JP3217821B2 - Vehicle air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle having control means for detecting a thermal environment inside and outside a vehicle compartment to determine a required blowing temperature and automatically controlling a blowing mode and a blowing temperature based on the required blowing temperature. The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 2-26917, for example, a blowing mode or a blowing mode is set based on a thermal environment inside and outside a vehicle compartment, such as an outside air temperature, an inside air temperature, an amount of solar radiation, and a target indoor temperature. 2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle air conditioner that automatically controls a blowing temperature and the like is known.

As one mode of such automatic control, a required blow-out temperature (a temperature of air blown into the vehicle interior necessary for maintaining the interior of the vehicle at a target indoor temperature) is determined based on the thermal environment inside and outside the vehicle interior. The opening degree of the air mix damper (the ratio of air passing through the heater core and air not passing through is determined by the opening temperature so that the blowing temperature (temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment) becomes the required blowing temperature based on the required blowing temperature. Is determined, and the temperature of the air blown into the vehicle compartment is determined), and the blowing mode is controlled based on the required blowing temperature, that is, a blowing mode predetermined according to the required blowing temperature is selected. Are known.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional automatic air-conditioning control as described above, for example, when the target room temperature is 25 ° C. in the normal season, the air temperature in the middle season, ie, spring or autumn (outside temperature is 15 ° C., for example) At night, etc., the heat mode is selected as the blowing mode, but the temperature of the air from the heat outlet that blows toward the feet etc. is not so high, and there is a situation where such a temperature feels cool by blowing air that is not too high. Occurs.

As a countermeasure against such a case, for example, a method of changing the opening degree of the air mix damper to increase the temperature of the air blown out of the heat outlet can be considered. In such a method, a method based on the above thermal environment is considered. The air having a temperature higher than the determined required air temperature is blown out, and a problem occurs that the temperature in the vehicle interior becomes higher than the target indoor temperature.

Therefore, a method of changing the blowing mode is considered as another method. That is, in the conventional air conditioning automatic control as described above, usually, any one of a vent mode, a bi-level mode (a mode in which the air is blown out from a heat outlet and a vent outlet) and a heat mode is used as a blow mode. Also, in the bi-level mode, the required outlet temperature, that is, the outlet temperature from the heat outlet and the outlet temperature from the vent outlet under a predetermined air mix damper opening degree are different from each other. Normally different (however, when the air blown from both outlets is merged, the temperature becomes the above-mentioned predetermined necessary blowout temperature), and as shown in FIGS. When the degrees are the same, the blow-out temperature from the heat outlet is set to be higher in the bi-level mode than in the heat mode. Therefore, in the above situation, a method of selecting the bi-level mode instead of the heat mode and blowing out the hotter air from the heat outlet may be considered, but in the bi-level mode, the heat outlet is set as described above. Temperature from the vent mode is lower than the temperature in the heat mode, so that the cold air blows out from the vent port toward the occupant's face. There is a problem.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner for a vehicle which can avoid the problem that the air conditioner feels cool at night in the middle season or the like and realize good air conditioning.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention obtains a required blowing temperature based on a thermal environment inside and outside a vehicle cabin, and performs a blowing based on the required blowing temperature. A vehicle air conditioner comprising control means for automatically controlling a mode and an outlet temperature, wherein at least a heat mode, a bi-level mode, and a heat differential mode are set as the outlet modes, and at the same required outlet temperature. Is set higher in the heat differential mode than in the heat mode, and is set higher in the bi-level mode than in the heat mode. In the heat differential mode, the outlet temperature from the defrost outlet is lower. The blowout temperature from the blowout port is set to be lower, and the control means is configured such that the required blowout temperature is within a predetermined temperature range on a low temperature side of the heat mode required temperature range, and the amount of solar radiation is lower than a predetermined value. When the number is extremely small, the mode is shifted to the heat differential mode.

[0009]

In general, when the heat mode, the heat differential mode, and the bi-level mode are set, as described above, the temperature of the blowout from the heat blowout port is lower than that of the heat mode under the same required blowout temperature. The heat differential mode is also higher, the bi-level mode is even higher than that, and the blowout temperature from the defrost outlet in the heat differential mode is lower than the blowout temperature from the heat outlet in the heat mode. Further, the temperature of the air blown from the vent air outlet in the bi-level mode is set to be lower than that.

The air conditioner for a vehicle is provided with a heat differential mode having the above-mentioned air temperature characteristics as an air mode which can be selected by automatic control. Is within the predetermined temperature range on the low temperature side of the heat mode required temperature range, and when the amount of solar radiation is extremely smaller than the predetermined value, by shifting the heat mode, which should be the heat mode, to the heat differential mode. The air having a higher temperature (heating temperature) from the heat outlet than in the heat mode and a temperature higher than the air outlet temperature from the vent in the bilevel mode can be blown out from the defrost outlet. Yes, so it is warmer than in heat mode without feeling the cold on the face as in bi-level mode It is possible to feel, it is possible to realize a very good air conditioning.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The vehicle air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 has a blower unit 4 having a blower 2, a cooler unit 8 having an evaporator 6, and a heater unit having a heater core 10.
12 is provided.

