U.S. patent application number 12/154184 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-27 for cooling module.
This patent application is currently assigned to DENSO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Akira Enomoto, Ryuji Kanzaka, Shingo Kimura, Akihiro Maeda, Yuji Matsubara, Akira Nakawatase, Norihisa Sasano, Kouji Suzuki, Kazuya Tanaka.
Application Number | 20080289796 12/154184 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39671994 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080289796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sasano; Norihisa ; et
al. |
November 27, 2008 |
Cooling module
Abstract
A cooling module includes a heat exchanger, a blower, a fan
shroud and an air cleaner unit for filtering air to be introduced
into an engine of a vehicle. The fan shroud holds the blower on a
downstream side of the heat exchanger with respect to a flow of air
passing through the heat exchanger and has an air introducing
portion defining an air passage from the heat exchanger to the
blower. A front end of the air cleaner unit is offset from the heat
exchanger with respect to a horizontal direction. A side wall of
the air cleaner unit partly forms the air introducing portion. A
clearance is provided between the side wall and the heat exchanger
such that air upstream of the heat exchanger is conducted toward a
position downstream of the heat exchanger through the
clearance.
Inventors: |
Sasano; Norihisa;
(Yatomi-city, JP) ; Maeda; Akihiro; (Kariya,
JP) ; Nakawatase; Akira; (Toyota-city, JP) ;
Kanzaka; Ryuji; (Nishikamo-gun, JP) ; Matsubara;
Yuji; (Toyota-city, JP) ; Kimura; Shingo;
(Ikeda-city, JP) ; Enomoto; Akira; (Kariya-city,
JP) ; Tanaka; Kazuya; (Kariya-city, JP) ;
Suzuki; Kouji; (Kariya-city, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
DENSO CORPORATION
Kariya-city
JP
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
Toyota-city
JP
Toyota Boshoku Corporation
Kariya-city
JP
|
Family ID: |
39671994 |
Appl. No.: |
12/154184 |
Filed: |
May 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M 35/06 20130101;
B60K 11/04 20130101; B60K 13/02 20130101; F02M 35/161 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/51 |
International
Class: |
F01N 5/02 20060101
F01N005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 23, 2007 |
JP |
2007-136603 |
Claims
1. A cooling module to be mounted to a front part of a vehicle, the
cooling module comprising: a heat exchanger for performing heat
exchange between air and a heat medium; a fan shroud disposed
downstream of the heat exchanger with respect to a flow of air
passing through the heat exchanger; a blower held by the fan
shroud; and an air cleaner unit for filtering air to be introduced
into an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, wherein the air
cleaner unit is disposed such that a front end of the air cleaner
unit is offset from the heat exchanger with respect to a horizontal
direction, the fan shroud includes an air introducing portion
defining an air passage from the heat exchanger to the blower, the
air cleaner unit has a side wall, and a part of the side wall forms
a part of the air introducing portion of the fan shroud, and a
clearance is provided between the part of the side wall and the
heat exchanger such that air upstream of the heat exchanger is
conducted toward a position downstream of the heat exchanger
through the clearance.
2. The cooling module according to claim 1, wherein the air cleaner
unit includes an air cleaner case, an air cleaner cap, and an air
cleaner element for filtering the air to be introduced into the
internal combustion engine, the air cleaner element is disposed
between the air cleaner case and the air cleaner cap and arranged
substantially parallel to a plane that is perpendicular to the flow
of air passing through the heat exchanger, and one of the air
cleaner case and the air cleaner cap is integrally formed with the
fan shroud and the side wall is provided by the one.
3. The cooling module according to claim 1, wherein the air cleaner
unit has a length with respect to an up and down direction and a
width with respect to the horizontal direction, and the length is
greater than the width.
4. The cooling module according to claim 1, wherein the air cleaner
unit has an air inlet for introducing air into the air cleaner unit
and an air outlet for discharging the air from the air cleaner unit
after being filtered, the air inlet is located at a position lower
than a middle position of the air cleaner unit with respect to an
up and down direction, and the air outlet is located at a position
higher than the middle position with respect to the up and down
direction.
