JP2012081816A - Air conditioner for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner for a vehicle, preventing a high-temperature high-pressure heat exchange medium from hitting passengers and preventing low visibility with respect to the forward direction of the vehicle caused by the heat exchange medium filled in the form of a mist in a space in a cabin, by preventing the heat exchange medium from being leaked into the space in the cabin even if the high-temperature high-pressure heat exchange medium is leaked from pipes in the case that a heat pump system with an indoor heating heat exchanger arranged inside of the cabin is employed.SOLUTION: A case outer pipe 35a out of the pipes 35 composing the heat pump system 25, which is positioned outside of a case 7 storing the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 and inside of the space 4 in the cabin, is covered with a cover 38, thereby defining a highly airtight closed space 44 around the case outer pipe 35a. A grommet 55 attached to a fire board 5 is formed with a passage portion 60 for allowing the closed space 44 to communicate with an area 3 outside of the cabin and discharging the heat exchange medium leaked into the closed space 44 to the area 3 outside of the cabin. An opening/closing means for opening/closing the opening 61 of the passage portion 60 is a valve structure 64.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner suitable for vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, and to a device using a heat pump system.

  In recent years, the development of electric vehicles (electric vehicle abbreviation: EV) has progressed rapidly, and there has been a tendency not to mount fossil fuel-utilized engines in automobiles, so engine cooling water is used as a heat source for heating heat exchangers as in the past. The heat pump system has been attracting attention because it is not easy to use as a heat sink. Along with this, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, the invention itself using such a heat pump system as a cooling / heating device for an electric vehicle is already known.

  However, in the vehicle heat pump system disclosed in Patent Document 1, an indoor heating heat exchanger (indicated as a sub-capacitor in Patent Document 1) disposed in the vehicle interior is a high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchanger. A medium (displayed as a refrigerant in Patent Document 1) flows. Therefore, a high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium may leak into the vehicle interior due to a malfunction of the seal member or a slight external force applied to the piping connecting the heat exchanger for indoor heating and other heat pump system equipment. It is conceivable that the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaking into the vehicle interior fills the vehicle interior in a mist, resulting in poor visibility with respect to the front of the vehicle.

  For this reason, countermeasures against leakage of a high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium are desired. For example, even if water leaks from the hot water piping of the heater core shown in the vehicle air conditioner of Patent Document 2, it does not leak into the vehicle interior. As described above, a configuration in which a cover is provided so as to wrap the piping outside the case, a configuration in which a pipe connection portion that is likely to leak refrigerant, as shown in the air conditioner of Patent Document 3, is arranged outside the vehicle compartment, and a vehicle safety device of Patent Document 4 As shown in Fig. 2, the configuration of disposing the exhaust port for discharging the leaked refrigerant out of the passenger compartment is already known in the vehicle door, and these configurations are used for the heat exchange medium of the vehicle air conditioner including the heat pump system. It can be used as a countermeasure against leakage.

JP-A-8-238923 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-315752 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-198060 International Publication WO00 / 34065

  However, the configuration for measures against leakage of the heat exchange medium disclosed in the vehicle air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a pipe having one end connected to the heating heat exchanger and routed outside the case. Since it is only covered with the cover, the heat exchange medium leaked from the pipe and the connector remains in the space defined between the cover and the case located on the vehicle interior side. Therefore, there is a risk that the high-temperature heat exchange medium that remains leaking in the space will eventually leak into the vehicle compartment due to damage to the cover or the like.

  In addition, the configuration for measures against leakage of the heat exchange medium disclosed in the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 3 is such that the pipe connection portion is always disposed outside the passenger compartment, so that the relative distance from the indoor heating heat exchanger to the pipe connection portion is relatively small. Long pipes must always be prepared. And since the position which installs a piping connection part will also be limited to a vehicle exterior area, the freedom degree of the layout of the piping extended out of the case from the heat exchanger for indoor heating is impaired.

