FR3070433A1 - INTERMEDIATE COOLER CANALIZATION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

An intercooler piping system for a vehicle having a front portion is provided. The front part comprises: an intercooler 9 cooling the intake air, a radiator 8 behind the intercooler 9, a fan shroud 7, housing a cooling fan, disposed on a surface of the radiator 8 facing rearwardly , a motor body 11 behind the fan shroud, and a gas compressor 15, compressing the intake air. An intermediate cooler outlet conduit 60 has an intermediate conduit portion 62, attached to the engine body 11 in its lower portion and extending between the fan shroud 7 and the engine body 11. An oil pan 14 is located in a lower portion of the motor body 11. The intermediate conduit portion 62 is attached to at least one forward facing surface of the oil sump 14.

Description

INTERMEDIATE COOLER PIPE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE [Technical Field] [0001]

The present invention relates to a vehicle intercooler piping system.

[Technological background] [0002]

Vehicles such as automobiles use forced intake to increase engine power. These forced intake engines use intercoolers to cool the compressed intake air to lower the intake temperature, thereby increasing charging efficiency.

[0003]

Document JP2000-45780A, referred to as Document Patent 1 below, describes a known intercooler piping system. With the known system, a radiator and an intercooler are located side by side near the front of the engine compartment of a vehicle. A turbocharger is installed behind an upper part of a rear-facing engine surface. The intercooler, which is located in front of a transmission attached to the engine, includes a lower tank that communicates with an intercooler intake duct from the turbocharger and an upper tank. The upper tank communicates with an intercooler outlet duct to supply cooled compressed air to the engine's intake manifold.

[0004]

In the known piping system, the intercooler inlet conduit includes a vertically extending conduit portion which is located behind the intercooler to connect the turbocharger and the lower reservoir of the intercooler.

[State of the Art] [Patent Literature] [0005]

Patent Document 1: JP2000-45780A [Summary of the invention] [Technical Problem] [0006]

The known intercooler piping system poses the potential problem that the vertically extending portion of the conduit behind the intercooler can interfere with the flow of exhaust air from the intercooler during outdoor air ducting and reduce cooling performance of the intercooler.

[0007]

In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle intercooler piping system which not only improves the cooling performance of an intercooler but also which stably maintains the cooling effect improved.

[Problem Solution] [0008]

In order to solve the above problem, there is provided, according to the present invention, an intercooler piping system for a vehicle having a front part. The front part of the vehicle comprises: an intercooler which cools the intake air; a radiator behind the intercooler; a fan shroud, which houses a cooling fan, provided on a surface facing the rear of the radiator; an engine body behind the fan shroud; a gas compressor, which compresses the intake air, located in the vicinity of a forward facing surface of an upper part of the engine body; an intake manifold on a rearward facing surface of the engine body; an intercooler inlet duct, which routes the intake air compressed by the gas compressor to the intercooler, connected to the intercooler at one of the two transverse ends of the intercooler; and an intercooler outlet duct, which supplies the intake air cooled by the intercooler to the intake manifold, connected to the intercooler at the other of the two transverse ends of the intercooler. The intercooler piping system is characterized in that: the intercooler outlet duct has an intermediate duct portion which is located between the fan shroud and the motor body, which extends along an axis transverse of the vehicle; and the intermediate duct portion of the intercooler outlet duct is fixed to the engine body at a lower part of the engine body. [Advantageous Effect of the Invention] [0009]

As just described, the present invention not only improves the cooling performance of an intercooler but also stably maintains the effect of the improved cooling performance.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a front portion of a vehicle, illustrating a piping system of a vehicle intercooler to which the present invention relates.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an engine group, illustrating the system of pipes for the vehicle intercooler.

FIG. 3 is a view from the left of the front part of the vehicle, illustrating the piping system of the vehicle intercooler.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the front part of the vehicle, illustrating the piping system of the vehicle intercooler.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an oil pan with a portion of intermediate conduit.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the oil pan.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the oil pan.

