordnet sein. Die Düsen können gleichmäßig über eine gesamte Länge der Rohre verteilt sein. Die Verteilerrohre können einen größeren Durchmesser als die Rohre aufweisen, so dass die Druckluft einfach und schnell auf die Rohre verteilt werden kann. Eine derartige Ausgestaltung der Rohreinrichtung weist den Vorteil auf, dass die Druckluft gleichmäßig und über die gesamte Fläche auf das Luftfilter aufgebracht werden kann und dieses so gleichmäßig abgereinigt werden kann.According to a further embodiment, the tube device can have a plurality of tubes arranged adjacent to one another and two distributor tubes for receiving opposite ends of the plurality of tubes. The plurality of tubes can have the plurality of nozzles. For example, the tubes can be arranged parallel to one another. The nozzles can be evenly distributed over an entire length of the pipes. The distribution pipes can have a larger diameter than the pipes, so that the compressed air can be distributed easily and quickly to the pipes. Such a configuration of the pipe device has the advantage that the compressed air can be applied uniformly and over the entire area to the air filter and this can be cleaned uniformly.

Ferner kann die Mehrzahl von Düsen jeweils an einer dem Luftfilter zugewandten Seite der Mehrzahl von Rohren angeordnet sein. Vorteilhafterweise sind so die Düsen entgegen dem von außen kommenden Luftstrom ausgerichtet, so dass ein Wirkungsgrad der Abreinigung mittels Druckluft optimal ist. Zweckmäßig kann vorgesehen sein, dass eine Düsenstrahlrichtung der Düsen, mit welcher die Düsen die Druckluft in Richtung Luftfilter abstrahlen, gegenüber einer Normalrichtung einer Ebene, in welcher sich das Luftfilter erstreckt, geneigt ist, z.B. in einem Winkelbereich von 15° bis 75°. Wenn die Düsenrichtung nicht rechtwinklig zum Filtergitter angeordnet wird, kann mit wenigen Düsen eine große Fläche mit Druckluft beaufschlagt werden. Durch den Winkel der Düsen kann ein größerer Abstand zum Filtergitter realisiert werden, wobei der erzeugte kegelförmige Luftstrahl dann eine wesentlich größere Fläche erfasst als bei einer rechtwinkligen Anordnung.Furthermore, the plurality of nozzles can each be arranged on a side of the plurality of pipes facing the air filter. Advantageously, the nozzles are thus directed against the air flow coming from the outside, so that an efficiency of cleaning by means of compressed air is optimal. It can be expediently provided that a nozzle jet direction of the nozzles with which the nozzles emit the compressed air in the direction of the air filter is inclined with respect to a normal direction of a plane in which the air filter extends, e.g. in an angular range from 15 ° to 75 °. If the nozzle direction is not arranged at right angles to the filter grille, compressed air can be applied to a large area with just a few nozzles. Due to the angle of the nozzles, a greater distance from the filter grille can be achieved, the conical air jet generated then covering a substantially larger area than in the case of a right-angled arrangement.

Entsprechend einer anderen vorteilhaften Ausführungsform kann zumindest eine der Düsen so ausgestaltet sein, dass sie einen um eine Hauptabstrahlrichtung rotierenden Düsenstrahl erzeugt. Dies kann dadurch realisiert werden, dass die jeweilige Düse selbst rotiert oder dass in der stationären Düse ein rotierendes Element angeordnet ist, das den rotierenden Düsenstrahl erzeugt. Ebenso ist es möglich, ein Rohr, das mehrere Düsen aufweist, kreisförmig zu bewegen, so dass die einzelnen Düsen jeweils um ihre Hauptabstrahlrichtung kreisen. Die Rotation kann durch die angeschlossene Druckluft oder einem separaten Zusatzantrieb erzeugt werden. Eine solche Rotation der Düsen bzw. des Düsenstrahlen kann den Reinigungsvorgang weiter verbessern, da mit weniger Düsen eine größere Fläche mit hohem Impuls beaufschlagt werden kann und sich damit der Schmutz leichter vom Filtergitter löst.According to another advantageous embodiment, at least one of the nozzles can be designed in such a way that it generates a nozzle jet rotating about a main emission direction. This can be achieved by rotating the respective nozzle itself or by arranging a rotating element in the stationary nozzle which generates the rotating nozzle jet. It is also possible to move a tube which has a plurality of nozzles in a circle, so that the individual nozzles each revolve around their main emission direction. The rotation can be generated by the connected compressed air or a separate additional drive. Such a rotation of the nozzles or of the jet stream can further improve the cleaning process, since with fewer nozzles a larger area can be acted upon with a high impulse and the dirt can be loosened more easily from the filter grille.

Insbesondere in Kombination mit dem oben genannten schräg angeordneten Luftfilter bzw. Gitter ergibt sich eine sehr gute Abreinigungsleistung. Außerdem kann dadurch die Düsenanzahl sehr gering gehalten werden, dies wirkt sich positiv auf den Luftdruck sowie den Luftverbrauch aus.Particularly in combination with the above-mentioned inclined air filter or grille, the cleaning performance is very good. In addition, the number of nozzles can be kept very low, which has a positive effect on air pressure and air consumption.