  Furthermore, the configuration of the countermeasure against leakage of the heat exchange medium disclosed in the vehicle safety device disclosed in Patent Document 4 is for discharging the heat exchange medium outside the vehicle after it has leaked into the vehicle interior. It is not intended to prevent the heat exchange medium from leaking into the passenger compartment. For this reason, in the vehicle safety device disclosed in Patent Document 4, it is impossible to prevent problems due to leakage of a high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium into the vehicle compartment and poor visibility to the front of the vehicle.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a heat pump system having a configuration in which a heat exchanger for indoor heating is arranged in a vehicle interior in order to be suitable for a vehicle, particularly for an electric vehicle. To provide a vehicle air conditioner that prevents the heat exchange medium from leaking into the vehicle interior and preventing fogging in the vehicle interior and causing poor visibility with respect to the front of the vehicle. Objective.

An air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in a vehicle exterior area, a heat exchanger for indoor heating disposed in a vehicle interior space, an expansion device, and a vehicle interior space. The indoor cooling heat exchanger is appropriately connected by a pipe and a connector, and a relatively high temperature and high pressure heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger during cooling operation, and during heating operation In a vehicle air conditioner including a heat pump system having a heat exchange medium flow path switching means for sending to the heat exchanger for indoor heating, inflow / outflow of heat exchange medium to the heat exchanger for indoor heating in the pipe And connecting the pipe outside the case that is located outside the case that houses the heat exchanger for room heating and inside the vehicle interior space, or the pipe outside the case and the pipe outside the case The connector is covered with a cover to define a highly airtight closed space around the pipe outside the case or around the pipe outside the case and the connector, and partition the vehicle interior space from the vehicle compartment outer area. In the partition portion, the closed space covered with the cover around the pipe outside the case or around the pipe outside the case and the connector, and the outside area of the vehicle compartment communicated and leaked into the closed space. A passage portion for discharging the heat exchange medium to the outside of the passenger compartment is provided (claim 1). Here, the outdoor heat exchanger is also referred to as, for example, an outdoor condenser. The heat exchanger for indoor heating is also called, for example, a vehicle interior condenser or a sub condenser. The indoor-cooling heat exchanger is disposed in the vehicle interior and is also referred to as, for example, an (indoor) evaporator. The expansion device is also referred to as an expansion valve, for example. A partition part is also called a fire board etc., for example. The heat exchange medium is, for example, R134a refrigerant or CO ₂ refrigerant. The heat exchange medium flow path switching means is a direction switching valve that enables switching in three or more directions such as a four-way valve and a three-way valve.

  As a result, even if a high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaks from a case-external pipe that is located outside the case that houses the heat exchanger for room heating, or a connector that connects the case-external pipe or the case-external pipes, Is in a closed space defined by a cover and a case with good airtightness, and the heat exchange medium leaked in the closed space hardly communicates with the closed space and communicates with both the closed space and the vehicle interior and exterior. It is quickly discharged out of the passenger compartment from the passage part.

  Here, the passage portion includes an opening that communicates the closed space with the vehicle exterior area, and an opening / closing means that opens and closes the opening so that a heat exchange medium is discharged from the closed space toward the vehicle exterior area. (Claim 2). As a result, the passage portion does not always communicate with the closed space and the vehicle exterior area, and the communication state between the closed space and the vehicle exterior area can be controlled to be opened and closed by the opening / closing means. It is also possible to prevent traveling wind pressure, dust, water, and the like from entering the closed space on the vehicle interior side.

  The opening / closing means closes the opening of the passage portion when there is no difference in pressure between the closed space and the vehicle exterior area, or when the pressure in the closed space is relatively higher than the vehicle exterior area. The valve structure includes a valve body that opens the opening from the closed space toward the outside of the passenger compartment when the height is higher. As a result, in the state where the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium does not leak into the closed space, there is no difference in pressure between the closed space and the outside of the passenger compartment or the area is relatively small. Is closed only when the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaks into the closed space and the pressure in the closed space becomes relatively higher than the outside of the passenger compartment, that is, atmospheric pressure. However, it is possible to discharge the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaked by opening the opening of the passage portion from the opening of the passage portion to the outside of the passenger compartment.

