JP2002309936A - Heat storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat storage tank to prevent heat medium taken into a tank body from being mixed with heat medium taken out of the tank body. SOLUTION: The heat storage tank can keep cooling water worm and store the cooling water, and a swirl flow generating member is disposed in the heat storage tank. When replacing the cooling water with new one, the cooling water is taken into the heat storage tank while swirling the cooling water. A mixing prevention plate having a plurality of through holes is movably disposed on an axial line connecting a base portion to a ceiling portion to take the cooling water through the plural through holes formed in the mixing prevention board. While moving the mixing prevention board to absorb change in inflow pressure and in flow rate of the cooling water, the cooling water is taken into the heat storage tank.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat storage tank for keeping a liquid heat medium warm.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some internal combustion engines mounted on automobiles and the like, especially liquid-cooled internal combustion engines, have a heat storage tank provided in addition to the internal combustion engine in order to store heat of the cooling liquid (heat medium). .

[0003] As a heat storage tank provided with this liquid-cooled internal combustion engine, there is, for example, a heat storage tank disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-71840.

[0004] The heat storage tank 100 described in the above publication
As shown in FIG. 13, when the temperature of the coolant becomes high, such as during engine operation, a high-temperature coolant serving as a heat medium is taken in from an intake port 102 provided at the base of the tank body 101. Further, the cooling liquid taken into the tank main body 101 pushes the low-temperature cooling liquid (heat medium) stored in the tank main body 101 to a drain pipe 103 opened at a ceiling portion of the tank main body 101, Thus, only the high-temperature coolant is stored in the tank body 101 while keeping the temperature.

[0005] When the engine body is cold, such as during a cold start, a low-temperature coolant is taken in from the intake port 102 in the opposite manner. Then, the high-temperature coolant stored in the tank body 101 is pushed out to the drain pipe 103 side by the low-temperature coolant, and the drain pipe 103 is discharged.
The high-temperature coolant flows into the engine body through the passage.

When the high-temperature coolant flows into the engine body, the heat of the coolant is transmitted to the engine body, and the temperature of the engine body is increased. Therefore, the startability of the engine body is improved and the warm-up is promoted.

As described above, in the heat storage tank 100, the high-temperature coolant, which is kept warm and stored in the tank body 101, is pushed to the engine body by the low-temperature coolant to warm the engine body. Therefore, in order to efficiently warm the engine body, it is necessary to flow only the high-temperature coolant that has been kept warm and stored into the engine body side. That is, it is necessary to suppress the mixing of the high-temperature coolant that has been kept warm in the tank body 101 and the low-temperature coolant that pushes the high-temperature coolant out of the tank body 101.

Therefore, according to the heat storage tank described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-71840, a mixing prevention plate 104 having a plurality of through holes 104a is fixed immediately above the intake port 102 in order to prevent mixing of the cooling liquid. The low-temperature coolant is taken into the tank main body 101 through a plurality of through holes 104 a formed in the mixing prevention plate 104.

More specifically, low-temperature cooling water is taken into the tank main body 101 through the through hole 104a, and the flow velocity in the vertical direction from the base of the tank main body 101 to the upper side is reduced, so that a layered Form a flow. Then, by this laminar flow, the high-temperature coolant, which is kept warm and stored in the tank body 101, is pushed out to the drain pipe 103 side as a whole, and only the high-temperature coolant flows into the engine body. .

[0010]

However, there is a case where the flow (flow velocity) in the vertical direction cannot be sufficiently suppressed only by passing through the through hole 104a.

[0011] For example, a coolant (heat medium) flowing into the tank body 101, such as when the coolant starts to flow.
When the flow rate of the mixture rapidly increases, the mixing prevention plate 10
The pressure acting on the lower surface side of 4 is inevitably increased, and the flow rate of the coolant flowing into the tank main body 101 through the through hole 104a naturally increases.

Further, due to the increase in the flow velocity, a turbulent flow occurs above the mixing prevention plate 104. That is, the high-temperature coolant and the low-temperature coolant are stirred and mixed in the tank body 101 due to the generation of the turbulence.

As described above, the intake port 10 of the tank body 101
When the flow (flow velocity) of the cooling liquid flowing upward from 2 increases, the low-temperature cooling liquid taken in from the intake 102 flows into the drain pipe 103 without forming a laminar flow. Further, a turbulent flow is generated in the tank main body 101, and as a result, the temperature of the coolant flowing into the engine main body through the drain pipe 103 decreases.

Therefore, the present invention reduces the flow rate of the heat medium from the base end to the end of the tank body, and further suppresses the mixing of the heat medium taken in the tank body and the heat medium taken out of the tank body. It is an object to provide a heat storage tank that can be used.

[0015]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is,
The heat storage tank according to the present invention includes a tank body for keeping a liquid heat medium warm and stored; an intake opening at a base end side in the tank body to take in the heat medium into the tank body; Opening at the end side of the tank body, an outlet for taking out the heat medium in the tank body out of the tank body, and a flow along the inner peripheral wall of the tank body for the flow of the heat medium taken in from the intake port. And a swirling flow generating means for generating a swirling flow swirling in the direction.

In the heat storage tank of the present invention thus configured, the heat medium flows into the tank main body through the intake port opened at the base end side of the tank main body. The heating medium taken into the tank body pushes out the heating medium in the tank body originally stored to the other end side of the tank body, and is discharged out of the tank body through an outlet opened at the other end side. You. Further, the swirling flow generating means generates a swirling flow which is swirled in the circumferential direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank main body in the flow of the heat medium taken into the tank main body. In the present invention, the inner peripheral wall corresponds to a wall surface that does not face the base end and the end.

