Intake duct structure

Abstract

The present invention provides an intake duct structure that can improve occupant comfort while suppressing the inflow of liquid into the intake duct. [Solution] The intake duct structure 50 includes an intake duct 20 having an intake port 20h that opens towards the vehicle interior below the seat, and a flow path for introducing air drawn in from the intake port 20h to the blower 30. The intake duct 20 includes an inner cylindrical member 21 that constitutes the downstream side of the flow path and extends upward, and an outer cylindrical member 22 that surrounds the inner cylindrical member 21 and extends upward, and the outer cylindrical member 22 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the inner cylindrical member 21.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an intake duct structure, and particularly to an intake duct structure mounted on a vehicle. [Background Art]

[0002] As a conventional intake duct structure, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2018-16143 (Patent Document 1) discloses an intake duct structure in which a case (intake duct) having an intake port for drawing in air from a vehicle compartment and an exhaust port for discharging the air toward a battery is disposed below a seat, and a blower is disposed inside the case on a ceiling side away from a floor. [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2018-16143 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the intake duct structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the blower is disposed on the ceiling side inside the case, it is possible to suppress liquid from reaching the blower even when liquid enters the intake duct. However, when liquid enters the intake duct, intake performance is degraded due to pressure loss inside the duct, which raises a concern that the cooling performance of the blower may deteriorate.

[0005] Furthermore, depending on the arrangement of the intake duct, the gap between the seat and the intake duct becomes narrow. In this case, it becomes difficult for an occupant to put their feet into the gap, so the space inside the vehicle compartment available to the occupant is reduced. Therefore, there is a concern that occupant comfort may deteriorate.

[0006] This disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of this disclosure is to provide an intake duct structure that can improve occupant comfort while suppressing the inflow of liquid into the intake duct. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The intake duct structure according to this disclosure comprises an intake duct having an intake port that opens toward the vehicle interior below the seat, and a flow path for introducing air drawn in from the intake port to a blower. The intake duct includes an inner cylindrical member that constitutes the downstream side of the flow path and extends upward, and an outer cylindrical member that surrounds the inner cylindrical member and extends upward. The outer cylindrical member is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the inner cylindrical member.

[0008] In the intake duct structure based on the above disclosure, the outer cylinder member may be configured to be movable upward by buoyancy.

[0009] The intake duct structure according to the above disclosure may further include a support member that supports the intake duct and exposes the intake port of the blower. In this case, the inner cylinder member may be liquid-tightly fixed to the support member.

[0010] The intake duct structure according to the above disclosure may further include a sealing member that seals the gap between the outer cylindrical member and the inner cylindrical member.

[0011] In the intake duct structure according to the above disclosure, a guide portion may be provided on the outer circumference of the inner cylinder member to guide the movement of the outer cylinder member. In this case, an engaging portion may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the outer member to engage with the guide portion.

[0012] A vehicle based on this disclosure comprises a floor panel having a recess that is recessed downwards, and the intake duct structure disposed within the recess. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide an intake duct structure that can improve occupant comfort while suppressing the inflow of liquid into the intake duct. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a schematic exploded perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the operation of the intake duct when a liquid spills inside the vehicle and enters the area surrounding the intake duct according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, the same or common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment. Vehicle 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1.

[0017] Vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is a hybrid vehicle capable of running using the power of at least one of a motor and an engine, or an electric vehicle that runs using driving force obtained from electric energy.

[0018] Vehicle 1 includes a first seat 2 and a second seat 3 as front seats, a floor panel 10, a blower 30 (see Figure 2), a power storage device 40, and an intake duct structure 50.

[0019] The first seat 2 and the second seat 3 are arranged within the vehicle interior with a gap between them in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle interior is the space where the occupants are seated.

