OPENINGS IN A BLOWER HOUSING FOR NOISE REDUCTION

Abstract

A fan arrangement for a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, a system for a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle. A fan is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger in an air supply direction. The fan is arranged in a fan cowling which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger and which is arranged spaced from the heat exchanger in an axial direction and coupled to the heat exchanger via a sealing part. A plurality of air passages having openings are arranged opposite each other in the sealing part. The dimensions of the air passage openings in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction, in relation to the peripheral area of the sealing part, is at least a factor of 0.025 of the diameter of the fan, and the dimensions of the air passage openings in the direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority 35 U.S.C. §119 to German Patent Publication No. DE 10 2012 222 259.6 (filed on Dec. 4, 2012), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments relate to A fan arrangement for a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, a system for a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle. A fan is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger in an air supply direction. The fan is arranged in a fan cowling which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger and which is arranged spaced from the heat exchanger in an axial direction and coupled to the heat exchanger via a sealing part. A plurality of air passages having openings are arranged opposite each other in the sealing part. The dimensions of the air passage openings in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction, in relation to the peripheral area of the sealing part, is at least a factor of 0.025 of the diameter of the fan, and the dimensions of the air passage openings in the direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan.

BACKGROUND

In motor vehicles with internal combustion engines, the waste heat produced by the internal combustion engine is emitted to the surrounding atmosphere by a heat exchanger or radiator. In vehicles with front-mounted engines, the heat exchanger is installed at the front in the direction of travel and is supplied with fresh air via radiator grille openings. In addition a fan is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger and generates an air flow through the heat exchanger. This is necessary in particular at low travel speed since the fresh air supplied at low speed causes only a correspondingly low heat dissipation.

German Patent Publication DE 198 49 035 A1 discloses a sound absorption device for the air supply in a construction machine. A plate-like sound insulation is provided in the region of the air supply.

German Patent Publication DE 34 46 950 C1 discloses a heat exchanger with fan frame and fan. A roller blind is arranged in the region of the fan frame.

German Patent Publication DE 78 18 243 U1 discloses a defined peripheral gap in front of the fan. This peripheral gap is intended to counter a noise development. Such an air supply is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,854A and German Patent Publication DE 10 2008 046 508 A1.

German Patent Publication DE 10 2004 018 036 A1 discoses openings of widely varying types in the fan housing outside the fan circle.

French Patent Publication FR 2 816 360 discloses such openings in the fan housing, wherein in the arrangement described, the fan is located in front of the heat exchanger in the direction of travel.

German Patent Publication DE 10 2005 062 366 A1 discloses a targeted arrangement of impact pressure valves in the front plate between the fans. The air flowing into the fan housing region at high speed is diverted by these valves.

U.S. Patent Publication 2003/0183446 A1 discloses a fan collar for a fan of a thermal management system for motor vehicles. To reduce noise, the fan collar has openings surrounding the fan. The noise reduction is based on the principle of a Helmholtz resonator.

German Patent Publication DE 34 14 609 C1 discloses a fan with upstream heat exchanger and a controllable opening on the underside of an air guide housing. This opening serves to divert air.

German Patent Publication DE 10 2007 017 875 A1 discloses a fan cowling for industrial drive systems, for example. To reduce the sound emission, the cowling has slots which prevent the transmission of body-borne sound in the cowling. The dimensions of the slots are specifically selected for their effect on body-borne sound, the axial extension of the slots is defined in relation to the distance of a connecting region from the edge of the fan cowling.

German Patent Publication DE 100 19 237 A1 discloses a damper material for noise reduction.

German Patent Publication DE 69 837 088 T2 discloses slots arranged behind each other in the fan housing and extending around the fan periphery serve for noise damping.

SUMMARY

Embodiments relate to a fan arrangement with an enhanced design in comparison with conventional solutions, in particular with regard to sound emission.

In accordance with embodiments, a fan arrangement for a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, the fan arrangement including at least one of: a fan cowling spaced from the heat exchanger in an air supply direction and which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger; a sealing part which couples the fan cowling to the heat exchanger; a fan arranged in the fan cowling downstream of the heat exchanger in the air supply direction; a plurality of upper air passages arranged at a lower region of the sealing part; and a plurality of lower air passages arranged at an upper region of the sealing part and arranged spatially opposite to the upper air passages, wherein an opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at least 0.025 of the diameter of the fan, and in a direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan.