The blower unit 4 has an inside air inlet 16 and an outside air inlet 18 formed therein, and an inside / outside air switching damper 20 that opens one of the inside air inlet 16 and the outside air inlet 18 and closes the other. An actuator 22 for switching the switching damper 20 is provided.

The heater unit 12 has a heat outlet 2
4. A defrost outlet 26 and a vent outlet 28 are formed, and each outlet 24, 26, 28 is a heat outlet opened toward the vehicle interior through a duct (not shown).
It is connected to a defrost outlet and a vent outlet.

The heat outlet 24 and the defrost outlet 26
And each outlet 2 near the vent outlet 28.
A heat mode damper 30, a defrost mode damper 32, and a vent mode damper 34 for opening and closing 4, 26, 28 are provided, and each mode damper 30, 32, 34 is a heater unit.
The openings are adjusted in conjunction with each other by actuators 36 provided on the 12.

Further, the heater unit 12 is provided with an air mix main damper 38 located in a passage on the upstream side of the heater core 10 and an air mix sub-damper 40 located in a passage on the downstream side of the heater core 10. The opening of these dampers 38 and 40 is adjusted in conjunction with each other by an actuator 42 provided in the heater unit 12.

The evaporator 6 and the heater core 10 are a known heat exchanger for cooling and a known heat exchanger, respectively.

In the air conditioning unit 14, the inside air (air in the vehicle compartment) or the outside air (air outside the vehicle) is sucked by the operation of the blower 2 in the blower unit 4, and the sucked air passes through the cooler unit 8. The air is sent to the heater unit 12 and is appropriately cooled and heated by the evaporator 6 and the heater core 10 in the cooler unit 8 and the heater unit 12. The air is blown into the vehicle interior from a predetermined outlet opening toward the vehicle interior.

The air conditioning unit 14 is controlled by control means 50. That is, the control means 50 controls the air introduction mode, the blowout mode, the blowout temperature, the amount of blown air, and the like.
The control means 50 includes an outside air temperature sensor 52 for detecting an outside air temperature (outside the vehicle) in order to control the air conditioning unit 14;
An internal air temperature sensor 54 for detecting the internal air temperature (air temperature in the vehicle interior), a solar radiation amount sensor 56 for detecting the internal solar radiation amount, and an air conditioning operation unit
The output from 60 is input.

The air-conditioning operation unit 60 includes a start button 62 for operating and stopping the air conditioner, a blow mode setting button 64 for setting a blow mode, and an air volume setting button 66 for setting the air volume. An inside / outside air switching button 68 for switching the air introduction mode between the inside air introduction mode and the outside air introduction mode, an automatic mode button 70 for setting the automatic control mode, and a temperature setting slider for setting the target indoor temperature. 72 are provided.

As shown in the figure, the blow mode selection button 64 is provided with a vent mode setting button V for setting a vent mode (mode for blowing only from the vent outlet) and a bi-level mode (only for the vent outlet and the heat outlet). A bi-level mode setting button B / L for setting a blowing mode) and a heat mode setting button H for setting a heat mode (a mode for blowing only from a heat outlet).
A differential heat mode setting button D / H for setting a differential heat mode (a mode for blowing out only from the defrost air outlet and the heat air outlet), and a defrost mode setting button D for setting a defrost mode (a mode for blowing out only from the defrost air outlet). Consisting of

[0022] The air volume setting button 56, the setting and small wind amount setting button L _O to set the small wind amount, and small and medium-sized air volume setting button M _L to set the small wind amount of out of paralytic amount, a large volume of air out of the paralytic amount A large air volume setting button _MH for setting a large air volume and a large air volume setting button Hi for setting a large air volume.

The temperature setting slider 72 is slidable in the left and right direction in the figure, and by sliding the slider 72 to a predetermined position in the left and right direction, the temperature corresponding to the predetermined position (the left end in the figure is the lowest temperature). , And the temperature rises toward the right side, and the right end is the highest temperature) is set as the target room temperature.

The control by the control means 50 can be both manual control and automatic control. The automatic control is performed when the automatic control mode is set by the automatic mode button 70. Such automatic control is performed by the sensors 52 and 5 described above.
Based on the outside air temperature, the inside air temperature, the amount of solar radiation input from 4 and 56, and the target indoor temperature set by the temperature setting slider 72, the blowing mode, the air volume, the air introducing mode, and the blowing temperature are set. The air conditioning unit 14 is controlled as described below.

