Vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle whose aerodynamic characteristic is secured in addition to cooling performance.SOLUTION: An air introduction part 13 of a vehicle 10 passes the air that is introduced inside the vehicle body 11. A first heat exchanger 14 exchanges heat with the air introduced through the air introduction part 13. A second heat exchanger 15 exchanges heat with the air introduced through the air introduction part 13. A second discharge air duct 162 circulates the air heat exchanged with the second heat exchanger 15. An air exhaust part 17 exhausts the air circulating in the second discharge air duct 162 to the outside of the vehicle. A part of the second discharge air duct 162 is formed along a vehicle width direction. The air exhaust part 17 is in front of a tire 18 and is disposed inside in the vehicle width direction of a tire house 19.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle equipped with a plurality of heat exchangers.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles have been equipped with heat exchangers such as radiators and condensers. These heat exchangers can exchange heat by receiving air flow and cool the engine or refrigerant. Here, the air flow to the heat exchanger is, for example, the running wind generated when the vehicle is running.

[0003] In recent years, vehicles equipped with small heat exchangers such as intercoolers have appeared separately from heat exchangers such as radiators. Such matters are described in Patent Document 1 and the like.

[0004] In Patent Document 1, an air discharge port through which air that has cooled the intercooler is discharged is provided below the intercooler at the lower part of the front portion of the engine room. Further, a part of the air discharge port is located behind the intercooler and discharges the air introduced into the engine room from the air inlet port to the outside of the engine room.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the invention described in the above - mentioned patent document, there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of ensuring aerodynamic characteristics in addition to cooling performance.

[0007] Specifically, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is described that the air that has cooled the intercooler is discharged below the vehicle. However, if the cooled air is discharged to an arbitrary location below the vehicle, the flow below the vehicle will be disturbed during driving, and there has been a problem that the aerodynamic characteristics deteriorate.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle in which aerodynamic characteristics are ensured in addition to cooling performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air introduction portion formed by opening the front portion of the vehicle body and through which the air introduced into the vehicle body passes, a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the air introduced from the air introduction portion, a second heat exchanger that is separate from the first heat exchanger and is configured to exchange heat with the air introduced from the air introduction portion, an exhaust air passage through which the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger flows, and an air discharge portion through which the air that has flowed through the exhaust air passage is discharged to the outside of the vehicle. A part of the exhaust air passage is formed along the vehicle width direction, and the air discharge portion is disposed on the front side of the tire and on the inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the tire house.

Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the air after exchanging heat with the second heat exchanger can be effectively discharged. That is, most of the air discharged from the air discharge portion is effectively sucked out by using the negative pressure of the tire house. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress the air discharged from the air discharge portion from flowing out to the lower surface side of the vehicle. Therefore, the air discharged from the air discharge portion does not interfere with the underfloor mainstream generated on the lower surface of the vehicle during driving, and does not deteriorate the aerodynamic characteristics during driving.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7

[0012] Below, a vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions are used, and the left and right directions refer to the left and right when the vehicle 10 is viewed from the front. Furthermore, in the following description, the same components are in principle given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations are omitted. Furthermore, in the following description, the width direction and the left and right direction of the vehicle are synonymous. Furthermore, in the following description, the exhaust air passage described in the claims corresponds to the second exhaust air passage 162.

[0013] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the vehicle 10 as viewed from above. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the vehicle 10 as viewed from below.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1A, the vehicle 10 is, for example, an engine vehicle, a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or the like.

[0015] The front portion 12 of the vehicle 10 is covered by a front bumper 23 made of a plate-shaped synthetic resin.

[0016] The air introduction portion 13 is a portion where the central portion in the left-right direction of the front bumper 23 is opened. The air introduction portion 13 is formed elongated along the left-right direction. As will be described later, outside air can be introduced into the engine room 25 via the air introduction portion 13 to cool the first heat exchanger 14 and the second heat exchanger 15 described later.

[0017] At the four corners of the vehicle body 11, tire houses 19 are formed, and tires 18 are disposed inside the tire houses 19.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1B, an air discharge portion 17 is formed inside the tire 18 and the tire house 19 in the width direction. As will be described later, the air discharge portion 17 is a portion where the air introduced from the air introduction portion 13 and heat-exchanged with the second heat exchanger 15 described later is discharged to the outside of the vehicle. As will be described later, the air discharged from the air discharge portion 17 during vehicle travel is effectively discharged near the tire house 19, so that it is suppressed from flowing out below the floor surface of the vehicle body 11. Therefore, a decrease in aerodynamic characteristics below the floor surface of the vehicle body 11 is suppressed.

