Air Guide
The adaptable air guide addresses inefficiencies by guiding air to heat dissipation sections of varying dimensions and shapes, simplifying manufacturing and ensuring efficient air flow and load absorption.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2021-10-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing air guides for vehicles are not adaptable to heat dissipation sections of different dimensions and shapes, leading to inefficiencies and increased manufacturing costs.
An air guide with a main body defining a flow path and a closing member that can accommodate heat dissipation sections of varying dimensions and shapes, ensuring reliable air guidance and load absorption.
The air guide simplifies manufacturing processes, reduces costs, and ensures efficient air flow to heat dissipation sections, even when they are smaller or differently shaped, while absorbing upward loads.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0005]
[0001] The present invention relates to an air guide.
Background Art
[0002] The air guide for a vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes a cylindrical body that takes in the traveling wind from the opening of the bumper fascia, and an air guide main body that is disposed on the rear side of the vehicle of the cylindrical body and has a cylindrical portion that is slidably fitted along the vehicle front-rear direction to the cylindrical body. Therefore, when the vehicle has a minor collision, the cylindrical body and the cylindrical portion do not deform to block the passage of the traveling wind. Therefore, the air guide can be reused by returning the slid cylindrical body to its original position.
Prior Art Document
[0006] An air guide according to one aspect of the present invention is an air guide that guides incoming outside air introduced from an air intake to a heat exchanger, comprising a main body that defines a flow path for the incoming outside air, an opening into which a heat dissipation section of the heat exchanger can be disposed, and a closing member that closes the gap formed between the inner surface of the opening and the heat dissipation section. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air guide equipped with a main body that can be applied to each of heat dissipation sections of different dimensions and shapes. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating an air guide according to an embodiment, and is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the air intake, the air guide, and the heat dissipation section in a vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating an air guide according to an embodiment, and is a front view showing the arrangement relationship between the air intake, the air guide, and the heat dissipation section in a vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a partial cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2, showing the arrangement relationship between the air guide, air intake, and heat dissipation section according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the main body of the air guide according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a front view showing the main body of the air guide according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing the main body of the air guide according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the heat dissipation section disposed at the rear end of the air guide according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the closing member and the heat dissipation section of the air guide according to the embodiment. [Figure 9]This is a partial cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX in Figure 3, showing the arrangement relationship between the rear end of the air guide according to the embodiment, the heat dissipation section, and the closing member. [Figure 10] This is a diagram illustrating an air guide according to an embodiment, and is a perspective view showing the arrangement relationship between the main body and closing member of the air guide and the heat dissipation part in a vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] The air guide according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each figure, FR and RR indicate the front and rear of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, LH and RH indicate the left and right of the vehicle in the width direction, and UP and DN indicate the upper and lower of the vehicle in the vertical direction. The side of the vehicle towards the center in the width direction is called the inner side in the width direction, and the side opposite to the inner side in the width direction is called the outer side in the width direction. In each figure, the inner side in the width direction is indicated by IS, and the outer side in the width direction is indicated by OS. In the following description, the front and rear of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction, the left and right of the vehicle in the width direction, and the upper and lower of the vehicle in the vertical direction will be simply referred to as "vehicle front," "vehicle rear," "vehicle left," "vehicle right," "up," and "down," respectively. Elements with the same function will be given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 10, the left side of the vehicle corresponds to the outer side in the width direction, and the right side of the vehicle corresponds to the inner side in the width direction.
[0010] The air guide according to this embodiment can be used in a vehicle V, for example, a cargo vehicle such as a van. The vehicle V may be equipped with an automatic transmission (not shown). As shown in Figures 1 to 3, an air intake 10 is provided at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the bumper fascia 1 of the vehicle V. The bumper fascia 1 is a vehicle exterior member, for example, made of resin, that extends in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the vehicle V.
