JP2002002250A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease pressure loss at the time of foot mode and spout a warm air to occupant's both feet uniformly. SOLUTION: A cold air passage 27 for faces and the cold air passage 25 for feed and an air-mixing chamber 28 for the faces and an air-mixing chamber 26 for the feet are formed independently. And the warm air which has just passed a heater core 7 is led to the air-mixing chamber 26 for the feet through a perpendicular warm air passage 8 after leading from the lower side to the upper side of the heater core 7. And temperature control led air is spouted directly from a foot opening 10a formed in the upper side part of the heater core 7 of a case 2 to occupants feet side in the car room. Therefore it decreases the pressure loss at the time of the foot mode and can be facilitated to spout the warm air from the upper side of occupants feet to the occupants both feet uniformly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle which reduces a pressure loss in a foot mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an air conditioner for a vehicle, an air conditioning unit having a cooling evaporator, a heater core for heating, a blowing mode switching mechanism, and the like is provided when an air conditioning unit is disposed near an instrument panel in front of a vehicle compartment. Practical use of a semi-center layout with the blower unit that blows air-conditioning air to this air-conditioning unit offset to the passenger seat side of the air-conditioning unit, placed at the approximate center of the instrument panel in the left-right direction of the vehicle Have been.

[0003] A completely centered layout in which a blower section is arranged on the front side of a vehicle with respect to an air conditioning unit section has also been put to practical use.

In both the conventional semi-centered layout and the completely centered layout, a cold air passage that bypasses the heater core is usually arranged above the heater core (heating heat exchanger) when the vehicle is mounted on the vehicle. In both the face mode and the foot mode, a common cold air passage and a common air mixing chamber are used to adjust the blowout air temperature by adjusting the flow rate of the cool and hot air.

By the way, in order to increase the amount of cool air at the time of maximum cooling, generally, the arrangement of the cool air passage and the air mixing chamber in the air conditioning unit is designed to give priority to the reduction of the pressure loss in the face mode. Therefore, the warm air that has passed through the heater core in the foot mode flows upward in the vertical direction, and then bends and flows toward the air mixing chamber,
Thereafter, the air is guided by a duct extending from above to below and flows out from the lower part of the air conditioning unit. Therefore, the hot air path from immediately after passing through the heater core in the foot mode to the air mixing chamber is guided by a duct extending from above to below and has a long path, and has a bent portion, so that the pressure loss Was increasing.

Accordingly, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application No. 11-2544.
No. 94 proposes the following air conditioning unit.
That is, by forming the cold air passage for the face and the cold air passage for the foot independently, and forming the air mixing chamber for the face and the air mixing chamber for the foot independently, the warm air that has passed through the heater core is supplied to the air mixing chamber for the foot. Arrange the air mixing chamber for the foot so that the degree of bending of the hot air path leading to
Pressure loss during foot mode is reduced. In the air conditioning unit of the prior application, a foot opening that opens toward the feet of the occupant is formed at a lower portion of the air conditioning unit.

[0007]

However, in the air-conditioning unit of the prior application, since the foot opening is formed below the air-conditioning unit, warm air is blown from the side of the foot of the occupant. It is difficult to blow out warm air uniformly to both feet of the occupant. Incidentally, when the mounting position of the air conditioning unit is moved upward of the vehicle, the height of the air conditioning unit must be reduced. Therefore, the width of the air conditioning unit must be increased in order to ensure the required performance of the air conditioning unit. Further, if hot air is taken from the lower part to the upper part of the air conditioning unit using a duct, this duct causes an increase in pressure loss and an increase in the size of the air conditioning unit.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to reduce pressure loss in a foot mode and to blow out warm air uniformly to both feet of an occupant.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a case (2) is formed in a portion above a heating heat exchanger (7) and temperature-controlled. A foot opening (10) for blowing air toward the occupant's feet
a), the cool air from the cooling heat exchanger (4) bypasses the heating heat exchanger (7), and the face opening (24,
The cold air passage for face (27) leading to the side 240) and the cold air for foot leading to the foot opening (10a) by bypassing the cooling air from the heat exchanger for cooling (4) to the heat exchanger for heating (7). The air passage (25) is formed independently, and the cold air from the cold air passage (27) for the face and the hot air that has passed through the heat exchanger (7) for heating are mixed at the inlet side of the face opening (24, 240). The air mixing chamber for face (28), the cold air from the cold air passage for foot (25), and the hot air that has passed through the heat exchanger for heating (7) are mixed at the inlet side of the foot opening (10a). The hot air immediately after passing through the heating heat exchanger (7) is formed independently of the heating air mixing chamber (26).
A warm air passage (8) is formed to guide the heating heat exchanger (7) from below to above and then to the foot air mixing chamber (26), and to allow the temperature-regulated air to pass through the foot opening (10a). It is characterized by blowing directly into the vehicle interior.

Thus, the cool air passage for the face (27)
And a cold air passage for foot (25) are formed independently, and an air mixing chamber for face (28) and an air mixing chamber for foot (26) are formed.
Are independently formed, the degree of bending of the hot air path can be reduced, and the pressure loss in the foot mode can be reduced.