5. The cooling module according to claim 1, further comprising: an
elastic member having elasticity, wherein the fan shroud is fixed
to a body of the vehicle through the elastic member.
6. The cooling module according to claim 1, further comprising: an
elastic member having elasticity, wherein the fan shroud is fixed
to the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger is fixed to a body of
the vehicle through the elastic member.
7. The cooling module according to claim 2, wherein the air cleaner
unit has a length with respect to an up and down direction and a
width with respect to the horizontal direction, and the length is
greater than the width.
8. The cooling module according to claim 7, wherein the air cleaner
unit has an air inlet for introducing air into the air cleaner unit
and an air outlet for discharging the air from the air cleaner unit
after being filtered, the air inlet is located at a position lower
than a middle position of the air cleaner unit with respect to the
up and down direction, and the air outlet is located at a position
higher than the middle position with respect to the up and down
direction.
9. The cooling module according to claim 8, further comprising: an
elastic member having elasticity, wherein the fan shroud is fixed
to a body of the vehicle through the elastic member.
10. The cooling module according to claim 8, further comprising: an
elastic member having elasticity, wherein the fan shroud is fixed
to the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger is fixed to a body of
the vehicle through the elastic member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2007-136603 filed on May 23, 2007, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooling module including
a fan shroud and an air cleaner unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] For example, heat exchangers, such as a radiator and a
condenser, and a blower for introducing air to the heat exchangers
are mounted to a vehicle body through a front end panel. The front
end panel is also known as a shroud panel, a carrier, a radiator
support and the like. The front end panel is integrally formed with
a fan shroud of the blower. The fan shroud is configured to support
a fan of the blower and to form an air passage from the heat
exchangers to the fan.
[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
11-171041 describes a cooling module having a front end panel. In
the described cooling module, the front end panel forms a closed
space in its upper beam portion, and an air cleaner unit is housed
in the closed space.
[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
10-238825 describes an exterior unit for a fixed air conditioner.
In the described exterior unit, an auxiliary case for supporting a
fan is disposed to oppose a radiator and a condenser. The auxiliary
case is formed with a fan shroud that has a substantially
cylindrical shape for surrounding the fan. Further, a part of the
fan shroud is shared with a side wall of an air cleaner. As such,
the exterior unit is made compact.
[0006] In vehicles, it has been desired to reduce damage to a
person, such as a pedestrian, in a case a vehicle collides with the
person. To reduce damage or impact to a pedestrian in a collision,
it is proposed to increase a clearance between an engine hood and a
front end panel, that is, a free space above the front end panel
within an engine compartment, thereby easing deformation of the
engine hood and the like.
[0007] In the cooling module described in Publication No.
11-171041, since the fan shroud and the air cleaner unit are
arranged in an up and down direction of a vehicle, the size of the
cooling module increases. Further, the weight of the cooling module
increases. Also, since the air cleaner is disposed at the upper
beam portion of the fan shroud, it will be difficult to
sufficiently provide the free space above the front end panel.
[0008] In a case where the fan shroud described in Publication No.
10-238825 is employed to a cooling module for a vehicle, a size of
the cooling module will be reduced and hence it will be easy to
provide the free space above the cooling module. However, in a case
where the air cleaner is disposed to oppose the heat exchangers,
the air cleaner is heated by air that has passed through the heat
exchangers. As a result, the temperature of intake air to be
introduced into an engine through the air cleaner will be
increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is made in view of the foregoing
matter, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a
cooling module having a structure capable of reducing the weight
and increasing a space on its top in a condition mounted in an
engine compartment of a vehicle while effectively cooling air to be
introduced to an internal combustion engine.
