阅读说明：本技术 用于卡车的排气系统和排气方法 (Exhaust system and exhaust method for truck ) 是由 杰弗里·格雷 文斯·安东尼·奇门托 埃里克·R·耶尔克 P·乔伊斯 S·维贾亚库马尔 D· 于 2021-04-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：本公开提供了“用于卡车的排气系统和排气方法”。一种排气系统尤其包括卡车的箱体。所述箱体提供货物区域。所述系统还包括所述卡车的驾驶室后面板。所述驾驶室后面板具有暴露部段,所述暴露部段提供所述货物区域的前壁。所述驾驶室后面板具有在所述货物区域外部的隐藏部段。抽气机被保持在所述驾驶室后面板的所述隐藏部段内。(The present disclosure provides an exhaust system and exhaust method for a truck. An exhaust system comprises, inter alia, the box of a truck. The box provides a cargo area. The system also includes a cab back panel of the truck. The cab rear panel has an exposed section that provides a front wall of the cargo area. The cab back panel has a hidden section outside the cargo area. An air extractor is held within the hidden section of the cab rear panel.)

1. An exhaust system, comprising:

a box of a truck, the box providing a cargo area;

a cab back panel of the truck, the cab back panel having an exposed section that provides a front wall of the cargo area, the cab back panel having a concealed section outside the cargo area; and

an air extractor retained within the concealed section of the cab rear panel.

2. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the air extractor is open to an area outside of the cargo area such that the air extractor is configured to exhaust air from a passenger compartment of the truck to the area outside of the cargo area.

3. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the air extractor is retained within the concealed section of the cab rear panel at a location vertically below a floor of the box such that the air extractor is configured to discharge air from a passenger compartment of the truck to an area vertically below the floor of the box, and optionally wherein the floor of the box is raised vertically relative to a floor of the passenger compartment.

4. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the air extractor is retained within the concealed section of the cab rear panel at a location outside of the cargo area such that the air extractor is configured to exhaust air from a passenger compartment of the truck to an area outside of the cargo area.

5. The exhaust system of claim 4, further comprising a sidewall of the tank, the sidewall having an inner panel and an outer panel, the air extractor opening into an area between the inner panel and the outer panel such that the air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment to the area between the inner panel and the outer panel.

6. The exhaust system of claim 5, wherein the outer panel includes a rear wheel opening that communicates air from the area between the inner panel and the outer panel to an area outside the truck.

7. The exhaust system according to claim 4 wherein the air extractor is a side air extractor and the exhaust system further comprises a lower air extractor that is held within another portion of the hidden section of the cab rear panel at a location vertically below a floor of the box such that the lower air extractor is configured to discharge air from a passenger compartment of the truck to an area vertically below the floor of the box, and optionally wherein the side air extractor is a driver side air extractor that is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment to the area between the inner panel and the outer panel on a driver side of the cargo area, and the exhaust system further comprises a passenger side air extractor that is held within another portion of the hidden section and is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment to the area between the inner panel and the outer panel of the side wall on the passenger side of the cargo area The area in between.

8. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment into an interior of a cross member extending in a vehicle transverse direction, the cross member having a box section.

9. The exhaust system of claim 8, wherein the air extractor is a lower air extractor and the cross member is a lower cross member, and further comprising an upper air extractor retained within the exposed section of the cab rear panel and configured to exhaust air from the passenger compartment into an interior of an upper cross member extending in a vehicle lateral direction, and optionally wherein the concealed section of the cab rear panel provides one side of the lower cross member and the exposed section of the cab rear panel provides one side of the upper cross member.

10. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the exposed section of the cab rear panel is exposed within the cargo area and is not covered by any cargo compartment liner.

11. The exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the truck has a unitary structure.

12. A method of venting a passenger compartment of a truck, comprising:

using the rear panel of the cab as the front wall of the cargo area in the box; and

air is exhausted from the passenger compartment by an air extractor retained by the rear panel, which is exhausted by the air extractor to an area outside the cargo area of the enclosure.

13. The venting method of claim 12, wherein the area outside of the cargo area of the box is located vertically below a floor of the box.

14. The venting method of claim 12, wherein the area of the enclosure outside of the cargo area is between an inner panel and an outer panel of a sidewall of the enclosure.

15. The exhaust method according to claim 12, wherein the truck is a truck having an integral structure.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to venting air from the passenger compartment of a truck (and more particularly a truck having an integrated structure).

Background

Conventional trucks have a non-load bearing structure in which the cab and box are attached to the vehicle frame. The cab is spaced from the box by a distance which results in a gap between the cab and the box. The air extractor can exhaust air from the passenger compartment of the cab into the gap as needed.

