DUCT FOR HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY AIR COOLING EXHAUST AND RECIRCULATION

• US 20150060168A1
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Janarthanam, Suriyaprakash Ayyangar, Fabricatore, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,302,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00278 for the battery arrangement of batteries B60R16/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/61 Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle is provided including a battery pack with an exhaust port, an air extractor spaced away from the exhaust port, and other vehicle components. A cargo tub and one or more trim panels are arranged to define a duct spanning from the exhaust port, across the vehicle and to an air extractor spaced away from the exhaust port. Air flows along the duct en route to outside the vehicle via the air extractor. The vehicle may also include a cabin and an inlet to the cabin spaced away from the exhaust port. The cargo tub and one or more trim panels may also be arranged to define a recirculation path from the duct to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path to the cabin via the inlet.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a battery pack;

an exhaust port for the battery pack;

an air extractor spaced away from the exhaust port; and

a cargo tub and at least one trim panel arranged to define a duct spanning from the exhaust port, across the vehicle, and to the air extractor such that air exiting the exhaust port flows along the duct en route to outside the vehicle via the air extractor.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cabin and an inlet to the cabin spaced away from the exhaust port, wherein the cargo tub and at least one trim panel are further arranged to define a recirculation path from the duct to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path en route to the cabin via the inlet.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one trim panel is a rear quarter trim panel including an inner face exposed to the recirculation path and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least one trim panel is a rear floor support trim panel including an inner face exposed to the recirculation path and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cabin and an inlet to the cabin spaced away from the exhaust port, and a cabin trim panel including an inner face exposed to the cabin and an outer face, and a rear quarter trim panel having an inner face and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle, wherein the outer face of the cabin trim panel and the inner face of the rear quarter trim panel are arranged to define a recirculation path from the duct to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path en route to the cabin via the inlet.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one trim panel is a fascia for a bumper beam, and includes an inner face arranged to further define the duct and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cabin and an inlet to the cabin spaced away from the exhaust port, and a cabin trim panel including a face exposed to the cabin and an outer face, wherein the at least one trim panel is a rear quarter trim panel including an inner face and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle, and wherein the outer face of the cabin trim panel and the inner face of the rear quarter trim panel are arranged to define a recirculation path from the duct to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path en route to the cabin via the inlet.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cabin and an inlet to the cabin spaced away from the exhaust port, and a cabin trim panel including a face exposed to the cabin and an outer face, wherein the at least one trim panel is a rear floor support trim panel including an inner face and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle, and wherein the outer face of the cabin trim panel and the inner face of the rear floor support panel are arranged to define a recirculation path from the duct to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path en route to the cabin via the inlet.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a battery pack including an exhaust port;

a cargo tub having a recessed portion;

an air extractor; and

a fascia arranged adjacent to the cargo tub such that the recessed portion and fascia define a duct spanning from the exhaust port, across the vehicle and to the air extractor such that air exiting the exhaust port flows along the duct en route to outside the vehicle via the air extractor.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the fascia has a face exposed to outside the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a cabin and an inlet to the cabin spaced away from the exhaust port, wherein the cargo tub and fascia are further arranged to define a recirculation path from the duct to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path en route to the cabin via the inlet.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the fascia is a bumper beam fascia.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the fascia includes a recessed portion to further define the duct.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a battery pack including an exhaust port;

an air extractor spaced away from the exhaust port;

a cabin including an inlet spaced away from the exhaust port;

a cargo tub and at least one trim panel arranged to define an exhaust flow path spanning from the exhaust port to the air extractor such that air exiting the exhaust port flows along the exhaust flow path en route to outside the vehicle via the air extractor; and

a cabin trim panel and the at least one trim panel arranged to define a recirculation flow path spanning from the exhaust port to the inlet such that a portion of the air exiting the exhaust port flows along the recirculation path en route to the cabin via the inlet.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one trim panel is a rear floor support trim panel including a recessed portion exposed to the recirculation path.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one trim panel is a rear quarter trim panel including an inner face exposed to the recirculation path and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the cargo tub includes a recessed portion to further define the exhaust flow path.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one trim panel is a fascia for a bumper beam, and includes an inner face arranged to further define the exhaust flow path, and an outer face exposed to outside the vehicle.