JP3149686B2 - Vehicle air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner capable of blowing conditioned air from a defroster outlet toward a window glass of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner for a vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-57419 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-57419 in order to prevent cold air from blowing out to occupants when the temperature of engine cooling water is low. The air supply to the room is stopped, and if the outside air temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, air is blown from the defroster outlet toward the window glass.

[0003]

When the air conditioner is started to operate the evaporator, condensed water adheres to the evaporator. After that, if the time from when the air conditioner is stopped to when the air conditioner is restarted is long, the condensed water attached to the evaporator evaporates due to, for example, the heat of the outside air, and the inside of the air conditioner unit becomes in a high humidity state.

When the temperature of the engine cooling water is low and the outside air temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, as in the prior art, under the condition that the inside of the air conditioning unit is in a high humidity state, the defroster outlet opens the window glass. When air is blown in, high humidity air is blown out toward the window glass,
As a result, there arises a problem that fogging occurs in the window glass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent a window glass from fogging when a vehicle air conditioner is started.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air blowing means for generating an air flow, an air passage for guiding air from the air blowing means into a vehicle cabin, and It provided in the passage, and cooling means for dehumidifying the cooling air from the blower means, said at the air passage
The cooling unit is provided at the downstream side of the air,
A heat exchanger that heats the air with engine cooling water,
The formed air downstream portion of the air passage, a defroster outlet for blowing air from the blowing means toward the windshield, the shape on the air downstream side portion of the front Stories air passage
And directing the air from the blowing means toward the feet of the occupant.
A foot outlet for blowing, the defroster outlet closing means for opening and closing the defroster outlet, wherein the foot blown
Foot outlet opening / closing means for opening / closing the outlet, elapsed time determination means for determining whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the air conditioner, and the elapsed time determination means, While it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed , and the defroster outlet and the
And a foot that blows air from both the foot outlet
Mode or foot defroster mode ,
An outlet opening / closing controller for controlling the defroster outlet opening / closing means so as to close the defroster outlet, and controlling the foot outlet opening / closing means so as to open the foot outlet. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle air conditioner according to the first aspect, the air outlet opening / closing control means controls the defroster air outlet opening / closing means immediately after the air conditioner is started. An outlet opening determining means for determining whether or not the outlet is opened; and, when the outlet opening determining means determines that the defroster outlet is open, the defroster outlet is closed. Controlling the defroster outlet opening / closing means and the foot outlet so as to open the foot outlet;
The opening and closing means may be configured to be controlled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle air conditioner according to the first aspect, the defroster command output means for outputting a command to open the defroster outlet, and the defroster command output means. Receiving the command, the defroster outlet opening control means for controlling the defroster outlet opening and closing means so as to open the defroster outlet, the elapsed time determination means, after the air conditioner is started, the While it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed , and the defroster
The air that blows air from both the mouth and the foot outlet
When in the cut mode or foot defroster mode
It may be configured by inhibiting means for inhibiting the output of the command to the defroster air outlet opening control means from the defroster command output unit.

Further, as described in claim 4, claim 1
4. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 3 to 3, wherein the elapsed time determination unit includes a timer unit that counts time since the air conditioner was started, and a time period measured by the timer unit is equal to or longer than the predetermined time. It may be constituted by a time-measuring-time determining means for determining whether or not there is a timer.

Further, as described in claim 5, claim 1
4. In the vehicle air conditioner according to any one of the first to third aspects, the elapsed time determination unit may include a cooling temperature determination unit that determines whether a temperature of the cooling unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

[0011]

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, between the start of the air conditioner and the elapse of a predetermined time , the defroster outlet and the foot outlet.
Foot mode or foot that blows air from both mouths
In the defroster mode , the defroster outlet is closed and the foot
The outlet opens. Therefore, the air passage is in a high humidity state due to the condensed water generated from the cooling means, and the air conditioner is operated in the foot mode or the foot defroster in that state.
High-humidity air blows foot even when started in mode
Since the air is blown out from the exit toward a portion different from the window glass, fogging does not occur on the window glass.