[0019] FIG. 2A is a side sectional view showing the central portion of the front part of the vehicle 10. FIG. 2B is a side sectional view showing the peripheral portion of the front part of the vehicle 10. FIG. 2A is a sectional view corresponding to the A-A cutting plane line of FIG. 3 described later. FIG. 2B is a sectional view corresponding to the B-B cutting plane line of FIG. 3 described later.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the vehicle 10 mainly includes an air introduction part 13, a first heat exchanger 14, a second heat exchanger 15, an exhaust air passage 16, and an air discharge part 17. With such a configuration, the air introduced from the air introduction part 13 can be effectively heat-exchanged with the first heat exchanger 14 and the second heat exchanger 15. Further, as will be described later, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the aerodynamic characteristics under the vehicle floor. Also, each device for cooling the first heat exchanger 14 and the second heat exchanger 15 is housed in the engine room 25.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1A, the air introduction part 13 is formed by opening the front part 12 of the vehicle body 11. The air introduction part 13 is configured such that the air introduced into the vehicle body 11 passes therethrough. The air introduction part 13 is disposed substantially at the center in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, since the second heat exchanger 15 and the first heat exchanger 14 are also disposed substantially at the center in the vehicle width direction, the air introduced from the air introduction part 13 is effectively blown to the second heat exchanger 15 and the first heat exchanger 14.

[0022] The first heat exchanger 14 is configured to perform heat exchange with the air introduced from the air introduction part 13. The first heat exchanger 14 has a radiator 141 and a condenser 142. Here, the condenser 142 is disposed on the front side of the radiator 141, but the radiator 141 may be disposed on the front side of the condenser 142.

[0023] The radiator 141 is connected to an engine (not shown) via a pipe (not shown). By circulating the cooling water between the radiator 141 and the engine, heat exchange occurs between the cooling water and the engine, and the engine is cooled. Also, in the radiator 141, the cooling water is cooled by heat exchange between the air flowing through the first exhaust air passage 161 (to be described later) and the cooling water.

[0024] The capacitor 142 is connected to the compressor, the expander, and the evaporator via pipes (not shown). A refrigerant circulates among the capacitor 142, the compressor, the expander, and the evaporator to form a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. This refrigeration cycle is used, for example, as an in-vehicle air conditioner for heating and cooling the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10. The capacitor 142 is configured such that the refrigerant passes through its interior. In the capacitor 142, the refrigerant is condensed by heat exchange between the air flowing through the first discharge air passage 161 (described later) and the refrigerant.

[0025] The second heat exchanger 15 is separate from the first heat exchanger 14 and is configured to exchange heat with the air introduced from the air introduction portion 13. Specifically, as the second heat exchanger 15, an oil cooler for cooling the oil used in the engine, a small radiator for water cooling, a motor, a heat dissipation fin, etc. can be adopted. The number of the second heat exchangers 15 may be plural. The second heat exchanger 15 is disposed on the front side of the first heat exchanger 14. Further, the second heat exchanger 15 is disposed below the first heat exchanger 14. With such a configuration, the first heat exchanger 14 and the second heat exchanger 15 can exchange heat through separate air passages, and the first heat exchanger 14 and the second heat exchanger 15 can be effectively cooled.

[0026] The discharge air passage 16 is an air passage through which the air that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchanger 14 or the second heat exchanger 15 is discharged to the outside. The discharge air passage 16 has a first discharge air passage 161 and a second discharge air passage 162.

[0027] The first discharge air passage 161 is an air passage through which the air that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchanger 14 flows. The first discharge air passage 161 is an air passage that is discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the rear lower portion of the engine room 25.

[0028] The second exhaust air duct 162 is a duct through which the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger 15 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle. Details of the second exhaust air duct 162 will be described with reference to the figures after FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 2B, the second exhaust air duct 162 is formed between the air guide 20 and the under cover 21. Also, the second exhaust air duct 162 is surrounded by the front bumper 23 from the front. In other words, a substantially closed space surrounded by the air guide 20 and the under cover 21 functions as the second exhaust air duct 162. As described above, the exhaust air duct described in the claims corresponds to the second exhaust air duct 162.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2B, the air discharge portion 17 is an opening configured such that the air that has flowed through the exhaust air duct 16 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle. The air discharge portion 17 is, for example, an opening formed between the rear end portion of the air guide 20 and the rear end portion of the under cover 21.

