WO2022189077A1

WO2022189077A1 - Vehicle having a ventilation device

Info

Publication number: WO2022189077A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/052818
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sebastian ALBL; Alois Stauber; Andreas Stöcklein
Original assignee: Audi Ag
Priority date: 2021-03-08
Filing date: 2022-02-07
Publication date: 2022-09-15
Also published as: DE102021105511A1; DE102021105511B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle (F) having a ventilation device (10), the vehicle comprising: a firewall (SW) disposed in a front portion (FA) of the vehicle (F), for separating an interior (IR) of the vehicle (F) from an engine compartment (MR) of the vehicle (F), which are mutually adjacent with respect to a vehicle longitudinal center axis (FLA); at least one suspension strut dome (FD) disposed laterally with respect to the vehicle longitudinal center axis (FLA) in the engine compartment (MR) of the vehicle (F); and a ventilation device (10), which is disposed in the front portion (FA) of the vehicle (F) and has: - an air distribution unit (12) designed to distribute air (TL), more particularly temperature-controlled air, into the interior (IR) of the vehicle (F); - a fan filter unit (14) designed to feed air to the air distribution unit (12); and - a fresh-air intake unit (16), through which fresh air (FL) can be fed from the engine compartment (MR) to the air distribution unit (12) by means of the fan filter unit (14). The air distribution unit (12) and the fan filter unit (14) are disposed on the side of the firewall (SW) facing the interior (IR), and the fresh-air intake unit (16) is disposed on the side of the firewall (SW) facing the engine compartment (MR). According to the invention, the fresh-air intake unit (16) is disposed on the side of the firewall (SW) facing the engine compartment (MR) in such a way that the fresh-air intake unit is disposed next to the suspension strut dome (FD) in the vehicle transverse direction (FRQ) such that the fresh-air intake unit is closer to the vehicle longitudinal center axis (FLA) than the suspension strut dome (FD) is.

Description

Vehicle with ventilation device

DESCRIPTION:

The invention relates to a vehicle with a ventilation device, comprising: a bulkhead arranged in a front portion of the vehicle for delimiting an interior of the vehicle from an engine compartment of the vehicle, which are adjacent to each other with respect to a vehicle longitudinal center axis; at least one spring strut dome arranged in the engine compartment of the vehicle to the side of the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle; and a ventilation device arranged in the front section of the vehicle, comprising: an air distribution unit, which is set up to distribute in particular temperature-controlled air into the interior of the vehicle, a blower filter unit, which is set up to supply air to the air distribution unit, and a fresh air intake unit, through which can be supplied with fresh air from the engine compartment of the air distribution unit by means of the blower filter unit. The air distribution unit and the blower filter unit are arranged on the side of the bulkhead facing the interior space, and the fresh air intake unit is arranged on the side of the bulkhead facing the engine compartment. From the document DE 10343695 A1 is a vehicle

Air conditioning device with a vehicle bulkhead with an opening and an air conditioner housing, which is arranged as a supporting part in the area of the breakthrough of the vehicle bulkhead known. From the document US 6415856 B1 is a heating

/ Air conditioning device that can be accommodated in a vehicle instrument panel is known. The heating/air conditioning device comprises an evaporator, a heater core, air distribution means having first and second deflection means, and a fan. DE 20335 174 A1 discloses an air conditioning system for a motor vehicle with an evaporator and/or heating element arranged in an end wall.

A central point in air conditioning technology for modern vehicles is the increase in comfort. New vehicle concepts, such as electrically powered vehicles with batteries (BEVs), require specially tailored solutions. Autonomous driving in particular represents another challenge.

The ventilation devices (or air conditioning systems) known from the prior art take up a lot of space in the interior of a vehicle. This can impair the comfort of a passenger, particularly in the case of autonomous driving.

The object on which the invention is based is therefore seen as providing a vehicle with a ventilation device which is arranged in the vehicle in such a way that more interior space is provided for a passenger.

This object is achieved by a vehicle with a ventilation device having the features of patent claim 1 and by a ventilation device having the features of patent claim 11.

Advantageous configurations with expedient developments are specified in the dependent patent claims.

