JPS63484Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to an air conditioner used in a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to an air conditioner having two air outlets, a heater outlet and a vent outlet.

Vehicle air conditioners generally have a so-called heater outlet that blows air mainly towards the feet of the occupants seated in the seats, and a so-called heater outlet that blows air mainly towards the upper bodies of the occupants seated in the seats. , and so-called vent outlets, which are selectively opened and closed by dampers.

Conventionally, opening and closing of the heater outlet and the vent outlet have been carried out by the passenger operating a switching lever of the air conditioning operation panel built into the instrument panel of the vehicle. is fully open and the vent outlet is fully closed, which is the so-called heater mode, and both the heater outlet and the vent outlet are open, which is the so-called bi-level mode, and the heater outlet is fully closed and the vent outlet is fully open. The process is carried out in three steps in the so-called vent mode.

For this reason, conventionally, in order to provide comfortable heating or cooling for those with a cold head or warm feet, the occupant must intuitively operate a lever to switch the air outlet. Further, since the switching is performed stepwise in three stages as described above, the thermal feeling especially immediately after the switching becomes unnatural, which impairs the thermal feeling.

This invention automatically switches the heater outlet and the vent outlet, and also continuously switches between the heater mode and vent mode, eliminating unnatural acoustic feeling and always providing comfortable heating or cooling. The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air conditioner that is improved so that the

This purpose, according to the present invention, includes a ventilation duct, a blower fan that sends air through the ventilation duct, an evaporator provided across a passage cross section of the ventilation duct, and a passage cross section of the ventilation duct. a heater element disposed across a portion thereof; and an air mitt for selectively distributing air blown through the ventilation duct by the blower fan into a flow through the heater element and a flow bypassing the heater element. a damper; a heater outlet and a vent outlet provided at the outlet end of the ventilation duct;
a damper device that continuously controls the opening degrees of the heater outlet and the vent outlet in a contradictory relationship; a damper drive device that drives the damper device; and a microcomputer that controls the operation of the damper drive device; An outside temperature sensor that detects the outside temperature; an inside temperature sensor that detects the inside temperature of the vehicle;
and a temperature setting device that sets the temperature inside the vehicle and inputs it to a microcomputer, and the microcomputer controls the outside temperature detected by the outside temperature sensor, the temperature inside the vehicle detected by the interior temperature sensor, and the temperature setting device. A target blowout air temperature necessary to bring the vehicle interior temperature to the set temperature is calculated based on the set temperature, and when the target blowout air temperature is below a first predetermined value, the vent outlet is fully opened. The heater outlet is fully closed, and when the target outlet air temperature is equal to or higher than a second predetermined value which is greater than the first predetermined value, the vent outlet is fully closed, the heater outlet is fully open, and the target outlet is fully closed. When the outlet air temperature is between the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value, the opening degree of the vent outlet is gradually decreased as the target outlet air temperature increases; This is achieved by a vehicle air conditioner characterized in that the damper driving device is operated to gradually increase the opening degree to an intermediate opening degree.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a vehicle air conditioner according to the present invention. In Figure 1,
1 indicates a ventilation duct. The ventilation duct 1 is
One end thereof has an inside air intake 2 and an outside air intake 3, and one of the inside air intake 2 and outside air intake 3 is selectively opened by an inside/outside air switching damper 4. He and the other are becoming closed. The inside/outside air switching damper 4 includes an appropriate inside/outside air switching actuator 5 such as a negative pressure operated diaphragm device.
It is designed to be driven by Further, the ventilation duct 1 has a heater outlet 6 and a vent outlet 7 at the other end. The heater outlet 6 is often provided below the instrument panel and is configured to blow air mainly toward the feet of the occupant seated on the seat. Vent outlet 7
is often provided on the instrument panel and blows air mainly toward the upper body of the occupant seated in the seat.

In this embodiment, the heater outlet 6 and the vent outlet 7 are selectively opened and closed by one switching damper 8. The switching damper 8 fully closes the vent outlet 7 when the heater outlet 6 is fully open, fully opens the vent outlet 7 when the heater outlet 6 is fully closed, and continuously changes the opening degree of both outlets. They are controlled in a mutually contradictory manner. That is, when the opening degree of the heater outlet 6 is gradually increased, the switching damper 8 gradually decreases the opening degree of the vent outlet, and conversely, when the opening degree of the heater outlet 6 is gradually decreased, the opening degree of the vent outlet is gradually decreased. The opening degree is gradually increased.

The switching damper 8 is driven by an air outlet switching actuator 9 such as a diaphragm device or an electric motor between a position shown by a solid line in the figure and a position shown by a phantom line in the figure. It is becoming more and more like this.

Further, in this embodiment, the ventilation duct 1 has a defroster outlet 10 at the other end, and the defroster outlet 10 is selectively opened and closed by a damper 11. This damper 1
1 may be operated at the driver's will by a lever (not shown) provided on the air conditioning operation panel.

An electric motor 12 is located near the one end of the ventilation duct 1.
A blower fan 13 is provided which is rotationally driven by. The blower fan 13 is configured to blow air taken in from the vehicle interior air intake 2 or the vehicle exterior air intake 3 toward the heater outlet 6 and the vent outlet 7.

