FR2792684A1 - Fuel cooling system for a vehicle, utilizes an air scoop mounted under the floor pan of the vehicle forcing an airflux through to a heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

The cooling system includes a housing unit that is mounted to the underside of the vehicle and includes an air scoop (38) at the front of the assembly. During forward motion a flux of air is forced up through the air scoop toward a heat exchanger (30). The return fuel pipe from the engine passes by the heat exchanger and is cooled by prior to returning to the fuel tank.

Description

"Arrangement for cooling the fuel of a motor vehicle"

  The invention relates to an arrangement for cooling the fuel of a motor vehicle of the type comprising at least one heat exchanger through which at least one pipe passes through which the fuel to be cooled circulates. The invention relates more particularly to an arrangement for a vehicle fitted with an internal combustion engine.

  direct injection, in particular of the so-called "common rail" type.

  In such a vehicle, a significant quantity of unused fuel must return to the fuel tank after having circulated in the injection circuit in

  which it underwent a significant heating.

  It is therefore necessary to cool the unburned fuel

before it returns to the tank.

  The invention more particularly aims to allow fuel cooling on an existing vehicle, a version of which is equipped with a heat engine requiring such cooling and on which there is no space available in the engine compartment or under the floor. of the vehicle

  for the arrangement of a heat exchanger.

  For this purpose, the invention proposes an arrangement of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the heat exchanger is arranged under the vehicle in an area

  outside the vehicle floor.

  According to other features of the invention - the heat exchanger is arranged laterally along a longitudinal edge of the vehicle body in a zone forming a step for access to the passenger compartment; The heat exchanger is of the air-fuel type

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  - The arrangement comprises complementary means for forcing the circulation of an air flow in the direction of the heat exchanger; - The means for forcing the circulation of an air flow are constituted by an aerodynamic scoop; - The heat exchanger is arranged longitudinally behind a front wheel arch of a front motor vehicle; the heat exchanger is located in the fuel return path from the heat engine to the tank; - the vehicle's engine is a

direct injection.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the detailed description which follows

  for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a partial perspective view and from below of the front side part of a vehicle comprising an arrangement in accordance with the teachings of the invention; - Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 in which the heat exchanger is illustrated exploded relative to the vehicle body; and - Figure 3 is a side view with partial cutaway showing the arrangement of the heat exchanger under

the running board.

  There is shown in the figures a front part of a motor vehicle 10 comprising a lower floor 12 consisting essentially of a horizontal lower sheet 3o substantially continuous over the entire transverse width of the vehicle and which is extended at its front end by a portion inclined apron 14 which is central and narrower,

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  that is to say that there is a free space or housing 16 in the lower part of the vehicle under the step giving access to the front seats of the vehicle through an opening 18

  can be closed by a door not shown in the figures.

  The housing 16 is thus delimited vertically upwards by a step plate 20 while it is open downwards towards the ground and delimited longitudinally towards

  the rear by a vertical and transverse sheet 22.

  Beyond the door frame 18, the body is extended by a front wheel arch 24 which is delimited transversely inwards by a sheet 26 which isolates it from the

engine compartment 28.

  In accordance with the teachings of the invention, it is in the lateral housing 16 normally available under the running board that is arranged a heat exchanger 30 here of the air-fuel type for cooling the vehicle fuel. To this end, the heat exchanger 30 comprises a pipe 32 arranged for example in a serpentine in which the fuel circulates and one end of which is visible here for its connection upstream or downstream to a pipe coming from the injection circuit of the engine. thermal (not shown) or to a return line to the

  fuel tank (not shown).

  The exchanger 30 is of the air-fuel type and it may include an envelope or housing 36 which surrounds the coil 32 and which forces the circulation of air around it to cause the heat exchange between the hot fuel and the air

  costs circulating in and around the exchanger.

  To facilitate and force the air flow in the heat exchanger 30, the front longitudinal end part 38 of

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  the envelope can be shaped as a scoop with at least one

  inclined front lower edge 40 in the form of a spoiler.

  To better guide the general air flow circulating under the vehicle in the direction of the heat exchanger 30, an additional scoop 42 can be provided attached to the vehicle and arranged longitudinally at the front upstream of

the heat exchanger 30.

  The exchanger 30 is fixed in the housing 16 by conventional fixing means by interlocking and / or by

io screw-nut type connections 44.

  The arrangement according to the invention just behind the front wheel arch near the engine compartment

  reduces the total length of the fuel system.

  As a variant, the additional scoop 42 may be an element added under the vehicle body, as illustrated in the figures, or be made in one piece

  with the flap and the wheel arch trim.

  As a variant, it is possible to provide two heat exchangers, that is to say an exchanger of each

  side of the passenger compartment under the corresponding running board.

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Claims (8)

  1. Arrangement for cooling the fuel of a motor vehicle of the type comprising at least one heat exchanger (30) crossed by at least one pipe (32) in which the fuel to be cooled circulates, characterized in that the heat exchanger ( 30) is arranged under the vehicle in an area (16) outside the floor (12) of the vehicle.   2. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the heat exchanger (30) is disposed laterally along a longitudinal edge of the vehicle body in an area (16) forming a step (20) for access to the passenger compartment.   3. Arrangement according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the exchanger   thermal is of the air-fuel type.   4. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises complementary means (42) for forcing the circulation of an air flow in the direction of the heat exchanger (30).   5. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for forcing the circulation of an air flow consist of an aerodynamic scoop (42).   6. Arrangement according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the exchanger   thermal (30) is arranged longitudinally behind a   front wheel arch (24) of a front motor vehicle.   7. Arrangement according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the exchanger   is installed in the fuel return path   from the engine to the tank. 6 2792684   8. Arrangement according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the motor   vehicle thermal is a direct injection engine.