JP4602839B2 - Air conditioner for automobile - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automotive air conditioner that sends conditioned air to both a front seat side and a rear seat side.

  A conventional automobile air conditioner of this type is disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the automotive air conditioner 100 includes a blower unit (not shown) and an air conditioning unit 101 on the front seat side. The air conditioning unit 101 includes an evaporator 102 for cooling the air blown from a blower unit (not shown) and a heater core 103 that heats the air that has passed through the evaporator 102. The upper side in the air conditioning unit 101 is a cold air passage 104 through which the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 102 passes, and the lower side of the air conditioning unit 101 is a hot air passage 105 through which the hot air that has passed through the heater core 103 passes. The ratio of the cool air passing through the cool air passage 104 and the warm air passing through the hot air passage 105 is adjusted by the mix door 106.

  The downstream of both the cool air passage 104 and the hot air passage 105 merges in the mixing area E, and at the position facing the mixing area E, the differential opening 108 communicating with the differential air outlet, the front vent air outlet, and the rear vent air outlet A vent opening 109 that communicates with each other and a foot opening 110 that communicates with the front foot outlet and the rear foot outlet are respectively opened. The differential opening 108 and the vent opening 109 are disposed above the mixing area E, and the foot opening 110 is disposed below the mixing area E. The opening amount of the differential opening 108 is adjusted by the first door 111, and the opening ratio of both the vent opening 109 and the foot opening 110 is adjusted by the second door 112.

  In the above configuration, the cold air passing through the cold air passage 104 and the hot air passing through the hot air passage 105 are merged in the mixing area E to obtain a desired conditioned air, and depending on the opening / closing positions of the first door 111 and the second door 112. The air is blown out from the desired air outlet through the predetermined openings 108, 109, 110.

By the way, as for the blowing request | requirement from a passenger | crew's foot blower outlet, a warm air is higher than a cold wind, and as a blowing request | requirement from a vent blower outlet, a cold wind is generally higher than a warm air.
JP 11-235916 A

  However, in the conventional example, when the warm air is blown out from the front and rear foot outlets, the air flow in the air conditioning unit 101 is such that the warm air that has exited the heater core 103 rises along the warm air passage 105 and the mixing area E And the route that enters the foot opening 110 from the mixing area E is followed. That is, the warm air has a large airflow resistance because the warm air follows a path that changes in direction (U-turn) from the warm air passage 105 and enters the foot opening 110. If the blowing resistance is large, there is a problem that the warm air does not blow out smoothly from the front and rear foot outlets.

  In addition, when the cool air is blown out from the rear vent outlet, the air flow in the air conditioning unit 101 is such that the cool air that has exited the evaporator 102 travels straight along the cool air passage 104 and reaches the mixing area E, and goes upward from the mixing area E. By changing the direction, the route entering the vent opening 109 is traced. That is, since the cold air enters the vent opening 109 by changing the direction from the cold air passage 104, the air blowing resistance of the cold air is large although not as high as the above-described hot air. If the air blowing resistance is large, the cold air may not be smoothly blown out from the rear vent outlet having a long distance to the outlet.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles which can reduce both the ventilation resistance of the warm air guide | induced to the opening part for foot, and the ventilation resistance of the cold wind guided to the opening part for rear vents.

The invention of claim 1 that achieves the above object includes a heater core that heats cold air into warm air in the air conditioning unit, a hot air passage through which the heated hot air passes, and a cold air passage through which the cooled cold air passes. , Located downstream of the hot air passage and the cold air passage, the mixing area where the hot air and the cold air merge, and the heater core, while facing the mixing area and on the extended line of the cold air passage A rear vent opening communicating with the rear vent outlet, a hot air passage outlet facing the mixing area while being located above the heater core, and an upper portion of the mixing area being located above the rear vent opening. faces, and a foot opening portion communicating with the front and rear foot outlet, characterized in that said rear vent opening is disposed between the hot air passage outlet and said foot opening

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automotive air conditioner according to the first aspect, wherein the rear vent opening is divided in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the air conditioning apparatus for an automobile according to the first aspect, wherein the hot air passage is branched in the left-right direction of the vehicle body on the downstream side, and the rear vent is interposed between the branched hot air passages. An opening is arranged.

