JP2023007933A - Duct and vehicle comprising duct - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a duct having excellent pedestrian safety performance.SOLUTION: A duct 10 comprises a first duct wall part 14 and a second duct wall part 16 assembled by butting edges 15 and 17 against each other. The first duct wall part 14 comprises a first covering part 26 formed in the edge 15 of the first duct wall part 14, and overlapping with an outer surface of the second duct wall part 16. The second duct wall part 16 comprises a second covering part 28 formed in the edge 17 of the second duct wall part 16, and overlapping with an outer surface of the first duct wall part 14. In the duct 10, the first covering part 26 and the second covering part 28 are adjacently arranged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a duct constructed by combining a plurality of duct wall portions and a vehicle equipped with this duct.

The vehicle has an oil cooler duct placed between the openings provided in the front grille and bumper on the front edge of the vehicle and the oil cooler installed inside. Some lead to an oil cooler via a duct (see Patent Document 1, for example). As a result, the oil cooler exchanges heat with air to cool equipment such as the transmission.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-34317

The oil cooler duct is designed with rigidity so that it will not be damaged by vibration during driving or generate abnormal noise. However, in a vehicle, the oil cooler duct is also required to take measures to reduce the impact on a person as much as possible in the event of a collision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems associated with the prior art, and has been proposed to favorably solve these problems. and

In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the duct according to the present invention is
comprising a first duct wall and a second duct wall that are assembled edge to edge,
a first covering portion formed on the edge of the first duct wall portion and overlapping the outer surface of the second duct wall portion;
a second covering portion formed on the edge of the second duct wall portion and overlapping the outer surface of the first duct wall portion;
The gist is that the first covering portion and the second covering portion are arranged side by side.

A vehicle according to the present invention includes the duct according to the present invention described above.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the duct which concerns on this invention, pedestrian safety performance is excellent.
The vehicle according to the present invention is excellent in pedestrian safety performance.

1 is a perspective view showing a duct according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the duct of the embodiment; 3 is an end view cut along line AA of FIG. 2; FIG. FIG. 3 is an end view cut along line BB of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is an end view cut along line CC of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is an end view cut along line DD of FIG. 2; 3 is an end view cut along line EE of FIG. 2; FIG. (a) is an end view cut along line FF in FIG. 2, and (b) is an end view cut along line GG in FIG.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the duct according to the present invention and a vehicle provided with this duct will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The duct 10 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is called an oil cooler duct that guides cooling air to an oil cooler (not shown) in a vehicle. The duct 10 is installed between an opening provided in the front of the vehicle and an oil cooler arranged behind the opening. The duct 10 guides the air flowing in from the opening during running from the air intake 10a aligned with the opening toward the air delivery port 10b through the air flow passage 12, and is arranged opposite to the air delivery port 10b. air to the oil cooler. The duct 10 is a molded product made of a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene (PP) and obtained by injection molding or the like. In the following description, the front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right of the duct 10 are referred to based on the mounting posture to the vehicle.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the duct 10 comprises a first duct wall 14 and a second duct wall 16 assembled with butt edges 15, 17, the two duct walls 14, 16 forms the airflow passage 12. Specifically, the first duct wall portion 14 is formed in an upwardly open channel shape having a lower wall 14a and lower horizontal walls 14b extending upward from the left and right edges of the lower wall 14a (see FIG. 6). ). The first duct wall portion 14 constitutes the lower portion of the duct 10 . The second duct wall portion 16 is formed in a downwardly open channel shape having an upper wall 16a and an upper horizontal wall 16b extending downward from each of the left and right edges of the upper wall 16a (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The second duct wall portion 16 constitutes the upper portion of the duct 10 . The upper edge 15 of the lower lateral wall 14b of the first duct wall portion 14 and the lower edge 17 of the upper lateral wall 16b of the second duct wall portion 16 are butted against each other and connected by the connecting means 18, 20, thereby forming two duct wall portions. 14 and 16 form a tubular duct 10 that is continuous in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 8(b), the connecting means of the embodiment comprises a claw portion 18 provided on the first duct wall portion 14 and a claw receiving portion 20 provided on the second duct wall portion 16. ing. In the duct 10, the coupling means 18, 20 are provided at a plurality of locations (five locations on each side edge in the embodiment) spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The claw portion 18 is provided outside the upper edge 15 of the lower lateral wall 14b and has a tongue shape that protrudes upward from the upper edge 15 of the lower lateral wall 14b. The claw receiving portion 20 is provided so as to penetrate vertically through an insertion receiving portion 24 formed in a hook shape that projects outward from a position shifted upward from the lower edge 17 of the upper lateral wall 16b and then bends downward. It is a closed opening. By inserting the claw portion 18 inserted between the insertion receiving portion 24 and the upper lateral wall 16b into the claw receiving portion 20, the barb of the claw portion 18 is caught by the opening edge of the claw receiving portion 20 and is prevented from coming off. As a result, the first duct wall portion 14 and the second duct wall portion 16 are assembled with their edges 15 and 17 facing each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the duct 10 includes a first sealing portion formed by an insertion portion 22 and an insertion receiving portion 24 as means for suppressing air leakage at the seam between the duct wall portions 14 and 16, and a second sealing portion with covering portions 26 and 28 . In the duct 10 of the embodiment, the portion from the air intake port 10a to the third connecting means 18, 20 from the front is the first sealing portion, and the third connecting means 18, 20 from the front and the fourth connecting means 18, 20 is the second sealing portion, and the fourth connecting means 18, 20 from the front to the air delivery port 10b is the first sealing portion. The duct 10 is easier to deform in terms of shape and structure in the second sealing portion than in the first sealing portion.

