JP2004196117A - Air conditioning unit for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein since a connection block connected with a coolant feed pipe and a coolant discharge pipe is connected to an expansion valve block arranged at a side surface in a width direction of a duct case conventionally, a dimension in the width direction of an air conditioning unit is long and a loadability to a space of narrow width is bad. <P>SOLUTION: A lead-out part α of the coolant feed pipe 5 and the coolant discharge pipe 6 is provided at a position storable at the inside in a width direction of a duct case 1 and the coolant feed pipe 5 and the coolant discharge pipe 6 are not projected to the width direction of the duct case 1. Thereby, a loading space in the width direction can be shortened. The lead-out part α is provided outside a dropping off area of drain water. Therefore, it is not required that a sealing member is used at the lead-out part α and the cost can be reduced. In the duct case 1, two-divided left and right cases 1a, 1b are joined and the joined part 8 is stored at the inside in the width direction of the duct case 1. Thereby, the loadability to the space of narrow width is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit for a vehicle in which an evaporator is arranged in a flat duct case requiring a shortening in a width direction, and in particular, an outer wall in a width direction with respect to a traveling direction of a vehicle and an inner wall (side trim) inside the outer wall. This is a technique suitable for use in a rear air-conditioning unit in which a duct case is disposed between the air conditioner and the air conditioner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The evaporator disposed inside the duct case receives the supply of the refrigerant from the outside through the refrigerant supply pipe, and guides the refrigerant after the heat exchange to the outside through the refrigerant discharge pipe. For this reason, the duct case is provided with an outlet for the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant discharge pipe.
[0003]
An example of a conventional take-out unit will be described with reference to FIG.
The take-out part J1 shown in FIG. 4 employs a structure in which a connection block J4 connecting a refrigerant supply pipe J2 and a refrigerant discharge pipe J3 is connected to an expansion valve block J6 arranged on a widthwise side surface of a duct case J5. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-264407 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the duct case J5 needs to be shortened in the width direction in order to mount the duct case J5 in a narrow space, that is, when the duct case J5 is provided flat, the structure of the extraction portion J1 shown in FIG. The width (the overall width) of the air-conditioning unit including the duct case J5 becomes longer due to the thickness (the width) of the connection block J4 and the expansion valve block J6, which deteriorates the mountability in a narrow space. Resulting in.
Further, since the refrigerant supply pipe J2 and the refrigerant discharge pipe J3 connected to the connection block J4 extend in the width direction of the duct case J5, it is also difficult to mount the air conditioning unit including the duct case J5 in a narrow space. become.
[0006]
Therefore, it is conceivable to eliminate the connection between the connection block J4 and the expansion valve block J6. However, if the outlet J1 is provided on the side surface of the duct case J5 in the width direction, the refrigerant supply pipe J2 and the refrigerant discharge pipe J3 extend in the width direction of the duct case J5 as described above. It becomes difficult to mount the unit in a narrow space.
[0007]
[Object of the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioning unit that is excellent in mounting in a narrow space.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[Means of claim 1]
In the air conditioning unit for a vehicle adopting the means of the first aspect, the outlets of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant discharge pipe in the duct case are provided at positions where they can be accommodated inside the duct case in the width direction.
For this reason, since the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant discharge pipe extending from the duct case to the outside do not protrude in the width direction of the duct case, the mounting space in the width direction of the air conditioning unit can be reduced. That is, the mountability of the air conditioning unit in a narrow space is improved.
[0009]
[Means of Claim 2]
In a vehicle air conditioning unit employing the means of claim 2, a duct case is disposed between an outer wall in a width direction with respect to a traveling direction of the vehicle and an inner wall inside the outer wall.
By arranging the air conditioning unit having a reduced mounting space in the width direction between the outer wall and the inner wall of the vehicle, the width of the outer wall and the inner wall can be reduced, and as a result, the interior of the vehicle can be widened.
[0010]
[Means of Claim 3]
The duct case of the air conditioning unit for a vehicle adopting the means of claim 3 is provided by joining two cases divided in the width direction, and the joint of the divided portion is located at a position where it fits inside the duct case in the width direction. It is provided.
By providing in this way, the joint of the divided cases does not protrude in the width direction of the duct case, so that the dimension in the width direction of the duct case can be reduced. That is, the mountability of the air conditioning unit in a narrow space in the width direction can be further improved.
[0011]
[Means of Claim 4]
An air conditioning unit for a vehicle adopting the means of claim 4 is provided with a take-out portion at a position outside a falling area of drain water falling from an evaporator in a state where the duct case is mounted on the vehicle.
