Air intake duct

Abstract

To provide an air intake duct capable of suppressing the inflow of liquid to a deep portion of the duct.SOLUTION: An air intake duct of the present invention is provided with an air intake port, a storage part storing liquid flowing into from the air intake port; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid from the storage part. The storage part is provided immediately behind the air intake port. A bottom surface of the storage part has a shape inclined with respect to horizontality so as to guide the liquid to the discharge port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an intake duct.

Background Art

[0002] The cooling device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is disposed below a vehicle and includes a duct provided with a liquid reservoir portion in which liquid flowing in from an air inlet accumulates.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the duct included in the cooling device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the liquid reservoir portion is provided in the middle of the duct, the liquid easily flows into the back of the duct.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an intake duct capable of suppressing the liquid from flowing into the back of the duct.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an intake duct according to the present invention is an intake duct provided with an air inlet, a storage portion for storing liquid flowing in from the air inlet, and a discharge port for discharging the liquid from the storage portion, wherein the storage portion is provided immediately after the air inlet, and a bottom surface of the storage portion is inclined with respect to the horizontal so as to guide the liquid to the discharge port.

[0007] Accordingly, in the intake duct according to the present invention, by providing a storage portion for storing liquid immediately after the intake port, it is possible to suppress the liquid from flowing into the depth of the duct.

[0008] Further, in the above, the discharge port may be provided at the lowermost portion of the bottom surface of the storage portion.

[0009] Thereby, it is possible to facilitate the discharge of the liquid from the discharge port by the weight of the liquid accumulated in the storage portion.

[0010] Further, in the above, legs protruding downward from the bottom surface may be provided.

[0011] Thereby, by applying the legs to the mating member, it is possible to suppress the inclination of the intake duct due to assembly play or its own weight, and to hold the inclination of the bottom surface of the storage portion so as to guide the liquid to the discharge port.

Effect of the Invention

[0012] The intake duct according to the present invention has an effect that it is possible to suppress the liquid flowing in from the intake port from flowing into the depth of the duct by providing a storage portion for storing liquid immediately after the intake port.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

[0014] (Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the intake duct according to the present invention will be described below, although the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a side perspective view schematically showing an example of a state in which a cooling device 2 including an intake duct 20 according to the first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cooling device 2 and a DC-DC converter 3 provided on a floor panel 10. Fig. 3 is a side view of the intake duct 20 according to the first embodiment, as seen from the intake port 203 side. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the intake duct 20 according to the first embodiment, as seen from the intake port 203 side. Fig. 5 is a view of the liquid pool pocket 204 of the intake duct 20 according to the first embodiment, as seen from below.

[0016] The cooling device 2 according to the first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 1 to cool a DC-DC converter 3. The cooling device 2 is provided on a floor panel 10 of the vehicle 1 together with the DC-DC converter 3. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the cooling device 2 is provided below a front seat 11. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 1, the DC-DC converter 3 may be arranged next to the cooling device 2 in the left-right direction of the vehicle and closer to the inside of the vehicle than the cooling device 2.

[0017] The cooling device 2 includes an intake duct 20, a cooling blower 21, and an intake filter 22. The cooling blower 21 is an electric fan that creates an air flow such that the air drawn in from an intake port 203 (see FIG. 3) of the intake duct 20 via the intake filter 22 is sent through the intake duct 20 toward a heat sink 31 of the DC-DC converter 3. The upper part of the heat sink 31 is covered with a cover member 32 connected to the downstream end of the cooling blower 21. The air that flows between the heat sink 31 and the cover member 32 promotes heat dissipation from the heat sink 31, thereby cooling the DC-DC converter 3.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2, the intake duct 20 has an intake port side duct section 201 and a blower side duct section 202, and forms a duct passage with a closed cross section. The intake port side duct section 201 and the blower side duct section 202 are formed from resin. One end of the blower side duct section 202 is connected to the intake port side duct section 201, and the other end is connected to the cooling blower 21. The intake port side duct section 201 and the blower side duct section 202 are formed as a single unit. The intake port side duct section 201 and the blower side duct section 202 are formed as two separate sections, upper and lower, that are assembled together into a single unit.

[0019] An air intake port 203 is provided in the air intake port side duct portion 201. The air intake port 203 connects the space inside the air intake duct 20 to the outside of the air intake duct 20. An air intake filter 22 is attached to the air intake port 203.

