Vehicles with air guides in the cooling module

Abstract

To provide a vehicle comprising an air guide which can optimize flow of air passing a radiator and a cooling fan of a cooling module after entering through a radiator grille which is an air inflow part at a vehicle body front end part.SOLUTION: A vehicle comprises an air guide which is located in a space between a radiator grille and a cooling module at a vehicle body front end part, and guides air entering through the radiator grille so as to flow to a radiator of the cooling module. The air guide includes: a first guide member which is fixed to a grille side structure at a vehicle front face part where the radiator grille is positioned at the vehicle body front end part; and a second guide member which is provided on a cooling module side structure which is a fixed structure coupled to the cooling module, and is so located as to be separated from the first guide member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle equipped with an air guide that can optimize the flow of air that flows through a radiator grille, which is an air inlet at the front end of the vehicle body, and then passes through a radiator and a cooling fan of a cooling module. [Background technology]

[0002] A fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is a vehicle powered by an electric motor, similar to a battery electric vehicle (BEV). It uses a fuel cell as the primary power source to supply driving power to the electric motor, which is the vehicle's driving source, and a high-voltage battery as an auxiliary power source. The fuel cell, which is the primary power source of a fuel cell vehicle, is a type of power generation device that converts the chemical energy of the fuel into electrical energy by electrochemically reacting fuel gas and oxidant gas. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which have high power density, are the most commonly used fuel cells for vehicles. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) use hydrogen as the fuel gas and oxygen or oxygen-containing air as the oxidant gas among the reactant gases.

[0003] Fuel cells contain multiple cells that generate electrical energy by reacting fuel gas with oxidant gas. To meet the required output level, the cells are typically stacked and connected in series to form a stack. To meet the high output requirements, fuel cells installed in vehicles typically require hundreds of individual cells that generate electrical energy. This stacked and connected assembly of multiple cells is called a fuel cell stack. A fuel cell system installed in a fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, a device for supplying reactant gases to the fuel cell stack, and a device for managing the status of the fuel cell stack.

[0004] Specifically, a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack that generates electrical energy from an electrochemical reaction of reactant gases, a hydrogen supply device that supplies hydrogen as a fuel gas to the fuel cell stack, an air supply device that supplies air containing oxygen as an oxidant gas to the fuel cell stack, a heat and water management system that controls the operating temperature of the fuel cell stack and performs heat and water management functions, and a fuel cell control unit (FCU) that controls the overall operation of the fuel cell system. The power net system of a fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell stack that serves as the vehicle's main power source (main power source), a high-voltage battery that serves as the vehicle's auxiliary power source (auxiliary power source), a bidirectional high-voltage DC-DC converter (BHDC) connected to the battery to control the battery's output, an inverter connected to a DC link end (main bus end) that is the output side of the fuel cell stack and the battery, and a drive motor connected to the inverter.

[0005] Meanwhile, as a measure to overcome the problem of battery capacity in large electric vehicles such as trucks and buses, active development is underway for hydrogen-electric trucks and buses equipped with fuel cells. Commercial fuel cell vehicles such as hydrogen-electric trucks are equipped with power plants in which fuel cell systems (Power Module Complete, hereinafter referred to as "PMC") applied to passenger fuel cell vehicles are configured in parallel. In other words, commercial fuel cell vehicles are equipped with multiple PMCs, and each PMC includes a fuel cell stack, a stack operating device, and components of a water-cooled cooling system for cooling the fuel cell stack.

[0006] The cooling system components within the PMC include an electric water pump and valves, excluding the radiator. A stack cooling radiator, which dissipates heat from the coolant that cooled the fuel cell stack, is separately installed at the front end of the vehicle along with a cooling fan, and the stack cooling radiator and the cooling system components within the PMC are connected via coolant lines (pipes) to allow the coolant to circulate.

[0007] To ensure the vehicle's driving power, hydrogen-electric trucks can be equipped with two fuel cell stacks, similar to those used in passenger fuel cell vehicles. The cooling systems in each PMC can be connected in series to a single radiator via coolant lines (pipes), and the cooling systems of the two PMCs can be connected in parallel to the radiator via coolant lines. Furthermore, when multiple high-power fuel cell stacks are installed in a hydrogen-electric truck, the heat generated by the fuel cell stacks increases significantly. Therefore, sufficient cooling performance can only be achieved by increasing the number of cooling modules, including radiators and cooling fans, at the front end of the vehicle. However, when considering the vehicle's packaging, interior space, and the layout of peripheral components (steering system, lamps, steps, etc.), it is difficult to secure sufficient space within the vehicle to install multiple cooling modules.

[0008] Therefore, to improve cooling performance, it is necessary to optimize the flow of cooling air passing through the radiator. For example, a structure is needed that can minimize the amount of air that flows backward and re-enters the radiator after passing through the radiator and cooling fan. Also needed is a structure that can maximize the amount of fresh air that flows toward the radiator after passing through the radiator grill at the front end of the vehicle body, while minimizing the amount of air that bypasses the radiator at the front end of the vehicle body, and an improved structure that can minimize airflow resistance at the front end of the vehicle body.

[0009] In the case of currently mass-produced hydrogen-electric trucks, the results of a 3D CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis of the air-side system resistance of the front end of the vehicle body and the cooling module showed excellent results in the quantitative analysis index of air-side resistance due to the arrangement of the radiator grille and cooling module components, excluding the radiator and cooling fan.

[0010] However, in the case of next-generation hydrogen-electric trucks equipped with high-power stacks, the heat dissipation from the fuel cell stack is much greater than that of current mass-produced vehicles, so further improvement in the air-side system resistance and the resulting increase in cooling performance are necessary. To achieve this, it is necessary to optimize the air flow path by improving the structure in front and behind the cooling module.

[0011] The following is a further explanation of the conventional problems. In the water-cooled cooling system of a hydrogen-electric truck, the radiator and cooling fan that make up the cooling module are mounted at the front end of the vehicle body. Specifically, in a hydrogen-electric truck, a stack radiator and a PE (Power Electronic) parts radiator are mounted at the front end of the vehicle body, and a cooling fan is mounted behind these radiators.

