GB2520826A

GB2520826A - Engine hood for a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2520826A
Application number: GB1418697.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ray Ayala; Dinesh Madugundi; Donald Vena; Rafael Dos Santos; Michael Gatza; Michael Norlin; Georgeanna Alemany; Justin Yee
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2014-10-21
Filing date: 2014-10-21
Publication date: 2015-06-03
Also published as: GB201418697D0

Abstract

An engine hood 16 for a commercial vehicle 10 comprises a front surface 22 having at least one first air inlet 28 to provide airflow to at least one first heat exchanger of the commercial vehicle 10. The front surface 22 also has at least two lateral second air inlets 32, 34, arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first air inlet 28 with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle, the second air inlets 32, 34 to provide airflow to at least one second heat exchanger of the commercial vehicle 10. And, the front surface 22 has at least two lateral receptacles 36, 38, arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first air inlet 28 with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle and above the second air inlets 32, 34 with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle, the receptacles 36, 38 housing headlight assemblies 40, 42 of the commercial vehicle 10 and having at least one third air inlet 44, 46 respectively, the third air inlets 44, 46 providing airflow to an intake system for guiding air into at least one combustion chamber of an engine of the commercial vehicle 10.

Description

Engine Hood for a Commercial Vehicle The invention relates to an engine hood for a commercial vehicle, in particular, a truck.

US 2003/01 78870 Al shows a truck front section comprising a grille having a substantially vertical front surface and an upper portion. The front section further comprises a hood having an upper panel with a sloping frond end disposed adjacent the grille's upper portion. Furthermore, the front section comprises a bridge assembly disposed above the front end of the hood upper panel, the bridge assembly having a pair of oppositely disposed upright end members attached to the hood upper panel, and a substantially horizontal aerodynamically shaped member attached to the end members, the aerodynamically shaped member having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the upper portion of the grille, the front end of the hood upper panel and the bridge assembly cooperatively form a duct generally disposed above the grille.

Moreover, DE 10 2008 022 554 Al shows a front part for a motor vehicle. The front part has two lateral air inlets attached to laterally arranged radiators. Air passages extend from the air inlets to the laterally arranged radiators and are limited by walls of the front part.

The air passages exhibit bypasses and a recess that are extended to the laterally arranged radiators. A central radiator is assigned to a centre air inlet. The aerodynamics of a commercial vehicle play an important role in realizing a particularly efficient operation of the commercial vehicle.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an engine hood for a commercial vehicle, whereby means of which engine hood particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the commercial vehicle can be realized.

This object is solved by an engine hood having the features of patent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

In order to provide an engine hood for a commercial vehicle, by means of which engine hood particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the commercial vehicle can be realized, the engine hood according to the present invention comprises a front surface having at least one first air inlet configured to provide airflow to at least one first heat exchanger of the commercial vehicle. The front surface further has at least two lateral second air inlets arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first air inlet with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle, the second air inlets being configured to provide airflow to at least one second heat exchanger of the commercial vehicle.

Moreover, the front surface has at least two lateral receptacles arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first inlet with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle. The receptacles are arranged above the second air inlets with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, the receptacles are configured to house head light assemblies of the commercial vehicle and have at least one third air inlet respectively, the third air inlets being configured to provide airflow to an intake system for guiding air into at least one combustion chamber of an engine of the commercial vehicle. The advantages offered by the engine hood according to the present invention are increased aerodynamic efficiency and, thus, improvements in fuel economy and operating costs. Moreover, wind noise can be reduced and soiling can be improved.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a commercial vehicle comprising an engine hood comprising a front surface having a plurality of air inlets and internal ducts for guiding air; Fig. 2 a schematic top view of the engine hood; Fig. 3 a schematic side view of the engine hood; Fig. 4 a schematic back view of the engine hood: Fig. 5 part of a schematic top view of the engine hood; and Fig. 6 a schematic perspective view of the engine hood.

Fig. 1 shows a commercial vehicle in the form of a truck 10. The truck 10 comprises a driver's cab 12 having a windshield 14. The truck 10 further comprises an engine compartment arranged in front of the driver's cab 12 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The engine compartment is covered by an engine hood 16 of the truck 10. The truck 10 also comprises an engine arranged in the engine compartment, the engine serving to drive the truck 10.

The hood 16 is also shown in Figs. 2 to 6 and engineered such that, as one assembly, it is responsible for performing multiple functions integral to the truck's 10 operation. The engine hood 16 comprises highly engineered external surfaces 18 and interior surfaces (Fig. 4) which are assembled together in order to form one integrated hood assembly.

In other words, the engine hood 16 can be formed in one piece. The exterior of the engine hood 16 is engineered with a priority placed on aerodynamic and cooling system airflow optimization. Its external surfaces 18 are engineered to aerodynamically guide external airflow over and around the external surfaces 18 through the use of optimal radii and continuous surfaces whore traditional facets of an engine hood come together, i.e.: front of hood, to upper hood, to side fender surfaces, to cowl, to rain tray area. The result is a continuous external surface with little to no surface transitions that may disturb the airflow.

