Vehicle cooling system

Abstract

The goal is to improve cooling performance while preventing interference with obstacles. [Solution] The vehicle's cooling system 2 includes a radiator 10 located outside the left and right side rails 5 that extend in the longitudinal direction D1 of the vehicle 1 and behind the rear wheels 3 of the vehicle 1. The entire radiator 10 is located above a virtual plane Vf that defines the departure angle α, and has inclined portions 13a and 14b that are inclined vertically or horizontally based on the departure angle α.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a cooling device for vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles are equipped with cooling devices (such as radiators, oil coolers, etc.) for cooling devices that can generate heat among in-vehicle devices (for example, internal combustion engines, electric motors, fuel cells, etc.). The mounting position of the cooling device is appropriately set according to the type of vehicle (passenger car, truck, bus, etc.) on which this device is mounted and the structure of the vehicle (frame vehicle, monocoque vehicle). For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a heat exchanger is arranged inside a skirt member that fills the space behind the rear wheels of a truck.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Although various devices are mounted on vehicles, many of them are often arranged on the front side of the rear wheels. Therefore, using the space behind the rear wheels of the vehicle as in Patent Document 1 above is effective from the perspective of space efficiency. However, in the space behind the rear wheels, it is necessary to ensure a departure angle so that the vehicle body (for example, the rear bumper) does not contact an obstacle when the vehicle crosses an obstacle. For this reason, when mounting a cooling device using this space, there is room for improvement to avoid interference with obstacles while ensuring high cooling performance.

[0005] This invention was conceived in view of the above problems, and one of its purposes is to improve the cooling performance while preventing interference with obstacles.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This project was undertaken to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems and can be implemented in the following forms or applications.

[0007] (1) The vehicle cooling system according to this application example is a vehicle cooling system that includes a radiator located outside the left and right side rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and behind the rear wheels of the vehicle, wherein the radiator is located above a virtual plane that defines the departure angle and has an inclined portion that is inclined vertically or horizontally based on the departure angle.

[0008] According to this application example, the radiator is positioned in the space outside the side rail and behind the rear wheel, where space is relatively easy to secure. This increases the usable area of ​​the radiator and improves cooling performance. Furthermore, since the entire radiator is positioned above the virtual plane that defines the departure angle, interference with obstacles can be prevented. In addition, because the radiator has an inclined section based on the departure angle, the usable area of ​​the radiator can be further increased. Therefore, it is possible to improve cooling performance while preventing interference with obstacles.

[0009] (2) In the vehicle cooling system according to this application example, the radiator is positioned such that the main surface through which the air passes is aligned with the departure angle, and the inclined portion may include the main surface. With this configuration, the radiator is positioned at an upward angle, and by applying it to vehicles with a long lateral length of space behind the rear wheels, the main surface area of ​​the radiator can be maximized. This allows for a further improvement in cooling performance.

[0010] (3) In the vehicle cooling system according to this application example, the radiator is positioned such that the main surface through which air passes faces outward from the vehicle, and at least a portion of its lower end surface extends along the departure angle, and the inclined portion may include at least a portion of the lower end surface. With this configuration, the radiator is positioned facing outwards, and by applying it to vehicles with a long vertical space behind the rear wheels, the surface area of ​​the radiator's main surface can be maximized. This allows for a further improvement in cooling performance.

[0011] (4) In the vehicle cooling system according to this application example, the radiator may include a first radiator section in which the main surface through which air passes is positioned in a manner aligned with the departure angle, and a second radiator section in which the main surface through which air passes is positioned in a manner facing outward from the vehicle, and at least a portion of its lower end surface extends along the departure angle. In this case, the inclined portion may include the main surface of the first radiator section and at least a portion of the lower end surface of the second radiator section. With this configuration, the cooling system has two radiator sections facing in different directions, allowing for maximum utilization of the space behind the rear wheels in any vehicle, thereby further improving cooling performance.

[0012] (5) The cooling system of the vehicle according to this application example may include a protective cover having a first surface portion erected in front of the radiator and covering the radiator in the vertical direction, and a second surface portion extending downward from the lower end of the first surface portion to the radiator. In this case, both the first surface portion and the second surface portion may have a penetration portion that allows air to pass through but prevents foreign matter from passing through. This configuration ensures airflow while preventing foreign objects from hitting the radiator.

