An air conditioning system arrangement for a mini electric vehicle universal design

Abstract

This utility model discloses an air conditioning system layout structure for the universal design of micro electric vehicles, including an HVAC main unit assembly, a condenser assembly, a compressor assembly, and an air conditioning piping assembly. The HVAC main unit assembly is located below the dashboard in the driver's cabin and includes an HVAC main unit mounting bracket, a blower housing, a transition air duct, a drip pipe, an evaporator, and a damper conversion chamber. The condenser assembly includes a condenser mounting bracket, a condenser body, and a condenser vibration damping pad, and is mounted on the upper crossbeam of the front radiator. The compressor assembly includes a compressor mounting bracket, a compressor body, and a compressor vibration damping pad, and is mounted on the lower crossbeam of the front radiator or the subframe. The air conditioning piping assembly includes compressor condenser piping, compressor evaporator piping, and condenser evaporator piping, which are connected to each assembly. This utility model achieves adaptability to different vehicle models through modular mounting brackets and replaceable transition air ducts, improving structural versatility and assembly convenience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of micro electric vehicle component installation technology, and more specifically to an air conditioning system layout structure for the general design of micro electric vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] As an important mode of transportation for short-distance urban travel in recent years, micro electric vehicles have been widely used in urban commuting, community transportation, and shared mobility scenarios due to their advantages such as small size, agile turning, low energy consumption, and low operating costs. Micro electric vehicles are typically no more than 3 meters long, with a width mostly within 1.5 meters, a short wheelbase, and very limited usable space in the front cabin and driver's compartment. While this compact body structure improves the vehicle's agility, it also presents significant challenges to the layout of various systems inside the vehicle, especially the space-constrained air conditioning system.

[0003] In traditional gasoline-powered vehicles or mid-to-large-sized electric vehicles, the air conditioning system is typically installed as a single unit in the area below the dashboard or in the front compartment, including the HVAC unit, condenser, compressor, and connecting pipes. This structure is relatively easy to implement in large vehicles, with ample spacing and installation space between components, facilitating both cooling and heating functions. However, in micro electric vehicles, the front compartment and driver's cabin need to accommodate numerous components such as the steering system, braking system, suspension support, powertrain, and battery management system, significantly reducing the space available for the air conditioning system.

[0004] The main problems with the air conditioning system layout of existing micro electric vehicles are as follows:

[0005] 1. Insufficient installation space: HVAC main unit, condenser, compressor and other components are large in size, and it is difficult to realize an integrated installation solution in a limited space.

[0006] 2. Poor compatibility due to vehicle model differences: Different brands and platforms of micro electric vehicles have differences in body structure, steering design (left-hand or right-hand drive), and front compartment layout, which makes it difficult to make the air conditioning system universal. The brackets, pipes and air ducts need to be redesigned for each vehicle model, which increases the development cycle and cost.

[0007] 3. Complex piping layout: Due to the dense components in the front compartment, the routing of air conditioning pipes is restricted, which can easily result in excessive length and small bending radius, which is not conducive to refrigerant flow and increases the difficulty of installation.

[0008] 4. Vibration and Noise Issues: The front compartment and driver's cabin of micro electric vehicles have relatively weak structural rigidity during operation, making them prone to transmitting vibrations and noise from components such as the compressor into the vehicle interior, affecting ride comfort. Existing layout schemes lack specific design considerations for vibration and noise reduction.

[0009] Currently, some manufacturers are attempting to address these issues by reducing the size of HVAC main units, adopting flexible piping, and adjusting the positions of condensers and compressors. However, these methods are often designed for a single vehicle model and cannot meet the platform requirements of different models. In the context of multi-model production, each model requires a separate development of its air conditioning system layout, which not only increases the variety of parts and inventory costs but also reduces the flexibility of the production line.

[0010] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an air conditioning system layout structure that is compatible with various micro electric vehicle models (including left-hand drive and right-hand drive, and different platform models). This would allow major components to be quickly adapted to different body structures by replacing some connectors or mounting brackets, while ensuring installation stability, thus achieving modularity, universality, and efficient assembly. This would not only help shorten the development cycle of new models but also help reduce production and maintenance costs, thereby enhancing the overall market competitiveness of the vehicle. Utility Model Content

[0011] The purpose of this utility model is to provide an air conditioning system layout structure for the general design of micro electric vehicles. Through modular split design and replaceable mounting parts, it can meet the layout requirements of different models, steering directions and platforms, improve the utilization rate of component platforms, reduce development costs and adapt to the limited installation space of micro vehicles.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0013] An air conditioning system layout for a universal design of micro electric vehicles includes an HVAC main unit assembly, a condenser assembly, a compressor assembly, and an air conditioning piping assembly.