As shown in FIG. 8( a ), the first sealing portion consists of an insertion portion 22 provided on the first duct wall portion 14 and an insertion receiving portion 24 provided on the second duct wall portion 16 . It is configured. The insertion portion 22 has a projecting piece shape that projects upward from the upper edge 15 of the lower lateral wall 14b. The insertion portion 22 is provided on a plate piece protruding outward from the upper edge of the lower lateral wall 14b so as to be shifted outward from the upper edge 15 of the lower lateral wall 14b. The insertion receiving portion 24 is formed in a hook shape that protrudes outward from a position shifted upward from the lower edge 17 of the upper lateral wall 16b and then bends downward. By inserting the plug-in portion 22 between the plug-in receiving portion 24 and the upper lateral wall 16b, the plug-in portion 22 and the plug-in receiving portion 24 are connected to the upper edge 15 of the first duct wall portion 14 and the second duct wall. It is arranged so as to overlap the outer side of the joint with the lower edge 17 of the portion 16 . This suppresses air leakage from the seam between the upper edge 15 of the first duct wall portion 14 and the lower edge 17 of the second duct wall portion 16 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as a second sealing portion, a first covering portion 26 formed on the upper edge 15 of the first duct wall portion 14 and overlapping the outside of the second duct wall portion 16; and a second covering portion 28 formed on the lower edge 17 of the duct wall portion 16 and overlapping the outside of the first duct wall portion 14 . In the duct 10, the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion 28 are arranged side by side. Between the connecting means 18, 20 located next to each other (in the embodiment, between the third connecting means 18, 20 from the front and the fourth connecting means 18, 20 from the front), the first covering portion 26 and the second The covering portions 28 are alternately arranged. Of the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion 28, between the two covering portions 28, 28 (26, 26), the other covering portion 26 (28) may be arranged. A first covering portion 26 is arranged between two second covering portions 28 , 28 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the first covering portion 26 is formed to protrude outward from the upper edge 15 of the lower lateral wall 14b of the first duct wall portion 14 and then bend upward. The first covering portion 26 protrudes outward in a stepped shape that is offset by an amount corresponding to the upper lateral wall 16b. Disposed along the outer surface. The first covering portion 26 is provided apart from the insertion portion 22 and has a smaller amount of protrusion to the outside than the insertion portion 22 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the second covering portion 28 is formed to protrude outward from the lower edge 17 of the upper lateral wall 16b of the second duct wall portion 16 and then bend downward. The second covering portion 28 protrudes outward in a stepped shape that is offset by an amount corresponding to the lower lateral wall 14b. Disposed along the outer surface. The second covering portion 28 is provided continuously with the insertion receiving portion 24 , and has a smaller amount of outward protrusion than the insertion receiving portion 24 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the duct 10 has at least one of the first duct wall portion 14 and the second duct wall portion 16 with a starting point between the adjacent first covering portion 26 and second covering portion 28 . The fragile portion 30 is provided as follows. In the first duct wall portion 14, from the boundary portion between the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion 28 on the rear side arranged therebehind, it extends in a direction intersecting the upper edge 15 of the first duct wall portion 14. A first weakened portion 30A is formed. The first weakened portion 30A of the embodiment is provided over the entire circumferential direction of the first duct wall portion 14 from the upper edge 15 of one lower lateral wall 14b to the upper edge 15 of the other lower lateral wall 14b. . The second duct wall portion 16 has a second covering portion 28 extending in a direction intersecting with the lower edge 17 of the second duct wall portion 16 from the boundary portion between the second covering portion 28 on the front side and the first covering portion 26 arranged behind it. Two weakened portions 30B are formed. The second weakened portion 30B of the embodiment is provided over the entire circumferential direction of the second duct wall portion 16 from the lower edge 17 of one upper lateral wall 16b to the lower edge 17 of the other upper lateral wall 16b. . The weakened portion 30 of the embodiment is groove-shaped. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the weakened portion 30 is formed as a V-shaped groove that opens outward, and is weakened by thinning the plate thickness of the duct wall portions 14 and 16 .

