JP2010090863A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem wherein an air-conditioning operation can not be simultaneously carried out when a heater core of an air-conditioning system is used as an auxiliary radiator in a conventional engine cooling system. <P>SOLUTION: The air-conditioning system for vehicle having: a duct 19 for air-conditioning; the heater core 20 housed in the duct 19 for air-conditioning, and circulating a coolant of an engine 10; and a heating duct 21 for partitioning the duct 19 for air-conditioning so as to surround the heater core 20, is equipped with: an open air introduction port 22a for introducing the open air into the duct 19 for air-conditioning; an exhaust port 23a for discharging the open air to outside a vehicle introduced from the open air introduction port 22a to the duct 19 for air-conditioning; and an opening and closing means for opening and closing the open air introduction port 22a, the heating duct 21, and the exhaust port 23a. The air-conditioning system for vehicle can be switched to a mode wherein the open air introduction port 22a, the heating duct 21, and the exhaust port 23a are maintained in an opening state, and the open air from the open air introduction port 22a is led to the exhaust port 23a through the heater core 20 of the heating duct 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner in which a heater core can be used as an auxiliary radiator for engine coolant.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a heater core of a vehicle air conditioner is also used as an auxiliary radiator in order to reduce the size of an engine cooling system. In this Patent Document 1, cooling water is cooled by guiding outside air through the heater core to the outside of the passenger compartment and exchanging heat between the cooling water of the engine circulating through the heater core and the outside air.

JP 2004-211643 A

  In the case of the engine cooling system disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the operation mode in which the engine coolant is circulated through the heater core to cool the engine cooling system, it is basically impossible to simultaneously perform the cooling operation in the passenger compartment.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner in which a heater core can be used as an auxiliary radiator for engine coolant even during cooling operation.

  An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention includes an air conditioning duct having an air introduction port on one end side and an air blowing port on the other end side, a heater core that is housed in the air conditioning duct and in which engine cooling water circulates, A vehicle air conditioner having a heating duct that divides the air conditioning duct so as to surround the heater core, and communicates with the air conditioning duct separately from the air introduction port to allow outside air to flow into the air conditioning duct. An outside air introduction port that leads, an exhaust port that communicates with the air conditioning duct and exhausts the outside air led from the outside air introduction port to the air conditioning duct, the outside air introduction port, the heating duct, and the exhaust port Opening and closing means for opening and closing the control means, and control means for controlling the opening and closing of the opening and closing means, the control means comprises the outside air introduction port and the A first mode in which the heat duct and the exhaust port are held in an open state, the outside air from the outside air introduction port is led to the heating duct, and the outside air that has passed through the heater core is led to the exhaust port; A second mode in which the outside air introduction port, the heating duct, and the exhaust port are kept closed, and the air from the air introduction port is guided to the air blowing port without passing through the heating duct; A third mode in which the introduction port and the exhaust port are closed and the heating duct is held in an open state, and air from the air introduction port is guided from the heating duct to the air blowing port through the heater core; Further, the opening / closing position of the opening / closing means can be switched.

  In the present invention, when the first mode is selected, the engine coolant led to the heater core is cooled by the outside air from the outside air introduction port, and the warmed outside air is discharged from the exhaust port to the outside of the vehicle. . When the vehicle interior is cooled, the first mode or the second mode is selected. In addition, when heating the passenger compartment, the third mode is selected.

  The vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention may further include an evaporator that is accommodated in an air conditioning duct between the air introduction port and the outside air introduction port and in which the refrigerant circulates.

  A blower for guiding the outside air from the outside air introduction port to the air conditioning duct in conjunction with opening and closing of the outside air introduction port may be further provided.

  The opening / closing means includes a first opening / closing damper for opening / closing the outside air introduction port, a second opening / closing damper for opening / closing the heating duct, and a third opening / closing damper for opening / closing the exhaust port. The second open / close damper switches between a closed position for achieving the second mode, a first open position for achieving the first mode simultaneously with the second mode, and a second open position for achieving the third mode. It may be possible.

  Means for determining the driving state of the vehicle may further be provided, and the control means may select the first mode when the driving state of the vehicle is a predetermined driving state set in advance. In this case, the driving state of the vehicle can include the engine speed, the vehicle speed, the outside air temperature, and the engine load.

  According to the vehicle air conditioner of the present invention, the outside air from the outside air introduction port is led to the heating duct, and the outside air that has passed through the heater core is led to the exhaust port, so that the heat radiation by the radiator is particularly severe in summer. During high load and low vehicle speed operation, it is possible to guide engine cooling water to the heater core and use it as an auxiliary radiator. In this case, since the high-temperature outside air that has passed through the heater core is discharged outside the vehicle, it is possible to avoid an adverse effect on cooling in the vehicle interior.

