JPH09267620A - Vehicle air-conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the space of a cold air intake section and simplify the constitution of an air passage in a vehicle air-conditioning device for setting a cold air bypass function on the front seat side and a cold air blowing function on the rear seat side. SOLUTION: From the viewpoint of a cold air blowing function on the rear seat side being used mainly in summer and a cold air bypass function on the front seat side being used to prevent an occupant from feeling hot over his or her face mainly in winter, a cold air intake 20 is used commonly for the cold air intakes for the cold air blowing function for rear seat and the cold air bypass function for front seat. It is thus possible to pass cold air from the cold air intake 20 opened just behind the downstream side of a evaporator 4, through a front seat cold air bypass passage 22 for introducing it directly into a face blowing-off opening 18 for front seat, and also passing cold air from the cold air intake 20 through a cold air blowing-off passage 23 for rear seat for introducing it into a face blowing-off opening 25 for rear seat.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile air conditioner, and more particularly to achieving a cold air blowing function on the rear seat side and a cold air blowing function on the front seat side by using a common cold air intake. Regarding the structure of the air conditioning unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an air conditioner for an automobile, an air conditioner in which an evaporator, a heater core, and a blower are integrated is arranged in the central portion of the instrument panel in the front portion of the passenger compartment. In this air conditioning unit, in order to lower the outlet air temperature of the upper face outlet from the outlet air temperature of the lower foot outlet, bypass the cool air from the downstream side of the evaporator and directly to the face outlet. It is often adopted to set the cold air bypass function to be introduced. In addition, in order to improve the cooling feeling on the rear seat side, a face air outlet is also provided on the rear seat side, and a cold air blowing function on the rear seat side that introduces cool air from the evaporator downstream side is also set to this face air outlet. There is a case.

In this case, two cool air intakes are installed immediately downstream of the evaporator, one of these two cool air intakes has a cold air bypass passage, and the other has a cool air intake of the rear seat face air outlet. It is usual to connect each of the outlet passages.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, since two cold air intakes are installed at the position immediately downstream of the evaporator, the space for installing the cold air intakes becomes large, There is a problem that the air conditioning unit becomes large and the air passage structure of the air conditioning unit becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
In an automotive air conditioner that sets a cold air bypass function on the front seat side and a cold air blowing function on the rear seat side, it is possible to reduce the space at the cool air intake portion of the air conditioning unit and to simplify the air passage structure of the air conditioning unit. To aim.

[0006]

The present invention employs the following technical means to achieve the above object. In the present invention, the cold air blowing function on the rear seat side is mainly used in the summer, whereas the cold air bypass function on the front seat side is mainly used to eliminate the hot feeling of the occupant's face in the winter. In other words, paying attention to the fact that the above two functions are used in different seasons, it is necessary to share a single cold air intake for the cold air blowing function on the rear seat side and the cold air bypass function on the front seat side. It has a feature.

Specifically, in the invention according to claims 1 to 4, a cold air intake (20) for taking in cold air is opened at a portion immediately downstream of the cooling heat exchanger (4), and the cold air intake is taken. Cold air taken in from the inlet (20) can be directly introduced into the front seat face air outlet (18) through the front seat cold air bypass passage (22), and the cool air intake (2
0) on the downstream side, the front seat cold air bypass passage (2
A rear-seat cold-air blowing passageway (23) branching from 2) is provided, and cool air from the cold-air intake port (20) is supplied to the rear-seat cold-air blowing passageway (2
The flow adjusting means that can be introduced into the rear seat face air outlet (25) via 3) and further adjusts the air flow to the front cold air bypass passage (22) and the rear cold air blowing passage (23). It is characterized by having (24, 25a).

With this structure, the cold air taken in from one cold air intake (20) can be distributed to the front seat face air outlet (18) and the rear seat face air outlet (25) and introduced. it can. Then, the flow direction of the cool air is switched by the flow adjusting means (24, 25a),
Mainly in summer, cool air can be blown out from the rear seat face air outlet (25) to ensure the function of blowing cold air to the rear seats, and enhance the cooling feeling of the rear seats. On the other hand, in winter, cold air can be blown out from the front seat face air outlet (18) to eliminate hot flashes on the occupant's face due to rising warm air, and to improve the heating feeling in winter.

