CN220615420U - Automobile air conditioner box and automobile with same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an automotive air conditioning case and an automobile having the same. The air conditioning case includes a housing and a first flexible door panel. The housing defines a receiving space therein, an outer circulation port for communicating the outside of the vehicle with the receiving space is defined at a front side thereof, and an inner circulation port for communicating the inside of the vehicle with the receiving space is defined at a rear side thereof. The first flexible door panel is switched between a first state and a second state by movement and deformation. In the first state, the first flexible door panel seals one of the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port. In the second state, the aforementioned circulation port is at least partially open, and at least a portion of the first flexible door panel constitutes a first weather barrier between the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port. When the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port are both opened, the first wind shielding baffle plate can effectively block the airflow flowing from the outer circulation port to the inner circulation port, so that the occurrence of wind channeling phenomenon is avoided.

Description

Automobile air conditioner box and automobile with same

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of automotive air conditioning, and in particular, to an automotive air conditioning case and an automobile having the same.

Background

Automobiles are often equipped with an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system is used for adjusting and controlling the environmental conditions such as temperature, air cleanliness, air flow and the like in the vehicle in a preferred state so as to provide comfortable driving and riding environment for drivers and riders and further reduce journey fatigue.

Automotive air conditioning systems are often equipped with an air conditioning box. The air conditioning case is generally provided with an inner circulation port communicating with the inside of the vehicle and an outer circulation port communicating with the outside of the vehicle. Air conditioning units also typically include a damper for selectively opening one of the inner and outer circulation ports and closing the other to perform the inner and outer circulation functions of the air conditioning system.

In order to reduce the energy consumption, air conditioning boxes with a mixed air intake function are presented. The air door of the air conditioning box can simultaneously open the inner circulation port and the outer circulation port so as to mix the air inlet inside the vehicle and the air inlet outside the vehicle and send the mixed air into the downstream of the air conditioning system, and then the air inside the vehicle is updated through smaller energy loss.

However, when the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port of the air conditioning case are simultaneously opened, the air flow from outside the vehicle may directly enter the vehicle through the inner circulation port, especially in the case of a high vehicle speed. This phenomenon may be referred to as wind channeling, which can have a number of adverse effects. For example, if wind channeling occurs in winter, cold air from outside the vehicle can directly enter the vehicle through the internal circulation port and blow on the body of the driver and passengers, thereby bringing negative feeling to the driver and passengers.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning box for a vehicle and a vehicle having the same, so as to solve or improve the wind channeling problem.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an automotive air conditioning case. The vehicle air conditioning case includes a housing and a first flexible door panel. The housing defines a receiving space therein, an outer circulation port for communicating the outside of the vehicle with the receiving space is defined at a front side thereof, and an inner circulation port for communicating the inside of the vehicle with the receiving space is defined at a rear side thereof. The first flexible door panel is switched between a first state and a second state by movement and deformation. When the first flexible door panel is in the first state, the first flexible door panel seals one of the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port. When the first flexible door panel is in the second state, the aforementioned circulation port is at least partially open, and at least a portion of the first flexible door panel constitutes a first weather barrier positioned between the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port.

Because the first flexible door panel can deform, the position and the shape of the first flexible door can be changed by driving the first flexible door panel to move and deform, so that the first flexible door panel can close the circulating port in a first state and can form a first wind shielding baffle plate positioned between the outer circulating port and the inner circulating port in a second state. When the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port are both opened, the first wind shielding baffle plate can effectively block the airflow flowing from the outer circulation port to the inner circulation port, so that the occurrence of wind channeling phenomenon is avoided.

In one possible embodiment, the vehicle air conditioning unit further comprises a first guide. The first guide portion defines a first guide path that guides movement and deformation of the first flexible door panel. The first guide path includes a rising first path section and a falling second path section in order along a direction from an inner end thereof to an outer end thereof. When the first flexible door panel is in the first state, a portion of the first flexible door panel located in the second path segment blocks the aforementioned circulation port. When the first flexible door panel is in the second state, a portion of the first flexible door panel located in the first path section constitutes the first weather barrier.

Thus, by driving the first flexible door panel to move and deform along the first guide path having the above-described configuration, the first flexible door panel can be switched between the first state and the second state.

In one possible implementation, the vehicle air conditioning case further comprises a first reel. The first flexible door panel is unreeledly wound around the first reel from an inner end thereof such that the first reel can drive the unwinding portion of the first flexible door panel to move and deform along the first guide path by rotating.

Thus, by driving the first reel to rotate, the first flexible door panel can be switched between a plurality of paths of the first state and the second state, and the like. The implementation mode has the advantages of simple structure, reliable operation and the like.

In one possible implementation, the circulation port is an external circulation port, or the first flexible door panel seals the external circulation port in the first state. The air conditioning case further includes a second flexible door panel, a second guide portion, and a second spool. The second flexible door panel is switched between the third state and the fourth state by moving and deforming. The second guide portion defines a second guide path including a third path section rising and a fourth path section falling in order along a direction from an inner end thereof to an outer end thereof. The second flexible door panel is unreeledly wound around the second reel from an inner end thereof such that the second reel drives the unwinding portion of the second flexible door panel to move and deform along the second guide path by rotating. When the second flexible door panel is in the third state, a portion of the second flexible door panel located in the fourth path segment blocks the inner circulation port. When the second flexible door panel is in the fourth state, the inner circulation port is at least partially open and a portion of the second flexible door panel located in the third path section constitutes a second weather barrier located between the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port.

