WO2007117046A1

WO2007117046A1 - A dry device of automobile air-conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2007117046A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001289
Authority: WO
Inventors: Myong Chul Choi; Yong Chul Kim; Duk Won Jung
Original assignee: Myong Chul Choi; Yong Chul Kim; Duk Won Jung
Priority date: 2006-04-08
Filing date: 2006-04-08
Publication date: 2007-10-18

Abstract

Disclosed therein is a drying device, which can prevent generation of bad smell from condensate and foreign matters remaining on an evaporator and an evaporator case when the air-conditioner, which is used seasonlessly, is re-operated after being used. More particularly, the present invention relates to a drying device of an air-conditioner for automobiles, which includes a duct opening/closing door and a discharge opening/closing door, so that high-temperature and dried air, which is generated in such a way that the outdoor air introduced from an air blower is converted by high-temperature heat (about 9O°C or more) of engine refrigerant circulating inside a heater core, is not introduced to the inside of the automobile by intercept of the duct opening/closing door but flows backwardly and passes through an evaporator to dry residual condensate remaining in the evaporator, and high-temperature and high-humidity air generated by the above is compulsively discharged to the outside through the discharge opening/closing door, thereby providing just fresh cooled air to the inside of the automobile when the air-conditioner is re-operated.

Description

Description A DRY DEVICE OF AUTOMOBILE AIR-CONDITIONER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a drying device, which can prevent generation of bad smell from condensate and foreign matters remaining on an evaporator and an evaporator case when the air-conditioner, which is used seasonlessly, is re-operated after being used, and more particularly, to a drying device of an air-conditioner for automobiles, which includes a duct opening/closing door and a discharge opening/closing door, so that high-temperature and dried air, which is formed in such a way that the outdoor air introduced from an air blower is converted by high-temperature heat of engine refrigerant circulating inside a heater core, is not introduced to the inside of the automobile by intercept of the duct opening/closing door but flows backwardly and passes through an evaporator to dry residual condensate remaining in the evaporator, and high-temperature and high-humidity air generated by the above is compulsively discharged to the outside through the discharge opening/closing door, thereby providing just fresh cooled air to the inside of the automobile when the air-conditioner is re-operated. Background Art

[2] In general, most of automobiles are equipped with air-conditioners for keeping the inside of automobiles agreeably by controlling the inside temperature and humidity to proper temperature and humidity when the inside temperature and humidity of the automobiles rise in the summer season.

[3] The air-conditioner installed in the automobile provides an agreeable environment to passengers according to weather conditions and secures a driver's field of vision by preventing fog on a window to thereby induce the driver's safe driving. When the air- conditioner installed in the automobile is operated to cool the air, condensate is generated. So, the air-conditioner has a condensate drain hole for draining the condensate to the outside.

[4] However, the condensate is not perfectly drained through the condensate drain hole, and remains in an evaporator and an evaporator case in a state where it is stained on the evaporator and the evaporator case.

[5] Since the residual condensate promotes the propagation of bacteria, such as molds, it causes a bad smell generated along with generation of wind when the air-conditioner is re-used after being used once.

[6] Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1, the conventional air-conditioner for automobiles having the above problem will be described. [7] FIG. 1 is a configurative view of the conventional air-conditioner for automobiles.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional air-conditioner includes an evaporator (40) and a heater core (30) mounted vertically or in order inside a duct (10), which guides induced air to the inside of the automobile according to operation of an air blower (20).

[8] Here, the evaporator (40) is to send the air of a low-temperature and dried state to the inside (1) of the automobile by condensing the indoor and outdoor air compulsively sucked through the air blower (20) just by means of cooling. In this instance, the evaporator (40) includes a condensate drain hole (60) formed on the lower portion of the evaporator (40) for draining condensate, which is generated when air is cooled, to the outside. The condensate generated when the air-conditioner is operated is drained to the outside through the drain hole (60). However, the residual condensate is stained on the surfaces of the evaporator (40) and the evaporator case (42) due to surface tension. Such residual condensate propagates various foreign matters such as dust, molds or bacteria, and so, causes the bad smell and bacteria smell to the inside (1) of the automobile since the foreign matters and bacteria are introduced to the inside of the automobile together with wind when the air-conditioner is re-operated.

[9] Therefore, the present invention provides a device for perfectly and automatically drying the residual condensate stained on the evaporator (40) and the evaporator case (42) during a predetermined period after the air-conditioner is operated or starting of the air-conditioner is stopped. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[10] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a drying device of an air-conditioner for automobiles, which can remove moisture remaining in an evaporator to prevent the propagation of bacteria, such as molds, thereby providing just cooled fresh air.