Trucks having a unitary construction do not include a gap (open area) between the cab and the box, nor do the vehicle frame separate from the cab and the box. Accordingly, some trucks having a unitary construction include an air extractor that discharges air into the cargo area of the box. The air extractor may be covered by a cargo bed liner.

Disclosure of Invention

An exhaust system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a truck box. The box provides a cargo area. The system also includes a cab back panel of the truck. The cab rear panel has an exposed section that provides a front wall of the cargo area. The cab back panel has a hidden section outside the cargo area. The air extractor is held within a hidden section of the cab rear panel.

In further exemplary embodiments of the foregoing system, the air extractor is open to an area outside of the cargo area such that the air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment of the truck to the area outside of the cargo area.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the air extractor is retained within the hidden section of the cab rear panel at a location vertically below the floor of the box such that the air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment of the truck to an area vertically below the floor of the box.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the floor of the box is vertically elevated relative to the floor of the passenger compartment.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the air extractor is retained within a hidden section of the cab rear panel at a location that is outside of the cargo area such that the air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment of the truck to an area outside of the cargo area.

A further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems includes a side wall of the tank. The sidewall has an inner panel and an outer panel. The air extractor is open to an area between the inner panel and the outer panel such that the air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment to the area between the inner panel and the outer panel.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the outer panel includes a rear wheel opening that communicates air from an area between the inner panel and the outer panel to an area outside the truck.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the air extractor is a side air extractor. The system then further includes a lower air extractor held within another portion of the hidden section of the cab rear panel at a location vertically below the floor of the box such that the lower air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment of the truck to an area vertically below the floor of the box.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the side extractor is a driver side extractor configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment to an area between the inner panel and the outer panel on a driver side of the cargo area. The system also includes a passenger side air extractor retained within another portion of the hidden section and configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment to an area between the inner panel and the outer panel of the sidewall located on a passenger side of the cargo area.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the air extractor is configured to discharge air from the passenger compartment into an interior of a cross member extending in a vehicle lateral direction. The cross member has a box section.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the air extractor is a lower air extractor and the cross member is a lower cross member. The system also includes an upper air extractor retained within the exposed section of the cab rear panel and configured to exhaust air from the passenger compartment into an interior of an upper cross member extending in the vehicle lateral direction.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the hidden section of the cab back panel provides one side of the lower cross member and the exposed section of the cab back panel provides one side of the upper cross member.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the exposed section of the cab back panel is exposed within the cargo area and is not covered by any cargo bed lining.

In a further exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing systems, the truck has a unitary structure.

An exhaust system according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, inter alia, a box of an integrated truck. The box provides a cargo area. The system also includes a cab back panel of the integrated truck and a support panel extending longitudinally in a vehicle lateral direction. The support panel is joined to the cab rear panel to provide a cross member. The system further includes an air extractor retained within the cab rear panel. The air extractor is configured to discharge air from a passenger compartment of the integrated truck into an interior of the cross member.

In a further exemplary embodiment of the foregoing system, the support panel is an upper support member, the air extractor is an upper air extractor, and the cross member is an upper cross member. The interior of the upper cross member is located vertically above the floor of the box such that the upper air extractor exhausts air from the passenger compartment of the integrated truck into the interior of the upper cross member at a location vertically above the floor of the box. The system also includes a lower support panel and a lower air extractor extending longitudinally in the lateral direction of the vehicle. The lower support panel is joined to the cab rear panel to provide a lower cross member located vertically below the floor of the box. The lower air extractor is configured to discharge air from a passenger compartment of the integrated truck to an interior of the lower cross member at a location vertically below a floor of the box.

An exhaust method for a passenger compartment of a truck according to yet another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes using a rear panel of a cab as a front wall of a cargo area in a box, and exhausting air from the passenger compartment through an air extractor retained by the rear panel. Air is exhausted by the air extractor to an area outside the cargo area of the box.

In another exemplary embodiment of the foregoing method, the area outside the cargo area of the bin is located vertically below the floor of the bin.

In another exemplary embodiment of any one of the foregoing methods, an area outside the cargo area of the enclosure is between the inner and outer panels of the side walls of the enclosure.

In another exemplary embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the truck is a truck having a unitary structure.

The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be employed independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless such features are incompatible.

Drawings

Various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

fig. 1 schematically shows a truck having an integrated structure.

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the truck of fig. 1, showing a cargo area of the truck according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a highly schematic representation of the passenger compartment and cargo area of the truck of fig. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates another perspective view of a portion of the truck of FIG. 1 showing an exhaust system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows a side view of the cross-sectional view of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates another perspective view of the cargo area of fig. 2.

Fig. 9 shows a close-up view of a portion of fig. 8 showing a side wall of the truck bed.

