Vehicle air conditioning

Abstract

Vehicle air conditioning system, including: a first air passage (101) and a second air passage (102) separated by a partition (119); a cooling heat exchanger arranged in the first air passage (101) and a heating heat exchanger arranged in the second air passage (102), wherein the first air passage (101) defines a cold air discharge hole (116) that allows air to be discharged to the outside of the vehicle and wherein the second air passage (102) defines a warm air discharge hole (113) that allows air to be discharged to the outside of the vehicle; wherein the first air passage (101) and the second air passage (102) are divided into an upper passage (103) and a lower passage (104) by a separator (300), such that the cold air discharge hole (116) contains an upper cold air discharge hole (116a) and a lower cold air discharge hole (116b) and the warm air discharge hole (113) contains an upper warm air discharge hole (113a) and a lower warm air discharge hole (113b); an upper cold air mode door (118a) configured to open and close the upper cold air discharge hole (116a), and a lower cold air mode door (118b) configured to open and close the lower cold air discharge hole (116b); an upper warm air mode door (117a) configured to open and close the upper warm air discharge hole (113a) and a lower warm air mode door (117b) configured to open and close the lower warm air discharge hole (113b); wherein the air flowing in the upper passage (103) is expelled outwards through the cold air outlet hole (116a) or the upper warm air outlet hole (113a) or one of the driver's seat and passenger's seat is expelled through at least one of a plurality of air outlet holes based on positions of the upper warm and cold air mode doors (117a, 118a); wherein air flowing in the lower passage (104) is expelled outwards through the lower cold air discharge hole (116b) or the lower warm air discharge hole (113b) or is expelled onto one of the driver's seat and passenger's seat through at least one of the plurality of air discharge holes.

Description

[Field of technology]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle and in particular to an air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising an evaporator and a condenser which are mounted in a first air passage and a second air passage respectively within an air conditioning housing to perform cooling and heating in an integrated manner. [Technical background]

[0002] In general, a vehicle air conditioning system is a device for cooling or heating the vehicle's interior by a process involving the introduction of outside air into the vehicle or the recirculation of air within the vehicle. Such a vehicle air conditioning system includes an evaporator for cooling the interior of an air conditioning unit; a heating element for heating the interior of the air conditioning unit; and a mode-changing door for selectively directing the air cooled by the evaporator or heated by the heating element toward specific parts of the vehicle interior.

[0003] Such an air conditioning system contains: a compressor for compressing and expelling refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the refrigerant under high pressure that is expelled by the compressor; an expansion valve for throttling the refrigerant condensed and liquefied in the condenser; and an evaporator for heat exchange between the liquefied refrigerant under low pressure, which is throttled by the expansion valve, and the air blown into the vehicle interior. The evaporation of the refrigerant cools the interior of the vehicle due to heat absorption based on latent heat of vaporization. The air conditioning system's cooling circuit is arranged such that the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and evaporator are connected to each other via cooling lines.

[0004] Recently, heat pump systems have been developed that perform heating and cooling solely using the cooling circuit. Most environmentally friendly electric vehicles, such as electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, utilize a heat pump system that can heat and cool the vehicle interior without engine coolant, as they do not use engine coolant as a heating heat source.

[0005] Fig. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional air conditioning system for a vehicle, and Fig. Figure 2 is a top view showing a conventional air conditioning system for a vehicle. As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a heat pump system, an air conditioning module 1 for generating cold air and warm air; and a distribution duct 2 for distributing the cold air and warm air that can be generated by the air conditioning module 1 inside the vehicle.

[0006] The air conditioning module 1 contains an air conditioning housing 3, the interior of which is divided into a cold air inlet 3a on a lower side and a warm air inlet 3b on an upper side. A cooling heat exchanger 4 and a cold air adjustment door 5 are arranged in the cold air inlet 3a, and a heating heat exchanger 6 and a warm air adjustment door 7 are arranged in the warm air inlet 3b.

[0007] The distribution duct 2 contains an inner passage 2a, which communicates with the cold air passage 3a and the warm air passage 3b of the climate control module 1, and a plurality of discharge openings 2b branching off from the inner passage 2a. The distribution duct 2 discharges the cold air and warm air blown from the cold and warm air passages 3a and 3b of the climate control module 1 towards different parts of the vehicle interior to cool and heat the vehicle interior. An electric heater 2c, which acts as an auxiliary heat source in a heating mode, may be arranged inside the distribution duct 2.