[0011] The air intake 10 is an opening for introducing outside air into the vehicle body from the outside of the vehicle V. In the illustrated example, the air intake 10 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The air intake 10 is formed by opening a predetermined area of the bumper fascia 1 so as to penetrate through in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
[0012] Note that a foglamp (not shown) may be provided at the air intake port 10. Further, the air intake port 10 may be formed by opening a predetermined range in a body panel as a vehicle exterior member constituting the exterior of the vehicle V. Further, a cover member 2 for closing a part thereof may be provided at the air intake port 10.
[0013] For example, when the vehicle V travels forward, outside air such as traveling wind is introduced from the air intake port 10 into the vehicle interior. The introduced outside air introduced from the air intake port 10 is guided to the heat radiation part 21 of the heat exchanger 20 by an air guide 30 described later.
[0014] The heat of the heat radiation part 21 of the heat exchanger 20 is radiated to the introduced outside air. The heat exchanger 20 is, for example, a radiator that radiates the heat of the coolant of an automatic transmission to the outside air. The heat radiation part 21 is the radiator core of the radiator. Note that the heat exchanger 20 may be an intercooler.
[0015] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, the heat radiation part 21 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, the heat radiation part 21 has an overall flat shape in which the dimension in the vehicle front-rear direction is smaller than the dimension in the vertical direction or the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the air intake port 10 and the heat radiation part 21 may at least partially overlap when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0016] The air guide 30 is a member that guides the introduced outside air introduced from the air intake port 10 provided on the front side of the vehicle body of the vehicle to the heat exchanger 20 provided behind the air intake port 10 of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, the air guide 30 includes a main body part 31 and a closing member 40.
[0017] The main body portion 31 defines a flow path F through which the introduced outside air flows from the air intake port 10 to the heat exchanger 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, the main body portion 31 has a substantially rectangular hollow cylindrical shape when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction. The main body portion 31 may be made of, for example, resin. In the illustrated example, the air intake port 10 is provided at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the bumper fascia 1. That is, the main body portion 31 may define a flow path F through which the introduced outside air introduced from the air intake port 10 disposed outward of the center in the vehicle width direction flows.
[0018] The main body portion 31 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and has a front end portion 31a that is the end portion on the vehicle front side and a rear end portion 31b that is the end portion on the vehicle rear side. A side wall portion 31c may be formed between the front end portion 31a and the rear end portion 31b.
[0019] An opening having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed in the main body portion 31 so as to penetrate in the vehicle front-rear direction. The vehicle front side of the opening is defined by an opening portion 32a. The vehicle rear side of the opening is defined by an opening portion 32b. In the illustrated example, the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the opening portion 32b is located inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end in the vehicle width direction of the opening portion 32a, but is not limited thereto. For example, in the vehicle width direction, the end portion of the opening portion 32a and the end portion of the opening portion 32b may be set at substantially the same position.
[0020] The front end portion 31a is constituted by the opening portion 32a. As in the illustrated example, a flange portion extending in the vertical direction or the vehicle width direction may be formed on the front end portion 31a. The flange portion may face the inner surface of the vehicle of the region surrounding the air intake port 10 of the bumper fascia 1 in the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0021] The rear end portion 31b is constituted by the opening portion 32b. In the illustrated example, the rear end portion 31b is formed by bulging the rear end portion of the main body portion 31 in the vertical direction or the vehicle width direction. The rear end portion 31b may have a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0022] The side wall portion 31c extends from the front end portion 31a toward the rear of the vehicle and is connected to the rear end portion 31b. The side wall portion 31c forms a substantially rectangular closed cross-section. The internal space of the main body portion 31 is defined by the openings 32a and 32b and the side wall portion 31c, and communicates with the air intake 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the outside air introduced from the air intake 10 is guided to the main body portion 31 and flows toward the heat dissipation portion 21. As a result, a flow path F for the outside air introduced from the air intake 10 toward the heat dissipation portion 21 is formed between the air intake 10 and the heat dissipation portion 21.