[0020] Air intake port 203 is provided so as to open outward in the vehicle width direction and toward the door adjacent to front seat 11 located above cooling device 2. That is, air intake port 203 is formed on the side of air intake port-side duct portion 201 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, if an open container containing liquid, such as a plastic bottle, falls into the gap between the door and seat 11, the liquid inside the container may flow out and into air intake duct 20 through air intake port 203.

[0021] Therefore, in the intake duct 20 according to the first embodiment, a liquid reservoir pocket 204, which is a groove-shaped storage portion (liquid accumulation portion) extending in the width direction (front-rear direction of the vehicle) of the intake port 203, is provided at the lower part of the intake port side duct portion 201. The liquid reservoir pocket 204 is formed immediately after the intake port 203 and has a function of temporarily storing the liquid flowing into the intake duct 20 from the intake port 203. The liquid reservoir pocket 204 is formed in a part of the width direction of the intake port side duct portion 201.

[0022] The intake port side duct portion 201 is provided with a discharge port 205 for discharging the liquid accumulated in the liquid reservoir pocket 204 to the outside of the intake duct 20. The discharge port 205 is a round hole and is provided at the lowermost part of the bottom surface 204a of the liquid reservoir pocket 204. Note that the shape of the discharge port \alpha is not limited to a round hole, and any shape in which an opening capable of discharging the liquid, such as a rectangular shape, is formed may be used. Further, as long as the opening areas are the same, the discharge port 205 may have not only a shape in which one opening is formed but also a shape in which a plurality of openings are formed. The bottom surface 204a of the liquid reservoir pocket 204 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so as to guide the liquid to the discharge port 205.

[0023] Accordingly, in the intake duct 20 according to the first embodiment, the liquid flowing into the intake duct 20 from the intake port 203 is temporarily stored in the liquid reservoir pocket 204 provided immediately after the intake port 203 and can be discharged to the outside of the intake duct 20 from the discharge port 205. Further, since the discharge port 205 is provided at the lowermost part of the bottom surface 204a of the liquid reservoir pocket 204, it is possible to easily discharge the liquid from the discharge port 205 by the weight of the liquid accumulated in the liquid reservoir pocket 204. Therefore, in the intake duct 20 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the liquid flowing into the intake duct 20 from the intake port 203 from flowing into the depth of the intake duct 20, that is, from the intake port side duct portion 201 to the blower side duct portion 202, and thus from flowing into the cooling blower 21.

[0024] Here, in the intake duct 20 according to Embodiment 1, when the diameter (opening area) of the discharge port 205 is set large in consideration of the liquid discharge performance, there is a risk of unintentionally sucking in a large amount of air not only from the intake port 203 but also from the discharge port 205. Therefore, there is a risk of sucking in a large amount of air containing dust etc. without passing through the uncooled air or the intake filter 22. Also, if the diameter (opening area) of the discharge port 205 is too large, there is a risk of diffusing the sound of the cooling blower 21 from the discharge port 205 into the passenger compartment.

[0025] Next, an example of a method for setting the diameter of the discharge port 205 provided in the liquid reservoir pocket 204 of the intake duct 20 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a method for setting the diameter of the discharge port 205 provided in the liquid reservoir pocket 204. Here, as a premise, it is assumed that the discharge port 205 is a round hole, and water, which is a liquid, flows from a plastic bottle 4 with a capacity of 900 [ml] into the liquid reservoir pocket 204 through the intake port 203 of the intake duct 20.

[0026] As shown by the arrow A in FIG. 6, as a result of experimental measurement, the discharge time required for the entire amount of 900 [ml] of water to be discharged from the plastic bottle 4 was 17.7 [sec]. Also, as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 6, as a result of experimental measurement, the inflow rate of water discharged from inside the plastic bottle 4, passing through the intake port 203, and flowing into the liquid reservoir pocket 204 was 8.3 [ml] / [sec]. Also, as shown by the arrow C in FIG. 6, as a result of experimental measurement, the discharge rate of water discharged from the discharge port 205 of the liquid reservoir pocket 204 was 6.5 [ml / sec] when the diameter of the discharge port 205 was 5 [mm]. Therefore, the flow rate at which water accumulates in the liquid reservoir pocket 204 is (inflow rate) - (discharge rate) = 8.3 [ml] - 6.5 [ml] = 1.8 [ml / sec].

[0027] The volume of liquid collection pocket 204 required to prevent the water that has flowed into liquid collection pocket 204 from overflowing from liquid collection pocket 204 until all 900 ml of water is gone from PET bottle 4 is (drainage time required for all 900 ml of water to be drained from PET bottle 4) × (flow rate at which water collects in liquid collection pocket 204) = 17.7 sec × 1.8 ml / sec = approximately 32 ml.