A vehicle with a ventilation device is therefore proposed, comprising: a bulkhead arranged in a front section of the vehicle for delimiting an interior of the vehicle from an engine compartment of the vehicle, which are adjacent to one another in relation to a vehicle longitudinal central axis; at least one spring strut dome arranged in the engine compartment of the vehicle to the side of the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle; and a ventilation device arranged in the front portion of the vehicle, comprising: an air distribution unit that is set up to distribute, in particular, temperature-controlled air into the interior of the vehicle, a fan filter unit that is set up to supply air to the air distribution unit, and a fresh air intake unit, through which fresh air from the engine compartment can be drawn by means of the fan filter unit Air distribution unit can be fed.

The fresh air intake unit is also set up to separate the water present in the fresh air. This prevents moisture from getting into the blower filter unit.

The air distribution unit and the blower filter unit are arranged on the side of the bulkhead facing the interior space, and the fresh air intake unit is arranged on the side of the bulkhead facing the engine compartment. It is provided that the fresh air intake unit is arranged on the side of the bulkhead facing the engine compartment in such a way that it is arranged next to the spring strut dome in the vehicle transverse direction, so that it is closer to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle than the spring strut dome.

With this arrangement, the fresh air intake unit is moved further forward, i.e. in the area next to the spring strut dome, which creates more space in the interior of the vehicle. This allows a passenger more comfort, especially in autonomous driving.

In addition, the space gained by this arrangement can be used at least partially for the integration or arrangement of a heat exchanger which can be or is connected to the blower filter unit and enables heat to be used from circulating air from the interior of the vehicle. By means of the heat exchanger, on the one hand, heat can be recovered from the circulating air and, on the other hand, fresh air that is newly flowing in can be heated or preconditioned, which further increases the efficiency of the ventilation device. In particular, by such an additional heat exchanger, the consumption of electrical energy in the Ventilation device are reduced, which can have a positive effect on the range of an electric vehicle. Such a heat exchanger can, for example, have a structure as described in publication DE 10 2014012 706 A1.

Furthermore, the fresh air intake unit can be arranged on the side of the bulkhead facing the engine compartment in such a way that the center of mass of the fresh air intake unit in the vehicle transverse direction is closer to the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle than the center of mass of the blower filter unit and is further away from the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle than the center of mass of the air distribution unit. By means of this center of mass arrangement, an optimal distribution of the weights of the air intake unit, blower filter unit and air distribution unit arranged on the bulkhead can be realized.

A section of the side of the bulkhead facing the engine compartment can also be arranged in the front section in such a way that it connects to the spring strut tower. In other words, the bulkhead can be moved forward as far as the strut dome. As described above, this allows more interior space to be gained.

The air distribution unit can be arranged in the transverse direction of the vehicle essentially centrally on the side of the bulkhead facing the interior. This enables the temperature-controlled air to be distributed evenly throughout the interior.

The vehicle can also have a window cross member arranged in the front section, the window cross member being arranged above the spring strut dome in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The blower filter unit can have at least one fresh air flap and at least one circulating air flap. The fresh air flap can also be arranged in the area of a front wall hole.

In this context, the vehicle can include a control unit for controlling the fresh air flap and the air recirculation flap. As a result, a corresponding supply of fresh air and/or circulating air can be controlled and, if necessary, adjusted by controlling the respective flap.

The fresh air intake unit can also have an air duct that can guide the fresh air laterally around the spring strut dome to the outside of the vehicle in order to then make it available to the blower filter unit.

The above object is also achieved by a ventilation device for a vehicle comprising: an air distribution unit which is set up to distribute, in particular, temperature-controlled air into an interior of a vehicle; a fan filter unit configured to supply air to the air distribution unit; and a fresh air intake unit, through which fresh air can be supplied to the air distribution unit by means of the blower filter unit. It is provided that the fresh air intake unit is dimensioned such that the center of mass of the fresh air intake unit is in an installed state between the center of mass of the fan filter unit and the center of mass of the air distribution unit.

This achieves an optimal weight distribution of the fresh air intake unit, the blower filter unit and the air distribution unit in the installed state.

The air distribution unit can have a heat exchanger and at least one air vent.