Further, the hot air immediately after passing through the heating heat exchanger (7) is guided upward from below the heating heat exchanger (7) by the hot air passage (8) through the hot air passage (8), and then is supplied to the foot air. It is guided to the mixing chamber (26) and then blows out directly into the passenger compartment from the foot opening (10a) formed in the case (2) above the heating heat exchanger (7). Instead of moving the air-conditioning unit from the mounting position of the air-conditioning unit to the upper side of the vehicle or using a duct to draw warm air from the lower part to the upper part of the air-conditioning unit as in the past, Can be blown out easily.

As described above, the pressure loss in the foot mode can be reduced, and the warm air can be easily blown uniformly to both feet of the occupant.

A foot opening (10a) formed in the case (2) above the heating heat exchanger (7).
, And blows directly into the passenger compartment, so that the hot air path can be shortened and the pressure loss can be reduced as compared with a conventional hot air path that is guided to a duct extending from above to below. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the foot door (11) is disposed in a portion of the hot air passage (8) where the hot air flows from below to above the heating heat exchanger (7). ,
In the vicinity of the foot door (11), if the face warm air passage (12) for guiding warm air from the warm air passage (8) to the face air mixing chamber (28) is branched,
The structure which guides the warm air which passed the heat exchanger for heating (7) to the air mixing room for faces (28) can be realized easily.

Further, as in the third aspect of the present invention, the cool air passage (25) for the foot is bypassed from above the heating heat exchanger (7) by the cool air from the cooling heat exchanger (4). With such a configuration, the formation of the foot air mixing chamber (26) above the heating heat exchanger (7) can be further facilitated.

Further, as in the fourth aspect of the present invention, the width of the air mix door (5) for adjusting the flow rate of the foot cool air passage (25) and the width of the foot door (11) are set to the case (2).
If the face hot air passage (12) is arranged on both sides in the width direction of the air mix door (5) and the foot door (11), the face hot air branched from the hot air passage (8) is formed. Forming the passage (12) can be easily realized.

By the way, generally, in order to increase the amount of cool air at the time of maximum cooling, the layout in the case (2) is designed with priority given to reduction of pressure loss in the face mode. Therefore, when distributing the cool air from the cooling heat exchanger (4) to the face cool air passage (27) and the foot cool air passage (25), most of the cool air from the cooling heat exchanger (4) is used. There is a concern that a small amount of air flows into the cold air passage for the face (15) and only a small amount flows to the cold air passage for the foot (25).

On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 5,
Butterfly door (5) of temperature control means (5, 6)
Adjusts the air volume of the cold air passage for face (27) and the cold air passage for foot (25), and when the butterfly door (5) is open, the cold air passage for face (27).
And a cold air passage for foot (25), a part of the cold air passing through the heat exchanger for cooling (4) is forcibly forced by the butterfly door (5) to the foot. It can be distributed to the cooling air passage (25). Therefore, it is possible to ensure that the amount of the cool air flowing through the foot cool air passage (25) is a predetermined amount.

Further, as in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the vehicle has a rear passage (40) for guiding the air rearward in the vehicle interior, and the hot air from the foot air mixing chamber (26) is supplied to the rear passage (40). 4
0), and a switching door (4) for switching between a rear foot mode in which the cold air from the face air mixing chamber (28) flows into the rear passage (40) and a rear face mode in which the cool air from the face air mixing chamber (28) flows into the rear passage (40).
1) is preferable.

The first aspect of the present invention facilitates formation of the foot air mixing chamber (26) above the heating heat exchanger (7). It is easy to arrange the foot air mixing chamber (26) near the face air mixing chamber (28) laid out at the top. If the two air mixing chambers (26, 28) are arranged close to each other, it is easy to guide the air in the two air mixing chambers (26, 28) to the rear passage (40). .

Therefore, in particular, both air mixing chambers (26, 2
In the air conditioner in which 8) is arranged in the vicinity,
It is preferable to use the invention described in claim 6.

By the way, depending on the layout in the case (2), even in the rear face mode, most of the cool air from the face cool air passage (15) flows to the face openings (24, 240) and There is a concern that only a small amount flows into the use passage (40).

On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 7,
Since a plate-like guide (50) for partially closing the face openings (24, 240) is provided, a part of the cool air flowing to the face openings (24, 240) is transferred to the rear passage (40). , And an appropriate amount of cold air can flow into the rear passage (40).

According to the invention described in claim 8, the vertical hot air passage (8) extending substantially vertically so as to guide the hot air immediately after passing through the chamber heat exchanger (7) upward, The cool air and the vertical hot air passage (from the cooling heat exchanger (4) formed near the passage upper end opening (9a) opening at the upper end of the wind passage (8) and bypassing the heating heat exchanger (7)) 8) a foot air mixing chamber (26) for mixing the warm air passed through;
Open / close the upper end of the passage (9a) and open the foot opening (10a).
a) a foot door (11) for controlling the air flow; and (b) the hot door (11) formed when the foot door (11) closes the upper opening (9a) of the passage, and directs the warm air flowing through the vertical warm air passage (8) in a substantially vertical direction. A hot air passage for face (12a) extending so as to be guided in a bent direction from the air outlet; and a heat exchange for cooling formed near the outlet of the hot air passage for face (12a) and bypassing the heat exchanger for heating (7). A face air mixing chamber (28) for mixing cold air from the vessel (4) and hot air passed through the face hot air passage (12a).