Entsprechend einer besonders vorteilhaften Ausführungsform kann vorgesehen sein, dass die Druckluftversorgung der Rohreinrichtung mit Hilfe eines Impulsventils gesteuert werden kann, derart, dass die Rückspülung mit Hilfe von impulsartigen Rückspülstößen erfolgt. Kurze, impulsartige Druckluftstöße haben eine besonders hohe Reinigungswirkung bei einem vergleichsweise kleinen Luftverbrauch. Es ist klar, dass auch Mehrfach-Druckstöße erzeugt werden können, um die Abreinigung zu intensivieren.According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the compressed air supply to the pipe device can be controlled with the aid of a pulse valve, such that the backwashing takes place with the aid of pulse-like backwashing pulses. Short, impulsive compressed air blasts have a particularly high cleaning effect with a comparatively low air consumption. It is clear that multiple pressure surges can also be generated to intensify cleaning.

Gemäß einer Ausführungsform kann das Luftfilter als ein Gitter ausgebildet sein. Beispielsweise kann das Gitter als ein feinmaschiges Edelstahlgitter ausgebildet sein. Die Verwendung eines Gitters bietet den Vorteil, dass dieses aufgrund seiner glatten Oberflächeneigenschaften gut mittels mit hohem Druck beförderter Luft von Fasern abgereinigt werden kann. Ein Metallgitter weist den Vorteil einer langen Lebensdauer auf und ist zudem auch bei hohem Luftdruck formstabil.According to one embodiment, the air filter can be designed as a grid. For example, the grid can be designed as a fine-mesh stainless steel grid. The use of a grating has the advantage that, due to its smooth surface properties, it can be cleaned of fibers well by means of air conveyed at high pressure. A metal grille has the advantage of a long service life and is also dimensionally stable even with high air pressure.

Das Filtergitter kann geneigt angebracht sein, was zur Folge hat, dass die Schmutzpartikel möglicherweise bereits durch die Erdanziehungskraft vom Gitter abfallen. Zumindest wir die Reinigung dadurch unterstützt.The filter grille can be inclined, with the result that the dirt particles may already fall off the grating due to the force of gravity. At least it supports cleaning.

Ferner kann das Luftfilter als ein Kühler ausgebildet sein. Bei dieser Ausführungsform kann ein weiteres Luftfilter zur Steigerung der Filterwirkung eingesetzt werden. Alternativ kann auf ein weiteres Luftfilter verzichtet werden, so dass weniger Komponenten für die hier vorgestellte Vorrichtung benötigt werden, wodurch sich ein Wartungsaufwand vorteilhafterweise verringern kann.Furthermore, the air filter can be designed as a cooler. In this embodiment, an additional air filter can be used to increase the filter effect. Alternatively, an additional air filter can be dispensed with, so that fewer components are required for the device presented here, as a result of which a maintenance effort can advantageously be reduced.

Die vorliegende Erfindung schafft ferner eine Kühlervorrichtung für ein Fahrzeug, mit folgenden Merkmalen: einer Vorrichtung zum Abreinigen gemäß einem der vorangegangenen Ansprüche; dem Luftfilter zum Filtern der Kühlluft; und einem Kühler zum Abkühlen der Kühlluft, wobei die Vorrichtung, das Luftfilter und der Kühler so benachbart zueinander in einer Strömungsrichtung der Kühlluft angeordnet sind, dass das Luftfilter und/oder der Kühler durch die Vorrichtung abgereinigt werden können.The present invention further provides a radiator device for a vehicle, having the following features: a device for cleaning according to one of the preceding claims; the air filter for filtering the cooling air; and a cooler for cooling the cooling air, the device, the air filter and the cooler being arranged adjacent to one another in a flow direction of the cooling air such that the air filter and / or the cooler can be cleaned by the device.

Die Kühlervorrichtung kann beispielsweise zum Kühlen eines Antriebs eines Triebwagens eines Schienenfahrzeugs eingesetzt werden. Bei der Kühlluft kann es sich um Außenluft handeln, die durch das Luftfilter in die Kühlervorrichtung einströmen kann, wenn das Schienenfahrzeug bewegt wird. Der Kühler kann so aufgebaut sein, dass er von der Kühlluft durchströmt werden kann. Beispielsweise kann die Vorrichtung in der Strömungsrichtung der Kühlluft an zweiter Position hinter dem Luftfilter oder alternativ an zweiter Position hinter dem Kühler oder alternativ an dritter Position hinter dem Luftfilter und dem Kühler angeordnet sein.The cooler device can be used, for example, to cool a drive of a railcar of a rail vehicle. The cooling air can be outside air that can flow through the air filter into the cooler device when the rail vehicle is moved. The cooler can be designed so that the cooling air can flow through it. For example, the device can be arranged in the flow direction of the cooling air in a second position behind the air filter or alternatively in a second position behind the cooler or alternatively in a third position behind the air filter and the cooler.

Gemäß einer Ausführungsform kann die Kühlervorrichtung einen Lüfter zum Befördern der Kühlluft in der Strömungsrichtung aufweisen. Bei dem Lüfter kann es sich um einen Ventilator handeln, der in der Strömungsrichtung der Kühlluft an letzter Position in der Kühlervorrichtung angeordnet sein kann. Der Einsatz des Lüfters in der Kühlervorrichtung bietet den Vorteil, dass die Kühlluft schneller und in größeren Mengen an den Kühler gelangen kann.According to one embodiment, the cooler device can have a fan for conveying the cooling air in the flow direction. The fan can be a fan, which can be arranged in the last position in the cooling device in the flow direction of the cooling air. The use of the fan in the cooler device has the advantage that the cooling air can reach the cooler faster and in larger quantities.

Gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform kann die Vorrichtung in der Strömungsrichtung der Kühlluft vor dem Kühler angeordnet sein. Eine derartige Anordnung der Vorrichtung bietet den Vorteil, dass die auf den Kühler treffende Kühlluft bereits gefiltert ist. Eine alternative Anordnung der Vorrichtung in der Strömungsrichtung der Kühlluft nach dem Kühler kann einen Einsatz des Luftfilters überflüssig machen, wenn der Kühler gleichzeitig als Luftfilter eingesetzt wird. In diesem Fall kann der Kühler durch die Vorrichtung gereinigt werden. Ist in der Strömungsrichtung gesehen vor dem Kühler ein Luftfilter angeordnet, so kann das Luftfilter durch die Druckluft der Vorrichtung gereinigt werden, die durch den Kühler strömt. Abhängig von einer Bauweise eines Antriebs eines Schienenfahrzeugs kann die besser geeignete der beiden vorgestellten Konstruktionsweisen der Kühlervorrichtung zum Einsatz kommen.According to a further embodiment, the device can be arranged in the flow direction of the cooling air in front of the cooler. Such an arrangement of the device offers the advantage that the cooling air striking the cooler is already filtered. An alternative arrangement of the device in the flow direction of the cooling air after the cooler can make the use of the air filter superfluous if the cooler is also used as an air filter. In this case, the cooler can be cleaned by the device. If an air filter is arranged in front of the cooler, as seen in the direction of flow, the air filter can be cleaned by the compressed air of the device which flows through the cooler. Depending on the design of a drive of a rail vehicle, the more suitable of the two designs of the cooler device presented can be used.

Die hier vorgestellte Kühlervorrichtung kann Teil einer Unterflurkühlanlage eines Schienenfahrzeugs sein. Derartige Unterflurkühlanlagen werden häufig zu Kühlung von Treibzugsantrieben eingesetzt. Aufgrund der Bodennähe derartiger Anlagen und dem damit einhergehenden hohen Verschmutzungsgrad der Filterkomponente kommt dem hier vorgestellten Ansatz einer effizienten und wirtschaftlichen Filterabreinigung besondere Bedeutung zu.The cooler device presented here can be part of an underfloor cooling system of a rail vehicle. Underfloor cooling systems of this type are frequently used to cool propellant drives. Due to the proximity of such systems to the ground and the associated high degree of contamination of the filter component, the approach presented here of efficient and economical filter cleaning is of particular importance.

Die vorliegende Erfindung schafft ferner ein Verfahren zum Abreinigen eines Luftfilters eines Fahrzeugs mittels einer Vorrichtung zum Abreinigen des Luftfilters, die eine Rückspüleinrichtung und/oder eine Vibrationseinrichtung aufweist, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst: Erfassen eines Bewegungszustands des Fahrzeugs und/oder eines Betriebszustands eines Lüfters zum Erzeugen und/oder Unterstützen einer Kühlluftströmung; Betätigen der Rückspüleinrichtung und/oder der Vibrationseinrichtung abhängig von dem Bewegungszustand und/oder Betriebszustand, um den Luftfilter mittels Druckluft und/oder mittels Vibration abzureinigen.The present invention furthermore provides a method for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle by means of a device for cleaning the air filter, which has a backwash device and / or a vibration device, the method comprising the following steps: detecting a state of motion of the vehicle and / or an operating state of a vehicle Fans for generating and / or supporting a cooling air flow; Actuating the backwashing device and / or the vibration device depending on the state of movement and / or operating state in order to clean the air filter by means of compressed air and / or by means of vibration.

Der Bewegungszustand kann eine Beschleunigung oder eine Geschwindigkeit des Fahrzeugs betreffen. Beispielsweise kann die Vorrichtung jeweils am Ende eines Beschleunigungsvorganges mit der Druckluft und/oder Vibration beaufschlagt werden. Das Ende des Beschleunigungsvorganges kann beispielsweise mittels eines entsprechenden Signals an ein Steuergerät der Vorrichtung zum Abreinigen bereitgestellt werden. Basierend auf dem Signal kann das Steuergerät z.B. einen Vibrationsgenerator und/oder ein Ventil des Anschlusses ansteuern, um Druckluft aus einer Druckluftleitung des Fahrzeugs der Rohreinrichtung zuzuführen. Indem der Bewegungszustand berücksichtigt wird, kann die Abreinigung beispielsweise dann ausgelöst werden, wenn sich das Fahrzeug außerhalb einer Ortschaft befindet.The state of motion can relate to an acceleration or a speed of the vehicle. For example, the compressed air and / or vibration can be applied to the device at the end of an acceleration process. The end of the acceleration process can be provided, for example, by means of a corresponding signal to a control device of the cleaning device. Based on the signal, the control unit can e.g. control a vibration generator and / or a valve of the connection in order to supply compressed air from a compressed air line of the vehicle to the pipe device. By taking the state of motion into account, the cleaning can be triggered, for example, when the vehicle is outside a town.

Zusätzlich oder alternativ kann der Betriebszustand des jeweiligen Lüfters berücksichtigt werden. Der jeweilige Lüfter erzeugt bzw. verstärkt die Kühlluftströmung, welche die Anlagerung der Verunreinigungen am Luftfilter erzeugt. Bei geringem oder fehlendem Kühlbedarf kann der Lüfter ausgeschaltet sein oder nur eine vergleichsweise schwache Kühlluftströmung erzeugen. Folglich lässt sich die Reinigungswirkung verbessern, wenn die Reinigung in Betriebsphasen erfolgt, in denen der Lüfter nicht oder nur mit reduzierter Leistung in Betrieb ist. Zweckmäßig kann also eine entsprechende Steuerung die Leistungsaufnahme des Lüfters oder ein damit korelliertes Signal überwachen, um die Reinigung des Luftfilters bevorzugt dann durchzuführen, wenn die Leistung des Lüfters unterhalb eines vorgegebenen Grenzwerts liegt.Additionally or alternatively, the operating status of the respective fan can be taken into account. The respective fan generates or intensifies the cooling air flow, which creates the accumulation of contaminants on the air filter. If there is little or no cooling requirement, the fan can be switched off or only generate a comparatively weak cooling air flow. As a result, the cleaning effect can be improved if the cleaning takes place in operating phases in which the fan is not operating or is operating only with reduced power. Appropriately, a corresponding control can monitor the power consumption of the fan or a signal correlated therewith in order to carry out the cleaning of the air filter preferably when the power of the fan is below a predetermined limit value.