[0020] The first seat 2 is, for example, a driver's seat, and the second seat 3 is, for example, a passenger seat. The first seat 2 and the second seat 3 each have a seat cushion 2a and a seat cushion 3a, respectively. Further, the first seat 2 and the second seat 3 each include a seat rail 4 and a seat rail 5, and are fixed by the seat rail 4 and the seat rail 5.

[0021] A floor panel 10 has a recess 13 recessed downward below the first seat 2 and the second seat 3. The floor panel 10 is provided with a first extending portion 11 and a second extending portion 12 that protrude upward from a floor surface 10a on the front side and the rear side of the recess 13 and extend along the width direction of the vehicle 1. The first extending portion 11 and the second extending portion 12 are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The aforementioned seat rail 4 and seat rail 5 are fixed to the first extending portion 11 and the second extending portion 12.

[0022] When viewed from above, the recess 13 is located between the first extending portion 11 and the second extending portion 12. Further, the recess 13 is located below the first seat 2 and the second seat 3.

[0023] A blower 30, a power storage device 40, and an intake duct structure 50 are arranged in the recess 13.

[0024] The power storage device 40 and the intake duct structure 50 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. The intake duct structure 50 is located on one side in the vehicle width direction (the first seat 2 side). The intake duct structure 50 includes an intake duct 20 having an intake port 20h opening toward the vehicle interior. For example, the intake port 20h opens upward. The power storage device 40 is located on the other side in the vehicle width direction (the second seat 3 side). The blower 30 is located below the intake duct structure 50.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 2, the peripheral structure of the intake duct structure 50 will be described.

[0026] In the intake duct structure 50, the intake duct 20 has a flow path for introducing air drawn in from the intake port 20h to the blower 30. The blower 30 blows air from inside the vehicle towards the energy storage device 40. The energy storage device 40 includes an energy storage module 42 and a housing case 41 that houses the energy storage module 42. The energy storage module 42 is cooled by the air blown into the housing case 41 from the blower 30. The blower 30 is fixed to the recess 13 by a fixing member 80.

[0027] The intake duct 20 includes an inner cylinder member 21, an outer cylinder member 22, an intake bezel 25, a filter unit 26, a guide portion 27, a sealing member 28, and a support member 60.

[0028] The inner cylinder member 21 constitutes the downstream side of the flow path and extends upward. The outer cylinder member 22 surrounds the inner cylinder member 21 and extends upward. The height of the outer cylinder member 22 is greater than that of the inner cylinder member 21 in the vertical direction. The outer cylinder member 22 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the inner cylinder member 21.

[0029] The outer cylindrical member 22 has a cylindrical portion 23 and a flange portion 24. The flange portion 24 protrudes radially outward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 23. An opening 24h is provided in the flange portion 24.

[0030] The intake bezel 25 is fixed to the outer cylinder member 22 while fitted into the opening 24h. The intake bezel 25 is provided with the aforementioned intake port 20h. The filter unit 26 collects foreign matter contained in the air drawn into the intake duct 20. The filter unit 26 is fixed to the intake bezel 25 downstream of the intake port 20h.

[0031] The guide portion 27 is provided on the outer circumference of the inner cylinder member 21. The guide portion 27 guides the movement of the outer cylinder member 22. Specifically, the outer cylinder member 22 is provided with an engaging portion that movably engages with the guide portion 27. The movement of the outer cylinder member 22 is guided by the movement of the engaging portion along the guide portion 27. The engaging portion is provided, for example, on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 23.

[0032] The sealing member 28 seals the gap between the outer cylinder member 22 and the inner cylinder member 21. The sealing member 28 is located between the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member 22 and the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder member 21. The sealing member 28 may be made of a rubber material such as an O-ring.

[0033] The support member 60 supports the intake duct 20 with the intake port 30a of the blower 30 exposed. The support member 60 is, for example, a cover member that covers the blower 30 with the intake port 30a exposed. The support member 60 is fixed to the floor panel 10. The portion of the support member 60 that covers the blower is recessed into the recess 13.

