WO2018038661A1

WO2018038661A1 - Vehicle expansion tank sealing, sealing assembly, vehicle expansion tank and vehicle with expansion tank

Info

Publication number: WO2018038661A1
Application number: PCT/SE2017/050805
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus MUSTONEN; Zoltan Kardos; Johanna HULT
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2016-08-23
Filing date: 2017-08-09
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Also published as: EP3504409B1; EP3504409A4; SE541582C2; EP3504409A1; BR112019001834A2; KR20190031579A; CN109923291A; SE1651127A1; KR102208343B1; CN109923291B

Abstract

A vehicle expansion tank sealing (1), a sealing assembly (17), a vehicle expansion tank (31) and a vehicle (41) are provided. The sealing (1) comprises a substantially disc-shaped portion (3) with a thickness (t) between a first side (5) and a second side (7) in an axial direction (A), a radius (r) in a radial direction (R) and an axial sealing surface (9) arranged at a peripheral part (10) of the first side (5). The sealing (1) further comprises a centre portion (11) which protrudes a predetermined distance (d) from the disc-shaped portion (3) on the first side (5) in the axial direction (A) radially inwards of the axial sealing surface (9), and in that the centre portion (11) comprises at least one peripheral flange (13) which extends in the radial direction (R), the at least one peripheral flange (13) comprising a radial sealing surface (15).

Description

VEHICLE EXPANSION TANK SEALING, SEALING ASSEMBLY, VEHICLE

EXPANSION TANK AND VEHICLE WITH EXPANSION TANK

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to a vehicle expansion tank sealing. Embodiments herein further relate to a vehicle expansion tank sealing assembly, to a vehicle expansion tank and to a vehicle comprising a vehicle expansion tank.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles, such as trucks, may comprise a coolant system for cooling e.g. an internal combustion engine and/or a passenger compartment thereof. Such system typically comprises a radiator with a cooling fan, a water pump, a thermostat, hoses and a coolant expansion tank. A cooling fluid is, via the pump and hoses of the coolant system, circulated through the radiator and a temperature of the fluid is decreased by an air flow through the radiator. The radiator may also comprise a cooling fan for increasing the air flow through the radiator. The cooled fluid may then cool the internal combustion engine.

A temperature of the fluid or coolant may vary e.g. in dependence to an ambient temperature and the amount of waste heat from the engine. When the temperature of the fluid increases the volume of the fluid increases. A volume of the hoses in the coolant system is constant and fluid may escape to the expansion tank until the temperature decreases and the fluid may return to the other parts of the coolant system again. The expansion tank is closed and partly filled with a gas, such as air. When the expansion tank comprises a minimum amount of cooling fluid the pressure within the expansion tank is low. When the amount of cooling fluid increases in the expansion tank a pressure of the gas increases. When a maximum amount of cooling fluid has escaped to the expansion tank the pressure of the gas may be considerable.

With a high pressure within the expansion tank there is a risk that some of the gas leaks out from the expansion tank, e.g. at a lid of the expansion tank. If leakage occur the pressure in the expansion tank decreases and the remaining pressure may be insufficient for pressing the liquid back to the other parts of the cooling system when the temperature of the liquid decreases. Hereby the efficiency of the cooling system may decrease. Improvements in the field of leaking expansion tanks are therefore desirable.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of vehicle cooling systems.

A further object of the present invention is to avoid or decrease leakage from vehicle expansion tanks.

A further object of the present invention is to improve sealing between a vehicle expansion tank filling neck and a lid/sealing thereof. Embodiments herein aim to provide a vehicle expansion tank sealing comprising a substantially disc-shaped portion with a thickness between a first side and a second side in an axial direction, a radius in a radial direction and an axial sealing surface arranged at a peripheral part of the first side. The sealing further a centre portion which protrudes a predetermined distance from the disc portion on the first side in the axial direction radially inwards of the axial sealing surface. The centre portion comprises at least one peripheral flange which extends in the radial direction and the at least one peripheral flange comprising a radial sealing surface.