  According to the invention of claim 1, when the warm air is blown out from the front and rear foot outlets, the air flow in the air conditioning unit rises along the warm air passage and reaches the upper part of the mixing area. You will follow a route that goes into the foot opening that opens to the top of the area. Here, the warm air is lighter than the cold air, so that it can rise smoothly to the upper part of the mixing area and smoothly enter the foot opening. In addition, when the cool air is blown out from the rear vent outlet, the air flow in the air conditioning unit follows a route in which the cool air goes straight along the cold air passage and reaches the mixing area, and goes almost straight and enters the rear vent opening. become. That is, the cold air enters the rear vent opening with almost no direction change from the cold air passage. From the above, it is possible to reduce both the blowing resistance of hot air guided to the foot opening and the cooling resistance of cold air guided to the rear vent opening, smoothly blowing warm air from the front and rear foot outlets, and from the rear vent outlet. Cold air can be blown out smoothly.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, all of the cool air that travels substantially straight from the cool air passage through the mixing area does not enter the rear vent opening but also enters the foot opening. Therefore, the distribution ratio of the cold air to the rear vent opening and the foot opening is appropriate.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, it is possible to limit the rate at which hot air rising from the hot air passage into the mixing area enters the rear vent opening before entering the foot opening. The distribution ratio of warm air to the rear vent opening and the foot opening is appropriate.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side configuration diagram of an air conditioning unit 2 of an automotive air conditioner 1A, FIG. 2 is a view taken along arrow A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of hot air blowing resistance comparing the conventional example and the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the automotive air conditioner 1 </ b> A includes an air conditioning unit 2 disposed in a front seat instrument panel (not shown). In the air conditioning unit 2, a blower 3, an evaporator 4 and a heater core 5 are arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  The blower 3 sucks the inside air and the outside air into the air conditioning unit 2 and sends the sucked air to the downstream inside the air conditioning unit 2. The evaporator 4 cools the air blown from the blower 3 to cool air. The heater core 5 heats the cold air from the evaporator 4 to produce hot air. The heater core 5 is arranged at the height of the lower half of the evaporator 4. Thereby, the upper side in the air conditioning unit 2 is a cold air passage 6 through which the cold air that has passed through the evaporator 4 passes, and the lower side of the air conditioning unit 2 is a hot air passage 7 through which the hot air that has passed through the heater core 5 passes. A mix door 8 is disposed between the evaporator 4 and the heater core 5. The mix door 8 adjusts the ratio of the cold air passing through the cold air passage 6 and the hot air passing through the hot air passage 7.

  Downstream of both the cool air passage 6 and the hot air passage 7, a mixing area E where the cool air and the warm air merge is disposed. And in the position which faces this mixing area E, the opening part 10 for differentials connected to a differential outlet (not shown), the opening part 11 for front vents connected to a front vent outlet (not shown), a front foot A foot opening 12 that communicates with an air outlet (not shown) and a rear foot air outlet (not shown) and a rear vent opening 13 that communicates with a rear vent air outlet (not shown) are opened. The differential opening 10 and the front vent opening 11 are arranged on the upper surface side of the air conditioning unit 2. The rear vent opening 13 is disposed at a substantially straight position on the extended line of the cool air passage 6. In the foot opening 12, the rear vent opening 13 is disposed above the rear vent opening 13, that is, between the foot opening 12 and the hot air passage outlet 7a. In addition, the opening amounts of the openings 10, 11, 12, and 13 are adjusted by the doors 14, 15, 16, and 17, respectively.

  Next, the arrangement position of each outlet (not shown) opened in the vehicle interior will be described. A differential outlet (not shown) opens on the upper surface of the instrument panel, and blows out air along the inner surface of the windshield. A front vent outlet (not shown) blows air toward the upper body of the passenger in the front seat. A front foot outlet (not shown) blows air toward the lower half of the front passenger. A rear foot outlet (not shown) blows air toward the lower half of the rear seat occupant. Between the front and rear foot outlets (not shown) and the foot opening 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the foot passage is formed in the air conditioning unit 2 and branched into two in the middle. 18 and each duct (not shown) connected to each branched foot passage 18. A rear vent outlet (not shown) blows air toward the upper body of the passenger in the rear seat. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear vent outlet (not shown) and the rear vent opening 13 include a rear vent passage 19 formed in the air conditioning unit 2, and a duct connected to the rear vent passage 19 ( Etc.).

  In the above configuration, the cold air passing through the cold air passage 6 and the hot air passing through the hot air passage 7 merge in the mixing area E to form a desired conditioned air, and a predetermined opening according to the open / close positions of the doors 14 to 17. It blows out into a vehicle interior from a desired blower outlet (not shown) via 10-13. When the warm air is blown out from the front and rear foot outlets (not shown), the air flow in the air conditioning unit 2 is such that the warm air heated by the heater core 5 rises along the warm air passage 7 and is mixed. The route reaches the top of E and enters the foot opening 12 that opens to the top of the mixing area E. Here, the warm air rises smoothly up to the upper part of the mixing area E in combination with the lighter specific gravity than the cold air, so that it can enter the foot opening 12 smoothly. Further, when the cool air is blown out from the rear vent outlet (not shown), the air flow in the air conditioning unit 2 goes straight along the cool air passage 6 to reach the mixing area E, and almost straight as it is for the rear vent. The route entering the opening 13 will be followed. That is, the cold air enters the rear vent opening 13 with almost no direction change from the cold air passage 6. From the above, it is possible to reduce both the blowing resistance of the warm air guided to the foot opening 12 and the cooling resistance of the cold air guided to the rear vent opening 13, and the warm air is smooth from the front and rear foot outlets (not shown). The cool air blows out smoothly from the rear vent outlet (not shown).

