EP2553276B1 - Fluid cooling device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a fluid cooling device as a structural unit with a drive motor that drives a rotatable fan, and with a filling and a level indicator having storage tank from which at least one fluid is conveyed into a hydraulic working circle, wherein in the hydraulic working circuit, the fluid is heated and cooled by a heat exchanger of the assembly, preferably back into the storage tank traceable.

Fluid cooling devices as part of compact hydraulic units or as a functional unit for a hydraulic working group are basically known. They regularly consist of a cooling device, consisting of a cooler with fan fan and attached storage tank for a circulating fluid. Such fluid cooling devices are used both stationary and in mobile use in vehicles, especially in commercial vehicles or work machines, where temporarily additional hydraulic working groups can be used.

The DE 103 28 177 A1 describes a fluid cooling device as a modular unit with a, a fan blower and a pressure medium pump driving drive motor. A fluid (hydraulic oil) is from a storage tank in a hydraulic working group with at least one consumer promoted. The pressure medium is heated in the same during operation of the hydraulic working group and cooled again via a cooling device before it again enters the said storage tank. The storage tank regularly comprises the fan fan or fan in the manner of a flow guide or in the form of a so-called. NACA ring, which on the one hand an improved fan flow and on the other a damping effect of operating noise of the fan blower is effected. In addition, the number of components and the assembly costs for the pertinent fluid cooling device are lowered by the structural measures.

Furthermore, the describes WO 98 / 42986A1 a fluid cooling device that forms a compact unit, consisting of a motor that drives a fan and a fluid pump. In the hydraulic working circuit, in turn, the fluid is heated by flow losses and adiabatic processes and fed to a heat exchanger. From the fluid cooling device, the fluid is returned to the oil reservoir. The oil tank is trough-shaped with, the motor and the fluid pump partially reshaping walls formed. The fluid cooling device shown represents a compact solution without pipe connections, so that the structural unit, consisting of filter and pump unit and a cooling unit, can be connected in a space-saving manner with an oil tank without further piping.

However, the fluid cooling devices which are freely available on the market and described here by way of example only, are special solutions specially adapted and developed specifically for specific installation situations on site, which do not permit a diverse spatial arrangement such as a turning unit. Their design, the type and arrangement, in particular of fluid connections and filling openings or level indicators, define a fixed installation situation in their mechanical environment, which is not changeable in this respect.

The DE 196 52 706 A1 describes a hydraulic compact unit consisting essentially of a pressure medium tank in the manner of an oil tank, which encloses a cooler with an inner outer wall for cooling pressure medium. The cooler has an electric motor with a motor shaft, which serves both to drive a fan rotor and to drive a hydraulic pump. The compact unit is designed so that it can be placed in two operating positions. The pressure medium container has a level sensor in the form of an electrical sensor which communicates with the oil in the interior of the pressure medium container. The level sensor can be changed at the pressure fluid container in a change of the position of use in its orientation, ie in particular ummontiert be.

From the document of Bucher Hydraulics "Hydraulic Units UP100-S309 Version", XP 55004110 shows a hydraulic unit, in which a transparent storage tank is provided, which can be filled via a filling opening from the top.

The catalog of Company HAWE Hydraulik with the title "Compact hydraulic power packs type HC and HCW", XP 55004114 shows a storage tank in which a filling opening in a corner region, which is adjacent to three sides of the fluid tank, is arranged. In addition, a level indicator is provided, which is arranged away from the filling opening.

Based on this prior art, the invention has the object, while maintaining the advantages of the known solutions to further improve that the fluid cooling device allows different installation directions and yet structurally simple, especially based on their components, such as filling, level indicator and associated fluid connections.

This object is achieved by a fluid cooling device having the features of claim 1 in its entirety.

Characterized in that according to the characterizing part of claim 1, the structural unit (fluid cooling device) is designed as a turning unit in which a filling opening, preferably provided with a filter device, and a level indicator are arranged on the storage tank that the unit in at least two assembly directions, according two main axes, ie in a vertical, first mounting direction and in a direction perpendicular thereto arranged, preferably horizontal, second mounting direction, mountable, a constructive measure is created to mount the fluid cooling device in different mounting positions and yet with a minimum number of level indicators and filling, namely preferably only in each case an ad or opening to get along. Preferably, therefore, it is provided with a single filling opening and with a single level indicator, which are designed accordingly to mount the fluid cooling device in at least two mutually different mounting positions on a third component accordingly, without resulting in loss of function.