Moreover, since the cold air intake for the cold air blowing function on the rear seat side and the cold air intake for the cold air bypass function on the front seat side can be shared by one cold air intake (20), air conditioning is possible. It is possible to reduce the space in the cold air intake portion of the unit and simplify the air passage structure of the air conditioning unit. As a result, the installation of the air conditioning unit can be facilitated even in a vehicle in which the vehicle interior space is greatly restricted due to the downsizing of the overall shape of the air conditioning unit, and the cost can be reduced by simplifying the size of the air conditioning unit.

Further, even if the cold air taken in from one cold air intake (20) is distributed to the front seat face air outlet (18) and the rear seat face air outlet (25), the function of blowing cold air to the rear seats is Since it is mainly used in the summer and the cold air bypass function on the front seat side is mainly used in the winter, the adverse effect on the air conditioning performance due to the common use of the cold air intake (20) is hardly a problem.

The reference numerals in parentheses of the above-mentioned means indicate the correspondence with the concrete means described in the embodiments to be described later.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an air conditioning unit installed in a lower portion of a vehicle interior instrument panel in an air conditioner for a vehicle. In this example, in an instrument panel at a front portion of the vehicle compartment, a central portion in a vehicle width direction is provided. It is arranged. This air conditioning unit 1
Has a case 2 formed of a resin such as polypropylene.

The case 2 has an air flow passage formed therein and houses equipment such as a heat exchanger described later. As is well known, the case 2 is divided into a plurality of divided case bodies, and after accommodating devices such as a heat exchanger and a door, which will be described later, a plurality of them are connected by an appropriate coupling means such as a metal clip and a screw. The divided case bodies are combined together.

A blower 3 is arranged in the air conditioning unit 1 on the front side of the vehicle and has a centrifugal multi-blade fan 3a, a motor (not shown) for driving the fan 3a, and a scroll casing 3b. belongs to. The blower 3 introduces outside air or inside air through a well-known inside / outside air switching box (not shown), and blows the air into the air flow path inside the case 2.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a front side of the vehicle in the case 2, which is a blower 3
Which is an evaporator disposed in the lower part of the
Is a well-known refrigeration cycle together with a compressor, a condenser, a liquid receiver, and a decompressor (not shown).
It functions as a heat exchanger for cooling that dehumidifies and cools the air blown inside. The compressor of the refrigeration cycle is driven by an automobile engine via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown).

A heater core 5 is arranged on the air downstream side of the evaporator 4, and is arranged at a lower portion on the vehicle rear side in the case 2. The heater core 5 is a heating heat exchanger that heats air by using the cooling water of the automobile engine as a heat source, and reheats the cold air cooled by the evaporator 4. Further, 6 is a bypass passage, which is formed on the air downstream side of the evaporator 4 and above the heater core 5. The bypass passage 6 is for passing the cold air cooled by the evaporator 4 by bypassing the heater core 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a warm air passage formed so as to extend upward from the air downstream side of the heater core 5, through which warm air heated by the heater core 5 flows. 8 is a cold and warm air mixing space,
The cold air from the bypass passage 6 and the hot air from the hot air passage 7 are formed at a location where they merge, and are for mixing the cold and warm air.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a temperature adjusting air mix door which is arranged in the space between the evaporator 4 and the heater core 5 and is rotatable about a shaft 9a arranged near the upper end of the heater core 5. . The air flow rate of the bypass passage 6 and the warm air passage 7 is adjusted by the opening degree of the air mix door 9,
The temperature of the air blown into the passenger compartment is adjusted.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a foot door, which is arranged in the case 2 above the cold / hot air mixing space 8 and is rotatable about a shaft 10a. This foot door 10
Is for switching communication between the upper side (air downstream side) of the cold / hot air mixing space 8 and the foot blowout air passage 11 or the face / defroster passage 12. This foot blowout air passage 11 hangs downward from above on the vehicle rear side of the air conditioning unit 1, and a foot air opening 13 on the front seat side opens in the middle thereof. The foot air opening 13 has two left and right foot passages 13a on the driver's side and the passenger's side.
Are connected to the left and right foot passages 13a, and foot outlets 13b on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side are provided at the tip end portions of the two left and right foot passages 13a.