  In the case of the conventional example and the first embodiment, when comparing the blowing resistance when blowing warm air to the front and rear foot outlets by experiment, the blowing resistance of the first embodiment is lower as shown in FIG. Was recognized.

  5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a side configuration diagram of an air conditioning unit of an automotive air conditioner, and FIG. 6 is a view as seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the automotive air conditioner 1 </ b> B of the second embodiment, the rear vent openings 13 a and 13 b are provided separately in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce both the blowing resistance of hot air guided to the foot opening 12 and the blowing resistance of cold air guided to the rear vent openings 13a and 13b. Hot air is smoothly blown out from the front and rear foot outlets (not shown), and cold air is smoothly blown out from the rear vent outlet (not shown).

  In addition, in the second embodiment, the rear vent openings 13a and 13b are provided separately in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, so that all of the cool air that goes straight from the cool air passage 6 through the mixing area E is the rear vent opening. Since it does not enter the portions 13a and 13b and also enters the foot opening 12, the air distribution ratio of the cold air to the rear vent openings 13a and 13b and the foot opening 12 can be optimized.

  7 and 8 show a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a side configuration diagram of an air conditioning unit of an automotive air conditioner, and FIG. 8 is a view as seen from the arrow C in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the automotive air conditioner 1C of the third embodiment, the warm air passage 7 is branched in the left-right direction of the vehicle body by the branch plate 20 on the outlet side of the heater core 5, and this branch is made. A rear vent opening 13 is disposed between the hot air passages 7. Also, the foot openings 12a and 12b are provided separately in the left-right direction of the vehicle body.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce both the blowing resistance of warm air guided to the foot openings 12a and 12b and the blowing resistance of cold air guided to the rear vent opening 13, Hot air is smoothly blown out from the front and rear foot outlets (not shown), and cold air is smoothly blown out from the rear vent outlet (not shown).

  In addition, in the third embodiment, the hot air passage 7 is branched in the left-right direction on the vehicle body at the outlet side of the heater core 5, and the rear vent opening 13 is disposed between the branched hot air passages 7. Since the rate at which the warm air rising from the warm air passage 7 to the mixing area E enters the rear vent opening 13 before entering the foot opening 12 can be limited, the temperature to the rear vent opening 13 and the foot opening 12 can be limited. Wind distribution ratio can be optimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a side block diagram of the air-conditioning unit of the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. 1 is a partial perspective view of an air conditioning unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a characteristic line figure of ventilation resistance of warm air which compared the case of a conventional example and this embodiment. It is a side block diagram of the air-conditioning unit of the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5. It is a side block diagram of the air-conditioning unit of the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles which shows 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7. It is sectional drawing of the air conditioning unit of the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles based on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B, 1C Automotive air conditioner 2 Air conditioning unit 6 Cold air passage 7 Hot air passage 12, 12a, 12b Foot opening 13, 13a, 13b Rear vent opening E Mixing area

Claims (3)

In the air conditioning unit (2),
A heater core (5) that heats the cold air to produce hot air;
A warm air passage (7) through which the heated warm air passes,
A cold air passage (6) through which the cooled cold air passes,
A mixing area (E) located downstream of the hot air passage and the cold air passage, where the hot air and the cold air merge;
Rear vent openings (13), (13a), (13a), (13a), (6) facing the mixing area (E) and communicating with the rear vent outlet on the extension line of the cold air passage (6) while being positioned above the heater core (5). 13b)
A hot air passage outlet (7a) facing the mixing area (E) while being positioned above the heater core (5) ;
A foot opening (12) that is located above the rear vent openings (13), (13a), (13b), faces the upper part of the mixing area (E), and communicates with the front and rear foot outlets, (12a) and (12b)
The foot opening (12), (12a), said rear vent opening between (12b) and the warm air passage outlet (7a) (13), ( 13a), that it has been arranged (13b) An automotive air conditioner characterized by the above. An air conditioner for an automobile according to claim 1,
The rear vent opening (13a), (13b) is provided to be divided in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. An air conditioner for an automobile according to claim 1,
The hot air passage (7) is branched in the left-right direction of the vehicle body on the downstream side, and the rear vent opening (13) is disposed between the branched hot air passages (7). Air conditioner.

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