[0008] The climate control module 1 is located in an engine compartment outside the vehicle at the base of an instrument panel 10, and the distribution duct 2 is located inside the vehicle. An interior air intake duct is also installed inside the vehicle to supply interior air to the climate control module 1. In cooling mode, the interior and exterior air, blown by a first blower 8 towards the cold air inlet 3a, are directed to the cooling heat exchanger 4, which is to be cooled. The cooled air is then blown towards the distribution duct 2 by adjusting the cold air control door 5. Simultaneously, the warm air from the warm air inlet 3b, which has been heated by the heater core 6, is expelled to the outside through a warm air outlet 7a by controlling the warm air control door 7.

[0009] Furthermore, in heating mode, when it is necessary to dehumidify the vehicle interior, the cold air from the cold air passage 3a passes along a diversion towards the warm air passage 3b through a diversion passage 3c and a diversion door 3d to supply cold air to the vehicle interior for dehumidifying the vehicle interior.

[0010] A conventional integrated air conditioning system cannot provide independent left and right air conditioning, meaning that the driver's and passenger's seats cannot be independently controlled by the airflow pattern. Furthermore, a passenger seated on the right or left side must manually open and close a vent to control the airflow if they desire independent left and right air conditioning in a conventional integrated system where the cold air and warm air vents are partitioned or separated.

[0011] Additionally, the conventional integrated air conditioning system has a disadvantage in that it cannot easily mix warm and cold air in a mixing zone where the warm and cold air meet and mix, creating a temperature difference between the right side and the left side.

[0012] In addition, the conventional integrated air conditioning system has some disadvantages in that the structure of the flow path is complicated, the manufacturing costs are high due to many components, the binding force is limited, and the space available for passengers becomes cramped because some of the components are located inside the vehicle.

[0013] KR 10 2005 0 120 158 A discloses a vehicle air conditioning system comprising a first air outlet and a second air outlet, a heating heat exchanger arranged in one of the first air outlets and the second air outlet, and a cooling heat exchanger arranged in the other of the first air outlet and the second air outlet, wherein air passing through at least one of the heating heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger is independently discharged into different zones of the vehicle interior. [Revelation][Technical Task]

[0014] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned problems arising in the prior art, and it is an objective of the present invention to provide an air conditioning system of the integral type heat pump system which can automatically control the air volume on the right and left sides, since it achieves independent right and left air conditioning through a simple structure, improves the mixing of cold air and warm air and ensures a sufficient interior space. [Technical solution]

[0015] To achieve the aforementioned objective, according to the present invention, an air conditioning system for a vehicle is provided, comprising: a first air passage and a second air passage, a heating heat exchanger arranged in one of the first and second air passages, and a cooling heat exchanger arranged in the other of the first and second air passages, wherein air passing through at least one of the heating heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger is independently discharged into different zones of the vehicle interior. [Beneficial effects]

[0016] As described above, the air conditioning system for a vehicle according to the present invention can control the air volume and temperature of the right and left sides by manipulating a control unit or automatic control, as desired by a passenger, and provide constant air conditioning without any change in the air volume of the opposite side, even if one of the right and left sides is switched off. [Description of the characters] Fig. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional air conditioning system for a vehicle. Fig. Figure 2 is a top view showing the conventional air conditioning system for a vehicle. Fig. Figure 3 is a top view showing an air conditioning system for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 is a side view showing the air conditioning system for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the air conditioning system for a vehicle or vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 6 is a perspective view in partial cross-section of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a mixing channel module of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the interior of a mixing duct housing comprising a vehicle air conditioning separator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 9 is a frontal view showing the separator of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the separator of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 11 is a frontal view showing the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 12 is a view showing a cooling mode of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 13 is a view showing a heating mode of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14 and Fig. Figure 15 shows an example used for right and left independent air conditioning of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Mode of invention]

[0017] The following describes in detail a technical structure of an air conditioning system for a vehicle or vehicle air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] As in Fig. As described in Figures 3 to 11, the vehicle air conditioning system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a heat pump system with integral air conditioning and includes an air conditioning module 100 and a mixing channel module 200.

