Vehicle hood opening for cooling airflow and method of cooling a heat-dissipating component

• US 20060048986A1
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Bracciano, Daniel Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/937,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048986A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/69.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/28 the openings being situated directly in front of vehicle front window
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3227 characterised by the arrangement or the type of heat exchanger, e.g. condenser, evaporator condensed liquid drainage means B60H1/3233
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/14 Condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/18 Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers such arrangements on cylinders or cylinder heads F01P3/04; relative to vehicles B60K11/04

Abstract

A vehicle hood is formed to define an air inlet in fluid communication with a heat-dissipating component such as an air conditioning condenser to permit outside air to flow through the inlet for cooling of the heat-dissipating component. Notably, the air inlet is different from the grille opening traditionally used to cool a condenser and a vehicle radiator; the inlet is located rearward on the hood, permitting the condenser to be located apart from the radiator in the front compartment. A method of cooling a heat-dissipating component is also provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle hood for a vehicle having a heat-dissipating component, said hood including:

structure defining an air inlet positioned in air flow relationship with respect to said heat-dissipating component to permit outside air to flow through said air inlet and across said heat-dissipating component thereby cooling said heat-dissipating component.

2. The vehicle hood of claim 1, wherein said hood includes a generally upward-facing surface;

and wherein said structure defining an air inlet is said generally upward-facing surface such that said air inlet is also generally upward-facing.

3. The vehicle hood of claim 1, further comprising:

a diverter structure mounted at said air inlet so as to direct additional 5 outside air through said air inlet when the vehicle moves, thereby increasing cooling of said heat-dissipating component.

4. The vehicle hood of claim 3, further comprising:

a grille positioned at said air inlet for decreasing a maximum opening size of said air inlet.

5. The vehicle hood of claim 1, further comprising:

a duct connected between air inlet and said heat-dissipating component for directing air flowing through said air inlet to said heat-dissipating component.

6. The vehicle hood of claim 5, further comprising:

a seal sealing said duct to one of said structure defining an air inlet and substantially outer edges of said heat-dissipating component.

7. A vehicle including:

a hood having a generally upward-facing surface extending over and at least partially defining a compartment in a substantially forward portion of said vehicle;

a heat-dissipating component located within said compartment; and

wherein said generally upward-facing surface of said hood defines an air inlet positioned in air flow relationship with respect to said heat-dissipating component to permit outside air to flow through said inlet and across said heat-dissipating component, thereby cooling said heat-dissipating component.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said vehicle further includes one of an air conditioning system and a power plant;

and wherein said heat-dissipating component is one of a condenser for said air conditioning system and a radiator for cooling said power plant, respectively.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a diverter structure mounted at said air inlet to direct additional outside air through said air inlet when the vehicle moves, thereby increasing cooling of said heat-dissipating component.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a duct connected between said air inlet and said heat-dissipating component for directing air flowing through said air inlet to said heat-dissipating component.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a seal sealing said duct to one of said hood and said heat-dissipating component, respectively.

12. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said vehicle further includes a power plant and a radiator for cooling said power plant;

and wherein said heat-dissipating component is an air conditioning system condenser located substantially rearward in said compartment with respect to said radiator.

13. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a fan located adjacent to said heat-dissipating component and operable for at least partially causing said air flow through said air inlet.

14. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a grille positioned at said air inlet for decreasing maximum opening size at said air inlet.

15. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a steering system, a braking system, a suspension system and an energy conversion system;

wherein said energy conversion system includes a fuel cell; and

wherein at least one of said steering system, said braking system, said suspension system and said energy conversion system is responsive to non-mechanical control signals.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a hood having a generally upward-facing surface extending over and at least partially defining a compartment in a substantially forward portion of said vehicle;

an air conditioning condenser located within said compartment;

wherein said hood defines an air inlet;

a duct connected between said air inlet and said condenser; and

a fan located adjacent to said condenser and operable for at least partially causing air flow through said air inlet and said duct and across said condenser for cooling said condenser.

17. A method of cooling a heat-dissipating component located in a front compartment of a vehicle, said front compartment being at least partially defined by a vehicle hood, said method comprising:

forming an air inlet in said hood; and

forcing air through said inlet and across said heat-dissipating component.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said forcing is at least partially via a fan mounted in said front compartment adjacent said heat-dissipating component.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

mounting a diverter at said air inlet such that said diverter extends at least partially above said inlet; and

diverting air through said air inlet via said diverter for further cooling of said heat-dissipating component.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said heat-dissipating component is a first heat-dissipating component and said air inlet is a first air inlet, the method further comprising:

mounting a second heat-dissipating component in said front compartment in air flow relationship with a second air inlet formed on said vehicle for providing cooling air flow to said second heat-dissipating component; and

mounting said first heat-dissipating component in said front compartment at a location spaced substantially apart from and rearward of said second heat-dissipating component such that said first heat-dissipating component is not substantially cooled by said cooling air flow provided through said second air inlet.