In this implementation, the air conditioning case includes two flexible door panels. The two flexible door panels are respectively guided by the two guide parts and respectively driven by the two reels so as to respectively realize the opening and closing of the inner circulation port and the outer circulation port. This implementation helps to reduce the overall implementation difficulty of the vehicle air conditioning unit.

In one possible implementation, the vehicle air conditioning case further includes a drive gear, a first driven gear, and a second driven gear. The drive gear is configured to be driven to rotate by the drive device. The first driven gear is mounted on the first reel and meshed with the driving gear, the second driven gear is mounted on the second reel and meshed with the driving gear, and the winding direction of the first flexible door panel is opposite to the winding direction of the second flexible door panel, so that: when the first flexible door plate is in the first state, the second flexible door plate is in a fifth state that the internal circulation port is opened; when the first flexible door panel is in the second state, the second flexible door panel is in the fourth state; when the first flexible door panel is in the sixth state with the external circulation port open, the second flexible door panel is in the third state.

In this way, the state switching of driving the two flexible door panels through one driving device can be realized, and the state switching of the two flexible door panels can be linked with each other, so that the inner circulation mode, the mixed circulation mode and the outer circulation mode of the air conditioning cabinet can be orderly switched. This implementation helps to simplify the structure of the air conditioning unit, reduce the number of components of the air conditioning unit, and reduce the difficulty of mode switching of the air conditioning unit.

In one possible implementation, the outer end of the first flexible door panel is located in the second path segment when the first flexible door panel is in the sixth state. Additionally or alternatively, when the second flexible door panel is in the fifth state, an outer end of the second flexible door panel is located in the fourth path segment.

In this way, air flow into between the two flexible door panels can be effectively avoided or reduced. If more air flows enter between the two flexible door panels, noise may be generated and air intake efficiency may be reduced.

In one possible implementation, the spacing of the first path segment and the third path segment increases progressively with increasing direction.

According to this configuration of the first and third path segments, the portions of the two flexible door panels located in the first and third path segments will direct the airflow better downstream of the air conditioning system as it enters from the two circulation ports. Thus, this implementation helps to improve the air intake efficiency of the air conditioning case.

In one possible implementation, the first guide portion includes a pair of guide grooves provided on a pair of sidewalls of the housing in the left-right direction, respectively, and both edges of at least part of the first flexible door panel in the left-right direction are placed in the pair of guide grooves, respectively.

Compared with other implementation modes of the first guide part, the first guide part which is realized as a pair of guide grooves has the advantages of simple structure, reliable operation and the like.

In one possible implementation, the vehicle air conditioning case further comprises a filter element located within the receiving space and below the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port.

The air flows entering from the two circulation ports flow to the downstream of the air conditioning system through the filter element below, and finally enter the vehicle. The filter element is used for filtering air sucked by the air conditioning box, so that the cleanliness of air in the vehicle is improved.

In another aspect, the present disclosure also provides an automobile. The automobile comprises the automobile air conditioning box.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings that are required to be used in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be briefly described below.

It is appreciated that the following drawings depict only certain embodiments of the disclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope.

It should be understood that the same or similar reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements.

It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and that the dimensions and proportions of the elements in the drawings are not necessarily accurate.

Fig. 1A and 1B are schematic cross-sectional views of a conventional air conditioning unit for a vehicle, wherein the air conditioning unit for a vehicle is in an internal circulation mode in fig. 1A and the air conditioning unit for a vehicle is in a mixed circulation mode in fig. 1B.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural view of an air conditioning case for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 3A to 3C are schematic cross-sectional views of the vehicle air conditioner in fig. 2, in which the vehicle air conditioner is in an inner circulation mode in fig. 3A, in a hybrid circulation mode in fig. 3B, and in an outer circulation mode in fig. 3C.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the structure of two guide paths defined by two guide portions of the air conditioning case of the automobile in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air conditioning case for a vehicle according to modification 1 of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the structure of two guide paths defined by two guide portions of the air conditioning case of the automobile in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of two guide portions of an air conditioning case for a vehicle and two guide paths defined by the two guide portions according to modification 2 of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8A to 8C are schematic structural views showing two flexible door panels of an air conditioning case of a vehicle according to modification 3 of the present disclosure, in which the air conditioning case is in an inner circulation mode in fig. 8A, in a hybrid circulation mode in fig. 8B, and in an outer circulation mode in fig. 8C.

Fig. 9A to 9C are schematic structural views showing a flexible door panel of an air conditioning case of a vehicle according to modification 4 of the present disclosure, in which the air conditioning case is in an inner circulation mode in fig. 9A, in a hybrid circulation mode in fig. 9B, and in an outer circulation mode in fig. 9C.