In accordance with embodiments, a system for a motor vehicle may include at least one of: a heat exchanger; and a fan arrangement for the heat exchanger, the fan arrangement including a fan cowling spaced from the heat exchanger in an air supply direction and which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger; a sealing part which couples the fan cowling to the heat exchanger; a fan arranged in the fan cowling downstream of the heat exchanger in the air supply direction; a plurality of upper air passages arranged at a lower region of the sealing part; and a plurality of lower air passages arranged at an upper region of the sealing part and arranged spatially opposite to the upper air passages, wherein an opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at least 0.025 of the diameter of the fan, and in a direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan.

In accordance with embodiments, a motor vehicle may include at least one of: a heat exchanger; and a fan arrangement for the heat exchanger, the fan arrangement including a fan cowling spaced from the heat exchanger in an air supply direction and which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger; a sealing part which couples the fan cowling to the heat exchanger; a fan arranged in the fan cowling downstream of the heat exchanger in the air supply direction; a plurality of upper air passages arranged at a lower region of the sealing part; and a plurality of lower air passages arranged at an upper region of the sealing part and arranged spatially opposite to the upper air passages, wherein an opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at least 0.025 of the diameter of the fan, and in a direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan.

In accordance with embodiments, a fan arrangement is provided for a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, in which a fan is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger in the air supply direction, the fan being arranged in a fan cowling which substantially covers the air passage area of the heat exchanger, the fan cowling being arranged spaced from the heat exchanger in an axial direction, the direction of the air flow, and the fan cowling being coupled to the heat exchanger via a sealing part, wherein in each case at least two air passage openings are arranged opposite each other in the sealing part.

In accordance with embodiments, the at least two air passage openings may lie spatially above and below the fan.

In accordance with embodiments, the air passage openings may be formed as slots.

In accordance with embodiments, the air passage openings have structural dimensions that include the axial dimension being in an axial direction of the fan, and the lateral dimension being in a lateral direction correspondingly perpendicular thereto, i.e., in particular, a direction in a peripheral direction of the fan.

In accordance with embodiments, the slots in the lateral direction have at least a factor of 0.025 of the diameter of the fan. At maximum, the slot in the lateral direction extends by 1/10 of the diameter of the fan.

In accordance with embodiments, the dimension of the slots in the axial direction is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan, wherein the maximum extension in the axial direction is the dimension of the transition region in the axial direction plus the length of the fan in the axial direction.

In accordance with embodiments, the air passage openings may have an arbitrary form to allow good adaptability to the design of the fan cowling. In this regard, an air passage opening may have an area proportion of at least 0.0000625 of the air passage area of the fan.

DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle in a top view, in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle in a top view, in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle in a top view, in accordance with embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, provided is a heat exchanger WT of a motor vehicle in a top view. A fan V is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger WT in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. The fan V is rotatably mounted or otherwise received in a fan cowling LH, the fan cowling LH surrounding the periphery of the rotatable parts of the fan V and as, for example, an element having a flat cross-section, covers the peripheral air passage area of the heat exchanger WT. The fan cowling LH is assigned in a spaced manner to the heat exchanger WT in the axial flow direction, i.e., the direction of the air flow (denoted by arrows). The transition between the fan cowling LH and the heat exchanger WT is surrounded by a peripheral sealing part DT, via which the fan cowling LH is coupled to the heat exchanger. The air flowing through the heat exchanger WT is thus fed to and/or aspirated by the fan V.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the fan cowling LH and the peripheral sealing part DT, which couples the cowling to the heat exchanger WT, form a unit which is structural configured as a common component. Embodiments are not restricted to such, and thus, for example, the sealing part DT and the fan cowling LH may be separate components.

A plurality of lower air passage openings LD, such as, for example, a pair of lower air passage openings LD, may be spatially arranged below the fan V in the sealing part DT. These lower air passage openings are thus arranged in the lower part of the sealing part DT. The lower air passage openings LD may be arranged having geometric shapes and/or sizes that are essentially the same as the other and/or adjacent lower air passage openings.

