JP2004156568A - Cooling structure for intercooler - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling structure for an intercooler, capable of reducing noises when provided on an engine, while assuring cooling performance of the intercooler. <P>SOLUTION: The cooling structure of the intercooler comprises a duct 60 provided between an engine 20 mounted on a vehicle 10 and the intercooler 40 for guiding cooling air having passed the intercooler 40. The duct 60 has an opening part connected to cover the surface of the intercooler 40, opposing to the engine 20. At least a part of the duct wall is disposed between the intercooler 40 and the engine 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cooling structure for an intercooler provided in a vehicle engine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, in a vehicle equipped with a supercharged engine 500, an outside air inlet 504 is formed in front of the vehicle to guide outside air to an intercooler 502 arranged above the engine 500. In addition, there is a known configuration in which an outside air introduction path 506 for connecting the outside air introduction port 504 and the intercooler 502 is provided (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). According to the cooling structure of the intercooler, the outside air taken in from the outside air introduction port 504 as the vehicle travels is smoothly guided to the intercooler 502 through the outside air introduction passage 506. As a result, more outside air is guided to the intercooler 502 as cooling air, and the cooling performance of the intercooler 502 can be improved.
[0003]
[Non-patent document 1]
Toyota Technical Publication No. 13390, April 26, 2002
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the cooling structure of the intercooler described in Non-Patent Document 1, the intercooler 502 is disposed above the engine 500 and the outside air is guided to the intercooler 502 through the outside air introduction passage 506. Therefore, there is a problem that noise of the engine 500 passes through the intercooler 502 and is radiated outside the vehicle through the outside air introduction passage 506.
[0005]
To deal with such a problem, a soundproof cover or the like may be provided between the engine 500 and the intercooler 502. However, in order to ensure the cooling performance of the intercooler 502, it is necessary to allow the cooling air passing through the intercooler 502 to flow without interruption. Therefore, a space for securing the flow of the cooling air is required downstream of the intercooler 502. However, in a limited space in the engine room, it tends to be difficult to secure such a space.
[0006]
In particular, as shown in FIG. 10, in a vehicle in which the intercooler 502 is disposed above the engine 500, the engine hood 508 is located above the intercooler 502, so this tendency is more remarkable. become.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cooling structure of an intercooler that can reduce noise while securing the cooling performance of the intercooler.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The means for solving the above-mentioned problems and the effects thereof will be described below.
The invention according to claim 1 is a cooling structure of an intercooler including a duct provided between an engine mounted on a vehicle and an intercooler and guiding cooling air passing through the intercooler, wherein the duct is the intercooler. The opening is connected so as to cover the surface facing the engine, and at least a part of the pipe wall is interposed between the intercooler and the engine.
[0009]
According to the above configuration, the cooling air that has passed through the intercooler is guided by the duct and flows without interruption. Further, since the duct wall of the duct is located between the intercooler and the engine, the noise of the engine is suppressed from being radiated to the outside through the intercooler. That is, this duct has both a function of ensuring the flow of the cooling air after passing through the intercooler and a soundproof function of suppressing the leakage of engine noise to the outside. As a result, noise can be reduced while ensuring the cooling performance of the intercooler.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the cooling structure for an intercooler according to the first aspect, the duct extends along a surface of the engine so as to cover at least a part thereof.
[0011]
According to the above configuration, the cooling air is guided without interruption along the surface of the engine. Further, since the duct extends so as to cover at least a part of the engine, noise radiated from a part of the engine is blocked by the duct. As a result, noise can be reduced while ensuring the cooling performance of the intercooler.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the cooling structure for an intercooler according to the first or second aspect, the duct is extended so as to cover a surface of the engine on the vehicle interior side.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, since the duct covers the surface of the engine on the passenger compartment side, noise radiated from the engine toward the passenger compartment is blocked by the duct. As a result, the noise perceived by the driver can be further reduced, in addition to the functions and effects according to the first or second aspect of the present invention.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the cooling structure of the intercooler according to any one of the first to third aspects, the gist is that the intercooler is disposed above the engine.
[0015]
In a vehicle provided with an intercooler above the engine, the engine hood is located above the intercooler. Therefore, the space above the engine is particularly limited, and it is very difficult to provide a soundproof cover or the like there.
[0016]
In this regard, according to the configuration of the invention described in claim 4, in the vehicle in which the intercooler is disposed above the engine, the limited space above the engine can be effectively used. Therefore, even in such a vehicle, it is possible to preferably reduce the noise while securing the cooling performance of the intercooler.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the cooling structure for an intercooler according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the engine is a V-type engine, and the duct covers a portion between both banks of the engine. It is the gist that it is extended as follows.
