JP4435968B2 - Automotive heating or air conditioning equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has a heating body for generating warm air, at least one cold air passage that bypasses the heating body, and an air mixing chamber provided behind the heating body in the flow direction. The mixing chambers are separated from each other by at least one separation wall so that the air in each mixing chamber can be mixed to a specific mixing temperature and independently temperature adjustable air can be supplied to at least two air conditioning zones Therefore, the present invention relates to an automotive heating or air conditioning apparatus in which cold air and warm air can be introduced into an air mixing chamber in a controllable manner by an air flow control element.
[0002]
[Prior art]
According to French Patent No. 2717747, the air supplied to the various air conditioning zones, namely the “front right (passenger seat)” zone and the “front left (driver seat)” zone, the “rear left” zone and the “rear right” zone. An air conditioning system in which the temperature of each can be set independently is known. For this reason, this air conditioning system has two air conditioners that supply the left half or the right half of the vehicle, respectively. With each air conditioner, the front region and the rear region can be supplied with air with different temperature control. This air conditioning system is very expensive because it has two air conditioners each with one blower, evaporator, heating element and corresponding air line. This system is therefore correspondingly costly and can only be used in large vehicles due to the large space requirements.
[0003]
An air conditioner that is regulated on the air side is known from German Offenlegungsschrift DE 1 793 578 A1, in which cold air that passes under the heating body in the space behind the heating body can be mixed with warm air. This space is partitioned into four juxtaposed air mixing chambers separated by a separation wall. The separation wall extends below the heating body and also partitions the cold air bypass into four partial passages. Individual temperatures can be set in each mixing chamber irrespective of the temperatures in the other mixing chambers via a warm air flap arranged directly behind the heating element and a cold air flap closing the cold air bypass. The individually temperature-controlled air in the individual air mixing chambers can be supplied to the air conditioning zone via the air passage.
[0004]
As a general problem underlying today's ventilators, heating or air conditioning units and their components, especially air flaps, the available installation space for air conditioning units is very limited and therefore these The device must be made more compact. In particular, an air conditioner suitable for adjusting the temperature of various air conditioning zones differently requires a larger assembly space because it has a larger number of parts.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Starting from the current state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved heating that can provide individually temperature-controllable air for the various air-conditioning zones of the vehicle and requires as little assembly space as possible. Or to provide an air conditioner.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, this problem is solved by a heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to the similar concept having the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, at least one first part air stream to be warmed in the heating body flows in a first direction through an associated first part region of the heating body, and at least one second part to be warmed in the heating body. The air flow passes through the second partial region attached to the heating element in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The air flow to be warmed is thus divided into at least two partial air flows and flows through the heating element in the opposite direction, resulting in an unusual division and guidance of the air flow, but the first The air mixing chamber assigned to the partial air flow is arranged on one side of the heating body, the air mixing chamber assigned to the second partial air flow is arranged on the opposite side of the heating body and the air mixing chamber is the same of the heating body This makes it possible to separate the air mixing chambers from one another more than when they are arranged on the side. Thereby, the assembly space which can be utilized for an air conditioner can be used skillfully. The air conditioner can be made much more compact, and the air passages leading from the individual air mixing chambers to the air conditioning zone in the vehicle compartment can be passed without problems in the area of the air conditioner. From there, at least three air passages generally branch off from the air mixing chamber through which air is fed into the front region, namely the foot space, the ventilation nozzle and the defroster nozzle. These three passages require a corresponding assembly space, particularly in the connection area at the location of the air mixing chamber, but this assembly space is scarcely provided in prior art air conditioners. This is because the air mixing chamber is located on the same side of the heating element. However, according to the invention, the second air mixing chamber is arranged on the opposite side of the heating element, providing a space for the air passage.
[0008]
By significantly reducing the installation space, additional space is provided for auxiliary equipment such as navigation devices, CD players, etc., which are arranged on the instrument panel.
