FR2889486A1 - Air flow distributing device for motor vehicle heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning installation, has distribution unit with separation wall defining front and rear zones to divide air flow into two flows that enter directly zones - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a plastic distribution unit (20) with a separation wall (32) defining front zones (FZ1, FZ2) and rear zones (RZ1, RZ2) in the unit, so that an incident air flow is divided into two flows. The wall is orthogonal to the incident air flow, and the two flows penetrate directly into the front and rear zones. The distribution unit has an air mixing flap to distribute the incident air flow between the two zones. An independent claim is also included for a heating, ventilation, and/or air-conditioning installation for a motor vehicle comprising an air flow distributing device.

Description

Device for distributing an air flow, for an installation of

  heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning for a motor vehicle and corresponding installation.

  The invention relates to an air distribution device for a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle.

  Heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning installations for a motor vehicle are known, in which the housing of the installation houses an evaporator and a heating radiator, so that an air flow can pass successively through the evaporator. and the heating radiator to be cooled and / or heated, depending on the desired thermal comfort, by the occupant (s) of the vehicle.

  The air flow thus cooled and / or heated is then sent to different regions of the passenger compartment by the defrost outlet, the air outlet and the exit for the feet.

  In particular, according to FR 2 789 629, an installation of this type is known in which an air supply duct is divided into an upper duct, a median duct and a lower duct. In this installation, a heat exchanger is installed in the middle duct. The latter communicates downstream with the upper duct and the lower duct and delivers hot air into two separate mixing zones. The ventilation, defrosting and front legs are fed by the upper mixing zone, the ventilation outlets and the rear legs and possibly other diffusion outlets are supplied with air by the lower mixing zone.

  It is also known from EP 1 110 769, a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning for a motor vehicle that has four independent mixing zones to send air to the front passengers and their feet and the rear passengers.

  Advances in technology in the field of heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems bring devices with superior functionality and in particular an ever increasing number of independent air flows.

  However, these installations become more and more complex and occupy an increasingly important space in the vehicle, which can cause problems of design and design of the vehicle.

  In addition, the complex aeration schemes of these installations are detrimental to the overall efficiency and cause losses.

  The invention aims to improve the situation.

  For this purpose, it proposes a device for distributing an air flow, in particular for a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle, which comprises a distribution member having a partition wall defining a first and a second zone in said member, so that a flow of incident air is able to be divided into two flows, one penetrating directly into the first zone and the other penetrating into the second zone.

  In one embodiment, the partition wall may be substantially orthogonal to the incident flow. One stream can enter the first zone directly before the other stream enters the second one. Advantageously, the device may comprise a mixing flap that distributes the incident air flow between the two zones. This component can have two components.

  Such a device is particularly interesting in that it allows to distribute a flow of air in the installation in a simple and space-saving manner. Indeed, as discussed below, a limited number of flaps is used, and the creation of separate parts provides better performance for the respective air flows.

  In another embodiment, the device may include a second partition wall extending substantially orthogonal to the incident airflow. It may also comprise a partition wall extending substantially in the direction of the incident air flow, between said partition wall and said second partition wall.

  Advantageously, the partition wall may comprise at least one opening to allow the passage of a flow from one area to the other.

  In one embodiment, the device comprises a partition wall extending substantially orthogonal to the incident flow and having an opening to allow the flow of air bypassing the first zone to enter the second zone.

  Advantageously, the device may comprise a partitioning shutter capable of taking a first position in which it is supported on the partition wall to allow the isolation of the two zones, and a second position in which it is supported on the partition wall to prevent the flow of air from entering the second zone. Advantageously, the partitioning flap comprises two flaps able to control the openings of the two zones of the second zone.

  The device may also include a dividing wall extending between said partition wall and said partition wall to create two zones in the second zone.

  Such a device is particularly interesting in that it allows to accurately compartmentalize the distribution device to separate the air flow.

  The invention also relates to a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising an air inlet opening onto a distribution zone connected to a front air outlet and a rear air outlet, comprising a heat exchanger disposed substantially-facing the distribution zone at a selected angle of the air inlet, so that air from the air inlet is adapted to cross the zone of distribution to a lower face or in the opposite direction. This installation comprises a distribution device as described above, arranged in the distribution zone.

  In one embodiment, the installation may comprise a rear air duct which connects the distribution zone to the rear air outlet and an opening facing a portion of the lower face of the exchanger. Advantageously, the installation may comprise at least one front mixing flap disposed between the distribution zone and the air inlet, and at least one rear mixing flap disposed in the rear air duct, the distribution device allowing the distribution of an air flow from the air inlet in a forward flow directed to the front air outlet and a rear flow directed to the rear air outlet, each flow being guided in an opposite manner through a respective part of the distribution device and the heat exchanger, the front and rear mixing flaps for controlling the temperature of these flows at their respective outlets.

