Discharge structure of battery cooling air

Abstract

Provided is a discharge structure for battery cooling air that can suppress noise even when the amount of cooling air required for the battery becomes relatively high. The present invention has: a floor bottom surface portion (fp) that constitutes the lower part of an automobile body (B) and can accommodate a battery (50); a floor top surface portion (40) that is disposed at a position above the floor and can accommodate the battery between it and the floor; a seat (10) that is provided in multiple rows on the floor; and an exhaust duct (90) that discharges air that has cooled the battery, and the exhaust duct disposes an exhaust port (94) between a seating portion (32) of a rear seat (30) that constitutes the seat and the floor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a discharge structure for battery cooling air. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, as vehicles with low fuel consumption and less exhaust gas, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles have been developed. A hybrid vehicle has a structure in which an engine and a motor are mounted and used separately. Among them, in vehicles such as hybrid vehicles, a battery is mounted on the vehicle. And, when the battery is mounted on the vehicle, it is necessary to cool the battery. In the related prior art, there is a technique that seeks to cool the battery by arranging an intake pipe and an exhaust pipe (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-190044 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The inventors of the present invention have conducted in-depth research focusing on the following point: If the cooling air volume required for the battery increases, the wind noise becomes louder, and it may be difficult to suppress the noise caused by the increase in the wind noise.

[0008] At least one embodiment of the present invention is made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a discharge structure for battery cooling air that can suppress noise even when the cooling air volume required for the battery becomes relatively high.

[0009] Solutions to the Problems

[0010] One embodiment of the present invention is a discharge structure for battery cooling air. The above discharge structure for battery cooling air includes a floor panel, a floor, a seat, and an exhaust pipe. The floor panel forms the lower part of the vehicle body of the automobile and can be configured to accommodate the battery. The floor is disposed at a position above the floor panel, and the battery can be configured between the floor and the floor panel. Multiple rows of seats are provided on the floor. The exhaust pipe discharges the air that has cooled the battery. The exhaust pipe disposes the exhaust port between the seating part of the rear seat that constitutes the seat and the floor. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Figure 1 It is a perspective view schematically showing the inside of a vehicle with a partial cross-section of the vehicle body outer wall removed in a vehicle having a discharge structure for battery cooling air according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 2 It is Figure 1 a side view of

[0013] Figure 3 is Figure 1 the top view of

[0014] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the rear seat and floor of a vehicle, etc.

[0015] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an intake duct, a battery, a fan, an exhaust duct, and a rear seat, etc. that constitute the exhaust structure of the battery cooling air.

[0016] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the exhaust duct and the seating part of the rear seat turned upside down.

[0017] Figure 7 is Figure 6 the bottom view of Detailed implementation manners

[0018] Hereinafter, while referring to the attached Figure 1 the embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same elements, and repeated descriptions are omitted. The embodiments shown therein are examples for embodying the technical idea of the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. Therefore, all other implementable forms, usage methods, application technologies, etc. that can be conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are included in the scope and gist of the present invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0019] In addition, there are cases where, for the convenience of illustration and understanding, the drawings attached to this specification are schematically represented by appropriately changing and reducing the scale, the aspect ratio of the vertical and horizontal dimensions, the shape, etc. with respect to the actual object, but this is only an example and does not limit the interpretation of the present invention.

[0020] In addition, in the drawings, arrows (coordinate systems) represented by X, Y, and Z are used to represent directions. That is, the "Z direction" is the direction along the vertical direction, the "X direction" is a direction orthogonal to the Z direction and parallel to the horizontal plane, and the "Y direction" is another direction orthogonal to the Z direction and parallel to the horizontal plane (a direction orthogonal to the X direction).

[0021] Therefore, the direction of the arrow represented by, for example, X represents the front - rear direction of the vehicle 100, and the positive direction represents from the rear to the front. Y represents the width direction of the vehicle 100, and the positive direction represents the right direction. Z represents the height direction of the vehicle 100, and the positive direction represents the upward direction.

[0022] In addition, in the following description, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used for explanation, but as long as there is no special mention, they are used for convenience and do not define any order.

[0023] As an example, the vehicle 100 having a discharge structure for battery cooling air can be a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that combines an internal combustion engine and an electric motor driven by a battery as a driving power source, an electric vehicle (EV) that travels using an electric motor driven by a battery, or the like.