[0034] The inner cylinder member 21 described above is fixed to the support member 60 such that its internal space communicates with the suction port 30a. The inner cylinder member 21 is liquid-tightly fixed to the support member 60. The inner cylinder member 21 may be liquid-tightly fixed to the support member 60 by, for example, a sealing member 70, or by welding or the like.

[0035] Figure 3 illustrates the operation of the intake duct when a liquid spills inside the vehicle and enters the area around the intake duct according to this embodiment.

[0036] If liquid spills inside the vehicle, a recess 13 is formed around the air intake port 20h, and the liquid L enters into this recess 13. Specifically, the liquid L enters the portion of the support member 60 that is recessed into the recess 13. As described above, since the inner cylinder member 21 is fixed to the support member 60 in a liquid-tight manner, the liquid L is stored on the support member 60 that is recessed into the recess 13 around the air intake duct 20.

[0037] Here, the bottom surface 23a of the outer cylinder member 22 is located above and away from the support member 60. Therefore, when liquid L is stored on the support member 60, buoyancy acts on the outer cylinder member 22. As described above, the buoyancy can be increased by having the flange portion 24 on the outer cylinder member 22. The outer cylinder member 22 is configured to be movable upward by this buoyancy, and as described above, when subjected to buoyancy, it moves upward. At this time, the sealing member 28 prevents liquid L from entering the intake duct 20 (more specifically, the inner cylinder member 21).

[0038] As described above, in this embodiment, the outer cylinder member 22 is provided so as to be movable vertically relative to the inner cylinder member 21, and when liquid L accumulates around the inner cylinder member 21, the outer cylinder member 22 is provided so as to be able to move upward due to buoyancy. For this reason, when liquid L has not entered around the inner cylinder member 21, the outer cylinder member 22 is located at a lower position than in the abnormal state. As a result, in normal use, a wide space can be secured between the first seat 2 and the intake duct 20. As a result, the tips of the feet of occupants (for example, occupants sitting in the rear seat) can be placed in the above space, improving occupant comfort. Furthermore, when liquid L enters around the inner cylinder member 21, the outer cylinder member 22 moves upward, which can prevent liquid L from entering the intake duct 20 from the intake port 20h.

[0039] Furthermore, since the guide portion 27 is provided on the inner cylinder member 21 and the engaging portion that engages with the guide portion is provided on the outer cylinder member 22, the movement of the outer cylinder member 22 can be reliably guided.

[0040] In addition, because the inner cylinder member 21 is fixed to the support member 60 in a liquid-tight manner, it is possible to prevent liquid L from entering the inside of the intake duct 20 or the intake port 30a of the blower 30 through the gap between the support member 60 and the inner cylinder member 21.

[0041] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and all modifications are within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Vehicle, 2 First seat, 2a Seat cushion, 3 Second seat, 3a Seat cushion, 4,5 Seat rails, 10 Floor panel, 10a Floor surface, 11 First extension, 12 Second extension, 13 Recess, 20 Intake duct, 20h Intake port, 21 Inner cylinder member, 22 Outer cylinder member, 23 Cylindrical part, 23a Bottom surface, 24 Flange part, 24h Opening, 25 Intake bezel, 26 Filter unit, 27 Guide part, 28 Sealing member, 30 Blower, 30a Intake port, 40 Energy storage device, 41 Housing case, 42 Energy storage module, 50 Intake duct structure, 60 Support member, 70 Sealing member, 80 Fixing member, L Liquid.

Claims

[Claim 1] An air intake port is provided below the seat, opening towards the vehicle interior, and an air intake duct is provided which has a flow path for introducing the air drawn in from the air intake port to a blower. The intake duct comprises an inner cylindrical member that constitutes the downstream side of the flow path and extends upward, It includes an outer cylindrical member that surrounds the inner cylindrical member and extends upward, The outer cylindrical member is provided to be movable in the vertical direction relative to the inner cylindrical member, forming an intake duct structure.

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