With this arrangement, it is possible to avoid a problem that the drain water leaks from the outlet to the outside. That is, a seal member (grommet, packing, etc.) for preventing drain water from leaking from the take-out portion can be eliminated, and the cost can be reduced.
[0012]
[Means of claim 5]
The vehicle air conditioning unit employing the means of claim 5, when mounted on the vehicle, the width direction of the duct case is oriented in the horizontal direction, and the air inlet of the air passing through the evaporator is oriented substantially downward, The evaporator is arranged substantially horizontally.
With such provision, the height dimension of the air conditioning unit can be reduced.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples and modifications.
[Example]
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the configuration of the vehicle air conditioning unit will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
The air-conditioning unit of this embodiment is a rear air-conditioning unit for mainly air-conditioning the rear cabin of a passenger compartment, and its duct case 1 has an outer wall (not shown) in the width direction with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle and an inner side of the outer wall. Between the inner wall (side trim: not shown). That is, the duct case 1 is mounted in a narrow space in the width direction (in this embodiment, the width direction with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle).
For this reason, the duct case 1 is provided in a flat shape shortened in the width direction so as to be mounted in a narrow space in the width direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the duct case 1 is provided in a flat shape that is long in the up-down direction and the front-back direction of the vehicle and short in the horizontal direction (width direction).
[0015]
The duct case 1 is a duct that forms an air passage toward the interior of the vehicle, and a scroll case 2a of the blower 2 is integrally provided upstream of the duct case 1. The blower 2 may be provided separately from the duct case 1 and joined.
The blower 2 is a well-known air flow generating unit that sucks outside air (outside air or inside air) of the duct case 1 into the duct case 1 and generates an air flow in the duct case 1 toward the vehicle interior. In addition to the scroll case 2a, an electric motor 2b that generates a rotational torque when energized, and a centrifugal fan (not shown) that is driven to rotate by the electric motor 2b are provided.
[0016]
Inside the duct case 1, an evaporator (refrigerant evaporator) 3 for cooling the airflow flowing in the duct case 1 is arranged. The evaporator 3 is one of the components of the vehicle refrigeration cycle. This refrigeration cycle is a well-known one that includes, in addition to the evaporator 3, a compressor (refrigerant compressor: not shown), a condenser (refrigerant condenser: not shown), a pressure reducing device (expansion valve, etc.) 4, and the like.
[0017]
The evaporator 3 arranged in the duct case 1 is substantially horizontally arranged (inclined) such that the inlet 3a of the air passing through the evaporator 3 faces substantially downward when the duct case 1 is mounted on the vehicle. All the air flowing through the duct case 1 passes through the evaporator 3. With such provision, the height dimension of the air conditioning unit can be reduced.
[0018]
The components of the refrigeration cycle (evaporator 3, decompression device 4) arranged inside the duct case 1 and the components of the refrigeration cycle (compressor, condenser, etc.) arranged outside the duct case 1 are refrigerant supply piping. 5 and a refrigerant discharge pipe 6. That is, the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 are taken out from the inside of the duct case 1 to the outside, and the take-out portion α will be described later.
The refrigerant supply pipe 5 supplies the high-temperature liquefied refrigerant liquefied and condensed by the condenser to the decompression device 4 in the duct case 1, and the mist refrigerant (gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant) adiabatically expanded by the decompression device 4. ) Is supplied to the evaporator 3.
Further, the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 guides the gas refrigerant evaporated by the evaporator 3 to a compressor arranged outside the duct case 1.
[0019]
(Operation of the embodiment)
The cooling operation of the rear air conditioning unit will be described.
The air sucked into the duct case 1 by the blower 2 is deprived of heat of vaporization by the low-temperature and low-pressure mist refrigerant passing through the evaporator 3 to be cooled and dehumidified, and an outlet provided at the downstream end of the duct case 1 The air is blown into the vehicle compartment from 7 to cool the vehicle compartment (mainly, the rear portion of the vehicle compartment).
[0020]
The high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant liquefied and condensed by the condenser is supplied to the decompression device 4 in the duct case 1 through the refrigerant supply pipe 5, and is adiabatically expanded by the decompression device 4. The low-temperature and low-pressure atomized refrigerant adiabatically expanded by the decompression device 4 is guided into the evaporator 3 and evaporates by removing vaporization heat from air passing through the evaporator 3. The evaporated gaseous refrigerant passes through the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 and is returned to the compressor arranged outside the duct case 1.