[0024] The vehicle 100 has a body B, a seat 10, a floor composed of a floor top surface portion 40 and a floor bottom surface portion fp, a battery 50, an intake duct 60, a communication duct 70, an exhaust fan 80, and an exhaust duct 90 as shown in Figure 1 , Figure 5 and the like. This will be described in detail below.

[0025] (Body)

[0026] The body B forms a framework in the vehicle 100 that divides the passenger compartment for carrying passengers and luggage from the outside. In the present embodiment, the body B of the vehicle 100 is configured as a small car such as a hatchback, but as long as it has the same structure as the seat 10, the floor (floor top surface portion 40 and floor bottom surface portion fp), and the exhaust duct 90 described later, the vehicle type (the shape and structure of the body B) is not particularly limited.

[0027] In the body B, a floor bottom surface portion fp for accommodating the battery 50 described later is provided at the lower part of the vehicle 100 as shown in Figure 2 and the like.

[0028] (Seat)

[0029] The seat 10 is configured such that multiple rows are provided on the floor top surface portion 40 of the vehicle 100. In the present embodiment, the seat 10 has a front seat 20 corresponding to the first row of seats and a rear seat 30 corresponding to the second row of seats as shown in Figure 1 when viewed from the front side.

[0030] The front seat 20 is provided so as to be movable relative to the floor top surface portion 40 at least in the front-rear direction X. The front seat 20 has a backrest 21 against which the occupant's back can lean, a seating portion 22 on which the occupant's buttocks can sit, and a headrest 23 against which the occupant's head can lean as shown in Figure 1 and the like. In the present embodiment, the driver's seat and the front passenger seat are independently provided for the front seat 20.

[0031] A luggage space L (also referred to as a luggage compartment or luggage room) connected to the passenger compartment is provided behind the rear seat 30 as shown in Figure 1 and the like.

[0032] The rear seat 30 is configured as follows Figure 4 , Figure 5 and has a backrest 31, a seating portion 32, and a headrest 33 as shown. Different from the front seat 20, the rear seat 30 is configured as a so-called bench seat in which the left and right seats are connected. Therefore, the backrest 31 and the seating portion 32 are configured to support the backs and buttocks of multiple occupants in the rear seat 30.

[0033] The seating portion 32 has a notch portion 34 formed by partially cutting away the lower surface in the height direction Z as shown Figure 4 , Figure 5 and so on. The notch portion 34 has a concave shape as shown Figure 6 , Figure 7 and so on. The concave shape of the notch portion 34 is configured to face downward in the height direction Z as shown Figure 6 . The notch portion 34 has a first concave portion 35, an enlarged portion 36, a second concave portion 37, a third concave portion 38, and a convex portion 39 as shown Figure 7 .

[0034] The first concave portion 35 is configured to be arranged adjacent to the exhaust port 94 of the exhaust pipe 90 as shown Figure 6 , Figure 7 . The first concave portion 35 is provided on the front side in the front-rear direction X in the seating portion 32 as shown Figure 7 . The first concave portion 35 is configured to penetrate to the front end portion f of the seating portion 32 in the present embodiment as shown Figure 5 , Figure 7 . However, it may also be that as long as the exhaust pipe 90 described later can be arranged below the seating portion 32 in the height direction Z, the first concave portion 35 does not necessarily penetrate to the front end portion f of the seating portion 32 to be formed.

[0035] The enlarged portion 36 is provided connected to the first concave portion 35 behind the first concave portion 35 in the front-rear direction X. The enlarged portion 36 is configured such that the cross-sectional shape of the notch starting from the first concave portion 35 expands in the front-rear direction X. The enlarged portion 36 is configured such that the shape of the notch at the lower surface of the seating portion 32 is connected to the first concave portion 35 and communicates with the second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 in the rear direction X.

[0036] The second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 are provided connected to (communicating with) the enlarged portion 36. The second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 are as shown Figure 7It is configured to extend substantially linearly in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle 100 to the rear end r of the seating portion 32 as shown. The second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 preferably have the same cross-sectional shape of the concave portion. However, as long as the shapes are not extremely different, there may be some differences in the cross-sectional shape (for example, one is a perfect circle, and the other is an ellipse relative to this, or in the case where the cross-section is a rectangle, the aspect ratio of the rectangular cross-section is different, etc.).

