Automotive air conditioning system

Abstract

The invention relates to an air conditioning system (1) for a motor vehicle comprising an air inlet (2) designed to supply the system (1) with air from outside (3) the vehicle, the system (1) comprising an air outlet (4), each designed to supply air to the passenger compartment (5), the system (1) comprising a fan (6) designed to circulate an airflow contained in the system (1) to each outlet (4), the system (1) comprising a first filter (13), having a first level of filtration, located downstream of the fan (6) and designed to filter the airflow from the fan (6), the system (1) comprising a second filter (14), having a second level of filtration, located downstream of the first filter (13) and upstream of an air conditioning module (7) of the system (1) designed to regulate the temperature of the airflow supplied to the passenger compartment (5) by each outlet (4). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Air conditioning system for motor vehicles

[0001] The technical field relates to air conditioning systems and motor vehicles equipped with such air conditioning systems.

[0002] Automobile manufacturers pay close attention to the comfort of their vehicle passengers. Among the essential comfort criteria are, of course, the management of air inside the passenger compartment, including the control of temperature, humidity level and air quality.

[0003] To this end, vehicles are commonly equipped with an air conditioning unit designed to manage the air quality inside the passenger compartment. The air conditioning unit organizes the circulation and treatment of the air inside the passenger compartment, notably by replacing the air exhausted from the passenger compartment by an air extractor with fresh air from outside. Most air conditioning units today are capable of filtering the outside air to remove particles while driving. Air conditioning units are also designed to operate in a recirculation mode, which involves circulating the air inside the passenger compartment in a closed loop if pollution is detected outside the vehicle.

[0004] Thus, the air conditioning units are able to properly manage the temperature and humidity of the air in the passenger compartment, to filter particles and to prevent the introduction of pollutants from outside into the vehicle in the event of significant outside air pollution.

[0005] To remove pollutants and particles from the outside air, air conditioning units sometimes use high-efficiency filters, more commonly known as HEPA filters. However, these HEPA filters require large dimensions, particularly with a large filtration surface area, to limit pressure losses. Therefore, the dimensions required for HEPA filters do not allow for their placement inside an air conditioning module. Consequently, current air conditioning units do not allow for filtration with a high-efficiency filter, such as a HEPA filter, in cabin air recirculation mode.

[0006] Furthermore, the motors used to move the air in the air conditioning unit are generally brushless motors to avoid the particles generated by the brushes of a conventional brushed motor. However, such brushless motors are particularly expensive. Indeed, the particles emitted by a brushed motor can damage an evaporator located downstream.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for a solution enabling the use of brushed motors and / or enabling the filtering of the passenger compartment air in recirculation mode using a high-efficiency filter, in particular a HEPA filter.

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system that allows the use of a brushed motor and / or the recycling of the passenger compartment air by filtering it with a high-efficiency filter.

[0009] To this end, the present invention relates to an air conditioning system for a motor vehicle comprising at least one air inlet designed to supply the system with air from outside the vehicle equipped with the system, the system comprising at least one air outlet, each designed to supply air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the system comprising at least one fan designed to cause the circulation of an airflow contained in the system to each air outlet, the system comprising a first filter, having a first level of filtration, located downstream of the fan and designed to filter at least a part of the airflow from the fan, the system comprising a second filter, having a second level of filtration, located downstream of the first filter and upstream of an air conditioning module of the system designed to regulate the temperature of the airflow blown into the passenger compartment by each air outlet.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one air conditioning system according to the invention.

[0011] Thus, the air conditioning system allows the use of a brushed motor, thanks to the use of a first filter downstream of the fan capable of filtering at least some of the particles emitted by the brushed motor. The use of a brushed motor represents a significant gain compared to an air conditioning unit using a brushless motor. Furthermore, the air conditioning system allows operation in a recirculation mode in which air taken from the passenger compartment is recycled and filtered by the second filter. Moreover, the use of a first filter downstream of a second filter improves the lifespan of the second filter. In addition, the arrangement of the air conditioning system according to the invention allows for a more compact design of the air conditioning module.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fan comprises a brushed motor.

[0013] According to one possibility, the system includes a recycling circuit designed to draw air from the vehicle's passenger compartment and inject it into the air conditioning system upstream of the fan.

[0014] In one embodiment, the air conditioning system includes a bypass circuit allowing at least part of the airflow passing through the first filter to be brought downstream of the second filter and upstream of the air conditioning module.

[0015] Advantageously, the system includes closing means designed to close or open at least partially the bypass circuit.

[0016] According to one possibility, the second filtration level has a higher filtration efficiency than the first filtration level.

[0017] Advantageously, the second filter is a high-efficiency filtration filter.

[0018] According to one possibility of the air conditioning system, the air conditioning module includes an evaporator.

[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 drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a schematic view of a vehicle according to the invention equipped with an air conditioning system according to the invention in a first mode of operation;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a schematic view of a vehicle according to the invention equipped with an air conditioning system according to the invention in a second operating mode;

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a schematic view of a vehicle according to the invention equipped with an air conditioning system according to the invention in a third operating mode;

[0023] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0024] An air conditioning system 1 according to the invention, schematically shown in the figures, is designed to equip a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0025] The air conditioning system 1 includes an air inlet 2 designed to supply system 1 with air from outside 3 of the vehicle equipped with system 1. System 1 further includes at least one air outlet 4, each designed to supply air to the passenger compartment 5 of the vehicle. System 1 also includes at least one fan 6 designed to circulate an airflow, symbolized by arrows in the figures, contained in system 1 towards each air outlet 4. Advantageously, the fan 6 includes a brushed motor for implementing the airflow.

