JP7500137B2 - Reservoir Tank - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a reservoir tank. In particular, it relates to a reservoir tank provided in a coolant path of a liquid-cooled cooling system.

Liquid-cooled cooling systems are used to cool internal combustion engines, electrical elements, electronic boards, etc. In liquid-cooled cooling systems, the coolant is circulated to collect heat from the components to be cooled, and the heat is dissipated from a heat emitter to cool the components to be cooled. In liquid-cooled cooling systems, a tank for the coolant, i.e., a reservoir tank, may be provided in the coolant path through which the coolant is circulated. The reservoir tank compensates for losses due to evaporation of the coolant, etc., and absorbs changes in volume due to changes in the temperature of the coolant. In addition, since the formation of air bubbles in the coolant can reduce the cooling efficiency, the reservoir tank may be used to separate the air bubbles in the coolant, i.e., perform gas-liquid separation.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for arranging a rectangular baffle plate inside the reservoir tank body so that it forms a windmill shape in a specific direction. It is disclosed that this reservoir tank can separate air bubbles from the coolant without increasing water resistance or complicating the structure.

JP 2005-248753 A

In recent years, in order to improve the performance of cooling systems, there has been a demand to increase the flow rate of coolant passing through a reservoir tank such as that of Patent Document 1. However, it has been found that when the flow rate of coolant passing through a reservoir tank such as that of Patent Document 1 is increased, the coolant that flows into the tank body tends to ripple and become violent, entraining air inside the tank and generating air bubbles, making it difficult to achieve the expected level of gas-liquid separation effect.

In particular, in recent years, as the demand for smaller reservoir tanks has increased, the coolant inside the tank body has become more susceptible to spills. Also, due to spatial restrictions in which the reservoir tank is located, it may not be possible to place the inlet and outlet pipes of the reservoir tank in a position that optimizes the flow of the coolant inside the tank.
The object of the present invention is to suppress the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body of the reservoir tank and to suppress the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank. Another object of the present invention is to improve the flow of the coolant inside the tank and increase the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the inlet pipe of the reservoir tank.

After extensive research, the inventor discovered that by providing a columnar member and guide member inside the tank body so that the flow of cooling liquid from the inlet pipe flows directly into the cooling liquid stored in the tank body, and by using the guide member to guide the flow of cooling liquid from the inlet pipe to a flow that flows approximately horizontally toward the columnar member, and by locating a part of the columnar member on the extension line of that flow, it is possible to suppress the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body and to increase the degree of freedom in the placement of the tank's inlet pipe, and thus completed the present invention.

The present invention is a reservoir tank provided in a coolant path of a liquid-cooling cooling system, the reservoir tank having a tank body for storing coolant, an inlet pipe for feeding coolant into the tank body, and an outlet pipe for discharging coolant from the tank body, the inlet pipe being connected to the tank body vertically below the liquid level of the coolant stored inside the tank body, a columnar member being erected inside the tank body, and a guide member being provided inside the tank body, the guide member changing the direction of the flow of coolant flowing from the inlet pipe into the tank body, and discharging the coolant from the columnar member. a reservoir tank in which the columnar member guides the cooling liquid toward a flow that flows in a substantially horizontal direction toward a columnar member, the columnar member extends in a substantially vertical direction when viewed along the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member, a part of the columnar member is positioned on an extension line of the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member, the flow toward the columnar member from the guide member flows so as to collide with a part of the columnar member and then branches off in a horizontal direction to avoid the columnar member, and the width of the columnar member when viewed along the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member is between 0.5 and 3 times the diameter of the inlet pipe (first invention).

In the first invention, it is preferable that the cooling liquid flow from the guide member toward the columnar members is diverted in a substantially horizontal direction by the first columnar member, and the diverted flow is further diverted in a substantially horizontal direction by the second columnar member (second invention) .