The blower filter unit can have a fresh air flap and an air recirculation flap. The fan filter unit can also have an acoustic chamber to improve the acoustics of the supplied air. Further advantages and details of the invention result from the following description of embodiments with reference to the figures. It shows:

1a shows a simplified schematic plan view of an embodiment of a vehicle with a ventilation device;

1b shows a simplified schematic basic illustration of an embodiment of the vehicle; and

2 shows a simplified schematic representation of the principles of the ventilation device.

A simplified schematic top view of an embodiment of a vehicle F with a ventilation device 10 is shown in FIG. 1a. This shows a top view of a front section FA of the vehicle F. As can be seen from FIG. 1a, the vehicle F has an end wall SW arranged in the front section FA to separate an interior IR of the vehicle F from an engine compartment MR. The interior IR and the engine compartment MR are adjacent to one another in relation to a vehicle longitudinal center axis FLA, which is shown in simplified form by a dot-dash line.

In addition, at least one spring strut dome (FD) is arranged in the engine compartment MR to the side of the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle. In the example shown in FIG. 1a, a second spring strut tower FD is shown on the opposite side. The suspension strut tower FD is used to absorb static forces and to support dynamic driving forces. The vehicle F also includes a ventilation device 10 arranged in the front section FA with an air distribution unit 12, a fan filter unit 14 and a fresh air intake unit 16. The air distribution unit 12 and the fan filter unit 14 are on the front wall SW facing the interior IR of the vehicle F arranged. The fresh air intake unit 16 is arranged on the engine room MR side of the bulkhead SW. This is shown in simplified form in FIG. 1a.

The air distribution unit 12 distributes temperature-controlled air TL into the interior IR, which is indicated by corresponding arrows in FIG. 1a. This can be heated air for heating or cooled air for air conditioning of the interior IR.

The fan filter unit 14 supplies air to the air distribution unit 12 . This air is first filtered by the fan filter unit 14, then accelerated by a fan and acoustically improved before it is finally fed to the air distribution unit 12 via a corresponding air duct. The filter and the fan with air duct are illustrated in Fig. 1a simplified by dashed lines. The air distribution unit 12 and the fan filter unit 14 can be configured differently and have different shapes. An embodiment will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

The fresh air intake unit 16 can, for example, be connected to the fan filter unit 14 via a further air duct (not shown in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b) and enables the air distribution unit 12 to be supplied with fresh air FL from the engine compartment MR by means of the fan filter unit 14. In addition, the fresh air intake unit 16 separates the water present in the fresh air FL. This prevents moisture from getting into the fan filter unit 14 .

The fresh air intake unit 16 is also arranged on the side of the bulkhead SW facing the engine compartment MR in such a way that it Vehicle transverse direction FRQ is arranged next to the strut dome FD, so that it is closer to the vehicle longitudinal center axis FLA than the strut dome FD. The vehicle transverse direction FQR is illustrated in FIG. 1a by a corresponding arrow. In other words, the fresh air intake unit 12 is not arranged between the suspension strut dome FD and the end wall SW, as for example in conventional ventilation devices, but is located at the height of the suspension strut dome FD or next to the suspension strut dome FD. The resulting free space allows a passenger more freedom of movement.

The fresh air intake unit 16 can also be arranged on the side of the bulkhead SW facing the engine compartment MR in such a way that the center of mass of the fresh air intake unit 16 in the vehicle transverse direction FQR is closer to the vehicle longitudinal center axis FLA than the center of mass of the fan filter unit 14 and further away from the vehicle longitudinal center axis FLA lies than the center of mass of the air distribution unit 12. In other words, the center of mass of the fresh air intake unit 16 can lie between the center of mass of the fan filter unit 14 and the air distribution unit 12. As a result, an optimal weight distribution can be realized on the bulkhead SW.

A section of the side of the bulkhead SW facing the engine compartment MR can be arranged in the front section FA in such a way that it connects to the spring strut dome FD. This is shown in simplified form in FIG. 1a. The section of the end wall SW can, for example, be cohesively connected to the spring strut tower FD. As a result, the end wall SW with the ventilation device 10 arranged on it is pushed further into the front section FA of the vehicle F. As explained above, this allows more space to be created in the interior IR.