  In conjunction with opening and closing of the outside air introduction port, when a blower for guiding outside air from the outside air introduction port to the air conditioning duct is further provided, the capacity of the auxiliary radiator in the first mode can be enhanced.

  The opening and closing means has a first opening and closing damper for opening and closing the outside air introduction port, a second opening and closing damper for opening and closing the heating duct, and a third opening and closing damper for opening and closing the exhaust port, The second opening / closing damper can be switched between a closed position for achieving the second mode, a first open position for achieving the first mode simultaneously with the second mode, and a second open position for achieving the third mode. In this case, the cooling capacity of the engine can be increased by using the heater core as an auxiliary radiator even during the cooling operation.

  Means for determining the driving state of the vehicle is further provided, and the control means is configured to select the first mode when the driving state of the vehicle is a predetermined driving state set in advance. The heater core can be used as an auxiliary radiator during high load and low vehicle speed operation.

  An embodiment of an air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and the spirit of the present invention is as necessary. It can also be applied to any other technique belonging to.

  A vehicle air conditioner according to this embodiment is schematically shown in FIG. 1, which represents a cooling operation state that is the second mode. An engine cooling system is attached to the engine 10 arranged outside the passenger compartment. The engine cooling system includes a radiator 11, a cooling fan 12, a cooling water circulation pump 13, a thermostat 14, and a bypass passage 15. The radiator 11 forms a cooling water circulation passage 17 between the engine 10 such that cooling water from the engine 10 side passes through the radiator 11 via a branch valve 16 described later and returns to the engine 10 via the thermostat 14. The bypass passage 15 is connected to the branch valve 16 and the thermostat 14. When the temperature of the cooling water is low, the thermostat 14 closes the cooling water circulation passage 17. Therefore, the cooling water circulating pump 13 that operates in conjunction with the engine 10 causes the cooling water to pass from the branch valve 16 through the bypass passage 15, return from the thermostat 14 to the engine 10, and does not flow to the radiator 11 side. The temperature of the cooling water rises, the thermostat 14 opens the cooling water circulation passage 17 and closes the bypass passage 15, and the cooling water defines a flow that returns from the branch valve 16 to the engine 10 through the radiator 11. When the temperature of the cooling water further rises, the cooling fan 12 starts to rotate, and the cooling efficiency of the cooling water by the radiator 11 is increased.

  On the other hand, the air conditioner in the present embodiment includes a portion disposed on the passenger compartment side, a portion disposed outside the passenger compartment, pipes connecting them, a control device 18 for controlling these operations, and the like. It consists of

  The parts arranged on the passenger compartment side are the air conditioning duct 19, the heater core 20, the heating duct 21, the outside air introduction port 22a, the exhaust port 23a, the evaporator 24, the outside air introduction port 22a, and the heating duct. 21 and opening / closing means for opening and closing the exhaust port 23a and the like. The air-conditioning duct 19 has an air introduction port 19a on one end side and an air blowing port 19b on the other end side, and a plurality of air blowing ports 19b are formed and each open to the vehicle interior. The air introduction port 19a communicates with an outside air introduction duct 25 for introducing outside air and an indoor air intake duct 26 for circulating air in the vehicle interior. The heater core 20 is accommodated in the air conditioning duct 19 so that the cooling water of the engine 10 described above circulates. This portion will be described later. The heating duct 21 partitions the air conditioning duct 19 so as to surround the heater core 20. The outside air introduction port 22 a communicates with the air conditioning duct 19 separately from the air introduction port 19 a of the air conditioning duct 19 and guides outside air to the air conditioning duct 19, and is connected to the end of the second outside air introduction duct 22. Is formed. The exhaust port 23 a communicates with the air conditioning duct 19 and has a function of discharging outside air led from the outside air introduction port 22 a to the air conditioning duct 19 to the outside of the vehicle, and is formed at the base end of the exhaust duct 23. The evaporator 24 is accommodated in the air conditioning duct 19 between the air introduction port 19a and the outside air introduction port 22a so that the refrigerant circulates. This portion will be described later. The opening / closing means controls the opening / closing of the first opening / closing damper 27, the second opening / closing damper 28, the third opening / closing damper 29, the mixing damper 30, the opening / closing dampers 27 to 29, and the position control of the mixing damper 30, respectively. And an actuator (not shown) for performing. The first opening / closing damper 27 is for opening and closing the outside air introduction port 22a. The second open / close damper 28 is for opening and closing the heating duct 21 and can be switched between a closed position, a first open position, and a second open position. When the second opening / closing damper 28 is in the closed position, the heating duct 21 is closed. The first open position achieves the first mode shown in FIG. 4, that is, the operating state in which the coolant of the engine 10 is led from the branch valve 16 to the heater core 20 and the heater core 20 is used as an auxiliary radiator. In the first mode, the cooling operation can be performed simultaneously. The second open position achieves the third mode shown in FIG. 6, that is, the heating operation state. The third opening / closing damper 29 is for opening and closing the exhaust port 23a. In the first mode, the exhaust port 23a is opened to allow the heating duct 21 and the exhaust port 23a to communicate with each other. In the third mode, the exhaust port 23a is closed. The mixing damper 30 disposed across the outside air introduction duct 25 and the room air intake duct 26 adjusts the mixing ratio of the outside air from the outside air introduction duct 25 and the air in the vehicle interior from the room air intake duct 26. Is for. The actuator is used to open and close these open / close dampers and adjust the position of the mixing damper 30. However, the position of the mixing damper 30 may be manually adjusted directly by the occupant.