In the foot mode in which the foot door (11) opens the upper end opening (9a) of the passage, the warm air immediately after passing through the heating heat exchanger (7) is substantially reduced by the vertical warm air passage (8). Since it is guided upward in the vertical direction and guided to the foot air mixing chamber (26) formed near the upper end opening (9a) of the vertical warm air passage (8), the heat exchanger for heating is used. The hot air path from immediately after passing through (7) to the foot air mixing chamber (26) can be made substantially straight, and compared to a conventional hot air path that bends to reach the air mixing chamber as in the related art. Pressure loss in the foot mode can be reduced.

The reference numerals in the parentheses of the respective means are examples showing the correspondence with specific means described in the embodiments described later.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment, and an air conditioning unit 1 according to the present embodiment.
Is of a so-called semi-center layout, and is arranged at a substantially central portion in the vehicle left-right direction within the instrument panel in front of the vehicle cabin. A blower unit (not shown) that blows conditioned air to the air conditioning unit 1 is offsetly arranged on the passenger seat side of the air conditioning unit.

At this time, the air-conditioning unit 1 is mounted on the vehicle with the air-conditioning unit 1 arranged in the illustrated direction with respect to the front, rear, left, right, and vertical directions. Since FIG. 1 shows an example of a right-hand drive vehicle, a blower unit (not shown) is arranged on the left side of the air conditioning unit 1.

Next, the mode of mounting the air conditioning unit 1 on a vehicle will be specifically described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the dimension L in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the dimension H in the vertical direction are sufficiently smaller than the dimension W (width dimension) in the lateral direction of the vehicle. To describe the dimensional relationship of the flat horizontally long air conditioning unit 1 more specifically, the dimension W in the vehicle left-right direction is the longest dimension, for example, 460 mm. The dimension L in the vehicle front-rear direction is, for example, 230 mm. The dimension H in the vehicle vertical direction is, for example, 250 mm.

Next, the specific configuration of the air conditioning unit 1 configured in a flat horizontally long shape as described above will be described in detail.
The air-conditioning unit 1 has a resin-made air-conditioning case 2. The air-conditioning case 2 has a flat horizontally-long shape by integrally fastening a plurality of divided cases. An air passage that flows from the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side through the exchanger is formed, and various devices described later are accommodated in the air conditioning case 2.

An air inlet 3 into which air from a blower unit (not shown) flows is formed at the most front part of the air conditioning unit 1 on the vehicle front side. In the case of a right-hand drive vehicle, since the blower unit is disposed on the left side of the air conditioning unit 1, the air inlet 3 is located at the left end of the air conditioning unit 1 and air is supplied from the left side of the vehicle as shown by arrow A in FIG. Flows in.

The blower unit has a well-known configuration, and has an inside / outside air switching mechanism for switching and introducing outside air (outside air of the vehicle compartment) from the outside air intake port and inside air (vehicle interior air) from the inside air intake port; It comprises a suction port and a centrifugal blower that blows air sucked from the inside air suction port toward the air inlet section 3.

On the other hand, inside the flattened horizontally long air-conditioning case 2, an evaporator 4 is arranged almost vertically so as to cross the entire area of the air passage at a position immediately after the air inlet 3. In this example, the evaporator 4 is defined as a dimension W of the air-conditioning case 2 in the vehicle left-right direction.
It has a horizontally long shape (see FIGS. 1 and 4) having dimensions substantially equal to those of FIG.

As is well known, the evaporator 4 is a cooling heat exchanger that cools the conditioned air by absorbing the latent heat of evaporation of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle from the conditioned air. Further, the evaporator 4 is, for example, a well-known laminated type, in which a large number of flat tubes formed by laminating metal sheets such as aluminum and the like in the middle are laminated and arranged via corrugated fins, and brazed integrally. Things.

Immediately downstream of the evaporator 4 (rear side of the vehicle), two air mixing doors (temperature adjusting means) 5 are provided.
6 are arranged adjacently in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The upper air mix door 5 has a smaller dimension (see FIG. 4) than the dimension W of the air-conditioning case 2 in the vehicle left-right direction, while the lower air mix door 6 is substantially equal to the dimension W of the air-conditioning case 2 in the vehicle left-right direction. The two air mixing doors 5 and 6 have the same dimensions, and the rotation shafts 5a and 6
a) is provided with a butterfly door.

The rotation shafts 5a and 6a of the air mixing doors 5 and 6 project outside the air conditioning case 2 and are connected to a common actuator (servo motor) via a link mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the two air mix doors 5 and 6 can be pivotally operated by the actuator in conjunction with each other via the link mechanism. In FIG. 2, the broken line positions of the air mix doors 5 and 6 indicate the maximum heating position, and the two-dot chain line position indicates the maximum cooling position.

Immediately downstream of the air mixing doors 5 and 6 (rear side of the vehicle), a heater core 7 is arranged to be offset downward from the evaporator 4 and inclined rearward by a small angle. The width of the heater core 7 in the vehicle left-right direction is also substantially the same as the width W of the air-conditioning case 2 in the vehicle left-right direction, similarly to the evaporator 4 (see FIG. 4).

The heater core 7 is a heating heat exchanger for reheating the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 4, in which high-temperature hot water (engine cooling water) flows, and heats the air using the hot water as a heat source. Things. Evaporator 4 and heater core 7
Are both horizontally long shapes having the longest width dimension in the vehicle left-right direction.

