Cooling system for motor vehicles and method for controlling at least one air mass flow through a radiator

Abstract

Cooling system for motor vehicles with at least one radiator to which in a first operating phase, particularly in the ram pressure phase, a first air stream can be supplied via a first air flow path and which in an alternative or simultaneous second operating phase, particularly during fan operation, can be supplied by means of at least one air-conveying device, with a second air stream flowing along a second air flow path. Among other things, it is also provided that at least in some regions the two air flow paths are oriented at an angle to each other so that the air-conveying device is disposed outside or essentially outside the first air flow path. The invention also related to a corresponding method.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . (canceled)  
   
   
       37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . (canceled)  
   
   
       39 . Cooling system for motor vehicles with at least one radiator to which, in a first operating phase and particularly in the ram pressure phase, a first air stream can be supplied via a first air flow path and which in an alternative or simultaneous second operating phase, particularly during fan operation, can be supplied by means of at least one air-conveying device with a second air stream flowing along a second air flow path, wherein the two air flow paths are at least in some regions oriented at an angle to each other and that the air-conveying device is located outside or essentially outside the first air flow path.  
   
   
       40 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , for motor vehicles with at least one radiator to which in a first operating phase, particularly in the ram pressure phase, a first air stream can be supplied via a first air flow path and which in an alternative or simultaneous second operating phase, particularly during fan operation, can be supplied by means of at least one air-conveying device with a second air stream flowing along a second air flow path, wherein the two air flow paths are at least in some regions separated from each other and cross or combine in the radiator region.  
   
   
       41 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , for motor vehicles with at least one radiator, for example for a combustion engine, whereby an air stream (first air stream) can be supplied to the radiator via at least one air inlet provided in the outer wall of the motor vehicle, and with a device for controlling the air stream flowing through the radiator, the control device being located in the region of air flow away from the radiator—as seen in the direction of the air stream.  
   
   
       42 . Cooling system particularly according to  claim 39 , for motor vehicles with at least one radiator, for example for a combustion engine, whereby an air stream (first air stream) can be supplied to the radiator via at least one air inlet provided in the outer wall of the motor vehicle, and with a device for controlling the air stream flowing through the radiator, the control device being located in the region of flow toward the radiator—as seen in the direction of the air stream.  
   
   
       43 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the region of flow away from the radiator is free of devices for creating an air stream.  
   
   
       44 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the radiator is located in the front end region or in the back end region of the motor vehicle.  
   
   
       45 . Cooling system according to  claim 44 , wherein—as seen in the direction of forward movement of motor vehicle—the radiator is disposed in front of the engine of the motor vehicle.  
   
   
       46 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the device for controlling air flow (first air stream) is a covering device capable, in a manner adjustable as a function of the desired operating phase, of freeing, particularly essentially freeing, partly covering or at least essentially covering and, particularly, completely covering the cross-section of the first air flow path.  
   
   
       47 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the covering device is provided with at least one swivelable flap.  
   
   
       48 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the covering device is provided with several flaps preferably arranged as in a louver.  
   
   
       49 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the device for controlling the first air stream is provided with several flaps disposed in the first air flow path and adjustable to several positions, said flaps freeing the first flow path in a first position and closing off said flow path at least partly and preferably completely in a second position.  
   
   
       50 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein when the flaps are swiveled into the first position, the first air stream passes through the entire radiator surface uniformly or essentially uniformly.  
   
   
       51 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein a first number of flaps is allotted to a first partial region and at least a second number of flaps is allotted to at least a second partial region of radiator, and that the first and second number of flaps can be moved/closed independently of each other.  
   
   
       52 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein at least some of the flaps run parallel to each other and can be swiveled preferably about a parallel or essentially parallel imagined horizontal or vertical axis.  
   
   
       53 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein a positioning device for automatic movement is allotted to at least some of flaps.  
   