In FIG. 1, for convenience of drawing,
Although the foot passage 13a and the foot outlet 13b are shown projecting to the rear side of the vehicle, the foot passage 13a is actually shown.
The foot outlets 13b are located on both sides of the foot air opening 13 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and hang downward from that position. Further, a foot air opening 14 on the rear seat side is opened at the lower end portion of the foot blowout air passage 11, and a rear seat foot passage (not shown) is connected to the foot air opening 14 on the rear seat side. A rear-seat foot outlet (not shown) is provided at the tip of the rear-seat foot passage to blow warm air to the feet of the rear-seat passenger.

On the other hand, the upper side (air downstream side) of the face / defroster passage 12 is branched into two air passages to form a face outlet air passage 15 and a defroster outlet air passage 16. A face defroster door 17 is provided at a branch portion of both the passages 15 and 16.
The door 17 is rotatable about a shaft 17a and switches between both passages 15 and 16 to open and close.

Here, the face blowout air passage 15 is provided with a front seat face outlet 18 for blowing the blown air upward to the front seat side. As is well known, the face outlet 18 is a center face outlet that blows air toward the upper half of the occupant's body from the center in the left-right direction of the passenger compartment, and the left and right ends of the instrument panel to the upper and lower occupants of the passenger compartment It is composed of a side face outlet that blows air toward the side. Each of the face outlets 18 is provided with a well-known wind direction changing grill mechanism (not shown).

A defroster outlet 19 is provided at the tip of the defroster outlet air passage 16 to blow air toward the front window glass of the vehicle. The two mode switching doors 10 and 17 described above are connected to a link mechanism (not shown) and operate in conjunction with each other. The drive mechanism of this link mechanism may be a well-known one, and controls, for example, a manual operation force applied to a manual operation lever (an operation lever for switching the blowing mode) of an air conditioning control panel (not shown) provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle interior. A mechanism for rotating the doors 10 and 17 by transmitting to the link mechanism via a cable. Alternatively, the door mechanism may be rotated by driving the link mechanism by an actuator such as a servo motor automatically controlled by the air conditioning controller.
Similarly, the opening degree of the air mix door 9 can be adjusted by a manual operation force applied to a manual operation lever (temperature adjusting lever) of an air conditioning control panel (not shown) or an actuator.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a cold air inlet, which is opened immediately downstream of the evaporator 4 and at a lower position to take in cold air cooled by the evaporator 4. In this example, the cold air intake 20 is set at a site below the air mix door 9. The cold air intake port 20 is connected to the heater core 5
Is connected to a cold air passage 21 extending rearward of the vehicle. The cold air passage 21 has a front cold air bypass passage 22 and a rear cold air blowing passage 23 at a rear end portion of the vehicle.
It has been branched to.

The front seat cold air bypass passage 22 extends from the lowermost portion of the air conditioning unit 1 toward the rear of the vehicle upward and is connected to the downstream portion of the face defroster door 17. That is, the upper end portion of the front seat cold air bypass passage 22 directly communicates with a portion immediately before the front seat face air outlet 18. Reference numeral 24 denotes a cold air bypass door provided in the middle of the front seat cold air bypass passage 22.
It is for opening and closing. This cold air bypass door 2
4 is rotatable about a shaft 24a, and the cold air bypass door 24 is a front seat face outlet 1
8 is connected to a manual operation knob 24b disposed in the vicinity (lower side portion), and the cold air bypass door 24 is opened and closed by manual operation of the knob 24b. The knob 24b and the cold air bypass door 24 are connected by a known means such as a link or a cable.

