JP2007283970A - Air-conditioning unit for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-conditioning unit for a vehicle, capable of restricting flow of condensate through cooling medium pipes to prevent leak of water from a case joint part. <P>SOLUTION: The air-conditioning unit 1 for a vehicle is provided with a unit case 11 to house an evaporator, and form a blow passage, and the cooling medium pipes 42 having one end connected to the evaporator for communicating the inside of the unit case 11 with the external. A circular part 52 is provided to protrude in the outer diametric direction close to a part where the cooling medium pipe 42 penetrates the unit case 11. As condensation water attached to the periphery of the cooling medium piping 42 flows through the cooling medium pipes 42 toward an expansion valve 43, the condensate is stored at the circular part 52 in the middle to drip into the unit case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioning unit in which piping is arranged so as to penetrate inside and outside of a unit case.

A conventional vehicle air conditioning unit of this type is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this vehicle air conditioning unit, as shown in FIG. 9, an expansion valve 102 is arranged as a pipe penetrating the inside and outside of the unit case 101. Then, the grommet 104 is disposed in a gap formed between the opening 173 of the unit case 101 and the expansion valve 102, the grommet 104 is closely attached to the expansion valve 102, and an outer peripheral groove is provided on the outer periphery of the expansion valve 102. By providing a protrusion on the outer periphery of the grommet 104 so as to fit in, the water droplet accumulated in the unit case 101 is prevented from leaking out of the unit case 101 through the opening 173.
JP 2001-26213 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-100654

  However, in the above-described conventional example, the evaporator 105, which cannot obtain a desired degree of adhesion unless the protrusions of the grommets 104 are securely fitted into the outer peripheral groove of the expansion valve 102 and is difficult to be moved by the refrigerant pipe, is united. It was difficult to fit the protrusions to the outer circumferential grooves while being arranged at a predetermined location in the case 101, and there was a problem in workability when assembling to the vehicle. Further, even if the protrusion is fitted in the outer peripheral groove, air is introduced into the unit case 101 by a blower (not shown) while the air conditioner is in operation, and the pressure in the unit case 101 is changed to the unit case 101. Since the height is higher than the outside, water drops may enter between the grommet 104 and the expansion valve 102 due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the unit case 101, and the water may leak out of the unit case 101.

  In addition, since the expansion valve 102 is connected to the evaporator 105 and the refrigerant pipe 106 and is regulated by the vehicle-side layout or the like, as shown in FIG. 6, the penetration portion of the expansion valve 102 is disposed at a relatively low position. In such a case, similarly to the evaporator 105, condensed water is generated also in the expansion valve 102 and the refrigerant pipe 106. Therefore, the condensed water is transmitted through the refrigerant pipe 106 and the expansion valve 102, and the grommet 104 and the unit case 101. There was a possibility that water would flow down to the case joint between and leak out of the unit case 101 from this case joint.

  In addition, because of the configuration of the vehicle air conditioning unit, internal devices such as the evaporator 105 are attached and detached through the opening of the unit case 101, and normally the opening is covered with a service cover (removal cover). There was also a risk of water leaking from the case joint between the service cover and the unit case 101.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described prior art, and the purpose thereof is to suppress the condensed water adhering to the periphery of the refrigerant pipe from flowing through the refrigerant pipe and to the unit case through-hole. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning unit for a vehicle that can prevent water leakage from a case joint provided.

