CN211592721U

CN211592721U - Vehicle front structure

Info

Publication number: CN211592721U
Application number: CN201922429857.6U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 坂部元哉
Original assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
Current assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
Priority date: 2019-12-27
Filing date: 2019-12-27
Publication date: 2020-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-27

Abstract

The utility model provides a vehicle front structure. The vehicle front structure includes a grille disposed in a middle area of a front side of a vehicle for introducing outside air; the first heat exchange device is arranged behind the grating; and a second heat exchanger disposed beside the first heat exchanger and near an end of the vehicle in a width direction of the vehicle, and including a ventilation duct provided with one end communicating with the second heat exchanger; the other end is communicated with the air leading-in space between the grating and the first heat exchange device. With the above arrangement, it is possible to efficiently introduce a part of the outside air flowing into the air introduction space into the second heat exchanger disposed near the end portion in the vehicle width direction through the ventilation duct without providing an opening portion at the end portion in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle front structure

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a vehicle front structure, especially the vehicle front structure who installs a plurality of heat transfer device in the vehicle front portion.

Background

In general, an engine radiator as a heat exchanger, an auxiliary equipment radiator for cooling auxiliary equipment such as an inverter for power conversion, and the like are disposed in an engine compartment of a front portion of a vehicle on which an internal combustion engine is mounted. In addition, in a nacelle that houses a drive device and the like in the front portion of the fuel cell vehicle, a fuel cell radiator that is a heat exchanger, an auxiliary equipment radiator that cools auxiliary equipment for fuel cell power generation, and the like are disposed.

In the fuel cell vehicle in which the plurality of heat exchangers are arranged, as shown in fig. 4, the grill G is usually provided in the middle area in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the vehicle, and the fuel cell radiator R1 is arranged behind the grill G, so that the air flowing in from the grill G can be cooled by flowing through the fuel cell radiator R1, and the two auxiliary equipment radiators R2 are arranged on the left and right sides in the vehicle width direction of the fuel cell radiator R1, respectively. Vent holes (openings) O are provided in front of the two auxiliary equipment radiators R2, that is, in the left and right ends in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle front side, respectively, so that the air flowing in from the vent holes O can be cooled by flowing through the two auxiliary equipment radiators R2.

However, in the vehicle front portion structure of the related art described above, since the vent holes O are provided at both ends of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle and the vent holes O need to be provided without increasing the vehicle running resistance or decreasing the vehicle strength, the degree of freedom in the design of the vehicle front portion is reduced, and the appearance of the vehicle front portion is impaired.

On the other hand, in the vehicle front portion structure of the above-described conventional art, since the vent hole O is formed at the inclined portion S inclined rearward of the vehicle from the end portion in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, most of the traveling wind flows rearward of the vehicle along the outside of the inclined portion S after coming into contact with the vent hole O during traveling of the vehicle, and therefore, it is difficult to efficiently introduce the traveling wind into the auxiliary equipment radiator R2, and there is a problem of low cooling efficiency.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In view of the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle front structure in a heat exchanger capable of efficiently introducing air to an end portion in a vehicle width direction disposed on a vehicle front side without providing an opening portion at the end portion in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle front side.

As a technical solution to solve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a vehicle front structure including a grille disposed in a middle area of a front side of a vehicle for introducing outside air; the first heat exchange device is arranged behind the grating; and a second heat exchanger disposed beside the first heat exchanger and near an end of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction, wherein: the second heat exchange device is provided with a ventilation pipeline, and one end of the ventilation pipeline is communicated with the second heat exchange device; the other end is communicated with an air leading-in space between the grating and the first heat exchange device.

The utility model discloses an above-mentioned vehicle front portion structure's advantage lies in, need not set up the opening at the vehicle width direction's of vehicle front side tip, also can lead to some high-efficiently leading-in to the second heat transfer device of configuration near the vehicle width direction's of vehicle tip with the air that flows toward first heat transfer device through air pipe to the degree of freedom that enables the anterior appearance design of vehicle improves, and can improve the anterior appearance aesthetic property of vehicle. Specifically, one end of the ventilation pipeline is communicated with the second heat exchange device; since the other end communicates with the air introduction space between the grill and the first heat exchanger, a part of the air flowing into the air introduction space from the grill can be introduced into the second heat exchanger through the ventilation duct, and thus, it is not necessary to provide a vent hole at the vehicle width direction end portion on the vehicle front side. On the other hand, since the air (traveling wind) flowing in from the grille positioned in the vehicle middle region is air having a strong pressure flowing toward the vehicle rear, a part of such air can flow into the second heat exchanger at a high speed and in a large amount through the ventilation duct, and therefore, the cooling efficiency of the second heat exchanger can be improved as compared with the configuration in which the air is introduced from the inclined portion at the end in the vehicle width direction in the related art.