In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the defroster outlet is opened immediately after the start of the air conditioner, the defroster outlet is closed and the foot outlet is opened. Therefore, the fogging of the window glass is prevented as in the first aspect of the present invention. In the invention according to claim 3,
Even if a command to open the defroster outlet is issued from the defroster command output means until the predetermined time elapses after the activation of the air conditioner, the prohibiting means causes this command to be transmitted to the defroster outlet opening control means. , The defroster outlet is closed and the foot outlet is open. Therefore, the fogging of the window glass is prevented as in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0013]

1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described based on. The vehicle air conditioner of the present embodiment is equipped with an auto air conditioner function for automatically maintaining the temperature in the passenger compartment at a set temperature.
And a control device 2 for controlling each functional component of the air conditioning unit 1
Consists of

(Description of Air Conditioning Unit 1) Air Conditioning Unit 1
Is an inside / outside air switching means 3 for selecting whether the air to be sent into the cabin is the inside air (inside air) or the outside air (outside air), and the air selected by the inside / outside air switching means 3 is introduced into the inside of the vehicle. A blower 4 for blowing air, a duct 5 as an air passage for guiding air from the blower 4 into the vehicle interior, an evaporator 6 as a cooling means for cooling air flowing through the duct 5, and the duct 5 into the vehicle interior. A temperature adjusting means 7 for adjusting the temperature of the blown air is provided.

The inside / outside air switching means 3 is provided at an upstream side of the air blowing means 4 and has an inside air suction port 10 communicating with the vehicle interior.
And an outside air suction port 11 communicating with the outside of the vehicle compartment, and an inside / outside air switching door 12 for selectively opening and closing the inside air suction port 10 and the outside air suction port 11. The inside / outside air switching door 12 is driven by a driving means such as a servomotor 13, and has an inside air circulation mode in which inside air is sucked from the inside air suction port 10, and an outside air introduction mode in which outside air is sucked through the outside air suction port 11. Switch.

The blowing means 4 is connected to an upstream portion of the duct 5 to generate an airflow for blowing air into the passenger compartment. The blowing means 4 includes a fan case 15, a fan 1
6. The fan motor 17 rotates the fan 16 according to the voltage applied from the drive circuit 18 and blows the inside air or the outside air into the vehicle interior through the duct 5.

The duct 5 is disposed at the front in the vehicle interior. On the outlet side of the duct 5, a face outlet 20 for blowing out the air passing through the duct 5 toward the upper body of the passenger in the passenger compartment, a foot outlet 21 for blowing out the air toward the feet of the occupant, A defroster outlet 23 for blowing the air toward the window glass 22 of the automobile is formed.

In the duct 5, means for adjusting the amount of air flowing through each of the outlets, specifically, the face door 2
4, a foot door 25 and a defroster door 26 are provided. These doors 24-26 are driven by respective driving means, specifically, servomotors 27-29. The evaporator 6 is a component of the refrigeration cycle 35 that cools the air passing through the duct 5, is disposed on the entire surface of the duct 5, and cools all the air passing through the duct 5. The refrigeration cycle 35 includes the compressor 3 in addition to the evaporator 6.
6, a condenser 37, a liquid receiver 38, and an expansion valve 39.

The compressor 36 is driven to rotate by transmitting rotational power of an engine (not shown) via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown), and operates the refrigeration cycle 35 to function the evaporator 6 as cooling means. Let it. The electromagnetic clutch transmits the rotation of the engine to the compressor 36 when electric power is supplied from the compressor drive circuit 40, and conversely, when the supply of electric power from the compressor drive circuit 40 is stopped, the rotation of the engine is stopped. Is not transmitted to the compressor 6.

The temperature control means 7 comprises a heater core 41 and an air mix door 42. The heater core 41 is provided at a position downstream of the evaporator 6 on the air side.
A hot air passage 45 through which air from the evaporator 6 passes;
And a bypass passage 44 for bypassing the air from itself is formed. This heater core 41
Is a heat exchanger through which the engine cooling water flows and which heats the air in the duct 5 passing therethrough by the heat of the engine cooling water.

The air mix door 42 is provided on the air upstream side of the heater core 41 and is driven by driving means such as a servo motor 43. Then, according to the position set by the servomotor 43, the amount of air that passes through the warm air passage 42 and is heated by the heater core 41,
The amount of air passing through the bypass passage 44 is adjusted. (Description of Control Device 2) The control device 2 controls each electric functional component of the air conditioning unit 1 described above.
A ROM 51, a RAM 52 and the like are mounted. ROM
A program for air conditioning control is stored in 51, and various calculations and processes are performed by the CPU 50 based on the air conditioning information temporarily stored in the RAM 52.

