Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
Cooling system of a combat vehicle, and pressure cascade for cooling at least
one electronic unit in a combat vehicle by means of a cooling system
The present invention describes a cooling system and a pressure cascade for
cooling
at least one electronic unit in a combat vehicle. The electronics to be cooled
can be
diverse drive electronics, control electronics and/or sensor electronics in
the combat
vehicle. The cooling system itself serves for air conditioning various zones
in the
combat vehicle, in particular workstations of the operating personnel.
Cooling systems serve for air conditioning in a combat vehicle. Since it can
become
very hot in a combat vehicle because of the drives and motors, the
concentration and
operating capability of the operating personnel suffers in the heat. In the
event of
sunlight on the combat vehicle, this production of heat can be promoted
further. This is
especially true in sunny areas of use.
In order to counteract the production of heat, cooling systems are required.
The latter
are first of all intended to make a bearable working climate possible for the
operating
personnel in the combat vehicle. However, within the context of this
invention, the
cooling system can also serve for cooling electronic units.
A cooling system for combat vehicles is known, for example, from DE 34 45 336
C2. In
this case, cooled compressed air is supplied to a cab. The cooling is
undertaken via a
compressor, and the compressed air is produced via turbines.
Electronic units are necessary in combat vehicles in order to control electric
power
units, such as drives. Not inconsiderable quantities of heat can arise here,
depending
on the power consumption of the power units. Since said heat which arises,
which is in
the form of a power loss, opposes the efficiency of the electronic units, it
is imperative,
in the case of electronic units, to dissipate the arising heat as readily as
possible or to
cool the corresponding electronic unit.
The combat vehicles mentioned here likewise comprise armored combat vehicles.
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Electronic units, for example for activating the drives in a combat vehicle,
are
customarily arranged in compartments provided specially for them in the combat
vehicle, and therefore heat exchange via the air through the demarcated
compartment
often proves difficult. The heat which is produced, specifically in the case
of the
electronic units for the drives, can be of such a magnitude that it can only
be
inadequately removed by conventional cooling via cooling fins and/or via
outputting
heat to the chassis of the combat vehicle. In order to keep the resulting
power loss low,
additional cooling means have to be provided for the electronic units.
For example, DE 10 2012 100 906 Al presents a cooling means for electronic
units. In
this laid-open application, a cooling system within an installation
compartment for an
electronic unit is described, in which a ventilator is used to conduct an air
flow past the
electronic units to be cooled so that the heat is conducted away by the air
flow.
However, for this purpose, a corresponding cooling unit with a ventilator has
to be
constructed within the installation compartment.
A further cooling possibility is described in DE 10 2010 013 331 Al. A cooling
coil,
through which cooling fluid is conducted, is operatively connected to the
installation
compartment. By means of this construction, the installation compartment is
cooled per
se from the outside and therefore indirectly so are the internal electronic
units which 7
are to be cooled.
Similarly, DE 10 2008 055 849 B4 describes a corresponding cooling of the air
in an
interior compartment of an armored vehicle, wherein general interior
compartments in
the armored vehicle are cooled here rather than any electronic units
specifically. The
cooling device presented here is therefore of correspondingly complex design.
The present invention is based on the object of ensuring cooling of the air in
a combat
vehicle via a cooling system, wherein the cooling system is intended to be
fitted in a
space-saving manner. It is also the object of the present invention to ensure
the cooling
of at least one electronic unit using the existing cooling system with as
little technical
outlay as possible and with a high degree of efficiency.
It is proposed to provide a cooling plant in an existing compartment of a
combat turret
of a combat vehicle, wherein the cooled air is distributed via a hose system
to the
zones to
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be cooled in the combat vehicle. A cooling plant which is present is
furthermore used
for cooling electronic units in a combat vehicle. The cold and dehumidified
air which is
generated by the cooling plant and is distributed via hoses in the combat
vehicle is
likewise added to the installation compartment of the electronic units via at
least one
additional hose. As a result, positive pressure arises in the installation
compartment. At
the same time, the air heated by the electronic unit is sucked off to the
cooling plant via
an aperture to the cooling plant by the negative pressure prevailing in the
cooling plant.
Modern combat vehicles have at least one cooling plant in order primarily to
air
condition the crew compartment. Decontamination means are often provided at
the
same time in order to keep the air specifically in the crew compartment clean
and
compatible for humans, for example in respect of ABC contaminations. This is
advantageously undertaken by means of filters. Such an ABC protection is
described,
for example, in DE 10 2008 017 521 Al.
