JP2002012020A - Air conditioner for open car - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of reducing a cold air feeling caused by the influence of wind flowing to the inside of a vehicle when a roof of an open car is opened. SOLUTION: A MID blow-off port 11 for blowing off air toward the vicinity of the knees or the hips of an occupant is provided on a blowing case 4 and opened and closed by a MID door 18. An ECU judges whether a roof is full opened or not on the basis of a signal from a roof detecting sensor when a mode for blowing off hot air from a FOOT blow-off port 10 is selected. When the roof is full opened, the MID door 18 is rotationally driven in the direction to open the MID blow-off port 11. Therefore, since hot air (hot air having the temperature equal to that of hot air blown off from the FOOT blow-off port 10) is blown out, an uncomfortable feeling (a cold air feeling for the knees and the thighs of the occupant) caused by air flowing in opening of the roof can be reduced, and a comfortable feeling for air conditioning can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an open car air conditioner capable of opening and closing a vehicle roof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an open car capable of opening and closing the roof of a vehicle, when the roof is opened, entrained wind is generated in the vehicle interior, and the entrained wind flows from the rear side of the vehicle between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. come. In this case, when the outside air temperature is low or the like, the entangled wind causes a feeling of cool wind on the occupant's knees and thighs. In contrast, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-29
No. 4832 discloses a configuration in which an intermediate air outlet is provided between a face air outlet and a foot air outlet, and hot air is blown from the intermediate air outlet toward the vicinity of a knee or a waist of an occupant.

[0003]

However, in an open car, since the inside air temperature and the amount of solar radiation vary greatly between when the roof is opened and when the roof is closed, the auto air conditioner is used in the open state. However, it is difficult to obtain the same air-conditioning state as in the closed state. Therefore, in order to obtain the same air-conditioning state as when the air conditioner is in the open state and the closed state, it is necessary to appropriately change, for example, the air outlet mode set in the automatic air conditioner by manual operation.

Therefore, even if the intermediate outlet disclosed in the above-mentioned prior application is applied to an open car, when the roof of the vehicle is in an open state, the occupant must manually select the intermediate outlet. That is, even if the roof is in the open state, unless the occupant manually selects the intermediate air outlet, there arises a problem that it is not possible to blow out the warm air from the intermediate air outlet so as to eliminate the above-mentioned feeling of cool air. The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can reduce a feeling of cool wind due to the influence of entrapped air flowing into a vehicle interior when an open roof is opened in an open car. It is in.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a control device for controlling an air-conditioning state in a vehicle compartment determines an open / closed state of a roof when a mode in which warm air is blown from a foot outlet is selected. When the roof determination unit determines that the roof is open, the control unit controls the opening / closing door to open the intermediate outlet. Accordingly, when the mode in which the warm air is blown out from the foot outlet is selected, when the roof of the vehicle is opened, the warm air from the intermediate outlet (the same temperature as the warm air blown out from the foot outlet) is used. Since the wind is blown out, it is possible to reduce the feeling of cold wind at the occupant's knees and thighs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the open-air car air conditioner according to the first aspect, when the roof determining means determines that the roof is closed, the opening / closing door opens the intermediate outlet. Control to close. If warm air is blown out from the intermediate air outlet even when the roof is closed, the warmth of the occupants may increase and the head may become burnt, etc. By closing the exit, more comfortable indoor air conditioning becomes possible. Further, when automatically controlling the air-conditioning state in the vehicle, the warm air blown out from the intermediate outlet may affect the inside air temperature. Therefore, it is better to close the intermediate outlet when the roof is closed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the open car air conditioner according to the first or second aspect, the intermediate air outlet is provided between the face air outlet and the foot air outlet in a vertical direction in the vehicle cabin. I have.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioner for an open car according to the third aspect, the intermediate outlet is provided on a center console installed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the air conditioning unit 1. The air conditioner of the present embodiment is mounted on an open car that can open and close the roof of the upper part of the vehicle compartment. ECU2).

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning unit 1 includes a blower 3 for generating blown air, a blower case 4 connected to the blower 3, and an air conditioner (hereinafter described) housed in the blower case 4. ) Etc. The blower 3 includes a blower case 3a having inside / outside air switching means, a centrifugal fan 3b housed in the blower case 3a, and a motor 3c for rotating the fan 3b.
The rotation speed (blowing amount) is varied by controlling the voltage applied to the motor. The inside / outside air switching means includes an inside air inlet 5, an outside air inlet 6,
And an inside / outside air switching door 7 for selectively switching between the inlets 5 and 6.

