JP2002211228A - Heating or air-conditioning unit for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a modified heating or air-conditioning unit which is capable of supplying temperature-controlled air separately to various air-conditioning zones in a motor vehicle and which requires an assembling space as small as possible. SOLUTION: This heating or air-conditioning unit for a motor vehicle includes a heating unit 22 for generating heated air, at least one cold-air duct guided around the heating unit 22, and air-mixing chambers 34R, 64R provided downstream of the heating unit in the direction of flow. The mixing chambers are separated from one another by at least one partition 30 and cooled and heated air can be introduced into the air-mixing chambers 34R, 64R in a controllable manner by means of air-flow control elements, in order to mix the air in each mixing chamber to a certain mixing temperature. It is thereby possible to supply air which can be temperature-controlled separately to at least two air- conditioning zones 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a heating element for generating warm air, at least one cold air passage bypassing the heating element, and an air mixing chamber provided behind the heating element in the flow direction. Wherein the air mixing chambers are separated from each other by at least one separating wall, and the air in each mixing chamber is mixed to a specific mixing temperature, and the air whose temperature can be independently adjusted is converted into at least two air conditioning zones. The invention relates to a heating or air-conditioning system for motor vehicles in which cold and warm air, respectively, can be introduced into an air mixing chamber in a controllable manner by means of airflow control elements in order to be able to be supplied to the air mixing chamber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art According to French Patent No. 2,717,747, various air-conditioning zones, namely a "front right (passenger seat)" zone and a "front left (driver seat)" zone, a "rear left" zone and a "rear right" zone. There is known an air conditioning system that can independently set the temperature of air supplied to a vehicle.
For this purpose, this air conditioning system has two air conditioners which supply the left half or the right half of the vehicle, respectively. With each air conditioner, the front area and the rear area can be supplied with air of different temperature control. This air-conditioning system is very expensive because it has two air-conditioners, each with a blower, an evaporator, a heating element and a corresponding air line. The system is therefore correspondingly disadvantageous in cost and, due to the large space requirements, can only be used in heavy vehicles.

An air-conditioning device which is regulated on the air side is known from DE 197 39 578 A1.
There, cold air passed under the heating body in the space behind the heating body can mix with the warm air, this space being partitioned into four juxtaposed air mixing chambers separated by separating walls. I have. The separating wall extends below the heating element and also divides the cold air bypass into four sub-passages. The individual temperature in each mixing chamber can be set independently of the temperatures in the other mixing chambers via a warm air flap located directly behind the heating element and a cold air flap closing the cold air bypass. The individually temperature-controlled air of the individual air mixing chambers can be supplied to the air-conditioning zone via an air passage.

[0004] As a general problem underlying today's ventilation, heating or air conditioning systems and their components, especially air flaps, the available installation space for air conditioning systems is limited. Therefore, these devices must be constructed more and more compactly. In particular, an air conditioner suitable for adjusting the temperature of various air conditioning zones differently requires a larger assembly space due to a larger number of components.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Starting from the state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide individually temperature-controllable air for the various air-conditioning zones of a vehicle, with the smallest possible assembly. It is to provide an improved heating or air conditioning device that requires space.

[0006]

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a heating or air-conditioning system according to the concept having the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

[0007]

According to the invention, at least one first partial air stream to be heated in the heating element flows through the associated first partial area of the heating element in a first direction and is heated in the heating element. At least one second partial air flow flows through the associated second partial area of the heating element in a second direction opposite to the first direction. By splitting the air flow to be warmed in this way into at least two partial air flows and passing through the heating element in the opposite direction, the resulting splitting and guiding of the air flow is unusual, however, The air mixing chamber assigned to the partial air flow is arranged on one side of the heater and the air mixing chamber assigned to the second partial air flow is arranged on the opposite side of the heater so that the air mixing chamber is the same as the heater. This makes it possible to keep the air mixing chambers separated from one another more than if they were arranged on the side. This makes it possible to take advantage of the available installation space for the air conditioner. The air conditioner can be designed to be much more compact, and the air passage leading from the individual air mixing chamber to the air conditioning zone in the passenger compartment can be passed without problems in the area of the air conditioner. From the air mixing chamber, from which air is passed into the front area, there are generally at least three air passages diverging into a foot space, a ventilation nozzle and a defroster nozzle. These three passages require a corresponding mounting space, especially at the point of connection of the air mixing chamber in the connection area, but this mounting space is scarcely provided in the prior art air conditioning systems. This is because the air mixing chamber is located there on the same side of the heating element. However, according to the invention, the second air mixing chamber is arranged on the opposite side of the heating element, so that a space is provided for arranging the air passage.