Vorteilhafte Ausführungsbeispiele der vorliegenden Erfindung werden nachfolgend Bezug nehmend auf die beiliegenden Zeichnungen näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
eine Explosionsdarstellung einer Kühlervorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
Fig. 2
eine Explosionsdarstellung einer Kühlervorrichtung gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
Fig. 3
eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Teils einer Rohreinrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung; und
Fig. 4
eine Prinzipdarstellung eines Abreinigungsvorgangs gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.
Fig. 5
eine Prinzipdarstellung eines Abreinigungsvorgangs gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel mit geneigter Anordnung des Gitters und schräg auftreffendem Luftstrahl,
Fig. 6
eine perspektivische Visualisierung der abgereinigten Fläche bei einer Anordnung von Düsen gemäß Fig. 5.
Advantageous exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:
Fig. 1
an exploded view of a cooler device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2
an exploded view of a cooler device according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3
a perspective view of part of a pipe device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 4
a schematic diagram of a cleaning process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5
2 shows a basic illustration of a cleaning process according to an exemplary embodiment with an inclined arrangement of the grating and an obliquely impinging air jet,
Fig. 6
a perspective visualization of the cleaned surface in an arrangement of nozzles according Fig. 5 .

In der nachfolgenden Beschreibung der bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiele der vorliegenden Erfindung werden für die in den verschiedenen Zeichnungen dargestellten und ähnlich wirkenden Elemente gleiche oder ähnliche Bezugszeichen verwendet, wobei eine wiederholte Beschreibung dieser Elemente weggelassen wird.In the following description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements which have a similar effect and are illustrated in the various drawings, and a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

Fig. 1 zeigt in einer Explosionsdarstellung eine Grundanordnung einer Kühlervorrichtung 100 eines Fahrzeugs, gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung. Gezeigt sind eine Filtereinheit 110 und eine Kühler-Lüfter-Einheit 120 der Kühlervorrichtung 100. Die Filtereinheit 110 umfasst ein Luftfilter bzw. Gitter 125, ein Rahmenelement 130 sowie eine Rohreinrichtung bzw. einen Düsenstock 135. Die Kühler-Lüfter-Einheit 120 umfasst einen Kühler 140 und einen Lüfter 145. Eine Strömungsrichtung einer Kühlluft 150 ist an drei Stellen in Fig. 1 mittels eines Pfeils angezeigt. Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a basic arrangement of a cooler device 100 of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A filter unit 110 and a cooler-fan unit 120 of the cooler device 100 are shown. The filter unit 110 comprises an air filter or grille 125, a frame element 130 and a pipe device or a nozzle assembly 135. The cooler-fan unit 120 comprises a cooler 140 and a fan 145. A flow direction of a cooling air 150 is at three locations in FIG Fig. 1 indicated by an arrow.

Das in Fig. 1 gezeigte Ausführungsbeispiel der Kühlervorrichtung 100 ist so aufgebaut, dass ein Strom der Kühlluft 150 zuerst das Luftfilter 125, anschließend das Rahmenelement 130, dann die Rohreinrichtung 135, anschließend den Kühler 140 und abschließend den Lüfter 145 passiert. Das Luftfilter 125, das Rahmenelement 130, die Rohreinrichtung 135 und der Kühler 140 weisen einen im Wesentlichen gleichen rechteckigen Querschnitt auf, so dass sie z.B. ohne weiteres in ein gemeinsames Gehäuse eingesetzt werden können. Bei dem in Fig. 1 gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel bilden das Rahmenelement 130 und die Rohreinrichtung 135 zusammen eine Vorrichtung 155 zum Abreinigen des Luftfilters 125. Die Rohreinrichtung 135 ist hier aus einer Mehrzahl von Rohren 160 sowie zwei Verteilerrohren 165 zusammengesetzt. Der Übersichtlichkeit halber ist lediglich eines der Rohre 160 und der Verteilerrohre 165 mit einem Bezugszeichen versehen. Das Rahmenelement 130 ist hier als ein Dichtrahmen mit einem Druckluftanschluss 170 ausgeführt, der mit einer in Fig. 1 nicht gezeigten Druckluftleitung des Fahrzeugs verbunden werden kann. So kann in einem zusammengebauten Zustand der Kühlervorrichtung 100 ein Anschluss der Rohreinrichtung 135 mit dem Druckluftanschluss 170 verbunden sein, so dass Druckluft die Rohreinrichtung 135 durchströmen kann. Das Rahmenelement 130 ist zudem ausgeführt, um in einem montierten Zustand der Kühlervorrichtung 100 das Gitter 125 dicht zu umschließen, so dass keine Pflanzenfasern zwischen den Kanten des Gitters 125 und dem Rahmenelement 130 weiter in die Kühlervorrichtung 100 vordringen können.This in Fig. 1 The exemplary embodiment of the cooler device 100 shown is constructed such that a flow of the cooling air 150 first passes through the air filter 125, then the frame element 130, then the pipe device 135, then the cooler 140 and finally the fan 145. The air filter 125, the frame element 130, the pipe device 135 and the cooler 140 have an essentially identical rectangular cross section, so that they can be easily inserted into a common housing, for example. At the in Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the frame element 130 and the pipe device 135 together form a device 155 for cleaning the air filter 125. The pipe device 135 is here composed of a plurality of pipes 160 and two distributor pipes 165. For the sake of clarity, only one of the tubes 160 and the distributor tubes 165 is provided with a reference symbol. The frame element 130 is embodied here as a sealing frame with a compressed air connection 170, which is connected to an in Fig. 1 Compressed air line of the vehicle, not shown, can be connected. Thus, in an assembled state of the cooler device 100, a connection of the pipe device 135 can be connected to the compressed air connection 170, so that compressed air can flow through the pipe device 135. The frame element 130 is also designed to tightly enclose the grille 125 in an assembled state of the cooler device 100, so that no plant fibers can penetrate further into the cooler device 100 between the edges of the grille 125 and the frame element 130.

