JP2021008877A - Reservoir tank - Google Patents

Abstract

To efficiently perform gas-liquid separation treatment while suppressing disorder of a liquid level inside of a tank main body.SOLUTION: A reservoir tank 10 is disposed in a cooling water passage of a liquid-cooling-type cooling system. The reservoir tank 10 has a tank chamber 17 for storing cooling liquid, a gas-liquid separation chamber 18 disposed in adjacent to a lower side in a vertical direction, of the tank chamber, a partition wall 13 for partitioning between the tank chamber and the gas-liquid separation chamber, an inflow pipe 15, and a discharge pipe 16. The inflow pipe 15 and the discharge pipe 16 are connected to the gas-liquid separation chamber 17. The gas-liquid separation chamber 18 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a, and the cooling liquid sent to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 from the inflow pipe 15 flows while curving to rotate about a vertical axis along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a, and is guided to the discharge pipe 16. The partition wall 13 has a communication hole 14 for communicating the tank chamber 17 and the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, and the communication hole 14 is disposed on a position near a center axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall, with respect to the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a when observed in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

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

Liquid-cooled cooling systems are used to cool internal combustion engines, electric elements, electronic boards, and the like. In a liquid-cooled cooling system, a cooling liquid is circulated, heat is collected from a member to be cooled, and heat is dissipated from a heat discharger to cool the member to be cooled. In a liquid-cooled cooling system, a coolant tank, that is, a reservoir tank may be provided in the coolant path for circulating the coolant. The reservoir tank compensates for the decrease due to the vaporization of the coolant and absorbs the volume change due to the temperature change of the coolant. Further, if bubbles are generated in the coolant, the cooling efficiency may be lowered. Therefore, the reserve tank may separate the bubbles in the coolant, that is, gas-liquid separation may be performed.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of arranging a rectangular baffle plate in a reserve tank body so as to form a wind turbine in a specific direction. According to the reserve tank, it is disclosed that bubbles can be separated from the coolant without increasing the water flow resistance and complicating the structure.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-248753

In recent years, in order to improve the performance of the cooling system, there has been a demand for increasing the flow rate of the coolant passing through the reserve tank as in Patent Document 1. However, when the flow rate of the coolant passing through the reserve tank increases in the reserve tank as in Patent Document 1, the coolant flowing into the tank body tends to undulate and turbulent, entraining the air in the tank, which is expected. It was found that it was difficult to obtain the level of gas-liquid separation effect.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reserve tank capable of performing gas-liquid separation processing while suppressing surface spillage inside the tank body.

As a result of diligent studies, the inventor arranged the part where the main flow of the coolant flows in the reservoir tank and the tank chamber in the vertical direction by a partition wall, and used centrifugal force in the part where the main flow flows. The present invention was completed based on the idea that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by providing a communication hole penetrating the partition wall in a portion where air bubbles are likely to gather in a portion where air bubbles easily flow in the mainstream flow.

The present invention is a reservoir tank provided in the coolant path of the liquid-cooled cooling system, and includes a tank chamber for storing the coolant and a gas-liquid separation chamber provided adjacent to the lower side of the tank chamber in the vertical direction. It has a partition partition separating the tank chamber and the gas-liquid separation chamber, an inflow pipe for sending the cooling liquid to the reservoir tank, and a discharge pipe for discharging the cooling liquid from the reservoir tank. The inflow pipe and the discharge pipe are provided. It is connected to the gas-liquid separation chamber, and the gas-liquid separation chamber has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall, and the cooling liquid sent from the inflow pipe to the gas-liquid separation chamber is along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall. It flows curved so as to rotate around the vertical axis and is guided to the discharge pipe. The partition wall is provided with a communication hole for communicating the tank chamber and the gas-liquid separation chamber, and the communication hole is viewed in the vertical direction. , A reservoir tank provided at a position closer to the central axis of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall than the cylindrical outer peripheral wall (first invention).

Further, the present invention is a reservoir tank provided in a coolant path of a liquid-cooled cooling system, and is a curved flow path provided adjacent to a tank chamber for storing the coolant and a lower side in the vertical direction of the tank chamber. It has a partition partition between the tank chamber and the curved flow path, an inflow pipe for feeding the coolant to the reservoir tank, and a discharge pipe for discharging the coolant from the reservoir tank. The inflow pipe and the discharge pipe are provided. It is connected to the curved flow path, and the curved flow path has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall, and the coolant sent from the inflow pipe to the curved flow path is around the vertical axis along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall. The partition wall is provided with a communication hole that communicates with the tank chamber and the curved flow path, and the communication hole bends the flow path when viewed in the vertical direction. It is a reservoir tank provided on the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the above (second invention).

