SE535433C2 - Modular system for forming a radiator device and charge air cooler and coolant liquid cooler formed by such a modular system - Google Patents

Description

535 433 ken is connectable to the outlet opening of the outlet tank of other body modules. When assembling a radiator device, a first superstructure module is connected to the base module and this first superstructure module is then built on with the desired number of additional superstructure modules stacked on top of each other with the superstructure modules inlet tanks connected in series with each other and the superstructure modules' outlet tanks connected in series.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a further development of a modular system of the type described above in order to provide a modular system with a design which in at least some aspect offers an advantage over this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, said object is achieved by means of a modular system having the features defined in claim 1.

The modular system according to the invention is intended for forming a radiator device for a motor vehicle and comprises a base module and two or more body modules connectable to the base module.

The base module of the modular system according to the invention comprises: - a main inlet intended to be connected to a pipeline of a motor vehicle for feeding a circulating cooling medium into a cooling device formed by the modular system, - a main outlet intended to be connected to a pipeline of a motor vehicle for discharging said cooling medium from the cooling device, - an inlet tank connected to said main inlet, - an outlet tank connected to said main outlet, and - a cooling element extending between the inlet tank and outlet tank of the base module and provided with flow channels 535 433, through which said cooling medium is intended to flow from the inlet tank of the base module to its outlet tank while delivering heat to the surroundings.

The respective superstructure module of the modular system according to the invention comprises: - an inlet tank which is provided with an inlet, - an outlet tank which is provided with an outlet, and - a cooling element which extends between the superstructure of the superstructure module and outlet tank and is provided with flow channels, through which said cooling medium is intended to flow from the superstructure of the superstructure module to its outlet tank while emitting heat to the surroundings.

The inlet tank of the base module is provided with a first connection outlet at an upper end and a second connection outlet at a lower end, each of these connection outlets being connectable to the inlet of the inlet tank of the respective superstructure module. The outlet tank of the base module is correspondingly provided with a first connection inlet at an upper end and a second connection inlet at a lower end, each of these connection inlets being connectable to the outlet of the outlet tank of the respective superstructure module.

Because the base module is provided with its own radiator element, the base module can be used independently, ie without any superstructure module connected to the base module, as a radiator device in a case where there is only a need for a radiator device with low cooling power. In this case, the connection outlet and connection inlet of the base module are closed by means of suitable closing means, such as lids, plugs or the like. Because the base module's inlet tank and outlet tank are provided with connection outlets and connection inlets both at the top and bottom, it will also be possible to build on the base module with one or more superstructure modules in the desired vertical direction or with superstructure modules in opposite vertical directions. . This creates improved opportunities to adapt the radiator device to the space available for it in the motor vehicle in question.

With the modular system according to the invention, one or more superstructure modules can be connected directly to the base module to obtain a cooling device with a cooling capacity which is adapted to the current cooling need, without any separate pipelines having to be laid between the different modules to connect them to each other. . The modules can thus be connected in a simple and leak-proof manner.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the modular system comprises two or more body modules of mutually different heights. By providing body modules of different heights, radiator devices of a relatively large number of different sizes can be obtained by means of a limited number of body modules. For example, with the help of a base module and two superstructure modules of different heights it will be possible to assemble radiator devices of four different sizes, while with the help of a base module and two superstructure modules of the same height it would only be possible to assemble radiator devices of three different sizes.

According to another embodiment of the invention, one or more superstructure modules have a valve means arranged in connection with the inlet of the superstructure module inlet tank or in connection with the outlet of the superstructure module outlet tank, this valve means being operable back and forth between a closed position, in which the valve means is arranged the associated inlet or outlet closed and thereby prevent refrigerant from passing therethrough, and an open position in which the valve means is arranged to keep the associated inlet or outlet open and thereby allow refrigerant to pass therethrough. By placing a valve member of a superstructure module in the closed position, it becomes possible to easily and quickly prevent the coolant from flowing through a superstructure module which is part of a cooling device formed by the modular system according to the invention. When the coolant is thus passed through a reduced proportion of the cooler elements included in the cooler device, the coolant obtains a higher flow rate through the currently available cooler elements compared with the case where all the cooler elements of the cooler device are available for flow. . The residence time of the coolant in the radiator elements is thereby reduced and the coolant is thus subjected to a reduced cooling effect. With a charge air cooler, there is a risk of ice formation in the flow channels of the charge air cooler radiator elements. In a charge air cooler formed by the modular system according to the invention, said valve means of a superstructure module can be used to reduce the cooling capacity of the charge air cooler and thereby reduce the risk of ice formation in the flow channels of the cooler elements.