Servo motors 13, 43, 27, 28 and 29 are connected to output terminals A to E of the control device 2, a drive circuit 18 is connected to an output terminal F, and a compressor is connected to an output terminal G. It is connected to the drive circuit 40. Control signals are output from these output terminals A to G to control the servo motors and the drive circuits, respectively. The input terminal H of the control device 2 is connected to means 53 for detecting the actual opening of the air mix door 42, and the input terminal I is connected to means 71 for detecting the actual opening of the face door 24, A means 72 for detecting the actual opening of the foot door 25 is connected to the input terminal J, and a means 73 for detecting the actual opening of the defroster door 26 is connected to the input terminal K. The opening degree detecting means 53, 71 to 73 are each constituted by a potentiometer, and are directly attached to each servo motor. Further, a clutch operation detection sensor (not shown) for detecting an energized state of the electromagnetic clutch is connected to an input terminal L of the control device 2.

Further, input terminals M to P of the control device 2
A defroster switch 54 for setting the blowout mode to a defroster mode to be described later, an inside / outside air mode changeover switch 55 for selecting the inside / outside air mode, a temperature setting device 56 for setting the vehicle interior temperature, and a face for setting the blowout mode to be described later. Mode, bi-level mode, foot mode, and foot differential mode. In addition, the above 54 ~
57 is provided on the operation panel operated by the occupant.

The input terminals Q to U include an internal air temperature sensor 60 for detecting the air temperature in the vehicle interior, an external air temperature sensor 61 for detecting the air temperature outside the vehicle interior, and a solar radiation for detecting the amount of solar radiation applied to the vehicle interior. A sensor 62, a post-evaporation temperature sensor 63 for detecting the air temperature immediately after passing through the evaporator 6, and a water temperature sensor 64 for detecting the temperature of the engine cooling water flowing in the heater core 41 are connected.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
First, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on to activate the air conditioner, a flag (FL) is set in step S1.
AG) is set to 0 and the timer is started. As will be understood from the following description, this flag is set for a predetermined time (C
It is set to turn off the timer after 1) has elapsed.

Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the flag is 0. If the flag is 0, the process proceeds to step S3 to turn off the timer and proceeds to step S4. If not, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the value of each sensor is read. Then, in the next step S5, a target outlet temperature (hereinafter, referred to as TAO) of the air to be blown into the vehicle compartment is calculated from the values of the respective sensors based on the following equation (1).

[0027]

## EQU1 ## TAO = Kset × Tset−Kr × Tr−Kam ×
Tam−Ks × Ts−C Here, Tset is the set temperature set by the temperature setting device 56, Tr is the inside air temperature detected by the inside air temperature sensor 60, Tam is the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 61, and Ts Is the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 62. Kset, Kr, Kam, and Ks are gains, respectively, and C is a correction constant.

Next, at step S6, the above-mentioned TAO and FIG.
The blower voltage applied to the fan motor 17 is determined from the relationship shown in FIG. The relationship shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the ROM 51. Next, in step S7, the target opening (SW) of the air mix door 42 is calculated based on the following equation (2).

[0029]

SW = {(TAO-Te) / (Tw-Te)}
× 100 (%) where Te is the post-evaporation temperature detected by the post-evaporation temperature sensor 63, and Tw is the water temperature detected by the water temperature sensor 64.

Then, in the next step S8, the TAO
And the relationship shown in FIG. In addition,
The relationship shown in FIG. 5 is stored in the ROM 51. Also,
The FACE (face) mode shown in FIG. 5 is a mode in which 100% of the temperature-controlled air temperature-controlled by the temperature control means 7 is blown out from the face air outlet 20 toward the upper body of the occupant, and B / L ( Bi-level) mode is
In this mode, about 50% of the temperature-controlled air is blown from the face outlet 20 toward the upper body of the occupant, and about 50% of the remaining air is blown from the foot outlet 21 toward the foot of the occupant.

The FOOT (foot) mode is a mode in which about 90% of the temperature-controlled air is blown out from the foot outlet 21 and the remaining about 10% is blown out from the defroster outlet 23. The (foot differential) mode is a mode in which about 50% of the temperature-controlled air is blown out from the foot outlet 21 and the remaining about 50% is blown out from the defroster outlet 23. The defroster mode is not determined by TAO, but is set by operating the defroster switch 54 by the occupant.

