Connection block and heat pump for motor vehicles.

Abstract

The invention relates to a single-piece connection block (1) designed to connect a heat pump (2) of a motor vehicle to a plurality of pipes (3) from an air conditioning unit, to allow fluid exchange between the pump (2) and the unit. The block (1) comprises a plurality of fluid inlets (4), each designed to be connected to one of the pipes (3). Each inlet (4) is in fluidic communication with a separate fluid outlet (5), each designed to be connected to a fluidic connection of the pump (2). The block (1) comprises a connection interface (6), comprising each outlet (5), designed to cooperate with a complementary interface (7) of the pump (2) so that each pipe (3) is connected to a connection. The block (1) comprises fastening means (12) designed to allow the pump (2) to be attached to the block (1). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Connection block and heat pump for motor vehicle.

[0001] The technical field relates to connection blocks enabling the fluid connection of pipes, heat pumps and air conditioning systems comprising such a connection block and such a heat pump.

[0002] The air temperature inside a motor vehicle is generally regulated by means of an air conditioning unit. Typically, the air conditioning unit is a set of components that regulate the temperature and humidity of the air inside the vehicle's passenger compartment and includes, for this purpose, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, an expansion valve, and a fan. The air conditioning unit can be used to cool or heat the passenger compartment air, depending on the selected operating mode.

[0003] To improve the efficiency of the air conditioning system, some vehicles are also equipped with a heat pump module that uses thermodynamic principles to transfer heat from one place to another. Thus, it can be used to heat or cool the passenger compartment as needed. In heating mode, the heat pump module extracts heat from the outside air or the engine and transfers it into the passenger compartment via the air conditioning system. In cooling mode, the process is reversed, and heat is extracted from the passenger compartment and expelled outside. The heat pump module therefore assists the air conditioning system and makes the vehicle so equipped more energy-efficient, as it utilizes free or renewable heat sources.

[0004] However, due to accessibility issues, assembling a vehicle equipped with a pump module does not allow for the installation of water pipes connecting to the rear of the module. Therefore, the connections must be made at the top of the module. Connecting a heat pump module requires several steps: first, the air conditioning unit and flexible hoses must be installed to connect the module to the air conditioning unit. The flexible hoses, fitted with connection flanges, are then positioned to provide sufficient space for installing the heat pump module and its mounting bracket. Finally, the connection flanges are connected to the module.

[0005] For some vehicles, the installation constraints may prove to be such that it is not possible to find an adequate waiting position for the hoses, so that it is not possible to mount the module and its support before the hoses.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution to simplify the connection of a heat pump module.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a connection block and a heat pump that simplifies the connection to the air conditioning unit and, in particular, eliminates the need to lay out the flexible hoses.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a monobloc connection block designed to allow the fluid connection of a heat pump of a motor vehicle to a plurality of pipes from an air conditioning unit of the vehicle, to allow fluid exchange between the pump and the air conditioning unit, the connection block comprising a plurality of fluid inlets, each designed to be connected to one of the pipes, each fluid inlet being in fluidic communication with a separate fluid outlet of the block, each designed to be connected to a fluid connection of the heat pump, the block comprising a connection interface, comprising each fluid outlet, designed to cooperate with a complementary interface of the heat pump so that each pipe is connected to a connection,The block includes fastening means designed to allow the heat pump to be fixed to the block when the interface cooperates with the complementary interface.

[0009] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle heat pump comprising a plurality of fluid connections, each designed to be connected to a fluid outlet of a connection block according to the invention, the heat pump having a complementary interface, comprising all the fluid connections, designed to cooperate with the connection interface in order to connect each connection to a fluid outlet of the block.

[0010] The invention further relates to an air conditioning system comprising a connection block according to the invention and a heat pump according to the invention fixed on the block, the system further comprising a plurality of pipes, each pipe being connected, on the one hand, to a fluid inlet of the block and, on the other hand, to an air conditioning unit.

[0011] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having an air conditioning system according to the invention.

[0012] Thus, the connection block according to the invention and the heat pump according to the invention facilitate the assembly of the air conditioning system according to the invention, since it is sufficient to bring the connection interface into cooperation with the complementary interface to obtain the connection of the pipes to the heat pump. The pipes can therefore be connected to the connection block with fewer installation constraints, and it becomes possible to have pipes connected in an area located behind the heat pump. Furthermore, the pipe routing can be chosen to eliminate the need for pre-positioning the pipes before installing the heat pump. Finally, the pipes no longer need to be flexible since pre-positioning is no longer required. Thus, the connection block and the heat pump according to the invention simplify the assembly of the air conditioning system according to the invention.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the connection block according to the invention, the connection interface defines a connection plane, all the fluid inlets being arranged on the same side of the connection plane to allow the arrival of all the pipes on this same side of the connection plane.

[0014] According to one possibility, the connection block is designed to be positioned under the heat pump and to form a support for the heat pump.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the connecting block, the fixing means comprise at least one stud protruding from the connecting interface.

[0016] According to one possibility, the connecting block includes fastening means allowing the block to be fastened to the vehicle body.

[0017] Advantageously, the heat pump includes at least one bore designed to receive a stud in order to allow the pump to be fixed to a connection block.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the air conditioning system, each pipe is rigid and is arranged under the heat pump.

[0019] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a connecting block and a heat pump according to the invention to form an air conditioning system according to the invention.

