JP2008163924A - Structure of air cooling cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce costs while reducing a pressure loss of fuel flowing inside a structure of an air cooling cooler. <P>SOLUTION: The structure 10 of the air cooling cooler is equipped with a plurality of cooler cores 1, 2 for making the fuel flow in a flow passage 3 and cooling the fuel. The structure 10 of the air cooling cooler is further equipped with: the one cooler core 1 having a fuel inlet part 4 formed in a substantially middle part 1q of the flow passage 3 for the fuel before cooling to flow into the flow passage 3, and a pair of outlet parts 5, 6 formed at both ends 11a, 11p of the flow passage 3, respectively, for the fuel to flow out of the flow passage 3; and the other cooler core 2 having a pair of inlet parts 8, 9 formed at both ends 21a, 21p of the flow passage 3, respectively, for the fuel to flow into the flow passage 3, and a fuel outlet part 7 formed at a substantially middle part 2q of the flow passage 3 for the cooled fuel to flow out of the flow passage 3. The pair of outlet parts 5, 6 of the one cooler core 1 and the pair of inlet parts 8, 9 of the other cooler core 2 are connected to each other, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air-cooled cooler structure for cooling a fluid such as fuel with air.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a fuel cooler mounting structure that includes a cooler core that is mounted on the lower surface of a vehicle and has a fuel flow path that connects between an inlet portion and an outlet portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP2006-250035

  However, in the above-described conventional fuel cooler, there are cases where restrictions on mounting of the fuel cooler (space restrictions, etc.) occur due to interference with other vehicle parts in the vicinity. In this case, in order to ensure the cooling performance of the fuel cooler, for example, the cooler core is divided into a plurality of parts.

  Each cooler core is connected in series or in parallel. When each cooler core is connected in series, for example, there is a possibility that the pressure loss of the fuel in the flow path of each cooler core increases. On the other hand, when the cooler cores are connected in parallel, for example, branch piping such as a 3-way valve is required for the parallel connection, which may increase the number of parts and increase the cost.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its main object is to reduce the cost while reducing the pressure loss of the fluid flowing in the air-cooled cooler structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is an air-cooled cooler structure including a plurality of cooler cores for flowing fuel in a flow path to cool the fuel, and is formed in a substantially middle portion of the flow path. One fuel inlet portion for allowing the fuel before cooling to flow into the flow path and a pair of outlet portions formed at both ends of the flow path for allowing the fuel to flow out from the flow path The cooler core is formed at each end of the flow path, and a pair of inlet portions for allowing the fuel to flow into the flow path, and at a substantially middle portion of the flow path, and the cooled fuel flows out of the flow path. And the other cooler core having one fuel outlet portion, and the pair of outlet portions of the one cooler core and the pair of inlet portions of the other cooler core are connected to each other. It is a featured air-cooled cooler structure. According to this aspect, the cost can be reduced while reducing the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the air-cooled cooler structure.

  Moreover, in this one aspect | mode, while a some cooler core is arrange | positioned along a vehicle up-down direction, it is preferable that one cooler core is arrange | positioned at the lowest part. Thereby, the cooling efficiency of the air-cooled cooler structure can be improved.

  Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object is an air-cooled cooler structure including a cooler core that cools fluid by flowing a fluid in the flow path, and is formed in a substantially middle portion of the flow path. A fuel inlet part for allowing the fluid before cooling to flow into the flow path, and a pair of fuel outlet parts formed at both ends of the flow path for allowing the fluid after cooling to flow out of the flow path, The air-cooled cooler structure characterized by having According to this aspect, the cost can be reduced while reducing the pressure loss of the fluid flowing in the air-cooled cooler structure.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost while reducing the pressure loss of the fluid flowing in the air-cooled cooler structure.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an outline of an air-cooled cooler structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air-cooled cooler structure 10 according to the present embodiment is attached to, for example, a vehicle lower surface (under the vehicle floor or the like), and cools fuel that has become hot using traveling wind that flows along the vehicle lower surface when the vehicle travels. It is applied to so-called air-cooled fuel coolers.

  More specifically, the return fuel that becomes high temperature (for example, about 100 ° C.) by passing through a high-temperature portion of the engine 20 such as a diesel engine is cooled by the air-cooled cooler structure 10 and enters the fuel tank 21. Returned.

  The air-cooled cooler structure 10 includes a first cooler core (one cooler core) 1 for cooling the fuel and a second cooler core (the other cooler core) 2. In each of the cooler cores 1 and 2, a flow path 3 through which fuel flows is formed so as to meander. In the process of flowing through the flow path 3, the high-temperature fuel gradually dissipates heat using traveling wind and is cooled to the optimum temperature.