In the first invention or the second invention, preferably, the partition wall is provided in a conical shape so as to move upward in the vertical direction from the outer peripheral portion of the partition wall toward the communication hole (third invention). Further, in the first invention, preferably, the bottom surface of the gas-liquid separation chamber located on the lower side in the vertical direction is directed upward in the vertical direction from the cylindrical outer peripheral wall toward the central axis of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall. A conical surface is provided (fourth invention). Further, in the second invention, preferably, the bottom surface located on the lower side in the vertical direction of the curved flow path is provided with a conical surface so as to move upward in the vertical direction toward the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the bending of the flow path. (Fifth invention). Further, in the first invention or the second invention, preferably, the communication holes are provided in the gas-liquid separation chamber or the curved flow path so as to be unevenly distributed on the downstream side in the direction along the flow (sixth invention). Further, in any one of the first invention to the sixth invention, a suction hole for communicating the discharge pipe and the tank chamber is preferably further provided (7th invention).

According to the reservoir tanks of the first invention and the second invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that gas-liquid separation treatment can be performed while suppressing the surface burrs inside the tank body. Further, when the reservoir tanks of the third invention, the fourth invention, and the fifth invention are used, the efficiency of the gas-liquid separation treatment by the gas-liquid separation chamber is further enhanced, and the gas-liquid separation effect is further enhanced. Further, in the case of using the reservoir tank of the sixth invention, the gas-liquid separation effect can be further enhanced while suppressing the surface burrs. Further, in the case of the reservoir tank of the seventh invention, the coolant containing bubbles can be flowed into the tank chamber, and the coolant from which the bubbles have been removed can be returned to the discharge pipe from the suction hole, so that gas and liquid can be used. The separation effect is further enhanced.

It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 1st Embodiment. It is XX sectional view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 1st Embodiment. It is YY sectional view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 1st Embodiment. It is YY sectional view which shows the operation of the reservoir tank of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 2nd Embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 3rd Embodiment. It is XX sectional view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 3rd Embodiment. It is YY sectional view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 3rd Embodiment. It is YY sectional view which shows the operation of the reservoir tank of 3rd Embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 4th Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA showing the operation of the reservoir tank of the fourth embodiment. It is XX sectional view which shows the operation of the reservoir tank of 5th Embodiment. It is XX sectional view which shows the structure of the reservoir tank of 6th Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA showing the structure and operation of the reservoir tank of the sixth embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by taking a reservoir tank provided in a liquid-cooled cooling system of an internal combustion engine of an automobile as an example with reference to the drawings. The invention is not limited to the individual embodiments shown below, and the embodiments can be modified and implemented. The application of the liquid-cooled cooling system is not limited to the internal combustion engine, and may be an application for cooling an electric element such as a power element or an inverter or an electric component such as an electronic circuit board, or may be another application. ..

1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 show the structure of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the main members of the reservoir tank 10 are shown in a perspective view as if they were disassembled. The reservoir tank 10 is configured by connecting an inflow pipe 15 and a discharge pipe 16 to a hollow tank. In the coolant path of the liquid-cooled cooling system, in the reservoir tank 10, the coolant flows from the inflow pipe 15 into the hollow tank, and the coolant flows out from the hollow tank to the discharge pipe 16. It is used by being placed and connected in the coolant path.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the reservoir tank 10 taken in a vertical plane including the XX axis of FIG. 1, and the upper side of FIG. 2 shows the upper side in the vertical direction. Further, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the reservoir tank 10 taken in a horizontal plane including the YY axis of FIG. In the present embodiment, the lower case 11, the upper case 12, and the partition wall 13 are integrated to form the reservoir tank 10. By integrating the lower case 11 and the upper case 12, a hollow tank is formed, and the tank is partitioned by the partition wall 13. In the present embodiment, the partition wall 13 is formed in a flat plate shape and extends substantially horizontally to partition a hollow tank.

The room (space) above the hollow tank partitioned by the partition wall 13 is called a tank room 17. Coolant is stored in the tank chamber 17. The tank chamber is surrounded by an upper case 12 and a partition wall 13. Further, the room (space) below the hollow tank partitioned by the partition wall 13 is called a gas-liquid separation room 18. The gas-liquid separation chamber 18 is surrounded by a lower case 11 and a partition wall 13. The gas-liquid separation chamber 18 is provided on the lower side in the vertical direction of the tank chamber 17 so as to be adjacent to the tank chamber 17 via the partition wall 13.

When the reservoir tank 10 is used, the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 is substantially filled with the coolant. Further, at the time of use, most of the tank chamber 17 is filled with the coolant, and air is stored in the upper part of the tank chamber 17. That is, the partition wall 13 is configured so that the entire partition wall is immersed in the coolant during use. Although it is not essential, it is preferable that the outer peripheral portion of the partition wall 13 and the upper case 12 and the lower case 11 are joined so that the coolant does not come and go.