In order to allow proper filling of the storage tank with fluid and independent of the installation position of the fluid cooling device, whether in the direction of a vertical main axis or in the direction of this intersecting axis to read the level, is provided, the filling and the level indicator in a corner to arrange the storage tank. The corner region in question is characterized by a flattening of the relevant corner of the storage tank, ie by removing the corner formed by the otherwise three acute running wall surfaces. Instead of said corner a approximately 45 ° all three wall panels concerned cutting wall or corner surface is formed, which allows the arrangement of the filling at the apex of the boundary line of the individual wall surfaces of the storage tank. The Storage tank preferably has a parallelepiped-like shape, each with approximately mutually parallel edges on the individual side surfaces, which are configured in a preferred embodiment in about the same length.

Adjacent to the filling opening, which may also be equipped with a filter device and a pressure compensation device, the level indicator is provided. The level indicator is preferably formed by a scale which is formed directly and preferably in one piece with the wall of the storage tank. The scale is arranged around a control opening or indicator (sight glass), which is recessed in the wall of the storage tank. The storage tank is preferably a formed in the forming process or blow molding thermoplastic resin tank, so that the scaling in the form of spaced lines in the manufacture of the storage tank can be made with.

Instead of spaced strokes, however, only one individual fill line bar can always be indicated, which reproduces, for example, a maximum or minimum filling level in the storage tank, wherein the scale or the individual line indication includes a right angle with the associated second scale or the second single line indication. Otherwise, the scaling can be obtained by a corresponding shaping within the thermoforming or blow mold for storage tank preparation. Preferably, the walls of the storage tank are made transparent, so that directly the level at the scale used can be read. In order to effect a UV radiation shielding for the relevant fluid, it may be expedient to form the storage tank from a milky-cloudy plastic or a non-transparent plastic, so that the level then expediently at a, the control opening occlusive transparent sealing element in the Art a sight glass can be read, in which subsequent wall area again the respective scale is arranged to a level balance between the amount shown in the sight glass and the adjacent scaling.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealing element need not be transparent when the wall of the storage tank is transparent. If the wall of the storage tank is again not transparent, it is advisable to use a transparent sealing element for the inspection opening in the manner of the sight glass. Also, a partial transparency for the wall of the storage tank may be provided in such a way that just a comparison check between scaling and level height is made possible in the storage tank.

To achieve protection against damage, the level indicator can be embedded in a recess in the wall contour of the storage tank. The scaling preferably includes a fictitious angle of 90 ° to each other in a corresponding arrangement immediately adjacent to the control opening around.

The storage tank serves as a support for the fan wheel together with the drive motor and encloses this preferably in the manner of a frame, so that a filled with fluid box construction is realized around the rotatable fan. The storage tank and its shape can be chosen such that it can serve as a guide for incoming air on the one hand and on the other hand forms a good damping measure for any operating noise of the fan. The storage tank is so far preferably flows through cooling air, wherein the flowed through by the heated fluid heat exchanger may also be an integral part of the storage tank, which preferably surrounds the heat exchanger at least on two opposite sides, thereby fixing it to a box or frame construction of the storage tank.

Advantageously, the heat exchanger is integrated into the outer contour of the storage tank such that a total of a cuboid or a parallelepiped-like shape of the fluid cooling device is formed as a unit, which makes do without significant attachments and protrusions for mounting on third components.

A pressure relief valve of the fluid cooling device can also be part of the storage tank adjacent to the filling opening and the level indicator. In that regard, the operation of the fluid cooling device by changing the mounting position for safety reasons due to the pressure relief valve would be possible without hesitation.