[0008] The significantly reduced installation space has provided additional space for auxiliary equipment, such as, for example, navigation devices, CD players, etc. located on the instrument panel.

It is particularly advantageous if the heating element is arranged approximately sideways, that is, in particular approximately at right angles to the evaporator, the first partial air flow passing through the heating element from top to bottom and the second partial air flow passing through the heating element. It can flow from bottom to top or vice versa.
In this case, the air mixing chamber is arranged above and below the heating element. With this arrangement, the diversion of the air guided in the air conditioner is considerably reduced. The cold air flows substantially around the heating element, whereas the air to be heated only has to be slightly diverted in order to flow through the heating element from bottom to top or from top to bottom. As a result, pressure losses can be prevented, and in particular the noise of the air flow can be significantly reduced.

Another major advantage of the air conditioner according to the invention is its cost neutrality. The implementation according to the invention does not incur any additional costs for air-conditioning of the four different air-conditioning zones compared to known air-conditioners.

In a preferred embodiment, three substantially parallel separating walls are provided, the subregions of the heating element, each of which is heated by one partial air flow, being juxtaposed, so that on each side of the heating element, respectively. 2 air mixing chambers total 4
It is formed for one air conditioning zone. In this way, an air conditioner that air-conditions four air conditioning zones with as small an installation space as possible has been provided. The air passages leading to the air mixing chambers arranged on both sides of the heating element can be easily arranged without space problems.

Advantageously, both air mixing chambers provided on the outside are assigned to the rear left and right, and both air mixing chambers provided on the inside are assigned to the front left and right or vice versa. In particular, when the outer partial area of the heating element assigned to the rear partial air flow flows through from top to bottom, and the inner partial area of the heating element assigned to the front partial air flow flows through from bottom to top. It is advantageous. Because in this case,
The rear air mixing chamber is located below, i.e. below the heating element, and the front air mixing chamber is located above the heating element, and the air guide passage leading to the rear air mixing chamber is located below the vehicle floor area. And the air guide passage leading to the front air mixing chamber is directed upwards or laterally above the outer region and the rear air mixing chamber, the outlet for the foot space, the ventilation outlet and the defrost This is because it can be appropriately passed through the nozzle.

Advantageously, the separating wall, which is arranged downstream of the heating element on the air side in any case, also extends in the cold air passage upstream of the heating element and in the cold air region between the evaporator and the heating element. And the air to be heated is already guided separately from the cold air region to the individual air mixing chambers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the airflow control elements are configured as pivoting flaps, which are mounted substantially centrally, and which, when in their open position, facilitate the flow of the flowing air. Slightly bent or bent so as to be able to be guided. When changing the temperature setting, only a small change in the air volume is achieved by opening and closing the cold or hot air flaps. This can prevent unstable airflow when the flap transitions from the warm air position to the cool air position or vice versa.

In one configuration of the present invention, the heating element is configured as a heat exchanger through which the refrigerant for the vehicle drive unit can flow, and an electric heating element is integrated in the heat exchanger. In this case, a sufficient heating capacity can already be achieved via the electric heating element during the cold-start phase of the engine, regardless of the direction in which the air to be heated flows through the heating element. The heating element can be configured integrally. Alternatively, however, the heating element can also consist of two juxtaposed individual heating elements, one of which is provided for warming the air for the left half of the vehicle (front and rear). The other individual heating element is provided for warming the air for the right half of the vehicle (front and rear). In this case, the separating walls will extend between the individual heating elements, each individual heating element being divided into two partial areas for the front and the rear respectively by one other separating wall. Would.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on embodiments with reference to the drawings.

