Abstract:
An air supply system for supplying fresh air to at least one combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine may include a housing having a fresh air path and a lateral introduction opening. A charge-air cooler may be instertable into the housing via the introduction opening along an introduction direction. The charge-air cooler may be arranged in the housing and the fresh air path may extend through the charge air cooler. The charge air cooler may include an outer end region closing the introduction opening. The outer end region of the charge-air cooler may be secured to the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2013 205 316.9, filed Mar. 26, 2013, and International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2014/055939, filed Mar. 25, 2014, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an air supply system for supplying the combustion chambers of a supercharged internal combustion engine with fresh air, in particular in a motor vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Such an air supply system usually comprises a housing, through which a fresh air path runs. In a supercharged internal combustion engine, it is usual to cool the supercharged fresh air, i.e. the charge air, before entry into the combustion chambers. For this, such an air supply system can be equipped with a charge-air cooler which is able to be flowed through by the fresh air and which is arranged in the fresh air path. The charge-air cooler can be inserted here in various ways into the housing of the air supply system. An introduction solution is basically conceivable, in which the charge-air cooler is introduced or respectively inserted into the housing laterally, i.e. transversely to the flow direction. For this, the housing can have a lateral introduction opening, through which the charge-air cooler is able to be inserted laterally into the housing, transversely to the fresh air path. In such an introduction solution, the introduction opening can be closed for example by an outer end region of the charge-air cooler, which has, at the same time, connections for the supplying and discharging of a coolant. In order to realize a sufficient fixing of the charge-air cooler on the housing in the region of the introduction opening and in order to achieve a sufficient seal between charge-air cooler and housing in the region of the introduction opening, a comparatively great effort can be expended. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]    The present invention is concerned with the problem of indicating for an air supply system of the type named in the introduction an improved embodiment, which is distinguished in particular by being able to be produced economically. 
         [0005]    This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject of the independent claim(s). Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. 
         [0006]    The invention is based on the general idea of configuring the outer end region of the charge-air cooler and the housing in the region of the introduction opening so that the charge-air cooler can be locked directly with the housing in the region of the introduction opening. By means of such a locking, the charge-air cooler can be assembled in a particularly simple manner on the housing. In particular, such a locking can serve as an exclusive fastening of the charge-air cooler on the housing in the region of the introduction opening, so that additional fastening means can be dispensed with. 
         [0007]    According to an advantageous embodiment, the charge-air cooler can have detent elements, which cooperate with counter-detent elements complementary thereto, which the housing has. The charge-air cooler and housing therefore have detent means coordinated with one another, in order to realize the locking between charge-air cooler and housing. 
         [0008]    According to an advantageous further development, the detent elements can be formed integrally on the charge-air cooler. Hereby, a particularly economical realization of the locking is produced, because separate detent elements which must be mounted on the charge-air cooler, can be dispensed with. 
         [0009]    In another further development, the counter-detent elements can be formed integrally on the housing. This measure also leads to an economical realization of the locking, because in particular separate counter-detent elements can be dispensed with, which would have to be mounted on the housing. In particular, the housing can be produced here from a plastic, preferably by means of injection moulding technique. The counter-detent elements can therefore be injection-moulded in an integrated manner with the housing. 
         [0010]    In another advantageous further development, the detent elements can be formed by detent hooks, whilst the counter-detent elements are formed by detent contours, with which the detent hooks are in engagement. Such detent contours can form an undercut here, i.e. an engaging in or engaging over the respective detent hook on an engagement zone facing away from the introduction direction. By the engagement between detent hook and detent contour, a form-fitting connection is produced, which is able to be subjected to tensile load contrary to the introduction direction. The detent hooks can be designed in a spring-elastic manner expediently transversely to the introduction direction, whereby the assembly or respectively the locking during mounting is simplified. 
         [0011]    According to an alternative embodiment, the detent elements can be formed by detent contours, whilst the counter-detent elements are formed by detent hooks which are in engagement with the detent contours. Here, also, the same advantages are again produced, such as in particular the formation of undercuts and the formation of form-fitting connections which are able to be subjected to tensile load. Here, also, the detent hooks can again be configured in a spring-elastic manner transversely to the introduction direction. 
         [0012]    In another advantageous embodiment, the outer end region can have at least one circumferential contact region, which lies opposite an abutment region running around the introduction opening, parallel to the introduction direction or respectively in the introduction direction. Hereby, a defined cooperation between housing and charge-air cooler is made possible. 