  Furthermore, the opening of the passage portion is formed in a grommet that is formed in the partition portion and is inserted into and held in the opening portion that communicates the vehicle interior space and the vehicle interior outer region. The valve structure of the passage portion is characterized in that the valve body is integrally formed with the grommet (Claim 4). Thus, by forming integrally with the grommet, the manufacturability of the valve structure is improved, and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed. However, the valve structure may be separate from the grommet, and in this case, a general-purpose valve structure can be used.

As described above, according to the present invention, high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange is performed from a case-external pipe located outside a case that houses a heat exchanger for room heating, or a connector that connects the case-external pipe and the case-external pipe. Even if the medium leaks, the leakage destination can be in a closed space defined by the cover and the case with good airtightness, and further, the heat exchange medium leaked in the closed space is almost completely contained in the closed space. Since it can be quickly discharged out of the passenger compartment from the passage space communicating with this closed space and the passenger compartment outside area, it is possible to prevent the leaked heat exchange medium at high temperature and high pressure from leaking into the passenger compartment space. Is possible.
Therefore, the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaked into the vehicle interior space is prevented from hitting the passenger, and the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaked into the vehicle interior space spreads in a mist shape in the vehicle interior space and the front view of the vehicle Even if a heat pump system in which a heat exchanger for indoor heating that uses a high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium is installed in the interior space of the vehicle, it is possible to prevent defects from occurring due to leakage of the heat exchange medium. It is possible to protect the passenger from troubles and improve the safety of the passenger.

  In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the passage portion does not always connect the closed space and the vehicle exterior area, and the open / close means controls the communication between the closed space and the vehicle exterior area. Therefore, it is possible to quickly cope with leakage from the piping and connector of the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium by devising the configuration of the opening / closing means. It is also possible to prevent traveling wind pressure, dust, water, and the like from entering the closed space on the vehicle interior side.

  In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium does not leak into the closed space, the opening of the passage portion is closed with the valve body of the valve structure so that the closed space and the vehicle exterior area are closed. When the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaks into the closed space and the pressure in the closed space becomes higher than the outside of the passenger compartment, the space between the closed space and the outer compartment of the passenger compartment is avoided. By utilizing the pressure difference, the high temperature and high pressure heat exchange medium leaked by the valve body of the valve structure quickly opening the opening of the passage portion can be quickly discharged from the opening of the passage portion to the outside of the passenger compartment.

  In particular, according to the invention as set forth in claim 4, the valve structure is formed integrally with the grommet, thereby simplifying the manufacture of the valve structure, the manufacturing cost of the valve structure disposed in the passage portion, and thus the vehicle air conditioner. An increase in the overall manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention and a positional relationship between the vehicle air conditioner and a fire board, and in particular, an example of a configuration of a heat pump system used by the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention. Is shown. 2A is a plan view showing the HVAC unit and the fire board of the vehicle air conditioner of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a closed space defined by the case and the cover of the HVAC unit. It is sectional drawing which showed the inside of No. 2 planarly. 3A is a side view showing the HVAC unit and the fire board of the vehicle air conditioner of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B is a closed space defined by the case and the cover of the HVAC unit. It is sectional drawing which showed the grommet vicinity especially from the side. FIG. 4 is a process diagram showing a process of attaching a cover to the surface of the case of the vehicle air conditioner of FIG. 3 and a fitted portion provided to protrude forward from the case in the vehicle front-rear direction. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of the opening / closing means of the passage portion of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) shows that the vehicle exterior area and the closed space have the same pressure value as the atmospheric pressure, respectively. FIG. 5 (b) is a diagram showing the state of the opening / closing means, and FIG. 5 (b) is closed when the closed space becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure due to refrigerant leakage while the outside area of the passenger compartment has the same pressure value as the atmospheric pressure. It is the figure which showed the aspect which operates an opening-and-closing means using the pressure difference of space and a vehicle interior outer area. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a configuration example different from that in FIG.