  Such an installation is particularly interesting in that the placement of the device at the heart of the installation makes it possible to distribute a flow of incoming air into several air streams which are treated independently in the installation.

  Advantageously, the installation comprises a partitioning element which ensures the separation of the flows passing through the exchanger at the opening of the rear air duct.

  In one embodiment, the partitioning element is formed by a wall of the installation which bears against the underside of the heat exchanger. This embodiment is particularly interesting in that it offers a simple and inexpensive installation.

  In another embodiment, the partitioning element is formed by a partition flap which can move between a first position in which it bears against the lower face of the heat exchanger and a second position in which it is resting against the wall of the installation. This embodiment provides optimal performance.

  Advantageously, the front air outlet comprises at least one defrosting air outlet, and when the installation operates in defrost mode, the partitioning element and the rear mixing flap prevent the rear flow from passing through the exchanger. heat and release all the air passage through the heat exchanger.

  In one embodiment, the installation comprises a second front air mixing flap disposed between the air inlet and the lower face of the heat exchanger, an electrical resistance associated with the heat exchanger, a an air filter and an evaporator disposed substantially vertically therein and whose outlet forms the air inlet, the heat exchanger being disposed substantially horizontally.

  Other advantages and features of the invention will appear better on reading the description which follows, given by way of illustration and without limitation of examples taken from the drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a vehicle automobile between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment, and which comprises a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a distribution device according to the invention contained in the installation of Figure 1; FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show schematic views from above of the zone distribution of the heat exchanger of the installation reached thanks to various embodiments of the invention; FIGS. 4 to 6 show various operating modes of the installation of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a distribution device according to the invention; and FIG. 8 shows a variant of the installation of FIG. 1, which comprises the device of FIG. 7.

  Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a motor vehicle, between its engine compartment C and its cabin H, which contains a heating installation 2, ventilation and / or air conditioning.

  This installation 2 is supplied with air by a blower 4 through a filter 6 and an evaporator 8. In the exemplary embodiment, the evaporator 8 and the filter 6 are arranged almost vertically.

  The installation 2 is separated from the passenger compartment H by a control panel 10.

  It comprises an air passage E at the outlet of the evaporator 8, a front air outlet SAV in an upper part and a rear air outlet SAR in a lower part.

  The installation 2 comprises a heat exchanger 12. An electric heater heater 14 is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 12. According to the embodiment, the heat exchanger 12 and the resistor 14 are substantially horizontal way in the heart of the installation 2, at an almost right angle of the air passage E and in front of the front air outlet SAV. The exchanger 12 and the resistor 14 are housed in a housing 16 which includes a deflector 18 for disturbing the flows coming from the heat exchanger 12 and the resistor 14.

  The space between the heat exchanger 12 and the front air outlet SAV defines a zone of distribution Z which is occupied in a sealed manner between the exchanger 12 and the front air outlet SAV by a distribution member 20 according to the invention.

  The distribution zone Z is connected to the rear air outlet SAR by a rear air duct 22. The rear air duct 22 has an opening OCA substantially facing a lower face of the heat exchanger 12 .

  The installation 2 further comprises a first front air mixing flap V1 housed in the distribution member 20 substantially-facing the air passage E; a second front air mixing flap V2 disposed between the air passage E and the lower face of the heat exchanger 12; a rear air mixing flap V3 disposed in the rear air duct 22 at the opening OCA; an upstream partition shutter V4 between the wall of the installation and the lower face of the exchanger 12, at the opening OCA; a downstream partition shutter V5 housed in the distribution member 20 facing the rear air duct 22.

  According to the exemplary embodiment, the installation 2 comprises a distribution flap V6 for distributing air in the front air outlet to a defrost outlet and / or a foot heating outlet and a distribution flap V7 at the rear SAR air outlet. It is also conceivable to use several distribution flaps with the flaps V6 and V7 or instead of these.

  These flaps are adapted to evolve between two positions referenced each time Pl in solid lines and P2 in dashed lines and provide functions that will be described later. In general, the positions P1 and P2 are extreme positions, the position P1 corresponding to an air lock and the position P2 to a maximum air passage. These flaps are also adapted to take all the intermediate positions between the positions P1 and P2.

  FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the distribution device schematized in FIG. 1.

  This device comprises the distribution member 20, which comprises two sections 28 and 29, in particular plastic.