The present invention also relates to a reservoir tank provided in a coolant path of a liquid-cooling cooling system, the reservoir tank having a tank body for storing coolant, an inlet pipe for feeding coolant into the tank body, and an outlet pipe for discharging coolant from the tank body, the tank body having a columnar member standing upright therein and a guide member provided therein, the guide member being formed in a tubular shape and connected to the inlet pipe at one end thereof, the guide member redirecting the flow of coolant flowing from the inlet pipe into the tank body and directing it to flow in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member, and the other end of the guide member being connected to the inlet pipe at one end thereof. a reservoir tank in which the columnar member extends in a substantially vertical direction as viewed along the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member, a part of the columnar member is disposed on an extension line of the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member, the flow toward the columnar member from the guide member flows so as to collide with a part of the columnar member and then branches off horizontally to avoid the columnar member, and the width of the columnar member as viewed along the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member is between 0.5 and 3 times the diameter of the inflow pipe (a third invention) .

According to the reservoir tank of the present invention (first and third inventions ), the liquid level inside the tank body is prevented from fluctuating, and the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank is prevented. The width of the columnar member when viewed along the flow of the coolant toward the columnar member is 0.5 to 3 times the diameter of the inlet pipe, so the effect of suppressing the liquid level from fluctuating and the generation of air bubbles is further improved. In addition , the guide member is provided, so the degree of freedom in the position and angle of the inlet pipe is increased.
Furthermore, in the case of the third aspect of the invention , the degree of freedom in terms of the position and angle at which the inlet pipe is provided is particularly increased.

Furthermore, when the second aspect of the invention is adopted, the effect of suppressing the liquid surface from becoming unstable and the effect of suppressing the generation of bubbles are further improved .

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of the reservoir tank of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the reservoir tank of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the reservoir tank of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the operation of the reservoir tank of the first embodiment. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure and operation of a reservoir tank according to a first modified example. FIG. 13A and 13B are vertical and horizontal sectional views showing the structure of a reservoir tank according to a second embodiment. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views showing modified shapes of the columnar members. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a reservoir tank according to a third embodiment. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the operation of the reservoir tank of the reference example. FIG. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of a reservoir tank according to a fourth embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the invention, taking as an example a reservoir tank provided in a liquid-cooled cooling system for an internal combustion engine of an automobile, with reference to the drawings. The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown below, and can be implemented by modifying its form. The use of the liquid-cooled cooling system is not limited to internal combustion engines, and it may be used to cool electrical components such as power elements and inverters, and electronic circuit boards, or for other purposes.

The structure of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the reservoir tank 10, and Figure 2 shows a transverse section of the reservoir tank 10. The longitudinal section of Figure 1 is an X-X cross section taken on a vertical plane passing through line X-X in Figure 2. The transverse section of Figure 2 is a Y-Y cross section taken on a horizontal plane passing through line Y-Y in Figure 1.
The reservoir tank 10 is configured by connecting an inlet pipe 15 and a discharge pipe 16 to a hollow tank body 17. In the coolant path of the liquid-cooled cooling system, the reservoir tank 10 is disposed and connected in the coolant path so that the coolant flows from the inlet pipe 15 into the hollow tank body 17 and flows out from the hollow tank body 17 through the discharge pipe 16.

In the longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, the upper side of the figure indicates the vertically upper side. In this embodiment, the lower case 11 and the upper case 12 are integrated to form the reservoir tank 10. The lower case 11 and the upper case 12 are integrated to form a hollow tank body 17. In this embodiment, the inlet pipe 15 and the outlet pipe 16 are integrally molded with the lower case 11, but the inlet pipe 15 and the outlet pipe 16 may be integrated with the tank body 17 by a different configuration.

The tank body 17 stores the cooling liquid L. Air is stored in the vertical upper portion of the tank body 17.
The inlet pipe 15 is connected to the tank body vertically below the liquid level S of the cooling liquid stored inside the tank body. With this configuration, the cooling liquid sent from the inlet pipe 15 flows directly into the cooling liquid stored in the tank (i.e., without passing through air).

The discharge pipe 16 is also connected to the tank body vertically below the liquid level S of the cooling liquid stored inside the tank body. This configuration allows the cooling liquid to be efficiently discharged from the tank body 17 through the discharge pipe 16.

