Patent Description:
In recent years, electric and hybrid vehicles have been developed as vehicles with low fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Hybrid cars are equipped with an engine and a motor, and are structured to be used selectively. Hybrid cars and other vehicles are equipped with a battery. When a battery is installed in the vehicle, the battery must be cooled. In this regard, the prior art includes attempts to cool the battery by means of an arrangement of air intake ducts and exhaust ducts (see Patent Document <NUM>).

Patent Document <NUM> (see below) discloses a battery cooling air discharge structure comprising:
a floor panel constituting a lower part of a vehicle body of a vehicle and enabling placement of a battery; a floor arranged above the floor panel to allow placement of the battery between the floor and the floor panel; a plurality of rows of seats arranged on the floor; and an exhaust duct configured to discharge battery cooling air, the exhaust duct having an exhaust port located between the floor and a seating part of a rear seat that constitutes the seats.

The inventors have focused on the fact that as the sound of the air required for cooling the battery grows louder, the noise of the air flow increases, making it difficult to suppress the sound due to the increased sound of the flowing air, and have conducted extensive studies on this problem.

In consideration of the circumstance described above, an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a battery cooling air discharge structure that can suppress noise even if the amount of cooling air that is required for the battery becomes relatively high.

The problem is solved by a battery cooling air discharge structure according to claim <NUM>.

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the explanations of the drawings, the same elements have been assigned the same reference symbols, and redundant explanations have been omitted. The embodiment shown here is an example implementation of the technical concept of the present invention and does not limit the present invention. Thus, all other implementable forms, methods of use, operation techniques, etc., that can be conceived of by a person skilled in the art, etc., without departing from the present invention are included within the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Further, the drawings appended to the Specification may, for the sake of convenience, ease of understanding and illustration, be schematically represented, where the scale, length-to-width ratio, shape, etc., of the actual objects are changed, as appropriate, but are only examples and do not limit the interpretation of the present invention.

Further, in the figures, the orientation is indicated by the use of arrows represented by X, Y, and Z (coordinate system). That is, the "Z direction" is the vertical direction, the "X direction" is orthogonal to the Z direction and parallel to the horizontal plane, and the "Y direction" is orthogonal to the Z direction and parallel to the horizontal plane (direction orthogonal to the X direction).

Thus, for example, the direction of the arrow indicated by X represents the front-rear direction of vehicle <NUM>, where plus indicates rear to front. Y represents the width direction of the vehicle <NUM>, where plus indicates rightward. Z represents the height direction of the vehicle <NUM>, where plus indicates upward.

In the following description, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used for the sake of convenience and, unless otherwise specified, do not denote any particular order.

The vehicle <NUM> equipped with the battery cooling air discharge structure may be a vehicle, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) that uses a combination of an internal combustion engine and a battery-driven motor as a driving source, an electric vehicle (EV) that travels by means of a battery-driven motor, and the like.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> comprises vehicle body B, seats <NUM>, a floor consisting of a floor panel top portion <NUM> and a floor panel bottom portion fp, a battery <NUM>, air intake ducts <NUM>, a connecting duct <NUM>, an exhaust fan <NUM>, and an exhaust duct <NUM>. A detailed description follows.

The vehicle body B constitutes a framework that separates the passenger and luggage areas of the vehicle <NUM> from the outside. Although the vehicle body B of the vehicle <NUM> is configured as a compact car, such as a hatchback in the present embodiment, the type of vehicle (the shape and structure of the vehicle body B) is not particularly limited as long as the vehicle has structures that are the same as the seats <NUM>, floor (floor panel top portion <NUM> and floor panel bottom portion fp), and the exhaust duct <NUM>, described further below.

As shown in <FIG>, in the vehicle body B, the lower part of the vehicle <NUM> is provided with the floor panel bottom portion fp on which the battery <NUM>, described further below, can be placed.

The seats <NUM> are configured to be installed on the floor panel top portion <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> in a plurality of rows. In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the seats <NUM>, as seen from the front, include front seats <NUM> that correspond to a first row of seats, and a rear seat <NUM> that corresponds to a second row of seats.

The front seats <NUM> are installed to be movable at least in the front-rear direction X relative to the floor panel top portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the front seats <NUM> include a backrest <NUM> against which an occupant's back can be rested, a seating part <NUM> on which the occupant's buttocks can be seated, and a headrest <NUM> on which the occupant's head can be rested. In the present embodiment, the front seats <NUM> are provided with independent driver and passenger seats.