[0009]
It is particularly advantageous if the heating element is arranged almost sideways, in particular at a substantially right angle to the evaporator, the first partial air flow being from the top to the bottom and the second partial air flow being from the bottom to the top. Or vice versa. In this case, the air mixing chambers are arranged above and below the heating body. In this arrangement, the turning of air guided in the air conditioner is considerably reduced. Cold air flows substantially bypassing the heating element, whereas the air to be warmed only has to be turned slightly in order to flow through the heating element from below to above or from top to bottom. As a result, pressure loss can be prevented, and in particular, airflow noise can be significantly reduced.
[0010]
Another major advantage of the air conditioner according to the invention is its cost neutrality. Implementation according to the invention does not incur any additional costs compared to known air conditioners for the air conditioning of four different air conditioning zones.
[0011]
In a preferred embodiment, there are three separating walls extending substantially in parallel, and the partial areas of the heating body in which each one partial air flow is warmed are juxtaposed, so that two air each on each side of the heating body Mixing chambers are formed for a total of four air conditioning zones. In this way, an air conditioner is provided that air-conditions the four air-conditioning zones with the smallest possible installation space. The air passages following the air mixing chambers arranged on both sides of the heating element can be easily arranged without causing space problems.
[0012]
Advantageously, both air mixing chambers provided on the outside are assigned to the rear left and right, and both air mixing chambers provided on the inside are assigned to the front left and right, or vice versa. Especially when the outer partial area of the heating element assigned to the rear partial air flow flows from top to bottom and the inner partial area of the heating element assigned to the front partial air flow flows from bottom to top It is advantageous. In this case, the rear air mixing chamber is disposed below, that is, below the heating body, and the front air mixing chamber is disposed above the heating body, and the air guide passage continues to the rear air mixing chamber. Can be passed into the rear in the lower vehicle floor area, the air guide passage leading to the front air mixing chamber upwards, or laterally above the outer area and rear air mixing chamber, the outlet for the foot space This is because it can be appropriately passed through the ventilation outlet and the defrost nozzle.
[0013]
Advantageously, in any case, the separation wall arranged downstream of the heating element on the air side extends in the cold air passage also upstream of the heating element and extends into the cold air region between the evaporator and the heating element. The air to be heated is already guided separately from the cold air region to the individual air mixing chambers.
[0014]
In one configuration of the present invention, the air flow control element is configured as a swinging flap that is supported substantially centrally, and these swinging flaps guide the flow-through air in a flow-enhancing manner when in their open position. It is carried out with slight bends or bends to obtain. When changing the temperature setting, only a slight change in the air volume is achieved by opening and closing the cold air flap or the warm air flap. This prevents an unstable air flow when the flap moves from the warm air position to the cold air position or vice versa.
[0015]
In one configuration of the present invention, the heating element is configured as a heat exchanger through which the vehicle drive unit refrigerant can flow, and an electric heating element is integrated in the heat exchanger. In this case, during the cold start phase of the engine, sufficient heating capacity can already be achieved via the electric heating element regardless of the direction in which the air to be warmed flows through the heating element. The heating body can be configured integrally. However, the heating element can optionally be composed of two juxtaposed individual heating elements, one of which is provided to warm the left half air of the vehicle (front and rear). The other individual heating element is provided to warm the right half air of the vehicle (front and rear). In this case, the separation wall is extended between the individual heating elements, and each individual heating element is divided into two partial regions for the front and the rear respectively by one other separation wall. Become.
[0016]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
The heating or air-conditioning device 10 according to the invention shown in the drawing has a housing 12 for guiding the air to be temperature-controlled. Circulating air and / or fresh air is supplied to the evaporator 16 for cooling via a blower (not shown) and the air supply passage 14. The air cooled in the evaporator 16 advances from the air outlet side 18 of the evaporator 16 and flows into the cold air region 20. This cold air region extends downstream of the evaporator 16 and over the entire height of the evaporator 16. Cold air from the cold air region 20 bypasses the heating element 22 and is supplied directly to the air passage as detailed below, or a portion of the cold air is passed through the heating element 22 and warmed there, and then Either of which is supplied to the air guide passage. In order to achieve a specific temperature of the air guided into the passenger compartment by the air passage, cold air can be mixed with warm air as will be described in detail later. The heating element 22 is preferably configured as a heat exchanger through which the refrigerant for the motor vehicle drive unit can flow and optionally has an electric heating element. Such a heat exchanger is known, for example, from German Patent No. 4433814.
