Intake duct

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an air intake duct that can suitably supply cooling air to a battery unit even when a shielding material is disposed on air intake holes. [Solution] This air intake duct 1 comprises an air intake grill 10 having a plurality of air intake holes 10A formed therein and a projection portion 11 that is provided to the air intake grill and that protrudes toward a vehicle cabin side.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] In recent years, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc. have been actively developed. Electric vehicles are equipped with a battery unit that serves as a driving energy source for an electric motor.

[0003] The battery unit generates heat when it is charged or discharged, and therefore requires cooling to maintain battery performance.

[0004] Conventionally, the battery unit is cooled by using a cooling fan to take in air from inside the vehicle cabin through an intake hole located adjacent to the battery unit and supplying that air to the battery unit as cooling air (for example, Patent Document 1 listed below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-179979 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the intake duct disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the intake holes are blocked by an obstruction such as paper or a magazine, sufficient cooling air cannot be supplied to the battery unit, causing the temperature of the battery unit to rise, which may result in problems such as deterioration of battery characteristics and shortening of battery life.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an intake duct that can suitably supply cooling air to a battery unit even if an obstruction is placed over the intake hole. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The air intake duct according to the present invention, which achieves the above object, is an air intake duct that supplies air in a vehicle cabin as cooling air to a battery unit mounted below a floor carpet. The air intake duct is arranged horizontally at approximately the same height as the floor carpet and has an air intake grille in which a plurality of air intake holes are formed, and a protrusion provided on the air intake grille that protrudes toward the passenger compartment. The air intake holes are formed as openings when viewed vertically from the vehicle. The air intake hole and the protrusion are disposed so as to communicate with the floor in the vertical direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the first row of a passenger compartment as viewed from the front of the vehicle, illustrating where an intake duct according to the present embodiment is disposed. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an intake duct according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the intake duct according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing the intake duct according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following description does not limit the technical scope or the meaning of terms described in the claims. Also, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0011] Hereinafter, the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the first row of the passenger compartment as viewed from the front of the vehicle, and is a view for explaining the location where the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment is disposed. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a top view showing the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment. In the following description, the X direction indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the Y direction indicates the vehicle width direction, and the Z direction indicates the vehicle height direction.

[0012] The vehicle V in which the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment is installed is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The intake duct 1 supplies the air in the vehicle cabin as cooling air to a battery unit installed in the vehicle. Although the battery unit is not shown, it is provided, for example, below the floor carpet F below the first row of seats S.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of air intake ducts 1 according to this embodiment are provided along the Y direction below the first row of seats S. As shown in Fig. 1, the air intake grille 10 of the air intake duct 1 is disposed so as to be substantially the same height as the floor carpet F.

[0014] The pair of intake ducts 1 are configured to be symmetrical in the Y direction when viewed from the front of the vehicle. In the following description, the configuration of the intake duct 1 on the right side when viewed from the front of the vehicle (the left side when viewed from the driver's seat) will be described.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the intake duct 1 has an intake grill 10 in which multiple air intake holes 10A are formed, a hole portion 20 that communicates with the battery unit, an inclined wall portion 30 provided between the intake grill 10 and the hole portion 20, and a storage portion 40 for storing water.

[0016] The air intake grille 10 has a plurality of air intake holes 10A formed therein, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The air intake grille 10 is arranged in a horizontal direction (XY plane), as shown in Figure 1. In other words, when air in the vehicle cabin passes through the air intake holes 10A, the air moves in a substantially vertical direction.

[0017] Air intake holes 10A formed in air intake grill 10 are configured in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, as shown in Fig. 3. Since air intake grill 10 is configured in this manner, the area of ​​air intake holes 10A can be suitably secured, and a decrease in pressure loss during air intake can be prevented.

[0018] The air intake grille 10 is formed with a protrusion 11 that protrudes toward the vehicle interior (vertically upward).

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the convex portion 11 has a vertical wall portion 12 that rises toward the passenger compartment (Z direction), a first inclined portion 13 that is continuous with the vertical wall portion 12 and is inclined so that its height decreases in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle (X direction), and a second inclined portion 14 that is continuous with the vertical wall portion 12 and is inclined so that its height decreases in the vehicle width direction (Y direction).

[0020] The first inclined portion 13 and the second inclined portion 14 are integrally formed with the vertical wall portion 12. Note that the first inclined portion 13 and the second inclined portion 14 may be formed as separate bodies from the vertical wall portion 12.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the air intake grille 10 is configured in a mountain shape in which the vertical wall portion 12 and the first inclined portion 13 are continuously repeated along the X direction. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the air intake grille 10 is configured in a mountain shape in which the vertical wall portion 12 and the second inclined portion 14 are continuously repeated along the Y direction.

[0022] With the convex portion 11 configured as described above, air drawn in from a direction inclined from the Z direction toward the intake grille 10 collides with the first inclined portion 13 and the second inclined portion 14, and is rectified so as to follow the Z direction (see the arrows in FIG. 4). This makes it possible to suppress intake noise and intake resistance.

[0023] 4, the hole 20 is provided near the lower left of the intake duct 1 when viewed in cross section from the front. The air taken in through the intake grille 10 is supplied to the battery unit through the hole 20 to cool the battery unit.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, the inclined wall portion 30 is formed below the intake grill 10 and to the right of the hole 20 when viewed in cross section from the front. The inclined wall portion 30 is configured in a straight line so that it becomes the positive side of the Z direction as it approaches the positive side of the Y direction. Therefore, the air taken in through the intake grill 10 flows toward the hole 20. Since the inclined wall portion 30 is provided in this manner, the air taken in through the intake grill 10 can be suitably supplied to the battery unit.

