JPH11170843A - Air-conditioner for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve the miniaturization, and improve the sealability by cutting a spiral groove in a slide mechanism of an air mix door, providing a drive shaft extending in the sliding direction of the air mix door on one side of the air mix door, and providing an engagement piece which is engaged with the spiral groove, guided along the spiral groove as the drive shaft is rotated, and moved in the axial direction of the drive shaft. SOLUTION: An air mix door 11 is provided with the slide mechanism 22. The slide mechanism 22 is provided with a spiral groove 20 to be engaged with an engagement piece 19 provided on one surface 17 side of the air mix door 11, and a drive shaft 21 extending in the sliding direction of the air mix door 11. When the engagement piece 19 to be engaged with the spiral groove 20 as the drive shaft 21 is rotated is guided along the groove 20, and moved in the axial direction of the shaft 21, the air mix door 11 is moved in the sliding direction. The air mix door can slide with a simple mechanism, and a space necessary for the sliding mechanism can be miniaturized, and the excellent sealability can be ensured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for an automobile, and more particularly, to a slide mechanism of a slide type air mix door for adjusting a mixing ratio of hot air and cold air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a conventional automotive air conditioner is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, 10
Reference numeral 1 denotes an air conditioning duct, in which a blower 102, an evaporator 103 as a cooler, and a heater core 104 as a heater are arranged in this order in a duct 101.
A rotary air mix damper 105 is provided on the upstream side of 04. The air sucked in from the air supply port 106 passes through the evaporator 103, and the air flow ratio between the air passing through the heater core 104 and the bypass air is adjusted by the air mix damper 105. 1
07, the VENT outlet 108, the FOOT outlet 109, and the like, the air is sent into the vehicle cabin through the selected outlet.

In such a vehicle air conditioner,
A space for rotating the air mix damper 105 must be secured between the evaporator 103 and the heater core 104, and the necessity of the space is a major obstacle in reducing the size of the entire air conditioner. I have.

In order to respond to the recent demand for downsizing of air conditioners for automobiles, a structure in which a sliding type air mix door is provided instead of the above-mentioned rotary type air mix damper (for example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. No. 71222), and a structure in which a sliding type air mix door using a film member is provided (for example, JP-A-8-258538,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-282248) has been proposed.

[0005]

However, in the structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-71222, the air mix door is composed of two plate members, and the overlapping ratio thereof is changed to change the hot air passage. The structure of the air mix door itself and its adjustment mechanism is complicated because the air flow ratio between the air mix door and the cool air passage is adjusted, and the sealing performance of the air mix door is insufficient, making it difficult to accurately adjust the air flow. There is a problem. Further, in the structures disclosed in JP-A-8-258538 and JP-A-8-282248, since a link-lever mechanism is used for driving the air mix door, it is relatively difficult to operate the link lever mechanism. There is a problem that a large space is required and there is a limit to downsizing of the entire air conditioner. Further, in an air mix door using a film member disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-258538,
There is a problem that the sealing performance varies depending on the air volume or the sealing performance is insufficient. In particular, in these conventional structures, maximum heating (HOT MAX) and maximum cooling (COOL M
At the time of AX), there is a problem that the sealing property is insufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize a desired air-mix door sliding with a simple mechanism, and at the same time, to reduce the space required for the sliding mechanism to sufficiently meet the demand for downsizing of an automotive air conditioner. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure of an air mix door portion capable of exhibiting a sufficient sealing property in a specific air conditioning mode.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention has a heat exchanger in a duct and traverses a hot air passage and a cold air passage formed in the duct. In the automotive air conditioner having an air mix door that is slidable in a direction in which the air mix passage can be adjusted in accordance with the air conditioning mode by the slide, the sliding mechanism of the air mix door includes:
A drive shaft provided with a spiral groove and extending in the sliding direction of the air mix door; and a drive shaft provided on one surface side of the air mix door, engaging with the spiral groove, and rotating the drive shaft with the spiral groove. And an engaging element that is guided in the axial direction of the drive shaft by being guided along the shaft.

It is preferable to provide a drop-off preventing member extending on the one side of the air mix door in the axial direction of the drive shaft and preventing the engaging element from dropping out of the spiral groove.
The falling-off preventing member can be constituted, for example, as a pair of plate members arranged on both sides of the drive shaft and the engaging element, or a member having a guide hole through which the drive shaft is inserted.

Also, projections are provided on both sides of the air mix door, and the air mix door is slidably contacted with the projections to guide the air mix door in the sliding direction. It is preferable to provide a guide member that can press the other side of the air mix door against the heat exchanger during cooling).

The heat exchanger is a cooler (for example, an evaporator)
And a heater (for example, a heater core),
What is necessary is just to provide the said air mix door between a cooler and a heater. At this time, the other side of the air mix door may be pressed against, for example, the heater.

