FR3132467A1 - Air conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

Air conditioning device comprising a casing (1), defining a housing (2) having a chamber (4) for mixing a first air flow (F1) and a second air flow (F2, F2'), a first heat exchanger (6), opening onto said mixing chamber (4), at least a first flap (12a, 12a') and an armature (48), said device being configured so that the first flaps (12a, 12a') move substantially by sliding in a first direction between a first position where said first flap or flaps (12a, 12a') allow free circulation of the first flow of air through said first exchanger (6 ) and a second position where said first flap or flaps (12a, 12a') block the circulation of said first airflow (F1) by resting against said armature in a second direction transverse to said first direction Figure of the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Air conditioning device

The present invention relates to an air conditioning device, in particular for motor vehicles.

In this field, known air conditioning devices comprise a housing defining a housing accommodating heat exchangers, making it possible to heat, cool and/or dehumidify an air flow, and shutters making it possible to regulate the air flow. a temperature of the air flow and/or to distribute this flow to different areas of a vehicle passenger compartment.

Air conditioning devices are particularly known in which an incident air flow, previously cooled and/or dehumidified, is divided into a first air flow, intended to pass through one of the heat exchangers. to be heated, and a second air flow, intended to bypass said exchanger. The proportion of the incident air flow forming each of the first and second air flows is determined by a position of one or more flaps, called mixing flaps. Downstream, the first and second air flows are mixed to reach the desired temperature, this in a chamber of said housing, called a mixing chamber. The resulting air flow is then sent to different areas of the passenger compartment by being distributed by shutters, called distribution flaps.

Known mixing dampers are of the flag, butterfly or drum type. Their shape and/or their stroke contribute to the bulk of the box, particularly in a direction determining its depth. The box being hidden under a dashboard in an area intended to be located between the driver and the front passenger of the vehicle, such bulk therefore has an impact on the layout of this area.

Furthermore, it is known to use sliding type shutters to control air flow in a duct. An advantage of such shutters is the small footprint generated by their travel in directions transverse to their sliding direction.

With such a type of shutter, the sealing in the closed position of the shutter is optimally managed when it involves a section of the shutter which then cooperates with the walls of the conduit opposite which it slides. However, if one wishes to use such a shutter in an air conditioning device as mentioned above, it is difficult to manage the sealing in the closed position of the shutter in this way, taking into account the nature of the housing. .

An aim of the invention is to propose an air conditioning device which at least partly overcomes the preceding drawbacks.

In this sense, the invention relates to an air conditioning device comprising a housing, defining a housing having a chamber for mixing a first air flow and a second air flow, a first heat exchanger, opening onto said mixing chamber, at least a first flap and a frame, said device being configured so that the first flap(s) move substantially sliding in a first direction between a first position where the said first flap(s) leave free circulation of the first air flow through said first exchanger and a second position where the said first flap(s) block the circulation of said first air flow by bearing against said frame in a second direction transverse to said first direction.

Thus, according to the invention, by using one or more sliding shutters, it is possible to open or close the circulation of air through the first exchanger without adding bulk in a direction transverse to that of sliding, if it's not at the end of the race. Furthermore, by planning to complete the sliding movement with a movement having a component in a direction transverse to that of sliding, it is possible to make it rest on a support, namely the planned frame, in the closed position. This improves the seal and the leak rate is reduced.