[0019] The air conditioning module 100 contains at least one heating heat exchanger and one cooling heat exchanger, which exchange heat with the air. The mixing duct module 200 contains an inlet module and a distribution module, which are integrally formed. The inlet module supplies at least one of the interior air and one of the exterior air to the air conditioning module 100. The distribution module discharges air blown from the air conditioning module 100 onto parts of the vehicle interior. The air conditioning module 100 contains an air conditioning housing 110, an evaporator 150 located in the cooling heat exchanger, a condenser 130, which is the heating heat exchanger, a compressor, an expansion valve, and a blower unit.

[0020] The air conditioning housing 110 contains a first air inlet 101, which is a cooling inlet or cooling passage, and a second air inlet 102, which is a heating inlet or heating passage. The first air inlet 101 and the second air inlet 102 are separated from each other inside the air conditioning housing 110 by a partition 119. Indoor air or outdoor air is selectively introduced through the first air inlet 101, and indoor air or outdoor air is also selectively introduced through the second air inlet 102.

[0021] The evaporator, which is the cooling heat exchanger, is arranged in the first air passage 101. The evaporator 150 exchanges heat between the low-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant, which is expelled from the expansion valve described later, and the interior air of the air conditioning housing 110, in order to cool the air due to heat absorption by the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant.

[0022] The condenser 130, which is the heating heat exchanger, is located in the second air passage 102. The condenser 130 exchanges heat with the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which is expelled under high pressure from the compressor, described later. During this process, the refrigerant condenses and the air is heated.

[0023] The compressor is an electric compressor driven by electrical energy. The compressor draws in and compresses gaseous refrigerant at low pressure, which passes through the evaporator 150 at low pressure, and then expels the refrigerant in a gaseous phase at high temperature and high pressure to the condenser 130.

[0024] The expansion valve rapidly expands the liquid-phase refrigerant discharged from the condenser 130 through a throttling process and delivers the refrigerant in a moist-saturated state at low temperature and low pressure to the evaporator 150. The expansion valve can be of an EXV, a TXV, or an orifice / nozzle configuration. The compressor, condenser 130, expansion valve, and evaporator 150 are arranged in this order within the evaporator 150.

[0025] The vehicle air conditioning system is designed to selectively supply interior and exterior air to the evaporator 150 and the condenser 130. In cooling mode, the interior air exchanges heat with the evaporator 150 and is supplied to the vehicle interior, while the interior air exchanges heat with the condenser 130 and is then expelled to the vehicle exterior or outwards. In heating mode, the interior air exchanges heat with the condenser 130 and is supplied to the vehicle interior, while the exterior air exchanges heat with the evaporator 150 and is expelled to the vehicle exterior. However, an airflow pattern in every air conditioning mode is not limited to this embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The blower unit draws indoor or outdoor air into the first air inlet 101 and the second air inlet 102, or draws indoor or outdoor air into the first air inlet 101 and the second air inlet 102. The blower unit contains a blower motor and a fan wheel, which is combined with the blower motor for rotation. The blower unit can have an inhalation-type or intake-type structure to draw air into the air conditioning housing 110.

[0027] The mixing channel module 200 comprises an inlet module and a distribution module, which are integrally designed. The distribution module discharges the air blown or expelled from at least one of the first air passages 101 and the second air passage 102 of the air conditioning module 100 onto parts of the vehicle interior.

[0028] The air conditioning module 100, inlet module, and distribution module are all arranged externally on the base of a dashboard 500 of the vehicle. Thus, according to the present invention, the vehicle air conditioning system can increase the passenger space by ensuring an interior space for the vehicle.

[0029] The mixing duct module contains a mixing duct housing 210. The mixing duct housing 210 has an inlet housing of the inlet unit for drawing in air and a distributor housing of the distribution module for mixing conditioned air and expelling the mixed air into the vehicle interior, and the inlet housing and distributor housing are combined with each other in a horizontal direction.

[0030] That is, as in Fig. Figure 4 shows that the inlet module and the distributor module are separated from each other in a forward-reverse direction of the vehicle and are then integrally combined to form a single mixing channel module 200. In this case, the right side is in Fig. 4. The front of the vehicle is the front, and the left side is the rear. Based on the 500 dashboard diagram, the left side (rear) is the interior of the vehicle, and the right side is the exterior (engine compartment) of the vehicle.

[0031] The air conditioning housing 110 and the mixing duct housing 210 are detachably coupled to each other by means such as a screw. The mixing duct housing 210 has one coupling section 115, and the mixing duct housing 210 has another coupling section 215 corresponding to the coupling section 115. The two coupling sections are coupled to each other by the screw. Preferably, the mixing duct housing 210 and the air conditioning housing 110 are coupled to each other in a perpendicular direction. More preferably, the mixing duct housing 210 is arranged on the air conditioning housing 110.