The heater core 7 has an inlet tank 7a into which hot water flows in, a lower side in which an outlet tank 7b into which hot water flows out, and a heat source between the inlet tank 7a and the outlet tank 7b. It constitutes the exchange unit 7c.

The heat exchanging section 7c is formed by laminating a number of flat tubes with corrugated fins therebetween and integrally brazing them. In this example, as the heater core 7, a one-way flow type (one direction (one direction from below to above)) in which warm water flows from the inlet tank 7a to the outlet tank 7b through all the flat tubes of the heat exchange section 7c ( All pass type) is used.

Next, a description will be given of the configuration of a hot air passage and a cold air passage in which the air volume ratio is adjusted by the air mixing doors 5 and 6.
2 and 3 show the temperature control area in the foot blowing mode, that is,
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a central portion of the air-conditioning unit 1 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lateral portion of the air-conditioning unit 1 in the left-right direction of the vehicle. FIG. Since the upper air mix door 5, the defroster door 23a described later, and the foot door 11 are formed to have a width smaller than the width W of the air conditioning case 2 in the vehicle left-right direction, these doors 5, 11, and 23 are provided. Are not shown in FIG.

On the downstream side (rear side of the vehicle) of the heater core 7, there is formed a vertical warm air passage 8 extending substantially vertically upward from below the heater core 7. The width dimension of the vertical warm air passage 8 is substantially equal to the width direction of the heater core 7 (width dimension W in the lateral direction of the vehicle). All the warm air immediately after passing through the heater core 7 is guided upward from below the heater core 7 by the vertical warm air passage 8.

At the upper end of the vertical warm air passage 8,
A partition plate 9 (see FIG. 3) formed substantially horizontally extends in the left-right direction over the entire area of the vertical warm air passage 8 in the width direction. Due to the partition plate 9, a foot warm air passage 10 penetrating the air-conditioning case 2 in the vehicle left-right direction is provided above the vertical warm air passage 8.
Are formed. The vertical hot air passage 8 and the foot hot air passage 10 are communicated with each other by a communication passage (passage upper end opening) 9a formed substantially at the center of the partition plate 9 in the left-right direction.

The communication path 9a is a foot door 1 comprising a butterfly door rotatable about a rotation shaft 11a.
It is opened and closed by 1. The foot door 11 is located above the heater core 7 and is formed to have a width smaller than the width W of the air-conditioning case 2 in the lateral direction of the vehicle (see FIG. 4).

A foot opening 10a is formed at each end of the foot warm air passage 10 in the left-right direction. Therefore,
The foot opening 10a is located on both sides in the left-right direction on the rear side of the vehicle in the upper part of the air conditioning case 2, and blows air directly to the occupant's feet in the vehicle interior.
Plays the role of a foot outlet.

Further, from the vertical warm air passage 8 extending upward from below the heater core 7, on both sides in the left-right direction of the foot door 11, toward the front of the vehicle along the partition plate 9, to a face air mixing chamber 28 described later. A face warm air passage (see arrow 12 in FIGS. 1 and 3) for guiding warm air is branched. That is, face hot air passages 12 are formed on both sides in the width direction of the foot door 11 and the upper air mix door 5, and the warm air flowing from the lower side to the upper side of the heater core 7 guided to the vertical hot air path 8 is formed. The warm air on both sides in the width direction collides with the partition plate 9 and flows into the warm air passage 12 for the face.

When the foot door 11 closes the communication passage 9a, the warm air flowing through the vertical warm air passage 8 collides with the foot door 11 and flows so as to bend from the vertical direction toward the front of the vehicle (FIG. 2). (See arrow 2a). Therefore,
When the foot door 11 closes the communication passage 9a, the portion indicated by the arrow 2a located between the above-described hot air passages 12 for the face is also formed as the hot air passage 12a for the face.

Next, a plurality of blow-out openings are formed on the downstream side of the air passage of the air-conditioning case 2. Of these blow-out openings, a defroster opening 23 is formed on the upper surface of the air-conditioning case 2 in the vehicle front-rear direction. An opening is provided at a substantially central portion so as to communicate with the inside of the air conditioning case 2. A defroster duct (not shown) is connected to the defroster opening 23, and conditioned air is blown from the defroster opening (outlet) provided at the tip of the defroster duct toward the inner surface of the vehicle window glass. ing. The defroster opening 23 is opened and closed by a plate-like defroster door 23a that is rotatable about a rotation shaft 23b.

Next, the center face opening 24 and the left and right side face openings 240 are for blowing air toward the occupant's head side in the vehicle cabin. It is open to a portion on the rear side of the vehicle. This face opening 24, 2
A face duct (not shown) is connected to 40, and air is blown out from a face opening (air outlet) provided at the end of the face duct toward the occupant's head in the vehicle compartment.

The center face opening 24 has a rotating shaft 24b.
The door is opened and closed by a plate-like face door 24a that can rotate around the center. In addition, since the side face opening 240 is used to blow hot air toward the side glass of the vehicle in winter to prevent fogging of the side glass, the foot mode in which the face door 24a closes the center face opening 24 is used. In such a state, air flows into the side face opening 240 through the notch 24c (see FIG. 3) of the face door 24a.

Next, when the upper air mix door 5 is opened, the cool air from the evaporator 4 is bypassed from above the heater core 7 along the lower side of the air mix door 5 from the portion immediately after the evaporator 4. A cold air passage for the foot (see arrow 25 in FIGS. 1 and 2) is formed to lead to the vicinity of the foot door 11.

