JP2017145725A - Water level gauge of radiator, battery pack device using radiator, and water level checking method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water level gauge of a radiator which enables a user to easily, visually check that the radiator is full of water or nearly full regardless of a temperature of a coolant in the radiator, and to provide a battery pack device using the radiator and a water level checking method.SOLUTION: A water level gauge 3 is attached to an upper tank 22 of a radiator 2 and used to check a water level in the radiator 2. A first opening part 311 located at one end of the water level gauge 3 opens in a portion in the upper tank 22 which includes an upper surface 221. A second opening part 321 located at the other end of the water level gauge 3 opens on a side surface 222 in the upper tank 22. A user visually checks a coolant W entering into the water level gauge 3 from the outside to check a water level in the radiator 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a water level meter for confirming a water level in an upper tank of a radiator, a battery pack device using the radiator, and a water level confirmation method.

  Heat sources such as engines and secondary batteries in automobiles are cooled by cooling water circulated using a pump. Further, the heat accumulated in the cooling water is released by the radiator. The radiator includes a radiator main body that performs heat exchange, and a tank for storing cooling water that is circulated through the radiator main body. In the vertical radiator, an upper tank is provided on the upper side of the radiator, and a lower tank is provided on the lower side of the radiator. As such a tank, there is a radiator auxiliary tank described in Patent Document 1, for example. The radiator auxiliary tank is formed by integrating a radiator sub tank and a reserve tank.

JP-A-11-62586

  By the way, when a radiator is used, if a screw is loosened, broken, deteriorated, etc. at any part where the cooling water is circulated, the cooling water leaks. In this case, since the cooling water in the radiator is reduced, there is a demand for confirming whether or not the inside of the radiator is full. Therefore, in a vertical radiator, a water inlet provided in the upper tank is opened, and it is visually confirmed whether or not cooling water is filled in the upper tank from the water inlet.

  However, if the cooling water is heated to a high temperature during use of the heat source and the radiator, and the cooling water in the radiator is full, if the water injection port is opened, the cooling water is ejected from the water injection port to the outside. There is a risk. Therefore, it is necessary to open the water injection port after confirming that the cooling water has been cooled to a low temperature, and it is difficult to confirm the water level in the upper tank during use of the heat generation source and the radiator.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and it is easy to visually check whether the radiator is fully filled or nearly full regardless of the temperature of the cooling water in the radiator. The present invention has been obtained in an attempt to provide a water level gauge, a battery pack device using a radiator, and a water level confirmation method.

One aspect of the present invention includes a radiator main body that performs heat exchange of circulating cooling water, an upper tank that is connected to an upper side of the radiator main body and stores cooling water flowing through the radiator main body, and a lower side of the radiator main body. A water level meter for confirming the water level in the radiator, which is attached to a radiator comprising a lower tank in which cooling water flowing through the radiator body is stored,
The first opening located at one end of the water level gauge opens to a portion including the upper surface in the upper tank,
The second opening located at the other end of the water level gauge opens to the side surface in the upper tank,
It is in the water level gauge of the radiator which can confirm the water level in the said radiator by visually confirming the cooling water which entered the said water level gauge from the outside.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a radiator main body that performs heat exchange of the circulating cooling water, an upper tank that is connected to the upper side of the radiator main body and stores the cooling water flowing through the radiator main body, and a lower part of the radiator main body. A method of confirming a water level in a radiator comprising a lower tank connected to a side and storing a cooling water flowing through the radiator body,
Using a water level gauge in which the first opening located at one end opens to a portion including the top surface in the upper tank and the second opening located in the other end opens to the side surface in the upper tank,
In the method of checking the water level of the radiator, the water level in the radiator is confirmed by visually confirming the cooling water that has entered the water level gauge from the outside.

  The water level gauge of the radiator is used by connecting only to the upper tank in order to check the water level in the vertical radiator. Specifically, the first opening located at one end of the water level gauge opens to a portion including the upper surface in the upper tank, and the second opening located at the other end of the water level gauge is located on the side surface inside the upper tank. It is open. Thereby, the water level in a radiator can be confirmed, without opening the water injection opening provided in the upper tank. Therefore, even if the cooling water in the radiator is heated to a high temperature, by checking the cooling water that has entered the water level gauge from the outside, it is confirmed whether the inside of the radiator body is filled with cooling water. can do.

