Air conditioning unit for a vehicle

Abstract

Air conditioning unit (1) for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, for conditioning an air flow (3) to be supplied to a passenger compartment (2) of the vehicle, - a housing (4) having a duct system (5) through which the air flow (3) can flow, which has at least one passenger compartment-side air outlet (6) for discharging the air flow (3) into the passenger compartment (2), - wherein an adjustable actuator (7) for controlling the air flow (3) flowing in the at least one air outlet (6) is arranged in the at least one air outlet (6), - wherein the at least one air outlet (6) has at least one actuator stop (8) for limiting an adjustment movement (9) of the at least one actuator (7) which is surrounded by the air flow (3) during normal operation of the air conditioning unit (1), - wherein the at least one actuator stop (8) has a flow guide element (10) which interacts fluidically with the air flow (3) to avoid or at least reduce turbulence in the air flow (3) in the region of the at least one actuator stop (8).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning device for a vehicle according to the subject matter of claim 1.

[0002] During normal operation, air conditioning units are subjected to an airflow, with components directly exposed to the airflow regularly generating turbulence in the airflow. This can cause unwanted noise, thereby reducing the relatively high level of comfort provided by an air conditioning unit for the user.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved or at least a different embodiment of an air conditioning device.

[0004] In the present invention, this object is achieved by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0005] The invention solves this problem by means of an air conditioning unit for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, for conditioning an air flow to be supplied to a passenger compartment of the vehicle, comprising a housing having a duct system through which the air flow can flow and which has at least one passenger compartment-side air outlet for discharging the air flow into the passenger compartment. Furthermore, it is provided that an adjustable, in particular rotationally adjustable, actuator for controlling the air flow flowing in the at least one air outlet is arranged in the at least one air outlet, in particular a flap element mounted for rotational pivoting in the at least one air outlet.It is essential that the at least one air outlet has at least one actuator stop, in particular a flap element stop, for limiting an adjustment movement of the at least one actuator, which is surrounded by the air flow during normal operation of the air conditioning unit, and that the at least one actuator stop has a flow guide element that interacts fluidically with the air flow to avoid or at least reduce turbulence in the air flow in the region of the at least one actuator stop. By avoiding or at least reducing turbulence in the air flow in the at least one air outlet by means of the at least one flow guide element, the disturbing noise generated in the air outlet during normal operation of the air conditioning unit is avoided or at least reduced. This enables an increase in the comfort of a user of the air conditioning unit positioned in the passenger compartment.

[0006] In one embodiment of the invention, the flow guide element can be designed as a wedge body, preferably oriented transversely to the air flow. The wedge body can be solid, i.e., a solid body without cavities, and / or, for example, with a curved shape. This allows the air flow to be optimally guided and unwanted turbulence in the air flow to be avoided or at least reduced.

[0007] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the flow guide element can be designed as a cross-ribbed structure, preferably oriented transversely to the air flow, or as a transverse ribbed structure. This allows the flow guide element to be constructed relatively lightweight, which is advantageous with regard to the overall weight of the air conditioning unit and allows for more tool-friendly manufacturing.

[0008] In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be expediently provided that the at least one actuator stop has an elongated stop body arranged, in particular integrally, on a wall of the air outlet, with a flat stop surface provided for the actuator, against which the at least one actuator can strike to limit the adjustment movement of the at least one actuator. Preferably, the flow guide element is arranged on a side of the stop body opposite the stop surface of the stop body. Furthermore, it can be provided that the flow guide element is arranged integrally on the wall of the air outlet. This provides an advantageous embodiment of the flow guide element.

[0009] It can expediently be provided that the side of the stop body having the flow guide element faces the air flow.

[0010] It can also be provided that the air conditioning unit has an actuator, in particular an electric motor, for driving the at least one actuator and preferably an actuating gear coupling this actuator to the at least one actuator.

[0011] The air flow is preferably formed by ambient air. This can originate from the vehicle's surroundings, for example, by being drawn in.

[0012] The term "conditioning" as used herein means heating, cooling, dehumidification, humidification, filtering, distribution, fragrancing and / or other treatments of the air flow to be supplied to the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0013] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

[0014] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Components mentioned above and to be mentioned below of a higher-level unit, such as a device, an apparatus, or an arrangement, which are designated separately, may form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is shown differently in the drawings.

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0016] They show, schematically, Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an air conditioning device according to the invention according to a first embodiment, and Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of an air conditioning device according to the invention according to a second embodiment.

[0017] The Fig. 1 shows an air conditioning unit, designated as a whole by the number 1, for a non-illustrated vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, which is designed for conditioning, ie for heating, cooling, dehumidifying, humidifying, filtering, distributing, scenting and / or other treatments, an air flow 3 to be supplied to a passenger compartment 2 of the vehicle.

