JP2006248476A - Automobile air-conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automobile air-conditioner capable of preventing trouble due to oil scattering even if the leakage of coolant occurs, and preventing thermal bad influence of an expansion valve, regardless of a installing position of the expansion valve or a piping joint. <P>SOLUTION: The expansion valve 16 and the piping joint 17 of the expansion valve 16 are disposed outside of an evaporator case 12 and inside of an occupant cabin 5. The expansion valve 16 and the piping joint 17 are covered by a cover 21 composed of an inner cover 22 and an outer cover 23. The inner cover 22 and the outer cover 23 are respectively provided with opening portions 24, 25 opening to an engine room 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automotive air conditioner using a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant as a refrigerant for a refrigeration cycle.

Conventionally, an expansion valve of an air conditioner for an automobile and its piping joint are generally arranged in the air conditioning case. However, in a device using a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant such as CO ₂ , if the refrigerant leaks, the oil contained in the refrigerant is likely to be scattered due to the high pressure, which causes oil contamination in the passenger compartment.

Here, what has arrange | positioned the expansion valve of the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles and its piping joint in an engine room is proposed (refer patent document 1), and if it has such arrangement | positioning, even if a refrigerant | coolant leaks, a passenger compartment Is not contaminated with oil.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-103952 (FIG. 5)

  However, there are cases where the expansion valve and its piping joint cannot be arranged in the engine room due to space constraints in the engine room and layout problems, and the degree of freedom of installation of the air conditioner for automobiles is also limited.

  In addition, when a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is used, the expansion valve becomes very hot due to the high temperature of the refrigerant, and there is a risk of adversely affecting the peripheral components of the expansion valve.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an automotive air conditioner that can prevent malfunction due to oil scattering even if refrigerant leakage occurs, and can prevent thermal adverse effects of the expansion valve, regardless of the installation position of the expansion valve and its pipe joint. The purpose is to provide.

  The invention of claim 1 that achieves the above object is an air conditioner for automobiles using a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, characterized in that at least an expansion valve and a pipe joint of the expansion valve are covered with a strong cover.

  Invention of Claim 2 is the air conditioner for motor vehicles of Claim 1, Comprising: The said expansion valve and the said piping joint are arrange | positioned in a passenger | crew's compartment, The said cover which covers at least the said expansion valve and the said piping joint is provided in the said cover An opening that opens to the outside of the passenger compartment is provided.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the automotive air conditioner according to the second aspect, wherein the opening of the cover is opened toward an engine room outside the passenger compartment.

  Invention of Claim 4 is the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles of Claims 1-3, Comprising: The said expansion valve and the said piping joint are arrange | positioned outside an air-conditioning case, At least the said expansion valve and the said piping joint are used. The covering cover is supported by an air conditioning unit including a blower unit, an evaporator unit, and a connected air duct connecting the units.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the automotive air conditioner according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing into and out of the evaporator in the cover. .

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the automotive air conditioner according to the first to fifth aspects, wherein the cover is composed of an inner cover and an outer cover covering the outer periphery.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if refrigerant leakage occurs in the expansion valve or its pipe joint, oil in the refrigerant does not scatter outside the cover. Moreover, since the heat of the expansion valve is blocked by the cover, heat radiation to the outside of the cover is suppressed as much as possible. Therefore, regardless of the installation position of the expansion valve and its piping joint, it is possible to prevent problems due to oil scattering even if refrigerant leakage occurs, and to prevent the thermal adverse effect of the expansion valve.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the oil in the refrigerant leaking into the cover is discharged out of the passenger compartment through the opening. Therefore, even when the expansion valve and its piping joint are arranged in the passenger compartment instead of the engine compartment, oil contamination of the passenger compartment due to refrigerant leakage can be prevented. In addition, the cover is not broken by the high pressure of the refrigerant.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 2 can be obtained.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the cover is arranged outside the air conditioning case, it is easy to install the cover. In addition, since the cover is supported by the air conditioning unit, the unitization of the automotive air conditioner can be maintained.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since heat exchange is promoted between the refrigerant flowing in and out of the evaporator, it is possible to prevent the expansion valve and the like from being heated as much as possible.

