JP2009121301A - Reserve tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reserve tank capable of visually determining whether or not a cooling system is operated. <P>SOLUTION: The reserve tank for storing cooling water is provided with a tank body having a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls, an inflow port for making the cooling water flow in to the tank body, and an outflow port for making the cooling water flow out from the tank body. The plurality of chambers include a first chamber having the inflow port and a second chamber having the discharge port which are arranged adjacent to each other, and a bypass chamber for bypassing the cooling water from the first chamber to the second chamber. At least part of the tank body has a transparent structure enabling visual recognition of the level of the cooling water in the first and second chambers from outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a reserve tank that contains cooling water for cooling a heat generating object.

  Auxiliaries such as engines, motor generators, inverters, air compressors, air conditioner units and the like provided in vehicles such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles generate heat when driven. In order to keep the temperature of the auxiliary machines (heat generating objects) that generate heat appropriately, a cooling system that cools with cooling water is provided.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a general cooling system used for cooling a heating object. As shown in FIG. 8, the cooling system 2 includes a pump 58 that circulates cooling water that cools a heating object, a motor generator 60 that serves as a heating object, and a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the cooling water and outside air. A radiator 62, a reserve tank 64, and circulation paths 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d are provided.

  Although the details of the path and operation of the cooling system will be described later, when the pump 58 is operated, the cooling water circulating in the circulation path (the flow of the cooling water is indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 8) is converted into the motor generator. The heat generating object can be cooled by exchanging heat with 60 (heat generating object).

  FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a reserve tank used in the cooling system. As shown in FIG. 9, the reserve tank 64 has a tank body 70, an inlet pipe 72, an outlet pipe 74, and a liquid injection cap 78. The tank body 70 has a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls, and a first chamber 82 provided with an inlet 80 for allowing cooling water to flow into the tank body 70, and the cooling water flows out of the tank body 70. A second chamber 86 provided with an outlet 84 to be discharged, and a third chamber 88 provided between the first chamber 82 and the second chamber 86. The partition walls 90 a and 90 b partitioning the respective chambers are provided with communication holes 92 a and 92 b, and the cooling water in the tank body 70 is supplied from the first chamber 82 through the third chamber 88 to the second chamber 86. It flows in a straight line. In addition, a liquid injection port 94 for filling the tank body 70 with cooling water is closed by a liquid injection cap 78 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As described above, by providing the third chamber 88 between the first chamber 82 and the second chamber 86, the rapid movement of the cooling water in the tank body 70 is prevented, and the flow rate of the cooling water is increased. Can be controlled.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, an inlet and an outlet are provided in one of a plurality of chambers partitioned by a partition wall in order to prevent air from entering the cooling water. There has been proposed a reserve tank provided with a baffle extending from the wall of the tank body located between the inlet and the outlet to the tank body.

JP 2007-9752 A JP-A-5-209522

  Generally, in maintenance of a cooling system or the like, whether or not the cooling system is operating is performed by checking whether there is vibration of water passing through the circulation path by an operator touching the circulation path or the like. However, since such vibration is very small, it is difficult to determine whether or not the system is operating.

  In addition, when the cooling system is in operation, the liquid level of the cooling water (water level) in each chamber of the tank body varies depending on the pressure loss of the cooling water flowing through the tank body. Whether or not the cooling system is operating can also be confirmed by checking the difference. However, in the reserve tanks of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the pressure loss of the cooling water between the adjacent chambers is small, and there is almost no difference in the liquid level between the adjacent chambers. Therefore, it is difficult to check the difference visually and determine whether or not the cooling water system is operating.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a reserve tank that can visually determine whether or not a cooling system is operating.

  The present invention accommodates cooling water, and has a tank body having a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls, an inlet for allowing cooling water to flow into the tank body, and causing cooling water to flow out from the tank body. And a plurality of chambers arranged such that a first chamber in which the inflow port is provided and a second chamber in which the discharge port is provided are adjacent to each other, and Including a bypass chamber for bypassing the cooling water from the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein at least a part of the tank body has a coolant level of the first chamber and the second chamber from the outside. The cooling water that has a transparent structure that can be visually recognized and flows in from the inlet of the first chamber is a communication hole provided in a partition wall that partitions the first chamber and the bypass chamber, the bypass chamber, And the bypass chamber and the first Through the communicating hole provided with chambers in the partition wall for partitioning the is discharged from the discharge port of the second chamber.