[0018]
In a V-type engine, noise is also emitted from a portion between both banks of the engine. For this reason, noise caused by this becomes a problem.
In this regard, according to the configuration of the invention described in claim 5, the duct is extended so as to cover the portion between the banks of the V-type engine, so that the noise radiated from the portion between the banks is: It will be blocked by the duct. As a result, it is possible to more suitably reduce the noise of the V-type engine while ensuring the cooling performance of the intercooler.
[0019]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the cooling structure of the intercooler according to the fifth aspect, at least a part of the duct is housed in a space between both banks of the engine.
[0020]
According to the above configuration, it is possible to increase the sectional area of the duct while minimizing the space in the engine room being narrowed by the duct. As a result, it is possible to reduce noise while appropriately securing the cooling performance of the intercooler.
[0021]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the cooling structure of the intercooler according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the gist further includes a heat insulating material provided between the duct and the engine.
[0022]
In an engine provided with an intercooler, when a vehicle equipped with the engine is moving forward, cooling air passes through the intercooler to cool the intercooler. However, since such cooling air does not flow when the vehicle is stopped, there is a problem in that the intercooler is heated by heat radiated from the engine, and the cooling function decreases as the temperature rises.
[0023]
In this regard, according to the configuration of the invention described in claim 7, heat radiated from the engine toward the intercooler is blocked by the heat insulating material. Also, noise radiated from the engine is absorbed by the heat insulating material. As a result, it is possible to suppress the heating of the intercooler due to the heat radiated from the engine to suppress the deterioration of the cooling function, and to further reduce the noise radiated from the engine.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
FIG. 1 shows a cooling structure of an intercooler according to the present embodiment, an engine on which the intercooler is mounted, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 1, a V-type engine 20 is placed in a vertical direction substantially in the center of an engine room of the vehicle 10. An engine hood 12 is provided above the engine 20, and a dash panel 14 is provided behind the engine (in the direction of the passenger compartment).
[0026]
A clutch housing 22 is provided at a lower rear portion of the engine 20. Behind the clutch housing 22, a gear case 24 for housing a transmission gear is provided.
[0027]
The engine 20 has a turbocharger 30. An intake duct 32 is connected to the compressor side of the turbocharger 30. On the other hand, an exhaust manifold 34 and an exhaust duct 36 are connected to the turbine side of the turbocharger 30. An intercooler 40 for cooling air passing through the turbocharger 30 is provided above the engine 20. The intercooler 40 is connected to a compressor side of the turbocharger 30 via an IN duct 42 and connected to each cylinder of the engine 20 via an OUT duct 44.
[0028]
Outside air sucked from the intake duct 32 is compressed by the compressor of the turbocharger 30 and is introduced into the intercooler 40 through the IN duct 42. The air thus introduced into the intercooler 40 is cooled by the intercooler 40 and then supplied to each cylinder of the engine 20 through the OUT duct 44.
[0029]
Further, an external air introduction path 48 is connected to the upper surface of the intercooler 40 via a bellows portion 46 that is formed to be extendable and contractible. The outside air introduction passage 48 is open in front of the vehicle 10, and outside air (cooling air) is taken in from the opening when the vehicle runs.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, a duct 60 for guiding cooling air passing through the intercooler 40 is provided between the engine 20 and the intercooler 40. More specifically, the opening of the duct 60 is connected so as to cover the surface of the intercooler 40 facing the engine 20, and a part of the pipe wall is interposed between the intercooler 40 and the engine 20. Is provided.
[0031]
FIG. 2 shows the structure on the back side of the duct 60, and FIG. 3 shows the structure on the front side thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the duct 60 is provided between the upper surface of the engine 20 and the lower surface of the intercooler 40, and includes a surface of the engine 20 on the passenger compartment side, including a portion between both banks of the engine 20. It extends downward so as to cover the right side surface in FIG. 1). The lower portion of the duct 60 is divided into two forks along the outer shape of the clutch housing 22, and the ends of the two forks are open. Since the duct 60 is disposed close to the engine 20, the duct 60 is made of a heat-resistant resin or the like.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, skirts 62 are provided below the left and right sides of the intercooler 40 so as to cover the upper portions of the V-shaped banks of the engine 20. A heat insulating material 64 is provided between the skirt 62 and the duct 60 and the upper surface of the engine 20. The heat insulating material 64 is formed of heat-resistant urethane foam or the like.