  In the air conditioning duct 19 between the air introduction port 19a and the evaporator 24, an air conditioning blower 31 for sending air from the air introduction port 19a to the evaporator 24 side is incorporated. Further, in the middle of the second outside air introduction duct 22 that defines the outside air introduction port 22a, cooling for guiding outside air from the outside air introduction port 22a to the air conditioning duct 19 in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the outside air introduction port 22a. An air blower 32 is incorporated.

  A portion arranged outside the passenger compartment includes a condenser 34 that defines a refrigerant circulation passage 33 with the evaporator 24, and a compressor 35 that is incorporated in the refrigerant circulation passage 33 that connects the condenser 34 and the evaporator 24. And a refrigerant circulation pump 36 that is incorporated in the refrigerant circulation passage 33 and circulates the refrigerant. One end of the second cooling water circulation passage 37 is connected to the branch valve 16 and the other end of the second cooling water circulation passage 37 communicates with the thermostat 14. The previous branch valve 16 is for opening and closing the second cooling water circulation passage 37. When the vehicle is in a predetermined operation state, the second cooling water circulation passage 37 is opened to supply the cooling water to the engine 10 and the heater core. It is designed to circulate between 20.

  The control device 18 as the control means according to the present invention switches the opening / closing and opening / closing means of the branch valve 16 to the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode, and the air-conditioning fan 31, the cooling fan 32, This is for controlling the operation of the refrigerant circulation pump 36 and the like. In the first mode, the outside air introduction port 22a, the heating duct 21 and the exhaust port 23a are kept open, the outside air from the outside air introduction port 22a is guided to the heating duct 21, and the outside air passing through the heater core 20 is exhausted. This mode leads to the port 23a and uses the heater core 20 as an auxiliary radiator. In this case, since the air from the air introduction port 19a can be guided to the air blowing port 19b without passing through the heating duct 21, it is possible to simultaneously perform the cooling operation. In the second mode, the outside air introduction port 22a, the heating duct 21 and the exhaust port 23a are kept closed, and the air from the air introduction port 19a is guided to the air blowing port 19b without passing through the heating duct 21. It is an operation mode. Note that unlike the previous first mode, the heater core 20 cannot be used as an auxiliary radiator in this second mode. In the third mode, the outside air introduction port 22a and the exhaust port 23a are closed and the heating duct 21 is kept open, and the air from the air introduction port 19a passes through the heater core 20 through the heater core 20 and the air blowing port 19b. It is a heating operation mode that leads to

  In order to determine the selection of the first mode described above based on the driving state of the vehicle, in the present embodiment, based on the engine speed, the vehicle speed, the outside air temperature, and the load of the engine 10, these are based on preset threshold values. The control means controls the operation of the opening / closing means and the operation of the cooling fan 32 and the opening / closing of the branch valve 16 so that the first mode is performed. For this reason, an engine speed sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an outside air temperature sensor (not shown) are assembled in the vehicle, and an engine load calculation unit (not shown) is incorporated in the control device 18. Further, the control device 18 has a map as shown in FIG. 2 showing the relationship between the vehicle speed, the outside air temperature, and the auxiliary cooling region, and FIG. 3 showing the relationship between the engine speed, the load of the engine 10 and the auxiliary cooling region. Such a map is stored. The auxiliary cooling region in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a region where the heater core 20 should be used as an auxiliary radiator. When all of these conditions are satisfied and the cooling operation state is set, the first mode is selected.

