Vehicle hood opening for cooling airflow and method of cooling a heat-dissipating component
OwnerDaniel Christopher Braccianoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle hood is formed to define an air inlet in fluid communication with a heat-dissipating component such as an air conditioning condenser to permit outside air to flow through the inlet for cooling of the heat-dissipating component. Notably, the air inlet is different from the grille opening traditionally used to cool a condenser and a vehicle radiator; the inlet is located rearward on the hood, permitting the condenser to be located apart from the radiator in the front compartment. A method of cooling a heat-dissipating component is also provided.
Claims20
A vehicle hood for a vehicle having a heat-dissipating component, said hood including:
- structure defining an air inlet positioned in air flow relationship with respect to said heat-dissipating component to permit outside air to flow through said air inlet and across said heat-dissipating component thereby cooling said heat-dissipating component.
A vehicle including:
- a hood having a generally upward-facing surface extending over and at least partially defining a compartment in a substantially forward portion of said vehicle;
- a heat-dissipating component located within said compartment;
- and
- wherein said generally upward-facing surface of said hood defines an air inlet positioned in air flow relationship with respect to said heat-dissipating component to permit outside air to flow through said inlet and across said heat-dissipating component, thereby cooling said heat-dissipating component.
A vehicle comprising:
- a hood having a generally upward-facing surface extending over and at least partially defining a compartment in a substantially forward portion of said vehicle;
- an air conditioning condenser located within said compartment;
- wherein said hood defines an air inlet;
- a duct connected between said air inlet and said condenser;
- and
- a fan located adjacent to said condenser and operable for at least partially causing air flow through said air inlet and said duct and across said condenser for cooling said condenser.
A method of cooling a heat-dissipating component located in a front compartment of a vehicle, said front compartment being at least partially defined by a vehicle hood, said method comprising:
- forming an air inlet in said hood;
- and
- forcing air through said inlet and across said heat-dissipating component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.