[11] Another object of the present invention is to provide a drying device of an air- conditioner for automobiles, which includes a duct opening/closing door and a discharge opening/closing door, so that high-temperature and dried air passing through a heater core is not introduced to the inside of the automobile by intercept of the duct opening/closing door but flows backwardly and passes through an evaporator to dry residual condensate remaining in the evaporator, and high-temperature and high- humidity air generated by the above is compulsively discharged to the outside through the discharge opening/closing door, thereby providing just fresh cooled air to the inside of the automobile when the air-conditioner is re-operated. Technical Solution [12] The above objects are achieved by a drying device of an air-conditioner according to the present invention as follows. The indoor and outdoor air selectively and compulsively introduced according to the operation of an air blower (40) is converted into high-temperature and dried air while a heater core (30) and a heater opening/closing plate (31) for generating the high-temperature and dried air in a duct (10), which guides the indoor and outdoor air to the inside of the automobile, are opened, and the high-temperature and dried air is prevented from being introduced to the inside (1) of the automobile by a duct opening/closing door (70).

[13] In this instance, the high-temperature and dried air, which flows backwardly, is converted into high-temperature and high-humidity air while passing through an evaporator (40) and an evaporator case (42), and the converted air is discharged to the outside through a discharge opening/closing door (80). While the drying device of the air-conditioner according to the present invention is operated for a predetermined time period, residual condensate remaining in the evaporator (40) can be perfectly dried.

[14] In addition, it is preferable that the duct opening/closing door (70) and the discharge opening/closing door (80) respectively have actuators (50) so that the discharge opening/closing door (80) can be operated at the same time with the operation of the duct opening/closing door (70).

Advantageous Effects

[15] As described above, the drying device of the air-conditioner for automobiles according to the present invention can prevent the propagation of bacteria, such as molds, by compulsively drying the condensate remaining in the evaporator at high temperature, and so, provide just cooled fresh air to the inside of the automobile through the evaporator when the air-conditioner is re-operated, whereby a driver can drive the automobile in a refreshed environment. In addition, through the above effect, the present invention can provide an effect to prevent the driver's and passenger's respiratory ailments, and particularly, is more effective to allergic patients. Brief Description of the Drawings

[16] FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of a conventional air-conditioner for automobiles.

[17] FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of a conventional heater for automobiles.

[18] FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of a drying device of an air-conditioner for automobiles according to the present invention.

[19] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an Electronic Control Unit

(AIRCON-ECU) according to the present invention.

[20] FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a flash heater according to the present invention.

[21] FIG. 6 is a view showing the configuration of an exhaust blower according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[22] Hereinafter, the configuration of a drying device of an air-conditioner for automobiles according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[23] FIG. 3 is a view showing the configuration of a drying device of an air-conditioner for automobiles according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the drying device of the air-conditioner according to the present invention includes a duct (10) having a duct opening/closing door (70) and a discharge opening/closing door (80) mounted thereon, so that high-temperature and dried air passing through a heater core (30) is not introduced to the inside of the duct (10) due to the duct opening/closing door (70) but flows backwardly and is compulsively discharged to the discharge opening/closing door (80) after passing through an evaporator (40) and an evaporator case (42).

[24] Through the above structure, condensate remaining in the evaporator (40) can be removed, and so, just fresh cooled air is provided to the inside (1) of the automobile when the air-conditioner is re-operated.

[25] In this instance, the drying device according to the present invention can be operated for a predetermined time period after the air-conditioner is used or after starting of the automobile is stopped.

[26] The duct (10) is an air blowing path having an inlet and a number of outlets formed in such a way as to guide the compulsively introduced indoor and outdoor air to the inside of the automobile by means of a selective operation of an air blower (20). In the air blowing path of the duct (10), the air blower (20), the heater core (30), the duct opening/closing door (70), the evaporator (40) and the discharge opening/closing door 80 are mounted in order or by stages.

[27] Here, since the heater core (30) is in a high-temperature and high-heat state of about

9O⁰C or more, the outdoor air compulsively introduced through the air blower (20) is converted into high-temperature and dried air while passing through the heater core (30), and so, has high-temperature and high-heat to remove the residual condensate remaining in the evaporator (40).

[28] Furthermore, the evaporator (40) is mounted to cool the indoor and outdoor air compulsively introduced into the duct (10) from the air blower (20), and is covered with the evaporator case (42) having a condensate drain hole (60) formed in such a way as to discharge condensate generated by latent heat of vaporization of refrigerant to the outside. The duct opening/closing door (70) includes a plate corresponding to the inside form of the duct (10), a connection bar connected to a central portion of the plate, and an actuator (50) for selectively pivoting the connection bar.

[29] Here, the duct opening/closing door (70) interlocks with the operation of the drying device of the present invention in such a way as to intercept the air blowing path in the duct (10) to prevent introduction of the high-temperature and dried air to the inside of the duct (10), whereby the high-temperature and dried air dries the residual condensate remaining in the evaporator (40) and the evaporator case (42) to prevent the propagation of bacteria, such as molds.

