Watertight vehicle airduct system

A duct for a vehicle includes an inlet fluidly coupled to an interior of the vehicle and an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet. A buoyant closure member is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and is movable between an open position permitting flow between the inlet and the outlet and a closed position preventing flow between the inlet and the outlet. The buoyant closure member is normally in the open position and is movable from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined volume of water entering the outlet.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a venting system for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a submergible venting system for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Conventional vehicles typically include at least one body exhauster to permit airflow from within a passenger compartment of a vehicle to an area generally outside of the vehicle. Such body exhausters allow a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to draw in, condition, and circulate air within a vehicle while permitting air disposed within the passenger compartment of the vehicle to be exhausted through the body exhauster to maintain the passenger compartment at a predetermined pressure. Such body exhausters allow one-way communication between the passenger compartment and an area outside of the vehicle such that air is permitted to exit the vehicle while debris and outside air is restricted from entering the vehicle. While conventional body exhausters adequately vent a passenger compartment of a vehicle while concurrently preventing debris and outside air from entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle, conventional body exhausters cannot typically be located near or on a lower surface of a vehicle, as conventional body exhausters cannot prevent entry of water into the vehicle should a lower portion of the vehicle become submerged in water.

SUMMARY

A duct for a vehicle includes an inlet fluidly coupled to an interior of the vehicle and an outlet fluidly coupled to the inlet. A buoyant closure member is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and is movable between an open position permitting flow between the inlet and the outlet and a closed position preventing flow between the inlet and the outlet. The buoyant closure member is normally in the open position and is movable from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined volume of water entering the outlet.

A vehicle includes a floor pan defining at least one cavity with a heat exchanger being disposed within the at least one cavity. A passageway directs air through the heat exchanger and toward a wall of the at least one cavity. A duct is fixedly attached to the wall of the at least one cavity and includes a closure member movable between an open position permitting air received from the heat exchanger to exit the at least one cavity and a closed position preventing fluid from entering the at least one cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

With reference to the figures, a duct assembly10is provided for a vehicle12. The duct assembly10permits communication of air from within an interior of the vehicle12to an exterior of the vehicle12while concurrently restricting air from traveling through the duct assembly10and into the interior of the vehicle12. The duct assembly10also restricts fluid such as, for example, water, from entering the interior of the vehicle12should the vehicle12be submerged in a predetermined volume of water.

The duct assembly10may extend through a body panel14of the vehicle12such as a floor pan16. As shown inFIG. 1, the duct assembly10may extend through a side wall18of a well20formed in the floor pan16of the vehicle12. Because the well20is formed in the floor pan16of the vehicle12, the well20extends generally towards a driving surface (i.e., a road, etc.). The duct assembly10permits communication between an interior volume22of the well20and an exterior of the vehicle12. While the duct assembly10permits communication from the interior volume22of the well20to the exterior of the vehicle12, the duct assembly10restricts communication from an area outside the vehicle12to the interior volume22of the well20. Such communication from the interior volume22of the well20permits air from within an interior of the vehicle12to be exhausted to an air outside of the vehicle12through the duct assembly10.

Exhausting air from the interior volume22of the well20may be required if a thermal-management system24is disposed within the well20. For example, thermal-management system24may be used to cool an energy system26that provides power to the vehicle12to propel the vehicle12and/or to provide power to subsystems of the vehicle12.

If an energy system26is disposed within the well20, heat generated by operation of the energy system26must be removed from the well20by the thermal-management system24. The thermal-management system24may include a heat exchanger28, a series of conduits30, and a fan32that cooperate to cool a series of batteries34of the energy system26to remove such heat.

The heat exchanger28may be disposed within an inlet duct36and may include a refrigerant disposed therein for cooling the batteries34. A compressor not shown may impart a force on the refrigerant disposed within the heat exchanger28to circulate the refrigerant between the heat exchanger28and the batteries34via conduits30. Circulation of refrigerant between the heat exchanger and the batteries34will permit heat from the batteries34to be absorbed by the refrigerant disposed within the conduits30and be transferred to the heat exchanger28. The heat absorbed by the refrigerant will be rejected at the heat exchanger28and may be transferred to air drawn into the well20by the fan32via the inlet duct36.