According to additional characteristics, which can be implemented independently of each other or according to all technically possible combinations and which form as many embodiments of the invention:
- said first flap(s) are substantially planar,
- said first flap(s) are oriented in said first direction,
- said device comprises a seal reinforcing the tightness of a blockage of the circulation of the first air flow in said second position,
- said seal is located on the first flap(s),
- said seal has a sealing lip,
- said first flap(s) have two opposite faces connected by a peripheral edge,
- said lip extends continuously along said edge and facing the same face of the first flap(s),
- said frame comprises a seat for said seal, preferably for said lip,
- said first exchanger has a front surface intended to be crossed by said first air flow in said first position of the first flap(s),
- said first flap(s) are intended to be facing said front surface in said second position,
- said frame is located between said front surface and said first flap(s) in said second position,
- a contour of said frame follows a contour of said first flap(s) in said second position,
- said device is configured so that the second air flow bypasses said first exchanger, in particular by one or more diversion passages located at two opposite sides of said exchanger,
- said device further comprises one or more second flaps intended to alternately prevent or allow free circulation of the second air flow through the said deflection passage(s),
- said device comprises first actuators of the first shutter(s),
- said first actuators are located in said housing,
- said first actuators are located in said deflection passages,
- said first flap(s) are respectively intended to be actuated by said second flap(s),
- said device is configured so that said first flap(s) are in said first position when said second flap(s) prevent the circulation of the second air flow through said deflection passage(s),
- said device is configured so that said first flap(s) are in said second position when said second flap(s) leave the circulation of the second air flow free through said deflection passages,
- said first flap(s) are articulated in rotation on said second flap(s),
- said device comprises guide rails of the first flap(s) between the first and the second position,
- said first flaps are at least two in number, in particular four, so as to each cover approximately a corresponding portion, in particular a quarter, of the front surface of the first exchanger, in said second position.

Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the accompanying drawings, including:

is a view of an example of a thermal conditioning device according to the invention, illustrated from the side, some of its components being made visible by transparency and illustrated, where appropriate, schematically,

is a perspective view of an interior part of the device of the , in a first, open position, of first flaps of said device,

is a perspective view of said interior part of the , in a second, closed position, of the first shutters,

is a sectional view of a first part of the device of the preceding figures.

To make the figures easier to read, identical elements bear the same references. Certain elements or parameters can be indexed, that is to say designated for example by first element or second element, or even first parameter and second parameter, etc. This indexing aims to differentiate similar, but not identical, elements or parameters. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element, or parameter in relation to another and the names can be reversed.

In the description which follows, the term "a first element upstream of a second element" means that the first element is placed before the second element with respect to the direction of circulation, or path, of a fluid. Analogously, the term "a first element downstream of a second element" means that the first element is placed after the second element with respect to the direction of circulation, or travel, of the fluid considered.

As illustrated in , the invention relates to an air conditioning device. It is intended, for example, to equip a motor vehicle to allow heat treatment of the air in a passenger compartment of said vehicle.

Said device comprises a housing 1 defining a housing 2. Said housing 2 has a mixing chamber 4 of a first air flow, illustrated F1 and a second air flow, illustrated F2, F2'.

Said housing 2 further accommodates a first heat exchanger 6, opening onto said mixing chamber 4. Said first heat exchanger 6 is intended to be crossed by said air flow F1. Said air flow F1 can thus be heated. Conversely, said device is advantageously configured so that the second air flow F2, F2' bypasses said first exchanger 6 so as not to be heated.

Said mixing chamber 4 is configured to allow mixing of said first and second air flows F1 and F2, F2’. Thus, depending on the flow rates of each of said air flows F1 and F2, F2', a desired air temperature can be obtained in said mixing chamber 4.

Downstream, the air flows F1 and F2, F2' now mixed into an outlet flow, are directed, for example, towards distribution flaps of said device. Said distribution flaps here comprise one or more defrosting/demisting flaps 20, intended to direct all or part of the outlet flow towards a windshield of the vehicle. They further comprise top flaps 22 and/or foot flaps 24, intended to direct all or part of the output flow, respectively, towards the face and/or the hands, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, towards the feet of the driver and/or front passenger. They also possibly include lower flaps 26, intended to direct all or part of the exit flow towards the rear passengers. Said housing 2 accommodates conduits or passages, partially illustrated, connecting said mixing chamber 4 to said distribution flaps 22, 24, 26.

Said housing 2 also accommodates here a second exchanger 28 intended to be traversed by an incoming air flow Fe.

Said second exchanger 28 is configured to cool and/or dehumidify said incoming air flow Fe. It could be an exchanger allowing circulation of a refrigerant in an air conditioning loop. Downstream of said second exchanger 28 according to the direction of air flow, said housing 2 is configured to allow a division of said incoming air flow Fe to then form said first air flow F1 and/or said second flow d 'air F2, F2'.