         [0013]    According to a further development, the respective contact region can lie directly against the associated abutment region. By the contacting between contact region and abutment region, a predetermined relative position results between the charge-air cooler and the housing, whereby a reproducible positioning of the charge-air cooler in the housing can be achieved. 
         [0014]    In another advantageous embodiment, at least one seal running around the introduction opening can be arranged between the housing and the outer end region. By means of such a seal, an exit of air from the housing through the introduction opening can be prevented. 
         [0015]    According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective contact region can be spaced apart from the associated abutment region in the introduction direction, so that a gap is formed in the introduction direction between the respective contact region and the associated abutment region, which is bridged by the respective seal, whereby an elastic support is produced between the housing and the charge-air cooler. Such an elastic support can bring about a vibration isolation between the housing and the charge-air cooler, in order to reduce the mechanical stress of the charge-air cooler. By means of the gap, the assembly is also simplified. In addition, thermally caused relative movements between charge-air cooler and housing can be received elastically by the respective seal, which reduces thermally caused stresses. Finally, the respective seal can also better compensate manufacturing tolerances. 
         [0016]    In a simple further development, provision can be made that the charge-air cooler is supported elastically on the housing by means of such a seal only in the introduction direction. Contrary to the introduction direction, a direct contacting can then be present between components of the charge-air cooler and components of the housing. For example, the locking can bring about a direct contact between a detent contour of the charge-air cooler and spring-elastic detent elements of the housing. In any case, also in this simple type of construction, a certain vibration isolation can be achieved. 
         [0017]    According to a preferred alternative further development, on the other hand, provision can be made that on the one hand the charge-air cooler is supported elastically on the housing by means of a first such seal in the introduction direction, and that on the other hand the charge-air cooler is supported elastically on the housing by means of a second such seal contrary to the introduction direction. Hereby, a particularly efficient vibration isolation is achieved. 
         [0018]    In another further development, the first seal can be arranged in a first pair of contact region and abutment region, whilst the second seal is arranged in a second pair of contact region and abutment region spaced apart from the first pair, parallel to the introduction direction. Hereby, the assembly is simplified. In addition, provision can optionally be made to arrange the first seal and the second seal concentrically in one another with respect to the introduction direction. 
         [0019]    A further development is particularly expedient, in which the respective seal in the region of the respective contact region is inserted into a circumferential sealing groove with respect to the introduction opening, which sealing groove is formed in the respective contact region and/or in the respective abutment region. The arrangement of the respective seal in the contact region is particularly expedient, because both the contact region and also the abutment region run around the introduction opening, so that in this region an efficient axial seal, i.e. a seal acting parallel to the introduction direction, is able to be realized. 
         [0020]    Further important features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description with the aid of the drawings. 
         [0021]    It shall be understood that the features mentioned above and to be further explained below are able to be used not only in the respectively indicated combination, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Preferred example embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in further detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numbers refer to identical or similar of functionally identical components. 
           [0023]    There are shown, respectively diagrammatically, 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  a greatly simplified schematic illustration, in the manner of a circuit diagram, of an internal combustion engine with an air supply system, which contains a charge-air cooler, 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  a greatly simplified longitudinal section of the air supply system in the region of an introduction opening for introducing the charge-air cooler into the air supply system, 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  a sectional view as in  FIG. 2 , but in another embodiment, 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  a variant of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  a variant of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    According to  FIG. 1 , an internal combustion engine  1  comprises an engine block  2 , in which several combustion chambers  3  are arranged. The combustion chambers are formed here by cylinders, in which pistons are arranged such that their stroke is adjustable. The internal combustion engine  1  further comprises an air supply system  4  for the supplying of fresh air to the combustion chambers  3 , and an exhaust gas system  5  for the discharging of exhaust gas from the combustion chambers  3 . A corresponding fresh air flow  6  is indicated in  FIG. 1  by an arrow. A corresponding exhaust gas flow  7  is indicated in  FIG. 1  by an arrow. The internal combustion engine  1  is configured here as a supercharged internal combustion engine  1 . For this, the internal combustion engine  1  is equipped with a corresponding charging device, which is formed here by a compressor  8  of an exhaust gas turbocharger  9 . For this, the compressor  8  is arranged in the air supply system  4 . The compressor  8 , or respectively a compressor wheel not illustrated in further detail here, is driven in the case of the exhaust gas turbocharger  9  by means of a turbine  10  or respectively with a turbine wheel which is not illustrated here, for which the compressor  8  and the turbine  10  are in drive connection with a shared shaft  11 . The turbine  10  is arranged in the exhaust gas system  5 . 
