Cost effective and efficient air circulation system for a vehicle having rotomolded body assembly

• US 9,370,882 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tata Technologies, Pte. Ltd. (Tata Technologies Ltd. (India))
• Original Assignee: Tata Technologies, Pte. Ltd. (Tata Technologies Ltd. (India))
• Inventors: Giddons, Nigel, Taylor, John William
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister, Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTOV, JONATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US13/276,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20120100792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 454/144, 454/162, 454/164, 296/181.1, 296/208, 180/68.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/04 Rotational or centrifugal casting, i.e. coating the inside of a mould by rotating the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/24 Devices purely for ventilating or where the heating or cooling is irrelevant nozzles, air-diffusers B60H1/34

Abstract

The present invention provides a cost effective and efficient air circulation system for a rotomolded vehicle body, comprising: at least one inlet vent disposed at the lower front of the rotomolded body assembly for receiving the air; an outlet vents comprising at least one venting vane disposed at floor of the rotomolded body assembly for receiving the air from inlet vent and disposing the air to underside of the floor for cooling of the power train system located beneath the floor. A roof of the rotomolded body assembly receiving the air from inlet vents and disposing in the void of the rotomolded body assembly for cooling the passenger area, wherein the air is forced-in from inlet vents and forced-out through the outlet vents. A high volumetric throughput pressure is maintained between inlet and outlet vents comprising the said venting vane due to position thereof.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a roto-molded body assembly including;

a lower body portion having a first inlet vent and a raised securing element, the first inlet vent being positioned at a front side of the lower body portion, the lower body portion comprising an inner skin, an outer skin, and a foam, the foam being disposed between the inner skin and the outer skin for structural stiffness and structural strength of the lower body portion;

an upper body portion mounted on the lower body portion, the upper body portion being secured to the raised securing element of the lower body portion, the upper body portion having an exterior side and an interior side;

an air channel disposed on the lower body portion and coupled to the first inlet vent, the air channel having first outlet vents disposed across a length of the air channel, wherein a power train system is located beneath the air channel; and

an air vent integrally located in the upper body portion, the air vent being sandwiched between the exterior side and the interior side of the upper body portion, the air vent including a second inlet vent and second outlet vents located across a length of the air vent, wherein

the second outlet vents are located on the roof of the roto-molded assembly,

air is received through the first inlet vent and the second inlet vent disposed adjacent to each other when the lower body portion and the upper body portion are assembled, and

some portion of the air is disposed out through the first outlet vents on to the power train system located beneath the air channel and a remaining portion of the air is disposed out through the second outlet vents into an interior passenger area formed between the upper body portion and the lower body portion upon assembly in order to enable air circulation and ventilation in the roto-molded body assembly.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the air channel is positioned centrally from the front side of the lower body portion to a rear side of the lower body portion.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the roto-molded body assembly is made using at least one of a polyethylene, a polypropylene or a polymide.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first inlet vent comprises a filter for filtering one or more of particles, odor, and water.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first inlet vent comprises a closing means for closing the first inlet vent.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the closing means is one of a flap and a sliding window.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first inlet vent and the second inlet vent touch each other when the lower body portion and the upper body portion are assembled.