Said first heat exchanger 6 comprises, for example, a first bundle 8 and/or a second bundle 10, intended to pass through said air flow F1. Said first beam 8 is intended to be traversed by a heat transfer fluid heating said air flow F1 by heat exchange. Said second bundle 10 comprises, for example, electrical heating elements. Said second beam 10 is here located downstream of the first beam 8 in the direction of circulation of the first air flow F1. Said first and second beams 8, 10 extend substantially parallel to each other, in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the air flow F1. The latter is intended to correspond, usually, to an axis X of longitudinal extension of the vehicle. An orthonormal coordinate system X, Y, Z has been illustrated in taking said X direction and illustrating a vertical direction corresponding to the Z axis of the marker and a transverse direction corresponding to the Y axis of the marker.

Said first exchanger 6 has a substantially parallelepiped footprint with two large parallel faces, one upstream 7 and the other downstream 7' according to the direction of flow of the first air flow F1. Said large faces 7, 7' form front surfaces of the exchanger 6. Said large upstream face 7 here has a substantially planar configuration. It should be noted that said large upstream face 7 is however not continuous because it must allow the passage of the air flow F1. It results, for example, from a stack of tubes and heat exchange spacers of the first bundle 8.

Said first beam 8 and/or said second beam 10 may be simultaneously or separately active, or even simultaneously non-active, depending on a circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the first beam 8 and a circulation of electric current in the electrical elements of the second beam 10.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, said housing also accommodates one or more first flaps 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’, preferably at least two first flaps. Said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are here four in number, namely a first top right flap 12a, a first bottom right flap 12a', a first top left flap 12b and a first bottom left flap 12b' , this so as to each cover approximately a quarter of the front surface 7 of the first exchanger 6. Said housing 2 also accommodates a frame 48.

Depending on the positioning of said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b', each of said first F1 and second F2, F2' flow has a given flow rate, contributing to determining the temperature of the air in the mixing chamber 4. The greater the flow rate of the first air flow F1, the greater the air temperature in the mixing chamber. Conversely, the greater the flow rate of the second air flow F2, F2', the cooler the air temperature in the mixing chamber will be. Each of said flow rates can range from a zero or almost zero value, to a near leakage flow rate, to a maximum flow rate, the sum of said flow rates remaining relatively constant and equal to that of a flow rate of the incoming air flow Fe.

According to the invention, said device is configured so that the first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' move substantially sliding in a first direction, here the Z direction. In the illustrated embodiment, said device(s) first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' move in a plane of extension parallel to the front surface 7 of said first exchanger 6, that is to say in a direction located in a plane Y, Z substantially perpendicular to an incident direction of said incoming air flow Fe.

More precisely, said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' move essentially by translation along the Z axis between a first position where said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' leave free circulation of the first air flow F1 through said first exchanger 6, corresponding to the configuration of the , and a second position where said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' block the circulation of said first air flow F1. In the illustrated embodiment, said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are then located opposite a respective portion of said front surface 7, corresponding to the configuration of the where said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are in a closed position.

Furthermore, said device is configured so that, in said closed position, said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' bear against said frame 48 in a second direction transverse to said first direction Z, here the direction in the frame 48, in said second position.

By remaining substantially in the same plane Y, Z, the movement of said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' thus does not generate any additional space in the axis the frame 48 reinforces the seal in the closed position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the movement of the first flaps 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ is further distributed in the Z direction by partitioning the flaps into pairs. In other words, one or more of the first 12a, 12b of said first flaps circulate between a high position corresponding to the first configuration where they are located, in projection, above said first exchanger 6 and a low position where they are located opposite each other. -screw of a top half of said first exchanger 6. One or more second 12a', 12b' of said first flaps circulate between a low position corresponding to the first configuration where they are located, in projection, under said first exchanger 6 and a position high where they are located opposite a lower half of said first exchanger 6. In the illustrated embodiment where said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are four in number, it is understood that each said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' substantially obstruct a quarter of the front surface 7, in said second position.

The first flaps 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ are advantageously grouped in pairs 12a, 12a’ and 12b, 12b’. The flaps of the same pair are located one below the other along the Z axis. The device is configured so that the flaps of the same pair move in coordination with each other to pass simultaneously from the first configuration, open, to the second configuration, closed, and vice versa. On the other hand, a movement of the first shutters from one pair to another can be decorrelated. Thus a pair of first shutters could be in the first configuration while the other will be in the second configuration. By providing a corresponding partition of the mixing chamber 4, downstream, for example using a substantially vertical partition, not illustrated, such an embodiment makes it possible to have two different temperatures in each of the parts of the chamber mixer 4 located on either side of the partition.

