Defroster arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

The present application provides a defroster device for a vehicle, which has an air conditioning unit, a defroster blowout port, and a connection passage. The defroster blowout port is arranged extending in the vehicle width direction at a central region in the vehicle width direction below the front of a front windshield glass, and blows out air conditioning air toward the front windshield glass from the inside of the vehicle. The connection passage connects the air conditioning unit and the defroster blowout port. The connection passage has a chamber with a passage width in a direction orthogonal to the vehicle width direction that is wider than a passage width of a downstream end region of a blowout direction of the air conditioning air. The chamber is formed in a bulging shape that bulges toward a downstream side of the blowout direction of the air conditioning air from one end side and the other end side of the vehicle width direction toward the central region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a defroster device for a vehicle for removing water vapor and frost attached to a front windshield. Background Art

[0002] Vehicles are provided with a defroster device that blows conditioned air toward the windshield from the vehicle interior to remove water vapor and frost adhering to the windshield (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-129742).

[0003] The defroster device includes an air conditioning unit that delivers conditioned air, a defroster outlet located at the lower front portion of the windshield, and a connecting duct connecting the air conditioning unit and the defroster outlet. The defroster outlet is centered in the vehicle's width direction and extends long across the vehicle. This allows the conditioned air from the defroster outlet to be ejected across a wide area of ​​the windshield in the vehicle's width direction, thereby evenly removing moisture and frost adhering to the windshield over a wide area. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The aforementioned defroster device is designed to discharge conditioned air over a wide area of ​​the windshield by widening the defroster outlet outward in the vehicle width direction. However, if other devices, such as a head-up display, are positioned below the windshield in front of the front seats, the defroster outlet cannot be sufficiently widened outward in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the conditioned air discharged from the defroster outlet has difficulty reaching the outer side of the windshield in the vehicle width direction, necessitating the development of countermeasures such as increasing the air volume of the conditioned air.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle defroster device capable of efficiently blowing conditioned air to a wide area of ​​a windshield.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above objects, the present invention adopts the following means.

[0007] (1): A defroster device for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an air-conditioning unit that delivers air-conditioned air; a defroster blow-out port that extends in the vehicle width direction in a central region below the front portion of the front windshield and blows out air-conditioned air from the vehicle interior toward the front windshield; and a connecting passage that connects the air-conditioning unit with the defroster blow-out port, wherein the connecting passage has a chamber whose passage width in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction is wider than the passage width in a downstream end region in the blowing direction of the air-conditioned air, and the chamber is formed into a bulging shape that bulges from one end side and the other end side in the vehicle width direction toward the central region and toward the downstream side in the blowing direction of the air-conditioned air.

[0008] According to the above scheme, when conditioned air is introduced from the air conditioning unit into the connecting duct, it temporarily flows into the chamber before being blown from the chamber through the downstream end region of the connecting duct and out the defroster outlet toward the windshield. At this time, because the chamber is formed into a bulging shape, bulging downstream from one end and the other end in the vehicle width direction toward the center region, the conditioned air is blown outward in the vehicle width direction from the left and right inclined portions of the chamber top. This scheme utilizes the characteristic of fluid flowing from high pressure to low pressure, allowing conditioned air to be blown from the chamber over a wide area in the vehicle width direction toward the defroster outlet.

[0009] (2): Based on the above solution (1), the bulging shape of the chamber may be an arc shape.

[0010] In this case, since the bulging shape of the chamber is an arcuate shape, the conditioned air can be smoothly flowed to a wider range of the defroster air outlet in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] (3): Based on the above scheme (1) or (2), the downstream area of ​​the connecting channel connected to the defroster blow-out port may be composed of an increasing passage whose passage width in the vehicle width direction gradually increases toward the defroster blow-out port, and the chamber is arranged in the increasing passage.

[0012] In this case, since the chamber is arranged in an increasing passage whose passage width in the vehicle width direction gradually increases toward the defroster blow-out port, the air-conditioned air flowing from the chamber toward the downstream end side of the connecting channel can be smoothly guided toward the outside in the vehicle width direction along the increasing passage.

