Fuel cooler

Abstract

To provide a fuel cooler that can improve cooling performance while protecting the cooler unit from flying debris and other damage. [Solution] The fuel cooler comprises a cooler body and a cooler cover provided to surround the cooler body. The fuel cooler is positioned to the left or right of the vehicle's fuel tank, when viewed from the vehicle's forward direction, in a position that partially overlaps with the fuel tank or does not overlap it at all. The cooler cover has louvers formed on at least one of its sides, either left or right, when viewed from the vehicle's forward direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel cooler.

Background Art

[0002] In vehicles equipped with a diesel engine, a fuel injection system using a common rail is often adopted. In this fuel injection system, the excess fuel that has not been burned is returned to the fuel tank.

[0003] This returned fuel is very hot. Therefore, in a diesel engine vehicle, an air-cooled fuel cooler is arranged on the lower surface of the vehicle body, and after the returned fuel is cooled by the fuel cooler, it is returned to the fuel tank.

[0004] Since the fuel cooler is arranged on the lower surface of the vehicle, it is necessary to protect the cooler body from flying stones etc. from the road surface. Therefore, generally, a cooler cover that surrounds the cooler body is provided for the fuel cooler.

[0005] Here, when the cooler body is surrounded by the cooler cover, the amount of air hitting the cooler body decreases, and as a result, there arises a problem that the cooling efficiency of the fuel in the cooler body decreases.

[0006] In order to solve such a problem, for example, in Patent Document 1, a technique is disclosed in which louvers are formed on the bottom surface of the cooler cover, and outside air is induced to the cooler body by the louvers to improve the cooling efficiency of the cooler body. (See paragraphs

[0030] -

[0032] etc. of Patent Document 1)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] Certainly, forming louvers on the cooler cover, as in Patent Document 1, can protect the cooler body from flying stones and other debris while suppressing a decrease in the cooler's cooling performance. However, considering the increased fuel injection pressure in recent diesel engines, which leads to higher temperatures of the return fuel and the resulting damage to fuel system components, further improvement in the cooling performance of the fuel cooler is desired.

[0009] This invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and provides a fuel cooler that can improve cooling performance while protecting the cooler body from flying stones and the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] One embodiment of the fuel cooler of the present invention is: A fuel cooler for a vehicle, comprising a cooler body and a cooler cover provided to surround the cooler body, The fuel cooler is positioned to the left or right of the vehicle's fuel tank, when viewed from the vehicle's forward direction, in a position that partially overlaps or does not overlap the fuel tank at all. The cooler cover has louvers formed on at least one of its left or right sides when viewed from the forward direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, a fuel cooler can be realized that protects the cooler body from flying stones and the like while improving cooling performance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] A schematic plan view illustrating the mounting position of the fuel cooler on the vehicle according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] Perspective view of the fuel cooler from the front at an angle. [Figure 3] Perspective view of the fuel cooler from the rear at an angle. [Figure 4] Exploded perspective view of the fuel cooler [Figure 5] View showing the state of drawing in the running wind to the cooler cover by the louver [Figure 6] View for explaining the opening amount of the louvers [Figure 7] View showing the flying range of flying stones etc. bounced up by the wheels when the vehicle reverses [Figure 8] View showing the flying range of flying stones etc. bounced up by the wheels when the vehicle reverses

Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view for explaining the mounting position of the fuel cooler 100 on the vehicle 10 according to the embodiment.

[0015] The vehicle 10 is a vehicle equipped with a diesel engine (not shown), and is a large vehicle such as a tractor etc.

[0016] The vehicle 10 has a chassis frame 11 composed of a pair of left and right side members 11a, 11b extending in the front - rear direction, and a plurality of cross members 11c provided across between the side members 11a, 11b. On the chassis frame 11, a mounting (not shown) such as a loading platform is provided.

[0017] A fuel tank 20 is fixed to the side member 11a. The fuel tank 20 is arranged in front of the left - hand wheel 30L among the wheels 30L, 30R.

[0018] Further, a fuel cooler 100 is fixed to the side member 11a. The fuel cooler 100 is disposed at a position where it partially overlaps or does not overlap with the fuel tank 20 of the vehicle 10 on the left or right side of the fuel tank 20 of the vehicle 10 when viewed from the forward direction of the vehicle 10. Note that the forward direction is the forward direction in the vehicle front-rear direction. In other words, the fuel cooler 100 is disposed at a position where at least a part thereof is avoided laterally from the fuel tank 20 when viewed from the forward direction of the vehicle 10. In the embodiment, the fuel cooler 100 is disposed at a position where it does not overlap with the fuel tank 20 at all. In this way, the amount of air hitting the fuel cooler 100 increases, which is more preferable.