[0030] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the vehicle 10. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the front portion of the vehicle 10 as viewed from below. FIG. 4B is an enlarged perspective view of the front portion of the vehicle 10 as viewed from below.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the first heat exchanger 14, the second heat exchanger 15, the air guide 20, and the under cover 21 are disposed on the rear side of the air introduction portion 13.

[0032] The under cover 21 is a plate-like member made of synthetic resin or the like and is disposed on the lower surface of the vehicle.

[0033] The air guide 20 is a plate-like member made of synthetic resin or the like and is disposed so as to cover the under cover 21 from above. An attachment opening 201 is formed by partially opening the central portion in the width direction of the air guide 20. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second heat exchanger 15 is fitted into the attachment opening 201.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the front part 12 of the vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the air introduction part 13 is an opening formed at the center in the width direction of the front part 12. By doing so, when the vehicle 10 is running, a large amount of air can be stably taken into the vehicle interior from the air introduction part 13.

[0035] FIG. 6A is a cutaway perspective view showing the front part of the vehicle 10. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the front part of the vehicle 10 seen from below.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 6A, the second heat exchanger 15 is fitted into the mounting opening 201 of the air guide 20. Further, the second heat exchanger 15 is fitted into the mounting opening 201 in a posture inclined downward toward the rear. By doing so, the air after passing through the second heat exchanger 15 can be made to proceed in a direction inclined downward toward the rear.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 6B, the air discharge part 17 is formed near the end in the width direction of the under cover 21. Further, the air discharge part 17 is a notch 211 formed in the rear end side part of the under cover 21. Specifically, a bent part 212 is formed at the left rear end of the under cover 21. The bent part 212 is a part where the under cover 21 is partially bent upward at a substantially right angle. The notch 211 formed immediately to the right of the bent part 212 functions as the air discharge part 17.

[0038] Furthermore, the bent part 212, the air discharge part 17, and the second discharge air passage 162 are also formed on the right side of the under cover 21. Therefore, since the second discharge air passage 162 is formed symmetrically left and right, there is little difference in load distribution. From this, when the vehicle is running, it is suppressed that unnecessary moments are generated due to the second discharge air passage 162, and handling is not hindered.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing the front part of the vehicle 10.

[0040] The air discharge portion 17 is positioned such that the air discharged from the air discharge portion 17 during vehicle travel is sucked out by the negative pressure of the tire house 19 during travel. Specifically, the air discharge portion 17, which is the end of the second discharge air passage 162, is disposed between the tire 18 and the under cover 21 in the vehicle width direction. Further, the air discharge portion 17 may be disposed between the under cover 21 and the tire house 19 in the vehicle width direction. In the front-rear direction, the air discharge portion 17 is disposed on the front side of the tire 18, specifically, in the vicinity of the front end of the tire house 19. Here, the region through which the air discharged from the air discharge portion 17 flows is hatched as the discharge region 22. By doing so, as will be described later, the air volume in the second discharge air passage 162 can be increased, and heat exchange in the second heat exchanger 15 can be promoted.

[0041] While referring to each of the above-described figures, the path of the air introduced from the air introduction portion 13 will be described in detail.

[0042] First, referring to FIG. 2A, an introduction air passage 24 is formed by introducing air into the engine room 25 via the air introduction portion 13. The introduction of air may be due to the generation of traveling wind when the vehicle 10 travels. Further, the introduction of air may be due to sucking air from the air introduction portion 13 by rotating a blower fan (not shown).

[0043] Next, the air introduced from the air introduction portion 13 is blown to both the first heat exchanger 14 and the second heat exchanger 15, and the air that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchanger 14 and the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger 15 are discharged to the outside of the vehicle through different air passages.

[0044] Specifically, inside the engine room 25, a first exhaust air passage 161 and a second exhaust air passage 162 are formed. The first exhaust air passage 161 is a path through which the air introduced from the air introduction part 13 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle after heat exchange with the first heat exchanger 14. The second exhaust air passage 162 is a path through which the air introduced from the air introduction part 13 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle after heat exchange with the second heat exchanger 15. The amount of heat exchange in the second heat exchanger 15 is smaller than the amount of heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 14. Therefore, the air volume of the second exhaust air passage 162 that exchanges heat with the second heat exchanger 15 is less than the air volume of the first exhaust air passage 161 that exchanges heat with the first heat exchanger 14.

