Heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an air intake box (2) having a plurality of walls (4) and a spiral box (3) arranged downstream of the air intake box (2) with respect to the flow of the air flow, said air intake box (2) further comprising at least one first air inlet (6) for the introduction of a first air flow (FR) and at least one second air inlet (8) for the introduction of a second air flow (FA). According to the invention, said air intake box (2) comprises a first internal duct (16) made of a porous material, arranged to connect the first air inlet (6) to an inlet (18) of the spiral box (3).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning devices for motor vehicles, and also to a motor vehicle comprising such a device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning devices are subject to stringent requirements in terms of harmful noise. In particular, these devices comprise a motor-fan unit, also called a blower, with an impeller rotated by a motor to generate an air flow. In particular when the ventilation is set to maximum power, the motor-fan unit generates undesirable noise, and the noise passes through the intake housing and enters the passenger compartment through the air inlet, also called the recirculation air inlet, connected to the passenger compartment. Thus, the driver or the passengers can hear the motor-fan unit working when the ventilation is set to maximum power and in recirculation mode, which can cause discomfort and auditory discomfort. SUMMARY

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is notably to overcome this drawback.

[0004] To this end, the present invention proposes a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device for a motor vehicle comprising an intake housing and a spiral housing arranged with respect to the flow of the air flow at the outlet of the intake housing, each housing comprising a plurality of walls defining an internal volume and a volute, said intake housing further comprising:

[0005] a. at least one first air inlet for introducing a first air flow,

[0006] b. at least one second air inlet for introducing a second air flow.

[0007] According to the invention,

[0008] c. said intake housing comprises a first internal duct made of a porous material, which extends within the volume and is arranged to connect the first air inlet to the inlet of the spiral housing.

[0009] In this way, the undesirable noise generated by the motor-fan unit is confined within the intake housing. In particular, the internal duct made of a porous material has sound-absorbing properties and the noise is captured.

[0010] According to an aspect of the invention, it is proposed that the second air flow flows from the second air inlet to the inlet of the spiral housing between the walls of the intake housing and the outer surface of the first internal duct.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, it is proposed that a second internal duct made of a porous material extends from the second air inlet to the inlet of the spiral housing.

[0012] According to another aspect of the application, it is proposed that the first and second inner ducts each extend from their respective air inlets to a junction at which the two inner ducts connect, so as to form only a single duct extending from the junction to the spiral housing inlet.

[0013] According to another aspect of the application, it is proposed that the porous material corresponds to a polyurethane foam.

[0014] According to another aspect of the application, it is proposed that the first inner duct has a different porosity than the second inner duct.

[0015] According to another aspect of the application, it is proposed that the air passage cross section of the first inner duct and / or of the second inner duct gradually increases in the direction of the spiral housing inlet.

[0016] According to another aspect of the application, it is proposed that the air passage cross section of the first inner duct and / or of the second inner duct gradually changes from an elliptical shape to a circular shape in the direction of the spiral housing inlet.

[0017] According to another aspect of the application, it is proposed that the device further comprises a distribution housing arranged downstream of the spiral duct with respect to the flow of the air stream, said distribution housing comprising at least one heat exchanger and at least one air outlet for distributing the air stream in the direction of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0018] The application also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Other features and advantages of the application will become apparent on reading the following description, given by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 A perspective view of a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device according to the application is shown;

[0021] Figure 2 A side view of a portion of a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device according to the application is shown;

[0022] Figure 3 A perspective view of a portion of a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following examples are illustrative. Although described with reference to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference involves the same embodiment, or that features only apply to a single embodiment. Individual features of different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0024] The terms "upstream" and "downstream" always refer to the flow of the air flow circulating within the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device.

[0025] According to the application and as illustrated in Figure 1 The heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 1 comprises an intake casing 2 comprising a plurality of walls 4 defining an internal volume 5 and a spiral casing 3, commonly known as a volute, also comprising a plurality of walls defining an internal volume. The device 1, in particular the intake casing 2, comprises a first air inlet 6 to allow a first air flow FR to enter the intake casing 2, i.e. the internal volume 5. The device 1, in particular the intake casing 2, also comprises a second air inlet 8 to allow a second air flow FA to enter the intake casing 2, i.e. the internal volume 5.

[0026] According to the application, the first air inlet 6 is configured to allow the introduction of a first air flow FR, a recirculation air flow, i.e. air coming from the passenger compartment; to this end, the device 1 can comprise a duct arranged to connect the passenger compartment to the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 1. According to the application, the second air inlet 8 is configured to allow the introduction of a second air flow, a fresh air flow FA, i.e. air coming from the outside of the vehicle; to this end, the device 1 can comprise a duct arranged to connect the outside to the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 1.

[0027] Each air inlet 6, 8 can comprise a shutter movable between a position closing the air inlet and an open position so as to allow or not allow each air flow FR, FA to enter the internal volume 5 in a variable ratio.