The axial sealing surface of the sealing is arranged to seal in the axial direction towards an end surface of an expansion tank filling neck when a sealing assembly which the sealing is part of is threaded onto the tank filling neck thread. The radial sealing surface of the peripheral flange is arranged to seal in the radial direction against a cylindrical inner surface of the filling neck when the sealing assembly is threaded onto the filling neck thread and a part of the filling neck is arranged between a cylindrical flange of the sealing assembly and the centre portion of the sealing. Hereby a very tight and reliable sealing is achieved wherefore leakage is prevented. The axial sealing properties are dependent on the tightening torque with which the sealing assembly is threaded onto threads of the filling neck. The axial sealing may provide a sufficient seal alone in some situations but may be insufficient when the pressure in the expansion tank exceeds a certain level. Further, the sealing assembly may loosen a bit during vibrations, e.g. stemming from bumpy roads/vehicle suspension or vibrations from a vehicle engine. When the sealing assembly loosen, leakage may occur and pressure in the tank may decrease.

With the radial sealing between the sealing surface of the at least one centre portion radial flange and the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck friction between the tank sealing and the filling neck is increased. A radial pressure between the centre portion radial flange and the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck is also increased. Hereby the tank sealing will remain in the sealing position without loosen. Further, the radial sealing is to a much lesser extent dependent on the tightening torque. In other words, the radial sealing will effectively provide its sealing function also in situations where the sealing assembly has loosened slightly.

Thus, embodiments herein provides an improved sealing between a vehicle expansion tank filling neck and a sealing thereof. Embodiments herein thus decrease expansion tank leakage and provides for more efficient vehicle cooling systems.

According to some embodiments the centre portion comprises at least two peripheral flanges which extend in the radial direction. Hereby the radial pressure between the centre portion radial flange and the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck is increased and leakage further prevented.

According to some embodiments the at least one peripheral flange has a substantially triangular cross-section. A triangular cross-section has proven to efficiently seal between the centre portion radial flange and the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck.

According to some embodiments the cross-section of the at least one peripheral flange is shaped as a right-angle triangle with a first side facing the centre portion, a second side in parallel with the radial direction and a hypotenuse side facing the disc shaped portion. This shape has proven to provide a particularly good sealing since the sealing and the inner side of the filler neck remains in contact also during very high pressure within the expansion tank.

According to some embodiments the centre portion comprises at least one at least partly cylindrical rib which comprises the at least one peripheral flange. The cylindrical rib may protrude in the axial direction, radially inwards of and substantially in parallel to the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck when the seal is mounted. Hereby the sealing has excellent sealing properties also when the contact between the axial sealing surface and the filling neck is insufficient for preventing leakage.

According to some embodiments the centre portion comprises a plurality of cross-ribs extending radially inwards from the at least partly cylindrical rib. Hereby the sealing is reinforced and can press against the inner wall of the filling neck with a relatively high pressure.

According to some embodiments the centre portion comprises one or more pockets, defined by the at least partly cylindrical rib or by the at least partly cylindrical rib and the cross-ribs. The pocket are thus arranged as concave, open recesses in the centre portion. A high pressure in the tank will cause the cylindrical rib to be pressed further against the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck. In other words, when the need of sufficient sealing is most, the pressure, and accordingly the grip, between the sealing and the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck will be most prominent.

According to some embodiments the sealing is integrally formed of rubber, preferably ethylene propylene diene monomer, EPDM. Hereby the sealing may be made in one piece which facilitates production and mounting.

According to some embodiments the peripheral flange is coated with a layer of friction reduction material. Hereby the seal may be inserted in the filling neck relatively easy.

