JP2001158216A - Air conditioning unit for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning unit for an automobile capable of simultaneously being downsized and improving discharging ability of condensed water from a heat exchanger for cooling. SOLUTION: A baffle passage 5 for guiding blast is formed in a unit case 2 disposed in the front part in a car room at the back of an engine room, and the heat exchanger 6 for cooling the blast is disposed in the baffle passage 5. The baffle passage 5 comprises a drop passage 12 for dropping the blast, and a raising passage 13 that is formed adjacent to the drop passage 12 and raises the blast passed through the drop passage 12. The heat exchanger 6 is arranged across the drop passage 12 and the raising passage 13, and comprises a pre-cooling region 6a that faces the drop passage 12 and passes the blast dropping through the drop passage 12 from the upside to the downside and a main cooling region 6b that faces the raising passage 13 and passes the blast having passed through the pre-cooling region 6a again from the downside to the upside. The pre-cooling region 6a is tilted by a suitable angle from a horizontal state so as to be lower than the main cooling region 6b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit for an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an air conditioning unit for an automobile, which is arranged behind an engine room and in a front part of a vehicle interior, there are, for example, those shown in FIG. 3 and those shown in FIG. The air conditioning unit 100 shown in FIG.
In the unit case 101, a cooling air exchanger 103 is provided in the unit case 101 for guiding the air from the blower fan 102. The cooling air heat exchanger cools the blower. 104 is arranged slightly inclined from the upright state.

The air conditioning unit 200 shown in FIG. 4 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-115471, and has a unit case 201 in which an air guide passage 203 for guiding air from a blower fan 202 is formed. , This air duct 2
At 03, a cooling heat exchanger 204 for cooling the ventilation is disposed slightly inclined from the horizontal state.

[0004]

In the air conditioning unit 100, since the cooling heat exchanger 104 is arranged slightly inclined from the upright state, the cooling heat exchanger 104 is connected to the refrigerant pipe in the engine room. As the length of the connection pipe 105 of the exchanger 104 increases,
05 becomes complicated, resulting in high cost. Similarly, since the cooling heat exchanger 104 is disposed slightly inclined from the upright state, the height of the unit case 101 increases, and there is a limit to the vertical size reduction of the air conditioning unit 100 itself. Was.

In the air conditioning unit 200, the cooling heat exchanger 204 is disposed slightly inclined from the horizontal state, and drains water from the cooling heat exchanger 204, which is dehumidified by the cooling heat exchanger 204. Since the cooling is performed only by natural dropping, the condensed water drainage of the cooling heat exchanger 204 is poor, and it is necessary to separately provide a drainage improving section, which causes an increase in cost.

[0006] In addition, since the condensed water drainage of the cooling heat exchanger 204 is poor, the condensed water dehumidified by the cooling heat exchanger 204 is sprayed into the vehicle cabin by air blowing,
There is also a problem that the droplets adhere to the heating heat exchanger 205 and take heat of vaporization from the heating heat exchanger 205 to lower the heat exchange efficiency of the heating heat exchanger 205.

[0007] Further, even if the air guide unit 203 is arranged in parallel in the unit case 201 with the air guide path 203a upstream of the cooling heat exchanger 204 and the downstream wind guide path 203b, the air conditioner unit 200 can be reduced in size. Wind path 203a or air guide path 20
3b, it is necessary to bypass the cooling heat exchanger 204, and therefore, there is a limit to downsizing in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the length of the connecting pipe of the cooling heat exchanger can be shortened and simplified in shape as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. 3 to reduce the manufacturing cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning unit for an automobile that can improve the drainage of condensed water of a cooling heat exchanger as compared with a conventional product, and can also achieve a reduction in size as compared to both conventional products. I have.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An automobile in which an air guide path for guiding air is formed in a unit case disposed behind the engine room and in a front part of a vehicle interior, and a cooling heat exchanger for cooling the air is disposed in the air guide path. Air conditioning unit, the air guide path includes a descending passage through which the air flows down, and an ascending passage formed adjacent to the descending passage and through which the air passing through the descending passage rises, and the cooling heat exchanger Is arranged across the descending passage and the ascending passage, and the pre-cooling region in which the blast passing down the descending passage facing the descending passage passes from above to below, and the blast passing through the pre-cooling region facing the ascending passage from below. It is characterized by being divided into a main cooling area that re-passes upward, and that the pre-cooling area is inclined at an appropriate angle from the horizontal state so as to be located below the main cooling area.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air conditioning unit for an automobile according to the first aspect, wherein the air passing through the main cooling area is supplied to a rising passage downstream of the main cooling area of the cooling heat exchanger. The heating heat exchanger to be heated is arranged substantially horizontally, and a bypass passage is provided in which the air passing through the main cooling area flows around the heating heat exchanger, and the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger are provided. Between the heat exchanger and the bypass passage, between the heat exchanger for heating and the bypass passage at an appropriate ratio, a slide-type air mix door is disposed substantially horizontally. I have.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air conditioning unit for an automobile according to the second aspect, wherein the rising passage is formed along a front wall of a unit case disposed on the engine room side, and is provided for heating. The heat exchanger is characterized by being arranged on the front wall side of the ascending passage.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the air blown down the descending passage of the air guide path is dehumidified in the pre-cooling area of the cooling heat exchanger, and then regenerated in the main cooling area of the cooling heat exchanger. Since cooling is performed, generation of condensed water due to dehumidification in the main cooling region can be suppressed. Moreover, since the cooling heat exchanger is inclined at an appropriate angle from the horizontal state so that the pre-cooling region is located below the main cooling region, the condensed water generated in the main cooling region is moved toward the pre-cooling region. The condensed water that has been moved, together with the condensed water dehumidified in the pre-cooling area, can be forcibly dropped by a descending wind passing through the pre-cooling area and removed from the cooling heat exchanger. Therefore, FIG.
The condensed water drainage of the cooling heat exchanger can be improved as compared with the conventional product shown in the figure.