Fig. 10 is a schematic structural view of a flexible door panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 11 is a schematic structural view of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

For ease of understanding, the following illustrates a conventional automotive air conditioning case 10 and its possible problems.

Referring to fig. 1A and 1B, an air conditioning case 10 includes a housing 11 and a door panel 12. The air conditioning case 10 defines an outer circulation port 111, an inner circulation port 112, and a receiving space 110, the outer circulation port 111 being for communicating the receiving space 110 with an outside space, and the inner circulation port 111 being for communicating the receiving space 110 with an inside space. Door panel 12 is pivotally supported in receiving space 110 to selectively open and close two circulation ports 111,112 by pivoting to switch air conditioning case 10 between a plurality of modes of operation.

In fig. 1A, the air conditioning case 10 is in the inner circulation mode, the outer circulation port 111 is closed and the inner circulation port 112 is opened, and the air from the inside of the vehicle is sucked into the air conditioning case 10 through the inner circulation port 112. The air conditioning case 10 is in the outer circulation mode, the outer circulation port 111 is opened and the inner circulation port 112 is closed, and the air flow from outside the vehicle is sucked into the air conditioning case 10 through the outer circulation port 111. In fig. 1B, the air conditioning unit 10 is in a hybrid circulation mode, both circulation ports 111,112 are (at least partially) open, and air flows from inside and outside the vehicle are drawn into the air conditioning unit 10 through both circulation ports 111, 112.

Referring to fig. 1B, when the air conditioning case 10 is in the mixed circulation mode, an air flow from outside the vehicle (shown by a longer thick arrow in the drawing) may directly enter the vehicle through the outer circulation port 111 and the inner circulation port 112 in sequence, especially at a higher vehicle speed. This phenomenon may be referred to as wind channeling. As discussed above, wind channeling can have a number of adverse effects.

In order to solve or improve the wind channeling problem, the present disclosure provides an automotive air conditioning case employing a flexible door panel. By moving and deforming, the flexible door panel can be switched between one state of blocking one of the inner and outer circulation ports and the other state of constituting the weather barrier between the inner and outer circulation ports. In this way. When the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port are simultaneously opened, the wind shielding baffle plate can effectively block the airflow flowing from the outer circulation port to the inner circulation port, so that the occurrence of wind channeling phenomenon is avoided.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides an air conditioning case that may include only one flexible door panel. In this case, the flexible door panel is the "first flexible door panel" mentioned elsewhere herein. For example, the flexible door panel may be used to effect opening and closing of one of the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port. Alternatively, one of the outer and inner circulation ports may be opened and closed by movement and deformation of the flexible door panel, and the other may be opened and closed by other means. As another example, the flexible door panel may be used to effect the closing and opening of both the outer and inner circulation ports.

In some embodiments, the air conditioning case provided by the present disclosure may include two flexible door panels, one of which is used to effect the opening and closing of the outer circulation port and the other of which is used to effect the opening and closing of the inner circulation port. In this case, the flexible door panel associated with the outer circulation port may be a "first flexible door panel" and the flexible door panel associated with the inner circulation port may be a "second flexible door panel", or the flexible door panel associated with the inner circulation port may be a "first flexible door panel" and the flexible door panel associated with the outer circulation port may be a "second flexible door panel".

An automotive air conditioning case 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated below with reference to fig. 2 through 4.

Referring to fig. 2 to 3C, the vehicle air conditioning case 20 includes a housing 21. The housing 21 defines a receiving space 210 therein, an outer circulation port 211 for communicating the vehicle exterior space with the receiving space 210 is defined at a front side thereof, and an inner circulation port 212 for communicating the vehicle interior space with the receiving space 210 is defined at a rear side thereof.

It is to be understood that in this disclosure, directional descriptions such as "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "left" and "right" are relative and not absolute. These directional descriptions are applicable when the elements of the disclosure are in the pose and pose positions shown in the figures. For example, the azimuth description in the present disclosure may be consistent with the azimuth description of an automobile equipped with the air conditioning case provided by the present disclosure.

In the drawings of the present disclosure, an arrow X-and an arrow x+ may be used to indicate the front side and the rear side of the front-rear direction, respectively; arrow z+ and arrow Z-may be used to indicate the upper and lower sides of the up-down direction, respectively; arrow Y-and arrow Y + may be used to indicate the left and right sides, respectively, of the left-right direction.

Returning to fig. 2-3C, air conditioning case 20 also includes a flexible door panel 221 (may be referred to as a "first flexible door panel"), flexible door panel 221 being switched between state 1 (may be referred to as a "first state") and state 2 (may be referred to as a "second state") by movement and deformation. In fig. 3A, the flexible door panel 221 is in state 1. In fig. 3B, the flexible door panel 221 is in state 2.

Referring to fig. 3A, when the flexible door panel 221 is in state 1, the flexible door panel 221 blocks the outer circulation port 211 such that the outer circulation port 211 is closed. At this time, with continued reference to fig. 3A, the internal circulation port 212 may be opened such that the air-conditioning case 20 is in the internal circulation mode, and an air flow is sucked from the inside of the vehicle through the internal circulation port 212.