[0033]
Next, the operation of the cooling structure of the intercooler according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, outside air (cooling air) introduced into the outside air introduction path 48 from the front of the vehicle is guided to the intercooler 40 through the bellows 46. When the cooling air passes through the intercooler 40 from the upper surface to the lower surface, the intake air passing through the inside of the intercooler 40 is cooled. Here, the cooling air passing through the intercooler 40 is directed to the upper surface of the engine 20, but its flow direction is changed by the duct 60 and is guided to the rear of the vehicle. Thereafter, the cooling air is guided downward along the rear surface of the engine 20 by the duct 60, and is discharged from the forked end of the duct 60. That is, the cooling air that has passed through the intercooler 40 is guided by the duct 60, and thus flows without interruption.
[0034]
In addition, the lower surface of the intercooler 40 (the surface facing the engine 20) is covered by the duct 60, and the intercooler 40 and the engine 20 are shut off by the pipe wall. For this reason, the passage of the noise radiated from the engine 20 toward the intercooler 40 through the intercooler 40 is suppressed. As a result, noise radiated from the opening of the outside air introduction passage 48 through the intercooler 40 is reduced. That is, the duct 60 has both the function of ensuring the flow of the cooling air passing through the intercooler 40 and the soundproof function of suppressing the noise of the engine 20 from leaking to the outside.
[0035]
As described above, the duct 60 is formed so as to cover the rear surface of the engine 20 (the side facing the vehicle compartment), including the portion between the banks of the engine 20. For this reason, noise radiated from the engine 20 toward the vehicle interior (dash panel 14) is blocked by the duct 60.
[0036]
Incidentally, in the case of the V-type engine, noise is also radiated from the portion between the banks, but the duct 60 is formed so as to cover the portion between the banks. Therefore, the noise radiated from the portion between the banks is also effectively blocked by the duct 60.
[0037]
By the way, in an engine having an intercooler disposed above, when the vehicle is moving forward, cooling air passes from the upper surface of the intercooler to the lower surface (the upper surface of the engine) to cool the intercooler. . However, since such cooling air does not flow when the vehicle is stopped, there is a problem in that the intercooler is heated by heat radiated from the engine, and the cooling function decreases as the temperature rises.
[0038]
Thus, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a heat insulating material 64 is provided between the duct 60 and the skirt 62 and the upper surface of the engine 20. For this reason, the heat radiated from the upper surface of the engine 20 toward the intercooler 40 is blocked by the heat insulating material 64. Further, noise radiated from the upper surface of the engine 20 is absorbed by the heat insulating material 64. In addition, the skirt 62 also reduces noise radiated from the top of the cylinder row of the engine 20.
[0039]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the excellent effects listed below.
(1) Since the cooling air that has passed through the intercooler 40 is guided by the duct 60, the cooling air is guided along the surface of the engine 20 without interruption. In addition, the surface of the intercooler 40 facing the engine 20 is covered by the duct 60, and the intercooler 40 and the engine 20 are cut off by the pipe wall. For this reason, the passage of the noise radiated from the engine 20 toward the intercooler 40 through the intercooler 40 is suppressed. As a result, noise can be reduced while the cooling performance of the intercooler 40 is ensured.
[0040]
(2) Since the duct 60 covers the side surface of the engine 20 on the passenger compartment side, noise radiated from the engine 20 toward the passenger compartment is blocked by the duct 60. As a result, the noise felt by the driver can be further reduced.
[0041]
(3) Since the duct 60 extends so as to cover a portion between the banks of the engine 20, noise radiated from the portion between the banks is blocked by the duct 60. In other words, the duct 60 has a function of guiding the cooling air and blocking noise radiated from a portion between the banks. As a result, the noise of the V-type engine 20 can be more suitably reduced while ensuring the cooling performance of the intercooler 40.
[0042]
(4) The heat radiated from the engine 20 toward the intercooler 40 is blocked by the heat insulating material 64. Further, noise radiated from the engine 20 is absorbed by the heat insulating material. As a result, heating of the intercooler 40 due to heat radiated from the engine 20 can be suppressed, and noise radiated from the engine 20 can be further reduced.
[0043]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the embodiment may be appropriately modified, for example, as the following embodiment.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the duct 100 is disposed so that at least a part of the duct 100 is accommodated in a portion between the banks of the V-shaped engine 20. This makes it possible to increase the cross-sectional area of the duct 100 while minimizing the reduction of the space in the engine room by the duct 100. As a result, noise can be reduced while appropriately maintaining the cooling performance of the intercooler 40.