[0013] Further, since the cooling heat exchanger is inclined at an appropriate angle from the horizontal state, the connecting pipe of the cooling heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant pipe of the engine room may be formed in a substantially straight tube shape. In addition to the above, the distance between the engine room and the cooling heat exchanger can be reduced and the length of the connection pipe can be reduced as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. Therefore, compared to the conventional product shown in FIG. 3, the length of the connecting pipe of the cooling heat exchanger can be shortened and the shape can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Similarly, since the cooling heat exchanger is inclined at an appropriate angle from the horizontal state, the unit case of the unit case is smaller than that of the conventional product shown in FIG. 3 in which the cooling heat exchanger is arranged substantially upright. The height can also be kept low. Further, since the cooling heat exchanger is disposed across the descending passage and the ascending passage formed adjacent to the descending passage, the cooling heat exchanger is disposed in a horizontal direction of the unit case as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. It can also suppress expansion. Therefore, the size of the air-conditioning unit itself can be reduced as compared with both conventional products.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the heating heat exchanger is disposed substantially horizontally in the rising passage downstream of the main cooling region of the cooling heat exchanger.
Since the sliding type air mixing door is arranged substantially horizontally between the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger, the cooling heat exchanger, the air mixing door and the heating heat exchanger are substantially parallel. And placed close to each other. Accordingly, the height of the unit case accommodating the cooling heat exchanger, the air mixing door, and the heating heat exchanger can be reduced, and the cooling heat exchanger, the air mixing door, and the heating heat exchanger can be combined. The provided air conditioning unit can be downsized.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the ascending passage is formed along the front wall of the unit case arranged on the engine room side, and the heating heat exchanger is provided. Is arranged on the front wall side of the ascending passage, so that the separation distance between the engine room and the heating heat exchanger is shortened, and the connection pipe of the heating heat exchanger connected to the heating medium pipe of the engine room is provided. Can be shortened.
In addition, since the heat exchanger for heating is arranged substantially horizontally, the shape of the connection pipe can be made straight. Therefore, the length of the connecting pipe of the heating heat exchanger can be shortened and the shape can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioning unit including the cooling heat exchanger, the slide door device, and the heating heat exchanger can be reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

Further, since the ascending passage is formed along the front wall of the unit case arranged on the engine room side, the ascending passage is opened to the ascending passage downstream of the heat exchanger for heating and to the instrument panel in the vehicle compartment. A relatively long distance in the vehicle front-rear direction can be secured between the vent air outlet and the vent air outlet. Can be distributed smoothly through the. Therefore, the ventilation resistance in the vent mode can be suppressed to a small value. As a result, it is possible to achieve both the large air volume and the low noise in the vent mode, and the large air volume and the fan motor in the vent mode. It can also be compatible with miniaturization.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment in which the inventions according to claims 1 to 3 are combined. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the one shown in FIG. The air-conditioning unit 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used for an automobile, and is disposed behind an engine room and forward in a vehicle compartment.