The engine hood 16 comprises a front surface 22 which is also referred to as a "leading surface" of the engine hood 16. The leading surface of the engine hood 16 guides oncoming airflow both up and over its surface onto an upper surface 24 of the engine hood 16 as well as around and to side surfaces 26 of the engine hood 16. Additionally, the leading surface guides oncoming airflow into the engine hood's 16 system of airflow inlets as will be described in the following.

The front surface 22 has a first inlet 28 centrally located in the front surface 22. In the first air inlet 28, a grille 30 is arranged. The first air inlet 28 is configured to provide airflow to at least one heat exchanger or to a plurality of first heat exchangers. The first air inlet 28 is also referred to as a "primary cooling air inlet". The primary cooling air inlet positively mates with a ducting which feeds air to the first heat exchanger or to the first heat exchangers. Said first heat exchanger or said first heat exchangers is or are also referred to as "primary heat exchanger" or "primary heat exchangers". Said ducting and first heat exchanger or heat exchangers are not part of said hood assembly (engine hood 16), but directly interface with it.

The engine hood 16 further comprises two lateral second air inlets 32 and 34 arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first air inlet 28 with respect to the transverse direction of the truck 10, the second air inlets 32 and 34 being configured to provide airflow to at least one second heat exchanger of the truck 10. In other words, the second air inlet 32 is arranged on a first side of the first air inlet 28 and the second air inlet 34 is arranged on a second side of the first air inlet 28, the second side being opposite of the first side with respect to the transverse direction of the truck 10. With respect to the direction of forward motion of the truck 10, the first side is the right side and the second side is the left side of the first air inlet 28.

This means the engine hood 16 is engineered with two air inlets 32 and 34 located outboard of the primary cooling air inlet (first air inlet 28) on its forward, leading surface (front surface 22). The second air inlets 32 and 34 are also referred to as "auxiliary cooling air inlets". These auxiliary cooling air inlets positively mate with ducts configured to feed air to at least one second heat exchanger or second heat exchangers. Said second heat exchanger or said second heat exchangers is or are also referred to as an "auxiliary heat exchanger" or "auxiliary heat exchangers". Said ducts and auxiliary heat exchangers are not part of the hood assembly, but directly interface with it.

The front surface 22 further comprises at least two lateral receptacles 36 and 38 arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first air inlet 28 with respect to the transverse direction of the truck 10. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the receptacle 36 is arranged on the right side of the first air inlet 28, wherein the receptacle 38 is arranged on the left side of the first air inlet 28. Moreover, the receptacles 36 and 38 are arranged above the second air inlets 32 and 34 with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle. The receptacles 36 and 38 are configured to house head light assemblies 40 and 42 of the truck 10. This means the receptacle 36 is configured to house a first head light assembly 40, wherein the receptacle 38 is configured to house a second head light assembly 42 of the truck 10. In other words, the engine hood 16 is engineered to house two head light assemblies 40 and 42 in the receptacles 36 and 38. The receptacles 36 and 38 have integral third air inlets 44 and 46 which are configured to provide airflow to an intake system for guiding air into at least one combustion chamber of the engine. The third air inlets 44 and 46 are also referred to as "engine air inlets". These engine air inlets positively mate with ducts that feed air to at least one air cleaner assembly of an intake system of the engine. One of these ducts is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 by dashed lines and a dashed directional arrow.

Moreover, these ducts are illustrated in Fig. 4 by dashed directional arrows. These ducts are part of the engine hood 16 and integral to a reinforcement structure of the engine hood 16. These ducts are also referred to as "engine air ducts" and extend inside a wall of the engine hood 16. The cleaner assembly is not pad of the engine hood 16, but directly interfaces with it.

Through optimal inlet placement within high pressure zones and the aforementioned localized geometry of the engine hood 16, the airflow into the engine hood's 16 system of inlets and intakes provides these inlets' dependent heat exchangers and air cleaner assembly with the required amount of airflow necessary while minimizing the air inlets' negative influence on the engine hood's 16 aerodynamics.

The engine hood 16 further comprises nearly upright surfaces 48 which directly precede the truck's 10 steer wheels and tire assemblies. This area is also referred to as a "fender area". These areas or surfaces 48 are engineered to efficiently guide the surface airflow that has come from the leading surface of the engine hood 16 outward around the outside of the steer wheels and tire assemblies and onto surfaces of the truck 10 which follow the steer wheels and tire assemblies. These surfaces are also referred to as "chassis fairing".