[0012] The stack radiator is a radiator for dissipating heat from the coolant that cools the fuel cell stack, and the PE component radiator is a radiator for dissipating heat from the coolant that cools the PE component. Here, the PE component may be a motor that is the driving source of the vehicle and an inverter for driving the motor. In the hydrogen-electric truck, a radiator grille is provided at the front end of the vehicle body as an air inlet that allows air (outside air) to flow in from the front, and the air that flows in through the radiator grille passes through the radiator and cooling fan in that order.

[0013] In conventional hydrogen-electric trucks, air flows in through the radiator grille at the front of the vehicle, passes through the radiator and cooling fan, and then flows rearward. However, some of the air passes through the radiator and cooling fan, and instead of flowing rearward, it hits the components behind the cooling fan, resulting in a reverse flow. Furthermore, hydraulically driven cooling fans are used as cooling fans in large commercial fuel vehicles such as hydrogen-electric trucks, and hydraulically driven cooling fans require complex piping such as a hydraulic motor, oil tank, oil cooler, and multiple oil hoses.

[0014] Therefore, in vehicles using hydraulically driven cooling fans, a complex oil hose is typically installed behind the cooling fan along with an oil tank and oil cooler, and these hydraulically driven cooling fan components block the airflow behind the cooling fan. As a result, the high-temperature air that has transferred heat from the coolant in the radiator while passing through the radiator hits the oil hose and other piping behind the cooling fan, causing it to flow back.

[0015] For example, if an oil tank with a complex oil hose is located on the left side of the rear of the cooling fan at the front end of the vehicle, a large amount of air that has passed through the radiator and cooling fan may collide with the oil hose or oil tank in the left side of the rear of the cooling fan and flow back in. This backflowing high-temperature air moves forward of the radiator and then recirculates through the radiator again, causing a problem of reduced cooling performance of the radiator.

[0016] In addition, in a typical hydrogen-electric truck, the lower part of the cooling fan and the vehicle's cross member are positioned front to back, with an undercover located below the rear of the cross member. The cross member and undercover, positioned in close proximity to the rear of the cooling fan, act as an air barrier, blocking the airflow behind the cooling fan, thereby reducing the absolute amount of air flowing into the radiator. Furthermore, in a typical hydrogen-electric truck, the lower end of the vehicle body in front of the radiator is open, so when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds, cool air does not enter the radiator but instead flows into the open space at the bottom of the vehicle body, bypassing the radiator. This bypassing of the radiator by some of the air results in reduced cooling performance.

[0017] Additionally, in the stack cooling system of a hydrogen-electric truck, there is an empty space between the radiator grille and the radiator in front of the cooling module. During high-speed driving, air flowing in through the air inlet at the front end of the vehicle (such as the radiator grille or another opening) can bypass the empty space between the vehicle body and the radiator and not pass through the radiator, which can also reduce cooling performance. Even if the cooling fan operates to reduce the amount of bypassed air and increase the amount of fresh air passing through the radiator, there is no separate guide between the radiator and the vehicle body, so as mentioned above, the hot air that has passed through the radiator and cooling fan can hit the oil tank or oil piping behind the cooling fan, flow backward, and then pass through the radiator again.

[0018] Furthermore, when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, if there is no separate guide between the radiator and the vehicle body, the hot air that has passed through the radiator and cooling fan hits the filter at the rear of the cooling module and flows back to the front of the radiator, ultimately raising the temperature of the air in front of the radiator and causing a decrease in cooling performance.When the radiator's cooling performance is insufficient, an additional auxiliary radiator may be required. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0019] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-53279 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0020] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a structure that can optimize the flow of air that flows through a radiator grille at the front end of a vehicle body and then passes through a radiator and cooling fan of a cooling module. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure that can maximize the amount of fresh air that flows through the radiator grille and then toward the radiator while minimizing the amount of air that bypasses the radiator at the front end of the vehicle body without passing through the radiator, a structure that can minimize the amount of air that flows back forward and re-enters the radiator after passing through the radiator and cooling fan, and an improved structure that can minimize air flow resistance at the front end of the vehicle body. Objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other unmentioned objects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art (hereinafter referred to as "ordinary engineers") from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0021] According to the vehicle of the present invention, an air guide is provided that is disposed in the space between the radiator grille and the cooling module at the front end of the vehicle body and guides the air that flows in through the radiator grille to flow to the radiator of the cooling module, and is characterized in that the air guide includes a first guide member fixed to a grill-side structure at the front part of the vehicle where the radiator grille is located at the front end of the vehicle body, and a second guide member that is provided on a cooling module-side structure, which is a fixed structure connected to the cooling module, and is disposed at a distance from the first guide member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] As a result, a vehicle equipped with the air guide according to the present invention can optimize the flow of air that enters through the radiator grille at the front end of the vehicle body and then passes through the radiator and cooling fan of the cooling module. In particular, it can maximize the amount of fresh air that enters through the radiator grille and then heads toward the radiator, while minimizing the amount of air that bypasses the radiator at the front end of the vehicle body without passing through it. It can also minimize the amount of air that passes through the radiator and cooling fan and then flows back forward to re-enter the radiator. This minimizes airflow resistance at the front end of the vehicle body. Other advantages include the elimination of complex hydraulic components for driving a conventional hydraulic cooling fan, improved radiator cooling performance, improved stack outlet temperature, and the elimination of a separate auxiliary radiator due to the increased radiator cooling performance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a radiator of a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 3 is a perspective view showing a first guide member attached to the front end of the vehicle body in the vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 4 is a front view showing a second guide member attached to a cooling module side structure in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a front end portion of a vehicle body and a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a front end portion of a vehicle body and a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a front end portion of a vehicle body and a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a front end portion of a vehicle body and a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which fresh air is prevented from bypassing the radiator by an air guide in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which fresh air is prevented from bypassing the radiator by an air guide in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a rear perspective view showing a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 1 is a side view of a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a reference diagram showing a state in which a cross member is provided in a conventional vehicle. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which a side guide member is provided according to the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an embodiment in which side guide members are provided according to the present invention. [Figure 17] 1 is a view showing a state in which an undercover is provided on a rear lower part of a cooling fan at a front end portion of a vehicle body according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of an undercover in the present invention. [Figure 19]1 is a perspective view showing an air flap device in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The specific structural or functional descriptions presented in the embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative for the purpose of describing embodiments in accordance with the concepts of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0025] Meanwhile, in the present invention, terms such as "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, but the components are not limited to these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a first component, without departing from the scope of the present invention. When a component is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly coupled or connected to the other component, but that there may be other components between them. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being "directly coupled" or "in direct contact with" another component, it should be understood that there are no other components between them. Other expressions describing the relationship between components, such as "between" and "directly between," or "adjacent to" and "directly adjacent to," should be interpreted in the same manner.