When the duct 10 receives an impact from the front side due to a collision with a pedestrian or the like, the base of the first covering portion 26 and the base of the second covering portion 28 which are arranged adjacent to each other interfere with each other. Stress concentrates between the coating portion 28 and the coating portion 28 . As a result, the duct 10 can absorb the impact by causing the duct wall portions 14 and 16 to buckle between the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion 28 . In this way, by providing the second sealing portion that serves as the starting point of deformation, it is possible to prevent the duct 10 from being stretched without being deformed, thereby preventing the impact from being properly absorbed. Therefore, the duct 10 has excellent pedestrian protection performance in the event of an accident. A vehicle equipped with a duct 10 that can be appropriately deformed when an impact is applied also has excellent pedestrian protection performance in the event of an accident.

In the second sealing portion, the first covering portion 26 projecting stepwise from the upper edge 15 of the first duct wall portion 14 overlaps the outside of the second duct wall portion 16 . Also, in the second sealing portion, a second covering portion 28 projecting stepwise from the lower edge 17 of the second duct wall portion 16 overlaps the outside of the first duct wall portion 14 . On the other hand, in the first sealing portion, the insertion portion 22 of the first duct wall portion 14 is fitted between the insertion receiving portion 24 and the upper lateral wall 16 b of the second duct wall portion 16 . That is, the two sheets of the covering portions 26 and 28 and the lateral walls 16b and 14b overlap rather than the rigidity of the first sealing portion in which the three sheets of the insertion receiving portion 24, the insertion portion 22 and the upper lateral wall 16b overlap. The rigidity of the second sealing portion can be lowered. In addition, the covering portions 26 and 28 protrude outward from the duct wall portions 14 and 16 less than the insertion portion 22 and the insertion receiving portion 24, and the rigidity of the second sealing portion is lower than that of the first sealing portion. It is possible to lower the rigidity of the part. Moreover, since the second sealing portion is divided into the first covering portion 26 of the first duct wall portion 14 and the second covering portion 28 of the second duct wall portion 16, the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion The rigidity of the boundary with the portion 28 can be lowered. Accordingly, deformation such as buckling of the duct wall portions 14, 16 is caused between the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion 28 in the second sealing portion, and the impact can be preferably absorbed.

In the duct 10, the lower lateral wall 14b of the first duct wall portion 14 abuts against the second covering portion 28, thereby restricting the outward displacement of the lower lateral wall 14b, and the first covering portion 26 is positioned above the second duct wall portion 16. The inward displacement of the lower lateral wall 14b is restricted by contacting the lateral wall 16b. Similarly, in the duct 10, the upper lateral wall 16b of the second duct wall portion 16 abuts against the first covering portion 26, thereby restricting the outward displacement of the upper lateral wall 16b, and the second covering portion 28 contacts the first duct wall portion. 14, the inward displacement of the upper lateral wall 16b is restricted. Then, when the first covering portion 26 is arranged between the two second covering portions 28, 28, both sides of the first covering portion 26 on the lower lateral wall 14b of the first duct wall portion 14 are placed between the second covering portions 28, 28. Therefore, it is possible to suppress rattling of the lower lateral wall 14b due to vibration or the like during running of the vehicle.

In the second sealing portion, the lower lateral wall 14b of the first duct wall portion 14 and the second duct wall portion 16 are not connected to the adjacent connecting means 18 even though the second covering portion 28 only overlaps the lower lateral wall 14b. , 20 regulate the displacement in the inward and outward directions. In the duct 10, the first covering portions 26 and the second covering portions 28 are alternately arranged between the connecting means 18 and 20 located next to each other. As a result, the inner and outer sides of the lateral walls 14b, 16b are controlled by the connection of the first duct wall portion 14 and the second duct wall portion 16 by the connecting means 18, 20 and the overlapping relationship between the covering portions 26, 28 and the lateral walls 16b, 14b. By regulating the directional displacement, it is possible to suppress rattling of the lateral walls 14b and 16b due to vibrations or the like during vehicle travel.