Therefore, the heat medium is directed to the other end side while rotating along the inner peripheral wall of the tank body by the action of the swirling flow generating means so as to linearly advance from the base end side to the other end side. . As a result, the flow velocity in the direction from the base end side to the other end side becomes extremely small, and the heat medium flowing into the tank main body fills the inside of the tank main body sequentially from the base end side. Therefore, the heat medium originally stored in the tank body is pushed out to the terminal side as a whole, whereby the heat medium taken in the tank body and the heat medium taken out of the tank body are separated. Mixing is suppressed.

Further, the swirling flow generating means may include an induction passage for guiding the heat medium taken in from the intake port in a direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank body.

That is, in this configuration, the swirling flow forming means is provided with an induction passage for guiding the heat medium taken in from the intake port in a direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank body. Therefore, the heat medium taken into the tank body through the guide passage is guided in a direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank body,
As a result, a swirling flow is generated in the tank body.

The axis of the guide passage may extend in a direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank main body, and may have a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a direction from the base end to the end.

That is, the streamline of the heat medium flowing into the tank main body through the guide passage extends along the inner peripheral wall of the tank main body and has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the direction from the base end to the other end. Therefore, by appropriately selecting the predetermined inclination angle in consideration of the shape of the tank body, the flow rate and the flow rate of the cooling liquid, the inside of the tank body rises while turning smoothly from the base end to the end. A swirling flow is formed. Therefore, the heat medium stored in the tank body is sequentially pushed to the other end side with the movement of the swirling flow, and is smoothly discharged from the outlet.

Further, a shielding plate for blocking the flow of the heat medium from the base end to the terminal end is provided in the tank main body, and the swirling flow generating means is provided in a direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank main body. A plurality of through-holes penetrating through the shielding plate may be provided.

That is, in this configuration, a shield plate is provided in the tank body to block the flow from the base end to the terminal end, and the shield plate is further provided with a swirling flow generating means on the inner peripheral wall of the tank body. A plurality of through holes penetrating in a direction along the direction are formed. Therefore, the heat medium flowing from the intake port first hits the shielding plate and diffuses toward the inner peripheral wall of the tank body. Further, the diffused heat medium flows out to the terminal side through a through hole provided in the shielding plate. At this time, since the through-hole penetrates in a direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank main body, the heat medium flowing to the terminal side through the through-hole generates a swirling flow in the tank main body.

As described above, according to the present invention, by creating a swirling flow in the tank main body, the flow (flow velocity) in the direction from the base end to the end which causes mixing can be reduced. Therefore, the mixing of the heat medium taken in the tank body and the heat medium taken out of the tank body is suppressed.

The present invention may have the following configuration in order to solve the above technical problems. That is, the heat storage tank of the present invention comprises a tank body for keeping a liquid heat medium warm and stored; an intake opening at the base end side of the tank body to take in the heat medium into the tank body; An opening for taking out the heat medium in the tank body to the outside of the tank body, and an opening and closing port provided between the base end side and the other end side in the tank body, A mixing prevention plate that blocks the flow of the heat medium from the inlet to the outlet, and a plurality of through holes provided in the mixing prevention plate and penetrating in the thickness direction of the mixing prevention plate, I do.

In the heat storage tank of the present invention thus configured, the heat medium flows into the tank body through the intake port. The heat medium flowing into the tank main body collides with a mixing prevention plate provided in the tank main body and diffuses toward the inner peripheral wall of the tank main body. The diffused heat medium flows out to the terminal side through the through-hole provided in the mixing prevention plate. That is, the flow velocity of the heat medium traveling from the base end to the end is reduced by passing through the mixing prevention plate. As a result, a laminar flow is formed in the tank main body, and the flow pushes the heat medium originally stored in the tank main body toward the terminal end side of the tank main body as a whole. Thus, the mixing of the heating medium taken into the tank body and the heating medium taken out of the tank body is suppressed.

Still further, in the present invention, the mixing prevention plate is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat between the base end and the end. Therefore, when the pressure acting on the mixing prevention plate suddenly increases, for example, at the start of the flow of the heat medium, the rise in the pressure can be absorbed (buffered) by the movement of the mixing prevention plate. That is, the flow velocity of the heat medium flowing out into the tank body through the through-hole becomes relatively small due to the movement of the mixing prevention plate. As a result, turbulence in the tank body due to the increase in flow velocity is suppressed,
Stirring and mixing between the heat medium taken in from the inlet and the heat medium stored in the tank body are suppressed.

Further, the mixing prevention plate may have substantially the same shape as the cross section in the storage space of the tank body.

That is, in this configuration, the inside of the tank main body is separated into the base end side and the end side by the mixing prevention plate. As a result, as the flow rate of the heat medium flowing into the proximal end increases, the mixing prevention plate itself is also pushed out to the terminal end. Therefore,
The heat medium stored in the tank body can also be pushed out to the terminal side by moving the mixing prevention plate.

The heat medium taken in from the base end side is
Although it is possible to flow out to the terminal side through the through hole of the mixing prevention plate, the outflow speed becomes relatively small due to the movement of the mixing prevention plate. That is, in this configuration, the mixing prevention plate has a function as a partition. In addition, the substantially same shape described above is intended to have a shape and a size capable of sufficiently functioning as a partition wall of the mixing prevention plate, and it is necessary to have the same shape (similar and congruent) as the cross section in the storage space. There is no.

According to the above construction, when the tank body is installed in the vertical direction, the through-hole provided in the mixing prevention plate serves as a flow path connecting the base end and the end.
There is also obtained an advantage that the mixing prevention plate is returned to its original position by its own weight.