[0019] The configuration of the fuel cooler 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fuel cooler 100 as viewed obliquely from the front. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel cooler 100 as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel cooler 100.

[0020] The fuel cooler 100 includes a cooler main body 110, connection pipes 120a and 120b, a cooler cover 130, and a connection portion 140.

[0021] The cooler main body 110 is composed of pipes and cooling fins provided around the pipes. In the example of the present embodiment, as can be seen from the figure, the cooler main body 110 is composed of two cooling units, but the number of cooling units is not limited to this, and it may be one or three or more.

[0022] The fuel cooler 1 is connected to a return pipe (not shown) that returns the return fuel of the diesel engine to the fuel tank 20. Specifically, the fuel cooler 100 introduces the return fuel from the diesel engine through the connection pipe 120a and discharges the cooled return fuel to the fuel tank 20 through the connection pipe 120b.

[0023] The cooler cover 130 is made of, for example, a metal plate and consists of a top plate 131, a bottom plate 132, a right side plate 133, a left side plate 134, and a back plate 135. In this embodiment, the front of the cooler cover 130 is open. The cooler body 110 is fixed inside the cooler cover 130.

[0024] The top plate 131, bottom plate 132, and left side plate 134 are metal plates with no openings. A connecting portion 140 is connected to the left side plate 134. The cooler cover 130 is connected to the side member 11a via the connecting portion 140. As a result, the fuel cooler 110 is fixed to the right side of the fuel tank 20.

[0025] A louver 133a is formed on the right side panel 133. The louver 133a consists of an opening 133a1 formed in the right side panel 133 and a vane 133a2 that guides air into the opening 133a1. The opening 133a1 is formed in the vertical direction of the right side panel 133 and has a vertically elongated shape. The vane 133a2 has its base at the rear end of the opening 133a1 and opens so that its tip moves away from the right side panel 133 as it moves forward. In other words, the vane 133a2 protrudes diagonally in the forward direction from the main surface of the panel on which the louver 133a is formed (the right side panel 133 in this embodiment).

[0026] As a result, as shown in Figure 5, the airflow from the side of the cooler cover 130 can be drawn into the cooler cover 130 by the louvers 133a.

[0027] In this embodiment, the louver 133a is formed by cutting three sides of the right-side plate 133 corresponding to the opening 133a1, and then bending the tip of the fin 133a backward. Therefore, the width of the short side of the opening 133a1 and the width of the short side of the fin 133a2 are the same. This width of the short side is determined to be such that flying stones from the road surface cannot enter the cooler cover 130 through the opening 133a1, taking into consideration the size of such stones.

[0028] In this embodiment, the opening amount H from the main surface of the right-side plate 133 of the vane 133a2, as shown in Figure 6, is set to less than 5 mm. This prevents large flying stones that could damage the cooler body 110 from entering the cooler cover 130 through the opening 133a1, while efficiently guiding the airflow into the cooler cover 130. Incidentally, tests have shown that the size of chipping (crushed stone) from the road surface is in the range of 5 to 13 mm, and therefore, by setting the opening amount H to less than 5 mm, it is possible to prevent chipping from entering through the louvers 133a.

[0029] In this embodiment, six louvers 133a are formed. However, the number, arrangement, and shape of the louvers 133a are not limited to this embodiment, and any arrangement that can efficiently direct airflow onto the cooler body 110 is acceptable.

[0030] In addition, in this embodiment, a louver 135a is formed on the back plate 135. The louver 135a consists of an opening 135a1 formed in the back plate 135 and a finial 135a2. The opening 135a1 is formed across the back plate 135 in the left-right direction and has a horizontally elongated shape. The finial 135a2 has its base at the lower end of the opening 135a1 and its tip opens upward so as it moves away from the back plate 135. In other words, the finial 135a2 protrudes diagonally upward from the main surface of the plate on which the louver 135a is formed (the back plate 135 in this embodiment).

[0031] In this embodiment, the louvers 135a are formed by cutting three sides of the back plate 135 corresponding to the opening 135a1, and then bending the tips of the fins 135a downwards. Therefore, the width of the short side of the opening 135a1 and the width of the short side of the fins 135a2 are the same. This width of the short side is determined to be such that flying stones from the road surface cannot enter the cooler cover 130 through the opening 135a1, taking into consideration the size of such stones.

[0032] The fuel cooler 100 has louvers 133a formed on the right side plate 133, which prevents damage to the cooler body 110 while increasing the amount of airflow hitting the cooler body 110, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the cooler body 110.