Unit case 2 of air conditioning unit 1
Has a front wall 2a arranged on the engine room side and a rear wall 2b arranged on the vehicle compartment side, and can be separated to the left and right by, for example, fastening screws. In the unit case 2, a scroll chamber 11 that houses the sirocco fan 4 mounted on the fan motor 3 is formed at the top on the rear wall 2 b side. Further, in the unit case 2, an air guide passage 5 which communicates with the scroll chamber 11 and guides air from the sirocco fan 4 is also formed. Wind guide path 5 in scroll room 11
Are formed in a spiral around the sirocco fan 4.

At the upper part of the left side wall 2c (see FIG. 1) of the unit case 2 forming the scroll chamber 11, the outside air outside the vehicle or the inside air inside the vehicle compartment is introduced into the air guide passage 5 inside the unit case 2 via the sirocco fan 4. An inflow port 21 for inflow is provided. In the upper part of the right side wall 2d (see FIG. 1) of the unit case 2, an installation port 22 for incorporating the sirocco fan 4 into the scroll chamber 11 is provided at a position opposite to the inflow port 21.

The air guide passage 5 communicates with the scroll chamber 11 and has a descending passage 12 through which the air flows down along the rear wall 2 b of the unit case 2. And an ascending passage 13 which rises along the path. The descending passage 12 and the ascending passage 13 are formed adjacent to each other, and are isolated from each other by a partition 2e. The ascending passage 13 and the scroll chamber 11 are isolated from each other by an arcuate wall 2 f that forms the scroll chamber 11.

A cooling heat exchanger 6 for cooling the blower is provided at the bottom of the air guide passage 5 so as to straddle the descending passage 12 and the ascending passage 13. The cooling heat exchanger 6 is connected to the descending passage 1.
2 and a main cooling area 6b through which the air flowing down the descending passage 12 passes from above to below, and the air passing through the precooling area 6a facing the ascending path 13 passes through again from below. It is partitioned. Then, the pre-cooling area 6a is shifted from the horizontal state by 1 so that the pre-cooling area 6a is located below the main cooling area 6b.
A straight pipe-shaped connection pipe 6c connected to the refrigerant pipe of the engine room projects from the end face located on the front wall 2a side of the unit case 2 to the outside of the unit case 2 from the end face located on the front wall 2a side of the unit case 2. .

A drain reservoir 14 for storing condensed water dehumidified in the cooling heat exchanger 6 is provided in the air guide passage 5 below the pre-cooling area 6a of the cooling heat exchanger 6. A drain port (not shown) for discharging condensed water accumulated in the drain reservoir 14 to the outside of the unit case 2 is provided at a portion of the unit case 2 facing the drain reservoir 14. In the bottom wall 2g of the unit case 2, a portion located below the main cooling region 6b of the cooling heat exchanger 6 is inclined upward toward the front wall 2a of the unit case 2, and the pre-cooling of the cooling heat exchanger 6 is performed. The air that has passed through the area 6a is evenly distributed to the main cooling area 6b of the cooling heat exchanger 6.

In the ascending passage 13 downstream of the main cooling area 6b of the cooling heat exchanger 6, a heating heat exchanger 7 for heating the air passing through the main cooling area 6b is provided on the front wall 2a side of the unit case 2. Are disposed substantially horizontally, and a main cooling area 6b is provided between the heating heat exchanger 7 and the partition 2e of the unit case 2.
Is provided with a bypass passage 15 through which air blown through the heating heat exchanger 7 flows. Heat exchanger 7 for heating
A straight pipe-shaped connection pipe 7a connected to the heat medium pipe of the engine room protrudes out of the unit case 2 from an end face located on the front wall 2a side of the unit case 2.

Between the cooling heat exchanger 6 and the heating heat exchanger 7, the air passing through the main cooling area 6 b of the cooling heat exchanger 6 is sent to the heating heat exchanger 7 and the bypass passage 15. A sliding air mix door 31 that distributes air at an appropriate ratio is disposed substantially horizontally. This air mix door 31
A rack that meshes with the pinion 8 is provided, and a cold air position that covers the heating heat exchanger 7 and opens the bypass passage 15 for the cold air that has passed through the main cooling area 6b of the cooling heat exchanger 6, On the other hand, the rack and the pinion 8 are slid between the warm air position where the heating heat exchanger 7 is opened and the bypass passage 15 is closed.

The ascending passage 13 downstream of the heating heat exchanger 7
The air mix chamber 1 for mixing the cold air bypassing the heating heat exchanger 7 with the warm air passing through the heating heat exchanger 7
6 are provided. Left and right side walls 2 of unit case 2
In the step 2h (see FIG. 1) forming the rear wall of the ascending passage 13 in c and 2d, vent outlets 23 are provided at portions facing the air mixing chamber 16, and each vent outlet 23 has a vent outlet. Vent door 3 that opens and closes outlet 23
2 are provided respectively.

