Cooling duct

Abstract

To provide a cooling duct capable of efficiently introducing traveling wind into a heat exchanger while reducing manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: A cooling duct 10 introduces traveling wind into heat exchangers (3A, 3B, and 4) attached to a radiator support 1 at a front part of a vehicle through a left side bracket 7 and a right side bracket 8, and is equipped with a rear duct 40 that introduces the traveling wind passing through a front upper duct 20 and a front lower duct 30 into the heat exchangers (3A, 3B, and 4). A rear portion of a left side wall portion 48 of the rear duct 40 is oppositely disposed to a front portion of a left side bracket 7 and a rear portion of a right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 is oppositely disposed to a front portion of a right side bracket 8 so as to form labyrinth seals 11 and 12 respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling duct for guiding airflow to a heat exchanger disposed at the front of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the vehicle front structure shown in Patent Document 1 has a four-sided duct consisting of an upper duct, a lower duct, and left and right side duct under covers that surround the cooling equipment in order to guide the airflow while the vehicle is traveling to the cooling equipment such as a radiator installed at the front of the vehicle.

[0003] A front bumper energy absorber, reinforcement and bumper cover are arranged in the vertical middle region in front of this four-way duct, and grill openings are provided in both the upper and lower regions in front of the four-way duct. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-116992 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a sealing member such as a sealing tape having suitable heat resistance and elasticity is provided between the four-way duct and the radiator, which may increase manufacturing costs.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling duct that can efficiently introduce airflow generated by traveling into a heat exchanger while reducing manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a cooling duct that guides traveling wind to a heat exchanger attached to a radiator support at the front of a vehicle via a left side bracket and a right side bracket, the cooling duct comprising: a front upper duct that is disposed in an upper region in front of the radiator support and receives traveling wind from the front and passes it rearward; a front lower duct that is disposed in a lower region in front of the radiator support and receives traveling wind from the front and passes it rearward; and a rear duct whose front portion is connected to the front upper duct and the front lower duct and guides the traveling wind that has passed through the front upper duct and the front lower duct to the heat exchanger, wherein a rear portion of a left side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed opposite a front portion of the left side bracket, and a rear portion of a right side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed opposite a front portion of the right side bracket so as to form a labyrinth seal. A cylindrical exhaust port extending rearward is provided at a rear portion of the front upper duct and a rear portion of the front lower duct, and an upper opening into which the cylindrical exhaust port of the front upper duct is inserted so as to communicate with the rear duct and a lower opening into which the cylindrical exhaust port of the front lower duct is inserted so as to communicate with the rear duct are provided at a front portion of the rear duct. It is characterized by the presence of

[0008] As is well known, the labyrinth seal is a maze-shaped gap. According to this configuration, the wind passing through the front upper duct and the front lower duct is guided to the heat exchanger via the rear duct, and the labyrinth seal prevents the wind from leaking out between the rear of the left side wall of the rear duct and the front of the left side bracket, and between the rear of the right side wall of the rear duct and the front of the right side bracket. This makes it possible to increase the amount of wind passing through the heat exchanger.

[0009] In this configuration, the sealing performance of the internal space of the cooling duct, that is, the flow path of the traveling wind, can be improved without using a sealing member as in the conventional example.

[0011] With this configuration, there are no gaps in the parts connecting the front upper duct and the front lower duct with the rear duct, so that the wind flowing through the connecting parts is guided to the rear duct without leaking out.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above cooling duct, the rear end of the left side wall portion of the rear duct is arranged to face the front end of the left side bracket, and the rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct is arranged to face the front end of the right side bracket so as to create a first gap that serves as a non-contact seal, and the rear end of the left side wall portion and the rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct are provided with opposing left inner plate and right inner plate so as to create a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal on the inner surface of the left side bracket and the inner surface of the right side bracket, and the labyrinth seal can be configured to be created by combining the first and second gaps.

[0013] According to this configuration, the structure for preventing leakage of the traveling wind can be realized with a simple and inexpensive configuration that only requires providing the left inner plate and the right inner plate.