[0021]
(Packing countermeasures for the decompression device 4)
Since the decompression device 4 adiabatically expands the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, the depressurized low-temperature refrigerant cools the decompression device 4 itself (a so-called cooling phenomenon of the decompression device 4), and drain water (the air Condensed water vapor) is generated.
Further, when the pressure reducing device 4 adiabatically expands the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant, a refrigerant passing sound is generated.
For this reason, when the decompression device 4 is arranged outside the duct case 1, the surface of the decompression device 4 is insulated for the purpose of preventing the generation of drain water due to the cooling phenomenon of the decompression device 4 and reducing the refrigerant passage noise. Measures are taken to cover with packing. However, the addition of the packing results in an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the number of assembly steps, resulting in an increase in cost.
[0022]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in this embodiment, the pressure reducing device 4 is disposed inside the duct case 1 as shown in FIG.
Thus, by arranging the decompression device 4 inside the duct case 1, the surface of the decompression device 4 does not have to be covered with the heat insulating packing. That is, even if drain water is generated on the surface of the decompression device 4, the drain water falls downward and is received at a lower part in the duct case 1. The treatment of the drain water will be described later.
[0023]
Further, by arranging the pressure reducing device 4 inside the duct case 1, the refrigerant passing sound generated when the refrigerant passes through the pressure reducing device 4 is generated inside the duct case 1. As a result, the refrigerant passing sound generated by the pressure reducing device 4 is shielded by the duct case 1. That is, the duct case 1 and the inner wall (side trim) of the cabin are interposed between the decompression device 4 and the occupant in the vehicle compartment, so that the surface of the decompression device 4 does not need to be covered with the heat insulating packing. Refrigerant passage noise reaching the occupant in the vehicle cabin can be reduced.
[0024]
(Drain water measures)
Since the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flows through the inside of the evaporator 3, the vapor in the air passing through the evaporator 3 is condensed, adheres to the evaporator 3 as drain water, and drops (drops) below the evaporator 3.
Further, as described above, the depressurizing device 4 also condenses vapor in the air that touches the surface of the depressurizing device 4 due to its own cooling phenomenon, and drain water attached to the depressurizing device 4 falls below the depressurizing device 4 (drops). ).
[0025]
As described above, since the drain water falls below the evaporator 3 and the pressure reducing device 4, the drain water is prevented from leaking below the evaporator 3 and the pressure reducing device 4 in the duct case 1.
In order to prevent the drain water from leaking, for example, it is conceivable that the lower part of the duct case 1 is constituted by another component (lower case). However, the provision of a separate part (lower case) results in an increase in the number of case manufacturing dies and an increase in the number of assembling steps, resulting in an increase in cost.
[0026]
Therefore, the duct case 1 of this embodiment does not use a separate component (lower case) at the lower portion of the duct case 1 and uses the left and right cases 1a and 1b (so-called vertical case) divided into two in the width direction. And joining portions 8 (fitting portions) formed on the peripheral edges of the left and right cases 1a and 1b by joining means such as screws 8a.
Also, the joining portion 8 of the left and right cases 1a and 1b divided into two in the width direction has a fitting structure of a concave portion and a convex portion, and a drain water drop region below the evaporator 3 and the pressure reducing device 4 (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, a water-stop packing 9 is arranged inside the concave portion, and a joining portion 8 of the left and right cases 1a and 1b below the evaporator 3 and the decompression device 4 is provided at the fitting portion of the hatched portion A of FIG. Drain water is prevented from leaking from.
A drain water port 10 for draining drain water is provided at one lower portion of the left and right cases 1a and 1b, and the drain water dropped to the lower portion in the evaporator 3 is drained to the outside through the drain water port 10. It is supposed to be.
[0027]
As described above, the cost of the duct case 1 can be reduced because the lower part of the duct case 1 does not use a separate component (lower case).
In addition, the joining portion 8 of the left and right cases 1a and 1b which are divided into two fits inside the duct case 1 in the width direction. For this reason, the joining portion 8 of the left and right cases 1a and 1b does not project in the width direction of the duct case 1.
As described above, since the joining portion 8 of the two divided left and right cases 1a and 1b does not protrude in the width direction of the duct case 1, the width direction dimension (total width size) of the duct case 1 can be reduced. That is, the mountability of the air conditioning unit in a narrow space (a narrow space in the horizontal direction in this embodiment) is improved. As a result, the width of the outer wall and the inner wall can be reduced, and as a result, the interior of the vehicle can be widened.