[0026] Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular includes the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. When used in the specification, the words "comprises" and / or "comprising" do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements, steps, operations and / or elements to a referenced element, step, operation and / or element.

[0027] The present invention aims to provide a structure that can optimize the flow of air that flows through a radiator grille at the front end of a vehicle body and then passes through a radiator and cooling fan of a cooling module. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a structure that can maximize the amount of fresh air that flows through the radiator grille and then toward the radiator while minimizing the amount of air that bypasses the radiator at the front end of the vehicle body without passing through the radiator, a structure that can minimize the amount of air that flows back forward after passing through the cooling fan and then re-enters the radiator, and an improved structure that can minimize air flow resistance at the front end of the vehicle body.

[0028] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with an air guide that guides air that has flowed in through a radiator grille at the front end of the vehicle body to a radiator behind it.

[0029] As a result, all air flowing in through the radiator grille at the front end of the vehicle can flow to the radiator in the cooling module through the air guide, thereby eliminating the problem of air bypassing the radiator. To address the airflow resistance issue, the present invention also employs a motor-driven electric cooling fan instead of a hydraulically driven cooling fan as the cooling module cooling fan. This eliminates the need for complex hydraulic components previously located behind the cooling fan. To address the airflow resistance issue, the present invention repositions the cross member from below the cooling fan blades to behind them, minimizing the flow resistance of the air behind the fan after passing through the blades. This improves the radiator's cooling performance and the fuel cell stack outlet temperature. Various other improved structures are also employed to optimize the flow of air passing through the radiator in the front end of the vehicle and the cooling module, minimizing airflow resistance.

[0030] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0031] 1 is a front view showing a radiator of a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a commercial or passenger vehicle, specifically a commercial fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell stack, or more specifically, a commercial fuel cell vehicle equipped with multiple fuel cell stacks. The vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention may also be a hydrogen-electric truck as a commercial fuel cell vehicle, specifically a hydrogen-electric truck having a cab, which is a portion of the front end of the vehicle body that forms the driver's seat and is tilted by a cab tilting system.

[0032] The front end of a vehicle body according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a grill-side structure that forms a part (lower part) of the front portion of the vehicle. The grill-side structure is formed with or equipped with a radiator grill, which is an air inlet that allows air to flow into the interior space of the front end of the vehicle body. The formation of a radiator grill at the front portion of the vehicle at the front end of a truck body is a well-known technical matter, and since radiator grills are a structure well known to ordinary engineers, the radiator grill is not shown in detail. In a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the grill-side structure (denoted by reference numeral "2" in FIG. 2 described below) on which the radiator grill is formed or equipped may be a cab (not shown) that forms the driver's seat at the front end of the vehicle body and is tilted up and down by a cab tilting system, or more specifically, may be the front panel of the cab, which forms the front portion of the vehicle.

[0033] The cab is a movable body part that is tilted by a cab tilting system, and therefore the grill-side structure 2, which is the front panel of the cab, is also part of the movable body part. In addition, a cooling module (reference numeral 100 in FIG. 1) including a radiator (reference numeral 110 in FIG. 1) and a cooling fan (not shown in FIG. 1) is disposed behind the front panel (grill-side structure 2) of the cab, which is the part that forms the front part of the vehicle, and at this time, the cooling module 100 is attached to a non-movable, fixed body part at the front end of the body.

[0034] In the cooling module 100, the radiator 110 may have an overall rectangular shape as shown in Fig. 1, and is composed of a PE component radiator 111 and a stack radiator 112 spaced apart at a predetermined distance from each other. The PE component radiator 111 is a radiator for cooling power electronic components (hereinafter referred to as "PE components") such as a motor and inverter that are the driving source of the vehicle, and the stack radiator 112 is a radiator for cooling a fuel cell stack.

[0035] In a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the PE component radiator 111 has a relatively smaller front area than the stack radiator 112, and the PE component radiator 111 is disposed in front of the cooling module 100, and the stack radiator 112 is disposed behind it. A surge tank 113 for storing coolant is disposed above the radiator 110, and the surge tank 113 includes a PE component surge tank for storing PE component coolant circulating between the PE component radiator 111 and the PE component (the component to be cooled), and a stack surge tank for storing stack coolant circulating between the stack radiator 112 and the fuel cell stack (the component to be cooled).

[0036] As shown in Fig. 1, the stack surge tank and the PE component surge tank are provided as an integrated surge tank 113, in which the internal space of an integrated container is divided by partitions into spaces for storing stack coolant and PE component coolant, respectively. In this case, the integrated surge tank 113 may be located at the upper center of the radiator 110. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment in which the integrated surge tank 113 is located at the upper center of the radiator 110. Alternatively, the stack surge tank and the PE component surge tank may be provided separately and disposed above the PE component radiator 111 and the stack radiator 112, and in this case, the stack surge tank and the PE component surge tank may be disposed on the left and right sides above the PE component radiator 111 and the stack radiator 112, respectively.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front panel (grill side structure, 2) that forms the front part of the vehicle body front end in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a first guide member 210 attached thereto, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing a second guide member 220 that is attached to a cooling module side structure 114 in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] A vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air guide (denoted by reference numeral 200 in FIG. 4, which will be described later) including a first guide member 210 and a second guide member 220. More specifically, the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an air guide (denoted by reference numeral 200 in FIG. 4), which is disposed between a radiator grille 3 and a radiator 110 of a cooling module 100 at the front end of the vehicle body and guides air that has flowed in through the radiator grille 3 toward the radiator 110. In this embodiment of the present invention, the air guide 200 includes a first guide member 210 fixed to a front panel 2, which is a grill-side structure of the vehicle, and a second guide member 220 fixed to a cooling module-side structure 114 and disposed parallel to the first guide member 210 at a predetermined distance.

