Water filtration device, ventilation system including such a device and motor vehicle including such a system

Abstract

This water filtration device (14) comprises an upper shell (22) and a lower shell (20) assembled to form a housing. The upper shell (22) includes an upstream opening (26), and the lower shell (20) includes a downstream opening (28). The water filtration device further comprises a watertight wall (44) defining within the housing a flow channel extending from the upstream opening (26) to the downstream opening (28), and a receptacle (48) arranged within the flow channel and provided with a water discharge opening (54). The watertight wall (44) is arranged so that water entering the housing through the upstream opening (26) of the upper shell (22) flows over the watertight wall (44) and then into the receptacle (48) under the effect of gravity. (See Figure 3 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Water filtration device, ventilation system comprising such a device, and motor vehicle comprising such a system. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates technically to motor vehicle ventilation systems.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a water filtration device, a ventilation system comprising such a device and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. Previous techniques

[0003] A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, or "Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning" in Anglo-Saxon terms, is generally bulky.

[0004] Some quadricycles, especially electric ones, have limited space available to integrate heating, ventilation and air conditioning functions.

[0005] The air captured by the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system may be humid when it comes from outside the vehicle, which could damage the system.

[0006] In addition, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system can also suck in objects, such as leaves, during its operation.

[0007] The invention aims to provide an architecture for a ventilation system for a motor vehicle, in particular for a quadricycle, to improve the integration of such a ventilation system, and to distribute good quality air in the vehicle's passenger compartment. Description of the invention

[0008] The invention relates to a water filtration device for a motor vehicle ventilation system comprising an upper shell and a lower shell assembled together to form a housing, the upper shell comprising an upstream opening for the inlet of humid air, the lower shell comprising a downstream opening for the outlet of dry air.

[0009] The water filtration device further comprises a watertight wall delimiting within the housing a flow channel going from the upstream opening of the upper shell to the downstream opening of the lower shell, and a receptacle arranged in the flow channel and provided with a water evacuation opening, the watertight wall being arranged so that water entering the housing through the upstream opening of the upper shell flows over the watertight wall and then into the receptacle under the effect of gravity.

[0010] The watertight wall forms a screen between the upstream opening of the upper hull and the downstream opening of the lower hull.

[0011] The arrangement of the watertight wall allows the water and air coming from the upstream opening of the upper hull to be separated so that only the air reaches the downstream opening of the lower hull, the water being directed into the receptacle by the watertight wall.

[0012] The water drainage opening of the receptacle allows water to be drained from the water filtration device.

[0013] The lower shell may be of stepped form and include at least a first stage forming the receptacle and a second stage including the downstream opening of the lower shell, a wall of the lower shell forming a wall between the first and second stages.

[0014] The wall of the lower hull forming the wall between the first and second floors prevents the water contained in the receptacle from reaching the downstream opening of the lower hull.

[0015] The water filtration device may include an air filter inserted into the downstream opening of the lower shell.

[0016] Thus, dust particles contained in the air passing through the air filter inserted in the downstream opening of the lower shell are captured.

[0017] The water filtration device may include a water drain pipe connected to the opening of the receptacle.

[0018] The water drain pipe allows the water drained from the water filtration device to be directed.

[0019] The lower and upper shells can be assembled together by elastic interlocking.

[0020] Optionally, one of the lower and upper shells includes at least one fixing tab, the other of the lower and upper shells includes at least one fixing notch for said fixing tab.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle ventilation system comprising a water filtration device as defined above, an air distribution device and an air blower device connected on the one hand to the downstream opening of the lower shell and on the other hand to the air distribution device.

[0022] The air blower device is configured to draw air from the device water filtration and air distribution are used to blow air into the air distribution system. The air distribution system is configured to distribute air into the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0023] The air distribution device may comprise two half-shells assembled together to form an air distribution body connected to the air blower device.

[0024] The air distribution device may further include air ducts, a windshield demisting frieze connected to the air distribution body, and two side demisting and ventilation friezes each connected to the air distribution body.

[0025] The air blower device may include a heating element and / or an air conditioning element.

[0026] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a ventilation system as defined above.

[0027] Advantageously, the vehicle includes an engine compartment, a passenger compartment and a bulkhead separating the engine compartment and the passenger compartment such that the water filtration device and the air blower device are arranged in the engine compartment, and such that the air distribution device is arranged in the passenger compartment.

[0028] The ventilation system thus arranged allows its bulk to be distributed between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment, increasing in particular the space available in the passenger compartment.

[0029] Advantageously, the motor vehicle includes a windshield and an engine hood, the upstream opening of the upper shell of the water filtration device opening between the windshield and the engine hood.

[0030] Thus, the ventilation system captures air from outside the engine compartment, the outside air being generally colder than the air contained in the engine compartment.

