Cooling apparatus

Abstract

There is provided a cooling apparatus capable of efficiently cooling a plurality of heat-generating devices. The cooling apparatus is a cooling apparatus for cooling a plurality of heat-generating devices mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle having a hollow space that can accommodate a spare tire. The cooling apparatus includes: a cooling-air passage disposed adjacent to the hollow space; a battery disposed in the cooling-air passage; an inverter disposed in the hollow space; and a fan for supplying air to the cooling-air passage. A communicating portion that provides communication between the cooling-air passage and the hollow space is fowled in a wall portion of the cooling-air passage that faces the hollow space.

1 . A cooling apparatus for cooling a plurality of heat-generating devices mounted on a vehicle said vehicle having a hollow space that can accommodate a spare tire, comprising:
 a cooling-air passage disposed adjacent to said hollow space;   a first heat-generating device disposed in said cooling-air passage;   a second heat-generating device disposed in said hollow space; and   a fan for supplying air to said cooling-air passage,   a communicating portion providing communication between said cooling-air passage and said hollow space being formed in a wall portion of said cooling-air passage facing said hollow space.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second heat-generating device is disposed in proximity to a wall portion of said hollow space.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second heat-generating device is disposed to face said communicating portion.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling apparatus according to any of  claim 1 , wherein
 said fan is disposed upstream of said first heat-generating device in said cooling-air passage.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling apparatus according to any of  claim 1 , wherein
 said fan is disposed downstream of said communicating portion in said cooling-air passage.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said second heat-generating device has radiator fins.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 said radiator fins are pin fins, or plate fins aligned perpendicularly to said wall portion.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of said heat-generating devices is any of a battery, an inverter, and a DC-DC converter.