In a further embodiment, the air distribution unit 12 can be arranged substantially centrally in the vehicle transverse direction FQR. This enables an even distribution of the temperature-controlled air TL in the interior IR.

The vehicle F can also have a windshield cross member QT1 arranged in the front section FA, which is arranged in the vertical direction HR of the vehicle F above the spring strut tower FD. In this context, FIG. 1 b shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle F, which shows a side view of the vehicle F. 1b shows the arrangement of the second spring strut tower FD, the end wall SW, the windshield cross member QT1, a footwell cross member QT2, and the air distribution unit 12 relative to one another. The vertical direction HR is illustrated by a corresponding arrow. As described above, additional space can be gained by “moving forward” the windshield cross member QT1 at the level of the spring strut tower FD in connection with the bulkhead SW and the ventilation device 10 .

In one embodiment, the fan filter unit 14 can also have at least one fresh air flap FLK and at least one recirculation flap ULK, which is shown in simplified form in FIG. 1a.

The fresh air flap FLK can be arranged in the area of a bulkhead hole and thus supply the fresh air FL obtained from the engine compartment MR by the fresh air intake unit 16 to the fan filter unit 14 .

Furthermore, the fan filter unit 14 can supply circulating air UL from the interior IR to the air distribution unit 12 by means of the circulating air flap ULK.

In this context, the vehicle F can include a control unit (not shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b ) to control the fresh air flap FLK and the recirculated air flap ULK and to regulate a corresponding supply of fresh air FL and recirculated air UL. As briefly indicated above, the fresh air intake unit 16 can also have an air duct, which guides the fresh air FL laterally around the spring strut tower FD to the outside of the vehicle in order to then make it available to the fan filter unit 14 . In one specific embodiment, the fresh air FL can be guided outwards laterally from the engine compartment MR through the air duct and guided into the fan filter unit 14 via the fresh air flap FLK.

This makes it possible to form a closed fresh air intake.

In a further embodiment, the vehicle F can comprise a drive unit 18 arranged in the front section FA. The air distribution unit 12 can be arranged above the drive unit 18 in the vertical direction HR of the vehicle F, as shown in FIG. 1b, and at least partially cover the drive unit 18 in the vehicle longitudinal direction FLR. The vehicle longitudinal direction FLR, which is illustrated by an arrow, extends from the front section FA to a rear section (not shown in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b) of the vehicle F.

1a and 1b also show a ventilation device 10 for a vehicle F. The ventilation device 10 comprises an air distribution unit 12, a blower filter unit 14 and a fresh air intake unit 16. A schematic basic representation of an embodiment of the ventilation device 10 is shown in FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the fresh air intake unit 16 in connection with the fan filter unit 14 and the air distribution unit 12. The fan and the filter are indicated here by the dashed lines.

The air distribution unit 12 distributes, in particular, temperature-controlled air TL into an interior IR of a vehicle F. The fan filter unit 14 supplies air to the air distribution unit 12, and the fresh air intake unit 16 enables the air distribution unit 12 to be supplied with fresh air FL by means of the fan filter unit 14. This closed fresh air intake is illustrated in simplified form in FIG. 2 by arrows. The fresh air intake unit 16 is dimensioned such that the center of mass of the fresh air intake unit 16 in an installed state is between the center of mass of the fan filter unit 14 and the center of mass of the air distribution unit 12 . The weights of the fresh air intake unit 16, the blower filter unit 14 and the air distribution unit 12 when installed in the vehicle F are optimally distributed by means of this center of gravity arrangement.

The air distribution unit 12 can also have a heat exchanger and at least one air vent (not in Fig. 1a, Fig. 1b and Fig.

2 shown).

The fan filter unit 14 can include a fresh air flap FLK and a recirculated air flap ULK, which is illustrated in simplified form in FIGS. 1 a and 2 .

In another embodiment, the fan filter unit 14 may further include an acoustic chamber to acoustically enhance the supplied air (not shown in Figures 1a, 1b and 2).