As shown in fig. 3B, when the flexible door panel 221 is in state 2, the outer circulation port 211 is at least partially opened, and at least part of the flexible door panel 221 constitutes a wind shielding barrier 221-1 (may be referred to as a "first wind shielding barrier") located between the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212. At this time, with continued reference to fig. 3B, the inner circulation port 212 may be at least partially opened such that the air conditioning case 20 is in the mixed circulation mode, and air flow is sucked from the inside and the outside of the vehicle through the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212. At this time, the wind shielding partition 221-1 located between the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212 can block the air flow entering through the outer circulation port 211 from directly flowing to the inner circulation port 212, thereby avoiding or improving the wind channeling phenomenon.

The air conditioning case 201 employs a flexible door panel 221 to effect opening and closing of the outer circulation port 211. Since the flexible door panel 221 is deformable, the position and shape of the flexible door panel 221 can be changed by driving the flexible door panel 221 to move and deform, so that the flexible door panel 221 can close the outer circulation port 211 in state 1 and can constitute the wind shielding barrier 221-1 between the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212 in state 2. Thus, when both the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212 are opened, the wind shielding partition 221-1 can effectively block the air flow flowing from the outer circulation port 211 to the inner circulation port 212, thereby avoiding occurrence of a blow-by phenomenon.

Referring to fig. 3A and 3B, air conditioning case 20 may further include a guide 231 (may be referred to as a "first guide"). Referring to fig. 4, the guide 231 defines a guide path R1 (may be referred to as a "first guide path") that guides the movement and deformation of the flexible door panel 221. The guide path R1 includes an ascending path segment R11 (may refer to "a first path segment") and a descending path segment R12 (may refer to "a second path segment") in this order in a direction from an inner end thereof to an outer end thereof. When the flexible door panel 221 is in state 1, the portion of the flexible door panel 221 located in the path segment R12 blocks the outer circulation port 211. When the flexible door panel 221 is in state 2, the portion of the flexible door panel 221 that is located in the path segment R11 constitutes the weather barrier 221-1.

Referring to fig. 3A and 3B in sequence, as the flexible door panel 221 is moved and deformed along the guide path R1 in a direction from the outer end to the inner end of the guide path R1 by driving, the outer end 221-2 of the flexible door panel 221 is lifted along the path section R12 to at least partially open the outer circulation port 211, while the portion of the flexible door panel 221 located at the path section R11 constitutes the wind shielding barrier 221-1 to block the air flow from the outer circulation port 211 to the outer circulation port 211, the flexible door panel 221 is switched from state 1 to state 2.

In contrast, referring to fig. 3B and 3A in sequence, as the flexible door panel 221 is moved and deformed along the guide path R1 in a direction from the inner end to the outer end of the guide path R1 by driving, the outer end 221-2 of the flexible door panel 221 descends along the path segment R12 to close the outer circulation port 211, and the flexible door panel 221 is switched from state 2 to state 1.

As can be seen from this, by driving the flexible door panel 221 to move and deform along the guide path R1 having the above-described configuration, the flexible door panel 221 can be switched between the state 1 and the state 2.

Referring back to fig. 3A and 3B, air conditioning case 20 may also include a spool 241 (which may be referred to as a "first spool"). The flexible door panel 221 is unreeledly wound around the reel 241 from the inner end thereof, so that the reel 241 can drive the unwinding portion of the flexible door panel 221 to move and deform along the guide path R1 by rotating.

Referring to fig. 3A and 3B in sequence, as the spool 241 is rotated in one direction (e.g., clockwise in the figures), the flexible door panel 221 will be further wound on the spool 241, which will cause the flexible door panel 221 to move and deform along the guide path R1 in a direction from the outer end to the inner end of the guide path R1, thereby causing the flexible door panel 221 to switch from state 1 to state 2.

Conversely, with sequential reference to fig. 3B and 3A, as the spool 241 is rotated in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise in the figures), the flexible door panel 221 is gradually unwound, which will cause the flexible door panel 221 to move and deform along the guide path R1 in a direction from the inner end to the outer end of the guide path R1, thereby causing the flexible door panel 221 to switch from state 2 to state 1.

It follows that by driving the rotation of the spool 241, the flexible door panel 221 can be switched between state 1 and state 2. In addition, the implementation mode has the advantages of simple structure, reliable operation and the like.

Referring to fig. 2-3C, air conditioning case 20 may also include a flexible door panel 222 (which may be referred to as a "second flexible door panel"). The flexible door panel 222 may be switched between state 3 (which may be referred to as a "third state") and state 4 (which may be referred to as a "fourth state") by movement and deformation. In fig. 3C, the flexible door panel 222 is in state 3. In fig. 3B, the flexible door panel 222 is in state 4.

Referring to fig. 3C, when the flexible door panel 222 is in state 3, the flexible door panel 222 blocks the inner circulation port 212 such that the inner circulation port 212 is closed. At this time, with continued reference to fig. 3C, the outer circulation port 211 may be opened such that the air-conditioning case 20 is in the outer circulation mode, and an air flow is sucked from outside the vehicle through the outer circulation port 211.