It may also be advantageous to make different fluid connections to the storage tank or the fluid cooling device to adapt to technical specifications of the hydraulic working group umsteckbar. This in turn favors the overall modular design of the fluid cooling device with its components.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Fluidkühlvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht der Fluidkühlvorrichtung nach der Fig. 1 in vertikaler Montagerichtung;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht der Fluidkühlvorrichtung nach der Fig. 1 in horizontaler Montagerichtung, indem die Fluidkühlvorrichtung in Blickrichtung auf die Fig. 1 um einen Schwenkwinkel von 90° im Uhrzeigersinn geschwenkt ist;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Einbaubeispiels der Fluidkühlvorrichtung in einem Fahrzeugrahmen in vertikaler Montagerichtung;

Fig. 5

eine Rückseitenansicht der Fluidkühlvorrichtung mit Ansicht eines Wärmetauschers in der Art eines Lamellenkühlers, der in dem Vorratstank der Fluidkühlvorrichtung integriert ist; und

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht der Unter- oder Bodenseite der Fluidkühlvorrichtung von unten her gesehen.

In the following, the fluid cooling device according to the invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment according to the drawing. This show in principle and not to scale representation of the

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a fluid cooling device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a view of the fluid cooling device according to the Fig. 1 in vertical mounting direction;

Fig. 3

a view of the fluid cooling device according to the Fig. 1 in a horizontal mounting direction, by the fluid cooling device in the direction of the Fig. 1 is pivoted by a pivoting angle of 90 ° in a clockwise direction;

Fig. 4

a perspective view of an installation example of the fluid cooling device in a vehicle frame in the vertical mounting direction;

Fig. 5

a rear view of the fluid cooling device with view of a heat exchanger in the manner of a finned cooler, which is integrated in the storage tank of the fluid cooling device; and

Fig. 6

a view of the bottom or bottom side of the fluid cooling device seen from below.

In the Fig. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a fluid cooling device 1 for receiving and cooling a fluid which is in a hydraulic working circuit of a utility vehicle (not shown) can be used. The fluid may be a hydraulic oil for a shiftable, hydrostatic or mechanical transmission of the motor vehicle. The fluid cooling device 1 can also be integrated into existing hydraulic drive circuits of drive or machine tools in order to cool corresponding working hydraulic oil.

The representations in the FIGS. 2 and 3 give two possible installation positions of the fluid cooling device 1 again, the mounting position in the Fig. 2 shows a substantially vertical orientation of the fluid cooling device 1 and the orientation after the Fig. 3 a horizontal and so far horizontal arrangement of the fluid cooling device 1. In this respect corresponds to the vertical installation design according to the Fig. 2 the installation situation as shown in the Fig. 4 and in the horizontal arrangement according to the Fig. 3 would that be in the Fig. 1 and 5 shown fluid cooling device 1 shown tilted about an inclination axis in each case by 90 ° in the image plane or out of the image plane.

Essential components of the fluid cooling device 1 are a storage tank 4 describing the shape of the fluid cooling device 1, a drive motor 2, for example in the form of a DC electric motor, and a fan wheel 3 driven by it (see FIG. Fig: 5 ). To define the fluid cooling device 1, free side surfaces serve the overall shape of the fluid cooling device 1 defined by a cuboid shape of the storage tank 4.

Fig. 1 shows further a front view of the fluid cooling device 1, wherein the fluid in a rotary blow molding of a preferably formed of polyethylene plastic reservoir tank 4 provides a substantially rectangular front view of the viewer. The as a hub motor in a circular fan opening 16 approximately in the center of the storage tank 4 suspended drive motor 2, which drives a five-bladed fan 3, generates in operation a cooling air flow in the direction of the Fig. 1 . 4 and 5 in a parallel direction through the fan opening 16 therethrough.

Radially from the drive motor 2 outgoing ribs 17, the web-like extend to the edge of the fan opening 16, can serve as a kind of rectifier for smoothing the cooling air flow and stiffen so the respective cover grille 18 for the fan 3. Depending on the Lüfterradausbildung could the flow direction the cooling air through the fan opening 16 also be provided inversely, in particular if certain installation situations of the fluid cooling device 1 should require this. If necessary, an inverse flow air reversal can also be achieved by an inverse direction of rotation of the vanes during fan operation. The storage tank 4 has a conical, tapered shape in the manner of an inlet funnel to the closed by the grille 18 fan opening 16, so that there are low inlet losses for the fan and insofar as a favorable flow of the cooling air through the storage tank 4 results.