[0032] The mixing duct housing 210 contains an indoor air inlet 207, an outdoor air inlet 208, and a plurality of air outlet holes 214. The indoor air inlet 207 is designed to introduce indoor air into the air conditioning housing and is connected to an indoor air inlet duct for drawing in indoor air. The outdoor air inlet 208 is designed to introduce outdoor air into the air conditioning housing and is connected to an outdoor air inlet duct for drawing in outdoor air.

[0033] The interior air inlet 207, the exterior air inlet 208, and the air outlet holes 214 are all oriented in the same direction. That is, the interior air inlet 207, the exterior air inlet 208, and the air outlet holes 214 all open upwards. The air outlet holes 214 include a roof outlet / vent for expelling conditioned air towards the ceiling inside the vehicle and a floor outlet / vent for expelling the conditioned air towards the floor inside the vehicle. The mixing duct module 200 may also include a PTC heater 260, which serves as an auxiliary heat source, on the distribution module. Furthermore, an operating mode door 270 for selectively expelling air to the roof vent or floor vent may be arranged at the front ends of the air outlet holes 214.

[0034] The mixing duct module 200 contains a single air filter 250. The air filter 250 filters the air supplied to the indoor air inlet 207 and the outdoor air inlet 208. The air conditioning module 100 contains a first blower unit 121 and a second blower unit 122, which are arranged in the first air outlet 101 and the second air outlet 102, respectively. The first blower unit 121 and the second blower unit 122 are arranged parallel in a horizontal direction. Additionally, the indoor air inlet 207 and the outdoor air inlet 208 of the mixing duct housing 210 are positioned above the second blower unit 122 so that they correspond to each other.

[0035] The vehicle air conditioning system has a generally “⊔” or “U”-shaped passage structure, such that the air conditioning module 100 and the mixing duct module 200 are vertically combined with each other and the indoor air inlet 207 and the outdoor air inlet 208 are arranged at the top, a pair of blower units 121 and 122 are arranged collaterally or side by side below the indoor air inlet 207 and the outdoor air inlet 208, the evaporator 150 and the condenser 130 are arranged in the horizontal direction relative to the blower units 121 and 122 and the majority of air outlet holes 214 are placed above the air conditioning module 100.

[0036] That is, the air moves downwards through the indoor air inlet 207 or the outdoor air inlet 208 of the mixing duct module 200, exchanges heat with at least one of the heating heat exchanger and the cooling heat exchanger while moving horizontally in the air conditioning module, and then moves upwards through the air outlet holes 214 of the mixing duct module 200 to form an airflow in a “⊔” or “U” shape.

[0037] The air conditioning module 100 includes a cold air discharge hole 116, which is formed on the downstream side of the evaporator 150 in the first air passage 101, and a warm air discharge hole 113, which is formed on the downstream side of the condenser 130 in the second air passage 102. The cold air discharge hole 116 is formed on the left side of the air conditioning housing 110 and the warm air discharge hole 113 is formed on the right side of the air conditioning housing 110. Furthermore, the air conditioning housing 110 includes a communication passage 114, which is located on the downstream side of the evaporator 150 of the first air passage 101 and on the downstream side of the condenser 130 of the second air passage 102, in order to communicate with the mixing channel module 200.

[0038] A cold air mode door 118 is rotatably arranged on the downstream side of the evaporator 150 of the first air passage 101, and a warm air mode door 117 is rotatably arranged on the downstream side of the condenser 130 of the second air passage 102. The cold air mode door 118 directs an airflow directed towards the communication passage 114 and an airflow directed towards the cold air discharge hole 116, and the warm air mode door 117 directs an airflow directed towards the communication passage 114 and an airflow directed towards the warm air discharge hole 113.

[0039] Furthermore, the climate control module 100 includes a bypass / diversion door 128 and a bypass / diversion passage 128a. In heating mode, cold air is directed around the first air outlet 101 towards the second air outlet 102 through the bypass door 128 and the bypass passage 128a when it is necessary to dehumidify the vehicle interior. Thus, cold air is supplied to the vehicle interior via the first air outlet 101 to dehumidify the interior.

[0040] The vehicle air conditioning system is designed such that the air passing through at least one of the evaporator 150 and condenser 130 is independently discharged into different zones of the vehicle interior. This means that the air passing through at least one of the evaporator 150 and condenser 130 is discharged to the right and left into the vehicle interior to provide independent air conditioning for the right and left sides.