[0013] (6) In the vehicle cooling device according to (5) above, the first surface has a first slat structure in which a plurality of elongated first plate members extending in the left-right direction are arranged in the vertical direction in a forward-leaning position, and the second surface has a second slat structure in which a plurality of elongated second plate members extending in the left-right direction are arranged in the front-rear direction in a forward-leaning position, and the gap between two vertically adjacent first plate members and the gap between two front-rear adjacent second plate members may each function as the through-holes. This configuration allows for more effective airflow, improving cooling performance while preventing foreign objects from hitting the radiator. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this method, it is possible to improve cooling performance while preventing interference with obstacles. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a left side view of a vehicle to which a vehicle cooling system according to one embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] This is a left side view illustrating the departure angle. [Figure 3] This figure shows a cooling system according to the first example, applied to the vehicle shown in Figure 1, where (A) is a left side view and (B) is a perspective view looking down from the left front. [Figure 4] This figure shows a cooling system according to a second example, applied to the vehicle in Figure 1, where (A) is a left side view and (B) is a perspective view looking down from the left front. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates a third example of a cooling system applied to the vehicle shown in Figure 1, where (A) is a left side view of the cooling system and (B) is an exploded perspective view of the radiator. [Figure 6] This figure shows a cooling system according to the fourth example, applied to the vehicle in Figure 1, where (A) is a left side view, (B) is a perspective view looking down from the left front, and (C) is a rear view. [Figure 7]It is a diagram for explaining a protective cover included in a vehicle cooling device according to an embodiment. (A) is a left side view, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 7(A). [Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0016] Referring to the drawings, embodiments (aspects, application examples) of the present case will be described. The following embodiments are merely examples, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and applications of technologies not explicitly stated in this embodiment. Each configuration of the following embodiments can be implemented with various modifications without departing from their gist. Also, they can be selectively used as necessary, or appropriately combined.

[0017] [1. Configuration] [1-1. Vehicle] As shown in FIG. 1, a cooling device 2 of a vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is disposed in a space 4 (shown by a dot pattern in FIG. 1 and by a dotted line in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, referred to as "arrangement space 4") behind a rear wheel 3 located at the rearmost position. This cooling device 2 is a device for cooling equipment mounted on the vehicle 1 and includes a radiator 10 and a fan 20 which will be described later using FIG. 3 and the like.

[0018] The vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a large truck and has a chassis frame having a ladder frame structure. Hereinafter, the front-rear direction D1, the left-right direction D2, and the up-down direction D3 of the vehicle 1 are also referred to as the vehicle length direction D1, the vehicle width direction D2, and the vehicle height direction D3, respectively. In the drawings, the front, left, and upper directions of the vehicle 1 are shown by Fr, Lh, and Up, respectively. The chassis frame has left and right side rails 5 extending in the front-rear direction D1 and a plurality of cross members (not shown) extending in the left-right direction D2. The left and right side rails 5 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction D2. Each side rail 5 has, for example, upper and lower flanges and a web connecting them, forming a channel shape. Each cross member is disposed between the left and right side rails 5 and connects the side rails 5 to each other. A cab 6 and a body 7 are provided on the chassis frame.

[0019] The cooling system 2 according to this embodiment is not limited to large trucks. The cooling system 2 is applicable to vehicles equipped with left and right side rails extending at least in the longitudinal direction D1, and is particularly suitable for use in vehicles with a large rear overhang (e.g., small trucks, medium-sized trucks, pickup trucks, etc.). The drive source and power source of the vehicle 1 are also not particularly limited, and the vehicle 1 may be an engine vehicle, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle.

[0020] Examples of equipment to be cooled by the cooling device 2 include engines, motors, generators, inverters, high-voltage batteries, fuel cells, and fuel tanks. These pieces of equipment are located below the side rails 5 and between the left and right side rails 5, or outside the side rails 5 in the left-right direction D2. Furthermore, the front-rear position of these pieces of equipment is often the same as or further forward than the rear wheels 3. Therefore, the cooling device 2 according to this embodiment is placed in the arrangement space 4, where it is relatively easy to secure space.