In the above-described air conditioner for a vehicle, a spiral groove is provided, and when a drive shaft extending in a sliding direction of the air mixing door is rotated, an engaging element that engages with the spiral groove of the drive shaft is formed. It is guided along the spiral groove and moves in the axial direction of the drive shaft. Since the engagement element is provided on one side of the air mixing door, the air mixing door is moved in the sliding direction by the movement of the engagement element. That is, since the slide mechanism can be configured by a simple combination of the above-described engaging element and the drive shaft, the entire slide mechanism can be simplified.
Further, the slide mechanism does not require a special operation space as in the case of the conventional link-lever mechanism method,
Since it can be constituted by an extremely thin mechanism, it is possible to significantly reduce the size of the entire vehicle air conditioner.

In the conventional link-lever mechanism system, if it is necessary to extend the sliding stroke of the air mixing door, it is unavoidable to enlarge the mechanism and enlarge the operating space. According to the mechanism, the slide stroke can be easily changed only by changing, for example, the number of turns or the shape of the spiral groove of the drive shaft, thereby preventing or minimizing the enlargement of the mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with a design change of an air conditioner for a vehicle.

[0013] If a member for preventing the engaging element from dropping out of the spiral groove is provided on one surface side of the air mixing door and extending in the axial direction of the drive shaft, the spiral groove and the engaging element can be connected. A reliable engagement state is ensured, and the reliability of the slide mechanism and, consequently, the vehicle air conditioner can be improved.

[0014] Further, if the above-mentioned guide member is provided, the air mix door can be smoothly slid, and the air mix door can be pressed against the heat exchanger in a specific air-conditioning mode. It is possible to improve the sealing performance in the specific mode where the sealing performance is required, for example, at the time of maximum heating or maximum cooling.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an automotive air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes the entire vehicle air conditioner, and reference numeral 2 denotes its ventilation duct. An outside air inlet 3 and an inside air inlet 4 are provided on the air suction side of the duct 2.
Are provided, and the intake ratio of the inside and outside air can be adjusted by the damper 5. A blower 6 is provided downstream of these inlets, and air is sucked in and the duct 2
Is pumped toward the downstream side.

Downstream of the blower 6 in the ventilation duct 2,
A refrigerant evaporator 7 as a cooler and a heater core 8 as a heater are arranged in this order. The upper side of the heater core 8 in FIG. 1 is formed as a passage 9 for the cool air that has passed through the evaporator 7, and the portion that passes through the heater core 8 is formed as a passage 10 for the warm air.

Between the evaporator 7 and the heater core 8,
More precisely, on the immediately upstream side of the heater core 8, it is possible to slide in a direction crossing the hot air passage 10 and the cold air passage 9.
And a slide-type air mix door 11 capable of adjusting the ratio of the amount of air passing through the cool air passage 9.

Downstream of the ventilation duct 2, DEF, VE
There are provided outlets 12, 13, 14 for NT, FOOT, etc., and dampers 15, 16 for adjusting air blown out from the outlets.

The above-mentioned slide type air mix door 11
Is configured as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. The air mix door 11 has a slide mechanism 22.
The slide mechanism 22 is provided on one surface 17 of the air mix door 11.
And a driving shaft 21 having a spiral groove 20 with which the engaging member 19 is engaged and extending in the sliding direction of the air mixing door 11. Engaging element 1 engaging with groove 20
When the air mixing door 9 moves along the groove 20 and moves in the axial direction of the shaft 21, the air mixing door 11 moves in the sliding direction (the direction crossing the cold air passage 9 and the hot air passage 10).

In this embodiment, the drive shaft 21 is connected to a reversible motor (not shown) that can rotate forward and reverse, and is rotated by a desired amount in the forward or reverse direction by the motor. . With this rotation, the engaging element 19 engaged with the spiral groove 20 is moved along the drive shaft 21 in any one of its axial directions.

The action control method of the drive shaft 21 is not limited to the method using the motor, but may be any method. For example, an arm lever may be provided at one end of the drive shaft 21, a wire may be connected to the arm lever, and the drive shaft 21 may be rotated by operating the wire.