   
       54 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the positioning device is provided with at least one spring element and/or magnetic element whereby at least some of flaps are moved spontaneously into their closing-off position when the ram pressure, particularly that of the first air stream, is below a predetermined value.  
   
   
       55 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the covering device consists of at least one adjustable louver.  
   
   
       56 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the covering device consists of at least two louvers which on closing can be adjusted in relation to each other.  
   
   
       57 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein to the louver (each louver) is allotted an air-permeable support, particularly a support grille.  
   
   
       58 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the covering device leaves toward the radiator a free space for the creation of at least part of the second air flow path.  
   
   
       59 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein to form the free space there is provided an air-conveying box with the covering device, the cover of which is assigned to a flow cross-section for the first air stream.  
   
   
       60 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein laterally relative to the flow cross-section there is disposed at least one air inlet and/or at least one air outlet for the second air stream.  
   
   
       61 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the cross-section of the air inlet and/or air outlet for the second air stream is oriented at an angle, especially at a right angle, to the flow cross-section of the first air stream.  
   
   
       62 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the cross-section of the second air flow path increases with increasing distance from the air inlet and/or air outlet.  
   
   
       63 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the flap, the flaps, the louver and/or the louvers is/are disposed in a frame.  
   
   
       64 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the frame and the flap attached to it and/or at least one louver attached to it form a structural unit which is designed and disposed in a manner such that they form a cover for the—as seen in the flow direction of the first air stream—the back side of the radiator.  
   
   
       65 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein a free space between the cover and the back side of the radiator is defined when at least one flap is placed into the closing-off position, and/or at least one louver blind is placed into the closing-off position, the periphery of said free space being at least partly, and preferably completely closed.  
   
   
       66 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the frame preferably consists of several frame parts and that on the frame, preferably on at least one of the frame parts there is provided at least one flow-through opening for connection to a device for creating an air flow (second air stream), the said device preferably being disposed laterally relative to the radiator.  
   
   
       67 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the air flow-creating device is provided with at least one blower to supply air to the free space between the cover and the back side of the radiator at negative pressure or high pressure, or to supply air to the free space between the cover and the front side of the radiator when the blower is blowing.  
   
   
       68 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the radiator has a curvature when seen in cross-section.  
   
   
       69 . Cooling system according  claim 68 , wherein the curvature is partly circular.  
   
   
       70 . Cooling system according to  claim 69 , wherein the curvature or rounding of the radiator points in the direction of forward movement of the motor vehicle or in the opposite direction.  
   
   
       71 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the radiator—as seen in cross-section—shows a wedge-like contour, the wedge tip pointing in the direction of forward movement of the motor vehicle or in the opposite direction.  
   
   
       72 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the shape of the frame is adapted to the shape of the radiator or to the radiator surface disposed in the first flow path and exposed to the first air stream.  
   
   
       73 . Cooling system according to  claim 39 , wherein the radiator is part of a cooling module consisting of several heat exchangers, the other heat exchanger/heat exchangers being disposed ahead of the radiator, as seen in the direction of forward movement of the motor vehicle.  
   
   
       74 . Method for controlling at least one air mass flow through a radiator for a motor vehicle during different operating phases of the motor vehicle, said method comprising the following steps: 
 during a first operating phase, through an air inlet preferably located in the outer wall of the motor vehicle, there is supplied a first, free air stream which flows through the radiator, particularly from the front side thereof, and    during a second operating phase of the motor vehicle the first air flow path is blocked in the region of flow away from the radiator and a second air stream created in a part of the motor vehicle lying outside the first flow path is blown and/or sucked through the radiator.    
   
   
       75 . Method according to  claim 74 , wherein during the cold-starting phase of the motor vehicle the first air flow path is blocked in the region of flow away from or toward the radiator, so that no more air is sucked or blown through the radiator.  
   
   
       76 . Method according to  claim 74 , wherein the volume of the first air stream flowing through the radiator can be controlled—preferably in stepless manner.