As shown in <FIG>, a luggage space L (also called luggage room or cargo area) connected to the passenger compartment is provided behind the rear seat <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, etc., the rear seat <NUM> includes a backrest <NUM>, a seating part <NUM>, and headrests <NUM>. Unlike the front seats <NUM>, the rear seat <NUM> is configured as a so-called bench seat, in which the left and right seats are connected. Thus, the backrest <NUM> and the seating part <NUM> are configured such that the backs and buttocks of a plurality of occupants can be placed on the rear seat <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, etc., the underside of the seating part <NUM> has a notch <NUM> in the height direction Z. The notch <NUM> has a concave shape, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, etc. As shown in <FIG>, the concave shape of the notch <NUM> is configured to face downward in the height direction Z. As shown in <FIG>, the notch <NUM> has a first concave portion <NUM>, an enlarged portion <NUM>, a second concave portion <NUM>, a third concave portion <NUM>, and a convex portion <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first concave portion <NUM> is configured to allow the adjacent placement of an exhaust port <NUM> of the exhaust duct <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first concave portion <NUM> is provided on the front side of the seating part <NUM> in the front-rear direction X. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the first concave portion <NUM> is configured to be formed to extend through to a front end portion f of the seating part <NUM>. However, as long as the exhaust duct <NUM>, described further below, can be disposed below the seating part <NUM> in the height direction Z, the first concave portion <NUM> need not be formed to extend through to front end portion f of the seating part <NUM>.

The enlarged portion <NUM> is provided continuous with the first concave portion <NUM> behind the first concave portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction X. The enlarged portion <NUM> is configured such that that the cross-sectional shape of the notch from the first concave portion <NUM> is enlarged in the front-rear direction X. The enlarged portion <NUM> is configured such that the shape of the notch in the lower surface of the seating part <NUM> leads from the first concave portion <NUM> to the second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM> rearward in the front-rear direction X.

The second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM> are provided in a continuous (connected) manner from the enlarged portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM> are configured to extend substantially linearly to rear end portion r of the seating part <NUM> in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle <NUM>. The second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM> preferably have the same cross-sectional shapes of the concave portions. However, as long as the shapes are not extremely different, there may be slight differences in the cross-sectional shapes (for example, one may be a perfect circle while the other is an ellipse, or, in the case that the cross-sectional shapes are rectangular, the aspect ratio (length-to-width ratio) of the rectangular cross section may be different).

The convex portion <NUM> bifurcates the notch connected to the enlarged portion <NUM> into the second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM>. The position of the convex portion <NUM> is between the second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM> in the width direction Y in the present embodiment.

By means of such a configuration, air from the exhaust port <NUM> of the exhaust duct <NUM> can be directed along the first concave portion <NUM> and the enlarged portion <NUM>, to the second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM>, which correspond to branch flow paths, and from there into the luggage space L.

The convex portion <NUM> can be positioned the buttocks (hip point) of the occupant in the rear seat <NUM>. The convex portion <NUM> may be referred to as a pad, from the standpoint of being able to support the occupant's hip area.

The floor panel top portion <NUM> is arranged above the floor panel bottom portion fp in the height direction Z. The floor panel top portion <NUM> is configured to allow the battery <NUM> to be positioned between the floor panel top and the floor panel bottom portion fp. The floor panel top portion <NUM> constitutes the lower part of the vehicle cabin of the vehicle <NUM>. A carpet, floor mats, etc., can be placed on the floor panel top portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the floor panel top portion <NUM> has a horizontal portion <NUM>, a raised portion <NUM>, and rising portions <NUM>, <NUM>.

The horizontal portion <NUM> is the part of the vehicle cabin where the occupants' feet can be placed, and where the above-described carpet, etc., can be installed.

The raised portion <NUM> is provided in the central area (middle portion) of the horizontal portion <NUM> in the width direction Y. The raised portion <NUM> is made higher than the horizontal portion <NUM> in the height direction Z in order to arrange thereunder the exhaust fan <NUM>, etc., of the battery <NUM>, described further below.

The rising portions <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned behind the horizontal portion <NUM> and the raised portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction X, and are positioned in the area below the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM>. The rising portions <NUM>, <NUM> are formed such that the height in the height direction Z gradually increases rearward in the front-rear direction X relative to the horizontal portion <NUM>. The rising portion <NUM> is arranged such that the exhaust duct <NUM> is not exposed to the vehicle cabin (passenger compartment). The rising portions <NUM> is formed so as to rise higher in the height direction Z than the rising portion <NUM> below the seating part <NUM>.