[0013] (4): Based on any one of the above schemes (1) to (3), the connecting passage may also have: a first passage portion extending upward from the air-conditioning unit; a second passage portion connected to the upper end portion of the first passage portion and extending toward the front side of the vehicle; and a third passage portion connecting the front end portion of the second passage portion to the defroster blow-out port, wherein the chamber is provided in at least the second passage portion of the first and second passage portions, and the third passage portion extends vertically upward toward the defroster blow-out port.

[0014] In this case, the air-conditioning air is blown from the defroster blowout port toward the vertically upper side along the third passage portion. At this time, the air-conditioning air is blown onto the front windshield glass at a crossing angle close to a right angle at a central region in the vehicle width direction of the defroster blowout port, and the air-conditioning air is blown onto the front windshield glass at a relatively small crossing angle at an outer side region in the vehicle width direction of the defroster blowout port. As a result, in the outer side region in the vehicle width direction, more air-conditioning air flows at a fast flow rate. Thus, in the case where the present aspect is employed, the air-conditioning air can be supplied to a large area of the front windshield glass more efficiently.

[0015] (5) In the aspect (4) described above, the chamber can be formed by bulging upward of the second passage portion.

[0016] In this case, the air-conditioning air flowing upward from the first passage portion can be retained in a high-pressure state by the chamber above the second passage portion. As a result, the pressure difference between the chamber and the downstream end region of the connection passage can be further increased, and the flow rate and flow volume of the air-conditioning air from the chamber toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the defroster blowout port can be increased.

[0017] (6) In any one of the aspects (1) to (5) described above, the defroster blowout port and the connection passage can be arranged with their centers in the vehicle width direction offset to the passenger seat side, and another device unit can be arranged at a position below the front portion of the front windshield glass in front of the driver seat in a manner not interfering with the defroster blowout port and the connection passage.

[0018] In this case, since the defroster blowout port and the connection passage are arranged with their centers in the vehicle width direction offset to the passenger seat side, the other device unit can be arranged with a margin at the position below the front portion of the front windshield glass in front of the driver seat. In this case, the air-conditioning air can be supplied to the outer side region in the vehicle width direction of the front windshield glass with a sufficient flow volume.

[0019] (7) In the aspect (6) described above, the top of the drum shape of the chamber can be arranged with its center in the vehicle width direction offset to the passenger seat side.

[0020] In this case, the extension length of the inclined portion of the drum shape of the chamber on the driver seat side from the top can be easily set longer than the extension length of the inclined portion on the passenger seat side from the top. Thus, even if the defroster blowout port and the connection passage are arranged with their centers in the vehicle width direction offset to the passenger seat side, the air-conditioning air can be supplied to the side end portion of the front windshield glass on the driver seat side with a sufficient flow volume.

[0021] In the aspect of the present application, the chamber of the connection passage is formed in a bulging shape bulging toward the downstream side of the blow-out direction of the air-conditioning air from the one end side and the other end side in the vehicle width direction toward the central region, so that the air-conditioning air can be blown toward a wide range in the vehicle width direction of the defroster outlet with high efficiency. Thus, in the aspect of the present application, the air-conditioning air can be blown toward a wide range in the vehicle width direction of the windshield glass with high efficiency, and the moisture and frost on the windshield glass can be removed quickly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a view of the front portion of the passenger compartment of the vehicle of the embodiment as viewed obliquely from above.

[0023] Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1 .

[0024] Figure 3 is an enlarged front view of a portion of Figure 1 .

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the defroster device of the embodiment.

[0026] Figure 5 is a view showing the distribution state of the air-conditioning air on the windshield glass in the case where the defroster device of the embodiment is employed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described based on the drawings.

[0028] In the following description, front and rear, upper and lower, left and right mean front and rear, upper and lower, left and right for the vehicle unless otherwise specified. An arrow UP directed upward of the vehicle, an arrow FR directed forward of the vehicle, and an arrow LH directed leftward of the vehicle are marked at appropriate positions in the drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 is a view of the front portion of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment as viewed obliquely from above, Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1 .