[0014] The HVAC main unit assembly is located below the dashboard in the cockpit, while the condenser assembly, compressor assembly, and air conditioning piping assembly are located in the front compartment.

[0015] The HVAC main unit assembly includes an HVAC main unit mounting bracket, a blower housing, a transition air duct, a drip pipe, an evaporator, and an air damper conversion chamber. The blower housing and the evaporator are connected through the transition air duct, and the HVAC main unit mounting bracket is connected to the front bulkhead of the vehicle body.

[0016] The condenser assembly includes a condenser mounting bracket, a condenser body, and a condenser shock-absorbing pad. The condenser body is connected to the condenser mounting bracket through the condenser shock-absorbing pad, and the condenser mounting bracket is connected to the upper crossbeam of the water tank.

[0017] The compressor assembly includes a compressor mounting bracket, a compressor body and a compressor shock absorber. The compressor body is connected to the compressor mounting bracket through the compressor shock absorber. The compressor mounting bracket is connected to the lower crossbeam of the water tank or the subframe.

[0018] The air conditioning piping assembly includes compressor condenser piping, compressor evaporator piping, and condenser evaporator piping. The compressor condenser piping connects the compressor body to the condenser body, the compressor evaporator piping connects the compressor body to the HVAC main unit assembly, and the condenser evaporator piping connects the condenser body to the HVAC main unit assembly.

[0019] Preferably, the HVAC main unit assembly is a modular split structure, with the blower housing, evaporator, and transition air duct being detachable.

[0020] Preferably, when the HVAC main unit assembly is adapted to different vehicle models, the transition air duct and the HVAC main unit mounting bracket are replaceable structures to correspond to the interior space layout of left-hand drive vehicles, right-hand drive vehicles and vehicles on different platforms, while the blower housing, evaporator and damper conversion chamber have the same structure.

[0021] Preferably, the air conditioning piping assembly consists of aluminum pipe sections and rubber pipe sections.

[0022] Preferably, both the condenser assembly and the compressor assembly are connected to the mounting bracket via shock-absorbing pads.

[0023] Preferably, the condenser mounting bracket, compressor mounting bracket, and HVAC main unit mounting bracket are replaceable structures, and their shape and size vary according to the vehicle body structure.

[0024] As can be seen from the above technical solution, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0025] 1. The modular, split structure improves the commonality of parts between different vehicle models;

[0026] 2. It can be adapted to different steering directions and platform models simply by replacing the transition air duct and HVAC main unit mounting bracket, reducing the amount of modification work;

[0027] 3. The condenser body and compressor body are installed with shock-absorbing pads, which effectively reduces vibration transmission;

[0028] 4. The air conditioning piping uses a combination of aluminum and rubber, which combines rigidity and flexibility, and is easy to shape and install;

[0029] 5. The front compartment and cockpit components are arranged rationally, making full use of the limited space and adapting to the installation requirements of micro electric vehicles. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure and installation of this utility model;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the air conditioning piping assembly structure of this utility model;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the condenser assembly structure of this utility model;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the HVAC main unit assembly structure of this utility model;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the compressor assembly structure of this utility model.

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the installation state of this utility model;

[0037] The components include: 1. Compressor condenser piping; 2. Compressor evaporator piping; 3. Condenser-evaporator piping; 4. Condenser mounting bracket; 5. Condenser body; 6. Condenser vibration damping pad; 7. Compressor vibration damping pad; 8. Compressor mounting bracket; 9. Compressor body; 10. HVAC main unit mounting bracket; 11. Blower housing; 12. Transition air duct; 13. Drip pipe; 14. Evaporator; 15. Damper conversion chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0039] Example

[0040] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown in the figure, this embodiment discloses an air conditioning system layout structure for the general design of micro electric vehicles, which includes an HVAC main unit assembly, a condenser assembly, a compressor assembly, and an air conditioning piping assembly.

[0041] I. Installation Environment and Overall Layout:

[0042] In micro electric vehicles, the body size is generally small (mostly less than 3m × 1.5m × 1.6m in length × width × height). This compact body design limits the effective space in both the front compartment and the driver's cabin. The front compartment needs to house components such as the cooling system, suspension brackets, and steering mechanism, while the area below the dashboard in the driver's cabin is concentrated with components such as the steering column, accelerator pedal, brake pedal, upper part of the shock absorber tower, and wiring harness distribution unit, resulting in extremely limited space for installing the air conditioning unit.

