Air inlet device
By designing an air intake device including collection members, pipes and drainage containers, and using airflow at specific angles to redirect moisture separation, the problems of low moisture removal efficiency and lower air pressure in the air in the prior art are solved, and efficient moisture removal and air pressure management are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380068568.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-09-28
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-06
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to efficiently remove moisture from the air in a limited air intake arrangement space while avoiding adverse effects on the air pressure of the HVAC system.
An air intake device is designed, the device including a collection member, a duct and a drainage container, through the first and second portions of the duct, air is conveyed from the collection member to the drainage container and output from the drainage container to the HVAC system. The airflow directions of the inlet and outlet form a specific angle with respect to each other, redirecting the airflow in the drainage container, thereby achieving efficient separation of moisture.
The device is able to efficiently remove moisture from the air while keeping the drop in air pressure minimized, avoiding adverse effects on the HVAC system.
Smart Images
Figure CN119947908A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to an air intake device and a vehicle. Background Art
[0002] The HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) systems in today's vehicles require increased air volumes, but at the same time, the space available for arranging the air intake is limited. The air quality must be guaranteed, which means that no water must be allowed to reach the HVAC system.
[0003] On the one hand, any water (e.g., rain water) in the air must be separated from the air before it is provided to the HVAC system before arriving at the air intake. On the other hand, any device for removing water should not cause a drop in air pressure in the air intake that would adversely affect HVAC system performance. Summary of the invention
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an air intake device for supplying air to an air conditioning system of a vehicle, by which air pressure drop can be kept to a minimum while removing water, without adversely affecting the air conditioning system.
[0005] This object is achieved by an air intake device for providing air to an air conditioning system of a vehicle, wherein the air intake device includes: a collecting member having an opening for receiving air; a duct arranged to convey air from the collecting member to the air conditioning system; and a drainage container, wherein the duct has a first duct portion and a second duct portion, the first duct portion extending from the collecting member to the inlet of the drainage container and allowing air to flow from the collecting member into the drainage container, the second duct portion extending from the outlet of the drainage container to the air conditioning system and allowing air to flow out of the drainage container and to the air conditioning system, and wherein the inlet and the outlet are arranged so that the air flow direction of the inlet and the air flow direction of the outlet form an angle α in the interval of 90°≤α≤270° relative to each other, thereby redirecting the air flow in the drainage container, wherein the angle α is defined so that when α=180°, the air flow direction of the outlet is opposite to the air flow direction of the inlet.
[0006] The invention is based on the recognition that, by means of such an air intake device, water can be removed in an efficient manner while minimizing the drop in air pressure. Any water in the air flowing through the drain container will be separated from the air in the drain container. The drain container preferably has a drain valve arranged at the bottom of the drain container for removing water collected in the drain container.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the air intake device, the angle α is in the range of 140°<α<220°, preferably in the range of 160°<α<200°, and more preferably in the range of 170°<α<190°.
[0008] The air flow direction of the inlet and the air flow direction of the outlet are main directions of the air flow guided into and guided out of the drainage container, respectively.
[0009] According to another embodiment, the airflow direction of the outlet is substantially opposite to the airflow direction of the inlet. In other words, α is substantially 180°, and the air will be redirected 180° when passing through the drainage container. Thus, any water in the air can be removed in a very efficient manner.
[0010] According to another embodiment, the outlet is arranged above the inlet.Thereby, the air is forced to flow upwards before leaving the drainage container, so that water is separated from the air flow due to the effect of gravity.
[0011] According to another embodiment, the air inlet device has a pipe section arranged at the outlet inside the drainage container, the pipe section surrounds the outlet, and preferably, the pipe section is the end of the second pipe section, which extends into the drainage container and ends inside the drainage container. Thereby, any water on the inner surface of the drainage container is prevented or blocked from flowing out of the drainage container following the air flow. In addition, the use of the end of the second pipe section makes it unnecessary to use additional components.
[0012] According to another embodiment, the inlet and outlet are arranged on the same side of the drainage container. Thus, the inlet and outlet can be positioned close to each other, which is advantageous when the arrangement space is limited, and the inlet and outlet can be arranged so as to achieve an angle α=180° for redirecting the airflow accordingly.
[0013] According to another embodiment, the first duct section has at least one internal guide blade, which is arranged to reduce the swirl of the air before it enters the drainage container. As a result, the air flow is more uniform and less turbulent when it reaches the drainage container, which improves the separation of water from air in the drainage container.