Next, in step S9, the above TAO and FIG.
The inside / outside air mode is determined from the relationship shown in FIG. FIG.
Are stored in the ROM 51. Then, in the next step S10, it is determined whether or not the time counted by the timer operated in step S1 has passed a predetermined time (C1 in this embodiment). If it is determined that the time has not exceeded C1, the process proceeds to step S11, and based on the signals from the potentiometers 72 and 73, determines whether the current actual blowing mode is the foot mode or the foot differential mode. Determine whether or not.

If it is determined that the foot mode is the foot mode or the foot differential mode, a new blowing mode is determined in step S12 so as to close the defroster outlet 23 while keeping the position of the foot door 25 as it is. In step S13, the blower voltage, the target opening (SW) of the air mix door 42, the blowing mode, and the inside / outside air mode determined in each step S are output to each servomotor or drive circuit. Thereafter, the process of step S2 is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the current actual blowing mode is neither the foot mode nor the foot differential mode, then in step S14, based on the signal from the potentiometer 73, the current actual blowing mode is determined. It is determined whether the mode is the defroster mode. If it is determined that the mode is the defroster mode, step S
At 15, the defroster outlet 23 is closed and the foot mode is newly determined so as to open the foot outlet 21.

If NO is determined in step S14, that is, if the current actual blow mode is a mode in which the defroster outlet 23 is not open, the process proceeds to step S13. Then, when C1 has elapsed since the activation of the air conditioner, YES is determined in step S10, and the flag is set to 1 in step S16.
Then, in step S13, the blower voltage, SW, blowing mode determined in the previous steps S6 to S9,
And output the inside / outside air mode. And then step S
When performing the determination of No. 2, the determination is NO, and the timer is stopped.

By performing the above control, the blowing mode before starting the air conditioner is the foot mode or the foot differential mode. When the air conditioner is started in this state, YES is also determined in step S10. Since the defroster outlet 23 is closed until the determination is made, even if high-humidity air remains in the duct 5 while the air conditioner is stopped, this high-humidity air is blown out from the defroster outlet 23. Can be prevented. Therefore, fogging of the window glass can be prevented.

At this time, the high-humidity air is blown out from the foot outlet 21 into the vehicle interior.
Since the air blown out from 1 is blown out to a portion different from the window glass 22, there is no worry about fogging of the window glass 22 caused by blowing out the high humidity air from the foot outlet 21.
In addition, the blowing mode before starting the air conditioner is the defroster mode, and even when the air conditioner is started in that state, the defroster outlet 23 is closed until YES is determined in step S10. Therefore, the fogging of the window glass can be prevented for the same reason as described above. Further, at this time, since the foot outlet 21 is opened, the high-humidity air in the duct 5 escapes from the foot outlet 21.

When C1 has elapsed since the start of the air conditioner, since the high-humidity air hardly remains in the duct 5 at that time, the blowing mode determined in step S8 is obtained. . In the above embodiment, the defroster air outlet opening and closing means definitive to the first aspect of the invention constituted by the defroster door 26 and the servo motor 29, constitutes a foot air outlet opening and closing means at the foot door 25 and the servo motor 28 The elapsed time determination means is constituted by step S10, and the outlet opening / closing control means is constituted by steps S11 to S15.

In the above embodiment, the outlet opening determination means in the second aspect of the present invention is constituted by steps S11 and S14. Further, the timing means in the invention according to claim 4 is constituted by step S1,
The time counting means is configured in step S10.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Since the overall configuration of the second embodiment is as shown in FIG. 1, the description is omitted. In the control of the second embodiment, the contents of steps S11 and S14 in FIG. 3 are different. Specifically, in Step S11 of the present embodiment, Step S11
It is determined whether the blowing mode determined in step 8 is the foot mode or the foot differential mode, or whether the foot mode or the foot differential mode is instructed by the blowing mode switch 57. That is, it is determined whether or not a command has been issued to set the blowing mode to the foot mode or the foot differential mode.

In step S14, it is determined whether the defroster switch 54 has been operated. That is, it is determined whether or not a command to set the blowing mode to the defroster mode has been issued. As a result, when an instruction to change the blowout mode to one of the foot mode, the foot differential mode, and the defroster mode is issued during the period from when the air conditioner is activated to when C1 has elapsed, step S12 or step S15 is performed. This command is prohibited. Therefore,
The defroster outlet 23 remains closed from when the air conditioner is activated until C1 elapses, and the fogging of the window glass 22 can be prevented.