  The invention of claim 1 that achieves the above object comprises: a unit case that accommodates an evaporator and forms an air passage; and a refrigerant pipe that communicates the inside and outside of the unit case and has one end connected to the evaporator. The vehicle air conditioning unit includes a protruding portion that protrudes in the direction of gravity between a portion of the refrigerant pipe that passes through the unit case and the unit case.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle air conditioner comprising: a unit case that houses an evaporator and forms a ventilation path; and a refrigerant pipe that communicates the inside and outside of the unit case and has one end connected to the evaporator. It is a unit, Comprising: The recessed part hollow in the direction opposite to a gravity direction was provided between the part which penetrates the said unit case of the said refrigerant | coolant piping, and the said evaporator.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the convex portion provided between the portion of the refrigerant pipe passing through the unit case and the evaporator protrudes in the direction of gravity, the condensed water adhering to the periphery of the refrigerant pipe is the refrigerant pipe. When flowing from the evaporator side to the unit case penetrating portion side, the condensed water stays and drops at the convex portion of the refrigerant pipe.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the concave portion provided between the portion of the refrigerant pipe passing through the unit case and the evaporator is recessed in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity, the condensed water attached around the refrigerant pipe is When flowing through the refrigerant pipe and flowing from the evaporator side to the unit case penetration part side, the condensed water stays in front of the concave portion of the refrigerant pipe and drops.

  As a result, in the first and second aspects of the invention, the condensate adhering to the periphery of the refrigerant pipe is prevented from flowing through the refrigerant pipe and leaked from the case joint provided in the unit case penetration. Therefore, simplification of the seal structure for sealing the case joint can be achieved. For example, the workability can be improved by simplifying the grommet shape provided in the case joint. In addition, since the constraint on the layout of the case joint is relaxed, the airflow resistance in the unit case can be reduced. Further, cost reduction can be realized by simplifying the sealing structure of the case joint.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire vehicle air conditioning unit, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the inner surface of the service cover, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the main part of the refrigerant pipe, FIG. 5 is a front view of a fixing member for fixing the refrigerant pipe, and FIG. 6 is a process for forming an annular part of the refrigerant pipe. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a step of forming another annular portion of the refrigerant pipe. Hereinafter, the condition where the air conditioning unit is mounted on the vehicle is used as a reference.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning unit 1 includes an outside air inlet 13 that introduces air outside the vehicle into the unit case 11 and an inside air inlet 14 that introduces air inside the vehicle compartment into the unit case 11. The air introduced into the unit case 11 from the intake ports 13 and 14 by a blower (not shown) is adjusted to a predetermined temperature and supplied from the outlets 15 to the vehicle interior. It makes the environment comfortable. In the unit case 11, in addition to the blower, an evaporator (not shown) for dehumidifying and cooling the air in the unit case 11, a heater core (not shown) for heating the air in the unit case 11, and cooling An air mix door (not shown) for adjusting the ratio of the heated air and the heated air, a switching door (not shown) for switching the blown outlet 15 and the like are arranged.

  A work port (not shown) is formed on the right side surface 12 </ b> R of the case body 12 constituting the unit case 11 arranged along the vehicle vertical direction. The service cover 21 is disposed so as to close the work port, and the edge of the service cover 21 is fixed to the case body 12 with a plurality of screws 41.

  A mating surface 18 between the service cover 21 and the case body 12 is located on the right side surface 12R along the vehicle vertical direction. The mating surface 18 is provided with an opening 17 that opens toward the front of the vehicle. The evaporator disposed in the unit case 11 and the outside of the unit case 11 communicate with each other through the opening 17, A refrigerant pipe 42 for supplying / discharging the refrigerant is disposed, and an expansion valve 43 for adiabatic expansion of the refrigerant is disposed on the mating surface 18 to form a communication portion 42a of the refrigerant pipe 42. An engine room side pipe (not shown) is connected to the outside of the communication part 42 a of the refrigerant pipe 42.

  2 and 3, an elastic grommet 31 is sandwiched between the opening edge 17a of the opening 17 and the expansion valve 43 as the communication part 42a of the refrigerant pipe 42, and the opening edge 17a And the expansion valve 43 are closed to ensure water tightness.