Fig. 10 shows the view of fig. 9 with the inner panel of the sidewall cut away to show an air extractor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an exhaust system according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure taken at the location of line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

Fig. 12 shows a side view of the cross-sectional view in fig. 11.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure details exemplary exhaust systems and methods for exhausting air from a passenger compartment of a truck. At least one aspirator provides a path for exhaust. The truck may be an all-in-one truck.

A truck 10 according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is shown in fig. 1. Truck 10 has cab 14 and box 18 supported on wheels 22. Truck 10 has a unitary construction. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment, cab 14 and box 18 are not supported on a separate and distinct frame from cab 14 and box 18.

Referring now to fig. 2-7 and with continued reference to fig. 1, the bin 18 provides a cargo area 30. The box 18 includes a floor 34 extending in the vehicle lateral direction between a driver-side sidewall 38 and a passenger-side sidewall 42. The floor 34 defines the bottom of the cargo area 30 in the Z-direction or vertical direction. The driver-side sidewall 38 and the passenger-side sidewall 42 establish respective outer sides of the cargo area 30.

The front wall 46 establishes a forward boundary of the cargo region 30. The front wall 46 of the cargo area 30 is generally aligned with the C-pillar of the truck 10.

The tailgate (not shown) may establish a rear boundary of the cargo area 30 when the pivotable tailgate is in the closed position. The rear of the cargo area 30 is generally aligned with the D-pillar of the truck 10.

In the illustrated example, the front wall 46 is provided by an exposed section 50 of a cab rear panel 54, the exposed section 50 of the cab rear panel 54 also providing a rear side or boundary of the cab 14. Thus, the same panel that provides the rear side of the cab 14 provides the front wall 46 of the cargo area 30.

In addition to the exposed section 50, the cab back panel 54 also includes a concealed section 58. The hidden section 58 does not provide a forward boundary of the cargo area 30 because the hidden section 58 is below the cargo area 30, outside the cargo area 30, or both.

In this example, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, some of the hidden sections 58 extend vertically downward from the exposed section 50. This area of the concealed section 58 is located vertically below the floor 34. In contrast, the exposed section 50 is located vertically above the floor 34 to provide the front wall 46 of the cargo area 30.

For purposes of this disclosure, vertical is with reference to the ground and the general orientation of the truck 10 during normal operation. Similarly, forward and rearward are with reference to the orientation of the truck 10.

When the cab rear panel 54 provides the front wall 46 of the cargo area 30, there is no gap between the cab rear panel 54 and the front wall of the cargo area 30. In contrast to truck 10 having a unitary construction, a truck having a non-load bearing construction will include a first panel providing a rear panel of the cab and a second panel providing a front panel of the cargo bed. The first panel is spaced from the second panel along a longitudinal axis of the non-pick-up truck to provide a gap between the first panel and the second panel.

Referring again to truck 10, an air extractor 62 is held within the hidden section 58 of the cab rear panel 54. An air extractor 62 in the cab back panel 54 provides a portion of the exhaust system for the truck 10.

The cab 14 includes a passenger compartment 66. The cab rear panel 54 establishes the rearmost panel of the passenger compartment 66. As schematically shown in fig. 4, the air extractor 62 may discharge air a from within the passenger compartment 66 to an area outside of the cargo area 30.

When the air extractor 62 is held within the concealed section 58, the air extractor 62 opens into an area outside the cargo area 30. In particular, in this example, the air extractor 62 is configured to exhaust air a between a passenger compartment 68 of the truck 10 and an area vertically below the floor 34 of the box 18. This is because the air extractor 62 of the exemplary embodiment is retained within a portion of the hidden section 58 of the cab rear panel 54 that is located below the floor 34 of the box 18.

The air extractor 62 may include a plurality of individual flaps that open in response to a pressure differential between the passenger compartment 66 and the area under the floor 34 of the tank 18. For example, a user closing a door of the cab 14 may cause a pressure increase within the passenger compartment 66. The increase may force the flap of the air extractor 62 to open, which enables air a to be discharged from the passenger compartment 66 through the air extractor 62 to the area under the floor 34 of the tank 18.

The air extractor 62 is configured such that the flap closes when the pressure differential is not above a threshold level. When closed, the flap may block debris and fluid outside of the passenger compartment 66 from entering the passenger compartment 66 through the air extractor 62.

With particular reference to fig. 3 and 7, the floor 34 of the box 18 is vertically elevated relative to the floor 70 of the cab 14 providing the passenger compartment 66. This facilitates drainage as the concealed section 58 can extend vertically below the floor 34 sufficient to hold the suction 62.