In addition, in the vehicle front structure of the present invention, it is preferable that the air duct is provided with an opening/closing mechanism for opening or closing an air flow path of the air duct. With this configuration, the flow rate of air introduced into the second heat exchanging device can be adjusted as needed by controlling the opening/closing mechanism, and the ventilation duct can be closed when the vehicle is stopped; the ventilation duct is opened while the vehicle is running.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle front structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle front structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle front structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional vehicle front structure.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a vehicle front structure according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

< first embodiment >

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle front structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In addition, fig. 1 shows a vehicle front structure of the fuel cell vehicle. In the following description, "front" and "rear" indicating directions coincide with "front" and "rear" in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

As shown in fig. 1, a fuel cell vehicle 1 has a nacelle 2 for accommodating a drive device and the like formed in a front portion of the vehicle. The nacelle 2 extends from the rear of the left and right

front wheels

3R, 3L to the front side of the vehicle. A grille 5 having an opening is formed in a middle area in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the nacelle 2. A main radiator (first heat exchange device) 10 is disposed behind the grill 5. An air introduction space C is formed between the grill 5 and the main radiator 10, and outside air (traveling wind or the like) flows into the air introduction space C from an opening portion of the grill 5 and is then introduced into the main radiator 10.

The main radiator 10 is, for example, a fuel cell radiator. The fuel cell radiator is used for radiating heat from cooling water for cooling a fuel cell (not shown).

A radiator fan 13 is disposed behind the main radiator 10. The heat radiation fan 13 is driven by a motor not shown. When the radiator fan 13 is operated, the outside air is forcibly introduced into the nacelle 2 through the opening of the grille 5 and flows through the main radiator 10.

In the nacelle 2, a PCU (Power Control Unit) is disposed behind the radiator fan 13, and the sub-radiator 18R is disposed on the right side of the main radiator 10 and near the right end portion in the vehicle width direction; the sub-radiator 18L is disposed on the left side of the main radiator 10 and near the left end in the vehicle width direction.

The

sub-radiators

18R and 18L are, for example, auxiliary equipment radiators for cooling auxiliary equipment for power generation of the fuel cell and auxiliary equipment for converting electricity generated by the fuel cell into driving force. Specifically, as an auxiliary device for power generation of the fuel cell, for example, a hydrogen pump, an air compressor, and the like are given. As an auxiliary device for converting electricity generated by the fuel cell into driving force, for example, a motor or the like is known.

The front portion of the vehicle body 20 includes inclined portions 20sR and 20sL inclined toward the rear of the vehicle from right and left end portions in the vehicle width direction, respectively. The sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L are disposed behind the inclined portions 20sR and 20sL, respectively.

Further, ventilation duct 25R and ventilation duct 25L are disposed in nacelle 2. The ventilation duct 25R and the ventilation duct 25L are provided such that one ends thereof are connected to and communicated with the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L, respectively; the other ends of the respective air guide members extend to the vicinities of the left and right ends of the main radiator 10, respectively, and communicate with the air introducing space C between the grill 5 and the main radiator 10. Accordingly, a part of the air flowing into the air introduction space C enters the

ventilation ducts

25R and 25L, and flows into the

sub-radiators

18R and 18L through the

ventilation ducts

25R and 25L.

Here, the

ventilation ducts

25R and 25L are configured such that the end portion of one end connected to the

sub-radiators

18R and 18L is bent from the front side to the right and left sides, in accordance with the shapes of both ends of the front portion of the vehicle body 20. However, the shape of the ventilation duct 25R and the ventilation duct 25L may be appropriately changed according to the shape of the vehicle to be used, and may not be meandering.

In the present embodiment, most of the air introduced into the cabin 2 by the radiator fan 13 or the air (traveling wind) flowing into the cabin 2 from the grille 5 during traveling of the vehicle flows into the main radiator 10 through the air introduction space C, and the remaining air flows into the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L through the

ventilation ducts

25R and 25L on both sides of the air introduction space C.

Therefore, although the

sub-radiators

18R and 18L are positioned at the left and right ends in the vehicle width direction, the ventilation and heat exchange of the

sub-radiators

18R and 18L can be achieved without providing the vent holes (openings) O in the inclined portions 20sR and 20sL at the right and left ends of the vehicle body 20 as in the related art, and therefore, the degree of freedom in the design of the front portion of the vehicle body 20 can be improved, and the appearance of the front portion of the vehicle body 20 can be improved.