That is, the reservoir tank 10 provided in the cooling water path of the liquid-cooled cooling system includes a tank chamber 17 for storing the coolant and a gas-liquid separation chamber 18 provided adjacent to the lower side in the vertical direction of the tank chamber 17. It has a partition wall 13 that separates the tank chamber 17 and the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, an inflow pipe 15 that sends the cooling liquid to the reservoir tank 10, and a discharge pipe 16 that discharges the cooling liquid from the reservoir tank 10. The lower case 11, the upper case 12, the partition wall 13, and the like are assembled so that the structure of the reservoir tank is realized.

As long as the tank chamber 17 and the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 of the reservoir tank 10 can be configured, how to divide the members to realize such a structure is not particularly limited. In the present embodiment, the lower case 11, the upper case 12, and the partition wall 13 are divided and assembled to realize such a configuration, but such a structure may be realized by another member configuration. For example, the components may be formed so that the tank chamber and the gas-liquid separation chamber are divided into two in a vertical plane, and they may be assembled to realize such a configuration.

The inflow pipe 15 and the discharge pipe 16 are connected to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. That is, in the reservoir tank 10, the coolant flows from the inflow pipe 15 into the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 and flows out from the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 to the discharge pipe 16. Preferably, as in the present embodiment, the inflow pipe 15 and the discharge pipe 16 are integrally molded in the lower case 11. Further, even when the inflow pipe and the discharge pipe are provided at a position away from the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, the inflow pipe and the discharge pipe are formed by forming a pipeline or a guide plate in or around the reservoir tank. May be connected to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 so that the cooling liquid flows into the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 from the inflow pipe and flows out from the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 to the discharge pipe. The connection between the inflow pipe 15 and the discharge pipe 16 and the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 may be connected so that the main flow of the coolant flow substantially reaches from the inflow pipe to the discharge pipe via the gas-liquid separation chamber. A part of the coolant may flow to another part.

The gas-liquid separation chamber 18 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a. The cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a is formed so that the center line of the cylinder extends in the substantially vertical direction. The cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a does not have to be a cylinder in a strict sense, and may be a part of a conical surface or a part of a torus surface, and its radius of curvature in the circumferential direction is constant. However, the radius of curvature may be changed.

In the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, the cooling liquid sent from the inflow pipe 15 to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 flows along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a in a curved manner so as to rotate around a vertical axis, and flows through the discharge pipe. It is configured to be guided by 16. In the present embodiment, as the cross section is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 is a flat chamber (space) extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and is in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. It is surrounded by a substantially D-shaped outer peripheral wall when viewed along. In the present embodiment, the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a surrounds the right half of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 in FIG. In the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, the cooling liquid flows in an arc shape along a substantially horizontal plane.

Although not essential, in the present embodiment, the inflow pipe 15 is substantially horizontal to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 so that the jet of the coolant from the inflow pipe 15 flows so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a. It is connected to the. Further, although not essential, in the present embodiment, the discharge pipe 16 is gas-like substantially horizontally so that the flow of the cooling liquid flowing so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a flows out from the discharge pipe 16 as it is. It is connected to the liquid separation chamber 18.

The specific shape of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 and the specific arrangement of the inflow pipe 15 and the discharge pipe 16 are such that the cooling liquid sent from the inflow pipe 15 to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 is along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a. The structure is not particularly limited as long as it is configured to be curved so as to rotate around the vertical axis and to be guided to the discharge pipe 16. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the gas-liquid separation chamber viewed in the vertical direction may be circular. Further, in the present embodiment, the mode in which the cooling water flowing from the inflow pipe 15 turns about 180 degrees and flows out from the discharge pipe 16 has been described, but when viewed along the vertical direction, the cooling water in the gas-liquid separation chamber is described. The change in the angle of the flow is preferably 90 degrees or more, and particularly preferably 180 degrees or more.

The partition wall 13 is provided with a communication hole 14 that communicates the tank chamber 17 and the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. That is, between the tank chamber 17 and the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, the coolant, air bubbles, and air can move in the vertical direction through the communication hole 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the communication hole 14 is provided at a position closer to the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall than the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a when viewed in the vertical direction. In FIG. 3, the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 14 is indicated by a center of gravity mark. When viewed in the vertical direction, it is preferable that the communication hole 14 includes the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall, but the central axis m may be outside the communication hole 14. Here, the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a is the centroid of the cross section of the cylinder when a rotationally symmetric cylinder including the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a is virtualized, and is the cylindrical outer circumference. If the wall 11a is substantially part of a cylinder, then the central axis of the cylinder corresponds.

By providing the communication hole 14 at a position closer to the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall than the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a when viewed in the vertical direction, the communication hole 14 is provided at the center of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a. It is preferable that the opening is in the vicinity of the axis m, but not in the vicinity of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a. That is, in the portion close to the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a, the partition wall 13 partitions between the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 and the tank chamber 17, and the cylindrical outer circumference is separated from the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a. In the portion of the wall 11a near the central axis m, it is preferable that the partition wall 13 is provided with a communication hole 14 so that the cooling liquid and air bubbles can flow between the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 and the tank chamber 17. The communication hole 14 may be one hole, but the communication hole 14 may be a set of a plurality of holes.

