MX2012009999A

MX2012009999A - Surge tank.

Info

Publication number: MX2012009999A
Application number: MX2012009999A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Taiung Tim Juan
Original assignee: Int Truck Intellectual Prop Co
Priority date: 2010-03-08
Filing date: 2010-03-08
Publication date: 2012-10-01
Also published as: WO2011112175A1; DE112010005371T5; SE1251139A1; US20120325823A1; AU2010347751A1; CN102791984A; BR112012022635A2

Abstract

A surge tank includes a reservoir wherein the reservoir defines a coolant receiving inlet for coupling to the engine. The reservoir further defines a reservoir outlet through which the flow of coolant is returned to the engine. The coolant receiving inlet receives a flow of coolant from the engine. The surge tank further includes a plurality of objects disposed within the coolant reservoir. The plurality of objects are operatively configured to float at an upper surface of the coolant in the reservoir and to dampen the momentum of the coolant flowing from the engine.

Description

COMPENSATION TANK Background The present disclosure generally relates to compensation tanks for use in vehicles, including compensation tanks that receive refrigerant, aerate the refrigerant and return the aerated refrigerant to the system.

In a known cooling system for an internal combustion engine, a cooling water tank tank is provided and used not only to store an overflow of cooling water but also to ensure recirculation of some of the cooling water to the cooling water. reservoir tank, to separate well and remove air and steam from the cooling water in the reservoir tank, to separate and remove air and steam from the cooling water in the reservoir tank, so that the cooling efficiency of the reservoir cooling increases.

In this type of cooling system, in general, an independent cooling water passage connects the reservoir tank to a machine body and a radiator, and the reservoir tank is provided with a cover equipped with a relief valve that it allows the air or steam kept in an upper portion of the tank to be discharged into the atmosphere, when the pressure inside the tank exceeds a predetermined value, and therefore prevents an excessive increase in pressure in the cooling system . This operation also allows the air to be quickly separated from the cooling water: this air enters the cooling system when the cooling water is supplemented, and remains in the cooling system. The separated air is discharged by the relief valve in the reservoir tank and therefore the cooling efficiency of the system is increased.

When the machine is stopped immediately before a high load operation, the circulation of the cooling water stops and consequently the temperature of the cooling water becomes higher, which causes a large amount of the cooling water to be vaporized and that steam is collected in the upper portion of the cooling system (ie, a hot soak).

Referring now to Figure 1, a schematic diagram of a simplified example of a vehicle (not shown) having a reservoir tank 110 for aerating the refrigerant is illustrated. In Figure 1, the vehicle comprises a machine 112 and a radiator 114 through which the refrigerant circulates, at least at selected times, to cool the refrigerant for use in the heat removal of the machine 112. Other components can also be used. to be cooled by the refrigerant such as a transmission 116 and an exhaust gas recirculation cooler (e.g., EGR cooler) not shown in this figure. The refrigerant can also be used to provide power or to remove energy from an HVAC-heating system and air conditioning (not shown) of the vehicle.

A specific example of a vehicle is a truck, such as a heavy-duty or medium-duty truck (not shown) used in long towing operations or a tractor used for such purposes. Land vehicles are particularly desirable applications in which compensating tanks would be used. In Figure 1, segments of the refrigerant recirculation ducts are indicated by the numbers 118, 120, 122. In the example of Figure 1, the aerated refrigerant of the machine 112 passes through a duct 118 to an inlet 124. In addition, the aerated refrigerant passes through a conduit 120 of the radiator 114 to an inlet 126 to the surge tank 110, which can be separated from or in common with the inlet 126 that receives aerated fluid from the conduit. 24. In air it is removed from the refrigerant as it passes through the compensation tank 26. The aerated refrigerant is returned to the machine 112 by a conduit 122 in Figure 1.

There are a number of reasons to aerate the refrigerant. For example, poor aeration of the coolant can result in cavitation of a water pump of the machine, pitting of the machine linings, overheating of the machine, failures of the HVAC cab system, wear of the EGR cooler and other drawbacks. For example, modern truck machines have relatively high fluid flow rates to a surge tank, such as in excess of 15.14 liters per minute. As a result, it becomes more difficult to aerate the refrigerant, in addition, the high fluid flow rates in the compensation tanks can result in the fracture of air bubbles in microbubbles (e.g., pin-sized bubbles). which are even more difficult to remove from the coolant.

It is known to manufacture plastic compensation tanks for weight and cost saving purposes. However, due to the high temperatures often reached by the refrigerant, the plastic may tend to soften when used. As a result, plastic compensation tanks are typically provided with booster baffles 128 as shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 2C. However, high coolant flow rates in baffle tanks 128 increases foaming (formation of small bubbles) when incoming liquid impacts baffles 128.