In particular, the water level gauge of the radiator is characterized in that the first opening of the water level gauge is open to a portion including the upper surface in the upper tank. With this configuration, it can be confirmed by a water level gauge that the upper tank is full or nearly full. Therefore, by having this structure, it can be visually confirmed whether the inside of a radiator is in the state of being full of water or near full water.
Note that air generated in a path through which the cooling water circulates may remain in the upper portion of the upper tank. In this case, in consideration of this residual air, it can be confirmed whether the inside of the radiator is full or nearly full.

  When the water level gauge is provided in a vertical radiator, it is conceivable to open one end of the water level gauge to the upper tank and to open the other end of the water level gauge to the lower tank. However, in this case, the cooling water that should flow to the radiator main body through the upper tank and the lower tank also flows to the water level gauge, and the cooling efficiency by the radiator is lowered. Therefore, by connecting the water level meter only to the upper tank, the water level in the radiator can be confirmed without lowering the cooling efficiency of the radiator.

  Therefore, according to the water level gauge of the radiator, it can be easily confirmed by visual observation whether the inside of the radiator is full or nearly full regardless of the temperature of the cooling water in the radiator. Also, the same effect as the water level gauge of the radiator can be obtained by the method of checking the water level of the radiator.

Explanatory drawing shown in the state which looked at the radiator concerning embodiment from the front. Sectional drawing shown in the state which looked at the water level meter of the radiator concerning embodiment from the front. The perspective view which shows the battery pack apparatus using a radiator concerning embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state which looked at the other water level meter concerning embodiment from the front.

Preferred embodiments of the above-described radiator water level gauge, battery pack device using the radiator, and water level confirmation method will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the radiator 2 to which the water level gauge 3 is attached includes a radiator main body 21 through which the cooling water W flows and performs heat exchange, and a cooling water that is connected to the upper side of the radiator main body 21 and flows through the radiator main body 21. An upper tank 22 for storing W and a lower tank 23 connected to the lower side of the radiator body 21 and for storing the cooling water W flowing through the radiator body 21 are provided. The water level meter 3 is attached to the upper tank 22 of the radiator 2 and is used for confirming the water level in the radiator 2 (in the upper tank 22).
As shown in FIG. 2, the first opening 311 located at one end of the water level gauge 3 opens to a site including the upper surface 221 in the upper tank 22. The second opening 321 located at the other end of the water level gauge 3 opens to the side surface 222 in the upper tank 22. By visually recognizing the cooling water W that has entered the water level gauge 3 from the outside, the water level in the radiator 2 can be confirmed.

Hereinafter, the water level meter 3 of the radiator 2 of the present embodiment, the battery pack device 1 using the radiator 2 and the water level confirmation method will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1, the radiator 2 is of a vertical type, and the cooling water W and the radiator in the radiator body 21 are disposed via a radiator body 21 disposed between the upper tank 22 and the lower tank 23. Heat exchange with air outside the main body 21 is performed. The radiator main body 21 is provided with a cooling passage 211 through which the cooling water W flows in the vertical direction and heat exchange fins 212 for promoting heat exchange of the cooling water W through the cooling passage 211. The upper tank 22 and the lower tank 23 are provided with inflow / outflow ports 24 through which the cooling water W flows in and out, respectively. In the radiator 2 of this embodiment, the cooling water W flowing into the upper tank 22 flows downward through the cooling passage 211 of the radiator main body 21 and flows out of the lower tank 23 by the circulation pump 43.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the radiator 2 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle. The radiator 2 is attached to a battery pack device 1 mounted on an automobile. The battery pack device 1 includes a battery pack 41 to which a plurality of battery cells are connected, a battery case 42 that houses the battery pack 41, and a circulation pump 43 that circulates the cooling water W. A circulation passage 421 through which the cooling water W supplied from the radiator 2 circulates is provided in a portion of the battery case 42 located below the battery pack 41. The battery pack 41 in the battery case 42 is cooled by heat conduction transmitted from the cooling water W flowing through the circulation passage 421 through the battery case 42. A portion of the battery case 42 located below the battery pack 41 is a heat radiating member made of an aluminum material, and a circulation passage 421 can be formed in the heat radiating member.