         [0030]    It is clear that the air supply system  4  can contain further components, such as e.g. a throttle arrangement and a fresh air filter. In addition, it is clear that the exhaust gas system  5  can also contain further components, such as e.g. a particle filter, a catalytic converter and a sound absorber. 
         [0031]    The air which is compressed by means of the compressor  8  is, at the same time, heated by its compressing. In order to be able to cool the charge-air again, a charge-air cooler  12  is arranged in the air supply system  4 , and namely downstream of the compressor  8 . To accommodate the charge-air cooler  12 , the air supply system  4  has a housing  13 , through which a fresh air path  14  runs, which is symbolised in  FIG. 1  by an arrow. The charge-air cooler  12  is now arranged in the housing  13  such that the fresh air path  14  runs through the charge-air cooler  12 . Accordingly, the charge-air cooler  12  is able to be flowed through by the fresh air. The charge-air cooler  12  additionally receives a coolant path  15 , which is coupled in a suitable manner with the fresh air path  14  in a heat-transmitting manner but separated from the media. The coolant path  15  can be connected to a charge-air cooling circuit  16 . This charge-air cooling circuit  16  can be coupled in a heat-transmitting manner with an engine cooling circuit  17 , which serves for cooling the engine block  2 . The charge-air cooling circuit  16  and the engine cooling circuit  17  can also be separate cooling circuits. 
         [0032]    According to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the housing  13  comprises an introduction opening  18 , through which the charge-air cooler  12  is inserted laterally into the housing  13  in an introduction direction  19  or insertion direction  19 . The introduction direction  19  is oriented here transversely to the fresh air path  14 . In  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the housing  13  is illustrated only rudimentarily, namely only in the region of the introduction opening  18 . 
         [0033]    According to  FIG. 1 , the charge-air cooler  12  has an outer end region  20  and an inner end region  21 , which with respect to the introduction direction  19  are arranged distally to one another or respectively facing away from one another. On inserting of the charge-air cooler  12  into the housing  13  the inner end region  21  leads and in the inserted state is situated completely within the housing  13 . In contrast thereto, the outer end region  20  in the inserted state of the charge-air cooler  12  forms a closure for the introduction opening  18 . At least one face side  22  of the charge-air cooler  12 , facing away from the inner end region  21  or respectively from the fresh air path  14 , which face side is situated on the outer end region  20 , remains outside the housing  13 . 
         [0034]    As can be seen further from  FIG. 1 , the housing  13  can have positioning elements  24  on a wall  23  lying opposite the introduction opening  18 . In the inserted state of the charge-air cooler  12 , these cooperate with the inner end region  21  for the positioning of the charge-air cooler  12  in the housing  13 . 
         [0035]    As can be seen in particular from  FIGS. 2 to 5 , a locking arrangement  25  is provided for fixing the charge-air cooler  12  on the housing  13  in the region of the introduction opening  18 , so that the outer end region  20  of the charge-air cooler  12  is locked in the region of the introduction opening  18  with the housing  13 . For this, the charge-air cooler  12  has at least one detent element  26 , whilst the housing  13  has at least one counter-detent element  27 , which is configured in a complementary manner to the respective detent element  26  and cooperates therewith. 
         [0036]    Expediently, the respective detent element  26  is formed integrally on the charge-air cooler  12 . For example, the charge-air cooler  12  is assembled in a conventional manner from several metal sheets. The respective detent element  26  can then be formed integrally by corresponding shaping on a metal sheet associated with the outer end region  20 . Expediently, the respective counter-detent element  27  is also formed integrally on the housing  13 . The housing  13  is preferably a plastic component, which is produced by means of injection moulding technique. Consequently, the respective counter-detent element  27  can then be formed integrally on the housing  13  particularly simply during injection moulding. 
         [0037]    In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the respective detent element  26  is formed by a detent contour  28 , whilst the associated counter-detent element  27  is formed by a detent hook  29 . The respective detent hook  29  is in engagement here with the respective detent contour  28  in a form-fitting manner, wherein the respective detent hook  29  engages behind the associated detent contour  28  contrary to the introduction direction  19 , so that the charge-air cooler  12  is fixed in the housing  13  contrary to the introduction direction  19 , i.e. in a withdrawal direction, in particular through direct physical contact. 
         [0038]    In  FIG. 2  and in  FIG. 4  the detent contour  28  can be formed by a circumferential flange projecting transversely to the introduction direction. Likewise, the outer region  20  of the charge-air cooler  12  can have several flange sections projecting transversely to the introduction direction  19 , which respectively form a detent contour  28 . Expediently, the housing  13  has several detent hooks  29 , which are arranged distributed along the introduction opening  18 . 