[30] In addition, the discharge opening/closing door (80) also has an actuator (50) mounted thereon in such a way as to be worked at the same time with working of the duct opening/closing door (70).

[31] So, an exhaust channel of the drying device according to the present invention is constructed in such a way that the air compulsively introduced through the air blower (20) is converted into the high-temperature and dried air while passing through the heater core (30), converted into high-temperature and high-humidity air while passing through the evaporator (40) and the evaporator case (42), and then, compulsively discharged to the outside through the discharge opening/closing door (80) in the high- temperature and high-humidity state.

[32] As shown in FIG. 1, the evaporator (40), which is mounted for cooling, further includes an evaporator opening/closing plate (41) mounted thereon in such a way that warm air of the heater core (30) can be introduced to the inside (1) of the automobile as it is when the heater is operated.

[33] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the heater core (30), which is mounted for heating, includes a heater opening/closing plate (31) mounted thereon in such a way that cooled air of the evaporator (40) can be introduced to the inside (1) of the automobile as it is when the air-conditioner is operated.

[34] Since it is preferable that the drying device of the air-conditioner is operated directly after a user stops the operation of the air-conditioner, in consideration of the user'S inconvenience due to a manual manipulation, the air blower (20) and the actuators (50) for actuating the duct opening/closing door (70) and the discharge opening/closing door (80) are automatically operated through an electric connection with an AIRCON-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (90) as shown in FIG. 4. Mode for the Invention

[35] The object of the present invention is to dry and compulsively discharge residual moisture of the evaporator (40) and the evaporator case (42) to the outside, thereby providing just fresh cooled air to the inside (1) of the automobile when the air- conditioner is re-operated. So, in the drying device of the air-conditioner for the automobiles, as shown in FIG. 5, a flash heater (200) using heat wires can be mounted in front of the air blower (20) instead of the heater core (30) for generating high- temperature and high-heat. Then, it may be helpful to solve a problem in a spatial structure of the air handling unit due to the drying device of the air-conditioner of the present invention.

[36] In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, an exhaust blower (100) using a motor (110) as a driving power source can be mounted to reduce the operation period of the drying device to the maximum when the high-temperature and high-humidity air passing through the evaporator (40) and evaporator case (42) is compulsively discharged to the outside through the discharge opening/closing door (80). Industrial Applicability

[37] As described above, the drying device of the air-conditioner for the automobiles according to the present invention can prevent generation of a bad smell and molds due to a long-term use of the air-conditioner since the duct opening/closing door and the discharge opening/closing door selectively rotating by the actuators are mounted inside the duct and electrically connected with the AIRCON-ECU for controlling the air- conditioner of the automobile. So, the present invention can be realized the easiest with a low price just by simply changing an air-conditioner module of the automobile in the initial manufacturing stage of the automobile. Sequence Listing

[38] ldnside

[39] lOiduct, 20:air-blower

[40] 30:heater core, 31 :heater opening/closing plate

[41] 40 : evaporator, 41 : evaporator opening/closing plate

[42] 42:evaporator case, 50:actuator

[43] 60:condensate drain hole, 70:duct opening/closing door

[44] 80:discharge opening/closing door

[45] 90:AIRCON-ECU (Electronic Control Unit)

[46] 100:exhaust blower, 110:motor

[47] 200:flash heater

Claims

[1] A drying device of an air-conditioner for automobiles comprising: a duct opening/closing door (70) for intercepting introduction of high- temperature and dried air to the inside (1) of the automobile when the indoor and outdoor air selectively and compulsively introduced by the operation of an air blower (20) is converted into the high-temperature and dried air while passing through a duct (10) and a heater core (30); a discharge opening/closing door (80) for compulsively discharging high- temperature and high-humidity air to the outside, the high-temperature and high- humidity air being generated when the high-temperature and dried air flowing backwardly by the duct opening/closing door (70) dries residual moisture remaining in an evaporator (40) and an evaporator case (42); and an AIRCON-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (90) electrically connected with the duct opening/closing door (70) and the discharge opening/closing door (80) for operating the duct opening/closing door (70) and the discharge opening/closing door (80) for a predetermined time period at the same time with stopping of the air-conditioner, the duct opening/closing door (70) and the discharge opening/ closing door (80) respectively having actuators (50) for selectively pivoting plates.

[2] The drying device according to claim 1, further comprising a flash heater (200) using heat wires and mounted in front of the air blower (20) instead of the heater core (30) for generating the high-temperature and dried air

[3] The drying device according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust blower

(100) mounted in front of the discharge opening/closing door (80), the exhaust blower (100) using a separate motor (110) as a driving power source, so that the high-temperature and high-humidity air passing through the evaporator (40) and the evaporator case (42) is compulsively discharged to the outside through the discharge opening/closing door (80).