As described above, according to the present invention, the mixing prevention plate having a plurality of through holes is disposed in the tank body so as to be able to advance and retreat, so that the flow from the base end toward the terminal end can cause mixing. (Flow velocity) can be reduced. Further, since the generation of the turbulent flow due to the pressure rise can be suppressed by the movement of the mixing prevention plate, the stirring and mixing of the heat medium taken in the tank body and the heat medium taken out of the tank body can be further suppressed. .

[0033]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a heat storage tank 1 according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment in which 0 is applied to a water-cooled internal combustion engine 1 for a vehicle will be described. <First embodiment>

First, before describing the heat storage tank according to the present invention, a cooling system of a water-cooled internal combustion engine provided with the present heat storage tank will be described. The outline of the cooling system described below is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and details such as a cooling water circulation path and arrangement of various components can be arbitrarily changed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the main components arranged in the cooling system and the flow of cooling water circulating between the components by arrows.

First, the cooling system has, as its main components, a radiator 2 for cooling the engine body 1 and cooling water heated by the operation of the engine body 1, and a radiator for cooling water heated by the engine body 1. Water pump (W
/ P) 3, etc. are provided.

The main components are connected in the order of the water pump 3, the engine body 1, the radiator 2, and the (water pump 3) starting from the water pump 3. A circulation path X is formed.

Further, the radiator 2 to the water pump 3
The path leading to the X ₁ (part of the main circulation path X), opened when the cooling water temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, and the thermostat 4 to open the main circulation path X is provided.

A path X ₂ from the thermostat 4 to the water pump 3 is connected to the radiator 2 from the engine body 1.
Branches from path X ₃ leading to, after passing through the heater core 5 which is mounted in the vehicle, a bypass passage Y for vehicle heating system that connects to the path X ₂ are provided.

The heater core 5 is provided in the bypass passage Y for the in-vehicle heating equipment as described above, and a heater valve 6 (two-way valve) serving as an opening / closing valve of the bypass passage Y is provided on the upstream side (inflow side). Is provided. When the heater valve 6 is opened, high-temperature cooling water flows from the engine body 1 into the heater core 5 to create a heat source for the vehicle interior heating equipment.

On the other hand, the heat storage tank 10 according to the present invention, connected in the bypass passage Y as described above, a path Y ₁ extending from the path X ₃ in the heater valve 6, a path Y ₂ extending from the heater core 5 to the path X _2, the Is provided in the bypass passage Z for the heat storage tank.

More specifically, the path X ₂ from the heater core 5
Water injection passage 22 of the heat storage tank 10 is connected to a path Y ₂ leading to, the drainage passage 21 of the heat storage tank 10 is connected to the path Y ₁ extending from the path X ₃ in the heater valve 6. In addition, the route Z ₁ extending from the path Y ₂ in the thermal storage tank 10, an electric pump 7 for guiding the cooling water is provided in the thermal storage tank 10.

[0043] Then, by the operation of the electric pump 7 has a structure for taking the cooling water in the heat storage tank 10 from the path Y _2. The electric pump 7 is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) 8 so that the cooling water in the heat storage tank 10 is replaced at an appropriate timing.

Incidentally, some examples of control of the electric pump 7 will be described.
And the electric pump 7 is operated again when the temperature of the cooling water is low, such as at the time of a cold start, to keep the heat stored in the heat storage tank 10. High temperature cooling water is supplied to the engine
The control is carried out by so-called preheating, which is performed to improve the startability of the engine body, reduce HC emissions immediately after the engine is started, and improve the performance of the heating system in the vehicle.

Next, the heat storage tank 10 will be described. The heat storage tank 10 shown in the present embodiment includes a tank body 11 for keeping cooling water warm and stored, and a housing 20 for forming a cooling water injection passage and a cooling water drain passage in the tank body 11, and the like. And

The heat storage tank 10 according to the present embodiment
In addition to the above main components, a swirling flow generating member 14 that generates a swirling flow that rotates in a circumferential direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank main body 11 in the flow of the cooling water taken into the tank main body 11 Have.

First, before describing the swirling flow generating member 14 according to the present invention, the tank main body 11 and the housing 20 which are main components of the heat storage tank 10 will be described.

The heat storage tank 10 shown in this embodiment
Is mounted on the vehicle with the tank body 11 facing upward, as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the following description, the terms “upper” and “lower” refer to FIG. 2 for convenience of description, but the mounting direction of the heat storage tank 10 shown in the present embodiment is not limited to this example, and It can be appropriately changed in consideration of the characteristics.

The tank body 11 is made of stainless steel or the like having excellent corrosion resistance and has a substantially cylindrical internal tank 1.
1a and an external tank 1 containing this internal tank 11a
1b.

In the center of the lower end of the internal tank 11a,
Cap 13 serving as an inlet for cooling water into internal tank 11a
Are integrally formed. Further, the lower end of the outer tank 11b is welded and fixed to the side wall surface of the mouthpiece 13, and is positioned with respect to the inner tank 11a.

The inner tank 11a and the outer tank 11
A predetermined gap S is formed between b. This gap S is made into a vacuum state, and the tank body 11 is kept warm.

That is, the tank main body 11 is
a and the outer tank 11b has a double structure, and the inside of the inner tank 11a is a storage space for cooling water.

On the other hand, the housing 20 is formed of a resin such as polycarbonate having a low thermal conductivity, and covers the opening end 13a of the barrel 13 and the periphery thereof so as to cover the periphery thereof.
It is fixed to the lower end of.