[0021] However, behind the rear wheel 3, it is necessary to ensure a departure angle α, as shown in Figure 2. The departure angle α is the angle between the tangent line T (the dashed line in Figure 2) from the contact surface of the rear wheel 3 to the rear lower end of the vehicle 1 (in this embodiment, the lower end of the rear bumper 8 or the lower end of the support bracket 9) and the flat road surface G, in a side view. By ensuring a departure angle α, contact between the vehicle body and obstacles is avoided when the vehicle 1 crosses over obstacles. Hereinafter, the virtual plane that forms the departure angle α between the vehicle and the road surface G will be called the virtual plane Vf. The virtual plane Vf can also be described as the plane that defines the departure angle α (departure angle plane, inclined plane).

[0022] The lower surface of the arrangement space 4 is defined by this virtual surface Vf. The upper surface of the arrangement space 4 is defined, for example, by the lower surface of the side rail 5, the outer surface of the arrangement space 4 in the left-right direction D2 is defined by the outer surface of the vehicle 1, and the inner surface in the left-right direction D2 may be defined, for example, by the outer surface of the side rail 5. The front surface of the arrangement space 4 is defined, for example, by the mudguard located behind the rear wheel 3, and the rear surface of the arrangement space 4 may be defined, for example, by the front of the rear bumper 8 or the front of the support bracket 9.

[0023] [1-2. Cooling device] The following describes four examples of the configuration of the cooling system 2 applicable to the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment. In each example of the cooling system 2, a radiator 10 is provided located outside the left and right side rails 5 and behind the rear wheels 3 (i.e., in the arrangement space 4). This cooling system 2 is provided with a fan 20 that blows air onto the radiator 10. Furthermore, the entire radiator 10 is located above the virtual plane Vf and has an inclined portion that is tilted vertically or horizontally based on a departure angle α.

[0024] Figures 3(A) and (B) are the left side view and perspective view of the cooling device 2A according to the first example. Note that the cooling device 2A located on the right side of the vehicle is omitted in the perspective view (the same applies to the perspective views of the second and subsequent examples). The radiator 10A of the cooling device 2A in this example is positioned so that the main surface 11a (the surface with the largest area) through which the air passes is aligned with the departure angle α. That is, the main surface 11a is angled forward so as to form an angle with the horizontal plane that is approximately the same as the departure angle α. The external shape of the radiator 10A is a thin rectangular parallelepiped, and the back surface of the main surface 11a is aligned with the virtual plane Vf.

[0025] The radiator 10A is mounted on the vehicle 1 by front and rear support members 30 and 31 that extend to the outside of the side rails 5, for example. The front and rear support members 30 and 31 are, for example, rectangular frame members when viewed from the rear, and their lengths in the left-right direction D2 are the same, but the length in the up-down direction D3 is longer for the front support member 30 than for the rear support member 31. As a result, the radiator 10A is supported in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction. In addition to or instead of these support members 30 and 31, members that support the radiator 10A may be provided. In the radiator 10A according to the first example, at least the main surface 11a is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction based on the departure angle α and is included in the inclined portion described above. If the radiator 10A is rectangular parallelepiped in shape, the entire radiator 10A is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, so the entire radiator 10A is included in the inclined portion described above.

[0026] It is preferable that the fan 20 is configured (arrangement, number, size, etc.) in such a way that it can make maximum use of the airflow while driving, and that the air that has passed through the radiator 10A is discharged without being recirculated back into the radiator 10A. In Figures 3(A) and (B), as an example, two fans 20 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction D1 on the upper side of the main surface 11a, and are positioned in a way that makes it easy to send air to the main surface 11a. In this example, the air flowing from the front of the vehicle enters the radiator 10A from the main surface 11a which faces diagonally forward and exits from the back surface which faces diagonally rear.

[0027] Figures 4(A) and 4(B) are a left side view and a perspective view of the cooling device 2B according to the second example. The radiator 10B in the cooling device 2B of this example is positioned so that the main surface 11b (the surface with the largest area) through which the air passes faces outward from the vehicle 1. Specifically, the main surface 11b extends in the longitudinal direction D1 and the vertical direction D3, and its normal coincides with the left-right direction D2. At least a portion of the lower end surface of the radiator 10B in this example extends along the departure angle α and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction based on the departure angle α. Hereinafter, the part of the lower end surface that follows the departure angle α will be referred to as the inclined surface 12b. In the illustrated radiator 10B, in a left side view, the lower right corner (rear end and bottom end) of the rectangular radiator 10B is cut along a virtual surface Vf. As a result, the main surface 11b of the radiator 10B has a pentagonal shape in a side view. However, the entire lower end surface of the radiator 10B may be provided as an inclined surface 12b.

