JP5567447B2 - Vehicle charger and battery cooling structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a charger mounted on a vehicle and a structure for cooling a battery.

  Conventionally, vehicles equipped with chargers and batteries are widely known. In such a vehicle, it is common to store these chargers and batteries in a storage box so that the chargers and batteries are not exposed to rainwater or the like. On the other hand, since the charger generates heat during voltage conversion, the inside of the storage box becomes hot, and the performance of the charger and battery may be reduced. Therefore, in the vehicles disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the inside of the storage box is forcibly air-cooled by taking in outside air with a cooling fan.

JP 2008-80930 A JP-A-2005-133872 JP 2009-262759 A

  However, according to the above cooling structure, it is effective for cooling the charger and the battery in a normal use environment, but the charger and the battery are overcooled in a low temperature environment, and the performance of the charger and the battery is rather changed. There was a risk of causing a drop.

  The objective of this invention is providing the cooling structure which can cool the charger and battery mounted in the vehicle optimally according to use environment.

In the first invention, a charger housing chamber in which a charger is housed, an introduction port for taking outside air into the charger housing chamber, a battery is housed, and communicates with the charger housing chamber through a communication portion. An opening adjustment mechanism for adjusting a communication opening degree between the charger storage chamber and the battery storage chamber is provided in the communication portion; and a discharge opening for exhausting air from the battery storage chamber. The opening adjustment mechanism is configured by a sliding member that slides in the charger housing chamber and to which the charger is fixed, and the communication opening degree of the communication portion is determined by the displacement of the sliding member. There characterized that you have been configured to be adjusted. In this invention, the specific means for taking in outside air from the inlet is not particularly limited. For example, as a means for taking in outside air from the introduction port, it is conceivable that the air flow generated by traveling of the vehicle is guided from the introduction port to the charger housing chamber. Further, for example, a cooling fan may be provided in the charger housing chamber so as to suck air from the introduction port. In this case, it is possible to take outside air into the charger housing chamber regardless of the traveling state of the vehicle. The cooling fan may be integral with the charger, or may be a separate body from the charger. Further, in the first invention, the opening degree adjusting mechanism is composed of a movable body that moves to open and close the communicating portion, adjustment of the opening degree of the communicating portion by the opening adjustment mechanism may or may not be performed manually Alternatively, for example, a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the room may be provided, and the temperature may be automatically controlled according to the temperature detected by the temperature detector. In the first invention, the shape and the positional relationship of the charger storage chamber and the battery storage chamber are not particularly limited as long as they communicate with each other through the communication portion. Therefore, for example, a charger storage chamber and a battery storage chamber may be provided in one storage box body, or both storage chambers are formed by separate storage box bodies, and both storage box bodies are piped. You may make it connect by .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the sliding member faces the introduction port, an opening degree adjusting unit that adjusts a communication opening degree of the communication unit, and a partition wall positioned between the introduction port and the charger. And a ventilation portion that is provided in the partition wall and communicates the introduction port side and the charger side, and in the vicinity of the ventilation portion, outside air is sucked from the introduction port and the intake air is sucked A cooling fan that guides outside air to the charger via the ventilation section is provided. In the invention of this, together with the partition wall between the inlet and the charger is interposed, with the configuration in which outside air is sucked through the ventilation portion provided on the partition wall, inlet, charger and septum The positional relationship between the parts is not particularly limited. Further, the partition wall portion may completely partition the charger housing chamber into the charger side and the introduction port side, or may partition it partially.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the charger housing chamber includes a circulation portion that allows air to flow from the charger side to the inlet side, and the communication portion communicates in the sliding process of the sliding member. As the opening degree decreases, the space between the partition wall and the introduction port increases, and when the communication opening degree of the communication part is at least minimum, the introduction is performed by the ventilation part and the circulation part. An air circulation path for circulating outside air sucked from the mouth in the charger housing chamber is formed.

In the third invention, the circulation part may be constituted by, for example, a dedicated pipe communicating the charger side and the inlet side of the charger housing chamber, or may be constituted by a hole formed in the partition wall part. Good. In addition, for example, a partition wall may be provided so that a gap is maintained between the charger side and the inlet side, and the circulation part may be configured by this gap. In any case, in the aspect of this, in the case communicating opening of the communicating portion is minimal, external air is sucked into the charger side from the inlet side through the ventilation unit, the charger-side through the circulation portion As long as the air circulates from the inlet to the inlet side. The air circulation path only needs to be formed when the communication opening degree of the communication part is at least the minimum, and even when the communication opening degree of the communication part is the maximum, a part of the intake outside air is charged. It may circulate in the storage room.

The fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the ventilation section and the introduction port are provided at positions that are not directly opposed to each other. In the invention of this, the positional relationship nonpositive against outside air for some or all, without linearly guided to the ventilation unit through the inlet is intended to include broadly the relationships derived bent.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the charger storage chamber and the battery storage chamber are partitioned by a partition plate provided in a storage box body, and the introduction port and the exhaust port are provided on a predetermined surface of the storage box body. In addition, the communication portion is located in the vicinity of a surface facing the surface provided with the introduction port and the exhaust port.

A sixth invention is the charger housing chamber and a battery accommodating chamber, with is partitioned and formed in the lead straight direction by the partition plate, a housing chamber heaviest any weight of the charger or the battery is accommodated It is characterized by being positioned below.

According to the present invention, since the cooling efficiency can be adjusted by adjusting the communication opening degree of the communication portion, both the charger and the battery are sufficiently cooled under a normal use environment, and the low temperature environment. Undercooling can be prevented. Thereby, both a charger and a battery are maintained in the optimal state according to an environment, and can maintain performance over a long period of time. Moreover , since the communication opening degree of the communication part can be adjusted only by moving the movable body, the structure can be simplified and the cooling efficiency can be adjusted at a low cost. Moreover , since the communication opening degree of the communication part is adjusted by sliding the movable body, the cooling efficiency can be adjusted while realizing further simplification of the structure and space saving. Further , since the charger and the sliding member slide together, the interference between the charger and the sliding member can be prevented.

In particular, according to the second invention, since the partition wall is located between the charger and the introduction port, even if moisture enters from the introduction port, the charger can be protected from such moisture.

In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, air that is relatively warmer than the outside air can be used as cooling air by circulating cooling air that cools the charger in the charger housing chamber in a low-temperature environment. Can be prevented from overcooling. At this time, since the cooling air blown into the battery housing chamber is reduced, the battery can be prevented from being overcooled at the same time.

In particular, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the ventilation portion and the introduction port are provided at positions where they face each other, the charger can be more reliably protected from moisture.

In particular, according to the fifth aspect of the invention, the charger and the battery are unitized by the storage box body, so that the mounting on the vehicle is facilitated, and the cooling air is optimized from the positional relationship between the inlet and the communication portion. It can be circulated.

In particular, according to the sixth aspect of the invention, the center of gravity of the storage box body is lowered, so that the running stability of the vehicle can be improved.

It is a figure which shows an example of the refuse collection vehicle to which this invention is applied. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the attachment structure of a charger and a battery, and is a figure which shows a normal cooling state. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the attachment structure of a charger and a battery, and is a figure which shows the state which reduced the cooling efficiency.

  1 to 3, an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a garbage truck will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the garbage collection vehicle 1 of this embodiment is a dust collection box in which a cab 2, a dust container 3 and a loading device (not shown) are mounted on a chassis frame extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. 4 are mounted in order from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle. In addition, a storage box 10 is supported on the chassis frame below the refuse storage box 3, and a working machine for operating a loading device and opening / closing the dust input box 4 in the storage box 10. A device for operating each actuator is housed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the mounting structure of the device accommodated in the storage box 10. As shown in this figure, the storage box 10 accommodates a charger 12 and a battery 13 in a storage box body 11. The charger 12 is connected to a generator that generates power by the output of an engine (not shown), and has a function of storing electric power generated by the generator in a battery 13. In the present embodiment, the electric power stored in the battery 13 is used as a driving force for operating each actuator of the work machine.

  The storage box body 11 is provided with a partition plate 14 that partitions the interior space up and down. A charger housing chamber 15 in which the charger 12 is housed is formed above the partition plate 14, and the partition plate 14. A battery housing chamber 16 in which the battery 13 is housed is formed below. However, the width (length in the left-right direction in the figure) of the partition plate 14 is formed smaller than the width (length in the left-right direction in the figure) of the storage box body 11. As a result, a communication portion 17 including a gap is formed between the end surface of the partition plate 14 and the surface 11a of the storage box body 11, and the charger storage chamber 15 and the battery storage chamber 16 communicate with each other through the communication portion 17. It is supposed to be. Further, the storage box body 11 is provided with an introduction port 18 and an exhaust port 19 on a surface 11b facing the surface 11a. The introduction port 18 opens to the charger housing chamber 15, and the exhaust port 19 opens to the battery housing chamber 16.

  In the present embodiment, since the battery 13 is heavier than the charger 12, the battery storage chamber 16 is positioned below the charger storage chamber 15 in consideration of vehicle running stability and the like. However, when the charger 12 is heavier than the battery 13, the charger housing chamber 15 may be positioned below the battery housing chamber 16.