Fig. 2 zeigt in einer weiteren Explosionsdarstellung ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Schmutzgitters mit integriertem Druckluftdüsen-Stock. Das hier gezeigte Ausführungsbeispiel einer Kühlervorrichtung 200 weist die gleichen Komponenten wie die in Zusammenhang mit Fig. 1 erläuterte Kühlervorrichtung auf, wobei jedoch eine alternative Anordnung der Komponenten vorliegt, dergestalt, dass eine Position des Kühlers 140 und der Vorrichtung 155 hier vertauscht sind, so dass ein Kühlluftstrom 150 nach dem Passieren des Luftfilters 125 zuerst den Kühler 140 und anschließend die Vorrichtung 155 durchströmt. Die Funktionsweise der Kühlervorrichtung 200 gleicht der der in Fig. 1 erläuterten Kühlervorrichtung, mit dem Unterschied, dass Druckluft zum Abreinigen des Luftfilters 125 vor dem Auftreffen auf das Luftfilter 125 durch den Kühler 140 geführt wird (in Fig. 2 nicht gezeigt). Bei der Komponentenanordnung der in Fig. 2 gezeigten Kühlervorrichtung 200 besteht die Option eines Weglassens des Luftfilters 125, z.B. wenn der Kühler 140 gleichzeitig eine Filterfunktion aufweist. Dies ist jedoch in Fig. 2 nicht gezeigt. Fig. 2 shows in a further exploded view a further embodiment of a grille according to the invention with an integrated compressed air nozzle stick. The exemplary embodiment of a cooler device 200 shown here has the same components as those related to Fig. 1 explained cooler device, but there is an alternative arrangement of the components such that a position of the cooler 140 and the device 155 are interchanged here, so that a cooling air flow 150 after passing through the air filter 125 first flows through the cooler 140 and then the device 155 . The operation of the cooler device 200 is similar to that in FIG Fig. 1 explained cooler device, with the difference that compressed air for cleaning the air filter 125 is passed through the cooler 140 before hitting the air filter 125 (in Fig. 2 Not shown). In the component arrangement of the in Fig. 2 cooler device 200 shown there is the option of omitting the air filter 125, for example if the cooler 140 simultaneously has a filter function. However, this is in Fig. 2 Not shown.

Fig. 3 zeigt in einer Perspektivdarstellung einen Aufbau der Rohreinrichtung bzw. des Düsenstocks 135 gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung. Gezeigt sind drei Rohre bzw. Düsenrohre 160 sowie ein die Rohre 160 verbindendes Verteilerrohr 165. Der Übersichtlichkeit halber ist lediglich eines der Rohre 160 mit einem Bezugszeichen versehen. Der in Fig. 3 dargestellte Ausschnitt der Rohreinrichtung 135 zeigt, dass die Rohre 160 parallel zueinander angeordnet sind und jeweils im rechten Winkel in das Verteilerrohr 165 münden. Jedes der Rohre 160 weist eine Mehrzahl von Düsen 310 auf. Die Rohreinrichtung 135 bildet zusammen mit den Düsen 310 eine Rückspüleinrichtung 600. Mittels Pfeilen ist hier gezeigt, wie Druckluft 320 in das Verteilerrohr 165 einströmt und aus den Düsen 310 herausströmt. Der Übersichtlichkeit halber ist lediglich an einer Stelle in Fig. 3 das Herausströmen der Druckluft 320 mit einem Bezugszeichen angezeigt. Gemäß der Darstellung in Fig. 3 weisen die Düsen 310 im Wesentlichen in eine Richtung, so dass die Druckluft 320 im Wesentlichen z.B. in Richtung eines hier nicht gezeigten Luftfilters ausgestoßen werden kann. Ein Einlass der Druckluft 320 in das Verteilerrohr 165 kann beispielsweise über einen in Fig. 3 nicht gezeigten Anschluss der Rohreinrichtung 135 erfolgen. Fig. 3 shows in a perspective view a structure of the pipe device or the nozzle assembly 135 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Three tubes or nozzle tubes 160 and a distributor tube 165 connecting the tubes 160 are shown. For the sake of clarity, only one of the tubes 160 is provided with a reference number. The in Fig. 3 The section of the pipe device 135 shown shows that the pipes 160 are arranged parallel to one another and each open at a right angle into the distributor pipe 165. Each of the tubes 160 has a plurality of nozzles 310. The pipe device 135 forms, together with the nozzles 310, a backwashing device 600. Arrows here show how compressed air 320 flows into the distributor pipe 165 and flows out of the nozzles 310. For the sake of clarity, there is only one point in Fig. 3 the outflow of compressed air 320 is indicated with a reference symbol. As shown in Fig. 3 the nozzles 310 point essentially in one direction, so that the compressed air 320 can be ejected essentially, for example, in the direction of an air filter, not shown here. For example, an inlet of compressed air 320 into the manifold 165 about an in Fig. 3 not shown connection of the pipe device 135.

