JP2008201371A - Duct structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a duct structure capable of suppressing temperature rise of cooling air. <P>SOLUTION: The duct structure of an air intake duct 21 is provided with: a duct body 22 including an outer surface 23 and forming internal space 25 in which cooling air flows; and a heat insulating sheet 31 mounted on the outer surface 23. The duct body 22 is formed with a straightening rib 26 which is recessed from the outer surface 23 and projects toward the internal space 25. The heat insulating sheet 31 is installed so as to cover the straightening rib 26 and form air layers 27 inside the straightening rib 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention generally relates to a duct structure, and more particularly to a duct structure of an intake duct that supplies cooling air to a battery mounted on a vehicle.

  Regarding a conventional duct structure, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-1683 discloses a cooling structure for an automobile battery for the purpose of preventing deterioration of battery characteristics and shortening of service life (Patent Document 1). ). The cooling structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an intake duct and a blower fan. The intake duct is connected to the battery pack. The blower fan distributes cooling air for cooling the battery pack to the intake duct.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-219949 discloses a vehicle power supply device that aims to reduce the number of parts and reduce the manufacturing cost (Patent Document 2). In Patent Document 2, an exhaust duct, which is an air circulation duct on the exhaust side, is connected to the battery pack. The exhaust duct is a tubular member that is curved as a whole for convenience of vehicle mounting, and an exhaust passage is formed inside thereof. The exhaust duct is provided with a convex portion protruding toward the exhaust path.
JP 2004-1683 A JP 2002-219949 A

  In Patent Document 1 described above, air in the vehicle compartment passes through the intake duct and is taken into the battery pack as cooling air. However, when the temperature around the intake duct is high, heat is transferred from the outside to the inside of the intake duct, and the temperature of the cooling air supplied to the battery pack may be significantly increased. In this case, the battery accommodated in the battery pack cannot be efficiently cooled.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide a duct structure in which the temperature rise of the cooling air is suppressed.

  The duct structure according to the present invention is a duct structure that supplies cooling air toward the heat generating portion. The duct structure includes a duct body that includes an outer surface and forms a space through which cooling air flows, and a heat insulating member provided on the outer surface. The duct body is formed with a recess that is recessed from the outer surface and protrudes toward the space. The heat insulating member is provided so as to cover the recess and to form an air layer inside the recess.

  According to the duct structure configured as described above, the double structure including the heat insulating member and the air layer can insulate the space where the cooling air flows and the space around the duct body. Thereby, even if it is a case where the temperature around a duct body is high, the heat transfer from the outer side to the inner side of a duct body can be suppressed, and the temperature rise of a cooling wind can be suppressed.

  Preferably, the air layer is sealed with a heat insulating member. According to the duct structure configured as described above, it is possible to improve the heat insulation effect between the space through which the cooling air flows and the space around the duct body.

  Preferably, the duct body is curved so as to change the flow direction of the cooling air. The recess extends along the flow direction of the cooling air. According to the duct structure configured as described above, an air layer is formed inside the concave portion provided for the purpose of rectifying the cooling air flow.

  Preferably, the duct body is a resin molded product. The duct body is reinforced by the recess. According to the duct structure configured as described above, an air layer is formed inside the recess provided for the purpose of reinforcing the duct body.

  Preferably, the duct structure further includes a fixing member that penetrates the duct body and fixes the duct body to the support body. The fixing member is disposed in the recess. According to the duct structure configured as described above, an air layer is formed inside the recess provided for the purpose of fixing the duct body.

  Preferably, the heat generating unit is a battery mounted on the vehicle. The duct body is disposed in the luggage room of the vehicle. According to the duct structure configured as described above, the temperature rise of the cooling air can be suppressed even under the condition that the temperature of the luggage room becomes high. Thereby, the cooling efficiency of a battery can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a duct structure in which the temperature rise of the cooling air is suppressed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a perspective view showing a hybrid vehicle to which a duct structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. The hybrid vehicle shown in the drawing is driven by using a motor powered by a chargeable / dischargeable battery and an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine as power sources. In the figure, the rear seat in the vehicle compartment is viewed from the front of the vehicle.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the hybrid vehicle includes a vehicle compartment 12 that is a space in which a person is boarded, and a luggage room 13 that is partitioned from the vehicle compartment 12 by a package tray 14. The package tray 14 is disposed behind the rear seat 11.