[0028] Therefore, the volume of liquid pool pocket 204 is set to 32 ml or more, and the diameter of outlet 205 is set to 5 mm. As a result, even if water discharged from plastic bottle 4 with a capacity of 900 ml flows into intake duct 20 from intake port 203, liquid pool pocket 204 provided with outlet 205 can prevent the water from flowing into cooling blower 21.

[0029] (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the air intake duct according to the present invention will be described. Note that the description of the second embodiment common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0030] Fig. 7 is a side view of air intake duct 20 according to embodiment 2 as seen from the air intake port 203 side. Fig. 8 is a view of air intake duct 20 according to embodiment 2 as seen from below. Fig. 9 is a view showing a state in which leg portion 206 of air intake duct 20 according to embodiment 2 is abutted against floor silencer 40.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, the intake duct 20 according to Embodiment 2 has the same shape as the intake duct 20 according to Embodiment 1, in which the bottom surface 204a of the liquid reservoir pocket 204 in the intake port side duct portion 201 is inclined with respect to the horizontal so as to guide liquid such as water to the discharge port 205. Further, in the intake duct 20 according to Embodiment 2, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a leg portion 206 protruding downward from the bottom surface 204a of the liquid reservoir pocket 204 is provided on the lower surface 202a of the blower side duct portion 202. The leg portion 206 stands upright downward from the lower surface 202a of the blower side duct portion 202, and the lower end of the leg portion 206 is located below the lowermost portion (discharge port 205) of the bottom surface 204a of the liquid reservoir pocket 204. In FIG. 8, the shape of the leg portion 206 when the intake duct 20 is viewed from below is an I-shape, but the shape of the leg portion 206 is not limited to the I-shape.

[0032] Then, as shown in FIG. 9, in the intake duct 20 according to Embodiment 2, with the lower end of the leg portion 206 abutted against the upper surface of the floor silencer 40 provided between the intake duct 20 and the floor panel 10 (see FIG. 1), the fixing portion 207 of the intake port side duct portion 201 is fixed and assembled to a vehicle body side bracket or the like with a fixing member such as a clip. Thereby, in the intake duct 20 according to Embodiment 2, the inclination of the intake duct 20 due to the play in the assembly at the fixing portion 207 and its own weight is suppressed so that the inclination of the bottom surface 204a does not become too gentle, and the inclination of the bottom surface 204a can be maintained so as to guide the liquid to the discharge port 205.

[0033] Note that the floor silencer 40 is composed of, for example, a fibrous aggregate having a large number of voids, a porous synthetic resin such as urethane foam, or the like. Therefore, in FIG. 9, since the floor silencer 40 has flexibility, a part of the leg portion 206 is buried, but there is no particular problem as long as the bottom surface 204a is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so as to guide the liquid to the discharge port 205. Further, the mating member against which the leg portion 206 abuts is not limited to the floor silencer 40, and may be a rigid member such as a plastic cover member that covers equipment provided on the floor panel 10.

[0034] It is preferable to provide leg 206 on intake duct 20 on the opposite side in the width direction of intake port 203 from fixed part 207 provided at the bottom of intake port-side duct part 201, that is, in Figure 7, leg 206 is provided on the forward side of fixed part 207 provided on the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This makes it possible, for example, to effectively restrict downward rotation or bending of intake duct 20 about fixed part 207 as the center of rotation due to the weight of intake duct 20 by having leg 206 abut against floor silencer 40, thereby effectively suppressing tilt of intake duct 20 due to its own weight. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 vehicle 2 Cooling device 3 DC-DC converter 4. Plastic bottles 10 Floor Panel 20 Intake duct 21 Cooling blower 31 Heat sink 32 Cover member 40 Floor silencer 201 Intake side duct 202 Blower side duct 202a Bottom side 203 Air intake 204 Liquid accumulation pocket 204a bottom 205 Outlet 206 Legs 207 Fixed part

Claims

1. An air inlet, a housing portion for storing the liquid flowing in from the air inlet, an outlet for discharging the liquid from the housing portion, wherein an intake duct is provided, the housing portion is provided immediately after the air inlet, a bottom surface of the housing portion is inclined with respect to the horizontal so as to guide the liquid to the outlet, characterized in that it is an intake duct.

2. The intake duct according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet is provided at the lowermost part of the bottom surface of the housing portion.

3. The intake duct according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that legs protruding downward from the bottom surface are provided.

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