As shown in fig. 3B, when the flexible door panel 222 is in state 4, the inner circulation port 212 is at least partially open, and at least a portion of the flexible door panel 222 constitutes a weather barrier 222-1 (may be referred to as a "second weather barrier") located between the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212. At this time, with continued reference to fig. 3B, the outer circulation port 211 may be at least partially opened such that the air conditioning case 20 is in the mixed circulation mode, and air flows are sucked from the inside and the outside of the vehicle through the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212. At this time, the wind shielding partition 222-1 located between the outer circulation port 211 and the inner circulation port 212 can also block the air flow entering through the outer circulation port 211 from directly flowing toward the inner circulation port 212, thereby avoiding or improving the wind channeling phenomenon.

Referring to fig. 3A-3C, air conditioning case 20 may further include a guide 232 (may be referred to as a "second guide"). Referring to fig. 4, the guide 232 defines a guide path R2 (which may be referred to as a "second guide path") that guides the movement and deformation of the flexible door panel 222. The guide path R2 includes an ascending path segment R21 (may refer to "a third path segment") and a descending path segment R22 (may refer to "a fourth path segment") in this order in a direction from an inner end thereof to an outer end thereof. When the flexible door panel 222 is in state 3, the portion of the flexible door panel 222 located in the path segment R22 blocks the inner circulation port 212. When the flexible door panel 222 is in state 4, the portion of the flexible door panel 222 that is located in the path segment R21 constitutes the weather barrier 222-1.

Referring to fig. 3C and 3B in sequence, as the flexible door panel 222 is moved and deformed along the guide path R2 in a direction from the outer end to the inner end of the guide path R2, the outer end 222-2 of the flexible door panel 222 is lifted up along the path section R22 to open the inner circulation port 212, while the portion of the flexible door panel 222 located at the path section R21 constitutes the wind shielding partition 222-1 to block the air flow from the outer circulation port 211 to the inner circulation port 212, the flexible door panel 221 is switched from state 3 to state 4.

Conversely, referring to fig. 3B and 3C in sequence, as the flexible door panel 222 is driven to move and deform along the guide path R2 in a direction from the inner end to the outer end of the guide path R2, the outer end 222-2 of the flexible door panel 222 descends along the path segment R22 to close the inner circulation port 212, and the flexible door panel 222 switches from state 4 to state 3.

It can be seen that by driving the flexible door panel 222 to move and deform along the guide path R2 having the above-described configuration, the flexible door panel 222 can be switched between the state 3 and the state 4.

Referring back to fig. 3B and 3C, air conditioning case 20 also includes a spool 242 (which may be referred to as a "second spool"). The flexible door panel 222 is unreeledly wound around the roller 242 from the inner end thereof, so that the roller 242 can drive the unwinding portion of the flexible door panel 222 to move and deform along the guide path R2 by rotating.

Referring to fig. 3C and 3B in sequence, as the spool 242 is rotated in one direction (e.g., counterclockwise in the figures), the flexible door panel 222 will be further wound on the spool 242, which will cause the flexible door panel 222 to move and deform along the guide path R2 in a direction from the outer end to the inner end of the guide path R2, thereby causing the flexible door panel 222 to switch from state 3 to state 4.

Conversely, with sequential reference to fig. 3B and 3C, as the spool 242 is rotated in the opposite direction (e.g., clockwise in the figures), the flexible door panel 222 is progressively unwound, which will cause the flexible door panel 222 to move and deform along the guide path R2 in a direction from the inner end to the outer end of the guide path R2, thereby causing the flexible door panel 222 to switch from state 4 to state 3.

It can be seen that by driving the rotation of the spool 242, the flexible door panel 222 can be switched between state 3 and state 4. In addition, the implementation mode has the advantages of simple structure, reliable operation and the like.

Referring to fig. 2-3C, air conditioning case 20 may further include a drive gear 250, a driven gear 251 (may be referred to as a "first driven gear"), and a driven gear 252 (may be referred to as a "second driven gear"). The driving gear 250 is configured to be driven to rotate by a driving device (not shown, which may be a motor, for example), and the driven gear 251 is mounted on the reel 241 and engaged with the driving gear 250, and the driven gear 252 is mounted on the reel 242 and engaged with the driving gear 250, so that the winding direction of the flexible door panel 221 is opposite to the winding direction of the flexible door panel 222, such that: as shown in fig. 3A, when the flexible door panel 221 is in state 1, the flexible door panel 222 is in state 5 in which the inner circulation port 211 is opened; as shown in fig. 3B, when the flexible door panel 221 is in state 2, the flexible door panel 222 is in state 4; as shown in fig. 3C, when the flexible door panel 221 is in the state 6 in which the outer circulation port 211 is opened, the flexible door panel 222 is in the state 3.

Since both the driven gears 251, 252 are engaged with the driving gear 250, the two driven gears 251, 252 are rotated in the same direction when the driving gear 250 is rotated. At the same time, the direction of winding is reversed due to the two flexible door panels 221, 222. Thus, when the two driven wheels rotate 251, 252, one flexible door panel will further wrap and the other flexible door panel will further unwrap.

