VEHICLE HEAT RELEASE STRUCTURE

• US 20130180682A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: IMADA, Yasunori
• Application Number:
  US13/610,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20130180682A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/41
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20863 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

A wire harness is threaded from a cabin exterior to a cabin interior. A heat releasing hose is provided by integrally mounting a main portion in the wire harness by taping and the like. A first end portion of the heat releasing hose branches from the wire harness within an engine compartment and is connected to a second terminus of an auxiliary hose provided to a lateral surface of a housing unit so as to enable heated air in a vicinity of a heat generator to flow therethrough. A second end portion of the heat releasing hose is positioned in a location in the cabin interior where air can be expelled.

Claims

1. A heat release structure for a vehicle for a heat generator provided in a cabin exterior region of the vehicle, the heat release structure comprising:

a wire harness positioned so as to run from the cabin exterior region to a cabin interior; and

a heat releasing hose having a first end portion, a main portion, and a second end portion, the main portion being integrally mounted in the wire harness, wherein

the first end portion of the heat releasing hose is positioned within the cabin exterior region and the second end portion of the heat releasing hose is positioned in the cabin interior, and thereby, when a predetermined condition for the vehicle is satisfied, heated air in a vicinity of the heat generator can be taken in by the first end portion, pass through the main portion, and then be expelled to the cabin interior by the second end portion.

2. The heat release structure for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes an air pressure differential arising between the cabin interior and the cabin exterior region due to air pressure inside the cabin becoming lower than that of the cabin exterior region.

3. The heat release structure for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cabin interior includes an air conditioned region having an air conditioner, the air conditioner having a cabin interior air intake ability taking in air of the cabin interior via an intake hose while active, and

the second end portion can be connected so as to join a middle portion of the intake hose, and

the predetermined condition includes a case where the air conditioner is active.

4. The heat release structure for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the heat generator comprises a heat generator housed within a housing unit, and

the heat release structure for the vehicle further comprises an auxiliary hose in which a first terminus is positioned adjacent to the heat generator inside the housing unit and a second terminus is positioned outside the housing unit, and

the first end portion is connected to the second terminus of the auxiliary hose such that heated air can flow therethrough.

5. The heat release structure for the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the wire harness comprises at least one bundle of electric wires,

the heat release structure for the vehicle further comprises:

a wire harness connection provided at a foremost end of the at least one bundle of electric wires; and

a unit connection provided to the housing unit and capable of linking with the wire harness connection, wherein

the unit connection includes an opening capable of expelling heated air from the heat generator,

the wire harness connection includes a heat releasing hose connection terminal capable of connecting to the first end portion of the heat releasing hose, and

when the unit connection and the wire harness connection are linked, the first end portion connected to the wire harness connection allows air within the housing unit to flow through the opening.

6. The heat release structure for the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the housing unit comprises an ECU.

7. The heat release structure for the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the housing unit comprises a junction block.