Shell surface condensate water receiving method for condensation test of automobile air conditioning cabinet

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of automobile air conditioning system testing, and relates to a method for receiving condensate water on the surface of an automobile air conditioning box condensation test shell, which comprises the following steps of: area covering and shaping fitting: covering the surface of an area to be tested of an air conditioning box shell with a flexible fitting cover with a shaping sealing edge, and manually bending the shaping sealing edge to form a flexible fitting cover; the curved surface is shaped and deformed to be matched with and tightly attached to the curved surface outline of the air conditioning box shell; directional diversion of condensate water: in the condensation test process, enabling the condensate water generated in the to-be-tested area of the air conditioning cabinet shell to flow downwards along the inner surface of the flexible fitting cover under the action of gravity, and collecting the condensate water into a water collection tank fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the flexible fitting cover; the condensate water collected in the water collecting tank is guided out to a measuring instrument outside the test environment bin in real time through a water outlet pipe communicated with the lowest point of the slope of the tank bottom; and quantitative metering: metering the exported condensate water through a measuring instrument, and obtaining the condensation amount data of the to-be-measured area within the preset time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive air conditioning system testing technology, and relates to a method for receiving condensate on the surface of the housing for condensation testing of automotive air conditioning units. Background Technology

[0002] The automotive air conditioning unit (HVAC) assembly is a core component for regulating the thermal comfort of the vehicle interior. During the product development and verification phase, rigorous condensation tests are typically conducted to verify the insulation performance of its casing. This test aims to simulate a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, observing and evaluating whether the condensation generated on the outer surface of the casing during operation meets design requirements, thus preventing electrical short circuits or interior mold growth caused by condensation dripping. Currently, the industry generally uses the following two methods for collecting and measuring condensation on the casing surface during condensation tests:

[0003] Natural dripping method: Allow condensate to collect on the shell surface and drip naturally. This method can only be qualitatively observed with the naked eye and cannot accurately measure the amount of condensation, making it difficult to provide effective data support.

[0004] Artificial adsorption method: The test personnel use absorbent sponges or cotton cloths to periodically enter the test environment to wipe and absorb the condensate on the surface of the shell, and then weigh and count the amount of water through a weighing container.

[0005] However, the aforementioned existing technologies have significant drawbacks in practical applications: Large errors and low efficiency: The manual adsorption process has a huge human randomness. The residue of water-absorbing consumables, the squeezing force and the weighing process will all produce measurement errors. Moreover, the operation is cumbersome and it is difficult to achieve continuous and real-time monitoring of data. Interference with the test environment: The test requires a strictly constant temperature and humidity environment. Frequent entry and exit of personnel into the test chamber and contact with the air conditioning unit shell will cause drastic fluctuations in the temperature and humidity conditions of the test area, change the thermal balance state of the shell surface, and lead to the distortion of test data.

[0006] In summary, existing technologies lack a method for automatically collecting and accurately measuring condensate on the surface of an air conditioning unit casing in real time. Therefore, how to efficiently and accurately acquire condensate data without causing human interference to the testing environment has become a pressing technical problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for receiving condensate on the surface of the housing for condensation testing of automotive air conditioning units. Through flexible bonding and automated flow guiding process steps, the method solves the problems of inability to quantitatively collect condensate, inaccurate measurement, and cumbersome operation in the prior art.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A method for receiving condensate on the surface of an automotive air conditioning unit housing during a condensation test involves using a condensate receiving device to collect and measure the condensate from the test area of ​​the air conditioning unit housing. The condensate receiving device includes a flexible cover, a collection tank, and a water outlet pipe. The receiving method includes the following steps: Area Coverage and Shaping Fitting: A flexible fitting cover with a shape-adhesive edge is covered on the surface of the area to be tested on the air conditioning unit shell. The shape-adhesive edge is manually bent to deform it to fit and tightly fit the curved contour of the air conditioning unit shell, forming a closed airflow interface. Condensate water directional flow: During the condensation test, the condensate water generated in the test area of ​​the air conditioning unit shell is allowed to flow downward along the inner surface of the flexible bonding cover under the action of gravity and collect in the water collection tank fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the flexible bonding cover. External output: The condensate collected in the water collection tank is discharged in real time to the measuring instruments outside the test environment chamber through the water outlet pipe connected to the lowest point of the tank bottom slope; Quantitative measurement: The condensate water is measured by the measuring instrument to obtain the condensation data of the area to be measured within a preset time.

[0009] Furthermore, in the area covering and shaping bonding step, the flexible and shape-forming skeleton strip encapsulated within the shape-forming edge maintains the seal between the edge of the flexible bonding cover and the curved surface of the outer shell.

[0010] Furthermore, in the condensate directional flow guiding step, the condensate generation rate and flow state are observed in real time through the transparent material of the flexible bonding cover.

[0011] Furthermore, in the external discharge step, the condensate is guided to flow completely to the outlet pipe by utilizing the inclined slope of the bottom of the water collection tank.