The cool air produced by the cooling plant is transported via a hose system to
the
necessary zones in the combat vehicle. Means for regulating the cooled air are
often
provided in situ, in the compartment to be cooled of the combat vehicle. It is
thus
possible to regulate the supply of the cooled air, for example in the crew
compartment,
by means of a valve or a flap.
The hose system of the cooling system runs from the cooling plant to the zones
to be
cooled in the combat vehicle. Since the cooling plant is preferentially
introduced into a
combat turret, the hoses also run in the combat turret so as not to restrict
the freedom
of movement of the combat turret. If, however, zones in the chassis of the
combat
vehicle are also intended to be reached with the cooled air, joint parts in
the hose
permit the free movement of the combat turret. In this case, the joint part is
fitted in the
axis of rotation of the combat turret.
Air is supplied by air transport means, such as, for example, ventilators. The
air flow to
the individual zones to be cooled can be undertaken by means for regulating
the air at
the individual zones. It is also possible to control and/or to regulate the
entire supply of
air in an accessible location in the combat vehicle. For this purpose, a
control panel is
preferably introduced into the cooling system in the unbranched part of the
hose
system behind the cooling plant.
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It is possible by means of such a control panel to adjust the strength of the
air flow in
the hose system, and also the temperature of the cooled air. Optical and/or
acoustic
signal transmitters are likewise integrated in the control panel in order to
indicate to the
operator possibilities for optical and/or acoustic adjustment, or warnings.
The cooling plant of the combat vehicle is arranged in a separate compartment
in the
combat turret of the combat vehicle. It is proposed preferably to provide the
cooling
plant in an equipment compartment. Equipment compartments, i.e. spaces for
equipment parts, such as sleeping bags, camouflage nets, etc., are frequently
present
in combat vehicles and can be used for the installation of the cooling plant.
The
provision of separate cooling compartments is thereby not required, and the
cooling
plant is installed in a space- and time-saving manner. In the case of a
Leopard tank, for
example, the compartment between a rear door and a flap to an electronics
compartment is suitable for the installation of the cooling plant. For the
supply of air, it
is advantageous if access to the compartment of the cooling plant from outside
the
combat turret is ensured, such as, for example, in the case of the
abovementioned
equipment compartment. The equipment items themselves can then be stowed at
another location in the combat vehicle.
The cooling system according to the invention comprises at least one
compressor and
liquefier unit, at least one air treatment apparatus and a hose system for
distributing the
cooled air in the combat vehicle. A heat flow from the air to be cooled is
absorbed in
the air treatment apparatus with the aid of a refrigerant. The compressor and
liquefier
unit serves for cooling the heated refrigerant, for example with the aid of
ventilators.
The hose system guides the cooled air from the cooling system to the
individual zones
in the combat vehicle that require cooling. These are in particular the
compartments for
the operating personnel of the combat vehicle. However, other compartments in
the
combat vehicle, such as, for example, equipment compartments may also need
cooling.
In a development of the invention, the cooled air produced by the cooling
plant is now
also used to cool electronic units in the combat vehicle, such as, for
example, drive
electronics of a weapon system. Corresponding electronic units are often
arranged in
installation compartments provided for this purpose, in order to protect said
electronic
units against external influences.
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The proposed cooling system therefore can advantageously be used not only for
cooling the various zones in the combat vehicle, but also for cooling the
electronic
units. This makes it possible to avoid the technical outlay on designing
dedicated
5 cooling for each installation compartment of the electronic unit.
The hose system which distributes the cooled air in the combat vehicle is now
supplemented, according to the invention, by an additional hose which
additionally
introduces the cooled air produced by the cooling plant into the installation
compartment of the corresponding electronic unit.
For this purpose, an additional hose is added to the hose system. However, air
can
also be branched off from a hose which is already present by means of a Y
piece. It is
thereby possible, for example, also to use the air supplied to the crew
compartment to
cool the corresponding electronic unit.
In this example, the Y piece is introduced before that end of the hose which
supplies
the air cooled by the cooling plant to the crew compartment, in order to
conduct the
cooled air, which passes to the crew compartment, also to the installation
compartment
of the electronic unit. In this case, the efficiency of the cooling is
dependent on how
much air is supplied by the regulating means to the crew compartment or to the
compartment from which the cooled air is branched.
The additional hose which supplies the air cooled by the cooling plant to the
installation
compartment of the corresponding electronic unit can be supplied to the
installation
compartment through a hole in a wall of the corresponding installation
compartment or
through openings which are already present, if the installation compartment is
not self-
contained.