[Detailed Description] [0011]

In the present embodiment of the present invention there is provided an intercooler piping system for a vehicle having a front part. The front part of the vehicle comprises: an intercooler which cools the intake air; a radiator behind the intercooler; a fan shroud, which houses a cooling fan, provided on a surface facing the rear of the radiator; an engine body behind the fan shroud; a gas compressor, which compresses the intake air, located in the vicinity of a forward facing surface of an upper part of the engine body; an intake manifold on a rearward facing surface of the engine body; an intercooler inlet duct, which routes the intake air compressed by the gas compressor to the intercooler, connected to the intercooler at one of the two transverse ends of the intercooler; and an intercooler outlet duct, which supplies the intake air cooled by the intercooler to the intake manifold, connected to the intercooler at the other of the two transverse ends of the intercooler. The intercooler piping system is characterized in that: the intercooler outlet duct has an intermediate duct portion which is located between the fan shroud and the motor body, which extends along an axis transverse of the vehicle; and the intermediate conduit portion of the intercooler outlet conduit is attached to the engine body at a lower portion of the engine body. As just described, the vehicle intercooler piping system, to which the present embodiment of the present invention is related, not only improves the cooling performance of the intercooler but also stably maintains the effect of improved cooling performance.

[Embodiment (s)] [0012]

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a vehicle intercooler piping system which implements the present invention is described.

[0013]

Figures 1 to 7 are views of the vehicle intercooler piping system. In Figures 1 to 7, the arrows indicated UP, FRONT, RIGHT and LEFT indicate the directions that an occupant of the vehicle can have in the driver's seat.

[0014]

The description begins with the structure of the embodiment. With reference to Figures 1 to 4, a vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle body IA as illustrated by the imaginary line. A front part of the vehicle body IA is made up of vehicle body parts, such as a front bumper and side fenders, which are not illustrated. The front part of the vehicle body IA is formed with an engine compartment 6 which is surrounded by the front bumper, the side wings and the like. While driving the vehicle 1 in outside air, the engine compartment 6 can receive outside air from an opening with which the front of the vehicle body IA is formed. [0015]

An engine body 11 and a transmission 41, which is connected to the engine body 11 at its end turned to the left, are fixed in the engine compartment 6.

[0016]

The engine body 11 comprises a cylinder block 12, a cylinder head 13 at the top of the cylinder block 12 and an oil pan 14 at the bottom of the cylinder block 12. As has just been described, the oil pan 14 defines a lower part of the engine body

11. A cylinder head cover 17 is fixed to the cylinder head 13. The transmission 41 is connected to the cylinder blocks 12 and to the oil sump 14.

[0017]

The cylinder block 12 comprises several cylinders, not shown. A piston is vertically movable back and forth in a cylinder. The reciprocating movement of the piston is converted into the rotation of a crankshaft, not illustrated, by a connecting rod, not shown, since the piston is connected to the crankshaft via the connecting rod.

[0018]

The cylinder head 13 is formed with several intake ports, not shown, and multiple exhaust ports, not shown. The intake ports admit air into the cylinders, while the exhaust ports exhaust the exhaust gases that result from combustion in the cylinders from the cylinders.

[0019]

In this embodiment, the intake ports are formed in a rearward facing surface of the cylinder head 13, while the exhaust ports are formed in a forward facing surface of the cylinder head 13. A Intake manifold 21 is located behind the engine body 11 and is connected to the intake ports (see Figure 3). An exhaust manifold, not shown, is located in front of the engine body 11 and is connected to the exhaust ports.

[0020]

The oil pan 14 stores oil to lubricate the engine body 11, the crankshaft and the pistons. The transmission 41 modifies the speed ratios between the crankshaft and its output shaft.

[0021]

A gas compressor 15, located in front of the cylinder block 12, compresses the intake air. In other words, the gas compressor 15 is located in front of an upper part of the engine body 11. In addition, an intermediate cooler 9 for cooling the intake air is arranged in the engine compartment 6. A radiator 8 is located behind the intercooler 9.

[0022]

Referring to Figure 1, a fan shroud 7 is attached to a rearward facing surface of the radiator 8. The fan shroud 7 houses two cooling fans 7A which are arranged side by side. The motor body 11 is behind the fan shroud 7.

[0023]

The engine body 11 and the radiator 8 are connected by a cooling pipe. The coolant which is cooled at the level of the radiator 8 is conveyed via the cooling pipe to the engine body 11. This cools the engine body 11.

