JPH0450207B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner, and is particularly suitable for use in construction and industrial vehicles such as agricultural tractors and wheel loaders.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in this type of vehicle, the driver's seat is very narrow, so there is not enough space to install an air conditioner, so the air conditioning unit of the air conditioner is usually placed on the ceiling or roof of the driver's cab to provide cold air and air. A structure is adopted in which the hot air outlet is attached to the ceiling of the driver's cabin.

However, in such a conventional structure, when heating air is blown from the hot air outlet in the ceiling toward the passenger's feet, some of the warm air becomes an upward current and heads towards the occupants before reaching the passenger's feet. This has the disadvantage that the occupant's upper body temperature increases, making it difficult to provide comfort with a cold head and warm feet. In addition, in order to overcome this drawback, an air conditioning system has been proposed in which a ceiling air conditioning unit is connected with a warm air outlet placed at the passenger's feet using a duct to provide comfort while keeping the head cold and feet warm. It becomes necessary to secure a special space for the duct device in the room, which causes installation difficulties and has the drawbacks of high cost.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even in vehicles such as construction and industrial vehicles where the driver's cabin is small and the installation space for the air conditioner can only be secured on the ceiling or roof, it can provide a comfortable feeling of heating to relieve cold head and feet. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle air conditioner that can be obtained and is inexpensive.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is the driver's cab of a construction or industrial vehicle, 2 is an air conditioning unit, and the driver's seat 1 is
It is arranged between the roof 1a and the ceiling 1b. On the front side of the ceiling 1b, a hot air outlet 3 directed toward the front window glass 1c and a cold air outlet 4 directed toward the upper body of the occupant A are attached at two locations on the left and right by suitable means such as bolts. Blow-off grilles 3a and 4a are rotatably attached to both of the blow-off ports 3 and 4, respectively. The blowing directions (arrows B and C) of the cold and hot air are determined by adjusting the directions of the blowing grilles 3a and 4a. Further, an inside air intake filter 5 is removably attached to the ceiling 1b on the opposite side of the air outlets 3 and 4, that is, on the rear side of the vehicle, using a suitable means such as a screw. Here, an outside air intake filter 13 is provided adjacent to the filter 5, and the air passages of both the filters 5, 13 are opened and closed by an inside/outside air switching damper 14. The air conditioning unit 2 includes an electric blower 6, an evaporator 7, a heater core 8, temperature control dampers 9a and 9b, and an outlet switching damper 1.
It is composed of 0a and 10b. Cold air bypass paths 11a and 11b are provided on both sides of the heater core 8 in the horizontal direction (vehicle left-right direction), and the amount of air passing through the heater core 8 (hot air amount) can be adjusted by changing the opening degree of the temperature control dampers 9a and 9b. and adjust the ratio of bypass air volume (cold air volume). The outlet switching dampers 10a, 10b distribute the conditioned air to the hot air outlet 3 or the cold air outlet 4. Further, a control panel 12 for the air conditioner is provided at a position on the ceiling 1b that is easy for the occupant to operate, and this control panel 12 has the configuration shown in FIG. and 9b, as well as the outlet switching lever 12b and the outlet switching dampers 10a and 10b, are arranged to operate in conjunction with each other via control cables or the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the heater core 8 heats air using the cooling water of the vehicle engine 15 as a heat source, and is connected to the cooling water circuit of the vehicle engine 15 via a hot water valve 16 and a hose. The hot water valve 16 is a temperature control damper 9
It is designed to be opened and closed in conjunction with a and 9b. Further, the evaporator 7 cools air using Freon gas or the like as a refrigerant, and an expansion valve 20 is integrally provided at the refrigerant inlet, and a compressor 17, a condenser 18, and a receiver 19 are arranged on the vehicle side. It is connected to other refrigeration cycle parts by piping such as hoses. Here, the compressor 17 is driven by the vehicle engine 15 via an electromagnetic clutch 21.
By energizing the electromagnetic clutch 21 on and off by operating the air conditioning switch 12c in the control panel 12, the operation of the refrigeration cycle, that is, the cooling action of the evaporator 7 can be stopped. The control panel 12 also includes a fan switch lever 1 for stopping and changing the speed of the electric blower 6.
2d and an outside air switching lever 1 that operates the inside/outside air switching damper 14 via a control cable or the like.
2e is provided.