The first duct wall portion 14 has a first weakened portion 30A starting from between the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion 28 adjacent to each other. As a result, when an impact is applied from the front side due to a collision with a pedestrian or the like, stress concentrated between the adjacent first covering portion 26 and second covering portion 28 is applied to the first fragile portion 30A. , the first duct wall 14 can be deformed. In addition, the second duct wall portion 16 has a second fragile portion 30B starting from between the first covering portion 26 and the second covering portion 28 adjacent to each other. As a result, when an impact is applied from the front side due to a collision with a pedestrian or the like, the stress concentrated between the adjacent first covering portion 26 and second covering portion 28 is applied to the second fragile portion 30B. , the second duct wall 16 can be deformed. By assisting the deformation of the duct walls 14 and 16 with the fragile portion 30 in this way, it is possible to suitably absorb the impact at the time of an accident.

The first fragile portion 30A has a groove shape extending from the boundary portion between the adjacent first covering portion 26 and second covering portion 28 in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the upper edge 15 of the first duct wall portion 14. By doing so, unlike the case where an opening is provided, there is an advantage that a measure such as a seal for preventing air leakage from the air flow passage 12 becomes unnecessary. Similarly, the second fragile portion 30B extends from the boundary portion between the adjacent first covering portion 26 and second covering portion 28 in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the lower edge 17 of the second duct wall portion 16. Unlike the case where an opening is provided, the groove shape has the advantage of eliminating the need for measures such as a seal for preventing air leakage from the air flow passage 12 .

(Change example)
In addition to the above-described matters, for example, the following may be performed. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited only to the specific description of the examples and modifications below.
(1) Although an oil cooler duct was illustrated in the embodiment, it is not limited to this. For example, it can be applied to ducts installed in places related to collisions with pedestrians in vehicles, such as brake cooling ducts and sub radiator ducts provided in front of sub radiators.
(2) In the embodiment, the first duct wall constitutes the lower side of the duct and the second duct wall constitutes the upper side of the duct. It can be the opposite. Also, the arrangement of the first duct wall and the second duct wall in the duct can be changed as appropriate, such as the first duct wall forming the right side of the duct and the second duct wall forming the left side of the duct. .
(3) The duct is not limited to the embodiment in which the duct is composed of two duct wall portions, and the duct may be composed of three or more duct wall portions.
(4) In the duct, for example, a second sealing portion may be provided over the entire length of the duct, and it is desired to absorb shock in the duct, such as a part on the air intake side and a part on the air outlet side of the duct. It should be set in place.
(5) The fragile portion only needs to be able to deform the duct wall more easily than other portions, and may be, for example, a slit passing through the duct wall.
(6) The fragile portion is not limited to being continuous from one edge to the other edge of the duct wall portion. good too.

10 duct, 14 first duct wall, 15 upper edge (edge), 16 second duct wall,
17 lower edge (edge), 18 claw portion (connecting means), 20 claw receiving portion (connecting means),
26 first covering portion (covering portion), 28 second covering portion (covering portion),
30A first weakened portion (weakened portion), 30B second weakened portion

Claims (7)

comprising a first duct wall and a second duct wall that are assembled edge to edge,
a first covering portion formed on the edge of the first duct wall portion and overlapping the outer surface of the second duct wall portion;
a second covering portion formed on the edge of the second duct wall portion and overlapping the outer surface of the first duct wall portion;
A duct, wherein the first covering portion and the second covering portion are arranged side by side. The first covering part projects stepwise from the edge of the first duct wall part,
2. The duct according to claim 1, wherein the second covering portion projects stepwise from the edge of the second duct wall portion. 3. The duct according to claim 1, wherein the first covering portion is arranged between two of the second covering portions. At least one of the first duct wall portion and the second duct wall portion has a weakened portion starting from between the adjacent first covering portion and the second covering portion. A duct according to any one of the paragraphs. connecting means provided at the edge of the first duct wall and the edge of the second duct wall for connecting the first duct wall and the second duct wall;
The duct according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first covering portion and the second covering portion are alternately arranged between the adjacent connecting means. A groove extending in a direction intersecting with the extending direction of the edge of the first duct wall from a boundary portion between the adjacent first and second covering portions in the first duct wall portion. A fragile part is formed,
In the second duct wall portion, from the boundary portion between the adjacent first covering portion and the second covering portion located next to the boundary portion, the extending direction of the edge of the second duct wall portion and the The duct according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein groove-shaped weakened portions extending in intersecting directions are formed. A vehicle comprising the duct according to any one of claims 1-6.

Images