[0014] Moreover, since the inner end openings of the labyrinth seal are located on the free end sides (rear side of the vehicle) of the left inner plate and the right inner plate, if the running wind were to leak from the inner end openings of the labyrinth seal to the outer end opening, the running wind would need to flow in the opposite direction to the flow direction of the running wind. This makes it difficult for the running wind to leak out of the labyrinth seal.

[0015] In addition, in the above cooling duct, the front portions of the left side bracket and the right side bracket (the areas from the front ends to a midway position a predetermined distance rearward) can be bent so as to protrude outward, and the left inner plate and the right inner plate can be configured to face the inner surface of this outward protruding portion so as to create a second gap that forms a non-contact seal.

[0016] According to this configuration, the number of bent portions of the labyrinth seal is increased, improving the effect of preventing leakage of wind caused by running.

[0017] Further, in the above cooling duct, the rear end of the left side wall portion of the rear duct is arranged to face the front end of the left side bracket, and the rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct is arranged to face the front end of the right side bracket, with a first gap serving as a non-contact seal therebetween, and the rear end of the left side wall portion and the rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct are provided with opposing left inner plate and right inner plate so as to create a second gap serving as a non-contact seal with the inner surface of the left side bracket and the inner surface of the right side bracket, and the rear end of the left side wall portion and the rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct are provided with opposing left outer plate and right outer plate so as to create a third gap serving as a non-contact seal with the outer surface of the left side bracket and the outer surface of the right side bracket, and the labyrinth seal can be configured to be created by combining the first to third gaps.

[0018] According to this configuration, the number of bent portions of the labyrinth seal is increased, improving the effect of preventing leakage of wind caused by running.

[0019] In addition, in the above cooling duct, the left inner plate and the right inner plate are attached to the rear end of the left side wall portion and the rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct via hinges, and the left inner plate and the right inner plate can be configured to tilt outward with the hinges as a fulcrum so as to abut against the inner surface of the left side bracket and the inner surface of the right side bracket when the internal pressure of the rear duct becomes higher than the external pressure.

[0020] According to this configuration, when the left inner plate and the right inner plate fall outward and abut against the inner surface of the left side bracket and the inner surface of the right side bracket, the inner end opening of the labyrinth seal closes, thereby improving the effect of preventing leakage of wind caused by traveling.

[0021] In the cooling duct, the rear end of the left side wall of the rear duct is disposed opposite the front end of the left side bracket, and the rear end of the right side wall of the rear duct is disposed opposite the front end of the right side bracket, with a first gap therebetween that serves as a non-contact seal. A left inner plate and a right inner plate are provided at the rear end of the left side wall of the rear duct and the rear end of the right side wall of the rear duct, facing each other so as to form a second gap on the inner surface of the left side bracket and the inner surface of the right side bracket, and a front portion of each of the left side bracket and the right side bracket (a midway position separated rearward by a predetermined distance from the front end) is provided with A left inner protrusion and a right inner protrusion are provided which are bent so as to extend forward from the rear sides of the left inner plate and the right inner plate so as to wrap around and create a third gap which serves as a non-contact seal on the inside of the left inner plate and the right inner plate, and a second left inner plate and a second right inner plate are provided at the rear end of the left wall portion and the rear end of the right wall portion of the rear duct, facing each other so as to create a fourth gap which serves as a non-contact seal on the inner surfaces of the left inner protrusion and the right inner protrusion, and the labyrinth seal can be formed by combining the first to fourth gaps.

[0022] According to this configuration, the number of bent portions of the labyrinth seal is further increased, improving the effect of preventing leakage of wind caused by running.

[0023] In addition, in the above cooling duct, the left inner plate and the right inner plate are each formed of an elastic body, and the left inner plate and the right inner plate can be configured to bend so as to abut against the inner surface of the left side bracket and the inner surface of the right side bracket when the internal pressure of the rear duct becomes higher than the external pressure.

