Air conditioner for a vehicle and controlling method thereof

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a controlling method thereof capable of effectively conditioning air in an operator cab of a vehicle even if a windshield or door of the operator cab is opened. An air conditioner for conditioning air in an operator cab of a vehicle comprises: a first blowout port for blowing out the conditioned air to a front of the operator; a second blowout port for blowing out the conditioned air; an open / close sensor for detecting whether the operator cab is opened or closed; and an air volume ratio adjustment unit for setting a ratio of the volume of the conditioned air, which is blown out from the first blowout port when the open / close sensor detects that the operator cab is opened to be higher than the ratio when the operator cab is closed.

Description

[0001]The applicant claims the right of priority based on Japanese Patent Application JP 2006-219996, filed on Aug. 11, 2006, and the entire content of JP-2006-219996 is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle and a controlling method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to an air conditioner for a construction vehicle and a controlling method thereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Recently, even on a construction vehicle such as a power shovel, an air conditioner is mounted so that the operator cab can be maintained in a comfortable state. However, sometimes, the operator operates the construction vehicle, while a windshield or an entrance door of the operator cab is kept open, in order for the operator to communicate with a worker that is working outside the operator cab or in order for the operator to ensure a good field of vision. When the operator operates the construct...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a controlling method thereof capable of effectively conditioning air in an operator cab of a vehicle even if a windshield or door of the operator cab is opened.

[0007]According to one aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner for conditioning air in an operator cab of a vehicle, is provided. The air conditioner comprises: an air-conditioning unit for generating conditioned air, a first blowout port for blowing out conditioned air toward the face of the operator; a second blowout port for blowing out conditioned air; an open / close sensor for detecting whether the operator cab is opened or closed; and an air volume ratio adjustment unit for setting a ratio of the volume of the conditioner air, which is blown out from the first blowout port, to the volume of the conditioned air, which is blown out from the first and second blowout port, when the open / close sensor detects that the operator cab is opened, to be higher than the ratio of the volume of the conditioner air when the operator cab is closed. Due to the above constitution, when the operator cab is opened, conditioned air can be concentrated on the periphery of the operator. Therefore, the air conditioner can effectively air-condition the operator cab. Especially, since the air conditioner can increase the volume of air blown out to the face of the operator, the operator can feel more comfortable.

[0011]It is also preferable that the air volume ratio adjustment unit sets the ratio of volume of the conditioned air so that when the open / close sensor detects that the operator cab is opened, the volume of the conditioned air which is blown out from the first blowout port, is equal or larger than the volume of the conditioned air which is blown out from the second blowout port, and when the open / close sensor detects that the operator cab is closed, the volume of the conditioned air which is blown out from the first blowout port, is smaller than the volume of the conditioned air which is blown out from the second blowout port. Due to the above constitution, conditioned air which is blown out from each port can be effectively used.

[0012]Preferably, the air conditioner further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of air in the operator cab or the temperature of air outside the operator cab, wherein the air volume ratio adjusting unit sets the ratio of volume of the conditioned air when the open / close sensor detects that the operator cab is opened and the measured temperature of the outside air or the inside air is equal or higher than a predetermined temperature, to be higher than the ratio of volume of the conditioned air when the operator cab is closed. By referring to the temperature of the outside air or the inside air, the air conditioner can increase the volume of the conditioned air which is blown out from the first blowout port, during a hot season. Therefore, it is possible to prevent cooling the operator cab too much.

[0013]It is preferable that the above air conditioner for a vehicle is used for a construction vehicle. The construction vehicle is usually a one-operator vehicle. Therefore, the operator cab of the construction vehicle is small, and when the operator cab is opened, the temperature in the operator cab is remarkably changed. Therefore, by applying the air conditioner for a vehicle of the present invention to the construction vehicle, the air conditioning effect can be greatly improved while the operator cab is opened.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, it is impossible for the air conditioner to effectively condition air in the operator cab.

Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the operator cab in a comfortable state.

Accordingly, the effect of air conditioning cannot be improved much.

On the contrary, the operational noise of the air conditioner is increased, which makes the operator feel uncomfortable.

Therefore, in some cases, a blowout port, which is arranged on the side of the operator, such as a spot blowout port, cannot supply conditioned air to the periphery of the operator, due to the posture of the operator.

Further, manufacturing cost is increased in order to provide such a spot blowout port.

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