JP2009208736A - Arrangement structure of intake duct - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arrangement structure of an intake duct with a simple constitution capable of preventing the risk of entering of rain water, etc. through an intake port into the intake duct. <P>SOLUTION: The intake port 14a of the intake duct 14 in an air cleaner of an engine is arranged to be directed to a rear side between a cover 20 and a fan shroud 18. An opening 14b is formed in an upper part at a distal end of the intake duct 14, and the opening 14b is closed with the cover 20 via a sealing material 21. A space S1 is provided between a lower part at the distal end of the intake duct 14 and the fan shroud 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an arrangement structure of an intake duct connected to an intake side of an air cleaner in a vehicle engine.

  The air sucked into the engine is preferably at a low temperature in terms of engine operating efficiency. As one way to cope with such a demand, for example, an arrangement structure of an intake duct as shown in FIG. 6 has been proposed. In this conventional structure, the air intake port 31a of the air intake duct 31 is spaced apart from a radiator device (not shown) at the front position of the engine room. For this reason, low-temperature air flowing into the engine room from the grille opening 34 and the bumper opening 35 is taken in from the intake port 31a, and high-temperature air that has passed through the radiator device is not taken in. However, in this conventional air intake duct arrangement structure, since the air inlet 31a is opened upward, water, snow, car wash water or the like (hereinafter referred to as rain water or the like) is placed in the engine room. If the air enters, the rainwater or the like may be sucked into the intake duct 31 from the intake port 31a.

  In order to solve such a problem, it is also conceivable to provide a shielding plate or the like between the upper end of the intake duct 31 or between the intake duct 31 and the front grill 33. However, since the intake port 31a of the intake duct 31 is directed upward, there still remains a problem that the rainwater or the like is sucked into the intake duct 31 when rainwater or the like gets over the shielding plate or the like.

As described above, configurations for inhaling low-temperature air or preventing intrusion of rainwater or the like are disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5.
In Patent Document 1, an intake port is formed in a wheel apron of a vehicle body so as to correspond to an intake port of an intake duct provided behind the headlamp. The traveling wind from the front of the vehicle is deflected by the deflecting member and flows to the intake port via the intake port.

  In Patent Document 2, a suction duct is accommodated in a fender partitioned from an engine room, and an intake port of the suction duct is directed rearward. The outside air introduced into the engine room is guided by the air guide member, is introduced into the fender without being mixed with the high temperature air in the engine room, and is sucked into the intake duct.

  In Patent Document 3, a lateral intake wall for taking in air outside the wheel apron is provided on the lateral wall of the wheel apron immediately below the headlamp box, and an intake port of the intake duct is provided behind the intake port. Located forward. The headlamp box is used to prevent intrusion of rainwater and the like, and cool air can be inhaled.

  In Patent Document 4, an opening of an intake duct is disposed forwardly on the upper surface of a body frame above the radiator device, and the intake duct extends downward along the outside of the fan fan shroud of the radiator. And since the said opening part is arrange | positioned in a high position, inhalation of rain water etc. is prevented and it is supposed that it can prevent that the inside of a duct is warmed by the hot air which passed the radiator.

In Patent Document 5, the intake duct extends vertically in the angular space between the radiator device and the headlamp, and the suction port at the upper end thereof is directed rearward.
JP-A-8-58399 JP-A-9-99746 JP-A-10-329556 JP 2006-46215 A JP 2007-177714 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, rainwater or the like from the front of the vehicle hits the deflecting member, and may enter the engine room from the intake port. In such a case, the rainwater or the like enters the intake duct of the intake duct. There is a risk of inhalation directly from the mouth.

  Moreover, in the structure of the said patent document 2, it is necessary to let an intake duct pass in the fender from the engine room, and the assembly in a vehicle manufacturing line becomes troublesome. In addition, in Patent Document 1, it takes time for the outside air introduced from the front of the vehicle to fill the fender through the engine room. For this reason, when the inside of the fender becomes hot as in the summer, high-temperature air will be sucked into the engine until the air inside the fender is replaced with outside air, thus avoiding a decrease in operating efficiency at the start. Can not.