The housing 20 is connected to the external tank 11
b through the stay 15 welded and fixed to the external tank 11
It is bolted to b. In this state, the front end (opening end 13a) of the barrel 13 of the tank body 11 is fitted to the housing 20 via the O-ring 16, and the O-ring 16 seals the fitted portion. .

The housing 20 is provided with the cooling water drain passage 21 and the water injection passage 22 as described above. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the housing 20 as viewed from the tank main body 11 side. FIG. 4 is an AA ′ end view of FIG.

The drain passage 21 and the water injection passage 22 are connected to a circular opening groove 23 formed on the upper end surface 20a of the housing 20 to form a flow passage to the tank body 11.
The drain passage 21 is bored from one side of the housing 20 (left side in FIG. 4) and opens at the center of the opening groove 23.
The water injection passage 22 is provided on the other side of the housing 20 (FIG. 4).
(Center right) and connected (opened) to a position offset from the center of the opening groove 23.

In addition to the drainage passage 21 and the water injection passage 22, a mounting hole 25 for a PCT heater (not shown) is provided in the opening groove 23. The cooling water in the tank body 11 is raised as necessary.

The drain passage 21 and the water injection passage 22 communicate with each other in the opening groove 23 as described above. In the opening groove 23, a drain pipe 24 separating the passages 21 and 22 is provided.

The drain pipe 24 extends from the opening end 21a of the drain passage 21 facing the center of the opening groove 23, and has a total length that reaches the ceiling of the internal tank 11a through the mouthpiece 13.

The drain pipe 24 is made of a stainless steel material having excellent corrosion resistance, and its outer diameter is
The value is sufficiently small with respect to the inner diameter of. An opening 24a serving as an outlet for cooling water is formed at the tip.

Therefore, the cooling water taken into the housing 20 through the water injection passage 22 first rises in the flow path C (a part of the water injection passage 22) formed by the mouthpiece 13 and the drain pipe 24, and the tank is cooled. It is taken into the main body 11. The cooling water in the tank body 11 is pushed out to an outlet 24 a opened at the tip of the drain pipe 24, and flows down to the drain passage 21 through the drain pipe 24.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of cooling water in the housing 20. As can be understood from this figure, the cooling water flowing from the water injection passage 22 flows in from the side of the opening groove 23 and flows upward (flow path C) through the periphery of the drain pipe 24. Drain pipe 2
The cooling water that has flowed down from the vicinity of the ceiling of the tank body 11 through 4 flows out of the housing 20 through a drain passage 21 facing the center of the opening groove 23.

As described above, in the heat storage tank 10 according to the present embodiment, the cooling water is taken in from the base (base end) side of the tank main body 11 and discharged from the ceiling (end) side of the tank main body 11 during drainage. Will be done. That is, when the cooling water is replaced, a flow from the base portion side of the tank main body 11 upward is formed in the tank main body 11.

The heat storage tank 10 according to the present embodiment
In this embodiment, water shutoff valves 26 and 27 are provided in each of the drain passage 21 and the water injection passage 22. The stop valves 26 and 27 are
This is for preventing contact between the taken-in high-temperature cooling water and the low-temperature cooling water filled in the bypass passage Z, allowing the flow of the cooling water in the forward direction, and blocking the flow in the reverse direction. And a so-called one-way valve.

A one-way valve (water stop valve) 26 corresponding to the drain passage 21 is provided in the drain pipe 24 to stop the cooling water in the tank body 11.

More specifically, after narrowing the inner diameter of the drain pipe 24 above the mouthpiece 13, a resin check ball 26a having buoyancy from the outlet side (outflow side) of the drain pipe 24 is formed.
To form a one-way valve 26 (see FIG. 2).

A projection 26b is formed at the lower end of the drain pipe 24 integrally with the housing 20. The protruding shape 26b is for restricting the amount of movement of the check ball 26a. A mounting hole 17 for a temperature sensor (not shown) is formed below the protrusion 26b, and the temperature sensor is inserted through the mounting hole 17 and the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the drain passage 21 is adjusted. Is monitoring.

On the other hand, a one-way valve (water stop valve) 27 corresponding to the water injection passage 22 is provided inside the mouthpiece 13 and is fixed to the drain pipe 24 and is movable above the fixed plate 27a. The movable plate 27b is provided with a protrusion 27c for limiting the amount of movement of the movable plate 27b above the movable plate 27b. The operation is such that when the movable plate 27b moves upward with the inflow of the cooling water, the flow path is opened.

Next, the swirling flow generating member 14 for generating a swirling flow in the tank body 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the swirling flow generating member 14 as viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the swirling flow generating member 14 as viewed from above. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of cooling water formed in the tank main body 11 by the swirling flow generating member 14.

The swirling flow generating member 14 is inserted from the barrel 13 and is fixed near the connection line between the barrel 13 and the internal tank 11a. 6 and 7, a ring-shaped substrate formed to have the same diameter as the inner diameter of the barrel 13 and covering the flow path C formed by the barrel 13 and the drain pipe 24. A portion 14a, and a guide path 14b, which starts at an arbitrary point T provided on the lower surface side of the substrate portion 14a and rises to the upper surface side of the substrate portion 14a while turning in the circumferential direction of the substrate portion 14a from the starting point T. Be prepared.

The upper end surface 14d of the guide passage 14b rising on the substrate portion 14a is formed flat toward the outlet side open end 14c so as to be parallel to the surface of the substrate portion 14a.