In the direction of the Fig. 1 Seen, the storage tank 4 on its right side wall on a chamfer 29, which is a custom feature and may result, inter alia, from the respective installation situation for the fluid cooling device 1. At the lower right side looking towards the Fig. 1 seen is located at the front of the fan opening 16 around different connecting pieces 19 for a leakage oil supply from the hydraulic working circuit, not shown. Furthermore, there are different, in the direction of the Fig. 1 seen, horizontally and vertically guided U-shaped grooves present that can facilitate the positive fixing to a stand or chassis parts of a vehicle body and otherwise stiffen the container construction. This also results in correspondingly large, mutually separated contact surfaces for setting the supply tank 4 to third-party components.

As the Fig. 5 Furthermore, the blower air flow is centered on the in Fig. 5 horizontally extending cooling fins 20 of a heat exchanger 5 directed. The cooling fins 20 extend in the same distance from each other from a box-shaped inlet distribution channel 21 to a box-like drain channel 22, the cooled fluid is discharged back into the interior of the storage tank 4. The channels 21,22 are arranged perpendicular to the cooling fins 20, wherein the entire heat exchanger 5 may be formed both as a casting and in sheet metal construction with solder or welded joints.

The heat exchanger 5 has a pressure relief valve 14, which is installed on an upper side of the inlet distribution channel 21 and in the region of an upper side wall 10 "(see. Fig. 1 ) of the storage tank 4 opens. In order to allow installation of the fluid cooling device 1 in the two mounting directions X, Y, which are perpendicular to each other, is a filling opening 6 at the upper left corner region 8 in the direction of the Fig. 1 Seen on the fluid cooling device 1, which consists of a filler neck 23 with a External thread exists, on which a closure lid 24 is screwed with knurling. Said corner region is defined by a wall surface 9, which is triangular in plan view and connects the side walls 10, 10 ', 10 "of the storage tank 4. Within the closure lid 24, a filter element not shown in detail can be integrated in the usual way.

The wall surface 9 is formed integrally with the remaining walls of the storage tank 4. Adjacent to the filling opening 6 is a level indicator 7 on the in the Fig. 1 consists of a circular level control opening 13 in the manner of a sight glass and two scales 11, 11 ', which occupy a right angle to each other .. The respective scale 11, 11' can from a single-stroke display according to the presented embodiment, which gives the viewer an indication of the desired maximum or minimum volume level in the storage tank 4, or consist of a multi-line arrangement that allows a statement about which defined amount is received in the storage tank 4. In the embodiment after the FIGS. 2 and 3 the one scaling 11 is arranged parallel to the mounting direction X and the further scaling 11 'parallel to the mounting direction Y.

The intersection point S of the two scaling regions 11, 11 'forms the center of the fill level control opening 13. The fill level control opening 13 (sight glass) is spaced from the fill opening 6 by about 1/8 to 1/5 of the total length or the total width of the storage tank 4 , The respective position of the control opening 13 in conjunction with the respective scaling 11, 11 'is dependent on which filling level for the respective storage tank 4 is predetermined by the user. A sealing element 12 in the form of a clipped plastic cap closes the level control opening 13 and the sealing element is transparent in the embodiment shown formed so that the fluid level is also readable on the sealing element 12 accordingly.

As the FIGS. 2 and 3 shown in a respective plan view of the side wall 10 ", the heat exchanger 5 is arranged off-center with its pressure relief valve 14 to the storage tank 4 and seen in relation to all side walls of the storage tank 4 integrated approximately flush in the cuboid overall shape of the tank 4. Die Kühlrippen 20 (s. Fig. 5 ) have rectangular, strip-like Grundrißgestalt with constant width and thickness over its entire length. The heat exchanger 5 is constructed as an independent component in a modular manner and can be fluidly connected via plug connections without piping to the storage tank 4. This results in a very quick and easy total assembly option.