On the other hand, since the air flowing into the cabin 2 from the grille 5 is air having a relatively high pressure and flowing toward the rear of the vehicle, a part of the air can flow into the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L at a high speed and in a large amount through the ventilation duct 25R and the ventilation duct 25L, and therefore, compared with a configuration in which the external air is introduced from the vent holes O (see fig. 4) of the inclined portions S at both ends on the front side of the vehicle in the related art, the external air can be introduced more efficiently, and the heat radiation (cooling) efficiency of the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L can be improved.

< second embodiment >

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle front structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that an opening/closing mechanism 30R and an opening/closing mechanism 30L that open and close ventilation duct 25R and ventilation duct 25L, respectively, are added to the vehicle front portion structure shown in fig. 1.

Specifically, the opening/closing mechanism 30R is disposed at one end (upstream end) of the ventilation duct 25R; the opening/closing mechanism 30L is disposed at one end (upstream end) of the ventilation duct 25L. The main body 30a of each of the opening/closing mechanism 30R and the opening/closing mechanism 30L has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape (circular or quadrangular) of the upstream end of the ventilation duct 25R and the ventilation duct 25L, respectively, so that the ventilation duct 25R and the ventilation duct 25L can be covered therewith.

The opening/closing mechanism 30R and the opening/closing mechanism 30L are controlled by the PCU 15. Under the control of PCU15, main body portion 30a pivots about support portion 30b provided at one end of main body portion 30a, thereby opening and closing the upstream ends of ventilation duct 25R and ventilation duct 25L. Accordingly, the air flow path D of the ventilation duct 25R and the ventilation duct 25L is opened or closed, and the air flow into the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L is stopped or stopped.

The PCU15 appropriately controls opening and closing of the opening and closing mechanism 30R and the opening and closing mechanism 30L according to the traveling state of the fuel cell vehicle 1 and the like. Specifically, for example, when the fuel cell vehicle 1 is in a stopped state, the opening/closing mechanism 30R and the opening/closing mechanism 30L are closed, and the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L are stopped; when the fuel cell vehicle 1 is in the traveling state, the opening/closing mechanism 30R and the opening/closing mechanism 30L are opened, and the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L are operated.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, air can be introduced into the sub-radiator 18R or the sub-radiator 18L or air can be prevented from entering the sub-radiator 18R or the sub-radiator 18L according to the traveling state of the fuel cell vehicle 1, and heat radiation of the sub-radiator 18R or the sub-radiator 18L can be appropriately controlled.

The opening and closing control of the opening and closing mechanism 30R and the opening and closing mechanism 30L may be performed independently of each other, that is, may be performed individually in accordance with the types of auxiliary devices cooled by the sub-radiator 18R and the sub-radiator 18L.

< third embodiment >

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle front structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the first and second embodiments described above, the sub radiator 18R and the sub radiator 18L are disposed on the right side and the left side in the vehicle width direction of the main radiator 10, respectively, but in the present embodiment, the sub radiator 18R and the ventilation duct 25R are disposed only on either the right side or the left side (on the right side in fig. 3) in the vehicle width direction of the main radiator 10.

In the present embodiment, an opening/closing mechanism 31 is provided inside the ventilation duct 25R. The opening/closing mechanism 31 is constituted by a butterfly valve and can open or close the ventilation duct 25R. The opening/closing mechanism 31 is also capable of adjusting the flow rate of air introduced into the sub-radiator 18R by changing the opening area of the ventilation duct 25R in accordance with the traveling speed of the fuel cell vehicle 1 under the control of the PCU 15.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the air flow rate in the sub-radiator 18R can be finely adjusted in accordance with different running states of the fuel cell vehicle 1.

The present invention is not limited to the description of the above embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, in the above embodiments, the example in which the vehicle front structure of the present invention is applied to the fuel cell vehicle 1 has been described, but the vehicle front structure of the present invention is also applicable to a hybrid vehicle equipped with a fuel cell, a motor, and an engine, or a vehicle driven only by an engine. In this case, for example, the main radiator 10 as the first heat exchange device may be an engine radiator for cooling the engine, and the sub-radiators 18R and 18L as the second heat exchange devices may be auxiliary equipment radiators for cooling auxiliary equipment for power conversion (an inverter, a converter, a driving motor, and the like).

Claims

1. A vehicle front structure includes a grille disposed in a middle area of a front side of a vehicle for introducing outside air; the first heat exchange device is arranged behind the grating; and a second heat exchanger disposed beside the first heat exchanger and near an end of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction, wherein:

is provided with a ventilating duct which is provided with a ventilating duct,

the ventilating duct is arranged, and one end of the ventilating duct is communicated with the second heat exchange device; the other end is communicated with an air leading-in space between the grating and the first heat exchange device.

2. The vehicle front structure according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the ventilation duct is provided with an opening/closing mechanism for opening or closing an air flow path of the ventilation duct.