Other advantageous features of the modular system according to the invention appear from the dependent claims and the following description.

The invention also relates to a charge air cooler having the features defined in claim 10 and a coolant cooler having the features defined in claim 11.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is shown in: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view from the front of a base module included in a module system according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view from behind of a radiator device formed by the base module according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a schematic front view of a radiator device Fig. 4 shows a detail enlargement in section of a part of the radiator device according to Fig. 3, Fig. 5 a detail enlargement in section of another part of the radiator device according to Fig. 3, Figs. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in section of a further part of the radiator device according to Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is a schematic front view of a radiator device formed by a base module and a body module connected to it of a second height, and Fig. 8 is a schematic front view of a radiator device formed. of a base module and two add-on modules connected thereto, and Fig. 9 shows a detail in partial section of a part of the ky the teaching device according to Fig. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 illustrates a base module 10 included in a module system according to an embodiment of the present invention for forming a radiator device for a motor vehicle. This base module 10 comprises an inlet tank 11, an outlet tank 12 and a cooler element 13 extending between the inlet tank 11 and the outlet tank 12. The cooler element 13 is provided with flow channels 14 (see Figs. 4-6), through which a cooling medium is intended to flow. from the inlet tank 11 of the base module to its outlet tank 12 while emitting heat to the surroundings. The inlet tank 11 and the outlet tank 12 of the base module are elongate and extend parallel to each other at opposite ends of the radiator element 13 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the radiator element. The base module 10 comprises a main inlet 15 (see Fig. 2) which is connected to the inlet tank 11 and 535 433 a main outlet 16 which is connected to the outlet tank 12. The main inlet 15 is intended to be connected to a pipeline of a motor vehicle for supply of a circulating cooling medium in the base module inlet tank 11 and the main outlet 16 is intended to be connected to a pipeline of the motor vehicle for discharging said cooling medium from the base module outlet tank 12. The main inlet 15 and the main outlet 16 of the base module thus form the coolant inlet of one of the current modular system formed cooling device.

The inlet tank 11 of the base module is provided with a first connection outlet 17a at an upper end 11a and a second connection outlet 17b at a lower end 11b. The outlet tank 12 of the base module is provided with a first connection inlet 18a at an upper end 12a and a second connection inlet 18b at a lower end 12b. Fig. 2 illustrates a cooling device 1 formed by the base module 10 shown in Fig. 1. In this case, the connection outlets 17a, 17b and the connection inlets 18a, 18b of the base module 10 are sealingly closed by means of closing means 30. In the illustrated example, the closing means 30 of lids which are placed over the outwardly facing opening to the respective connection outlets 17a, 17b and connection inlets 18a, 18b. A sealing member 31, for example in the form of an O-ring, is arranged between an insertion portion 32 of the respective closing member 30 and an inner surface 19 of the associated connection outlet 17a, 17b or the connection inlet 18a, 18b. As illustrated in Fig. 4. In the illustrated example, the sealing member 31 is arranged in an outer groove 33 extending around said insertion portion 32.

The closing means 30 can be fastened to the base module 10 by means of, for example, screw connections, clamping connections or press fitting. In the illustrated example, the closing means 30 are held to the base module 10 by means of screw connections and the base module is for this purpose provided with a fastening plate 24 at respective connection outlets 17a, 17b and connection inlets 18a, 18b.

The respective closing means 30 are provided with a corresponding fastening plate 34 which is intended to come into abutment against one of the fastening plates 24 of the base module when the closing means is brought into place in a connection outlet 17a, 17b or connection inlet 18a, 18b. The fastening plates 24, 34 are provided with through holes 25, for receiving a threaded fastening element 36 (see Fig. 4). In the illustrated example, the fastening element 36 is constituted by a bolt which cooperates with a nut 37 for clamping respective pairs of fastening plates 24, 34 to each other.

The module system further comprises two or more superstructure modules 40, 40 'connectable to the base module 10. These superstructure modules can be of one and the same height, but advantageously the modular system comprises superstructure modules of two or more different heights.