The foot air mixing chamber 26 for mixing the warm air from the vertical warm air passage 8 and the cool air from the foot cool air passage 25 is provided above the heater core 7 as shown in FIGS. Of these, it is arranged in a portion of the foot door 11 before and after the air flow.

On the other hand, when the upper air mixing door 5 is opened, the cool air from the evaporator 4 is blown along the upper surface of the air mixing door 5 from the portion immediately after the evaporator 4 to the face openings 24 and 240 and the defroster openings. A face cold air passage (see arrow 27 in FIGS. 1 and 3) leading to the portion 23 is formed independently of the foot cold air passage 25.

The face air mixing chamber 28 for mixing the warm air from the face warm air passage 12 and the cool air from the face cool air passage 27 is provided in the foot air mixing chamber 2.
Independently from the upper air mix door 6, the upper air mix door 5 is disposed.

A partition plate 5b (see FIG. 3) is formed on the left and right sides of the upper air mix door 5 on the same plane of the upper air mix door 5 in a closed state. The warm air flowing from the rear of the vehicle toward the front through the warm air passage 12 for the face collides with the partition plate 5b and flows toward the upper air mixing chamber 28 for the face.

Since both the face cool air passage 27 and the foot cool air passage 25 are located above the heater core 7, the opening degree of the face cool air passage 27 and the foot cool air passage 25 are both equal. The upper air mix door 5 is adjusted by the rotation of the upper air mix door 5. When the upper air mix door 5 is opened, the door 5 is positioned so as to partition the cool air passage 27 for the face and the cool air passage 25 for the foot. I have.

The inlet air passage 29 to the heater core 7
Is adjusted by the rotation of the lower air mix door 6.

The rotating shaft 23b of the defroster door 23a, the rotating shaft 24b of the face door 24a, and the rotating shaft 11a of the foot door 11 are connected to an actuator via a link mechanism (not shown). Through each door 23a, 24
a and 11 are driven in conjunction with each other.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment in the above configuration will be described.

2 and 3 show a temperature control state in the foot mode. The center face opening 24 is fully closed by the face door 24a, and the side face opening 240 is slightly opened by the cutout 24c of the face door 24a. It is released only once. The defroster opening 23 is opened by a small opening degree by the defroster door 23a. On the other hand, the two left and right foot openings 10 a are fully opened by the foot door 11.

Then, the two air mix doors 5 and 6 are operated from the maximum heating state (the positions indicated by broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 3) to the predetermined temperature control range. As a result, both the cool air passage 27 for the face and the cool air passage 25 for the foot are opened by the upper air mixing door 5 at a predetermined opening. At the same time, the lower air mix door 6 opens the inlet air passage 29 of the heater core 7 at a predetermined opening.

As a result, most of the cool air immediately after the evaporator 4 passes through the heat exchanging portion 7c of the heater core 7 to become hot air, and all of the hot air that has passed through the heat exchanging portion 7c is 8 and is guided upward from below the heater core 7.

Of the warm air passing through the vertical warm air passage 8, the warm air in the substantially central portion in the left-right direction flows into the foot air mixing chamber 26, and mixes with the cool air guided to the foot cool air passage 25 indicated by the arrow 25. Then, it becomes hot air of a predetermined temperature. The hot air of this predetermined temperature passes through the communication passage 9a and is guided to the hot air passage 10 for the foot, and from the foot openings (air outlets) 11 at the left and right ends of the upper part of the air conditioning case 2, the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side. To the foot of the occupant to heat the foot of the occupant.

On the other hand, of the warm air passing through the vertical warm air passage 8, the warm air on both sides in the left-right direction collides with the partition plate 9 and is guided to the face warm air passage indicated by the arrow 12 from behind the vehicle. It branches right and left toward the front and flows. After that, it collides with the partition plate 5b, flows upward of the partition plate 5b, flows into the face air mixing chamber 28, is mixed with the cool air guided to the face cool air passage 27 shown by the arrow 27, and has a predetermined temperature. It becomes hot air. The hot air of the predetermined temperature passes through the defroster duct from the defroster opening 23, and blows out from the opening (blow-out) at the end of the duct toward the inner surface of the vehicle front window glass to prevent fogging of the front window glass. . At the same time, a part of the warm air in the face air mixing chamber 28 blows out to the side window glass through the left and right side face openings 240 to prevent the side window glass from fogging.

The temperature of the hot air blown out to the feet of the occupant and the window glass is adjusted by adjusting the rotational position of the air mixing doors 5 and 6 to adjust the ratio of the amount of the cool and hot air in each of the air mixing chambers 26 and 28. It can be adjusted arbitrarily. In the maximum heating state, both the cool air passage 27 for the face and the cool air passage 25 for the foot are fully closed by the upper air mix door 5, and the inlet air passage 29 of the heater core 7 is fully opened by the lower air mix door 6. Therefore, the entire amount of the cool air immediately after the evaporator 4 passes through the heater core 7 to become warm air, and is blown into the vehicle interior.

Next, another blowing mode will be briefly described. In the foot defroster blowing mode, the defroster door 23a is operated clockwise from the position shown in FIGS.
The opening degree of the defroster opening 23 is increased. Thereby, the amount of air blown out from the defroster opening 23 is increased.