[0028] The heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 1 also comprises a spiral casing 3. The spiral casing 3, commonly known as a volute, houses a motor-fan unit 10 consisting of a motor 12 and an impeller 14. The motor 12 rotates a drive shaft which is itself connected to the impeller 14, for example by means of a hub. The impeller 14 is then driven in rotation, generating an air flow which is drawn in an axial direction and then expelled in a radial direction.

[0029] With respect to the flow of the air flow, the spiral casing 3 is arranged downstream of the intake casing 2, so that the motor-fan unit 10 is arranged to draw in the air flow from the first air inlet 6 and / or from the second air inlet 8 and to expel it / them towards the distribution casing described below. The intake casing 2 and the spiral casing 3 are fluidically connected and comprise fastening means so that they can be fastened to each other.

[0030] The heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 1 also comprises a distribution housing, not shown, comprising a thermal treatment device. The thermal treatment device comprises a first heat exchanger, for example an evaporator, for cooling and dehumidifying the entire air flow. The thermal treatment device also comprises a second heat exchanger, for example a radiator, intended to cool a portion of the air flow circulating in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device 1 and arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger with respect to the flow of the air flow. The second heat exchanger can optionally be coupled to an additional electric heater for faster heating of the air flow, in particular when the vehicle is started.

[0031] The motor-fan unit 10 generates undesirable noise and this sound can pass through the first air inlet 6 and propagate to the passenger compartment. This causes discomfort to the vehicle passengers, in particular when the ventilation is set in maximum mode.

[0032] The device 2 according to the application comprises a first internal duct 16 made of porous material which extends inside the internal volume 5 and is arranged to connect the first air inlet 6 to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3. Thus, the undesirable noise generated by the motor-fan unit 10 is absorbed by the porous material, reducing the amount of noise that rises through the recirculation air inlet 6, thus improving the comfort of the passengers. In particular, the noise cannot pass through the first air inlet 6 without passing through the first internal duct 16.

[0033] The first internal duct 16 is made of or consists of a porous material. This internal duct corresponds to a cylindrical tube or a non-cylindrical tube, for example a hollow truncated cone. The internal duct can be straight or rectilinear, as shown in Figure 1 or can have an elbow, as shown in Figure 2 The duct 20 will be described later.

[0034] The first internal duct 16 extends from the first air inlet 6 to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3. The first internal duct 16 defines an internal volume corresponding to an air passage 17 for the flow of the air flow. As shown in Figure 1 The first air flow FR, i.e. the recirculation air flow, enters the housing 2 through the first air inlet 6 directly inside the air passage 17 defined by the first internal duct 16. This first air flow FR is then conveyed to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3 in order to be axially drawn in by the motor-fan unit 10 and then radially expelled. The second air flow FA, i.e. the fresh air, enters the housing 2 through the second air inlet 8 directly in the internal volume 5 outside the first internal duct 16. This second air flow FA is also conveyed to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3 in order to be axially drawn in by the motor-fan unit 10 and then radially expelled. In other words, the second air flow FA flows inside the intake housing 2 from the second air inlet 8 until the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3 between the wall 4 of the intake housing 2 and the outer surface of the first internal duct 16.

[0035] The porous material of the first internal conduit 16 can correspond to any porous sound insulation material, such as polyurethane (PU) foam, open-cell polyester (PPI) foam, polyether foam, or a mixture of these different foams; for example, PU PPI foam is very suitable for this application.

[0036] according to Figure 2 In the specific embodiment shown, the device 1 according to the invention further includes a second internal conduit 20, also made of a porous material, extending from the second air inlet 8 to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3. The second internal conduit 20 defines an internal volume corresponding to the air passage 21 for airflow. Figure 2 As shown, the second airflow FA, i.e., the fresh airflow, enters the housing 2 through the second air inlet 8 directly within the air passage 21 defined by the second internal duct 20. This second airflow FA is then conveyed to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3 so that it is axially drawn in by the motor-fan unit 10 and then radially discharged. As... Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the first airflow FR, i.e., the recirculated air, enters the housing 2 through the first air inlet 6 directly within the air passage 17 defined by the first internal duct 16, until it reaches the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3 so that it can be axially drawn in and then radially discharged by the motor-fan unit 10.

[0037] The porous material of the second internal conduit 20 can also correspond to any porous sound insulation material, such as polyurethane (PU) foam, open-cell polyester (PPI) foam, polyether foam, or a mixture of these different foams; for example, PU PPI foam is very suitable for this application.

[0038] according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment described, at the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3, the air passage cross section SFR for the first airflow FR can be larger than the air passage cross section S for the second airflow FA. FA Assuming the recirculation airflow FR is already close to the passenger setpoint temperature, a larger air passage cross-section for the recirculation airflow FR may prove useful in order to reduce the effort required by the heat exchanger. For example, if inlet 18 is considered to be in a plane, the passage cross-section S FR Occupying between 50% and 90% of the surface of the inlet 18 of the spiral shell 3 may be advantageous.