[0024]

The coolant heated due to the heat exchange at the engine body 11 is conveyed via another cooling pipe to the radiator 8. The coolant which is conveyed to the radiator 8 is cooled with air outside taken from the engine compartment 6. The cooled coolant is returned to the engine body 11.

[0025]

In the present embodiment, the gas compressor 15 is in the form of a turbocharger powered by a turbine wheel driven by the exhaust gases from the engine.

[0026]

The gas compressor 15 includes a turbine housing 15A and a compressor housing 15B. The turbine casing 15A rotatably houses and supports a turbine wheel, not shown.

[0027]

The turbine wheel is driven by exhaust gases, which are conveyed by the exhaust manifold to the turbine casing 15A of the gas compressor 15 from the exhaust ports of the cylinder head 13.

[0028]

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, an exhaust pipe 32 is connected to the turbine casing 15A of the gas compressor 15. The exhaust pipe 32 extends from the turbine casing 15A towards the rear of the vehicle 1 after passing along a surface facing the front of the motor body 11 downwards and passing along a lower surface of the motor body 11 rearwards.

[0029]

At a location located directly under the turbine casing 15A of the gas compressor 15, the exhaust pipe 32 constitutes a catalytic converter 31 for purifying the exhaust gases. The exhaust pipe 32 has a locally enlarged diameter on this side, so that the diameter of the catalytic converter 31 is greater than that of the other parts of the exhaust pipe 32. The exhaust gases having passed through the turbine casing 15A are discharged from vehicle 1 after passing through the exhaust pipe 32.

[0030]

The compressor casing 15B houses and rotatably supports a compressor wheel, not shown. The compressor wheel can rotate with the turbine wheel.

[0031]

The compressor casing 15B routes the intake air, which is filtered in an air filter, not shown, to the intercooler 9 via an intercooler inlet duct 50 described below. The intercooler 9 cools the air coming from the compressor casing 15B by heat exchange with the air entering the engine compartment 6 while driving in outside air.

[0032]

In the gas compressor 15, the compressor wheel, which can rotate with the turbine wheel, compresses the intake air while the engine exhaust gases drive the turbine wheel. The intake air compressed by the compressor wheel is conveyed to the intercooler 9 through the intercooler inlet duct 50. After being cooled by the intercooler 9, the cooled compressed intake air enters an intercooler outlet duct 60 described below.

[0033]

The gas compressor 15 includes a relief valve 16. The relief valve 16 diverts exhaust gas from the turbine wheel to regulate the speed of rotation of the turbine, which in turn regulates the speed of rotation of the compressor.

[0034]

The intermediate cooler 9 is located in front of a lower part of the radiator 8. The intermediate cooler 9 extends in the same direction, which is parallel to the transverse axis of the vehicle 1, as the radiator 8.

[0035]

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the intercooler inlet conduit 50, which is hollow, is connected to the intercooler 9 at its first end or its straight end. This intercooler inlet duct 50 routes the compressed intake air at the gas compressor 15 to the intercooler

9. The right end of the intercooler 9 is an example of one of the two transverse ends of the intercooler 9 according to the invention.

[0036]

The intercooler outlet conduit 60, which is hollow, is connected to the intercooler 9 at its other end or its left end. The intercooler outlet duct 60 routes the compressed compressed air cooled at the intercooler 9 to the intake manifold 21. The left end of the intercooler 9 is an example of the other of the two transverse ends of the intercooler 9 as claimed.

[0037]

The intercooler 9 includes a core 9C, an inlet tank 9A which is connected to the right end of the heart 9C and an outlet tank 9B which is connected to the left end of the heart 9C. The inlet tank 9A communicates with the intercooler inlet duct 50, temporarily stores the intake air from the intercooler inlet duct 50 and supplies the intake air to the core 9C. [0038]

The core 9C cools the intake air by heat exchange with the air taken from the engine compartment 6 while driving in outside air. The outlet tank 9B communicates with the intercooler outlet duct 60. The outlet tank 9B temporarily stores the cooled intake air at the heart 9C and routes the cooled intake air to the cooler outlet duct intermediate 60. [0039]

In the present embodiment, the engine body 11 is located behind the fan shroud 7. The gas compressor 15 is installed in front of the front facing surface of the upper part of the engine body 11. The catalytic converter of large diameter 31 is located directly under the gas compressor 15.