[0039] Fig. 2(a) shows a first guide member 210, and Fig. 2(b) shows a front panel 2 of a cab. Fig. 2(b) also shows a radiator grill 3 formed or provided on the front panel 2 to allow air to pass through. Fig. 2(b) also shows the first guide member 210 attached to the inner surface of the front panel 2. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 are provided to be disposed along at least one of the upper and lower, left and right sides of the radiator 110 within the entire periphery of the radiator.

[0040] 2(a) so that the first guide member 210 can be disposed along the outer periphery of the radiator 110 from in front of the radiator 110 shown in FIG. 1. The first guide member 210 is provided in a cab, which is a movable vehicle body part, and is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the front panel 2 of the cab, which is a grill-side structure on which a radiator grill 3 is formed or provided. The second guide member 220 is provided in a cooling module-side structure 114 to which the radiator 110 of the cooling module 100 is connected, as shown in FIG. 1. Here, the cooling module-side structure 114 is a fixed structure connected to the radiator 110 of the cooling module 100, and may be a mounting member that fixes and mounts the radiator 110 to a vehicle frame (not shown) among fixed vehicle body parts at the front end of the vehicle.

[0041] In this embodiment of the present invention, the mounting member, which is the cooling module side structure 114, is disposed along and coupled to the outer periphery of the radiator 110. In this case, the second guide member 220 is also disposed along the outer periphery of the radiator 110 (see FIG. 1), and may have the shape of an integral square frame as with the first guide member 210, or may have a configuration in which multiple members are combined as shown in FIG.

[0042] Even when second guide member 220 has a configuration in which a plurality of members are combined, each member constituting second guide member 220 is arranged along the rectangular periphery of radiator 110 (see FIG. 1). In this case, among the entire section of the rectangular periphery of radiator 110, installation of second guide member 220 can be omitted in a partial section above radiator 110 where surge tank 113 is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, second guide member 220 has a shape in which a portion of the upper side is removed, i.e., a portion corresponding to a partial section above radiator 110 is removed.

[0043] As described above, in the present invention, the air guide 200, which is composed of the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220, is arranged from the front of the radiator 110 along the periphery of the radiator, thereby guiding the air flowing in from the front, i.e., the cool air flowing in through the radiator grille 3, to the radiator 110 while the vehicle is running.

[0044] In the present invention, the air guide ensures that when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds, the incoming cold air flows entirely into the radiator without bypassing other parts. Furthermore, in the present invention, the air guide prevents the hot air that has passed through the radiator from hitting the rear wall of the radiator and flowing backward, then re-entering the front of the radiator. This improves the radiator's cooling performance and the fuel cell stack outlet temperature, and the greatly improved radiator cooling performance eliminates the need for a separate auxiliary radiator.

[0045] Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the front end of the vehicle body and the cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional perspective views of the front end of the vehicle body and the cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along a horizontal line as in Figure 4, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along a vertical line as in Figure 5.

[0046] Reference numeral 111 denotes a PE component radiator of the radiator 110, and reference numeral 112 denotes a stack radiator of the radiator 110. Reference numeral 120 denotes a cooling fan provided behind the radiator 110 in the cooling module 100, and reference numeral 113 denotes a surge tank disposed above the radiator 110. Here, the surge tank 113 may be a stack surge tank, a PE component surge tank, or an integrated surge tank.

[0047] As shown in the figure, the air guide 200 is composed of a first guide member 210 and a second guide member 220. The first guide member 210 is fixed to a grill-side structure 2, for example, the inner surface of the front panel of a cab (not shown), which is a movable body structure. At this time, the second guide member 220 is fixed to a cooling module-side structure 114, for example, a mounting member that mounts and fixes the radiator 110 to a body frame among fixed body parts.

[0048] The first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 may be plate-shaped members, and are fixed to the grill-side structure (front panel 2) and the cooling module-side structure (mounting member 114), respectively, by methods such as bolting, riveting, welding, bonding, etc. The first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 are disposed in front of the radiator 110 in the space between the radiator grill 3 and the radiator 110 to have an inclined cross-sectional shape and structure (see FIG. 4).

[0049] As a result, air flowing in through the radiator grille 3 is guided by the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 and gathers and flows in front of the radiator 110. In this embodiment of the present invention, the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, and are installed around the radiator so as to isolate to some extent the space between the cab front panel 2, the radiator grille 3, and the radiator 110 from the external space on the sides of the radiator. In this case, the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 constituting the air guide 200 are spaced apart from each other so as to at least partially overlap each other in the front-rear direction or the up-down direction of the vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0050] In a typical truck, the cab is a movable body part where the driver's seat is located and is tilted by a cab tilting system. For example, the cab must be moved in an up position during vehicle maintenance, and is moved in a down position when the vehicle is being driven after maintenance. Furthermore, while the truck is moving, the cab with the driver inside it moves up and down continuously. If an air guide (i.e., second guide member) were provided only on the cooling module side structure (mounting member 114) among the fixed body parts, the fixed air guide (second guide member) would come into contact with or impact the inner surface of the front panel 2, which is the grill side structure, when the cab moves.

[0051] Therefore, the air guide (i.e., second guide member) fixed to the fixed body part (cooling module side structure) must be installed at an appropriate distance from the inner surface of the front panel 2, which is the movable body part (grill side structure), in consideration of the movement of the cab, so as not to come into contact with or apply impact to the inner surface of the front panel 2. However, if the air guide (second guide member) is installed only on the cooling module side structure (mounting member 114) so ​​as to be separated from the inner surface of the front panel 2, which is the grill side structure of the cab, as described above, not all of the air that flows in through the radiator grill 3 of the front panel 2 will flow solely to the radiator 110, and the air that passes through the radiator grill 3 will escape into the space separated between the front panel 2 and the air guide (second guide member), bypassing the radiator 110.

