Air supply device of a motor vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

Air supply device (1) of an air conditioning system (2) of a motor vehicle (3), comprising a communication device (11) and a separating device (10) arranged in the communication device (11), wherein the separating device (10) comprising a separating element (27) is arranged between a first pipe section (13) of the communication device (11) and a second pipe section (14) of the communication device (11), and wherein the air conditioning system (2) comprises a blower (6) for drawing in fresh air, wherein the separating device (10) is configured to deflect the flow of fresh air from the first pipe section (13) to the second pipe section (14), wherein a flow direction (22) of the fresh air in a pipe section area (41) of the first pipe section (13), which is adjacent to the separating device (10), is substantially opposite to a flow direction (22) of the fresh air in the second pipe section (14),characterized in that the separating device (10) comprises a hood (15) whose hood opening (40) faces the first pipe section (13) and the second pipe section (14), wherein the hood (15) is configured to receive a funnel (18) in its cavity (17), with the aid of which an annular flow channel (21) is formed between the hood (15) and the funnel (18), which comprises the separating element (27).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an air supply device for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Air conditioning systems in motor vehicles are well known. The air conditioning system serves to maintain a comfortable temperature for the vehicle's occupants. This means that, particularly in summer, the air conditioning system maintains a lower temperature in the passenger compartment relative to the outside temperature. When the ambient air drawn in is cooled before it flows into the passenger compartment, a water separation process takes place in the air supply system so that dry or nearly dry air can be supplied to the air conditioning system.

[0003] The patent specification DE 199 23 195 C1 discloses an air supply device for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, which has a separating device with a grid whose grid elements are rod-shaped.

[0004] The published patent application FR 2 938 213 A1 discloses an air supply device for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle with a separating device which has a corrugated or hump-like surface.

[0005] From the patents DE 199 44 530 C1 and US 2,975,696 A, an air supply device for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle is known, the separating device for water removal having a bell-shaped hood.

[0006] From published patent application EP 2 752 317 A1, an air supply device for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle is known, which device has a communication device for intake of fresh air and a separation device arranged in the communication device. The separation device is designed as a separation element and is arranged between a pipe section of the communication device and another pipe section of the communication device. Furthermore, the air conditioning system comprises a fan for intake of fresh air. The separation device is designed to redirect the flow of fresh air from the first pipe section to the second pipe section, wherein a flow direction of the fresh air in a pipe section region of the pipe section that is formed adjacent to the separation device is predominantly opposite a flow direction of the fresh air in the further pipe section.

[0007] Published patent application EP 1 449 690 A1 discloses an air supply device for a motor vehicle air conditioning system, which comprises a communication device having a separator in the form of an evaporator. Fins and heat exchanger tubes of the evaporator are formed upstream of tube sections of the communication device. The evaporator is arranged under a hood surrounding the evaporator.

[0008] The published patent application DE 10 2009 048 068 A1 discloses an air supply device of an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, comprising a separation device with a water separation chamber, wherein an air outlet end of the water separation chamber is directly delimited by an air filter arranged upstream of a fan blower housing.

[0009] Since the separation efficiency of the separation device as well as the pressure loss caused by the separation elements change positively with increasing dimensions, this leads to very large-volume air supply devices in order to achieve a high separation efficiency with low pressure loss.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved, in particular space-optimized air supply device for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle.

[0011] The object is achieved according to the invention by an air supply device for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 1.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments with expedient and non-trivial further developments of the invention are specified in the respective subclaims.

[0013] An air supply device according to the invention for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle comprises a communication device and a separation device arranged in the communication device. The separation device, which has a separation element, is arranged between a first pipe section of the communication device and a second pipe section of the communication device. The air conditioning system comprises a fan for drawing in fresh air. The separation device is designed to redirect the flow of fresh air from the first pipe section to the second pipe section, wherein a flow direction of the fresh air in a pipe section region of the first pipe section, which is designed adjacent to the separation device, is substantially opposite a flow direction of the fresh air in the second pipe section.According to the invention, the separation device comprises a hood, the hood opening of which is designed to face the first pipe section and the second pipe section, wherein the hood is designed to receive a funnel in its cavity, with the aid of which an annular flow channel is formed between the hood and the funnel, which has the separation element.