  For example, the flow path 3 includes a plurality of buses 1a to 1p and 2a to 2p extending along the vehicle front-rear direction. The buses 1a to 1p and 2a to 2p are formed substantially in parallel in the vehicle width direction, and each end thereof is connected to and communicates with each end of the adjacent buses 1a to 1p and 2a to 2p. ing. As described above, by configuring the buses 1a to 1p and 2a to 2p, the flow path 3 is formed so as to meander in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the fuel can be efficiently radiated.

  The first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 are respectively formed with first to 16th buses 1a to 1p and 2a to 2p in order from one side (for example, the right side) of the vehicle.

  Further, in the first cooler core 1, it flows into the flow path 3 into the connection portion (substantially middle portion of the flow path 3 of the core 1) 1 q between the end of the seventh bus 1 g and the end of the eighth bus 1 h. One fuel inlet portion 4 is formed. High-temperature return fuel before cooling flows into the fuel inlet 4 from the engine 20 side.

  Further, in the first cooler core 1, the flow path 3 of the core 1 is connected to the end 11a of the first bus 1a and the end 11p of the 16th bus 1p (both ends 11a and 11p of the flow path 3 of the core 1). A pair of outlet portions 5 and 6 are formed for the fuel inside to flow out.

  In the second cooler core 2, it flows out of the flow path 3 to the connection portion (substantially middle portion of the flow path 3 of the core 2) 2 q between the end of the seventh bus 2 g and the end of the eighth bus 2 h. The one fuel outlet portion 7 is formed. The fuel at the optimum temperature after cooling flows out from the fuel outlet 7 to the fuel tank 21 side.

  Further, in the second cooler core 2, the flow path 3 of the core 2 is connected to the end 21a of the first bus 2a and the end 21p of the 16th bus 2p (both ends 21a and 21p of the flow path 3 of the core 2). A pair of inlet portions 8 and 9 are formed for the fuel to flow in.

  One outlet portion 5 of the first cooler core 1 and one inlet portion 9 of the second cooler core 2 are connected via a pipe 22. Further, the other outlet portion 6 of the first cooler core 1 and the other inlet portion 8 of the second cooler core 2 are connected via a pipe 23. As described above, the first cooler core 1 and the second cooler core 2 are connected in parallel, so that the pressure loss generated when the fuel flows in the flow path 3 can be effectively reduced.

  Next, the operation of the air-cooled cooler structure 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  For example, high-temperature fuel from the engine 20 side flows from the fuel inlet portion 4 of the first cooler core 1 to the connection portion 1q of the end of the seventh bus 1g and the end of the eighth bus 1h of the flow path 3. To do. The fuel that has flowed in is naturally branched into the seventh bus 1g side and the eighth bus 1h side at the connection portion 1q in the flow path 3.

  Thus, by using the partition walls of the seventh bus 1g and the eighth bus 1h that are already integrated into the structure 10, the fuel in the flow path 3 can be naturally branched. Thereby, for example, since a special structural member such as a branch pipe is not required, the structure 10 can be simplified, leading to cost reduction.

  Then, the branched one fuel flows in this order from the seventh bus of the first cooler core 1 to the first bus 1g, 1f, 1e, 1d, 1c, 1b, 1a, and dissipates heat. It flows out from the exit part 5 of the.

  The fuel flowing out from the one outlet portion 5 flows into the one inlet portion 9 of the second cooler core 2 through the pipe 22. The fuel flowing into the inlet 9 flows in this order from the 16th bus to the 8th bus 2p, 2o, 2n, 2m, 2l, 2k, 2j, 2i, 2h of the second cooler core 2. , Do heat dissipation.

  The other branched fuel flows in this order from the eighth bus to the sixteenth bus 1h, 1i, 1j, 1k, 1l, 1m, 1n, 1o, 1p of the first cooler core 1, Heat is dissipated and flows out from the other outlet 6.

  The fuel flowing out from the other outlet portion 6 flows into the other inlet portion 8 of the second cooler core 2 through the pipe 23. The fuel that has flowed into the inlet portion 8 radiates heat while flowing in this order from the first bus to the seventh buses 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, and 2g of the second cooler core 2. .

  Thereafter, the fuel in the seventh bus 2g of the second cooler core 2 and the fuel in the eighth bus 2h merge at the connecting portion 2q. Then, the fuel that is cooled and has the optimum temperature flows out from the fuel outlet 7 to the fuel tank 21 side by the heat radiation.