The fan32may impart a fluid force on an outlet38of the inlet duct36to draw air through the heat exchanger28. Drawing air through the heat exchanger28will cause the heat rejected by the refrigerant via the heat exchanger28to be drawn through the heat exchanger28and generally into an outlet duct40. The heated air drawn through the heat exchanger28and into the outlet duct40may be expelled from an interior of the vehicle12through the duct assembly10. The force exerted on the air flowing through the heat exchanger12will cause the heated air flow to travel along the outlet duct40and pass through the side wall18of the floor pan16to allow the heated air to escape the interior volume22of the well20and be exhausted into an area outside of the vehicle12. Because the well20extends generally towards a surface over which the vehicle12may travel, the heated air received through the heat exchanger28and from the outlet duct40will be expelled generally in an area between a bottom of the floor pan16and the surface over which the vehicle12is traveling. Positioning the duct assembly10in a location generally on a bottom surface of the floor pan16to permit communication of heated air through the side wall18of the well20adequately vents the heated air into an area exterior of the vehicle12. However, positioning the duct assembly10on a bottom surface of the vehicle12exposes the duct assembly10to debris as well as environmental conditions such as rain, snow, and ice.

As indicated above, the duct assembly10permits air to flow from an interior of the vehicle12to an exterior of the vehicle12and concurrently prevents air flow from entering the interior of the vehicle12through the duct assembly10. The duct assembly10also restricts flow of water and other debris into the interior of the vehicle12when the vehicle12is either driven through wet conditions (i.e., rain, snow, etc.) or when the vehicle12is submerged in water such that a bottom surface of the floor pan16is in contact with or under water.

With reference toFIG. 2, the duct assembly10is shown to include a housing42, a closure member44disposed within the housing42, and a pair of check valves46supported by the housing42. The housing42may include a torturous path43extending between an inlet48and an outlet50, whereby the inlet48is fluidly coupled to the outlet duct40and receives air from the outlet duct40. As can be seen in for exampleFIG. 2, the tortuous path43includes an upwardly extending portion45and a downwardly extending portion47with downwardly extending portion47disposed between the upwardly extending portion45and the outlet50. A door52may be disposed proximate to the inlet48to permit flow from the outlet duct40through the inlet48and to restrict flow from passing through the housing42and into the outlet duct40. In one configuration, the door52is hingedly supported by the housing42by a pivot54. The pivot54permits the door52to rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 2to permit air to flow out of the outlet duct40and into the housing42, as shown inFIG. 2.

While the pivot54permits the door52to rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 2to allow the door52to return from an open position (FIG. 2) to a closed position, the door52is restricted from pivoting into the inlet48, as the door52includes a sufficient length and width to fully cover the inlet48of the housing42. Therefore, when air travels into the outlet50of the housing42and engages the door52, the force exerted on the door52causes the door52to move into the closed position and seal the inlet48. Sealing the inlet48prevents fluid such as air and/or water from entering the housing42at the outlet52from entering the outlet duct40via the inlet48of the housing42. In essence, the door52serves as a check valve permitting flow from the outlet duct40into the housing42and restricting flow from the housing42into the outlet duct40via the inlet48of the housing42.

The closure member44is disposed within the housing42generally between the inlet48and the outlet50and may include a support member56and a door58. Illustratively as can be seen for example inFIG. 2, the closure member44is disposed in the downwardly extending portion47of tortuous path43. The door58may be rotatively supported by the support member56and may be formed from a buoyant material, such as, for example, foam, santoprene or various polymers (i.e., nylon) molded with an encapsulated air pocket. The door58may be rotatably supported by the support member56between an open position (FIG. 2) and a closed position.

The door58may be positioned proximate to a bottom surface of the support member56such that gravity maintains the door58in the open position to allow fluid received at the inlet48of the housing42to travel through the housing42and towards the outlet50. The door58is maintained in the open position until the housing42of the duct assembly10is submerged in a predetermined volume of water, as will be described below.

When the duct assembly10is submerged in a predetermined volume of water, water may enter the housing42at the outlet50and begin to fill the housing42. When a sufficient volume of water enters the housing42, the water will rise and engage the door58, thereby causing the door58to rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 2from the open position to the closed position. Rotation of the door58from the open position to the closed position is caused by the buoyant nature of the door material floating on the rising water disposed within the housing42. When the volume of water reaches a predetermined height within the housing42, the door58is rotated sufficiently in the clockwise direction relative to view shown inFIG. 2such that the door58engages the support member56to prevent water from traveling through the support member56and reaching the inlet48of the housing42.