[0014] The key advantage is the ability to prevent water droplets from the separated water from flowing back into the second pipe section. Another, equally significant advantage is the possibility of designing a space-optimized air supply system. Due to the flow deflection of the fresh air, which is preferably 360°, the separation device can be designed as an end element of a longitudinal extension of the air supply device, thereby significantly reducing the longitudinal extension.

[0015] This end element with a flow deflection of the fresh air can be achieved cost-effectively with the help of the hood, which includes the separation device. A hood opening of the hood is designed to face the first pipe section and the second pipe section, thus requiring significantly less installation space than with prior art air supply devices, whose separation device is typically formed between the pipe sections, with no flow deflection or at most a 90° flow deflection being realized.

[0016] One advantage of the funnel is the ability to increase the velocity of the fresh air flowing through the separation device toward the second pipe section. A further advantage is the ability to design the flow channel, which the separation element has, in such a way that re-suction of separated water can be avoided.

[0017] In one embodiment of the air supply device according to the invention, an inlet diameter of the funnel is larger than an outlet diameter of the funnel and the outlet diameter is arranged facing the second pipe section.

[0018] If the separation device has multiple separation elements, an effective, particularly meandering, flow can be achieved with a corresponding arrangement of the separation elements, which can achieve a high separation efficiency depending on the number of separation elements and, depending on their arrangement, a reduction in the pressure loss that reduces the separation efficiency. For this purpose, the separation element is preferably rod-shaped, particularly cylindrical.

[0019] To ensure effective flow and further prevent re-suction, the separation element is arranged in the flow channel, extending along a longitudinal axis of the hood. Thus, the separation device, which utilizes gravitational force for water separation, is preferably arranged with the hood as the highest point of the separation device, or in other words, with the hood facing upwards.

[0020] To allow the separated water to flow directly out of the separation device, the hood has a passage opening in the area of ​​the flow channel through which water can flow out of the separation device. Preferably, if multiple separation elements are provided, each separation element is assigned a passage opening. This is provided in the area of ​​the separation element, thus close to the separation element, or preferably next to the separation element, or in other words, at its end supported on the hood.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the air supply device according to the invention, the hood has a projection, which allows for the creation of a quasi-conical inlet funnel upstream of the flow channel. The smallest cross-section of the inlet funnel is positioned facing the flow channel, so that an increase in the flow velocity of the fresh air, which results from the reduced cross-section, can also be achieved at this point.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Identical or functionally equivalent elements are assigned identical reference numerals. They show: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a section of a motor vehicle having an air supply device for an air conditioning system according to the prior art, Fig. 2 in a schematic diagram a section of the air supply device according to. Fig. 1 in the area of ​​a separation device, Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of an air supply device according to the invention for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, Fig. 4 in a cross section the air supply device according to. Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 in a longitudinal section a section of the air supply device according to. Fig. 3.

[0023] An air supply device 1 of an air conditioning system 2 of a motor vehicle 3 according to the prior art is as in Fig. 1. The air conditioning system 2 is arranged in an interior 4 of the motor vehicle 3, behind an instrument panel 5 in the direction of travel, and serves to supply cold or warm air into the interior 4, which can also be referred to as the passenger compartment. Fresh air is drawn in from the environment 9 via the air supply device 1 with the aid of a fan 6 of the air conditioning system 2, which air flows through the air supply device 1 before entering the interior 4.

[0024] The air supply device 1 is arranged outside the interior 4 in the motor vehicle 3, in front of a front wall 8 of the motor vehicle 3 which delimits the interior 4 from a vehicle front 7 of the motor vehicle 3.

[0025] The fresh air is typically drawn in from the area of ​​a windshield root 32 of a windshield 33, with a gap 36 formed between a frame 34 of the motor vehicle 3 and a front hood 35 of the motor vehicle 3, through which gap the fresh air can flow under the front hood 35. Water and snow can also be drawn in by the blower 6.

