JPS60193715A - Automatic air changeover device for car - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the comfortableness with simple structure by detecting gas and smell to produce predetermined drive pulse then functioning an actuator incorporating shape-memory alloy and performing open/close control of the inner/outer air take-in ports. CONSTITUTION:Under the state where the drive lever 5 of a lever unit 3 is at FRESH position and the outer air lead-in port 9b of intake door 9a is open while the inner air lead-in port 9c is closed, abnormal exhaust gas is detected through a gas sensor 1a in sensor unit to feed the detection signal to the timer 2c in control unit 2. Under duration of said detection signal, a drive pulse signal is fed to bar driver 2d to supply power to an actuator 4 incorporating a shape- memory alloy thus to drive the shape-memory alloy not shown and to close the outer air take-in port 9b while to close the inner air take-in port 9c thus to switch to the inner air circulation. With such simple structure, intrusion of exhaust gas is prevented resulting in the improvement of comfortableness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an auto air switching device for automatically ventilating the interior of an automobile. Furthermore, if there is abnormal exhaust gas from a vehicle in front or oncoming, or a strange odor from the environment while driving, a new system is developed that quickly detects the exhaust gas or odor and prevents it from entering the passenger compartment. This invention relates to an auto air switching device for automobiles.

Conventional technology and its problems Conventionally, the ventilation of the interior of an automobile has generally been carried out by manually operating a control lever provided on an air conditioner, etc. from the REC (internal air circulation) position to the FRESH (outside air introduction) position. was. That is, ventilation is performed by selecting the FRESH position or the RFC position according to the passenger's desire and operating the control lever.

However, in such a conventional air switching device in the passenger compartment of a car, for example, when the operation lever is turned to F while driving,
If an abnormal exhaust gas or odor is encountered while the outside air is being introduced by operating the lever to the RESH position, in most cases, the occupant will sense it after the exhaust gas has entered the vehicle interior, and then switch the operating lever to the RFC position. Was. Therefore, there is a problem in that the narrow vehicle interior is easily filled with unpleasant odors and becomes uncomfortable.

Also, when heating and cooling the vehicle interior, the control lever is often set to the RFC position in order to improve its effectiveness.
In order to ventilate appropriately, the operating lever must be operated to the FRESH position, but ventilation operations at predetermined intervals are cumbersome and are often left unattended, causing discomfort. Furthermore, the operating position of the control lever is easily misunderstood, especially when driving at night, and the incorrect operating position of the control lever may cause fogging of the window glass, which may impede visibility.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide an auto air switching device for automobiles that has a simple configuration and can be produced at low cost in order to eliminate the drawback of tilting.
This is a system that is equipped with a sensor unit consisting of a gas sensor and an odor sensor on the front of a car, and when an abnormal exhaust gas or strange odor is encountered, the sensor unit quickly detects the exhaust gas, etc. , the detection signal sent by the sensor unit activates the actuator of the memory alloy/Nl-unit through the control unit, automatically quickly closing the intake door to enter the RFC state, and preventing abnormal outside air from entering the passenger compartment. In addition, once the exhaust gas, etc. disappears, the original FR is restored.
It is designed to return to the ESH position state and allow outside air to be introduced.Furthermore, it has a mechanism that allows the occupant to maintain the RFC state for a desired period of time using a separately provided internal air set switch. The object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive auto air switching device for an automobile that has a simple configuration and can automatically maintain the air in a vehicle interior in a comfortable state at all times.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the auto air switching device for automobiles according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

1 is a sensor unit. The sensor unit 1 is composed of a gas sensor 1a, an odor sensor lb, etc., and normally detects abnormal exhaust gas or strange odors that are often encountered while a car is running. Therefore, the sensor unit 1, for example,
As shown in the figure, it is installed at the front of a car to quickly detect abnormal exhaust gas and send out a detection signal. 2 is a control unit. The control unit 2 receives a detection signal sent from the sensor unit 1 and applies a drive current to operate the lever unit 3.

The control unit 2 is configured as follows: It generates drive signals according to the characteristics of the gas sensor 1a and the odor sensor 1b of the sensor unit 1, and controls the various sensors of the sensor unit 1. The lever unit 3 made of a memory alloy is controlled by the sensor driver 28 which sends the signal to the sensor unit 1, the amplifier 2b which receives and amplifies the signal sent by the sensor unit 1, and the detection signal sent by the amplifier 2b or the setting signal from the internal air set switch 8. A timer 20 generates and sends out a drive pulse signal for actuating the actuator 4, and a drive current is applied to heat and actuate the actuator 4 of the lever unit 3 made of a memory alloy in accordance with the drive pulse signal sent from the timer 20. It is composed of a lever driver 2d. 3 is a lever unit. In the lever unit 3, an actuator 4 is actuated by a drive current from the lever driver 2d of the control unit 2, and drives the intake door 9a which opens and closes the outside air inlet 9b and the inside air inlet 9c.