         [0039]    In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the respective detent element  26  is formed by a detent hook  30 , whilst the respective counter-detent element  27  is formed by a detent contour  31 . Here, also, the respective detent hook  30  is in engagement with the associated detent contour  31 . Expediently, the respective detent hook  30  also engages here over the associated detent contour  31  on a side facing away from the introduction direction  19 , whereby in the oppositely oriented withdrawal direction an undercut forms with a form-fitting securing of the respective detent hook  30  on the associated detent contour  31 . In the examples of  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the respective detent hook  30  is designed so as to be yoke-shaped, so that it can also be designated as a detent yoke. In addition, the associated detent contour  31  is formed on a section of the housing  13  which is hook-shaped in profile, so that the detent contour  31  can also be basically designated here as detent hook  31 . 
         [0040]    As can be seen in addition from  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the outer end region  20  can have at least one circumferential contact region  32 . Matching this, the housing  13  has at least one abutment region  33  running around the introduction opening  18 . 
         [0041]    In the examples of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , on introducing of the charge-air cooler  12  into the housing  13 , the contact region  32  comes to abut directly against the abutment region  33 , when the provided final position between charge-air cooler  12  and housing  13  is reached. In this end position, the locking within the locking arrangement  25  then also takes place. 
         [0042]    In contrast thereto,  FIGS. 4 and 5  show examples in which the end position between housing  13  and charge-air cooler  12  is reached with the locking within the locking arrangement  25 , without the charge-air cooler  12  coming here into direct contact with the housing  13  in the introduction direction  19 . As can be seen, a distance or respectively a gap  36  is formed there in the introduction direction between at least one such contact region  32  and the associated abutment region  33 . 
         [0043]    According to  FIG. 2 to 5 , expediently at least one seal  34  can be arranged in the contact region  32  or respectively in the abutment region  33 , which seal runs around the introduction opening  18 , whereby between charge-air cooler  12  and housing  13  in the region of the introduction opening  18  a sufficient airtightness is able to be realized for the avoidance of leakages. The respective seal  34  can be inserted here into a seal groove  35  which is circumferential with respect to the introduction opening  18 , which facilitates a defined positioning of the seal  34 . With regard to the arrangement of such seal grooves  35 ,  FIGS. 2 and 4  on the one hand, and  FIGS. 3 and 5  on the other hand, respectively show several example embodiments. Thus,  FIGS. 2 and 4  show a first arrangement on the left and a second arrangement on the right, which are able to be realized only alternatively.  FIGS. 3 and 5 , on the other hand, show a first arrangement above and a second arrangement below, which are able to be realized alternatively and cumulatively. Accordingly, this seal groove  35  can be constructed according to  FIGS. 2 and 4  on the left and according to  FIGS. 3 and 5  above in the abutment region  33 . According to  FIGS. 2 and 4  on the right, the seal groove  35  can also be provided in the contact region  32 .  FIGS. 3 and 5  below show respectively a variant, in which two seal grooves  35  are provided, namely both in the contact region  32  and also in the abutment region  33 , which are aligned to one another parallel to the introduction direction  19 . 
         [0044]    As already explained above, the variants of  FIGS. 4 and 5  differ from the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3  only in that a gap  36  is formed in the introduction direction  19  between at least one such contact region  32  and the associated abutment region  33 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , only one pair of contact region  32  and abutment region  33  is provided, so that also only one gap  36  is provided. This gap  36  is bridged here by the respective seal  34 , which is associated with this pair. The seal  34  consists of an elastic sealing material, so that it enables an elastic support of the charge-air cooler  12  on the housing  13 . In the example of  FIG. 4 , the charge-air cooler  12  is supported elastically on the housing  13  via this seal  34  only in the introduction direction  19 . 
         [0045]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , on the other hand, two such pairs of contact region  32  and abutment region  33  are provided, namely a first pair  37  of contact region  32  and abutment region  33  arranged further above in  FIG. 5 , and a second pair  38  of contact region  32  and abutment region  33  shown further below in  FIG. 5 . The two pairs  37 ,  38  of contact region  32  and abutment region  33  are spaced apart from one another here, parallel to the introduction direction  19 . In addition, in this case, such a seal  34  is respectively associated with each pair  37 ,  38  of contact region  32  and abutment region  33 , namely a first seal  34  associated with the first pair  37  and a second seal  34  associated with the second pair  38 . Consequently, in this example, the charge-air cooler  12  is supported elastically on the housing  13  via the first seal  34  in the introduction direction  19  and via the second seal  34  contrary to the introduction direction  19 , i.e. in the withdrawal direction.