The front wall 2a of the unit case 2 has a first guide wall 2i for guiding warm air passing through the heating heat exchanger 7 obliquely upward toward the air mixing chamber 16, and a first guide wall 2i. A second guide wall 2j for guiding the conditioned air obliquely upward from the upper end to the front wall 2a toward the front wall 2a is provided. A foot outlet 24 is formed in the second guide wall 2j, and a foot passage 17 surrounded by both the first and second guide walls 2i, 2j and the front wall 2a is formed in the unit case 2. Have been.

The foot outlet 24 has an open position where the downstream side of the ascending passage 13 is closed and the foot outlet 24 is opened, and a foot outlet 24 which opens the downstream side of the ascending passage 13 and opens.
A pivotable foot door 33 that moves between a closed position and a closed position is provided. In the foot mode, the operation of the foot door 33 is controlled so that the downstream side of the ascending passage 13 is closed to communicate the air mix chamber 16 with the foot passage 17, and the foot door 33 is half-opened in the bi-level mode.

A defroster outlet 25 is formed in the top wall 2k on the front wall 2a side of the unit case 2 facing the ascending passage 13, and the defroster outlet 25 is a rotary type for opening and closing the defroster outlet 25. A defroster door 34 is provided.

In the air conditioning unit 1 described above, the cooling heat exchanger 6 is provided in the pre-cooling area 6a in which the air blown down the descending passage 12 passes downward from above.
And a main cooling area 6b facing the ascending passage 13 and passing through the precooling area 6a again from below. For this reason, the air blowing down the descending passage 12 is pre-cooled in the pre-cooling area 6a of the cooling heat exchanger 6 and dehumidified,
Generation of condensed water in the main cooling area 6b of the cooling heat exchanger 6 is suppressed.

Further, the cooling heat exchanger 6 is provided in the pre-cooling region 6.
a is tilted about 10 degrees from the horizontal state so as to be located below the main cooling area 6b, so that the condensed water dehumidified in the main cooling area 6b of the cooling heat exchanger 6 flows toward the pre-cooling area 6a. With the condensed water that has moved and dehumidified in the precooling area 6a, the water is forcibly dropped into the drain reservoir 14 below the precooling area 6a by the descending wind passing through the descending passage 12 and passing through the precooling area 6a.

Therefore, in the air conditioning unit 1, the condensed water drainage of the cooling heat exchanger 6 can be improved as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG.
The dehumidified condensed water can be prevented from being scattered as droplets due to the blast passing through the cooling heat exchanger 6 and scattered into the vehicle interior, and the droplets adhere to the heating heat exchanger 7 and are heated. It is also possible to suppress a decrease in the heat exchange efficiency of the heating heat exchanger 7 by depriving the heat exchanger 7 of heat of vaporization.

In the air conditioning unit 1, since the cooling heat exchanger 6 is only inclined about 10 degrees from the horizontal state, the connection pipe 6c of the cooling heat exchanger 6 connected to the refrigerant pipe in the engine room is provided. Can be made into a straight pipe shape, and the separation distance between the engine room and the cooling heat exchanger 6 can be shortened and the length of the connection pipe 6c can be shortened as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. it can. Therefore, FIG.
Compared with the conventional product shown in the figure, the length of the connecting pipe 6c of the cooling heat exchanger 6 can be shortened and the shape can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, in the air conditioning unit 1, since the cooling heat exchanger 6 is only inclined about 10 degrees from the horizontal state, the height of the unit case 2 can be suppressed lower than that of the conventional product shown in FIG. Can be. Moreover, since the heating heat exchanger 7 and the air mixing door 31 are arranged substantially horizontally, the cooling heat exchanger 6, the heating heat exchanger 7 and the air mixing door 31 are arranged substantially in parallel. It is also possible to make them approach each other, so that the height of the unit case 2 can be made lower than that of the conventional product shown in FIG.

In addition, the cooling heat exchanger 6 is connected to the descending passage 12
And the ascending passage 1 formed adjacent to the descending passage 12
3, the unit case 2 can be suppressed from expanding in the horizontal direction as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. Therefore, in the air conditioning unit 1, the size of the air conditioning unit 1 itself can be reduced as compared with the conventional product shown in FIG. 3 and the conventional product shown in FIG.