The heating or air-conditioning device 10 according to the invention shown in the drawing has a housing 12 for guiding the air to be temperature-controlled. The circulating air and / or fresh air is supplied to an evaporator 16 for cooling via a blower (not shown) and an air supply passage 14. Evaporator 16
The air cooled therein exits from the air outlet side 18 of the evaporator 16 and flows into the cold air region 20. This cold air region extends downstream of the evaporator 16 over the entire height of the evaporator 16. From the cold air region 20, the cool air is supplied directly to the air passages, bypassing the heater 22 as described in detail below, or a portion of the cool air is passed through the heater 22 and warmed there, Either is supplied to the air guide passage. To achieve a certain temperature of the air guided into the passenger compartment by the air passage, cold air can be mixed with warm air, as will be described in more detail below. The heating element 22 is preferably embodied as a heat exchanger through which the vehicle drive unit coolant can flow, and optionally has an additional electric heating element. Such a heat exchanger is known, for example, from DE 44 33 814 A1.

A drain 24 is provided at the lower end of the cold air region 20, and condensed water condensed in the evaporator and carried out from the air outlet 18 can be discharged through this drain.

The air conditioner 10 according to the present invention is suitable for air conditioning four different air conditioning zones in a passenger compartment. The four air-conditioning zones are usually a driver's seat area indicated by VL (front left), a passenger seat area indicated by VR (front right), and H
Rear left area indicated by L (rear left), HR (rear right)
This is the rear right area indicated by.

The air conditioner is provided with three separating walls downstream of the cold air zone 20 so that the air for the individual zones can be temperature-controlled independently of each other by zones HL, VL, VR,
It is partitioned into four side-by-side areas assigned to HR. In FIG. 3, only the right half is shown symmetrically about the neutral plane M, so that only the separation walls 28 and 30 of the three separation walls are shown.
8 is on the neutral plane M. The separation wall extends from the cold air region 20 to the outlet on the air flow side both before and after the heating element 22, and this outlet is followed by an air passage. Thus, the juxtaposed areas are separated on the air side, and each zone H
A partial air flow supplied to L, VL, VR or HR is passed in these regions. The heating element 22 is configured as a heat exchanger as is well known, and includes a tube / fin heating block,
The coolant passages of the drive unit extend parallel to the plane of the separating wall, so that the partial air flows of the individual areas passed through the heating element do not mix when flowing through the heating element 22.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, two separate heating elements 22L and 22R may be used so that the central separation wall 28 is continuous within the area of the heating elements 22L and 22R. I can do it. The individual heating elements 22L, 22R are juxtaposed on a common plane and together form the heating element 22.

The air conditioner according to the present invention comprises a central separating wall 2.
8 are symmetrical about a neutral plane M. Therefore, to understand the structure of the air conditioner according to the present invention,
It is sufficient to study the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 2 along the lines II and II-II of FIG. 3 together with the illustration of FIG.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the areas and components of the air conditioner related to the air conditioning in the front area VR will be described.

The cold air from the cold air area 20 is supplied to the heating element 22R.
Chamber 3 through a cold air passage 32R disposed above
4R (arrow P1). The cool air passage 32R can be closed via a cool air bypass flap 36. The cool air passage 32R is defined by the housing 12, the housing element 38, and the separation walls 28, 30. In FIG. 1, the air inlet side edge 29 of the separation wall 30 can be seen above and below the heating body 22.

Through a flap 42R disposed in front of the heating element 22R on the air flow side, cold air to be heated flows from the cold air area 20 into the partial area 22VR of the heating element 22R from below (arrow P2). To flow through the heating element, and is then heated. The warm air (arrow P3) passes through the warm air port, which can be closed by the warm air flap 44R, to mix the mixture 3
4R where it can mix with cold air. The warm air flap 44R can be configured as an integral swing flap or a plurality of partial flaps 4R.
4R (FIG. 3).

