Abstract:
The invention relates to a climatically controlled box for a motor vehicle, having a heating device ( 18 ) and a cooling device. In order to increase the range of motor vehicles which comprise at least one electric drive device, an internal combustion engine ( 4 ) is arranged in the climatically controlled box ( 1 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a climatically controlled box for a motor vehicle, having a heating device and a cooling device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one electric drive device and having a climatically controlled box of this type. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating a climatically controlled box in a motor vehicle of this type. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    German laid open specification DE 102 18 901 A1 has disclosed a mobile heating device having a burner, a heat exchanger and a heating air feed means for a vehicle having a fan in an air conditioning system. German laid open specification DE 102 18 157 A1 has disclosed a burner heating device having a heat exchanger for discharging the thermal energy which is generated at a burner for a vehicle having a climatically controlled box in an air conditioning system. German laid open specification DE 195 39 517 A1 has disclosed a compact air conditioning module for motor vehicles, having a fan, a heat exchanger which can be heated electrically or by means of fuel, and a compact air conditioning system, in which, instead of spatially separated additional/useful heating devices and air conditioning systems in motor vehicles, they are combined to form one compact structural unit. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the invention to increase the range of motor vehicles which comprise at least one electric drive device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In a climatically controlled box for a motor vehicle, having a heating device and a cooling device, the object is achieved by virtue of the fact that an internal combustion engine is arranged in the climatically controlled box. The internal combustion engine is a heat engine, in which heat is generated and is converted into mechanical work directly in the machine system, for example by combustion of a fuel/air mixture. The internal combustion engine is also called a combustion engine or a combustion motor. A power output of 5 kW, for example, can be generated by way of the internal combustion engine. The integration of the internal combustion engine produces a self-sufficient climatically controlled box which can be operated in a motor vehicle without consuming the drive power of the motor vehicle. This affords the advantage that the range of the motor vehicle in an electric mode, in which the motor vehicle is driven by an electric drive device, is not impaired by the operation of the climatically controlled box. 
         [0007]    One preferred exemplary embodiment of the climatically controlled box is distinguished by the fact that a generator is arranged in the climatically controlled box, which generator is drive-connected to the internal combustion engine. The generator is preferably coupled mechanically to the internal combustion engine. The generator is normally driven via the internal combustion engine. However, it is also possible to drive the internal combustion engine with the aid of the generator, in particular to start it. For this purpose, the climatically controlled box can advantageously also contain a battery. 
         [0008]    One further preferred exemplary embodiment of the climatically controlled box is distinguished by the fact that an air conditioning compressor is arranged in the climatically controlled box, which air conditioning compressor is coupled via the generator to the internal combustion engine. As in an air conditioning system, the air conditioning compressor serves to control the climate of an interior of the motor vehicle, in particular to cool it. The generator can be coupled mechanically to the air conditioning compressor, for example via a clutch. However, the air conditioning compressor can also comprise an electric motor which is connected via a current line to the generator. Via the current line, the air conditioning compressor is coupled electrically, as it were, via the generator to the internal combustion engine. 
         [0009]    One further preferred exemplary embodiment of the climatically controlled box is distinguished by the fact that a radiator is arranged in the climatically controlled box, which radiator is connected in heat-exchanging terms to the internal combustion engine. The radiator preferably comprises at least one fan and serves to dissipate heat to the surroundings of the climatically controlled box. The heat can be removed from a heating medium, such as heating water, which is fed to the climatically controlled box. However, the heat can also be waste heat which is output via the internal combustion engine during operation. 
         [0010]    One further preferred exemplary embodiment of the climatically controlled box is distinguished by the fact that a fuel tank for supplying the internal combustion engine with fuel is arranged in the climatically controlled box. As an alternative, the internal combustion engine can be supplied with fuel externally, for example via corresponding fuel supply connectors. 
         [0011]    One further preferred exemplary embodiment of the climatically controlled box is distinguished by the fact that the climatically controlled box has a fuel filling opening for filling fuel into the fuel tank. As an alternative, the fuel tank can be configured such that it can be removed from the climatically controlled box for filling with fuel. 
         [0012]    One further preferred exemplary embodiment of the climatically controlled box is distinguished by the fact that the climatically controlled box has plug-in connection connector devices for feeding in and discharging heating medium/cooling medium and refrigerant. Plug and play operation of the climatically controlled box is made possible by the plug-in connection connector devices. Water which possibly contains suitable additives can be used, for example, as heating medium/cooling medium. The air conditioning compressor is preferably operated with an environmentally friendly refrigerant. 
         [0013]    One further preferred exemplary embodiment of the climatically controlled box is distinguished by the fact that the climatically controlled box has a volume which is smaller than or equal to half a cubic meter. The climatically controlled box advantageously has a volume of approximately 500×400×180 mm. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one electric drive device and having an above-described climatically controlled box. The motor vehicle is preferably a hybrid vehicle which, in addition to the electric drive device, also contains a further drive device, such as an internal combustion engine, or is a pure electric vehicle which can be driven only with the aid of the electric drive device. The self-sufficient climatically controlled box has the advantage that the electric range of an electrically driven motor vehicle is not influenced, since the on-board electric power network of said vehicle is not accessed. In addition, the climatically controlled box according to the invention makes a particularly compact design with little piping possible. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating an above-described climatically controlled box in an above-described motor vehicle. 