That is, in the present embodiment, the guide passage 1
The axis of 4b extends along the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank body 11 and is approximately 90 degrees with respect to the axis connecting the base and the ceiling.
Its axis is set to be in degrees. Note that, as shown in FIG. 7, the axis of the guide passage 14b extends along the inner peripheral wall 11c means that the angle (entrance angle θ) formed between the axis of the guide passage 14b and the inner peripheral wall 11c in the traveling direction of the cooling water. Means an obtuse angle.

In the present embodiment, a total of two guide passages 14b are arranged one on the diagonal line of the substrate portion 14a to form a swirling flow.

Therefore, the cooling water that has reached the lower surface side of the substrate portion 14a via the barrel 13 flows out into the tank main body 11 through the guide passage 14b, and should originally rise vertically from the base of the tank main body 11. In the circumferential direction along the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank body 11.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a swirling flow is formed in the tank main body 11 upward while rotating in the circumferential direction along the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank main body 11,
The vertical flow (velocity) that causes mixing is reduced. As a result, mixing of the cooling water flowing from the barrel 13 and the cooling water stored in the tank body 11 is prevented.

That is, at the time of so-called preheating in which low-temperature cooling water is taken in and high-temperature cooling water stored in the tank main body 11 flows into the engine main body, the low-temperature cooling water taken into the tank main body 11 and the tank Mixing with the high-temperature cooling water kept warm and stored in the main body 11 is prevented,
Only the high-temperature cooling water flows into the engine body.

On the other hand, when taking in the high-temperature cooling water, mixing of the low-temperature cooling water stored in the tank body 11 and the high-temperature cooling water taken in the tank body 11 is prevented, Only high-temperature cooling water is stored in the tank body 11.

As described above, according to the heat storage tank 10 shown in this embodiment, the flow in the vertical direction caused by the intake of the cooling water can be suppressed by the swirling flow generating member 14.

The above-described swirling flow generating member 14 also has a great advantage in the following point. That is, in a heat storage tank that obtains a heat insulating structure by utilizing a vacuum state, it can be said that the smaller the diameter of the barrel 13 serving as a cooling water intake port, the higher the heat retention performance. Heat storage tank 1 shown in the present embodiment
According to 0, the flow of the cooling water flowing into the tank body 11 can be guided to the vicinity of the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank body 11 without increasing the diameter of the barrel 13 more than necessary as described above. Therefore, the effect of suppressing the mixing of the cooling water and the
Due to the synergistic effect resulting from the improvement of the heat retention performance accompanying the smaller diameter of 3, the temperature of the taken in cooling water can be kept for a long time without substantially lowering the temperature of the cooling water.

The tank main body 11 is exposed to a high temperature in order to create a vacuum state in the manufacturing process. In the heat storage tank 10 according to the present embodiment, the turning generation member 14 is used.
Can be inserted into the tank body 11 by inserting it from the mouthpiece 13, so that a material that is vulnerable to high temperature, for example, resin, can be used for the swirling flow generating member 14.

The structure of the swirling flow generating member 14 described above is merely an embodiment, and details thereof can be arbitrarily changed. For example, in the above description, the swirl flow generating member 14 is configured by arranging two guide paths 14b, one each on a diagonal line of the substrate portion 14a, but the outflow speed and the outflow amount of the cooling water are determined. In consideration of the above, the number and arrangement of the guide passages 14b can be appropriately changed.

The shape of the guide passage 14b is not limited to the above-described shape. For example, the shape may be arbitrarily changed, for example, starting from the lower portion of the substrate portion 14a, rising from the starting point, and opening at the upper surface of the substrate portion 14a. It is possible.

In the above-described swirling flow generating member 14, the outlet opening end 14c of the guide passage 14b is aligned with the center line L passing through the center O of the substrate as shown in FIG. However, the opening angle can of course be changed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the substrate is tilted slightly inward from a center line L passing through the center O of the substrate (angle θ).
The opening angle, such as opening, can be changed as desired. Note that, in this example, even when the entering angle of the cooling water with respect to the inner peripheral wall 11c becomes small and the flow velocity of the cooling water flowing into the tank main body 11 increases, a stable swirling flow without generating a turbulent flow is generated. It can be formed in the main body 11.

That is, the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank body 11
The opening angle of the guide passage 14b can be changed as appropriate in consideration of the outflow speed and the outflow amount. Of course, the same can be said for not only the opening angle but also the opening area.

In the above description, the swirling flow generating means 14 according to the present invention is provided with the swirling flow generating member 14 including the substrate portion 14a and the guide passage 14b in the tank main body 11 to form the swirling flow. The swirling flow generating means according to the present invention is, of course, not limited to the swirling flow generating member 14 described above.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a shielding plate 18 for blocking the flow of the coolant from the base portion of the tank body 10 upward is provided in the tank body 11, and the shielding plate 18 is used as a swirling flow generating means. 18, a plurality of through holes 18 penetrating in a direction along the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank body 11.
a may be provided to create a swirling flow.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, an arbitrary starting point T ₁ is defined on the lower surface side of the shielding plate 18, and this starting point T ₁
After forming a plurality of through holes 18a penetrating in the direction along the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank body 11, the shielding plate 18 is fixed to the vicinity of the mouthpiece 13 by using a drain pipe 24 or the like.

In this case, the cooling water flowing into the tank body 11 first strikes the lower surface of the shielding plate 18 and diffuses in the radial direction of the tank body 11. In addition, shielding plate 1
The cooling water diffused on the lower surface side of 8 flows out above the shielding plate 18 through a through hole 18 a provided in the shielding plate 18. At this time, since the through-hole 18a penetrates in a direction along the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank main body 11, the cooling water passing through the through-hole 18a travels along the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank main body 11. Become. Therefore, the tank body 1
A swirling flow is formed in 1, and as a result, mixing of the cooling water flowing in from the barrel 13 and the cooling water stored in the tank body 11 is prevented.

