JP2004217166A - Fluid port changeover device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluid port changeover device that prevents seal leakage when at least a first fluid port (eg. outside air introducing port) is blocked by a rotary door, and does not cause a failure that an operating force increases at the turning time of the rotary door. <P>SOLUTION: The fluid port changeover device has a fixed seal member 8 around door turning shaft 5. The ends of first and second U-shaped seal members 6 and 7 are provided with a turning seal member 9 of which axial end does not contact with a case 3. In an inside air mode, the turning seal member 9 overlaps on the fixed seal member 8 to prevent infiltration of the outside air. From a state where the rotary door 4 releases the block of the outside air introducing port 1 to a state where the rotary door 4 blocks the inside air introducing port 2, the turning seal member 9 separates from the fixed seal member 8 and hence the operating force does not increase. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fluid port switching device using a rotary door, and particularly to a seal structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional inside / outside air switching device (an example of a fluid port switching device) using a rotary door will be described with reference to FIG. An elastically deformable U-shaped seal member J2 is provided at each of both open ends of the rotary door J1 having a substantially semi-cylindrical shape.
The U-shaped seal member J2 is provided along the opening end of the rotary door J1 from one door rotation axis J3 to the other door rotation axis J3. When the rotary door J1 closes the outside air inlet J4. Abuts against a seal wall J6 of the case J5, and when the rotary door J1 closes the inside air introduction port J7, abuts against the seal wall J6 of the case J5 to seal the periphery of the rotary door J1 (Patent Documents, etc.) None).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, since the end of the U-shaped seal member J2 is interrupted near the door rotation axis J3, the door rotation axis J3 and the end of the U-shaped seal member J2 are not connected to each other. A gap A is generated between them. For this reason, even when the outside air inlet J4 is closed by the rotary door J1 as shown in FIG. 7, a problem occurs in which outside air enters the vehicle interior through the gap A.
[0004]
In order to avoid this problem, as shown in FIG. 9, a rotary seal member J8 (shown by hatching in FIG. 9) is provided between the ends of the two U-shaped seal members J2 to form two U-shaped seal members. A technique has been proposed for preventing outside air from entering the vehicle interior from between the ends of the seal member J2.
However, since the rotary seal member J8 has a structure in which the end in the axial direction always contacts the case J5 to seal, the rotary seal member J8 slides on the case J5 when the rotary door J1 rotates. It becomes a resistance, and a large force is required to operate the rotary door J1. Further, there is a possibility that the axial end of the rotary seal member J8 is worn due to long-term use, and the sealing performance is deteriorated.
[0005]
[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 prevent leakage of a seal when at least a first fluid port (for example, outside air introduction port) is closed by a rotary door, and to provide a rotary door. An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid port switching device which does not cause a problem that an operation force is increased when the liquid is rotated.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[Means of Claims 1 and 2]
In the fluid port switching device according to claim 1, when the rotary door closes the first fluid port, the rotary seal member that rotates integrally with the rotary door overlaps the fixed seal member, and the rotary seal member And the fixed seal member. For this reason, it is possible to prevent leakage of the seal when the rotary door closes the first fluid port.
Further, the rotating seal member has a structure in which an end in the axial direction does not contact the case, and from a state in which the rotary door releases the blockage of the first fluid port to a state in which the rotary door closes the second fluid port. The rotating seal member is separated from the fixed seal member. That is, even if the rotary door is rotated, the rotary seal member does not slide on the case. Therefore, a large force is not required for operating the rotary door.
Further, since the rotating seal member does not slide on the case, there is no problem that the rotating seal member is worn. Therefore, high sealing reliability can be obtained for a long period of time.
[0007]
[Means of Claim 3]
In the fluid port switching device according to the third aspect, the fixed seal member is provided with a fixed cylindrical surface having an axis at a position eccentric with respect to the axis of the door rotation axis, and the rotary seal member includes a rotary door. When the first fluid port is closed, an axis is provided at a position coinciding with the axis of the fixed cylindrical surface, and a rotating cylindrical surface which is in contact with the fixed cylindrical surface is provided.
With this configuration, when the rotary door closes the first fluid port, the rotary seal member overlaps with the fixed seal member to seal the gap between the rotary seal member and the fixed seal member. From the state in which the first fluid port is closed to the state in which the rotary door closes the second fluid port, the rotary seal member is separated from the fixed seal member, and the seal between the rotary seal member and the fixed seal member. Can be performed.
[0008]
[Means of Claim 4]
In the fluid port switching device according to the fourth aspect, the two U-shaped seal members and the rotary seal member are integrally formed by an elastically deformable elastomer.