The lever unit 3 is composed of an actuator 4.degree. drive lever 5 and a return spring 6, as shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, for example. Here, the actuator 4 is, for example, as in an embodiment shown in FIG.
Hooks 4b, 4b serving as locking parts are formed at both ends, and a wire 4a made of a memory alloy is formed in a substantially coil shape with a predetermined length,
Further, a coated heating wire 4c is wound a predetermined number of times to heat the wire 4a, and both ends of the heating wire 4c are connected to two lever drivers 2d of the control unit 1, respectively.

Further, one hook 4b of the actuator 4 is locked to the fixed portion 3a of the lever unit 3, and the hook 4b at the other end is locked to the drive lever 5.

Furthermore, one end of the drive lever 5 is rotatably fixed to a support shaft 5b, and a display system 5a is fixed to the other end to display the position of the drive lever 5 so that the position of the drive lever 5 can be easily recognized. There is. One hook 4b of the actuator lever 4 is locked near the approximate center of the drive lever 5.

Further, the drive lever 5 has one of the return springs 6 and one of the flexible wires 7, the other of which is connected to the intake door 9a, secured near the center of the drive lever 5.
Normally FRE due to the tensile force of the return spring 6.
The intake I/A 9a is held at the SH position, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the outside air inlet 9b is open and the inside air inlet 9c is closed. Reference numeral 6 represents a return spring, one of which is locked near the center of the drive lever 5, and the other of which is secured to the fixed portion 3 of the lever unit 3.
b, and the drive lever 5 is always pulled FR with a predetermined tension.
It is biased to hold it in the ESH position. 7 is a flexible wire. The flexible wire 7 connects the drive lever 5 and the intake door 9a so that the intake door 9a can be opened and closed by rotation of the drive lever 5. 8 is an internal air set switch. The inside air set switch 8 is a switch for cutting off the introduction of outside air in order to set the inside air circulation state in the vehicle interior in order to increase the initial cooling and heating effect, in addition to the dirty state of the outside air. As shown in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is composed of a rotary set of switches, and when the eldest child 8a rotates,
A desired set time can be set, and the switch is turned on by pressing the central push button 8b.

The inside air set switch 8 is connected to operate the timer 20 of the control unit 2.

9 is the main body of the air conditioner equipped with the auto air switching device for automobiles, and 9a is an intake door that opens and closes the outside air inlet 9b and the inside air inlet 9c.The intake door 9a is made of flexible wire as described above. 7 is connected to the drive lever 5, and rotation of the drive lever 5 by the actuator 4 opens and closes the outside air inlet 9b and the inside air inlet 9c.

Effect of the present invention An explanation will be given based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

Now, as shown in FIG. 2, when the car is running with the lever unit 9b open and the inside air inlet 9c closed, for example, if the car encounters a place filled with abnormal exhaust gas, The gas sensor 1a of the sensor unit 1 installed at the front of the car quickly detects exhaust gas,
A predetermined detection signal is sent. The detection signal is amplified by the amplifier 2b of the control unit 2 and sent to the timer 20. The timer 2C has a pulse width adapted to the operating characteristics of the actuator 4, for example, as shown in FIG. The drive pulse signal P for a time W seconds is sent to the lever driver 2d with a cycle time t.The lever driver 2 that received the drive pulse signal P
d applies a drive current to the heating wire 4c of the actuator 4 at every cycle time t (seconds) according to the drive pulse signal P, that is, by the pulse width time W seconds. The wire 4a made of a memory alloy is heated to a predetermined temperature by applying electricity to the heating wire 4c, and is displaced to return to the original contracted shape stored in advance. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the wire 4c heated by the heating wire 4c by the drive current according to the drive pulse signal P as described above has temperature MI! on the vertical axis. In the operating characteristic diagram of the actuator 4 in which @ is expressed as time, when it is heated from the normal temperature point X1 and exceeds the starting temperature of the austhiite phase transition of the memory alloy wire 64a, contraction begins due to the shape returning to the preset memory shape. When the austenite phase transition end temperature point X2 is exceeded, complete contraction occurs. This contraction force overcomes the tensile force of the return spring 6, so the drive lever 5 is pulled and driven to the RFC position. In this way, the intake door 9a closes the outside air inlet 9b and opens the inside air inlet 9c, thereby preventing exhaust gas from entering. Then, when the time W (seconds) corresponding to the pulse width of the drive pulse signal P has elapsed, the drive current is cut off and the wire 4a is cooled, and the martensitic phase transition end temperature point X
4, the wire 4a begins to soften and the drive lever 5 is returned to the original FRESH position by the return spring 6, but the temperature point X2 at which the memory alloy wire 4a ends the austenite phase transition changes from the temperature point X2 at which the martensitic phase transition ends. Since the cycle time t (seconds) of the drive pulse signal P sent from the timer 20 is set smaller than the operating time m (seconds) leading to the end of martensitic phase transition, the time t ( Since heating by the next drive pulse signal P is started at the temperature point X3 of 2 seconds), the actuator 4 continues to maintain its operating state. When the exhaust gas disappears and the detection signal from the sensor unit 1 is stopped, the drive pulse signal P from the timer 20 is also stopped, and after the stop time n (seconds), the temperature reaches the full tension 1-phase transition start temperature point X4. The actuator 4 is cooled and the drive lever 5
is pulled again by the return spring 6 and returns to the FRESH position.