A columnar member 14 is erected inside the tank body 17. In this embodiment, one columnar member 14 is erected so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction. As in the modified example described below, there may be multiple columnar members. Also, the columnar member may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

A guide member 13 is provided inside the tank body 17. In this embodiment, a plate-shaped guide member 13 having a curved guide surface is provided. Typically, the guide member is provided so that the entire guide member is submerged in the cooling liquid. The guide member 13 guides the flow of cooling liquid flowing from the inlet pipe 15 into the inside of the tank body to a flow that flows approximately horizontally toward the columnar member 14. In other words, the jet of cooling liquid flowing from the inlet pipe 15 flows along the guide surface of the guide member 13, and the direction of the jet flow changes, becoming a jet that flows approximately horizontally toward the columnar member 14.

When viewed along the flow of cooling liquid from the guide member 13 toward the columnar member 14, the columnar member 14 extends in an approximately vertical direction. The columnar member 14 does not need to extend strictly vertically; it can be said to extend in an approximately vertical direction if it is inclined at an angle of about 30 degrees or less.

Furthermore, a part of the columnar member 14 is disposed on the extension line n of the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member 14. With this configuration, the jet of cooling liquid directed toward the columnar member in a substantially horizontal direction by the guide member 13 flows so as to collide with a part of the columnar member, and then branches off and flows in a substantially horizontal direction to avoid the columnar member 14 (Figure 3).

Although not required, in this embodiment, the columnar member 14 is hollow and has a cross section (horizontal section) that is approximately D-shaped. The columnar member 14 is provided so that the surface that curves in an arc faces the guide member 13. As described below, the columnar member 14 may have other shapes.

Although not essential, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the position where the extension line n of the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member 14 intersects with the columnar member 14 is vertically lower than the cooling liquid surface S. The position where the extension line n of the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member 14 intersects with the columnar member 14 may be at substantially the same height in the vertical direction as the cooling liquid surface S. More preferably, the position where the extension line n of the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member 14 intersects with the columnar member 14 is vertically lower than the position where the inlet pipe 15 is connected to the tank body 17.

In addition, although not essential, it is preferable that, as in this embodiment, the flow of cooling liquid toward the columnar member 14 flows substantially horizontally and the columnar member 14 extends in an approximately vertical direction.

In addition, although not essential, it is preferable that the columnar member 14 is arranged to connect the top and bottom surfaces of the tank body, as in this embodiment. It is particularly preferable that the columnar member is divided and formed on the lower case side and the upper case side, as in this embodiment, and that these divided columnar members are joined (preferably welded) to each other.

In addition, although not essential, it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the columnar member 14 in the horizontal plane be convex toward the upstream side of the cooling liquid flow, as in this embodiment.

Although not essential, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the width D2 of the columnar member when viewed along the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member 14 is 0.5 to 3 times the diameter (inner diameter) d1 of the inlet pipe, that is, 0.5*d1≦D2≦3*d1. In particular, it is preferable that 1*d1≦D2≦1.5*d1. In this embodiment, D2=1.3*d1. If 0.5*d1≦D2, the flow division effect of the columnar member is easily exerted. Also, if D2≦3*d1, the flow can be prevented from colliding with the columnar member and moving vertically upward, and the suppression of the cooling liquid surface movement is more effective.

As long as the reservoir tank 10's tank body 17, guide member 13, columnar member 14, inlet pipe 15, and outlet pipe 16 can be configured, there is no particular limit to the specific components that are divided to realize this structure. In this embodiment, this configuration is realized by dividing the tank into two cases, the lower case 11 and the upper case 12, and assembling them, but this structure may also be realized by using a different component configuration. For example, the tank body 17 may be divided into two vertically to form components that are then assembled to realize this configuration.

The material constituting the reservoir tank 10 of the above embodiment and the manufacturing method of the reservoir tank 10 are not particularly limited, and the reservoir tank 10 can be manufactured by known materials and known manufacturing methods. Typically, the reservoir tank 10 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyamide resin. The material and reinforcing structure of the reservoir tank are determined according to the type, temperature, pressure, etc. of the coolant used. Typically, the reservoir tank 10 can be manufactured by forming the members corresponding to the lower case 11 and the upper case 12 by injection molding, and integrating these members by vibration welding, hot plate welding, etc. In that case, it is preferable that the inlet pipe 15, the outlet pipe 16, and the columnar member 14 are integrally molded with the lower case 11 or the upper case 12, respectively, but they may be separate members and later assembled to be integrated.