[0028] The radiator 10B is mounted on the vehicle 1 by front and rear support members 32 and 33 that extend to the outside of the side rail 5, for example. The front and rear support members 32 and 33 are, for example, rectangular frame members when viewed from the rear. Since the length of the front end of the radiator 10B in the vertical direction D3 is longer than the length of the rear end in the vertical direction D3, it is preferable that the length of the front support member 32 in the vertical direction D3 of the front and rear support members 32 and 33 is also longer than that of the rear support member 33. The lengths of the front and rear support members 32 and 33 in the left-right direction D2 are the same. In addition to or instead of these support members 32 and 33, members that support the radiator 10B may be provided. In the radiator 10B according to the second example, the inclined surface 12b (at least a part of the lower end surface) is included in the inclined portion.

[0029] The fan 20 is configured in the same way as in the first example. In Figures 4(A) and (B), as an example, three fans 20 are arranged in a row in the front-to-back direction D1 on the outside of the left-to-right direction D2 of the main surface 11b, and are positioned in a way that makes it easy to send air to the main surface 11b. In this example, the air flowing from the front of the vehicle enters the radiator 10B from the outside of the main surface 11b (from the outside of the left-to-right direction D2) and exits from the back surface, or enters from the back surface of the main surface 11b (from the inside of the left-to-right direction D2) and exits from the main surface 11b.

[0030] Figures 5(A) and (B) are a left side view and a perspective view of the radiator 10C provided in the cooling system 2C, respectively, according to the third example. The cooling system 2C in this example corresponds to an improved configuration combining the cooling system 2A of the first example and the cooling system 2B of the second example. Specifically, the radiator 10C in this example includes a first radiator section 13, through which the main surface 13a through which air passes is positioned in a manner along the departure angle α, and a second radiator section 14, through which the main surface 14a through which air passes is positioned facing outward from the vehicle 1, with at least a portion of its lower end surface extending along the departure angle α. The second radiator section 14 is located further outward in the left-right direction D2 than the first radiator section 13.

[0031] The first radiator section 13 corresponds to the radiator 10A in the first example and may be configured in the same way as the radiator 10A. That is, the first radiator section 13 is oriented diagonally forward such that its main surface 13a forms an angle with the horizontal plane that is approximately the same as the departure angle α, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction based on the departure angle α. The main surface 13a of the first radiator section 13 is included in the inclined section described above. The external shape of the first radiator section 13 is, for example, a thin rectangular parallelepiped. In this case, the entire first radiator section 13 is included in the inclined section.

[0032] The second radiator section 14 corresponds to the radiator 10B of the second example and may be configured in the same way as the radiator 10B. That is, the main surface 14a of the second radiator section 14 extends in the front-rear direction D1 and the up-down direction D3, and its normal coincides with the left-right direction D2. In addition, at least a part of the lower end surface of the second radiator section 14 is provided with an inclined surface 14b that extends along the departure angle α. The inclined surface 14b is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction based on the departure angle α and is included in the inclined section described above.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5(A), the back surface of the main surface 13a of the first radiator section 13 may be positioned to be substantially flush with the inclined surface 14b of the second radiator section 14. In the radiator 10C of this example, the entire lower end surface of the second radiator section 14 is not the inclined surface 14b; rather, the inclined surface 14b extends from the middle to the rear of the lower end surface, while the front of the lower end surface is substantially horizontal. Accordingly, the radiator 10C of this example further includes a third radiator section 15, which is positioned so that its main surface 15a, through which the air passes, faces vertically upward.

[0034] As shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), the third radiator section 15 is located in front of the first radiator section 13 and inward in the left-right direction D2 from the second radiator section 14. The three radiator sections 13, 14, and 15 may be assembled together before being mounted on the vehicle 1, or they may be integrated when mounted on the vehicle 1. The radiator 10C may be supported by support members similar to those for the radiators 10A and 10B described above.

[0035] The fans 20 are configured in the same way as in the first and second examples. In Figures 5(A) and (B), as an example, two fans 20 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction D1 on the upper side of the main surface 13a of the first radiator section 13, three fans 20 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction D1 on the outside of the main surface 14a of the second radiator section 14 in the left-to-right direction D2, and one fan 20 is positioned on the upper side of the main surface 15a of the third radiator section 15. All of the fans 20 are positioned in a direction that makes it easy to blow air onto each of the main surfaces 13a, 14a, and 15a.