  According to the invention of claim 6, since the expansion valve and the pipe joint are covered with the inner cover and the outer cover doubly, even if refrigerant leakage occurs in the expansion valve and the pipe joint, the oil in the refrigerant is outside the cover. It is possible to reliably prevent scattering. Further, since the heat of the expansion valve is blocked by the double structure of the cover, the heat radiation to the outside of the cover is further suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall front view of an air conditioning unit 1A, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of 18 covers of the air conditioning unit 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioning unit 1A of an automobile air conditioner includes a blower unit 2, an evaporator unit 3, and a connected air duct 4 that connects the units 2 and 3, which are fixed to each other. It is configured integrally. This air conditioning unit 1A is installed in the vicinity of the passenger compartment 5 side of the partition panel 7 that partitions the passenger compartment 5 and the engine room 6 (see FIG. 2). The air conditioning unit 1A is attached to a vehicle body (not shown) via bracket portions 2a and 3a provided in the blower unit 2 and the evaporator unit 3.

  The blower unit 2 includes a blower case 10 that is an air conditioning case and a blower 11 disposed inside the blower case 10. The blower 11 sucks in the inside air (air in the passenger compartment 5) or outside air (air outside the vehicle), and sends the sucked air into the evaporator unit 3 through the connection air duct 4.

The evaporator unit 3 includes an evaporator case 12 that is an air conditioning case, and an evaporator 13 that is disposed on the evaporator case 12. Heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator 13 and the air passing through the periphery thereof to cool the air. Evaporator 13, (not shown) compressor, expansion valve 16, a condenser (not shown), constitutes a refrigeration cycle by piping connecting them, high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant ₂ such as CO as refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle Is used.

  Both ends of the connection air duct 4 open into the fan case 10 and the evaporator case 12, and constitute an air conditioning case together with the fan case 10 and the evaporator case 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inlet pipe 14 and the outlet pipe 15 that allow the refrigerant to flow into and out of the evaporator 13 are led out from the air conditioning case (the fan case 10, the connected air duct 4, and the evaporator case 12). An expansion valve 16 is connected to the inlet pipe 14 led out of the air conditioning case by a pipe joint 17. The portions of the expansion valve 16, the pipe joint 17, the inlet pipe 14, and the outlet pipe 15 arranged outside the air conditioning case are covered with a strong cover 18.

  The strong cover 18 is formed of, for example, an iron material, and has a strength that does not break even when subjected to refrigerant pressure. The cover 18 is provided integrally with the air conditioning unit 1 </ b> A by being fixed to the connection air duct 4. The cover 18 is provided with an opening 19 at a position corresponding to the opening of the partition panel 7, and the inside of the cover 18 is opened by the opening 19 toward the engine room 6 outside the passenger compartment 5.

  The ends of the outlet pipe 15 and the pipe 16a (inlet pipe 14 side) of the expansion valve 16 are led from the opening 19 to the engine room 6 side. The inside of the opening 19 is closed with a seal member 20.

  In the above configuration, even if refrigerant leakage occurs at the expansion valve 16 or the pipe joint 17 thereof, the oil in the refrigerant is scattered only in the cover 18 and is not scattered outside the cover 18. Therefore, regardless of the installation position of the expansion valve 16 or its pipe joint 17, it is possible to prevent problems due to oil scattering such as the passenger compartment 5 being contaminated with oil even if refrigerant leakage occurs. Further, since the expansion valve 16 and the like are covered with the cover 18, the heat of the expansion valve 16 is blocked by the cover 18, so that the heat radiation to the outside of the cover 18 is suppressed as much as possible and the thermal adverse effect of the expansion valve 16 is prevented. it can. In addition, since the expansion valve 16 is disposed outside the air conditioning case (evaporator case 12, fan case 10, and connected air duct 4), the conditioned air in the air conditioning case is affected by the thermal effects of the expansion valve 16 and the like that become high in temperature. There is nothing.