The action and effect of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment will be described. The reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment can suppress the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body and suppress the generation of air bubbles.

Figure 9 shows the flow of coolant inside the tank body of a reservoir tank without a columnar member as a reference example. The reference example in Figure 9 has the same configuration as the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, except for the absence of the columnar member 14 and the different arrangement of the inlet pipe.

In the reservoir tank 99 of the reference example, when the coolant flows in forcefully from the inlet pipe (flow Q of the coolant flowing in is shown by the white arrow), the coolant that flows into the tank body continues to travel in a straight line and hits the tank wall opposite the inlet pipe violently, causing the coolant to spread and flow upwards. This flow causes the surface of the coolant inside the tank body to ripple violently. This violent ripple causes air to get caught in the coolant, generating air bubbles.

In particular, when the coolant flows vertically upwards from the inlet pipe into the tank due to layout restrictions around it, the surface of the coolant inside the tank body ripples violently, causing air bubbles to form. For this reason, there are many restrictions on the placement of the inlet pipe in a reservoir tank like the reference example.

Air bubbles in the coolant reduce the efficiency of the coolant's circulation and the efficiency of the coolant's heat transport, leading to a decrease in the cooling performance of the cooling system.

In the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the inlet pipe 15 is connected to the tank body vertically below the liquid surface S of the cooling liquid, and a columnar member is erected inside the tank body. The guide member 13 provided inside the tank body guides the flow of cooling liquid flowing from the inlet pipe into the tank body to a flow that flows approximately horizontally toward the columnar member 14. When viewed along the flow of cooling liquid toward the columnar member 14, the columnar member 14 extends approximately vertically, and a part of the columnar member 14 is positioned on the extension line n of the flow of cooling liquid toward the columnar member. This suppresses the fluctuation of the liquid surface inside the tank body and the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank.

That is, in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the flow of cooling liquid from the inlet pipe does not pass through the air, but flows directly into the stored cooling liquid, and the cooling liquid flowing in from the inlet pipe 15 is guided by the guide member 13 to flow approximately horizontally toward the columnar member 14. Then, the flow flows so as to collide with the columnar member 14, and as shown in FIG. 3, it flows in a direction that is approximately horizontally divided so as to avoid the columnar member 14. By this branching, the strong momentum of the cooling liquid flowing in from the inlet pipe 15 is dispersed and weakened by the columnar member 14. As a result, the weakened flow of cooling liquid L collides with the wall surface of the tank body, and the liquid surface S is prevented from being violently rippling as in the reference example of FIG. 9. Therefore, in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the liquid surface inside the tank body is prevented from being disturbed, and the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank can be prevented (FIG. 4).

Also, since the placement of the inlet pipe is usually restricted by the surrounding layout, it can be difficult to provide a columnar member that effectively diverts the jet of coolant flowing in from the inlet pipe. In the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the guide member 13 allows the jet of coolant flowing in from the inlet pipe to flow in an approximately horizontal direction toward the columnar member. Therefore, by adjusting the position, shape, and angle of the guide member, it is possible to effectively control the flow of coolant inside the tank and suppress the generation of air bubbles, even if the layout of the inlet pipe is restricted, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the layout of the inlet pipe.

The specific shape of the guide member 13 is not particularly limited as long as it has a guide surface that can direct the flow of the cooling liquid from the inflow pipe 15 toward the columnar member 14 in a substantially horizontal direction.
The guide member may be in the form of a plate, particularly a rib protruding from the tank body. The guide member may also be in the form of a block, or may be a part of the peripheral wall of the tank body 17 that is deformed as in a second embodiment described later.

In addition, the guide surface of the guide member 13 that guides the cooling liquid may be flat, but is preferably curved. For example, the guide member is preferably curved and plate-like. The guide member may be trough- or tubular-shaped so that the jet of cooling liquid does not diffuse vertically upward. An example of a guide member that is tubular is shown in the fourth embodiment described below.