[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, a cooling
module to be mounted to a front part of a vehicle includes a heat
exchanger for performing heat exchange between air and a heat
medium, a fan shroud, a blower and an air cleaner unit for
filtering air to be introduced into an internal combustion engine
of the vehicle. The fan shroud is disposed downstream of the heat
exchanger with respect to a flow of air passing through the heat
exchanger. The blower is held by the fan shroud. The fan shroud
includes an air introducing portion defining an air passage from
the heat exchanger to the blower. The air cleaner unit is disposed
such that a front end of the air cleaner unit is offset from the
heat exchanger with respect to a horizontal direction. The air
cleaner unit has a side wall that partly forms the air introducing
portion of the fan shroud. A clearance is provided between the side
wall of the air cleaner unit and the heat exchanger such that air
upstream of the heat exchanger is conducted toward a downstream
position of the heat exchanger through the clearance.
[0011] Accordingly, the air cleaner unit is configured such that a
part of the air cleaner unit serves as a part of the air
introducing portion of the fan shroud. In other words, the air
cleaner unit and the air introducing portion of the fan shroud
share a wall between them. Therefore, the weight of the cooling
module is reduced. Since the heat exchanger and the air cleaner
unit are arranged in the horizontal direction, a space provided
above the cooling module in a condition mounted in an engine
compartment of the vehicle is increased. For example, the space is
effectively used for a pedestrian protection system.
[0012] In addition, since the front end wall of the air cleaner
unit is offset from the heat exchanger, when viewed along the flow
of the air, that is, from the front side, the air cleaner unit is
cooled by air that has not passed through the heat exchanger. As
such, an increase in temperature of the air to be introduced into
the engine is reduced. Further, since the clearance is provided
between the side wall of the air cleaner unit and the heat
exchanger, air is conducted from an upstream position of the heat
exchanger toward a downstream position of the heat exchanger
through the clearance. Therefore, the air cleaner unit is
effectively cooled by the air passing through the clearance. As
such, engine torque is increased while restricting the increase in
temperature of the air to be introduced into the engine.
[0013] Accordingly, the cooling module having the structure capable
of reducing the weight and increasing the space on its top in the
condition mounted in the engine compartment while effectively
cooling the air to be introduced into the engine is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in
which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooling module, when
viewed from a diagonally front side of a vehicle, according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooling module, when
viewed from a diagonally rear side of a vehicle, according to the
first embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling module taken
along a line III-III in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the cooling module
mounted on a vehicle, according to the first embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between rotation
speed of an engine and a sound level of intake air at an air
suction port of an inlet duct of an air cleaner unit of the cooling
module according to the first embodiment; and
[0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic rear view of a cooling module mounted
on a vehicle, according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0021] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the present
embodiment, a cooling module is mounted in an engine compartment
provided at a front end of a vehicle.
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the cooling module generally
includes a radiator 1, a condenser 2, an electric fan unit (blower)
3, a fan shroud 4 and an air cleaner unit 5. The radiator 1 is a
heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a cooling fluid
of an internal combustion engine (hereinafter, engine) and outside
air introduced from an outside of a vehicle, thereby cooling the
cooling fluid. The condenser 2 is a heat exchanger that performs
heat exchange between a refrigerant of a refrigerant cycle of a
vehicular air conditioner (not shown) and the outside air, thereby
cooling the refrigerant.
[0023] The blower 3 is disposed to introduce the outside air to the
radiator 1 and the condenser 2 for cooling the radiator 1 and the
condenser 2. The fan shroud 4 is configured to support the blower 3
and form an air passage from the radiator 1 and the condenser 2 to
the blower 3. That is, the fan shroud 4 is configured to guide the
air to pass through the radiator 1 and the condenser 2 with an
operation of the blower 3. The air cleaner unit 5 is provided to
filter air to be introduced into the engine. Hereinafter, the
radiator 1 and the condenser 2 are also referred to as the heat
exchangers. The air to be introduced into the engine through the
air cleaner unit 5 is also referred to as intake air. The cooling
fluid and the refrigerant correspond to heat mediums.