  An intake port 15 is formed in the package tray 14. The intake port 15 opens in a substantially rectangular shape toward the vehicle compartment 12. The intake port 15 is open vertically upward. Although not shown, an air intake duct is provided on the package tray 14 so as to cover the intake port 15. The shape in which the air inlet 15 opens is not limited to a substantially rectangular shape, and may be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon other than a rectangle.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the luggage room along the line II-II in FIG. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the luggage room 13 is formed below the package tray 14. A rear cooler 16 as an air conditioner is disposed in the luggage room 13. The rear cooler 16 introduces a temperature-controlled airflow toward the occupant of the rear seat 11.

  A battery pack 43 is disposed in the luggage room 13. The battery pack 43 includes a battery 44 and a device 47. The battery 44 supplies electric power to the motor when starting, accelerating, climbing, and the like, and stores electric power regenerated by the motor generator during deceleration. The battery 44 is not particularly limited as long as it is a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery. For example, the battery 44 may be a nickel metal hydride battery or a lithium ion battery. The battery 44 includes a plurality of battery cells 44p. The plurality of battery cells 44p are stacked in one direction. The battery pack 43 includes an intake chamber 45 and an exhaust chamber 46. The device 47 is a battery computer, a relay that controls the high voltage circuit of the battery 44, various sensors that detect the total voltage and charge / discharge current of the battery 44, and a service plug that shuts off the high voltage circuit during inspection and maintenance of the battery pack 43. Etc., and a plurality of devices.

  A fan 41 is disposed in the luggage room 13. The fan 41 is an electric sirocco fan that sucks air in the direction of the rotation axis from the center of the rotation fan and discharges air in the radial direction of the rotation axis. The type of the fan 41 is not limited to a sirocco fan, and may be a cross flow type fan or a propeller fan, for example. The fan 41 is a push-type fan that supplies cooling air toward the battery pack 43.

  The intake port 15 and the fan 41 are connected by an intake duct 17. The rear cooler 16 and the fan 41 are connected by an intake duct 18. An intake duct 21 is disposed in the luggage room 13. The intake duct 21 is arranged in a luggage room 13 as a space partitioned from the vehicle compartment 12. The fan 41 and the battery pack 43 are connected by the intake duct 21. The fan 41 includes a switching valve 42. The intake ducts 17 and 18 are connected to a switching valve 42. The switching valve 42 selectively introduces the air in the vehicle compartment 12 guided through the intake duct 17 and the cool air whose temperature is adjusted by the rear cooler 16 and guided through the intake duct 18 into the fan 41 as cooling air.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of the luggage room as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow III in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, intake duct 21 supplies cooling air introduced into fan 41 to battery pack 43. The cooling air flows from the intake chamber 45 into a gap formed between the battery cells 44p, and cools the battery 44 while flowing through this gap. The cooling air whose temperature has increased due to heat exchange with the battery 44 is discharged from the exhaust chamber 46 to the outside of the battery pack 43.

  In addition, it is not restricted to such a structure, Only the air of the vehicle interior 12 may be supplied to the battery pack 43 as cooling air. Instead of the fan 41, a retractable fan that sucks cooling air from the battery pack 43 may be disposed on the exhaust path.

  4 is a cross-sectional view of the intake duct along the line IV-IV in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, wheelhouse 20 that accommodates the suspension of the hybrid vehicle is arranged in luggage room 13. The battery pack 43 and the wheel house 20 are arranged next to each other. The fan 41 is fixed to the wall surface of the wheel house 20.

  The intake duct 21 includes a duct body 22. The duct body 22 is a resin molded product. The duct body 22 is formed by, for example, blow molding. Duct body 22 includes one end 22m and the other end 22n. One end 22m is located on the most upstream side of the cooling air flow, and the other end 22n is located on the most downstream side of the cooling air flow. One end 22 m is connected to the fan 41, and the other end 22 n is connected to the battery pack 43. Duct body 22 extends in a curved manner between one end 22m and the other end 22n so as to change the flow direction of the cooling air. The duct body 22 is curved and extends so as to avoid interference with the wheel house 20.

  The duct body 22 is a tubular member that opens at one end 22m and the other end 22n. The duct body 22 forms an internal space 25 through which cooling air flows. When the duct body 22 in which the later-described rectifying ribs 26 are not formed is cut along a plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the cooling air, the duct body 22 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. The duct body 22 includes an outer surface 23. The outer surface 23 faces a space outside the inner space 25.

  A rectifying rib 26 is formed in the duct body 22. The rectifying rib 26 is formed so as to be recessed from the outer surface 23 and protrude toward the inner space 25. The rectifying rib 26 is formed so as to reduce the volume of the internal space 25. The rectifying rib 26 has a tapered cross-sectional shape in which the width gradually decreases as the depth of protrusion toward the internal space 25 increases. The rectifying ribs 26 are formed so that opposite sides of the duct body 22 are joined to each other. A plurality of rectifying ribs 26 are formed at intervals. The inside of the duct body 22 is divided into a plurality of internal spaces 25 by rectifying ribs 26.