[0014] According to another embodiment, the at least one guide vane extends in the longitudinal direction of the first duct portion and divides the first duct portion into a plurality of longitudinal air channels. Thus, the air is divided and conveyed in the air channels, which reduces the swirl tendency.
[0015] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising an air intake device as described herein. The advantages of this vehicle are substantially the same as those already described with reference to the different embodiments of the air intake device.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the vehicle, the air intake device comprises: two said ducts arranged for conveying air from the collecting member to the air conditioning system; and two said drainage containers, wherein each drainage container is arranged at a respective side of the vehicle for draining water at a respective front wheel arch of the vehicle. Thereby, the performance of the air intake device can be improved, while the available arrangement space can be fully utilized.
[0017] Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Embodiments of the invention cited as examples will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0019] In the attached picture:
[0020] Figure 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air intake device.
[0021] Figure 1B is along Figure 1A The cross-sectional view taken from BB in
[0022] Figure 2 A variation of the air intake device is shown.
[0023] Figure 3A A perspective view showing yet another variation of the air intake device,
[0024] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A A top view of the air intake assembly, and
[0025] Figure 4 It is installed Figure 3A A schematic diagram of an air intake device for a vehicle is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Figure 1A is a cross-sectional view of an air intake device 1 for providing air to an air conditioning system or (schematically shown) HVAC 2 of a vehicle. The air intake device 1 comprises a collecting member 3 having an opening 4 for receiving air, a duct 5 arranged for conveying air from the collecting member 3 to the air conditioning system 2, and a drainage container 6. The duct 5 is preferably suitably closed along the entire extension from the collecting member 3 to the air conditioning system 2. The drainage container 6 is also closed with respect to the surrounding environment.
[0027] In addition, the pipe 5 has a first pipe portion 5a and a second pipe portion 5b, wherein the first pipe portion 5a extends from the collecting member 3 to the inlet 7 of the drainage container 6, which allows air to flow from the collecting member 3 into the drainage container 6, and the second pipe portion 5b extends from the outlet 8 of the drainage container 6 to the air conditioning system 2, which allows air to flow out of the drainage container 6 and flow to the air conditioning system 2.
[0028] The inlet 7 and the outlet 8 are arranged so that the airflow direction 9 of the inlet 7 and the airflow direction 10 of the outlet 8 form an angle α in the interval of 90°≤α≤270° relative to each other, so that the airflow is redirected in the drainage container 6. The inlet airflow direction 9 and the outlet airflow direction 10 are the main directions of the airflow flowing into the drainage container 6 and flowing out of the drainage container 6, respectively.
[0029] exist Figure 1A In the exemplary embodiment shown, the angle α between the airflow direction 9 of the inlet 7 and the airflow direction 10 of the outlet 8 is 180°. In other words, the inlet 7 and the outlet 8 are arranged such that the airflow direction 10 of the outlet 8 is substantially opposite to the airflow direction 9 of the inlet 7.
[0030] Therefore, the angle α is defined such that when α=180°, the air flow direction at the outlet is opposite to the air flow direction at the inlet.
[0031] In order to facilitate the explanation of the intake device 1, Figure 1A The Cartesian coordinate system X, Y, Z is introduced in which all these axes are orthogonal to each other.
[0032] In this exemplary embodiment, the air flow direction 9 of the inlet 7 is along the positive Y-axis direction, and the air flow direction 10 of the outlet 8 is along the negative Y-axis direction.
[0033] When the air intake device is in its intended orientation, for example when suitably mounted in a vehicle, the outlet 8 is arranged above the inlet 7, i.e. at a higher position of the vertical axis Z. Furthermore, the drain container 6 has a drain valve 11 arranged at the bottom 12 of the drain container 6, and the drain valve 11 is suitably arranged below the inlet 7, i.e. at a lower position of the vertical axis Z.
[0034] This means that the air will flow horizontally (to the right) into the drain container 6 and be redirected 180° and then flow out of the drain container horizontally (to the left) in the opposite direction. By arranging the outlet 8 above the inlet 7, during the redirection of the airflow, the air will first be forced upwards.
[0035] The inlet 7 and the outlet 8 may be arranged on the same side 13 of the drainage container 6 and are suitably arranged at substantially the same position along the X axis. Figure 1A The cross-sectional view taken from BB in Figure 1B, it is shown that the inlet 7 and the outlet 8 are arranged at the same side 13 of the drainage container 6 and at the same X-axis position.