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

  1, 2, and 3, as an example of an air conditioner for a vehicle, for example, an electric vehicle, a center-place type air conditioner 1 that is mounted on a center console portion of the vehicle such as the electric vehicle is illustrated. The HVAC unit 2 of the air conditioner 1 is arranged closer to the vehicle interior space 4 than the fire board 5 that partitions the vehicle interior outer region 3 and the vehicle interior space 4, as shown in FIG. In the case 7 in which the air flow path 6 is formed, the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8 such as an evaporator that constitutes a part of the heat pump system 25 described later, and the indoor heating heat exchange that also constitutes a part of the heat pump system 25. The appliances 9 are stood and stored in the form of being arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a blower 10 is disposed above the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8 in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 2 in particular, an intake device 11 is offset at a position on the driver seat side or the passenger seat side along the vehicle left-right direction with respect to the blower 10. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, the inside air or the outside air is introduced from the outside air introduction port 13 or the inside air introduction port 14 according to the position (opening degree) of the intake door 12 of the intake device 11 by the rotation of the blower 10. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the case 7, the air that has been cooled and dehumidified after passing through the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8 bypasses the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 and is downstream of the air flow path 6. A cold air flow path 15 that leads to the side and a hot air flow path 16 that guides the air that has passed through the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 to the downstream side of the air flow path 6 are formed as part of the air flow path 6. The ratio of the air passing through the cold air passage 15 and the air passing through the hot air passage 16 is higher in the vehicle vertical direction than the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 shown in FIGS. In the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the air that has been adjusted by the air mix door 17 provided between the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8 and the indoor heating heat exchanger 9, The air flowing from the hot air flow path 16 is appropriately mixed on the downstream side of the air mix door 17 of the air flow path 6 and the temperature is adjusted.

  On the most downstream side of the air flow path 6, a defrost opening 18 that blows air toward a windshield (not shown), a vent opening 19 that blows air above the vehicle interior space 4, and air below the vehicle interior space 4. The foot opening 20 to be blown out is formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the opening of each opening 18, 19, 20 is provided in front of the corresponding opening 18, 19, 20. The mode doors 21, 22, and 23 are adjusted.