In order to further suppress the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body and the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank, it is preferable that the reservoir tank 19 has multiple columnar members 14a, 14b, 14b, as in the reservoir tank 19 of the first modified example shown in FIG. 5, and the flow of the cooling liquid flowing into the tank body 17 from the inlet pipe 15 is bent toward the columnar members 14 by the guide member 13, and is divided into two flows in a substantially horizontal direction by the first columnar member 14a, and the divided flows are further divided into two flows in a substantially horizontal direction by the second columnar member 14b. The number of columnar members may be two, three, or four or more. The flow may be divided by the columnar members into two flows, but may also be divided into three or more flows.

With a configuration like the reservoir tank 19 of the first modified example, the flow of the cooling liquid is more diffused and diverted, resulting in a gentler flow, which enhances the effect of suppressing the liquid level from becoming unstable inside the tank body and the effect of suppressing the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank. In addition, when multiple columnar members are provided, it is preferable to arrange the multiple columnar members in the direction of the flow of the cooling liquid from the guide member 13 toward the columnar member 14, like an arrangement of bowling pins.

Furthermore, from the viewpoint of further suppressing the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body and suppressing the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank, it is preferable that the position where the extension line n of the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member intersects with the columnar member 14 is vertically below the cooling liquid level S. In this way, the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member is prevented from forcefully spraying upward from the cooling liquid level, and the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body is further suppressed.

Furthermore, from the viewpoint of further suppressing the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body and suppressing the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank, it is preferable that the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member flows substantially horizontally and that the columnar member 14 extends in a substantially vertical direction. With this configuration, the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member is reliably diverted in a substantially horizontal direction by the columnar member 14 and is less likely to flow in the vertical direction, further suppressing the fluctuation of the liquid level inside the tank body.

In addition, as in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, when the columnar member 14 is arranged to connect the top and bottom surfaces of the tank body 17, the vibration of the columnar member 14 is suppressed, and the generation of noise from the reservoir tank is also suppressed. Since the coolant hits the columnar member 14 in the form of a jet, if the columnar member is erected in a cantilevered manner, the columnar member is likely to vibrate and there is a risk of noise being generated from the reservoir tank. If the columnar member 14 is arranged in a double-supported beam manner to connect the top and bottom surfaces of the tank body 17, the rigidity of the portion where the coolant flow hits the columnar member is increased, the vibration of the columnar member 14 is suppressed, and the generation of abnormal noise from the reservoir tank is suppressed.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. Other embodiments of the invention are described below, but in the following description, the differences from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described, and similar parts will be given the same numbers and will not be described in detail. Furthermore, these embodiments can be implemented by combining parts with each other, or by replacing parts.

Figure 6 shows the reservoir tank 20 of the second embodiment. Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (upper figure) of the reservoir tank 20 corresponding to Figure 1 of the first embodiment, and a transverse cross-sectional view (lower figure) of the reservoir tank 20 corresponding to Figure 2 of the first embodiment. Compared to the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the reservoir tank 20 of the second embodiment differs in the position and direction of the inlet pipe 25, the shape of the guide member 23, and the shape of the columnar member 24, but the other configurations are generally similar to the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment.

In the reservoir tank 20 of the second embodiment, the inlet pipe 25 is provided on the bottom surface of the tank body 27 so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction. Note that in this embodiment, the exhaust pipe 26 is also provided vertically downward from the bottom surface of the tank, but the position and direction of the exhaust pipe can be changed.

In addition, in the reservoir tank 20 of the second embodiment, a part of the peripheral wall of the tank body 27 serves as a guide member. That is, the peripheral wall of the tank body 27 is formed in an arc-shaped curved shape so that the flow of cooling liquid flowing vertically upward from the inlet 25 turns about 90 degrees and flows in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member 24, and this part serves as the guide member 23. That is, the guide member 23 has a curved guide surface.

In the reservoir tank 20 of the second embodiment, the columnar member 24 has a mountain-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 7(a).
In the reservoir tank of the second embodiment, the columnar member 24 is provided in a cantilever shape so as to protrude from the top surface of the tank body toward the bottom surface of the tank.