Fig. 4 zeigt in einer Prinzipdarstellung ein Abblasen einer Verschmutzung von dem Luftfilter 125, gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung. In Fig. 4 sind ein Ausschnitt des Düsenrohrs 160 und des Luftfilters 125 gezeigt, die bereits anhand der vorhergehenden Figuren im Zusammenhang mit Ausführungsbeispielen erläutert wurden. In Fig. 4 sind das Rohr 160 und das Luftfilter 125 in einer Seitenansicht dargestellt. Das Luftfilter 125 ist hier in Form eines Filtergitters ausgeführt. Wie aus Fig. 4 ersichtlich ist, strömt bei dem Abreinigungsvorgang 400 des Luftfilters 125 Druckluft 320 in das Rohr 160 ein, um durch die Düse 310 in Richtung des Luftfilters 125 wieder ausgestoßen zu werden. Wiederum wird die Strömungsrichtung der Druckluft 320 mittels entsprechenden Pfeilen dargestellt. Fig. 4 zeigt, dass eine Verschmutzung einer von dem Düsenrohr 160 abgewandten Seite des Luftfilters 125 in Form von Fasern 410 kraft der durch die Öffnungen des Gitters 125 strömenden Druckluft 320 gelöst werden kann, um anschließend von dem Luftfilter 125 abzufallen. In Fig. 4 ist der Übersichtlichkeit halber lediglich eine der Fasern 410 mit einem Bezugszeichen versehen. Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a pollution from the air filter 125, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 4 A section of the nozzle tube 160 and the air filter 125 are shown, which have already been explained with reference to the preceding figures in connection with exemplary embodiments. In Fig. 4 the pipe 160 and the air filter 125 are shown in a side view. The air filter 125 is designed here in the form of a filter grille. How from Fig. 4 As can be seen, compressed air 320 flows into the pipe 160 during the cleaning process 400 of the air filter 125 in order to be expelled again through the nozzle 310 in the direction of the air filter 125. The direction of flow of the compressed air 320 is again shown by means of corresponding arrows. Fig. 4 shows that contamination of a side of the air filter 125 facing away from the nozzle pipe 160 in the form of fibers 410 can be released by the compressed air 320 flowing through the openings of the grille 125 in order to then fall off the air filter 125. In Fig. 4 only one of the fibers 410 is provided with a reference symbol for the sake of clarity.

Gemäß Fig. 5 kann das Luftfilter 125, das hier als Gitter ausgestaltet ist, sich in einer Filter- bzw. Gitterebene 501 erstrecken, deren Normalrichtung 502 gegenüber einer Hauptströmungsrichtung 503 der Kühlluft 150 geneigt sein. Im Bespiel beträgt ein Neigungswinkel 504 etwa 15°. Dieser Neigungswinkel kann aber auch andere Werte aufweisen, z.B. zwischen 5° und 45°. Am Gitter 125 lagern sich anströmseitig die Verunreinigungen 410 an.According to Fig. 5 The air filter 125, which is designed here as a grille, can extend in a filter or grille plane 501, the normal direction 502 of which is inclined with respect to a main flow direction 503 of the cooling air 150. In the example, an angle of inclination 504 is approximately 15 °. This angle of inclination can also have other values, for example between 5 ° and 45 °. The impurities 410 accumulate on the upstream side of the grid 125.

Die Rohreinrichtung 135 ist hier im Bereich von zwei Rohren 160 gezeigt, die jeweils mehrere Düsen 310 aufweisen können, von denen in Fig. 5 jedoch jeweils nur eine erkennbar ist. Die jeweilige Düse 310 erzeugt einen sich kegelförmig aufweitenden Düsenstrahl 505, der in Fig. 5 jeweils durch fünf Pfeile symbolisiert ist. Der jeweilige Düsenstrahl 505 besitzt dabei eine zentrale Düsenstrahlrichtung 506, die hier jeweils durch den mittleren der fünf Pfeile des Düsenstrahls 505 symbolisiert ist. Erkennbar ist bei der in Fig. 5 gezeigten Ausführungsform die Düsenstrahlrichtung 506 gegenüber der Normalrichtung 502 des Luftfilters 125 geneigt. Im Bespiel beträgt ein entsprechender Neigungswinkel etwa 60°. Es ist klar, dass grundsätzlich auch andere Neigungswinkel vorstellbar sind, beispielsweise in einem Bereich von 25° bis 75°. Erkennbar unterstützt die geneigte Anordnung des Luftfilters 125 die Abreinigung der Verunreinigungen 410, da die gelösten Verunreinigungen 410 sich durch die Schwerkraftwirkung vom Luftfilter 125 entfernen können, bevor sie wieder durch die Luftströmung 150 gegen das Luftfilter 125 angesaugt werden können.The pipe device 135 is shown here in the area of two pipes 160, each of which can have a plurality of nozzles 310, of which in FIG Fig. 5 however only one is recognizable at a time. The respective nozzle 310 creates a conical shape expanding jet 505, which in Fig. 5 is symbolized by five arrows. The respective jet stream 505 has a central jet direction 506, which is symbolized here by the middle of the five arrows of the jet stream 505. It can be seen in the Fig. 5 In the embodiment shown, the jet direction 506 is inclined with respect to the normal direction 502 of the air filter 125. In the example, a corresponding angle of inclination is approximately 60 °. It is clear that in principle other angles of inclination are also conceivable, for example in a range from 25 ° to 75 °. The inclined arrangement of the air filter 125 clearly supports the cleaning of the contaminants 410, since the dissolved contaminants 410 can move away from the air filter 125 due to the force of gravity before they can be sucked up again against the air filter 125 by the air flow 150.