In the second embodiment, the defroster command output means according to the third aspect of the present invention is replaced by the step S.
8, the defroster switch 54 and the blowing mode switch 57, the defroster outlet opening control means is configured in step S13, and the prohibition means is configured in steps S12 and S15. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the elapsed time determination means according to the first aspect of the present invention may be replaced by a time measurement means such as step S1 and a step S10
The defroster outlet 23 is controlled to be closed while the measured time is not determined to have elapsed for a predetermined time or more by the measured time determination means. A cooling temperature determining means for determining whether or not the temperature of the post-evaporation temperature sensor 63 has become equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature since the air conditioner was started. May be controlled so that the defroster outlet 23 is closed.

That is, the fact that the temperature of the evaporator 6 becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature means that the air in the duct 5 is dehumidified by the evaporator 6, and at this time, even if air is blown out from the defroster outlet 23, There is no fear that the blown air will cause fogging on the window glass. Also,
A humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the duct 5; and humidity determining means for determining whether or not the humidity detected by the humidity sensor has become equal to or less than a predetermined humidity after the air conditioner is started. Control may be performed so that the defroster outlet 23 is closed while it is determined that the humidity is equal to or higher than the humidity.

[0044] Each of the above steps are those which constitute the means for realizing the respective functions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a target outlet temperature (TA) in the first embodiment;
It is a correlation diagram between O) and a blower voltage.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a target outlet temperature (TA) in the first embodiment.
It is a correlation diagram between O) and the blowing mode.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a target outlet temperature (TA) in the first embodiment.
It is a correlation diagram between O) and the inside and outside air mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 4 blowing means 5 duct (air passage) 6 evaporator (cooling means) 21 foot outlet 23 defroster outlet 54 defroster switch (defroster command output means) 57 blowout mode switch (defroster command output means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60H 3/00 B60H 1/00 103

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A blower for generating an air flow; an air passage for guiding air from the blower into a vehicle interior; and a cooling device provided in the air passage for dehumidifying and cooling the air from the blower. Installed at a position downstream of the cooling means in the air passage.
And the air from the blowing means is cooled by the engine cooling water.
Ri and heat exchanger for heating, is formed on the air downstream portion of said air passage, a defroster outlet for blowing air from the blowing means toward the windshield, the air downstream portion of the front Stories air passage Formed in the blower
A foot for blowing air from the steps toward the occupant's feet
Determining a preparative outlet, and defroster air outlet opening and closing means for opening and closing the defroster outlet, and the foot air outlet opening and closing means for opening and closing said foot outlet, whether the air conditioner has elapsed a predetermined time from the start an elapsed time determining means for, by the elapsed time determining means, while the air conditioner is determined that has not passed the predetermined time after starting
And the defroster outlet and the foot
Foot mode that blows air from both outlets or
When a foot defroster mode, the controls the defroster outlet closing means to closing the defroster outlet, the air outlet opening and closing control for controlling the foot outlet closing means so as to open the foot outlet And a vehicle air conditioner. 2. The air outlet opening / closing control means includes an air outlet opening determination means for determining whether or not the defroster air opening / closing means opens the defroster air outlet immediately after the air conditioner is started, and If it is determined by the outlet opening determining means that the defroster outlet is open, the defroster outlet opening / closing means is controlled so as to close the defroster outlet, and the foot outlet is opened before opening.
2. A vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said foot air outlet opening / closing means is controlled. 3. A defroster command output means for outputting a command to open the defroster outlet, and receiving the command from the defroster command output means,
A defroster outlet opening / closing control means for controlling the defroster outlet opening / closing means so as to open the defroster outlet, and wherein the air outlet opening / closing control means is activated by the elapsed time determining means, after the air conditioner is started. between the predetermined time is determined not to be passed
And the defroster outlet and the foot
Foot mode that blows air from both outlets or
2. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising prohibiting means for prohibiting output of the command from the defroster command output means to the defroster outlet opening control means when in the foot defroster mode. . 4. The elapsed time determination means, wherein: a time measurement means for measuring a time since the air conditioner is started; and whether or not a time measured by the time measurement means is equal to or longer than the predetermined time. The vehicle air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the air conditioner (10) is constituted by time counting means. 5. The cooling time determining means according to claim 1, wherein said elapsed time determining means determines whether or not the temperature of said cooling means is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. Vehicle air conditioner.