[0023] As shown in Figure 3 or Figure 9, the interior 33 of the opening 32b is the space defined by the inner surface 34 of the opening 32b within the flow path F. The inner surface 34 is the surface of the opening 32b facing the flow path F. A heat dissipation section 21 is disposed inside the interior 33. The heat dissipation section 21 extends in a direction intersecting the flow direction of the incoming outside air flowing through the flow path F.
[0024] As illustrated in Figure 9, in a view in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the heat dissipation section 21 is smaller than the interior 33. The heat dissipation section 21 is positioned above the interior 33 and outward in the vehicle width direction. The upper inner surface 34a of the inner surface 34 and the upper end portion 21a of the heat dissipation section 21 may be in contact. The upper inner surface 34a is the upper surface of the inner surface 34. The upper end portion 21a is the upper end of the heat dissipation section 21. The side surface 34b of the inner surface 34 and the outer end portion 21b of the heat dissipation section 21 may also be in contact. The side surface 34b is the outer surface of the inner surface 34. The outer end portion 21b is the outward end of the heat dissipation section 21 in the vehicle width direction. In this way, the heat dissipation section 21, which dissipates heat to the incoming outside air, can be arranged inside the interior 33 of the opening 32b.
[0025] When the heat dissipation section 21 is installed inside the opening 32b 33, a gap is formed between the side surface 34c of the inner surface 34 and the inner end portion 21c of the heat dissipation section 21, as illustrated in the figure. The side surface 34c is the surface that constitutes the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the inner surface 34. The inner end portion 21c is the end of the heat dissipation section 21 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. In addition, a gap is formed between the lower inner surface 34d of the inner surface 34 and the lower end portion 21d of the heat dissipation section 21. The lower inner surface 34d is the surface that constitutes the lower side of the inner surface 34. The lower end portion 21d is the lower end of the heat dissipation section 21. Therefore, a gap 50 is formed between the side surface 34c and the lower inner surface 34d of the opening 32b and the inner end portion 21c and the lower end portion 21d of the heat dissipation section 21.
[0026] Note that the placement of the heat dissipation section 21 is not limited to the illustrated example. The placement of the heat dissipation section 21 in the interior 33 can be appropriately set according to the dimensions, shape, etc. of the heat dissipation section 21, or the shape, dimensions, etc. of the opening 32b. For example, the heat dissipation section 21 may be placed approximately in the center of the interior 33. In that case, a gap 50 is formed so as to surround the upper end 21a, outer end 21b, inner end 21c, and lower end 21d of the heat dissipation section 21.
[0027] As shown in Figure 9, the closing member 40 is a member that closes the gap 50 formed between the inner surface 34 of the opening 32b and the heat dissipation section 21 disposed inside 33 of the opening 32b. Also, as illustrated in Figure 8, the closing member 40 may include a first closing section 41 or a second closing section 42. The first closing section 41 is the lower part of the closing member 40, extends in the vehicle width direction, and has a substantially rectangular cross-section. The second closing section 42 is the inner part of the closing member 40 in the vehicle width direction, extends in the vertical direction, and has a substantially rectangular cross-section. The inner end of the first closing section 41 in the vehicle width direction is connected to the lower end of the second closing section 42. Therefore, the closing member 40 has a substantially L-shape when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The closing member 40 may be made of resin, for example. Also, the rear side of the closing member 40 may have protrusions that can engage with a fastener provided on the outer circumference of the heat dissipation section 21.
[0028] In the example shown in Figure 9, the first closure portion 41 is positioned below the lower end portion 21d, which is the lower end of the heat dissipation portion 21. More specifically, the first closure portion 41 is positioned between the lower end portion 21d of the heat dissipation portion 21 and the lower inner surface 34d of the opening 32b. The lower end portion 21d and the upper edge portion 41a, which is the upper edge of the first closure portion 41, may be in contact. Also, the lower inner surface 34d and the lower edge portion 41d, which is the lower edge of the first closure portion 41, may be in contact.