  In the first embodiment, the expansion valve 16 and its pipe joint 17 are disposed in the passenger compartment 5, and the cover 18 that covers them is provided with an opening 19 that opens toward the engine room 6. The oil in the refrigerant leaking into 18 is discharged from the opening 19 to the engine room 6 by the refrigerant pressure. Therefore, even when the expansion valve 16 and its pipe joint 17 are disposed in the passenger compartment 5 instead of the engine compartment 6, oil contamination of the passenger compartment 5 due to refrigerant leakage can be prevented. Moreover, the cover 18 is not broken by the high pressure of the refrigerant. In the first embodiment, the opening 19 of the cover 18 is opened toward the engine room 6, but may be opened outside the passenger compartment 5, for example, outside the vehicle.

  In the first embodiment, the expansion valve 16 and the pipe joint 17 are disposed outside the air conditioning case (the fan case 10, the connecting air duct 4, and the evaporator case 12), and the cover 18 covering these is supported by the air conditioning unit 1A. . Accordingly, since the cover 18 is disposed outside the air conditioning case, the cover 18 can be easily installed. In addition, since the cover 18 is supported by the air conditioning unit 1A, the unitization of the automotive air conditioner can be maintained. Moreover, since the cover 18 is fixed to the connecting air duct 4 disposed between the blower unit 2 and the evaporator unit 3 fixed to the vehicle body (not shown), the weight of the cover 18 is the weight of the fan unit 2 and the evaporator unit. Since the weight of the cover 18 is fixed to be applied to a single unit, the sealing performance and the support rigidity are improved.

  3 to 14 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 to 6 are perspective views of the main part of the air conditioning unit 1B, FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views of the air conditioning unit 1B, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 9, and FIGS. 11 to 14 are perspective views showing the assembling process of the main parts of the air conditioning unit 1 </ b> B.

  3-10, the air conditioning unit 1B of the automotive air conditioner includes a blower unit (not shown), an evaporator unit 3, and these units (not shown), 3 as in the first embodiment. It is comprised from the connection ventilation duct 4 which connects. The installation position of the air-conditioning unit 1B, the air blower unit (not shown), the evaporator unit 3 and the connection air duct 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will be described in order to avoid redundant description. Is omitted. Further, the same components in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals for clarification.

  When comparing the air conditioning unit 1B of the second embodiment with that of the first embodiment, a robust cover that covers the expansion valve 16, the pipe joint 17, the inlet pipe 14, and the outlet pipe 15 arranged outside the air conditioning case. Only the configuration of the cover 21 is different.

  That is, the cover 21 of the second embodiment is configured in a double manner from the inner cover 22 and the outer cover 23 covering the outer periphery of the inner cover 22. The inner cover 22 is made of, for example, iron, and the outer cover 23 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material. The inner cover 22 and the outer cover 23 of the cover 21 are fixed to each other, and the outer cover 23 is fixed to the connection air duct 4. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the inner cover 22 and the outer cover 23 are respectively provided with openings 24 and 25 at positions corresponding to the openings of the partition panel 7, and the inside of the cover 21 is formed by the openings 24 and 25. It opens toward the engine room 6 that is outside the passenger compartment 5.

  Next, the assembly procedure of the air conditioning unit 1B will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 11, an expansion valve 16 is connected to an inlet pipe 14 of the evaporator 13 via a pipe joint 17.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the inner cover 22 is covered by covering the outer periphery of the expansion valve 16 and the like with two inner cover dividing members 22a and 22b and fixing the two inner cover dividing members 22a and 22b with rivets or the like. Install.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the outer periphery of the inner cover 22 is covered with three outer cover split members 23a, 23b, 23c, and the outer cover 23 is fixed by fixing the three outer cover split members 23a, 23b, 23c. Install. As described above, the expansion valve 16 and the like are covered with the cover 21 including the inner cover 22 and the outer cover 23.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the evaporator case 12 is disposed on the outer periphery of the evaporator 13, and the connecting air duct 4 is disposed below the cover 21 and fixed to each other. Finally, if a blower unit (not shown) is connected to the other end of the connected blower duct 4, the assembly of the air conditioning unit 1B is completed.

