JP2010065618A - Air cooler for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cooler avoiding supply failure of compressed air due to freezing. <P>SOLUTION: First distribution parts 80, 81, 82 and second distribution parts 83, 84 are formed on an inlet side bracket 21 having an air inlet 20. Third distribution parts 90, 91, 92 and fourth distribution parts 93, 94 are formed on an outlet side bracket 31 having an air outlet 30. Pipes 40, 41, 42 with fins and pipes 50, 51 without fins are arranged in parallel between the inlet side bracket 21 and the outlet side bracket 31. A high cooling flow passage 70 is configured by the pipes 40, 41, 42 with fins. A low cooling flow passage 71 is configured by pipes 50, 51 without fins. The flow passage cross sectional area of the low cooling flow passage 71 is smaller than that of the high cooling flow passage 70. The air outlet 30 is at a position higher than the pipes 40, 41, 42 with fins. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air cooler mounted on a vehicle having an air compressor.

  An air compressor is mounted on a vehicle equipped with a device using compressed air such as an air suspension. The compressed air produced by the air compressor is stored in an air tank. Since the air compressed by the air compressor has high humidity, it is necessary to remove moisture in the compressed air by an air dryer or the like.

Since the compressed air becomes high temperature, if it is supplied to an air dryer or an air suspension at the same temperature, there is a possibility of adversely affecting parts having relatively low heat resistance. For this reason, the air compressed by the air compressor needs to be cooled before being sent to the air dryer. For example, in a known air cooler (intercooler), the temperature of the compressed air is lowered by flowing compressed air inside the cooling pipe and exchanging heat with outside air outside the cooling pipe (for example, (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2007-218233 A JP 2001-304720 A

  In an air cooler like patent documents 1 and 2, the compressed air which flows through the inside of a cooling pipeline is cooled with the running wind of vehicles, etc. Therefore, when used in a cold district or the like, if the outside air temperature is 0 ° C. or lower, the intercooler may be too cold, and the temperature of the compressed air may be 0 ° C. or lower. In general, since air compressed by an air compressor has high humidity, when it is cooled by an air cooler, condensation occurs inside the cooling pipe. When the condensed water falls below 0 ° C., it freezes to become ice.

  When such freezing occurs, the flow of compressed air in the cooling pipeline is hindered, and in an extreme case, the cooling pipeline is completely blocked. In such a situation, the compressed air created by the air compressor cannot be sent to the air tank.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air cooler capable of avoiding a failure in supplying compressed air due to freezing.

  The present invention is a vehicle air cooler that cools air compressed by an air compressor mounted on a vehicle, and is formed on an inlet side bracket having an air inlet connected to the air compressor, the inlet side bracket, Formed in a first circulation part and a second circulation part through which the compressed air introduced from an air inlet passes, an outlet side bracket having an air outlet connected to an air dryer mounted on the vehicle, and the outlet side bracket. A third flow part and a fourth flow part through which the compressed air flowing toward the air outlet passes, and a plurality of finned pipes provided between the inlet side bracket and the outlet side bracket; One end of the finned pipe is connected to the first circulation part, and the other end of the finned pipe is connected to the third circulation part. A cooling passage, and at least one finless pipe provided in parallel with the finned pipe, and one end of the finless pipe is connected to the second circulation part, and the other end of the finless pipe is And a low cooling flow path connected to the fourth circulation portion, wherein the cross sectional area of the low cooling flow path is smaller than the cross sectional area of the high cooling flow path.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air outlet is formed at a position higher than the finned pipe. The finless pipe may be provided at a higher position than the finned pipe. The low cooling channel may be provided with a throttle for reducing the channel cross-sectional area. Alternatively, the channel cross-sectional area of the finless pipe may be smaller than the channel cross-sectional area of the finned pipe.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the high temperature compressed air supplied from an air compressor can be cooled by the high cooling flow path which consists of a pipe with a fin. Even if ice is generated on the inner surface of the finned pipe in a cold district or the like, relatively high-temperature compressed air from the air compressor always flows through the low cooling flow path composed of the finless pipe. For this reason, even under a low temperature condition in which ice adheres to the finned pipe, the compressed air can continue to flow by the finless pipe constituting the low cooling flow path, and the compressed air can be supplied to downstream equipment. .