In the air conditioning unit 1, since the heating heat exchanger 7 is disposed substantially horizontally, the shape of the connection pipe 7a of the heating heat exchanger 7 connected to the heating medium pipe in the engine room is changed. It can be straight pipe shape. Moreover,
The heating heat exchanger 7 is arranged on the front wall 2a side of the ascending passage 13 and the front wall 2a is arranged on the engine room side, so that the separation distance between the heating heat exchanger 7 and the engine room is shortened. Thus, the length of the connection pipe 7a of the heating heat exchanger 7 can be shortened. Therefore, the shape of the connecting pipe 7a of the heating heat exchanger 7 can be simplified and the length can be shortened, and also in this regard, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

By the way, for example, in the conventional product shown in FIG. 3 and the conventional product disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-267620, communication is made via a vent duct with a vent outlet opening in an instrument panel in a vehicle cabin. The ascending passage in the unit case is formed on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction within the unit case. For this reason, the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the rising passage and the vent outlet is short, and in the vent mode, the air flowing up the rising passage is changed in direction rapidly toward the vent outlet. Therefore, the ventilation resistance in the vent mode is increased, and an attempt to increase the amount of air blown into the passenger compartment in the vent mode increases noise and increases the size of the fan motor to reduce the weight and size of the air conditioning unit. And it goes in the opposite direction.

On the other hand, in the air conditioning unit 1, the ascending passage 13 is formed in the unit case 2 on the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, a relatively long distance in the vehicle front-rear direction can be secured between the ascending passage 13 and the vent outlet opening in the instrument panel in the vehicle compartment, and the ascending passage 13 is ascended in the vent mode. The air can be smoothly distributed toward the vent outlet. Therefore, the ventilation resistance in the vent mode can be reduced, and both the large air volume and the low noise in the vent mode can be achieved. In addition, the large air volume in the vent mode and the downsizing of the fan motor 3 can be achieved. It can also be compatible with.

In the air conditioning unit 1, the cooling heat exchanger 6 is arranged at an angle of about 10 degrees from the horizontal state. However, the angle of inclination of the cooling heat exchanger 6 is not limited to about 10 degrees, but may be any range as long as it is greater than 0 degrees and less than 45 degrees. However, the cooling heat exchanger 6
In consideration of the condensed water drainage and the miniaturization of the air conditioning unit 1, the inclination angle of the cooling heat exchanger 6 is preferably about 10 degrees.

The pre-cooling area 6a of the cooling heat exchanger 6
May be arranged such that the arrangement density of the cooling fins is the same as the arrangement density of the cooling fins in the main cooling area 6b.
May be lower than the density of the cooling fins. Alternatively, the pre-cooling area 6a of the cooling heat exchanger 6 may not include the cooling fin.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the one shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional product.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of a conventional product.

[Description of Signs] 1 air conditioning unit 2 unit case 2a front wall of unit case 5 air guide path 6 cooling heat exchanger 6a precooling area of cooling heat exchanger 6b main cooling area of cooling heat exchanger 7 heating Heat exchanger 12 Down passage 13 Up passage 15 Bypass passage 31 Air mix door

Claims (3)

[Claims] An air duct (5) for guiding air is formed in a unit case (2) disposed behind the engine room and in the front part of the vehicle interior, and air is blown into the air duct (5). In the air conditioning unit for a vehicle in which a cooling heat exchanger (6) for cooling the air is disposed, the air guide path (5) includes a descending passage (12) through which the air blows down,
The descending passage (1) is formed adjacent to the descending passage (12).
2) an ascending passage (13) through which the blown air rises, and the cooling heat exchanger (6) is disposed across the descending passage (12) and the ascending passage (13), and is connected to the descending passage (12). The pre-cooling area (6a) through which the air flowing down the descending passageway (12) facing from above) passes from above to below, and the air blowing through the pre-cooling area (6a) facing the ascending passageway (13) is re-started from below to above. And a main cooling area (6b) passing therethrough.
An air conditioning unit for an automobile, wherein the pre-cooling area (6a) is inclined at an appropriate angle from a horizontal state so as to be located below the main cooling area (6b). 2. The air conditioning unit for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the cooling passage (13) has a main cooling area (6b) downstream of the main cooling area (6b) of the cooling heat exchanger (6). ), The heating heat exchanger (7) for heating the air passing through the main cooling area (6b) flows around the heating heat exchanger (7). Bypass passage (1
5) is provided, and between the cooling heat exchanger (6) and the heating heat exchanger (7), the air that has passed through the main cooling area (6b) is blown by the heating heat exchanger (7) and the bypass passage. (15) Sliding air mix door (3
(1) An air conditioning unit for an automobile, wherein (1) is arranged substantially horizontally. 3. The air conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the ascending passage (13) is formed along a front wall (2a) of the unit case (2) arranged on the engine room side. ,
The heating heat exchanger (7) is connected to the front wall (2) of the ascending passage (13).
a) An air conditioning unit for a vehicle, which is arranged on the side.