[0029] The second closure portion 42 is positioned inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end portion 21c, which is the inner end portion of the heat dissipation portion 21 in the vehicle width direction. More specifically, the second closure portion 42 is positioned between the inner end portion 21c of the heat dissipation portion 21 and the side surface 34c of the opening 32b. The inner end portion 21c and the outer edge portion 42b, which is the outer edge portion of the second closure portion 42 in the vehicle width direction, may be in contact. Also, the side surface 34c and the inner edge portion 42c, which is the inner edge portion of the second closure portion 42 in the vehicle width direction, may be in contact.
[0030] An elastic member (not shown) may be provided on the upper edge 41a or lower edge 41d of the first closing portion 41. Similarly, an elastic member (not shown) may be provided on the outer edge 42b or inner edge 42c of the second closing portion 42. In other words, the outer peripheral edge of the closing member 40 may be equipped with an elastic member. This allows the closing member 40 to more reliably close the gap 50. The elastic member may be made of, for example, rubber or a resin such as foamed urethane.
[0031] The shape of the blocking member 40 is not limited to the illustrated example. The shape, dimensions, etc. of the blocking member can be appropriately set according to the dimensions, shape, and installation position of the heat dissipation section 21. For example, if the heat dissipation section 21 is installed approximately in the center of the interior 33, the blocking member 40 may be formed to surround the upper end 21a, outer end 21b, inner end 21c, and lower end 21d of the heat dissipation section 21. That is, the blocking member 40 may be formed in a frame shape when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.
[0032] Next, an example of the installation procedure for the air guide according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 10.
[0033] First, the heat dissipation section 21 is fixed to the outer end of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction using fasteners. The heat dissipation section 21 may also be fixed to the cross member 3 via fasteners such as brackets. The cross member 3 is a vehicle body frame member that extends in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the vehicle interior V. As shown in the example in the figure, an opening 4 that penetrates in the vehicle longitudinal direction may be provided at the outer end of the cross member 3 in the vehicle width direction. Also, in a view in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the heat dissipation section 21 and the opening 4 may overlap at least in part. This allows the outside air introduced after heat has been dissipated from the heat dissipation section 21 to flow towards the rear of the vehicle through the opening 4.
[0034] Next, the air guide 30 is attached to the heat dissipation section 21. For example, the air guide 30 may be fastened and fixed to a fixing device provided on the outer circumference of the heat dissipation section 21 using fasteners such as bolts. In this case, the blocking member 40 may be pre-attached to the main body section 31. In the illustrated example, the blocking member 40 is pre-fixed to the main body section by fitting together the projection 43 formed on the front side of the vehicle of the blocking member 40 with the hole 35 formed on the rear end 31b of the main body section 31. Therefore, the main body section 31 and the blocking member 40 can be attached to the heat dissipation section 21 more easily.
[0035] Next, the bumper fascia 1 is attached to the vehicle body so that the air intake 10 and the flow path F are in communication. The bumper fascia 1 may be fastened and secured to mounting fixtures such as brackets provided at predetermined locations on the vehicle body using bolts or the like.
[0036] In the above description, the air guide according to the embodiment was described using as an example the air intake 10, heat dissipation section 21, and air guide 30 located on the left side of the vehicle at the front of vehicle V, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the air intake 10, heat dissipation section 21, and air guide 30 may be located on the right side of the vehicle at the front of vehicle V. In that case, the air intake 10, air guide 30, and heat dissipation section 21 may have shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis from the shapes shown in Figures 1 to 10.
[0037] Next, the effects and benefits of the air guide according to this embodiment will be described.
[0038] (1) The air guide according to the embodiment is an air guide 30 that guides incoming outside air introduced from an air intake 10 located on the front side of the vehicle body to a heat exchanger 20 located behind the air intake 10, and comprises a main body portion 31 that defines a flow path F through which incoming outside air flows from the air intake 10 to the heat exchanger 20, an opening 32b that constitutes the rear end portion 31b on the rear side of the main body portion 31 and allows a heat dissipation portion 21 of the heat exchanger 20 that dissipates heat to the incoming outside air to be disposed inside 33, and a closing member 40 that closes the gap 50 formed between the inner surface 34 of the opening 32b and the heat dissipation portion 21 disposed inside 33 of the opening 32b.