  When the first mode is selected, the first open / close damper 27 is held in the open state, the second open / close damper 28 is held in the first open position, and the third open / close damper 29 is held in the open state. Is done. In addition, the cooling blower 32 is activated, the branch valve 16 opens the cooling water pipe, and the cooling water from the engine 10 is supplied to the heater core 20 in addition to the radiator 11. The selection procedure of the first mode will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. First, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the air conditioner is in the cooling operation mode, that is, the second mode is selected. . If it is determined that the cooling operation is being performed, it is determined in step S12 whether or not the driving state of the vehicle is in an auxiliary cooling region as shown in FIGS. Here, when it is determined that the vehicle is in the auxiliary cooling region, the process proceeds to step S13, the first mode is selected, the branch valve 16 is opened by the control device 18, and the second cooling water circulation passage 37 is opened. . As a result, a circulating flow of cooling water from the engine 10 through the heater core 20 via the branch valve 16 and returning from the thermostat 14 to the engine 10 is formed. At the same time, the control device 18 opens the first opening / closing damper 27 to open the outside air introduction port 22a, the second opening / closing damper 28 is driven to the first opening position, and the third opening / closing damper 29 is opened. Then, the exhaust port 23a is opened, and the cooling fan 32 is driven. As a result, the outside air from the outside air introduction port 22a is guided to the heating duct 21, passes through the heater core 20, exchanges heat with the cooling water, and the cooling water cooled by the outside air returns to the engine 10 side. It is. At the same time, the high temperature outside air is discharged from the exhaust port 23a to the outside of the vehicle. Thus, even during the cooling operation, the heater core 20 can be used as an auxiliary radiator, and the cooling efficiency of the cooling water of the engine 10 can be improved.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S11 that the air conditioner is not in cooling operation, or if it is determined in step S12 that the driving state of the vehicle is not in the auxiliary cooling region, the first mode is selected. Not done.

  It should be noted that the present invention should be construed only from the matters described in the claims, and in the above-described embodiment, all the changes and modifications included in the concept of the present invention are other than those described. Is possible. That is, all matters in the above-described embodiment are not intended to limit the present invention, and include any configuration not directly related to the present invention. To get.

It is a key map showing typically one embodiment of the air harmony device for vehicles by the present invention, and shows the air conditioning operation state which is the 2nd mode. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is a map showing the relationship between a vehicle speed, external temperature, and an auxiliary | assistant cooling use area | region. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is a map showing the relationship between an engine speed, an engine load, and an auxiliary cooling use area. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the use condition at the time of selecting 1st mode in the air_conditionaing | cooling operation of embodiment shown in FIG. It is a flowchart showing the selection procedure of the 1st mode in embodiment shown in FIG. In embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is a conceptual diagram which shows the heating operation state which is a 3rd mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Engine 11 Radiator 12 Cooling fan 13 Cooling water circulation pump 14 Thermostat 15 Bypass passage 16 Branch valve 17 Cooling water circulation passage 18 Control device 19 Air-conditioning duct 19a Air introduction port 19b Air blowing port 20 Heater core 21 Heating duct 22 Second outside air Introduction duct 22a Outside air introduction port 23 Exhaust duct 23a Exhaust port 24 Evaporator 25 Outside air introduction duct 26 Indoor air intake duct 27 First opening / closing damper 28 Second opening / closing damper 29 Third opening / closing damper 30 Mixing damper 31 Air conditioner blower 32 Cooling Blower 33 Refrigerant circulation passage 34 Condenser 35 Compressor 36 Refrigerant circulation pump 37 Second cooling water circulation passage

Claims (4)

An air conditioning duct having an air introduction port on one end side and an air outlet port on the other end side, a heater core accommodated in the air conditioning duct and circulating the cooling water of the engine, and the air conditioning duct surrounding the heater core A vehicle air conditioner having a heating duct that partitions the duct,
An outside air introduction port that communicates with the air conditioning duct separately from the air introduction port and guides outside air to the air conditioning duct;
An exhaust port communicating with the air conditioning duct and exhausting the outside air led from the outside air introduction port to the air conditioning duct;
Opening and closing means for opening and closing the outside air introduction port, the heating duct and the exhaust port;
Control means for controlling the opening and closing of the opening and closing means, the control means,
The outside air introduction port, the heating duct, and the exhaust port are kept open, the outside air from the outside air introduction port is led to the heating duct, and the outside air that has passed through the heater core is led to the exhaust port. The first mode;
A second mode in which the outside air introduction port, the heating duct and the exhaust port are held in a closed state, and the air from the air introduction port is guided to the air blowing port without passing through the heating duct;
The outside air introduction port and the exhaust port are closed and the heating duct is held in an open state, and the air from the air introduction port is led from the heating duct to the air blowing port through the heater core. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the opening / closing position of the opening / closing means can be switched between modes.   The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a blower for guiding the outside air from the outside air introduction port to the air conditioning duct in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the outside air introduction port.   The opening / closing means includes a first opening / closing damper for opening / closing the outside air introduction port, a second opening / closing damper for opening / closing the heating duct, and a third opening / closing damper for opening / closing the exhaust port. The second opening / closing damper has a closed position for achieving the second mode, a first open position for achieving the first mode simultaneously with the second mode, and the third mode. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air conditioner can be switched to a second open position.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a driving state of the vehicle, wherein the control means selects the first mode when the driving state of the vehicle is a predetermined driving state set in advance. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 3.

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