With this arrangement, the number of components can be reduced, and a problem that a gap is formed between the U-shaped seal member and the rotary seal member can be eliminated, and the sealing performance can be improved.
[0009]
[Means of claim 5]
The fluid port switching device adopting claim 5 is an inside / outside air switching device for switching between inside air and outside air in a vehicle air conditioner and guiding the inside air conditioning duct, wherein a first fluid port is an outside air introduction port, and a second fluid port. Is a shy air inlet.
With this arrangement, when the rotary door closes the outside air inlet, the rotary seal member that rotates integrally with the rotary door overlaps the fixed seal member, and the rotary seal member and the fixed seal member are closed. Seal the gap. For this reason, when the rotary door closes the outside air inlet, there is no problem that outside air leaks into the vehicle interior and enters.
Further, the rotating seal member has a structure in which an end in the axial direction does not contact the case, and rotates from a state in which the rotary door unblocks the outside air inlet to a state in which the rotary door closes the inside air inlet. The seal member separates from the fixed seal member. As described above, since a large force is not required for the operation of the rotary door, there is no problem that the switching operation force of the inside and outside air is increased to secure the sealing performance.
Further, since the rotating seal member does not slide on the case, there is no problem that the rotating seal member is worn. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inside / outside air switching device having high sealing reliability over a long period of time.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described using examples and modifications.
[Example]
An embodiment in which the fluid port switching device of the present invention is applied to an inside / outside air switching device of a vehicle air conditioner will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the rotary door, FIG. 3 is a side view of the inside / outside air switching device, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rotary door.
[0011]
The inside / outside air switching device is a device that switches inside air and outside air in a vehicle air conditioner and guides the inside air to a downstream air conditioning duct (not shown), and is attached to an air suction side of a blower unit (not shown). .
The inside / outside air switching device includes an inside / outside air switching box (hereinafter, referred to as a case) 3 provided with an outside air inlet 1 for introducing outside air inside the vehicle and an inside air inlet 2 for introducing air inside the vehicle, It comprises a rotary door 4 and driving means (not shown, for example, a servo motor using a link mechanism or the like) for rotating the door rotation shaft 5 of the rotary door 4.
The outside air inlet 1 corresponds to a first fluid port, and the inside air inlet 2 corresponds to a second fluid port. The inside air inlet 2 is open in the vehicle interior.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotary door 4 has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is provided so as to be rotatable about a door rotation shaft 5. Specifically, the rotary door 4 includes an outer peripheral plate 4 a extending in the door rotation direction, and a fan-shaped side plate 4 b connecting between both axial ends of the outer peripheral plate 4 a and the door rotation shaft 5. It is of high rigidity and is made of, for example, a resin such as polypropylene containing mica. Reference numerals 4c and 4d in the figure are reinforcing members that maintain the strength of the rotary door 4.
This rotary door 4 closes the outside air introduction port 1 by being rotated one side (right rotation direction in FIG. 1) about the door rotation shaft 5 and the other (left rotation direction in FIG. 1). The inside air inlet 2 is closed by being rotated.
[0013]
A first U-shaped seal member 6 having a substantially U-shape is attached to the periphery of the substantially U-shaped opening at one end in the rotation direction of the rotary door 4 along the periphery.
The first U-shaped seal member 6 comes into contact with the first seal wall 3a of the case 3 when the rotary door 4 closes the outside air inlet 1, and the case 3 closes when the rotary door 4 closes the inside air inlet 2. And seals the peripheral edge of the rotary door 4 by contacting the intermediate seal wall 3b (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0014]
A substantially U-shaped second sealing member 7 along the periphery is also attached to the periphery of the substantially U-shaped opening at the other end in the rotation direction of the rotary door 4.
The second U-shaped sealing member 7 comes into contact with the intermediate seal wall 3b of the case 3 when the rotary door 4 closes the outside air inlet 1, and contacts the case 3 when the rotary door 4 closes the inside air inlet 2. The peripheral edge of the rotary door 4 is sealed by contacting the second seal wall 3c (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0015]
(Features of the embodiment)
Around the door rotation shaft 5, a substantially cylindrical fixed seal member 8 that covers the periphery of the door rotation shaft 5 is formed integrally with the case 3.
On the other hand, a rotary seal member 9 that rotates integrally with the rotary door 4 is provided in a portion of the rotary door 4 near the door rotary shaft 5 of the fan-shaped side plate 4b. The rotating seal member 9 seals between the ends of the first and second U-shaped sealing members 6 and 7 (the side closer to the door rotating shaft 5), and also seals the first and second U-shaped sealing members 6. , 7 covers the periphery of the door turning shaft 5.