[0040]

As best seen in Figure 3, a space 80 is created behind the fan shroud 7. The space 80 is defined by the fan shroud 7, the engine body 11, the gas compressor 15 and the converter catalytic 31. The upper part of the space 80 is narrow because the gas compressor 15 and the catalytic converter 31 are arranged between the fan shroud 7 and the engine body 11. The lower part 80A of the space 80 does not is not narrow (or is wide) because the gas compressor 15 is not arranged between them.

[0041]

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the intercooler outlet duct 60 comprises a plug on the intercooler side 61, a portion of intermediate duct 62, a relay 63, a rear extension 64 and a plug on the intake manifold side 65 .

[0042]

The intercooler side plug 61 is connected to the intercooler outlet tank 9B and extends from a left end of the intercooler 9 to a lower portion of the forward facing transmission 41. In detail, the intercooler side plug 61 extends in a direction turning down to the right (see Figures 1 and 3) after passing around the left end parts of the radiator 8 and the fan shroud 7. The plug on the intercooler side 61 is made of '' an elastic material such as rubber.

[0043]

The intermediate duct portion 62 is connected to the plug on the intermediate cooler side 61 from its downstream or outlet end and extends transversely through a space between the fan shroud 7 and the oil sump 14 of the engine body 11 from the right end side to the opposite end side (see Figures 3 and 4). The intermediate conduit portion 62 is made of a steel pipe.

[0044]

The relay 63 is connected to the intermediate conduit portion 62 from its straight end or outlet. Relay 63 is curved to turn backwards. Relay 63 is made of an elastic material such as rubber.

[0045]

The rear extension 64 is connected to the relay 63 by its straight or output end. The rear extension 64 extends rearward along the lateral surface facing to the right of the oil pan 14 to the vicinity of the right rear part of the oil pan 14. In the vicinity of the rear part right side of the oil pan 14, the rear extension 64 is bent upwards. The rear extension 64 is made of steel pipe.

[0046]

The intake manifold side plug 65 connects the rear or outlet end of the rear extension 64 and the intake manifold 21. The intake manifold side plug 65 extends in an upward and left direction . The intake manifold side plug 65 is made of an elastic material such as rubber.

[0047]

As best seen in FIG. 5, the intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to the lower part of the motor body 11. In addition, the intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to at least the surface facing the front of the casing of oil 14. [0048]

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 and still with reference to FIG. 5, to write it in detail, the oil pan 14 comprises a first junction 14A to which the oil pan 14 is connected to the cylinder block 12, and a second junction 14B to which the oil pan 14 is connected to the transmission 41.

[0049]

In addition, the second junction 14B includes a projection 14B1, which projects forward from a forward facing surface 14A1 of the first junction 14A1. The intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to at least the projecting part 14B1 of the oil sump 14.

[0050]

The oil pan 14 has an oil filter mounting portion 14C projecting forward beyond one end of the oil pan 14 facing forward. The oil filter fixing part 14C has on its lower part an oil filter fixing surface 14C1 (see FIG. 7) on which an oil filter 22 is fixed.

[0051]

The oil filter fixing part 14C has, on its forward-facing end, an intermediate conduit portion support part 14C2 to which the intermediate conduit portion 62 of the intercooler outlet conduit 60 is attached. As described, the intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to the oil pan 14 in two locations, namely: the protruding part 14B1 and the intermediate duct portion supporting portion 14C2, which are formed on the side facing the front of the oil pan 14.

[0052]

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 7, the oil sump 14 has, at its end turned to the right, parts of rear extension support 14D and 14E. The rear extension support portions 14D and 14E project to the right. The rear extension 64 of the intercooler outlet duct 60 is fixed to the oil pan 14 in these rear extension support parts 14D and 14E.

[0053]

Referring to Figure 3, the exhaust pipe 32 has an inclined portion 34 which extends along an axis Ls inclined forward relative to a vertical axis Lv relative to the vehicle 1, a vertical portion 33 connected to the gas compressor 15 after being reassembled from an upwardly facing end of the inclined portion 34, and a horizontal portion 35 which extends rearwardly from an end of the inclined portion 34 facing downward. The intermediate duct portion 62 is located in front of the inclined part 34. The axis Ls constitutes an axis inclined towards the front as claimed.