Moreover, the engine hood 16 comprises a rear surface 50 which is a further area of exterior airflow management. The surface 50 is an upper rearward surface of the engine hood 16, said upper rearward surface (surface 50) being directly adjacent to the windshield 14. The surface 50 is engineered to efficiently guide the attached airflow from the upper surface 24 around the windshield 14. Additionally, the rearmost portion of the upper surface 24, e.g. the surface 50 is engineered into the approximate shape of a ramp. In other words, the rear surface 50 can extend diagonally in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle thereby ascending towards the windshield 14. This feature is also referred to as a "kick up". This kick up functions to transition airflow from the engine hood's 16 upper surface 24 onto the windshield 14 with minimal pressure build up. The kick up also functions as a barrier that hides windshield wipers of the truck 10 out of path of the exterior airflow when not in use.

Moreover, the engine hood 16 has rearmost side surfaces 52 which are further areas of the exterior airflow management. The engine hood 16 terminates at the rearmost side surfaces 52. These areas of the engine hood 16 are engineered to guide the surface airflow coming from side and upper surfaces of the engine hood 16 over hood vent areas which are integral to both the external surfaces 18 and interior surfaces 20. The rearmost side surfaces 52 each comprise at least one vent 54 allowing air to flow out of the hood.

Said airflow through the vents 54 is illustrated by directional arrows 56. Moreover, directional arrows in Fig. 1 illustrate the airflow around the truck 10. Said vents 54 are features of the engine hood 16 which allow airflow that passes through the primary cooling inlet and its subsequent heat exchangers and to an outlet from which to exit the underhood area. The airflow from the upper surface 24 of the engine hood 16 flows over the opening in the hood vent, which creates a localized low pressure zone that helps to draw air out of the hood vent.

The interior surfaces 20 of the engine hood 16 are engineered with an emphasis placed on interfacing with the primary and auxiliary cooling heat exchangers' ducting, underhood airflow optimization, as well as an emphasis on the internal ducting of engine intake air within its reinforcement structure.

The engine hood's 16 interior surfaces 20 are engineered to positively mate, when closed, with the primary and auxiliary cooling systems' underhood ducting. This allows the air that flows through the inlets in the engine hood's 16 exterior to continue to the primary and auxiliary heat exchangers uninterrupted and without aerodynamic disturbance.

The engine hood 16 is engineered to contain the engine air intake system's ducting integrally within its reinforcement structure. This allows the airflow that flows through the engine air inlet integrally contained within the head light assemblies to flow from the head light assemblies' duct to the engine air cleaner assembly uninterrupted with no aerodynamic disturbance. The ducting mates with the head light assemblies' ducting at the forward portion of the engine hood 16. The engine hood's 16 internal ducting then traverses rearward along the inside of the engine hood 16, wherein it expands, allowing air and water ingested via the engine air inlet in the head light assemblies to separate.

The internal ducting then follows the internal surfaces 20 of the engine hood 16 upward and towards the centre of the upper surface 24 of the engine hood 16. The internal ducting then mates with the engine intake system's air cleaner assembly.

List of reference signs truck 12 driver's cab 14 windshield 16 engine hood 18 exterior surfaces interior surfaces 22 front surface 24 upper surface 26 side surface 28 first air inlet grill 32 second air inlet 34 second air inlet 36 receptacle 36 receptacle head light assembly 42 head light assembly 44 third air inlet 46 third air inlet 48 upright surfaces rear surface 52 rearmost side surfaces 54 vent 56 directional arrows

Claims

Claims An engine hood (16) for a commercial vehicle (10), the engine hood (16) comprising a front surface (22) having: -at least one first air inlet (28) configured to provide airflow to at least one first heat exchanger of the commercial vehicle (10); -at least two lateral second air inlets (32, 34) arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first air inlet (28) with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle, the second air inlets (32, 34) being configured to provide airflow to at least one second heat exchanger of the commercial vehicle (10); and -at least two lateral receptacles (36, 38) arranged adjacent to and outboard of the first air inlet (28) with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle and above the second air inlets (32. 34) with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle, the receptacles (36, 38) being configured to house headlight assemblies (40, 42) of the commercial vehicle (10) and having at least one third air inlet (44, 46) respectively, the third air inlets (44, 46) being configured to provide airflow to an intake system for guiding air into at least one combustion chamber of an engine of the commercial vehicle (10).
2. The engine hood (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the engine hood (16) is formed in one piece.
3. The engine hood (16) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the engine hood (16) comprises a rear surface (50) which is, with respect to an assembled state of the commercial vehicle (10), arranged adjacent to a windshield (14) of the commercial vehicle (10), the rear surface (50) extending diagonally in relation to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and ascending towards the windshield (14).
4. The engine hood (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engine hood (16) has rearmost side surfaces (52) having at least one vent (54) respectively, the vents (54) allowing air to flow out of the engine hood (16).
5. The engine hood (16) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engine hood (16) comprises at least one internal air duct mating with at least one of the third air inlets (44, 46).