The rotating seal member 9 is provided such that the axial end does not contact the case 3. In this embodiment, the rotary seal member 9 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the fixed seal member 8.
[0016]
The fixed seal member 8 has a fixed cylindrical surface 8 a having an axis at an eccentric position with respect to the axis of the door rotating shaft 5.
On the other hand, when the rotary door 4 closes the outside air inlet 1, the rotary seal member 9 has a shaft center at a position coincident with the shaft center of the fixed cylindrical surface 8 a, and the rotary seal member 9 overlaps the outer surface of the fixed cylindrical surface 8 a. It has a cylindrical surface 9a.
With this arrangement, when the rotary door 4 closes the outside air inlet 1, the inner peripheral surface of the rotary seal member 9 overlaps the outer peripheral surface of the fixed seal member 8, and the rotary seal member 9 is closed. And the fixed seal member 8 are sealed. The rotary seal member 9 is separated from the fixed seal member 8 from the state in which the rotary door 4 closes the outside air inlet 1 to the state in which the rotary door 4 closes the inside air inlet 2. .
[0017]
In this embodiment, the first and second U-shaped seal members 6, 7 and the rotary seal member 9 are integrally formed of an elastically deformable elastomer. This elastomer is formed of a synthetic resin-based elastomer (for example, a thermoplastic elastomer) that is compatible with the resin constituting the rotary door 4.
With such provision, the number of parts is reduced, and the problem that a gap is generated between the first and second U-shaped seal members 6, 7 and the rotary seal member 9 is eliminated, so that the sealing performance can be improved. .
[0018]
(At shy mode)
In the inside air mode, the door rotation shaft 5 is operated to rotate in one direction (the right rotation direction in FIG. 1), and the rotary door 4 closes the outside air inlet 1. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the first U-shaped seal member 6 comes into contact with the first seal wall 3a, the second U-shaped seal member 7 comes into contact with the intermediate seal wall 3b, and the door pivot shaft The outside air is prevented from entering at a portion excluding the periphery of 5.
At the periphery of the door rotation shaft 5, the rotation seal member 9 overlaps the outer peripheral surface of the fixed seal member 8, and outside air enters the room from between the end portions of the first and second U-shaped seal members 6, 7. To prevent
As described above, the inside / outside air switching device according to the present embodiment does not have a problem that outside air leaks into the vehicle interior and enters the inside of the vehicle in the inside air mode.
[0019]
(At the time of rotating operation of the rotary door 4)
The rotary seal member 9 has a structure in which an end in the axial direction does not contact the case 3, and the rotary door 4 closes the inside air inlet 2 from a state in which the rotary door 4 releases the blockage of the outside air inlet 1. Until the state, the rotary seal member 9 is separated from the fixed seal member 8. That is, when the rotary door 4 is rotated, the rotary seal member 9 does not slide on the case 3. For this reason, a problem that the turning operation force of the rotary door 4 becomes large does not occur.
Further, since the rotating seal member 9 does not slide on the case 4, a problem that the rotating seal member 9 is worn does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inside / outside air switching device having high sealing reliability over a long period of time.
[0020]
(At outside air mode)
In the outside air mode, the door rotation shaft 5 is rotated in the other direction (the left rotation direction in FIG. 2), and the rotary door 4 closes the inside air inlet 2. In this state, as shown in FIG. 2, the first U-shaped seal member 6 comes into contact with the intermediate seal wall 3b, and the second U-shaped seal member 7 comes into contact with the second seal wall 3c.
However, since the rotation seal member 9 is separated from the fixed seal member 8 in the vicinity of the door rotation shaft 5, a part of the outside air entering from the outside air inlet 1 is rotated when the ram pressure is high. There is a possibility that the air may enter the vehicle interior through the inside air inlet 2 through a gap between the seal member 9 and the fixed seal member 8 (see an arrow α in FIG. 2).
However, since the outside air mode is a mode in which outside air is allowed to enter the vehicle interior, there is no problem even if a small amount of outside air enters the vehicle interior from the gap of the inside / outside air switching device.
[0021]
[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the rotary seal member 9 is disposed on the outer periphery of the fixed seal member 8 has been described. However, as shown in FIGS. 9 may be arranged. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiment denote the same functions.
[0022]
In the above embodiment, the rotary door 4 having a substantially semi-cylindrical cross section is shown as an example. However, a rotary door having a shape in which two plate-like doors forming a predetermined angle are connected by a fan-shaped side plate 4b. The present invention may be applied to a fluid port switching device using the door 4.