Next, the operation of the device of this embodiment will be explained. now,
When the electric blower 6 is operated by operating the lever 12d, the air inside the vehicle interior (inside air) or the air outside the vehicle interior (outside air) is transferred by the electric blower 6 to the air conditioning unit through the inside air intake filter 5 or the outside air intake filter 13. Introduced within 2. At this time, if the air conditioning switch 12c is operated to operate the compressor 17, the blown air is first sent to the evaporator 7 and cooled. Next, this cooled air is sent to the heater core 8 side. Here, when the temperature adjustment lever 12a in the control panel 12 of the air device is operated to the maximum cooling position (COOL position), the temperature adjustment dampers 9a and 9b are at the solid line position, and the temperature is sent from the evaporator 7. Although the cold air passes through the heater core 8 and the cold air bypass paths 11a and 11b, the hot water to the heater core 8 is blocked by the hot water valve 16 that is linked to the dampers 9a and 9b, so that the blown air is heated by the heater core 8. There isn't. On the other hand, when the temperature control lever 12a is at the maximum heating position (HOT position), the temperature control dampers 9a, 9b are at the two-dot chain line position, the cold air bypass paths 11a, 11b are closed, and the entire amount of air is sent to the heater core 8. sent to. Furthermore, since the hot water valve 16 is always open at positions other than the maximum cooling position (COOL position) and hot water flows into the heater core 8, the blown air is heated by the heater core 8. At an arbitrary temperature setting between maximum cooling and maximum heating, the temperature control dampers 9a and 9b are at the intermediate position shown by the dashed line, so that the heated air (hot air) flowing into the heater core 8 and the cold air bypass path 11a,
The air (cold air) that has passed through 11b joins and mixes downstream of the heater core 8. Therefore, by changing the mixing ratio of hot air and cold air with the lever 12a, it is possible to obtain blown air of any desired temperature.

The air adjusted to a desired temperature is sent to the outlet switching dampers 10a and 10b. Here, the air outlet switching lever 12b in the control panel 12 is
When in the VENT mode position (cooling outlet position), the outlet switching dampers 10a and 10b are in the solid line position, and the entire amount of air is sent to the cold air outlet 4.
Air is blown out from the blow-off grille 4a toward the upper body of occupant A in the direction of arrow C. Furthermore, when the outlet switching lever 12b is in the HEAT/DEF mode position (heater/defroster outlet position), the outlet switching dampers 10a, 10b are in the two-dot chain line position, and the entire amount of air is sent to the hot air outlet 3. , window glass 1c as shown by arrow B from the blowout grill 3a
The air is blown out toward the vehicle to remove fog from the window glass 1c and to heat the feet of occupant A. When the air outlet switching lever B1-LEVEL mode position (bi-level air outlet position) is located, the air outlet switching dampers 10a and 10b are in the middle dot-dash line position, and air is blown into the vehicle interior from both the air outlet grilles 3a and 4a. Ru. Here, the temperature adjustment lever 12a
is at the maximum heating position Immediately after heating starts, hot air is blown from all of the outlet grills 3a and 4a in order to rapidly raise the room temperature, but when the room temperature reaches a certain temperature, the temperature control lever 12a is turned to the maximum temperature. When the heating position is slightly returned to the maximum cooling direction, the temperature control dampers 9a and 9b open and cool air flows through the bypass path 11.
a and 11b, the temperature distribution on both sides of the air conditioning unit 2 is slightly lower (approximately 15 to 30°C) than the center. The high temperature air in the center of the air conditioning unit 2 is transferred to the outlet switching dampers 10a and 1.
0b, hot air outlet 3, outlet grill 3
Air is blown out from a toward the window glass 1c and toward the feet of the occupants. On the other hand, the air on both sides of the air conditioning unit 2 is a mixture of cold air and warm air, resulting in slightly lower temperature air.
This slightly low temperature air is transferred to the outlet switching damper 10a,
Since the cold air is scooped up by the cold air outlet 10b and blown out from the cold air outlet 4 and the blowout grille 4a toward the upper body of the occupant, a comfortable blowout air temperature distribution can be obtained that will keep the head cold and the feet warm. Note that you may feel uncomfortable if the wind is constantly blowing against your body, but the air outlet grills 3a and 4
Since the airflow direction a can be adjusted, it is possible to freely select whether to apply or release the air to the occupants, and therefore, it is possible to achieve an appropriate air conditioning condition according to the physical condition and preferences of the occupants.

Note that, although the above-described embodiments show preferred embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be modified in various ways as described below.

In the above embodiment, an air/outside switching type air conditioner that selectively introduces air from inside and outside the vehicle interior was explained, but it is also possible to use an outside air introduction type that only takes in air from outside the vehicle, an inside air circulation type that takes in only air from inside the vehicle, or It goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly implemented in an air conditioner or the like that mixes both outside air and inside air.