The rear seat cold air blowing passage 23 is disposed along the center console between the driver's seat and the passenger seat,
The rear end face of the center console is bent upward, and a rear seat face outlet 25 is provided at the upper end. In this rear seat face outlet 25,
A well-known grill mechanism 25a capable of opening and closing the air outlet and changing the wind direction is provided. In this example, the cold air bypass door 24 and the grill mechanism 25a constitute a flow adjusting means for adjusting the air flow to the front seat cold air bypass passage 22 and the rear seat cold air blowing passage 23.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described. Now, when the blower 3 is operated, the inside air or the outside air is sucked from the inside / outside air switching box (not shown), and the sucked air is directed downward from the blowout port portion of the scroll casing 3b of the blower 3 and upstream of the evaporator 4. Side, the direction is changed to the vehicle rear side, and the air is blown to the evaporator 4. Then, in the evaporator 4, the blown air is cooled to become cold air.

Next, this cold air branches into the bypass passage 6 and the warm air passage 7 on the heater core 5 side according to the opening position of the air mix door 9, and the cold air flowing into the heater core 5 is reheated by the heater core 5. As a result, it becomes warm air and flows through the hot air passage 7. Then, the warm air from the warm air passage 7 and the cold air from the bypass passage 6 are mixed in the cold / hot air mixing space 8 to become the conditioned air of a desired temperature, and thereafter, at the mode switching doors 10 and 17. The air is blown into the vehicle compartment from a predetermined outlet through any one or a plurality of the selected blowout air passages 11, 15 and 16.

The above is an outline of the operation of the entire air conditioner. Next, the air flow in each blowing mode will be briefly described. When the user operates the blowout mode switching lever of the air conditioning control panel, the operating force is transmitted through the control cable and the link mechanism to the two doors 1 for mode switching (for face / defroster and for foot).
0, 17, the doors 10, 17 are interlocked with each other, and a predetermined blowout mode is set.

First, the "face mode" will be described. When the face / defroster door 17 is operated to the position "a" in FIG. 1, the defroster blowout air passage 16 is fully closed and the face blowout air passage 15 is fully opened. Further, the foot door 10 is operated to the position c in FIG. 1 to fully close the foot blowout air passage 11. As a result, the conditioned air (cold air) from the cold / hot air mixing space 8 flows into the front seat face outlet air passage 15, is blown out from the front seat face outlet 18 to the upper side of the passenger compartment, and the front seat side is cooled. .

At this time, in the summer, when it is necessary to cool the rear seats as well, the cold air bypass door 24 is operated to the closed position by the manual operation knob 24b, and the grill mechanism of the rear seat face outlet 25 is opened. Set to the state. As a result, the cool air taken in from the cool air inlet 20 reaches the rear seat face outlet 25 through the cool air passage 21 and the rear seat cold air outlet passage 23, and from here, the cool air is directed upward toward the rear seat side. Since it is blown out, the rear seats can also be cooled well.

If the cold air bypass door 24 is operated to the open position, the cold air flows through the cold air bypass passage 22 on the front seat side, so that the amount of cold air reaching the rear seat face air outlet 25 decreases, but in this case, Cold wind bypass passage 22 on the front seat side
In contrast to this, since the passage is designed so that the rear seat cold air outlet passage 23 has a smaller ventilation resistance, the amount of cool air to the rear seat face outlet 25 is larger.

When there is no passenger on the rear seat side, the cold air bypass door 24 is operated by setting the grill mechanism 25a of the rear seat face air outlet 25 to the closed state and operating the cold air bypass door 24 to the open position. Since the amount of cool air passing through the passage 22 can be sent to the front seat face air outlet air passage 15, the amount of cool air blown from the front seat face air outlet 18 can be increased accordingly.

Next, the "bi-level mode" will be described. When the face / defroster door 17 is operated to the position "a" in FIG. 1, the defroster outlet air passage 16 is fully closed.
The face outlet air passage 15 is fully opened. On the other hand, the foot door 10 is operated from the fully closed position c in FIG. 1 to the intermediate opening position d slightly opened to open the foot blowout air passage 11 by a certain amount.