In the ventilation duct 1 on the downstream side of the ventilation fan 13 in terms of the air flow, there is a fan in order to cross the entire air flow flowing through the ventilation duct, that is, to cross all of one cross section of the ventilation duct 1. , an evaporator 15 which is a cooling heat exchanger is provided. The evaporator 15 constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with a compressor, a condenser, etc. (not shown), and is supplied with refrigerant.

Further, an air mix type temperature control mechanism 19 is provided in the ventilation duct 1 downstream from the location where the evaporator 15 is disposed. Temperature control mechanism 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes a heater element 20, which is a heating heat exchanger, provided in one cross section of the ventilation duct 1 in a part of the cross section, and a heater element 9, which is a heating heat exchanger, provided in one cross section of the ventilation duct 1; an air mix damper (temperature control damper) 21 that separates a first air flow flowing through the element 20 and a second air flow bypassing the heater element 20;
The temperature of the blown air is adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the damper and adjusting the distribution ratio of the first and second air flows. heater element 20
Engine cooling water (not shown in the figure) is supplied in a circulating manner. Place the air mix damper 21 in the position shown by the solid line in the figure.
When the air flow through the ventilation duct 1 passes through the heater element 20, the temperature of the outlet air becomes high, whereas the damper 2
1 is in the position shown by the phantom line in the figure, all the air flowing through the ventilation duct 1 bypasses the heater element 20, so that the temperature of the blown air is low.

The air mix damper 21 is adapted to be driven by an air mix damper actuator 23.

The inside/outside air switching actuator 5, the air blowing switching actuator 9, and the air mix damper actuator 23 are each individually controlled by a microcomputer 24.
It is designed to be controlled based on the operation commands generated by the engine. The microcomputer 24 receives a set temperature signal from a temperature setting device 25 operated by a passenger such as a driver, an outside temperature signal from an outside temperature sensor 26, and an inside temperature signal from a inside temperature sensor 27. , and is configured to output an operation command signal to each of the actuators based on them.

The microcomputer 24 is a temperature setting device 25
The target blowout air temperature is calculated based on the set temperature signal given by the outside air temperature sensor 26, the outside air temperature signal given by the outside air temperature sensor 26, and the cabin temperature signal given by the cabin temperature sensor 27, and from the target blowout air temperature. The target damper opening degree is calculated, and a signal based on the calculation result is output to the air mix damper actuator 23. As a result, the opening degree of the air mix damper 21 is adjusted so that the temperature inside the vehicle reaches the set temperature set by the temperature setting device 25.

Further, the microcomputer 24 outputs an operation command signal to the inside/outside air switching actuator 5 and the air outlet switching actuator 9 in accordance with the target blowing air temperature. That is, when the blowout air temperature Tt is below the first predetermined value A, the microcomputer 24 fully opens the vent outlet 7 and fully closes the heater outlet 6, so that the blowout air temperature is higher than the first predetermined value A. When the temperature is equal to or higher than the second predetermined value B, the vent outlet 7 is fully closed and the heater outlet 6 is fully opened, and the blown air temperature is between the first predetermined value A and the second predetermined value B. Sometimes, as the temperature of the blown air increases, a signal is output to drive the switching damper 8 to gradually decrease the opening of the vent outlet 7 and gradually increase the opening of the heater outlet 6. ing.

Further, a switching damper opening sensor 29 is provided to detect the opening of the switching damper 8, and an opening signal generated by this sensor is sent to a microcomputer 24.
The microcomputer 24 compares this signal with the signal output to the air outlet switching actuator 9 to perform so-called feedback control.

Next, the flowchart shown in Figure 2 and the flowchart shown in Figure 3.
The operation of the device of the present invention will be explained with reference to the graph shown in the figure.

The microcomputer 24 first reads data from each sensor and determines the target blowout air temperature.
Calculate Tt. The microcomputer 24 further calculates a target damper opening degree based on this target blowing air temperature Tt, and outputs a signal based on the result to the air mix damper actuator 23. As a result, the opening degree of the air mix damper 21 is adjusted.

The microcomputer 24 controls the target blowout air temperature.
Tt is compared with a first predetermined value A, and when the comparison result is Tt≦A, the air outlet switching actuator 9 sends a signal to fully open the vent outlet 7 and fully close the heater outlet 6. Output to. As a result, the actuator 9 brings the switching damper 8 to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
The vent outlet 7 is fully opened and the heater outlet 6 is fully closed to achieve a so-called vent mode.

When Tt≦A, microcomputer 2
4 is next the target blowing air temperature Tt and the second predetermined value B
Make a comparison with When the comparison result is Tt≧B, the vent outlet 7 is fully closed and the heater outlet 6 is closed.
A signal to fully open the air outlet is output to the air outlet switching actuator 9. As a result, the actuator 9 drives the switching damper 8 to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, fully closing the vent outlet 7 and fully opening the heater outlet 6, thereby achieving the so-called heater mode.

When Tt≧B, the microcomputer 24 calculates the target opening degree θt of the switching damper 8. This target opening degree θt is calculated according to the following formula.