  Next, an example of the heat pump system 25 used in the air conditioner 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The heat pump system 25 shown in FIG. 1 performs the cooling and heating of the vehicle interior space 4 by the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8 and the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 described above. In addition to the heat exchangers 8 and 9 disposed in the air flow path 6, the outdoor heat exchanger 26, the compressor 27, the first expansion device 28, the second expansion device 29, the accumulator 30, and the heat exchange medium A direction switching valve 32 that switches the flow direction, an on-off valve 31 that controls opening and closing of the flow of the heat exchange medium, and check valves 33 and 34 that prevent the heat exchange medium from flowing in the reverse direction are configured. The indoor cooling heat exchanger 8, the indoor heating heat exchanger 9, the outdoor heat exchanger 26, the compressor 27, the first expansion device 28, the second expansion device 29, the accumulator 30, and the direction switching valve 32. The on-off valve 31 and the check valves 33 and 34 are appropriately connected by a pipe 35 so that a heat exchange medium such as R134a refrigerant travels through an appropriate route during heating operation, cooling operation, or dehumidifying operation, which will be described later. It has become. And the point indexed as U1, U2, U3 in the piping in FIG. 1 indicates a portion where the piping 35 intersects with each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor heat exchanger 26 is arranged in the vehicle exterior area 3 and performs heat exchange between air (atmosphere) in the vehicle exterior area and a heat exchange medium. It has an outdoor blower 36 composed of an impeller that is rotatably connected by a rotating shaft, and is installed at a position where the wind sent from the front of the vehicle hits when the vehicle travels.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the compressor 27 is also disposed in the vehicle compartment outer region 3, and is driven by an electric motor (not shown) to suck, compress, and discharge the heat exchange medium. ing. However, the compressor 27 may use a vehicle engine as a power source in a hybrid vehicle.
In this embodiment, the first expansion device 28 uses a block type expansion valve as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and is attached to the fire board 5 as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. By being attached, it is disposed on the boundary between the vehicle interior outer area 3 and the vehicle interior space 4. The arrangement of the first expansion device 28 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fire board 5 has an opening 37 that communicates with both the vehicle interior area 3 and the vehicle interior space 4. The first expansion device 28 is fitted into the opening 37 and the interior space of the first expansion device 28 is covered with a cup-shaped cover 38 having a grommet 39 for focusing and holding the pipes 35 and 35 on the bottom side. Covers around the 4 side with good airtightness. However, the first expansion device 28 is only required to have a function of decompressing and expanding the heat exchange medium sent from the outdoor heat exchanger 26 to the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8, and is limited to the block type expansion valve described above. For example, a capillary tube or the like may be used. The first expansion device 28 is connected to the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8 via a pipe 35 on one side of the path of the heat exchange medium, and the outdoor heat exchanger 26 and the direction switching valve 32 on the other side. In this embodiment, the heat exchange medium flows from the first expansion device 28 to the direction switching valve 32 or the direction switching valve 32 between the points U2 and U3 of the piping 35 in this embodiment. An on-off valve 31 is provided for controlling the opening and closing of the flow of the heat exchange medium from to the first expansion device 28.
The second expansion device 29 is for decompressing and expanding the heat exchange medium sent from the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 to the outdoor heat exchanger 26, and accordingly, the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 and the outdoor heat. The heat exchanger 26 is connected to the exchanger 26 via a pipe 35. In this embodiment, the outdoor heat exchanger 26 is connected to the second expander 29 between the second expander 29 and the point U1 of the pipe 35. A check valve 33 is arranged to prevent the flow of the heat exchange medium. For example, a capillary tube or the like is used as the second expansion device 29.
The accumulator 30 is for storing the excess heat exchange medium in the heat pump system 25 and sending only the gas phase heat exchange medium to the compressor 27 to prevent the liquid heat exchange medium from being sucked into the compressor 27. Accordingly, the accumulator 30 is connected to the compressor 27 via the pipe 35 on one side of the path of the heat exchange medium, and passes through the U2 point and the U3 point of the pipe 35 on the other side to heat the room cooling. The exchanger 8 and the outdoor heat exchanger 26 are connected.
The direction switching valve 32 is for switching the flow of the heat exchange medium in accordance with the operation mode during the cooling operation, the heating operation, and the dehumidifying operation, and includes the compressor 27, the outdoor heat exchanger 26, and the first expansion device 28. The check is connected to the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 via the pipe 35 and prevents the flow of the heat exchange medium from the outdoor heat exchanger 26 to the direction switching valve 32 between the outdoor heat exchanger 26 and the outdoor heat exchanger 26. A valve 34 is arranged. As the direction switching valve 32, a four-way valve is used in this embodiment, but a three-way valve may be used.

  With such a configuration of the heat pump system 25, during the cooling operation, the on-off valve 31 is closed and the direction switching valve 32 is a dotted line circuit, and the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor 27 is subjected to direction switching. It flows in the order of the valve 32, the outdoor heat exchanger 26, the first expansion device 28, the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8, the accumulator 30, and the compressor 27. During the heating operation, the on-off valve 31 is opened and the direction switching valve 32 is a solid circuit, and the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor 27 is the direction switching valve 32, the indoor heating heat exchanger 9, The second expansion device 29, the outdoor heat exchanger 26, the accumulator 30, and the compressor 27 flow in this order. During the dehumidifying operation, the on-off valve 31 is closed and the direction switching valve 32 is a solid line circuit, and the heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor 27 is the direction switching valve 32, the heat exchanger 9 for indoor heating, The second expansion device 29, the outdoor heat exchanger 26, the first expansion device 28, the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8, the accumulator 30, and the compressor 27 flow in this order.

  By the way, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pipes 35, 35 drawn out of the case 7 from the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8 travel through the vehicle interior space 4 and are converged and held by the grommet 39. Then, it enters the cover 38 and is further connected to the vehicle interior space 4 side of the through hole of the block of the first expansion device 28. Pipes 35, 35 are also connected to the side of the vehicle compartment outer region 3 of the block through-hole of the first expansion device 28.

  Then, on the opposite side of the vehicle left-right direction from the side from which the indoor-cooling heat exchanger 8 is drawn, as shown in FIG. 4, from the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 to the outside of the case 7 and in the vehicle interior space 4 As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case-outside piping 35 a drawn out in FIG. 2 extends toward the opening 41 of the fire board 5, and in particular, as shown in FIG. The range from the stage of going out to entering the opening 41 of the fireboard 5 is within the closed space 44 that is well defined by combining the fitted portion 42 and the cover 43 provided on the case 7. It is stored.