The diameter of the through hole 18a is
It is advisable to reduce the caliber toward the center. That is,
In the vicinity of the center of the shielding plate 18, the pressure acting on one of the through holes inevitably increases due to the positional relationship with the barrel 13. Therefore, the diameter of the through-hole 18a is reduced in the vicinity of the center of the shield plate 18 and the flow rate of the cooling water passing through the center of the shield plate 18 is reduced. In order to reduce the flow rate, the same effect can be obtained even if the through holes 18a are arranged so as to be sparse near the center of the shielding plate 18.

The penetration direction and diameter of the through hole 18a can be appropriately changed in consideration of the flow rate and the outflow speed of the cooling water flowing through the through hole 18a and flowing upward.

In the above embodiment, the guide passage 1
4b and the through hole 18a, the swirling flow is formed. However, even when the drain pipe 24 or the inner peripheral wall 11c of the tank main body 11 is provided with a spiral fin or the like, the swirling flow is formed in the tank main body 11. Is formed. That is, in the present invention, the swirl flow generating means intends all means capable of forming a swirl flow in the tank body 11.

The structure of the heat storage tank 10 described above is merely an embodiment of the heat storage tank 10 according to the present invention, and details thereof can be arbitrarily changed. For example, in the above description, the tank main body 11 has a double structure in order to impart heat retention to the tank main body 11, and the inside thereof is in a vacuum state. Insulation is ensured. In addition, the layout of the drainage passage 21 and the water injection passage 22 can be changed in consideration of, for example, vehicle mountability.

In the above description, the water shutoff valves 26 and 27 are provided in the tank main body 11, but their structures and locations can be arbitrarily changed. In FIG. 10, as a modified example of the water stop valve, a water stop valve 28 corresponding to the water injection passage 22 is provided on a connection line between the internal tank 11 a and the mouthpiece 13.

More specifically, a movable plate 28a formed to have a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the barrel 13 and a protruding shape 28b disposed above the movable plate 28a to limit the amount of movement of the movable plate 28a. When the cooling water flows in, the movable plate 28a moves upward to open the flow path C. In this structure, since the cooling water also collides with the movable plate 28a, the diffusion of the cooling water below the shielding plate 18 is further improved.

As described above, according to the heat storage tank 10 shown in the present embodiment, a swirling flow is created in the tank main body 11, so that the flow (flow velocity) in the vertical direction that causes mixing can be reduced. Therefore, mixing of the cooling water (heating medium) taken into the tank main body 11 and the cooling water (heating medium) taken out from the tank main body 11 is suppressed.

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the present invention. <Second embodiment>

In the first embodiment described above, the mixing of the cooling water is suppressed by generating a swirling flow.
In the heat storage tank shown in the present embodiment, a mixing prevention plate having a plurality of through holes is provided in the tank main body, and the mixing prevention plate is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in a direction from the base to the ceiling of the tank main body. Cooling water mixing can be suppressed.

Hereinafter, the heat storage tank 10A according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In addition, in order to make the main components of the heat storage tank 10A shown in the present embodiment substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be simplified.

Note that the heat storage tank 10A shown in this embodiment
The difference from the heat storage tank 10 shown in the first embodiment is that a mixing prevention plate 50 is provided in the tank main body 11. Therefore, in the following description, the mixing prevention plate 50 will be mainly described, and the configuration of the heat storage tank 10A will be described in a simplified manner.

The heat storage tank 10A has a tank main body 11 and a housing 20 as main components in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The tank body 11 includes an internal tank 11a and an external tank 11b, and the mouthpiece 13 is formed at the lower end of the internal tank 11a as described above. Further, a predetermined gap S is provided between the inner tank 11a and the outer tank 11b, and a vacuum state is provided so that the tank body 11 has heat insulation.

A housing 20 is provided at the lower end of the tank body 11 as described above, and the housing 20 is provided with a water injection passage 22, a drain passage 21, and a drain pipe 24. The drain pipe 24 has a length rising from the open end 21 a of the drain passage 21 and reaching the ceiling of the internal tank 11 a through the barrel 13. In addition, a plurality of openings 24a are provided at the tip so as to serve as an outlet for cooling water.
The cooling water stored in the tank body 11 flows down to the drain passage 21 through the outlet 24a and the drain pipe 24.

The cooling water flowing from the water injection passage 22 passes through the flow path C in the barrel 13 formed by the barrel 13 and the drainage pipe 24 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and It will flow into.

That is, cooling water is similarly taken in from the base side of the tank body 11 in the heat storage tank 10A shown in the present embodiment, and is drained from the ceiling side of the tank body 11 when draining. Therefore, when the cooling water is replaced, a flow is formed from the base of the tank main body 11 upward.

The drain passage 21 and the water injection passage 22 are provided with water stop valves 26 and 28, respectively. The water stop valve 28 corresponding to the water injection passage 22 is provided on the connection line between the internal tank 11a and the mouthpiece 13, and the structure restricts the movable plate 28a and the amount of movement of the movable plate 28a as described above. When the cooling water flows in, the movable plate 28a moves upward to open the flow path C. On the other hand, the water stop valve 26 provided corresponding to the drain passage is provided in the drain pipe 24 similarly to the above.

Next, the mixing preventing plate 50 provided in the tank body 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the mixing prevention plate 50 is formed of a light metal having a relatively low specific gravity or the like, and has an outer shape substantially the same as the cross section of the storage space of the tank body 11. . In the present embodiment, the inner tank 11a forming a storage space having a circular cross section is used.
, The mixing prevention plate 50 is
1 has a disk shape formed to have substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter.