[0018] The air conditioning unit 1 has a housing 4, which can only be seen in part, which has a duct system 5 through which the air flow 3 can flow, which has at least one (or more) passenger compartment-side air outlet 6 for discharging the air flow 3 into the passenger compartment 2. In Fig. 1, the flow path of the air flow 3 leading through the duct system 5 is indicated by arrows.

[0019] It can also be seen that an adjustable actuator 7 for controlling the air flow 3 flowing in the at least one air outlet 6 is arranged in the at least one air outlet 6. The actuator 7 is designed as a flap element mounted in the at least one air outlet 6 so as to be rotatably pivotable.

[0020] Furthermore, it can be seen that the at least one air outlet 6 has at least one actuator stop 8 for the actuator 7, which has the function of limiting an adjustment movement 9 of the at least one actuator 7, which is symbolized here by a double arrow, which is surrounded by the air flow 3 during normal operation of the air conditioning unit 1.

[0021] According to the invention, the at least one actuator stop 8 has a flow guide element 10 which interacts fluidically with the air flow 3 and is designed to avoid or at least reduce turbulence in the air flow 3 in the region of the at least one actuator stop 8. By avoiding or at least reducing the turbulence in the air flow 3 in the at least one air outlet 6, the disturbing noises generated in the air outlet 6 during normal operation of the air conditioning unit 1 can be avoided or at least reduced, thereby increasing the comfort of a user of the air conditioning unit 1 positioned in the passenger compartment 2.

[0022] According to the Fig. 1, it is further provided that the at least one actuator stop 8 has an elongated stop body 14 arranged on a wall 13 of the air outlet 6. Purely by way of example, the stop body 14 is cuboid-shaped and has a rectangular cross-section. It is further provided that the stop body 14 has a flat stop surface 15 provided for the actuator 7, against which the at least one actuator 7 can strike to limit the adjustment movement 9 of the at least one actuator 7. It is further provided that the flow guide element 10 is arranged on a side 16 of the stop body 14 facing the air flow 3 and opposite the stop surface 15. The flow guide element 10 can be designed integrally with the stop body 14 and the wall 13 of the air outlet 6.

[0023] According to the Fig. In the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the flow guide element 10 is designed as a wedge body 11 oriented transversely to the air flow 3. The wedge body 11 is solid, i.e., as a solid body without cavities. This allows the air flow 3 to be optimally guided and unwanted turbulence in the air flow 3 to be avoided or at least reduced.

[0024] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of an air conditioning unit 1 according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment. It differs from the Fig. 1 presented first embodiment of the air conditioning unit 1 according to the invention in that the flow guide element 10 is designed as a cross-rib structure 12 oriented transversely to the air flow 3 in order to reduce the overall weight of the air conditioning unit 1 and to make it more tool-friendly to manufacture. List of reference symbols 1 air conditioner 2 Passenger compartment 3 Airflow 4 housings 5 channel system 6 Air outlet 7 Actuator 8 Actuator stop 9 Adjustment movement 10 Flow guide element 11 wedge body 12 Cross-ribbed structure 13 Wall 14 stop bodies 15 Stop surface 16 Side of the stop body

Claims

[1] Air conditioning unit (1) for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, for conditioning an air flow (3) to be supplied to a passenger compartment (2) of the vehicle, - a housing (4) having a duct system (5) through which the air flow (3) can flow, which has at least one passenger compartment-side air outlet (6) for discharging the air flow (3) into the passenger compartment (2), - wherein an adjustable actuator (7) for controlling the air flow (3) flowing in the at least one air outlet (6) is arranged in the at least one air outlet (6), - wherein the at least one air outlet (6) has at least one actuator stop (8) for limiting an adjustment movement (9) of the at least one actuator (7) which is surrounded by the air flow (3) during normal operation of the air conditioning unit (1), - wherein the at least one actuator stop (8) has a flow guide element (10) which interacts fluidically with the air flow (3) to avoid or at least reduce turbulence in the air flow (3) in the region of the at least one actuator stop (8). [2] Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the flow guide element (10) is designed as a wedge body (11), preferably oriented transversely to the air flow (3). [3] Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the flow guide element (10) is designed as a cross-rib structure (12), preferably oriented transversely to the air flow (3), or as a transverse rib structure. [4] Air conditioning unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the at least one actuator stop (8) has an elongated stop body (14) arranged on a wall (13) of the air outlet (6) with a flat stop surface (15) provided for the actuator (7), against which the at least one actuator (7) can strike to limit the adjustment movement (9) of the at least one actuator (7), - wherein the flow guide element (10) is arranged on a side (16) of the stop body (14) opposite the stop surface (15) of the stop body (14). [5] Air conditioning device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by , that - the flow guide element (10) is arranged integrally on the wall (13) of the air outlet (6). [6] Air conditioning unit (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by , that - the side (16) of the stop body (14) having the flow guide element (10) faces the air flow (3).

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