JP2008087731A - Car air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ample space for arrangement of conventional instruments and newly added instruments by totally reviewing the arrangement of a car air conditioner and securing a space in the vicinity of the center within an instrument panel. <P>SOLUTION: A first ventilation passage 29 for warm air and a second ventilation passage 30 for cold air are formed within a structure 3 which is an alternative to a steering member disposed in the transverse direction of a vehicle 15. A heater core 22 and an evaporator 23 are arranged on the side of passenger seat which is one end of the structure 3, and an air blower 6 is arranged in front of them. Also, on the front face side of the center of the structure 3, a mixing/blowing mode unit equipped with a mix door 37 for an air-mixing mechanism, a mix door 37 for a blowing mode switching mechanism and blowing connection ports 43-46 for the blowing mode switching mechanism is arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a space-saving air conditioner mounted for automobiles.

In an air conditioner for automobiles, it has been adopted to use an automobile steering member as an air passage in order to save space (Patent Document 1). In Patent Literature 1, air is sent from the air conditioning unit 5 to the left and right side outlets 10 as well as the center center ventilator outlet 8 using the steering member 2. And the air-conditioning unit 5 is distribute | arranged under the instrument panel of the center position of the left-right direction of a motor vehicle.
JP 2003-170729 A

Patent Document 2 also discloses an air conditioner using a steering member. That is, the conditioned air from the air conditioner 7 is sent out from the first outlets 11 and 12 formed in the steering member 2 to the center of the vehicle and from the second outlets 13 and 14 to the left and right of the vehicle. And the air conditioning unit 5 is distribute | arranged below the instrument panel of the center of the left-right direction of a motor vehicle.
JP 2003-165323 A

Further, Patent Document 3 shows an example in which the cross member is an air conduit for conditioned air, and a means for improving the air tightness of the air conduits 2, 3, 4 is disclosed. That is, a mechanical point coupling means 7 and a convex or concave continuous deformation airtight means 8 are provided at the joint portion of the outer edge of the half shells 5 and 6 constituting the air conduits 2, 3 and 4.
Special table hei 2003-520721

As shown in the above example, it is known that the steering member is a ventilation path for sending the conditioned air of the air conditioner, and the air conditioner that creates the conditioned air is located below the instrument panel at the center in the left-right direction of the front seat. It is also known that it is provided at a position. In addition to the above, many known documents were searched, but only the numbers of patent documents are shown, and description of the contents is omitted.
JP 2004-114863 A JP 2004-345363 A

In addition, the air conditioner also uses an actuator that moves the air mix door, an actuator that controls opening and closing of each outlet, and a wire harness that is used as a control circuit that sends electricity for control to the motor of the blower and the actuator of the inside / outside air switching door. Patent Document 6 discloses a harness mounting structure that supports the above.
JP 2001-186627 A

  In the automotive air conditioner shown in Patent Document 1 to Patent Document 5, it is a known structure to use a steering member (cross member) as a delivery duct for conditioned air. The vehicle is located below the instrument panel at the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle. At the center position, there are displays such as audio and car navigation systems in the front, and transmissions and mufflers are concentrated under the floor, raising the floor, and there is a high demand for reducing the space of the air conditioner. In addition, a large air volume, low noise, and common use of left and right steering wheels are also desired. In exchange for this, it has been found that there is a dead space in front of the vehicle in the glove box on the passenger seat side.

  Patent Document 6 merely shows an example in which a wire harness is attached to an air conditioning duct for a vehicle, and does not disclose an example of adopting a part other than the duct, such as a blower.

  In view of this, the present invention completely reviews the arrangement of the air conditioner for automobiles to make a space in the instrument panel, particularly in the vicinity of the central portion, for new installation of other equipment and arrangement of the existing equipment. The purpose is to give a margin.

The automotive aerial device according to the present invention has a first ventilation path that extends along the left-right direction of the vehicle and flows warm air, and a second ventilation path that flows cold air in a hollow structure.
The heater core that generates the warm air and the evaporator that generates the cold air are arranged at one end of the structure, and a blower that supplies air to both the heater core and the evaporator is also arranged at one end of the structure, By moving the switching door in accordance with a desired blowing mode and an air mixing mechanism for controlling the mixing ratio of hot air and cold air downstream of the first air passage and the second air passage and on the front side of the structure. A mixing / blowing mode unit having a blowing mode switching mechanism for opening and closing each blowing connection port is provided.