An intermediate member 74R is connected to the air mixing chamber 34R. The intermediate member 74R is connected to the air mixing chamber 34R.
An air passage 48R leading to a defrost side nozzle arranged on the right side of the vehicle, an air passage 50R leading to a ventilation nozzle on the right side of the vehicle, an air passage 51R leading to a ventilation nozzle arranged in the center of the instrument panel, and a foot space. The use air passage 52R is branched. The air passages can be closed via flaps 54R, 56R, 57R or 58R, respectively (FIG. 3).

Air passages 46R, 48R, 50R, 51
R and 52R respectively communicate only with the right half of the vehicle,
The partial area between the separating walls 28, 30 serves to regulate the temperature of the zone VR air.

Since the air conditioner is constructed so as to be mirror-symmetrical about the neutral plane M, the temperature of the air for the zone VL is similarly adjusted in the partial region between the separation walls 26 and 28, and the air mixing chamber From 34L, the air is sent into the air passage (not shown).

The two inner sub-regions between the separating walls thus serve to regulate the temperature of the front air, and the sub-regions 22VL or 22VR of the heating element flow from bottom to top.

To the side of the air conditioner outward (FIG. 3),
In addition to the two inner sub-regions, another sub-region is arranged, the sub-region between the separating wall 30 and the side wall 60R of the housing 12 being assigned to the rear right (HR) and, accordingly, 3 shows a left separation wall and a left wall (not shown) (FIG. 3).
(Not shown) are assigned to the rear left (HL).

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 3, that is, a cross-sectional view of a partial region in which the temperature of the zone HR air is adjusted. Here, the cold air bypass flap 6
2R is disposed below the heating element 22R, and the cold air from the cold air region 20 can flow into the air mixing chamber 64R disposed below the heating element 22R (arrow P4).
A flap 66R is arranged above the heating body 22R and in front of the heating body on the air flow side, and this flap is connected to the suction port 68R.
Can be opened, and cool air can flow into the partial region 22HR of the heating body 22R from above through this suction port (arrow P5), and is heated there. Partial area 22H
The warm air flowing out of R flows directly into the air mixing chamber 64R (arrow P6). From the air mixing chamber 64R, air mixed there at a specific temperature can be supplied to the rear zone HR via the rear foot space / rear defrost air passage 70R and the rear ventilation air passage 72R. The rear footspace / rear defrost air passageway 70R typically allows warmer air than the rear ventilation passageway 72R to allow for a warmer air supply to the rear footspace and / or rear glazing. .

The air for the rear zone HL is likewise temperature-adjustable.

As is particularly apparent from FIG. 3, the air mixing chambers 34R and 34L from which air is sent to the front are located above the heater 22, and the air mixing chambers 64R and 64L are located below the heater 22. And the air passages leading to the air mixing chamber can be arranged one above the other in an advantageous manner to save installation space. In particular, the air passages 46R, 48R, 50R,
52R are those intermediate members 74R that connect the inlet of the air passage to the air mixing chamber 34R,
It is placed so to speak in a housing part area arranged between the two (FIG. 3).

The air flaps are partially bent and partially bent so that the air bypassing the air flaps can be guided in a flow-promoting manner.

Preferably, two operating devices are provided, one in the front area and one in the rear area, and the heating or air-conditioning device according to the invention provides these for controlling the temperature of each air-conditioning zone. Starting from the set temperature setpoint, the temperature can be adjusted automatically via a temperature sensor in each of the front and rear regions, which can be controlled by the operating device.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of another embodiment which is the same as FIG. In this embodiment, the foot space air passage 52R branches not from the front VR air mixing chamber 34R but from the rear HR air mixing chamber 64R. In this case, the air mixing chamber 64R is allocated not only to the rear zone HR but also to the foot space of the front zone VR.

The foot space air passage 58R is connected to the air mixing chamber 6
By diverging in this manner from the 4R, the desired temperature layer formation in the front zone VR when the mixing temperature for the front and the rear is suitably adjusted, that is, the foot space area and the upper body area or the head area within the zone VR. Temperature difference between the two, can be achieved. Normally, it is felt comfortable if the foot space temperature is slightly higher than the head space temperature. Left half,
That is, the same naturally applies to the foot space air passage from which the rear HL air mixing chamber branches. Only the right half is shown in the drawing for clarity.