[0012] Furthermore, the receiving method also includes a flow control step, in which the discharge rate of condensate is adjusted or interrupted in stages by a flow control valve installed on the outlet pipe.

[0013] Furthermore, in the quantitative measurement step, the volume data of the condensate is directly read using a graduated cylinder.

[0014] Furthermore, in the quantitative measurement step, the mass change data of condensate is obtained in real time using a weighing container or measuring cylinder placed on an electronic scale, and the rate curve of condensation is calculated in combination with the test time.

[0015] Furthermore, the skeleton strip is made of metal wire or shape memory plastic strip.

[0016] Furthermore, the water collection tank is a long, rigid or semi-rigid tank, and its bottom has an inclined slope towards the point of connection with the water outlet pipe. Furthermore, the water collection tank is fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the flexible bonding cover by waterproof adhesive bonding or heat sealing process.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: First, this invention achieves precise fitting and full collection of condensate from the complex, irregular curved surface of the air conditioning unit through a flexible, fitted cover and its malleable edge sealing, thus enabling full, non-contact measurement of condensate. The malleable fitting technology ensures the tightness of the collection, and the automated flow guidance avoids disruption of thermal balance caused by manual entry and exit from the test chamber, significantly improving the real-time nature and accuracy of the data. Furthermore, the skeleton strips within the edge sealing can be manually shaped according to the shell contour, forming a tight flow interface that ensures all condensate in the test area enters the water collection system without leakage. This design fundamentally solves the shortcomings of traditional natural dripping methods, which cannot quantitatively measure condensate, and manual adsorption methods, which are prone to leakage, achieving near 100% collection of condensate and significantly improving the accuracy of the test data.

[0018] Secondly, this invention achieves continuous, real-time monitoring of the testing process through the inclined slope of the water collection tank and the automated flow guidance design of the outlet pipe. Condensate automatically collects and exits under gravity, eliminating the need for frequent manual operation by testing personnel entering the environmental chamber. This not only eliminates random errors caused by manual wiping, squeezing, and weighing, greatly improving testing efficiency, but more importantly, it maintains a constant temperature and humidity in the testing environment, preventing disruption of the thermal balance of the shell surface due to personnel movement, thus ensuring the objectivity and authenticity of the test results.

[0019] Finally, this invention balances experimental safety with equipment versatility. The directional flow guide effectively prevents the risk of electrical short circuits on the test bench caused by indiscriminate dripping of condensate, improving the cleanliness of the working environment. Simultaneously, the use of transparent, waterproof, flexible materials (such as PVC or silicone) combined with a malleable frame allows it to adapt to different models of automotive air conditioning units with complex structural features. This device is simple in structure, low in cost, and easy to install and disassemble, possessing high engineering promotion value and broad industry adaptability.

[0020] Other advantages, objectives, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following examination, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained through the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the condensate receiving device in the embodiment.

[0022] Figure reference numerals: 1. Flexible fitting cover; 2. Water collection tank; 3. Water outlet pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0024] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are schematic diagrams, not actual pictures. They should not be construed as limiting the invention. To better illustrate the embodiments of the invention, some parts in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual product dimensions. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings.

[0025] In the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] Example 1 Please see Figure 1 This invention relates to a method for receiving condensate on the surface of an automotive air conditioning unit housing during a condensation test. A condensate receiving device is used to collect and measure the condensate in the test area of ​​the air conditioning unit housing. The condensate receiving device includes a flexible cover 1, a collection tank 2, and a water outlet pipe 3. The receiving method includes the following steps: Area Coverage and Shaping Fitting: A flexible fitting cover 1 with a shape-adjustable edge is covered on the surface of the area to be tested on the air conditioning unit shell. The shape-adjustable edge is manually bent to deform it to fit and tightly fit the curved contour of the air conditioning unit shell, forming a closed airflow interface. Condensate water directional flow: During the condensation test, the condensate water generated in the test area of ​​the air conditioning unit shell is allowed to flow downward along the inner surface of the flexible bonding cover 1 under the action of gravity and collect in the water collection tank 2 fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the flexible bonding cover 1. External output: The condensate collected in the water collection tank 2 is discharged in real time to the measuring instruments outside the test environment chamber through the water outlet pipe 3 connected to the lowest point of the tank bottom slope; Quantitative measurement: The condensate water is measured by the measuring instrument to obtain the condensation data of the area to be measured within a preset time.

[0027] Furthermore, in the area covering and shaping bonding step, the flexible and shape-forming skeleton strip encapsulated within the shape-forming edge maintains the sealing state between the edge of the flexible bonding cover 1 and the outer shell curved surface.

[0028] In the condensate directional flow guidance step, the condensate generation rate and flow state are observed in real time through the transparent material of the flexible bonding cover 1.

[0029] In the external discharge step, the condensate is guided to flow completely to the outlet pipe 3 by the inclined slope of the bottom of the water collection tank 2.

[0030] The receiving method further includes a flow control step, in which the discharge rate of condensate is adjusted or interrupted in stages by a flow control valve installed on the outlet pipe 3.