[0044]
In the embodiment, the duct 60 is provided to cover substantially the entire rear surface (the side facing the passenger compartment) of the engine 20 as shown in FIG. 2. However, for example, a duct that covers only a part of the engine 20 is provided. You may do so. That is, the area of the duct 20 covering the engine 20 may be appropriately adjusted according to the relationship with the space in which the auxiliary equipment and the like are provided around the engine 20.
[0045]
For example, a cover 200 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be further provided. That is, by covering the entire upper part of the engine 20 with the cover 200, noise radiated from the upper part of the engine 20 can be further reduced.
[0046]
In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to the vehicle 10 in which the intercooler 40 is disposed above the engine 20. However, for example, the present invention is applied to a vehicle in which the intercooler is disposed in front of the engine. It may be.
[0047]
In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to the V-type engine 20, but the present invention may be applied to, for example, an in-line engine, a horizontally opposed engine, a rotary engine, and the like. In short, as long as the engine is provided with an intercooler, it is possible to achieve the same operational effects as those of the embodiment regardless of the shape of the engine.
[0048]
In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a vehicle in which the engine 20 is placed vertically in the engine room as shown in FIG. 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. The present invention may be applied to a vehicle 300 in which an engine 310 is placed sideways in a room. Also in this case, the operation and effect according to the embodiment can be achieved. At this time, the duct 340 may be extended along the side surface of the engine 310 on the rear side of the vehicle 300 (the side facing the passenger compartment). In this case, the noise radiated from the side of engine 310 on the rear side of vehicle 300 toward the passenger compartment is blocked by duct 340. As a result, it is possible to further reduce the in-vehicle noise felt by the driver.
[0049]
In the embodiment, the duct 60 having the shape shown in FIG. 1 is provided. However, for example, the duct 400 having the shape shown in FIG. 9 may be provided. That is, the duct is not necessarily limited to the shape shown in FIG. 1, and may have a shape that does not include a portion along the side of the engine 20 facing the cabin, as in the duct 400 shown in FIG. 9. . In short, if the opening is connected so as to cover the surface of the intercooler facing the engine, and if at least a part of the pipe wall is interposed between the intercooler and the engine, the intercooler and the engine Will be shut off.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a side structure of an embodiment of an intercooler cooling structure according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exemplary rear view showing a rear structure of the cooling structure of the intercooler according to the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an exemplary front view showing the front structure of the cooling structure of the intercooler according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a front structure of a modification of the cooling structure of the intercooler.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a side structure of another modification of the cooling structure of the intercooler.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a front structure of a cooling structure of the intercooler.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a front structure of another modification of the cooling structure of the intercooler.
FIG. 8 is a rear view showing the rear structure of the cooling structure of the intercooler.
FIG. 9 is a rear view showing a rear structure of another modification of the cooling structure of the intercooler.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a side structure of an example of a cooling structure of a conventional intercooler.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... vehicle, 12 ... engine hood, 14 ... dash panel, 20 ... engine, 22 ... clutch housing, 24 ... gear case, 30 ... turbocharger, 32 ... intake duct, 34 ... exhaust manifold, 36 ... exhaust duct, 42 ... IN Duct, 44 OUT duct, 46 bellows, 48 outside air introduction path, 60 duct, 62 skirt, 64 heat insulating material, 100 duct, 200 cover, 300 vehicle, 310 engine, 340 duct , 400: duct, 500: engine, 502: intercooler, 504: outside air inlet, 506: outside air introduction path, 508: engine hood.

Claims (7)

A cooling structure of an intercooler including a duct provided between an engine mounted on a vehicle and the intercooler and guiding cooling air passing through the intercooler,
The duct has an opening connected to cover a surface of the intercooler facing the engine, and at least a part of a pipe wall is interposed between the intercooler and the engine. Intercooler cooling structure. The cooling structure for an intercooler according to claim 1, wherein the duct extends along a surface of the engine so as to cover at least a part thereof. The cooling structure for an intercooler according to claim 1, wherein the duct extends so as to cover a surface of the engine on the vehicle interior side. The cooling structure for an intercooler according to claim 1, wherein the intercooler is provided above the engine. The engine is a V-type engine,
The cooling structure for an intercooler according to claim 1, wherein the duct extends so as to cover a portion between the banks of the engine. The cooling structure for an intercooler according to claim 5, wherein at least a part of the duct is housed in a space between both banks of the engine. In the cooling structure of the intercooler according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A cooling structure for an intercooler, further comprising a heat insulating material disposed between the duct and the engine.

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