[0036] In this example, air flowing from the front of the vehicle enters the second radiator section 14 from its main surface 14a (from the outside in the left-right direction D2) and exits from its back surface, and enters the first radiator section 13a from its main surface 13a and the third radiator section 15 from its main surface 15a, respectively, and exits from their respective back surfaces. As a result, the air flowing into the second radiator section 14 is at the lowest temperature, while the air flowing into the first radiator section 13 and the third radiator section 15 has been heated by the heat exchange in the second radiator section 14. Consequently, the heat exchange efficiency of the second radiator section 14 is the highest, and the temperature of the coolant passing through the second radiator section 14 is lower than the temperature of the coolant passing through the first radiator section 13 or the third radiator section 15.

[0037] Thus, since the radiator 10C is composed of a combination of multiple radiator sections 13, 14, and 15, it is possible to form multiple cooling circuits through which coolants at different temperatures flow. Specifically, the cooling circuit including the second radiator section 14 becomes a low-temperature circuit, and the cooling circuit including the first radiator section 13 and the cooling circuit including the third radiator section 15 each become high-temperature circuits. For this reason, for example, the former low-temperature circuit may be used to cool equipment that needs to be kept at a lower temperature, such as batteries and air conditioning units (HVAC), while the latter high-temperature circuit may be used to cool other equipment such as fuel cell stacks (FCS), motors, and inverters.

[0038] Figures 6(A) to 6(C) are the left side view, perspective view, and rear view of the cooling system 2D according to the fourth example. The radiator 10D in the cooling system 2D of this example is positioned so that the main surface 11d (the surface with the largest area) through which the air passes faces outward and downward from the vehicle 1. That is, when viewed from the rear of the vehicle 1, the upper end of the main surface 11d is positioned diagonally downward (tilted forward) so that it is located outside the left-right direction D2 of the lower end.

[0039] The illustrated radiator 10D, viewed from the left side, has its lower right corner (rear end and bottom end) touching the virtual plane Vf. The radiator 10D has a rectangular shape, and an inclination angle (forward tilt angle) is set that does not protrude downward from the virtual plane Vf while maximizing the surface area. Since the departure angle α is taken into consideration when setting this inclination angle, it can be said that the entire radiator 10D is tilted relative to the vertical based on the departure angle α. In other words, the entire radiator 10D is included in the inclined portion described above.

[0040] The radiator 10D is mounted on the vehicle 1 by, for example, front and rear support members 34 and 35 that extend to the outside of the side rails 5. The front and rear support members 34 and 35 are identical in shape and are provided, for example, as trapezoidal frame members when viewed from the rear. In addition to or instead of these support members 34 and 35, members that support the radiator 10D may be provided.

[0041] The fan 20 is configured in the same way as in the first example. In Figure 6(A), as an example, three fans 20 are arranged in a row in the front-to-back direction D1 on the outside of the left-to-right direction D2 of the main surface 11d, and are positioned in a way that makes it easy to send air onto the main surface 11d. In this example, the air flowing from the front of the vehicle enters the radiator 10D either from the outside of the main surface 11d (from the outside of the left-to-right direction D2 and diagonally downwards) and exits from the back surface, or enters from the back surface of the main surface 11d (from the inside of the left-to-right direction D2 and diagonally upwards) and exits from the main surface 11d.

[0042] The above examples illustrate the configurations of four cooling devices 2 (2A to 2D). However, each cooling device 2 may also be further equipped with a protective cover 40 to protect the radiator 10 (10A to 10D), as shown in Figures 7(A) and (B). Figure 7(A) shows a configuration in which the third example cooling device 2C is equipped with a protective cover 40, but the protective cover 40 may be applied similarly to the other cooling devices 2A, 2B, and 2D. For this reason, in the following description, it will simply be referred to as "radiator 10". In Figure 7(B), a cross-sectional view of the protective cover 40 is shown behind the left rear wheel 3, a dotted arrangement space 4 is shown behind the right rear wheel 3, and the rear bumper 8 is shown by a dashed line.