A plurality of upper air passage openings LD, such as, for example, a pair of upper air passage openings LD, may be spatially arranged above the fan V, i.e., in an upper region of the sealing part DT. The upper air passage openings LD may be arranged having geometric shapes and/or sizes that are essentially the same as the other and/or adjacent upper air passage openings.

The upper and lower air passage openings LD, are thus, spatially arranged opposite each other in the sealing part DT. The spatially orientation terms “above” and “below” are here understood in relation to the direction of air supply and travel of the motor vehicle.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, provided is a heat exchanger WT of a motor vehicle in a top view. A fan V is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger WT in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. The fan V is rotatably mounted or otherwise received in a fan cowling LH, the fan cowling LH surrounding the periphery of the rotatable parts of the fan V and as, for example, an element having a flat cross-section, covers the peripheral air passage area of the heat exchanger WT. The fan cowling LH is assigned in a spaced manner to the heat exchanger WT in the axial flow direction, i.e., the direction of the air flow (denoted by arrows). The transition between the fan cowling LH and the heat exchanger WT is surrounded by a peripheral sealing part DT, via which the fan cowling LH is coupled to the heat exchanger. The air flowing through the heat exchanger WT is thus fed to and/or aspirated by the fan V.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the fan cowling LH and the peripheral sealing part DT, which couples the cowling to the heat exchanger WT, form a unit which is structural configured as a common component. Embodiments are not restricted to such, and thus, for example, the sealing part DT and the fan cowling LH may be separate components.

A plurality of lower air passage openings LD, such as, for example, four lower air passage openings LD, may be spatially arranged below the fan V in the sealing part DT. These lower air passage openings are thus arranged in the lower part of the sealing part DT. The lower air passage openings LD may be arranged having geometric shapes and/or sizes that are essentially the same as the other and/or adjacent lower air passage openings.

A plurality of upper air passage openings LD, such as, for example, four upper air passage openings LD, may be spatially arranged above the fan V, i.e., in an upper region of the sealing part DT. The upper air passage openings LD may be arranged having geometric shapes and/or sizes that are essentially the same as the other and/or adjacent upper air passage openings.

The upper and lower air passage openings LD, are thus, spatially arranged opposite each other in the sealing part DT. The spatially orientation terms “above” and “below” are here understood in relation to the direction of air supply and travel of the motor vehicle.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, provided is a heat exchanger WT of a motor vehicle in a top view. A fan V is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger WT in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. The fan V is rotatably mounted or otherwise received in a fan cowling LH, the fan cowling LH surrounding the periphery of the rotatable parts of the fan V and as, for example, an element having a flat cross-section, covers the peripheral air passage area of the heat exchanger WT. The fan cowling LH is assigned in a spaced manner to the heat exchanger WT in the axial flow direction, i.e., the direction of the air flow (denoted by arrows). The transition between the fan cowling LH and the heat exchanger WT is surrounded by a peripheral sealing part DT, via which the fan cowling LH is coupled to the heat exchanger. The air flowing through the heat exchanger WT is thus fed to and/or aspirated by the fan V.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the fan cowling LH and the peripheral sealing part DT, which couples the cowling to the heat exchanger WT, form a unit which is structural configured as a common component. Embodiments are not restricted to such, and thus, for example, the sealing part DT and the fan cowling LH may be separate components.

A plurality of lower air passage openings LD, such as, for example, five lower air passage openings LD, may be spatially arranged below the fan V in the sealing part DT. The lower air passage openings LD are arranged having geometric shapes and/or sizes that differ from each other and/or adjacent lower air passage openings.

A plurality of upper air passage openings LD, such as, for example, five upper air passage openings LD, may be spatially arranged above the fan V, i.e., in an upper region of the sealing part DT. The upper air passage openings LD are arranged having geometric shapes and/or sizes that differ from each other and/or adjacent upper air passage openings.

The upper and lower air passage openings LD may be spatially arranged opposite each other in the sealing part DT, or may be arranged to not overlap each other. The spatially orientation terms “above” and “below” are here understood in relation to the direction of air supply and travel of the motor vehicle.