[0026] To prevent moist air from penetrating the interior 4, which could, for example, lead to window coatings due to condensation of the moist air in the interior 4, dry fresh air must be used at least temporarily. So that the air conditioning system 2 can process dry air, the air supply device 1 has a separation device 10, which is arranged in a communication device 11 of the air supply device 1. The communication device 11 serves to draw in the fresh air from the environment 9 and feed it to a unit 12 of the air conditioning system 2, which regulates the temperature of the fresh air as desired. The communication device 11 is usually designed in the form of a flow-through tube. The fan 6 is preferably arranged downstream of the separation device 10, but upstream of the front wall 8.

[0027] The separation device 10 of the communication device 11 according to the prior art consists of so-called bulkheads 37 and an outlet 38 for water separated from the fresh air, as shown in the schematic diagram in Fig. 2. The separation efficiency of the separation device 10 always represents a trade-off between pressure loss and separation of water droplets, since the fan 6 must overcome an additional pressure loss introduced by the bulkheads 37. At maximum performance of the fan 6, as may be necessary, for example, to demist the windscreen 33 during heavy rain in summer, droplets can be entrained downstream of the outlet 38 due to the increased pressure, thereby reducing the separation efficiency.

[0028] The separation device 10 is formed in the communication device 11 between a first pipe section 13 of the communication device 11 and a second pipe section 14 of the communication device 11, wherein it connects the two pipe sections 13, 14 for flow through.

[0029] For effective separation, the air supply device 1 according to the invention has a Fig. 3. The separating device 10 has a mushroom-shaped, or also referred to as a bell-shaped, hood 15 with a hood opening 40, wherein the two pipe sections 13, 14 are arranged facing the hood opening 40 at their ends 16 designed for fluidic communication.

[0030] The hood 15 is designed to divert the flow of fresh air from the first pipe section 13 to the second pipe section 14, wherein a flow direction of the fresh air in a pipe section region 41 of the first pipe section 13, which is formed adjacent to the separation device 10, is opposite to a flow direction of the fresh air in the second pipe section 14.

[0031] A funnel 18 with an inlet diameter DE and an outlet diameter DA is formed, projecting into a cavity 17 of the hood 15. The first funnel end 19 of the funnel, which has the outlet diameter DA, is connected to the second pipe section 14 in a flow-through manner. The inlet diameter DE is larger than the outlet diameter DA, so that the velocity of the medium flowing through the funnel 18 can be increased at the first funnel end 19.

[0032] A second funnel end 20, which faces away from the first funnel end 19 and has the inlet diameter DE, is arranged in the cavity 17 for the inflow of dry or substantially dry air. Between the funnel 18 and the hood 15, an annular flow channel 21 is formed, which is designed so that the first pipe section 13 can flow through it. In other words, this means that, starting from the first pipe section 13, the flow flows through the flow channel 21, then through the hood 15 and then through the funnel 18, with the second pipe section 14 flowing through it downstream of the funnel 18. The flow direction of the fresh air, which is dry or substantially dry air downstream of the separation device 10, is illustrated by the flow arrow 22.

[0033] The flow channel 21, which in the present embodiment is formed by means of the hood 15, has a projection 24 at its channel end 23 facing the first pipe section 13, whereby a funnel-shaped or conical channel section 26 of the flow channel 21 is realized between a funnel wall 25 of the funnel 18 encompassed by the hood 15 and the projection 24.

[0034] Downstream of the channel section 26, the flow channel 21 has cylindrical separating elements 27, which are arranged offset from one another over an extension of the hood 15 in the direction of a longitudinal axis 28, as well as in the circumferential direction and in the radial direction. Fig. 4, a section through the air supply device 1, illustrates the arrangement of the separation elements 27 in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction.

[0035] At this point it should be mentioned that the pipe section region 41 is also arranged inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 28, however an angle formed between the longitudinal axis 28 and an extension axis of the pipe section region 41 (not shown in more detail) viewed in the direction of flow should have a value of less than 90°, in particular less than 75°, so that an effective flow to the separation element 27 is achieved.

[0036] This means that the separation elements 27 are arranged to create a kind of labyrinth, so that the fresh air can meander through the flow channel 21 and flow around the individual separation elements 27. The fresh air can flow along the individual separation elements 27, and water can be extracted from it with the help of the separation elements 27, which can then flow out of the air supply device 1 via passage openings 31 formed in the flow channel 21.