[0041] As described above, the cooling heat exchanger and the cold air outlet 116 are located in the first air passage 101, and the heating heat exchanger and the warm air outlet 113 are located in the second air passage 102. Furthermore, the cold air outlet 116 and the warm air outlet 113 are formed on the right and left sides of the housing in the vehicle's width direction. The first air passage 101 and the second air passage 102 are partitioned by the partition 119 in the right and left directions and separated by a separator 300 into an upper passage 103 and a lower passage 104.

[0042] The evaporator 150 and the condenser 130 are vertically divided in two by the separator 300. The cold air mode door 118 is located at the first air passage 101 to adjust the degree of opening between a flow path directed towards the cold air outlet 116 and a flow path directed towards the vehicle interior. The warm air mode door 117 is located in the second air passage 102 to adjust the degree of opening between a flow path directed towards the warm air outlet 113 and a flow path directed towards the vehicle interior.

[0043] The cold air discharge hole 116 comprises an upper cold air discharge hole 116a and a lower cold air discharge hole 116b. The upper cold air discharge hole 116a is formed on top of the lower cold air discharge hole 116b. The warm air discharge hole 113 comprises an upper warm air discharge hole 113a and a lower warm air discharge hole 113b. The upper warm air discharge hole 113a is formed on top of the lower warm air discharge hole 113b.

[0044] The cold air mode door 118 is configured so that the upper cold air mode door 118a and the lower cold air mode door 118b can be set independently of each other. Furthermore, the warm air mode door 117 is configured so that the upper warm air mode door 117a and the lower warm air mode door 117b can be set independently of each other. The upper cold air mode door 118a sets the opening degree of the upper cold air outlet 116a, and the lower cold air mode door 118b sets the opening degree of the lower cold air outlet 116b. Additionally, the upper warm air mode door 117a sets the opening degree of the warm air outlet 113a, and the lower warm air mode door 117b sets the opening degree of the lower warm air outlet 113b.

[0045] The air moving downwards through the indoor air inlet 207 or the outdoor air inlet 208 of the mixing duct module 200 exchanges heat with the evaporator 150 and the condenser 130 as it moves horizontally within the air conditioning module 100. The air flows into the two zones, namely the upper passage 103 and the lower passage 104, which are separated by the separator 300.

[0046] Communication passage 114 is divided into a first communication passage 301 and a second communication passage 302 by the separator 300. That is, the separator 300 extends as in Fig. 10 shown from the air conditioning housing 110 of the air conditioning module 100 in the horizontal direction and divides the upper passage 103 and the lower passage 104. Furthermore, the separator 300 extends upwards from the cold air mode door 118 and the warm air mode door 117 and divides the upper passage 103 and the lower passage 104 in a forward-backward direction of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 shown.

[0047] The air flowing in the lower passage 104 is directed upwards after passing through the first communication passage 301 and is discharged onto one of the driver's and passenger's seats. The air flowing in the upper passage 103 is directed upwards after passing through the second communication passage 302 and is discharged onto the other of the driver's and passenger's seats.

[0048] This means that the air flowing in the lower passage 104 is expelled to the outside through the lower cold air discharge hole 116b or the lower warm air discharge hole 113b by controlling the lower cold air mode door 118b or the lower warm air mode door 117b and, after passing through the first communication passage 301, is directed upwards and discharged onto one of the driver's seat and passenger's seat.

[0049] Additionally, the air flowing in the upper passage 103 is expelled to the outside through the upper cold air discharge hole 116a or the upper warm air discharge hole 113a by controlling the upper cold air mode door 118a or the upper warm air mode door 117a, or, after passing through the second communication passage 302, is directed upwards and expelled onto the other side from the driver's seat and passenger's seat.

[0050] The vehicle's air conditioning system contains a control unit. This control unit manages the operation of various doors, the blower unit, and other parts of the air conditioning system, including the cold air mode door 118 and the warm air mode door 117. When an air outlet toward the driver's or passenger's seat is switched off, the control unit directs the airflow from the switched-off side to the outside. Finally, the air volume of an activated side remains constant relative to the air volume of the deactivated side.

[0051] The air flowing in the first air passage 101 and the second air passage 102 of the upper passage 103 is directed so that it is discharged onto one of the driver's and passenger's seats. Furthermore, the air flowing in the first air passage 101 and the second air passage 102 of the lower passage 104 is directed so that it is discharged onto the other of the driver's and passenger's seats.