In accordance with embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the air passage openings LD may have structural dimensions that include the axial dimension being in an axial direction of the fan, and the lateral dimension being in a lateral direction correspondingly perpendicular thereto, i.e., in particular, a direction in a peripheral direction of the fan. Each opening LD in the lateral direction may have at least a factor of 0.025 of the diameter of the fan V. At maximum, each opening LD in the lateral direction may extend by 1/10 of the diameter of the fan. The dimension of each opening LD in the axial direction may have a factor of at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan V, in which the maximum extension in the axial direction is the dimension of the transition region in the axial direction plus the length of the fan V in the axial direction.

In accordance with embodiments, the air passage openings LD may have an arbitrary form to allow good adaptability to the design of the fan cowling LH. In this regard, an air passage opening LD may have an area proportion of at least 0.0000625 of the air passage area of the fan V.

The term “coupled” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

V Fan

WT Heat exchanger

LH Fan cowling

DT Sealing part, sealing portion

LD Air passage opening

Claims

1. A fan arrangement for a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, the fan arrangement comprising:

a fan cowling spaced from the heat exchanger in an air supply direction and which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger;

a sealing part which couples the fan cowling to the heat exchanger; and

a fan arranged in the fan cowling downstream of the heat exchanger in the air supply direction;

a plurality of upper air passages arranged at a lower region of the sealing part; and

a plurality of lower air passages arranged at an upper region of the sealing part and arranged spatially opposite to the upper air passages,

wherein an opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that: in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at least 0.025 of the diameter of the fan; and in a direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan.

2. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein the upper air passages are arranged spatially above fan.

3. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein the lower air passages are arranged spatially below fan.

4. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein:

the upper air passages are arranged spatially above fan; and

the lower air passages are arranged spatially below fan.

5. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein the openings of adjacent upper air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes.

6. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein the openings of adjacent lower air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes.

7. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein:

the openings of adjacent upper air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes; and

the openings of adjacent upper air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes

8. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein the opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at a maximum of 1/10 of the diameter of the fan.

9. The fan arrangement of claim 1, wherein the opening of each of the upper and lower air passages have an area proportion of at least 0.0000625 of an air passage area of the fan.

10. A system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a fan arrangement for the heat exchanger, the fan arrangement including: a fan cowling spaced from the heat exchanger in an air supply direction and which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger; a sealing part which couples the fan cowling to the heat exchanger; a fan arranged in the fan cowling downstream of the heat exchanger in the air supply direction; a plurality of upper air passages arranged at a lower region of the sealing part; and a plurality of lower air passages arranged at an upper region of the sealing part and arranged spatially opposite to the upper air passages,

wherein an opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that: in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at least 0.025 of the diameter of the fan; and in a direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a fan arrangement for the heat exchanger, the fan arrangement including: a fan cowling spaced from the heat exchanger in an air supply direction and which covers an air passage area of the heat exchanger; a sealing part which couples the fan cowling to the heat exchanger; a fan arranged in the fan cowling downstream of the heat exchanger in the air supply direction; a plurality of upper air passages arranged at a lower region of the sealing part; and a plurality of lower air passages arranged at an upper region of the sealing part and arranged spatially opposite to the upper air passages,

wherein an opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that: in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at least 0.025 of the diameter of the fan; and in a direction of the air supply, is at least 0.0025 of the diameter of the fan

12. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the upper air passages are arranged spatially above fan.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the lower air passages are arranged spatially below fan.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

the upper air passages are arranged spatially above fan; and

the lower air passages are arranged spatially below fan.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the openings of adjacent upper air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the openings of adjacent lower air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein:

the openings of adjacent upper air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes; and

the openings of adjacent upper air passages part have different sizes and/or shapes

18. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the opening of each of the upper and lower air passages is sized such that in a direction perpendicular to the air supply direction is at a maximum of 1/10 of the diameter of the fan.

19. The motor vehicle of claim 11, wherein the opening of each of the upper and lower air passages have an area proportion of at least 0.0000625 of an air passage area of the fan.