[0024] The condenser 2 is disposed in front of the radiator 1 with
respect to a vehicle front and rear direction. In other words, the
condenser 2 is disposed upstream of the radiator 1 with respect to
a flow direction of the air, which generally flows in a vehicle
rearward direction. The blower 3 is disposed on a rear side of the
radiator 1 with respect to the vehicle front and rear direction. In
other words, the blower 3 is disposed downstream of the radiator 1
with respect to the air flow direction.
[0025] The air cleaner unit 5 is offset from the heat exchangers 1,
2 with respect to a horizontal direction, such as in a vehicle
width direction that is perpendicular to the vehicle front and rear
direction. That is, the condenser 2 and a front end of the air
cleaner unit 5 are next to each other with respect to the vehicle
width direction when viewed from a front side of the vehicle.
[0026] The blower 3 includes a fan 3a for generating the flow of
air and an electric motor 3b for driving the fan 3a. The fan shroud
4 is made of a resin, such as polypropylene containing glass fiber.
The fan shroud 4 has stays 4a for supporting the fan 3a and an air
introducing portion 4b that forms the air passage from the heat
exchangers 1, 2 to the fan 3a. The air introducing portion 4b is
located upstream of the stays 4a, that is, upstream of a position
where the fan 3a is supported, with respect to the air flow.
[0027] The air cleaner unit 5 includes an air cleaner element 5a
for removing foreign materials from the intake air, an air cleaner
case 5b for housing the air cleaner element 5a, and an air cleaner
cap 5c. The air cleaner element 5a is disposed between the air
cleaner case 5b and the air cleaner cap 5c.
[0028] The air cleaner case 5b is made of the same material as the
fan shroud 4. That is, the air cleaner case 5b is made of a resin
material, such as polypropylene containing glass fiber. The air
cleaner case 5b is a container having a generally rectangular
parallelepiped shape and defining an opening on one side. The air
cleaner element 5a is inserted and fixed to a frame member disposed
on a perimeter of the opening of the air cleaner case 5b. The air
cleaner case 5b further has an air inlet 51 on another side for
introducing the intake air into the air cleaner unit 5. An end of a
tubular inlet duct 61 is coupled to the air inlet 51. The other end
of the inlet duct 61 forms an air suction port 61a through which
the intake air is suctioned into the air cleaner unit 5.
[0029] The air cleaner unit 5 is disposed such that a front end
wall 5d of the air cleaner case 5b is offset from the heat
exchangers 1, 2 with respect to the horizontal direction, when
viewed from the front side of the vehicle. Thus, the front end wall
5d of the air cleaner case 5b is exposed to air that is before
passing through the heat exchangers 1, 2.
[0030] The air cleaner cap 5c is made of the same material as the
air cleaner case 5b. That is, the air cleaner cap 5c is made of a
resin material, such as polypropylene containing glass fiber. The
air cleaner cap 5c is a container having a generally rectangular
parallelepiped shape and defining an opening on one side. The air
cleaner cap 5c has an engagement structure on the perimeter of the
opening. The air cleaner cap 5c is coupled to the air cleaner case
5b such that the openings thereof are opposed to each other through
air cleaner element 5a. The engagement structure of the air cleaner
cap 5c is engaged with the side of the air cleaner case 5b on which
the opening is provided through the air cleaner element 5a.
[0031] The air cleaner cap 5c has an air outlet 52 on another side
for discharging the intake air, which has been filtered through the
air cleaner element 5a, from the air cleaner unit 5. An end of a
tubular outlet duct 62 is coupled to the air outlet 52. The other
end of the outlet duct 62 is in communication with an intake
manifold (not shown), which distributes the intake air into engine
cylinders.
[0032] The air cleaner element 5a is constructed of a filtering
member made of synthetic unwoven fiber, filter paper, or the like.