Also, because the extremely small bubbles entering the fluid are difficult to separate, the bubbles formed by the fracturing of larger bubbles are more easily transported through a surge tank 110, resulting in a more poor aeration of the refrigerant. To reduce the possibility of small bubbles formed by foam entering the fluid and being transported through a compensation tank 110, some machine manufacturers have specifications issued for fluid inlets 124, 126 of a surge tank 110 so that the foam can escape into an air space above the fluid level.

There is a need for a compensation tank that is operatively configured to reduce or minimize air bubbles that recirculate through the cooling system of the machine.

Summary A compensation tank is provided in accordance with the modality (s) described here. The compensation tank includes a tank in which the tank defines a refrigerant receiving inlet for coupling to the machine. The deposit also defines a deposit exit. The refrigerant receiving inlet receives a flow of refrigerant from the machine. The outlet of the tank is the outlet through which the flow of refrigerant is returned to the machine. The compensation tank also includes multiple objects disposed within the coolant reservoir. The multiple objects are operatively configured to float to an upper surface of the refrigerant in the reservoir and to dampen the momentum of the refrigerant flowing from the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Characteristics and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings, in which like reference numbers correspond to similar, though perhaps not identical, components. For brevity, reference numbers or features that have a previously described function may or may not be described in connection with other drawings in which they appear.

Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of an example of a vehicle system incorporating a compensation tank.

Figure 2A is a partial perspective view of a prior art compensation tanks.

Figure 2B is a partial perspective view of a prior art compensation tank where the deflectors are shown inside the tank.

Figure 2C is a perspective view of a compensation tank embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a compensation tank embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a compensation tank of the present description Figure 4B is an enlarged view of a perforated object.

Figure 4C is an enlarged schematic view of the coolant that interacts with the perforations of an object where an increased surface area of the fluid is exposed to air (ie, casting effect for water).

Figure 4D is an enlarged schematic view of the coolant flowing through a hole in the object.

Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a compensation tank of the present disclosure wherein a baffle maintains the multiple objects in the area of the compensation tank.

Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of a compensation tank when the tank is in an inclined position.

Figure 5C is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of a surge tank when the tank is agitated.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of a surge tank when the incoming refrigerant flow is buffered by the multiple objects.

Detailed description A compensation tank 10 of the present disclosure provides improved damping to an incoming refrigerant flow 12. Referring now to Figure 3, one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a reservoir wherein the reservoir 14 defines a refrigerant receiving inlet 16 for attach to the machine. The refrigerant receiving inlet 16 receives a flow of refrigerant 12 from the machine (shown as 112 in Figure 1) and a reservoir outlet 19 through which the flow of refrigerant 12 is returned to the machine.

The compensation tank 10 further includes multiple objects 18 disposed within the refrigerant reservoir 14. The multiple objects 18 are operatively configured to float on an upper surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 in the reservoir 14 and to dampen the momentum of the refrigerant flowing from the reservoir. machine. The multiple objects 18 may cover a portion (not shown) of the total top surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 disposed within the reservoir 14 or may cover the total top surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 disposed within the reservoir 14 as shown in Figure 3.

The multiple objects 18 may be in a variety of forms such as, but not limited to, spheres, octagons, squares, rectangles, pyramids, and the like. The multiple objects 18 are formed of polymeric materials. The multiple objects 18 (which can be spheres, octagons, frames) can be hollow or solid. It should be understood that it may be more cost-effective and lighter in weight to have 18 hollow objects instead of solids.

Referring now to Figure 4A, a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in which the multiple multi-layer objects 18, 26, 28 near the surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 are disposed within the reservoir 14. It is understood that a first layer 24 of the multiple objects 18 may be disposed below the surface 20 of the refrigerant 22. A second layer 26 may be disposed on the surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 and a third layer 28 of objects 18 may be be disposed above the surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 as shown.

Each of the objects 18 can be solid, or perforated or both solid and perforated. Referring to Figures 4B and 4C, the perforations 30 of the objects 18 increase the surface area of the fluid 32 that will be exposed to the air. Exposure of the surface area of the fluid to the air causes a casting effect for the water. It is also understood that the flow of refrigerant 12 can pass through the perforations also as shown in Figures 4D.