In the reservoir tank 20 of the second embodiment, as in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the guide member 23 and the columnar member 24 allow the flow of cooling water to be diverted and diffused in a substantially horizontal direction, thereby suppressing the fluctuation of the liquid surface inside the tank body and suppressing the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank.

Also, as in the reservoir tank 20 of the second embodiment, the central axis of the inlet pipe 25 may be at an angle of 30 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal plane. In this case, too, the guide member 23 allows the coolant flow to flow in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member 24, thereby suppressing the generation of air bubbles inside the reservoir tank. In this way, even when the central axis of the inlet pipe 25 is at an angle of 30 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal plane, the generation of air bubbles can be suppressed, which particularly increases the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the inlet pipe, etc.

7 shows an example of a cross-sectional shape in a horizontal plane of another embodiment of the columnar member, in which the white arrows indicate the direction of flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member.
The columnar member may be a columnar member 24 having a mountain-shaped cross section (L-shaped cross section) as shown in Fig. 7(a). Also, the columnar member may be a columnar member 24b having a circular cross section (hollow cylindrical cross section) as shown in Fig. 7(b). Also, the columnar member may be a solid member, for example, a columnar member having a solid cylindrical cross section. Also, the columnar member may be a rectangular columnar member, an elliptical columnar member, a conical member, or a pyramidal member.

The columnar member may be a columnar member 24c with a C-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 7(c). The columnar member may be a columnar member 24d with a cross-shaped cross section (cross section with a stepped upstream side) as shown in FIG. 7(d). The columnar member may be a columnar member 24e with a flat cross section facing the flow as shown in FIG. 7(e). The columnar member may be a columnar member 24f with a mountain-shaped cross section with a slit in the center as shown in FIG. 7(f).

As shown in Figures 2, 5, 7(a), (b), (c), and (d), it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the columnar member in the horizontal plane is a shape that is convex toward the upstream side of the cooling liquid flow. If the cross-sectional shape of the columnar member in the horizontal plane is a shape that is convex toward the upstream side of the cooling liquid flow of the columnar member, the cooling liquid jet from the inlet can be effectively diverted and diffused in the horizontal direction, and the cooling liquid jet from the inlet is prevented from hitting the columnar member and splashing vertically upward, which is an excellent effect in suppressing the movement of the cooling liquid surface.

Moreover, as shown in Figures 7(a) and (c), it is more preferable that the columnar member has a shape in which the corners of the part facing the flow of the cooling liquid are rounded. For example, it is preferable that the corners of the most upstream part of the columnar member and both side ends of the columnar member (the upper end and the lower end in Figure 7) are rounded. If these parts are rounded, even if the jet of cooling liquid hits the columnar member and the flow is divided, the generation of vortexes around the columnar member is suppressed, and the vortexes that cause air bubbles in the cooling liquid to break up into small pieces and become difficult to separate are suppressed.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 2, 5, 7(a), (c), and (f), it is preferable that the cross-sectional shape of the columnar member in the horizontal plane is such that the width on the upstream side of the cooling liquid flow toward the columnar member is smaller than the width on the downstream side of the cooling liquid flow, and it is particularly preferable that the cross-sectional shape is such that the width of the columnar member becomes larger toward the downstream side. With such a cross-sectional shape, the cooling liquid division and diffusion effect of the columnar member becomes more pronounced, and the effect of suppressing the movement of the cooling liquid surface is enhanced.

The cross-sectional shape of the columnar member in the horizontal plane may have a surface that faces the columnar member so as to be substantially perpendicular to the jet of cooling liquid directed toward the columnar member, as shown in Figures 7(c), (d), and (e). However, since such a surface can cause the jet to splash vertically upward and ruffle the surface of the cooling liquid, it is preferable to make the width of such a surface as narrow as possible.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7(f), if a columnar member 24f has a slit in the center, the jet of cooling liquid heading toward the columnar member can be diverted and diffused in three directions, and the effect of diverting and diffusing the cooling liquid by the columnar member becomes more pronounced, enhancing the effect of suppressing the movement of the cooling liquid surface. The size of the slit is adjusted to be thin enough to appropriately weaken the jet passing through the slit.

