# US 10,500,939 B2 · Vehicle with capsule structure of power unit

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- Number: US 10,500,939 B2
- Document ID: US10500939B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/030,991
- Filed: 2018-07-10
- Published: 2019-04-04
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-29
- Assignees: Subaru Corporation
- Applicants: Subaru Corporation
- Inventors: Takako Mizuno; Kensaku Tanaka; Yoshio Iwakami
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500939B2

## CPC

- B60K 6/405: Housings
- B60K 6/48: Parallel type
- B60H 1/00278: {for the battery}
- B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00)
- B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds}
- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- H01M 10/6562: with free flow by convection only
- B60K 2001/008: {with means for heating the electrical propulsion units}
- B60K 2006/4825: {Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft}
- B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles
- B60Y 2410/10: Housings
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles
- Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit is provided. The power unit includes an internal combustion engine configured to combust air-fuel mixture in an engine body and output a driving force, and a motor configured to output a driving force by using electric power of an electric generator or a battery. At least the engine body is enclosed by the capsule structure, and at least the battery is disposed behind the capsule structure. The capsule structure includes an exhaust opening provided in a back part of the capsule structure, an exhaust open-close member configured to open and close the exhaust opening to discharge and stop discharging air from the exhaust opening, and a controller configured to control the exhaust open-close member to open and close the exhaust opening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit, the power unit comprising:
an internal combustion engine configured to combust air-fuel mixture in an engine body and output a driving force; and
a motor configured to output a driving force by using electric power of an electric generator or a battery,
wherein at least the engine body is enclosed by the capsule structure, and at least the battery is disposed behind the capsule structure,
the capsule structure comprising:
an exhaust opening provided in a back part of the capsule structure;
an exhaust open-close member configured to open and close the exhaust opening to discharge and stop discharging air from the exhaust opening; and
a controller configured to control the exhaust open-close member to open and close the exhaust opening,
wherein when closing the exhaust opening, the exhaust open-close member overlays the exhaust opening,
wherein the controller controls the exhaust open-close member to close the exhaust opening so that the capsule structure is sealed, when the vehicle or the power unit is stopped.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the exhaust open-close member on a basis of a first temperature which is a temperature of the inside of the capsule structure or a temperature of the engine body and a second temperature which is a temperature of the battery or the motor disposed outside the capsule structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the exhaust open-close member to close the exhaust opening when a first temperature which is a temperature of the inside of the capsule structure or a temperature of the engine body is lower than a minimum operation temperature suitable for operation of the engine body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the exhaust open-close member to open the exhaust opening when a first temperature which is a temperature of the inside of the capsule structure or a temperature of the engine body is equal to or higher than a minimum operation temperature suitable for operation of the engine body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller compares a first temperature which is a temperature of the inside of the capsule structure or a temperature of the engine body to a second temperature which is a temperature of the battery or the motor disposed outside the capsule structure, and controls the exhaust open-close member to open the exhaust opening when the second temperature is lower than the first temperature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the exhaust open-close member to close the exhaust opening, when a second temperature which is a temperature of the battery or the motor disposed outside the capsule structure is higher than a maximum operation temperature suitable for operation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the capsule structure further comprises a vent member extending from the capsule structure to a vicinity of at least one of the battery and the motor disposed outside the capsule structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 7, wherein the exhaust open-close member is provided in the vent member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust open-close member is integrally attached to a casing of the capsule structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein:
the capsule structure includes a casing configured to enclose at least the engine body in the vehicle; and
the casing and the engine body are mounted to and supported by a framework member or a structural member of the vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust open-close member disposed outside the capsule structure opens and closes within a framework member or a structural member of the vehicle.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the capsule structure encloses components including at least the engine body which are lubricated with oil in the vehicle.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein an exhaust pipe, a turbomachinery, a muffler, and a catalytic machinery of the power unit are provided outside the capsule structure.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein:
the engine body, an engine accessory, a transmission, and a hybrid automobile component are provided in the vehicle; and
the capsule structure encloses at least the engine body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 1, wherein the capsule structure further comprises:
an intake opening provided in a front part of the capsule structure; and
an intake open-close member configured to open and close the intake opening to intake and stop intaking air from the intake opening,
wherein the controller controls the intake open-close member to open and close the intake opening.

### Claim 16

A vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit, the power unit comprising:
an internal combustion engine configured to combust air-fuel mixture in an engine body and output a driving force; and
a motor configured to output a driving force by using electric power of an electric generator or a battery,
wherein at least the engine body is enclosed by the capsule structure, and at least the battery is disposed behind the capsule structure,
the capsule structure comprising:
an exhaust opening provided in a back part of the capsule structure;
an exhaust open-close member configured to open and close the exhaust opening to discharge and stop discharging air from the exhaust opening; and
circuitry configured to control the exhaust open-close member to open and close the exhaust opening,
wherein the circuitry controls the exhaust open-close member to close the exhaust opening so that the capsule structure is sealed, when the vehicle or the power unit is stopped.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 15, wherein the controller controls the exhaust open-close member to close the exhaust opening, and controls the intake open-close member to close the intake opening so that the capsule structure is sealed, when the vehicle or the power unit is stopped.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The vehicle with a capsule structure of a power unit according to claim 15, wherein the controller controls the exhaust open-close member to close the exhaust opening, and controls the intake open-close member to close the intake opening when a first temperature which is a temperature of the inside of the capsule structure or a temperature of the engine body is lower than a minimum operation temperature suitable for operation of the engine body.