<FIG>, which corresponds to the configuration described below, corresponds to <FIG> without the floor panel top portion <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> is an energy storage device that supplies electrical energy to a motor, not shown, and is charged by the driving force of the engine and the recovery of regenerative energy. As shown in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the battery <NUM> is configured to be located near the lower part of the front seats <NUM> of the seats <NUM>.

The air intake ducts <NUM> are configured for the intake of air and other gases used for cooling the battery <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the air intake ducts <NUM> are configured to be located near the lower part of the front seats <NUM> of the seats <NUM> and outwardly in the width direction Y from the battery <NUM>. The openings of the air intake ducts <NUM> may be located in essentially the same plane (same height) as the horizontal portion <NUM> of the floor panel top portion <NUM>.

The connecting duct <NUM> is configured for taking in air and other gases that flow in from the air intake duct <NUM> and pass through the battery <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the connecting duct <NUM> is arranged between the battery <NUM> and the exhaust fan <NUM> in the front-rear direction X. For example, the connecting duct <NUM> can be arranged essentially in the center in the width direction Y. The connecting duct <NUM> can be arranged to extend rearward from the connecting portion with the battery <NUM> in the front-rear direction X.

The exhaust fan <NUM> generates air for cooling the battery <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the exhaust fan <NUM> can be composed of a sirocco-type centrifugal fan, or the like. The intake port of the exhaust fan <NUM> can be connected to the connecting duct <NUM>.

The exhaust duct <NUM> is configured to be able to discharge the air that has cooled the battery <NUM>. The exhaust duct <NUM> is arranged between the floor panel bottom portion fp and the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> that constitutes the seats <NUM>. The exhaust duct <NUM> is arranged underneath the floor panel top portion <NUM>; one end of the exhaust duct is connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust fan <NUM>. The other end of the exhaust duct is arranged adjacent to the lower surface of the rear seat <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the exhaust duct <NUM> includes a floor proximity portion <NUM>, a rising portion <NUM>, a seat proximity portion <NUM>, and the exhaust port <NUM>.

The floor proximity portion <NUM> is connected to the exhaust port of the exhaust fan <NUM> and is located adjacent to the floor panel top portion <NUM>. The floor proximity portion <NUM> is configured in the form of a cavity extending essentially linearly along the front-rear direction X of the vehicle <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the floor proximity portion <NUM> is configured such that an approximately rectangular cross section with rounded corners extending linearly in the front-rear direction X.

The rising portion <NUM> is shaped to connect the floor proximity portion <NUM> and the seat proximity portion <NUM>. The rising portion <NUM> is configured to extend along the height direction Z. In the present embodiment, the rising portion <NUM> is configured as a shape that extends linearly not only in the height direction Z but also in the front-rear direction X and the width direction Y. However, the specific shape of the rising portion <NUM> is not limited in this way, and, in addition to the foregoing, may be shaped to extend linearly only in the height direction Z, for example.

The seat proximity portion <NUM> is configured to be disposed at a different height than the height of the floor proximity portion <NUM> in the height direction Z, specifically, at a higher position than the floor proximity portion <NUM>. Thus, the seat proximity portion <NUM> is configured to be located closer than the floor proximity portion <NUM> to the lower surface of the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM>.

The exhaust port <NUM> is configured to be located between the horizontal portion <NUM> of the floor panel top portion <NUM> and the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> constituting the seats <NUM>. The exhaust port <NUM> is configured as an opening at the end of the seat proximity portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the exhaust port <NUM> is configured to be arranged adjacent to the notch <NUM> of the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM>. The exhaust port <NUM> is positioned in front of the rear end portion r of the seating part <NUM> in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle <NUM>. In other words, the exhaust port <NUM> is configured to be positioned in front of the enlarged portion <NUM> in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle (see <FIG>).

As described above, the battery cooling air discharge structure according to the present embodiment includes the floor panel bottom portion fp, the floor panel top portion <NUM>, the seats <NUM>, and the exhaust duct <NUM>. The floor panel bottom portion fp constitutes the lower part of vehicle body B of the automobile (vehicle <NUM>) and is configured to enable placement of the battery <NUM>. The floor panel top portion <NUM> is located above the floor panel bottom portion fp and is configured such that the battery <NUM> can be disposed between the floor panel top portion and the floor panel bottom portion fp. The seats <NUM> are configured to be installed in a plurality of rows on the floor panel top portion <NUM>, in the same manner as the front seats <NUM> and the rear seat <NUM>. The exhaust duct <NUM> is configured to be able to discharge the air that has cooled the battery <NUM>. The exhaust port <NUM> of the exhaust duct <NUM> is arranged between the floor panel top portion <NUM> and the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> that constitutes the seats <NUM>.