The respective superstructure module 40, 40 'comprises an inlet tank 41, an outlet tank 42 and a cooling element 43 extending between the inlet tank 41 and the outlet tank 42. The cooling element 43 is provided with flow channels 44 (see Figs. 5 and 6), through which cooling medium is intended to flow. from the superstructure module 41's inlet tank to its outlet tank 42 while emitting heat to the environment. The superstructure module inlet tank 41 and outlet tank 42 are elongate and extend parallel to each other at opposite ends of the radiator element 43 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the radiator element. The inlet tank 41 of the body module is provided with an inlet 47 and its outlet tank 42 is provided with an outlet 48. Said inlet 47 is arranged at a first end 41a of the inlet tank and said outlet 48 is arranged at a corresponding first end 42a of the outlet tank, the inlet 47 and the outlet 48 is thus facing in the same direction.

Each of the connection modules 17a, 17b of the base module is connectable to the inlet 47 of the inlet tank 41 of the respective superstructure module 40, 40 '. Correspondingly, each of the connection inlet 18a, 18b of the base module is connectable to the outlet 48 of the outlet tank 42 of the respective superstructure module 40, 40 '. As a result, the inlet tank 41 of a superstructure module can be connected to the inlet tank 11 of the base module in order to together with it form an inlet tank of a cooling device. 535 433 Correspondingly, the outlet tank 42 of a superstructure module can be connected to the outlet tank 12 of the base module to together with it form an inlet tank of a radiator device. Because a first pair of connection outlets 17a and connection inlets 18a are arranged at the top of the base module 10 and a second pair of connection outlets 17b and connection inlets 18b are arranged at the bottom of the base module 10, a single body module 40, 40 'can be mounted either on top or below basmodules. It is of course also possible to mount a first superstructure module on top of the base module and a second superstructure module below the base module, as illustrated in Fig. 8. To facilitate the connection between a superstructure module 40, 40 'and the base module 10, the respective connection outlets 17a, 17b of the base module inlet tank 11 provided with a coupling portion 20 (see Figs. 5 and 6) which is designed for engagement with a corresponding coupling portion 50 of the inlet 47 of the inlet tank 41 of the respective body module. Correspondingly, the respective connection inlets 18a, 18b of the base module outlet tank 12 are provided with a coupling portion 21 which is designed for engagement with a corresponding coupling portion 51 of the outlet 48 of the outlet tank 42 of the respective body module 40, 40 '.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base module 10 is provided with female-shaped coupling portions 20, 21 for engagement with corresponding male-shaped coupling portions 50, 51 of the superstructure modules. Alternatively, of course, the base module could instead be provided with male-shaped coupling portions for engagement with corresponding female-shaped coupling portions of the superstructure modules.

A sealing member 52, for example in the form of an O-ring, is arranged between the respective coupling portion 20, 21 of the base module and the corresponding coupling portion 50, 51 of a superstructure module 40, 40 'connected to the base module, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In the illustrated example, the sealing member 52 is arranged in an external groove 53 extending around the coupling portion 50, 51. of the body module. 535 433 The respective body module 40, 40 'may be attachable to the base module 10 by means of, for example, screw joints or clamp joints. In the illustrated example, the respective body modules 40, 40 'are held to the base module 10 by means of screw connections and the body module is for this purpose provided with a mounting plate 54 at the inlet 47 and at the outlet 48. The respective mounting plate 54 is intended to come into contact with one of the mounting modules 24 of the base module when the superstructure module 40, 40 'is connected to the base module 10. The mounting plates 24, 54 are provided with through holes 25, 55 for receiving a threaded fastening element 36 (see Figs. 5 and 6). ). In the illustrated example, the fastening element 36 is constituted by a bolt which cooperates with a nut 37 for clamping respective pairs of fastening plates 24, 54 to each other.

In the superstructure modules 40, 40 'shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8, the other end 41b, 42b of the inlet tank 41 and the outlet tank 42 are closed, which thus means that it will not be possible to connect two or more superstructure modules to each other on one and the same side of the base module 10. As an alternative, however, connection openings with associated coupling portions could be arranged at both ends of the inlet tank and the outlet tank of one or more superstructure modules, thereby making it possible to connect two or more superstructure modules with each other on one and the same side of the base module 10.