[0021] A connection block 1 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 1], is designed to allow the fluid connection of a heat pump 2 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 1], of a motor vehicle to a plurality of pipes 3, originating from an air conditioning unit of the vehicle (not shown), to allow fluid exchange between the pump 2 and the air conditioning unit. The connection block 1 is a single piece and is, for example, formed from a machined metal block. The block 1 comprises a plurality of fluid inlets 4, each designed to be connected to one of the pipes 3. Each fluid inlet 4 is in fluid communication with a separate fluid outlet 5 of the block 1. Each fluid outlet 5 is designed to be connected to a fluid connection, not shown, of the pump 2 to heat. For this purpose, block 1 includes a connection interface 6, comprising each fluid outlet 5, designed to cooperate with a complementary interface 7, located on [Fig. 1], of the heat pump 2 so that each pipe 3 is connected to a fitting. In the example illustrated in the figure, the connection interface 6 has a flat surface 8 in which each fluid outlet 5 is provided.

[0022] Advantageously, the connection block 1 is designed to be positioned under the heat pump and to form a support for the heat pump. The connection interface 6 defines a connection plane, corresponding in this case to the flat surface 8, with all the inlets 4 arranged on the same side of the connection plane to allow the arrival of all the pipes 3 on that same side of the connection plane.

[0023] Block 1 advantageously includes fastening means 9 for securing block 1 to the vehicle body. For example, the fastening means 9 include at least one fixing eyelet 10 for securing block 1 to the vehicle body according to the invention. Advantageously, each eyelet 10 receives a rubber pad 11 for damping vehicle movements when block 1 is secured to the vehicle.

[0024] As indicated, the heat pump 2 comprises a plurality of fluid connections, each designed to be connected to a fluid outlet 5, and the complementary interface 7 comprising all the fluid connections. The complementary interface 7 is designed to cooperate with the interface 6 to connect each connection to a fluid outlet 5 of the connection block 1.

[0025] Block I further includes fastening means 12 designed to allow the heat pump 2 to be attached to block 1 when interface 6 cooperates with the complementary interface 7. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the fastening means 12 include, for example, at least one stud 13 projecting from the connection interface 6. To this end, the heat pump 2 includes at least one bore, not visible in the figure, each designed to receive a stud 13 to allow the pump 2 to be attached to the connection block 1.

[0026] The connecting block 1 and the heat pump 2 form an air conditioning system 14. In the system 14, the pump 2 is fixed to the block 1. The system 14 further comprises the pipes 3 connected, on the one hand, to a fluid inlet 4 of the block 1 and, on the other hand, to an air conditioning unit. Advantageously, each pipe 3 is rigid and is located below the heat pump 2.

[0027] Thus, the connection block 1 according to the invention and the heat pump 2 according to the invention facilitate the assembly of the air conditioning system 14 according to the invention. The pipes 3 are connected to the connection block 1 with Installation constraints are less pronounced than in a conventional vehicle, and it becomes possible to have pipes 3 connected in an area located behind the heat pump 2. Furthermore, the routing of the pipes 3 is chosen to eliminate the need for a standby position before the heat pump 2 is positioned. Finally, the pipes 3 are no longer necessarily flexible since a standby position is no longer required. Thus, the connection block 1 and the heat pump 2 according to the invention simplify the assembly of the air conditioning system 14 according to the invention.

[0028] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the connection block and the heat pump described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. A single-piece connection block (1) designed to allow the fluid connection of a heat pump (2) of a motor vehicle to a plurality of pipes (3) coming from an air conditioning unit of the vehicle, to allow an exchange of fluid between the pump (2) and the air conditioning unit, the connection block (1) comprising a plurality of fluid inlets (4), each designed to be connected to one of the pipes (3), each fluid inlet (4) being in fluid communication with a separate fluid outlet (5) of the block (1), each designed to be connected to a fluid connection of the heat pump (2), the block (1) comprising a connection interface (6), comprising each fluid outlet (5), designed to cooperate with a complementary interface (7) of the heat pump (2) so that each pipe (3) is connected to a connection,the block (1) comprising fixing means (12) designed to allow the fixing of the heat pump (2) on the block (1), when the interface (6) cooperates with the complementary interface (7).,

2. Connection block (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection interface (6) defines a connection plane, all the fluid inlets (4) being arranged on the same side of the connection plane to allow the arrival of all the pipes (3) on this same side of the connection plane.

3. Connection block (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is designed to be arranged under the heat pump (2) and to form a support for the heat pump (2).

4. Connection block (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing means (12) comprise at least one stud (13) projecting from the connection interface (6).

5. Connection block (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises securing means (9) making it possible to secure the block (1) to the body of the vehicle.

6. A heat pump (2) for a motor vehicle comprising a plurality of fluid connections, each designed to be connected to a fluid outlet (5) of a connection block (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, the heat pump (2) having a complementary interface (7), comprising all the fluid connections, designed to cooperate with the connection interface (6) in order to connect each connection to a fluid outlet (5) of the block (1).

7. Heat pump (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one bore designed to receive a stud (13) in order to allow the pump (2) to be fixed to a connection block (1).

8. Air conditioning system (14) comprising a connection block (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5 and a heat pump (2) according to claim 6 or 7 fixed to the block (1), the system (14) further comprising a plurality of pipes (3), each pipe (3) being connected, on the one hand, to a fluid inlet (4) of the block (1) and, on the other hand, to an air conditioning unit.

9. Air conditioning system (14) according to claim 8, characterized in that each pipe (3) is rigid and is arranged under the heat pump (2).

10. Motor vehicle having an air conditioning system (14) according to claim 8 or 9.

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