In the foot blowing mode, the ratio between the foot-side blowing air volume and the defroster-side blowing air volume is usually about 8: 2. The ratio with the amount of air blown out on the defroster side is about 5: 5. Other points are the same as the foot defroster blowing mode.

Next, in the defroster blowing mode,
The defroster opening 23 is fully opened by the defroster door 23a, and the center face opening 24 is
It is fully closed by a. Further, the foot opening 11 a and the cold air passage 25 for the foot are also completely closed by the foot door 11.

Therefore, the entire amount of the warm air that has passed through the heat exchanging portion 7c of the heater core 7 flows toward the defroster opening 23 and the side face opening 240, and the warm air blows out toward the inner surface of the vehicle window glass. Perform anti-fog on the glass. Similarly to the above-described temperature control state in the foot blowing mode and the foot defroster blowing mode, the rotational position of the air mix doors 5 and 6 is adjusted to adjust the face cold air passage 2.
The temperature of the hot air blown out to the window glass can be arbitrarily adjusted by adjusting the air volume ratio between the cold air from the heater 7 and the hot air after passing through the heater core 7.

Next, in the face blowing mode, the defroster opening 23 is fully closed by the defroster door 23a, and the foot opening 10a and the foot cool air passage 2 are closed.
5 is also fully closed by the foot door 11. On the other hand, the face openings 24 and 240 are fully opened by the face door 24a.

Then, in the maximum cooling state, the two air mixing doors 5 and 6 are operated to the positions indicated by the two-dot chain lines in FIGS.
Cold air passage 2 for face by upper side air mix door 5
At the same time, the inlet air passage 29 of the heater core 7 is fully closed by the lower air mix door 6.

At this time, the inlet of the foot cool air passage 25 is fully opened by the upper side air mix door 5, but the downstream part of the foot cool air passage 25 is fully closed by the foot door 11, so that the foot cool air passage 25 is closed. There is no wind at 25.

By operating the vehicle air conditioning refrigeration cycle and absorbing the latent heat of evaporation of the refrigerant from the blown air in the evaporator 4, the air is cooled to become cool air, and this cool air passes through the face cool air passage 27. All face opening 24,
Flow to 240. Therefore, air is blown from the opening (air outlet) at the front end of the face duct (not shown) to the upper body side of the occupant in the passenger compartment to cool the passenger compartment.

By rotating the two air mix doors 5 and 6 from the two-dot chain line position (maximum cooling position) in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the solid line position, a part of the cool air immediately after the evaporator 4 is removed. The hot air passes through the heat exchange section 7c of the heater core 7 and becomes hot air. The hot air and the cold air from the cold air passage 27 for the face are mixed in the air mixing chamber 28 for the face, so that the temperature of the blown cold air can be adjusted.

Next, in the bi-level blowing mode,
The defroster opening 23 is fully closed by a defroster door 23a. On the other hand, the foot opening 10a and the cold air passage 25 for the foot are fully opened by the foot door 11, and
Similarly, the face openings 24 and 240 are also provided in the face door 2.
Opened by 4a.

Then, the two air mix doors 5 and 6 are rotated to an intermediate position between the maximum cooling position and the maximum heating position. As a result, the cool air that has passed through the evaporator 4 and the hot air passage 1 for the face that has passed through the heat exchange portion 7c of the heater core 7
2 flows toward the face air mixing chamber 28, where the cold air and the hot air are mixed to form conditioned air at a predetermined temperature, and this conditioned air is applied to the face openings 24 and 240.
From the side to the upper part of the cabin.

At the same time, the heat exchange section 7 of the heater core 7
The hot air that has passed through c flows into the foot air mixing chamber 26, and a part of the cool air immediately after the evaporator 4 passes through the foot cool air passage 25 and flows into the air mixing chamber 26. The warm air and the cool air are mixed in the foot air mixing chamber 26 and are blown out from the left and right foot openings (air outlets) 10a to the feet of the occupant.

Next, features of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

In the temperature control state of the foot blowing mode, the form of the cool air flow through the cool air passage 25 for the foot (FIG. 2)
2) and the flow form of the warm air passing through the heater core 7 (arrows B and 8 in FIG. 2) flow along the vehicle front-rear direction, and then bend upward to form the foot opening 11. Head directly to the entrance. For this reason, since the air passage toward the foot opening 11 has a simple form with little bending, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss and increase the amount of hot air blown out to the feet of the occupant.

Further, the warm air immediately after passing through the heater core 7 is guided from the lower part of the heater core 7 to the upper part by the vertical warm air passage 8 and then to the foot air mixing chamber 26. It can be easily formed above the heater core 7, so that the foot opening 10 a can be easily formed above the air conditioner 1. Therefore,
As in the related art, it is possible to blow warm air from above the feet of the occupant without increasing the size of the air conditioner 1, and it is easy to blow warm air uniformly to both feet of the occupant.

Further, the foot opening 10a is connected to the air conditioner 1
Is formed in the upper part of the vehicle, and the warm air is blown out directly from the foot opening 10a in the vehicle compartment. The hot air path can be shorter than the path, and the pressure loss can be reduced.

The foot cool air passage 25 is connected to the evaporator 4.
From the upper side of the heater core 7 and is guided to the vicinity of the foot door 11. The upper air mixing door 5 and the foot door 11 are connected to the air conditioning case 2.
Of the vehicle in the lateral direction of the vehicle. In the vertical warm air passage 8, in the vicinity of the foot door 11 arranged in a portion where warm air flows upward from below the heater core 7, the width direction of the foot door 11 and the upper side air mix door 5 from the vertical warm air passage 8. The face warm air passage 12 branches off on both sides of the face.