A collar 52 is provided at the center, and the mixing preventing plate 50 is loosely fitted (supported) to the drain pipe 24 via the collar 52. The color 52
Is long enough in the axial direction to prevent the mixing prevention plate 50 from catching on the drain pipe 24.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the mixing prevention plate 50 is configured so that the tank body 1 is
1 can be moved up and down from the base side.

The mixing preventing plate 50 is formed of a material having a relatively low specific gravity as described above, and the specific gravity is set to a value sufficiently larger than that of the cooling water. Therefore, under normal conditions, it is located (sinks) at the base of the tank body 11 due to its own weight.

The mixing prevention plate 50 is provided with a plurality of through holes 51 in the thickness direction. The through hole 51 is
The cooling water that has reached the lower surface side of the mixing prevention plate 50 flows out above the mixing prevention plate 50 while decreasing the flow velocity. In the present embodiment, the cooling water is radiated from the center of the mixing prevention plate 50 radially. A plurality of through holes 51 are formed.

The number and diameter of the through holes 51 are determined based on various preliminary experiments. In the present embodiment, when the cooling water flows into the tank main body 11 at a constant flow rate, the cooling water at a constant flow rate can be continuously taken into the tank main body 11 without decreasing the flow rate.

Therefore, the heat storage tank 1 shown in the present embodiment
At 0 A, the cooling water that has flowed in from the barrel 13 serving as the cooling water intake first strikes the lower surface of the mixing prevention plate 50 and diffuses in the radial direction of the tank body 11. The diffused coolant is
It flows through the through-hole 51 provided in the mixing prevention plate 50 and flows upward.

As a result, the flow of the cooling water, which should originally rise straight from the barrel 13, diffuses in the radial direction of the tank body 11 and then goes upward, so that the flow rate in the vertical direction per unit area and The flow velocity naturally decreases.

Therefore, a laminar flow is formed in the tank main body 11 from the base to the upper side, and the cooling water stored in the tank main body 11 is entirely moved upward. It will be pushed up.

The flow rate of the cooling water passing near the center of the mixing preventing plate 50 is unavoidably increased due to the positional relationship with the barrel 13, but in the present embodiment, the through-hole disposed near the center is provided in the present embodiment. The diameter of 51 is reduced to deal with the uneven flow rate. The same effect can be obtained not only when the diameter is reduced, but also when the through holes 51 are sparsely arranged.

Incidentally, the pressure acting on the lower surface side of the mixing prevention plate 50 rapidly rises immediately after the start of the flow of the cooling water. That is, the pressure acting on each through-hole 51 naturally increases, and in this state, the outflow speed of the cooling water flowing upward through the through-hole 51 and above the tank body 11 is unexpectedly increased. Therefore, a turbulent flow that causes stirring and mixing of the cooling water occurs in the tank body 11.

Therefore, the heat storage tank 1 shown in the present embodiment
At 0A, the mixing prevention plate 50 is provided so as to be able to move in the up-down direction, thereby suppressing the mixing of the cooling water due to the rapid pressure increase.

That is, when the pressure acting on the lower surface side of the mixing prevention plate 50 increases, the pressure causes the mixing prevention plate 50 to be temporarily pushed upward. As a result, the rapid pressure rise is absorbed (buffered), and the through-hole 5
The flow velocity of the cooling water flowing out into the tank main body 11 through 1 is relatively reduced by the rise of the mixing prevention plate 50. Therefore, the stirring and mixing of the cooling water due to the rapid pressure rise are suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mixing preventing plate 50 is used.
Has a disk shape formed to have substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tank body 11. Therefore, the storage space of the tank body 11 is separated above and below the mixing prevention plate 50 as a boundary.

Therefore, when the flow rate of the cooling water flowing into the lower surface of the mixing prevention plate 50 exceeds the allowable flow rate, the mixing prevention plate 5
Zeros are lifted upward by increasing their flow rates. Here, the allowable flow rate is a flow rate that exceeds the flow rate per unit time that can flow upward through the through hole 51 above the mixing prevention plate 50.

Therefore, the cooling water filled above the mixing preventing plate 50 is entirely pushed upward by the movement of the mixing preventing plate 50, and the cooling water taken in through the mouthpiece 13 and Mixing with the cooling water filled in the tank body 11 is prevented.

At this time, the cooling water that has flowed into the lower surface side of the mixing preventing plate 50 can flow upward through the through hole 51, but the outflow speed is relatively high due to the movement of the mixing preventing plate 50. Is decelerated. That is, when the cooling water flows in beyond the allowable flow rate, the mixing preventing plate 50 has a function as a partition for pushing out the cooling water in the tank body 11.

As described above, according to the heat storage tank 10A shown in the second embodiment, the mixing preventing plate 5 having a plurality of through holes is provided.
By arranging 0 freely in the tank body,
The flow (flow velocity) in the vertical direction can be reduced to cause mixing. In addition, the movement of the mixing prevention plate 50 can suppress the generation of turbulence due to the pressure increase, and further suppress the stirring and mixing of the cooling water taken into the tank body 11 and the cooling water taken out from the tank body. it can.

In this embodiment, the tank body 11
Are arranged in the vertical direction, the through holes 51 provided in the mixing prevention plate 50 serve as a flow path for communicating the upper and lower portions of the mixing prevention plate 50, and after the cooling water is taken in, the mixing due to its own weight. The advantage that the prevention plate 50 returns to the original position is also obtained.

