Vehicle with a receiving unit

0001The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle with at least one receiving device for a device for exchanging heat.

0002In the prior art, vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, such as automobiles, are known which have heating and / or cooling devices, in particular air conditioning systems, for air conditioning or for tempering the passenger compartment.

0003Such air conditioning systems are known in the prior art, the arrangement of such systems causing problems in that the space available for them is limited. One of the reasons for this is that with increasingly compact vehicle designs, the possible space in the engine area of ​​the vehicle is to be reduced and, at the same time, the space available in the passenger compartment is not to be reduced by additional systems, such as a heating and / or cooling device.

0004The <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0904964A2"><text>EP 0 904 964 A2</text></patcit> discloses an automotive air conditioner with an air temperature control and distribution module. Other air conditioning systems for motor vehicles are also available through the<patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="FR2700502A1"><text>FR 2 700 502 A1</text></patcit>, the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US6409590B1"><text>US 6 409 590 B1</text></patcit> and the <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="WO0138115A1"><text>WO 01/38115 A1</text></patcit> known.

0005For example, in the prior art, the aforementioned devices are arranged in the dashboard or behind its cladding, in particular the resulting complex duct routing for distribution and suction being known to be disadvantageous.

0006It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle in which the problems described above for the arrangement of a corresponding device are reduced and at the same time the space available in a vehicle is better used.

0007The object is achieved by a vehicle according to claim 1, preferred embodiments of the vehicle according to the invention being the subject of the dependent claims.

0008The vehicle according to the invention is in particular a motor vehicle which has at least one receiving device for at least one device for exchanging heat. The device for exchanging heat has at least one heating device and / or cooling device, a fan and a housing, the housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for a gaseous medium, in particular air.

0009According to the invention, the device for exchanging heat is arranged in the receiving device of the vehicle, in particular the motor vehicle, the receiving device being essentially spatially delimited by at least one first separating element from the engine compartment and by at least one second separating element from the passenger compartment. Furthermore, the air to be tempered is guided at least in sections in the device for exchanging heat parallel to at least one plane which is spanned by at least one separating element.

0010According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the device for exchanging heat has at least one ventilation inlet for fresh air, in particular outside air, and / or at least one ventilation inlet for air from the vehicle interior (circulating air). According to a preferred embodiment, the first separating element, which forms at least part of the boundary wall of the receiving device, is arranged between the engine compartment and the device for exchanging heat in such a way that it extends essentially between the inner contour of the two lateral regions of a vehicle body and forms at least one other space of the boundary wall of the receiving device. Additional partitions can be provided, the use of walls already existing from other areas of the vehicle for the limitation of the receiving device being in the sense of the present invention.

0011According to the invention, this creates a space which provides extensive, if not complete, limitation of the receiving device, but which, through additional openings, openings or the like, enables access or supply of supply parts. Furthermore, according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second separating element is arranged between the passenger compartment and the device for exchanging heat, this separating element also essentially extending between the inner contour of the lateral regions of the vehicle body.

0012According to a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the partition walls are made from at least one material which is selected from a group of materials which include metals such as aluminum, aluminum alloys, iron, iron alloys, zinc, nickel, plastics, composite materials, natural fiber materials, artificial fiber materials and the like.

0013The second separating element is also arranged in relation to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle essentially in front of the dashboard, which is provided within the passenger compartment for receiving display devices and / or for covering specific devices, such as control devices, connecting lines and the like. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the device for exchanging heat is connected to at least one separating element in a form-fitting, force-fitting and / or material-locking manner.

0014According to this exemplary embodiment, it is provided in particular to design the separating elements in such a way that they achieve sufficient stabilization of the device for exchanging heat in the motor vehicle, both through the use of specific materials and through an appropriate construction and their connection to other components of the Vehicle interior can be effected.