The first flap(s) 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ are, for example, substantially planar. They are advantageously oriented along said first direction Z, even more advantageously along said extension plane Y, Z. Their size is thus optimized.

Preferably, said device is configured so that the second air flow F2, F2' bypasses the first exchanger 6 via deflection passages 14, 14', located at two opposite sides of said first exchanger 6, namely here, at -above along a branch F2 of said second flow and below along a branch F2' of said second flow.

Advantageously, said device further comprises at least two second flaps 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b', respectively intended to alternately prevent or allow free circulation of the second air flow F2, F2' through said deflection passages 14, 14', namely preventing the circulation of said air flow F2, F2' in said deflection passages 14, 14' when said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are in said first position to force a maximum of 'air through said first exchanger 6 or to leave free circulation of said air flow F2, F2' in said deflection passages 14, 14' when said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are in said second position to force a maximum of air to bypass said first exchanger 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' also obstruct the deflection passages 14, 14', at least partially, by being partly opposite said second flaps. 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b' in said first position.

Still in the illustrated embodiment, said device comprises first actuators of the first shutters 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’. Said first actuators are advantageously located in said housing 1 and even more advantageously in said deflection passages 14, 14'. This concerns in particular said second ones 16a, 16a’, 16b, 16b’. In other words, each of said first flaps 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ is respectively intended to be actuated by one of said second flaps 16a, 16a’, 16b, 16b’.

Said device is thus configured so that the position and movements of some are linked to the position and movements of others. More precisely, here, said device is configured for said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' to be in said first position when the second flaps 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b' prevent the circulation of the second air flow at through said deflection passages 14, 14'.

Said device is further configured so that said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are in said second position when the second flaps 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b' leave free circulation of the second air flow through said deflection passages 14, 14'.

Said device is further configured so that any intermediate position is possible, an intermediate position of the first flaps 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ corresponding to a given intermediate position of the second flaps 16a, 16a’, 16b, 16b’.

Said second flaps 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b' are here articulated in rotation, for example around a shaft 32. For actuation of said shaft 32, said device comprises, in particular, a stepper motor, not shown , for example located outside said housing 1, on one of its walls.

Said first flaps 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ are articulated in rotation on said second flaps 16a, 16a’, 16b, 16b’. For this, said second flaps 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b' comprise tabs 35, coming from a surface of said second flaps, and first articulation pins 34, attached at a free end of said tabs 35. The first pins 34 are oriented substantially parallel to the surface of said second flaps from which said lugs 35 come, in said direction Y. Said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' comprise first articulation arms 36, coming from a surface of said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b'. The first articulation arms 36 are connected by one of their ends to a surface of said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' and have an orifice 37 at their opposite free end. Said first flaps 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ are mounted on said second flaps 16a, 16a’, 16b, 16b’ by rotating articulation of said first pins 34 in said orifices 37.

Said device further comprises here rails 38, 39, 40 for guiding the first flap(s) 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’ between the first and the second position. Said guide rails are parallel to each other. They are located offset upstream, according to the direction of circulation of the air flow F1, of said upstream front surface 7. They extend vertically to guide said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' in the desired Y, Z plan.

Said rails 38, 39, 40 are fixed. They are, for example, subject to said housing 1 and/or coming from material on a surface of the latter.

A first 38 and a second 39 of the guide rails are respectively provided near vertical edges of said upstream front surface 7. A third 40 of the guide rails extends opposite a median axis of said surface upstream front 7.

Said first left flaps 12b, 12b' slide on said first 38 and third 40 guide rails. Said first right flaps 12a, 12a’ slide on said second 39 and third 40 guide rails. We understand that, in this embodiment, the third guide rail is common to the first left and right flaps. Alternatively, a fourth guide rail may be provided so that each of the first left and right flaps has respective pairs of guide rails.

Said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are provided with second articulation arms 42 coming from the surface of said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' and having a free end provided with second pins 44, engaged in said rails 37, 38, 39. The second pins 44 are oriented substantially parallel to the surface of said first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' from which said second articulation arms 42 come, in said direction Y. Said first and second articulation arm 36, 42 are understood in pairs substantially in the extension of one another, in opposite directions, in the vertical direction Z.

