JPS61169313A - Snow melting device for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the effect of heating from lowering, by laying a snow melting pipe provided therein with a control valve which opens in association with a snow fall detection signal, in the vicinity of the outside air intake port of a cowl box, and by connecting the snow melting pipe to a heater hot water circuit in an air-conditioner. CONSTITUTION:When a wiper unit scrapes off snow adhered to a front window shield at a temperature below 0 deg.C, accumulated it into a wiper storage section, sensors 8a, 8b disposed in the wiper storage section are energized to deliver signals to a control circuit 9 which therefore, opens a control valve 10 to introduce hot water 6 into a snow melting pipe 4 laid in a cowl box through a heater hot water circuit 5 in order to melt accumulated snow. With this arrangement, hot water is introduced into the snow melting pipe 4 only during snow fall, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the effect of heating from lowering in the normal condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a vehicle width direction strength member in the front waist portion of a vehicle body, which is used to improve snow accumulation near the outside air intake of a cowl box that constitutes the outside air intake of an air conditioner. This invention relates to an automotive snow melting device that melts snow.

Conventional technology When the air w 4-phase device is operated in full heater mode with the outside air intake of the cowl box closed due to snow accumulation, almost no outside air is introduced into the air conditioner, and indoor air is circulated. This causes the problem that the windshield fogs up. For this reason, for example,
As shown in Publication No. 9-64307, a hot water pipe connected to the heater hot water circuit of an air conditioner is arranged in the cowl box, and a part of the hot water introduced into the heater core is introduced into this hot water pipe. A system that melts snow near the cowl box has been proposed.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the hot water that should be introduced into the heater core is always introduced into the hot water pipe side, resulting in a problem that the heating effect is significantly deteriorated.

Therefore, in the present invention, the introduction of hot water to the snow melting pipe placed near the outside air intake of the cowl box is stopped under normal conditions, and hot water is introduced into the snow melting pipe only during snowfall, thereby reducing the heating effect during normal conditions. An object of the present invention is to provide a snow melting device for an automobile that can avoid deterioration.

Means for solving the problem A snow melting pipe connected to the heater core hot water circuit of the air conditioner is installed near the outside air inlet of the cowl box, and a snowfall detection means is installed at the hot water inlet of the snow melting pipe. It is equipped with a control valve that is operated to open when it snows based on the action.

In the normal operating state, the hot water inlet of the snow melting pipe is closed by the control valve, so all the hot water introduced into the heater core hot water circuit when the heater is activated flows into the heater core. When it is snowing or the snow is falling on the cowl box, a snowfall detection means detects this, opens a control valve, and introduces hot water to the snow melting pipe via the heater core hot water circuit regardless of whether the heater is activated or stopped.

Example Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In Figures 1 to 3, 1 is the wiper storage area in the front half).
A snow melting pipe 4 is disposed near the outside air intake port 3 of the cowl box 1, for example, in the storage section 2. This snow melting pipe 4 is connected to the heater hot water circuit 5 of the air conditioner, and is connected to the engine cooling water drawn out from the engine 7, i.e.
Hot water is circulated through this heater core hot water circuit 5. A control valve 10 which is opened via a control circuit 9 based on the detection action of the snowfall detection means 8 is interposed in the hot water introduction portion of the snow melting pipe 4. As the control valve 10, a solenoid valve, a diaphragm valve operated by engine suction negative pressure, a quarter cock, etc. are used. In this embodiment, as the snowfall detection means 8, a combination of an outside air temperature sensor 8a and a pressure sensor 8b that operates pressure-sensitively like a raindrop sensor is used. ℃ or less and when snow has fallen in the wiper storage section 2 and the pressure sensor 8b installed in the wiper storage section 2 senses it, the control circuit 9 sends an operating signal to the control valve 10, and the control valve 1.degree. This is to open the valve. As the snowfall detection means 8, either one of the sensors 8a and 8b may be used depending on the case. In addition,
In FIGS. 2 and 3, 12 is a front wind panel, 13 is an engine hood, 14 is a darts lower panel, and 15 is an instrument panel.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the outside air temperature is 0° C. or lower and snow adhering to the front wind panel 12 is scraped off by the wiper unit 11 into the wiper housing 2, the sensors 8a and 8b detect these conditions. That is, the snowfall situation is detected, the control circuit 9 sends an actuation signal, and the control valve 10 is activated.
Open the door.

As a result, regardless of whether the heater is activated or stopped, the engine 7
Hot water derived from the snow melting pipe 4 is circulated through the heater hot water circuit 5 to melt the snow in the storage section 2. Even if the wiper unit 11 becomes inoperable due to snow accumulation in the wiper housing 2 due to outdoor parking, the senna 8a is activated by engine drive.

Since hot water is introduced into the snow melting pipe 4 based on the detection action of 8b, this snow is melted and the wiper unit 11
ensure the operation of the On the other hand, when the outside temperature is below 0°C but there is no snowfall, or when there is no snow in the wiper storage part 2, the control circuit 9 does not send the activation signal, and therefore,
Control valve lO remains closed. Furthermore, since the control valve 10f is closed except during snowfall, all of the hot water introduced into the heater hot water circuit 5 flows into the heater core 6 when the heater is in operation, so that the heating effect can be enhanced.

In the previous Ge example, we took as an example a car with a so-called concealed wiper specification (wiper unit) lit-'7 (which is stored in the par storage area), but in addition to this, we also explained a car with a normal wiper specification in which the cowl box is exposed to the outside. It can also be used in cars, in which case the snow melting pipe is placed near the outside air intake in the cowl box.

Features of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, since hot water is not circulated through the snow melting pipe except during snowfall, all of the hot water introduced into the heater core hot water circuit when the heater is activated can flow into the heater core. Therefore, it has a great practical effect of further increasing the heating effect in the vehicle interior.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of snow melting pipes, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the same. 1...Cowl box, 3...Outside air intake, 4...
- Snow melting pipe, 5... Heater hot water circuit, 8... Snowfall detection means, 10... Control valve. Figure 1 Date Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A snow melting pipe connected to the heater hot water circuit of the air conditioner is installed near the outside air intake of the cowl box, and the hot water introduction part of the snow melting pipe is opened when snow falls based on the detection action of the snowfall detection means. A snow melting device for an automobile, characterized in that it is equipped with a valve-operated control valve.