[0024] According to this configuration, when the left inner plate and the right inner plate are deflected, the inner end opening of the labyrinth seal is closed, thereby improving the effect of preventing leakage of wind generated by running. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooling duct that can efficiently introduce airflow generated by traveling into a heat exchanger while reducing manufacturing costs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a front part of a vehicle equipped with a cooling duct according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling duct of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line (5)-(5) in FIG. 3, seen from the direction of the arrow. [Figure 6] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a case in which the internal pressure of the reactor duct in FIG. 6 becomes higher than the external pressure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a second embodiment of a cooling duct according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a third embodiment of a cooling duct according to the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a fourth embodiment of the cooling duct according to the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a case in which the internal pressure of the reactor duct in FIG. 9 becomes higher than the external pressure. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a case in which the internal pressure of the reactor duct in FIG. 9 becomes lower than the external pressure. [Figure 12] FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a fifth embodiment of a cooling duct according to the present invention. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram showing a case in which the internal pressure of the reactor duct in FIG. 12 becomes higher than the external pressure. [Figure 14] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a cooling duct according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a case in which the internal pressure of the reactor duct in FIG. 14 becomes higher than the external pressure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 6. In this embodiment, an example is given in which a cooling duct according to the present invention is installed in a vehicle that uses a ladder frame.

[0029] In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a radiator support for a vehicle, 2 denotes a drive device such as an engine or an electric motor, 3A denotes a radiator (heat exchanger) for cooling the engine or the electric motor, 3B denotes a radiator (heat exchanger) for cooling a fuel cell, 4 denotes a condenser (heat exchanger) for cooling an air conditioner, 5 denotes a fan, and 6 denotes a fan shroud. Note that the configuration may be such that either one of the radiators 3A and 3B is omitted.

[0030] The radiator support 1 has a configuration in which an upper radiator support 1a and a lower radiator support 1b are arranged vertically in parallel and spaced apart from each other.

[0031] The radiators 3A, 3B and the condenser 4 are attached to the radiator support 1 via left and right side brackets 7, 8.

[0032] In order to actively guide the running wind to the radiators 3A, 3B and the condenser 4, a cooling duct 10 is used, which will be described in detail below.

[0033] The cooling duct 10 includes a front upper duct 20, a front lower duct 30, and a rear duct 40.

[0034] The front upper duct 20 is set to have substantially the same dimension as the width of the rear duct 40, and is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape.

[0035] In addition, the entire front portion of the front upper duct 20 is open, but the left and right half regions of the rear portion of the front upper duct 20 are each provided with independent rectangular cylindrical exhaust ports 21, 22 that protrude rearward.

[0036] The front lower duct 30 is formed in a rectangular cylindrical shape and has a dimension set to be approximately the same as the width of the rear duct 40. The front lower duct 30 has a smaller vertical dimension than the front upper duct 20.

[0037] The rear duct 40 is configured such that a horizontally elongated rectangular upper plate portion 42 is provided on the upper side of a vertically elongated rectangular front plate portion 41 so as to extend rearward, and a horizontally elongated rectangular lower plate portion 43 is provided on the lower side of the front plate portion 41 so as to extend rearward.

[0038] A bulging portion 44 that bulges forward is provided in the upper half region of the front plate portion 41. Openings 45, 46 (also referred to as upper openings) are provided in the left and right half regions of this bulging portion 44.

[0039] A horizontally long rectangular square tube portion 47 is provided in the entire left-right length of the lower half region of the front plate portion 41, protruding further forward than the upper bulge portion 44. The opening in front of the square tube portion 47 corresponds to the lower opening in the claims.

[0040] The two upper rectangular tubular exhaust ports 21, 22 at the rear of the front upper duct 20 are fitted into the two upper openings 45, 46 of the rear duct 40, thereby connecting the two ducts. Also, the rear of the front lower duct 30 is fitted into the opening in front of the rectangular tubular portion 47 of the rear duct 40, thereby connecting the two ducts.

[0041] The cooling duct 10 thus configured is attached to left and right side brackets 7, 8 which are attached to the radiators 3A, 3B.

[0042] A front upper duct 20 and a front lower duct 30 are disposed in front of the radiator support 1, and a rear duct 40 is disposed behind the radiator support 1. The front upper duct 20 is disposed between the radiator support upper 1a and the radiator support lower 1b of the radiator support 1. The front lower duct 30 is disposed below the radiator support lower 1b of the radiator support 1.