[0043] To address this space constraint, this invention adopts a split design, placing the HVAC main unit assembly below the dashboard in the driver's cabin, while the condenser assembly and compressor assembly are located in different positions in the front compartment and connected via an air conditioning piping assembly. This arrangement avoids the installation difficulties of large-size integrated air conditioning systems in microcars, and allows for flexible adjustment of the mounting positions according to the vehicle's structure.

[0044] II. HVAC Main Unit Assembly:

[0045] The HVAC main unit assembly includes an HVAC main unit mounting bracket 10, a blower housing 11, a transition duct 12, a drip pipe 13, an evaporator 14, and a damper conversion chamber 15.

[0046] The HVAC main unit mounting bracket 10 is made of metal, preferably stamped steel plate or aluminum profile, with a corrosion-resistant surface treatment. The bracket structure has multiple mounting holes, allowing for bolt fixation to the front bulkhead to ensure installation stability. For different vehicle models, the bracket size and connecting lug position can be adjusted according to the front bulkhead structure to adapt to platform-based production.

[0047] The blower housing 11 is a plastic injection molded part with outer peripheral positioning ribs that cooperate with the bracket. The air inlet faces the side of the vehicle interior panel, and the air outlet connects with the transition air duct 12. A sealing ring is provided at the interface.

[0048] The transition air duct 12 is a detachable component used to connect the blower housing 11 and the evaporator 14. Its shape can be made into a mirror version according to the left-hand drive or right-hand drive vehicle models.

[0049] The evaporator 14 is an aluminum finned heat exchanger. The bottom of the shell is equipped with a drip pipe 13 interface. The drip pipe 13 is made of flexible rubber and leads to the bottom of the vehicle for drainage.

[0050] The damper conversion chamber 15 is adjacent to the evaporator 14 and is fixed to the integrated housing by clips and screws. It has a rotatable damper plate inside (only the structure is described, and the functional protection is not involved).

[0051] When adapting the HVAC main unit to different vehicle models, only the transition air duct 12 and the HVAC main unit mounting bracket 10 need to be replaced, while other components remain the same. This satisfies the space layout requirements of left-hand drive and right-hand drive vehicles, reduces the types of components, and lowers mold development costs.

[0052] III. Condenser Assembly:

[0053] The condenser assembly includes a condenser mounting bracket 4, a condenser body 5, and a condenser shock-absorbing pad 6, and is located on the crossbeam of the water tank in the front compartment.

[0054] The condenser mounting bracket 4 is a metal structural component, consisting of a mounting plate and reinforcing ribs. Its connection holes match the upper crossbeam of the water tank, allowing for bolt connection. The bracket's length, bending angle, and mounting lug position are adjustable to accommodate different vehicle models and frame configurations.

[0055] The condenser body 5 is a flat plate heat exchanger with mounting ears around it, and is connected to the condenser mounting bracket 4 through the condenser shock-absorbing pad 6.

[0056] The condenser damping pad 6 is made of rubber and has a metal sleeve embedded inside. It is bolted in to achieve buffering and vibration reduction, reducing the impact of vehicle body vibration on the condenser.

[0057] IV. Compressor Assembly:

[0058] The compressor assembly includes a compressor mounting bracket 8, a compressor body 9, and a compressor shock absorber 7, and is located on the lower crossbeam of the water tank or the subframe in the lower part of the front compartment.

[0059] The compressor mounting bracket 8 can be made of stamped steel plate or cast aluminum alloy, with rust prevention treatment on the surface. The fixing holes match the mounting position of the vehicle frame, and the bracket shape can be adjusted according to different platforms.

[0060] The compressor body 9 has an aluminum alloy casing and is equipped with inlet and outlet interfaces, which are connected to the compressor condenser pipe 1 and the compressor evaporator pipe 2, respectively.

[0061] The compressor shock absorber 7 is a rubber part with a built-in metal sleeve. The outer ring fits into the compressor mounting bracket 8, and the inner ring is connected to the compressor body 9 support.

[0062] V. Air Conditioning Piping Assembly:

[0063] The air conditioning piping assembly includes compressor condenser piping 1, compressor evaporator piping 2, and condenser evaporator piping 3.

[0064] The pipeline adopts a combination structure of aluminum pipe sections and rubber pipe sections. The aluminum sections are used for straight layout and fixed sections, while the rubber sections are used for bends and vibration absorption positions.