Referring now to fig. 8-10, an air extractor 62A according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is retained within the hidden section 58A of the cab rear panel 54. The concealed section 58A is located at a position outside the cargo area 30 such that the air extractor 62A is configured to discharge air a from a passenger compartment 66 provided by the cab 14 to an area outside the cargo area 30.

In particular, the area outside of the cargo area 30 is between the inner panel 80 of the driver side sidewall 38 and the outer panel 84 of the driver side sidewall 38. The air extractor 62A opens into the area between the inner panel 80 and the outer panel 84 of the driver side sidewall 38.

After the air A moves from the passenger compartment 66 through the air extractor 62A to the area between the inner panel 80 and the outer panel 84, the air A may pass through the rear wheel openings 88 to the area outside the truck 10.

The air extractor 62A may be considered a side air extractor. The air extractor 62 of fig. 3-7 may be considered a lower air extractor. In some examples, a side air extractor 62A is used with the lower air extractor 62 such that air a may be discharged through the air extractors 62 and 62A to areas below the floor 34 of the cargo area 30 and areas outside of the cargo area 30.

Air extractor 62A is shown on the driver's side of truck 10 and is open to driver-side sidewall 38. The truck 10 may include another side air extractor on the passenger side of the truck 10 that opens into an area between the inner and outer panels of the passenger side sidewall 42.

Fig. 11 and 12 show an exhaust system according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The exhaust system includes an air extractor 62B and an air extractor 62C.

The air extractor 62B opens into the interior 92 of the cross member 96 that extends in the vehicle lateral direction. The cross member 96 has a box section. The forward side of cross member 96 is provided by cab rear panel 54. A support panel 100 may be attached to the cab back panel 54 to complete the box section of the cross member 96. The support panel 100 extends in the vehicle lateral direction.

Air may be discharged from the passenger compartment 66 into the interior 92 of the cross member 96 through the air extractor 62B. The portion of the cab back panel 54 that provides some of the cross members 96 is within the hidden section 58 of the cab back panel 54 because that area of the cab back panel 54 is located vertically below the floor 34 of the box 18.

The air extractor 62B may be considered a lower air extractor and is used within the exhaust system along with the air extractor 62C. With respect to lower air extractor 62B, air extractor 62C may then be considered an upper air extractor.

The upper air extractor 62C may exhaust air from the passenger compartment 66 into the interior 104 of the cross member 108. The exposed section 50 of the cab back panel 54 generally provides one side of the cross member 108. The support panel 112 may be secured to the exposed section 50 of the cab rear panel 54 to complete the box section for the cross member 108. The support panel 112 may extend longitudinally in the vehicle lateral direction. Cross member 108 may be considered an upper cross member and cross member 96 a lower cross member.

In the above-described embodiments, the example air movers 62-62C do not open into the cargo region 30. Thus, the likelihood of damage to the air extractors 62-62C, for example, due to cargo loaded within the cargo area 30, is reduced. Furthermore, because the air extractors 62-62C are hidden and substantially invisible, no cargo bed lining is required to cover the air extractors for aesthetic reasons. In the exemplary embodiment, air extractors 62-62C are not covered by any cargo bed lining within cargo area 30. Further, because the exemplary air extractor 62-62C does not open into the cargo area, the discharge of air A through the air extractor 62-62C is not obstructed by cargo within the cargo area.

Generally, the method of exhausting with any of the air extractors 62-62C includes using the rear panel of the cab as the front wall of the cargo area within the cargo bed of the integrated truck. The method then includes venting air from the passenger compartment of the integrated truck through an air extractor retained by the rear panel. The air discharged through the air extractor is discharged to an area outside the cargo area of the cargo compartment. The air can be discharged by means of an air extractor through a region located vertically below the cargo compartment or through the outside of the cargo compartment region.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.

According to the present invention, there is provided an exhaust system having: a box of an integrated truck, the box providing a cargo area; a cab rear panel of the integrated truck; a support panel extending longitudinally in a vehicle lateral direction, the support panel being joined to a cab rear panel to provide a cross member; and an air extractor retained within the cab rear panel, the air extractor configured to exhaust air from a passenger compartment of the integrated truck into an interior of the cross member.

According to an embodiment, the support panel is an upper support member, the air extractor is an upper air extractor, and the cross member is an upper cross member, an interior of the upper cross member being located vertically above a floor of the box such that the upper air extractor exhausts air from the passenger compartment of the integrated truck to the interior of the upper cross member at a location vertically above the floor of the box, and the exhaust system further includes a lower support panel and a lower air extractor extending longitudinally in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the lower support panel being joined to the cab back panel to provide a lower cross member located vertically below the floor of the box, the lower air extractor being configured to exhaust air from the passenger compartment of the integrated truck to the interior of the lower cross member at a location vertically below the floor of the box.