FR3097943A1 - Device for regulating an air flow for a motor vehicle air inlet - Google Patents

Abstract

Housing for an electrical energy storage device for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a device (2) for regulating an air flow for an air intake of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (3) comprising a set of walls defining a flow channel (4) for the flow of an air flow, characterized in that the housing (3) comprises within the flow channel (4), a partition making it possible to guide the flow air comprising at least one acoustic absorption means (70) arranged so as to at least partially limit the propagation of noise pollution to the outside of the box (3). Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Device for regulating an air flow for a motor vehicle air inlet

The subject of the invention is a device for regulating an air flow for an air intake of a motor vehicle and more precisely as well as a motor vehicle, and in particular an electric motor vehicle comprising such a regulating device air inlet.

Generally, a motor vehicle comprises an air inlet in the form of an opening located on the front face of said motor vehicle. The incoming air is used to allow heat exchange between it and the cooling system of the motor vehicle, said cooling system being located close to the front face of said vehicle. More precisely, the air that enters the engine compartment of the motor vehicle is guided towards the cooling system of said motor vehicle to allow heat exchange between the incoming air and the heat exchanger of the cooling system. It is important to minimize airflow losses between the air inlet and the heat exchanger. Indeed, any flow of air penetrating inside the vehicle, and escaping towards the engine compartment before having contributed to the heat exchange inside the motor vehicle, negatively influences the coefficient of air resistance of said motor vehicle.

It is known to use air guides in the form of a conduit generally made of plastic or other flexible material connecting the air inlet to the cooling system.

In the context of an electric vehicle, the air intake regulation device may comprise an air duct arranged downstream of the cooling system and designed to guide the flow of air towards the outside of the vehicle. Such a duct can be advantageous to generate a venturi effect downstream of the cooling unit so that a greater flow of air can pass through the cooling system thus improving the thermal efficiency.

Such a conduit, however, has certain drawbacks. In fact, when an electric vehicle is stationary and connected to a station, or electric terminal, in order to recharge the battery, the fan motor unit of the cooling system is activated in order to cool the battery and prevent it from overheating. However, such operation generates noise pollution for the user.

The present invention seeks to overcome this drawback and proposes a device for regulating an air flow for a motor vehicle air intake, comprising a box comprising a set of walls defining a flow channel for the flow of air. an air flow, in which in particular is arranged a cooling unit comprising at least one heat exchanger and a motorized fan unit, characterized in that the box comprises, within the flow channel, a partition making it possible to guide the air flow comprising acoustic absorption means arranged so as to at least partially limit the propagation of noise pollution towards the outside of the duct.

The noise pollution thus generated during the battery charging phases is contained inside the vehicle and can no longer be heard outside the vehicle.

According to one aspect of the invention, the regulation device allowing a reduction of the acoustic radiation comprises a shutter arranged within the flow channel downstream of the cooling unit with respect to the flow of the air flow.

According to one aspect of the invention, the shutter is of the drum or sliding type.

According to one aspect of the invention, the flow channel comprises an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being composed of at least two separate ducts, the flap being capable of closing off each of said ducts.

According to one aspect of the invention, a shutter device comprising a set of shutter flaps capable of pivoting in rotation so as to vary the air flow rate, is arranged in the flow channel upstream of the cooling unit in relation to the flow of the air stream.

According to one aspect of the invention, the cooling unit is inclined with respect to the obturation device.

According to one aspect of the invention, the partition corresponds to one of the walls defining the flow channel so as to have only a single flow channel.

According to one aspect of the invention, the partition is arranged within the flow channel so as to divide the flow channel into two sub-ducts.

According to one aspect of the invention, in which the acoustic absorption means corresponds to a coating made of an acoustic insulation material consisting of various woven or non-woven fibers or of a foam.

According to one aspect of the invention, the acoustic absorption means corresponds to a folded perforated plate or two perforated plates, made of a rigid plastic material, defining an internal volume and an acoustic insulation material consisting of different woven fibers or nonwovens or a foam being arranged within the internal volume.

According to one aspect of the invention, the acoustic absorption means comprises one or more cavities functioning as a Helmholtz resonator.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sound absorption means is arranged upstream of the cooling unit with respect to the flow of the air flow.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sound absorption means is arranged upstream and downstream of the cooling unit with respect to the flow of the air flow.

According to one aspect of the invention, the partition has a narrowed trailing edge relative to the leading edge relative to the flow of the air flow. This allows for an aerodynamic profile.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sound absorption means is arranged downstream of the cooling unit with respect to the flow of the air flow.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sound absorption means is arranged upstream of the cooling unit with respect to the flow of the air flow.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sound absorption means is arranged upstream and downstream of the cooling unit with respect to the flow of the air flow.

According to one aspect of the invention, the sound absorption means comprises a covering made of a woven or non-woven material consisting of various fibers or of a foam.

According to one aspect of the invention, the conduit comprises one or more cavities functioning as a Helmholtz resonator.

