Fluid flow management in vehicles
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsPubudu C. Abeysinghe, Pirooz Moradnia, Kevin D. Barcomb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for water management in a vehicle using a fluid management assembly are disclosed. The fluid management assembly includes a housing in fluid communication at one end with a vent in the hood of the vehicle and at a second end with a radiator of the vehicle. Air flow from the radiator is directed to the vent, and water and other liquids entering the vent are diverted away from the radiator via a drainage spout extending from a bottom side of the fluid duct assembly.
Claims20
A fluid management system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a fluid guide duct including:
- an elongated housing extending from a first end to a second end,
- an interior channel extending from a first opening at the first end to a second opening at the second end, the first opening being in fluid communication with a vent formed in a hood of the vehicle, and the second opening being disposed lower than the first opening, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with a portion of a cooling system component of the vehicle;
- and
- a drainage spout extending from a slot formed in a bottom side of the housing, the drainage spout including a flume portion serving as a conduit for directing fluid flow in a diagonally downward direction from the interior channel.
A fluid management assembly for a motor vehicle having a hood and cooling system component, the fluid guide assembly comprising:
- a pipe housing including a first opening in fluid communication with a vent formed in the hood and a second opening in fluid communication with the cooling system component;
- and
- a drainage spout protruding from a bottom side of the housing.
A method for guiding fluid flow through a front end compartment of a motor vehicle via a fluid guide duct including a first opening and a second opening, the method comprising:
- discharging air flow from a cooling system component into the second opening of the fluid guide duct;
- directing the air flow from the second opening to the first opening of the fluid guide duct, the first opening being in fluid communication with a vent formed in a hood of the motor vehicle;
- receiving water flow from the vent into the first opening of the fluid guide duct;
- directing the water flow along an interior surface of a bottom side of the fluid guide duct;
- and
- discharging the water flow through a slot formed in the bottom surface of the fluid guide duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.