0015According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the separating elements have openings through which at least the air tempered by means of the device can be introduced into the vehicle interior using flow paths and / or through which at least some of the air can be supplied from the vehicle interior to the device for exchanging heat. Openings can also be provided in order to effect the installation of the device for exchanging heat. However, these openings can be omitted if, according to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the receiving device is chosen between the engine compartment and the vehicle compartment such that the device for exchanging heat can be accessed via the engine compartment.

0016Furthermore, openings can be provided, through which control lines or power supply lines in particular are guided, in order to connect both at least one device for exchanging heat and corresponding control devices, control devices and the like. The passage of further connection devices, in particular between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment, are also within the meaning of the present invention.

0017According to the invention, adjusting devices are arranged in the flow paths for the supply and discharge of the air, which in particular at least partially influence the flow speed, the air quantity and / or the flow direction of the air.

0018According to a particularly preferred embodiment, such adjusting devices can be flaps, panels, lamellae and the like of an electrically and / or mechanically operated type.

0019According to the invention, a part of the flow paths is provided at least in a first position of the actuating device for the discharge of the tempered air into the vehicle interior. In at least a second position of the actuating device, this flow path is provided for the supply of air from the vehicle interior into the device for exchanging heat.

0020Furthermore, according to a further particularly preferred embodiment, at least two flow paths form a ventilation line, at least one flow path serving for supplying the tempered air into the vehicle interior. At least one further flow path of the air line has at least one actuating device, through which the tempered air is conducted into the vehicle compartment in at least a first position of the actuating device, and through which air (recirculating air) from the vehicle interior of the device for exchanging air in at least a second position Heat is supplied.

0021According to a further exemplary embodiment, more than two actuating devices are used which are spaced apart from one another. According to a further particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the flow paths for supplying the air from the vehicle interior are at least partially arranged on the opposite regions of a separating device.

0022Further details and features of the present invention result from the following figures and their description. However, it should be pointed out that the detailed description of the figures is not intended to limit the subject matter of the invention as it results from the patent claims.

0023So show:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a schematic detailed view of the vehicle according to the invention with a receiving device for a device for exchanging heat;</dd><dt>Fig. 2</dt><dd>the arrangement of a device for exchanging heat in a motor vehicle with a receiving device in a first operating position;</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>the arrangement according to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 2</figref> in a second operating position;</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a perspective arrangement of the flow paths for a receiving device according to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 2</figref>;</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a detailed perspective view of the flow paths for a receiving device according to <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref>;</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a perspective view of the arrangement of a device for exchanging heat in a motor vehicle with a receiving device in a first operating position;</dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>the arrangement according to <figref idref="f0003">Figure 6</figref> in a second operating position;</dd><dt>Fig. 8</dt><dd>a perspective view of the arrangement <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 7</figref> in a second perspective view.</dd></dl>

0024<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shows the schematic detailed view of a motor vehicle with a receiving device, in which a device for exchanging heat, such as an air conditioning system, which is controlled electronically or mechanically, is arranged.

0025Reference numeral 1 denotes this device for exchanging heat, the arrangement of which is separated from the engine compartment by a first separating element in the vehicle direction and is limited by a second separating element 4 in the direction of the vehicle interior. The two separating elements form two delimiting elements of the motor vehicle according to the invention with a receiving device.

0026In this schematic representation, the windshield 3 and the dashboard 6 of the vehicle are also shown, reference numeral 7 identifying a cavity of a cross member of the vehicle through which, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one flow path for the air can be guided, for example in order to To direct air to the inside of the windscreen. Furthermore, can be used in this area for the payment of the device, in particular the cavity of the cross member 7 is used. The reference numeral 2 designates a further part of the cross member, at the rear end of which, for example, the second partition is at least partially arranged.

