Patent Application
20120100792
The present invention relates to air circulation system for vehicles and more particularly the present invention relates to a cost effective and efficient air circulation system for a vehicle having rotomolded body assembly.
Vehicle air circulation and ventilation systems have long been utilized in vehicles to provide comfort by way of constant supply of fresh air to the vehicle occupants. Initial air circulation and ventilation systems comprised of a simple duct that was opened or closed by a manually operated valve directing outside ambient air to the vehicle's interior. Advances made over the years includes, utilizing of various vents along with an electrically driven fan or impeller directing the outside ambient air around the vehicle for air circulation and ventilation purposes.
Most air circulation and ventilation systems in vehicles require custom fabricated duct work to transfer ambient air in and around the vehicle, in such a scenario the cost for manufacturing, tooling, installation and maintenance of the electrically driven fan or impeller adds on cost of the vehicle as well the complexity in the manufacturing process. In addition, it requires separate ducts as well as typical additional vents to be made in the vehicle to enable the air circulation and ventilation in the vehicle.
One of the disadvantages of using electrically driven fan or impeller along with custom fabricated ductwork for pulling the ambient air inside the vehicle is that it may not provide efficient air circulation in the rear compartment as compared to front compartment of the vehicle. At the same time, it may not be cool the power train system. Another disadvantage is that the fan or impeller can make a noise once it gets old hence the maintenance cost are inevitable.
With the advent of polymer molded vehicle bodies, it is possible to simplify and cut down the cost of air circulation and ventilation systems.
Some of the prior arts known to us, which deal with air circulation and ventilation system for cooling of the power train systems as well as the passenger area in the vehicle, are as follows:
US20100225264 filed by Okuda et al teaches that a system for cooling a battery mounted on a vehicle using air within a vehicle, independent of the travelling state of the vehicle. The air within a vehicle compartment is guided to a battery mounted on a vehicle to cool the battery. A controller determines a basic fan speed “v” of the cooling fan based on a battery temperature and an ambient temperature. Further, the controller calculates an increment “δv” of the fan speed in accordance with the vehicle speed and the degree of window opening and determines a final fan speed “V” according to “V=v+δv”, to drive the cooling fan. By controlling the fan speed to increase, it is possible to cool the battery even when the base pressure of the inlet-side static pressure of the cooling fan becomes negative pressure compared to when the windows are closed. However, the ventilation system requires a separate pathway from exterior to interior.
JP2007112268 filed by Hiroyuki et al teaches a method for cooling inverter and battery. This battery temperature optimizing system for vehicle includes a duct, which helps cabin communicate with vehicular exterior surrounding. The battery and the other heating element are disposed in series within the duct this battery temperature optimizing system further includes an airflow changer for changing an air circulation path in the duct based on temperatures of the battery. However, the ventilation system requires a separate pathway from exterior to interior.
WO2010076453 filed by Robert et al teaches that a device for cooling the battery or batteries of a motor vehicle, especially an electric vehicle, wherein said vehicle comprises of a temperature regulating unit provided with an evaporator arranged in the passenger compartment and a condenser arranged outside the passenger compartment. Said device is characterized in that it comprises an air conduit between the evaporator and the battery or batteries, for recuperating some of the cold air generated by the evaporator and sending it to the battery or batteries in order to cool same. However, this invention is using a conventional air conditioning cooler for cooling the battery or batteries of the motor vehicle.
However, difficulties have been encountered in obtaining uniform air distribution with adequate air exchange and maintaining high efficiency in the passenger area as well as power train systems of the vehicle at the lowest possible cost.
Thus, in the light of the above mentioned state of the art, it is evident that, there is a long felt need in the art to:
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective and an efficient air circulation system for a vehicle having rotomolded body assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide the use of the vehicular body to act as a ventilation enabler without adding separate ducts as well as typical additional vents.
A further object of the present invention is to provide sufficient air circulation to the passenger area as well as the power train systems by virtue of forward motion of the vehicle.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a unique pathway by the rotomolding process to generate a cavity in the wall of the body of the vehicle for cooling of the power train systems as well as the passenger area using the ambient external air.
Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the machining and tooling cost involved in the production of air circulation and ventilation systems in the vehicle.
A still further object of the invention is to reduce the number of OEM suppliers engaged in production of the vehicle air circulation and ventilation systems in the vehicle.
Before the present systems and methods enablement are described, it is to be understood that this invention in not limited to the particular systems and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments of the present invention and which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
In one aspect of the invention, an air circulation system for rotomolded body assembly (100) is provided, the said system comprising; a lower body frame (10) having at least one air inlet vent (6) positioned at front of the lower body frame (10) and an air channel (14) having an air outlet vent (5) comprising at least one venting vane disposed on the lower body frame (10), wherein the venting vane integrally molded therein; an upper body frame (30) mounted on the lower body frame (10) having an exterior side and an interior side, an air outlet vents (5) characterized in that the high volumetric throughput pressure is maintained between at least one air inlet vent (6) and the air outlet vent (5) by virtue of the position thereof; and an air vent integrally located inside the upper body frame sandwiched between the exterior side and the interior side.
In another aspect of the invention, a cost effective and an efficient air circulation system is provided for a vehicle having rotomolded body assembly characterized in that the rotomolded interior body voids act a ventilation provider obviating the need of separate ducts as well as typical additional vents.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings example constructions of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific systems and methods and disclosed. In the drawings:
Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating its features, will now be discussed:
The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
It must also be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present invention, the preferred, systems and methods are now described.