  Even in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, even if refrigerant leakage occurs at the expansion valve 16 and the pipe joint 17, the oil in the refrigerant does not scatter outside the cover 21. Oil contamination or the like of the passenger compartment 5 due to refrigerant leakage can be prevented, and the thermal adverse effect of the expansion valve 16 can be prevented. In particular, in the second embodiment, the expansion valve 16 and the pipe joint 17 are doubly covered with the inner cover 22 and the outer cover 23. Therefore, even if refrigerant leakage occurs at the location of the expansion valve 16 and the pipe joint 17 It is possible to reliably prevent the oil in the refrigerant from splashing outside the cover 21. Further, since the heat of the expansion valve 16 is blocked by the double structure of the cover 21, heat radiation to the outside of the cover 21 is sufficiently suppressed.

  FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of an air conditioning unit 1C according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 15, when comparing the air conditioning unit 1C of the third embodiment and the air conditioning unit 1B of the second embodiment, both the piping 16a and the outlet piping 15 of the expansion valve 16 on the inlet piping side have good thermal conductivity. The heat exchangers 30 are connected. The refrigerant flowing into and out of the evaporator 13 via the heat exchanger 30 is configured to be able to exchange heat.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.

  In the third embodiment, heat exchange is promoted between the refrigerant flowing in and out of the evaporator 13 via the heat exchanger 30, so that the temperature of the expansion valve 16 and the like can be prevented as much as possible. Note that a two-hole pipe may be used as a refrigerant flow passage for allowing the evaporator 13 to flow in and out, and heat exchange may be performed between the refrigerant flowing in and out of the evaporator 13.

1 is a general front view of an air conditioning unit of an automobile air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the cover location of an air-conditioning unit which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part perspective view of an air-conditioning unit which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a partially cutaway perspective view of an outer cover of an air conditioning unit, showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an outer cover and an inner cover of an air conditioning unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an outer cover and an inner cover of an air conditioning unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from a direction different from FIG. It is sectional drawing of the air conditioning unit which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the air-conditioning unit which showed 2nd Embodiment of this invention and cut | disconnected in the position different from FIG. It is a front view of an air-conditioning unit, showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 9. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the assembly process of an air conditioning unit. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the assembly process of an air conditioning unit. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the assembly process of an air conditioning unit. It is a perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the assembly process of an air conditioning unit. It is sectional drawing of the air conditioning unit which shows 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B, 1C Air conditioning unit 2 Blower unit 3 Evaporator unit 4 Connected air duct (air conditioning case)
5 Crew compartment 6 Engine room 10 Blower case (air conditioning case)
12 Evaporator case (air conditioning case)
13 Evaporator 16 Expansion Valve 17 Piping Joint 18 Cover 19 Opening 21 Cover 22 Inner Cover 23 Outer Cover 24, 25 Opening

Claims (6)

An automotive air conditioner using a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant,
An air conditioner for an automobile, characterized in that at least the expansion valve (16) and the pipe joint (17) of the expansion valve (16) are covered with strong covers (18), (21). An automobile air conditioner according to claim 1,
The expansion valve (16) and the pipe joint (17) are disposed in the passenger compartment (5), and cover at least the cover (18), (21) covering the expansion valve (16) and the pipe joint (17). Is provided with openings (19), (24), (25) that open toward the outside of the passenger compartment (5). An automobile air conditioner according to claim 2,
The openings (18), (24), (25) of the covers (18), (21) are opened toward an engine room (6) outside the passenger compartment (5). Air conditioner for automobiles. It is an air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The expansion valve (16) and the pipe joint (17) are arranged outside the air conditioning cases (4), (10), (12), and cover at least the expansion valve (16) and the pipe joint (17). The cover (18), (21) is an air conditioning unit (1A) comprising a blower unit (2), an evaporator unit (3), and a connected blower duct (4) connecting the units (2), (3). An automotive air conditioner supported by (1B) and (1C). It is an air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
In the cover (21), the air conditioner for automobiles is configured so that heat can be exchanged between the refrigerant flowing into and out of the evaporator (13). An automobile air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The said cover (21) was comprised from the inner cover (22) and the outer cover (23) which covers this outer periphery, The air conditioner for motor vehicles characterized by the above-mentioned.

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