To apply the first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' against said frame 48, said rails 38, 39, 40 present here, in an end zone, an elbow 46 orienting the rails towards said frame 48. Thus , in the closed position, when the first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are at the end of their travel in said rails 38, 39, 40, said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are then resting against said frame 48.

To further improve the tightness of the contact between said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' and said frame 48, said device further comprises a seal 50 reinforcing the tightness of a blockage of the circulation of the first flow of air F1 in said second position.

As illustrated in , said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' have two opposite faces 60, 62 connected by a peripheral edge 64 forming a slice of said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b'.

Said seal 50 is located on the first flap(s) 12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’. In the closed position, it is compressed in contact with said frame 48. Alternatively, said seal is located on said frame 50 and it is compressed by the first flap 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b'.

Advantageously, said seal 50 has a sealing lip 52. Here, said seal has a zone 54 for fixing to the edge of said first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b'. Said sealing lip 52 comes from said fixing zone 54. Said sealing lip 52 has a curved section. A free edge 56 of the lip 52 extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first corresponding flap and at a distance from the latter so as to be able to be deformed in contact with said frame 48. Preferably, although this is not visible, said frame 48 comprises a seat for said seal 50 and more precisely said lip 52.

Said seal 50 and, more precisely, said lip 52 extends continuously along said edge 64 of the first flap and facing the same 60 of the faces of the first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b'.

Here, said frame 48 is located between said front surface 7 and said first flap(s), at least in said second position. Said frame 48 is, for example, fixed to and/or coming from the first exchanger 6. It is formed, in particular, of a rigid thermoplastic material. Alternatively, it could be defined by its upstream front surface 7. It is rigid or at least more rigid than the seal 50 so as to allow compression of the latter when the first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' are applied against said frame 48.

If we refer again to the , we understand that a contour of said frame 48 follows a contour of the first flap(s) 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b' in said second position. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, said frame is formed of four distinct windows. Each of said windows has a contour corresponding to that of one of said first shutters 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b', at least in said second position.

In the illustrated embodiment, in said second closing position of the first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b', the air flow F1 is blocked and only the air flow F2, F2' arrives in the mixing chamber 4 passing through the deflection passages 14, 14', said second flaps 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b' being open. Such a configuration corresponds, for example, to air conditioning of the passenger compartment.

In said first opening position of the first flaps 12a, 12a', 12b, 12b', the air flow F1 passes through the first exchanger 6 and opens into the mixing chamber 4. Conversely, said second flaps 16a, 16a', 16b, 16b' are closed and said second air flow F2, F2' is blocked. Such a configuration corresponds, for example, to heating the passenger compartment.

Claims (10)

Air conditioning device comprising a housing (1), defining a housing (2) having a mixing chamber (4) of a first air flow (F1) and a second air flow (F2, F2'), a first heat exchanger (6), opening onto said mixing chamber (4), at least one first flap (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') and an armature (48), said device being configured so that the first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') move substantially sliding in a first direction between a first position where said first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') leave free a circulation of the first air flow through said first exchanger (6) and a second position where said first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') block the circulation of said first air flow (F1) in bearing against said frame in a second direction transverse to said first direction. Device according to claim 1 in which the first flap(s) (12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’) are substantially planar. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said first flap(s) (12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’) are oriented in said first direction. Device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a seal (50) reinforcing the tightness of blocking the circulation of the first air flow (F1) in said second position. Device according to the preceding claim in which said seal (50) is located on the first flap(s) (12a, 12a’, 12b, 12b’). Device according to any one of claims 4 or 5 in said seal (50) has a sealing lip (52). Device according to the preceding claim in which said first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') have two opposite faces (60, 62) connected by a peripheral edge (64), said lip (52) extending continuously along said edge (52) and facing the same (62) of the faces of the first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b'). Device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein said frame (48) comprises a seat for said seal (50). Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said first exchanger (6) has a front surface (7) intended to be crossed by said first air flow (F1) in said first position of the first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b'), said first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') being intended to be opposite said front surface (7) in said second position, said frame (48) being located between said front surface (7) and said first flap(s) ((12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') in said second position. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which a contour of said frame (48) follows a contour of said first flap(s) (12a, 12a', 12b, 12b') in said second position.