As the drive gear 250 rotates in a counterclockwise direction in the figure, both driven wheel rotations 251, 252 rotate clockwise in the figure, which causes the flexible door panel 221 to further wind and the flexible door panel 222 to further unwind. As such, with sequential reference to fig. 3A-3C, as the driving gear 250 rotates counterclockwise, the flexible door panel 221 is sequentially switched from state 1 to state 2 and state 6, and the flexible door panel 222 is sequentially switched from state 5 to state 4 and state 3, which causes the air conditioning case 20 to be sequentially switched from the inner circulation mode to the mixed circulation mode and the outer circulation mode

Conversely, as the drive gear 250 rotates clockwise in the figure, both driven wheel rotations 251, 252 rotate counterclockwise in the figure, which causes the flexible door panel 221 to further unwind and the flexible door panel 222 to further wind up. Referring to fig. 3C to 3A in sequence, as the driving gear 250 rotates clockwise, the flexible door panel 221 is sequentially switched from the state 6 to the state 2 and the state 1, and the flexible door panel 222 is sequentially switched from the state 3 to the state 4 and the state 5, so that the air conditioner box 20 is sequentially switched from the outer circulation mode to the mixed circulation mode and the inner circulation mode.

It can be seen that this way, the state switching of the two flexible door panels 221, 222 can be driven by one driving device, and the state switching of the two flexible door panels 221, 222 can be interlocked with each other, so that the air conditioning case 20 can be sequentially switched among the inner circulation mode, the mixed circulation mode and the outer circulation mode. This implementation helps to simplify the structure of air conditioning case 20, reduce the number of components of air conditioning case 20, and reduce the difficulty of switching modes of air conditioning case 20.

Referring to fig. 3C and 4, when the flexible door panel 221 is in state 6, the outer end 221-2 of the flexible door panel 221 is located in the path segment R12. Additionally or alternatively, referring to fig. 3A and 4, when the flexible door panel 222 is in state 5, the outer end 222-2 of the flexible door panel 222 is located in the path segment R22.

In this way, void air flow into between the two flexible door panels 221, 222 can be effectively avoided or reduced. If more air flows enter between the two flexible door panels 221, 222, noise may be generated and air intake efficiency may be reduced.

Referring to fig. 2 to 3C, the guide portion 231 may be implemented as a pair of guide grooves 231, the pair of guide grooves 231 being provided on a pair of sidewalls of the housing 21 in the left-right direction, respectively, and both edges of at least a portion of the flexible door panel 221 in the left-right direction being placed in the pair of guide grooves 231, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, with continued reference to fig. 2-3C, the guide 232 may be implemented as a pair of guide grooves 232, the pair of guide grooves 232 being provided on a pair of sidewalls of the housing 21 in the left-right direction, respectively, with at least a portion of the two edges of the flexible door panel 222 in the left-right direction being disposed in the pair of guide grooves 232, respectively

The guide 231/232 implemented as a pair of guide grooves has advantages of simple structure, reliable operation, and the like, compared to other implementations of the guide 231/232.

With continued reference to fig. 2-3C, the air conditioning case 20 may further include a filter cartridge 26 positioned within the receiving space and below the outer circulation port 211 and the outer circulation port 211. The air flow entering from the two circulation ports 211, 212 will pass through the lower filter cartridge 26 downstream of the air conditioning system and eventually into the vehicle. The filter cartridge 26 filters the incoming air to help improve the cleanliness of the air in the vehicle.

In the above embodiment, the air conditioning case 20 includes two flexible door panels 221, 222. The two flexible door panels 221, 222 are guided by the two guide portions 231, 232, respectively, and driven by the two reels 241, 242, respectively, to effect opening and closing of the outer and inner circulation ports 212, respectively. This implementation helps to reduce the overall implementation difficulty of air conditioning case 20.

It will be appreciated that while the air conditioner box 20 includes two flexible door panels 221, 222 in the above-described embodiment, in other embodiments, the air conditioner box 20 may include only one of the two flexible door panels 221, 222. In particular, in certain embodiments, only flexible door panel 222 is included in air conditioning case 20 and flexible door panel 221 is not included. In this case, the "first flexible door panel" may be the flexible door panel 222. Correspondingly, the "first weather barrier" may be the weather barrier 222-1, the "first guide portion" may be the guide portion 232, the "first guide path" may be the path R2, the "first path segment" may be the path segment R21, the "second path segment" may be the path segment R22, the "first spool" may be the spool 242, the "first state" may be the state 3, and the "second state" may be the state 4.

It should be appreciated that the various implementations of the air conditioning case of the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth above. Next, a modified example of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 10. The foregoing embodiment and the following modifications share some common elements. In the following modification, these elements will be denoted by reference numerals in the foregoing embodiments to omit duplicate descriptions.

Referring to fig. 5, the vehicle air conditioning case 20a according to modification 1 of the present disclosure includes a pair of guide portions 231a, 232a, the guide portion 231a being for guiding movement and deformation of the flexible door panel 221, and the guide portion 232a being for guiding movement and deformation of the flexible door panel 222. A guide path R1a defined by the guide 231a, and a guide path R2a defined by the guide 232 a. Referring to fig. 6, the guide path R1a includes an ascending path segment R11a and a descending path segment R12a in order along a direction from the inner end thereof to the outer end thereof, and the guide path R2a includes an ascending path segment R21a and a descending path segment R22a in order along a direction from the inner end thereof to the outer end thereof, and the distance between the path segment R11a and the path segment R21a gradually increases with the upward direction.