That is, the intake door 9a operates to open the outside air inlet 9b and close the inside air inlet 9C.

Next, when it is desired by the passenger to cut off the introduction of outside air and allow inside air to circulate in order to control the effect of heating and cooling inside the vehicle, this can be done by operating the inside air set switch 8. That is, the eldest child 8a of the shy air set switch 8
to set the desired time, and then press button 8b.
By suppressing , it turns on and timer 2
C sends the drive pulse signal P to the lever driver 2d for the time set by the eldest child 8a of the inside air cent switch 8, as explained in the operation above. Similarly to the above operation, the lever driver 2d applies a drive current corresponding to the drive pulse signal to the actuator 4, thereby driving the drive lever 5 to the RFC position.

The intake door 9a closes the outside air inlet 9b and opens the inside air inlet 9c, and when the time set by the inside air set switch 8 has elapsed, the drive pulse signal sent from the timer 20 is stopped. Thereafter, the intake door 9a again opens the outside air inlet 9b and closes the inside air inlet 9c in the same manner as described above.

Effects of the present invention (a) Since the actuator that drives the interior door is a mechanism that is operated by contraction of a wire made of a memory alloy, it has a simple structure, has a small number of parts, and generates little noise, making it suitable for use in various air conditioners. It is possible to provide an inexpensive auto air switching device for automobiles that can be used.

(b) When a car encounters an abnormal exhaust gas odor while the car is running, the system immediately detects the exhaust residue, quickly closes the outside air inlet, and prevents the exhaust gas from entering the cabin. Because it can automatically prevent this from happening, it is possible to provide an auto air switching device for automobiles that can always maintain a comfortable driving environment and ensure safe driving without the driver having to worry about manually switching levers. ) A built-in inside air set switch is installed, and by operating the inside air set switch, the inside air circulation state can be maintained for a desired period of time, and after the set time, the system can automatically return to the outside air introduction state, so there is no chance of forgetting to operate the switch. This prevents oxygen deficiency in the air inside the vehicle, dirt, and fogging of the window glass, allowing you to drive in a healthy state at all times and reducing fatigue.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the mounting portion of the component parts of the auto air switching device for an automobile according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the functional configuration of the auto air switching device for automobiles according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the actuator of the auto air switching device for automobiles according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the inside air set switch of the auto air switching device for automobiles according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram of a drive pulse signal sent by the timer of the control unit of the auto air switching device for an automobile according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operating characteristics of the actuator of the automobile auto air switching device according to the present invention. 1... Sen → No-unit, 2... Control unit. 3... Lever unit, 4... Actuator. 4a... Line system (memory alloy), 9a...
intake door. Above Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4Fm

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sensor unit consisting of a gas sensor and an odor sensor to detect dirt in the outside air, a sensor driver that sends a drive signal to activate the sensor unit,
A timer that sends out a predetermined drive pulse signal set in advance in response to a detection signal sent out by the sensor unit or a signal sent out from the internal air set switch, and a drive current is supplied in accordance with the drive pulse signal sent out by the timer. a control unit having a lever driver; an actuator made of a memory alloy that is heated and displaced by a drive current from the lever driver of the control unit; and a drive lever driven by the displacement of the actuator to open and close an outside air inlet and an inside air inlet. 1. An air-to-auto switching device for an automobile, characterized in that it comprises an intake door that is connected to the intake door.