FR2791610A1 - AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for vehicles. The conditioner comprises several heat exchangers (4, 5) and a sliding air mixing door (21) mounted in a pipe (2). The door slides transversely relative to hot air (7) and cold air (6) paths formed in the pipe, under the action of a sliding mechanism, so as to regulate the flow of passing air. in said respective hot air and cold air paths. The sliding mechanism comprises a sliding cord (23) connected to the door and two pulleys (24) connected respectively to the ends of the cord, which wind the latter in opposite directions of rotation. Appropriate tension is continuously imparted to the cord to prevent slippage or play between the cord and the pulleys and to allow the door to slide smoothly.

Description

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AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLES

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner for vehicles, and more particularly, an air conditioner having an air mixing door of the sliding type for adjusting the mixing ratio between hot air and cold air. A conventional air conditioner for vehicles is shown in Figure 6 and is described below. A blower 102, an evaporator 103 serving as a cooling device and a radiator 104 serving as a heating device are arranged in this order in an air duct 101. An air mixture damper of the rotary type 105 is mounted upstream of the radiator 104. The air flow enters through a suction opening 106 and passes through the evaporator 103. The flow of air passing through the radiator 104 and the flow of air bypassing the radiator 104 are regulated by the air mixing damper 105. The temperature-controlled air flow exits towards the interior of the vehicle through one or more air discharge orifices, chosen from a discharge orifice in DEF (defrost) mode 107, a discharge port in WIND mode (ventilation) 108 and a FOOT discharge port (feet) 109. As shown in FIG. 6, a space for the rotation of the air mixture register 105 must be provided between the evaporator 103 and the radiator 104. L space for this does not allow

  reduce the size of the air conditioner.

  To meet recent requirements for reducing the size of an air conditioner, a structure having a sliding type air mixing door may be provided in place of the rotary type air mixing damper. A sliding air mixing door is described in Japanese patent publications JP-A-10-35 246 and

JP-A-8-282 248.

  According to Japanese patent publication JP-A-10-35 246, a lever is engaged with an air mixing door and directly controls it. However, a space must be provided to contain the mechanism

  which prevents the size of the structure from being reduced.

  In addition, for guiding the door, a guide groove is provided which divides into a plurality of guide grooves. A space for the formation of these guide grooves is also necessary, so

  that the size of the structure is increased.

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  According to Japanese patent publication JP-A-8-282 248, a link lever mechanism controls the sliding of an air mixing door. This sliding mechanism is complex and the size of the air conditioner is also increased due to the fact that the link lever mechanism extends into the mixing zone of the

air flows.

  This is why the applicant of the present invention has proposed an improved mechanism which is the subject of Japanese patent application 10144309 prior to the present application, and in which a sliding cord consisting of a cable or a strap is used to slide an air mixing door. Thanks to this proposal, the sliding mechanism can be simplified and the size of the mechanism and of the air conditioner comprising the mechanism can

be reduced.

  However, in this improved mechanism in which the air mixing door is driven to slide by the sliding cord, an appropriate tension must be applied to the latter in order to obtain a good sliding action. If proper tension is not applied, there may be slippage or play between the cord and the cord drive pulley, which would cause the sliding door to fail properly.

air mixture.

  An object of the present invention therefore consists in providing an air conditioner for vehicles provided with a sliding mechanism which makes it possible to obtain smoother operation of the air mixing door and to reduce the size of the

sliding of said door.

  To obtain this object as well as others, the invention proposes an air conditioner for vehicles which has several exchangers

  heat and an air mixing door arranged in a pipe.

  The air mixing door slides in a transverse direction with respect to a hot air path and a cold air path formed in the pipe, under the action of a sliding mechanism. The air mixing door regulates the air flows passing through respective paths of hot air and cold air, by means of its sliding. The sliding mechanism comprises a sliding cord, constituted by a cable or a strap, connected to the air mixing door

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  and two pulleys connected respectively to the ends of the cord. The respective pulleys can wind the cord in direction of

opposite rotation.

  Preferably, the two pulleys are arranged on a single shaft, so that a desired operation of the cord can be carried out by the rotation of the shaft. The two pulleys and the cord

  can be placed inside or outside the pipe.

  In addition, the air conditioner may include a helical torsional spring, interposed between the two pulleys and which biases the two pulleys in opposite directions of rotation. Alternatively, the two pulleys can be brought together so that the sliding cord is stretched. In this latter embodiment, when the sliding cord is stretched, the relative position between the two pulleys in their respective directions of rotation can be fixed, for example by a connecting structure comprising pins on one of the

  pulleys and dowel holes on the other pulley.

  Although the two pulleys can be idler pulleys for the

  cord, they are preferably pulleys for driving the cord.

  Preferably, said plurality of heat exchangers comprises a cooling device and a heating device and the air mixing door is arranged between the cooling device and the heating device. In a preferred embodiment, the air mixing door is formed, not from a soft material such

  than a film, but from a rigid material.

  When it slides, the air mixing door is guided along a guide groove. Preferably, the guide groove is formed so that the door moves away from one of the heat exchangers when it slides and comes into close contact with the heat exchanger when its movement is complete. The guide groove extends continuously from a position corresponding to a first end of the sliding path of the air mixing door, to a position corresponding to a second end of the

sliding door path.