Preferably, the communication holes 14 are provided in the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 so as to be unevenly distributed on the downstream side in the direction along the flow. In the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 shown in FIG. 3, since the cooling liquid flows from the inflow pipe 15 connected to the upper left side of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, this portion becomes the upstream portion of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. Further, since the cooling liquid flows out from the discharge pipe 16 connected to the lower left side of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, this portion becomes the downstream portion of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. The portion where the cooling liquid flows along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a becomes the middle flow portion of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. As described above, when the inside of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 is considered to have the upstream portion, the middle flow portion, and the downstream portion continuous, the communication holes 14 are provided so as to be unevenly distributed on the downstream side in the direction along the flow. Is preferable. That is, it is preferable that the communication pipes 14 are unevenly distributed so as to open more on the middle flow side than on the upstream side and more on the downstream side than on the middle flow side. Although not essential, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the center O of the circular communication hole 14 is arranged below and to the left of the central axis m of the cylindrical outer wall 11a. In the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, communication holes 14 are provided so as to be unevenly distributed on the downstream side in the direction along the flow.

The material constituting the reservoir tank 10 of the above embodiment and the method for manufacturing the reservoir tank 10 are not particularly limited, and the reservoir tank 10 can be manufactured by a known material or a known manufacturing method. Typically, the reservoir tank 10 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as a polyamide resin. The material and reinforcing structure of the reservoir tank are determined according to the type, temperature, pressure, etc. of the coolant used. Further, typically, in the reservoir tank 10, members corresponding to the lower case 11, the upper case 12, and the partition wall 13 are each formed by injection molding, and these members are integrated by vibration welding, hot plate welding, or the like. Can be manufactured.

The operation and effect of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment will be described. According to the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, gas-liquid separation processing can be performed while suppressing the liquid level inside the tank body.

In the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a tank chamber 17 for storing the coolant and a gas-liquid separation chamber 18 provided adjacent to the lower side in the vertical direction of the tank chamber are provided. It is partitioned by a partition wall 13, and the inflow pipe 15 and the discharge pipe 16 are connected to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. Therefore, the cooling liquid flowing from the inflow pipe 15 flows exclusively inside the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 and heads for the discharge pipe 16. Therefore, in the reservoir tank 10, the strong flow from the inflow pipe 15 is difficult to flow into the tank chamber 17, and even if the flow rate of the coolant flowing from the inflow pipe 15 increases, the liquid level in the tank chamber where the coolant and air are stored is rough. Can be suppressed. If the liquid level is reduced, it becomes difficult for air bubbles to be entrained in the tank chamber, and the gas-liquid separation performance is also improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a and is sent from the inflow pipe 15 to the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. The cooling liquid flows along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a so as to rotate around the vertical axis and is guided to the discharge pipe 16, and the partition wall 13 has a tank chamber 17 and a gas-liquid separation chamber. A communication hole 14 for communicating the 18 is provided, and the communication hole 14 is provided at a position closer to the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall than the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a when viewed in the vertical direction. With this configuration, inside the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, the coolant flows in a curved manner so as to rotate around a vertical axis along a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a so as to be along a substantially horizontal plane, and this curved state is formed. Centrifugal force acts on the coolant due to the flow.

When centrifugal force acts on the coolant containing bubbles, the bubbles B and B gather in the radial inner portion of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a, and only the coolant collects in the radial outer portion. That is, in the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, the flow along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a has more bubbles B and B in the portion near the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall toward the downstream side. , Bubbles B and B are reduced in the portion adjacent to the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a.

Since the communication hole 14 on the partition wall 13 is provided at a position closer to the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall than the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a when viewed in the vertical direction, the cylindrical outer circumference is due to centrifugal force. The coolant containing the bubbles B and B collected near the central axis m of the wall is guided to the tank chamber 17 through the communication hole 14, and is further separated into gas and liquid inside the tank chamber 17 by gravity or the like.
Then, in the gas-liquid separation chamber 18, a cooling liquid having less bubbles B and B flows in a portion adjacent to the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a, and this flow is discharged from the discharge pipe 16.

That is, in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, bubbles B and B in the coolant are collected by a gas-liquid separation chamber having a function of separating gas and liquid by centrifugal force, and the coolant having many bubbles is discharged from the communication hole 14. While flowing into the tank chamber 17 and separating air bubbles in the tank chamber, the cooling liquid with less air bubbles is discharged to the outside from the discharge pipe 16, so that the gas-liquid separation efficiency of the reservoir tank is high.