According to one aspect of the invention, the duct is made of a sound-absorbing material such as polyester, rock wool or any other polymer having glass fibers or hemp fibers.

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a device for regulating an air flow for an air intake according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings on which:

There illustrates a device for regulating an air flow in a side view,

there schematically illustrates the flow channel of the device for regulating an air flow of FIG. 1 according to a perspective view,

there schematically illustrates a sound absorption means.

The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates a front panel module for an air intake of a motor vehicle according to the invention. The front face module extends in a longitudinal (X), transverse (Y) and vertical (Z) direction, for example relative to the axes of a vehicle, when the front face module is installed in a motor vehicle.

The front face module comprises a device 2 for regulating an air flow according to the invention comprises a casing 3, comprising a set of walls defining an internal volume and thus a flow channel 4 for the flow of an air flow with an inlet 20 and an outlet 22. The flow channel 4 is made of flexible material in order to absorb the vibrations of the vehicle when the latter is running, and of material sufficiently resistant in order to carry elements such as as heat exchangers, certain plastics, for example polypropylene or polyamide-6, lend themselves to such use. In other words, the box 3 corresponds to an envelope, or even a sheath defining a flow channel 4 for an air flow.

The front face module of an air flow, in other words the device for regulating an air flow, further comprises a thermal block 6. The thermal block 6 comprises at least one heat exchanger intended to allow a heat exchange between the air flow and the fluid circulating within the heat exchanger. As illustrated in Figure 1, the thermal block 6 here comprises a first and a second heat exchanger 8, 10. The first heat exchanger 8 corresponds for example to a condenser while the second heat exchanger 10 corresponds for example to a radiator. The thermal block 6 further comprises a fan motor unit 12 corresponding to a fan with blades and an associated motor so as to be able to suck in and release a flow of air through the front panel module, even when the vehicle 1 is stopped. The thermal block 6 also comprises a support frame 62, corresponding to a rigid structure, more precisely a rigid plastic frame with four uprights delimiting a surface in which the heat exchangers 8,10 and said motorized fan unit 12 are arranged. to guarantee the continuity of the flow channel 4, the housing 3 is fixed in a sealed manner to the support frame 62. In other words the support frame 62 ensures the continuity of the flow channel 4, or in other words, the support frame corresponds to part of the flow channel 4

The front face module according to the invention may further comprise a shutter device 14 comprising a set of shutter flaps 18 capable of pivoting in rotation so as to vary the flow rate of the air flow, said device for shutter 14 is arranged in the flow channel 4 upstream of the thermal block 6 with respect to the flow of the air flow. The shutter device 14 further comprises a support frame having bearings so as to carry the shutter flaps 18.

Each shutter 18 comprises an axis of rotation materialized by a pin which is inserted in the bearings of the support frame. The axes of rotation allow the shutters 18 to pass from an opening configuration to a closing configuration. The opening configuration, or in other words opening a shutter 18, amounts to placing (by rotation) the shutters 18 so that they oppose the passage of the air flow as little as possible. while directing it appropriately. As illustrated in Figure 1, in the opening configuration, the shutters 18 are arranged in a horizontal position, in other words they extend in a longitudinal (X) and transverse (Y) direction, and thus ensure that the flow rate for the air flow is maximum, the air inlet 20 being unobstructed. The closing configuration, or in other words closing a shutter 18, amounts to placing the shutters 18 so that they oppose by their front surface to the maximum the flow of the air flow F, in cooperation with the other shutters 18. In this configuration, the shutters 18 are arranged in a vertical position, in other words they extend in a transverse (Y) and vertical (Z) direction, and thus ensure that the flow rate of the air flow is minimal or even zero, the air inlet 20 being closed off. Of course, the shutters 18 are capable of adopting any intermediate position between these two configurations.

According to the invention, the box 3 comprises within the flow channel 4, at least one partition making it possible to guide the flow of air, this partition comprises one or more acoustic absorption means 70, in other words means of soundproofing or even acoustic insulation, thus ensuring the suppression, or at least the limitation of the propagation, of noise and noise pollution towards the exterior of the front face module, and of the vehicle, when the regulation device 2 is mounted in a motor vehicle.

A first acoustic absorption means 70 corresponds to an acoustic absorption material 72 absorbing sounds. This sound absorption means 70 can be arranged on the walls of the box 3 and more precisely within the flow channel 4.

The sound absorption material 72 may correspond to a layer of polyurethane foam which has open and/or closed pores and preferably impregnated with a vinylidene copolymer or to a layer of a woven or non-woven material such as a felt , a synthetic or natural wool made up of different fibers or else an insulating synthetic textile made up of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and/or other synthetic fibers. The synthetic wool can for example correspond to glass wool or rock wool.

In a first embodiment, the partition corresponds to one of the walls of the box 3 defining the internal volume and the flow channel 4, and the sound absorption material 72 corresponds to a coating arranged within the flow channel 4 Thus, there is only one flow channel 4.

In a second embodiment, the partition comprising the acoustic absorption means 70 corresponds to an internal wall within the flow channel 4 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus the flow channel 4 is divided into two sub-ducts flow 5a, 5b.