  The radiator 2 is attached to the side surface of the battery case 42, and a fan 25 for further promoting heat exchange is provided on the surface of the radiator body 21. The circulation pump 43 is attached to the side surface of the battery case 42 and circulates the cooling water W from the radiator 2 to the circulation passage 421 in the battery case 42. In the battery pack device 1, auxiliary tanks such as a sub tank and a reserve tank other than the upper tank 22 and the lower tank 23 of the radiator 2 are not provided. By not using the auxiliary tank, the battery pack device 1 is reduced in weight, and the automobile using the battery pack device 1 is reduced in weight.

The lower tank 23 and the circulation passage 421 are connected by a feed pipe 44, and the upper tank 22 and the circulation passage 421 are connected by a return pipe 45. The circulation pump 43 is provided at a position in the middle of the feed pipe 44. An air vent port 441 is provided at a position in the middle of the feed pipe 44 for venting air when the radiator 2, the circulation pump 43, etc. are assembled, replaced, or maintained. The air vent 441 is normally closed and is opened when air is vented.
In the battery pack device 1, the cooling water W is sent from the lower tank 23 to the circulation passage 421 via the feed pipe 44 by the circulation pump 43, and is supplied from the circulation passage 421 to the upper tank 22 via the return pipe 45. W is configured to be returned.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper tank 22 of the radiator 2 is provided with a water inlet 26 for replenishing the coolant 2 in the radiator 2. The water injection port 26 is normally closed and is opened when the cooling water W is injected. The water level meter 3, the water injection port 26, and the air vent port 441 of the feed pipe 44 are arranged at the highest position in the path through which the cooling water W circulates. The circulation pump 43 is disposed at a position lower than the water level meter 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the water level gauge 3 includes a first piping portion 31 provided with a first opening 311 that opens on the upper surface 221 in the upper tank 22, and a second opening that opens on the side surface 222 in the upper tank 22. It has the 2nd piping part 32 in which the opening part 321 was provided, and the water level meter main body 33 connected with the 1st piping part 31 and the 2nd piping part 32. As shown in FIG. The water level meter main body 33 is made of a transparent or translucent material that allows the cooling water W therein to be visually recognized from the outside. One end of the water level gauge main body 33 is connected to the first piping part 31 provided in the upper tank 22, and the other end of the water level gauge main body 33 is connected to the second pipe part 32 provided in the upper tank 22. ing.

  A water level confirmation passage 331 through which the cooling water W flows is formed in the water level meter main body 33 in the vertical direction. The water level meter main body 33 is provided with a full water confirmation mark X for confirming that the cooling water W in the radiator 2 is substantially full. When the cooling water W in the water level confirmation passage 331 is above the full water confirmation mark X, it can be confirmed that the inside of the radiator 2 is substantially full.

  The substantially full state is determined in consideration of the amount of air that can be allowed even if it is included in the radiator 2. In the upper part of the upper tank 22, air that enters from any part where the cooling water W is circulated such as the radiator 2, the circulation pump 43, and the circulation passage 421 may exist as residual air. In addition, when a screw is loosened, damaged, deteriorated, etc., in any part of the radiator 2, the circulation pump 43, the circulation passage 421, etc. where the cooling water W is circulated, the cooling water W flows from any of these parts. May leak. And when the cooling water W leaks, air may enter from any part and this air may remain as residual air.

The water level meter main body 33 of this embodiment is configured by a flexible tubular member. The water level meter main body 33 is formed in a shape that bends in an arc shape (U-shape). The tube-shaped member can be formed by embedding a reinforcing metal portion in a transparent or translucent resin tube portion.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the water level gauge main body 33 can also be comprised with a pipe member long in an up-down direction. In this case, one end and the other end of the water level meter main body 33 can be connected to the first piping portion 31 and the second piping portion 32 provided in the upper tank 22 via tubes, joints, and the like. Moreover, the water level meter main body 33 can also be comprised by providing a transparent or semi-transparent window part in opaque members, such as metal.
Moreover, the water level confirmation method of the radiator 2 uses the water level meter 3 mentioned above, and confirms the water level in the radiator 2 by visually confirming the cooling water W which entered the water level meter 3 from the outside.

  The water level meter 3 of the radiator 2 is used by being connected only to the upper tank 22 in order to check the water level in the vertical radiator 2. Specifically, the first opening 311 located at one end of the water level gauge 3 opens to the upper surface 221 in the upper tank 22, and the second opening 321 located at the other end of the water level gauge 3 corresponds to the upper tank 22. The inner side 222 is open. Thereby, the water level in the radiator 2 can be confirmed without opening the water inlet 26 provided in the upper tank 22. Therefore, even when the cooling water W in the radiator 2 is heated to a high temperature during use of the battery pack 41 and the radiator 2, the cooling water W that has entered the water level gauge 3 is visually recognized from the outside. It can be confirmed whether or not the interior of the radiator body 21 is substantially full.