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 shows a compressed air supply device 2 mounted on a vehicle 1 such as a truck. The compressed air supply device 2 has a function of supplying compressed air to devices that use compressed air, such as an air suspension or an air brake.

  The compressed air supply device 2 is connected to an air compressor 11 provided in association with the engine 10, a first air pipe 12 connected to the downstream side of the air compressor 11, an air cooler 13, and a downstream side of the air cooler 13. The second air pipe 14, the air dryer 15, the third air pipe 16 connected to the downstream side of the air dryer 15, the air tank 17, and the like.

  The air compressor 11 is driven in conjunction with the rotation of the engine 10 and compresses air. The high-temperature compressed air produced by the air compressor 11 flows into the air cooler 13 through the first air pipe 12. Details of the air cooler 13 will be described later.

  The compressed air cooled by the air cooler 13 flows into the air dryer 15 through the second air pipe 14. The air dryer 15 has a function of removing moisture in the compressed air. The compressed air that has been cooled and dried by passing through the air cooler 13 and the air dryer 15 flows into the air tank 17 through the third air pipe 16 and is stored in the air tank 17. The compressed air stored in the air tank 17 activates a device that uses the compressed air, such as an air suspension or an air brake.

  An air cooler 13 is shown in FIG. The air cooler 13 includes an inlet side bracket 21 having an air inlet 20, an outlet side bracket 31 having an air outlet 30, and a plurality of (for example, three) finned pipes 40, 41, provided between the brackets 21, 31. 42 and at least one (for example, two) finless pipes 50, 51 provided between the brackets 21, 31. The finned pipes 40, 41, 42 and the finless pipes 50, 51 are arranged in parallel to each other.

  The inlet side bracket 21 and the outlet side bracket 31 are each formed into a block shape by a metal having a high thermal conductivity such as an aluminum alloy. The air inlet 20 of the inlet side bracket 21 is connected to the air outlet of the air compressor 11 via the first air pipe 12 so that the compressed air produced by the air compressor 11 can be supplied to the air inlet 20. It has become. The air outlet 30 provided in the outlet side bracket 31 is connected to the inlet portion of the air dryer 15 via the second air pipe 14.

  Each of the finned pipes 40, 41, and 42 includes a straight metal pipe body 60, a large number of heat radiation fins 61 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe main body 60, and an axial line on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe main body 60. It has a heat conduction rib (not shown) formed along the direction. The finned pipes 40, 41, 42 are arranged in parallel to each other.

  Both the pipe body 60 and the heat radiating fins 61 are formed of a metal having high thermal conductivity such as an aluminum alloy. These finned pipes 40, 41, 42 have a high cooling capacity and constitute a high cooling flow path 70.

  In the high cooling flow path 70, the first finned pipe 40 is disposed on the upstream side, the second finned pipe 41 is disposed on the intermediate position, and the third fin is disposed on the downstream side in the direction in which the compressed air flows. Attached pipe 42 is arranged. These finned pipes 40, 41, 42 are connected in series so that the compressed air to be cooled passes from the first finned pipe 40 through the second finned pipe 41 to the third finned pipe 42. It has become.

  The finless pipes 50 and 51 are arranged at positions higher than the finned pipes 40, 41 and 42. Since the finless pipes 50 and 51 do not have radiating fins or heat conducting ribs like the finned pipes 40, 41 and 42, they constitute a low cooling flow path 71 having a low cooling capacity. The low cooling flow path 71 includes a throttle portion 72 formed in the inlet side bracket 21. Due to the throttle portion 72, the channel cross-sectional area of the low cooling channel 71 is smaller than the channel cross-sectional area of the high cooling channel 70. The finless pipes 50, 51 extend in the horizontal direction so as to be parallel to the finned pipes 40, 41, 42, respectively.

  First inlets 80, 81, 82 to which one ends of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 are connected to the inlet side bracket 21 and first ends of the finless pipes 50, 51 are connected to the inlet side bracket 21. Two distribution parts 83 and 84 are formed.

  Among these first circulation parts 80, 81, 82, the circulation part 80 located on the upper side and the second circulation parts 83, 84 communicate with the air inlet 20 through a common flow channel 85. . The circulation portions 81 and 82 located on the lower side are in communication with each other via a connection flow path 86. The compressed air that has flowed into the air inlet 20 passes through these circulation portions 80 to 84.