[0025] The reservoir 40 is provided below the hole 20 and the inclined wall 30 when viewed in cross section from the front as shown in Fig. 4. The reservoir 40 is configured in a concave shape as shown in Fig. 4. The reservoir 40 is provided to remove water and foreign matter.

[0026] For example, if the storage section 40 is not provided, there is a concern that intake noise will be generated because the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path is narrowed at the hole 20. In contrast, according to the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment, since the storage section 40 is provided, the storage section 40 can absorb pressure fluctuations and suppress the generation of intake noise.

[0027] Next, the effects of the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment will be described. For example, in the case of an intake duct equipped with an intake grille that does not have a protruding portion 11, if an obstacle such as paper or magazine covers the intake grille, sufficient cooling air cannot be supplied to the battery unit. As a result, the temperature of the battery unit rises, which may cause problems such as deterioration of the battery characteristics and shortened life.

[0028] In contrast, according to the air intake duct 1 of this embodiment, the air intake grille 10 is provided with a protrusion 11 that protrudes toward the vehicle interior. Therefore, even if a shield is placed above the air intake grille 10, the protrusion 11 creates a space between the shield and the air intake hole 10A, making it possible to ensure an air intake path. Therefore, even if a shield is placed above the air intake grille 10, sufficient cooling air can be supplied to the battery unit, and problems such as deterioration of the battery characteristics and shortened life due to an increase in the temperature of the battery unit can be preferably prevented.

[0029] As described above, the air intake duct 1 according to this embodiment is an air intake duct 1 that supplies air in the vehicle cabin as cooling air to a battery unit mounted on a vehicle. The air intake duct 1 has an air intake grill 10 in which a plurality of air intake holes 10A are formed, and a protrusion 11 that is provided on the air intake grill 10 and protrudes toward the vehicle cabin. The air intake duct 1 configured in this manner can supply sufficient cooling air to the battery unit even if a shield is placed on the air intake grill 10, and can suitably prevent problems such as deterioration of battery characteristics and shortened life caused by an increase in the temperature of the battery unit.

[0030] Moreover, the air intake grille 10 is disposed along the horizontal direction, and the protrusions 11 are formed along the vertical direction. With the air intake duct 1 configured in this manner, gravity tends to cause an obstruction to be placed above the air intake grille 10, but even if an obstruction is placed above the air intake grille 10, sufficient cooling air can be supplied to the battery unit.

[0031] Moreover, the protruding portion 11 has a vertical wall portion 12 that rises toward the vehicle interior, a first inclined portion 13 that is continuous with the vertical wall portion 12 and is inclined in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a second inclined portion 14 that is continuous with the vertical wall portion 12 and is inclined in the left-right direction of the vehicle. According to the intake duct 1 configured in this manner, the air taken in from a direction inclined from the Z direction collides with the first inclined portion 13 and the second inclined portion 14, and is rectified so as to follow the Z direction. This makes it possible to suppress intake noise and intake resistance.

[0032] Moreover, when viewed in cross section from the front, the intake duct 1 has a hole 20 that communicates with the battery unit, and an inclined wall 30 that is provided at an angle between the intake grill 10 and the hole 20. With the intake duct 1 configured in this manner, the air taken in through the intake grill 10 can be suitably supplied to the battery unit.

[0033] Moreover, the intake duct 1 has a water reservoir 40 when viewed in cross section from the front. With the intake duct 1 configured in this manner, pressure fluctuations can be absorbed in the reservoir 40, and the generation of intake noise can be suppressed.

[0034] The above describes the intake duct 1 according to this embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate based on the description of the claims.

[0035] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the air intake grill 10 is disposed along the horizontal direction, and the protrusion 11 is formed along the vertical direction. However, the air intake grill 10 may be provided at an angle from the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.

[0036] In the above-described embodiment, the protrusion 11 has the vertical wall portion 12, the first inclined portion 13, and the second inclined portion 14. However, the shape of the protrusion is not limited as long as it can create a space between the shield and the air intake hole 10A and ensure an air intake path.

[0037] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the intake duct 1 has an inclined wall portion 30 and a storage portion 40 when viewed in cross section from the front, but the intake duct does not have to have these. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Intake duct, 10 Intake grille, 10A Intake hole, 11 Convex portion, 12 Vertical wall section, 13 first slope, 14 second slope, 20 holes, 30 Slanted wall section, 40 Reservoir section.

Claims

1. An intake duct that supplies cooling air from within a vehicle cabin to a battery unit mounted below a floor carpet, an air intake grille disposed horizontally at substantially the same height as the floor carpet and having a plurality of air intake holes formed therein; a protrusion provided on the intake grille and protruding toward the vehicle interior, The air intake hole is formed to be open when viewed from a vertical direction of the vehicle, The air intake duct is arranged so that the air intake hole and the protrusion communicate with the floor in the vertical direction.

2. The air intake grille is arranged along a horizontal direction, The intake duct according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is formed along a vertical direction.

3. The protrusion is A vertical wall portion rising toward the vehicle interior side; A first inclined portion is provided continuously with the vertical wall portion and inclined in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; 3. The intake duct according to claim 1, further comprising: a second inclined portion that is continuous with the vertical wall portion and is inclined in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle.

4. When viewed from the front, a hole portion communicating with the battery unit; The intake duct according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an inclined wall portion provided at an angle between the intake grille and the hole.

5. When viewed from the front, The intake duct according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a reservoir for storing water.

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