Although it is not essential, the opening area of the communication hole 14 is the cross-sectional area of the gas-liquid separation chamber viewed in the vertical direction from the viewpoint of enhancing the gas-liquid separation effect while suppressing the liquid level in the tank chamber. It is preferably 1/50 or more and 1/2 or less, and more preferably 1/30 or more and 1/3 or less. From the same viewpoint, the radius of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a is R, and the peripheral edge of the communication hole 14 is viewed from the peripheral edge of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 (particularly the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a) when viewed in the vertical direction. It is preferable that they are separated by about R / 5 to R / 2.

Further, although not essential, from the viewpoint of improving the gas-liquid separation efficiency, the communication is unevenly distributed on the downstream side in the direction along the flow in the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 as in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment. It is preferable that the hole 14 is provided. When centrifugal force acts on the coolant due to the curved flow along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a in the gas-liquid separation chamber, bubbles B and B gather in the radial direction of the cylinder toward the downstream side of the flow, and the radial direction Since the number of bubbles on the outside is reduced, the cooling liquid containing more bubbles B and B can be guided to the tank chamber 17 by the communication hole 14 provided near the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a. is there.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications. Other embodiments of the invention will be described below, but in the following description, parts different from the above-described embodiments will be mainly described, and similar parts will be described with the same numbers, and detailed description thereof will be given. Is omitted. In addition, these embodiments can be implemented by combining some of them with each other or replacing some of them.

FIG. 5 shows the reservoir tank 30 of the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. The reservoir tank 30 of the second embodiment is different from the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment in the shapes of the partition wall 33 and the bottom surface 31 of the tank, but other configurations are the same as those of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment. ..

In the reservoir tank 30 of the second embodiment, the partition wall 33 is provided in a conical surface shape so as to go upward in the vertical direction from the outer peripheral portion of the partition wall 33 toward the communication hole 14.
By providing such a configuration, in the gas-liquid separation chamber 38, the air bubbles collected in the central portion of the separation chamber are easily directed toward the upper tank chamber 17 so as to be guided by the conical partition wall 33, and the gas-liquid separation chamber 38 is provided. The separation effect is enhanced.

Further, in the reservoir tank 30 of the second embodiment, the bottom surface 31 located on the lower side in the vertical direction of the gas-liquid separation chamber 38 is vertically oriented from the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a toward the central axis m of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall. A conical surface 34 is provided so as to face upward in the direction. The conical surface 34 is preferably provided below the communication hole 14 so as to coincide with the communication hole when viewed in the vertical direction.
By providing such a configuration, in the gas-liquid separation chamber 38, air bubbles that are about to collect in the central portion of the separation chamber due to the action of centrifugal force are directed upward so as to be guided by the conical surface 34, and the upper tank chamber is provided. It becomes easier to go to 17, and the gas-liquid separation effect is enhanced.

Further, when the conical partition wall 33 and the conical surface 34 of the bottom surface 31 are combined as in the reservoir tank 30 of the second embodiment, the curved flow flowing along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a is stabilized. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a fast flow near the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 11a from reaching the vicinity of the communication hole 14, and the effect of suppressing the liquid level of the tank chamber 17 is also enhanced.

6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the reservoir tank 21 of the third embodiment. The structure of the reservoir tank 21 is shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 6, the XX sectional view of FIG. 7, and the YY sectional view of FIG. 8, and the gas-liquid separation action is shown in FIG.
The reservoir tank 21 of the third embodiment has a curved flow path 29 as compared with the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, and the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment has a curved flow path. It has a structure that is replaced by 29. Other points are the same as those of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment.

The reservoir tank 21 of the third embodiment includes a tank chamber 17 for storing coolant and air, a curved flow path 29 provided adjacent to the lower side of the tank chamber in the vertical direction, and a tank chamber and a curved flow path. It has a partition wall 13 that partitions the space, an inflow pipe 15 that sends the coolant to the reservoir tank, and a discharge pipe 16 that discharges the coolant from the reservoir tank. The inflow pipe 15 and the discharge pipe 16 are connected to the curved flow path 29. Has been done.

The curved flow path 29 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 21a, so that the coolant sent from the inflow pipe 15 to the curved flow path 29 rotates around the vertical axis along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 21a. It curves and flows and is guided to the discharge pipe 16. In the present embodiment, the curved flow path 29 is formed into a substantially horseshoe-shaped curved pipeline surrounded by a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 21a, an inner peripheral wall 25, a tank bottom surface 26, and a partition wall 13. The curved flow path 29 may have a straight tubular portion as in the present embodiment. The reservoir tank 21 is configured so that the cooling liquid is also filled in the radial inner portion of the inner peripheral wall 25.

