JP2006160112A - Liquid heater for car - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heater for heating liquid mounted on a car capable of preventing a heat-generating unit of the heater from being exposed to air and subjected to non-kindling. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid heater 1 for car comprises a tank part 2 to store liquid, a heater 3 to heat the liquid stored in the tank part 2, a liquid inlet 4 to allow the liquid to flow into the tank part 2, and a liquid outlet 5 to allow the liquid to flow out of the tank part 2. Both the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 are installed at the position higher than a heat generating unit of the heater 3 to prevent the heater 3 from being exposed to air. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automotive liquid heater for heating a liquid mounted on an automobile, and more particularly to an installation position of a liquid inlet / outlet in a tank portion for heating the liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an air conditioner that air-conditions a vehicle interior of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, a hot water heater that performs heating using hot water has been used. In this hot water heater, warm water is heated by a hot water heater and circulated by a pump, and heat is exchanged between the hot water and air by the hot water heat exchanger to heat the vehicle interior.

  The warm water heater used in the warm water heating device includes a warm water tank that stores a predetermined amount of warm water, and an electric heater that is installed in the warm water tank and heats the warm water. The hot water stored in the hot water tank is heated and used for heating.

  As a conventional example of a hot water heater in such a hot water heating apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-287123 is disclosed (Patent Document 1).

This conventional example is characterized in that a warm water outlet for allowing warm water to flow out of the warm water tank is provided above the heat generating portion of the electric heater.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-287123

  However, in the conventional example disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, only the hot water outlet portion is provided above the heat generating portion of the electric heater, and therefore, when hot water stops flowing or leakage occurs in the fluid path. In such a case, there is a problem that hot water flows out of the hot water inlet and the heat generating part of the electric heater is exposed to the air.

  Further, when the vehicle is tilted, particularly when it is tilted toward the hot water outlet portion, there is a problem that the heat generating portion on the opposite side to the hot water outlet portion is exposed to the air.

  Furthermore, when the heat generating part is exposed to the air as described above, if the heating is continued as it is, the exposed part of the heat generating part becomes a high temperature (hereinafter, referred to as airing), and heating means Could lead to failure.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a liquid heater for an automobile according to the present invention is a heater for liquid heating mounted on an automobile, and heats a liquid stored in the tank and a tank that stores the liquid. Heating means, a liquid inlet that is installed at a position higher than the heat generating portion of the heating means, and a liquid inlet that allows liquid to flow into the tank portion; a liquid inlet that is installed at a position higher than the heat generating portion of the heating means; And a liquid outlet for flowing out from the section.

  In the liquid heater for automobiles according to the present invention, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet are both installed at a position higher than the heat generating part of the heating means, so even if there is a liquid leak or the like in the liquid path, The water level of the liquid can be maintained above the heat generating portion, thereby preventing the heat generating portion of the heating means from being exposed to the air and being in an empty state.

  An embodiment of a liquid heater for automobiles according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the automotive liquid heater according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in the left-right direction showing the internal structure when viewed from the front of the mounted vehicle. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the front-rear direction showing the internal structure when viewed from the lateral direction of the mounted vehicle.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an automotive liquid heater 1 according to the present embodiment includes a tank unit 2 that stores liquid, and a heater (heating unit) 3 that heats the liquid stored in the tank unit 2. , A liquid inlet 4 through which liquid (not shown) flows into the tank unit 2 and a liquid outlet 5 through which liquid flows out of the tank unit 2 are provided.

  Here, the heater 3 is inserted from below the tank portion 2 as shown in the figure, and is fixed to the bottom surface of the tank portion 2. In the present embodiment, the heater 3 is shown as an example of a sheathed heater, which is a typical electric heater, but is not limited to the sheathed heater, and is not limited to a sheathed heater, but a sheathed heater or a rod-shaped cartridge wound several times. Other heaters such as a heater, a plate-shaped ceramic heater, and a massive cast-in heater may be used. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heater 3 is installed in the left-right direction, but it may be installed in the front-rear direction.

  The liquid inflow port 4 and the liquid outflow port 5 are each installed at a position higher than the heat generating portion of the heater 3, and the liquid flows in and out. In this embodiment, the liquid inlet 4 is installed on the front side of the vehicle and the liquid outlet 5 is installed on the rear side of the vehicle, but it may be installed in reverse. The liquid may flow in and out from the left and right sides of the vehicle. Furthermore, although the liquid inflow port 4 and the liquid outflow port 5 are installed at the left and right ends of the front and rear side surfaces of the tank part 2, respectively, they may be installed at the center of the side surface.