In a preferred embodiment, the additional hose is arranged below the
electronic unit to
be cooled and the cooled air is output in the direction of the electronic
unit. For this
purpose, the opening in the hose can point in the direction of the electronic
unit. The
hose can also have openings in order to be able to output the cooled air
radially in
regions to the hose.
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In a further preferred embodiment, the hose in the installation compartment is
provided
at least in regions with an air-permeable sheath in order to output the air to
the
installation compartment via said air-permeable region.
By means of the supply of the cooled air, a positive pressure arises in the
installation
compartment. By means of the transporting away of cooled air from the cooling
plant, a
corresponding negative pressure arises in the compartment of the cooling
plant. Said
negative pressure is now used according to the invention to conduct away the
hot air
from the installation compartment of the corresponding electronic unit.
For this purpose, an aperture from the installation compartment of the
corresponding
electronic unit to the compartment of the cooling plant is provided, said
aperture
preferably being located above the electronic unit to be cooled. This has the
advantage
that the rising hot air can be better transported away.
Said aperture can arise by the fact that, in the case of the compartment of
the cooling
plant and installation compartment being located next to each other, a hole is
introduced only in regions into the wall between the two compartments.
In the case of the compartment of the cooling plant and installation
compartment not
being situated directly next to each other, the aperture can also be provided
by means
of a connecting piece of the two compartments. This can also be a hose or
structural
means of the combat vehicle. For this purpose, it is likewise required to
provide further
access in the form of a hole to the compartment of the cooling plant.
By means of this arrangement, a pressure cascade arises between the
installation
compartment of the respective electronic unit and the compartment of the
cooling plant.
By means of the supply of the cooled air in the installation compartment, a
positive
pressure arises in the latter, and, by means of the cooled air being
transported away
from the compartment of the cooling plant, a negative pressure arises in said
compartment. By means of the supply of the cooled air through the cooling hose
into
the installation compartment and the aperture from the installation
compartment to the
compartment of the cooling plant, both pressures act on the installation
compartment
and make the pressure cascade possible.
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The electronic units to be cooled in a combat vehicle can also comprise, in
addition to drive
electronics of a weapon system, the control electronics of a combat vehicle,
and also
further drive electronics present in the combat vehicle. In this connection,
the described
drive electronics comprise electronic units for the lateral drive and/or the
vertical drive of a
combat tower and/or weapon system of the combat vehicle. The lateral drive is
used here
for rotating the combat turret and the vertical drive for elevating the weapon
barrel of the
weapon.
The pressure cascade according to the invention is also suitable, by means of
its
construction, to cool the drive electronics of an electronic weapon tracking
system (EWNA),
for example of the Leopard tank.
Furthermore, the electronic units to be cooled can likewise comprise sensors
in the combat
vehicle, such as, for example, acceleration sensors, weapon gyroscopes, turret
gyroscopes
and/or position transmitters for the drive.
For better heat exchange between the electronic units to be cooled and the
surrounding
air, the electronic units can be provided with cooling fins. For transport of
the cooled air
through the hose system, ventilators and/or suitable nozzles can be used.
According to an embodiment, there is provided a combat vehicle with a cooling
system for
cooling various zones in the combat vehicle, wherein the combat vehicle is
constructed
from a chassis and at least one rotatable combat turret and has a compartment
in the
combat turret, wherein at least one cooling plant is introduced into the
compartment,
wherein the cooling plant comprises at least one compressor and liquefier unit
and at least
one air treatment apparatus, wherein a hose system conducts the air cooled by
the cooling
plant to the zones in the combat vehicle, wherein the hose system consists of
a plurality of
branched hoses, wherein the cooling plant produces an air flow which is
conducted through
the hose system to the zones, wherein zones in the chassis are reached through
joint parts
in the hoses fitted in an axis of rotation of the combat turret, and wherein
the compartment
in which the cooling plant is arranged is an equipment compartment and is
accessible from
outside the combat turret.
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According to another embodiment, there is provided a pressure cascade for
cooling at least
one electronic unit in a combat vehicle as described herein, having at least
one installation
compartment for the electronic unit, having at least one cooling system, and a
compartment in which a cooling plant of the cooling system is arranged,
wherein a negative
pressure is produced in the compartment of the cooling plant by the cooled air
which is
transported away from the cooling plant, wherein cooled air is supplied by at
least one
hose of the hose system to the installation compartments, as a result of which
a positive
pressure arises in the installation compartments, wherein an aperture leads
from each
installation compartment to the compartment of the cooling plant, as a result
of which the
negative pressure acts on the installation compartments and ensures that the
air supplied
to the cooling plant is transported away.