         [0016]    For heating, the air conditioning compressor in the climatically controlled box can be decoupled or switched off. The heating device is preferably configured as an electric heating device and is advantageously operated via the generator. Moreover, the waste heat of the internal combustion engine and the generator can be utilized for heating purposes. 
         [0017]    For cooling, the generator is in idling mode, since the heating device does not require any electric current. The air conditioning compressor is advantageously driven by the internal combustion engine. The refrigerating capacity of the air conditioning compressor is advantageously output to the passenger compartment via a refrigerant circuit which is already installed in the motor vehicle. 
         [0018]    Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a simplified, perspective illustration of a climatically controlled box according to the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic illustration of a similar climatically controlled box as in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a climatically controlled box  1  for a motor vehicle in various illustrations. According to one essential aspect of the invention, an internal combustion engine  4  which is also called a combustion motor is integrated into the climatically controlled box  1 . A fuel tank  5  for supplying the internal combustion engine  4  with fuel is arranged in the climatically controlled box  1 . The fuel tank  5  is filled with fuel via a filler neck  6  having a fuel filling opening  7 , as is indicated in  FIG. 1  by an arrow  8 . 
         [0022]    Furthermore, a generator  10  is arranged in the climatically controlled box  1 . As is indicated by a line  11 , the generator  10  is drive-connected to the internal combustion engine  4 . Furthermore, an air conditioning compressor  12  is arranged in the climatically controlled box  1 , which air conditioning compressor  12 , as indicated by a further line  14 , is supplied with energy by the generator  10 . The air conditioning compressor  12  can comprise an electric motor which is supplied with current by the generator  10 . 
         [0023]    Furthermore, a radiator  15  which comprises a fan  16  is arranged in the climatically controlled box  1 . Furthermore, a heating device  18  is arranged in the climatically controlled box  1 , which heating device  18  preferably comprises electric heating elements which are supplied with energy by the generator  10 . 
         [0024]    The climatically controlled box  1  has substantially the shape of a cuboid, the dimensions of which are, for example, approximately 500×400×180 mm. The dimensions of the climatically controlled box  1  vary depending on various performance classes. In one performance class, for example, the internal combustion engine  4  supplies a power output of 5 kW. As a result of the integrated internal combustion engine  4 , the climatically controlled box  1  does not require any electric connectors. The climatically controlled box  1  can be operated in a completely self-sufficient manner, in relation to the drive power of the motor vehicle. 
         [0025]    The climatically controlled box  1  is equipped merely with connector devices  21 ,  22  for feeding in and discharging heating water/cooling water. The heating water/cooling water which enters is indicated by an arrow  23 . The heating water/cooling water which exits is indicated by an arrow  24 . 
         [0026]    Moreover, the climatically controlled box  1  is equipped with connector devices  25 ,  26  for feeding in and discharging refrigerant. The refrigerant which enters is indicated by an arrow  27 . The refrigerant which exits is indicated by an arrow  28 . 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 2 , a coupling symbol  30  indicates that the air conditioning compressor  12  can also be coupled mechanically to the generator  10 . In the case of mechanical coupling, the air conditioning compressor  12  is driven by the internal combustion engine  4  via the generator  10 . 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 2 , a line  32  indicates a heating water line/cooling water line which connects the radiator  15  to the generator  10 . A further line  33  indicates a heating water line/cooling water line which connects the generator  10  to the internal combustion engine  4 . 
         [0029]    The arrow  23  indicates the heating water/cooling water which enters the climatically controlled box  1 . The heating water/cooling water which enters is fed to the radiator  15 . From the radiator  15 , the heating water/cooling water passes via the heating water line/cooling water line  32  into the generator  10 . The heating water/cooling water passes via the heating water line/cooling water line  33  into the internal combustion engine  4 . 
         [0030]    Via a heating water line/cooling water line which is indicated by a further line  34 , the heating water/cooling water passes from the internal combustion engine into the heating device  18 . From the heating device  18 , the heating water/cooling water exits the climatically controlled box  1 , as is indicated by the arrow  24 . 
         [0031]    A dashed line  35  indicates a short-circuit line, via which the heating water/cooling water which enters is guided in the climatically controlled box  1  in the circuit through the components  15 ,  32 ,  10 ,  33 ,  4  and  34 . 
         [0032]    The climatically controlled box  1  according to the invention can be used both for heating and for cooling an interior of the motor vehicle, which interior is also called a passenger compartment. The function of a conventional air conditioning system can be assumed completely or partially by the climatically controlled box  1 , without drive power of the motor vehicle being required for the climate control, that is to say for heating and cooling the passenger compartment. 
         [0033]    During heating, the air conditioning compressor  12  is decoupled or switched off. The heating device  18  is supplied with current by the generator  10  via the current line  38 . The waste heat of the internal combustion engine  4 , the heating device  18  and the generator  10  is utilized for heating purposes. 
         [0034]    During cooling, the generator  10  is in idling mode, since the heating device  18  does not require any electric current. The air conditioning compressor  12  is preferably driven mechanically by the internal combustion engine  4  or electrically via the generator  10 . During cooling, the short-circuit line  35  is opened, that is to say activated, with the result that the cooling medium remains in the climatically controlled box  1 . 
         [0035]    The cooling medium is preferably water, optionally with corresponding additives. The same medium, in particular water, is preferably used for heating and cooling. The cooling medium or cooling water is re-cooled during cooling with the aid of the radiator  15 .