Embodiments herein also aim to provide a vehicle expansion tank sealing assembly which prevents leakage between the sealing assembly and a filler neck to which its attached. According to an embodiment, this is provided by a vehicle expansion tank sealing assembly comprising a lid portion which extends in the radial direction and an at least partly cylindrical flange which extends out from the lid portion in the axial direction, the lid portion and the flange together forming a hollow space for accommodation of a vehicle tank filling neck. The sealing assembly comprises a sealing according to embodiments herein with the second side of the sealing arranged adjacent to the lid portion within the hollow space. According to some embodiments the flange comprises at least one internal flange thread for threading the sealing assembly onto at least one complementary shaped tank filling neck thread.

Embodiments herein also aim to provide a vehicle expansion tank which prevents leakage between the sealing assembly and a filler neck of the tank. According to an embodiment, this is provided by a vehicle expansion tank comprising a filling neck with an external thread, wherein the vehicle tank comprises a vehicle tank sealing assembly according to embodiments herein. The axial sealing surface of the sealing is arranged to seal in the axial direction towards an end surface of the filling neck when the sealing assembly is threaded onto the tank filling neck thread. The radial sealing surface of the peripheral flange is arranged to seal against an cylindrical inner surface of the filling neck when the sealing assembly is threaded onto the filling neck thread and a part of the filling neck is arranged between the cylindrical flange and the centre portion of the seal. With the radial sealing between the sealing surface of the at least one centre portion radial flange and the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck friction between the tank sealing and the filling neck is increased. A radial pressure between the centre portion radial flange and the cylindrical inner side of the filler neck is also increased. Hereby the tank sealing will remain in the sealing position without loosen.

Embodiments herein also aim to provide a vehicle with an improved cooling system. According to an embodiment this is provided by a vehicle which comprises a vehicle expansion tank according to embodiments herein. Further features of, and advantages with, the embodiments herein will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of embodiments herein, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a cross-section of a vehicle expansion tank sealing according to some embodiments,

Fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle expansion tank sealing assembly according to some embodiments,

Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the Fig. 1 vehicle expansion tank sealing,

Fig. 4 illustrates a cross-section of a vehicle expansion tank sealing assembly and a vehicle tank according to some embodiments,

Fig. 5 illustrates the Fig. 4 sealing assembly and tank in a perspective view according to some embodiments, and Fig. 6 illustrates a vehicle and a vehicle tank according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments herein will now be described more fully with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments are shown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle expansion tank sealing 1 . The tank sealing 1 comprises a substantially disc-shaped portion 3 with a thickness t between a first side 5 and a second side 7 in an axial direction A. The disc-shaped portion has a radius r in a radial direction R. The directions A and R are indicated by arrows in Fig. 1 . The radius r is selected after a sealing assembly / lid assembly to which the sealing belongs. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the radius may be selected to cover a major part of a flat lid inner surface. In the figures herein the disc-shaped portion is illustrated as substantially circular, but it may alternatively be e.g. hexagonal.

The sealing 1 comprises an axial sealing surface 9 arranged at a peripheral part of the first side 5. The sealing further comprises a centre portion 11 which protrudes a predetermined distance d from the disc shaped portion 3 on the first side 5 in the axial direction A. The centre portion 1 1 is arranged radially inwards of the axial sealing surface 9. The distance d may e.g. be in the range of 10-30 mm. In some embodiments the distance d is at least 10mm, in some embodiments the distance d is at least 15 mm and in some embodiments the distance d is at least 20 mm.

The centre portion 1 1 comprises at least one peripheral flange 13 which extends in the radial direction R. In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 1 the centre portion 1 1 comprises two peripheral flanges 13, arranged substantially in parallel with each other and extending outwards in the radial direction R out from a rotation centre of the tank sealing 1 . The centre portion 1 1 may comprise more than two flanges, such as three, four or five flanges.