[0043] As shown in Figure 7(A), the protective cover 40 has a first surface portion 41 erected in front of the radiator 10 and covering the radiator 10 in the vertical direction D3, and a second surface portion 42 extending downward from the lower end of the first surface portion 41 to the radiator 10. The first surface portion 41 is the part that protects the radiator 10 from the front and allows airflow from the front to pass through. The second surface portion 42 is the part that protects the radiator 10 from below and allows airflow to pass through after it has passed the radiator 10. Both the first surface portion 41 and the second surface portion 42 have through-holes 43 that allow air to pass through but not foreign matter. The through-holes 43 may be composed of a number of tiny holes or slits.

[0044] The first surface portion 41 only needs to have a shape that overlaps with the radiator 10 when viewed from the front-rear direction D1, and may be, for example, a thin rectangular plate. The first surface portion 41 may be provided as a vertical plane along the front end surface of the radiator 10, or it may be provided in a forward-tilting position with respect to the vertical direction (a position in which the upper end is located in front of the lower end), as shown in Figure 7(A). The second surface portion 42 should have a shape that overlaps at least the front to middle portion of the radiator 10 when viewed from the vertical direction D3, and may be, for example, a thin rectangular plate. The second surface portion 42 may be provided as a horizontal plane along the lower end surface of the radiator 10, or its rear end may be inclined along the departure angle α. When a protective cover 40 is provided, it is preferable that the radiator 10 is positioned slightly above the position shown in the first to fourth examples above so that the second surface portion 42 does not protrude downward from the virtual plane Vf.

[0045] The protective cover 40 may be formed by bending a single rectangular plate member to create a first surface portion 41 and a second surface portion 42, or it may be formed by combining separate plate members that make up the first surface portion 41 and the second surface portion 42. As shown in Figures 7(A) and (B), the first surface portion 41 of this embodiment has a first slat structure in which a plurality of elongated first plate members 41a extending in the left-right direction D2 are arranged in a forward-tilting position in the vertical direction D3. The second surface portion 42 has a second slat structure in which a plurality of elongated second plate members 42a extending in the left-right direction D2 are arranged in a forward-tilting position in the front-rear direction D1. In Figures 7(A) and (B), some of the plurality of first plate members 41a and second plate members 42a are denoted by reference numerals. The gap (slit-shaped gap) between two adjacent first plate members 41a in the vertical direction D3, and the gap (slit-shaped gap) between two adjacent second plate members 42a in the front-rear direction D1, respectively, function as the above-mentioned through-ports 43.

[0046] The size of the gap in the first surface portion 41 and the size of the gap in the second surface portion 42 may be set according to the ease of airflow and the positional relationship with the radiator 10, respectively. The gaps of the two may be the same size, or one may be set to be larger than the other. From the viewpoint of simplifying the configuration, it is preferable that the angle (e.g., the angle of inclination with respect to the vertical direction) of all first plate members 41a is the same, and it is preferable that the angle (e.g., the angle of inclination with respect to the vertical direction) of all second plate members 42a is the same. However, the angles of the former and the latter do not have to be the same. The length, angle, and number of each first plate member 41a in the vertical direction D3 may be set based on the size and gap size of the first surface portion 41. Similarly, the length, angle, and number of each second plate member 42a in the front-rear direction D1 may be set based on the size and gap size of the second surface portion 42.

[0047] [2. Action and Effects] (1) According to the cooling device 2 of this embodiment, by arranging the radiator 10 in the space 4 located outside the side rail 5 and behind the rear wheel 3, where space is relatively easy to secure, the usable area of ​​the radiator 10 can be increased, and the cooling performance can be improved. In addition, since the entire radiator 10 is located above the virtual plane Vf, interference between the radiator 10 and obstacles can be prevented.

[0048] Furthermore, by having an inclined section based on the departure angle α, the usable area of ​​the radiator 10 can be further increased. For example, by mounting the radiator 10 at an upward or downward angle relative to the horizontal direction so that the main surface through which air flows is aligned with the departure angle α, the size of the radiator 10 can be set to maximize the use of the installation space 4 while preventing interference. Alternatively, the same effect can be achieved by making the main surface through which air flows a vertical plane and forming the lower end of the radiator 10 at an angle to align with the departure angle α. These methods can also be combined, or the same effect can be achieved by mounting the radiator 10 at an angle so that the main surface through which air flows is angled downward relative to the vertical plane. Therefore, it is possible to improve cooling performance while preventing interference with obstacles.