[0043] Although not shown in detail, the rear duct 40 of the cooling duct 10 is attached to the left and right side brackets 7, 8 using fastening members (e.g., bolts or clips). The attachment positions of these fastening members are shown by black circles in Figs. 3 and 4, for example.

[0044] The front upper duct 20, the front lower duct 30 and the rear duct 40 are formed from an appropriate synthetic resin (for example, a mixture of polypropylene and polyethylene).

[0045] Incidentally, a device has been devised to prevent the wind flowing through rear duct 40 from leaking out from the connection portions between rear duct 40 and left side bracket 7 and right side bracket 8, which will be described in detail below.

[0046] The rear portion of the left side wall portion 48 of the rear duct 40 is disposed to face the front portion of the left side bracket 7, and the rear portion of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 is disposed to face the front portion of the right side bracket 8, so as to form labyrinth seals 11, 12. As is well known, these labyrinth seals 11, 12 are maze-shaped gaps.

[0047] Specifically, the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 of the rear duct 40 is disposed opposite the front end of the left side bracket 7, and the rear end of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 is disposed opposite the front end of the right side bracket 8, so as to create a first gap that serves as a non-contact seal.

[0048] Furthermore, a left inner plate 13 and a right inner plate 14 are provided at the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 and the rear end of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 .

[0049] The left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 are arranged in parallel to face each other so as to form a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal on the inner surface of the left side bracket 7 and the inner surface of the right side bracket 8.

[0050] The first and second gaps are combined to form labyrinth seals 11, 12.

[0051] The labyrinth seals 11, 12 have inner end openings located closer to the free ends of the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 (to the rear of the vehicle) than their outer end openings.

[0052] Therefore, if the traveling wind is to leak from the inner end openings of the labyrinth seals 11 and 12 toward the outer end openings, the traveling wind must flow in the opposite direction to the traveling wind flow.

[0053] The presence of such labyrinth seals 11, 12 prevents the wind from leaking out between the rear of the left side wall 48 of the rear duct 40 and the front of the left side bracket 7, and between the rear of the right side wall 49 of the rear duct 40 and the front of the right side bracket 8.

[0054] Incidentally, when the internal pressure of the rear duct 40 becomes higher than the external pressure, the rear ends of the left side wall portion 48 and the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 are displaced outward, as shown in Fig. 6, causing the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 to abut against the inner surfaces of the left side bracket 7 and the right side bracket 8. This causes the inner end openings of the labyrinth seals 11, 12 to close, improving the effect of preventing leakage of running wind.

[0055] Therefore, the wind guided to rear duct 40 is guided to condenser 4 and radiators 3A, 3B without leaking out between the rear portion of rear duct 40 and the front portions of left and right side brackets 7, 8.

[0056] Furthermore, with regard to the sealing configuration between rear duct 40 and radiators 3A, 3B, labyrinth seals 11, 12 are created between the rear of rear duct 40 and the front of the left and right side brackets 7, 8 using the left inner plate 13 and right inner plate 14 provided at the rear end of rear duct 40, and no separate sealing members are used as in the conventional example, which is advantageous in reducing the manufacturing costs of cooling duct 10.

[0057] As described above, in the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to improve the sealing performance of the internal space of the cooling duct 10, i.e., the flow path of the traveling wind, without using a sealing member as described in the conventional example.

[0058] This prevents the wind passing through the cooling duct 10 from leaking out and enables it to be efficiently guided to the radiators 3A, 3B and the condenser 4, thereby improving the cooling performance of the drive unit 2 by the radiators 3A, 3B and the condenser 4.

[0059] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the cooling duct 10 capable of efficiently guiding the traveling wind to the radiators 3A, 3B and the condenser 4 while reducing the manufacturing cost.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and a range equivalent to the claims.

[0061] (1) Figure 7 shows embodiment 2 of the present invention. The difference between embodiment 2 and embodiment 1 is that the front portions of the left side bracket 7 and the right side bracket 8 (regions from the front ends to a midway position a predetermined distance rearward) are bent so as to protrude outward, and the inner surfaces of these outward protruding portions (left outer protruding portion 7a, right outer protruding portion 8a) face the outer surfaces of the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 so as to form a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal.