  A sliding member 20 is slidably provided in the charger accommodating chamber 15. The sliding member 20 is constituted by a flat plate member in which the opening degree adjusting portion 20a and the partition wall portion 20b are bent at approximately 90 degrees, and the charger 12 is fixed by a fixing means (not shown) such as a bolt. It is supported by the opening adjustment part 20a or the partition part 20b. The opening adjustment unit 20a includes a slide mechanism (not shown), and is movable relative to the partition plate 14 from the state shown in FIG. 2 to the state shown in FIG. Thereby, the sliding member 20 will slide integrally with the charger 12 from the surface 11b side to the surface 11a side.

  Further, the partition wall portion 20b stands up approximately 90 degrees from the end surface on the surface 11b side in the opening degree adjusting portion 20a, and faces the surface 11b (introduction port 18). That is, the partition wall portion 20b is positioned between the inlet 18 and the charger 12, and the space formed between the partition wall portion 20b and the surface 11b is increased in the sliding process of the sliding member 20. Or become smaller. However, the sliding member 20 is provided with a stopper (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, even when the partition wall portion 20b is closest to the surface 11b, there is a space between the partition wall portion 20b and the surface 11b. Is to be maintained. In other words, even if the sliding member 20 slides, the partition wall portion 20b and the surface 11b do not contact each other, and both are always maintained in a non-contact state. In addition, although mentioned later in detail, the distribution part 21 which consists of the gap | interval which always connects the charger 12 side and the inlet 18 side is provided above the partition part 20b as a boundary.

  The partition wall portion 20 b is provided with a ventilation portion 22 formed of a through hole at a position that is not directly facing the introduction port 18, more specifically, at a position below the introduction port 18. Further, the charger 12 is integrally provided with a cooling fan 23 in the main body, and the cooling fan 23 is disposed in the vicinity of the ventilation portion 22. Therefore, when the cooling fan 23 is driven, outside air is sucked into the storage box main body 11 through the introduction port 18, and the outside air is guided into the main body of the charger 12 through the ventilation portion 22. 12 will be cooled. The storage box body 11 is provided with a waterproof cover 24 that covers the introduction port 18 and the exhaust port 19. The waterproof cover 24 is configured such that moisture such as rainwater does not enter the introduction port 18 and the exhaust port 19 by opening only the lower surface.

  Next, the operation of the garbage truck 1 in this embodiment will be described. When the garbage truck 1 is used in a normal environment, the sliding member 20 and the charger 12 are positioned as shown in FIG. In this state, the space between the partition wall portion 20b and the surface 11b is kept to a minimum, and the communication opening degree of the communication portion 17 is kept to the maximum. When the cooling fan 23 is driven in this state, outside air is sucked into the storage box main body 11 through the inlet port 18 as shown by an arrow indicated by a dotted line in the figure, and the charger 12 through the ventilation portion 22. Guided into the body of the. The cooling air that has cooled the charger 12 in this way is guided to the battery housing chamber 16 via the communication portion 17, and cools the battery 13 and is exhausted from the exhaust port 19.

  On the other hand, when the garbage truck 1 of this embodiment is used in a low temperature environment, the sliding member 20 and the charger 12 are positioned as shown in FIG. In this state, the space between the partition wall portion 20b and the surface 11b is maximized, the communication opening degree of the communication portion 17 is minimized, and the charger accommodating chamber 15 and the battery accommodating chamber 16 have a slight gap. Communicated only by. When the cooling fan 23 is driven in this state, outside air is sucked into the storage box main body 11 through the inlet port 18 as shown by an arrow indicated by a dotted line in the figure, and the charger 12 through the ventilation portion 22. Guided into the body of the.

  At this time, since the communication unit 17 is substantially closed by the charger 12 and the opening degree adjusting unit 20a, most of the cooling air that has cooled the charger 12 circulates in the charger accommodating chamber 15. Specifically, the cooling air that has cooled the charger 12 is guided above the charger 12 and formed between the partition wall portion 20b and the surface 11b via the circulation portion 21, as indicated by a dotted line in the figure. Led to the space to be. Thus, the cooling air guided to the space between the partition wall portion 20b and the surface 11b is again sucked into the charger 12 by the cooling fan 23 via the ventilation portion 22.