  In the said patent document 3, the prevention function of rainwater etc. is low. In other words, in the space outside the wheel apron, rainwater and the like are scattered violently by the rotation of the wheel, and a part of the rainwater enters the engine room from the intake port. Even if rainwater or the like that has entered the headlamp box hits, there is a possibility that rainwater or the like that bounces there will be sucked from the air inlet. Further, the intake port cannot be brought close to the intake port by being obstructed by the headlamp box, and therefore, high-temperature air in the engine room is easily sucked.

  In Patent Document 4, although the intake port of the intake duct is at a high position, rainwater or the like is easily sucked because it is disposed forward on the front side of the radiator device, that is, on the side close to the outside air.

  Further, in Patent Document 5, there is no accurate description regarding the positions of the intake duct and the intake port. However, from the top of the drawing, the intake duct is located on the rear side of the intercooler, and the intake port is disposed behind the intercooler so as to be adjacent to the radiator. Therefore, the intake duct is warmed, and not only the temperature of the air passing through the intake duct is increased, but there is a possibility that high-temperature air is sucked from the intake port. Moreover, in Patent Document 5, since there is no means for blocking the entry of rainwater or the like other than the intake port being directed rearward, it may be difficult to prevent the entry of rainwater or the like.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. The purpose of the air intake duct is to have a simple structure, prevent the possibility of rainwater and the like from entering the air intake duct through the air intake, and can prevent the intake of high-temperature air and a vehicle. It is to provide a front structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an intake duct in an engine air cleaner disposed in front of a radiator device, and an intake port of the intake duct is directed rearward at a position above a fan shroud of the radiator device. An opening continuous with the intake port is formed at the front end of the intake duct, and the opening is blocked by a cover fixed to the vehicle body via a sealing material.

  In this invention, since the intake duct is provided in front of the radiator device, the intake duct is cooled by the outside air, and high temperature air can be prevented from being sucked into the engine. In addition, since the intake port of the intake duct is arranged so as to be directed rearward at the upper position of the fan shroud, rainwater entering from the grille opening and the bumper opening can be provided without providing a shielding plate on the periphery of the intake port. Can be prevented from entering the intake duct from the intake port. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a shielding plate at the periphery of the intake port, the structure can be simplified. Furthermore, an opening is formed at the top end of the intake duct, and the opening is closed by a cover via a sealing material, so even if the intake port of the intake duct is arranged between the cover and the fan shroud, A sufficient opening area of the intake port can be secured.

In the above configuration, the front end portion of the air intake duct may be disposed between the upper wall of the fan shroud and the cover, and a space may be provided between the front end portion and the upper wall.
In the above configuration, a guide portion for guiding the air flow passing backward between the lower end of the intake duct and the upper wall of the fan shroud may be formed in the lower end of the intake duct. If comprised in this way, even if water etc. penetrate | invade between the front-end | tip lower part of an intake duct and the upper wall of a fan shroud, the rainwater etc. can be guide | induced below from the said space | interval. For this reason, it can prevent that rainwater etc. are inhaled from an inlet.

  In the above-described configuration, the intake duct may be extended on the side of the radiator device. In this way, heating of the intake duct can be suppressed and the intake duct can be compactly arranged without being bulky.

  In the above-described configuration, the intake duct may be extended in the lower part of the headlamp. In this way, similarly to the above, heating of the intake duct and the intake duct can be suppressed, and the intake duct can be arranged compactly without being bulky.

  In the above configuration, the intake duct may be supported by the lamp housing of the headlamp. In this way, it is not necessary to provide a shock absorbing material around the intake duct for absorbing shock and vibration due to contact with or collision with the lamp housing. For this reason, an intake duct can be made thick and it can be set as an intake duct with small pressure loss.