  These two sections are arranged back to back and connected at one of their ends by a partition wall 30 and at the other end by a partition wall 32 and a partition wall 34, connected at their top in the variant described. .

  The walls 30, 32 and 34 are all pierced with an opening 33. The partition wall 32 cuts the space between the sections 28 and 29 in two parts in a first direction YY.

  Two dividing walls 38 and 39 extend between the sections 28 and 29 in a second direction XX. The dividing wall 38 connects the partition wall 30 and the partition wall 32, and the partition wall 39 connects the partition wall 32 and the partition wall 34.

  The two walls 38 and 39, in combination with the walls 30, 32 and 34, divide the space between the profiles into four zones. Thus, the sections 28 and 29, the dividing wall 30, the partition wall 32 and the dividing wall 38 define two air zones before FZ1 and FZ2, and the sections 28 and 29, the partition wall 32 the partition wall 34 and the dividing wall 39 define two rear air zones RZ1 and RZ2.

  The distribution member 20 is adapted to receive at the partition wall 30 the mixing flap V1. The wall 30 is provided to prevent any air from entering the air zones before FZ1 and FZ2 when the flap V1 is in the P1 position. The flap V1 can be double and synchronized or independent. It can also be a simple shutter.

  The distribution member 20 is also arranged to receive the flap V5 between the partition wall 32 and the partition wall 34, the flap V5 resting on the wall 32 in the P2 position and on the wall 34 in the P1 position. The V5 pane can be double and synchronized or independent. It can also be a simple shutter.

  The opening 33 of the wall 32 allows air having penetrated one of the rear zones RZ1 and RZ2 through the opening of the wall 34 to be able to join the zones before FZ1 and FZ2.

  The lower part of the sections 28 and 29 is extended longitudinally by a bearing portion 40 pierced with an opening 42.

  The distribution member 20 is disposed in the distribution zone Z so that it is disposed above the heat exchanger 12, the partition wall 32 facing the air duct 22 and the wall 40 being in abutment against the walls of the rear air duct 22.

  FIG. 2 shows four paths R1, FC1, FC2 and R2 that can take a flow of air coming from the air passage E. As can be seen in this figure, the air flow R1 can bypass the section 28, outside the distribution member 20 and separate at the rear thereof in a flow RH1 which enters the zone RZ1 and a flow RC1 which passes through the opening 42 to the duct Rear air 22. In the same way the stream R2 bypasses the section 29, and separates at the rear of the distribution member 20 in two flows RH2 and RC2. The air flow RH2 enters the zone RZ2, and the flow of air RC2 passes through the opening 42 to the rear air duct 22.

  The flows RH1 and RH2 are adapted to descend towards the rear air outlet SAR through the exchanger 12, and the resistor 14 when present, the rear mixing flap V3 ensuring the mixing of these flows with respectively the flows RC1 and RC2 which pass through the rear air duct 22.

  The flows FC1 and FC2 respectively enter the zone FZ1 and the zone FZ2 and are led to the air outlet before SAV.

  The SAV and SAR rear air outlets have separate air handling and guiding means for the contiguous areas (namely FZ1 and FZ2 and RZ1 and RZ2). These means are not represented for the sake of simplicity.

  Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show top views of the heat exchanger 12 and areas that various embodiments of the distribution member 20 can achieve on it.

  To better show the arrangement of the distribution member 20 in the installation, there is shown an axis XX which is in the second direction of Figure 2, that is to say the direction in which the partition wall 32 extends, and an axis YY which is expressed in the first direction.

  In Figure 3a, we see the four areas respectively FZ1, FZ2, RZ1 and RZ2 that the partition wall 32 and dividing walls 38 and 39 can create.

  FIG. 3b shows the distribution that results from a variant of the distribution member 20 which has only one dividing wall 38, which results in two air zones before FZ1 and FZ2 and an air zone rear RZ.

  Finally, FIG. 3c shows the distribution that results from the device that will be described with FIGS. 7 and 8, namely a simple blanking in an air zone before FZ and a rear air zone RZ. This embodiment has none of the dividing walls 38 and 39.

  FIG. 4 shows an operating mode of the installation of FIG. 1 in which air coming from the inlet E is reheated for the front air outlet and sent directly to the rear air outlet. In this figure the two front air mixing flaps V1 and V2 let both pass the air. The flap V1 and the flap V2 are thus both in the position P2, which is the position in which these flaps let pass the largest amount of air.

  An air flow F for the air outlet before SAV separates into a flow FC and a flow FH. The air flow FH is heated in the heat exchanger 12 and mixed with the flow FC in the distribution device 20. The flow FH passes through the exchanger 12 from the upstream face to the downstream face and rises towards the outlet air before service. A flow R for the rear air outlet SAR passes for its part along the walls of the distribution member 20 as described above and passes through the air duct 22 to the SAR air outlet.