  Further, a water collecting groove 25 is provided at a portion of the opening edge 17 a of the opening 17 along the vehicle vertical direction. The water collecting groove 25 is formed by an inner wall 23 facing the inside of the unit case 11 and an outer wall 24 facing the outside of the unit case 11. A water collection chamber 26 is formed below the water collection groove 25. The water collecting chamber 26 is located below the opening 17 so that the upper end communicates with the water collecting groove 25, and is formed by the lower end portion of the inner side wall 23 and the lower end portion of the outer side wall 24. Further, a return hole 23 a that communicates the water collecting chamber 26 and the unit case 11 is formed at the lower end portion of the inner wall 23.

  On the peripheral edge of the mating surface 18 of the service cover 21, a packing storage groove 22 is formed in the lower part of the opening 17, and a packing (not shown) having elasticity is stored in the packing storage groove 22. The outer wall 24 that partitions the packing storage groove 22 and the water collection chamber 26 is provided with a pressure release hole 24 a that communicates the packing storage groove 22 and the water collection chamber 26.

  The grommet 31 is integrally provided with a shielding rib 32 and a water collecting rib 33. The shielding rib 32 protrudes downward from the lower end of the grommet 31 and the edge inside the unit case 11 so as to cover the boundary between the opening 17 and the grommet 31 inside the unit case 11. The water collecting ribs 33 project from the side surfaces and the lower surface of the grommet 31 so as to be located in the water collecting groove 25 and the water collecting chamber 26.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an annular portion 51 protruding in the outer diameter direction is formed by punching in the vicinity of the connection portion 53 of the refrigerant pipe 42. A similar annular portion 52 is formed at a predetermined distance in the direction of the evaporator. The expansion valve 43 is formed with a communication hole 54 that receives the connection portion 53 of the refrigerant pipe 42 and a screw hole 55 that is disposed at a predetermined distance from the communication hole 54. Bolts 57 of a fixing member 56 that fixes the pipe 42 are screwed together. The fixing member 56 has a notch 58 that receives the refrigerant pipe 42 and a through hole 59 through which the bolt 57 is inserted. The width D of the notch 58 is set larger than the outer diameter of the refrigerant pipe 42 and smaller than the outer diameter of the annular portion 51.

  In the first embodiment, when the annular portions 51 and 52 of the refrigerant pipe 42 are formed, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the punch pipe 61 holds the refrigerant pipe 42 with the clamp member 60. The annular part 52 is formed by pressing the refrigerant pipe 42 in the axial direction from the connection part 53 side, and then, as shown in FIG. 7, the end part side (right side in FIG. 7) of the annular part 52 of the refrigerant pipe 42 is formed. ) Is held by the clamp member 60, the annular pipe 51 is formed as shown in FIG. 4 by pressing the refrigerant pipe 42 in the axial direction from the connecting portion 53 side with the other punch member 62.

  When the air conditioning unit 1 is assembled, an air mix door, an evaporator, and the like are assembled at predetermined locations in the case body 12 using a work port formed on the right side surface 12R of the case body 12, and the evaporator, the expansion valve 43, and the like. The refrigerant pipe 42 is assembled between the two. At that time, after inserting the connection part 53 of the refrigerant pipe 42 into the communication hole 54 of the expansion valve 43, the part between the annular parts 51, 52 of the refrigerant pipe 42 is inserted into the notch part 58 of the fixing member 56. The refrigerant pipe 42 is fixed to the expansion valve 43 by inserting the bolt 57 through the through hole 59 and screwing it into the screw hole 55. Next, when the assembly work in the case main body 12 is completed, the service cover 21 is assembled to the case main body 12 and fixed with a plurality of screws 41, thereby closing the work port with the service cover 21.