[0037] The separation elements 27 extend from the hood 15, with the aid of which the flow channel 21 is formed, to the funnel 18 and are preferably arranged parallel and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28.

[0038] In Fig. 5, the air supply device 1 is depicted in a section in the area of ​​two separation elements 27. The separation elements 27 of this exemplary embodiment have an indentation 30 at their element end 29 facing the hood 15, whereby drops of separated water are better collected and can flow into the adjacent passage openings 31. The separation elements 27 can also have other geometries, e.g., edges, in particular those suitable for preventing entrainment and allowing the water droplets to drain away.

[0039] The separated water can be discharged into the environment via the passage openings 31. It could also be collected in a collecting element.

[0040] To prevent the suction of separated water, the separation element 27 arranged last in the flow direction is positioned radially offset from the second funnel end 20 in the direction of the funnel 18. In other words, this means that, viewed in the radial direction, the separation element 27 arranged last is at a distance A from a funnel inlet edge 39.

[0041] In an embodiment not shown in detail, the first pipe section 13 corresponds to the channel section 26.

[0042] By means of a certain number of separation elements 27 and their arrangement relative to one another, the pressure loss and the degree of separation can be adjusted. List of reference symbols 1 air supply device 2 air conditioning 3 Motor vehicle 4 Interior 5 Instrument panel 6 fans 7 Vehicle front 8 Front wall 9 Surroundings 10 Separation device 11 Communication device 12 units 13 First pipe section 14 Second pipe section 15 hood 16 End 17 Cavity 18 funnels 19 First funnel end 20 Second funnel end 21 Flow channel 22 Flow arrow 23 Canal end 24 Overhang 25 funnel wall 26 Canal Section 27 Separation element 28 Longitudinal axis 29 Element End 30 indentation 31 Passage opening 32 disc root 33 Windscreen 34 frames 35 front hood 36 gap 37 bulkhead 38 Process 39 Funnel inlet edge 40 hood opening 41 Pipe section area A distance DA outlet diameter DE Inlet diameter

Claims

[1] An air supply device (1) of an air conditioning system (2) of a motor vehicle (3), comprising a communication device (11) and a separating device (10) arranged in the communication device (11), wherein the separating device (10) comprising a separating element (27) is arranged between a first pipe section (13) of the communication device (11) and a second pipe section (14) of the communication device (11), and wherein the air conditioning system (2) comprises a fan (6) for sucking in fresh air, wherein the separating device (10) is designed to divert the flow of fresh air from the first pipe section (13) to the second pipe section (14), wherein a flow direction (22) of the fresh air in a pipe section region (41) of the first pipe section (13), which is designed to be adjacent to the separating device (10), is substantially opposite a flow direction (22) of the fresh air in the second pipe section (14),characterized by in that the separation device (10) comprises a hood (15), the hood opening (40) of which is designed to face the first pipe section (13) and the second pipe section (14), wherein the hood (15) is designed to receive a funnel (18) in its cavity (17), with the aid of which an annular flow channel (21) is formed between the hood (15) and the funnel (18), which has the separation element (27). [2] Air supply device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that an inlet diameter (DE) of the funnel (18) is larger than an outlet diameter (DA) of the funnel (18) and the outlet diameter (DA) is arranged facing the second pipe section (14). [3] Air supply device (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the separation device (10) has a plurality of separation elements (27) which are arranged for meandering flow. [4] Air supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the separating element (27) is rod-shaped. [5] Air supply device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the separation element (27) is cylindrical. [6] Air supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the separation element (27) is arranged in the flow channel (21) extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis (28) of the hood (15). [7] Air supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hood (15) has a passage opening (31) in the region of the flow channel (21) through which water can flow out of the separating device (10). [8] Air supply device (1) according to claim 7, characterized by that the passage opening (31) is formed in the region of the separation element (27). [9] Air supply device (1) according to claim 8, characterized by that the passage opening (31) is formed next to the separation element (27). [10] Air supply device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the hood (15) has a projection (24).

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