[0039] According to the air guide of this embodiment, the gap 50 formed between the opening 32b and the heat dissipation section 21 is closed by the closing member 40 of the air guide 30. Therefore, even if the heat dissipation section 21 used in the vehicle V is smaller than the opening 32b of the air guide 30, the incoming outside air can be more reliably guided to the heat dissipation section 21. Thus, in order to reduce the gap 50, it is not necessary to newly design or manufacture an air guide 30 having an opening 32b whose shape is set according to the dimensions and shape of the heat dissipation section 21. For example, the main body 31 of the air guide 30 used for the heat dissipation section 21 can be applied to other heat dissipation sections that have a smaller shape than the heat dissipation section 21. That is, the main body 31 of the air guide 30 can be applied to each of the heat dissipation sections with different dimensions and shapes. Therefore, the manufacturing process can be simplified and the increase in manufacturing costs can be suppressed.
[0040] (2) In the air guide according to the embodiment, the blocking member 40 includes a first blocking portion 41 which is disposed below the lower end of the heat dissipation portion 21.
[0041] According to the air guide of this embodiment, even when an upward load, which is a load from below, is applied to the vehicle V, a portion of the upward load is absorbed by the first closing section 41. Therefore, the upward load applied to the heat dissipation section 21 can be reduced.
[0042] Furthermore, an elastic member may be provided on the upper edge 41a or lower edge 41d of the first closing portion 41. This allows for more reliable absorption of the upward load. In other words, it allows for a more reliable reduction of the upward load input to the heat dissipation portion 21.
[0043] (3) In the air guide according to the embodiment, the main body 31 defines a flow path F through which incoming outside air flows from an air intake 10 located outward in the vehicle width direction from the center in the vehicle width direction, and the occluding member 40 includes a second occluding portion 42 located inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end of the heat dissipation portion 21 in the vehicle width direction.
[0044] When the air intake 10 and the air guide 30 are located outward in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle width center, more of the introduced outside air flows outward in the vehicle width direction of the flow path F. According to the air guide according to this embodiment, the heat dissipation section 21 can be positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction inside the opening 32b 33. Therefore, even when the air intake 10 and the air guide 30 are located outward in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle width center, the introduced outside air can be more reliably guided to the heat dissipation section 21.
[0045] In the above description, the configuration of the air guide according to the embodiment was explained using a cargo vehicle such as a van as an example, but it is not limited to this. The air guide according to the embodiment may be used in a passenger car, for example. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0046] V Vehicle F channel 10 Air intake 20 Heat exchanger 21 Heat radiation part 21c inner end 21d Lower end 30 Air Guide 31 Main body 31b Rear end 32b opening 33 Inside 34. Inner self 40 Closure member 41 1st occlusion part 42 Second blockage 50 gaps
Claims
1. An air guide that directs incoming outside air, introduced from an air intake located on the front side of the vehicle body, to a heat exchanger located at the rear of the vehicle from the air intake, A main body that defines a flow path through which the introduced outside air flows from the air intake to the heat exchanger, The main body portion has a rear end on the vehicle side, and an opening in which a heat dissipation section of the heat exchanger that dissipates heat to the incoming outside air can be disposed inside, A closing member that closes the gap formed between the inner surface of the opening and the heat dissipation part disposed inside the opening, Equipped with, The main body is an air guide that can be attached to other heat dissipation parts having a different shape from the heat dissipation part.
2. The air guide according to claim 1, wherein the blocking member includes a first blocking portion disposed below the lower end of the heat dissipation portion.
3. The main body defines the flow path through which the incoming outside air flows, which is introduced from the air intake located outward in the vehicle width direction from the center in the vehicle width direction. The air guide according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking member includes a second blocking portion disposed inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner end of the heat dissipation portion in the vehicle width direction.