  As a result, the heater core and the evaporator are installed on the passenger seat side of the vehicle, below the structure instead of the steering member, and the blower that sends air to both the heater core and the evaporator is disposed in the dead space in front of the two heat exchangers. Further, the mixing / blowout mode unit is also provided in front of the structure, so that the space near the central portion under the instrument panel can be completely vacated.

  And since a structure is utilized as a 1st and 2nd ventilation path, an air duct is unnecessary and it can contribute to reduction of cost. The use of dead space in front of the structure with the blower in the passenger seat does not increase the space. Further, since the blower is moved to the passenger seat side, the position is farthest from the driver, which is advantageous for the driver in terms of noise.

  It is preferable that the outside air inlet of the blower be taken in from the side of the vehicle. This can shorten the air introduction duct. Further, although condensed water is generated from the evaporator, it is preferable to provide a condensed water discharge port on a side surface of the vehicle. Thereby, a condensed water discharge pipe can be shortened.

  The holding part of the electrical component or harness is formed integrally with the case of the mixing / blowing mode unit and the case of the blower (Claim 4). This makes it very easy to attach and handle electrical components or harnesses.

  Since a silencing mechanism is added to the structures forming the first and second ventilation paths (claim 5), noise generated from the air conditioner can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the heater core that generates the warm air and the evaporator that generates the cool air are arranged in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and serve as the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path. A blower that is arranged on one end (passenger seat) side of the structure and that sends air to both heat exchangers is arranged in front of the structure, and further, mixing and blowing mode unit for temperature control and switching of each outlet Is disposed downstream of the first and second ventilation paths in front of the structure, so that the space near the center below the instrument panel can be completely opened, and other equipment can be installed. A degree of freedom of arrangement can be given.

  In addition, the blower and the mixing / blowing mode unit are dead spaces that have not been used so far, and do not narrow the vehicle interior space. Since the blower is moved to the passenger seat side, the position is farthest from the driver, and the driver has the advantage of making it difficult to hear noise.

  Since the outside air introduction port and the condensed water discharge port of the blower are provided on the side surface of the vehicle, the air introduction duct and the condensed water drain pipe can be shortened (Claims 2 and 3).

  In addition, the electrical component or harness of the automotive air conditioner can be held by the holding portion of the molding in the case of the mixing / blowing mode unit and the case of the blower. In addition, the number of steps for welding the bracket to the steering member can be eliminated. Furthermore, the noise reduction mechanism provided in the structure that forms the first and second ventilation paths can provide an effect of reducing noise in the passenger compartment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 5, an automotive air conditioner 1 according to the present invention is shown. One hot / cold air supply unit 2 that generates hot air or cold air, a first ventilation path 29 through which hot air flows, and cold air flows. The structure 3 having the second ventilation path 30 and the connection amount that is adjusted according to the introduction amount of the hot air and the cold air and is adjusted to the desired air temperature to be mixed and opened / closed according to the blowing mode The mixing / blowing mode unit 4 is basically configured.

  The hot / cold air supply unit 2 includes a blower 6 and a hot / cold air generator 7 disposed on the leeward side of the blower 6, that is, below the structure 3 described below. The hot / cold air supply unit 2 is arranged in front of the passenger seat which is one of the left and right directions of the vehicle, and the blower 6 constituting the warm air supply unit 2 is arranged between the fire boards 5 in front of the structure 3, The cold / hot air supply unit 2 is arranged on the lower surface of the structure 3.

  The blower 6 includes a fan 9, a motor 10, and a scroll unit 11, and an air introduction duct 13 connected to an air suction port opens an outside air introduction port 17 on an inner wall 16 on a side surface of the vehicle 15. In addition, an inside air inlet 18 is opened in the air introduction duct 13 to introduce inside air.