[0054]

In detail, looking at the engine body 11 in a direction along the transverse axis of the vehicle 1, the intermediate duct portion 62 is located in a space 81 which is surrounded by a first imaginary line L1 extending along a surface of the vertical part 33 facing forwards, a second imaginary line L2 extending along a surface of the horizontal part 35 facing downwards, and a third imaginary line L3 extending along a surface of the inclined portion 34 facing forward. [0055]

This space 81, which comprises the space 80 previously described (see FIG. 3), is adjacent to a surface facing towards the front of the lower part of the engine body 11 and extends below the gas compressor 15 and of the catalytic converter 31. Thus, the space 81 provides a large spatial area along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 1.

The description of the characteristics is as follows:

[0056]

When driving the vehicle 1 in outside air, the engine compartment 6 receives outside air from the front. The outside air, which enters the engine compartment 6, passes backwards as indicated by arrows colored in black (see Figure 1). With the outside air, the radiator 8 and the intercooler 9, located near the front in the engine compartment 6, are cooled. The outside air, passing through the intermediate cooler 9 and, moreover, passing through the lower part of the radiator 8, is evacuated towards the lower part 80A of the space 80.

[0057]

In the present embodiment, the intercooler outlet conduit 60 has the intermediate conduit portion 62, which is located between the fan shroud 7 and the engine body 11, which extends along the transverse axis of the vehicle 1. The intermediate duct portion 62 of the intercooler outlet duct 60 is fixed to the engine body 11 at the level of the lower part of the engine body 11.

[0058]

This configuration allows the intermediate conduit portion 62 of the intermediate cooler outlet conduit 60 to be arranged in the vicinity of the engine body 11 at a distance from the intermediate cooler 9 and the radiator 8 rearward. This extends the lower part 80A of the space 80, which is created behind the intercooler 9 and the radiator 8.

[0059]

For this reason, the outside air, passing through the intercooler 9 and passing through the lower part of the radiator 8, can flow backwards without being disturbed by the intercooler outlet duct 60. This improves the cooling performance the intercooler 9 and the radiator 8.

[0060]

In addition, since the intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to the lower part of the engine body 11, the intercooler outlet duct 60 is prevented from leaving the correct position and thus disturbing the flow of outside air. This stably maintains the effect of the improved cooling action.

[0061]

This not only results in an improvement in the cooling performance of the intercooler 9, but also in a stable maintenance of the effect of the improved cooling action.

[0062]

In the present embodiment, the lower part of the engine body 11 comprises the oil pan 14 which is located in the lower part of the engine body 11. The intermediate duct portion 62 of the intercooler outlet duct 60 is attached to at least the forward facing surface of the oil pan 14.

[0063]

This allows the intermediate duct portion 62 to be arranged in the vicinity of the lower part of the engine body 11 because the intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to the forward-facing surface of the oil pan 14 which is located in the lower part of the engine body 11.

[0064]

In addition, it is allowed to arrange the intermediate duct portion 62 at a rearward distance from the fan shroud 7, preventing the intermediate duct portion 62 from disturbing the flow of air evacuated rearward from the fan shroud 7, thereby improving the cooling performance of the intercooler 9 and the radiator 8.

[0065]

Let us now suppose that the side wall of the cylinder block 12 of the engine body 11 which faces forward comprises holding parts having a function equivalent to the projecting part 14B1 and to the support part of the intermediate duct portion 14C2 (see figure 5). Such holding parts must not interfere with the function of an oil passage and a coolant passage, not shown, formed through the cylinder block 12. Thus, the holding parts are limited in with regard to their installation location on the cylinder blocks 12.

[0066]

Furthermore, the oil sump 14 is formed with holding parts to fix the intermediate duct portion 62 in a fixed manner. As there is no possibility of forming an oil passage and a coolant passage through the oil pan 14, the flexibility in the choice of the installation locations of the protruding part 14B1 and of the support part of the intermediate duct portion 14C2 on the oil pan 14 is improved.

[0067]

In the present embodiment, the engine body 11 comprises the block 12 on the top of the oil pan 14. The transmission 41 is connected to the block 12 and the oil pan 14.

[0068]

The oil pan 14 has a first junction 14A to which the oil pan 14 is connected to the cylinder block 12, and a second junction 14B to which the oil pan 14 is connected to the transmission 41. The second junction 14B has the protruding part 14B1 which projects forwardly beyond the forward-facing surface 14A1 of the first junction 14A. The intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to the oil pan 14 at least at the level of the projecting part 14B1.