[0031] Advantageously, the water filtering device is directly accessible by opening the hood of the motor vehicle, thus allowing easy changing of the air filter and cleaning of the receptacle by opening the housing of the water filtering device and removing the sealing wall, changing the air filter not requiring the removal of the lower shell. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0033] [Fig-1] is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle comprising a ventilation system according to an example of an embodiment of the invention;

[0034] [Fig.2] is an exploded view of a ventilation system according to an example of an embodiment of the invention;

[0035] [Fig.3] is an exploded view of the water filtration device of [Fig.2];

[0036] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the arrangement of the ventilation system of [Fig. 2] in the motor vehicle, the apron not having been shown for clarity; and

[0037] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of the watertight wall and lower hull of the [Fig.4] attached to the apron. Detailed description

[0038] Fig. 1 represents a motor vehicle 2, for example a quadricycle, comprising an engine compartment 4, an engine hood 6 forming an upper wall of the engine compartment 4, a passenger compartment 8, a windscreen 9 forming a front wall of the passenger compartment 8, a bulkhead 10 separating the engine compartment 4 and the passenger compartment 8, and a ventilation system 12.

[0039] The apron 10 is, for example, a plastic part.

[0040] The ventilation system 12 includes a water filtering device 14 in the engine compartment 4, an air distribution device 16 in the passenger compartment 8 and an air blower device 18 in the passenger compartment 8 connected on the one hand to the water filtering device 14 and on the other hand to the air distribution device 16.

[0041] An opening 19 is provided in the apron 10 to allow the connection between the water filtration device 14 and the air blower device 18.

[0042] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the water filtration device 14 comprises a lower shell 20 and an upper shell 22 assembled together to form a housing, as well as a water drain pipe 24 extending from the lower shell 20.

[0043] The lower and upper shells 20, 22 are, for example, each formed of polypropylene.

[0044] The housing of the water filtration device 14 includes an upstream opening 26 made in an upper wall of the upper shell 22 and intended to collect humid air, and a downstream opening 28 made in a lower wall of the lower shell 20 and intended to expel dry air.

[0045] The air blower device 18 comprises an electric motor, a fan, and an electric heating element with a positive temperature coefficient. Alternatively or in addition, the air blower device 18 may comprise an air conditioning element.

[0046] The air blower device 18 is able to connect to the water filtering device 14 through the opening 19 of the apron 10, to draw air from the downstream opening 28 of the lower shell 20 of the water filtering device 14 and to blow the air thus drawn into the air distribution device 16.

[0047] The air blower device 18 is, for example, screwed to the apron 10.

[0048] The air distribution device 16 comprises two half-shells 30 assembled together to form an air distribution body having an upstream opening 32 for connection to the air blower device 18, two lateral downstream openings 34 and a main downstream opening 36.

[0049] The air distribution device 16 further includes two air ducts 38, a windscreen demisting frieze 40 connected to the main downstream opening 36 of the air distribution body, and two side demisting and ventilation friezes 42 each connected by an air duct to a lateral downstream opening 34 of the air distribution body.

[0050] The air distribution device 16 is suitable for distributing air into the passenger compartment 8 of the motor vehicle 2 through the windscreen demisting frieze 40 and the two side demisting and ventilation friezes 42.

[0051] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the water filtering device 14 includes a watertight wall 44 arranged inside the housing of the water filtering device 14.

[0052] The watertight wall 44 delimits in the casing a flow channel going from the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22 to the downstream opening 28 of the lower shell 20.

[0053] The lower shell 20 is of stepped form and comprises a first stage 46 forming a receptacle 48, a second stage 50 in which the downstream opening 28 is made, and a third stage 52 intended to be opposite the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22 when the casing is assembled, the second stage 50 being arranged between the first stage 46 and the third stage 52. The first, second and third stages 46, 50, 52 of the lower shell 20 are arranged at different altitudes, the second stage 50 being arranged at an intermediate altitude between the altitude of the first stage 46 and the altitude of the third stage 52.

[0054] A water drainage opening 54 is provided at the bottom of the first stage 46 of the lower hull 20, in particular at the bottom of the receptacle 48, in order to connect the water drainage pipe 24.

[0055] The lower shell 20 includes a wall extending from the second floor 50 towards the first floor 46 and forming a wall between the first and second floors 46, 50 of the lower shell 20. The lower shell 20 includes a wall extending from the second floor 50 towards the third floor 52 and forming a wall between the second and third floors 50, 52.

[0056] The watertight wall 44 forms a screen between the upstream opening 26 of the upper hull 22 and the downstream opening 28 of the lower hull 20.

[0057] The watertight wall 44 comprises a first portion intended to be positioned in line with the third stage 52 of the lower hull 20, a second portion extending the first portion and intended to extend opposite and at a distance from the second floor 50 of the lower hull 20, and a third portion extending the second portion on the opposite side to the first portion and intended to extend opposite and at a distance from the wall of the lower hull 20 forming a wall between the first and second floors 46, 50 of the lower hull 20.

[0058] The lower shell 20 includes a groove 56 for receiving the edges of the watertight wall 44 so that water flowing on the third stage 52 flows by gravity onto the watertight wall 44 and cannot flow along the wall between the second and third stages 50, 52 of the lower shell 20. Advantageously an interface seal (not shown), for example a foam or a rubber, is arranged between the watertight wall 44 and the groove 56 in order to improve the watertightness of the connection between the lower shell 20 and the watertight wall 44.