[0030] In Figure 1 , the symbol 2 is a windshield glass disposed in front of the front seats of the vehicle 1, the symbol 3 is an air-conditioning unit of an air-conditioning device. The symbol 4 is an instrument panel disposed in opposition to the front of the front seats, and the symbol 5 is a head-up display that reflects display information onto the inner side surface of the windshield glass 2 to display the information.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the head-up display 5 constitutes another device unit.

[0032] The vehicle 1 of this embodiment is a so-called left-hand drive vehicle in which the driver's seat is arranged on the left side in the direction of travel of the vehicle. Figure 2 ) is tilted upward from the front of the vehicle and toward the rear of the vehicle at a predetermined angle. The air conditioning unit 3 is located approximately in the center of the instrument panel 4 in the vehicle width direction. The head-up display 5 is located at the front end of the upper shelf wall 4a of the instrument panel 4 in front of the driver's seat (directly below the front edge of the front windshield 2).

[0033] Figure 3 It will Figure 1 An enlarged front view of a portion (a portion where the defroster device 10 is provided) Figure 4 It is a perspective view of a portion of the defroster device 10 .

[0034] The defroster device 10 of the present embodiment comprises: an air conditioning unit 3 constituting a part of the air conditioning device and sending out conditioned air; a defroster outlet 11 for blowing out the conditioned air sent out from the air conditioning unit 3 toward the front windshield 2 from the inside of the vehicle; and a connecting passage 12 connecting the air conditioning unit 3 and the defroster outlet 11. The air conditioning unit 3 has built-in indoor heat exchangers (evaporators and heaters) and a blower 13, not shown in the figure. A blower mode switching door, not shown in the figure, is provided on the air conditioning unit 3. When the blower mode switching door of the air conditioning unit 3 is switched to the side connected to the connecting passage 12, the defroster device 10 sends the conditioned air blown out from the blower 13 to the connecting passage 12. In the present embodiment, conditioned air refers to air whose humidity and temperature have been regulated by the air conditioning unit 3.

[0035] The defroster blow-out port 11 is arranged along the vehicle width direction at the front portion of the upper shelf wall 4a of the instrument panel 4. In other words, the defroster blow-out port 11 extends long in the vehicle width direction below the front portion of the windshield 2. The center C2 of the defroster blow-out port 11 in the vehicle width direction is offset toward the passenger seat side relative to the center C1 of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. That is, the defroster blow-out port 11 is arranged offset toward the passenger seat side as a whole. The connecting duct 12 connected to the defroster blow-out port 11 is also arranged offset toward the passenger seat side as a whole. The center C2 of the connecting duct 12 in the vehicle width direction is offset toward the passenger seat side relative to the center C1 of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

[0036] The head-up display 5 in front of the driver's seat is arranged at a lower front position of the windshield glass 2 so as not to interfere with the defroster outlet 11 and the connecting duct 12 .

[0037] The defroster blow-out port 11 is formed in a blow-out garnish 14 made of resin attached to the end portion of the connecting passage 12 (the end portion of the third passage portion 12c described later). Figure 4 The defroster blowout 11 is formed in a manner that is long in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of ribs 15 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the vehicle width direction at the defroster blowout 11. Figures 1 to 3 In the figure, the rib 15 is omitted.

[0038] The connecting duct 12 includes a first passage portion 12a extending upward from the air conditioning unit 3; a second passage portion 12b connected to the upper end of the first passage portion 12a, slightly inclined upward, and extending toward the front of the vehicle; and a third passage portion 12c extending vertically upward from the front end of the second passage portion 12b and connected to the defroster outlet 11 of the blow-out garnish 14. The first, second, and third passage portions 12a, 12b, and 12c are integrally formed from a resin material.