  Of these, the fitted portion 42 is formed integrally with the case 7 and has a frame shape extending in a substantially square frame shape so that the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 surrounds the opening 45 facing the case 7. A portion 42a, strip portions 42b and 42c extending in a strip shape along the axial direction of the case outer piping 35a and sandwiching the case outer piping 35a both in the vehicle vertical direction with respect to the case outer piping 35a, The U-shaped portion extends in the form of a substantially U-shaped cross section and an opening on the front side in the vehicle traveling direction so as to be connected to the other portions 42b, 42c and to the surfaces other than the above-described portions 42a, 42b, 42c. 42d.

  And the to-be-fitted part 42 is formed with a flange 47 that abuts the side surface of the interior space 4 of the fire board 5 on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction of the U-shaped part 42d. In this embodiment, in order to be screwed into the cover 43, the protrusion 49 formed with the screw hole 48 is located at the outer corner of the boundary between the flange 47 and the U-shaped portion 42d, and the front and rear of the frame-like portion 42a. It is provided on the upper side and the lower side of the outer surface on the rear side in the direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the fitted portion 42 is formed with a holding portion 50 for holding a grommet 55 described later in the vicinity of the flange 47 so as to protrude on the inner surface.

  In this embodiment, the cover 43 is an engagement means that can be engaged with a top portion located on the left and right sides of the frame-shaped portion 42a, the strip-shaped portions 42b and 42c, and the U-shaped portion 42d of the fitted portion 42 without a gap. And a plate-like portion 43b that covers the opposite side of the frame-like portion 42a from the fitted portion 42 side. A front side of the cover 43 in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed with a flange 52 that abuts the side surface of the interior space 4 of the fire board 5 and joins the flange 47 of the fitted portion 42 without a gap. Screw holes 48 are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions 49, that is, at the outer corners of the boundary between the flange 52 and the frame-like part 43a and the upper and lower sides of the outer side of the frame-like part 42a in the vehicle front-rear direction. The formed plate portion 53 is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the cover 43 has a holding portion 54 that protrudes on the inner surface in the vicinity of the flange 52 for holding a grommet 55 described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, the grommet 55 is sandwiched and held between the holding portion 50 of the fitted portion 42 and the holding portion 54 of the cover 43 without a gap. Thus, a through hole 56 is formed through which the outer case pipe 35a is inserted. The through hole 56 and the outer surface of the pipe 35 are in contact with each other so that no gap is generated.

  As a result, the frame-shaped portion 43a of the cover 43 is formed on the top of the frame-shaped portion 42a, the strip-shaped portions 42b, 42c and the U-shaped portion 42d of the fitted portion 42 of the case 7, and the grommet 55 is held by the holding portions 50, 54. As shown in FIG. 4, after assembling so that the screw holes 48 of the plate portion 53 and the screw holes 48 of the projecting portion 49 are aligned and the flanges 47 and 52 are joined together, the screw 57 is inserted into the plate portion. The above-described closed space 44 is defined around the outer case pipe 35a by being screwed into the screw holes 48 of 53 and the screw holes 48 of the protrusion 49.

  Furthermore, the grommet 55 has the channel | path part 60 which can connect the closed space 44 and the vehicle interior outer region 3 as FIG.3 (b), FIG.5 and FIG.6 shows.

  3B and 5, the passage portion 60 shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 5 includes an opening 61 formed in the grommet 55 separately from the through hole 56 for the case outer pipe 35 a, and a valve that is an opening / closing means for the opening 61. And a structure 64.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the valve structure 64 connects the valve body 62 and the grommet 55, which closes one of the openings 61 directly formed in the grommet 55 from the vehicle compartment outer region 3. The valve body 62 and the connecting portion 63 are integrally formed, and the connecting portion 63 is formed integrally with the grommet 55. In this embodiment, the opening 61 extends in a substantially cylindrical shape from at least the opening end on the vehicle interior outer region 3 side to the vehicle interior space 4 side, and the valve body 62 has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as the inner diameter dimension of the opening 61. It is formed in a cylindrical shape having dimensions. Further, a wedge-shaped recess extending in the radial direction of the opening 61 is formed in an annular shape on the side of the vehicle compartment outer region 3 as viewed relatively in the axial direction of the opening 61, and the valve body 62 is formed in a wedge shape of the opening 61. A protrusion that can be fitted into the recess is formed in a flange shape. The connecting portion 63 has at least a base portion connected to the grommet 55 having flexibility.