The cooler element 13, 43 of the base module 10 and the body modules 40, 40 'are substantially flat and comprise flow channels 14, 44 formed by a plurality of elongate and spaced apart pipelines 26, 56, which are connected to and extend between associated inlet tank 11, 41 and outlet tank 12, 42 for conducting coolant between them. Heat sinks 27, 57 or similar are connected in a conventional manner to the pipelines 26, 56 to increase the heat transfer surface. Cooling medium is intended to be led through the pipelines 26, 56 from the associated inlet tank 11, 41 to the associated outlet tank 12, 42 to provide heat to ambient air which passes through air passages between the pipelines 26 via the walls of the pipelines and the cooling flanges 27, 57. , 56.

As a result, the coolant is cooled by the ambient air passing between the pipelines 26, 56.

When assembling a radiator device, one or more body modules 40, 40 'are connected to the base module 10, these modules being stacked on top of each other with the module inlet tanks 11, 41 connected in series with each other to form a common inlet tank of the radiator device and with the outlet tanks 12, 42 of the modules are connected in series with each other to form a common outlet tank of the cooling device.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cooling device 1 'formed by a base module 10 and a superstructure module 40 connected at the bottom of this by a first height h1. In this case, the upper connection outlet 17a of the base module inlet tank 11 and the upper connection inlet 18a of the base module outlet tank 12 are closed with their respective closing means 30.

Fig. 7 illustrates a cooling device 1 "formed by a base module 10 and a superstructure module 40 'connected at the bottom of this by a second height h2, which is greater than the above-mentioned first height h1. Also in this case the upper connection outlet 17a of the base motor The inlet tank 11 of the module and the upper connection inlet 18a of the outlet tank 12 of the base module are closed with their respective closing means 30. Fig. 8 illustrates a cooling device 1 "'formed by a base module, a first superstructure module 40 of said first height h1 and a second superstructure module 40 'of said second height h2 connected to the bottom of the base module.

In order to facilitate the attachment of a cooling device formed by the module system in a motor vehicle, the base module 10 is advantageously provided with fastening means (not shown) arranged on the outside of the inlet tank 11 and outlet tank 12 of the base module.

One or more of the superstructure modules 40, 40 'included in the module system may be provided with a valve means 58 (see Fig. 9) arranged in connection with the inlet 47 of the superstructure module inlet tank 41 or in connection with the outlet 48 of the superstructure module outlet tank 42. This valve means 58 is operable back and forth between a closed position, in which the valve means 58 is arranged to keep the associated inlet / outlet closed and thereby prevent coolant from passing through it, and an open position, in which the valve means 58 is arranged to hold it associated inlet / outlet open and thereby allow refrigerant to pass through it. The valve member 58 is advantageously pivotally mounted in the body module 40, 40 ', the valve member being pivotable forward and eating about a pivot axis 59 between its closed position and its open position. In its closed position, the valve member 58 abuts against a seat 60, which may extend wholly or partly around an inner surface of the current inlet tank / outlet tank of the body module. The respective valve means 58 may for instance be constituted by a valve flap, as illustrated in Fig. 9. In the cooling device 1 "'illustrated in Fig. 9, the respective superstructure module 40, 40' is provided with such a valve means 58 in connection with the inlet 47 of its Inlet tank 41. In Fig. 9, the valve means 58 are illustrated with solid lines in their open position and with dashed lines in their closed position.The valve means 58 can be arranged to be operated and regulated in the ways described in more detail in the Swedish section. exam application no. 1050162-5, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The base module 10 and the superstructure modules 40, 40 'may be provided with inlet tanks 11, 41 and outlet tanks 12, 42 of metal for forming a cooling device in the form of a charge air cooler, i.e. a cooling device for cooling charge air to the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The base module 10 and the superstructure modules 40, 40 'may alternatively be provided with inlet tanks 11, 41 and outlet tanks 12, 42 of plastic material for forming a cooler device in the form of a coolant cooler, i.e. a cooler device for cooling coolant to the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

The modular system according to the invention is particularly intended to be used for the formation of a charge air cooler or coolant cooler for a heavy motor vehicle, such as, for example, a bus, a towing vehicle or a truck.

The invention is of course not in any way limited to the embodiments described above, but a number of possibilities for modifications thereof should be obvious to a person skilled in the art, without this for that reason deviating from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims. .