In other words, in this embodiment, not only the four zones of the internal space can be separately temperature-controlled, but additionally, a temperature layer is formed inside the two front zones VR, VL to increase comfort. An air conditioner that can be further enhanced is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to the present invention taken along line II of FIG. 3 in an air guide region for air that can be supplied to a front region of a vehicle compartment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air-conditioning device according to the present invention taken along the line II-II of FIG. 3 parallel to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 in an air guide area for air that can be supplied to a rear area of the passenger compartment. is there.

FIG. 3 shows an air conditioner according to the present invention in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment as in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 air conditioner 12 housing 14 air supply passage 16 evaporator 18 air outlet side 20 cold air area 22 heating element 22VR, 22VL first partial area 22HR, 22HL second partial area 24 drain port 26, 28, 30 separation wall 29 air inflow Side edge 32R Cold air passage 34R, 34L, 64R, 64L Air mixing chamber 36, 62R Cold air bypass flap 38 Housing element 42R, 54R, 56R, 57R, 58R, 66R Flap 44R Warm air flap 46R Defrost air passage 48R, 50R , 51R Air passage 52R Foot space air passage 60R Side wall 68R Inlet 70R Rear foot space / rear defrost air passage 72R Rear ventilation passage 74R Intermediate member VL, VR, HL, HR Air conditioning zone M Neutral surface

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Wolfgang Dijksunder, Germany 70794 Filderstadt, Oberdorfstrasse 18-1 F-term (reference) 3L011 BA01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A heating element for generating warm air, at least one cold air passage which bypasses the heating element, and an air mixing chamber provided behind the heating element in the flow direction. The mixing chambers are separated from each other by at least one separating wall, and the air in each mixing chamber is mixed to a specific mixing temperature to provide at least two air with independently temperature control.
In order to be able to supply one air-conditioning zone, in a heating or air-conditioning system for motor vehicles, in which cold air and warm air, respectively, can be introduced into the air mixing chamber in a controllable manner by means of airflow control elements, 22) at least one first partial air stream to be warmed in the heating element (2);
2) through the associated first partial area (22VR, 22VL) in a first direction, wherein at least one second partial air stream to be heated in the heating element (22) is provided by the associated first partial area of the heating element (22). A heating or air-conditioning system characterized by flowing through the two partial regions (22HR, 22HL) in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 2. The heating or air-conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is arranged substantially sideways. 3. Three separating walls (26,
28, 30) are provided, the partial regions (22HL, 22VL, 22VR, 22HR) of the heating element (22) are juxtaposed, and two portions are provided on each side (upper and lower) of the heating element (22). Air mixing chamber (34R, 34L and 64
R, 64L) for a total of 4 air conditioning zones (VL, VR, H
The heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating or air-conditioning apparatus is formed for L, HR). 4. An air mixing chamber (6) provided on the outside.
4L, 64R) are allocated to the rear left and right, and both air mixing chambers (VL, VR) provided inside are allocated to the front left and right, or vice versa.
A heating or air conditioning device according to claim 3. 5. The heating element (22HR, 22HL), which is assigned to the rear partial airflow, flows through the outer partial areas (22HR, 22HL) from top to bottom and is assigned to the front partial airflow. Heating or air conditioning device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the inner partial area (22VR, 22VL) of (22) flows through from bottom to top. 6. A partial area of each separation wall (28, 30)
Even through the cold air passage, the evaporator (16) and the heating element (2)
Heating or air-conditioning device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it extends into a cold air zone (20) provided upstream of the heating element (2) between the heating and air-conditioning device (2). . 7. The airflow control elements are designed as pivoting flaps, which are mounted substantially centrally, so that in their open position they can guide the flowing air in a flow-promoting manner. The heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heating or air-conditioning apparatus is slightly bent or bent. 8. The heat exchanger is configured as a heat exchanger through which a vehicle drive unit refrigerant can flow.
The heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an electric heating element is integrated in the heat exchanger. 9. An air passage (52R or 52L) for a foot space (52R or 52L) for the front (VR or VL) is branched from an air mixing chamber (64R or 64L) for the rear (HR or HL). A heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1.