Fig. 6 zeigt vereinfacht vier Rohre 160 der Rohreinrichtung 135 mit jeweils mehreren Düsen 310, die jeweils einen Düsenstrahl 505 mit gegenüber der Normalrichtung 502 der Filterebene 501 geneigten Düsenstrahlrichtungen 506. Erkennbar kann dadurch mit einer reduzierten Anzahl an Düsen 310 und bei einem vergrößerten Abstand zum Luftfilter 125 im wesentlichen die gesamte abströmseitige Oberfläche des Luftfilters 125 mit Druckluft beaufschlagt werden. Fig. 6 shows in simplified form four tubes 160 of the tube device 135, each with a plurality of nozzles 310, each having a nozzle jet 505 with nozzle jet directions 506 inclined with respect to the normal direction 502 of the filter plane 501. This can be seen with a reduced number of nozzles 310 and with an increased distance from the air filter 125 in essentially the entire downstream surface of the air filter 125 is pressurized with compressed air.

In Fig. 5 ist außerdem stark vereinfacht eine Vibrationseinrichtung 508 angedeutet, die auf geeignete Weise entsprechend einem Doppelpfeil 509 mit dem Luftfilter 125 zusammenwirkt, um das Luftfilter 125 zu Schwingungen anzuregen. Auf diese Weise können Verunreinigungen 410 quasi abgeschüttelt werden. Beispielsweise kann das Luftfilter 125 entsprechend dem Doppelpfeil 509 in der Filterebene 501 zu Schwingungen angeregt werden. Zusätzlich oder alternativ ist auch eine Schwingungsanregung in der Normalrichtung 502 vorstellbar. Das Luftfilter 125 ist dabei zweckmäßig über Elastomerlager 510 am Rahmenelement 130 befestigt, so dass das Luftfilter 125 im Rahmenelement 130 schwingungsfähig aufgehängt ist. Die Vibrationseinrichtung 508 kann unabhängig zu der durch die Rohreinrichtung 135 und die Düsen 310 gebildeten Rückspüleinrichtung 600 aktiviert werden oder gemeinsam damit.In Fig. 5 a vibration device 508 is also indicated in a highly simplified manner, which interacts in a suitable manner with the air filter 125 in accordance with a double arrow 509 in order to excite the air filter 125 to vibrate. In this way, impurities 410 can be virtually shaken off. For example, the air filter 125 can be excited to vibrate in accordance with the double arrow 509 in the filter plane 501. Additionally or alternatively, vibration excitation in the normal direction 502 is also conceivable. The air filter 125 is expediently fastened to the frame element 130 via elastomer bearings 510, so that the air filter 125 is suspended in the frame element 130 so that it can vibrate. The vibrator 508 can be independent to the backwashing device 600 formed by the pipe device 135 and the nozzles 310 or activated together with it.

Zusätzlich oder alternativ kann auch vorgesehen sein, dass zumindest eine Düse 310 oder alle Düsen 310 so ausgestaltet sind, dass sie einen Düsenstrahl 505 erzeugen, der bezüglich einer Hauptabstrahlrichtung rotiert. Zusätzlich oder alternativ können die Düsen 310 bezüglich der Hauptabstrahlrichtung kreisend bewegt werden. Beide Maßnahmen dienen dazu, die mit Hilfe der jeweiligen Düse 310 beaufschlagte Fläche des Luftfilters 125 zu vergrößern.Additionally or alternatively, it can also be provided that at least one nozzle 310 or all nozzles 310 are configured such that they generate a nozzle jet 505 which rotates with respect to a main emission direction. Additionally or alternatively, the nozzles 310 can be moved in a circular manner with respect to the main emission direction. Both measures serve to enlarge the area of the air filter 125 which is acted upon by the respective nozzle 310.