The air cleaner element 5a is disposed substantially parallel to a
plane that is perpendicular to the vehicle front and rear
direction, that is, the air flow direction. In other words, the air
cleaner case 5b and the air cleaner cap 5c are coupled with respect
to the vehicle front and rear direction through the air cleaner
element 5a. For example, the air cleaner case 5b is located
upstream of the air cleaner cap 5c with respect to the air flow
direction.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the air cleaner case 5b is integrally
formed with the fan shroud 4. The air cleaner case 5b has an outer
wall (side wall) 50 on its upstream side. A part of the outer wall
50, which is on a side adjacent to the heat exchangers 1, 2 and
opposed to the heat exchangers 1, 2, forms a part of the air
introducing portion 4b of the fan shroud 4. That is, the outer wall
50 partly forms the air introducing portion 4b on a side facing the
heat exchangers 1, 2.
[0034] Further, a clearance 7 is provided between the part of the
outer wall 50, which forms the air introducing portion 4b, and the
heat exchangers 1, 2 such that the air in front of the heat
exchangers 1, 2 is partly introduced in the clearance 7 in a
vehicle rearward direction in accordance with negative pressure
generated by the blower 3, as shown by an arrow A1 in FIG. 3. As
such, in the clearance 7, the air flows along the part of the outer
wall 50 in the vehicle rearward direction, while bypassing the heat
exchangers 1, 2.
[0035] The cooling module further has a reserve tank 8 for
absorbing a change of volume of the cooling fluid passing through a
cooling fluid circuit. The reserve tank 8 is made of a resin, and
is fixed on a wall of the fan shroud 4, the wall facing a
downstream position with respect to the air flow direction.
Further, the reserve tank 8 is located at a position opposite to
the air cleaner unit 5 with respect to the heat exchangers 1,
2.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the cooling module when viewed
from the rear side of the vehicle, that is, from a downstream
position with respect to the air flow direction, in a condition
mounted to the vehicle. In FIG. 4, illustration of the reserve tank
8 is omitted.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the air cleaner unit 5 has length H with
respect to the vehicle up and down direction and width W with
respect to the vehicle width direction. The length H is greater
than the width W. That is, a ratio of the length H to the width W
is equal to or greater than one (H/W.gtoreq.1). Here, the length H
is measured at a position where the height is the maximum in the
air cleaner unit 5. Likewise, the width W is measured a position
where the width is the maximum in the air cleaner unit 5. That is,
the length H corresponds to a maximum length of the air cleaner
unit 5 with respect to the vehicle up and down direction, and the
width W corresponds to a maximum length of the air cleaner unit 5
with respect to the vehicle width direction.
[0038] The air inlet 51 is located at a position lower than a
middle height (middle portion) of the air cleaner unit 5 (e.g., air
cleaner case 5b), shown by a dotted line C in FIG. 4, with respect
to the vehicle up and down direction. On the other hand, the air
outlet 52 is located at a position higher than the middle height
(middle portion) of the air cleaner (e.g., air cleaner cap 5c),
with respect to the vehicle up and down direction.
[0039] In the present embodiment, the fan shroud 4 is fixed to the
radiator 1. The radiator 1 on which the fan shroud 4 is fixed, is
mounted to a vehicle body 10 through elastic members, such as
elastically deformable rubber bushings 9. The radiator 1 has pins
1a on its upper and lower ends. For example, the rubber bushings 9
are fixed to the pins 1a beforehand, and the pins 1a are engaged
with portions of the vehicle body 10. As such, the radiator 1 on
which the fan shroud 4 is fixed, that is, the cooling module is
mounted to the vehicle. The condenser 2 can be assembled to the
radiator 1 beforehand into the cooling module. Alternatively, the
condenser 2 can be independently and directly fixed to the vehicle
body 10.
[0040] The fan shroud 4 and the air cleaner case 5b are integrally
formed by injection molding. After the fan shroud 4 and the air
cleaner case 5b are molded in a cavity provided between two moulds,
one of the moulds is moved in a direction that is parallel to a
direction corresponding to the vehicle front and rear direction.