The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.
The term vehicle refer to at least one element that can be selected from the group comprising of motor vehicle, automobile, personal transport vehicle, automated guided vehicle, or self-propelled machines.
The terms front, rear, left or right side of the vehicle are to be interpreted in their common definition with respect to a vehicle.
The terms “system,” “systems,” “components” or “parts” refers to a common term “systems” and essentially mean the same.
The terms “outlet vent,” or “outlet ventilation vent,” refers to a common term “outlet vent” and essentially mean the same.
The terms “inlet vent,” or “inlet ventilation vent,” refers to a common term “inlet vent” and essentially mean the same.
Most heating and ventilation systems in vehicles require custom fabricated duct work as well as typical additional vents to transfer air around the vehicle, wherein the manufacturing, tooling, installation and maintenance cost of the electrically driven fan or impeller for air circulation and ventilation purposes in the vehicle which increases the manufacturing and maintenance cost of the vehicle quite considerably.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a cost effective and efficient air circulation system for a vehicle having rotomolded body assembly. In this invention, the air is forced through the forward motion of the vehicle, additional electrically driven fan or impeller is not required thereby saving the manufacturing, maintenance cost of the vehicle.
In one embodiment of the invention, the vehicle structure has rotomolded body assembly, wherein the load bearing automotive vehicle structure is made of polymeric material that does not require supporting metal sub-frame to provide desired stiffness, strength, and durability to the structure. Such a vehicle structure is achieved by the process of rotational molding of the polymeric material.
Rotational molding, also known as roto-molding or rotary molding is a molding process for manufacturing of hollow items. The polymeric members can be selected from the group of polyethylene, polyamides and polypropylene polymers, copolymers and blended compositions of the same. The rotational molding process is a high-temperature, low-pressure plastic-forming process that uses heat and biaxial rotation (angular rotation on two axes) to produce hollow, one-piece parts.
The rotational molding process has distinct advantages:
The rotational molding can be multilayered and includes foam layers to provide multifunctional improvements. The foam is created as separate layers within the cavity formed by the inner and outer solid plastic skins. Additionally, the foams layers are formed so as to leave a continuous air filled cavity within and throughout the body walls.
As shown in
In one embodiment of the invention the skins and the foam layers are used in creating the body of the vehicle, which is made from High Density Polyethylene; HDPE, will deliver the rigidity and safety. In the multilayered structure of the present invention, the layers adhere to each other to acquire desired stiffness, strength and durability.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the vehicle having rotomolded body assembly, wherein rotomolded body assembly having two portions namely lower body portion and an upper body portion. The lower body portion and upper body portion are joined or fixed together to form a rotomolded body assembly of the vehicle.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more inlet vents are disposed at front of the lower body portion 10 of the rotomolded body assembly for receiving the air. According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the inlet vents can be closed using the closing means, the said closing means can be selected one from the group of flap or sliding window, etc. According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, each of inlet vents may have further openings. Accordingly, to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, each of inlet vents may further have filter for filtering the particulate matter, odor or water from entering outside into inside of the vehicle. An air outlet vent (5) comprising at least one venting vane disposed at the air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly for receiving the air from inlet vents and disposing the air to underside of air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly for cooling of the power train system located beneath air channel 14. outlet vents (5) disposed at the back side of the air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly are shown in the
According to one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation in the lower body portion 10 of the rotomolded body assembly of the vehicle takes place in the following manner: the air is received via inlet vents disposed at front of the lower body portion 10 of the rotomolded body assembly and then the air is disposed to underside of air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly for cooling of the power train system located beneath air channel 14 via the outlet vent (5) comprising said venting vane disposed at the air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly by virtue of the forward motion of the vehicle. The said outlet vent (5) comprising the said venting vane disposed at the back side of the air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly are shown in the
According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the rotomolded interior body voids acts as a ventilation enabler obviating the need of separate ducts. The void occurs in the upper body portion 30 of the rotomolded assembly by design of the rotomolding process and molding requirements. According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, an air outlet vent (5) comprising the said venting vane are disposed at roof of the rotomolded body assembly for receiving the air from inlet vents and disposing in the void of the rotomolded body assembly for cooling the passenger area.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the air circulation in the upper body portion 30 of the rotomolded body assembly of the vehicle takes place in the following manner: the air is received via inlet vents disposed at front of the lower body portion 10 of the rotomolded body assembly and then the air is disposed in the void of the rotomolded body assembly for cooling the passenger area via the air outlet vent (5) comprising the said venting vane disposed at front side and roof of the rotomolded body assembly, then the air is disposed to underside of air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly for cooling of the power train system located beneath air channel 14 via the air outlet vent (5) comprising the said venting vane disposed at the air channel 14 and subsequently the air is received after cooling the power train systems by the outlet vents (5) disposed at the back side of the air channel 14 of the rotomolded body assembly are shown in the
According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, inlet vents are used to receive the outside ambient air and then disposes some portion of the air to outlet vents (5) disposed at the air channel 14 and disposes the remaining portion of the air to outlet vents (5) disposed at the roof of the rotomolded body assembly due to forward motion of the vehicle for cooling of the power train systems and the passenger area respectively.
The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures, systems and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit and scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2941/MUM/2010 | Oct 2010 | IN | national |