  Thus, in the state where the communication opening degree of the communication part 17 is maintained to the minimum, an air circulation path is formed by the circulation part 21 and the ventilation part 22, and charging is performed by the cooling air circulating through the air circulation path. The vessel 12 will be cooled. Since the cooling air after cooling the charger 12 has a higher temperature than the outside air, the cooling air of the charger 12 is prevented from being overcooled by circulating the high-temperature cooling air. However, the charger housing chamber 15 is not completely sealed, and a part of the cooling air is guided to the battery housing chamber 16. Therefore, the outside air is always sucked into the charger housing chamber 15 from the introduction port 18 by the amount of air guided to the battery housing chamber 16, and the low temperature outside air and the relatively high temperature circulating air are mixed. As a result, cooling air having an appropriate temperature is generated. The temperature adjustment of the cooling air is realized by adjusting the communication opening degree of the communication portion 17 and adjusting the amount of circulating air in the charger housing chamber 15. Therefore, it is possible to always maintain the charger 12 at the optimum temperature by providing stoppers capable of stopping the sliding member 20 at a plurality of locations so that the communication opening degree of the communication portion 17 can be adjusted stepwise. Become. However, in view of facilitating such adjustment work, a temperature detection sensor for detecting the temperature in the charger 12 or the charger housing chamber 15 is provided, and the control means operates the actuator in accordance with the detected temperature. It is desirable that the sliding member 20 is configured to slide.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent overcooling in a low temperature environment while sufficiently cooling both the charger 12 and the battery 13 in a normal use environment. Thereby, both the charger 12 and the battery 13 are maintained in an optimal state according to the environment, and the performance can be maintained over a long period of time. Moreover, since the control for preventing such overcooling can be realized only by sliding the sliding member 20, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Moreover, according to the present embodiment, by providing the waterproof cover 24, the flow direction of the outside air from the introduction port 18 and the flow direction of the outside air from the introduction port 18 to the ventilation portion 22 are different. As a result, even if rain water or washing water at the time of car washing enters the charger housing chamber 15, it becomes difficult to reach the charger 12 beyond the partition wall portion 20b. Such waterproofing measures are particularly effective for work vehicles that use high-pressure washing water during car washing, such as garbage trucks.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the cooling structure of the present invention is applied to a garbage collection vehicle has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a garbage collection vehicle, but any other work vehicle on which a work machine is mounted or for cargo handling. The present invention can be widely applied to vehicles including a charger and a battery, such as a transport vehicle and a passenger car. Moreover, the use of the electric power stored in the battery is not particularly limited. For example, the electric power stored in the battery may be used for driving an actuator of a work machine, or a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle. It may be used for the driving force.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Storage box 11 Storage box main body 12 Charger 13 Battery 14 Partition plate 15 Charger storage chamber 16 Battery storage chamber 17 Communication part 18 Introduction port 19 Exhaust port 20 Sliding member 20a Opening adjustment part 20b Partition part 21 Distribution part 22 Ventilation Part 23 Cooling fan

Claims (6)

A charger storage chamber in which the charger is stored; and
An inlet for taking outside air into the charger housing chamber;
A battery accommodating chamber that accommodates a battery and communicates with the charger accommodating chamber via a communicating portion;
An exhaust port for exhausting air from the battery storage chamber,
In the communication part,
An opening adjustment mechanism for adjusting the communication opening between the charger storage chamber and the battery storage chamber is provided ;
The opening adjustment mechanism is configured by a sliding member that slides in the charger housing chamber and to which the charger is fixed, and the communication opening degree of the communication portion is adjusted by the displacement of the sliding member. The vehicle charger and the battery cooling structure are configured as described above . The sliding member is
An opening adjustment unit for adjusting the communication opening of the communication unit in the sliding process;
A partition wall portion facing the introduction port and positioned between the introduction port and the charger,
Provided in the partition wall, and provided with a ventilation portion communicating the inlet side and the charger side,
In the vicinity of the ventilation unit is configured to intake the outside air from the inlet claim 1 the outside air the air, characterized in that the cooling fan is provided for guiding the charger through the ventilation part The vehicle charger and battery cooling structure according to the description. The charger accommodating chamber includes a circulation part that allows air to flow from the charger side to the inlet side,
In the sliding process of the sliding member, the space between the partition wall and the inlet is increased as the communication opening of the communication portion is reduced.
When the communication opening degree of the communication part becomes at least minimum, an air circulation path is formed by the ventilation part and the circulation part to circulate the outside air sucked from the introduction port in the charger housing chamber. The vehicle charger and battery cooling structure according to claim 2 . 4. The vehicle charger and battery cooling structure according to claim 3, wherein the ventilation portion and the introduction port are provided at positions that are not opposed to each other. The charger storage chamber and the battery storage chamber are partitioned and formed by a partition plate provided in the storage box body,
The introduction port and the exhaust port are provided on a predetermined surface of the storage box body, and the communication portion is located in the vicinity of a surface facing the surface on which the introduction port and the exhaust port are provided. The battery charger and battery cooling structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . The charger housing chamber and a battery accommodating chamber, while being partitioned and formed in the lead straight direction by the partition plate, made by positioned below the accommodating chamber heaviest any weight of the charger or the battery is accommodated The vehicle charger and battery cooling structure according to claim 5 .