  Third outlets 90, 91, 92, to which the other ends of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 are connected, and the other ends of the finless pipes 50, 51 are connected to the outlet side bracket 31. Fourth distribution parts 93 and 94 are formed.

  Among the third circulation parts 90, 91, 92, the circulation parts 90, 91 located on the upper side communicate with each other via the connection flow channel 95. The flow part 92 located on the lower side and the fourth flow parts 93 and 94 communicate with the air outlet 30 via the common flow path 96.

  Compressed air flows through these circulation portions 90 to 94 toward the air outlet 30. That is, the cooled air from the lower circulation portion 92 toward the air outlet 30 and the air from the fourth circulation portions 93 and 94 toward the air outlet 30 merge in the vicinity of the air outlet 30, and the second air flows from the air outlet 30. It flows out to the piping 14. The air outlet 30 is provided at a position higher than the finned pipes 40, 41 and 42.

The air cooler 13 configured as described above operates as follows.
When the air compressor 11 is operated in conjunction with the rotation of the engine 10, high-temperature air compressed by the air compressor 11 flows into the air inlet 20 of the air cooler 13 through the first air pipe 12. The compressed air that has flowed into the air inlet 20 flows simultaneously into the first circulation part 80 that is continuous with the high cooling flow path 70 and the second circulation parts 83 and 84 that are continuous with the low cooling flow path 71.

  The high-temperature compressed air that has flowed into the first circulation part 80 enters the third circulation part 90 through the first finned pipe 40, passes through the connection flow path 95 and the lower circulation part 91, and enters the second circulation part 90. It flows into the finned pipe 41 and heads toward the first flow part 81. Further, the fluid flows into the third finned pipe 42 through the connection flow path 86 and the circulation portion 82, and travels toward the third circulation portion 92. Then, it exits from the air outlet 30 via the common channel 96. The compressed air cooled by passing through the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 in this way flows into the air dryer 15 through the second air pipe 14 connected to the air outlet 30.

  If ice does not adhere to the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42, the channel cross-sectional area of the high cooling channel 70 is larger than the channel cross-sectional area of the low cooling channel 71. For this reason, most of the compressed air that has flowed into the common flow path 85 from the air inlet 20 flows into the first circulation section 80 and the amount that flows into the second circulation sections 83 and 84 is small. For this reason, high-temperature compressed air can be efficiently cooled by the finned pipes 40, 41, and 42, and the compressed air whose temperature has decreased can be supplied to downstream equipment.

  On the other hand, the air that has flowed into the second circulation portions 83 and 84 from the air inlet 20 flows into the fourth circulation portions 93 and 94 through the finless pipes 50 and 51 that constitute the low cooling flow path 71. It flows out from the air outlet 30 to the second air pipe 14 through the flow path 96.

  The temperature of the air flowing out through the finless pipes 50, 51 into the common flow path 96 is higher than the temperature of the air flowing out through the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 into the common flow path 96. However, since the relatively high temperature compressed air coming out of the finless pipes 50 and 51 is mixed with the low temperature compressed air cooled through the finned pipes 40, 41 and 42, the temperature is lowered. The temperature of the compressed air flowing out to the second air pipe 14 is lowered to such an extent that it does not affect downstream equipment.

  When the compressed air passes through the finned pipes 40, 41, 42, moisture contained in the compressed air may condense on the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42. While the engine 10 is rotating and the air compressor 11 is in operation, the water droplets condensed on the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 are blown downstream by the compressed air sent from the air compressor 11, and the air outlet 30 To the second air pipe 14. For this reason, water does not accumulate inside the finned pipes 40, 41, 42. The water discharged from the air outlet 30 to the second air pipe 14 is removed by the air dryer 15.

  When the outside air temperature is low, water condensed on the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41, and 42 may freeze and become ice. However, relatively high-temperature compressed air supplied from the air compressor 11 always flows through the finless pipes 50 and 51. Since the cooling capacity of the finless pipes 50 and 51 is low, the condensation on the inner surfaces of the finless pipes 50 and 51 does not freeze even at low temperatures where ice is generated on the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41 and 42. Does not occur. For this reason, the compressed air produced by the air compressor 11 can be supplied to the air tank 17 via the finless pipes 50 and 51.

