Search

EP-3718865-B1 - DEVICE FOR COOLING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF A VEHICLE, AND BONNET PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE

EP3718865B1EP 3718865 B1EP3718865 B1EP 3718865B1EP-3718865-B1

Inventors

  • DUPAS, ALEXANDRE
  • HUBERT, FLORENT
  • MOREAU, BENOIT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20200311

Claims (6)

  1. Convection cooling device (1) for an engine compartment of a vehicle, comprising at least one passage (3) for the flow of a hot air stream coming from the engine, said passage being partly formed by an opening (31, 32, 33) through a bonnet (2) for closing the engine compartment, each opening (3) being formed by at least one external opening (311, 321, 331) provided through the bonnet outer skin (6) and at least one internal opening (312, 322, 332) provided through the bonnet lining (7), the external opening (311, 321, 331) extending in a plane approximately perpendicular to the plane of the internal opening (312, 322, 332), characterized in that the passage (3) is formed by a transversely extending central opening (33) and by at least one longitudinally extending lateral opening (31, 32), the central opening (33) comprising an external opening (331) separated from an internal opening (332) by a central water manifold (334), the lateral opening (31, 32) comprising an external opening (311, 321) separated from an internal opening (312, 322) by a lateral water manifold (314, 324), and in that the central or lateral water manifold (314, 324, 334) is of the header tank type delimited by a bottom wall (71) bordered by a peripheral wall (72) of the bonnet lining (7), the water manifold (314, 324, 334) comprising at least one gutter (317, 327, 337), notably of substantially longitudinal orientation, for the flow of the water collected towards the outside of the engine compartment.
  2. Cooling device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lateral opening (31, 32) is in relation to a lateral gutter (317, 327), and the central opening (33) is in relation to at least one central gutter (337), the lateral gutter (317, 327) emerging into the central gutter (337).
  3. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a protective grate (323, 333), notably a metal grate, extending at the opening (31, 32, 33).
  4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front end of the gutter (317, 327, 337) comprises at least one drainage hole (347), arranged notably at a front peripheral edge (4) of the bonnet (2).
  5. Bonnet (2), notably for closing a vehicle engine compartment, characterized in that it comprises a cooling device according to any one of the preceding claims.
  6. Vehicle, notably a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a bonnet (2) according to the preceding claim.

Description

Technical field of the invention The invention relates to a cooling device for a vehicle's engine compartment and a hood incorporating such a device. The invention is relevant to vehicles where adequate ventilation is essential for removing heat from the engine compartment. Prior art Motor vehicles, and especially sports cars, generally include an engine compartment requiring specific ventilation to dissipate heat, particularly when stationary after driving. Given the very nature of these vehicles, there is a constant quest for weight reduction necessary for performance. To achieve this, composite materials, particularly carbon fiber, are sometimes used in the manufacture of body components, such as the engine compartment cover. The thermal stresses generated by such materials necessitate ventilation to prevent overheating when the vehicle is stationary. Creating ventilation openings directly at the top of the hood allows for heat dissipation but has the drawback of creating a risk of water leakage in case of rain. The document FR 2 661 139 A1 discloses a single air intake opening, a water collection box, and discharge pipes. This document discloses the preamble to claim 1. Presentation of the invention The object of the invention is to provide an engine compartment cooling device that improves upon the situation known in the prior art, in that it simultaneously allows the heat to be removed from the engine while protecting the engine compartment from any water ingress in case of rain, particularly when the vehicle is stationary. The object of the invention is a cooling device, particularly for convection cooling, for the engine compartment of a vehicle, comprising at least one airflow passage, in particular for hot air from the engine, said passage being partially formed by an opening through a hood covering the engine compartment, each opening being formed by at least one external opening through the outer skin of the hood and at least one internal opening through the hood lining, the external opening extending in a plane approximately perpendicular to the plane of the internal opening. Such a design makes it possible to create a hot air flow path incorporating a baffle that prevents water from entering. According to the invention: The passage is achieved through a central opening extending transversely; this allows the flow of hot air emanating from the central part of the engine compartment to dissipate outside the vehicle. Given that the central part of the engine compartment is sometimes subjected to high temperatures due to its close proximity to the powertrain, such an opening allows the heat emitted by the engine to be evacuated when the vehicle is stationary; The central opening includes an external opening separated from an internal opening by a central water collector; this allows rainwater to be collected to prevent it from spreading into the engine compartment; The passage is made through at least one lateral opening extending longitudinally; this allows a flow of hot air to be drawn in and evacuated from at least one lateral part of the engine located at the right of the opening. According to another aspect of the device of the invention: It includes a protective grille, specifically a metal grille, extending across the opening; such a metal grille is a perforated panel that filters the air that may pass through the opening when the vehicle is in motion, while also creating a barrier to the airflow in the dynamic state of vehicle movement to reduce the amount of air entering the engine compartment and reduce the aerodynamic drag of the moving vehicle. According to the invention: The side opening includes an external opening separated from an internal opening by a lateral water collector; this allows rainwater to be collected in order to prevent it from spreading into the engine compartment, particularly at the side parts of the engine; the central or lateral water collector is of the type of a collection box delimited by a bottom wall bordered by a peripheral wall of the hood lining, the water collector includes at least one gutter, in particular of substantially longitudinal orientation, intended for the flow of the collected water towards the outside of the engine compartment; According to another aspect of the device of the invention: the front end of the gutter includes at least one drainage hole, located in particular at the level of a front peripheral edge of the hood; the lateral opening is related to a lateral gutter, and the central opening is related to at least one central gutter, the lateral gutter opening into the central gutter; this allows a cascading collection of the water flow to be evacuated, the advantage of which is to reduce the number of gutters to be used; the gutter has a cross-section that is substantially U-shaped and has a substantially linear profile with a substantially longitudinal orientation; which allows it to follow the curved profile falling towards the fr