While the door58cooperates with the support member56to prevent water from traveling through the support member56and reaching the door52proximate to the inlet48of the housing42, some water may travel through the support member56and be received within the housing42proximate to the door52. Such water may splash through the support member56, as the water rises within the housing42prior to the door58being moved into the fully closed position. Furthermore, such water may travel through the support member56when the duct assembly10is not fully submerged in water, but when the vehicle12is driven through wet conditions (i.e., rain, snow, etc.).

While the volume of water entering the housing42and passing through the support member56may not be sufficient to flow through the inlet48of the housing42and into the outlet duct40, if the water is permitted to collect generally at the bottom of the housing42, such water may become stagnant and, over time, begin to emit a foul odor. To prevent water from collecting at a bottom of the housing42, the check valves46are disposed at low points of the housing42(i.e. at a bottom of a P-trap, for example) to allow any water that collects within the housing42to drain from the housing42. The check valves46permit flow from within the housing42but restrict flow of water into the housing42. As can be appreciated, if the check valves46were simply apertures formed through a bottom surface of the housing42, water would both drain from the housing42and could also enter the housing42via such apertures. Therefore, using check valves46allows water to escape the housing42while concurrently preventing water from entering the housing42.

The housing42may also include a debris shield60disposed along a path of the housing42. The debris shield60may extend across the outlet50of the housing42or may be positioned at any location along a length of the housing42generally between the outlet50and the door58to prevent debris from reaching the door58. The debris screen60may permit water and air to pass therethrough but will prevent large objects such as, for example, rocks, from entering the housing42and damaging the door58. Preventing such debris from entering the duct assembly10not only maintains the integrity of the door58, but prevents such objects from rattling within the housing42and creating undesirable noise.

Positioning the outlet50such that the outlet50opposes the floor pan16, allows air to easily escape the outlet50while concurrently reducing the likelihood of water from splashing into the housing42via the outlet50. Furthermore, positioning the outlet50in such a fashion also helps prevent noise from entering the housing42and creating an undesirable condition. While some noise will enter the housing42regardless of the position of the outlet50, positioning the outlet50proximate to a bottom surface of the floor pan16helps reduce the amount of noise that enters the housing42such noise may be mitigated by the tortuous path defined by the shape of the housing42and is prevented from reaching the interior volume22of the well20.

With reference toFIG. 3, a duct assembly10ais provided. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with the duct assembly10with respect to the duct assembly10a, like reference numerals are used hereinafter in the drawings to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identify those components that have been modified.

The duct assembly10aincludes a housing42, a closure member44a, and check valves46. The closure member44ais disposed generally between an inlet48and an outlet50of the housing42and may include a support member56aand a ball stop62. The ball stop62selectively engages the support member56ato prevent communication between the outlet50and the inlet48of the housing42when the duct assembly10ais submerged in a predetermine volume of water. The ball stop62is moveable between an open position (FIG. 3) and a closed position and may be supported by a debris shield60ahaving a generally “V” shape when in the open position.

During operation, air may be received through the inlet48of the housing42from the outlet duct40and may travel through the housing42towards the outlet50. Air from the outlet duct40is permitted to flow through the support member56awhen the ball stop62is in the open position. The air flows generally around the ball stop62towards the outlet50and exits the housing42at the outlet50.

Should air be received at the outlet50of the housing42, the air is permitted to flow around the ball stop62, when the ball stop62is in the open position. Air flowing around the ball stop62is prevented from reaching the outlet duct40by the door52disposed proximate to the inlet48of the housing42.

When the duct assembly10ais submerged in a predetermined volume of water, water may fill the housing42at the outlet50. Once a sufficient volume of water enters the housing42, the water will impart a force on the ball stop62and cause the ball stop62to move away from the debris shield60aand toward the support member56. Sufficient movement of the ball stop62away from the debris shield60acauses the ball stop62to engage the support member56aand prevent water from passing through the support member56and reaching the inlet48of the housing42. Movement of the ball stop62away from the support member56ais facilitated by formation of the ball stop62from a buoyant material, as described above with regard to the closure member44of the duct assembly10. As with the duct assembly10, any residual water remaining in the housing42may escape the housing42via the check valves46.