[0036] Figure 1A The exemplary embodiment of the air inlet device 1 shown has a tube section 14 arranged at the outlet 8 inside the drainage container 6, the tube section 14 surrounds the outlet 8, i.e. the tube section 14 extends circumferentially around the outlet. The tube section 14 protrudes from an inner surface 15 of the drainage container 6 into the drainage container 6 and forms a collar extending around the outlet opening.
[0037] The pipe portion 14 is suitably an end portion of the second conduit portion 5 b or an extension thereof, which end portion extends into the drain container 6 and ends inside the drain container 6 .
[0038] Optionally, the tube portion 14 or collar arranged at the outlet 8 is a separate tube portion attached to the inner surface 15. Such a tube portion may have substantially the same dimensions as the outlet 8. For example, in case both the outlet and the tube portion have circular cross-sections, the inner diameter of the tube portion may be equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the outlet opening.
[0039] In the same manner as described above with respect to the outlet 8, the air intake device 1 may have a pipe section ( Figure 1A The pipe portion surrounds the inlet 7, i.e. the pipe portion extends circumferentially around the inlet. The pipe portion can protrude from the inner surface 15 of the drainage container 6 into the drainage container 6 and constitute a collar extending around the inlet opening.
[0040] The pipe portion is suitably an end portion of the first conduit portion 5a or an extension thereof, which end portion extends into the drain container 6 and terminates inside the drain container 6 .
[0041] Optionally, the tube portion or collar arranged at the inlet 7 is a separate tube portion attached to the inner surface 15. Such a tube portion may have substantially the same dimensions as the inlet 7. For example, in case both the inlet and the tube portion have circular cross-sections, the inner diameter of the tube portion may be equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the inlet opening.
[0042] Figure 2 A variant 1 ′ of the air inlet device is shown, in which the inlet 7 and the outlet 8 ′ are arranged such that the angle α between the air flow direction 9 of the inlet 7 and the air flow direction 10 ′ of the outlet 8 ′ is 90° for correspondingly redirecting the air flow in the drainage container 6 .
[0043] The air flow direction 9 of the inlet 7 is along the positive direction of the Y axis, and the air flow direction 10 ′ of the outlet 8 ′ is along the positive direction of the Z axis.
[0044] This means that the air will flow horizontally (to the right) into the drain container 6 and be redirected 90° and then flow vertically (upwards) out of the drain container, so that the air is forced upwards during the redirection of the airflow.
[0045] Figure 3A A further variant of an air intake device 101 is shown, wherein the device comprises: two said ducts 105 arranged for conveying air from a collecting member 103 to an air conditioning system or (schematically shown) HVAC 102; two said drain containers 106. Furthermore, an air filter 125 is suitably arranged downstream of the drain container 106 and upstream of the air conditioning system 102.
[0046] For each drainage container, a first pipe portion 105a extends from the collecting member 103 to an inlet 107 of the drainage container 106, which allows air to flow from the collecting member 103 into the drainage container 106, and a second pipe portion 105b extends from an outlet 108 of the drainage container 106 to the air conditioning system 102, which allows air to flow out of the drainage container 106 and to the air conditioning system 102.
[0047] With reference Figure 1A In the same manner as explained in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 3A In the exemplary embodiment shown, the angle α between the airflow direction 109 of the inlet 107 and the airflow direction 110 of the outlet 108 is approximately 180°. In other words, the inlet 107 and the outlet 108 are arranged so that the airflow direction 110 of the outlet 108 is substantially opposite to the airflow direction 109 of the inlet 107.
[0048] As from Figure 3A As shown in the partial cross-sectional view in FIG, the pipe portion 114 arranged at the outlet 108 inside the drainage container 106 surrounds the outlet 108, that is, the pipe portion 114 extends circumferentially around the outlet. The pipe portion 114 is the end of the second pipe part 105b, which extends into the drainage container 106 and ends inside the drainage container 106. The pipe portion 114 protrudes from the inner surface 115 into the drainage container 106 and forms a collar extending around the outlet opening.
[0049] As from Figure 3A As further shown in the partial cross-sectional view in FIG, a pipe portion 114' arranged at the inlet 107 inside the drainage container 106 surrounds the inlet 107, i.e., the pipe portion 114' extends circumferentially around the inlet. The pipe portion 114' is the end of the first conduit portion 105a, which extends into the drainage container 106 and ends inside the drainage container 106. The pipe portion 114' protrudes from the inner surface 115 into the drainage container 106 and forms a collar extending around the inlet opening.