That is, in the blowing mode, the actuator is operated in accordance with the set predetermined blowing mode.
Each mode damper 30, 32, 34 via a link mechanism by 36
Are appropriately opened and closed, and only the outlets 24, 26, 28 corresponding to the set predetermined blowing mode are opened.

With respect to the air volume, a voltage (a target blower voltage) corresponding to the predetermined air volume is supplied to the blower 2 and the blower 2 rotates in accordance with the voltage to thereby set the predetermined air volume. Is suction-introduced and delivered.

Regarding the air introduction mode, when the set air introduction mode is the inside air introduction mode, the inside air / outside air switching damper 20 is set to the outside air introduction port closing position by the actuator 22, and the inside air introduction port 16 is closed. Only when suction is performed, and when the outside air introduction mode is set, the inside / outside air switching damper 20 is used.
Is set to the inside air inlet closing position, and only outside air is sucked and introduced from the outside air inlet 18. In the automatic control according to the present embodiment, the outside air introduction mode is set except during the rapid cooling.

The temperature of the blown air is adjusted so that the temperature in the cabin becomes the target room temperature. The temperature of the blown air is adjusted by turning on / off a compressor (not shown) connected to the evaporator 6 and changing the ratio of the air passing through the heater core 10 to the air not passing through the air mix main damper. This is performed by appropriately performing feedback control on the opening of the air mix sub damper 40 and the air mix sub damper 40.

The manual control is performed when the automatic control mode is not set by the automatic mode button 70. In this case, the blow mode, the air volume, and the air introduction mode are respectively set by the blow mode setting button 64 and the air volume setting button. A button 66 and an inside / outside air switching button 68 are set, and the air conditioning unit 14 is set to the predetermined blowing mode, air volume, and air introduction mode set by the buttons 64, 66, 68 in the same manner as in the automatic control. Is controlled by the control means 50.

In the case of manual control, the same control as in the automatic control described above is performed based on the inside air temperature, the outside air temperature, and the target indoor temperature set by the temperature setting slider 72 even in the case of manual control.

In the air conditioner described above, when the blow mode, the air flow and the air introduction mode are manually controlled by the blow mode setting button 64, the air flow setting button 66 and the inside / outside air switching button 68 during the automatic control, the manual operation is performed. Control takes precedence and is controlled so as to be in a blowing mode or the like set manually.

Next, automatic control of the blowing temperature and the blowing mode in the air conditioner will be described in more detail.

The air conditioner has a required outlet temperature detecting means 80. The required outlet temperature detecting means 80 comprises the above sensors 52, 54, 56, a temperature setting slider 72, and a required outlet temperature calculating section 82 in the control means 50. The required blowing temperature is calculated according to a predetermined calculation formula based on the amount, the target room temperature, and the like.

The control means 50 controls the air mix main damper 38 and the air mix sub damper 38 based on the required blow temperature so that the blow temperature becomes the required blow temperature.
Control the opening of 40.

The control means 50 sets a heat differential mode in addition to the heat mode, the bi-level mode, and the vent mode as the blow mode that can be selected by the automatic control, and determines the blow mode in advance based on the required blow temperature. The opening and closing of each mode damper 30, 32, 34 is controlled via the actuator 36 so that the blowout mode is set.

The blowing temperature characteristics in the above-mentioned heat mode, bi-level mode and heat differential mode are set as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. That is, at the same required blowing temperature, that is, at the same air mix door opening, the blowing temperature from the heat blowing port is higher in the heat differential mode than in the heat mode, and further in the bi-level mode. The temperature is set to be high, and the blowout temperature from the defrost blowout port in the heat differential mode is lower than the blowout temperature from the heat blowout port in the heat mode, and further the blowout temperature from the vent blowout port in the bilevel mode. Is set to be lower. In this embodiment, in this embodiment, the vent outlet 28 and the defrost outlet 26 are provided on the side of the passage that does not pass through the heater core 10, and the air that has passed through the heater core 10 through the vent outlet 28 more than the defrost outlet 26. This is done by providing it on the upstream side that is difficult to reach.

The selection of the blowing mode based on the required blowing temperature is performed as follows. That is, the control means 50
As shown in FIG. 5, calculates the required blow-out temperature based on the outside air temperature, the inside air temperature, the amount of solar radiation, and the target indoor temperature input from the sensors 52, 54, 56 and the air conditioning operation unit 60, and The vent mode is selected when the blowing temperature is low, the bi-level mode is selected when the blowing temperature is medium, and the heat mode is selected when the blowing temperature is high.

