Electronic control module cooling device

• US 5,671,802 A
• Filed: 10/05/1995
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Rogers, Daryl Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Ford, John K.
• Application Number:
  US08/539,575
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 165/41, 165/80.3, 165/80.2, 123/198 E, 123/141, 180/68.1, 296/37.1, 454/159, 361/690
• US Class Current: 165/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0239 Electronic boxes

Abstract

An underhood mounting structure for a heat sensitive as well as heat producing electronic control module shields the module from underhood heat as well as cooling it with outside air. A double walled box contains and encloses the module, shielding and insulating it. An inlet hose introduces forced air from the front of the vehicle to the box, where it flows around and cools the contained module before exiting back to the outside.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a high temperature underhood space in which an electronic control module is located, said underhood being defined in part by a fender liner that is spaced from an outer fender, said structure, comprising,

an enclosed box located within said underhood space and having one wall mounted to said fender liner, said module being enclosed and shielded within said box,

an outside air inlet mounted to the front of said vehicle and running between said fender liner and fender so as to scoop in outside air as said vehicle moves and feed said outside air into said box, and,

an air outlet directed oppositely to said air inlet and also running between said fender liner and fender so as to exhaust air from said box back to the outside,

whereby said module is both shielded from said high temperature space as well as actively cooled by outside air, while said air inlet and outlet occupy volume located outside of said underhood space.

2. In a vehicle having a high temperature underhood space in which an electronic control module is located, a structure for both shielding and actively cooling said module, comprising,

an enclosed box located within said space within which said module is contained so as to shield said module, said box having upper and lower divider ribs,

an outside air inlet mounted to the front of said vehicle so as to scoop in outside air as said vehicle moves and feed said outside air into said box on one side of said divider ribs, and,

an air outlet directed oppositely to said air inlet so as to exhaust air from said box on the opposite side of said divider ribs back to the outside,

whereby said module is both shielded from said high temperature space as well as actively cooled by outside air entering said inlet which is directed in a substantially U shaped pattern around said module before exiting.