  In the above configuration, the intake port of the intake duct may be disposed in front of the rear end of the fan shroud. If it does in this way, it can prevent effectively that the high temperature air discharged | emitted from the radiator apparatus is inhaled from an intake duct.

  The said structure WHEREIN: It is good to protrude the upper wall of the said fan shroud ahead from the front surface of the heat exchange part of a radiator apparatus. If it does in this way, the rain water etc. which rise along the front surface of the heat exchange part of a radiator apparatus can be blocked by the upper wall of a fan shroud.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the structure is simple, and it is possible to prevent the possibility of rainwater and the like entering the intake duct from the intake port, and also to prevent the intake of high-temperature air. Demonstrate the effect.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, in an engine room 11 of a vehicle, an air cleaner 12 for filtering air sucked into an engine (not shown) is located behind the headlamp 13 on the left side of the vehicle and above the headlamp 13. It is arranged to be located. An intake duct 14 for introducing outside air into the air cleaner 12 is connected to an opening (not shown) on the intake side of the air cleaner 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the intake duct 14 extends forward from the lower portion of the air cleaner 12 toward the lower portion of the headlamp 13. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the intake duct 14 is extended so as to pass directly under the headlamp 13 and the front position at the left end of the radiator device 15, and further extended upward. An intake port 14a is formed at the tip.

  The radiator device 15 is installed in the engine room 11 via upper and lower radiator supports 19 (only the upper side is shown), and includes a radiator 16 for cooling the engine and a condenser for radiating refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit located in front of the radiator 16. 17 and a fan shroud 18 covering the periphery thereof. The radiator 16 and the condenser 17 constitute a heat exchange unit. The upper wall of the fan shroud 18 protrudes forward from the front surface of the capacitor 17. Then, the radiator 16 and the condenser 17 are cooled for heat exchange by the outside air introduced from the opening 27 of the front bumper 26 and the opening 25 of the front grill 24. A cover 20 that covers the radiator support 19 is attached to the upper surface of the radiator support 19, and the cover 20 covers the space between the front grill 24 and the radiator support 19, and the radiator device 15, the radiator support 19, and the intake duct 14 are covered. The front part is hidden.

  A resonator 49 for reducing intake noise using a resonance phenomenon is attached to the rear side of the headlamp 13 of the intake duct 14. The resonator 49 is fixed to the vehicle body 50 (see FIG. 2) using bolts (not shown). For this reason, the intake duct 14 is fixed to the vehicle body 50 via the resonator 49.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a mounting leg 45 projects from the rear surface of a portion of the intake duct 14 that extends along the lower side of the headlamp 13. A support leg 46 projects from the lower surface of the lamp housing 13 a of the headlamp 13 so as to correspond to the mounting leg 45. The mounting leg 45 and the support leg 46 are fixed by a screw grommet 47 and a screw 48 screwed into the screw grommet 47. For this reason, the intake duct 14 is supported by the lamp housing 13 a in an extended portion below the headlamp 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the air inlet 14 a at the tip of the air intake duct 14 is directed rearward between the upper wall of the fan shroud 18 and the cover 20, that is, in the upper part of the radiator device 15. It is formed as follows. The intake port 14 a is located in front of the rear end of the fan shroud 18. An opening 14b is formed at the upper end of the intake duct 14 so as to be continuous with the intake port 14a. A sealing material 21 made of a polymer material such as rubber or elastomer is bonded and fixed to the edge of the opening 14b. The upper surface of the sealing material 21 is joined to the lower surface of the cover 20, so that the opening 14 b is closed by the cover 20 through the sealing material 21. The sealing material 21 may be adhered to the lower surface of the cover 20 or may be pressed against the cover 20 with a predetermined pressure.

  A space S <b> 1 is provided between the lower end of the intake duct 14 and the upper wall of the fan shroud 18. At the lower end of the front end of the intake duct 14, a guiding portion 22 that is curved downward at the rear is formed. When the outside air flowing in from the grill opening 25 and the bumper opening 27 is raised and passes through the interval S1, the air flow is guided by the guiding portion 22 so as to be directed downward at the rear.