Thus, the integrally molded fan shroud 4 and air cleaner case 5b is
removed from the moulds.
[0041] As described in the above, the air cleaner case 5b and the
fan shroud 4 are integrally formed with each other such that the
part of the outer wall 50 forms the part of the air introducing
portion 4b of the fan shroud 4. That is, the part of the air
cleaner case 5b serves as the air introducing portion 4b. In other
words, the air cleaner case 5b and the fan shroud 4 share a wall
between them. Therefore, the fan shroud 4 becomes compact, and
hence the weight of the cooling module is reduced.
[0042] The air cleaner unit 5 and the heat exchangers 1, 2 are
arranged next to each other with respect to the vehicle width
direction. Therefore, in a condition where the cooling module is
mounted in the engine compartment, a space above the cooling module
is increased. The space can be effectively used as the free space
for a pedestrian protection system. Accordingly, pedestrian
protection performance is improved by the structure of the cooling
module, and the weight of the cooling module is reduced.
[0043] Since the air cleaner case 5b and the fan shroud 4 are
integrally formed with each other such that the wall 50 of the air
cleaner case 5b serves as the part of the air introducing portion
4b of the fan shroud 4, an area of the integrated air cleaner case
5b and fan shroud 4, when projected in a direction parallel to the
vehicle front and rear direction, is reduced. Thus, a size of an
injection molding apparatus can be reduced.
[0044] In addition, the front end wall 5d of the air cleaner unit 5
is located without overlapping with the heat exchangers 1, 2 when
viewed from the front side. Therefore, the air that has not passed
through the heat exchangers 1, 2 can be supplied toward the air
cleaner unit 5. Because the air cleaner unit 5 is cooled by the air
that has not passed through the heat exchangers 1, 2, an increase
in temperature of the intake air is suppressed. Accordingly, engine
torque is increased.
[0045] The fan shroud 4 and the air cleaner case 5b are configured
such that the air in front of the heat exchangers 1, 2 is conducted
toward a downstream position of the heat exchangers 1, 2 through
the clearance 7 provided between the part of the wall 50 and the
heat exchangers 1, 2. Thus, the air cleaner unit 5 is effectively
cooled by the air passing through the clearance 7. As such, the
increase in temperature of the intake air is effectively
restricted, and hence the engine torque is further increased.
[0046] The air cleaner element 5a is disposed substantially
parallel to the plane that is perpendicular to the air flow
direction. Therefore, the air cleaner case 5b has the opening in a
direction coincide with the direction in which the moulds are
opened. Accordingly, the fan shroud 4 and the air cleaner case 5b
are easily integrally formed with each other without requiring a
specific sliding mould. Further, the moulds for molding the fan
shroud 4 and the air cleaner case 5b are reduced in costs, and
hence capital-investment spending is reduced. Accordingly, an
increase in manufacturing cost of the fan shroud 4 with which the
air cleaner case 5b is integrated is suppressed.
[0047] In general, nothing is disposed under an air cleaner unit in
an engine compartment. That is, a space under the air cleaner in
the engine compartment is a dead space. In the present embodiment,
on the other hand, since the height H of the air cleaner unit 5 is
greater than the width W, the space under the air cleaner unit 5 is
reduced. That is, the air cleaner unit 5 is arranged while
effectively using the space in the engine compartment.
[0048] In a case where the width W is greater than the length H in
the air cleaner unit 5, a distance between the fan shroud 4 and the
furthest portion of the air cleaner unit 5 is large, the furthest
portion being furthest from the fan shroud 4 in the air cleaner
unit 5. In the air cleaner unit 5 of the present embodiment, on the
other hand, since the height H is greater than the width W, the
distance between the fan shroud 4 and the furthest portion of the
air cleaner unit 5 is reduced, as compared with the air cleaner
unit in which the width W is greater than the height H. As such,
strength of the air cleaner unit 5 is improved.