[0039] The width of the first passage portion 12a in the vehicle width direction is equal to the width of the defroster air outlet 3a ( Figure 2 ) is formed to have a substantially uniform width in the vehicle width direction. In contrast, the width of the passageway in the vehicle width direction from the second passageway portion 12b to the third passageway portion 12c gradually increases from the base of the second passageway portion 12b connected to the first passageway portion 12a toward the upper end of the third passageway portion 12c. In this embodiment, the portion from the second passageway portion 12b to the third passageway portion 12c (the downstream region of the connecting duct 12 connected to the defroster outlet 11) comprises an increasing passageway 16, whose width in the vehicle width direction gradually increases toward the defroster outlet 11.

[0040] A chamber 17 is provided in at least the second passage portion 12b of the first and second passage portions 12a and 12b. The vertical width of this chamber 17 (the width perpendicular to the vehicle width) is greater than the vertical width of the downstream end region Ae in the direction of conditioned air discharge (the width perpendicular to the vehicle width). In this embodiment, a portion of the upper wall 12bu of the second passage portion 12b is raised upward to form chamber 17. Therefore, in this embodiment, the vertical width of chamber 17 is greater than the vertical width of the downstream region, and chamber 17 is located within the aforementioned increasing passage 16.

[0041] The chamber 17 is formed into a bulging shape that bulges from one end side and the other end side in the vehicle width direction toward the central area and toward the downstream side of the blowing direction of the conditioned air. In the present embodiment, since the chamber 17 is provided on the upper wall 12bu portion of the second passage portion 12b extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the central area of ​​the chamber 17 bulges forward when viewed from above. More specifically, the bulging shape of the chamber 17 bulging toward the downstream side is arc-shaped. The top t (the portion that bulges most toward the front of the vehicle) of the bulging shape of the chamber 17 is offset toward the passenger seat side relative to the center C2 of the connecting passage 12 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the extension length of the arc-shaped inclined portion 17d of the chamber 17 on the driver's seat side across the top t is longer than the extension length of the arc-shaped inclined portion 17a on the passenger seat side across the top t.

[0042] The vehicle width-outward ends of the inclined portions 17d and 17a of the chamber 17 are connected to the base of the gradually increasing passage 16. Specifically, the vehicle width-outward ends of the inclined portions 17d and 17a are connected to the vicinity of the narrowest portion of the gradually increasing passage 16 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the narrowest portion of the vertical width of the downstream end region Ae of the gradually increasing passage 16 extends in a generally fan-shaped (gradually widening) manner in the vehicle width-outward portions of the inclined portions 17d and 17a of the chamber 17.

[0043] Next, the operation of the defroster device 10 will be described.

[0044] When conditioned air is introduced from the air conditioning unit 3 into the connecting duct 12, it flows from the first passage portion 12a of the connecting duct 12 into the chamber 17 of the second passage portion 12b, and then flows from the chamber 17 toward the narrow downstream end region Ae of the increasing passage 16 in the vertical direction. The conditioned air flowing into the downstream end region Ae changes its direction vertically upward in the third passage portion 12c and is blown out from the defroster outlet 11 toward the vehicle interior side of the windshield 2.

[0045] At this time, since the chamber 17 is formed in a bulging shape that bulges toward the downstream side from one end side and the other end side in the vehicle width direction toward the central area, the conditioned air is blown radially from the left and right inclined parts 17d and 17a of the top t of the chamber 17 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0046] Figure 5 1 is a diagram showing the distribution of conditioned air on the windshield glass 2 when the defroster device 10 is in operation. Figure 5 In the part with more conditioned air flow, the point density is higher.

[0047] The air-conditioning air as a fluid has a characteristic of flowing from the high-pressure side toward the low-pressure side. Therefore, in the defroster device 10 of the present embodiment in which a portion of the connection passage 12 has the chamber 17, sufficient flow of the air-conditioning air is blown toward the wide range in the vehicle width direction of the defroster blowout port 11 from the chamber 17 portion that becomes the high-pressure state as shown in FIG. 8. Figure 5

[0048] <Effects of Embodiment>

[0049] In the defroster device 10 of the present embodiment, the chamber 17 of the connection passage 12 is formed in a bulging shape that bulges toward the downstream side of the blowout direction of the air-conditioning air from the one end side and the other end side in the vehicle width direction toward the central region. Therefore, the air-conditioning air can be caused to flow radially toward the downstream side with the bulging shape portion of the chamber 17 as the center, and the air-conditioning air can be blown toward the wide range in the vehicle width direction of the defroster blowout port 11 with high efficiency.