  In this air conditioner for vehicles according to the present invention, since the air mixing door is driven by the sliding cord consisting of a cable or a belt, the size of the sliding mechanism can be reduced . We can therefore reduce

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  the size of the sliding door and that of the sliding mechanism

  door and miniaturize the air conditioner.

  In addition, because the respective end portions of the cord are wound by the two pulleys in respective opposite directions of rotation, an appropriate tension can be imparted permanently to the driven cord. As a result, you can prevent slippage or play between the pulleys and the cord. The cord can therefore be actuated smoothly and correctly and the air mixing door can be slid with a sliding action

correct.

  Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will

  emerge from the detailed description below of embodiments

  preferred non-limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a vehicle conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a sliding mechanism of the air conditioner described in Figure i; Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a sliding mechanism of an air conditioner for vehicles according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the pulleys of a sliding mechanism of an air conditioner for vehicles according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of a sliding mechanism of an air conditioner for vehicles according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of an air conditioner

  for vehicles according to known technique.

  Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of an air conditioner 1 for vehicles according to the present invention. The

  air conditioner 1 comprises an air duct 2 of the unit type.

  Sucked air, the indoor air / outdoor air ratio is set, is introduced into an air suction part 3, for example by a blower (not shown). A cooling device consisting of an evaporator 4 and a heating device consisting of a radiator 5 are mounted in this order in the direction of

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  the air flow in the air line 2. The air flow path located above the radiator 5 constitutes a cold air flow path 6. The cold air flow passes through the evaporator 4. The air flow path passing through the evaporator 4 and the radiator 5 constitutes a hot air flow path 7. A sliding air mixing door 8 is provided between the evaporator 4 and the radiator 5. In one embodiment, the door

  of air mixture 8 is located immediately upstream of the radiator 5.

  The door 8 slides in a transverse direction relative to the cold air flow path 6 and to the hot air flow path 7, to adjust the air flow rates in these flow paths

  depending on the desired air conditioning mode.

  Respective air discharge orifices, such as a discharge orifice 3 in DEF mode 11, a discharge orifice 10 in WIND mode and a discharge orifice 11 in FOOT mode, are formed downstream in the air duct 2. Registers 12, 13 and 14 regulate the flow

  of air blown through the respective discharge orifices 9, 10 and 11.

  The air mixing door 8 includes a sliding door body 21 and a sliding drive mechanism 22 for sliding the door body. The sliding mechanism 22 comprises a cord 23 connected to the upper and lower ends of the door body 21. The cord 23 consists of a cable or a belt. It is driven by pulleys 24 and is supported free in movement by free wheels 25 and 26 which are arranged at the top and

  at the bottom of the cord sliding path 23.

  As shown in Figure 2, the above-mentioned pulleys

  comprise two pulleys 24a and 24b arranged on the same shaft 27.

  The ends of the cord 23 are connected to the respective pulleys 24a and 24b, so that the respective end portions of the cord 23 are wound by the respective pulleys 24a and 24b in opposite directions of rotation. More specifically, when a first end portion of the cord 23 is wound by the pulley 24a, a second end portion of the cord 23 is unwound from the other pulley 24b, and when the second end portion of the cord 23 is wound by the pulley 24b, the first end part of the cord 23 is unwound from

the other pulley 24a.

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  Because the winding of the cord 23 by the respective pulleys 24a and 24b takes place in opposite directions, an appropriate tension is imparted to the cord 23 by the winding forces of the two pulleys 24a and 24b. The relative position between the two pulleys 24a and 24b in their respective directions of rotation is fixed in a state such that the cord 23 is stretched with an appropriate tension. This fixing of the relative position can be obtained either by fixing the two pulleys 24a and 24b on the shaft 27, in a state where the sliding cord 23 is stretched, or by fixing one of the pulleys 24a and 24b and connecting the other

pulley to the fixed pulley.

  Because the relative position of the two pulleys 24a and 24b in their respective directions of rotation is fixed in a state in which the cord 23 is stretched with an appropriate tension, when the cord is moved along its sliding path to make it slide the door body 21, said appropriate tension is permanently imparted to the cord. It is therefore possible to prevent slippage from occurring or a play being created between the cord 23 and the two pulleys 24a and 24b and to obtain a desired correct action of the cord and an action of

  desired sliding of the air mixing door.

  Although the guide mechanism of the door body 21 is not particularly limited in its structure, the mechanism will be used

which will be described below.

  The door body 21 slides vertically in FIG. 1, under the action of the cord 23. When the door body 21 slides, it is guided along a guide groove 28. Pins 29 provided at the two ends of the body door 21 are also guided along the guide groove 28. The latter comprises an upper guide groove 28a and a lower guide groove 28b. The lower end of the upper guide groove 28a and the upper end of the lower guide groove 28b are connected to each other. The guide grooves 28a and 28b have a linear polygonal shape such that the door body is distant from the radiator 5 when it slides down or up and that it comes into contact with the side of the radiator 5 or s' approach the latter, when it has finished sliding. Consequently, when the door body 21 slides, it does not come into contact with the radiator 5, which increases the durability of these two elements. When the door body

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  finished sliding, it is pushed towards the side of the radiator 5, which

  hermetically seal the air flow path.