[0049] In general, the intake manifold is located above the engine.
In the present embodiment, since the air outlet 52 is located
higher than the middle position of the air cleaner unit 5 with
respect to the vehicle up and down direction, handling and
arrangement of the outlet duct 62 are eased. Also, since the air
inlet 51 is located lower than the middle position of the air
cleaner unit 5 with respect to the vehicle up and down direction,
the flow of the intake air inside of the air cleaner unit 5 is
facilitated. Accordingly, pressure loss is reduced.
[0050] Since the air cleaner unit 5 is in communication with the
engine through the outlet duct 62, vibration of the engine is
transmitted to the air cleaner unit 5. Therefore, if a fan shroud
with which an air cleaner unit is integrated is directly fixed to a
vehicle body, the vibration of the engine is transmitted to the fan
shroud and the vehicle body through the air cleaner unit. In the
present embodiment, on the other hand, the fan shroud 4 is fixed to
the vehicle body 10 through the rubber bushings 9, which are
elastically deformable. Because the vibration of the engine is
absorbed by the rubber bushings 9, it is leas likely that the
vibration will be transmitted to the vehicle body 10.
[0051] When the intake air is suctioned from the air suction port
61a, suction noise will be generated. If the suction noise is
transmitted into a passenger compartment, a passenger will feel
unpleasant.
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a relationship between engine rotational speed
of the vehicle and a sound level of the suction noise. In FIG. 5, a
solid line x represents a measured result in a case where the
cooling module of the present embodiment, in which the air cleaner
unit 5 is integrated with the fan shroud 4, is mounted on a
vehicle. Also, a dashed line y represents a measured result in a
case where a cooling module as a comparative example, in which the
air cleaner unit 5 is not integrated with the fan shroud 4, is
mounted on a vehicle.
[0053] In the case where the air cleaner unit 5 is integrated with
the fan shroud 4, the mass of parts connected to the inlet duct 61
is increased, as compared with the case where the air cleaner unit
5 is solely provided. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the peaks of
the sound level are lowered by integrating the air cleaner unit 5
with the fan shroud 4. As such, unpleasant feeling of the passenger
will be reduced.
[0054] The fan shroud 4 is provided with the reserve tank 8, and
the reserve tank 8 is arranged opposite to the air cleaner unit 5
with respect to the heat exchangers 1, 2. Therefore, balance of the
weight of the fan shroud 4 with respect to the vehicle width
direction is improved.
Second Embodiment
[0055] A second embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIG. 6. Hereinafter, like components
are denoted by like reference characters and a description thereof
is not repeated. In FIG. 6, the illustration of the reserve tank 8
is omitted.
[0056] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the radiator
1 is fixed to the fan shroud 4. The fan shroud 4 to which the
radiator 1 is fixed is mounted to the vehicle body 10 through the
elastic rubber bushings 9. For example, the fan shroud 4 has pins
4c on its upper and lower ends. The rubber bushings 9 are fixed to
the pines 4c beforehand. The pins 4c are engaged with portions of
the vehicle body 10. Thus, the fan shroud 4 to which the radiator 1
is fixed, that is, the cooling module is mounted to the vehicle. In
this case, the condenser 2 can be fixed to the radiator 1
beforehand. Alternatively, the condenser 2 can be independently and
directly fixed to the vehicle body 10. Also in the present
embodiment, the similar effects as the first embodiment will be
provided.
Other Embodiments
[0057] In the above embodiments, the air cleaner case 5b is
integrated with the fan shroud 4. Alternatively, the air cleaner
cap 5c can be integrated with the fan shroud 4.
[0058] In the above embodiments, the air cleaner case 5b has the
air inlet 51, and the air cleaner cap 5c has the air outlet 52.
Alternatively, the air cleaner case 5b can have the air outlet 52
and the air cleaner cap 5c can have the air inlet 51.
[0059] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader term is
therefore not limited to the specific details, representative
apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described.
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