According to this configuration of path segment R11a and path segment R21a, the portions of the two flexible door panels 221, 222 located in path segment R11a and path segment R21a will direct the airflow better downstream of the air conditioning system as it enters from the two circulation ports 211, 212. Thus, this implementation helps to improve the intake efficiency of air conditioning case 20 a.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in terms of the implementation of the guide, so long as the flexible door panel can be guided to move and deform along a particular guide path. In the foregoing embodiment, the guide portion is implemented as the guide groove. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the guide may also be implemented in other ways. Another possible implementation of the guide is given below.

Referring to fig. 7, in modification 2 of the present disclosure, a guide portion 231b for guiding the flexible door panel 221 is implemented as a plurality of pairs of cylindrical rollers 23b, and these pairs of cylindrical rollers 23b are arranged in a specific manner to collectively define a guide path R1. Additionally or alternatively, with continued reference to fig. 7, in modification 2 of the present disclosure, the guide portion 232b for guiding the flexible door panel 222 is implemented as a plurality of pairs of cylindrical rollers 23b, which pairs of cylindrical rollers 23b are arranged in a specific manner to collectively define the guide path R2.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is not particularly limited in the manner in which the flexible door panel is driven, so long as the flexible door panel can be driven to move and deform. In the foregoing embodiments, the flexible door panel is wound on the spool to be driven by the spool. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible door panels may also be driven in other ways. Another possible way of driving the flexible door panel is given below.

Referring to fig. 8A to 8C, in modification 3 of the present disclosure, each of the flexible door panels 221C, 222C is provided with a plurality of teeth portions, and meshes with the driving gears 241C, 242C, respectively. In this way, the flexible door panels 221c, 222c can be driven to move and deform, respectively and independently, by rotation of the drive gears 241c, 242 c.

Further, in modification 3, the flexible door panel 221c has only the state 1 of blocking the outer circulation port 211 and the state 2 of fully opening the outer circulation port 211, and similarly, the flexible door panel 222c has only the state 3 of blocking the inner circulation port 212 and the state 4 of fully opening the inner circulation port 212. In fig. 8A, flexible door panel 221c is in state 1, flexible door panel 222c is in state 4, and the air conditioning unit is in an internal circulation mode. In fig. 8B, flexible door panel 221c is in state 2, flexible door panel 222c is in state 4, and the air conditioning unit is in a hybrid cycle mode. In fig. 8C, flexible door panel 221C is in state 2, flexible door panel 222C is in state 3, and the air conditioning unit is in an outside circulation mode.

Referring to fig. 9A to 9C, in modification 4 of the present disclosure, the air conditioning case includes only one flexible door panel 22d. The flexible door panel 22d has teeth, and the driving gear 24d is engaged with the teeth of the flexible door panel 22d to drive the flexible door panel 22d. As the drive gear 24d rotates, the flexible door panel 22d moves and deforms along a generally "M" shaped path under drive, thereby switching between three states. In fig. 9A, the flexible door panel 22d is in state 1; in fig. 9B, the flexible door panel 22d is in state 2; in fig. 9C, the flexible door panel 22d is in state 3.

Referring to fig. 9A and 9B in sequence, as the driving gear 24d rotates clockwise in the drawing, the flexible door panel 22d moves and deforms under driving such that it gradually rises at the right end in the drawing and gradually falls at the left end in the drawing, and finally switches from state 1 in fig. 9A to state 2 in fig. 9B. During this process, the outer circulation port 211 is gradually opened while the inner circulation port 212 is not closed (or is not completely closed), thereby eventually switching the air conditioning unit from the inner circulation mode in fig. 9A to the mixed circulation mode in fig. 9B.

Referring to fig. 9B and 9C in sequence, as the drive gear 24d continues to rotate in the clockwise direction, the right end of the flexible door panel 22d continues to rise and continues to descend at the left end, eventually switching from state 2 in fig. 9B to state 3 in fig. 9C. During this process, the outer circulation port 211 is further opened and the inner circulation port 212 is gradually completely closed, thereby finally switching the air conditioning case from the hybrid circulation mode in fig. 9B to the outer circulation mode in fig. 9C.

Conversely, with sequential reference to fig. 9C, 9B and 9A, as the drive gear 24d rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the left end of the flexible door panel 22d gradually rises and gradually falls at the right end, which causes the flexible door panel 22d to switch from state 3 in fig. 9C to state 2 in fig. 9B and state 1 in fig. 9A in sequence, thereby causing the air conditioning case to switch from the outer circulation mode in fig. 9C to the mixed circulation mode in fig. 9B and the inner circulation mode in fig. 9A in sequence.

In this implementation, switching the air conditioning unit between the three circulation modes is accomplished by only one flexible door panel 22d. Thus, this implementation helps to reduce the number of components of the air conditioning unit and to simplify the complexity of the air conditioning unit, which in turn helps to reduce the manufacturing costs of the air conditioning unit and to increase the reliability of the air conditioning unit.