  In the present invention, a helical torsion spring can be interposed between the two pulleys. For example, as shown in Figure 3, a pulley 31a is fixed to a shaft 32 and another pulley 3lb is movably mounted on the shaft 32. A helical torsion spring 33 is interposed between the two pulleys 3a and 3lb and its ends are respectively engaged with the two pulleys. In this structure, the force of the helical torsion spring 33 urges the two pulleys 3a and 31lb in opposite directions of rotation. The two pulleys wind the respective end portions of the cord 34 in respective opposite directions of rotation, which gives the cord 34 a tension.

  suitable, which corresponds to the force of the helical torsion spring 33.

  In this state, the two pulleys 31a and 31b are rotated and the cord 34 is caused to slide under the effect of the rotation of the shaft 32. The fact that an appropriate tension is imparted permanently to the cord, which moves along its sliding path as described above, any slippage or play between the cord 34 and the two pulleys is prevented. Consequently, an air mixing door connected to the cord 34 is made to slide.

correctly and smoothly.

  In this same embodiment, another structure can be used, that shown in FIG. 4. This structure comprises two pulleys 41 la and 41b provided with respective annular flanges 42a

  and 42b which surround and protect a helical torsion spring 43.

  One can also use, according to the present invention, the structure illustrated in Figure 5. In this figure, two pulleys 51a and lb are joined to each other. A plurality of pins 52 are fixed on one face of one of the pulleys 51a and a plurality of pins holes 53 are defined in the other pulley 51b. In the present embodiment, the number of holes 53 is greater than the number of pins 52. The two pulleys 51a and 51lb are arranged on the same shaft 54, one of them being mounted to rotate freely on the shaft 54

  while the other is attached to the tree.

  In a structure of this type, an appropriate tension is imparted to the cord 55 by means of a winding operation of the pulleys 51a and 51lb. For this, the respective pins 52 are inserted and

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  fitted in the corresponding holes 53, so that the two pulleys are joined by the dowel-hole connection. A relative rotation of the two pulleys 5 la and 5 lb is then impossible. Therefore, even when the joined pulleys are rotated, the appropriate tension imparted to the cord 55 can be maintained continuously. Although the pin-hole connection mechanism is used to join the two pulleys 5 la and 5 lb in this form of

  embodiment, other linking mechanisms can be used.

  Embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but it goes without saying that the invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. As a result, the embodiments described here are for convenience only

example.

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Claims (11)

  1. Air conditioner for vehicles, characterized in that it comprises several heat exchangers (4, 5) and an air mixing door (21) arranged in a pipe (2), said mixing door air which can slide in a transverse direction with respect to a hot air path (7) and a cold air path (6) formed in said pipe (2), under the action of a sliding mechanism, so as to regulate the air flows passing through said respective paths of hot air (7) and cold air (6), said sliding mechanism comprising a sliding cord (23; 34; 55) connected to said door of air mixture (21) and two pulleys (24a, 24b; 31a, 31b; 51a, 51lb) connected respectively to the ends of the sliding cord, said pulleys being able to wind said cord   sliding in opposite directions of rotation.   2. Air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliding cord (23; 34; 55) is constituted by a cable or strap.   3. Air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said two pulleys are mounted on the same shaft (27 32; 54).   4. Air conditioner according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that a helical torsion spring (33; 43) is interposed between said two pulleys (31a, 31b; 41a, 41b), and   biases said two pulleys in opposite directions of rotation.   5. Air conditioner according to any one of claims   1 to 3, characterized in that said two pulleys (24a, 24b; 31a, 31b; 41a, 41b; 51a, 51b) are joined in a state in which said cord   sliding (23; 34; 55) is tensioned.   6. Air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that a plurality of dowels (52) are fixed on one face of one of said pulleys (51a, 51lb) and a plurality of dowel holes (53) are defined on one face of the other of said pulleys (51a, 51lb), said   pulleys being joined by the connection dowels-dowel holes.   7. Air conditioner according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that said pulleys (24a, 24b; 31 la, 3 lb   41a, 41b; 51a, 51b) entrain said sliding cord. 2791610   8. Air conditioner according to any one of claims   above, characterized in that said heat exchangers comprise a cooling device (4) and a heating device (5), and in that said air mixing door (21) is disposed between said cooling device (4 ) and said device heating (5).   9. Air conditioner according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that it comprises a guide groove (28)   along which said air mixing door (21) slides.   10. Air conditioner according to claim 9, characterized in that said guide groove (28) is formed so that said air mixing door (21) is remote from one of said heat exchangers when it slides and comes into close contact with the heat exchanger   heat when its sliding is finished.   11. Air conditioner according to one of claims 9 and 10,   characterized in that said guide groove (28) extends continuously from a position corresponding to a first end of the sliding path of said air mixing door (21), to a position corresponding to a second end from the way   sliding of the air mixing door.