θt=KTt However, K is a constant.

The microcomputer 24 outputs a signal based on the target opening degree θt to the air outlet switching actuator 9. As a result, the actuator 9 drives the switching damper 8 to a position intermediate between the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1, thereby achieving a so-called bi-level mode. The ratio of the air volume blown out from the vent outlet 7 and the heater outlet 6 during this bilevel mode is determined by the target outlet air temperature at that time. The air volume from the air outlet 6 gradually increases. That is, when the target outlet air temperature Tt is between the first predetermined value A and the second predetermined value B, the damper opening degree is continuously controlled according to the target outlet air temperature Tt between the first predetermined value A and the second predetermined value B, and the vent outlet The air volume at the heater outlet is continuously controlled in an inversely proportional relationship, and the air volume at the heater outlet is controlled in a proportional relationship.

Further, the microcomputer 24 compares the target opening degree θt of the switching damper 8 with the actual opening degree θr of the switching damper 8 detected by the switching damper opening sensor 29, and when the comparison result is θt=θr, The opening degree of the switching damper 11 is not corrected, but when θt=θr, a correction signal is output to the actuator 9 to correct the opening degree of the switching damper 8 so that θt=θr.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the opening degree of the switching damper was adjusted by comparing the target blowing air temperature with the set value, but the present invention is not limited to this. The switching damper 8 is controlled based on the outlet air temperature detected by the outlet air temperature sensor 28 provided near the outlet end or the comparison between the opening degree of the air mix damper 21 and a predetermined set value.
The opening degree of the opening may be controlled. That is, the switching damper 8
The degree of opening of the air conditioner may be controlled based on a control factor representative of the air outlet temperature of the air conditioner.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the air outlet switching damper device. In FIG. 4, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as in FIG. The opening degrees of the heater outlet 6 and the vent outlet 7 are adjusted by a first switching damper 30 and a second switching damper 31, respectively. The second switching damper 31 opens and closes the vent outlet 7 and the defroster outlet 10 in a mutually opposite relationship. The first and second switching dampers 30 and 31 are connected to the lever 3
2, 33 and a connecting rod 34, and when the first switching damper 30 is driven in the direction of closing the heater outlet 6, the second switching damper 31 is driven in the direction of opening the vent outlet 7. , that is, they are driven in a mutually contradictory relationship. The first switching damper 30 is drivingly connected to an electric motor 36 via a reduction gear pair 35 and is driven by the electric motor 36. electric motor 36
may be configured to receive a drive signal generated by the computer 24 in the above-described embodiment and be driven based on this.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited thereto and that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It should be obvious.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a vehicle air conditioner equipped with an air outlet control device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart of the inventive device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the target air outlet temperature and damper. A graph showing the relationship with the opening degree, and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another embodiment of the damper device for switching the air outlet. 1...Ventilation duct, 2...In-vehicle air intake, 3...
...Vehicle outside air intake, 4...Inside and outside air switching damper, 5...
...Inside/outside air switching actuator, 6...Heater outlet, 7...Vent outlet, 8...Switching damper, 9
...Air outlet switching actuator, 10...Defroster outlet, 11...Switching damper, 12...
Electric motor, 13...Blower fan, 15...Evaporator, 19...Temperature adjustment mechanism, 20...Heater element, 21...Air mix damper, 23...Air mix damper actuator, 24...Microcomputer , 25...temperature setting device, 26...
...Outside air temperature sensor, 27...Indoor temperature sensor,
28... Outlet air temperature sensor, 29... Switching damper opening sensor, 30... First switching damper, 3
1... Second switching damper, 32, 33... Lever, 34... Connection rod, 35... Reduction gear pair,
36...Electric motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a ventilation duct, a blower fan that sends air through the ventilation duct, an evaporator provided across a cross section of the passage of the ventilation duct, and a heater provided across a part of the cross section of the passage of the ventilation duct. an air mix damper for selectively distributing air directed through the ventilation duct by the ventilation fan into a flow through the heater element and a flow bypassing the heater element; and an outlet end of the ventilation duct. a damper device that continuously controls the opening degrees of the heater outlet and the vent outlet in a contradictory relationship; a damper drive device that drives the damper device; A microcomputer that controls the operation of the damper drive device, an outside temperature sensor that detects the outside air temperature, an interior temperature sensor that detects the interior temperature of the vehicle, and a temperature setting device that sets the interior temperature of the vehicle and inputs it to the microcomputer. The microcomputer sets the vehicle interior temperature to the set temperature based on the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor, the vehicle interior temperature detected by the vehicle interior temperature sensor, and the set temperature set by the temperature setting device. When the target blowout air temperature is below a first predetermined value, the vent outlet is fully opened and the heater outlet is fully closed, so that the target blowout air temperature is When the temperature is at least a second predetermined value that is larger than the first predetermined value, the vent outlet is fully closed and the heater outlet is fully opened;
When the target outlet air temperature is between the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value, the opening degree of the vent outlet is gradually decreased as the target outlet air temperature increases; An air conditioner for a vehicle, characterized in that the damper drive device is operated to gradually increase the opening degree of the air outlet to an intermediate opening degree.