[0045] The air that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchanger 14 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle via the first exhaust air passage 161 and through an opening (not shown) formed on the rear end side of the engine room 25. The air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger 15 is discharged to the outside via the second exhaust air passage 162 and through the air discharge part 17.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 6B, the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger 15 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle from the air discharge part 17 via the second exhaust air passage 162. Here, a part of the second exhaust air passage 162 is an air passage part 163 formed along the vehicle width direction. The air passage part 163 is an air passage extending substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction. In FIG. 6B, the part corresponding to the air passage part 163 is colored and further enclosed by a dashed-dotted line. By doing so, even when the second heat exchanger 15 is arranged at the center in the width direction while the air discharge part 17 is arranged at the end in the width direction, the second exhaust air passage 162 can be favorably formed from the second heat exchanger 15 toward the air discharge part 17.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 7, the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger 15 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle from the air discharge portion 17 at the end of the second discharge air passage 162. Since a negative pressure is generated inside the tire house 19 when the vehicle 10 is running, the negative pressure is utilized to effectively discharge the air from the air discharge portion 17 to the outside of the vehicle. Most of the air discharged from the air discharge portion 17 does not flow into the tire house 19. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the Cd value and the Cl value inside the tire house 19. Further, since the air discharged from the air discharge portion 17 does not flow around to the lower surface side of the under cover 21, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the Cd value and the Cl value below the vehicle floor surface.

[0048] The technical idea that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment will be described below together with its effects.

[0049] The vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air introduction portion formed by opening the front portion of the vehicle body and through which the air introduced into the vehicle body passes, a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the air introduced from the air introduction portion, a second heat exchanger that is separate from the first heat exchanger and is configured to exchange heat with the air introduced from the air introduction portion, a discharge air passage through which the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger flows, and an air discharge portion through which the air that has flowed through the discharge air passage is discharged to the outside of the vehicle. A part of the discharge air passage is formed along the vehicle width direction, and the air discharge portion is disposed on the front side of the tire and on the inner side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the tire house. According to the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger can be effectively discharged. That is, most of the air discharged from the air discharge portion is effectively sucked out using the negative pressure of the tire house. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the air discharged from the air discharge portion from flowing out to the lower surface side of the vehicle. From this, the air discharged from the air discharge portion does not interfere with the underfloor main flow generated on the lower surface of the vehicle during running, and does not deteriorate the aerodynamic characteristics during running.

[0050] In the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust air passage is formed between the air guide and the under cover, and the air discharge portion is disposed between the tire and the under cover. According to the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the air discharged from the air discharge portion from flowing out to the lower surface side of the under cover, and to suppress a decrease in aerodynamic characteristics during traveling.

[0051] In the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the air discharge portion is a notch formed in a rear end side portion of the under cover. According to the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the air discharge portion can be formed with a simple configuration.

[0052] In the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the air introduced from the air introduction portion is blown to both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and the air that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchanger and the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger are discharged to the outside of the vehicle through different air passages. According to the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle configuration can be simplified by blowing air from one air introduction portion to both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. Further, by separating the exhaust paths of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger into different systems, it is possible to sufficiently secure the air volume in the exhaust path and effectively perform heat exchange in each heat exchanger.

[0053] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, the above-described embodiments can be combined with each other.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0054] 10 Vehicle 11 Vehicle Body 12 Front Portion 13 Air Introduction Portion 14 First Heat Exchanger 141 Radiator 142 Condenser 15 Second Heat Exchanger 16 Exhaust Air Passage 161 First exhaust air duct 162 Second exhaust air duct 163 Air duct part 17 Air discharge part 18 Tire 19 Tire house 20 Air guide 201 Mounting opening 21 Under cover 211 Notch 212 Bend 22 Discharge area 23 Front bumper 24 Intake air duct 25 Engine room

Claims

1. an air introduction section formed by opening a front portion of the vehicle body and through which air to be introduced into the interior of the vehicle body passes; A first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the air introduced from the air introduction portion; A second heat exchanger that is separate from the first heat exchanger and is configured to exchange heat with the air introduced from the air introduction portion; an exhaust air passage through which the air flows after heat exchange with the second heat exchanger; an air exhaust section through which the air that has flowed through the exhaust air passage is exhausted to the outside of the vehicle; A portion of the exhaust air passage is formed along a vehicle width direction, The vehicle, wherein the air discharge portion is disposed forward of a tire and inward of a tire house in a vehicle width direction.

2. The exhaust air passage is formed between the air guide and the undercover, 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air discharge portion is disposed between the tire and the undercover.

3. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the air discharge portion is a notch formed in a rear end portion of the undercover.

4. The air introduced from the air introduction portion is blown to both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air that has exchanged heat with the first heat exchanger and the air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchanger are discharged to the outside of the vehicle via different air passages.

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