The selection of the blowing mode based on the required blowing temperature will be described with reference to FIGS. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, in S1, the required blowing temperature _TF is A (less than 25 ° C. in a change in the + direction) or B (20 in a change in the − direction).
(Greater than ° C). If A, proceed to S8
Reset FL to 0 and select vent mode in S9. B
In the case of, the process proceeds to S2, and it is determined whether the flag FL is 1 or not. When the flag FL is not 1 (when the flag FL is 1, the following S1
As described in 4,15, when the mode is the heat differential mode, when the flag FL is not 1 and the mode is other than the heat differential mode), the process proceeds to S3, where the required blowing temperature _TF is set to A (change in the + direction). Judge whether it is less than 35 ° C) or B (more than 30 ° C due to change in the minus direction). In the case of A, the process proceeds to S10, the flag FL is reset to 0, and the bilevel mode is selected in S11.
In the case of B, the process proceeds to S4, and it is determined whether or not the required blowing temperature _TF is lower than 32 ° C. If the temperature is 32 ° C or higher, proceed to S12 and set the flag
FL is reset to 0, and the heat mode is selected in S13.
When the temperature is lower than 32 ° C., the process proceeds to S5 where the amount of solar radiation is a predetermined value I _S
(I _S is small value close to 0) to determine small or not than, I _S
In the above case, proceed to S12, reset the flag FL to 0,
Select the heat mode in S13. In S14 when the small of minute amounts than I _S, it sets the flag FL to 1, selects the heat-defroster mode in S15.

On the other hand, if the flag FL is 1 in S2, the process proceeds to S6, and it is determined whether or not the required blowing temperature _TF is higher than 29 ° C. If the temperature is 29 ° C. or less, proceed to S10 and set the flag FL to
And the bi-level mode is selected in S11. 29
If the temperature is higher than ° C, the process proceeds to S7, and it is determined whether or not the required blowing temperature _TF is lower than 35 ° C. If it is 35 ° C or higher, proceed to S12,
The flag FL is reset to 0, and the heat mode is selected in S13. If the temperature is lower than 35 ° C, the process proceeds to S14 and S15, and the flag FL =
1 and the heat differential mode are maintained. The selection of the blowing mode described above is graphically shown in FIG.

The selection of the blow-out mode based on the above-mentioned necessary blow-out temperature means that the heat mode is originally selected when the required blow-out temperature is in the required heat mode temperature range, that is, in the range of 30 ° C. or more in the minus direction. However, when the temperature is within a predetermined temperature range on the low temperature side of the heat mode required temperature range, that is, 30 ° C. to 32 ° C., when the amount of solar radiation is extremely small than a predetermined value, the heat mode is changed from the heat mode to the heat differential mode. It is to shift.

The air conditioner for a vehicle has a heat differential mode having the above-mentioned temperature characteristics as an air blowing mode that can be selected by automatic control. In a predetermined temperature range on the low temperature side of the heat mode required temperature range and when the amount of solar radiation is extremely small than a predetermined value, by shifting the heat mode, which should be the heat mode, to the heat differential mode, Air with a higher outlet temperature (heating temperature) from the heat outlet than in the heat mode, and higher temperature than the outlet temperature from the vent outlet in the bi-level mode can be blown out from the defrost outlet. So it feels warmer than in heat mode without feeling cold on the face as in bi-level mode Is to be able, it is possible to realize a very good air conditioning.

In the above embodiment, once the mode has shifted to the heat differential mode, the mode shifts to the bi-level mode when the required blowing temperature falls to 29 ° C. or lower, and to the heat mode when the temperature reaches 35 ° C. or higher. Although the transition is set, the transition condition from the heat differential mode to another blowing mode may be set as appropriate. Further, the required blowing temperature does not need to be the required blowing temperature itself, but may be anything that corresponds to the required blowing temperature.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing blowout temperature characteristics in a heat mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a blowing temperature characteristic in a bi-level mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a blowing temperature characteristic in a heat differential mode.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of a procedure for selecting a blowing mode.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a selection mode of a blowing mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing details of a procedure for selecting a blowing mode;

[Explanation of symbols]

 50 Control means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: control means for determining a required blow-out temperature based on a thermal environment inside and outside a vehicle interior and automatically controlling a blow-out mode and a blow-out temperature based on the required blow-out temperature. At least a heat mode, a bi-level mode, and a heat differential mode are set as the blowing modes,
At the same required outlet temperature, the outlet temperature from the heat outlet is higher in the heat differential mode than in the heat mode, and is set higher in the bi-level mode than that, and from the heat outlet in the heat mode. The blowout temperature from the defrost blowout port in the heat differential mode is set lower than the blowout temperature of the heat differential mode, and the blowout temperature from the vent blowout port in the bilevel mode is set lower than that. Is characterized in that when the required blowing temperature is within a predetermined temperature range on the low temperature side of the heat mode required temperature range and when the amount of solar radiation is extremely smaller than a predetermined value, the mode is shifted to the heat differential mode. Vehicle air conditioner.