  In this way, the fuel can be naturally merged using the flow path 3 already integrated into the structure 10. Thereby, for example, since a special structural member such as a branch pipe is not required, the structure 10 can be simplified, leading to cost reduction.

  As described above, in the air-cooled cooler structure 10 according to the present embodiment, one fuel inlet portion 4 is provided in the substantially intermediate portion 1q of the flow path 3 constituted by the first bus to the sixteenth buses 1a to 1p in the first cooler core 1. A pair of outlet portions 5 and 6 are formed at both ends 11a and 11p of the flow path 3, respectively. Further, in the second cooler core 2, one fuel outlet portion 7 is formed in a substantially middle portion 2q of the flow path 3 constituted by the first bus to the 16th buses 2a to 2p, and both end portions 21a of the flow path 3 are formed. A pair of inlet portions 8 and 9 are respectively formed in 21p. And a pair of exit parts 5 and 6 of the 1st cooler core 1 and a pair of entrance parts 8 and 9 of the 2nd cooler core 2 are connected, respectively. With this configuration, the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 are connected in parallel, and the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the flow path 3 of each cooler core 1 and 2 can be reduced.

  Further, the high-temperature fuel before cooling flowing from one fuel inlet 4 is naturally branched by the internal structure integrated with the flow path 3. And the fuel of the optimal temperature after cooling is naturally joined by the internal structure integrated with the flow path 3 similarly. Thereby, for example, since a special structural member such as a branch pipe is not required, the structure 10 can be simplified, leading to cost reduction. That is, it is possible to reduce the cost while reducing the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the air-cooled cooler structure 10.

  As mentioned above, although the best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described using one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such one embodiment, and within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, Various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 are disposed along the vehicle width direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. May be arranged. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable that the first cooler core 1 is disposed on the vehicle lower side (lowermost part) and the second cooler core 2 is disposed on the vehicle upper side. This is because the fuel in the first cooler core 1 in which the fuel inlet portion 4 is formed is at a higher temperature than the fuel in the second cooler core 2 in which the fuel outlet portion 7 is formed. Further, on the lower surface of the vehicle, the traveling wind speed (peripheral wind speed) is higher on the vehicle lower side than on the vehicle upper side, so that the ambient air temperature is lowered. Accordingly, the temperature difference between the fuel and the cooling air can be increased by disposing the fuel in the higher temperature first cooler core 1 on the lower side of the vehicle at a lower temperature. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the air-cooled cooler structure 10 can be improved. Or the 1st and 2nd cooler cores 1 and 2 may be arrange | positioned along the vehicle front-back direction.

  That is, as described above, the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 are connected in parallel, and the first cooler core 1 that is at a higher temperature is disposed on the side with higher cooling efficiency (for example, the side with higher traveling wind speed). Any configuration can be used.

  In consideration of the ease of assembly of the structure 10, it is more preferable that the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 are disposed along the vehicle vertical direction as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the cooling performance of the structure 10 is emphasized, as described above, the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 are arranged along the vehicle width direction as shown in FIG. preferable.

  In the above embodiment, the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 are formed with the first bus to the sixteenth buses 1a to 1p and 2a to 2p, respectively. The number of buses formed in 2 may be arbitrary. The number of buses in each of the cooler cores 1 and 2 is set in consideration of, for example, cooling performance and mounting space required for the vehicle.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fuel inlet 4 is formed in the connecting portion (substantially middle portion of the flow path 3 of the core 1) 1q between the end of the seventh bus 1g and the end of the eighth bus 1h. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the fuel inlet 4 may be formed at the connection between the end of the sixth bus 1f and the end of the seventh bus 1g. That is, the fuel inlet portion 4 can be formed at an arbitrary position among the connection portions along the vehicle width direction.

  In order to reduce the pressure loss of the fuel, as described above, the fuel inlet portion 4 includes the end portion of the seventh bus 1g and the end portion of the eighth bus 1h, which are the substantially intermediate portion 1q of the flow path 3 of the core 1. It is more preferable that it is formed in the connection part 1q with the part.

  In the above embodiment, the fuel outlet portion 7 is formed in the connection portion (substantially middle portion of the flow path 3 of the core 2) 2q between the end portion of the seventh bus 2g and the end portion of the eighth bus 2h. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the fuel outlet portion 7 may be formed at a connection portion between the end portion of the sixth bus 2f and the end portion of the seventh bus 2g. That is, the fuel outlet portion 7 can be formed at an arbitrary position among the connection portions along the vehicle width direction.