  In particular, the water level meter 3 confirms that the inside of the upper tank 22 is substantially full due to the opening of the first opening 311 of the water level meter 3 being open to the upper surface 221 of the upper tank 22. Can do. Therefore, it can be visually confirmed whether the inside of the radiator 2 is full or close to full.

  When the water level gauge 3 is provided in the vertical radiator 2, it is conceivable that one end of the water level gauge 3 is opened in the upper tank 22 and the other end of the water level gauge 3 is opened in the lower tank 23. However, in this case, the cooling water W that should flow to the radiator main body 21 via the upper tank 22 and the lower tank 23 also flows to the water level meter 3, and the cooling efficiency by the radiator 2 is lowered. Therefore, by connecting the water level meter 3 only to the upper tank 22, the water level in the radiator 2 can be confirmed without lowering the cooling efficiency of the radiator 2.

  Therefore, according to the water level meter 3 of the radiator 2 and the water level confirmation method, it is easy to visually check whether the radiator 2 is full or nearly full regardless of the temperature of the cooling water W in the radiator 2. can do.

  Further, the battery pack device 1 employing the radiator 2 has a structure in which the cooling water W circulates to the battery pack 41 without using an auxiliary tank such as a sub tank or a reserve tank. For this reason, there is no tank as a buffer for accumulating the cooling water W used in the radiator 2 in the path through which the cooling water W circulates, and the water level in the radiator 2 tends to decrease.

Therefore, by attaching a water level meter 3 to the upper tank 22 of the radiator 2 employed in the battery pack device 1, the water level in the radiator 2 can be confirmed whenever necessary even when the battery pack 41 and the radiator 2 are in use. ing. Thereby, it is easy to find a situation where the radiator 2 in the battery pack device 1 is short of the cooling water W, and measures such as early detection of a defective portion and replenishment of the cooling water W can be quickly performed.
The present invention is not limited only to the embodiments, and can be applied to further different embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery pack apparatus 2 Radiator 21 Radiator main body 22 Upper tank 221 Upper surface 222 Side 23 Lower tank 3 Water level gauge 311 1st opening part 321 2nd opening part 41 Battery pack 42 Battery case 421 Circulation path 43 Circulation pump

Claims (4)

A radiator main body that performs heat exchange of the circulating cooling water, an upper tank that is connected to the upper side of the radiator main body and that stores cooling water that flows through the radiator main body, and is connected to the lower side of the radiator main body. A water level meter for confirming the water level in the radiator, which is attached to a radiator including a lower tank in which cooling water circulating in the tank is stored,
The first opening located at one end of the water level gauge opens to a portion including the upper surface in the upper tank,
The second opening located at the other end of the water level gauge opens to the side surface in the upper tank,
A water level gauge for a radiator in which the water level in the radiator can be confirmed by visually confirming cooling water that has entered the water level gauge from the outside.   The water level gauge of the radiator according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the water level gauge is made of a transparent or translucent material in which cooling water inside thereof can be visually recognized from the outside. A radiator to which the water level gauge according to claim 1 or 2 is attached;
A battery pack having a plurality of battery cells connected thereto;
A battery case that houses the battery pack, and provided with a circulation path under which the cooling water supplied from the radiator circulates;
A circulation pump for circulating cooling water from the radiator to the circulation passage,
A battery pack device using a radiator configured to send cooling water from the lower tank to the circulation passage and return the cooling water from the circulation passage to the upper tank by the circulation pump. A radiator main body that performs heat exchange of the circulating cooling water, an upper tank that is connected to the upper side of the radiator main body and that stores cooling water that flows through the radiator main body, and is connected to the lower side of the radiator main body. A method for confirming a water level in a radiator comprising a lower tank in which cooling water circulating in the tank is stored,
Using a water level gauge in which the first opening located at one end opens to a portion including the top surface in the upper tank and the second opening located in the other end opens to the side surface in the upper tank,
A method for checking a water level of a radiator, wherein the water level in the radiator is checked by visually confirming cooling water that has entered the water level gauge from the outside.

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