  With such a configuration of the passage portion 60, as shown in FIG. 5A, the air pressure value A in the passenger compartment outer region 3 and the air pressure value B in the closed space 44 are both the same as the atmospheric pressure value. In this case, the opening 61 is in a state where the opening end of the vehicle compartment outer region 3 is closed by the valve body 62 of the valve structure 64, and the vehicle compartment outer region 3 and the closed space 44 are kept out of communication. When the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaks into the closed space 44 from the connector 22 (shown in FIG. 2B) that connects the case-outside pipe 35a or the case-outside pipe 35a described later, FIG. As shown in (b), the air pressure value B in the closed space 44 becomes larger than the atmospheric pressure value, for example, in a short time, which means that the air pressure value B in the closed space 44 is the same as the atmospheric pressure value. It means that it becomes larger in a short time than the value A of the air pressure in the vehicle interior outer area 3. Therefore, since a relatively high pressure is applied to the valve body 62 of the valve structure 64 from the vehicle interior space 4, the valve body 62 comes out of the opening end of the opening 61 and opens the opening 61, and thus leaks into the closed space 44. The high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium thus discharged is discharged from the opening 61 to the passenger compartment outer area 3 as indicated by an arrow in FIG. On the other hand, since the valve body 62 is connected to the grommet 55 via the connecting portion 63, the valve body 62 is not lost even if it is removed from the opening 61.

  However, the structure of the valve structure 64 included in the passage portion 60 is limited to a configuration in which the opening 61 provided directly in the grommet 55 as described above is opened and closed by the valve body 62 connected to the grommet 55 via the connecting portion 63. Alternatively, it may be a separate body from the grommet 55. Another example of the valve structure 64 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The valve structure 64 shown in FIG. 6 has a cylindrical portion 66 that is airtightly attached to the opening 61 formed in the grommet 55 and has a through-hole-shaped opening 65, and the cylindrical portion 66 outside the vehicle interior. It has an opening / closing door 68 that is rotatably mounted via a rotating shaft 67 at a portion protruding to the region 3 side. The open / close door 68 is normally biased in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 6 by a spring force or the like so as to be able to close the opening 65 with good airtightness. When the high-pressure heat exchange medium leaks, the pressure value rises in a short time, and the pressure in the closed space 44 presses against the urging force of the white arrow as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. It is designed to rotate.

  Even in the case of having such a valve structure 64, when the air pressure value A of the vehicle interior outer region 3 and the air pressure value B of the closed space 44 shown in FIG. 5A are both the same as the atmospheric pressure value. The opening 65 is in a state where the opening end of the vehicle compartment outer region 3 is closed by the opening / closing door 68 of the valve structure 64, and the vehicle compartment outer region 3 and the closed space 44 are kept out of communication. When the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaks into the closed space 44 from the connector 22 that connects the case-external piping 35a or the case-external piping 35a, which will be described later, as shown in FIG. Since the air pressure value B of 44 becomes larger than the air pressure value A of the vehicle interior exterior area 3 in a short time and a pressure higher than the urging force is applied to the open / close door 68 of the valve structure 64 from the closed space 44. Rotates in a direction away from the opening 65 to open the opening 65, so that the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaked into the closed space 44 is removed from the opening 61 in the same manner as the action indicated by the arrow in FIG. It is discharged to the vehicle exterior area 3.

  According to the above, the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaks from the case outer pipe 35a drawn out of the case 7 from the indoor heating heat exchanger 9 and the connector 22 connecting the case outer pipes 35a due to various factors. However, the leakage destination is in the closed space 44 that is airtightly closed, and the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaked in the closed space 44 does not stay in the closed space 44, and the heat exchange medium By utilizing the increase in air pressure in the closed space 44 due to leakage, the valve body 62 is removed from the opening 61 or the opening / closing door 68 is rotated in a direction away from the opening 65, thereby quickly opening the opening 61, 65 from the vehicle compartment outer area. 3 can be discharged.