Anhand weiterer Ausführungsbeispiele wird die erfindungsgemäße Einrichtung zum selbsttätigen Abreinigen des Schmutzgitters mit Hilfe von Druckluft nochmals beschrieben. Zum Abreinigen des Gitters ist zwischen dem Gitter 125 und einer Eintrittsfläche des Kühlers 140 der Düsenstock 135 aus mehreren vorzugsweise runden Rohren 160 mit vorzugsweise düsenförmigen Öffnungen angebracht, durch die das Gitter 125 von hinten mit Druckluft beaufschlagt werden kann, wie es in den Figuren 1 und 3 gezeigt ist. Wenn gleichzeitig ein Kühlluftgebläse abgeschaltet ist, lösen sich auf dem Gitter 125 haftende Pflanzenfasern 410 und fallen nach unten, wie aus der Darstellung in Fig. 4 ersichtlich ist. Auch nach Wiedereinschalten des Kühlluftgebläses bleibt zumindest ein Teil des Gitters 125 frei, so dass eine drastische Reduktion der Kühlluftmenge wirkungsvoll verhindert werden kann. Anhand des in Fig. 2 gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiels der Kühlervorrichtung 200 wird ersichtlich, dass je nach Einbausituation und Geometrie des Kühlers 140 es auch sinnvoll sein kann, den Düsenstock 135 hinter in dem Kühler 140 anzuordnen und optional auf das Gitter 125 zu verzichten, wie es in Fig. 2 gezeigt ist. Um Belästigungen durch Lärm und Staub zu vermeiden, kann die Abreinigung mittels Druckluft vorzugsweise auf freier Strecke erfolgen, wenn eine Antriebleistung des Fahrzeugs nach einem Beschleunigungsvorgang zurückgenommen wird und vorübergehend auf die volle Kühlleistung verzichtet werden kann.The device according to the invention for automatically cleaning the dirt grille with the aid of compressed air is described again with the aid of further exemplary embodiments. To clean the grille, the nozzle assembly 135 comprising a plurality of preferably round tubes 160, preferably with nozzle-shaped openings, is attached between the grille 125 and an inlet surface of the cooler 140, through which the grille 125 can be pressurized from behind, as shown in FIGS Figures 1 and 3rd is shown. If a cooling air blower is switched off at the same time, plant fibers 410 adhering to the grid 125 loosen and fall down, as shown in FIG Fig. 4 can be seen. Even after the cooling air blower is switched on again, at least part of the grille 125 remains free, so that a drastic reduction in the amount of cooling air can be effectively prevented. Based on the in Fig. 2 The exemplary embodiment of the cooler device 200 shown shows that, depending on the installation situation and the geometry of the cooler 140, it may also be expedient to arrange the nozzle assembly 135 behind in the cooler 140 and optionally to dispense with the grille 125, as shown in FIG Fig. 2 is shown. In order to avoid annoyance from noise and dust, cleaning with compressed air can preferably be done on the open road if the drive power of the vehicle is reduced after an acceleration process and the full cooling power can be temporarily dispensed with.

Die beschriebenen Ausführungsbeispiele sind nur beispielhaft gewählt und können miteinander kombiniert werden.The exemplary embodiments described are selected only as examples and can be combined with one another.

Claims (12)

  1. Cooling device (100; 200) for a vehicle,
    with the air filter (125) for filtering the cooling air (150); and
    with a radiator (140) for cooling the cooling air,
    with a device (155) equipped with a back-flushing device (600) comprising a pipe device (135) with a connection for supplying compressed air (320) and a plurality of nozzles (310) for ejecting the compressed air in the direction of the air filter (125) and/or the radiator (125), in order to clean the air filter (125) by back-flushing, and with an actuatable vibration device (508) for vibrating the air filter (125), in order to clean the air filter (125),
    wherein the respective nozzle (310) produces a conically expanding nozzle jet (505), which has a central nozzle jet direction (506) that is inclined with respect to a normal direction (502) of the air filter (125), wherein the device, the air filter and the radiator are arranged adjacent to one another in a flow direction of the cooling air such that the air filter can be cleaned by the device.
  2. Cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle jet direction (506) has an angle of inclination relative to the normal direction (502) in the range of 25° to 75°.
  3. Cooling device (100; 200) according to claim 1 or 2, which has a fan to supply the cooling air (150) in the flow direction.
  4. Cooling device (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the device (155) is arranged, in the flow direction of the cooling air (150), before the radiator (140).
  5. Cooling device (100; 200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is part of an underfloor cooling system of a rail vehicle.
  6. Cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the nozzles (310) are so designed that they produce a rotating nozzle jet (505).
  7. Cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the nozzles (310) are moveable circularly and are circularly driven by a drive mechanism.
  8. Cooling device (155) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a frame element (130) with a compressed air connection (170) for connecting the frame element (130) to a compressed air line, wherein the frame element (130) is configured to receive the pipe device (135) in such a way that the compressed air connection is connected to the connection of the pipe device (135).
  9. Cooling device (155) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe means (135) comprises a plurality of pipes (160) disposed adjacent one another and two manifolds (165) for receiving opposite ends of the plurality of pipes, wherein the plurality of pipes has the plurality of nozzles (310).
  10. Cooling device (155) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of nozzles (310) are each arranged on a side of the plurality of tubes (160) facing the air filter (125).
  11. Cooling device (155) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air filter (125) is configured as a grille.
  12. Cooling device (155) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air filter (125) is configured as a radiator (140), so that the cooling air is filtered by flowing through of the radiator (140).
EP11706574.8A 2010-03-02 2011-03-02 Device and method for cleaning a vehicle, and a cooling device Active EP2542767B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102010009992A DE102010009992A1 (en) 2010-03-02 2010-03-02 Device and method for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle and a cooler device
PCT/EP2011/053082 WO2011107502A2 (en) 2010-03-02 2011-03-02 Device and method for cleaning an air filter of a vehicle, and a cooling device

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EP2542767A2 EP2542767A2 (en) 2013-01-09
EP2542767B1 true EP2542767B1 (en) 2020-05-06

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DE (1) DE102010009992A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2011107502A2 (en)

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US20210239077A1 (en) * 2020-02-05 2021-08-05 Cnh Industrial America Llc System and method for cleaning a grille of a work vehicle

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DE102022001868A1 (en) 2022-05-29 2023-11-30 Elke Hildegard Münch Biocide-coated, reticulated plastic foams, process for their production and their use

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EP2542767A2 (en) 2013-01-09
DE102010009992A1 (en) 2011-09-08
WO2011107502A3 (en) 2011-11-10
WO2011107502A2 (en) 2011-09-09

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