Referring now to Figures 5A-5C, another embodiment of a compensation tank 10 of the present disclosure is shown. The compensation tank 10 includes a reservoir 14 wherein the reservoir 14 defines a refrigerant receiving inlet 16 that is coupled to a machine (not shown). The refrigerant receiving inlet 16 receives a flow of refrigerant 12 from the machine. The compensation tank 10 further includes a reservoir outlet 19 through which the flow of refrigerant 12 is returned to the machine. The compensation tank 10 further includes a deflector (or grid) 32 and multiple objects 18. The baffle (or grid) can be fixed to the inner surface of the tank 14 or can be integral to the tank 14. The baffle (or grid) 32 force the multiple objects 18 to remain in the upper portion 34 of the compensation tank 10 even when the compensation tank 10 is tilted or agitated as shown in Figures 5B and 5C respectively. Therefore, as the fluid flows from the refrigerant reflecting inlet 16, there will always be multiple objects 18 to dampen the flow of refrigerant 12 before it comes into contact with the refrigerant 22 that is disposed within the reservoir 14.

Figure 5B shows the second embodiment of the present description in an inclined position. As shown, the surface 20 of the refrigerant remains horizontal. The multiple objects 18 remains in an upper portion 34 of the reservoir 14 due to the deflector (or grid) 32. Figure 5C shows the second embodiment of the present disclosure wherein the reservoir is agitated. Again, the multiple objects 18 remain in the upper portion 34 of the reservoir 14 due to the deflector (or grid) 32 despite the movement of the reservoir 14 and the flow of refrigerant 12 will always be damped under this condition.

As indicated, the multiple objects 18 are disposed within the coolant reservoir 14 in an upper portion 34 of the surge tank 10 and are operatively configured to float on an upper surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 in the reservoir 14. The multiple objects 18 together with baffle 32, they are operatively configured to dampen the momentum of coolant flow 12 from the machine. Accordingly, the air in the form of air bubbles is minimized within the refrigerant due to the muffled momentum in the coolant flow 12 from the machine and the dispersion of the air bubbles that are in the coolant.

Similar to the first embodiment, it can be understood that the multiple objects 18 can be either hollow or solid or semi-solid (perforated) as described above. The multiple objects 18 can also be formed of a polymeric material or the like.

Each object 18 can have a diameter of approximately 1.27 cm. However, it is to be understood that the dimeter may vary depending on the configuration of the compensation tank 10. It may also be understood that the multiple objects 18 cover at least a substantial amount of the upper surface 20 of the refrigerant 22 in the tank 14. The surface Total top 20 of refrigerant 22 in reservoir 14 can be covered by multiple objects 18 or a substantial portion of refrigerant 22 in reservoir 14 can be covered.

Referring now to Figure 6, air bubbles are scattered due to multiple objects. The incoming flow of refrigerant 12 entering the reservoir 14 simply needs to be damped upon engagement with the multiple objects 18. As shown, the air bubbles 36 are dispersed and move to the surface of the refrigerant as the air bubbles engage. with the multiple objects 18. A thin liquid film (38 in Figure 6) is formed on and around the objects 18, which makes a shorter travel distance for the air bubbles 36 to rise to be exposed to air and break.

Claims

1. A compensation tank comprising: a reservoir including a refrigerant receiving inlet for coupling to the machine to receive a flow of refrigerant from the machine and a reservoir outlet through which the flow of refrigerant is returned to the machine; Y multiple objects disposed within the coolant reservoir, the multiple objects operatively configured to float on an upper surface of the coolant in the reservoir and to dampen the momentum of the refrigerant flowing from the machine.

2. The compensation tank according to claim 1, wherein the multiple objects are balls.

3. The compensation tank according to claim 1, wherein the multiple objects are formed from a polymeric material.

4. The compensation tank according to claim 2, wherein the balls are hollow.

5. The compensation tank according to claim 1, wherein the multiple objects are solid.

6. A compensation tank that includes: a reservoir including a refrigerant receiving inlet for coupling to the machine to receive a flow of refrigerant from the machine and a reservoir outlet through which the flow of refrigerant is returned to the machine; a baffle; Y multiple objects disposed within the coolant reservoir, the multiple objects operatively configured to float on an upper surface of the coolant in the reservoir and to dampen the momentum of the refrigerant flowing from the machine.

7. The compensation tank according to claim 6, wherein the multiple objects are hollow.

8. The compensation tank according to claim 6, wherein the multiple objects are formed from a polymeric material.

9. The compensation tank according to claim 7, wherein the multiple objects have a diameter of approximately 1.27 cm.

10. The compensation tank according to claim 6, wherein the multiple objects form multiple layers near the upper surface of the refrigerant in the tank.

11. The compensation tank according to claim 6, wherein the baffle covers the internal width of the receiver of the tank.

12. The compensation tank according to claim 6, wherein the baffle is a grid.