[0018]
A drain port 24 is provided at the lower end of the cold air region 20, and condensed water condensed in the evaporator and carried out from the air outlet side 18 can be discharged through the drain port.
[0019]
The air conditioner 10 according to the present invention is suitable for air-conditioning four different air-conditioning zones in the passenger compartment. The four air-conditioning zones are usually a driver seat area displayed as VL (front left), a passenger seat area displayed as VR (right front), a rear left area displayed as HL (left rear), and HR ( This is the rear right area displayed at the rear right).
[0020]
The air conditioners are arranged in four rows assigned to the zones HL, VL, VR, HR by three separation walls downstream of the cold air region 20 so that the air for the individual zones can be independently temperature controlled. It is divided into areas. In FIG. 3, since the device in which only the right half is illustrated is configured symmetrically about the neutral plane M, only the separation walls 28 and 30 among the three separation walls are illustrated. Is in the neutral plane M. The separation wall extends from the cold air region 20 to the outlet on the air flow side in front of or behind the heating element 22, and an air passage continues to the outlet. In this way, the juxtaposed areas are separated on the air side, and the partial air flow supplied to each zone HL, VL, VR or HR is passed through these areas. As is well known, the heating element 22 is configured as a heat exchanger. The pipe / fin heating block, through which the refrigerant of the drive unit passes, extends in parallel to the plane of the separation wall, and is used for each region passed through the heating element. The partial air flows do not mix when flowing through the heating element 22.
[0021]
Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3, two separate heaters 22L, 22R could be used to keep the central separation wall 28 continuous in the region of the heaters 22L, 22R. The individual heating bodies 22L and 22R are juxtaposed on a common plane and jointly form the heating body 22.
[0022]
The air conditioner according to the present invention is configured symmetrically about a neutral plane M, which also has a central separation wall 28. Therefore, in order to understand the structure of the air conditioner according to the present invention, the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 1 and 2 along the lines II and II-II of FIG. 3 should be considered together with the illustration of FIG. It is enough.
[0023]
First, based on FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the area | region and element of an air conditioning apparatus relevant to the air conditioning of the front area | region VR are demonstrated.
[0024]
Cold air from the cold air region 20 can flow into the mixing chamber 34R via the cold air passage 32R disposed above the heating body 22R (arrow P1). The cold air passage 32R can be closed via a cold air bypass flap 36. The cold air passage 32R is defined by the housing 12, the housing element 38, and the separation walls 28 and 30. In FIG. 1, the air inflow side edge 29 of the separation wall 30 can be seen above and below the heating body 22.
[0025]
The cold air to be warmed flows from the cold air region 20 into the partial region 22VR of the heating body 22R from below (arrow P2) through the flap 42R arranged in front of the heating body 22R on the air flow side. Can flow through and be warmed. The warm air (arrow P3) flows into the mixing chamber 34R through the warm air opening that can be closed by the warm air flap 44R, and can mix with the cold air there. The warm air flap 44R can be configured as an integral swing flap, or can be configured with a plurality of partial flaps 44R (FIG. 3).
[0026]
The air mixing chamber 34R is followed by an intermediate member 74R. The defrost air passage 46R, the air passage 48R leading to the defrost side nozzle disposed on the right side of the vehicle, and the air passage 50R reaching the ventilation nozzle on the right side of the vehicle. And an air passage 51R leading to a ventilation nozzle arranged at the center of the instrument panel and a foot space air passage 52R are branched. The air passages can be closed via flaps 54R, 56R, 57R or 58R, respectively (FIG. 3).