0027<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 2</figref> shows the schematic arrangement of an air conditioning system, in a motor vehicle according to the invention with a receiving device in plan view. The reference numeral 21 denotes the air conditioning system and a part of the flow paths, in particular the supply of air into the passenger compartment or the flow path for a so-called recirculation mode. In the, in<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 2</figref> First operating position shown, the flaps 22 and 23 of the flow paths 25 and 26 are closed, so that the system is only operated with fresh air (not shown). The temperature-controlled air of the air conditioning system is directed into the vehicle interior via the outlet openings, which open into a ventilation line with several flow paths.

0028Here, the ventilation line according to the exemplary embodiment shown has three flow paths 27, 28 and 29, the flow path 27 in particular being arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the flow paths 25 and 26 and depending on the flap position 22, 23 opening into these at least partially , In this first operating mode, the temperature-controlled air is conducted into the vehicle interior via the flow paths 28 and 29 and also via the flow path 27.

0029The dividing wall arranged in relation to the vehicle interior is identified by reference number 4. Among other things, this has the recesses (openings) for the passage of the ventilation duct with the flow paths.

0030In <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 3</figref> is the arrangement of an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle with a receiving device according to <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 2</figref> shown in a second operating position. In this operating position, the air conditioning system is at least partially supplied with air from the vehicle interior via the flow path 25, 26, the flow path being guided in sections along the flow path 27 by the position of the flaps 22 and 23 and opening into the suction region 30 of the air conditioning system. From here, the air is changed in its thermodynamic properties and in turn returned to the vehicle interior via the flow paths 28 and 29. This mode of operation is known, inter alia, as a recirculation mode in the prior art.

0031<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 4</figref> shows a perspective view of the flow paths for a device for exchanging heat, which is arranged in a motor vehicle according to the invention.

0032In addition to the flow paths 28 and 29, the flow path 27 can also be seen here, a flange connection being shown on the rear side, with which an air conditioning system can be connected, for example. The flow path 27 is released for the supply of air to the vehicle interior in that the flaps 22 and 23 are in a closed position. Furthermore, the flow path 25 and 26 is closed for the supply of the vehicle interior air into the air conditioning system.

0033<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 5</figref> shows the perspective view <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 4</figref> in a second operating position, in which the flaps 22 and 23 are open. As a result, the flow path 27 is closed and at the same time the flow path 25 and 26 is released for supplying the vehicle interior air into the air conditioning system. Furthermore, the flow paths 28 and 29 for returning the air into the vehicle interior are also shown.

0034<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 6</figref> is a perspective overview drawing, in which the arrangement of the device for exchanging heat in the motor vehicle according to the invention is shown, in particular the separating elements 4 and 5 can be seen.

0035According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the ventilation line is connected to the air conditioning system via the flange connections, wherein the flow paths 27, 28, 29 and the flap 22 can also be seen. According to the exemplary embodiment shown here, the flaps are designed as rotatable flaps, the articulation point of which, for example, in<figref idref="f0003">Fig. 6</figref> are identified by reference numerals 22 'and 23'.

0036However, the connection between the flow paths and a device for exchanging heat can also be made by a direct and / or indirect connection, such as with an intermediate piece, plug connections, adhesive connections and the like also being within the meaning of the present invention.

0037<figref idref="f0004">Fig. 7</figref> shows the arrangement of an air conditioning system according to <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 6</figref> in a vehicle according to the invention in a second operating position, the flow path for the air discharged from the interior of the vehicle into the air conditioning system being represented by the arrow 25 ". The flaps 22 and 23 are open, so that only the air is returned for the return of the air Flow paths 28 and 29 are available.

0038<figref idref="f0004">Fig. 8</figref> largely corresponds to the representation <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 7</figref>, but it shows the arrangement from a different perspective. Here again, the flow path 25 and 26 are used for circulating air operation, the flap 22 here being meant in the open position. Flow paths 28 and 29 can also be seen. The air conditioning system itself is identified by reference numeral 21, which is included between the separating elements 4 and 5.

0039It should also be pointed out that the illustration of the separating elements in the figures is exemplary and that there are many different design options, in particular the adaptation of the shape of the separating elements to special vehicle contours in the sense of the present invention.