[0052] Furthermore, after the high-temperature air that has passed through the radiator 110 hits the resistance behind the radiator and flows backward, it may re-enter the front of the radiator through the space between the air guide (second guide member) provided on the cooling module-side structure 114 and the inner surface of the cab's front panel 2, which may reduce the cooling performance of the radiator. Therefore, in order to prevent the above problem from occurring, in the present invention, in addition to the second guide member 220 provided on the cooling module-side structure 114, which is a fixed vehicle body part, a first guide member 210, which is another air guide, is additionally provided on the inner surface of the front panel (grill-side structure 2), which is a movable vehicle body part.

[0053] As a result, with the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 combined with a gap between them, fresh air flowing in through the radiator grille 3 is guided completely to the radiator 110 by the two spaced apart guide members. This minimizes the amount of air that is discharged to the outside from the space between the radiator grille 3 and the radiator 110 and bypasses the radiator 110.

[0054] Figure 5 shows the positions of a conventional surge tank and the surge tank of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the surge tank was previously located above and rearward of the cooling fan, but in the present invention, surge tank 113 is located above radiator 110. By changing the position of surge tank 113 from above and rearward of the conventional cooling fan to above radiator 110 in this way, the air flow structure can be improved. That is, when cooling fan 120 is driven and blades 121 rotate, a portion of the air passing through blades 121 and blown rearward (fan wake air) flows obliquely upward (in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5).

[0055] In the past, surge tank 113 was located above and behind cooling fan 120, and thus was in the path of the airflow behind the fan. When the air blown backward after passing through blades 121 ascends obliquely, it hits surge tank 113. That is, surge tank 113 can act as a barrier to the airflow behind the fan. In contrast, in the present invention, the position of surge tank 113 is changed to above radiator 110 as shown in FIG. 5, so that the airflow behind the fan, blown backward after passing through blades 121, is not interfered with by surge tank 113. Therefore, airflow resistance due to the surge tank is eliminated.

[0056] 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating how fresh air is prevented from bypassing the radiator by an air guide in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a side view (or a vertical cross-sectional view), and referring to this, the left side of the drawing is the front of the vehicle, with the cab front panel 2 equipped with a radiator grille (not shown) at the front and the cooling module radiator 110 at the rear. Fig. 9 is a plan view (or a horizontal cross-sectional view), and the top of the drawing is the front of the vehicle.

[0057] As shown in the figure, there is a space that serves as an airflow passage between the front panel 2 equipped with a radiator grill (not shown) and the radiator 110 of the cooling module. As a result, cool air (fresh air) flowing in through the radiator grill of the front panel 2 passes through the space and the radiator 110 of the cooling module, and the coolant flowing inside the radiator 110 releases heat to the air passing around the radiator.

[0058] As shown in the figure, a first guide member 210 and a second guide member 220 are disposed in front of the radiator 110 so as to at least partially overlap the front panel 2 and the radiator 110 with a gap therebetween. In this case, because the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 are spaced apart from each other, they do not come into contact with each other or cause impact to each other when the cab moves up and down while the vehicle is traveling. As a result, even if the cab and the front panel 2 of the cab, which are movable body parts, move while the vehicle is traveling, the first guide member 210 and the second guide member do not come into contact with each other or cause impact to each other, preventing fresh air from bypassing the radiator 110.

[0059] For example, without the air guide 200, when the vehicle is traveling at high speed and the cooling fan is off, fresh air flowing in through the radiator grille provided on the front panel 2 is discharged upward as shown in FIG. 8, bypassing the radiator 110 of the cooling module. Also, the hot air that has passed through the radiator 110 hits the filter behind the radiator, then flows back and re-enters the front of the radiator. Also, without the air guide 200, when the vehicle is traveling at low speed and the cooling fan is on, fresh air flowing in through the radiator grille provided on the front panel 2 is discharged to the left and right as shown in FIG. 9, bypassing the radiator 110 of the cooling module. Also, similarly, the hot air that has passed through the radiator 110 hits the filter behind the radiator, then flows back and re-enters the front of the radiator.

[0060] In an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable to maintain a constant distance between the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220 even when the cab moves. Therefore, to reliably prevent contact between the two guide members, a spacer 230 made of an elastic material is provided between the first guide member 210 and the second guide member 220. The spacer 230 maintains the distance between the two guide members 210, 220 while preventing them from contacting each other, and may be made of a material such as rubber. The spacer 230 may be interposed between the opposing surfaces of the two guide members 210, 220, or may be fixed to one surface of the two guide members 210, 220 by adhesive or other methods.

[0061] For example, the spacer 230 may be fixed to the surface of the second guide member 220, but not fixed to the first guide member 210 so that the first guide member 210 can separate from the spacer 230 when the cab moves. Conversely, the spacer 230 may be fixed to the surface of the first guide member 210, or may only come into contact with the second guide member 220 but not fixed thereto so that the spacer 230 can move together with the first guide member 210 and separate from the second guide member 220 when the cab moves. Also, a plurality of spacers 230 may be provided between the two guide members 210, 220 at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the two guide members 210, 220.

[0062] Meanwhile, a cooling fan 120 is installed behind a radiator 110 in a vehicle cooling module 100. When the cooling fan 120 located behind the radiator 110 draws in air, the air drawn in from the front by the cooling fan 120 passes through the radiator 110. In a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, an electric cooling fan is used as the cooling fan 120. In this case, the electric cooling fan may be a high-power electric cooling fan directly connected to a motor, in which blades (rotating vanes) are directly connected to a rotor shaft of a fan motor.

[0063] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of a cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a rear view of the cooling module. FIG. 12 is a side view of the cooling module in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the cooling module. In FIG. 10, reference numeral "4" indicates a body frame, which is a fixed body part. The body frame 4 is a body part disposed on both the left and right sides of the vehicle, extending longitudinally along the vehicle's front-rear direction. In the vehicle, a cooling module 100 including a radiator 110 and a cooling fan 120 is mounted and supported on the body frame 4 via mounting members 114. A cross member 6 is provided at the front end of the vehicle to connect the left and right body frames 4, and the cross member 6 is disposed to extend longitudinally between the left and right body frames 4 along the vehicle's front-rear direction.