A second acoustic absorption means 70 corresponds for example to one or more cavities 76 functioning as a Helmholtz resonator. In other words, the box 3 includes cavities 76 within its walls so as to form chambers in which the noise pollution and acoustic waves will be imprisoned and be attenuated by bouncing off the different walls of the chamber. The Helmholtz resonators, in other words the chambers, can be arranged inside the flow channel 4.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to one embodiment and it is possible according to the invention to take each acoustic absorption means 70 individually or to combine different acoustic absorption means 70 in a regulation device 1, by example as shown in figure 2

In Figure 2, the sound absorption means 70 here corresponds to a perforated plate 80 comprising cavities 76, or openings, a wall of the box 3 is arranged at a distance from the perforated plate 80 leaving a space between the two partitions, and the sound absorption material 72 is arranged within the space between the perforated plate 80 and the wall of the box 3 filling the space between the perforated plate 80 and the box 3. Of course, it is possible to arrange only the perforated plate 80 at a distance from the box 3 and the cavities 76 function in this case as Helmholtz resonators. It is also possible to add additional walls between the perforated plate 80 and the box 3 so as to define individual chambers functioning as a Helmholtz resonator.

Of course, it is possible to have two perforated plates 80 arranged at a distance from one another, the acoustic absorption material 72 being arranged, or not, between the two perforated plates 80 filling the space between the two plates 80. It is also possible to add additional walls between the two perforated plates 80 so as to define individual chambers functioning as a Helmholtz resonator. It is also possible to add additional sound absorption material 72 to each individual chamber.

According to the invention, the partition can correspond to a perforated plate 80 folded, that is to say folded or folded on itself, and defining an internal volume with a wall of the box, a sound absorption material 72 being arranged or not within this internal volume

The box 3 as shown in Figure 1, is made in two parts, a first part 3a connecting the inlet of the flow channel 4, and therefore the inlet 20 of the flow channel 4, where the device is arranged closure 14, to the cooling unit 6 and a second part 3b connecting the cooling unit 6 to the outlet of the flow channel 4 and therefore to the outlet 22 of the flow channel 4. The parts 3a, 3b of the box 3 include fastening means such as clips, screws, tapped holes, etc. of complementary shapes to the fixing means arranged on the cooling unit 6. The parts 3a, 3b can also comprise fixing means of complementary shapes so that each part 3a, 3b can be fixed one to the other. It is also conceivable to have a case 3 in a single one-piece piece forming continuity of material between the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 of the flow channel 4.

According to the invention, the acoustic absorption means 70 are preferably arranged within the flow channel 4 in the part 3a, in other words upstream of the cooling unit 6 with respect to the flow of the flow of air. Of course, it is possible to arrange the acoustic absorption means or means 70 downstream of the cooling unit 6. It is also possible to arrange the acoustic absorption means or means 70 upstream and downstream of the cooling unit. cooling unit 6

Still according to the invention, the cooling unit 6 is inclined with respect to the shutter device 14. In other words, the median planes of the cooling unit 6 and of the shutter device 14 form a different angle. of 0° (non-zero), in particular an angle included in a difference between 10 and 80°, more precisely in a difference between 30° and 60°. Such an arrangement makes it possible to reduce the steric bulk of the regulating device 1.

The bulkhead has a tapered trailing edge compared to the leading edge in relation to the flow of the airflow in order to have a more aerodynamic profile and favor the flow of the airflow.

Claims (9)

Device (2) for regulating an air flow for a motor vehicle air intake, comprising a box (3) comprising a set of walls defining a flow channel (4) for the flow of a flow of air, characterized in that the box (3) comprises within the flow channel (4), a partition making it possible to guide the flow of air comprising at least one acoustic absorption means (70) arranged so as to at least partially limit the propagation of noise pollution towards the outside of the box (3). Regulating device (2) according to claim 1, in which the partition corresponds to one of the walls defining the flow channel (4) so as to have only a single flow channel Regulating device (2) according to Claim 1, in which the partition is arranged within the flow channel (4) so as to divide the flow channel (4) into two sub-ducts (5a, 5b). Regulating device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sound-absorbing means (70) corresponds to a coating made of a sound-insulating material (72) consisting of various woven or non-woven fibers or a foam. Regulating device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the acoustic absorption means (70) corresponds to a perforated plate (80) bent or two perforated plates (80), made of a plastic material rigid, defining an internal space and an acoustic insulation material (72) consisting of various woven or non-woven fibers or of a foam being arranged within this internal space. Regulating device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the acoustic absorption means (70) comprises one or more cavities (76) functioning as a Helmholtz resonator. Control device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the acoustic absorption means (70) is arranged upstream of the cooling unit (6) with respect to the flow of the air flow. Regulating device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the acoustic absorption means (70) is arranged upstream and downstream of the cooling unit (6) with respect to the flow of air flow Regulating device (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the partition has a trailing edge that is narrowed with respect to the leading edge with respect to the flow of the air flow.