With particular reference toFIG. 4, a duct assembly10bis provided. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with the duct assembly10with respect to the duct assembly10b, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identify those components that have been modified.

The duct assembly10bincludes a housing42b, a closure member44, and a check valve46. The housing42bincludes an inlet48bfluidly coupled to an outlet duct40and an outlet50bfacing away from a bottom surface of the floor pan16of the vehicle12. The closure member44includes a support member56and a door58hingedly supported proximate to the support member56between an open position and a closed position. The door58is biased into the open position under the force of gravity and may be moved into the closed position by a force applied to the door58when the duct assembly10bis submerged in a predetermined volume of water. Movement of the door58into the closed position from the open position is facilitated by forming the door58from a buoyant material, as described above with regard to the duct assembly10.

In operation, air is permitted to flow through the outlet duct40and into the housing42bvia the inlet48b. Air flows through the housing42band may escape the housing42bby flowing through the support member56of the closure member44and finally through the outlet50bof the housing42b. Air is restricted from flowing into the outlet duct40by the door52as described above with respect to the duct assembly10.

When the duct assembly10bis submerged in water, water flows into the outlet50band applies a force to door58, thereby, causing the door58to rotate in a counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 4. Sufficient rotation of the door58in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 4causes the door58to move into the closed position to prevent the water from further migrating into the housing42b. Cooperation between the support member56and door58prevents the water from filling the housing42band therefore prevents the water from entering the outlet duct40.

As described above with regard to the duct assembly10, the check valve46may be positioned in a P-trap of the housing42b(i.e., a low point of the housing42b) to permit water that has collected in the housing42bto escape the housing42bwhile concurrently preventing water from entering the housing42bvia the check valve46.

As shown inFIG. 4, the inlet48bis shown generally proximate to an upper portion of the housing42b. Positioning the inlet48bproximate to an upper portion of the housing42bfurther reduces the likelihood of water entering the outlet duct40. As can be appreciated, positioning the inlet48bproximate to an upper portion of the housing42brequires a greater volume of water to enter the housing42bbefore reaching the inlet48band, thus, the outlet duct40b. Positioning the inlet48bof the housing42bin such a manner further safeguards against water reaching the outlet duct40should the duct assembly10bbe submerged in water.

With reference toFIG. 5, a duct assembly10cis provided. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with the duct assembly10with respect to the duct assembly10c, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identified those components that have been modified.

The duct assembly10cincludes the housing42c, a closure member44c, and a series of check valves46. The closure member44cis disposed generally between an inlet48of the housing42cand an outlet50of the housing42c. The closure member44includes a support member56and a door58hingedly supported proximate to the support member56between an open position and a closed position. The door58is biased into the open position under the force of gravity and engages the housing42cwhen in the open position. In this position, the door58permits flow from the inlet48to the outlet50and permits flow from the outlet50to the inlet48. As with the duct assembly10, air is restricted from entering the outlet duct40due to engagement between the door52and the inlet48.

When the duct assembly10cis submerged in a predetermined volume of water, water first contacts a bottom surface of the housing42cand passes through a debris shield60cdisposed between a pair of check values46. When the water initially passes through the debris shield60c, the water encounters the door58and applies a force on a door58. Because the door58is formed from a buoyant material, as described above with regard to duct assembly10, the door58rotates in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 5. Sufficient rotation of the door58in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 5causes the door58to engage the support member56and move into the closed position. When the door58is in the closed position, the door58abuts the support member56and prevents the water entering the housing42cfrom passing through the support member56and therefore prevents the water from reaching the inlet48of the housing42c.

Should water pass through the door58, a pair of check valves46are disclosed within the housing42cupstream of the support member56to allow the water to drain from the housing42cprior to the water reaching the inlet48. In addition, an interior wall64of the housing42cis positioned generally between the support member56and the inlet48. The overall height of the interior wall64would require a sufficient amount of water to fill the housing42prior to allowing the wall to spill over and engage the inlet48. Water is prevented from reaching such a volume due to the check valve46disposed at a base of the wall64generally proximate to the support member56.

With reference toFIG. 6, a duct assembly10dis provided. In view of the substantial similarity and structure and function of the components associate with the duct assembly10with respect to the duct assembly10d, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identify those components that have been modified.