[0050] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A FIG. 1 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the air intake device 101 shown in FIG. Figure 3B The interior of each first conduit portion 105a connected to the collecting member 103 and the corresponding drainage container 106 is shown.
[0051] The first duct section 105a suitably has at least one internal guide vane 116, which is arranged to reduce the swirl of the air before the air enters the drainage container 106. Preferably, the at least one guide vane 116 extends in the longitudinal direction of the first duct section 105a and divides the first duct section 105a into a plurality of longitudinal air channels 117. Figure 3A and Figure 3B In the exemplary embodiment shown, each first duct portion 105a has two guide vanes 116 providing three air channels 117. The guide vanes 116 can also be used to firstly divide the main airflow reaching the collecting member 103 into a first sub-airflow directed to one drainage container and a second sub-airflow directed to another drainage container.
[0052] Figure 4 A vehicle 120 is shown including an air intake device 101. For example, the air intake device 101 may be connected to Figure 3A The same as shown in , wherein each drainage container 106 is arranged at a corresponding side of the vehicle 120 for draining water at a corresponding front wheel arch 121 of the vehicle 120 .
[0053] When the intake device 101 is arranged in the vehicle 120, the directions and axes used in the Cartesian coordinate system, namely the X-axis, the Y-axis and the Z-axis, are arranged relative to the vehicle 120 so that the X-axis is a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal extension direction or the normal driving direction of the vehicle 120, the Y-axis is a horizontal axis parallel to the lateral extension direction of the vehicle 120, and the Z-axis is a vertical axis.
[0054] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An air conditioning system (2; 20) for providing air to a vehicle (120); 102) of the air intake device (1; 101), the air intake device comprises: a collecting member (3; 103) having an opening (4; 104) for receiving air; a duct (5; 105) arranged to convey air from the collecting member to the air conditioning system; and Drain container (6; 106), wherein the duct comprises a first duct portion (5a; 105a) and a second duct portion (5; 105b), the first duct portion (5a; 105a) extending from the collecting member to the inlet (7; 107) of the drainage container and allowing air to flow from the collecting member into the drainage container, and the second duct portion (5; 105b) extending from the outlet (8; 108) of the drainage container to the air conditioning system and allowing air to flow out of the drainage container and flow into the air conditioning system, wherein the inlet (7; 107) and the outlet (8; 108) are arranged so that the air flow direction (9; 109) of the inlet and the air flow direction (10; 110) of the outlet form an angle α in the interval of 90°≤α≤270° relative to each other, thereby redirecting the air flow in the drainage container, wherein the angle α is defined so that when α=180°, the air flow direction of the outlet is opposite to the air flow direction of the inlet.
2. The air intake device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle α is in the range of 140°<α<220°.
3. The air intake device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle α is in the range of 160°<α<200°.
4. The air intake device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle α is in the range of 170°<α<190°.
5. The air intake device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle α is substantially 180°, whereby the air flow direction (10; 110) of the outlet is substantially opposite to the air flow direction (9; 109) of the inlet.
6. An air intake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The outlet (8; 108) is arranged above the inlet (7; 107).
7. An air intake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The air inlet device (1; 101) has a pipe section (14; 114) arranged inside the drainage container (6; 106) at the outlet (8; 108), the pipe section (14; 114) surrounding the outlet.
8. The air intake device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The pipe section (14; 114) is the end of the second conduit section (5b; 105b), which extends into the drainage container (6; 106) and ends inside the drainage container.
9. An air intake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The inlet (7; 107) and the outlet (8; 108) are arranged on the same side (13) of the drainage container (6; 106).
10. An air intake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The drainage container (6; 106) has a drainage valve (11; 111) arranged at the bottom of the drainage container.
11. An air intake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first duct portion (105a) has at least one internal guide vane (116) arranged to reduce swirl of air before the air enters the drainage container (106).
12. The air intake device according to claim 11, characterized in that: The at least one guide blade (116) extends in the longitudinal direction of the first duct portion (105a) and divides the first duct portion into a plurality of longitudinal air channels (117).
13. An air intake device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The air intake device (101) comprises: two said ducts (105) arranged to convey air from said collecting member (103) to said air conditioning system (102); and Two of the drainage containers (106).
14. A vehicle (120), comprising an air intake device (1; 101) according to any one of claims 1-13.
15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the air intake device (101) comprises: two said ducts (105) arranged for conveying air from said collecting member (103) to said air conditioning system (102); as well as two said drainage containers (106), Each drainage container is arranged at a corresponding side of the vehicle (120) for draining water at a corresponding front wheel arch (121) of the vehicle.