Vehicle load floor support with integral air duct
US8186468B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 2008 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S903/952
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A porous, sound absorbing structural foam load floor support is provided that defines an integral duct. The duct is configured as a ventilation air passage from the air outlet of a heat-emitting component, such as an energy storage system in a hybrid vehicle, so that the load floor support serves both to support the load floor as well as to provide a route for heat dissipation. By integrating the duct within the load floor support, a separate duct, which would have to route around other vehicle components located under the load floor, is not required. The structural foam load floor support is configured to absorb noise of a cooling system for the energy storage system. A porous expanded polypropylene foam is especially well-suited for noise attenuation and load floor support.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.