JP7024588B2 - Cooling device for electrical equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a cooling device for electrical equipment mounted on a vehicle, and particularly to a configuration of a cooling air passage.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are equipped with a cooling device for cooling electric devices such as an in-vehicle battery and a charging device for charging a battery using an external power source. In such a cooling device, it is conceivable to cool the electric device by using the air in the passenger compartment whose temperature is adjusted by the air conditioner.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-228898 (Patent Document 1) discloses, for example, a configuration in which an electric device and a cooling device are mounted in a space under a rear seat.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-228898

When electrical equipment is mounted in the space under the rear seat as described above, the space in the vertical direction is limited by the seat surface of the seat and the floor of the vehicle, and the space in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is limited. , It will be limited by the foot space in front of the seat and the rear luggage compartment of the vehicle. Furthermore, since the electrical equipment is provided with a harness or the like for connecting to other electrical equipment, the cooling air passage is provided so as not to cause a pressure loss in the cooling device while satisfying the conditions for mounting on the vehicle. It is required to set the configuration.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a cooling air passage configured so as not to cause a pressure loss while satisfying the conditions for mountability on a vehicle. It is to provide a cooling device of the electric equipment which has.

The cooling device for electrical equipment according to a certain aspect of the present disclosure is a cooling device for electrical equipment mounted under the rear seat of the passenger compartment of a vehicle. This cooling device includes a cooling fan for supplying air in the passenger compartment to electrical equipment, a case for storing the electrical equipment, an intake duct connecting the passenger compartment and the case, and the rear of the vehicle rather than the case and the passenger compartment. It is provided with an exhaust duct that connects to the luggage compartment on the side. A connector to be connected to an electric device is arranged on the side surface of the case, and a connection portion with an exhaust duct is formed which is adjacent to the connector in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The cross-sectional shape of the exhaust duct at the connection portion has a flat shape whose horizontal length is the full width of the side surface of the case.

By doing so, the cross-sectional shape of the exhaust duct at the connection portion is a flat shape having a horizontal length that is the full width of the case, so that a constant cross-sectional area is secured in the exhaust duct without extending the case in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Will be possible. Therefore, even if the vertical space of the vehicle is limited by the seat surface and the floor of the rear seat, or the space in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is limited by the foot space in front of the seat and the rear luggage compartment of the vehicle. It is possible to set the configuration of the cooling air passage so as not to cause a pressure loss while satisfying the conditions regarding the mountability on the vehicle. Further, since the air taken in from the passenger compartment is discharged to the luggage compartment, it is possible to suppress the noise at the time of discharging the air from causing discomfort to the user.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a cooling device for an electric device having a cooling air passage configured so as not to cause a pressure loss while satisfying the conditions for mountability on a vehicle.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a rear seat. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of a cooling device. It is a figure which shows the structure of an exhaust duct. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the exhaust duct part of a cooling device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the rear seat 100. The cooling device 20 (see FIG. 2) for the electrical equipment according to the present embodiment is provided under the rear seat 100 in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 (see FIG. 2) shown in FIG. The rear seat 100 includes a seat surface 101 and a backrest portion 102. The vehicle 1 is a vehicle capable of charging an in-vehicle battery 30 (see FIG. 2) using an external power source, and is, for example, an electric vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle. Further, in the present embodiment, the electric device is an electric device mounted on the vehicle 1, and for example, power from an external power source (for example, AC power) is suitable for charging the battery 30 (for example, DC power). ) Is converted into () and supplied to the battery 30, and the charging device 15 (see FIG. 2) for charging the battery 30 will be described below as an example.

The battery 30 is provided, for example, under the rear seat 100, at a position different from that of the charging device 15, and is cooled by using a cooling device different from the cooling device 20 of the charging device 15. The battery 30 is composed of a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery or a nickel hydrogen battery, for example. The battery 30 may be any storage device capable of storing electric power, and for example, a large-capacity capacitor may be used instead of the battery 30.

The charging device 15 charges the battery 30 using electric power supplied from an external power source (not shown) installed outside the vehicle 1. The charging device 15 is electrically connected to, for example, an inlet (not shown) provided on the exterior portion of the vehicle 1 together with a cover such as a lid. The inlet has a shape to which a charging connector (not shown) can be attached. The charging connector is connected to the charging stand via a cable or the like. An external power supply is connected to the charging stand. The charging device 15 executes charge control of the battery 30 when the charging connector is connected to the inlet. By executing the charge control, the electric power of the external power source is supplied to the battery 30 via the charging device 15.

Between the rear seat 100 and the front seat (not shown), and on the lower side in front of the seat surface 101 of the rear seat 100, a foot space for the occupant seated on the rear seat 100 to put his / her feet is formed. .. The pedestal portion under the rear seat 100 is provided with an intake port 11 for taking in the air in the foot space under the rear seat 100. The intake port 11 is provided near the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle 1. When the cooling device 20 (see FIG. 2) of the charging device 15 described later operates, the air in the foot space is taken in from the intake port 11 under the rear seat 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the cooling device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling device 20 includes a case 10 for accommodating the charging device 15, an intake duct 12, a cooling fan 13, and an exhaust duct 14. The cooling device 20 is located on the floor 2 of the vehicle 1 and below the rear seat 100.