[0062] The labyrinth seals 11 and 12 of the second embodiment are produced by combining the first gap and the second gap in the same manner as the first embodiment.

[0063] The presence of these labyrinth seals 11, 12 prevents wind from leaking out between the rear of the left side wall 48 of the rear duct 40 and the front of the left side bracket 7, and between the rear of the right side wall 49 of the rear duct 40 and the front of the right side bracket 8.

[0064] In particular, the labyrinth seals 11 and 12 of the second embodiment have more bent portions than the first embodiment, and therefore the effect of preventing leakage of running wind is improved.

[0065] (2) The left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 shown in the first and second embodiments can be tiltably attached to the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 and the rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct 40.

[0066] For example, embodiment 3 of the present invention is shown in Fig. 8. In this embodiment 3, similarly to embodiment 2 described above, the front portions of the left side bracket 7 and the right side bracket 8 (regions from the front end to a midway position a predetermined distance rearward) are bent so as to protrude outward, and the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 face the inner surfaces of these outward protruding portions (left outer protruding portion 7a, right outer protruding portion 8a) so as to form a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal, and further, the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 are attached to the rear ends of the left side wall portion 48 and the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 via hinges 15. The other configurations are basically the same as those of embodiment 2 described above.

[0067] The labyrinth seals 11 and 12 of the third embodiment are produced by combining the first and second gaps in the same manner as the second embodiment.

[0068] In this configuration, when the internal pressure of the rear duct 40 becomes higher than the external pressure, the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 will fall outward about the hinge 15 and come into contact with the inner surface of the left outer protrusion 7a of the left side bracket 7 and the inner surface of the right outer protrusion 8a of the right side bracket 8. This closes the inner end openings of the labyrinth seals 11, 12, improving the effect of preventing leakage of running wind.

[0069] (3) Figures 9 to 11 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the fourth embodiment further includes a left outer plate 16 and a right outer plate 17 at the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 and the rear end of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40.

[0070] The left outer plate 16 and the right outer plate 17 face each other so as to form a third gap that serves as a non-contact seal with the outer surface of the left side bracket 7 and the outer surface of the right side bracket 8.

[0071] The labyrinth seals 11, 12 of the fourth embodiment are made by combining the first to third gaps, and therefore have more bent portions and are longer than those of the first to third embodiments.

[0072] In this configuration, when the internal pressure of the rear duct 40 becomes higher than the external pressure, the rear ends of the left and right wall portions 48, 49 of the rear duct 40 are displaced outward, causing the left and right inner plates 13, 14 to abut against the inner surfaces of the left and right side brackets 7, 8, as shown in Figure 10. This causes the inner end openings of the labyrinth seals 11, 12 to close, improving the effect of preventing leakage of running wind.

[0073] On the other hand, when the internal pressure of the rear duct 40 becomes lower than the external pressure, the rear ends of the left and right wall portions 48, 49 of the rear duct 40 are displaced inward, causing the left and right outer plates 16, 17 to abut against the outer surfaces of the left and right side brackets 7, 8, as shown in Fig. 11. This causes the outer end openings of the labyrinth seals 11, 12 to close, improving the effect of preventing leakage of running wind.

[0074] (4) Figures 12 and 13 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this fifth embodiment, the labyrinth seals 11 and 12 are bent in a more complex manner and are longer than the labyrinth seals 11 and 12 shown in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0075] Specifically, the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 of the rear duct 40 is disposed opposite the front end of the left side bracket 7, and the rear end of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 is disposed opposite the front end of the right side bracket 8, with a first gap therebetween that serves as a non-contact seal.

[0076] A left inner plate 13 and a right inner plate 14 are provided at the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 and the rear end of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 .

[0077] The left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 face each other so as to form a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal with the inner surface of the left side bracket 7 and the inner surface of the right side bracket 8.

[0078] The left side bracket 7 and the right side bracket 8 are provided at their front portions (midway positions a predetermined distance rearward from the front ends) with a left inner protrusion 7b and a right inner protrusion 8b.