As the Fig. 5 in a rear view of the heat exchanger 5, this is connected on its inlet distribution channel side 21 with screws on two tabs 25 to the storage tank 4. On the side of its outlet channel 22 of the heat exchanger 5 is positively releasably introduced into undercuts of the storage tank 4. An equally positive, detachable connection of the heat exchanger 5 may be additionally provided on its inlet distribution channel side 21, so that overall results in a simple assembly and a surface connection of the heat exchanger 5 with the storage tank 4.

The storage tank 4 can be designed with its components due to its production as a plastic part in blow molding or rotational molding process to the effect that not only mechanical and hydraulic connection options are provided, but also cable guides for connection cable of the electric drive motor 2. So in the Fig. 1 to 3 a gap 26 is provided for cable management, which is approximately in the middle of an adjacent to the grid 18 for the fan 3 edge of the side wall Through the gap 26, the power supply for the drive motor 2 in the aforementioned manner can be performed.

The Fig. 6 again shows a view of the underside of the fluid cooling device 1 in addition to the side from which the fluid is removed from the storage tank 4. For this purpose, a removal opening 28 is arranged at a further corner region 27 of the tank 4, which can have a corresponding fluid coupling. The removal opening 28 is similar to the wall surface 9 provided in the overlapping region of three side surfaces of the storage tank 4 and the wall surface 9 is arranged diagonally opposite the storage tank 4. Due to the position of the removal opening 28, it is possible that in both provided mounting positions of the fluid cooling device 1, the removal opening 28 comes to rest at the lowest point of the storage tank 4. Likewise is in the Fig. 6 a view of the return pipe 15 for fluid, which is guided from the hydraulic working circuit back to the heat exchanger 5 shown. The pertinent return pipe 15 is so far on the underside of the box-shaped inlet distribution channel 21st

Claims (9)

1. A fluid cooling device (1) as a structural unit with a drive motor (2) which drives a rotatable fan impeller (3), and with a storage tank (4) with a filling opening (6) as well as a fill-level indicator (7), from which at least one fluid can be conveyed into a hydraulic working circuit, wherein in the hydraulic working circuit the fluid is heated and cooled via a heat exchanger (5) of the fluid cooling device (1), preferably can be returned again to the storage tank (4), characterised in that the structural unit is made as a turning assembly, in which the filling opening (6) for fluid and the fill-level indicator (7) are arranged on the storage tank (4) such that the indicator can be used or read in a first, vertical installation direction (X, Y) of the structural unit and in a second installation direction (Y, X) of the structural unit which is provided at a right angle to the first installation direction (X, Y), and that the filling opening (6) and the fill-level indicator (7) are arranged in a corner region (8) of the storage tank (4).
2. The fluid cooling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the filling opening (6) is arranged on a wall surface (9) of the storage tank (4), which surface connects the three side walls (10, 10', 10") of the storage tank (4) in the corner region (8) to one another.
3. The fluid cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fill-level indicator (7) is formed by scaling (11, 11') which can be read in at least two installation directions (X, Y) of the structural unit arranged on the outside of a side wall (10") of the storage tank (4), and which indicator is arranged in the region of a fill-level check opening (13) sealed with a sealing element (12).
4. The fluid cooling device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the fill-level indicator (7) is located countersunk in the outline of the storage tank (4) and the sealing element (12) is made non-transparent in a transparent design of the side wall (10") of the storage tank (4) and is made transparent in a non-transparent design of the side wall (10") of the storage tank (4).
5. The fluid cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filling opening (6) is arranged in a corner region (8) of the storage tank (4) which is defined by a tilted triangular wall surface (9) which passes into the three side walls (10, 10', 10") which rest substantially perpendicular to one another.
6. The fluid cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the one installation direction (X) runs parallel to the side wall (10') which encompasses the fan impeller (3) on the face side, and that the further installation direction (Y) is arranged parallel to the side wall (10") with the fill-level indicator (7).
7. The fluid cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the heat exchanger (5) is inserted into the outline of the storage tank (4) and is enclosed at least on two sides by the storage tank (4).
8. The fluid cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that there is a pressure relief valve (14) of the structural unit adjacent to the filling opening (6) and the fill-level indicator (7).
9. The fluid cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a return connecting piece (15) for fluid flowing out of the hydraulic working circuit into the structural unit is arranged repositionably on the latter.

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