[0027]
Each of the air passages 46R, 48R, 50R, 51R, and 52R communicates only with the right half of the vehicle, and the partial area between the separation walls 28 and 30 serves to adjust the temperature of the zone VR air.
[0028]
Since the air conditioner is configured to be mirror-image symmetric about the neutral plane M, the temperature of the zone VL air is similarly adjusted in the partial region between the separation walls 26 and 28, and the air mixing chamber 34L is described in detail. Is sent into the air passage (not shown).
[0029]
Thus, both inner partial areas between the separation walls serve to regulate the temperature of the front air, and the heating element partial areas 22VL or 22VR flow from bottom to top.
[0030]
In the outward direction toward the side of the air conditioner (FIG. 3), in addition to both inner partial areas, another partial area is arranged, and the partial area between the separation wall 30 and the side wall 60R of the housing 12 is Accordingly, a partial region between the left separation wall and the left wall (not shown in FIG. 3) not shown in FIG. 3 is assigned to the rear left (HL). It has been.
[0031]
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 3, that is, a cross-sectional view of a partial region where the temperature of the zone HR air is adjusted. Here, the cold air bypass flap 62R is disposed below the heating body 22R, and the cold air can flow from the cold air region 20 into the air mixing chamber 64R disposed below the heating body 22R (arrow P 4). ). A flap 66R is arranged in front of the heating body on the air flow side above the heating body 22R, and this flap can open the suction port 68R, and the cold air passes through the suction port through the partial region 22HR of the heating body 22R. From above (arrow P5) where it is warmed. The warm air flowing out from the partial region 22HR directly flows into the air mixing chamber 64R (arrow P6). From the air mixing chamber 64R, air mixed at a specific temperature can be supplied to the rear zone HR via the rear foot space / rear defrost air passage 70R and the rear ventilation air passage 72R. In order to be able to supply warmer air to the rear foot space and / or the rear window glass, the rear foot space / rear defrost air passage 70R normally passes warmer air than the rear ventilation passage 72R. .
[0032]
The temperature of the rear zone HL air is similarly adjustable.
[0033]
As is clear from FIG. 3 in particular, the air mixing chambers 34R and 34L from which air is sent to the front are disposed above the heating body 22, and the air mixing chambers 64R and 64L are disposed below the heating body 22. The air passages leading to the air mixing chamber can be arranged one above the other in an advantageous way to save installation space. In particular, the air passages 46R, 48R, 50R, 52R are provided in a housing partial region in which their intermediate member 74R connecting the air passage inlet to the air mixing chamber 34R is disposed between the separation wall 30 and the side wall 60R. In other words, it is placed (FIG. 3).
[0034]
In order to be able to guide each air that bypasses the air flap in a flow-enhancing manner, the air flap is bent partly and bent partly.
[0035]
Preferably, two operating devices are provided, i.e. an operating device in the front region and an operating device in the rear region, and the heating or air conditioning device according to the invention is provided with these operating devices in order to regulate the temperature of each air conditioning zone. The temperature adjustment is automatically performed via each temperature sensor in the front region or the rear region, starting from the set temperature target value.
[0036]
FIG. 4 shows a cross section of another embodiment with the same illustration as FIG. In this embodiment, the foot space air passage 52R is branched not from the front VR air mixing chamber 34R but from the rear HR air mixing chamber 64R. In this case, the air mixing chamber 64R is assigned not only to the rear zone HR but also to the foot space of the front zone VR.
[0037]
By branching the foot space air passage 58R from the air mixing chamber 64R in this manner, if the front and rear mixing temperatures are suitably adjusted, a desired temperature layer is formed in the front zone VR, that is, inside the zone VR. A temperature difference can be achieved between the foot space region and the upper body region or the head region. Usually, it feels comfortable when the foot space temperature is slightly higher than the head space temperature. The same applies to the left half, that is, the foot space air passage where the rear HL air mixing chamber branches. Only the right half is shown in the drawing for ease of viewing.
