Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle having air conditioning unit with a condensate drain and at least one water reservoir for a water using unit, especially a water injection unit, with an supply line to the water using unit. The motor vehicle allows a solid filling of water reservoir the condensate of the air conditioning unit to be filled into the water reservoir.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a motor vehicle that comprises an air conditioning unit with a condensate drain and at least one water reservoir for a water using unit, especially a water injection unit, with a supply line to the water using unit.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] Modern motor vehicles contain air conditioning units for control and adjustment of the temperature and humidity in the cabin of the motor vehicle. Such air conditioning units produce condensate by cooling down the air since a certain amount of water is contained in the air dependent of the temperature of the air. At higher temperatures the amount of water dissolved in the air is higher than the amount dissolved in cooled air. Therefore by cooling down the air the amount of water dissolved in the air is reduced and the remaining condensate as undissolved water has to be treated separately. The condensate is not being used even though up 5 kW power consumption is being used for that condensate process. The Condensate is delivered to the environment of the motor vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3 the air conditioning unit 4 is located in the cabin 2 of the motor vehicle 1 at the wall to the front end 3.

[0005] Furthermore, water using units are placed in the motor vehicle, especially as water injection unit to boost the performance of a combustion engine by cooling with water or as windshield wiper fluid unit for cleaning the windshield or the headlights. These water using units need a separate water reservoir. The water reservoir is filled up with water manually. Hence, the water reservoir has to be monitored to guarantee that enough water is in the water reservoir all over the time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A problem addressed in an embodiment of the invention is to indicate a motor vehicle, which allows a solid filling of water reservoir.

[0007] Condensate of the air conditioning unit is filled into a water reservoir. Consequently, the condensate reuse secures that the water reservoir is always refilled. A manual refilling of the water reservoir can drop.

[0008] The process of filling condensate from the air conditioning unit into the water reservoir is especially simple if the condensate drain of the air conditioning unit is connected to the water reservoir by a tube.

[0009] In addition, the water reservoir is positioned in a lower level as the condensate drain of air conditioning unit. The advantage of this embodiment contains in abandonment of any supporting means to transfer the condensate from the air conditioning unit to the water reservoir.

[0010] Furthermore, the water reservoir is positioned close to a heat source. Thereby it is allowed that the water is thawed in wintertime.

[0011] In another aspect of invention, the water reservoir comprises an overflow to avoid back up condensate in the air conditioning unit and excessive humidity levels in the vehicle cabin.

[0012] Moreover, a filling opening for manual filling is arranged on the water reservoir. This filling opening allows to fill additions into the condensate located in the water reservoir, for example, alcohol for a windshield wiper fluid unit.

[0013] In addition, a small auxiliary container is located below the air conditioning unit, which is connected with the higher located water reservoir wherein a pump moves the condensate from the auxiliary container to the water reservoir. The small auxiliary container can be used by insufficient installation space close the air conditioning unit.

[0014] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a motor vehicle according of the invention,

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the water reservoir according to the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 1,

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of motor vehicle according to the state of the art

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] A side view of the motor vehicle 1 depicts the cabin 2 and a front end 3 of the motor vehicle 1, to which the cabin 2 is affiliated. The cabin 2 comprises an air conditioning unit 4 which is arranged at the wall to the front end 3 of the motor vehicle 1. The air conditioning unit 4 have on its basement a condensate drain 6 closed by a tube 7. The tube 7 connects the condensate drain 6 with a water reservoir 5 located in the front end 3 of the motor vehicle 1. The water reservoir 5 is part of a not shown water using unit of the motor vehicle 1 as a windshield wiper fluid unit or a water injection unit to boost the performance of a combustion engine by cooling. The water reservoir 5 is placed in the motor vehicle 1 below the air conditioning unit 4. Hence, condensate produced during cooling down the air in the cabin 2 could flow without any support from the condensate drain 6 through the tube 7 into the water reservoir 5. Consequently, the condensate is reused and the water reservoir 5 is refilled by condensate.

[0021] A schematic diagram of the water reservoir 5 is shown in FIG. 2. The water reservoir 5 comprises an overflow 8 on a side wall and a filling opening 9 on its top. The overflow 8 is necessary to avoid back up of condensate in the air conditioning unit 4 at excessive humidity levels in the cabin 2.

[0022] With help of the filling opening 9 it is possible to fill at least one addition as alcohol into the water reservoir 5 to get a water alcohol mixture for avoiding freezing of the water. The filling opening 9 can be omitted if the water reservoir 5 is arranged close to a heat source.

[0023] On the side wall which is opposed to the overflow 8 the tube 7 contacts the water reservoir 5 and delivers the condensate from the air conditioning unit 4. Near the basement a supply line 10 is arranged for connecting the water reservoir 5 to the water using unit.

[0024] By capturing condensate from the air conditioning unit 4 and feeding it into the water reservoir 5 a refill of the water reservoir 5 during operation of motor vehicle 1 is possible under defined ambient conditions, especially above 0.degree. C. and by operation of the air conditioning unit 4. Especially, performance of combustion engines can be boosted up to 30% by additional injection of water under conditions where additional performance is needed. Alternatively, the NO.sub.x rate of a Diesel engine and fuel consumption is reduced.

[0025] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising: an air conditioning unit having a condensate drain; at least one water reservoir for a water using unit having a supply line to the water using unit; wherein the water reservoir is filled with condensate of the air conditioning unit.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the condensate drain of the air conditioning unit is connected to the water reservoir by a tube.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the water reservoir is positioned in a lower level as the condensate drain of air conditioning uni.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the water reservoir is positioned near a heat source.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an overflow is arranged on the water reservoir to avoid back up of condensate in the air conditioning unit.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a filling opening for manual filling is arranged on the water reservoir.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a small auxiliary container is arranged below the air conditioning unit, which is connected with a higher located water reservoir, and wherein a pump moves the condensate from the auxiliary container to the water reservoir.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the water using unit is a water injection unit.