  The hot and cold air generating unit 7 includes an air passage 20 including a case 19 extending from the scroll portion 11 of the blower 6 toward the rear side in the vehicle traveling direction, and a parallel heater core 22 provided in the case 19 on the most downstream side of the air passage 20. And the evaporator 23.

  That is, if air passes through the heater core 22, the air is warmed, and if air passes through the evaporator 23, the air is cooled. On the upper side in the drawing, which is downstream of the cold / hot air generating unit 7, the first and second ventilation paths 29 and 30 formed in the structure 3 described below are connected. A condensate discharge pipe 26 is connected to the case 19 and drains the condensate condensed in the evaporator. The condensate discharge pipe 26 has an opening 26a on the inner side wall 16 on the side surface of the vehicle.

  In this embodiment, the structure 3 is a member disposed in the left-right direction of the vehicle and is used as a steering member. The inside of the structure 3 is hollow, and is defined by a partition wall 28 into a first ventilation path 29 and a second ventilation path 30. The upstream side of the first ventilation path 29 is connected to the downstream side of the heater core 22, and the upstream side of the second ventilation path 30 is connected to the downstream side of the evaporator 23.

  The downstream side of the first and second ventilation passages 29 and 30 provided in the structure 3 opens in the middle in the left-right direction of the structure 3 and forward, and becomes a downstream connection port 33, and each downstream side The opening position of the connection port 33 is formed on the boundary surface so as to straddle the partition wall 28 when viewed from the front side of the vehicle so as to communicate with both the first and second ventilation paths 29 and 30. It has parts 33a and 33b.

  In this embodiment, the mixing / blowing mode unit 4 has a caging 35 having an outer shape such that a cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 6 and one is inserted into the downstream connection port 33 of the structure 3. An opening 36 that is long in the lateral direction is opened on the insertion side to the structure 3, and a pair of mix doors 37 are arranged in the opening 36.

  The mix door 37 is a rotary type having a substantially arc-shaped closing portion, and each door 37 can swing within a range of 90 degrees via a rotating shaft. The mix door 37 is given a rotational force by an actuator 39. The structure of the mix door is not limited to the rotary type.

  Depending on the rocking position of the mix door 37, the introduction amount ratio of the hot air and the cold air is determined in the mixing / blowing mode unit 4. Hot air and cold air are mixed in the downstream mixing chamber 41 and adjusted to a desired temperature. The downstream side of the mixing chamber 41 is divided into the following four connection ports 43 to 46 for each blowing mode.

  And each connection port 43 thru | or 46 is each arrange | positioned the opening-and-closing door 47 thru | or 50 according to blowing mode. The open / close doors 47 to 50 receive a swinging force as appropriate from a common rotating shaft 54 and a cam mechanism 55 from an actuator 52 as a single drive source. As for the connection ports 43 to 46 for each blowing mode, the connection ports 43 and 44 are VENT type and the connection ports 45 and 46 are FOOT type or DEF type.

  When the air conditioner 1 is in the vent mode, the C / V (center vent) connection port 43 and the S / V (side vent) connection port 44 are opened, the DEF connection port 45, and the FOOT connection port. 46 is closed. Therefore, all the air introduced from the opening 36 is directed to the connection ports 43 and 44 for C / V and S / V. The temperature control of the blowout temperature is performed by adjusting the opening degree of the mix door 37.

  In the bi-level mode, the C / V connection port 43 and the S / V connection port 44 are opened, and the FOOT connection port 46 is opened. Of course, the DEF connection port 46 is closed. In the heat mode, the C / V connection port 43 and the S / V connection port 44 are closed, and only the FOOT connection port 46 is opened. Further, in the defrost mode, the C / V and S / V connection ports 43 and 44 and the FOOT connection port 46 are closed, and only the DEF connection port 45 is opened.

  Reference numeral 57 denotes a silencing mechanism such as a resonator or a resonance chamber, which is housed on the side of the anti-warm / cold air supply unit 2 of the structure 3 serving as a steering member, as shown in FIG. 1, and generates an air conditioner. Contributes to noise reduction.