[0050] Thus, in the case of the defroster device 10 of the present embodiment, the air-conditioning air can be blown toward the wide range in the vehicle width direction of the windshield 2 with high efficiency, and the moisture and frost of the windshield 2 can be removed promptly.

[0051] In the defroster device 10 of the present embodiment, the bulging shape of the chamber 17 that bulges toward the downstream side is a circular arc shape, and thus the air-conditioning air can flow more smoothly toward the wide range in the vehicle width direction of the defroster blowout port 11.

[0052] However, the bulging shape of the chamber 17 that bulges toward the downstream side does not necessarily need to be a shape in which the left and right inclined portions 17d, 17a are curved in a circular arc shape, and the left and right inclined portions 17d, 17a can be a linear shape or a curved shape that is not a circular arc.

[0053] The defroster device 10 of the present embodiment is provided with the gradual increase passage 16 in which the passage width in the vehicle width direction gradually increases toward the defroster blowout port 11 in the downstream region of the connection passage 12, and the chamber 17 is disposed within the gradual increase passage 16. Therefore, the air-conditioning air that flows from the chamber 17 toward the downstream end side of the connection passage 12 can be guided smoothly toward the outside in the vehicle width direction along the gradual increase passage 16.

[0054] ​In the defroster device 10 of this embodiment, the connecting duct 12 includes a first passage portion 12a extending upward from the air conditioning unit 3, a second passage portion 12b connected to the upper end of the first passage portion 12a and extending toward the vehicle front, and a third passage portion 12c connecting the front end of the second passage portion 12b to the defroster outlet 11. Furthermore, a chamber 17 is provided in at least the second passage portion 12b of the first and second passage portions 12a, 12b, with the third passage portion 12c extending vertically upward toward the defroster outlet 11. Therefore, when conditioned air is blown out of the defroster outlet 11, it strikes the inner surface of the windshield 2 at a nearly right angle in the center of the defroster outlet 11 in the vehicle width direction, while striking the inner surface of the windshield 2 at a relatively shallow angle in the outer regions in the vehicle width direction. At this time, in the outer region in the vehicle width direction where the conditioned air hits the inner surface of the windshield 2 at a relatively small crossing angle, the conditioned air flows at a high flow rate with a sufficient flow rate.

[0055] Therefore, when this structure is adopted, more conditioned air can be caused to flow toward the outer region of the windshield glass 2 in the vehicle width direction.

[0056] Furthermore, in the defroster device 10 of this embodiment, the chamber 17 is formed so as to bulge upward from the second passage portion 12b of the connecting duct 12. Therefore, the conditioned air flowing upward from the first passage portion 12a of the connecting duct 12 can be retained at high pressure by the chamber 17 in the upper wall 12bu of the second passage portion 12b.

[0057] Therefore, when this structure is adopted, the pressure difference between the chamber 17 and the downstream end area Ae of the connecting passage 12 can be further increased, thereby increasing the flow rate and flow rate of the conditioned air from the chamber 17 toward the outside of the defroster outlet 11 in the vehicle width direction.

[0058] In the defroster device 10 of this embodiment, the center C2 of the defroster outlet 11 and connecting duct 12 in the vehicle width direction is offset toward the passenger seat relative to the center C1 of the vehicle 1 in the vehicle width direction. The head-up display 5 is positioned below and in front of the windshield 2 in front of the driver's seat so as not to interfere with the defroster outlet 11 and connecting duct 12. In this case, since the defroster outlet 11 and connecting duct 12 are offset toward the passenger seat, the head-up display 5 can be positioned below and in front of the windshield 2 in front of the driver's seat with ample space. This also allows for a sufficient flow rate of conditioned air to be supplied to the outer area of ​​the windshield 2 in the vehicle width direction.