[0028]
(Structure for removing refrigerant piping)
As described above, the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 are taken out from the inside of the duct case 1 to the outside. Hereinafter, the outlet α of the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 in the duct case 1 will be described.
As described in the section of the related art, when the extraction portion α is provided on the side surface of the duct case 1 in the width direction, the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 extend in the width direction of the duct case 1. Then, when the duct case 1 is mounted in a narrow space, the mountability is deteriorated by the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 extending in the width direction from the duct case 1.
[0029]
Therefore, the outlet α of the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 in this embodiment is provided at a position that fits inside the duct case 1 in the width direction, as shown in FIG.
That is, the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 extending from the outlet portion α to the outside of the duct case 1 do not protrude in the width direction of the duct case 1. Thereby, the mounting space in the width direction of the air conditioning unit can be reduced. That is, the mountability of the air conditioning unit in a narrow space (a narrow space in the horizontal direction in this embodiment) is improved. As a result, the width of the outer wall and the inner wall can be reduced, and as a result, the interior of the vehicle can be widened.
[0030]
The outlet α of the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 has a structure in which the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 are sandwiched between the joints 8 of the left and right cases 1a and 1b. This facilitates the work of assembling the medium supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6.
Further, the outlets α of the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6 are provided outside a certain range of the waterproof packing 9, that is, outside a fall area of the drain water (see a hatched part A in FIG. 2). Thus, there is no problem that drain water leaks from the outlet α without using a seal member (packing, grommet, etc.) at the outlet α of the refrigerant supply pipe 5 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 6. As described above, since the sealing member of the take-out portion α can be eliminated, the number of parts can be reduced, the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
[0031]
[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the example in which the air conditioning unit is arranged between the outer wall in the width direction with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle and the inner wall (side trim) inside the outer wall has been described. That is, an example in which the present invention is applied to an air conditioning unit mounted in a narrow space in the horizontal direction has been described. However, the duct case 1 may be arranged under the floor of the vehicle or in a space between the indoor ceiling and its outer wall by making a design change such as changing the direction of the drain water port 10 for discharging the drain water. . That is, the present invention may be applied to an air conditioning unit mounted in a narrow space in the vertical direction.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, an air conditioning unit dedicated to cooling is described as an example. However, an air heating unit (such as a heater core) is disposed downstream of the evaporator 3 in the duct case 1 to perform cooling operation, heating operation, and dehumidifying operation. May be enabled.
Although one example of the air outlet 7 has been described, a plurality of air outlets 7 may be provided, and an air outlet switching door may be arranged for each of the air outlets 7 so that the air outlet mode can be changed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle air conditioning unit (embodiment).
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of a vehicle air conditioning unit (Example).
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a water blocking structure in a fitting portion between a concave portion and a convex portion (Example).
FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory view of a take-out part of a refrigerant supply pipe and a refrigerant discharge pipe (conventional example).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Duct case 3 Evaporator 3a Air inflow port 5 Refrigerant supply pipe 6 Refrigerant discharge pipe 8 Joint part α Extraction part

Claims (5)

A flat duct case shortened in the width direction,
An evaporator that is arranged in the duct case and cools an airflow flowing in the duct case;
A refrigerant supply pipe for supplying a refrigerant from the outside of the duct case to the evaporator in the duct case,
An air conditioning unit for a vehicle, comprising: a refrigerant discharge pipe that guides a refrigerant that has exchanged heat with the evaporator to the outside of the duct case.
The air conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the refrigerant supply pipe and the refrigerant discharge pipe in the duct case is provided at a position that fits inside the duct case in the width direction. The vehicle air conditioning unit according to claim 1,
The air conditioning unit for a vehicle, wherein the duct case is disposed between an outer wall in a width direction with respect to a traveling direction of the vehicle and an inner wall inside the outer wall. The vehicle air conditioning unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The duct case is provided by joining a case divided into two in the width direction, and a joint portion of the divided portion is accommodated inside the duct case in the width direction. The vehicle air conditioning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The air conditioning unit for a vehicle, wherein the outlet is provided at a position outside a fall area of drain water falling from the evaporator in a state where the duct case is mounted on a vehicle. The air conditioning unit for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The duct case, when mounted on a vehicle, the width direction is oriented horizontally,
The air conditioning unit for a vehicle, wherein the evaporator is arranged substantially horizontally so that an inflow port of air passing through the evaporator faces substantially downward when mounted on a vehicle.

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