[0064] In this case, the cross member 6 may have a linear shape along the longitudinal direction, and is installed so as to cross the space behind the blades 121 of the cooling fan 120 in a long, linear shape in the left-right lateral direction. The cross member 6 is installed so as to be mounted and supported on the left and right body frames 4 via fixing brackets 5, and the fixing brackets 5 are respectively connected to the front ends of the two left and right body frames 4, and the ends of the cross member 6 are connected to the fixing brackets 5 on the left and right sides. In other words, the left and right ends of the cross member 6 are connected to the front ends of the two left and right body frames 4 via the two left and right fixing brackets 5.

[0065] The body frame 4, fixing bracket 5, and cross member 6 can be connected to each other by bolting, welding, or the like. That is, the connecting portions of the components 4, 5, and 6 are fastened and fixed to each other by a plurality of bolts, and both bolting and welding may be used. In the present embodiment, a fan mounting bracket 8 is attached to the upper surface of the cross member 6 with an insulator 7 interposed therebetween so as to be supported via the insulator 7, and a fan motor (not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, but designated by reference numeral 122 in FIGS. 12 and 13) of the electric cooling fan 120 and an inverter 123 are attached to and supported by the fan mounting bracket 8.

[0066] In an embodiment of the present invention, the electric cooling fan 120 includes blades (rotating impellers 121) that draw in air, a fan motor 122 that rotates the blades 121, an inverter 123 that applies a three-phase current to the fan motor 122, and a controller (not shown) that duty-controls a three-phase switch of the inverter 123. Here, although not shown in detail in the drawings, the blades 121 include a ring portion (not shown), a hub (not shown) that is a central portion to which a rotor shaft of the fan motor 122 is connected, and a plurality of vanes (not shown) that are formed to connect the ring portion and the hub.

[0067] The inverter 123 is connected to a battery or fuel cell stack, which is a DC power source, to supply current, and when the fan motor 122 is driven, it converts the DC current supplied from the power source into a three-phase AC current and applies it to the fan motor 122 via a power cable. By using an electric cooling fan instead of a conventional hydraulically driven cooling fan, the complicated fan drive components disposed behind the cooling fan, i.e., existing hydraulic components such as an oil tank, oil cooler, and oil hose, which may act as an obstacle to air flow, can be eliminated.

[0068] This reduces the resistance acting on the air that has passed through the cooling fan, minimizing the high-temperature air that has passed through the cooling fan 120 from flowing back to the front of the radiator due to the resistance and re-entering the radiator. This also significantly increases the absolute amount of fresh air (cold air newly flowing in through the radiator grille) flowing into the radiator and the flow rate of the fresh air passing through the radiator, ultimately improving the cooling performance of the radiator.

[0069] In this embodiment of the present invention, to mount the cooling module 100, mounting members 114 are connected to the front ends of the body frames 4 on both the left and right sides, either directly or via separate brackets, and the radiator 110 is disposed and mounted inside the mounting members 114, as described above. The mounting members 114 are the cooling module-side structures described above, and as described above, the second guide member 220 is provided on the mounting members 114. Also, as described above, the fan mounting bracket 8 is attached to the upper surface of the cross member 6 via the insulator 7 so as to be supported, and the fan motor 122 and inverter 123 of the electric cooling fan 120 are attached to the fan mounting bracket 8 so as to be supported. The fan mounting bracket 8 includes a plate-shaped bracket body 9 and a supporter 10 integrally connected to the bracket body 9. Here, the bracket body 9 has a lower surface portion 9a formed by bending around the lower end and a side surface portion 9b formed by bending around the side end.

[0070] The supporter 10 includes a frame 11 that is coupled to the lower surface 9a and side surface 9b of the bracket body 9 so as to overlap and be in surface contact with them, and a rod-type bracket 12 that connects the frame 11 to a mounting member 114, which is a cooling module side structure among the fixed body parts. In the fan mounting bracket 8, the bracket body 9 is installed to be upright, and at this time, a fan motor 122 is integrally coupled and mounted on the front surface of the bracket body 9, and an inverter 123 is integrally coupled and mounted on the rear surface of the bracket body 9.

[0071] In the fan mounting bracket 8, the frame 11 of the supporter 10 is a plate-shaped member having an overall shape of a "U" and is coupled such that the lower surface 11a of the frame 11 of the supporter 10 overlaps the outer surface of the lower surface 9a of the bracket body 9. At this time, the lower surface 11a of the frame 11 of the supporter 10 is coupled to the insulator 7, thereby forming a structure in which the frame 11 of the supporter 10 is supported on the upper surface of the cross member 6 via the insulator 7. In addition, the lower surface 9a of the bracket body 9, the lower surface 11a of the frame 11, and the insulator 7 are fastened and fixed to each other by bolts, nuts, etc.

[0072] Additionally, rod-type brackets 12 are provided on the supporter 10 of the fan mounting bracket 8 to connect between the left and right side surfaces 11b of the frame 11 and the mounting member 114, which is a cooling module-side structure, and between the upper end of the bracket body 9 of the fan mounting bracket 8 and the mounting member 114. The rod-type bracket 12 is a support structure that essentially supports the fan mounting bracket 8 on the cross member 6 and the mounting member 114, and is configured by combining multiple rods with a set diameter.

[0073] At this time, the rod-type bracket 12 includes a first rod 12a that connects the left and right side portions 11b of the frame 11 to the mounting member 114 in the supporter 10, a second rod 12b that connects the upper end of the bracket main body 9 to the mounting member 114, and a plurality of third rods 12c that connect the first rod 12a and the second rod 12b. As described above, the fan motor 122 and the inverter 123 are fixedly mounted on the fan mounting bracket 8, more specifically, on the bracket main body 9 of the fan mounting bracket 8, and the blades 121 are directly connected to the rotor shaft of the fan motor 122.

[0074] In addition, the fan shroud 125 of the cooling fan 120 is mounted on the mounting member 114 so as to be positioned around the outer periphery of the blades 121. That is, when the cooling fan 120 is positioned behind the radiator 110, the fan shroud 125 is coupled and fixed to the mounting member 114 for mounting. As described above, in the present invention, the cooling module 100 is supported by the left and right body frames 4 and the cross member 6 connecting the left and right body frames 4, and the cross member 6 is positioned so as to cross the lower space behind the cooling fan 120 in a straight line in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 . In this case, the length of the cross member 6 is smaller than the left and right width of the cooling fan 120.