The blower case 4 has a plurality of outlets 8 to 11 communicating with the vehicle interior, and forms a blower passage for supplying the air blown from the blower 3 to each of the outlets 8 to 11.
Each of the air outlets 8 to 11 includes a defroster air outlet (DEF air outlet 8) that blows air toward the windshield of the vehicle, a face air outlet (FACE air outlet 9) that mainly blows air toward the upper body of the occupant, and an occupant. Foot outlet (FOOT outlet 10) for blowing air toward the feet of the passenger, and an intermediate outlet (MID) for blowing air mainly toward the occupant's knees and waist.
An outlet 11) is provided.

A FOOT outlet 10 is provided downstream of the FACE outlet 9 in the flow direction of the air flowing through the blower case 4, and a MID outlet 11 is further provided downstream of the FOOT outlet 10. The MID outlet 11 is located between the FACE outlet 9 and the FOOT outlet 10 in the up-down direction in the vehicle cabin.
As shown in FIG. 2, it is provided on both sides of a center console 12 installed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat.

The air conditioning equipment includes a cooling heat exchanger 13, a heating heat exchanger 14, an A / M door 15, and an air outlet switching door 1.
6 to 18 and the like are provided. The cooling heat exchanger 13 is
For example, an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle is disposed on the upstream side in the blower case 4 and passes air passing through the cooling heat exchanger 13 (air blown from the blower 3) into the cooling heat exchanger 13.
Is cooled by heat exchange with a low-temperature refrigerant flowing through the inside of the device.
The heat exchanger for heating 14 is, for example, engine cooling water (hot water).
Is a hot water heater core having a heat source, which is disposed downstream of the cooling heat exchanger 13 in the blower case 4 and is provided with the heating heat exchanger 1.
4 is heated by heat exchange with warm water flowing inside the heat exchanger 14 for heating.

The A / M door 15 is located between a position where the upstream core surface of the heating heat exchanger 14 is completely closed and a position where the passage bypassing the heating heat exchanger 14 is completely closed. And adjusts the ratio between the amount of air bypassing the heating heat exchanger 14 and the amount of air passing through the heating heat exchanger 14 in accordance with its own door opening. The outlet switching doors 16 to 18 are DEFs for opening and closing the DEF outlet 8.
FACE door 1 that opens and closes door 16 and FACE outlet 9
7. An MID door 18 that opens and closes the MID outlet 11.

However, the FACE door 17 shuts off the FACE outlet 9 and the FOOT outlet 10 when the FACE outlet 9 is fully opened, and
The air blow to the D outlet 11 can be stopped, and the amount of air blown out of the FACE outlet 9 and the FO can be changed according to the own door opening.
The amount of air blown from the OT air outlet 10 can be adjusted.
The DEF door 16 and the FACE door 17 are driven by a common servomotor 19, and when one of the doors is fully opened, the other door is fully closed, and when one of the doors is fully closed, the other is closed. Is driven to fully open.

The ECU 2 incorporates a microcomputer, and as shown in FIG. 3, an operation signal output from the air conditioner operation panel 20 and sensor signals detected by the sensors 21 to 26 are input to the microcomputer in advance as input information. The air-conditioning control is executed according to the stored predetermined program. The above sensors include an inside air temperature sensor 21 for detecting the temperature inside the vehicle, and an outside air temperature sensor 2 for detecting the temperature outside the vehicle.
2, a solar radiation sensor 23 for detecting the amount of solar radiation, a post-evaporation temperature sensor 24 for detecting an air temperature immediately after passing through the cooling heat exchanger 13, a water temperature sensor 25 for detecting a temperature of engine cooling water, and a roof open / closed state. Is provided (see FIG. 3).

Here, an example of the air conditioning control by the ECU 2 will be briefly described. First, a set temperature set on the air-conditioner operation panel 20 and load information such as an inside air temperature, an outside air temperature, and a solar radiation amount are read, and a target outlet temperature (TAO) is calculated. Subsequently, based on the calculated TAO, a control target value such as a blower voltage, a suction port mode, an air outlet mode, an A / M door opening is determined, and the blower 3 is controlled so that the control target value is obtained. Motor drive circuit 27, inside / outside air switching door 7
Motor 28 for driving the air outlet switching door (DEF
Control signals are output to the servomotors 19 and 29 for driving the door 16, the FACE door 17, and the MID door 18), the servomotor 30 for driving the A / M door 15, and the like (see FIG. 3).