By means of this configuration, the cooling air that passes through the battery <NUM> and is discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> of the exhaust duct <NUM> passes between the floor panel top portion <NUM> and the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> and is routed to the luggage space L. Since the cooling air is thus distributed to the rear of the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> for the occupants, the cooling air discharged from the exhaust port <NUM> at the end of the exhaust duct <NUM> is diffused between the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> and the floor panel top portion <NUM>, the sound of the cooling air can be absorbed by the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM>, and the speed of the air that flows from the seating part <NUM> to the luggage space L can be reduced, so that the sound of the cooling air is less likely to reach the occupants' ears. Therefore, the noise heard by the occupants due to the cooling air from the exhaust duct <NUM> can be suppressed.

Further, the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> has the notch <NUM> formed by notching the lower surface. The exhaust duct <NUM> is configured so that at least the vicinity of the exhaust port <NUM> is located adjacent to the notch <NUM> in the seating part <NUM>. By means of this configuration, it becomes possible to prevent or suppress the deformation of the exhaust duct <NUM> due to external force or impact received in the area of the exhaust port <NUM> of the exhaust duct <NUM>, etc., when a passenger boards the vehicle <NUM> or when the vehicle <NUM> accelerates or decelerates.

Further, the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM> is provided with the notch <NUM>, which is made by forming a concave cutout in the underside of the seating part. The notch <NUM> has the first concave portion <NUM>, the enlarged portion <NUM>, the second and third concave portions <NUM>, <NUM>, and the convex portion <NUM>. The first concave portion <NUM> is configured to allow the adjacent placement of the exhaust port <NUM>. The enlarged portion <NUM> is continuous with the first concave portion <NUM> and is configured so that that the cross-sectional shape of the notch from the first concave portion <NUM> is enlarged. The second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM> are continuous with the enlarged portion <NUM>. The convex portion <NUM> bifurcates the notch connected to the enlarged portion <NUM> into the second and third concave portions <NUM>, <NUM>. By means of this configuration, there is no need to extend exhaust duct <NUM> to the luggage space L of the vehicle <NUM>. As a result, when a passenger sits on the seating part <NUM> of the rear seat <NUM>, he or she is less likely to feel a foreign object due to an extension of the exhaust duct <NUM>; thus, the seating comfort is improved, and the cost of the exhaust duct can be decreased to the extent that the length of the exhaust duct <NUM> is reduced, thereby reducing the cost of the vehicle body.

Further, the second concave portion <NUM> and the third concave portion <NUM> comprising the notch <NUM> are configured to extend to the rear end portion r of the seating part <NUM> in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle <NUM>. Thus, the notch <NUM> in the seating part <NUM> can guide the cooling air discharged from the exhaust duct <NUM> to the luggage space L or its vicinity.

Further, the exhaust port <NUM> of the exhaust duct <NUM> is located in front of the rear end portion r of the seating part <NUM> in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle <NUM>. By means of this configuration, compared to a case in which the exhaust duct <NUM> is extended to the rear end portion r of the seating part <NUM>, the cost of the exhaust duct, and thus the cost of the vehicle body, can be reduced.

The exhaust duct <NUM> also has the floor proximity portion <NUM> that is adjacent to the horizontal portion <NUM> of the floor panel top portion <NUM> and that extends along the front-rear direction X of the vehicle <NUM>. By means of this configuration, the shape of the exhaust duct <NUM> can be simplified, and thus the cost of the exhaust duct, and that of the vehicle body, can be reduced.

Claim 1:
A battery cooling air discharge structure comprising:
a floor panel (fp) constituting a lower part of a vehicle body of a vehicle and enabling placement of a battery;
a floor (<NUM>) arranged above the floor panel (fp) to allow placement of the battery between the floor (<NUM>) and the floor panel (fp);
a plurality of rows of seats (<NUM>) arranged on the floor (<NUM>); and
an exhaust duct (<NUM>) configured to discharge battery cooling air,
the exhaust duct (<NUM>) having an exhaust port (<NUM>) located between the floor (<NUM>) and a seating part (<NUM>) of a rear seat that constitutes the seats (<NUM>);
characterized in that
an underside of the seating part (<NUM>) has a notch (<NUM>); and
at least an area of the exhaust port (<NUM>) of the exhaust duct (<NUM>) is located adjacent to the notch (<NUM>).