[0052] The airflow through the first air passage 101 and the second air passage 102, which passes the evaporator 150 and the condenser 130, is horizontal, while the airflow towards the vehicle interior from the downstream side of the cold air mode door 118 and the warm air mode door 117 is upward. The first air passage 101 and the second air passage 102 are configured such that cold air and warm air are mixed during the airflow process, causing the air to flow upward from the downstream side of the cold air mode door 118 and the warm air mode door 117. The upper passage 103 and the lower passage 104 are separated in the forward-reverse direction of the vehicle by the separator 300 located on the downstream side of the cold air mode door 118 and the warm air mode door 117.

[0053] With reference to Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows that the mixing channel housing 210 is formed by a right mixing channel housing 210a and a left mixing channel housing 210b, which are combined with each other in the right and left directions. The separator formed on the right mixing channel housing 210a has a first inclined part 310, and the separator formed on the left mixing channel housing 210b has a second inclined part 320.

[0054] With reference to Fig. The first communication passage 301 directs the cold air, warm air, or mixed air (a mixture of warm and cold air) that passes through the first communication passage 301 after passing the lower communication passage 104 to the left and discharges the air through the air outlet 214 on the left side (driver's seat). The second angled section 320 directs the cold air, warm air, or mixed air (a mixture of warm and cold air) that passes through the second communication passage 302 after passing the upper passage 103 to the right and discharges the air through the air outlet 214 on the right side (driver's seat).

[0055] Fig. Figure 12 is a view showing a cooling mode of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 13 is a view showing a heating mode of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 14 and Fig. Figure 15 shows an example of a right and left independent air conditioning system for the vehicle air conditioning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] With reference to Fig. In cooling mode, interior air is introduced into the first air passage 101, exchanges heat with the evaporator 150, and is then cooled. The cold air mode door 118 rotates to close the cold air discharge hole 116 and open the flow path towards the communication passage 114. The cooled air passes through the communication passage 114 and is then circulated into the vehicle interior through the air outlet holes 214 of the mixing channel module 200. Then the cold air mode door 118 is controlled in such a way that the upper cold air mode door 118a and the lower cold air mode door 118b close the upper cold air discharge hole 116a and the lower cold air discharge hole 116b respectively, and the cooled air passes through the upper passage 103 and the lower passage 104, is moved through the first communication passage 301 and the second communication passage 302 and is then supplied to the right side and the left side of the vehicle interior respectively.

[0057] At the same time, outside air is introduced into the second air passage 102, exchanges heat with the condenser 130, and is then heated. The warm air mode door 117 is rotated so that it closes the communication passage 114 and opens the warm air discharge hole 113. The heated air is discharged to the outside through the warm air discharge hole 113. The warm air mode door 117 is then controlled such that the upper warm air mode door 117a, the lower warm air mode door 117b, and the upper warm air discharge hole 113a or the lower warm air discharge hole 113b, respectively, are opened, and the heated air is discharged to the exterior of the vehicle through the upper warm air discharge hole 113a or the lower warm air discharge hole 113b, respectively.

[0058] With reference to Fig. In heating mode, interior air is introduced into the second air passage 102, exchanges heat with the condenser 130, and is then heated. The warm air mode door 117 rotates so that it closes the warm air discharge hole 113 and opens the communication passage 114. The heated air passes through the communication passage 114 and is circulated into the vehicle interior through the air outlet holes 214 of the mixing channel module 200. Then the warm air mode door 117 is controlled in such a way that the upper warm air mode door 117a and the lower warm air mode door 117b close the upper warm air outlet 113a and the lower warm air outlet 113b respectively, and the heated air passes through the upper passage 103 and the lower passage 104 respectively and is moved through the first communication passage 301 and the second communication passage 302 respectively, so that warm air is supplied to the right side and the left side of the vehicle interior.

[0059] At the same time, outside air is introduced into the first air passage 101, exchanges heat with the evaporator 150, and is then cooled. The cold air mode door 118 is rotated so that the communication passage 114 closes and the cold air discharge hole 116 opens. The cooled air is discharged to the outside of the vehicle through the cold air discharge hole 116. Then, the cold air mode door 118 is controlled such that the upper cold air mode door 118a and the lower cold air mode door 118b open the upper cold air discharge hole 116a and the lower cold air discharge hole 116, respectively, and the cooled air is discharged outside the vehicle through the upper cold air discharge hole 116a and the lower cold air discharge hole 116b, respectively.