The above air-conditioning control is a basic control which is executed irrespective of the open / closed state of the roof. However, when a specific outlet mode is selected, the MID outlet 11 is controlled according to the open / closed state of the roof. MID outlet control is performed to determine the open / close state of the MID. Hereinafter, the MID outlet control when the specific outlet mode is selected will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The specific outlet mode is defined as FACE
The mode in which the door 17 opens the FOOT outlet 10, that is, F
This is a mode in which warm air is blown out from the OOT outlet 10. Specifically, the “FOOT mode” in which the FACE door 17 closes the FACE outlet 9 and opens only the FOOT outlet 10,
"B / L mode" in which the FACE door 17 opens both the FACE outlet 9 and the FOOT outlet 10, and the FACE door 17
Closes the FACE outlet 9 and opens the FOOT outlet 10, and the DEF door 16 opens the DEF outlet 8 "F /
D mode ".

Step 10: The outlet mode is determined. If the determination result is YES, that is, if the above-described specific outlet mode is selected, the process proceeds to Step 20, and if the determination result is NO, the process proceeds to Step 60. Step 20: It is determined whether or not the roof is fully opened based on the signal of the roof detection sensor 26. This determination result is Y
In case of ES, that is, when the roof is fully open,
Proceed to 30. If the determination result is NO, proceed to Step 50. Step30: Select the roof open mode and proceed to Step40.

Step 40: A control signal is output to the servo motor 29 for driving the MID door 18, and the MID door 18
The ID outlet 11 is driven to rotate in the opening direction. Step 50: It is determined whether the roof is in a half-open state. If the result of the determination is YES, that is, if the roof is in the half-open state, the process returns to Step 30, and if the result of the determination is NO (the roof is in the fully closed state), the process proceeds to Step 60. Step60: Select the normal mode and proceed to Step70. Step 70: A control signal is outputted to the servo motor 29 for driving the MID door 18, and the MID door 18 is turned on by the MID outlet 1
1 is rotated in the closing direction.

(Effect of this embodiment) The air conditioner of this embodiment automatically controls the operation of the MID door 18 according to the open / close state of the roof when the mode in which the hot air is blown out from the FOOT outlet 10 is selected. can do. In other words, when the roof is in the open state, the MID door 18 automatically opens the MID air outlet 11, so that the hot air from the MID air outlet 11 (the hot air having the same temperature as the hot air blown out from the FOOT air outlet 10). ) Can be blown out. Thus, even when the roof is closed to open when the auto air conditioner is used, the occupant does not need to manually switch the outlet mode to open the MID outlet 11 automatically. Since warm air is blown out from the air outlet 11, discomfort (cool air feeling at the knees and thighs of the occupant) due to the wind can be reduced, and a comfortable air conditioning feeling can be obtained.

Even when the mode in which warm air is blown out from the FOOT outlet 10 is selected, the MID door 18 can close the MID outlet 11 when the roof is closed. This means that the M
If warm air is blown out from the ID outlet 11, the warmth of the occupant may increase, causing a head mist, etc. Therefore, the MID outlet 11 should be closed when the roof is closed. Thus, more comfortable indoor air conditioning is possible. Furthermore, when automatically controlling the air-conditioning state in the vehicle, the warm air blown out from the MID outlet 11 may affect the inside air temperature (the value detected by the inside air temperature sensor 21). It is better to close the MID outlet 11.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a ventilation path of an air conditioning unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the position of a MID outlet in a vehicle cabin.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of MID outlet control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 air conditioning unit 2 ECU (control device) 9 FACE outlet (face outlet) 10 FOOT outlet (foot outlet) 11 MID outlet (intermediate outlet) 12 center console 18 MID door (opening / closing door)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihisa Shimada 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation F-term (reference) 3L011 BR02 CP00 CP03

Claims (4)

[Claims] An air conditioner installed in an open car capable of opening and closing a roof of a vehicle, comprising: a face air outlet for blowing air mainly toward an upper body of an occupant; and a foot air outlet for blowing air near a foot of the occupant. An intermediate outlet that mainly blows air from the occupant's knee toward the waist, and an opening / closing door that opens and closes the intermediate outlet, when a mode that blows warm air from the foot outlet is selected. An air conditioning unit configured so that when the opening / closing door opens the intermediate outlet, hot air having the same temperature as the hot air blown out from the foot outlet is blown out from the intermediate outlet. A control device for controlling an air-conditioning state, wherein the control device includes a roof determination unit that determines an open / closed state of the roof when a mode in which warm air is blown from the foot outlet is selected. If the roof determining means determines that the roof is open, the open / close door is controlled so as to open the intermediate outlet. 2. The air conditioner for an open car according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the opening / closing door to open the intermediate outlet when the roof determining unit determines that the roof is closed. An open car air conditioner characterized by being controlled to close. 3. The air conditioner for an open car according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate air outlet is provided between the face air outlet and the foot air outlet in a vertical direction in the vehicle cabin. An air conditioner for an open car characterized by the following. 4. The open car air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate outlet is provided in a center console installed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat. Air conditioner.