The at least one peripheral flange 13 comprises a radial sealing surface 15. The peripheral flange(s) 13 and the radial sealing surface(s) 15 are arranged to press against an cylindrical inner surface of the filling neck, further discussed in conjunction to Figs. 4- 5.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the at least one peripheral flange 13 may have a substantially triangular cross-section. In some embodiments the cross-section of the at least one peripheral flange 13 is shaped as a right-angle triangle with a first side 13' facing the centre portion, a second side 13" in parallel with the radial direction R and hypotenuse side 13"' facing the disc shaped portion 3. Fig. 2 illustrates a vehicle expansion tank sealing assembly 17 comprising a lid portion 19 which extends in the radial direction R and an at least partly cylindrical flange 21 which extends out from the lid portion 19 in the axial direction A. The lid portion 19 and the flange 21 together forms a hollow space for accommodation of a vehicle tank filling neck (illustrated in conjunction with Figs. 4-5). The sealing assembly 17 comprises a sealing 1 according to embodiments herein. The second side 7 of the sealing is arranged adjacent to the lid portion 19 within the hollow space.

The flange 21 may comprises at least one flange thread 23, which may be an internal flange thread as illustrated in Fig. 2. The flange thread 23 allows threading of the sealing assembly 17 onto at least one complementary shaped tank filling neck thread. The sealing 1 may be attached to the lid portion 19 or may be movable relatively the lid portion 19. In some applications it is preferable to have a sealing 1 which is not attached to the inner side of the lid, since the sealing then may position itself co-axially with a filling neck opening independently of the threads. Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment in which the centre portion 1 1 comprises at least one at least partly cylindrical rib 25 which comprises the at least one peripheral flange 13. The cylindrical rib 25 may project out from the first side of the disc-shaped portion

substantially in parallel with the cylindrical flange of the lid, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The centre portion 1 1 may further comprise a plurality of cross-ribs 27 extending radially inwards from the at least partly cylindrical rib 25. The ribs 25, 27 may thus together resemble of a wheel with spokes. The cylindrical rib 25 may form a large pocket, alternatively may the cylindrical rib 25 and the cross-ribs 27 together form a plurality of pockets 29 which may be shaped as circle-sectors or cake-pieces.

The sealing 1 may be integrally formed of rubber, such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM). In some embodiments the sealing 1 is made of other materials with suitable elastic properties. The lid with the flange may e.g. be made of plastics or metal. In some embodiments the peripheral flange(s) is coated with a layer of friction reduction material such as Teflon.

In Fig. 3 also the peripheral part 10 of the first side and the axial sealing surface 9 are depicted. Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate a vehicle expansion tank 31 with a filling neck 33. The filling neck 33 comprises an external thread 35 and a cylindrical inner surface 37.

The vehicle tank 31 comprises a vehicle tank sealing assembly 17 according to embodiments described herein. The sealing assembly 17 can be selectively attached and detached to the filling neck of the tank 31 via the threads of the filling neck and the threads of the flange.

As illustrated in Figs. 4-5 the axial sealing surface 9 of the sealing 1 is arranged to seal in the axial direction A towards an end surface 39 of the filling neck 33 when the sealing assembly 17 is threaded fully onto the filling neck thread 35.

The radial sealing surface of the peripheral flanges is arranged to seal against the cylindrical inner surface 37 of the filling neck 33 when the sealing assembly 17 is threaded onto the filling neck thread 35 and a part of the filling neck 33 comprising the end surface 39 is arranged between the cylindrical flange 21 and the centre portion 1 1 of the sealing.

In Fig. 5 it is illustrated that the pockets 29 are exposed the pressure within the tank 31 when the sealing assembly 17 is fastened to the tank 31 and thereby closes the tank 31 . Peripheral pocket walls 29' will then, by the pressure, be pressed radially outwards towards the cylindrical inner surface 37 of the filling neck 33. The contact force between the peripheral flanges 13 and the cylindrical inner surface 37 of the filling neck 33 will thus increase as the pressure within the tank 31 increases. Hereby an excellent sealing is achieved.