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

Vehicle (F) with ventilation device (10) having: a bulkhead (SW) arranged in a front section (FA) of the vehicle (F) to delimit an interior (IR) of the vehicle (F) from an engine compartment (MR) of the vehicle (F ) that are adjacent to each other with respect to a vehicle longitudinal centerline (FLA); at least one spring strut dome (FD) arranged in the engine compartment (MR) of the vehicle (F) to the side of the vehicle longitudinal center axis (FLA); and a ventilation device (10) arranged in the front section (FA) of the vehicle (F) with:

- an air distribution unit (12) which is set up to distribute in particular temperature-controlled air (TL) into the interior (IR) of the vehicle (F),

- a fan filter unit (14) which is arranged to supply air to the air distribution unit (12), and

- a fresh air intake unit (16) through which fresh air (FL) can be supplied from the engine compartment (MR) to the air distribution unit (12) by means of the fan filter unit (14), the air distribution unit (12) and the fan filter unit (14) being connected to are arranged on the side of the front wall (SW) facing the interior (IR) and the fresh air intake unit (16) is arranged on the side of the front wall (SW) facing the engine compartment (MR), characterized in that the fresh air intake unit (16) is arranged on the the engine compartment (MR) facing side of the bulkhead (SW) is arranged so that it is arranged in the vehicle transverse direction (FRQ) next to the strut dome (FD) so that it is closer to the vehicle longitudinal center axis (FLA) than the strut dome (FD).

Vehicle (F) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fresh air intake unit (16) is further arranged in such a way on the engine compartment (MR) facing side of the bulkhead (SW) that the The center of mass of the fresh air intake unit (16) in the vehicle transverse direction (FQR) is closer to the vehicle longitudinal center line (FLA) than the center of mass of the blower filter unit (14) and further away from the vehicle longitudinal center line (FLA) than the center of mass of the air distribution unit (12).

3. Vehicle (F) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a section of the side of the bulkhead (SW) facing the engine compartment (MR) is also arranged in the front section (FA) in such a way that it is attached to the strut tower (FD) connects.

4. Vehicle (F) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air distribution unit (12) in the vehicle transverse direction (FRQ) is arranged substantially centrally on the interior (IR) side facing the bulkhead (SW).

5. Vehicle (F) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also has a windscreen cross member (QT) arranged in the front section (FA), the windscreen cross member (QT) in the vertical direction (HR) of the vehicle (F) above the spring strut dome (FD) is arranged.

6. Vehicle (F) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fan filter unit (14) further comprises at least one fresh air flap (FLK) and at least one air recirculation flap (ULK).

7. Vehicle (F) according to claim 6, characterized in that the fresh air flap (FLK) is arranged in the region of a bulkhead hole.

8. Vehicle (F) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it further comprises a control unit which is set up to control the fresh air flap (FLK) and the air recirculation flap (ULK).

9. Vehicle (F) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the fresh air intake unit (16) also has an air duct which is set up to guide the fresh air (FL) laterally around the spring strut tower (FD) to the outside of the vehicle, to provide them to the fan filter unit (14).

10. Vehicle (F) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also has a drive unit (18) arranged in the front section (FA), the air distribution unit (12) in the vertical direction (HR) of the vehicle (F) being above the drive unit (18) is arranged and at least partially covers the drive unit (18) in the vehicle longitudinal direction (FLR). 11. Ventilation device (10) for a vehicle (F), comprising: an air distribution unit (12) which is set up to distribute in particular temperature-controlled air (TL) into an interior (IR) of a vehicle (F); a fan filter unit (14) arranged to supply air to the air distribution unit (12); and a fresh air intake unit (16) through which fresh air (FL) can be supplied to the air distribution unit (12) by means of the blower filter unit (14), characterized in that the fresh air intake unit (16) is dimensioned in such a way that the center of mass of the fresh air intake unit (16) in an installed state between the center of mass of the blower filter unit (14) and the center of mass of the air distribution unit (12).

12. Ventilation device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the air distribution unit (12) further comprises a heat exchanger and at least one air vent.

13. Ventilation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fan filter unit (14) further comprises a fresh air flap (FLK) and a recirculation flap (ULK). 14. Ventilation device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fan filter unit (14) further comprises an acoustic chamber which is designed to acoustically improve supplied air.