The duct assembly10dincludes a housing42d, a closure member44d, and a series of check valves46. The housing includes an inlet48and an outlet50with the closure member44dbeing disposed generally between the inlet48and the outlet50.

The closure member44includes a support member56dand a door58dmoveable relative to the support member between an open position and a closed position. The door58dis slideably supported by a post66that may be integrally formed with the housing42d. As with the duct assembly10, the door58dis formed from a buoyant material to allow water entering the housing42dto impart a force on and move the door58dtowards the support member56dto seal off the housing42dand prevent further entry of water into the housing42d.

In operation, air flow from the outlet duct40is received at the inlet48of the housing42dand is permitted to travel into the housing42dthrough the inlet48and door52. The air flow is permitted to travel through the support member56dand out of the housing42dvia the outlet50. Air is also permitted to enter the housing42dat the outlet50and travel though the support member56dgenerally towards the inlet48of the housing42d. While the air is permitted to flow towards the inlet48, air is restricted from reaching the outlet duct40due to engagement between the door52and the inlet48of the housing42d, as previously discussed with regard to the duct assembly10.

When the duct assembly10dis submerged in a predetermined volume of water, water enters the housing generally at the outlet50of the housing42d. When a sufficient volume of water enters the housing42d, the water imparts a force on the door58d, thereby causing the door58dto float and move away from the post66generally towards the support member56d.

When the volume of water entering the housing42dis sufficient to cause the door58dto engage the support member56d, water is prevented from further traveling into the housing42ddue to engagement between the door58dand the support member56d. Therefore, engagement between the door58dand the support member56dprevents water from passing through the support member56dand reaching the outlet duct40via the inlet48of the housing42d. As described above with respect to the duct assembly10, any water that remains in the housing42dwill exit the housing42dvia the check valves46disposed at various locations of the housing42d.

With particular reference toFIG. 7, a duct assembly10eis provided. In view of the substantial similarity in structure and function of the components associated with the duct assembly10with respect to the duct assembly10e, like reference numerals are used hereinafter and in the drawings to identify like components while like reference numerals containing letter extensions are used to identify those components that have been modified.

The duct assembly10eincludes a housing42e, a closure member44e, and a check valve46. The closure member44eis positioned generally between an inlet48of the housing42eand an outlet50of the housing42e.

The closure member44eincludes and is supported by a series of posts68attached to the support member56e. The posts68may be intricately formed with the support member56eand extend generally away from the support member56eand from the outlet50of the housing42e. When the door58eis in an open position, the door58erests on the posts68and when the door is in a closed position, the door58eis disengaged from the posts68. As with the duct assembly10, the door58eis formed from a buoyant material to allow the door58eto be moved between the open position and the closed position when the housing42eis submerged in a predetermined volume of water.

In operation, air from the outlet duct40is received by the housing42evia the inlet48and door52. The air is permitted to travel through the housing42eand around the door58eof the closure member44e. Because the closure member44eis supported by the series of posts68, air flowing around the door58eis permitted to travel around the posts68and pass through the support member56eprior to exiting the housing42evia the outlet50. Similarly, when air is received at the outlet50of the housing42e, air travels through the support member56and around the posts68prior to traveling around the door58e. While the air is permitted to travel through the support member56, and around the door58e, the air is restricted from entering the outlet duct40due to engagement between 52 and the inlet48of the housing42e.

When the duct assembly10eis submerged in a predetermined volume of water, water enters the housing42egenerally at the outlet50. When a sufficient volume of water enters the housing42e, the water travels through the support member56eand around the posts68. The water engages the door58e, thereby causing the door58eto rotate in a counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 7and move off of the posts68. The door58econtinues to move in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown inFIG. 7prior to engaging a stop70formed in the housing42e. Engagement between the door58eand the stop70of the housing42erestricts further rotation of the door58erelative to the housing42e. When the door58eis engaged with the stop70of the housing42e, water is restricted from traveling through the door58eand further into the housing42e. Therefore, the engagement between a door58eand the stop70of the housing42eprevents the incoming water from entering the outlet duct40via the inlet48of the housing42e. The door58emay be hinged at one end to facilitate movement of the door58erelevant to the housing42e.

As with the duct assembly10, any water that passes through the door58eduring submersion of the duct assembly10eor that enters the housing42eduring operation of the vehicle12in wet driving conditions (i.e., rain, snow, etc.), will drain from the housing42evia the check valve46.