Side-Opening Battery Cooling Duct Under Vehicle Rear Seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing battery cooling structure in vehicles, where the duct is disposed below the rear seat with an opening facing forward, can be obstructed by an occupant's legs, leading to reduced cooling efficiency due to insufficient air intake.
Innovation Solution
A battery cooling structure with a cooling air duct positioned beneath a seat that opens toward one side, allowing air from the vehicle cabin to flow effectively and preventing obstruction by the occupant's legs, while utilizing the space efficiently and minimizing interference with cargo or foreign objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling air duct is disposed below the rear seat with the opening facing forward, then the structure allows air conditioning to cool the battery, but the legs of an occupant sitting on the rear seat may cover the opening of the duct, reducing cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the duct opening from facing forward (longitudinal direction) to facing sideways (lateral direction). Specifically, the upstream end of the cooling air duct opens toward one side in the width direction of the above-duct seat, positioned between the above-duct seat and the side surface of the vehicle cabin. This dimensional change eliminates the conflict with occupant legs while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
2Volume of stationary object
If the cooling air duct is disposed below the rear seat, then space utilization is improved, but the duct may be blocked by cargo or other objects loaded in the rear seat area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the duct opening from the longitudinal direction to the lateral direction, opening toward the side surface of the vehicle cabin rather than forward. This positioning places the opening in a space that is less likely to be occupied by cargo, thereby reducing the risk of blockage while maintaining space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifically positions the upstream end of the cooling air duct to open toward a peripheral member provided in the periphery of the door, such as a pillar or trim piece. This localized positioning in a peripheral area further reduces the likelihood of cargo blockage compared to central opening positions.
3Productivity
If the duct opening is positioned to allow sufficient air intake, then cooling performance is improved, but the duct may be more exposed to potential blockage by legs or cargo
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the opening direction to the lateral side, where sufficient air intake can be maintained while the opening is positioned in a location less susceptible to blockage by legs or cargo, thus achieving both cooling efficiency and reduced blockage risk simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The structure ensures effective cooling of the battery by maintaining air intake, reducing the risk of duct obstruction, and preventing damage from loads and foreign objects, thus enhancing cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling air duct inside which cooling air to be supplied to the battery flows
Implementation Method 2
allows the battery to be cooled by this air
Data Source
AI summary
A battery cooling structure is provided that is capable of cooling a battery well. A vehicle equipped with a battery is provided with a cooling air duct inside which cooling air to be supplied to the battery flows, and an above-duct seat on which an occupant can sit, the above-duct seat being disposed in front of the battery in a vehicle front-rear direction and above the cooling air duct. An upstream end of the cooling air duct opens below the above-duct seat toward one side in a width direction of the above-duct seat.