Figure 8 shows the reservoir tank 30 of the third embodiment. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 2 of the first embodiment. The reservoir tank 30 of the third embodiment differs from the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment in the shape of the tank body 37, the shape of the guide member 33, and the shape and arrangement of the columnar member 24c, but other configurations such as the position of the discharge pipe 36 are similar to the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment.

In the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tank body 17 is rectangular parallelepiped-shaped, but in the reservoir tank 30 of the third embodiment, the tank body 37 is spherical. The shape of the tank body is not particularly limited, and may be other shapes such as a cylinder, an elliptical cylinder, or an ellipsoid.

In addition, in the reservoir tank 30 of the third embodiment, the guide member 33 is a flat plate extending in a substantially vertical direction. In this way, the guide member may be a guide member having a guide surface that is not curved, and may be configured so that the jet of cooling liquid flowing in from the inlet pipe 35 flows in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member.

In addition, in the reservoir tank 30 of the third embodiment, the columnar member 24c has a C-shaped (arc-shaped) cross section as shown in Figure 7(c), and is positioned so that the cross section is convex toward the upstream side of the coolant flow.

Similar to the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in the reservoir tank 30 of the third embodiment, the columnar member 24c extends in a substantially vertical direction when viewed along the flow of cooling liquid toward the columnar member, and the substantially horizontal flow from the guide member 33 hits the columnar member 24c. As a result, the jet of cooling liquid from the inlet is essentially diverted and diffused in a substantially horizontal direction, resulting in a significant effect of suppressing the movement of the cooling liquid level. Furthermore, by providing the guide member 33, it is possible to obtain the effect of suppressing the movement of the cooling liquid level while increasing the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the inlet 35.

In addition, in the reservoir tank of the above embodiment, an embodiment has been described in which the columnar member extends in a substantially vertical direction when viewed from a direction perpendicular to both the extension line n of the flow toward the columnar member and the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1), but this is not essential. The columnar member may be provided so as to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction when viewed from a direction perpendicular to both the extension line n of the flow toward the columnar member and the vertical direction. In this case, more specifically, it is preferable that the columnar member is provided so as to be inclined toward the downstream side of the flow toward the columnar member as it heads vertically downward when viewed from a direction perpendicular to both the extension line n of the flow toward the columnar member and the vertical direction.

When the columnar member is tilted in this way, when the jet of cooling liquid heading toward the columnar member hits the columnar member, the jet tends to flow slightly vertically downward, which makes the effect of suppressing the movement of the cooling liquid surface more pronounced.

Figure 10 shows the reservoir tank 40 of the third embodiment. Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 1 of the first embodiment. The reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment differs from the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment in the shape of the guide member 43, the shape of the columnar member 44, and the position of the inlet pipe 45, but other configurations such as the position of the outlet pipe 46 and the shape of the tank body 47 are similar to the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment.

In the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment, the guide member 43 is tubular. That is, a substantial pipeline is formed by the guide member 43 and a part of the wall surface of the tank body 47. The tubular guide member 43 is connected to the inlet pipe 45 at one end, and is open toward the internal space of the tank body 47 at the other end. The tubular guide member 43 guides the flow of cooling liquid flowing from the inlet pipe 45 into the inside of the tank body to a flow that flows in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member 44. The guide member 43 may have a portion where the pipeline extends in a substantially vertical direction.

The tubular guide member may be configured so that the jet of cooling liquid flowing in from the inlet pipe 45 flows in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member 44. For example, the tubular guide member 43 may be configured so that the conduit at the other end extends toward the columnar member 44 (in the direction of the axis n in FIG. 10).

The other end of the guide member 43 is open toward the internal space of the tank body vertically below the liquid level S of the cooling liquid stored inside the tank body. With this configuration, the flow of cooling liquid from the inlet pipe 45 flows directly into the cooling liquid stored in the tank, ensuring the effect of suppressing the movement of the cooling liquid level.

In the case of the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment, in which a tubular guide member 43 is connected at one end to an inlet pipe 45 and the other end of the guide member 43 is open inside the tank body vertically below the liquid level S of the coolant, unlike the first to third embodiments, it is not essential that the inlet pipe be connected to the tank body vertically below the liquid level S of the coolant stored inside the tank body. This is because in the fourth embodiment, the guide member 43 functions as an extension pipe of the inlet pipe 45, and essentially functions in the same way as if the inlet pipe were connected to the tank body below the liquid level S of the coolant.