As a result, a part of the conditioned air from the cold / hot air mixing space 8 flows into the foot blowout air passage 11, and from the foot air opening 13 on the front seat side, the left and right foot passages on the driver's side and the passenger's side. After passing through 13a, the air is blown out from the foot outlets 13b on the driver's seat side and the passenger's side to the front passenger's feet. Further, a part of the conditioned air that has flowed into the foot blowout air passage 11 passes through the rear seat foot passage from the rear seat foot air opening 14 to the rear seat foot outlet (not shown) to the rear passenger's feet. Blow warm air on.

At the same time, the conditioned air from the cold / warm air mixing space 8 flows into the face outlet air passage 15 through the face / defroster passage 12, and then, from the front face outlet 18 to the upper portion of the vehicle compartment. Blow to the side. next,
The "foot mode" will be described. When the face defroster door 17 is operated to the position b in FIG. 1, the defroster blowout air passage 16 is fully opened, and the face blowout air passage 1 is opened.
Close 5 side.

On the other hand, the foot door 10 is operated to the maximum opening position e in FIG. 1 to widen the opening of the foot blowout air passage 11 to the vicinity of the maximum amount, and the cold / hot air mixing space 8 and the face / defroster passage 12 are provided. The small passages are connected to each other. As described above, most of the conditioned air from the cold / hot air mixing space 8 flows into the foot blowout air passage 11 and blows out from the front seat side foot outlet 13b and the rear seat side foot outlet to the occupant's feet. At the same time, part of the conditioned air passes through the face / defroster passage 12 and the defroster outlet air passage 16 and is blown from the defroster outlet 19 toward the vehicle front window glass to prevent the vehicle front window glass from being fogged. be able to.

Next, the "foot / defroster mode" will be described. The face / defroster door 17 is shown in FIG.
1b, and the foot door 10 is operated to the intermediate opening position d in FIG. As a result, approximately half of the conditioned air from the cold / hot air mixing space 8 flows into the foot blowout air passage 11 and blows out from the foot blowout port 13b on the front seat side and the foot blowout port on the rear seat side to the occupant's feet. At the same time, the remaining approximately half of the conditioned air is blown out from the defroster outlet 19. Therefore, the amount of air blown out from the defroster air outlet 19 increases, and the anti-fog effect of the window glass increases.

Next, the "defroster mode" will be explained. When the face / defroster door 17 is operated to the position b in FIG. 1 and the foot door 10 is operated to the position c in FIG. Close. As a result, all the conditioned air from the cold / hot air mixing space 8 passes through the defroster blowout air passage 16 and blows out from the defroster blowout port 19 toward the vehicle front window glass. Therefore, the amount of air blown from the defroster air outlet 19 is further increased, and the anti-fog effect of the window glass is further increased.

The above-mentioned "foot mode", "foot / defroster mode", and "defroster mode" are often used in the winter season, but if these blowout modes are continued for a long time, warm air will flow. May rise to the upper part of the passenger compartment due to natural convection, causing passengers to feel hot flashes on their faces and be uncomfortable. Therefore, in such a case, the cold air bypass door 24 is operated to the open position by the manual operation knob 24b, and the grill mechanism 25a of the rear seat face outlet 25 is set to the closed state. As a result, the cold air taken in from the cold air intake port 20 flows into the front seat face outlet passage 15 through the cold air passage 21 and the front seat bypass passage 22, reaches the front seat face outlet 18, and from here. Since the cool air is blown upward toward the front seat side, hot flashes on the passenger's face on the front seat side can be eliminated, and a comfortable air conditioning feeling of cold head heat can be provided.