[0049] (2) In the cooling device 2A according to the first example described above, the radiator 10A is mounted on the vehicle 1 such that the main surface 11a of the radiator 10A is aligned with the departure angle α. Therefore, in the case of a vehicle 1 in which the length D2 in the left-right direction of the arrangement space 4 (for example, the length from the outer surface of the side rail 5 to the outer end surface of the vehicle) is longer than the length D3 in the up-down direction (the length from the lower end surface of the side rail 5 to the virtual surface Vf), the area of ​​the main surface 11a of the radiator 10A can be set to the maximum by applying the cooling device 2A. This makes it possible to further improve the cooling performance.

[0050] (3) In the cooling device 2B according to the second example described above, the main surface 11b of the radiator 10B is positioned facing outward from the vehicle 1, and at least a portion of the lower end surface of the radiator 10B is an inclined surface 12b extending along the departure angle α. Therefore, in the case of a vehicle 1 in which the length D1 in the front-rear direction of the arrangement space 4 is longer than the length D2 in the left-right direction, the area of ​​the main surface 11b of the radiator 10B can be set to the maximum by applying the cooling device 2B. This makes it possible to further improve the cooling performance.

[0051] (4) In the cooling device 2C according to the third example described above, the radiator 10C includes a first radiator section 13 whose main surface 13a faces diagonally upward and a second radiator section 14 whose main surface 14a faces outward from the vehicle 1. By providing multiple radiator sections 13 and 14 facing in different directions in this way, the installation space 4 can be utilized to the maximum extent in any vehicle 1, and the cooling performance can be further improved. In addition, the above example also includes a third radiator section 15, and two types of circuits, a low-temperature circuit and a high-temperature circuit, can be configured, thereby further improving the cooling performance.

[0052] (5) In the cooling device 2 of this embodiment, a protective cover 40 is provided, which has a first surface portion 41 that protects the front of the radiator 10 and a second surface portion 42 that protects the bottom of the radiator 10. Each surface portion 41, 42 has a penetration portion 43 that allows air to pass through but prevents foreign objects from passing through (blocks only foreign objects). In this way, by providing the protective cover 40, it is possible to ensure airflow while preventing foreign objects from hitting the radiator 10.

[0053] (6) With the protective cover 40 described above, the first surface portion 41 has a first slat structure, and the second surface portion 42 has a second slat structure, and the gap between two first plate members 41a adjacent in the vertical direction D3, and the gap between two second plate members 42a adjacent in the front-rear direction D1, each function as a penetration portion 43. With the protective cover 40 to which the slat structure is applied in this way, the airflow can be guided more effectively, thereby improving cooling performance while preventing foreign objects from hitting the radiator 10.

[0054] [3. Others] The configuration of the cooling device 2 described above is just one example. For example, the first surface 41 and the second surface 42 of the protective cover 40 may be a mesh structure instead of a slat structure. Furthermore, in addition to the first surface 41 and the second surface 42, the protective cover 40 may have portions that protect the sides and rear of the radiator 10. Note that the protective cover 40 is not an essential component and can be omitted.

[0055] In the cooling device 2C according to the third example described above, the third radiator section 15 may be omitted. Also, the second radiator section 14 may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction when viewed from the rear, as is the case with the radiator 10D in the cooling device 2D according to the fourth example. The configurations of radiators 10A to 10D described above are just examples. For instance, the external shape of radiator 10 may not be a rectangular parallelepiped, but rather a "V" shape that protrudes outward from the vehicle 1. Similarly, the arrangement and number of fans 20 are just examples and are not limited to the configurations described above.

[0056] [4. Addendum] Further details regarding the above embodiments are disclosed.