[0065] Compressor condenser pipe 1 connects compressor body 9 and condenser body 5; compressor evaporator pipe 2 connects compressor body 9 and HVAC main unit assembly; condenser evaporator pipe 3 connects condenser body 5 and HVAC main unit assembly.

[0066] Pipeline connections utilize flanges or clamps and are equipped with O-ring seals. The pipelines are secured to the vehicle body structure along their route using clamps to prevent shaking and wear during operation.

[0067] VI. Vehicle Model Adaptation and Platform Application:

[0068] Left-hand drive models: The outlet of the transition air duct 12 faces the right side of the vehicle; the hole of the HVAC main unit mounting bracket 10 matches the front bulkhead of the left-hand drive model; the condenser mounting bracket 4 and the compressor mounting bracket 8 correspond to the water tank crossbeam.

[0069] Right-hand drive models: The transition air duct 12 is a mirror structure with the outlet facing the left side of the vehicle. The HVAC main unit mounting bracket 10 is for right-hand drive. The condenser and compressor assembly brackets are interchangeable or can be used with minor adjustments.

[0070] For different platform models: the shape and size of the condenser mounting bracket 4, compressor mounting bracket 8 and HVAC main unit mounting bracket 10 can be adjusted according to the differences in vehicle body, while the remaining parts are universal, thereby significantly reducing development and production costs.

[0071] VII. Manufacturing and Installation:

[0072] Bracket-type parts can be made by stamping, welding or casting, and are treated with anti-corrosion measures.

[0073] Aluminum pipe sections are formed by CNC bending equipment, while rubber pipe sections are formed by compression molding and vulcanization.

[0074] During assembly, the condenser assembly and compressor assembly are first installed in the forward compartment, and some piping is laid out. Then, the HVAC main unit assembly is installed in the cockpit. Finally, the piping is connected and the sealing rings are installed.

[0075] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system layout structure for a universal design of micro electric vehicles, comprising an HVAC main unit assembly, a condenser assembly, a compressor assembly, and an air conditioning piping assembly, characterized in that: The HVAC main unit assembly is located below the dashboard in the cockpit, while the condenser assembly, compressor assembly, and air conditioning piping assembly are located in the front compartment. The HVAC main unit assembly includes an HVAC main unit mounting bracket (10), a blower housing (11), a transition air duct (12), a drip pipe (13), an evaporator (14), and a damper conversion chamber (15). The blower housing (11) and the evaporator (14) are connected through the transition air duct (12), and the HVAC main unit mounting bracket (10) is connected to the front bulkhead of the vehicle body. The condenser assembly includes a condenser mounting bracket (4), a condenser body (5), and a condenser shock-absorbing pad (6). The condenser body (5) is connected to the condenser mounting bracket (4) through the condenser shock-absorbing pad (6), and the condenser mounting bracket (4) is connected to the upper crossbeam of the water tank. The compressor assembly includes a compressor mounting bracket (8), a compressor body (9) and a compressor shock absorber (7). The compressor body (9) is connected to the compressor mounting bracket (8) through the compressor shock absorber (7). The compressor mounting bracket (8) is connected to the lower crossbeam of the water tank or the subframe. The air conditioning piping assembly includes a compressor condenser piping (1), a compressor evaporator piping (2), and a condenser evaporator piping (3). The compressor condenser piping (1) connects the compressor body (9) and the condenser body (5). The compressor evaporator piping (2) connects the compressor body (9) and the HVAC main unit assembly. The condenser evaporator piping (3) connects the condenser body (5) and the HVAC main unit assembly.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that: The HVAC main unit assembly is a modular split structure, with the blower housing (11), evaporator (14) and transition air duct (12) being detachable.

3. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized in that: When adapting to different vehicle models, the transition air duct (12) and HVAC main unit mounting bracket (10) are replaceable structures to correspond to the interior space layout of left-hand drive vehicles, right-hand drive vehicles and different platform vehicles. The blower housing (11), evaporator (14) and damper conversion chamber (15) have the same structure.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized in that: The air conditioning piping assembly consists of aluminum pipe sections and rubber pipe sections.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized in that: Both the condenser assembly and the compressor assembly are connected to the mounting bracket via shock-absorbing pads.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized in that: The condenser mounting bracket (4), compressor mounting bracket (8) and HVAC main unit mounting bracket (10) are replaceable structures, and their shape and size vary according to the vehicle body structure.

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