With such a configuration, it is possible to easily realize the formation of the face warm air passage 12 for guiding the warm air from the vertical warm air passage 8 to the face air mixing chamber 28.

The upper air mix door 5 is constituted by a butterfly door. When the butterfly door 5 is open, the door 5 is positioned so as to separate the face cool air passage 27 from the foot cool air passage 25. I have. Thereby, a part of the cool air passing through the evaporator 4 can be forcibly distributed to the foot cool air passage 25 by the butterfly door 5. Therefore, it is possible to ensure that the amount of the cool air flowing in the foot cool air passage 25 is a predetermined amount.

The heater core 7 in the vertical warm air passage 8
Since the foot door 11 is arranged in a portion where warm air flows upward from below, the foot air mixing chamber 26 can be easily formed in the vicinity of the foot door 11. One foot air mixing chamber 26 can be formed. Therefore, the width of the air conditioner 1 in the left-right direction can be reduced as compared with the case where the foot air mixing chamber 26 is formed on each of the left and right sides of the air conditioner 1.

A foot opening (10a) formed in the case (2) above the heating heat exchanger (7).
, And blows directly into the passenger compartment, so that the hot air path can be shortened and the pressure loss can be reduced as compared with a conventional hot air path that is guided to a duct extending from above to below. be able to.

In the foot mode in which the foot door 11 opens the communication passage 9 a, the warm air immediately after passing through the heater core 7 is guided substantially vertically upward by the vertical warm air passage 8, and the upper end of the vertical warm air passage 8 To the foot air mixing chamber 26 formed near the communication passage 9a opening to
Immediately after passing through the heater core 7, the foot air mixing chamber 2
The hot air path up to 6 can be made substantially straight, and the pressure loss in the foot mode can be reduced as compared with the conventional hot air path that is bent up to the air mixing chamber.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 5 to 7 show a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a function for blowing out conditioned air to the rear in the vehicle compartment is added to the air conditioner of the first embodiment.

The path of the rear passage 40 which blows out the conditioned air from the air conditioning case 2 to the rear of the passenger compartment will be described.
After extending from above the warm air passage for foot 10 to the vehicle rear side, it hangs down along the shape of the air conditioning case 2 and extends from the lower portion of the air conditioning case 2 toward the vehicle rear. The rear passage 40 serves as a passage for the rear face and a passage for the rear foot.

At the end of the rear passage 40, a rear face duct and a rear foot duct (not shown) are respectively connected and branched. Air is blown out from rear face openings (air outlets) and rear foot openings (air outlets) (not shown) provided at the ends of these ducts toward the occupant of the rear seat in the vehicle interior.

A rear foot communication passage 40a for connecting the foot hot air passage 10 and the rear passage 40 is formed in a portion of the foot hot air passage 10 located above the foot door 11. Further, the rear face passage 40b is formed with a rear face communication path 40b which opens toward and communicates with the face air mixing chamber 28.

A switching door 41 is provided in the foot warm air passage 10. The switching door 41 closes the rear foot communication passage 40a and opens the rear face communication passage 40b. , And the rear face mode in which the rear face communication passage 40b is closed can be switched.

Thus, the warm air from the foot air mixing chamber 26 flows into the rear passage 40 in the rear foot mode, and the cool air from the face air mixing chamber 28 flows into the rear passage 40 in the rear face mode. .

In the present embodiment, both the air mixing chamber 26 for the foot and the air mixing chamber 28 for the face are arranged in the upper part of the air-conditioning case 2, and the two air mixing chambers 26 and 28 are located close to each other. It is easy to guide the air in the air mixing chambers 26 and 28 to the rear passage 40, respectively.

By the way, depending on the layout in the air-conditioning case 2, most of the cool air from the face cool air passage 15 is in the face opening 2 even in the rear face mode.
4, 240, and only a small amount flows into the rear passage 40.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the face openings 24 and 240 are partially closed by the plate-shaped guide 50 shown in FIG. Thereby, a part of the cool air flowing to the face openings 24 and 240 can be guided to the rear passage 40, and an appropriate amount of cool air can flow to the rear passage 40.

(Other Embodiments) In the first embodiment, the foot door 11 is disposed above the heater core 7. However, the position of the foot door 11 is limited to above the heater core 7 within the vertical hot air passage 8. Instead, for example, the foot door 11 may be arranged in the vertical warm air passage 8 at a portion on the vehicle rear side of the heater core 7.

In the first embodiment, the foot air mixing chamber 26 is disposed in the foot door 11 before and after the air flow.
1 may be arranged on the downstream side, or may be arranged on the upstream side.

In the first embodiment, the cool air passage 25 for the foot is formed so as to bypass the cool air from the evaporator 4 from above the heater core 7.
May be formed so as to bypass from the side.