[0059] The watertight wall 44 is, for example, made of polypropylene. Alternatively, the watertight wall 44 can be made of a soft plastic in order to further improve the watertightness of the connection between the lower shell 20 and the watertight wall 44.

[0060] The watertight wall 44 is intended to remain at a distance from the bottom of the receptacle 48.

[0061] Thus, the watertight wall 44 is arranged so that water penetrating the housing Through the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22, the fluid flows onto the third stage 52, then onto the watertight wall 44, and finally into the receptacle 48 under the effect of gravity. Advantageously, leaves or other objects entering the casing through the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22 are also directed into the receptacle 48.

[0062] The flow channel delimited by the watertight wall 44 in the casing comprises a first portion going from the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22 to the receptacle 48, and a second portion going from the receptacle 48 to the downstream opening 28 of the lower shell 20. In particular, water and air naturally entering the casing through the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22 can flow in the first portion of the flow channel, only air being able to flow in the second portion of the flow channel, the water being trapped in the receptacle 48 by gravity.

[0063] The lower and upper shells 20, 22 of the water filtration device 14 are assembled together by elastic interlocking.

[0064] The upper shell 22 here includes eight fixing tabs 58 distributed along a periphery of the upper shell 20 and each extending towards the lower shell 20.

[0065] The lower shell 20 here includes eight associated fixing notches 60 distributed along a periphery of the lower shell 20 and each capable of locking a fixing tab 58 by elastic interlocking.

[0066] Advantageously, an interface seal (not shown) is arranged between the lower and upper shells 20, 22 in order to improve the sealing of the assembly of the lower and upper shells 20, 22.

[0067] The water filtration device 14 includes fixing lugs 62 of the water filtration device 14 to the apron 10 extending here from the lower shell 20.

[0068] Fig. 4 represents the arrangement of the ventilation system 12 in the motor vehicle 2, the apron 10 not having been shown.

[0069] The upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22 is arranged to open between the engine hood 6 and the windshield 9 of the motor vehicle 2, so as to be able to draw in air from outside the motor vehicle 2.

[0070] The motor vehicle 2 includes a canopy grille 64 arranged between the engine hood 6 and the windshield 9 of the motor vehicle 2 and comprising a grille 66 positioned opposite the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22 and partially closing the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell 22. Alternatively, the water filtration device 14 may include such a grille 66 partially closing the upstream opening 26 of the upper shell and forming a single piece with the upper shell 22.

[0071] Fig. 5 represents the watertight wall 44 arranged in the groove 56 of the lower hull 20.

[0072] The water filtration device 14 includes an air filter 68 inserted into the downstream opening 28 of the lower shell 20.

[0073] The lower shell 20 further includes a plurality of rims 70 extending from the second stage 50 and forming a guide for the air filter 68 so as to ensure the correct positioning of the air filter 68.

Claims

Demands

1. A motor vehicle (2) comprising an engine compartment (4), a passenger compartment (8), and a ventilation system (12) comprising a water filter (14), an air distribution device (16), and an air blower device (18) connected on one side to the downstream opening (28) of the lower shell (20) and on the other side to the air distribution device (16), the water filter (14) comprising an upper shell (22) and a lower shell (20) assembled together to form a housing, the upper shell (22) comprising an upstream opening (26) for the inlet of humid air, the lower shell (20) comprising a downstream opening (28) for the outlet of dry air, the water filter (14) further comprising a sealed partition (44) delimiting within the housing a flow channel extending from the upstream opening (26) of the upper shell (22) to the downstream opening (28) of the lower hull (20),and a receptacle (48) arranged in the flow channel and provided with a water drainage opening (54), the watertight wall (44) being arranged so that water entering the housing through the upstream opening (26) of the upper shell (22) flows over the watertight wall (44) and then into the receptacle (48) under the effect of gravity, characterized in that it comprises an apron (10) separating the engine compartment (4) and the passenger compartment (8) such that the water filtration device (14) and the air blower device (18) are arranged in the engine compartment (4), and such that the air distribution device (16) is arranged in the passenger compartment (8).

2. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the lower shell (20) is of stepped form and comprises at least a first stage (46) forming the receptacle (48) and a second stage (50) comprising the downstream opening (28) of the lower shell (20), a wall of the lower shell (20) forming a wall between the first and second stages (46, 50).

3. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the water filtration device (14) comprises an air filter (68) inserted in the downstream opening (28) of the lower shell (20).

4. A motor vehicle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water filtration device (14) comprises a water drain pipe (24) connected to the opening of the receptacle (48).

5. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower and upper shells (20, 22) are joined together by elastic interlocking.

6. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the air distribution device (16) comprises two half-shells assembled together to form an air distribution body connected to the air blower device (18), air ducts, a windscreen demisting frieze (40) connected to the air distribution body, and two side demisting and ventilation friezes (42) each connected to the air distribution body.

7. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a windscreen (9) and an engine hood (6), the upstream opening (26) of the upper shell (22) of the water filtration device (14) opening between the windscreen (9) and the engine hood (6).

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