  In the reserve tank, the outlet and the inlet are preferably arranged on the same surface of the tank body.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a reserve tank having a tank body having a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls, an inflow port through which cooling water flows into the tank body, and an outflow port through which cooling water flows out from the tank body. The plurality of chambers are arranged such that the first chamber provided with the inflow port and the second chamber provided with the discharge port are adjacent to each other, and further bypasses the cooling water from the first chamber to the second chamber. Including at least a bypass chamber, and at least a part of the tank body has a transparent structure in which a coolant level of the first chamber and the second chamber can be visually recognized from the outside, and from an inlet of the first chamber The inflowing cooling water passes through the communication hole provided in the partition wall that divides the first chamber and the bypass chamber, the bypass chamber, and the communication hole provided in the partition wall that divides the bypass chamber and the second chamber, By letting it out from the outlet of the second chamber It is possible to provide a reserve tank cooling system can be determined visually whether running.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a configuration of a cooling system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a cooling system 1 includes a pump 10 that circulates cooling water that cools a heating object, a motor generator 12 that serves as a heating object, and a radiator that serves as a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the cooling water and outside air. 14, a reserve tank 16 that stores cooling water, and circulation paths 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, and 18 d.

  The circulation path 18 a connects the discharge side (not shown) of the pump 10 and the supply port (not shown) of the motor generator 12, and the circulation path 18 b connects the discharge port (not shown) of the motor generator 12 and the supply of the radiator 14. The circulation path 18c connects the discharge port (not shown) of the radiator 14 and the inlet pipe 20 of the reserve tank 16, and the circulation path 18d is connected to the outlet pipe 22 of the reserve tank 16. The suction side (not shown) of the pump 10 is connected.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic side view of the reserve tank according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a schematic top view of the reserve tank according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the reserve tank 16 has a tank body 24, an inlet pipe 20, an outlet pipe 22, and a liquid injection cap 26.

  The tank body 24 includes a plurality of chambers partitioned by partition walls (28a, 28b, 28c). The plurality of chambers include a first chamber 32 provided with an inlet 30 for allowing cooling water to flow into the tank body 24, and a second chamber 36 provided with an outlet 34 for allowing cooling water to flow out of the tank body 24. A bypass chamber 38 that bypasses the cooling water from the first chamber 32 to the second chamber 36. The first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 are disposed adjacent to each other. Here, the term “arranged so as to be adjacent” does not necessarily mean that the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 are in contact with each other via a partition wall, but also the first chamber 32 generated when the cooling system is operated and As long as the difference in the water level of the cooling water level in the second chamber 36 can be visually discriminated, there is a gap or gap between the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36. It is also included.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the inlet pipe 20 communicates with the inlet 30 provided in the first chamber 32, and the outlet pipe 22 is provided in the second chamber. The outlet 34 is in communication. Further, a liquid injection port 40 for filling the tank body 24 with cooling water is closed by a liquid injection cap 26.

  Communication holes 42 a and 42 b are provided in the partition wall 28 a that partitions the first chamber 32 and the bypass chamber 38 and the partition wall 28 b that partitions the second chamber 36 and the bypass chamber 38. In addition, the partition wall 28 c that partitions the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 is not provided with a communication hole. The communication hole 42 a is provided to allow cooling water to pass from the first chamber 32 to the bypass chamber 38, and the communication hole 42 b is provided to allow cooling water to pass from the bypass chamber 38 to the second chamber 36. The positions, sizes, etc. of the communication holes 42a, 42b may be appropriately set depending on the size, etc. of the reserve tank 16, and are not particularly limited.

  The tank body 24 has a transparent structure that allows the coolant level stored in the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 bypassed by the bypass chamber 38 to be visually recognized from the outside. Here, the term “transparent” is sufficient if it has a degree of transparency that allows the liquid level of the cooling water to be visually recognized from the outside, and may be translucent.

  As an example of the transparent structure, for example, the liquid level of the cooling water can be visually recognized at the position of the wall surface of the tank body 24 facing the liquid level 44 of the cooling water in the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36. A transparent member that can be fitted may be fitted, or the entire tank body 24 (or the entire wall surface of the tank body 24) is constituted by a transparent member (translucent member) that can visually recognize the liquid level 44 of the cooling water. It may be what has been done. As a transparent member (translucent member), what has intensity | strength is preferable, for example, an acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, tempered glass, etc. are mentioned. When a transparent member (semi-transparent member) is fitted in the tank body 24, the tank body 24 does not necessarily need to use a transparent member (semi-transparent member) that can visually recognize the liquid level of the cooling water. You may be comprised with the non-transparent member.