In the first embodiment, the foot opening 10a opened at the top of the air conditioning case 2 serves as a foot outlet for blowing air toward the foot of the occupant in the passenger compartment. The foot opening 10a is provided separately from the foot opening 10a, and the foot opening 1 is provided by a duct.
0a and the foot outlet may be connected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an air conditioning unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a central portion in a width direction of the air conditioning unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a side portion in a width direction of the air conditioning unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a central portion in a width direction, showing a state in a foot mode of an air conditioning unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a central portion in a width direction, showing a state of a face mode of an air conditioning unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5 showing a face opening;

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... case, 4 ... evaporator, 5, 6 ... air mix door,
7: heater core, 10: foot hot air passage, 10a: foot opening, 12, 12a: face hot air passage, 23
... defroster opening, 24, 240 ... face opening,
25: cold air passage for foot, 26: air mixing chamber for foot,
27: Face cold air passage, 28: Face air mixing chamber.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A case (2) forming an air passage; a cooling heat exchanger (4) disposed in the case (2) for cooling air; and the cooling in the case (2). Heating heat exchanger (7) arranged downstream of the heat exchanger (4) for heating air, warm air heated through the heating heat exchanger (7) and heating Temperature adjusting means (5, 6) for adjusting the ratio of the amount of cold air bypassing the heat exchanger (7) to the temperature of air blown into the vehicle cabin, and formed in the case (2); Temperature adjusting means (5,
6) a face opening (24, 240) that blows out the air whose temperature has been adjusted toward the occupant's head, and an upper portion of the case (2) above the heating heat exchanger (7); A foot opening (10a) for blowing the temperature-regulated air toward the feet of the occupant, wherein the cooling air from the cooling heat exchanger (4) bypasses the heating heat exchanger (7) and the face Opening (24,
240), and the cool air from the cooling heat exchanger (4) bypasses the heating heat exchanger (7) to the foot opening (10a). The cold air passage (25) for the foot is formed independently, and the cold air from the cold air passage (27) for the face and the warm air passed through the heat exchanger (7) for heating are passed through the face openings (24, 240). ), The face air mixing chamber (28) that mixes at the inlet side, the cool air from the foot cool air passage (25), and the warm air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger (7). 10a) is formed independently of the foot air mixing chamber (26) for mixing at the inlet side, and the hot air immediately after passing through the heating heat exchanger (7) is heated by the heating heat exchanger (7). The air mixing chamber for the foot (26) To form a warm air passage (8) leading to, the foot opening from (10a), said temperature conditioned air vehicle air-conditioning system, characterized that it is blown out directly into the passenger compartment. 2. A portion of the warm air passage (8) where warm air flows from below to above the heating heat exchanger (7),
A foot door (11) for controlling an air flow in the foot opening (10a) is arranged. In the vicinity of the foot door (11), a warm air is supplied from the warm air passage (8) to the face air mixing chamber (28). The vehicular air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the face hot air passage (12) for guiding wind is branched. 3. The foot cool air passage (25) is formed so as to bypass the cool air from the cooling heat exchanger (4) from above the heating heat exchanger (7). The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The temperature adjusting means (5, 6) has an air mix door (5) for adjusting an air flow rate of the foot cool air passage (25), and the air mix door (5) and the foot door (5). 1
The width of 1) is formed smaller than the width of the case (2), and the hot air passage for face (12) is arranged on both sides in the width direction of the air mix door (5) and the foot door (11). The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The temperature adjusting means (5, 6) has a butterfly door (5), and the butterfly door (5) is provided for the face cold air passage (27) and the foot cold air passage (25). The air flow is adjusted, and when the butterfly door (5) is open, the cold air passage (27) for the face and the cold air passage (25) for the foot are arranged so as to be separated from each other. Item 4. The vehicle air conditioner according to item 3. 6. A rear foot mode, comprising: a rear passageway (40) for guiding air rearward in a vehicle interior, wherein warm air from the foot air mixing chamber (26) flows into the rear passageway (40). A switching door (41) for switching between a rear face mode in which cool air from the face air mixing chamber (28) flows into the rear passage (40) is provided. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to any one of the above. 7. A vehicle air conditioner according to claim 6, further comprising a plate-like guide (50) for partially closing said face opening (24, 240). 8. A case (2) forming an air passage, a cooling heat exchanger (4) disposed in the case (2) for cooling air, and the cooling in the case (2). Heating heat exchanger (7) arranged downstream of the heat exchanger (4) for heating air, warm air heated through the heating heat exchanger (7) and heating Temperature adjusting means (5, 6) for adjusting the ratio of the amount of cold air bypassing the heat exchanger (7) to the temperature of air blown into the vehicle cabin, and the temperature adjusting means (5, 6). A face opening (24, 24) that blows out the temperature-controlled air toward the occupant's head.
0), and a foot opening (10a) for blowing the temperature-regulated air toward the feet of the occupant; A vertical warm air passage (8) extending therethrough; and a heating heat exchanger (7) formed near a passage upper end opening (9a) opening at an upper end of the vertical warm air passage (8).
Cold air from the cooling heat exchanger (4) bypassing
And a foot air mixing chamber (26) for mixing hot air that has passed through the vertical hot air passage (7); To control the foot door (1
1), the foot door (11) is formed when the passage opening (9a) is closed, and guides the warm air flowing through the vertical warm air passage (8) in a direction bent from a substantially vertical direction. A hot air passage for face (12a) extending from the heat exchanger for cooling (4) formed near the outlet of the hot air passage for face (12a) and bypassing the heat exchanger for heating (7); An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: a face air mixing chamber (28) for mixing the cold air and the hot air that has passed through the face hot air passage (12a).