Further, since the mixing prevention plate 50 buffers changes in the inflow pressure and flow rate of the cooling water, the heat storage tank 10A shown in the present embodiment can take in cooling water while suppressing pressure loss. Therefore, advantages such as downsizing of the electric pump 7 used for replacing the cooling water can be obtained.

Further, in the above description, the mixing preventing plate 50 formed to have substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tank main body 11 is applied, but the outer diameter is necessarily the same as the inner diameter of the tank main body 11. Is not necessary and can be changed as appropriate based on the correlation with the through hole 51 and the like. Further, the shape is not limited to a circle, and need not be the same as (similar to) the cross-sectional shape in the storage space of the tank body 11 as long as the shape as a partition can be sufficiently achieved.

In this embodiment, the mixing preventing plate 50 is used.
Is movable in the range from the base to the ceiling of the tank body 11, but the range of movement may of course be changed as long as the amount of movement can buffer a sudden increase in pressure.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the heat storage tank according to the present invention has been described by taking a water-cooled internal combustion engine as an example. The present invention is also applicable to an internal combustion engine that performs management.

The heat storage tanks 10 and 10A may be configured as devices independent of the internal combustion engine. That is, not only a heat medium such as an engine coolant used for temperature control of the internal combustion engine, but also, for example, a heat storage medium such as a mission oil or AT fluid is used as a heat medium, and a heat medium other than these engine coolants is used. The warming of the engine body may be promoted.

[0130]

As described above, according to the present invention, the flow (flow velocity) of the heat medium from the base end to the end of the tank body is reduced, and the heat medium taken into the tank body and the heat medium taken out from the tank body are reduced. And a heat storage tank that can further suppress the mixing with the heat medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cooling system of a liquid-cooled internal combustion engine to which the present invention is applied, and a flow of cooling water circulating in the cooling system.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the heat storage tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the housing according to the first embodiment as viewed from a tank body side.

FIG. 4 is an A-A ′ end view of the housing shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of cooling water in a housing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the swirling flow generating member according to the first embodiment as viewed obliquely from above.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the swirling flow generating member according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of cooling water formed in the tank body.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an example of a shape change at an outlet-side open end of the swirling flow generating member.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modification of the swirling flow generating member according to the first embodiment.

11 is an enlarged view of a main part of the swirling flow generating member shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a heat storage tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a heat storage tank according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 engine body 2 radiator 3 water pump 4 thermostat 5 heater core 6 heater valve (two-way valve) 7 electric pump 8 electronic control unit (ECU) 10 heat storage tank 10A heat storage tank 11 tank body 11a internal tank 11b external tank 11c inner peripheral wall 13 port Cylinder 13a Open end 14 Substrate 14 Swirling flow generating member 14a Substrate 14b Guide passage 14c Outlet open end 14d Upper end surface 15 Stay 16 O-ring 17 Mounting hole for temperature sensor 18 Shielding plate 18a Through hole 20 Housing 20a Upper end surface 21 Drainage Passage 21a Open end 22 Water injection passage 23 Opening groove 24 Drain pipe 24a Opening (outlet) 25 PCT heater mounting hole 26 Water stop valve (one-way valve) 26a Check ball 26b Projection 27a Fixed plate 27b Movable play 27c Projection 28 Water stop valve 28a Movable plate 28b Projection 50 Mixing prevention plate 51 Through hole 52 Collar 100 Heat storage tank 101 Tank body 102 Intake 103 Drain pipe 104 Mixing prevention plate 104a Through hole C Flow path O Center of substrate section S Void T Starting point T ₁ Starting point L Center line X Main circulation path X ₁ Path from radiator to water pump X ₂ Path from thermostat to water pump X ₃ Path from engine body to radiator Y Bypass path for in-car heating equipment Y path from _first path X ₃ in the thermal storage tank from the bypass passage Z ₁ path Y ₂ for route Z heat storage tank, from path Y ₂ heater core leading to heater valve in the path X ₂

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (72) Inventor Makoto Suzuki 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Motor Corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A tank body for keeping a liquid heat medium warm and stored; an intake opening at a base end side in the tank body to take in the heat medium into the tank body; and a terminal end in the tank body. Side, and an outlet for taking out the heat medium in the tank body out of the tank body, and a flow of the heat medium taken in from the intake port, in a circumferential direction along the inner peripheral wall of the tank body. And a swirling flow generating means for generating a swirling flow. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said swirling flow generating means includes an induction passage for guiding the heat medium taken in from said intake port in a direction along an inner peripheral wall of said tank body. Thermal storage tank. 3. An axial line of the guide passage extends in a direction along an inner peripheral wall of the tank body and has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a direction from the base end to the end. Item 3. A heat storage tank according to Item 2. 4. A shield plate for blocking a flow of a heat medium from the base end to the terminal end is provided in the tank main body, and the swirling flow generating means is provided in a direction along an inner peripheral wall of the tank main body. The heat storage tank according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of through holes that penetrate the shielding plate toward the heat storage tank. 5. A tank body for keeping a liquid heat medium warm and stored; an inlet opening at a base end side of the tank body to take in the heat medium into the tank body; and another end side of the tank body. And an outlet for taking out the heat medium in the tank body to the outside of the tank body, provided so as to be able to advance and retreat between the base end side and the other end side in the tank body, and from the intake port A heat storage tank comprising: a mixing prevention plate that blocks a flow of a heat medium toward an outlet; and a plurality of through holes provided in the mixing prevention plate and penetrating in a thickness direction of the mixing prevention plate. 6. The tank according to claim 5, wherein the mixing preventing plate has substantially the same shape as a cross section of the tank body in the storage space.
The heat storage tank according to 1.