  When the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2, an inverter 30 for controlling the motive power and power generation motors is arranged between the air cleaner 12 and the radiator device 15.

Next, the operation of the intake duct arrangement structure configured as described above will be described.
Now, when the engine is in operation, outside air is introduced into the engine room via the grille opening 25 and the bumper opening 27. The air is used for cooling the condenser 17 and the radiator 16. A part of the air is sucked into the engine from the air inlet 14 a of the air intake duct 14 through the air cleaner 12. In this case, the air sucked from the intake port 14a is sucked from the upper side region of the front part in the engine room. Here, the upper side region is partitioned and separated by the fan shroud 18 from the region of the radiator 16 and the condenser 17, and the intake port 14 a is located in front of the rear end of the fan shroud 18. Therefore, the high-temperature air discharged from the radiator device 15 is not sucked from the intake port 14a, and the low-temperature air introduced from the outside can be sent to the engine.

  Further, if rainwater or the like is included in the outside air flowing in from the grill opening 25 or the bumper opening 27, the rainwater together with the outside air and the front surface of the intake duct 14 or the radiator device 15, as indicated by arrows in FIG. It may rise along the front surface of the capacitor 17. In this case, since the cover 20 is disposed on the opening 14 b at the upper end of the intake duct 14 via the sealing material 21, rainwater and the like rising along the outer peripheral front surface of the intake duct 14 are shielded by the cover 20. Is done. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inhalation of rainwater or the like in combination with the intake port 14a being directed rearward.

  Further, rain water rising along the front surface of the condenser 17 is rebounded by the front edge of the upper wall of the fan shroud 18. Even if rainwater or the like enters the space S1 between the lower end of the intake duct 14 and the fan shroud 18, it is guided downward by the guiding portion 22. Therefore, there is no possibility that rainwater or the like enters the air inlet 14a, and only air is sucked into the air inlet 14a.

As described above, this embodiment has the following effects.
(1) From the intake port 14 a of the intake duct 14, outside air that has passed through the front surface of the radiator device 15 and the interval S <b> 1 and outside air that has passed through the upper surface side of the cover 20 is sucked. The high-temperature air discharged from the outlet 18 a of the fan shroud 18 is not sucked into the intake duct 14. Therefore, low-temperature air is introduced from the intake port 14a, and the engine can be operated with high operating efficiency. Further, since the intake port 14a is located in front of the rear end of the fan shroud 18, high-temperature air that has passed through the radiator device 15 can be prevented from being sucked into the intake port 14a.

  (2) Since the front end portion of the intake duct 14 is located in front of the radiator device 15, the front portion is exposed to low temperature outside air before being introduced into the radiator device 15. Further, the intermediate portion of the intake duct 14 is located below the headlamp 13 that is laterally separated from the radiator device 15. Therefore, it can suppress that the intake duct 14 is exposed to the high temperature air which passed the radiator apparatus 15, and is heated. For this reason, it can prevent that the air inhaled by an engine is warmed.

  (3) Since the intake port 14a of the intake duct 14 is directed rearward above the fan shroud 18, intrusion of rainwater or the like into the intake duct 14 is prevented. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a shielding plate at the periphery of the intake port 14a of the intake duct 14, and the structure can be simplified. Moreover, since the upper wall of the fan shroud 18 protrudes forward, rainwater and the like can be blocked by this upper wall.

  (4) Since the opening 14b is formed at the upper end of the intake duct 14 and the opening 14b is closed by the cover 20 via the sealing material 21, the cover 20 functions as the upper wall of the end of the intake duct 14. Combine. Therefore, compared with the case where the front end portion of the intake duct 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape and the upper wall thereof is disposed below the cover 20, a sufficient opening area of the intake port 14a can be secured in a narrow space. A sufficient intake air amount can be obtained.

