Heat exchange – With vehicle feature
Patent
1997-04-09
1999-07-27
Lazarus, Ira S.
Heat exchange
With vehicle feature
165 42, 165 43, 165 10, 237 123B, 1231425R, F28F 100
Patent
active
059273810
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a vehicle heater and, more particularly, to a vehicle heater for a vehicle equipped with a liquid-cooled internal-combustion engine. A heating circulating system has a heater heat exchanger through which a liquid flows. The heat exchanger is arranged in a passenger compartment and is connected by way of a forward flow pipe and a return flow pipe with the cooling circulating system of an internal combustion engine. A latent heat storage device such as a so-called "PCM device" (phase change material which stores heat) can be switched into the heating circuit. The liquid circulation takes place through the heat exchanger and the latent heat storage device by way of a circulating pump which can be driven independently of the engine and by switch-over valves.
From European Patent document EP-B 340 621, an internal-combustion engine is known which has a heating circulating system into which a latent heat storage device can be switched by means of corresponding switching valves. The latent heat storage device is filled with a salt as a storage medium which, in the case of a phase change from solid to liquid, is capable of storing heat for several days so long as the latent heat storage device housing is constructed in a correspondingly insulated manner.
The arrangement known from European Patent document EP-B 0 340 621 has the purpose of heating the passenger compartment independently of the engine; thus, it is virtually a replacement for the known fuel operated auxiliary heater.
In order to be able to store a corresponding amount of heat, which is sufficient to heat a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle also at outside temperatures of -20.degree. C., to such an extent that at least the windshield is free of condensation, a storage volume of over 10 l is required. The latent heat storage device must be constructed to be correspondingly large.
From Automotive Engineering, February 1992, Pages 58-61, it is known to provide a latent heat storage device with a cylindrical housing and to install this latent heat storage device in the engine compartment.
In the case of a crash, this installation site is disadvantageous because in motor vehicles specifically the forward structure is designed to be relatively soft for the purpose of absorbing energy. In addition, because of the large number of installed assemblies, sufficient space is rarely available in the engine compartment.
From German Patent document DE-A 32 04 519, it is known to house a vacuum reservoir in a motor vehicle in the front passenger's foot space, specifically such that it can be used as a foot rest. Nothing is indicated in this reference concerning the fastening and guiding of the pipes. A leaking of the vacuum reservoir, or of the vacuum pipe, in the case of a crash does not present any problems because the medium cannot flow out of the two devices into the foot space which may otherwise result in injuries in the front passenger's foot/leg space.
In addition to a suitable installation site for a latent heat storage device of the above-mentioned type, there is also needed a type of fastening which is favorable in the event of a crash.
According to the invention, these needs are met by a vehicle heater for a vehicle equipped with a liquid-cooled internal-combustion engine. A heating circulating system has a heater heat exchanger through which a liquid flows. The heat exchanger is arranged in a passenger compartment and is connected by way of a forward flow pipe and a return flow pipe with the cooling circulating system of an internal combustion engine. A latent heat storage device can be switched into the heating circuit. The liquid circulation takes place through the heat exchanger and the latent heat storage device by way of a circulating pump which can be driven independently of the engine and by switch-over valves. The latent heat storage device is installed in the passenger compartment in the area of the front passenger's foot space. The latent heat storage device is held in its
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Bednarek Henryk
Blueher Peter
Kazenwadel Horst
Wagner Berthold
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Lazarus Ira S.
McKinnon Terrell
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