The partition wall 13 is provided with a communication hole 24 for communicating the tank chamber 17 and the curved flow path 29, and the communication hole 24 is provided on the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the bending of the flow path when viewed in the vertical direction. That is, the communication hole 24 is provided so as to communicate the tank chamber 17 and the curved flow path 29 on the inner peripheral side, not on the outer peripheral side of the curved flow path 29.

The communication hole 24 may be provided in a long hole shape as in the present embodiment. The communication hole 24 may be circular or elliptical. Further, when a space is also provided in the inner portion of the inner peripheral wall 25 as in the present embodiment, the communication hole 24 communicates with the radial inner portion of the inner peripheral wall 25 and the tank chamber 17. It is preferable that it is provided in.

Also in the reservoir tank 21 of the third embodiment, the coolant sent from the inflow pipe 15 to the curved flow path 29 flows along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 21a in a curved manner so as to rotate around the vertical axis. , Centrifugal force is generated by being guided to the discharge pipe 16, and air bubbles gather in the bending flow path in the direction toward the central axis of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall 21a (that is, inside the bending), and the cylindrical outer peripheral wall. Only the coolant collects in the direction away from the central axis of 21a (that is, outside the bending) (FIG. 9). Since the communication hole is provided on the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the bending of the flow path when viewed in the vertical direction, the coolant having many bubbles is guided to the tank chamber 17 through the communication hole 24 and the bubbles are separated. .. Therefore, also in the present embodiment, as in the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, the gas-liquid separation process can be performed while suppressing the burrs on the liquid level inside the tank body.

From the viewpoint of enhancing the efficiency of gas-liquid separation and the effect of suppressing the liquid level inside the tank body, the reservoir tank 21 of the third embodiment also has the same partition 33 of the reservoir tank 30 of the second embodiment. It is preferable that the partition wall 13 is provided in a conical surface shape so as to go upward in the vertical direction from the outer peripheral portion of the partition wall 13 toward the communication hole 24.

Further, from the viewpoint of enhancing the efficiency of gas-liquid separation and the effect of suppressing the liquid level inside the tank body, the cone of the bottom surface 31 of the reservoir tank 30 of the second embodiment also has the reservoir tank 21 of the third embodiment. Like the surface 34, the bottom surface 26 located on the lower side in the vertical direction of the curved flow path 29 is provided with a conical surface that goes upward in the vertical direction toward the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the bending of the flow path. It is preferable to have.

Further, from the viewpoint of enhancing the gas-liquid separation efficiency and the effect of suppressing the liquid level inside the tank body, the reservoir tank 21 of the third embodiment also has the same as the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment. It is preferable that the communication holes 24 are provided in the curved flow path 29 so as to be unevenly distributed on the downstream side in the direction along the flow.

10, 11, and 12 show the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment. The exploded perspective view of FIG. 10 and the PZ sectional view of FIG. 11 show the structure of the reservoir tank 40, and the AA sectional view of FIG. 12 shows the secondary flow of the coolant.
The reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment further has a suction hole 41 as compared with the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment, and the discharge pipe 16 and the tank chamber 17 communicate with each other through the suction hole 41. Other points are the same as those of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment.

That is, in the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment, the partition wall 13 has both a communication hole 14 provided in the same manner as the reservoir tank of the first embodiment and a suction hole 41 communicating the vicinity of the discharge pipe 16 and the tank chamber 10. It is provided.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, in the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment, the flow flowing from the inflow pipe 15 curves along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall and flows out from the discharge pipe 16. Therefore, the flow velocity V1 in the gas-liquid separation chamber is high in the vicinity of the discharge pipe provided with the suction hole 41. On the other hand, in the portion where the communication hole 14 is provided, the flow flows weakly in a swirling manner, and the flow velocity V2 in the gas-liquid separation chamber is slow. Therefore, in the gas-liquid separation chamber, the suction hole 41 has a faster flow (that is, V1> V2) than the communication hole 14.

When there is such a difference in flow velocity, the pressure at the suction hole 41 becomes lower than that at the communication hole 14 according to the so-called Venturi law, and the pressure from the communication hole 14 toward the tank chamber 17 as shown in FIG. At the same time, a flow of the coolant is secondarily generated so as to be sucked from the suction hole 41 to the discharge pipe 16. Due to this secondary flow, the coolant containing a large amount of air bubbles collected near the communication hole 14 flows into the tank chamber 17, the air bubbles are separated in the tank chamber 17, and the coolant with less air bubbles is sucked out. It will be discharged from the hole 41 through the discharge pipe 16. Therefore, with such a configuration, the coolant containing bubbles can be flowed into the tank chamber, and the coolant from which the bubbles have been removed can be refluxed from the suction hole, and the gas-liquid separation performance is particularly improved. ..

The suction hole 41 is not limited to the through hole provided in the plate-shaped partition wall 13. The suction hole may be formed in a pipe shape as long as the tank chamber and the discharge pipe can communicate with each other. Also, the suction hole does not have to be directly connected to the discharge pipe.