[0033] Furthermore, the fuel cooler 100 has louvers 135a formed on its back plate 135, which protects the cooler body 110 from flying debris from the rear wheels 30L and 30R when the vehicle 10 is moving in reverse, while suppressing a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the cooler body 110 when the vehicle 10 is moving forward. In other words, if louvers 135a are not formed on the back plate 135, the cooler body 110 can be protected from flying debris from the rear wheels 30L and 30R when the vehicle 10 is moving in reverse, but when the vehicle 10 is moving forward, the airflow from the front will not be able to escape to the rear, resulting in a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the cooler body 110. Taking this into consideration, in this embodiment, louvers 135a are formed on the back plate 135.

[0034] As can be seen in Figure 3, the upper end of the back plate 135 does not reach the top plate 131, and therefore the upper part of the back of the cooler cover 130 is largely open. This allows more of the airflow from the front to escape to the rear when the vehicle 10 moves forward, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the cooler unit 110.

[0035] Here, the height of the back plate 135 should be set considering the range of flying debris (shown by the shaded area in the figure) that is kicked up by the wheels 30L when the vehicle 10 is moving in reverse, as shown in Figure 7, for example. In other words, the height of the back plate 135 on which the louvers 135a are formed should be selected based on the positional relationship between the wheels 30L, 30R and the fuel cooler 100.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, the fuel cooler 100 has a cooler body 110 and a cooler cover 130 provided so as to surround the cooler body 100. When viewed from the forward direction of the vehicle 10, it is positioned to the left or right of the fuel tank 20 of the vehicle 10, in a position that partially overlaps with the fuel tank 20 or does not overlap with it at all (in this embodiment, in a position that avoids the right side of the fuel tank 20). The cooler cover 130 has louvers 133a formed on at least one of its left or right sides when viewed from the forward direction.

[0037] This makes it possible to create a fuel cooler 100 that can improve cooling performance while protecting the cooler unit 110 from flying stones and the like.

[0038] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the fuel cooler 100 is positioned on the front side in the forward direction relative to the nearest wheels 30L and 30R of the vehicle 10, and the cooler cover 130 has louvers 135a formed on its rear surface when viewed from the forward direction. The rear surface refers to the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0039] As a result, when the vehicle 10 moves forward, the fuel cooler 100 is positioned in front of the nearest wheels 30L and 30R, and is therefore hardly affected by flying stones and other debris from the nearest wheels 30L and 30R, allowing the front of the cooler cover 130 to be open. Consequently, the amount of airflow hitting the cooler unit 110 can be increased.

[0040] In contrast, when the vehicle 10 is moving in reverse, the fuel cooler 100 is located behind the nearest wheels 30L and 30R, and is therefore affected by flying debris from wheels 30L and 30R. However, flying debris from wheels 30L and 30R cannot reach the cooler body 110 due to the back plate 135 on which the louvers 135a are formed. Therefore, even when moving in reverse, the cooler body 110 can be protected from flying debris while the cooling performance can be improved.

[0041] The embodiments described above are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by them. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its gist or its main features.

[0042] Figure 8 is a schematic plan view showing the range of flying debris (indicated by the shaded lines in the figure) that is kicked up by the wheels 30L and 30R when the vehicle 10 is moving in reverse. If the fuel cooler 100 is placed outside the shaded area in the figure, it will not be affected by flying debris when moving in reverse, and the back plate 135 can be omitted. [Industrial applicability]

[0043] This invention is effective, for example, in a fuel cooler for cooling the return fuel to the fuel tank of a diesel engine. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 10 vehicles 11 Chassis Frame 11a, 11b Side members 11c Crossmember 20 fuel tanks 30L, 30R wheels 100 Fuel Cooler 110 Cooler Unit 120a, 120b connecting pipes 130 Cooler Cover 131 Top plate 132 Bottom plate 133 Right side plate 133a1, 135a1 opening 133a2, 135a2 feather board 134 Left side plate 135 Back plate 140 Connection part

Claims

1. A fuel cooler for a vehicle, comprising a cooler body and a cooler cover provided to surround the cooler body, The fuel cooler is positioned to the left or right of the vehicle's fuel tank, when viewed from the vehicle's forward direction, in a position that partially overlaps or does not overlap the fuel tank at all. The cooler cover has louvers formed on at least one of its left or right sides when viewed from the forward direction. Fuel cooler.

2. The fuel cooler is positioned on the forward side in the forward direction relative to the nearest wheel of the vehicle. The aforementioned cooler cover has louvers formed on its back. The fuel cooler according to claim 1.

3. The cooler cover, when viewed from the forward direction, The front is open, The back side has a section where the louvers are formed and an opening. The fuel cooler according to claim 2.

4. The height of the portion where the louvers are formed is selected based on the positional relationship between the wheel and the fuel cooler. The fuel cooler according to claim 3.

5. The louver blades protrude diagonally from the main surface of the plate on which the louver is formed, toward the forward direction. A fuel cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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