There are various implementations of the flexible door panel, and the present disclosure is not particularly limited thereto as long as the flexible door panel can be driven to move and deform along a specific guide path. For example, a flexible door panel may be made of a material that performs a "flexible" function. For example, the flexible door panel may be made of one or more materials selected from soft plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber or other polymer materials.

Of course, in certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible door panels may also be configured specifically to perform a "flexible" function rather than being made of materials. One possible implementation is given below.

Referring to fig. 10, in this implementation, the flexible door panel 22e is comprised of a plurality of slats 22e-1, which in turn are flexibly or pivotably connected such that the flexible door panel 22e is capable of being driven to move and deform along a particular guide path, thereby achieving a "flexible" function. The flexible door panel 22e may be any of the flexible door panels of the foregoing embodiments and modifications.

The present disclosure also provides an automobile 200. Referring to fig. 11, an automobile 200 includes an air conditioning unit 220, and the air conditioning unit 220 may be any of the air conditioning units of the foregoing embodiments and variations.

It should be understood that the term "include" and variations thereof as used in this disclosure are intended to be open-ended, i.e., including, but not limited to. The term "according to" is based, at least in part, on. In the present disclosure, the term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment.

It should be understood that while the terms "first" or "second" and the like may be used in this disclosure to describe various elements (e.g., a first flexible door panel and a second flexible door panel), these elements are not provided by these terms, which are merely used to distinguish one element from another element.

The protective scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and any person skilled in the art should conceive of changes or substitutions within the technical scope of the present disclosure, which are intended to be covered in the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the present disclosure shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims (10)

1. An automotive air conditioning case comprising:

a housing defining a receiving space therein, an outer circulation port for communicating an outside of the vehicle with the receiving space at a front side thereof, and an inner circulation port for communicating an inside of the vehicle with the receiving space at a rear side thereof; and

a first flexible door panel that is switched between a first state and a second state by movement and deformation, wherein

In the first state, the first flexible door panel seals one of the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port; in the second state, the one of the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port is at least partially open, and at least a portion of the first flexible door panel constitutes a first weather barrier located between the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port.

2. The vehicle air conditioner of claim 1, further comprising a first guide portion defining a first guide path guiding movement and deformation of the first flexible door panel, the first guide path including a rising first path section and a falling second path section in sequence along a direction from an inner end thereof to an outer end thereof, wherein in the first state, a portion of the first flexible door panel located in the second path section blocks the one of the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port; in the second state, a portion of the first flexible door panel located in the first path section constitutes the first weather barrier.

3. The vehicle air conditioner cabinet of claim 2, further comprising a first spool about which the first flexible door panel is deployable from its inner end such that the first spool is rotatable to drive movement and deformation of the deployed portion of the first flexible door panel along the first guide path.

4. The vehicle air conditioning unit of claim 3, wherein said first flexible door panel in said first state seals said outer circulation port, said vehicle air conditioning unit further comprising:

a second flexible door panel that is switched between a third state and a fourth state by movement and deformation;

a second guide portion defining a second guide path including a third path section ascending and a fourth path section descending in order along a direction from an inner end thereof to an outer end thereof; and

a second reel around which the second flexible door panel is reelable from an inner end thereof such that the second reel is rotated to drive the unreeled portion of the second flexible door panel to move and deform along the second guide path, wherein

In the third state, a portion of the second flexible door panel located in the fourth path segment blocks the inner circulation port; in the fourth state, the inner circulation port is at least partially open and the portion of the second flexible door panel located in the third path section constitutes a second weather barrier located between the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port.

5. The vehicle air conditioning case according to claim 4, further comprising:

a driving gear configured to be driven to rotate by the driving device;

a first driven gear mounted on the first reel and engaged with the driving gear; and

a second driven gear mounted on the second reel and meshed with the driving gear, wherein

The first flexible door panel is wrapped in a direction opposite to the second flexible door panel such that:

when the first flexible door plate is in the first state, the second flexible door plate is in a fifth state that the internal circulation port is opened; when the first flexible door panel is in the second state, the second flexible door panel is in the fourth state; when the first flexible door panel is in a sixth state in which the outer circulation port is opened, the second flexible door panel is in the third state.

6. The vehicle air conditioning case of claim 5, wherein an outer end of the first flexible door panel is positioned in the second path segment when the first flexible door panel is in the sixth state; and/or

When the second flexible door panel is in the fifth state, an outer end of the second flexible door panel is positioned in the fourth path segment.

7. The vehicle air conditioning case of claim 4, wherein the spacing of the first path segment and the third path segment increases progressively with increasing direction.

8. A vehicle air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first guide portion includes a pair of guide grooves provided on a pair of side walls of the housing in a left-right direction, respectively, and both edges of at least part of the first flexible door panel in the left-right direction are placed in the pair of guide grooves, respectively.

9. The vehicle air conditioning case according to any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a filter element located within the receiving space and below the outer circulation port and the inner circulation port.

10. An automobile, characterized by comprising the automobile air conditioning box according to any one of claims 1 to 9.