[0069]

Since the intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed to the oil sump 14 at the level of the front projection 14B1, the intermediate duct portion 62 can be arranged without interference with the transmission 41.

[0070]

The part of the oil pan 14 which forms the junction through which the oil pan 14 joins the transmission 41 is thicker than the other part of the oil pan 14, reducing the influence of vibrations and deformation of the oil pan 14 on the intermediate duct portion 62.

[0071]

Referring to Figures 5 to 7, in this embodiment, the oil pan 14 has the oil filter attachment portion 14C which protrudes forward beyond the end of the oil pan 14 facing forward. The oil filter fixing part 14C has in its lower part an oil filter fixing surface 14C1 (see FIG. 7) to which an oil filter is fixed 22. The oil filter fixing part 14C has, on its end facing forward, an intermediate duct portion support part 14C2 to which the intermediate duct portion 62 of the intercooler outlet duct 60 is fixed.

[0072]

This allows the intermediate conduit portion 62 to be arranged without interfering with the oil pan 14 or the oil filter 22 because the oil filter fixing portion 14C projects forwardly beyond the end of the oil sump 14 facing forward, and, the oil filter fixing part 14C has, on its end facing forward, the support part of the intermediate duct portion 14C2 at which the intermediate duct portion 62 is fixed.

[0073]

In addition, the oil filter 22 is fixed to the fixing surface of the oil filter 14C1 so that the weight of the oil filter 22 is likely to cause vibration of the fixing part of the oil filter 14C, but the vibration of the fixing part of the oil filter 14C is contained because the fixing part of the oil filter 14C is supported by the intermediate duct portion 62.

[0074]

In the present embodiment, the exhaust pipe 32 which is connected to the gas compressor 15 extends in a rear direction of the vehicle 1 after passing along the surface of the engine body 11 facing forwards and from the lower surface of the engine body 11. The exhaust pipe 32 has the inclined part 34 which extends along an axis Ls inclined forward relative to a vertical axis of the vehicle Lv. The intermediate duct portion 62 is located in front of the inclined part 34.

[0075]

The intermediate conduit portion 62 is located in front of the inclined portion 34, allowing the intermediate conduit portion 62 to be disposed closer to the motor body 11, by miniaturizing the motor 10 which comprises the motor body 11 and its auxiliary equipment, reducing its size in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 1.

[0076]

In the present embodiment, the exhaust pipe 32 has the vertical part 33 which is connected to the gas compressor 15 after being reassembled from one end of the inclined part 34 facing upwards and the horizontal part 35 which extends backwards from the end of the inclined part 34 facing downwards. Looking at the engine body 11 in a direction along the transverse axis of the vehicle 1, the intermediate duct portion 62 is located in the space 81 which is surrounded by a first imaginary line L1 extending along a surface of the vertical part 33 facing forwards, a second imaginary line L2 extending along a surface of the horizontal part 35 facing downwards, and a third imaginary line L3 extending along a surface of the inclined part 34 facing forward.

[0077]

This allows the intermediate conduit portion 62 to be located in the space which is surrounded by the first imaginary line L1, the second imaginary line L2 and the third imaginary line L3 extending along a surface of the part inclined 34 facing forward, miniaturizing the engine 10, which includes the engine body 11 and its auxiliary equipment, reducing its size in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 1.

[0078]

Although the disclosure relates to, but is not limited to, the present embodiment, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. All of these modifications and their equivalents are intended to be covered by the scope of the following claims. [Nomenclature]

1 ... Vehicle, 6 ... Engine compartment, 7 ... Fan shroud, 7A ... Cooling fan, 8 ... Radiator, 9 ... Intermediate cooler,

11 ... Engine body, 12 ... Cylinder block, 14 ... Oil pan, 14A ... First junction, 14A1 ... Surface facing forward, 14B ... Second junction, 14B1 ... Protruding part, 14C ... Oil filter fixing part, 14C1 ... Oil filter fixing surface, 14C2 ... Support part of the intermediate duct portion, 15 ... Compressor gas,

21 ... Intake manifold, 22 ... Oil filter, 32 ... Exhaust pipe, 33 ... Vertical part, 34 ... Inclined part, 34A ... Surface facing forward , 35 ... Horizontal part,

41 ... Transmission, 50 ... Intercooler inlet duct, 60 ... Intercooler outlet duct, 62 ... Intermediate duct portion, 81 ... Space, Ll ... First line imaginary, L2 ... Second imaginary line, L3 ... Third imaginary line, Ls ... Axis (Axis tilted forward), Lv ... Vertical axis.