[0037] The convex portion 39 branches the notch connected to the enlarged portion 36 into the second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38. In the present embodiment, the convex portion 39 is disposed between the second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 in the width direction Y.

[0038] According to such a structure, the air discharged from the exhaust port 94 of the exhaust pipe 90 can flow along the first concave portion 35 and the enlarged portion 36, flow into the second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 which are equivalent to the branch flow paths, and flow from here into the luggage space L.

[0039] The convex portion 39 can be disposed in the rear seat 30 so as to be located on the dorsal side of the occupant's hip (H point). From the viewpoint of being able to support the vicinity of the occupant's hip, etc., the convex portion 39 can also be called a pad.

[0040] (Floor)

[0041] The floor top surface portion 40 is disposed at a position above the floor bottom surface portion fp in the height direction Z. The floor top surface portion 40 is configured such that the battery 50 can be disposed between it and the floor bottom surface portion fp. The floor top surface portion 40 constitutes the lower part of the passenger compartment in the vehicle 100. A carpet, a floor mat, etc. can be provided on the floor top surface portion 40. The floor top surface portion 40 is as Figure 4 shown and includes a horizontal portion 41, a raised portion 42, and upright portions 43, 44.

[0042] The horizontal portion 41 is the part in the passenger compartment where the feet of the occupant can be placed, and the above-mentioned carpet, etc. can be provided.

[0043] The raised portion 42 is provided near the approximate center (middle portion) in the width direction Y of the horizontal portion 41. The raised portion 42 is formed higher than the horizontal portion 41 in the height direction Z so as to dispose the exhaust fan 80 of the battery 50, etc. to be described later below.

[0044] The upright portions 43 and 44 are located behind the horizontal portion 41 and the raised portion 42 in the front-rear direction X, and are located near the lower part of the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30. The upright portions 43 and 44 are formed such that their height in the height direction Z gradually increases with respect to the horizontal portion 41 as they face the rear in the front-rear direction X. The upright portion 44 is arranged such that the exhaust duct 90 is not exposed to the passenger compartment (cabin). The upright portion 44 is formed so as to bulge with respect to the upright portion 43 in the height direction Z below the seating portion 32 (see Figure 4 ).

[0045] In addition, corresponding to the structure described below Figure 5 is equivalent to Figure 4 a view not showing the floor top surface portion 40.

[0046] (Battery)

[0047] The battery 50 is a power storage device that supplies power to a motor (not shown) and is charged using the driving force of the engine and the recovery of regenerative energy. In the present embodiment, the battery 50 is configured to be disposed near the lower part of the front seat 20 in the seat 10 as Figure 2 shown.

[0048] (Intake Duct)

[0049] The intake duct 60 is configured as a part that sucks gases such as air used for cooling the battery 50. In the present embodiment, the intake duct 60 is configured to be disposed near the lower part of the front seat 20 in the seat 10 and at a position outside the battery 50 in the width direction Y. The opening of the intake duct 60 can be disposed on substantially the same plane (the same height) as the horizontal portion 41 of the floor top surface portion 40.

[0050] The communication duct 70 is configured as a duct that introduces gases such as air that have flowed in from the intake duct 60 and have passed through the battery 50. In the present embodiment, the communication duct 70 is disposed between the battery 50 and the exhaust fan 80 in the front-rear direction X. As an example, the communication duct 70 can be disposed substantially at the center in the width direction Y. The communication duct 70 can be disposed so as to extend rearward from the connection portion with the battery 50 in the front-rear direction X.

[0051] The exhaust fan 80 generates air for cooling the battery 50. In the present embodiment, the exhaust fan 80 can be composed of a centrifugal fan of the sirocco type or the like. The suction port of the exhaust fan 80 can be connected to the communication duct 70.

[0052] (Exhaust Duct)

[0053] The exhaust duct 90 is configured to be able to discharge the air that has cooled the battery 50. The exhaust duct 90 is disposed between the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 that constitutes the seat 10 and the floor bottom surface portion fp. The exhaust duct 90 is a duct member disposed below the floor top surface portion 40, and one end is connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust fan 80. The other end of the exhaust duct is disposed adjacent to the lower surface of the rear seat 30.