FIG. 13 shows the reservoir tank 50 of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 shows the cross-sectional structure of the reservoir tank 50 by the XX cross-sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 7 of the other embodiments. The reservoir tank 50 of the fifth embodiment further has a control surface 55 and a support portion 56 in the tank chamber 17 as compared with the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment. Other points are the same as those of the reservoir tank 10 of the first embodiment.

In the reservoir tank 50 of the present embodiment, a control surface 55 is provided inside the tank chamber 17 so as to face the communication holes 14 at predetermined intervals. The control surface 55 is provided so that the flow flowing from the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 to the tank chamber 17 through the communication hole 14 is a flow toward the upper side of the tank and a flow toward the lateral direction. The material constituting the control surface 55 may be a material that does not allow liquid to permeate, such as metal or resin, a plate, or a block, but may be a mesh-like material, a non-woven fabric, a foam, or the like. In the present embodiment, the control surface 55 that does not allow liquid to permeate is provided by the plate material made of thermoplastic resin.

The control surface 55 is provided so as to allow the flow flowing from the communication hole 14 to the tank chamber 17 to flow in the lateral direction, preferably to cover the entire communication hole 14 and to be larger than the communication hole 14 when viewed in the vertical direction. Be done. The shape of the control surface 55 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the control surface 55 is a flat plate-shaped control surface extending in a substantially horizontal direction as in the present embodiment.

The control surface 55 is supported by the support portion 56 with respect to the upper case 12 constituting the tank chamber 17. The specific shape of the support portion 56 is not particularly limited as long as the control surface 55 can be accurately supported. In the present embodiment, the support portion 56 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the outer peripheral portion of the control surface 55 is supported by the support portion 56. Such a form is advantageous when injection molding the upper case 12. The support portion 56 may support the control surface 55 with respect to the upper surface (top surface) of the upper case 12, or may support the control surface 55 with respect to the side surface (outer peripheral surface) of the upper case 12. Further, when the reservoir tank is provided with a cap or a valve body, the support portion 56 may be omitted by providing the control surface 55 on the cap or the valve body.

In the reservoir tank 50 of the present embodiment, the cooling liquid inside the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 is provided with the control surface 55 so as to face the communication holes 14 at a predetermined interval inside the tank chamber 17. Even when the flow becomes violent and the coolant flows vigorously into the tank chamber 17 through the communication hole 14, the liquid level inside the tank chamber 17 is suppressed and the entrainment of air bubbles is prevented. That is, the coolant that the coolant flows into the tank chamber 17 through the communication hole 14 does not go directly upward in the tank chamber 17, but once diffuses and flows in the lateral direction. Therefore, the flow of the cooling liquid that has flowed into the tank chamber 17 is diffused laterally and weakened, and it becomes difficult to induce the liquid level to be exposed in the tank chamber 17. Therefore, in the reservoir tank 50 of the present embodiment, the effect of suppressing the leveling of the coolant in the tank chamber is particularly enhanced.

14 and 15 show the reservoir tank 70 of the sixth embodiment. The reservoir tank 70 of the sixth embodiment is configured such that the communication hole 74 includes the pipe 77 as compared with the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, and is a gas-liquid separation chamber. The height of 18 is high, and the position where the discharge pipe 16 is provided is high. Other points are the same as the reservoir tank 40 of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 14 is an XX cross-sectional view corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 7 of another embodiment, showing a vertical cross-sectional structure of the reservoir tank 70. Further, FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line AA corresponding to FIG. 12 of the fourth embodiment.

In the reservoir tank 70 of the present embodiment, the communication hole 74 provided in the partition wall 13 is provided so as to include the pipe 77. That is, the communication hole 74 has a configuration in which a hollow tubular pipe 77 is provided inside a through hole provided in a plate-shaped partition wall so as to project substantially vertically toward the inside of the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. It has become. Although not essential, in the present embodiment, the pipe 77 is integrated with the partition wall 13 by ribs or the like. Further, in the present embodiment, the pipe 77 is provided substantially in the center of the through hole, but the pipe 77 may be provided at the peripheral edge of the through hole, and the communication hole 74 is provided so that the pipe 77 and the through hole are lined up. It may be provided.

Due to the configuration of the communication hole 74, the portion of the through hole between the partition wall 13 and the pipe 77 communicates with the portion near the partition wall of the gas-liquid separation chamber and the tank chamber 17, while the pipeline of the pipe 77 is the partition wall 13. The central part of the gas-liquid separation chamber and the tank chamber 17 are communicated with each other.