Fig. 6 illustrates a vehicle 41 . The vehicle 41 may be e.g. a truck, a bus, any commercial vehicle, any constructional vehicle or the like. The vehicle may be a car, tractor, vessel or any other type of vehicle comprising an expansion tank 31 . The tank comprises a sealing assembly according to embodiments described herein.

Claims

1 . A vehicle expansion tank sealing (1 ) comprising a substantially disc-shaped portion (3) with a thickness (t) between a first side (5) and a second side (7) in an axial direction (A), a radius (r) in a radial direction (R) and an axial sealing surface (9) arranged at a peripheral part (10) of the first side (5) characterized in that the sealing (1 ) further comprises a centre portion (1 1 ) which protrudes a predetermined distance (d) from the disc-shaped portion (3) on the first side (5) in the axial direction (A) radially inwards of the axial sealing surface (9), that the centre portion (1 1 ) comprises at least one peripheral flange (13) which extends in the radial direction (R), the at least one peripheral flange (13) comprising a radial sealing surface (15) and in that the centre portion (1 1 ) comprises one or more pockets (29), defined by the at least partly cylindrical rib (25) or by the at least partly cylindrical rib (25) and cross-ribs (27) extending radially inwards from the at least partly cylindrical rib (25).

2. The sealing (1 ) according to claim 1 wherein the centre portion (1 1 )

comprises at least two peripheral flanges (13) which extend in the radial direction (R).

3. The sealing (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the at least one peripheral flange (13) has a substantially triangular cross-section.

4. The sealing (1 ) according to claim 3 wherein the cross-section of the at least one peripheral flange (13) is shaped as a right-angle triangle with a first side (13') facing the centre portion (1 1 ), a second side (13") in parallel with the radial direction (R) and a hypotenuse side (13"') facing the disc shaped portion (3).

5. The sealing (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the centre portion (1 1 ) comprises at least one at least partly cylindrical rib (25) which comprises the at least one peripheral flange (15).

6. The sealing (1 ) according to claim 5 wherein the centre portion (1 1 ) comprises a plurality of cross-ribs (27) extending radially inwards from the at least partly cylindrical rib (25).

7. The sealing (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealing (1 ) is integrally formed of rubber, preferably ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM).

8. The sealing (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one peripheral flange (13) is coated with a layer of friction reduction material.

9. A vehicle expansion tank sealing assembly (17) comprising a lid portion (19) which extends in the radial direction (R) and an at least partly cylindrical flange (21 ) which extends out from the lid portion (17) in the axial direction (A), the lid portion (17) and the flange (21 ) together forming a hollow space for accommodation of a vehicle tank filling neck (33) wherein the sealing assembly (17) comprises a sealing (1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims with the second side (7) of the sealing (1 ) arranged adjacent to the lid portion (19) within the hollow space.

10. The vehicle tank sealing assembly (17) according to claim 9 wherein the flange (21 ) comprises at least one internal flange thread (23) for threading the sealing assembly (17) onto at least one complementary shaped tank filling neck thread (35).

1 1 . A vehicle expansion tank (31 ) comprising a filling neck (33) with an external thread (23), wherein the vehicle tank (31 ) comprises a vehicle tank sealing assembly (17) according to claim 10 and wherein the;

- the axial sealing surface (9) of the sealing (1 ) is arranged to seal in the axial direction (A) towards an end surface (39) of the filling neck (33) when the sealing assembly (17) is threaded onto the tank filling neck thread (35), and wherein - the radial sealing surface (15) of the peripheral flange (13) is arranged to seal against an cylindrical inner surface (37) of the filling neck (33) when the sealing assembly (17) is threaded onto the filling neck thread (35) and a part of the filling neck (33) is arranged between the cylindrical flange (21 ) and the centre portion (1 1 ) of the sealing (1 ).

12. A vehicle (41 ), wherein the vehicle (41 ) comprises a vehicle expansion tank (31 ) according to claim 1 1 .