[0079] The left inner protrusion 7b and the right inner protrusion 8b are bent so as to extend around from the rear side of the left inner panel 13 and the right inner panel 14 to the front side, creating a third gap that serves as a non-contact seal on the inside of the left inner panel 13 and the right inner panel 14.

[0080] A second left inner plate 18 and a second right inner plate 19 are provided at the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 and the rear end of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40. The second left inner plate 18 and the second right inner plate 19 face each other so as to form a gap that serves as a contactless seal with the inner surface of the left inner overhanging portion 7b and the inner surface of the right inner overhanging portion 8b.

[0081] The labyrinth seals 11, 12 of the fifth embodiment are made by combining the first to fourth gaps, and therefore have more bent portions and are longer than those of the first to fourth embodiments.

[0082] In this configuration, when the internal pressure of the rear duct 40 becomes higher than the external pressure, the rear ends of the left and right wall portions 48 and 49 of the rear duct 40 are displaced outward as shown in Fig. 12, causing the left and right inner plates 13 and 14 to abut against the inner surfaces of the left and right side brackets 7 and 8, respectively, and the second left and right inner plates 18 and 19 to abut against the inner surfaces of the left and right inner protrusions 7b and 8b of the left and right side brackets 8. This causes the inner and outer end openings of the labyrinth seals 11 and 12 to close, further increasing the effect of preventing leakage of running wind.

[0083] (5) Figures 14 and 15 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of this sixth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 are formed from an elastic body (such as rubber or a flexible synthetic resin), and the rear halves of the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 from the center in the width direction (direction along the vehicle front-rear direction) to the free ends are formed to be relatively thin so as to be flexible, while the front halves of the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 from the center in the width direction (direction along the vehicle front-rear direction) to the base are formed to be relatively thick.

[0084] Here, the rear half of the thin wall is defined as lips 13b, 14b, and the front half of the thick wall is defined as body portions 13a, 14a.

[0085] In this configuration, when the internal pressure of the rear duct 40 becomes higher than the external pressure, the rear ends of the left and right wall portions 48 and 49 of the rear duct 40 are displaced outward, and the lip 13b of the left inner plate 13 and the lip 14b of the right inner plate 14 are deflected and come into contact with the inner surfaces of the left and right side brackets 7 and 8, as shown in Fig. 15. This causes the inner end openings of the labyrinth seals 11 and 12 to close, improving the effect of preventing leakage of running wind.

[0086] Although not shown, the left inner plate 13 and the right inner plate 14 can be configured to be attached, for example, to the rear end of the left side wall portion 48 and the rear end of the right side wall portion 49 of the rear duct 40 via hinges.

[0087] (6) In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the cooling duct 10 of the present invention was equipped on a vehicle using a ladder frame, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, although not shown, it is possible to equip a vehicle using a monocoque body with the cooling duct 10 of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0088] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used in a cooling duct that guides airflow to a heat exchanger that is attached to a radiator support at the front of a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1 Radiator Support 1a Radiator support upper 1b Radiator support lower 2. Drive unit 3A FC radiator (heat exchanger) 3B EV Condenser (Heat Exchanger) 4 Condenser (heat exchanger) 7 Left side bracket 8 Right Side Bracket 10 Cooling Duct 20 Front upper duct 21 Left rectangular tubular outlet 22 Right rectangular tubular outlet 30 Front lower duct 40 Rear duct 48 Left side wall 49 Right side wall 11 Left labyrinth seal 12 Right labyrinth seal 13 Left medial plate 14 Right inner plate

Claims

1. A cooling duct that guides airflow to a heat exchanger that is attached to a radiator support at the front of a vehicle via a left side bracket and a right side bracket, a front upper duct that is disposed in an upper region in front of the radiator support and receives running wind from the front and passes it to the rear; a front lower duct that is disposed in a lower region in front of the radiator support and receives running wind from the front and passes it to the rear; a rear duct having a front portion connected to the front upper duct and the front lower duct and configured to guide a traveling wind that has passed through the front upper duct and the front lower duct to the heat exchanger, a rear portion of a left side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed to face a front portion of the left side bracket, and a rear portion of a right side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed to face a front portion of the right side bracket so as to form a labyrinth seal, A cylindrical exhaust port extending rearward is provided at a rear portion of the front upper duct and a rear portion of the front lower duct, A cooling duct characterized in that the front portion of the rear duct has an upper opening into which a cylindrical exhaust port of the front upper duct is inserted so as to communicate with the rear duct, and a lower opening into which a cylindrical exhaust port of the front lower duct is inserted so as to communicate with the rear duct.