[0075] 12 and 13, the arrows indicate the direction of airflow after passing through the cooling fan 120, i.e., the direction of airflow behind the fan. As shown in the figures, when the cooling fan 120 is operating, the air passing through the cooling fan does not flow straight backward or gather in the center, but rather deflects obliquely toward the outer periphery of the cooling fan.

[0076] At this time, in order not to interfere with the outward flow of the fan wake, the cross member 6 is provided at a position higher than the height of the lower ends (lowest ends of the ring portions) of the blades 121 of the cooling fan 120 so as to be located inside the outward direction of the air being discharged. Therefore, the cross member 6 is disposed so as to cross from side to side behind the blades 121 of the cooling fan 120, rather than below the blades 121. As a result, in the present invention, the cross member 6 does not act as a resistance, and the fan wake resistance is greatly improved, allowing the volume of air passing through the radiator 110 and the cooling fan 120 to be increased. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent high-temperature air that has passed through the radiator 110 and the cooling fan 120 from flowing back and re-entering the radiator, thereby improving the cooling performance of the radiator.

[0077] Figure 14 is a reference diagram showing the state in which a cross member 6 is installed in a conventional vehicle. As shown in the figure, conventionally, the cross member 6 is positioned along the position of the lower end (radial end of the blade) of the blade 121 of the cooling fan 120. In such an arrangement, the cross member 6 acts as an anti-reflection agent by interfering with the flow of air flowing downward from the end of the blade of the cooling fan 120.

[0078] In contrast, in the present invention, as shown in Fig. 11, the cross member 6 is positioned upward, and as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, a sufficient gap is secured between the blades 121 of the cooling fan 120 and the cross member 6. This significantly reduces the resistance of the air flowing through the radiator 110 and the cooling fan 120. When the cooling fan 120 is driven and the blades 121 rotate, part of the air passing through the blades 121 and blown rearward (the air behind the fan) flows diagonally downward (in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 12).

[0079] In the present invention, the cross member 6 is installed at a position higher than the end (lower end of the rotor) of the blade 121 of the cooling fan 120, so that the fan wake air passing through the blade 121 and blown rearward is hardly interfered with by the cross member 6, thereby minimizing air flow resistance caused by the cross member 6.

[0080] 15 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which a side guide member is provided according to the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a plan view of the embodiment in which a side guide member is provided. As shown in the figures, side guide members 240 are provided at both the left and right sides of the upper part of the cooling module 100 on the mounting member 114 to which the radiator (reference numeral 110 in FIG. 5) is fixed and coupled, or on the rod-type bracket 12 of the supporter 10 of the fan mounting bracket (reference numeral 8 in FIG. 10).

[0081] The side guide members 240 are arranged on the left and right sides of the cooling fan 120, respectively, and guide the air discharged from the cooling fan 120 to the rear of the cooling fan to improve the streamline of the air, and also prevent the air that has passed through the cooling fan 120 from flowing back forward and re-entering the front of the radiator 110 of the cooling module 100 (preventing air from flowing back and re-entering).

[0082] Next, Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a state in which an undercover is provided on the rear lower part of a cooling fan at the front end of a vehicle body according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the undercover in the present invention. As shown in the figure, an undercover 13 is provided behind the cooling fan 120 of the cooling module 100 so as to be located at the lower part of the front end of the vehicle body, and this undercover 13 is formed with a plurality of air passage holes 14 that allow air discharged from the cooling fan 120 to pass downward.

[0083] The air passage holes 14 of the under cover 13 guide and pass the air that has passed through the cooling fan 120 downward, thereby minimizing the air flow resistance behind the cooling fan, and the resistance of the under cover 13 can be minimized.

[0084] In this embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of air passage holes 14 are formed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each air passage hole 14 is formed in the shape of a slit extending elongated in the lateral direction of the vehicle. In addition, vanes 15 that guide air discharged from the cooling fan 120 downward and rearward are formed in the undercover 13 in a downwardly protruding shape at the position of each air passage hole 14, and the air passage hole 14 is formed on the rear surface of each vane 15. As a result, the air discharged downward from the cooling fan 120 passes downward and rearward through the undercover 13 via the air passage holes 14 and vanes 15, thereby minimizing air flow resistance.

[0085] In this embodiment of the present invention, an active air flap device 16, as shown in FIG. 19, is provided below the radiator grille 3 from the front panel 2, which is the front portion of the vehicle, at the front end of the vehicle body. FIG. 19(a) shows the air flap device 16 in a closed state, and FIG. 19(b) shows the air flap device 16 in an open state to allow air to flow in through an opening at the front end of the vehicle body. The air flap device 16 is provided at the front end of the vehicle body to selectively block the flow of air that flows in through another opening (not shown) below the radiator grille. FIG. 12 shows the installation position of the air flap device 16, and the air flap device 16 selectively opens and closes an opening formed at the bottom of the vehicle body depending on the driving conditions of the vehicle.

[0086] The air flap device 16 includes an actuator (not shown) whose operation is controlled by a controller (not shown), and a flap 17 that is rotated by the actuator to open and close the air passage 16a. The air flap device 16 opens and closes an opening formed at the front end of the vehicle body to be located in front of a lower portion of the radiator 110 according to the vehicle speed. At this time, the controller controls the operation of the actuator based on real-time vehicle speed information detected by a sensor, thereby allowing the opening to be selectively opened and closed by the flap 17.

[0087] Here, the opening is an air inlet provided at the front end of the vehicle body to allow air to flow in separately from the radiator grille 3, and is formed to be located below the radiator grille at the front end of the vehicle body. The opening may be formed at the lower end of the bumper at the front end of the vehicle body or in a portion of the vehicle body below the bumper. In an embodiment of the present invention, the controller outputs a control signal to close the air flap device 16 when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed equal to or higher than a set vehicle speed, and outputs a control signal to open the air flap device 16 when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed below the set vehicle speed.