[0054] The exhaust duct 90 is configured as Figure 6 shown, and includes a floor vicinity portion 91, a rising portion 92, a seat vicinity portion 93, and an exhaust port 94.

[0055] The floor vicinity portion 91 is the portion connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust fan 80 and is disposed adjacent to the floor top surface portion 40. The floor vicinity portion 91 is configured in a hollow shape that extends substantially linearly along the front-rear direction X of the vehicle 100. In the present embodiment, the floor vicinity portion 91 is configured such that a substantially rectangular cross section with rounded corners extends linearly in the front-rear direction X.

[0056] The rising portion 92 is shaped to connect the floor vicinity portion 91 and the seat vicinity portion 93. The rising portion 92 is configured to extend along the height direction Z. In the present embodiment, the rising portion 92 is configured to extend linearly not only in the height direction Z but also in the front-rear direction X and the width direction Y. However, the specific shape of the rising portion 92 is not limited thereto, and it may be configured to extend linearly only in, for example, the height direction Z in addition to the above.

[0057] The seat vicinity portion 93 is configured to be disposed at a height different from that of the floor vicinity portion 91 in the height direction Z, specifically, at a position higher than the floor vicinity portion 91. By being configured in this way, the seat vicinity portion 93 is disposed closer to the lower surface of the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 than the floor vicinity portion 91.

[0058] The exhaust port 94 is configured to be disposed between the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 that constitutes the seat 10 and the horizontal portion 41 of the floor top surface portion 40. The exhaust port 94 is configured as an opening at the end of the seat vicinity portion 93. The exhaust port 94 is configured as Figure 6 shown, and is disposed adjacent to the notch portion 34 of the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30. The exhaust port 94 is located at a position closer to the front than the rear end portion r of the seating portion 32 in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle 100. In other words, the exhaust port 94 is configured to be located closer to the front than the enlarged portion 36 in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle (see Figure 7 ).

[0059] The discharge structure of the battery cooling air of this embodiment has the floor bottom surface portion fp, the floor top surface portion 40, the seat 10, and the exhaust duct 90 as described above. The floor bottom surface portion fp constitutes the lower part of the vehicle body B of the automobile (vehicle 100) and is configured to be able to accommodate the battery 50. The floor top surface portion 40 is disposed at a position above the floor bottom surface portion fp and is configured to be able to accommodate the battery 50 between it and the floor bottom surface portion fp. The seat 10 is configured such that multiple rows are provided on the floor top surface portion 40, such as the front seat 20 and the rear seat 30. The exhaust duct 90 is configured to discharge the air that has cooled the battery 50. The exhaust duct 90 disposes the exhaust port 94 between the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 that constitutes the seat 10 and the floor top surface portion 40.

[0060] By being configured in this way, the cooling air that passes through the battery 50 and is discharged from the exhaust port 94 of the exhaust duct 90 passes between the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 and the floor top surface portion 40 and flows into the luggage space L. In this way, the cooling air flows to a position closer to the inside than the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 for the occupant. Therefore, the cooling air discharged from the exhaust port 94 at the end of the exhaust duct 90 diffuses between the floor top surface portion 40 and the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30, so that the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 can absorb the sound of the cooling air, and the wind speed flowing from the seating portion 32 to the luggage space L is reduced. Therefore, the sound generated by the cooling air is difficult to reach the ears of the occupant. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the noise that the occupant can hear due to the cooling air from the exhaust duct 90.

[0061] In addition, the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 has a notch portion 34 formed by partially cutting the lower surface. The exhaust duct 90 is configured such that at least the vicinity of the exhaust port 94 is adjacent to the notch portion 34 of the seating portion 32. By being configured in this way, it is possible to prevent or suppress the exhaust duct 90 from deforming due to external forces or impact forces on the vicinity of the exhaust port 94 of the exhaust duct 90 when the occupant gets on the vehicle 100 or when the vehicle 100 accelerates or decelerates.