Claims (5)

Claims [Claim 1] An intercooler piping system for a vehicle having a front part, the front part of the vehicle comprising: an intercooler (9) which cools the intake air; a radiator (8) located behind the intercooler (9); a fan shroud (7), housing a cooling fan (7A), disposed on a rearward facing surface of the radiator (8); an engine body (11) located behind the fan shroud (7); a gas compressor (15), which compresses the intake air, located in the vicinity of a forward facing surface of an upper part of the engine body (11); an intake manifold (21) located on a rearward facing surface of the engine body (11); an intercooler inlet duct (50) which supplies intake air compressed by the gas compressor (15) to the intercooler (9), the intercooler inlet duct (50) being connected to the intercooler (9) at one of two transverse ends of the intercooler (9); and an intercooler outlet conduit (60) which supplies intake air cooled by the intercooler (9) to the intake manifold (21), the intercooler outlet conduit (60) being connected to the intercooler (9) at the other of the two transverse ends of the intercooler (9), characterized in that: the intercooler outlet duct (60) has an intermediate duct portion (62) located between the fan shroud (7) and the engine body (11) and extending along a transverse axis of the vehicle (1); and the intermediate conduit portion (62) of the intercooler outlet conduit (60) is attached to the engine body (11) on a lower portion of the engine body (11). [Claim 2] The intercooler piping system of claim 1, characterized in that: the lower part of the engine body (11) has an oil sump (14) which is located in a lower part of the engine body (11); and the intermediate conduit portion (62) of the intercooler outlet conduit (60) is attached to at least one surface facing the front of the oil pan (14). [Claim 3] The intercooler piping system of claim 2, characterized in that: the engine body (11) includes a cylinder block (12) located on top of the oil pan (14); the transmission (41) is connected to the cylinder block (12) and to the oil pan (14); the oil pan (14) has a first junction (14A) to which the oil pan (14) is connected to the cylinder block (12) and a second junction (14B) to which the oil pan (14 ) is connected to the transmission (41); the second junction (14B) has a projecting portion (14B1) which projects forwardly beyond a forward facing surface (14A1) of the first junction (14A); and the intermediate duct portion (62) is fixed to the oil pan (14) at least at the level of the projection (14B1). [Claim 4] The intercooler piping system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the oil pan (14) has an oil filter fixing part (14C) which projects forwardly beyond a forward facing end of the oil pan ( 14); the oil filter fixing part (14C) has on its lower part an oil filter fixing surface (14C1) to which an oil filter (22) is connected; and the oil filter fixing part (14C) has, on its forward-facing end, an intermediate duct portion support part (14C2) to which the intermediate duct portion (62) of the duct is fixed. intercooler outlet (60). [Claim 5] The intercooler piping system according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: an exhaust pipe (32) connected to the gas compressor (15) extends in a rear direction of the vehicle (1) after having skirted a front facing surface of the engine body (11) and a lower surface of the motor body (11); the exhaust pipe (32) has an inclined portion (34) which extends along an axis (Ls) inclined forward with respect to a vertical axis (Lv) of the vehicle (1); and the intermediate conduit portion (62) is located in front of the inclined portion (34). [Claim 6] The intercooler piping system of claim 5, characterized in that: the exhaust pipe (32) has a vertical part (33) which is connected to the gas compressor (15) after being raised upwards from an upwardly facing end of the inclined part (34) and a horizontal part ( 35) which extends rearwardly from a downwardly facing end of the inclined portion (34); and looking at the engine body (11) in a direction along the transverse axis of the vehicle (1), the intermediate duct portion (62) is located in a space (81) surrounded by a first imaginary line (Ll) s extending along a forward facing surface of the vertical part (33), a second imaginary line (L2) extending along a downward facing surface of the horizontal part (35) and a third imaginary line (L3) extending along a forward facing surface of the inclined portion (34)