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the inside / outside air switching device has been described. That is, the present invention may be applied to, for example, an air mix door that adjusts the ratio of cold air to hot air. Further, the present invention may be applied to a fluid port switching device other than an automotive air conditioning unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a rotary door in an inside air mode (embodiment).
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a rotary door in an outside air mode (embodiment).
FIG. 3 is a side view of the inside / outside air switching device (embodiment);
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rotary door (Example).
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of the rotary door in the inside air mode (modification).
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the rotary door in the outside air mode (modification).
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the operation of the rotary door in the inside air mode (conventional example).
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rotary door (conventional example).
FIG. 9 is a side view of a rotary door (conventional example).
[Explanation of symbols]
1 outside air inlet (first fluid port)
2 Inside air inlet (second fluid port)
3 Case 4 Rotary door 4a Outer peripheral plate 4b Side plate 5 Door rotating shaft 6 First U-shaped sealing member 7 Second U-shaped sealing member 8 Fixed sealing member 8a Fixed cylindrical surface 9 Rotating sealing member 9a Rotating cylindrical surface

Claims (5)

A rotary door (4) having a case (3) formed with first and second fluid ports (1, 2) through which fluids can pass, and a fan-shaped side plate (4b) is provided. 4) A fluid port switching device for switching the first and second fluid ports (1, 2) according to 4),
This fluid port switching device,
A fixed seal member (8) provided on the case (3) and covering the periphery of the door rotation shaft (5) around the door rotation shaft (5) of the rotary door (4);
The side plate (4b) is provided on the side plate (4b) such that an end in an axial direction does not contact the case (3) and rotates integrally with the rotary door (4), and the rotary door (4) is provided with the first fluid. When closing the port (1), the rotary door (4) overlaps the outer peripheral surface or the inner peripheral surface of the fixed seal member (8), and the rotary door (4) starts opening the first fluid port (1). A rotating seal member (9) separated from the fixed seal member (8) until (4) closes the second fluid port (2);
A fluid port switching device comprising: (A) a case (3) having a first fluid port (1) and a second fluid port (2) through which fluid can pass;
(B) a substantially semi-cylindrical shape having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and provided so as to be rotatable about a door rotation shaft (5);
The first fluid port (1) is closed by being turned to one side around the door turning shaft (5), and the second fluid port (2) is turned to the other by being turned to the other side. A rotary door (4) that closes;
(C) The rotary door (4) is provided along the periphery of the substantially U-shaped opening at one end in the rotation direction of the rotary door (4), and is substantially the same as the other end of the rotary door (4) in the other rotation direction. Provided along the periphery of the opening
When the rotary door (4) closes the first fluid port (1) and contacts the case (3), the rotary door (4) closes the second fluid port (2). Two substantially U-shaped sealing members (6, 7) which contact the case (3) and seal the periphery of the rotary door (4), and have a substantially U-shaped shape;
(D) a fixed seal member (8) provided on the case (3) and surrounding the door rotation axis (5) around the door rotation axis (5);
(E) provided on a sector-shaped side plate (4b) of the rotary door (4) so as to rotate integrally with the rotary door (4), and end portions of the two U-shaped seal members (6, 7); Between the ends of the two U-shaped seal members (6, 7), and covers the periphery of the door rotation shaft (5), and the end in the axial direction is the case (3). A rotating seal member (9) that does not come into contact with
(F) The rotating seal member (9)
When the rotary door (4) closes the first fluid port (1), the rotary door (4) overlaps the fixed seal member (8), and the rotary seal member (9) and the fixed seal member (8) are closed. Seal the gap,
From the state where the rotary door (4) releases the blockage of the first fluid port (1) to the state where the rotary door (4) closes the second fluid port (2), the fixed seal member (8). The fluid port switching device is provided so as to be separated from the fluid port switching device. In the fluid port switching device according to claim 1 or 2,
The fixed seal member (8) has a fixed cylindrical surface (8a) having an axis at an eccentric position with respect to the axis of the door rotation axis (5),
The rotary seal member (9) has an axis at a position coinciding with the axis of the fixed cylindrical surface (8a) when the rotary door (4) closes the first fluid port (1). A fluid port switching device having a rotating cylindrical surface (9a). The fluid port switching device according to claim 2,
The fluid port switching device, wherein the two U-shaped seal members (6, 7) and the rotary seal member (9) are integrally formed by an elastically deformable elastomer. In the fluid port switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The fluid port switching device is an inside / outside air switching device that switches between inside air and outside air in a vehicle air conditioner and guides the inside air conditioning duct,
The first fluid port (1) is an outside air introduction port, and the second fluid port (2) is an inside air introduction port.

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