  7 to 9 show another automobile air conditioner 1 according to the present invention, and an example of mounting a wire harness 60 for a control circuit of the air conditioner 1 is shown. That is, FIG. 7 is a view as seen from the front to the rear of the vehicle, and the wire harness 60 is supported by a holding portion provided in the hot / cold air supply unit 2 and the mixing / blowing mode unit 4 on the side opposite to the passenger compartment. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the clip 61 that is a holding portion provided in the hot and cold air supply unit 2 is provided so as to protrude from the upper surface of the scroll-like case 11 of the blower 6, has a holding groove 62, and has a wire harness. 60 is fitted. Further, a bracket 63 is suspended from the lower surface of the case 19, and a connector 64 at the end of the wire harness 60 is fitted to a control device 65 fixed to the bracket 63. The clip 61 and the bracket 63 are both integrated with the case 19 and are manufactured at the same time as molding, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the clip 66 that is a holding portion provided in the mixing / blowing mode unit 4 is provided to protrude from the upper surface of the case 35, has a holding groove 67, and the wire harness 60 is fitted therein. ing. A bracket 68 is provided suspended from the lower surface of the case 35, and a connector 69 at the end of the wire harness 60 is fitted to a control device 70 fixed to the outer bracket 68. Both the clip 66 and the bracket 68 are integral with the case 35, and are manufactured at the same time as molding, for example.

  As described above, since the clips 61 and 66 and the brackets 63 and 68 that are the holding portions of the wire harness 60 are integrally formed with the hot / cold air supply unit 2 and the mixing / blowing mode unit 4, the control devices 65 and 70, respectively. In addition, the wire harness 60 can be wired very easily. In addition, the same member as the said Example 1 attached | subjected the same number, and abbreviate | omitted description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automotive air conditioner incorporated in a vehicle showing a first embodiment of the invention. It is a front view of the part seen from the indoor side of the vehicle same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the motor vehicle air conditioner which has a cut surface in the front-back direction of FIG. It is an enlarged plan view of a cold / hot air supply unit same as the above. FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded view of the automotive air conditioner shown in FIG. 3. This is a mixing / blowing mode unit for automotive air conditioners. It is a rear view of the air conditioner for motor vehicles incorporated in the vehicle which shows the 2nd Example of this invention. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view having a cut surface in the vertical direction of FIG. 7. It is an expanded sectional view which has a cut surface in the up-down direction in the position different from FIG. 8 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automotive air conditioner 2 Hot / cold air supply unit 3 Structure 4 Mixing / blowing mode unit 6 Blower 7 Hot / cold air generating part 13 Air duct 15 Vehicle 16 Inner side wall 17 Outside air inlet 19 Case 22 Heater core 23 Evaporator 26 Condensate discharge pipe 29 1st ventilation path 30 2nd ventilation path 33 Downstream side connection port 35 Case 36 Opening part 37 Mix door 43 Connection port C / V
44 connection port S / V
45 Connection port DEF
46 Connection port FOOT
55 Cam mechanism 57 Silencer mechanism 60 Wire harness 61 Clip 63 Bracket 65 Control device 65 Clip 68 Bracket

Claims (5)

A hollow structure has a first ventilation path that extends along the left-right direction of the vehicle and flows warm air and a second ventilation path that flows cold air,
The heater core that generates the warm air and the evaporator that generates the cold air are arranged at one end of the structure, and a blower that supplies air to both the heater core and the evaporator is also arranged at one end of the structure,
By moving the switching door in accordance with a desired blowing mode and an air mixing mechanism for controlling the mixing ratio of hot air and cold air downstream of the first air passage and the second air passage and on the front side of the structure. An automotive air conditioner comprising a mixing / blowing mode unit having a blowing mode switching mechanism that opens and closes each blowing connection port.   2. The air conditioner for automobile according to claim 1, wherein an outside air inlet formed in an air introduction duct of the blower is provided on a side surface of the vehicle.   The automobile air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a condensate discharge port generated from the evaporator is provided on a side surface of the vehicle.   The automotive air conditioner according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a holding part for electrical components or a harness is formed integrally with the case of the mixing / blowout mode unit and the case of the blower. The automotive air conditioner according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein a sound deadening mechanism is added to the structure forming the first ventilation path and the second ventilation path.

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