  Next, the operation of the cooling system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The arrows shown in FIG. 1 indicate the flow of cooling water. By operating the pump 10, the cooling water is supplied to the motor generator 12 through the circulation path 18 a. The cooling water supplied to the motor generator 12 exchanges heat with the motor generator 12 that has generated heat, cools the motor generator 12, and is discharged from the motor generator 12. The discharged cooling water passes through the circulation path 18b and is supplied to the radiator 14. The supplied cooling water is cooled by exchanging heat with the outside air by the radiator 14, and is discharged from the radiator 14.

  The discharged cooling water passes through the circulation path 18c, passes through the inlet pipe 20 of the reserve tank 16 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, and is supplied to the reserve tank 16 through the inlet 30. The cooling water supplied from the inflow port is connected to the first chamber 32 shown in FIG. 2 (b), the communication hole 42a provided in the partition wall 28a, the bypass chamber 38, the communication hole 42b provided in the partition wall 28b, and the second hole. It passes through the chamber 36 and is discharged from the outlet 34. The discharged cooling water passes through the outlet pipe 22 and the circulation path 18 d and is sent to the suction side of the pump 10. By circulating the cooling water in this way, the heat generating object (for example, the motor generator 12) can be cooled.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of the reserve tank during the cooling system operation. During operation of the cooling system, the water level of the cooling water level 44 in each chamber differs due to the pressure loss of the cooling water flowing in the tank body 24. As the pressure loss of the cooling water increases, the water level 44 of the cooling water becomes lower. The pressure loss of the cooling water is small in the adjacent chambers (the first chamber 32 and the bypass chamber 38, and the bypass chamber 38 and the second chamber 36) through the partition wall provided with the communication hole. Each time the chamber moves through the communication hole, the size increases. That is, in this embodiment, the pressure loss increases as the distance from the first chamber 32 provided with the inflow port 30 toward the second chamber 36 provided with the outflow port 34 increases, and the water level of the liquid surface 44 of the cooling water increases. Lower. The difference in the water level of the coolant level 44 between the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 is equal to the pressure loss of the coolant passing through the bypass chamber 38, and the first chamber 32 and the bypass chamber 38 or the bypass. It becomes larger than the chamber 38 and the second chamber 36. In the present embodiment, the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 are adjacent to each other (via the partition wall 28c in which no communication hole is formed). The difference can be easily visually recognized.

  In the general reserve tank shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 described above, the cooling water is also provided in the third chamber provided between the first chamber in which the inflow port is formed and the second chamber in which the outflow port is formed. The difference in the water level of the coolant level between the first chamber and the second chamber is the difference between the first chamber and the third chamber, or the third chamber and the second chamber. Big in comparison. However, since the first chamber and the second chamber are separated from each other, it is difficult to visually recognize the difference in the coolant level between the first chamber and the second chamber. In the first chamber and the third chamber, or in the third chamber and the second chamber, the pressure loss is small and the difference in the water level of the cooling water is small. Is difficult to see.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a top schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a reserve tank according to another embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the configuration of the bypass chamber 38 is not particularly limited as long as the coolant is bypassed from the first chamber 32 to the second chamber 36. As shown in FIG. It may have a plurality of chambers partitioned by 28d. The arrangement position, the number, and the like of the partition walls 28d are not particularly limited. The partition wall 28d is provided with a communication hole 42c through which cooling water passes. As in the present embodiment, the bypass chamber 38 partitioned into a plurality of chambers has a greater effect of cooling water pressure loss than the single chamber bypass chamber 38 shown in FIGS. Thus, the difference in the water level of the coolant level 44 between the adjacent first chamber 32 and second chamber 36 appears more clearly. Therefore, the difference in the water level of the cooling water level 44 can be visually confirmed more reliably, and it is easy to determine whether or not the cooling system is operating.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic top sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a reserve tank according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the first chamber 32 in which the inflow port 30 is provided and the second chamber 36 in which the outflow port 34 is provided are also divided by a plurality of partitions (28e, 28f), similarly to the bypass chamber 38. It may have the following chambers. The partition wall 28e is provided with a communication hole 42d through which cooling water passes, and the partition wall 28f is provided with a communication hole 42e through which cooling water passes. Even in such a configuration, the difference in the coolant level 44 between the adjacent first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 is visually recognized as described above due to the pressure loss of the coolant passing through the bypass chamber 38. can do.