  The rectifying ribs 26 are formed so as not to overlap the openings of the duct bodies 22 formed at the one end 22m and the other end 22n, respectively. The rectifying rib 26 extends along the flow direction of the cooling air. When the duct body 22 is curved, centrifugal force acts on the cooling air flowing through the internal space 25. For this reason, the flow rate of the cooling air introduced into the battery pack 43 from the other end 22n varies between a position where the rotation radius is large and a position where the rotation radius is small. The flow regulating rib 26 suppresses such a variation in flow rate by adjusting the flow direction of the cooling air flowing through the internal space 25.

  The intake duct 21 includes a heat insulating sheet 31. The heat insulating sheet 31 is formed from a material having a smaller thermal conductivity than the resin material forming the duct body 22. The heat insulating sheet 31 has a function of keeping air in place. The heat insulating sheet 31 is made of, for example, a sponge member or a nonwoven fabric (felt).

  The heat insulating sheet 31 is bonded to the outer surface 23. The heat insulating sheet 31 is provided so as to cover the rectifying rib 26 and to form an air layer 27 on the inner side where the rectifying rib 26 is recessed from the outer surface 23. The air layer 27 is sealed with a heat insulating sheet 31. The air layer 27 is partitioned by the rectifying rib 26 and the heat insulating sheet 31. The air layer 27 is interposed between the plurality of internal spaces 25 divided by the rectifying ribs 26. A plurality of rectifying ribs 26 are all covered by one heat insulating sheet 31.

  In the drawing, the heat insulating sheet 31 is bonded only to the outer surface 23 on which the rectifying ribs 26 are formed. However, another heat insulating sheet 31 may be bonded to the outer surface 23 on which the rectifying ribs 26 are not formed. . The heat insulating sheet 31 may not be formed so as to completely seal the air layer 27.

  The luggage room 13 becomes hot immediately after the vehicle is started in midsummer or when the idling state continues for a long time thereafter. In this case, heat is transferred from the outside to the inside of the duct body 22, and the temperature of the cooling air flowing through the internal space 25 rises. In particular, when the cool air whose temperature is adjusted by the rear cooler 16 is supplied to the battery pack 43, the temperature difference between the cool air and the luggage room 13 is large, so that the temperature of the cooling air rises significantly. On the other hand, in this Embodiment, the heat insulation sheet 31 and the air layer 27 which have a heat insulation effect are arrange | positioned on the path | route which heat transfers from the outer side of the duct body 22 inside. For this reason, the heat transfer to the internal space 25 can be suppressed, and the temperature rise of the cooling air can be suppressed.

  The duct structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a duct structure that supplies cooling air toward the battery 44 as a heat generating portion. The duct structure includes an outer surface 23, and includes a duct body 22 that forms an internal space 25 as a space through which cooling air flows, and a heat insulating sheet 31 as a heat insulating member provided on the outer surface 23. The duct body 22 is formed with a rectifying rib 26 as a recess that is recessed from the outer surface 23 and protrudes toward the inner space 25. The heat insulating sheet 31 covers the rectifying ribs 26 and is provided so as to form an air layer 27 inside the rectifying ribs 26.

  The battery 44 is mounted on a hybrid vehicle as a vehicle. The duct body 22 is disposed in the luggage room 13 of the hybrid vehicle.

  According to the duct structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the cooling efficiency of the battery 44 can be improved by suppressing the temperature rise of the cooling air supplied to the battery pack 43. .

  The place where the intake duct 21 is disposed is not limited to the luggage room 13 and is appropriately changed according to the place where the battery pack 43 is installed. The intake duct 21 is disposed, for example, inside the center console, below the floor panel, below the seat, and the like. The vehicle on which the intake duct 21 is mounted is not limited to a hybrid vehicle, and may be an electric vehicle, for example. The present invention is not limited to the intake duct 21 described above, but can be applied to a general intake duct placed at a high temperature.