Also in the "bilevel mode",
By opening the cold air bypass door 24 and closing the grill mechanism 25a of the rear seat face outlet 25 in the same manner as described above, the head cold foot heat condition on the front seat side can be further emphasized. (Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be implemented in various forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the air volume ratio of the cool air and the warm air is changed to the air mix door 9 The so-called air-mix type air conditioner for automobiles, which adjusts the blown air temperature by adjusting the above, is described. However, a hot water flow rate-adjusted automobile that adjusts the blown air temperature by adjusting the flow rate of hot water flowing into the heater core 5 The present invention is also applicable to an air conditioner for a vehicle.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the cold air bypass door 24 is manually operated directly by the manual operation knob 24b has been described. However, for example, the temperature in the passenger compartment rises in the foot mode in winter and the front seat It is also possible to determine the condition for feeling a hot flash on the passenger's face from the vehicle interior temperature or the like, and automatically open the cold air bypass door 24 by the air-conditioning electronic control unit.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cold air bypass door 24 is provided in the middle of the front seat cold air bypass passage 22. However, for example, the cold air bypass door 24 is provided in the front seat cold air bypass passage 22 and the rear seat cold air blowing passage. The door 24 is provided at a branch point with the passage 23, and the door 24 allows the front seat cold air bypass passage 22 to be provided.
Alternatively, the cold air blowing passage 23 for the rear seat may be switched and opened / closed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air-conditioning unit, 2 ... Case, 4 ... Evaporator, 5 ... Heater core, 13 ... Front seat foot opening, 13b ... Front seat foot air outlet, 18 ... Front seat face air outlet, 20 ... Cold air intake, 2120 ... Cold air passage, 22 ... Cold air bypass passage for front seat, 23 ... Cold air blowing passage for rear seat, 24 ... Cold air bypass door for front seat, 25 ... Face outlet for rear seat, 25a ... Grill mechanism.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A case (2) forming an air flow path, a cooling heat exchanger (4) provided in the case (2) for cooling blown air, and a cooling heat exchanger (4). ), Which is provided on the downstream side of the air conditioner and reheats the blast air to a predetermined temperature, and before blowing the blast air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger (5) to the upper side of the front seat. A seat face air outlet (18), a blast air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger (5) is introduced, and a front seat foot air outlet (13b) that blows the blast air to the feet on the front seat side; The rear seat face outlet (25) that blows blown air to the upper side of the rear seat and the portion immediately downstream of the cooling heat exchanger (4) are opened, and at the cooling heat exchanger (4). A cold air intake (20) that takes in cooled cold air, and a cold air intake (20) The cold air bypass passage (22) for the front seat, which bypasses the heating heat exchanger (5) and directly introduces the cooled air into the face air outlet (18) for the front seat, and the cold air intake ( On the downstream side of 20), the cold air bypass passage (22) for the front seat is provided so as to branch, and the cool air taken in from the cold air intake (20) is introduced to the face air outlet (25) for the rear seat. The rear seat cold air blowing passageway (23), and the flow adjusting means (24, 25a) for adjusting the air flow to the front seat cold air bypass passageway (22) and the rear seat cold air blowing passageway (23). An air conditioning system for automobiles, which is characterized in that 2. In the case (2), the cooling heat exchanger (4) is arranged on the front side of the vehicle, and the heating heat exchanger (5) is arranged on the rear side of the vehicle. The inlet (20) is arranged immediately downstream of the cooling heat exchanger (4) and at a lower position, and the cold air intake (20) is located in the heating heat exchanger (5). A lower portion is connected to a cold air passage (21) extending toward the vehicle rear side, and the cold air passage (21) is provided at the vehicle rear end portion with the front seat cold air bypass passage (22) and the rear seat cold air. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the air conditioner is branched into an outlet passage (23). 3. The cold air bypass passage for the front seat (22) is connected to a portion immediately before the face air outlet for the front seat (18) at a downstream end thereof. The automobile air conditioner described. 4. The flow adjusting means (24, 25a) includes a cold air bypass door (24) for opening and closing the cold air bypass passage (22) for the front seat, and a face air outlet (25) for the rear seat.
The grill mechanism (25
and a) are provided.
The automobile air conditioner according to any one of 1.