  In order to reduce the pressure loss of the fuel, as described above, the fuel outlet portion 7 includes the end portion of the seventh bus 2g and the end portion of the eighth bus 2h, which are substantially intermediate portions 2q of the flow path 3 of the core 2. It is more preferable that it is formed in the connection part 2q with the part.

  In the above embodiment, the fuel inlet portion 4 and the fuel outlet portion 7 are set on the vehicle rear side of the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2 as shown in FIG. One of the fuel inlet 4 and the fuel outlet 7 (for example, the fuel inlet 4) is set at the front of the vehicle, and the other of the fuel inlet 4 and the fuel outlet 7 (for example, the fuel outlet 7) is set at the rear of the vehicle. Also good. Alternatively, both the fuel inlet portion 4 and the fuel outlet portion 7 may be set on the vehicle front side in the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2. Further, in the above-described embodiment and any modification thereof, the pair of outlet portions 5 and 6 and / or the pair of inlet portions 8 and 9 are set on the vehicle rear side in the first and second cooler cores 1 and 2. Moreover, any one of the pair of outlet portions 5 and 6 may be set on the vehicle rear side of the first cooler core 1, and the pair of inlet portions 8 and 9 Either one may be set on the vehicle rear side of the second cooler core 2.

  In the above embodiment, the two cooler cores 1 and 2 are used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first cooler core 1 may be used alone. Good.

  Thereby, since the special structural members, such as branch piping, are not required like the above, the said cooler structure can be simplified and it leads to a cost reduction. Further, it is possible to easily reduce the pressure loss of the fuel flowing in the cooler structure.

  In the configuration of only the first cooler core 1, high-temperature fuel before cooling flows from the fuel inlet portion 4, and the cooled fuel cooled in the flow path 3 is a pair of outlet portions (fuel outlet portions) 5. , 6 respectively. In this case, for example, it is effective when it is desired to divide the cooled fuel into two in advance according to a request on the vehicle side (for example, two fuel tanks are mounted in the vehicle and it is desired to divide the fuel tank into each fuel tank).

  In the above-described embodiment, the air-cooled cooler structure 10 is applied to a fuel cooler that cools fuel, but is not limited thereto, and can be applied to, for example, an oil cooler that cools vehicle oil. That is, it can be applied to an arbitrary fluid such as an oil liquid that is used in a vehicle and has a high temperature.

  The present invention can be used, for example, in an air-cooled cooler structure that cools fuel by using traveling wind. The appearance, weight, size, running performance, etc. of the vehicle to be mounted are not limited.

It is a figure which shows an example of the outline of the air-cooling type | formula cooler structure which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the state by which the air-cooling type | formula cooler structure which concerns on one Example of this invention was attached to the vehicle lower surface.

Explanation of symbols

1 First cooler core (one cooler core)
1q substantially intermediate portion 2 second cooler core (the other cooler core)
2q substantially intermediate part 3 flow path 4 fuel inlet part 5, 6 outlet part 7 fuel outlet part 8, 9 inlet part 10 air-cooled cooler structure 11a, 11p, 21a, 21q both ends

Claims (3)

An air-cooled cooler structure comprising a plurality of cooler cores for flowing fuel in a flow path and cooling the fuel,
The fuel is formed in a substantially middle portion of the flow path, and is formed at one fuel inlet for allowing the fuel before cooling to flow into the flow path, and at both ends of the flow path. One cooler core having a pair of outlet portions for flowing out from
Formed at both ends of the flow path, formed at a pair of inlet portions for allowing the fuel to flow into the flow path, and at a substantially intermediate portion of the flow path, and the fuel after cooling is formed in the flow path The other cooler core having one fuel outlet for flowing out from the
The air-cooled cooler structure, wherein the pair of outlet portions of the one cooler core and the pair of inlet portions of the other cooler core are connected to each other. The air-cooled cooler structure according to claim 1,
The plurality of cooler cores are disposed along the vehicle vertical direction,
An air-cooled cooler structure, wherein the one cooler core is disposed at a lowermost part. An air-cooled cooler structure including a cooler core that cools the fluid by flowing the fluid in the flow path,
Formed in a substantially middle portion of the flow path, formed at one fuel inlet part for allowing the fluid before cooling to flow into the flow path, and at both ends of the flow path, the fluid after cooling is An air-cooled cooler structure comprising: a pair of fuel outlet portions for flowing out from the flow path.

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