[0062] In addition, the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30 has a notch portion 34 formed by locally cutting out a concave lower surface. The notch portion 34 includes a first concave portion 35, an enlarged portion 36, a second concave portion 37, a third concave portion 38, and a convex portion 39. The first concave portion 35 is configured to be disposed adjacent to the exhaust port 94 of the exhaust pipe 90. The enlarged portion 36 is provided connected to the first concave portion 35 and is configured such that the cross-section of the notch starting from the first concave portion 35 expands. The second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 are provided connected to the enlarged portion 36. The convex portion 39 is configured such that the notch connected to the enlarged portion 36 branches into the second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38. By configuring in this way, it is possible to dispose the exhaust pipe 90 without extending it to the luggage space L of the vehicle 100. Therefore, when an occupant sits on the seating portion 32 of the rear seat 30, it is difficult to feel a foreign body sensation caused by the extension of the exhaust pipe 90, thereby improving the riding comfort. Moreover, corresponding to the ability to shorten the length of the exhaust pipe 90, the cost of the exhaust pipe can be reduced, and the price of the vehicle body can be lowered.

[0063] In addition, the second concave portion 37 and the third concave portion 38 constituting the notch portion 34 are configured to extend to the rear end portion r of the seating portion 32 in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle 100. Therefore, it is possible to guide the cooling air discharged from the exhaust pipe 90 to the luggage space L or its vicinity by using the notch portion 34 of the seating portion 32.

[0064] In addition, the exhaust port 94 of the exhaust pipe 90 is configured to be located in a position closer to the front than the rear end portion r of the seating portion 32 in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle 100. By configuring in this way, compared with the case where the exhaust pipe 90 extends to the rear end portion r of the seating portion 32, the cost of the exhaust pipe can be reduced, and a reduction in the price of the vehicle body can be achieved.

[0065] In addition, the exhaust pipe 90 includes a floor vicinity portion 91 that is adjacent to the horizontal portion 41 of the floor top surface portion 40 and extends along the front-rear direction X of the vehicle 100. By configuring in this way, the shape of the exhaust pipe 90 can be simplified, the cost of the exhaust pipe can be reduced, and a reduction in the price of the vehicle body can be achieved.

[0066] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified according to the claims. In the above description, the floor vicinity portion 91, the upright portion 92, and the seat vicinity portion 93 of the exhaust pipe 90 are each described as having a shape formed by linearly extending a substantially elliptical cross-section, but it is not limited thereto. As long as a flow path is appropriately formed in these structures, other shapes such as a bent portion can also be provided midway in each portion.

[0067] Description of Reference Numerals

[0068] 10. Seat; 30. Rear seat; 32. Occupied part; 34. Notch part; 35. First concave part; 36. Enlarged part; 37. Second concave part; 38. Third concave part; 39. Convex part; 40. Floor; 50. Battery; 90. Exhaust duct; 91. Near-floor part; 94. Exhaust port; B. Vehicle body; fp. Floor; L. Luggage space; r. Rear end; X. Front-rear direction; Y. Width direction; Z. Height direction.

Claims

1. A discharge structure for battery cooling air, comprising: A floor panel that forms the lower part of a vehicle body and can accommodate a battery; A floor that is disposed above the floor panel and can accommodate the battery between the floor and the floor panel; Seats that are arranged in multiple rows on the floor; And An exhaust duct that discharges air that has cooled the battery, The exhaust duct disposes an exhaust port between the seating portion of the rear seat that forms the seat and the floor, The seating portion has a notch formed by partially cutting away the lower surface, At least the vicinity of the exhaust port of the exhaust duct is disposed adjacent to the notch.

2. The discharge structure for battery cooling air according to claim 1, wherein The notch is formed by partially cutting away in a concave shape, The notch has: a first concave portion that can be disposed adjacent to the exhaust port of the exhaust duct; an enlarged portion that is connected to the first concave portion and has an enlarged cross-section of the notch starting from the first concave portion; a second concave portion and a third concave portion that are connected to the enlarged portion; and a convex portion that branches the notch connected to the enlarged portion into the second concave portion and the third concave portion.

3. The discharge structure for battery cooling air according to claim 2, wherein The second concave portion and the third concave portion extend to the rear end of the seating portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

4. The discharge structure for battery cooling air according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The exhaust port is located in a position closer to the front than the rear end of the seating portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

5. The discharge structure for battery cooling air according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The exhaust duct has a floor vicinity portion that is adjacent to the floor and extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

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