[0057] (Note 1) A cooling system for a vehicle, comprising a radiator positioned on the outside of the left and right side rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and behind the rear wheels of the vehicle, The radiator is positioned above a virtual plane that defines the departure angle, and has an inclined portion that is tilted vertically or horizontally based on the departure angle. A vehicle cooling system characterized by the following features. (Note 2) The radiator is positioned such that the main surface through which the air passes is aligned with the departure angle. The inclined portion includes the main surface. A cooling system for a vehicle as described in Appendix 1, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 3) The radiator is positioned such that its main surface through which air passes faces outward from the vehicle, and at least a portion of its lower end surface extends along the departure angle. The inclined portion includes at least a part of the lower end surface. A cooling system for a vehicle as described in Appendix 1, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 4) The radiator includes a first radiator section whose main surface through which air passes is positioned in a manner aligned with the departure angle, and a second radiator section whose main surface through which air passes is positioned facing outward from the vehicle, with at least a portion of its lower end surface extending in a manner aligned with the departure angle. The inclined portion includes the main surface of the first radiator section and at least a portion of the lower end surface of the second radiator section. A cooling system for a vehicle as described in Appendix 1, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 5) The protective cover comprises a first surface portion erected in front of the radiator and covering the radiator vertically, and a second surface portion extending downward from the lower end of the first surface portion toward the radiator. Both the first and second surfaces have a perforation that allows air to pass through but prevents foreign objects from passing through. A cooling system for a vehicle as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4, characterized by the features described herein. (Note 6) The first surface portion has a first slat structure in which a plurality of elongated first plate members extending in the left-right direction are arranged in a forward-tilting position in the vertical direction. The second surface portion has a second slat structure in which a plurality of elongated second plate members extending in the left-right direction are arranged in a forward-leaning position in the front-rear direction, The gaps between the two first plate members adjacent in the vertical direction, and the gaps between the two second plate members adjacent in the front-to-back direction, each function as the through-holes. A cooling system for a vehicle as described in Appendix 5, characterized by the features described herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 vehicle 2,2A,2B,2C,2D Cooling device 3 Rear wheels 4 Placement space 5 Side rails 6 cabs 7 Body 8 Rear bumper 9 Support brackets 10, 10A, 10B, 10C Radiator 10D Radiator (Inclined Section) 11a Main surface (slanted part) 11b,11d Main surface 12b Slanted surface (slanted part) 13. First radiator section 13a Main surface (slanted part) 14. Second radiator section 14a Main surface 14b Slanted surface (slanted part) 15 Third radiator section 15a Main surface 20 Fans 30, 32, 34 Front support members 31, 33, 35 Rear support members 40 protective covers 41 First page 41a First plate member 42 Second surface part 42a Second plate member 43 Penetration section D1 Vehicle length direction (front / rear direction) D2 Vehicle width direction (left-right direction) D3 Vehicle height direction (vertical direction) G road surface T tangent Vf virtual plane α Departure Angle

Claims

1. A cooling system for a vehicle, comprising a radiator positioned on the outside of the left and right side rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and behind the rear wheels of the vehicle, The radiator is positioned above a virtual plane that defines the departure angle, and has an inclined portion that is tilted vertically or horizontally based on the departure angle. A vehicle cooling system characterized by the following features.

2. The radiator is positioned such that the main surface through which the air passes is aligned with the departure angle. The inclined portion includes the main surface. A vehicle cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a vehicle cooling device according to claim 1.

3. The radiator is positioned such that its main surface through which air passes faces outward from the vehicle, and at least a portion of its lower end surface extends along the departure angle. The inclined portion includes at least a part of the lower end surface. A vehicle cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a vehicle cooling device according to claim 1.

4. The radiator includes a first radiator section whose main surface through which air passes is positioned in a manner aligned with the departure angle, and a second radiator section whose main surface through which air passes is positioned facing outward from the vehicle, with at least a portion of its lower end surface extending in a manner aligned with the departure angle. The inclined portion includes the main surface of the first radiator section and at least a portion of the lower end surface of the second radiator section. A vehicle cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a vehicle cooling device according to claim 1.

5. The protective cover comprises a first surface portion erected in front of the radiator and covering the radiator vertically, and a second surface portion extending downward from the lower end of the first surface portion toward the radiator. Both the first and second surfaces have a perforation that allows air to pass through but prevents foreign objects from passing through. A vehicle cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

6. The first surface portion has a first slat structure in which a plurality of elongated first plate members extending in the left-right direction are arranged in a forward-tilting position in the vertical direction. The second surface portion has a second slat structure in which a plurality of elongated second plate members extending in the left-right direction are arranged in a forward-leaning position in the front-rear direction, The gaps between the two first plate members adjacent in the vertical direction, and the gaps between the two second plate members adjacent in the front-to-back direction, each function as the through-holes. A vehicle cooling device according to claim 5, characterized in that it is a vehicle cooling device according to claim 5.

Images