When the coolant is flowed into the reservoir tank 70 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 goes to the tank chamber 17 through the communication hole 74, and the gas-liquid liquid is sent from the tank chamber 17 through the suction hole 41. A sidestream is generated towards the separation chamber 18. Then, from the portion of the through hole in the communication hole 74, the cooling liquid containing a large amount of air bubbles collected on the upper side of the gas-liquid separation chamber (near the partition wall 13) can be guided to the tank chamber 17, while the partition wall 77 is used. The coolant can be guided to the tank chamber 17 from a position separated below 13.

When a gas-liquid separation chamber (18) for separating bubbles by using centrifugal force and gravity is provided as in the reservoir tank 70 of the present embodiment, the bubbles flow in an arc shape generated in the gas-liquid separation chamber 18. It gathers in the center and the center of the vortex and moves upward, but when the bubble diameter is small, it is difficult for the bubbles to move upward, and the center of the arc-shaped flow in the gas-liquid separation chamber and the center of the vortex Fine bubbles tend to remain in a tornado shape. When the pipe 77 is provided, the coolant in which a large amount of such fine bubbles are collected can be effectively sent to the tank chamber 17 at a position away from the partition wall 13, and the fine bubbles can be separated in the tank chamber 17. Can be done. That is, when the communication hole 74 provided in the partition wall 13 is provided so as to include the pipe 77 as in the present embodiment, the cooling liquid is supplied from the portion in the gas-liquid separation chamber 18 where air bubbles are likely to remain. The gas-liquid separation performance of the reservoir tank can be further improved.

The reservoir tank of the present invention may have still other configurations. For example, the reservoir tank may be provided with a removable cap. A coolant can be filled inside the tank or the coolant path through such a cap. Further, the reservoir tank may be integrated with a stay, a boss member, or the like for attaching to a vehicle body or the like, if necessary. Further, the reservoir tank may be provided with a reinforcing structure such as a rib, depending on the pressure resistance and the like required for the reservoir tank.

The reservoir tank can be used in the coolant path of the cooling system, can separate air bubbles in the coolant, and has high industrial utility value.

10 Reservoir tank 11 Lower case 12 Upper case 13 Partition 14 Communication hole 15 Inflow pipe 16 Outlet pipe 17 Tank chamber 18 Gas-liquid separation chamber 11a Cylindrical outer wall m Central axis of cylindrical outer wall

Claims (7)

A reservoir tank provided in the coolant path of a liquid-cooled cooling system.
A tank room for storing coolant and
A gas-liquid separation chamber provided adjacent to the lower side of the tank chamber in the vertical direction,
A partition that separates the tank chamber and the gas-liquid separation chamber,
The inflow pipe that sends the coolant to the reservoir tank,
It has a discharge pipe that discharges the coolant from the reservoir tank.
The inflow pipe and the discharge pipe are connected to a gas-liquid separation chamber.
The gas-liquid separation chamber has a cylindrical outer wall and
The coolant sent from the inflow pipe to the gas-liquid separation chamber flows along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall in a curved manner so as to rotate around the vertical axis, and is guided to the discharge pipe.
The partition wall is provided with a communication hole for communicating the tank chamber and the gas-liquid separation chamber.
The communication hole is a reservoir tank provided at a position closer to the central axis of the cylindrical outer wall than the cylindrical outer wall when viewed in the vertical direction. A reservoir tank provided in the coolant path of a liquid-cooled cooling system.
A tank room for storing coolant and
A curved flow path provided adjacent to the lower side of the tank chamber in the vertical direction,
A bulkhead that separates the tank chamber from the curved flow path,
The inflow pipe that sends the coolant to the reservoir tank,
It has a discharge pipe that discharges the coolant from the reservoir tank.
The inflow pipe and the discharge pipe are connected to a curved flow path.
The curved flow path has a cylindrical outer wall,
The coolant sent from the inflow pipe into the curved flow path flows along the cylindrical outer peripheral wall in a curved manner so as to rotate around the vertical axis, and is guided to the discharge pipe.
The partition wall is provided with a communication hole for communicating the tank chamber and the curved flow path.
The communication hole is a reservoir tank provided on the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the bending of the flow path when viewed in the vertical direction. The partition wall is provided in a conical shape so as to go upward in the vertical direction from the outer peripheral portion of the partition wall toward the communication hole.
The reservoir tank according to claim 1 or 2. On the bottom surface of the gas-liquid separation chamber located on the lower side in the vertical direction, a conical surface is provided so as to go upward in the vertical direction from the cylindrical outer peripheral wall toward the central axis of the cylindrical outer peripheral wall.
The reservoir tank according to claim 1. On the bottom surface located on the lower side in the vertical direction of the curved flow path, a conical surface is provided so as to move upward in the vertical direction toward the inner peripheral side in the radial direction of the bending of the flow path.
The reservoir tank according to claim 2. The reservoir tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication holes are provided so as to be unevenly distributed on the downstream side in the direction along the flow in the gas-liquid separation chamber or the curved flow path. The reservoir tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a suction hole for communicating the discharge pipe and the tank chamber.

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