Claims (11)

10 15 20 25 30 35 535 433 14 PATENT REQUIREMENTS Modular system for forming a radiator device for a motor vehicle, said modular system comprising: - a base module (10) provided with a main inlet (15) intended to be connected to a pipeline of a motor vehicle for feeding a circulating coolant into a modular system radiator device, a main outlet (16) for connecting to a pipeline of a motor vehicle for discharging said coolant from the radiator device, a connection outlet (17a) and a connection inlet (18a), and - two or more to the base module connectable superstructure modules (40, 40 '), the respective superstructure module comprising: - an inlet tank (41) provided with an inlet (47) designed for connection to said connection outlet (17a) of the base module (10), - an outlet tank (42) provided with an outlet (48) designed for connection to said connection inlet (18a) of the base module (10), and - a cooling element (43) extending between the inlet tank (41) of the body module and outlet tank (42) and is provided with flow channels (56), through which said cooling medium is intended to flow from the inlet tank (41) of the body module to its outlet tank (42) while providing heat to the surroundings, characterized in that: - that the base module ( 10) comprises: - an inlet tank (11) connected to said main inlet (15). an outlet tank (12) connected to said main outlet (16), and - a radiator element (13) extending between the inlet tank (11) of the base module and the outlet tank (12) and provided with flow channels (26), through which said cooling medium is intended to flow from the inlet tank (11) of the base module to its outlet tank (12) while delivering heat to the surroundings, - that the inlet tank (11) of the base module is provided with a first connection outlet (17a) at an upper end (11a) and a second connection outlet (17b) at a lower end (11b), each of these connection outlets (17a, 17b) being connectable to the inlet (47) of the inlet tank (41) of the respective body module (40, 40 '), and - that the outlet tank (12) of the base module is provided with a first connection inlet (18a) at an upper end (12a) and a second connection inlet (18b) at a lower end (12b) , each of these connection inlets (18a, 18b) being connectable to the outlet (4 8) of the outlet tank (42) of the respective body module (40, 40 '). . Modular system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the modular system comprises two or more body modules (40, 40 ') of mutually different heights. . Modular system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: - the respective connection outlet (17a, 17b) of the inlet tank (11) of the base module comprises a coupling portion (20) which is designed for engagement with a corresponding coupling portion (50) of the inlet ( 47) of the inlet tank (41) of the respective body module (40, 40 '), and - that the respective connection inlet (18a, 18b) of the outlet tank (12) of the base module comprises a coupling portion (21) which is designed for engagement with a corresponding coupling portion (51) of the outlet (48) of the outlet tank (42) of the respective body module (40, 40 '). . Modular system according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the respective superstructure module (40, 40 ') the inlet tank (41) and the outlet tank (42) are elongate and have two opposite ends, said inlet (47) of the superstructure module inlet tank (41) is arranged at a first end (41a) of the inlet tank and said outlet (48) of the superstructure module outlet tank (42) is arranged at a corresponding first end (42a) of the outlet tank. 10 15 20 25 30 35 535 433 16 Modular system according to Claim 4, characterized in that in the case of the respective superstructure module (40, 40 '), the other end (41b, 42b) of the inlet tank (41) and the outlet tank (42) are closed. . Modular system according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in one or more superstructure modules (40, 40 ') a valve member (58) is arranged in connection with the inlet (47) of the inlet tank (41) of the superstructure module. or in connection with the outlet (48) of the outlet tank (42) of the body module, this valve means (58) being operable back and forth between a closed position, in which the valve means (58) is arranged to hold the associated inlet (47) or the outlet (48) closed and thereby prevent the coolant from passing through it, and an open position, in which the valve means (58) is arranged to keep the associated inlet (47) or the outlet (48) open and thereby allow the coolant to pass through this. . Modular system according to claim 6, characterized in that said valve means (58) is pivotally mounted in the associated body module (40, 40 '), the valve means (58) being pivotable back and forth about a pivot axis (59) between its closed position and its open position. Modular system according to claim 7, characterized in that said valve means (58) is constituted by a valve flap. Modular system according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the base module (10) and the superstructure modules (40, 40 ') are provided with inlet tanks (11, 41) and outlet tanks (12, 42) of plastic material, the modular system being intended for forming a cooling device in the form of a coolant cooler. Charge air cooler, characterized in that it is formed by a modular system according to any one of claims 1-8. 535 433 17 Coolant cooler, characterized in that it is formed by a modular system according to any one of claims 1-9.