[0060] With reference to Fig. 14 exchanges the air introduced into the first air passage 101 for heat with the evaporator 150 and then the air of the upper passage 103 of the first air passage 101 is expelled to the outside through the upper warm air discharge hole 113a and the air of the lower passage 104 moves upwards through the first communication passage 301 and is guided by the first inclined part 310 of the separator 300 so that it is supplied to the vehicle interior through an air outlet hole 214a on the left side.At the same time, the air heat introduced into the second air passage 102 exchanges with the condenser 130, and then the air of the upper passage 103 of the second air passage 102 moves upwards through the second communication passage and is guided by the first inclined part 320 of the separator 300 so that it is supplied to the vehicle interior through an air outlet hole 214b on the right side, and the air of the lower passage 104 is expelled to the outside through the lower warm air discharge hole 113b.

[0061] The opening degree of the upper cold air outlet 116a can then be adjusted by controlling the upper cold air mode door 118a. Some of the cold air that is not discharged through the upper cold air outlet 116a is mixed with the warm air flowing in the upper passage 103 as it moves upwards through the second communication passage 302 and is then discharged into the vehicle interior. Additionally, the opening degree of the lower warm air outlet 113b can be adjusted by controlling the lower warm air mode door 117b. Some of the warm air that is not discharged through the lower warm air outlet 113b is mixed with the cold air flowing in the lower passage 104 as it moves upwards through the first communication passage 301 and is then discharged into the vehicle interior.

[0062] With reference to Fig.The air introduced into the first air passage 101 exchanges heat with the evaporator 150. Then, the air from the lower passage 104 of the first air passage 101 is expelled to the outside through the lower cold air outlet 116b, and the air from the upper passage 103 moves upwards through the second communication passage 302 and is supplied to the vehicle interior through an air outlet 214b on the right side. Simultaneously, the air introduced into the second air passage 102 exchanges heat with the condenser 130. Then, the air from the lower passage 104 of the second air passage 102 moves upwards through the first communication passage 301 and is supplied to the vehicle interior through an air outlet 214a on the left side, and the air from the upper passage 103 is expelled to the outside through the upper warm air outlet 113a.

[0063] The opening degree of the lower cold air outlet 116b can then be adjusted by controlling the lower cold air mode door 118b. Some of the cold air that is not expelled through the lower cold air outlet 116b is mixed with the warm air flowing in the lower passage 104 as it moves upwards through the first communication passage 301 and is then expelled into the vehicle interior. Additionally, the opening degree of the upper warm air outlet 113a can be adjusted by controlling the upper warm air mode 4117a. Some of the warm air that is not expelled through the upper warm air outlet 113a is mixed with the cold air flowing in the upper passage 103 as it moves upwards through the second communication passage 302 and is then expelled into the vehicle interior.

[0064] The vehicle air conditioning system according to the present invention can control the air volume and temperature of the right side and the left side by manipulation of a control unit or automatic control, as desired by a passenger, and provide constant air conditioning without any change in the air volume of the other side, even though one of the right and left sides is switched off.