  After the air conditioning unit 1 is assembled in this way, when the air conditioning unit 1 is operated, the evaporator circulates the refrigerant adiabatically expanded by the expansion valve 43 and takes heat from the surroundings when the refrigerant adiabatically expands. However, since the evaporator and the refrigerant pipe 42 are also cooled together by the refrigerant, water vapor in the air condenses and becomes water droplets and adheres to the periphery of the evaporator and the refrigerant pipe 42. The water droplets are scattered around by the wind generated by the blower and adhere to the inner surface of the unit case 11. Most of the water droplets adhering to the inner surface of the unit case 11 are directly discharged from the drain port (not shown) provided at the lower end of the unit case 11, but the water droplets adhering to the periphery of the refrigerant pipe 42 pass through the refrigerant pipe 42. Some of them are transmitted and flow in the direction of the expansion valve 43. However, since the annular portion 52 of the refrigerant pipe 42 protrudes in the outer diameter direction, water droplets that flow along the refrigerant pipe 42 are dropped from the annular portion 52 and are discharged from the drain outlet at the lower end of the unit case 11 to the outside of the vehicle. Discharged.

  In the first embodiment configured as described above, the condensed water adhering to the periphery of the refrigerant pipe 42 drops from the annular portion 52 in the middle when flowing in the direction of the expansion valve 43 through the refrigerant pipe 42. It is possible to prevent water from flowing through the refrigerant pipe 42 and prevent water leakage from the case joint provided around the expansion valve 43 to the outside of the unit case 11.

  FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a side view showing a main part of a refrigerant pipe provided in the vehicle air conditioning unit. In FIG. 8, the same components as those shown in FIGS.

  In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 8, compared to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 described above, in the vicinity of the connection portion 53 of the refrigerant pipe 42, in the direction opposite to the gravity direction (upward in FIG. 7). This is different from the formation of the concave portion 63, and the configuration is basically the same. The recess 63 is formed by deforming a part of the refrigerant pipe 42.

  Even in the second embodiment configured as described above, when the condensed water adhering to the periphery of the refrigerant pipe 42 flows in the direction of the expansion valve 43 through the refrigerant pipe 42, it remains on the near side of the recess 63 and drops. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the condensed water from flowing through the refrigerant pipe 42 and prevent water leakage from the case joint provided around the expansion valve 43 to the outside of the unit case 11.

  In addition, although the case where the recessed part 63 was provided in the horizontal part of the refrigerant | coolant piping 42 was illustrated in the said 2nd Embodiment, even if the recessed part 63 is provided in the inclination part of the refrigerant | coolant piping 42, the same effect is acquired.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an entire vehicle air conditioning unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part expansion perspective view of a service cover inner surface. It is a top view which shows the mode of a piping attachment part from the inside of a unit case. It is a side view which shows the principal part of refrigerant | coolant piping. Front view of fixing member for fixing refrigerant piping It is a side view which shows the process of forming the annular | circular shaped part of refrigerant | coolant piping. It is a side view which shows the process of forming another annular | circular shaped part of refrigerant | coolant piping. It is a side view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the principal part of refrigerant | coolant piping provided in a vehicle air conditioning unit. It is sectional drawing of the vehicle air conditioning unit which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioning unit 11 Unit case 12 Case main body 17 Opening part 18 Matching surface,
21 Service Cover 31 Grommet 42 Refrigerant Piping 42a Communication Part 43 Expansion Valve 51 Annular Part 52 Annular Part (convex part)
53 Connecting Portion 54 Communication Hole 56 Fixing Member 57 Bolt 58 Notch 60 Clamp Member 61, 62 Punch Member 63 Recess

Claims (2)

A vehicle comprising a unit case (11) for accommodating an evaporator and forming an air passage, and a refrigerant pipe (42) having one end connected to the evaporator through communication between the inside and outside of the unit case (11) Air conditioning unit (1),
A vehicular air conditioning unit (1) characterized in that a convex portion (52) projecting in the direction of gravity is provided between a portion of the refrigerant pipe (42) passing through the unit case (11) and the evaporator. . A vehicle comprising a unit case (11) for accommodating an evaporator and forming an air passage, and a refrigerant pipe (42) having one end connected to the evaporator through communication between the inside and outside of the unit case (11) Air conditioning unit (1),
A vehicular air conditioning unit comprising a recess (63) recessed in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity between a portion of the refrigerant pipe (42) passing through the unit case (11) and the evaporator. (1).

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