(Embodiment 2)
In the present embodiment, various modifications of the duct structure of the intake duct 21 described in the first embodiment will be described. The description overlapping the contents described in Embodiment 1 will not be repeated.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a first modification of the intake duct in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, in this modification, a heat insulating sheet 51 is bonded to the surface of the rectifying rib 26 that forms the air layer 27. The air layer 27 is partitioned by the heat insulating sheet 31 and the heat insulating sheet 51. With such a configuration, the heat insulating effect between the luggage room 13 and the internal space 25 can be further improved by the triple structure of the heat insulating sheet 31, the air layer 27, and the heat insulating sheet 51.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a second modification of the intake duct in FIG. With reference to FIG. 6, in this modification, the duct body 22 includes a convex portion 56. The convex portion 56 is formed so as to protrude from the internal space 25 toward the heat insulating sheet 31. An air layer 57 is formed between the duct body 22 and the heat insulating sheet 31 by the convex portion 56. With such a configuration, the volume of the air layer interposed between the internal space 25 and the luggage room 13 is increased. Thereby, the heat insulation effect between the luggage room 13 and the internal space 25 can be further improved.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a third modification of the intake duct in FIG. Referring to FIG. 7, duct body 22 includes outer surfaces 23s and 23t. The outer surface 23s and the outer surface 23t face opposite sides. The outer surface 23s and the outer surface 23 are formed on opposite sides of the duct body 22 having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.

  In this modification, reinforcing ribs 61 and 62 are formed on the duct body 22. The reinforcing rib 61 is formed so as to be recessed from the outer surface 23 s and protrude toward the inner space 25. The reinforcing rib 62 is formed so as to be recessed from the outer surface 23 t and project toward the inner space 25. The reinforcing rib 61 and the reinforcing rib 62 are joined. The reinforcing ribs 61 and 62 are formed to improve the strength of the duct body 22.

  The duct body 22 may be formed to extend linearly between the one end 22m and the other end 22n. Only one of the reinforcing rib 61 and the reinforcing rib 62 may be formed on the duct body 22.

  The intake duct 21 includes heat insulating sheets 31s and 31t. The heat insulating sheet 31s is provided so as to cover the reinforcing rib 61 and form the air layer 27 on the inner side where the reinforcing rib 61 is recessed from the outer surface 23s. The heat insulating sheet 31t is provided so as to cover the reinforcing rib 62 and form the air layer 27 on the inner side where the reinforcing rib 62 is recessed from the outer surface 23t.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a fourth modification of the intake duct in FIG. Referring to FIG. 8, duct body 22 is supported by a vehicle main body 76 as a support body. In this modification, a duct fixing recess 72 is formed in the duct body 22. The duct fixing recess 72 is formed so as to be recessed from the outer surface 23 and project toward the inner space 25. The duct fixing recess 72 forms a seat portion 74 in which the sides of the duct body 22 facing each other overlap each other. A through hole 73 is formed in the seat portion 74.

  The intake duct 21 includes a clip 71 as a fixing member. The clip 71 is disposed in the duct fixing recess 72. The clip 71 is inserted into the through hole 73 and is locked to the vehicle body 76. With such a configuration, the duct body 22 is fixed to the vehicle main body 76 by the clip 71. The fixing member is not limited to the clip 71, and may be, for example, a bolt or a rivet.

  The intake duct 21 includes a heat insulating sheet 31. The heat insulating sheet 31 is provided so as to cover the duct fixing recess 72 and to form the air layer 27 on the inner side where the duct fixing recess 72 is recessed from the outer surface 23.

  According to the duct structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the effects described in the first embodiment can be obtained similarly.

  Note that a new intake duct may be configured by appropriately combining the duct structures described in the first and second embodiments.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a perspective view which shows the hybrid vehicle to which the duct structure in Embodiment 1 of this invention was applied. It is sectional drawing in the luggage room along the II-II line in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the luggage room seen from the direction shown by the arrow III in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the intake duct along the IV-IV line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st modification of the air intake duct in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 2nd modification of the air intake duct in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 3rd modification of the air intake duct in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the 4th modification of the air intake duct in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  13 Luggage room, 21 Intake duct, 22 Duct body, 23, 23s, 23t Outer surface, 25 Internal space, 26 Rectification rib, 27 Air layer, 31, 31s, 31t Thermal insulation sheet, 44 Battery, 61, 62 Reinforcement rib, 71 Clip, 72 Duct fixing recess, 76 Vehicle body.

Claims (6)

A duct structure for supplying cooling air toward the heat generating part,
A duct body including an outer surface and forming a space through which cooling air flows;
A heat insulating member provided on the outer surface,
The duct body is formed with a recess recessed from the outer surface and projecting toward the space,
The said heat insulation member is a duct structure provided so that the said recessed part may be covered and an air layer may be formed inside the said recessed part.   The duct structure according to claim 1, wherein the air layer is sealed by the heat insulating member. The duct body is curved to change the flow direction of the cooling air,
The duct structure according to claim 1, wherein the recess extends along a flow direction of cooling air.   The duct structure according to claim 1, wherein the duct body is a resin molded product and is reinforced by the concave portion. A fixing member that penetrates the duct body and fixes the duct body to a support;
The duct structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is disposed in the recess. The heat generating part is a battery mounted on a vehicle,
The duct structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the duct body is arranged in a luggage room of the vehicle.

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