Similar to the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment, when viewed along the coolant flow toward the columnar member (the direction of the axis n in FIG. 10), the columnar member 44 extends in an approximately vertical direction, and the approximately horizontal flow from the guide member 43 hits the columnar member 44. As a result, the jet of coolant from the inlet is substantially diverted and diffused in an approximately horizontal direction, and the effect of suppressing the movement of the coolant level is remarkable. In addition, by providing the guide member 43, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the inlet 45 can be particularly increased, while the effect of suppressing the movement of the coolant level can be obtained. That is, according to the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment, the inlet pipe 45 may be connected at a position higher in the vertical direction than the coolant level S, so the degree of freedom in layout is particularly increased.

The reservoir tank of the present invention may have other configurations. For example, the reservoir tank may be provided with a removable cap. Coolant can be filled into the tank and the coolant path through such a cap. The cap may also be provided with a pressure release valve. If necessary, the reservoir tank may be integrated with a stay or boss member for mounting to a vehicle body, etc. Depending on the pressure resistance, etc. required of the reservoir tank, the reservoir tank may also be provided with a reinforcing structure such as a rib.

The above-mentioned reservoir tank can be used in the coolant path of a cooling system, and can suppress the generation of air bubbles in the coolant, making it highly useful in industry.

10 Reservoir tank 11 Lower case 12 Upper case 13 Guide member 14 Columnar member 15 Inlet pipe 16 Discharge pipe 17 Tank body n Extension line of flow toward columnar member L Coolant S Liquid level of coolant

Claims (3)

A reservoir tank provided in a coolant path of a liquid-cooling system,
A tank body that stores a cooling liquid;
An inlet pipe for feeding the cooling liquid into the tank body;
The tank has a discharge pipe for discharging the cooling liquid from the tank body.
The inlet pipe is connected to the tank body vertically below the liquid level of the cooling liquid stored inside the tank body, and
A columnar member is erected inside the tank body,
A guide member is provided inside the tank body,
The guide member changes the direction of the flow of the cooling liquid flowing from the inlet pipe into the inside of the tank body, and guides it to a flow that flows in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member,
When viewed along a flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member, the columnar member extends in a substantially vertical direction,
A part of the columnar member is disposed on an extension line of a flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member ,
The flow from the guide member toward the columnar member collides with a part of the columnar member, and then branches off horizontally to avoid the columnar member, and
The width of the columnar member when viewed along the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member is 0.5 to 3 times the diameter of the inlet pipe.
Reservoir tank. A plurality of columnar members are provided.
the plurality of columnar members are arranged such that a flow of the cooling liquid from the guide member toward the columnar members is diverted in a substantially horizontal direction by the first columnar member, and the diverted flow is further diverted in a substantially horizontal direction by the second columnar member;
The reservoir tank according to claim 1 . A reservoir tank provided in a coolant path of a liquid-cooling system,
A tank body that stores a cooling liquid;
An inlet pipe for feeding the cooling liquid into the tank body;
A drain pipe is provided for draining the cooling liquid from the tank body.
Furthermore, a columnar member is erected inside the tank body,
A guide member is provided inside the tank body,
The guide member is formed in a tubular shape and is connected to the inlet pipe at one end side of the guide member,
The flow direction of the cooling liquid flowing from the inlet pipe into the tank body is changed so that it flows in a substantially horizontal direction toward the columnar member,
The other end side of the guide member is opened toward the internal space of the tank body vertically below the liquid level of the cooling liquid stored inside the tank body,
When viewed along a flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member, the columnar member extends in a substantially vertical direction,
A part of the columnar member is disposed on an extension line of a flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member ,
The flow from the guide member toward the columnar member collides with a part of the columnar member, and then branches off horizontally to avoid the columnar member, and
The width of the columnar member when viewed along the flow of the cooling liquid toward the columnar member is 0.5 to 3 times the diameter of the inlet pipe.
Reservoir tank.

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