  When the engine 10 stops, the air compressor 11 also stops. For this reason, high-temperature compressed air does not flow to the air cooler 13. When the vehicle 1 is used in a cold area or the like where the outside air temperature is lower than 0 ° C., water drops condensed on the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41, and 42 freeze when time passes after the engine 10 stops. Become ice.

  When the temperature around the air cooler 13 rises and the ice adhering to the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 melts, the water in the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 is blown downstream by the compressed air. For this reason, when the temperature around the air cooler 13 is high, the compressed air normally flows through the finned pipes 40, 41, and 42, and the finned pipes 40, 41, and 42 having a high cooling capacity provide the initial cooling capacity. Demonstrated.

  When the engine 10 is stopped with ice on the inner surfaces of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42, and then the outside temperature rises and the ice melts, water enters the finned pipes 40, 41, 42. Accumulate. Here, if the water inside the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 flows out from the air outlet 30 toward the air dryer 15, it is conceivable that the air freezes again near the inlet of the air dryer 15 at night or the like. If the vicinity of the inlet of the air dryer 15 is blocked by ice, compressed air cannot be supplied to the air tank 17.

  However, since the air cooler 13 of this embodiment has the air outlet 30 provided at a position higher than the finned pipes 40, 41, 42, the ice inside the finned pipes 40, 41, 42 when the engine 10 is stopped. Even if the water melts and becomes water, the water can be prevented from flowing out from the air outlet 30 toward the air dryer 15. For this reason, it can be avoided that the vicinity of the inlet portion of the air dryer 15 is blocked by ice.

  Instead of providing the throttle portion 72, the flow passage cross-sectional area of the finless pipes 50, 51 may be made smaller than the flow passage cross-sectional area of the finned pipes 40, 41, 42. For example, the inner diameters of the finless pipes 50 and 51 are made smaller than the inner diameters of the finned pipes 40, 41 and 42. By doing so, it is possible to suppress the compressed air flowing from the air inlet 20 from flowing into the finless pipes 50 and 51, and to flow a larger amount of compressed air to be cooled toward the finned pipes 40, 41 and 42. .

  In carrying out the present invention, it goes without saying that the structure, shape and arrangement of the constituent elements of the invention including the inlet side bracket, the outlet side bracket, the finned pipe and the finless pipe can be changed as appropriate. For example, the number of finned pipes and the number of finless pipes are not limited to the above embodiment.

The side view which shows typically the vehicle provided with the air cooler which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows the air cooler shown by FIG. 1 in a partial cross section.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Air compressor 13 ... Air cooler 20 ... Air inlet 21 ... Inlet side bracket 30 ... Air outlet 31 ... Outlet side bracket 40, 41, 42 ... Pipe with fin 50, 51 ... Pipe without fin 70 ... High cooling flow path 71 ... Low Cooling flow path 80, 81, 82 ... 1st circulation part 83, 84 ... 2nd circulation part 90, 91, 92 ... 3rd circulation part 93, 94 ... 4th circulation part

Claims (5)

A vehicle air cooler for cooling air compressed by an air compressor mounted on a vehicle,
An inlet-side bracket having an air inlet connected to the air compressor;
A first circulation part and a second circulation part which are formed in the inlet side bracket and through which the compressed air introduced from the air inlet passes;
An outlet side bracket having an air outlet connected to an air dryer mounted on the vehicle;
A third circulation part and a fourth circulation part formed in the outlet side bracket, through which the compressed air flowing toward the air outlet passes;
Including a plurality of finned pipes provided between the inlet side bracket and the outlet side bracket, and one end of the finned pipe is connected to the first flow part, and the other end of the finned pipe is the A high cooling flow path connected to the third flow section;
Including at least one finless pipe provided in parallel with the finned pipe, and having one end of the finless pipe connected to the second circulation part, and the other end of the finless pipe being the fourth circulation part And a low cooling flow path connected to
The vehicle air cooler characterized in that a flow passage sectional area of the low cooling passage is smaller than a passage sectional area of the high cooling passage.   The vehicle air cooler according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is formed at a position higher than the finned pipe.   The vehicle air cooler according to claim 2, wherein the finless pipe is provided at a position higher than the finned pipe.   The vehicle air cooler according to claim 1, wherein a throttle portion for reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path is provided in the low cooling flow path.   2. The vehicle air cooler according to claim 1, wherein a channel cross-sectional area of the finless pipe is smaller than a channel cross-sectional area of the finned pipe.

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