In addition, the air outlet grill 4a facing the upper body of the passenger is
was placed in front of the passenger in the above embodiment, but
The air outlet grilles 4a may be installed at any position that targets the occupant's upper body, for example, above the left and right sides of the occupant.

Also, a blower fan of the blower 6, cold air bypass paths 11a, 11b, outlet switching dampers 10a, 1
In the above-described embodiment, the air outlet grilles 3a and 4a were arranged at two locations on each side, but they may also be arranged at one location each.

In addition, in the above-mentioned implementation order, the roof 1a of the driver's cab 1
An air conditioning unit 2 consisting of a separate case is placed between the ceiling 1b and the ceiling 1b, but a partition wall is provided on the ceiling 1b,
The vehicle body structure may be such that the ceiling 1b and the partition wall also serve as a unit case.

Further, although the above-mentioned embodiment is an all-season type air conditioner including the evaporator 7 and the heater core 8, the present invention can also be applied to a heater type air conditioner having only the heater core.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, an air conditioning unit is disposed on the ceiling of a vehicle cab, and a heater core, a bypass path, and a temperature control damper are disposed within the air conditioning unit so that a temperature distribution occurs in the horizontal direction.
In addition, a cold air outlet, a hot air outlet, and an outlet switching damper are installed to skillfully convert the horizontal temperature distribution inside the air conditioning unit into the upper and lower temperature distribution in the vehicle cab, so there is sufficient space in the vertical direction. Even if the present invention is installed on the ceiling in a vehicle cab, it has the excellent effect of achieving a comfortable temperature distribution that keeps the head cold and the feet warm during the bi-level blowout mode.

In particular, in the present invention, by adopting a configuration that forms temperature distribution in the horizontal direction within the air conditioning unit, the air conditioning unit can be made into a thin and simple structure with small vertical dimensions, and the hot air from the hot air outlet can be made into a simple structure. The structure blows hot air along the front window glass to the passenger's feet, making it possible to eliminate the conventional long hot air duct that runs from the ceiling to the passenger's feet.As a result, the air conditioning unit can be used without interfering with the comfort of the driver's cabin. , it can be easily installed on the ceiling, and is extremely useful in practice.

Furthermore, the warm air outlet is opened at a position toward the front of the vehicle than the opening of the cold air outlet in the air conditioning unit, and the relatively warm air blown from the warm air outlet is directed toward the occupants through the front window glass of the vehicle. Because the flow is directed toward the feet, even warm air blown from the air conditioning unit installed on the ceiling of the vehicle driver's cab can be effectively flowed toward the feet. , it is possible to satisfactorily heat the passenger's feet and at the same time prevent the front window glass from fogging.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the driver's cab of a vehicle equipped with the device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air conditioning unit shown in FIG. , FIG. 3 is a front view of the control panel of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigeration cycle and a hot water circuit. 1... Driver's cab, 1b... Ceiling, 1c... Front window glass, 2... Air conditioning unit, 3... Hot air outlet, 4... Cold air outlet, 6... Blower, 7... Evaporator, 8... ...Heater core, 9a, 9b...
Temperature control damper, 11a, 11b...bypass circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An air conditioning unit that forms an air passage extending from the rear of the vehicle driver's cab toward the front in the ceiling of the vehicle driver's cab; a heater core disposed within the air conditioning unit and heating the air blown by the blower; a bypass path that is formed and allows the air sent from the blower to flow by bypassing the heater core; a temperature adjustment damper that adjusts the ratio of the amount of air passing through the heater core and the amount of air passing through the bypass path; a cold air outlet located in a part of the air conditioning unit where air that has passed through the bypass path mainly flows and opens in the ceiling of the driver's cab to blow out relatively cold air toward the upper body of the passenger; A portion of the air conditioning unit through which the air that has passed through the heater core mainly flows, and is located in a portion toward the front of the vehicle from the opening portion of the cold air outlet, and is located relative to the front windshield of the vehicle toward the passenger's feet. a hot air outlet that opens in the ceiling of the driver's cab to blow out warm air; and a hot air outlet that is disposed in a portion of the air conditioning unit on the downstream side of the heater core and the bypass passage, and that is connected to the cold air outlet and the hot air outlet. and an air outlet switching damper that switches the distribution of air, and when the air outlet switching damper is in a bilevel blowing mode position that simultaneously blows out air from both air outlets, the air outlet switching damper mainly controls the air that has passed through the bypass path. A vehicle air conditioner characterized in that the air conditioner is configured to guide air that has passed through the heater core toward the hot air outlet while guiding the air toward the cold air outlet.