[0039] According to an embodiment not shown, the channel cross-section S FRThe surface of the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3 occupies 100% of the surface. In this case, the spiral housing 3 may include a second inlet connected to the second air inlet 8. A motor-fan unit 10 with two impellers 14 is also conceivable, with a motor 12 arranged between the two impellers 14 and having an inlet arranged to supply air to each impeller. There may be an inlet for a fresh air flow FA and an inlet for a recirculation air flow FR.

[0040] It has also proven advantageous to fill at least partially the internal volume 5 between the two internal pipes 16 and 20 with sound-insulating material or even with the same porous material that constitutes the two internal pipes 16 and 20.

[0041] While it is easier to use the same porous material for both internal ducts 16, 20, it can also prove advantageous to use two internal ducts 16, 20 made of different materials. Assuming the object of the invention relates to noise reduction at the first air inlet 6, it is more advantageous to arrange the first internal duct 16 using a material with better sound insulation than the second internal duct 20. For example, the two internal ducts 16, 20 could be made of polyurethane foam with different porosities.

[0042] according to Figure 3 In the specific embodiment shown, the first and second internal conduits 16, 20 each extend from their respective air inlets 6, 8 to a junction 22 where the two internal conduits connect or combine, thus forming only a single conduit, namely the third internal conduit 24, which extends from the junction 22 to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3. In this embodiment, the three internal conduits 16, 20, 24 are made of a single porous material, such as polyurethane foam, and are monolithic, in other words, so as to form only a single component. In other words, the first two internal conduits 16, 20 are fluidly connected at the junction 22. The third internal conduit 24 extends from this junction 22 to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3. In other words, the third internal conduit 24 defines a flow path for a mixture of the first airflow FR and the second airflow FA, which are delivered together from the junction 22 to the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3.

[0043] It can also be shown that it is advantageous to fill at least partially the internal volume 5 between the three internal pipes 16, 20, 24 with sound-insulating material or even with the same porous material that constitutes the three internal pipes 16, 20, 24.

[0044] Regardless of the specific embodiment, the device 1 according to the invention may have the following other features.

[0045] For example, the air passage cross-section of the first internal conduit 16 and / or the second internal conduit 20 and / or the third conduit 24 gradually increases in the direction of the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3. In other words, depending on the embodiment, the air passage cross-section increases from the air inlets 6, 8 or the junction 22 until the air inlet 18 or the junction 22 of the spiral housing 3. For example, the air passage cross-section can be increased by changing from an elliptical cross-section to a circular cross-section. As another example, the air passage cross-section can be increased by changing from a semi-circular cross-section to a circular cross-section. The internal conduits 16, 20, 24 with circular passage cross-sections can be widened by a radius that increases as the conduits 16, 20, 24 approach the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3.

[0046] According to a specific embodiment not shown, the heating, ventilation, and / or air conditioning unit may include an air filter. This air filter may be located downstream of the motor-fan unit 10, or it may be located only at the second air inlet 8 to filter outside air. The air filter may also be located at the inlet 18 of the spiral housing 3 at the outlet of the first internal duct 16, the second internal duct 20, and / or the third internal duct 24.

[0047] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle including the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning unit 1 as described above.

Claims

1. A heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an air intake housing (2) having a plurality of walls (4) and a spiral housing (3) arranged downstream of the air intake housing (2) with respect to the flow of the air stream, the air intake housing (2) further comprising: a. at least one first air inlet (6) for introducing a first air stream (FR), b. at least one second air inlet (8) for introducing a second air stream (FA), characterized in that c. the air intake housing (2) comprises a first internal duct (16) made of a porous material, which is arranged to connect the first air inlet (6) to an inlet (18) of the spiral housing (3).

2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second air stream (FA) flows from the second air inlet (8) to the inlet (18) of the spiral housing (3) between a wall (4) of the air intake housing (2) and an outer surface of the first internal duct (16).

3. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a second internal duct (20) made of a porous material extends from the second air inlet (8) to the inlet (18) of the spiral housing (3).

4. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second internal duct (20) made of a porous material extends from the second air inlet (8) to the inlet (18) of the spiral housing (3), and wherein the first and second internal ducts (16, 20) each extend from their respective air inlet (6, 8) to a junction (22) where the two internal ducts (16, 20) connect, thereby forming only a single duct (24) extending from the junction (22) to the inlet (18) of the spiral housing (3).

5. The device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the porous material corresponds to a polyurethane foam.

6. The device (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the porosity of the first internal duct (16) is different from the porosity of the second internal duct (20).

7. The device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air passage cross section of the first internal duct (16) and / or of the second internal duct (20) gradually increases in the direction of the inlet (18) of the spiral housing (3).

8. The device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air passage cross section of the first internal duct (16) and / or of the second internal duct (20) gradually changes from an elliptical shape to a circular shape in the direction of the inlet (18) of the spiral housing (3).

9. The device (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the device further comprises a distribution housing arranged downstream of the spiral housing (3) with respect to the flow of the air stream, the distribution housing comprising at least one heat exchanger and at least one air outlet for distributing the air stream in the direction of a motor vehicle passenger compartment.

10. A motor vehicle characterised in that, the motor vehicle comprises a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

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