[0059] Further, in the defroster device 10 of the present embodiment, the top t of the chamber 17 is arranged offset to the passenger seat side with respect to the center C2 of the vehicle width direction of the connection passage 12, and thus it is possible to easily set the extension length of the curved inclined portion 17d of the chamber 17 on the driver seat side longer than the extension length of the curved inclined portion 17a on the passenger seat side. Therefore, even if the defroster blowout port 11 and the connection passage 12 are arranged offset to the passenger seat side, it is possible to supply sufficient flow rate of the air-conditioning air to the side end portion of the front windshield glass 2 on the driver seat side.

[0060] The present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made within the scope of the gist thereof.

[0061] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the passage width in the up-down direction of a portion of the connection passage 12 is formed wider than the passage width in the up-down direction of the downstream end region Ae, and this portion is taken as the chamber 17. However, in the case where the chamber 17 is provided in the portion of the connection passage 12 extending in the up-down direction, the passage width in the front-rear direction of a portion of the connection passage 12 can be formed wider than the passage width in the front-rear direction or the up-down direction of the downstream end region Ae, and this portion can be taken as the chamber 17.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, the chamber 17 is formed only in the second passage portion 12b of the connection passage 12, but the chamber 17 can be formed so as to span the second passage portion 12b and the first passage portion 12al.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the chamber 17 is formed in the upper wall 12bu of the second passage portion 12b of the connection passage 12 in a manner bulging upward, but the chamber 17 can be formed on the lower wall side of the second passage portion 12b.

[0064] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the head-up display 5 is cited as an example of another device unit arranged at a position below the front portion of the front windshield glass 2 in front of the driver seat, but a device unit other than the head-up display 5 can be arranged at a position below the front portion of the front windshield glass 2 in front of the driver seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle defroster device, characterized in that: The vehicle defroster device includes: an air conditioning unit that delivers conditioned air; a defroster blow-out port extending in the vehicle width direction at a center region below the front portion of the front windshield and configured to blow conditioned air from the vehicle interior toward the front windshield; as well as a connecting passage connecting the air conditioning unit to the defroster blow-out port, The connecting passage has a chamber whose passage width in the vertical direction of the vehicle is wider than the passage width in the downstream end region in the blowing direction of the air-conditioning air. The chamber is formed into a bulging shape that bulges from one end side and the other end side in the vehicle width direction toward the central area and toward the downstream side of the blowing direction of the conditioned air, so that the conditioned air is blown outward in the vehicle width direction from the left and right inclined parts of the top of the chamber.

2. The vehicle defroster device according to claim 1, wherein: The bulging shape of the cavity is an arc shape.

3. The vehicle defroster device according to claim 1, wherein: A downstream region of the connecting passage connected to the defroster outlet is formed by a gradually increasing passage whose passage width in the vehicle width direction gradually increases toward the defroster outlet, and the chamber is arranged in the gradually increasing passage.

4. The vehicle defroster device according to claim 1, wherein: The connecting channel has: a first passage portion extending upward from the air conditioning unit; a second passage portion connected to an upper end portion of the first passage portion and extending toward the front side of the vehicle; as well as a third passage portion connecting the front end portion of the second passage portion to the defroster blow-out port, The chamber is provided in at least the second passage portion of the first passage portion and the second passage portion, The third passage portion extends vertically upward toward the defroster air outlet.

5. The vehicle defroster device according to claim 4, wherein: The chamber is formed so as to bulge upward from the second passage portion.

6. The vehicle defroster device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The defroster outlet and the connecting duct are arranged so that their vehicle width center is offset toward the passenger seat side relative to the vehicle width center. Another device unit is arranged at a lower front portion of the windshield glass in front of a driver's seat so as not to interfere with the defroster outlet and the connecting duct.

7. The vehicle defroster device according to claim 6, wherein: The bulging top of the chamber is offset toward the passenger seat with respect to the center of the connecting duct in the vehicle width direction.

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