Further, the broken line 2a in FIG. 2 indicates the boundary between the rear luggage compartment and the passenger compartment on the floor 2. Further, the end line 2b below the paper surface in FIG. 2 indicates the boundary between the pedestal portion under the rear seat 100 and the foot space. Further, the left and right end lines 2c and 2d in FIG. 2 indicate a boundary with the door trim. Further, the end lines 2e and 2f in FIG. 2 indicate a boundary with the side trim.

The case 10 for accommodating the charging device 15 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is fixed on the floor 2 of the vehicle 1 so that its longitudinal side is along the left-right direction of the vehicle 1. The case 10 is provided, for example, at a position deviated from the center of the vehicle 1 in the left-right direction toward the end line 2c. The battery 30 is mounted on the rear side of the vehicle 1 with respect to the case 10 at the position shown by the broken line frame. A gap is formed between the charging device 15 and the inside of the case 10 so that the air from the intake duct 12 flows through the charging device 15 to the exhaust duct 14.

In the case 10, one end of the intake duct 12 is connected to one of the two side surfaces of the vehicle 1 facing the left and right directions. The above-mentioned intake port 11 is connected to the other end of the intake duct 12. A cooling fan 13 is provided in the middle of the intake duct 12.

The cooling fan 13 includes a motor controlled by a control device (not shown) of the vehicle 1 and a fan connected to a rotation shaft of the motor. When the cooling fan 13 operates, the air in the foot space of the rear seat 100 in the passenger compartment is sucked into the intake duct 12 from the intake port 11, and the sucked air is blown to the charging device 15. The ventilation method (type of fan) of the cooling fan 13 may be a centrifugal type (sirocco fan or the like) or an axial flow type (propeller fan).

The charging device 15 is cooled by heat exchange between the air sucked from the intake duct 12 and the charging device 15. A heat sink or the like may be provided on the heat generating portion of the charging device 15. The air received from the charging device 15 flows to the exhaust duct 14.

When the charging device 15 is mounted in the space under the rear seat 100 as described above, the space in the vertical direction is limited by the seat surface 101 and the floor 2 of the rear seat 100 of the vehicle 1. The space in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 is limited by the foot space in front of the rear seat 100 and the rear luggage compartment. Further, since the charging device 15 is provided with a harness or the like for connecting to other electric devices, cooling air is provided so as not to cause a pressure loss in the cooling device 20 while satisfying the conditions for mounting on the vehicle 1. It is required to set the composition of the passage.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, an exhaust duct 14 for connecting the case 10 and the luggage compartment on the rear side of the vehicle 1 with respect to the passenger compartment is provided. In the case 10, a connector connected to the charging device 15 is arranged on the other side surface of the two side surfaces facing the left and right directions of the vehicle 1, and the exhaust air is adjacent to the connector in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. It is assumed that a connection portion with the duct 14 is formed. The cross-sectional shape of the exhaust duct 14 at the connection portion shall have a flat shape whose lateral length is the full width of the side surface of the case.

By doing so, even when the connector is connected in the vertical direction of the connection portion with the exhaust duct 14, it is possible to secure a certain cross-sectional area in the exhaust duct 14 without extending the case 10 in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. can.

Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the exhaust duct 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the exhaust duct 14. FIG. 3A is a view of the exhaust duct 14 as viewed from the side surface (left side facing the traveling direction of the vehicle 1). FIG. 3B is a view of the exhaust duct 14 as viewed from above the vehicle 1. FIG. 3C is a view of the exhaust duct as viewed from the front (front side facing the traveling direction of the vehicle 1).

As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the exhaust duct 14 includes one end 14a, the other end 14b, a first bent portion 14c, a second bent portion 14d, and a fixing member 14e.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the opening formed in one end 14a of the exhaust duct 14 is formed in a flat shape having the full width of the side surface of the case 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), one of the two opposite sides of the opening of one end 14a in the longitudinal direction on the upper side of the vehicle 1 has a protruding portion protruding downward on the paper surface. Is formed along the longitudinal direction of the opening of one end 14a.