  In the liquid heater 1 for an automobile of this embodiment configured as described above, the heater 3 is installed at a position lower than the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5, so that the liquid is in a horizontal state. Even if the liquid does not flow in for some reason after flowing in, the minimum water level at that time is up to A in the figure, so that the heater 3 is not exposed to the air, and the heater 3 is blown away. Can be prevented.

  Further, since the heater 3 is inserted from below the tank portion 2, the heater 3 can be installed between the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 where the liquid flows most easily, and the liquid can be easily removed. Can be warmed. Furthermore, when the heater 3 is inserted from below, all of the heater 3 can be immersed in the liquid, so that it is possible to eliminate a non-heating portion that is not necessary for heating. As a result, a useless portion can be omitted, which is effective in reducing the weight.

  Furthermore, when this automotive liquid heater 1 is mounted on a fuel cell vehicle and is used for heating and keeping the stack cooling water for keeping the stack at 0 ° C. or more during low temperature storage or the like, Since the connecting portion 6 is installed on the lower side of the tank portion 2, the height of the main body of the automotive liquid heater 1 can be increased by the height of the connecting portion 6, and the temperature becomes lowest during low-temperature storage. It can be kept at a position higher than the bottom of the vehicle. Therefore, heat radiation from the tank unit 2 and the cooling water can be suppressed, and efficient heat insulation can be performed.

  Next, the case where the vehicle equipped with the automotive liquid heater 1 of this embodiment is tilted left and right will be described. B in FIG. 1 represents the liquid level formed by the upper right surface of the heating part of the heater 3 and the lowermost part of the liquid inlet 4. At this time, if the vehicle is not inclined more than the angle α formed by the horizontal surface A and the water surface B, the surface of the heater 3 is not exposed to the air, and air blowing can be prevented.

  Here, if the upper right side of the heater 3 has a corner, or if the bending R is small, the angle α becomes small, and the heat generating part of the heater 3 is easily exposed to the air. If it is set to R (more than the minimum bend R), the allowable angle α with respect to the inclination of the vehicle becomes large, and the heat generating part of the heater 3 becomes difficult to be exposed to the air. As a result, the possibility of airing can be reduced. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the vehicle tilts to the left, the same applies to the case where the vehicle tilts to the right. Further, when the horizontal center of the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 is aligned with the horizontal center of the heater 3, the angle formed between the horizontal plane A and the inclined water surface when tilted to the right. If α ′, α = α ′, and the allowable tilt angles on the left and right are equal.

  Next, the case where the vehicle equipped with the automotive liquid heater 1 of this embodiment is tilted back and forth will be described. C in FIG. 2 represents the water surface formed by the upper surface of the heating part of the heater 3 and the lowermost part of the liquid outlet 5. At this time, if the vehicle is not inclined more than the angle β formed by the horizontal surface A and the water surface C, the surface of the heater 3 will not be exposed to the air, and air blowing can be prevented. Here, if the front upper portion of the heater 3 has a corner, or if the bending R is small, the angle β becomes small and the heat generating part of the heater 3 is easily exposed to the air. If it is set to R (more than the minimum bend R), the allowable angle β with respect to the inclination of the vehicle becomes large, and the heat generating part of the heater 3 becomes difficult to be exposed. In the present embodiment, a sheathed heater is illustrated as an example, and a cylindrical one is molded in advance and has an R. However, when other heaters are used, a process of dropping corners is required.

  Moreover, although FIG. 2 illustrates the case where the vehicle is inclined rearward, the same applies to the case where the vehicle is inclined forward. Moreover, when the front-rear direction center of the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 and the center of the heater 3 in the front-rear direction coincide with each other, the angle that can be formed between the horizontal plane A and the inclined water surface when the front side is inclined If β ′, then β = β ′, and the allowable tilt angles in the front and rear can be made equal.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration when a plurality of heaters 3 are installed in the tank unit 2, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of heaters 3 are installed in the front-rear direction. In this case, the two heaters 3 are considered as one heater, and the water surface formed by the heat generating part of the heater 3 and the lowermost part of the liquid outlet 5 formed when the rear side is inclined is indicated by D in FIG. The water surface formed by the heat generating part of the heater 3 and the lowermost part of the liquid inflow port 4 formed when the front side is inclined becomes E in FIG. Further, the center of the heater 3 in the front-rear direction is considered as the center of the two heaters 3, and the center of the heater 3 is aligned with the centers of the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 in the front-rear direction. The angle formed by the horizontal plane A and the water surface D and the angle formed by the horizontal plane A and the water surface E can be made equal.

  In FIG. 3, the heaters 3 are arranged in the left-right direction and arranged in the front-rear direction, but the heaters 3 may be arranged in the front-rear direction and arranged in the left-right direction. The number of heaters 3 may be two or more.