  6A and 6B are schematic top sectional views showing an example of the configuration of a reserve tank according to another embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the cooling of the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 that occurs when the cooling system is operating is provided between the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 that are arranged adjacent to each other. You may have the clearance gap or space | interval of the grade which can distinguish the difference of the water level of the water level visually. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the tank body 16 includes a first chamber 32 and a second chamber 36 that are generated between the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 when the cooling system is operated. A gap 50 is provided so that the difference in the water level of the cooling water can be visually determined. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, the tank body 16 includes a first chamber 32 and a second chamber 36 that are generated between the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36 when the cooling system is operated. A part of the bypass chamber 38 is provided as an interval that allows the difference in the water level of the cooling water to be visually determined.

  7A and 7B are schematic perspective views of a reserve tank according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the reserve tank 56 shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), the same components as those in the reserve tank 16 shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the inlet pipe 20 that communicates with the inlet and the outlet pipe 22 that communicates with the outlet are arranged on the same surface of the tank body 24. As a result, the circulation path connected to each pipe can be concentrated on one surface of the tank body 24, so that the space of the cooling system 1 can be saved. Further, since the tank body 24 can be easily molded, the cost can be reduced.

  The reserve tank of the present embodiment has been described by taking the cooling system of the motor generator, which is a heat generating object, as an example. However, the reserve tank according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above, for example, an engine, an inverter, an air It may be used in a cooling system for maintaining the temperature of auxiliary equipment such as a compressor and an air conditioner unit appropriately.

  As described above, the reserve tank of the present embodiment is disposed so that the first chamber provided with the inflow port and the second chamber provided with the discharge port are adjacent to each other. A bypass chamber that bypasses the cooling water to the chamber, and at least a part of the tank body has a transparent structure that allows the coolant level in the first chamber and the second chamber to be visually recognized from the outside. The cooling water flowing in from the inlet of the chamber is provided in a communication hole provided in a partition partitioning the first chamber and the bypass chamber, a bypass chamber, and a partition partitioning the bypass chamber and the second chamber. It is possible to visually determine whether or not the cooling system is operating by passing through the communication hole and discharging from the outlet of the second chamber.

It is a schematic cross section which shows an example of a structure of the cooling system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is a schematic side sectional view of a reserve tank according to the present embodiment, and (B) is a schematic top sectional view of the reserve tank according to the present embodiment. It is a side surface schematic cross section of a reserve tank at the time of cooling system operation. It is an upper surface schematic cross section which shows an example of a structure of the reserve tank which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is an upper surface schematic cross section which shows an example of a structure of the reserve tank which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is an upper surface schematic cross section which shows an example of a structure of the reserve tank which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a model perspective view of the reserve tank concerning other embodiments of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the general cooling system used for cooling of a heat generating body. It is a schematic cross section of the reserve tank used for a cooling system.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Cooling system 10, 58 Pump, 12, 60 Motor generator, 14, 62 Radiator, 16, 56, 64 Reserve tank, 18a-18d, 66a-66d Circulation path, 20, 72 Inlet pipe, 22, 74 Outlet pipe, 24, 70 Tank body, 26, 78 Injection cap, 28a-28f, 90a, 90b Bulkhead, 30, 80 Inlet, 32, 82 First chamber, 34, 84 Outlet, 36, 86 Second chamber, 38 bypass chamber, 40, 94 injection port, 42a to 42e, 92a, 92b communication hole, 44 liquid level, 50 gap, 88 third chamber.

Claims (2)

A tank body that contains cooling water and has a plurality of chambers partitioned by a partition wall, an inlet that allows cooling water to flow into the tank body, and an outlet that allows cooling water to flow out from the tank body, A reserve tank having
The plurality of chambers are arranged so that a first chamber provided with the inflow port and a second chamber provided with the discharge port are adjacent to each other, and further cooled from the first chamber to the second chamber. Including a bypass chamber to bypass the water,
At least a part of the tank body has a transparent structure capable of visually recognizing the coolant level of the first chamber and the second chamber from the outside.
The cooling water flowing in from the inlet of the first chamber is communicated with a communication hole provided in a partition partitioning the first chamber and the bypass chamber, the bypass chamber, and the bypass chamber and the second chamber. The reserve tank is discharged from a discharge port of the second chamber through a communication hole provided in a partition wall partitioning the first and second chambers.   The reserve tank according to claim 1, wherein the outlet and the inlet are arranged on the same surface of the tank body.

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