  As can be seen in this figure, the flap V5 bears on the partition wall 34 and the mixing flap V3 closes the opening OCA so that the whole of the air flow R is forced through the duct 22. This flow thus remains at the same temperature without being heated by the heat exchanger 12.

  Furthermore, it will be noted that the flap V4 ensures the partitioning-ment in the lower part of the exchanger, so that the flow FH can not cross the exchanger at the zones RZ1 and RZ2.

  FIG. 5 shows another mode of operation of the installation 2 in which the front air flow F is this time entirely directed from the air passage E to the front air outlet SAV, and the air flow R for the SAR rear air outlet is heated through the heat exchanger 12.

  Thus, the mixing flap V1 is open (P2 position) and the mixing flap V2 is closed (P2 position), so that the stream F is forced to pass directly into the zones FZ1 and FZ2 before joining the output of air service.

  The flow R separates for its part into two flows RC and RH at the rear air duct 22. Indeed, the flap V5 is supported on the partition wall 32, which prevents on the one hand RH flow to mix with the flow F and allows him on the other hand to cross the heat exchanger 12 from the distribution zone to the lower face, the mixing flap V3 mixing RH flow and RC flow to the output of the opening OCA. Here again, the shutter V4 provides the partitioning-ment at the lower face of the heat exchanger 12.

  Figure 6 shows yet another mode of operation in which the installation is used in defrost mode. In this mode, all the air available at the air passage E is heated through the heat exchanger 12 and sent to a defrost outlet included in the front air outlet SAV.

  For this purpose, the flap V5 is in the position Pl so that it prevents any air from entering the rear areas from the rear duct 22. The flap V3 closes the opening OCA. The shutter V4 is retracted so as not to partition the exchanger 12, and the shutter V7 prevents any air outlet to the rear air outlet SAR.

  Thus, with the shutter V1 closed (position P1) and the shutter V2 open (position P2), a flow from the air passage E splits into two flows FD1 and FD2, both of which pass through the heat exchanger 12. its entire surface, from the lower face to the defrosting air outlet, through the zones FZ1 and FZ2 for the airflow FD1 and through the zones RZ1 and RZ2 for the flow FD2.

  The opening 33 of the partition wall 32 allows the flow FD2 downstream of the exchanger 12 to join the stream FD1 reheated to the air outlet before SAV, from the zones RZ1 and RZ2 to the zones FZ1 and FZ2. The entire surface of the heat exchanger is thus used for defrosting, which makes it possible to better dimension it and to save space.

  Fig. 7 shows an alternative distribution member 20 which is simplified. The dividing walls 38 and 39 have been removed, as well as the partition wall 34. The partition wall 30 has also been removed and replaced by the shutter V1 alone, while the partition wall 32 has been straightened to be completely orthogonal. to the sections 28 and 29, in the exemplary embodiment.

  The device is then divided into two zones RZ and FZ as can be seen in FIG. 3c and three air flows respectively R1, R2 and F coming from the air passage E can pass through the zone FZ for the air flow. F or along the walls of sections 28 and 29 for flows R1 and R2 before joining the rear area.

  FIG. 8 shows an installation comprising the device of FIG. 7. In this variant, the flap V4 is replaced by a wall 50 of the housing of the installation. It would nevertheless be possible to keep the V4 component.

  This figure shows three paths F, R1, and R2 that can take a flow of air from the air passage E. As can be seen in this figure, the air flow R1 can bypass the profile 28 outside the distribution member 20 and separate at the rear thereof into a flow RH1 which enters the zone RZ and a flow RC1 which passes through the rear air duct 22. Of the same the flow R2 bypasses the section 29, and separates at the rear of the distribution member 20 into two flows RH2 and RC2. The RH2 airflow enters the zone RZ, and the flow of air RC2 passes through the rear air duct 22.

  The flow F enters the zone FZ and is led to the air outlet before service. The flows RH1 and RH2 are suitable for going down to the SAR rear air outlet through the exchanger 12 and the resistor 14 when present, the rear mixing flap V3 ensuring the mixing of these flows with the RC1 flows respectively. and RC2 which pass through the rear air duct 22.

  This installation and its device are much easier to produce and much less expensive.

  The above description is given for illustrative purposes only and encompasses all the variants that the skilled person will be able to consider and in particular all possible combinations for the described embodiments.

  It would be possible to provide other arrangements of the distribution member with respect to the heat exchanger to define other areas, and the latter could be arranged differently in the installation, namely vertical-ment, horizontally or even inclined.