[0038]
In other words, in this embodiment, not only the four zones of the inner space can be temperature-controlled separately, but additionally, a temperature layer is formed inside the two front zones VR and VL to further enhance comfort. Air conditioners that can be used are provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to the present invention taken along line II in FIG. 3 in an air guide area for air that can be supplied to a front area of a passenger compartment.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner according to the present invention along the line II-II of FIG. 3 parallel to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 in the air guide region for air that can be supplied to the rear region of the passenger compartment. is there.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner according to the present invention taken along line III-III in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
4 shows another embodiment similar to FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Air conditioner 12 Housing 14 Air supply path 16 Evaporator 18 Air outlet side 20 Cold air area | region 22 Heating body 22VR, 22VL 1st partial area 22HR, 22HL 2nd partial area 24 Drain outlets 26, 28, 30 Separation wall 29 Air inflow Side edge 32R Cold air passage 34R, 34L, 64R, 64L Air mixing chamber 36, 62R Cold air bypass flap 38 Housing element 42R, 54R, 56R, 57R, 58R, 66R Flap 44R Warm air flap 46R Defrost air passage 48R, 50R , 51R Air passage 52R Foot space air passage 60R Side wall 68R Suction port 70R Rear foot space / Rear defrost air passage 72R Rear ventilation passage 74R Intermediate members VL, VR, HL, HR Air conditioning zone M Neutral surface

Claims (9)

A heating body for generating warm air, at least one cold air passage that bypasses the heating body, and an air mixing chamber provided behind the heating body in the flow direction, the air mixing chamber having at least one In order to be able to mix the air in each mixing chamber to a specific mixing temperature and supply independently temperature-controllable air to at least two air-conditioning zones At least one first partial air flow to be warmed in the heating body (22) in an automotive heating or air conditioning system in which cold air and warm air can respectively be introduced into the air mixing chamber in a controllable manner by an air flow control element Flows through the attached first partial region (22VR, 22VL) of the heating body (22) in the first direction, adding at least one second partial air flow to be heated in the heating body (22). Body included (22) second partial region (22HR, 22HL) Heating or air conditioning system, characterized in that flow in a second direction opposite to the first direction. 2. A heating or air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating body (22) is arranged substantially sideways. Three separation walls (26, 28, 30) extending substantially in parallel are provided, partial regions (22HL, 22VL, 22VR, 22HR) of the heating body (22) are juxtaposed, and the heating body (22) Two air mixing chambers (34R, 34L and 64R, 64L) are formed on each side (upper and lower) for a total of four air-conditioning zones (VL, VR, HL, HR), respectively. The heating or air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. Both air mixing chambers (64L, 64R) provided outside are assigned to the rear left and right, and both air mixing chambers (VL, VR) provided inside are assigned to the front left and right, or vice versa. The heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The outer part region (22HR, 22HL) of the heating element (22) assigned to the rear partial air flow flows from top to bottom and the inner part of the heating element (22) assigned to the front partial air flow. 5. A heating or air conditioner according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the region (22VR, 22VL) flows from bottom to top. Even if a partial area of each separation wall (28, 30) is provided via a cold air passage, a cold air area (upstream of the heating body (22) between the evaporator (16) and the heating body (22) ( 20) The heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heating or air-conditioning apparatus extends to the inside. The air flow control elements are configured as swinging flaps that are supported approximately at the center, and these swinging flaps are slightly bent so that when they are in their open position they can guide the flow-through air in a flow-enhancing manner. The heating or air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating or air-conditioning apparatus is implemented by bending or bending. The heating element is configured as a heat exchanger capable of allowing the automobile drive unit refrigerant to flow therethrough, and an electric heating element is integrated in the heat exchanger. The heating or air conditioning apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. The front (VR or VL) foot space air passage (52R or 52L) branches off from the rear (HR or HL) air mixing chamber (64R or 64L). The heating or air conditioning apparatus according to any one of the above.

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