Claims

[1] Vehicle air conditioning system, comprising: a first air passage (101) and a second air passage (102) separated by a partition (119); a cooling heat exchanger arranged in the first air passage (101) and a heating heat exchanger arranged in the second air passage (102), wherein the first air passage (101) defines a cold air discharge hole (116) that allows air to be discharged to the outside of the vehicle and wherein the second air passage (102) defines a warm air discharge hole (113) that allows air to be discharged to the outside of the vehicle; wherein the first air passage (101) and the second air passage (102) are divided into an upper passage (103) and a lower passage (104) by a separator (300), such that the cold air discharge hole (116) contains an upper cold air discharge hole (116a) and a lower cold air discharge hole (116b) and the warm air discharge hole (113) contains an upper warm air discharge hole (113a) and a lower warm air discharge hole (113b); an upper cold air mode door (118a) configured to open and close the upper cold air discharge hole (116a), and a lower cold air mode door (118b) configured to open and close the lower cold air discharge hole (116b); an upper warm air mode door (117a) configured to open and close the upper warm air discharge hole (113a) and a lower warm air mode door (117b) configured to open and close the lower warm air discharge hole (113b); wherein the air flowing in the upper passage (103) is expelled outwards through the cold air outlet hole (116a) or the upper warm air outlet hole (113a) or one of the driver's seat and passenger's seat is expelled through at least one of a plurality of air outlet holes based on positions of the upper warm and cold air mode doors (117a, 118a); wherein air flowing in the lower passage (104) is expelled outwards through the lower cold air discharge hole (116b) or the lower warm air discharge hole (113b) or is expelled onto one of the driver's seat and passenger's seat through at least one of the plurality of air discharge holes. [2] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the cold air discharge hole (116) is located on the right side and the warm air discharge hole (113) is located on the left side of the housing in a width direction of the vehicle. [3] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the first air passage (101) and the second air passage (102) are separated from each other in the right and left directions by the partition (119). [4] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger are vertically divided into two parts by the separator (300). [5] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the cold air mode door (118) is configured in such a way that the upper cold air mode door (118a) and the lower cold air mode door (118b) are operated independently of each other, and wherein the warm air mode door (117) is configured in such a way that the upper warm air mode door (117a) and the lower warm air mode door (117b) are operated independently of each other. [6] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls the air from a switched-off side to be expelled to the outside when an air discharge towards a driver's seat or a passenger seat is switched off. [7] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the first air passage (101) and the second air passage (102) passing through the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger are designed in a horizontal direction and an airflow directed towards the vehicle interior is formed from a downstream side of the cold air mode door (118a, 118b) and the warm air mode door (117a, 117b) in an upward direction. [8] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein the first air passage (101) and the second air passage (102) are designed in such a way that the cold air and the warm air are mixed together during an air flow process such that air flows upwards from the downstream side of the cold air mode door (118a, 118b) and the warm air mode door (117a, 117b). [9] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein the upper passage (103) and the lower passage (104) in the forward-backward direction of the vehicle are divided by the separator (300) on the downstream side of the cold air mode door (118a, 118b) and the warm air mode door (117a, 117b). [10] Vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, in which an air conditioning module in which the first air outlet (101) and the second air outlet (102) are arranged, an inlet module for introducing at least one of interior air and outside air into the first air outlet (101) and the second air outlet (102) and a distribution module which contains the separator (300) and into which the at least one of the air passing from the cooling heat exchanger and the heating heat exchanger towards the interior of the vehicle is discharged, all are arranged outside on the basis of a dashboard (500). [11] Vehicle air conditioning system, comprising: a first air passage (101) and a second air passage (102), which are separated from each other by a partition (119) and each are fluid-conductingly connected to a plurality of air outlet holes for a fluid-conducting connection to a vehicle interior; a cooling heat exchanger that is arranged in the first air passage (101) and not in the second air passage (102); a heating heat exchanger that is arranged in the second air passage (102) and not in the first air passage (101); wherein the first air passage (101) defines a cold air discharge hole (116) that allows air to be discharged to the outside of the vehicle, and the second air passage (102) defines a warm air discharge hole (113) that allows air to be discharged to the outside of the vehicle; wherein the first air passage (101) and the second air passage (102) are each divided into an upper passage (103) and a lower passage (104) by a separator (300), such that the cold air discharge hole (116) is composed of an upper cold air discharge hole (116a) and a lower cold air discharge hole (116b) and such that the warm air discharge hole (113) is composed of an upper warm air discharge hole (113a) and a lower warm air discharge hole (113b); an upper cold air mode door (118a) configured to open and close the upper cold air discharge hole (116a) so that cold air in the upper passage (103) is either discharged to the outside through the outer cold air discharge hole (116a) or discharged to at least one of the plurality of air discharge holes; a lower cold air mode door (118b) configured to open and close the lower cold air discharge hole (116b) so that cold air in the lower passage (104) is either discharged to the outside through the lower cold air discharge hole (116b) or discharged to at least one of the plurality of air discharge holes; an upper warm air mode door (117a) which is configured to open and close the upper warm air discharge hole (113a) so that warm air in the upper passage (103) is either discharged to the outside through the upper warm air discharge hole (113a) or discharged to at least one of the plurality of air discharge holes; a lower warm air mode door (117b) which is configured to open and close the lower warm air discharge hole (113b) so that warm air in the lower passage (104) is either discharged to the outside through the lower warm air discharge hole (113b) or discharged to at least one of the plurality of air discharge holes. [12] Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the cooling heat exchanger is not arranged in the second air passage (102) and wherein the heating heat exchanger is not arranged in the first air passage (101).

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