Also, projections 23 (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) are provided on both sides of the air mix door 11. The protrusion 23 slides on a guide groove 25 provided in the guide member 24 to guide the air mix door 11 in the sliding direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide groove 25 extends in the sliding direction of the air mix door 11, and a flat portion 26 formed along the sliding direction.
(26a, 26b) and an inclined portion 27 formed obliquely in the sliding direction. The flat portion 26a is formed on the side of the heater core 8, while the flat portion 26b is formed on the side opposite to the heater core 8, and the flat portions 26a and 26b are formed on the inclined portion 2.
7. Further, both ends and the center of the guide groove 25 are formed as flat portions 26a, and the projections 23a and 23b of the air mix door 11 are combined into one flat portion 26a.
a, the projections 23c and 23d are also in the other flat portions 2.
The positional relationship between the projection 23 and the flat portion 26a is set so as to come to 6a. For this reason, when the air mix door 11 slides in the full sliding direction, that is, at the time of maximum heating when the air mix door 11 slides upward in FIG. At the time of maximum cooling when the door 11 slides downward in FIG. 3 and the opening degree of the cool air passage 9 becomes maximum, the other surface 18 of the air mix door 11 is pressed against the heater core 8.

In the vehicle air conditioner constructed as described above, by controlling the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of the drive shaft 21 of the slide mechanism 22, the engaging element 19 on the one surface 17 side of the air mix door 11 is driven. The air mix door 11 is slid in the sliding direction. By this sliding operation, the opening ratio between the hot air passage 10 and the cold air passage 9 is adjusted, and the amount of air passing through both the passages 10 and 9 is adjusted.

In a specific air-conditioning mode at the time of maximum heating or maximum cooling, the other surface 18 of the air mix door 11 is pressed against the heater core 8, so that high sealing performance in the specific air-conditioning mode can be ensured.

FIG. 4 shows a slide mechanism 22 of an automotive air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the spiral groove 20 extends on the one surface 17 side of the air mix door 11 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 21.
A member is provided for preventing the engaging element 19 from falling off. In the present embodiment, the falling-off preventing member includes a pair of plate-like members 28 arranged on both sides of the drive shaft 21 and the engaging element 19. When one or both of the plate-like members 28 and at least a part of the drive shaft 21 abut, the drive shaft 21
Of the air mix door 11 with respect to the radial direction of the
, And the reliability of the slide mechanism 22, and thus the automotive air conditioner, can be improved.

FIG. 5 shows a slide mechanism 22 of a vehicle air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the falling-off preventing member comprises a member 30 having a guide hole 29 through which the drive shaft 21 is inserted. Also in this embodiment, the inner wall surface of the member 30 forming the guide hole 29 and at least a part of the drive shaft 21 are in contact with each other, so that the attitude of the air mixing door in the radial direction of the drive shaft 21 can be maintained correctly. As a result, a favorable engagement state between the spiral groove 20 and the engagement element 19 can be ensured.

[0027]

As described above, according to the automotive air conditioner of the present invention, the sliding of the air mixing door can be realized by a simple mechanism, and at the same time, the space required for the sliding mechanism can be reduced. It can sufficiently respond to the demand for miniaturization of automotive air conditioners. In addition, high sealing performance in a specific air conditioning mode can be ensured, so that a higher performance automotive air conditioner can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slide mechanism of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slide mechanism of an automotive air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a transparent perspective view of a slide mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional automotive air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automotive air conditioner 2 Ventilation duct 6 Blower 7 Evaporator as a cooler 8 Heater core as a heater 9 Cold air passage 10 Hot air passage 11 Air mix door 12, 13, 14 Outlet 15, 16 Damper 17 One surface 18 Other surface DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Engagement element 20 Spiral groove 21 Drive shaft 23, 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d Projection 24 Guide member 25 Guide groove 26, 26a, 26b Flat portion 27 Inclined portion 28 Plate member 29 Guide hole 30 Member

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A duct having a heat exchanger in a duct and slidable in a direction traversing a hot air passage and a cold air passage formed in the duct, and the slide allows a hot air passage and a cold air passage in accordance with an air conditioning mode. An air conditioner for an automobile having an air mix door capable of adjusting a ratio of a flow rate of air passing through the air mix door, wherein a slide mechanism of the air mix door is provided with a spiral groove, and a drive shaft extending in a sliding direction of the air mix door; An engaging element that is provided on one surface side of the air mixing door, engages with the spiral groove, and is moved in the axial direction of the drive shaft by being guided along the spiral groove with rotation of the drive shaft, An air conditioner for a vehicle, comprising: 2. A drop-off preventing member that extends in the axial direction of the drive shaft and that prevents the engaging element from dropping out of the spiral groove is provided on one surface side of the air mix door. Automotive air conditioner. 3. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein said falling-off preventing member comprises a pair of plate-like members arranged on both sides of said drive shaft and said engaging element. 4. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said falling-off preventing member comprises a member having a guide hole through which said drive shaft is inserted. 5. A projection is provided on both sides of the air mixing door, and slides on the projection to guide the air mixing door in the sliding direction, and the other side of the air mixing door in a specific air conditioning mode. The air conditioner for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a guide member capable of pressing the heat exchanger toward the heat exchanger. 6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a cooler and a heater, and the air mix door is provided between the cooler and the heater. Automotive air conditioners.