2. 2. The cooling duct according to claim 1, a rear end of a left side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed opposite to a front end of the left side bracket, and a rear end of a right side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed opposite to a front end of the right side bracket, so as to form a first gap that serves as a non-contact seal; a left inner plate and a right inner plate are provided at a rear end of the left side wall portion and a rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct, the left inner plate and the right inner plate being opposed to each other so as to form a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal with an inner surface of the left side bracket and an inner surface of the right side bracket, A cooling duct, wherein the labyrinth seal is formed by combining the first and second gaps.

3. 3. The cooling duct according to claim 2, The front portions of the left side bracket and the right side bracket (areas from the front ends to intermediate positions spaced a predetermined distance rearward) are bent so as to protrude outward, A cooling duct characterized in that the left and right inner plates face each other on the inner surface of the outwardly protruding portion so as to form a second gap that forms a non-contact seal.

4. 2. The cooling duct according to claim 1, a rear end of a left side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed to face a front end of the left side bracket, and a rear end of a right side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed to face a front end of the right side bracket, with a first gap therebetween that serves as a non-contact seal; a left inner plate and a right inner plate are provided at a rear end of the left side wall portion and a rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct, the left inner plate and the right inner plate being opposed to each other so as to form a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal with an inner surface of the left side bracket and an inner surface of the right side bracket, a left outer plate and a right outer plate are provided at a rear end of the left side wall portion and a rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct, the left outer plate and the right outer plate being opposed to each other so as to form a third gap that serves as a non-contact seal with an outer surface of the left side bracket and an outer surface of the right side bracket, The cooling duct is characterized in that the labyrinth seal is formed by combining the first to third gaps.

5. A vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the left inner plate and the right inner plate are attached to a rear end of a left side wall portion and a rear end of a right side wall portion of the rear duct via hinges, a cooling duct characterized in that the left and right inner plates tilt outward with the hinge as a fulcrum so as to abut against the inner surfaces of the left and right side brackets when the internal pressure of the rear duct becomes higher than the external pressure.

6. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, a rear end of a left side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed to face a front end of the left side bracket, and a rear end of a right side wall portion of the rear duct is disposed to face a front end of the right side bracket, with a first gap therebetween that serves as a non-contact seal; a left inner plate and a right inner plate are provided at a rear end of the left side wall portion and a rear end of the right side wall portion of the rear duct, the left inner plate and the right inner plate being opposed to each other so as to form a second gap that serves as a non-contact seal with an inner surface of the left side bracket and an inner surface of the right side bracket, a left inner protruding portion and a right inner protruding portion are provided at the front portions of the left side bracket and the right side bracket (at an intermediate position separated rearward by a predetermined distance from the front end), the left inner protruding portion and the right inner protruding portion are bent so as to extend forward from the rear sides of the left inner plate and the right inner plate to the insides of the left inner plate and the right inner plate to form a third gap that serves as a non-contact seal, a second left inner plate and a second right inner plate are provided at a rear end of the left wall portion and a rear end of the right wall portion of the rear duct, the second left inner plate and the second right inner plate being opposed to each other so as to form a fourth gap that serves as a non-contact seal with an inner surface of the left inner overhanging portion and an inner surface of the right inner overhanging portion, The cooling duct is characterized in that the labyrinth seal is formed by combining the first to fourth gaps.

7. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, The left inner plate and the right inner plate are each formed of an elastic body, a cooling duct characterized in that the left inner plate and the right inner plate bend so as to abut against the inner surfaces of the left side bracket and the right side bracket when the internal pressure of the rear duct becomes higher than the external pressure.

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