  And the position of the connector 22 which connects the case outer piping 35a and the case outer piping 35a is the same as the position (II) close to the grommet 55 in the closed space 44 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2B, the connector 22 can be used even in the closed space 44 at a position (I) that is relatively close to the heat exchanger 9 for indoor heating and in the vehicle interior area 3 (III). It is possible to prevent the high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium leaked from the vehicle interior space 4 from leaking into the space where the crew members are seated. The layout and thus the length of the outer case piping 35a can be freely determined.

  Furthermore, a case-outside pipe 35a is drawn from the opposite side in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the pipe 35 drawn out of the case 7 from the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8, and the case-outside pipe 35a is surrounded by the cases 7 and 43. By doing so, it is also possible to prevent the cover 43 from obstructing the pipe 35 drawn out of the case 7 from the indoor cooling heat exchanger 8.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 2 HVAC unit 3 Car exterior area 4 Car interior space 5 Fire board (partition part)
6 Air channel 7 Case 8 Heat exchanger for indoor cooling 9 Heat exchanger for indoor heating 22 Connector 25 Heat pump system 26 Outdoor heat exchanger 27 Compressor 28 First expansion device 29 Second expansion device 30 Accumulator 31 On-off valve 32 Directional switching valve (heat exchange medium flow path switching means)
33 Check Valve 34 Check Valve 35 Piping 35a Case-Outside Piping 41 Opening 42 Fit Part 43 Cover 44 Closing Space 45 Opening 47 Flange 48 Screw Hole 49 Projecting Part 50 Holding Part 52 Flange 53 Plate Part 54 Holding Part 55 Grommet 56 Through hole 57 Screw 60 Passage part 61 Opening 62 Valve body 63 Connecting part 64 Valve structure 65 Opening 66 Cylindrical part 67 Rotating shaft 68 Open / close door

Claims (4)

A compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in a vehicle interior area, an indoor heating heat exchanger disposed in a vehicle interior space, an expansion device, and an indoor cooling heat exchanger disposed in the vehicle interior space. In order to connect appropriately with piping and connectors, and to send a relatively high-temperature and high-pressure heat exchange medium discharged from the compressor to the outdoor heat exchanger during cooling operation and to the indoor heating heat exchanger during heating operation In a vehicle air conditioner equipped with a heat pump system having the heat exchange medium flow path switching means,
Out-of-case piping located outside the case that houses the heat exchanger for indoor heating and that flows in and out of the heat exchange medium for the indoor heating heat exchanger out of the piping, or in the vehicle interior space, or the case Covering the outer pipe and the connector connecting the case outer pipes with a cover to define a highly airtight closed space around the case outer pipe or around the case outer pipe and the connector ,
In the partition part that partitions the vehicle interior space and the vehicle exterior area, a closed space covered with the cover around the pipe outside the case, or around the pipe outside the case and the connector, and the vehicle exterior area, A vehicle air conditioner comprising a passage portion for discharging a heat exchange medium leaking into the closed space through communication to the outside of the passenger compartment.   The passage portion includes an opening that communicates the closed space and the vehicle compartment outer area, and opening / closing means that opens and closes the opening so that a heat exchange medium is discharged from the closed space toward the vehicle compartment outer area. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle air conditioner is provided.   The opening / closing means closes the opening of the passage portion when there is no difference in pressure between the closed space and the outside area of the vehicle compartment or when the pressure is relatively small, and the air pressure in the closed space is relatively higher than the outside area of the vehicle compartment. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the air conditioner has a valve structure that opens the opening from the closed space toward the outside of the passenger compartment. The opening of the passage portion is formed in a grommet for inserting and holding the pipe in an opening portion that is formed in the partition portion and communicates the vehicle interior space and the vehicle interior outer region,
The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the valve structure of the passage portion is formed integrally with the valve body connected to the grommet.

Images