Further features of the present invention emerge from the drawings, in which:
figure 1: shows a perspective illustration of a combat vehicle with a cooling
plant,
figure 2: shows a perspective ghosted view of a combat vehicle with a cooling
system,
.. figure 3: shows a lateral ghosted view of a combat vehicle with a cooling
system,
figure 4: shows a perspective ghosted view of a combat vehicle with a cooling
system and
operating personnel,
figure 5: shows a region of a combat turret of a combat vehicle in a schematic
illustration
with interior parts, and
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figure 6: shows an electronic unit to be cooled in a corresponding
installation
compartment according to the invention.
Figure 1 shows a combat vehicle 20, consisting of a chassis 15 and at least
one
combat turret 14. The combat turret comprises a weapon system 16 and a weapon
barrel 17. It is also shown where a cooling plant 10 for the cooling system
according to
the invention is preferably installed. However, the cooling plant 10 can also
be
arranged in another compartment 18 in the combat vehicle. Equipment
compartments
21 with items of equipment are frequently present in a combat tank 20. These
existing
equipment compartments 21 can be modified for the cooling plant 10 and can
thus
serve as a compartment 18. The cooling plant 10 consists here at least of a
compressor and liquefier unit 10.1 and an air treatment apparatus 10.2.
The compressor-liquefier unit 10.1 ensures cooling of the air. The air
treatment
apparatus 10.2 is responsible for cleaning the air. Simple air filters can be
provided as
the air treatment apparatus 10.2, but so too can air treatments for ABC uses.
A cooling plant 10 which is already installed in the combat vehicle 20 can be
seen in
figure 2. For a cooling system according to the invention, a hose system 22 is
attached
to the cooling plant 10 and distributes the cooled air produced by the cooling
plant 10
through the combat vehicle 20. The hose system 22 is branched for this purpose
such
that the cooled air can pass simultaneously to a plurality of zones in the
combat
vehicle 20.
In order to regulate the cooled air, a control panel 23 is provided which
regulates all of
the cooled air. In order to transport the cooled air, ventilators, for
example, can be
provided. In addition, regulating means 24 can be provided at the individual
ends of the
hose system 22 in order also to regulate the supply of air at an individual
zone. An
alternative compartment 18 for the cooling plant is also shown in figure 2.
Figure 3 for this purpose shows a cooling system according to the invention
which is
introduced into the combat vehicle 20 consisting of chassis 15 and combat
turret 14.
The cooling plant 10 is installed in a compartment 18 in the combat turret 14
and the
cooled air is distributed from the cooling plant 10 via a hose system 22. A
control panel
23 is provided for regulating the entire cooling system.
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Figure 4 likewise shows a cooling system installed in the combat vehicle 20,
wherein
operating personnel are shown here in order to illustrate some of the zones to
be
cooled in the combat vehicle 20. The cooled air from the cooling plant 10 is
supplied to
the individual zones in the combat vehicle 20 via the hose system 22. The zone
of the
.. driver of the combat vehicle 20 (MKF) is arranged here in the lower region
of the turret
slewing ring since the best cooling can be expected here.
The air is regulated via a central control panel 23, and optionally via
regulating means
at the ends of the hose system 22. The zones shown for operating personnel are
all
.. arranged in the combat turret 14. Since the cooling plant 10 is likewise
arranged in the
combat turret 14, the freedom of movement of the combat turret 14 is not
restricted. If
zones in the chassis 15 of the combat vehicle 20 are also intended to be
cooled, it is
proposed to arrange a hose of the hose system 22, the hose being arranged
centrally
in the axis of rotation of the combat turret 14 and optionally having a joint
piece, so that
the freedom of movement of the combat turret is not restricted.
Figure 5 schematically shows a region of the combat turret 14 of the combat
vehicle 20
which is not illustrated specifically here and in which the pressure cascade
according to
the invention is usable. Drive electronics 1 which are to be cooled and which
are
introduced into an installation compartment 25 provided for them can be seen.
Furthermore, the region of the cooling plant 10, namely compressor and
liquefier unit
10.1 and air treatment apparatus 10.2, is visible.
The control electronics 5, and also an acceleration sensor 3, a weapon
gyroscope 8
and a turret gyroscope 9 are shown as likewise possible electronic units to be
cooled.
Depending on the embodiment of said individual electronic units 1, 3, 5, 8, 9,
the latter
have to be cooled if the need arises, and therefore a pressure cascade
according to
the invention is usable on said electronic units 1, 3, 5, 8, 9. The starting
point for the
further course of the description of the figures is that at least the drive
electronics 1 and
optionally the control electronics 5 are intended to be cooled.