[0088] Therefore, when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds, the controller closes the opening at the front end of the vehicle body and the air passage 16a of the air flap device 16, and when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds, the controller opens the opening at the front end of the vehicle body and the air passage 16a of the air flap device 16. When the air flap device 16 is opened, the opening at the front end of the vehicle body and the air passage are opened, and at this time, air can also flow in through the opening at the front end of the vehicle body and the air passage, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing into the lower part of the radiator 110. As described above, with the configuration described above in detail with respect to the embodiment of the present invention, the flow of air that flows in through the radiator grille at the front end of the vehicle body and then passes through the radiator and cooling fan of the cooling module can be optimized.

[0089] In particular, it maximizes the amount of fresh air that flows through the radiator grille and heads toward the radiator, minimizing the amount of air that bypasses the radiator at the front end of the vehicle and the amount of air that flows back forward and re-enters the radiator after passing through the radiator and cooling fan. This minimizes airflow resistance at the front end of the vehicle. Other benefits include the elimination of complex hydraulic components used to drive conventional hydraulic cooling fans, improved radiator cooling performance, improved stack outlet temperature, and the elimination of a separate auxiliary radiator due to increased radiator cooling performance.

[0090] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 2 Grill side structure (or front panel) 3 Radiator Grille 4 Body frame 5 Fixing bracket 6 Cross members 7 Insulator 8 Fan Mounting Bracket 9 Bracket body 9a Bottom part 9b Side part 10 Supporters 11 frames 11a Bottom part 11b Side part 12 Rod-type bracket 12a First Rod 12b Second Rod 12c 3rd rod 13 Undercover 14 Air passage holes 15 vanes 16 Air flap device 16a Air passage 17 Flap 100 Cooling Module 110 Radiator 111 PE Parts Radiator 112 Stack Radiator 113 Surge Tank 114 Cooling module side structure (mounting member) 120 Cooling fan 121 Blade 122 Fan motor 123 Inverter 125 Fan Shroud 200 Air Guide 210 First guide member 220 second guide member 230 Spacer 240 Side guide member

Claims

1. an air guide disposed in a space between the radiator grille and the cooling module at the front end of the vehicle body and guiding air flowing in through the radiator grille to the radiator of the cooling module; The air guide is a first guide member fixed to a grill-side structure at a front portion of the vehicle where the radiator grill is located at the front end of the vehicle body; a second guide member provided on a cooling module side structure that is a fixed structure coupled to the cooling module and spaced apart from the first guide member; The grill-side structure is a movable body part that forms the driver's seat and is a front panel that is the front part of the cab that is tilted by a cab tilting system, and the cooling module-side structure is a mounting member that, when coupled to the radiator, fixes and mounts the radiator to a fixed body part at the front end of the vehicle.

2. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second guide member is coupled to the mounting member and is disposed along an outer periphery of the radiator, and the first guide member is disposed on an inner surface of the front panel.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the first guide member and the second guide member are arranged so that at least a portion of them overlap each other in the longitudinal direction or the vertical direction of the vehicle, and are spaced apart so as not to collide with each other when the cab moves.

4. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one of the first guide member and the second guide member is provided with a spacer that is positioned between the two guide members to prevent contact between the two guide members and maintain a gap between them.

5. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fan that draws air from the cooling module is a direct-motor-coupled electric cooling fan in which blades are directly coupled to a rotor shaft of a fan motor.

6. The cross member is a cooling fan that draws air from the cooling module and is disposed behind the blades of the cooling fan so as to extend along the left-right direction of the vehicle; 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle frame is supported via a fixed bracket between two body frames on both the left and right sides of the vehicle, the body frames being arranged to extend longitudinally along the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

7. The cross member is 7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the cooling fan is disposed at a position higher than a lower end of the blade of the cooling fan so as to cross a space behind the blade in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

8. 7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the cooling fan is a direct-motor-coupled electric cooling fan in which blades are directly connected to the rotor shaft of a fan motor, and the fan motor and inverter of the cooling fan are supported on the cross member via a fan mounting bracket.

9. 9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the fan mounting bracket is supported on an upper surface of the cross member with an insulator interposed therebetween.

10. The radiator is mounted on the two vehicle body frames on the left and right sides via mounting members, The fan mounting bracket comprises: a bracket body to which a fan motor and an inverter of the cooling fan are fixed and mounted; 9. The vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising: a supporter provided to support the bracket body on the mounting member and a cross member.

11. The supporter is a frame coupled to the bracket body and supported on an upper surface of the cross member with an insulator interposed therebetween; 11. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a rod-type bracket configured to support the frame at the mounting member, the rod-type bracket being configured to combine a plurality of rods connecting the mounting member and the frame.

12. 11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the mounting member or the fan mounting bracket is provided with side guide members disposed on the left and right sides of the cooling fan, and the side guide members allow air passing through the cooling fan to be guided to the rear of the cooling fan without flowing back to the front of the radiator.

13. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of air passage holes are formed in an undercover attached to the lower end of the front end of the vehicle body behind the cooling module, so that air passing through the cooling module can pass through the air passage holes.

14. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the plurality of air passage holes are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each air passage hole is formed in a slit shape extending elongatedly in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

15. 15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the undercover has vanes that guide the air that has passed through the cooling module downward and rearward, the vanes being formed in a downwardly protruding shape at the position of each of the air passage holes, and the air passage holes are formed on the rear surface of each of the vanes.

16. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an air flap device provided at the front end of the vehicle body for selectively blocking the flow of air that has flowed in through the opening below the radiator grille.

17. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a surge tank for storing cooling water disposed above the radiator.

18. A fuel cell vehicle equipped with a fuel cell stack, The radiator, a radiator for dissipating heat from cooling water for power electric (PE) parts that cools PE parts including a drive motor for driving a vehicle and an inverter for the drive motor; 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a stack radiator for dissipating heat from stack cooling water that has cooled the fuel cell stack.

19. 19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein a surge tank for storing cooling water is disposed above the radiator.

20. 20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the surge tank is an integrated surge tank in which the internal space of a container is divided by a partition wall into spaces capable of storing the cooling water for the PE components and the cooling water for the stack, respectively.

Images