  (5) A space S1 is formed between the lower end of the intake duct 14 and the upper wall of the fan shroud 18, and the air passing through the interval S1 between the fan shroud 18 and the lower end of the intake duct 14 is provided. A guiding portion 22 for guiding the flow downward is formed. For this reason, the air flow passing through the interval S1 is guided downward by the guide portion 22, and rainwater and the like contained in the air flow can be separated and removed, and intake into the intake duct 14 can be prevented.

  (6) Since the lower portion of the headlamp 13 in the intake duct 14 is supported by the lamp housing 13a, the intake duct 14 can be prevented from vibrating due to vehicle vibration or colliding with the lamp housing 13a. . For this reason, it is not necessary to cover and protect the outer periphery of the intake duct 14 with the cushioning material. Therefore, unlike the case where the cushioning material is coated, it is not necessary to reduce the sectional area of the intake duct 14 by the thickness of the cushioning material, and the sectional area of the intake duct 14 can be sufficiently secured. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss in the intake duct 14 and contribute to an increase in engine efficiency.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can also be embodied with the following aspects.
Adhering the sealing material 21 provided at the periphery of the opening 14b of the intake duct 14 to the cover 20 side.

  The distance between the front end side of the intake duct 14 and the radiator device 15 is widened so that the intake port 14a of the intake duct 14 is positioned in front of the front end edge of the fan shroud 18.

(Another technical idea)
It is as follows if the technical idea grasped | ascertained from the said embodiment and not described in the claim is enumerated.

  (A) An opening is formed in the wall portion at the front end of the intake duct so as to be continuous with the intake port of the intake duct in the air cleaner of the engine, and the opening is provided with a sealing material by a panel of the vehicle body (the cover 20 in the embodiment). The arrangement structure of the intake duct characterized by being blocked through. In this case, the opening is closed by a lower surface of a horizontal panel, a side surface of a vertical panel, or the like.

  (B) The intake air according to item (A), wherein a guide portion for guiding the air flow away from the intake port (downward in the embodiment) is formed at the tip of the intake duct. Duct arrangement structure.

The principal part perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the intake duct of one Embodiment. FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the support structure of the air intake duct with respect to a lamp housing. The partial expanded sectional view in FIG. The principal part expansion perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the intake duct of FIG. 1 from a different direction. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the arrangement structure of the conventional intake duct.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Air cleaner, 13 ... Head lamp, 13a ... Lamp housing, 14 ... Intake duct, 14a ... Inlet, 14b ... Opening, 15 ... Radiator device, 18 ... Fan shroud, 20 ... Cover, 21 ... Sealing material, 22 ... Induction Part, 50 ... vehicle body, S1 ... interval.

Claims (8)

An intake duct in an engine air cleaner is disposed in front of the radiator device, and an intake port of the intake duct is directed rearward at a position above the fan shroud of the radiator device, and the intake air is directed upward at the tip of the intake duct. An intake duct arrangement structure characterized in that an opening continuous with an opening is formed and the opening is closed by a cover fixed to a vehicle body through a sealing material. The air intake duct according to claim 1, wherein a front end portion of the air intake duct is disposed between the upper wall of the fan shroud and the cover, and a space is provided between the front end portion and the upper wall. Arrangement structure. 3. A guide portion for guiding an air flow passing backward between the lower end portion of the intake duct and the upper wall of the fan shroud is formed in the lower end portion of the intake duct. Arrangement structure of the intake duct described. The intake duct arrangement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intake duct is extended and arranged on a side of the radiator device. The intake duct arrangement structure according to claim 4, wherein the intake duct is extended at a lower portion of the headlamp. 6. The intake duct arrangement structure according to claim 5, wherein the intake duct is supported by a lamp housing of a headlamp. The intake duct arrangement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an intake port of the intake duct is arranged in front of a rear end of the fan shroud. The intake duct arrangement structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an upper wall of the fan shroud is protruded forward from a front surface of a heat exchanging portion of the radiator device.

Images