The combat turret 14 which is shown of the combat vehicle 20 is integrated in
a chassis
15, not shown, wherein the combat vehicle 20 has a cooling system which is
arranged
in the combat turret 14. From the cooling plant 10, which is arranged in a
compartment
18, the cooled air is distributed via a hose system 22 in the combat vehicle
20, i.e. in
the chassis and in the turret. The above-described equipment compartment 21
can
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preferably act as the compartment 18. According to the invention, a pressure
cascade
is now built up via the hose system 22 in the installation compartment 25 of
the
electronic unit 1, 5 to be cooled, in order to cool the electronic unit 1, 5
via the cooled
air of the cooling system.
5
The drive electronics 1 which are to be cooled, shown in figure 5, control the
lateral
drive 2 and the vertical drive 4 of the weapon system 16 of the combat vehicle
20. In
this example which is shown, the lateral drive 2 rotates the combat turret 14
and the
vertical drive 4 lifts and lowers the weapon barrel 17 of the weapon system
16.
The control electronics 5 which are optionally likewise to be cooled translate
the
commands from the control unit 7 for transmitting to the drive electronics 1.
It is also
possible to activate further control devices 6 by means of the control
electronics 5.
Figure 6 shows a possible realization of the pressure cascade according to the
invention in an installation compartment 25 of the electronic unit 1, 5, shown
by way of
the example of the drive electronics 1.
A section through the installation compartment 25, in which the drive
electronics 1 are
located, can be seen. The latter are equipped for better output of the arising
heat by
means of cooling fins. From the existing hose system 22 of the cooling system,
at least
one hose 12 is introduced into the installation compartment 25 and, in the
present
case, is arranged below the drive electronics 1.
The hose 12 has openings 13 via which the air can be output into the
installation
compartment 25. Said openings 13 can constitute holes in the hose 12,
specifically can
be arranged at the end of the hose 12 and also radially in the sheath 19 of
the hose.
However, as illustrated, the sheath 19 of the hose 12 can also be configured
to be air-
permeable in regions.
In all cases, air from the cooling plant 10 is supplied by the hose 12 to the
installation
compartment 25 and therefore also to the drive electronics 1 to be cooled. A
positive
pressure thus arises in the installation compartment 25.
Furthermore, an aperture 11 is provided in the installation compartment 25 of
the drive
electronics 1 to be cooled, said aperture connecting the installation
compartment 25 to
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the compartment 18 of the cooling plant 10. Said aperture 11 can be designed
as a
simple hole in the wall if the compartment 18 of the cooling plant 10 is
arranged directly
next to the installation compartment 25. Otherwise, a connecting hose or other
structural means of the combat vehicle is used in order to connect the
installation
compartment 25 to the compartment 18 of the cooling plant 10.
Since the air in the compartment of the cooling plant 10 is cooled and
subsequently
transported away by the hose system 22, a negative pressure prevails in the
compartment of the cooling plant 10. Said negative pressure also acts on the
installation compartment 25 through the aperture 11. Owing to the fact that
the
supplied, cooled air in the installation compartment 25 produces a positive
pressure
and the aperture a negative pressure, the supplied, cooled air is conducted
past the
drive electronics 1 to be cooled and removed again via the aperture 11.
It is of importance in the case of this pressure cascade arrangement that the
supplied
air is guided past the drive electronics 1 to be cooled on the way to the
aperture, in
order to be able to conduct away the heat of said drive electronics.
This construction produces a pressure cascade which, without great technical
outlay,
provides cooling of the electronic elements to be cooled using the existing
means of a
combat vehicle.
The invention is not restricted to the features mentioned in the description.
On the
contrary, further refinement possibilities are conceivable. A plurality of
cooling plants
and cooling compartments could be present in combat vehicles. Also conceivable
would be control electronics which regulate a minimum supply of air in the
installation
compartment, and corresponding sensors which determine the temperature which
prevails in the installation compartment in order then to be able to
correspondingly
regulate the supply of air.
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List of reference numbers
1 drive electronics
2 lateral drive
3 acceleration sensor
4 vertical drive
5 control electronics
6 control device
7 control unit
8 weapon gyroscope
9 tower gyroscope
10 cooling plant
10.1 compressor and liquefier unit
10.2 air treatment apparatus
11 aperture
12 cooling hose
13 openings in 12
14 combat turret
15 chassis
16 weapon system
17 weapon barrel
18 compartment
19 sheath
20 combat vehicle
21 equipment compartment
22 hose system
23 control panel
24 regulating means
25 installation compartment