  In the examples described, the shutters are housed in the device. It would nevertheless be possible to have these shutters carried by the housing of the installation, or to integrate them to this housing. On the other hand, the skilled person will consider all the components useful for performing the functions described.

Claims (24)

  1. Device for distributing an air flow, in particular for a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a distribution member (20) having a separation wall (32). ) defining a first and a second zone (FZ, RZ) in said member, so that an incident air flow is adapted to be distributed in two streams (F, R), one directly entering the first zone (FZ) and the other entering the second zone (RZ).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the partition wall (32) is substantially orthogonal to the incident flow.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the flows (F) enters directly into the first zone (FZ) before the other flow (R) enters the second zone (RZ).   4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a mixing flap (Vl) which allows to return the incident air flow between the two zones (FZ, RZ).   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the flap (V1) input comprises two flaps.   6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second partition wall (30) extending substantially orthogonal to the incident air flow.   7. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a dividing wall (38) extending substantially in the direction of the incident air flow, between said partition wall (32) and said second partition wall (30).   8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partition wall (32) comprises at least one opening (33) to allow pas-wise a flow from one area to another.   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a partition wall (34) extending substantially orthogonal to the incident flow and having an opening to allow the flow of air bypassing the first zone (FZ) to penetrate in the second zone (RZ).   10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the partition wall (32) and the partition wall (34) are connected.   11 Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises a partitioning shutter (V5) adapted to take a first position (P1) in which it is supported on the partition wall (34) to prevent the flow air (R) to enter the second zone, and a second position (P2) in which it bears on the partition wall (32) to allow the isolation of the two zones (RZ, FZ).   12. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, charac-terized in that it comprises a dividing wall (39) extending between said partition wall (32) and said partition wall (34). to create two zones (RZ1, RZ2) in the second zone (RZ).   13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the shutter (V5) comprises two flaps adapted to control the openings of the two zones (RZ1, RZ2) of the second zone (RZ).   14 Heating, ventilation and / or air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising an air inlet (E) leading to a distribution zone (Z) connected to a front air outlet (SAV) and to an air outlet rear (SAR), having a heat exchanger (12) disposed substantially opposite the distribution zone (Z), so that air (F, R) from the air inlet (E) is adapted to cross it from the distribution zone to a lower face (F) or in the opposite direction (R), characterized in that it comprises a distributive dis-positive according to one of the preceding claims, arranged in the zone of distribution (Z).   15. Installation according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a rear air duct (22) which connects the distribution zone (Z) to the rear air outlet (SAR) and which has an opening (OCA ) facing a portion of the lower face of the exchanger (12).   16. Installation according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises at least one forward mixing flap (V1) disposed between the distribution zone (Z) and the air inlet (E), and at least one flap rear mixer (V3) arranged in the rear air duct (22), the distribution device (20) for distributing a flow of air (F, R) coming from the air inlet (E) in a forward flow (F) directed to the front air outlet (SAV) and a rear flow (R) directed to the rear air outlet (SAR), each flow being oppositely guided through a respective part of the distribution device (20) and the heat exchanger (12), the front (V1) and rear (V3) mixing flaps for controlling the temperature of these flows at their respective outlets.   17. Installation according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that it comprises a partitioning element (V4; 50) which separates the flows (F, R) passing through the exchanger (12) at the level of the opening (OCA) of the rear air duct (22).   18. Installation according to claim 17, characterized in that the partitioning element (50) is formed by a wall of the installation which bears against the underside of the heat exchanger (12).   19 Installation according to claim 17, characterized in that the partitioning element is formed by a partition flap (V4) which can move between a first position (Pl) in which it bears against the underside of the exchanger heat (12) and a second position (P2) in which it bears against the wall of the installation.   20. Installation according to claim 19, characterized in that the front air outlet (SAV) comprises at least one defrost air outlet.   21. Installation according to claim 20, characterized in that, when the installation (2) operates in defrost mode, the partitioning element (V4) and the rear mixing flap (V3) prevent the rear flow (R) of through the heat exchanger (12) and release the entire air passage through the heat exchanger (12).   22. Installation according to one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that it comprises a second front air mixing flap (V2) disposed between the air inlet (E) and the lower face of the heat exchanger (12).   23. Installation according to one of claims 14 to 22, characterized in that it comprises an electrical resistance (14) associated with the heat exchanger (12).   24. Installation according to one of claims 14 to 23, characterized in that the installation comprises an air filter (6) and an evaporator (8) arranged substantially vertically therein and whose output forms the inlet of air (E), the heat exchanger (12) being arranged substantially horizontally.