When one end 14a of the exhaust duct 14 is assembled to the case 10, the protrusion is formed on the side surface of the case 10 by being combined with the recess formed above the side surface of the case 10 and one of the exhaust duct 14. It is in a state of matching with the opening formed at the end 14a. As shown in FIG. 3B, two fastening holes are formed at one end 14a of the exhaust duct 14, and fastening members (for example, for example) are formed in the two fastening holes while being assembled to the case 10. By attaching a resin clip or the like), the relative position between the case 10 and the exhaust duct 14 is fixed. In this way, the cross-sectional shape of the exhaust duct 14 at the connection portion between the exhaust duct 14 and the case 10 in the state where one end 14a of the exhaust duct 14 is assembled to the case 10 is such that the horizontal length is the full width of the side surface of the case. It will have a flat shape.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the first bent portion 14c of the exhaust duct 14 is relative to the fastening point (not shown) of the pedestal of the rear seat 100 located on the center side of the vehicle 1 with respect to the first bent portion 14c. It is formed so as to avoid interference on the side trim (end line 2e) side so as not to interfere with the vehicle 1 in the vertical direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, in order to secure the cross-sectional area of the exhaust duct 14, a shape is formed in the first bent portion 14c so that the length in the vertical direction of the paper surface is increased.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the second bent portion 14d of the exhaust duct 14 is side trimmed while maintaining a certain distance from the side trim (end line 2e) so as not to interfere with the side trim (end line 2e) in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. Is formed along.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the fixing member 14e is provided with a fastening hole. The fixing member 14e is fixed to the floor 2 by attaching a fastening member (for example, a resin clip, a bolt, or the like) to the fastening hole.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the other end 14b of the exhaust duct is formed to reach the rear luggage compartment of the vehicle 1. The exhaust duct 14 is formed so that the cross-sectional area is maintained from one end 14a to the other end 14b.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the exhaust duct 14 portion of the cooling device 20. As shown in FIG. 4, in a state where the exhaust duct 14 is attached to the case 10, two connectors 22 and 24 connected to the charging device 15 are arranged on the left-right side surface of the vehicle 1 of the case 10. Ru. Then, a connection portion with the exhaust duct 14 is formed at a position adjacent to the connectors 22 and 24 in the upward direction of the vehicle 1 with respect to the connectors 22 and 24.

Since the lateral length of one end 14a of the exhaust duct 14 is a flat shape having the full width of the side surface of the case 10, even if the connectors 22 and 24 are connected to the lower position of the one end 14a, the connector 22 Interference with the harnesses 26 and 28 arranged from the 24 and the connectors 22 and 24 to other electric devices is suppressed. Further, by making one end 14a of the exhaust duct 14 a flat shape, the entire case 10 can be configured into a compact shape, so that the size of the vehicle 1 in the case 10 in the vertical direction is suppressed from increasing. ..

As described above, according to the cooling device for the electrical equipment according to the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the exhaust duct 14 at the connection portion with the case 10 is a flat shape having a horizontal length that is the full width of the side surface of the case 10. This makes it possible to secure a certain cross-sectional area in the exhaust duct 14 without extending the case 10 in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. Therefore, the vertical space of the vehicle 1 is limited by the seat surface 101 of the rear seat 100 and the floor 2, or the space in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 is limited by the foot space in front of the rear seat 100 and the rear luggage compartment of the vehicle 1. Even if it is limited, it is possible to set the configuration of the cooling air passage so as not to cause a pressure loss while satisfying the condition regarding the mountability on the vehicle 1. Further, since the air taken in from the passenger compartment is discharged to the rear luggage compartment, it is possible to suppress the noise at the time of discharging the air from causing discomfort to the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide a cooling device for an electric device having a cooling air passage configured so as not to cause a pressure loss while satisfying the conditions for mountability on a vehicle.

Hereinafter, modification examples will be described.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the vehicle 1 is a hybrid vehicle has been described as an example, but the vehicle 1 may be various electric vehicles other than the above-mentioned hybrid vehicle such as an electric vehicle, for example.

In the above-described embodiment, the charging device 15 has been described as an example of the electric device, but the electric device is arranged under the rear seat 100 of the vehicle 1 and requires a cooling device (that is, includes a heat generating element). Moreover, it may be an electric device different from the battery 30, and is not particularly limited to the charging device 15. The electric device may be, for example, a PCU (Power Control Unit) or the like.

In addition, the above-mentioned modification may be carried out by appropriately combining all or a part thereof.
It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

1 vehicle, 2 floors, 10 cases, 11 intake ports, 12 intake ducts, 13 cooling fans, 14 exhaust ducts, 15 charging devices, 20 cooling devices, 22, 24 connectors, 26, 28 harnesses.

Claims (1)

It is a cooling device for electrical equipment that is mounted under the rear seat of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and is different from the battery .
A cooling fan for supplying air in the passenger compartment to the electrical equipment,
A case for storing the electrical equipment and
An intake duct connecting the passenger compartment and the case,
It is provided with an exhaust duct that connects the case and the luggage compartment on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the passenger compartment.
A connector to be connected to the electric device is arranged on the side surface of the case, and a connection portion with the exhaust duct, which is adjacent to the connector in the vertical direction of the vehicle, is formed.
The cross-sectional shape of the exhaust duct at the connection portion is a cooling device for electrical equipment having a flat shape whose lateral length is the full width of the side surface of the case.

Images