[0031] In the quantitative measurement step, the volume data of the condensate is read directly using a graduated cylinder.

[0032] In the quantitative measurement step, the mass change data of condensate is obtained in real time using a weighing container or measuring cylinder placed on an electronic scale, and the rate curve of condensation is calculated in combination with the test time.

[0033] Example 2 The condensate receiving device includes a flexible fitting cover 1, a water collection tank 2, and a water outlet pipe 3; 1. Flexible Adhesive Cover: Made of transparent, waterproof, flexible material (such as PVC or silicone film), its area and shape are designed to cover the curved surface area of ​​the air conditioner casing to be tested. Its core innovation lies in the malleable edge sealing, which encapsulates bendable metal wires (such as aluminum wire) or shape-memory plastic strips. By manual bending, the edge sealing can be tightly adhered to the complex, irregular surface of the air conditioner casing, forming a temporary "water curtain" or guide surface to prevent condensate leakage from the edges and ensure that all condensate is directed to the collection tank below.

[0034] 2. Water Collection Tank: This is a long, rectangular, rigid or semi-rigid tank (which can be made of ABS plastic) that is fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the flexible cover using waterproof adhesive or heat sealing. The water collection tank is used to collect all condensate flowing down the surface of the flexible cover. For thorough drainage, the bottom of the tank is designed with a sloping gradient towards the outlet.

[0035] 3. Outlet pipe: Connected to the interface at the lowest point of the water collection tank slope, it is usually a flexible hose. The outlet pipe is used to drain the condensate collected in the water collection tank to an external measuring instrument (such as a graduated cylinder or a beaker placed on an electronic scale). For further control of the measurement, a flow control valve (such as a stop clamp) can be installed on the outlet pipe to perform quantitative sampling or control the drainage rate when needed.

[0036] Working principle: Before the condensation test begins, the flexible cover 1 of the condensate receiving device is placed over the test area of ​​the air conditioning unit casing. The edges are manually bent to ensure a tight fit with the casing contour. After the condensation test is started, the condensate generated on the surface of the air conditioning unit casing flows downward under gravity. Upon encountering the flexible cover, it flows downward along its inner surface and eventually drips into the water collection tank 2 at the bottom. The condensate collects in the water collection tank 2 and flows through the inclined bottom of the tank to the outlet pipe 3, where it is finally discharged and measured in real time and quantitatively.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for receiving condensate on the surface of a housing used in automotive air conditioning unit condensation testing, characterized in that, A condensate receiving device is used to collect and measure the condensate in the test area of ​​the air conditioning unit casing. The condensate receiving device includes a flexible cover (1), a water collection tank (2), and a water outlet pipe (3). The receiving method includes the following steps: Area Coverage and Shaping Fitting: A flexible fitting cover (1) with a shape-adjustable edge is covered on the surface of the area to be tested on the air conditioning unit housing. The shape-adjustable edge is manually bent to deform it to fit and closely fit the curved contour of the air conditioning unit housing, forming a closed flow-guiding interface. Condensate water directional flow: During the condensation test, the condensate water generated in the test area of ​​the air conditioning unit shell is allowed to flow downward along the inner surface of the flexible bonding cover (1) under the action of gravity and collect in the water collection tank (2) fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the flexible bonding cover (1). External output: The condensate collected in the water collection tank (2) is output in real time to the measuring instruments outside the test environment chamber through the water outlet pipe (3) connected to the lowest slope of the tank bottom; Quantitative measurement: The condensate water is measured by the measuring instrument to obtain the condensation data of the area to be measured within a preset time.

2. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the condensation test housing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the area covering and shaping bonding step, the flexible bonding cover (1) edge and the outer shell curved surface are maintained by the flexible and shape-fixed skeleton strip encapsulated in the shape-fixed edge.

3. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the housing for condensation testing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the condensate directional flow guiding step, the condensate generation rate and flow state are observed in real time through the transparent material of the flexible bonding cover (1).

4. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the condensation test housing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the external discharge step, the condensate is guided to flow completely to the outlet pipe (3) by the inclined slope of the bottom of the water collection tank (2).

5. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the condensation test housing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The receiving method further includes a flow control step, in which the discharge rate of condensate is adjusted or interrupted in stages by a flow control valve installed on the outlet pipe (3).

6. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the condensation test housing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the quantitative measurement step, the volume data of the condensate is read directly using a graduated cylinder.

7. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the condensation test housing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: In the quantitative measurement step, the mass change data of condensate is obtained in real time using a weighing container or measuring cylinder placed on an electronic scale, and the rate curve of condensation is calculated in combination with the test time.

8. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the condensation test housing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The skeleton strip is made of metal wire or shape memory plastic strip.

9. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the condensation test housing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water collection tank (2) is a long, rigid or semi-rigid tank with a slope at the bottom that connects to the outlet pipe (3).

10. The method for receiving condensate on the surface of the housing for condensation testing of an automotive air conditioning unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water collection tank (2) is fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the flexible bonding cover (1) by waterproof adhesive bonding or heat sealing process.

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