  As described above, in the automotive liquid heater 1 of each embodiment, the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 are both installed at a position higher than the heat generating part of the heater 3. Even when the inflow of the liquid is stopped, the water level of the liquid can be maintained above the heat generating portion of the heater 3, so that the heat generating portion of the heater 3 is exposed to the air and is blown away. Can be prevented (effect of claim 1).

  Moreover, in the liquid heater 1 for vehicles of each Example, since the heater 3 is inserted from the lower part of the tank part 2, since the liquid inflow port 4 and the liquid outflow port 5 are installed in the high position, it is the most. The upper part of the tank part 2 where the liquid easily flows can be efficiently heated. Further, when the heater 3 is inserted from below, the connecting portion 6 is located below the tank portion 2, so that the height of the tank portion 2 can be increased by the height of the connecting portion 6. Thereby, the tank part 2 can be kept at a position higher than the bottom surface of the vehicle where the temperature is lowest during low-temperature storage, and heat dissipation can be suppressed. Furthermore, when the heater 3 is inserted from below, all of the heater 3 can be immersed in the liquid, so that a non-heated portion that is not necessary for heating can be eliminated (effect of claim 2).

  Further, in the liquid heater 1 for an automobile of each embodiment, the left and right upper corners of the heat generating portion of the heater 3 are dropped, so that the heat generating portion of the heater 3 is exposed to the air when the vehicle is inclined. This makes it possible to increase the angle of the heater 3, thereby making it difficult for the heater 3 to be in an empty state (effects of claims 3 and 4).

  Further, in the liquid heater 1 for an automobile of each embodiment, the front and rear corners of the heating portion of the heater 3 are dropped, so that the heating portion of the heating heater 3 is exposed to the air when the vehicle is inclined. Therefore, the heater 3 is less likely to be in an empty state (effects of claims 5 and 6).

  Furthermore, in the automotive liquid heater 1 of each embodiment, the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 are installed at the same height, and the center of the heater 3 in the horizontal direction is the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5. Therefore, the angle at which the heat generating portion of the heater 3 is exposed to the air when the vehicle is inclined can be made the same on the left and right sides (the effect of claim 7). .

  Further, in the liquid heater 1 for an automobile of each embodiment, the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5 are installed at the same height, and the center of the heater 3 in the front-rear direction is the liquid inlet 4 and the liquid outlet 5. Therefore, the angle at which the heat generating part of the heater 3 is exposed to the air when the vehicle is inclined can be made the same in the front-rear direction (effect of claim 8). .

  As mentioned above, although the liquid heater for motor vehicles of the present invention was explained based on the illustrated example, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each part is an arbitrary configuration having the same function. Can be replaced.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is a liquid heating heater mounted on an automobile, and is particularly useful as a technique for preventing the heat generating portion of the heater from being exposed to the air.

It is sectional drawing of the left-right direction which shows the structure of the liquid heater for motor vehicles based on Example 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the front-back direction which shows the structure of the liquid heater for motor vehicles based on Example 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of Example 2 which installed the several heater in the tank part.

Explanation of symbols

1 Automotive liquid heater 2 Tank 3 Heater (heating means)
4 Liquid inlet 5 Liquid outlet 6 Connection

Claims (8)

A heater for heating a liquid mounted on an automobile,
A tank for storing liquid;
Heating means for heating the liquid stored in the tank part;
A liquid inlet that is installed at a position higher than the heat generating portion of the heating means, and allows liquid to flow into the tank portion;
A liquid heater for an automobile, comprising: a liquid outlet that is installed at a position higher than the heat generating portion of the heating means and allows liquid to flow out of the tank portion.   The liquid heater for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is inserted from below the tank portion.   The liquid heater for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the heating means has a corner at the upper portion of the heat generating portion corresponding to the right side of the mounted vehicle.   4. The automotive liquid heater according to claim 1, wherein a corner of an upper portion of the heat generating portion corresponding to a left side of a vehicle on which the heating unit is mounted is dropped. 5.   5. The automotive liquid heater according to claim 1, wherein the heating means has a corner at an upper portion of a heat generating portion corresponding to a front side of a mounted vehicle.   The liquid heater for an automobile according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heating means has a corner at an upper portion of a heat generating portion corresponding to a rear side of the mounted vehicle. Installing the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet at the same height;
The center of the left-right direction of the said heating means is installed so that it may correspond with the center of the left-right direction of the said liquid inflow port and the said liquid outflow port, The any one of Claim 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned. A liquid heater for automobiles described in 1. Installing the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet at the same height;
The center of the front-back direction of the said heating means is installed so that it may correspond with the center of the front-back direction of the said liquid inflow port and the said liquid outflow port, The any one of Claims 1-7 characterized by the above-mentioned. A liquid heater for automobiles described in 1.

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