[0026] As illustrated in the figures, the system 1 also includes an air conditioning module 7 designed to regulate the temperature of the airflow supplied to the passenger compartment 5 by the system 1 through each air outlet 4. Typically, the air conditioning module 7, commonly referred to as the HVAC module, includes an evaporator 8 designed to regulate the humidity of the airflow passing through the air conditioning module 7. In the example illustrated in the figures, a first part 9 of the air conditioning system 1 is located in the passenger compartment 5, a second part 10 is located in the engine compartment and the system 1 passes through the fire-resistant bulkhead 11 of the vehicle according to the invention.

[0027] The air conditioning system 1 includes an airtight housing 12, allowing the airflow to be directed within the system 1. The air conditioning system 1 according to the invention includes a first filter 13, disposed in the housing 12, having a first level of filtration, located downstream of the fan 6 and designed to filter at least a portion of the airflow from the fan 6. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the first filter 13 is shaped to filter all of the airflow from the fan 6. The first filter 13 is, for example, an ambient air filter such as a cabin air filter.

[0028] As shown in the figures, the air conditioning system 1 further includes a second filter 14, having a second level of filtration, located downstream of the first filter 13 and upstream of the air conditioning module 7 of the system 1. Advantageously, the second level of filtration has a higher filtration efficiency than the first level of filtration: the second filter 14 is capable of filtering particles smaller than those that can be filtered by the first filter 13. Advantageously, the second filter 14 is a high-efficiency particle filtration filter commonly referred to as a HEPA filter, designed to capture particles, allergens, bacteria, mold spores, and other contaminants.

[0029] As illustrated in the figures, the system 1 also includes a recirculation circuit 15 designed to draw air from the passenger compartment 5 of the vehicle, through an air intake 16 located in the passenger compartment 5, to inject it into the air conditioning system 1 upstream of the fan 6. The recirculation circuit 15 includes, for example, a valve 17, symbolized in Figures 1 and 2, designed to block the circulation of an airflow in the recirculation circuit 15 when the valve 17 is closed, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, or to allow the circulation of air between the passenger compartment 5 and the fan 6, in the recirculation circuit 15, when the valve 17 is open.In order to promote the recycling of the air in the passenger compartment 5, for example to regulate its humidity, its temperature, to remove some of the particles, or when the outside air is polluted, the system 1 is designed to close each air inlet 2 so as to block the supply of air from the outside 3, as shown schematically in [Fig.3]. .

[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the system 1 includes a bypass circuit 18, for example delimited in the housing 12 by at least one internal wall 19. The bypass circuit 18 allows at least part of the flux to be brought to air passing through the first filter 13 downstream of the second filter 14 and upstream of the air conditioning module 7. Advantageously, the air conditioning system 1 includes shuttering means 20, shown schematically in Figures 2 and 3, designed to at least partially close or open the bypass circuit 18. In this case, the shuttering means 20 are designed to completely close the bypass circuit 18, so that, when the bypass circuit 18 is closed, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the entire airflow from the fan 6 passes through the second filter 14.

[0031] In operation, the air conditioning system 1 is capable of operating according to at least three distinct modes shown schematically in the figures.

[0032] Fig. 1 illustrates a first mode of operation in which outside air 3 is blown by the fan 6 through the first filter 13, then into the bypass circuit 18, the shutter means 20 being configured to open the bypass circuit 18. The airflow then passes through the air conditioning module 7 and is injected into the passenger compartment 5 through each air outlet 4.

[0033] Figure 2, for its part, schematically illustrates a second operating mode of the air conditioning system 1. In this second mode, air from outside 3 is blown by the fan 6 through the first filter 13, then through the second filter 14, the bypass circuit 18 being completely closed by the closing means 20. The airflow, after passing through the air conditioning module 7, is expelled through each air outlet 4.

[0034] In the first and second modes of operation, the valve 17 is closed to prevent the circulation of an airflow in the recirculation circuit 15.

[0035] Figure 3 finally illustrates a third operating mode of the air conditioning system 1, in which each air inlet 2 is closed, so as to block the supply of air from outside 3. The flap 17 is open, in order to allow the circulation of an airflow in the recirculation circuit 15. The airflow taken from the passenger compartment 5 is blown by the fan 6 through the first filter 13 and, preferably, through the second filter 14. The airflow then circulates through the air conditioning module 7.

[0036] Thus, the air conditioning system 1 allows the use of a brushed motor, thanks to the use of a first filter 13 downstream of the fan 6. The use of a brushed motor represents a significant gain compared to an air conditioning unit using a brushless motor. Furthermore, the air conditioning system 1 allows operation in a recirculation mode in which air taken from the passenger compartment 5 is recirculated, via the recirculation circuit 15, and filtered by the second filter 14. Moreover, the use of the first filter 13 downstream of the second filter 14 improves the service life of the second filter 14.

[0037] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the air conditioning system described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Air conditioning system (1) for a motor vehicle comprising at least one air inlet (2) designed to supply the system (1) with air from outside (3) the vehicle equipped with the system (1), the system (1) comprising at least one air outlet (4), each designed to supply air to the passenger compartment (5) of the vehicle, the system (1) comprising at least one fan (6) designed to cause the circulation of an airflow contained in the system (1) to each air outlet (4), the system (1) comprising a first filter (13), having a first level of filtration, located downstream of the fan (6) and designed to filter at least a portion of the airflow from the fan (6), the system (1) comprising a second filter (14), having a second level of filtration,located downstream of the first filter (13) and upstream of an air conditioning module (7) of the system (1) designed to regulate the temperature of the airflow supplied to the passenger compartment (5) by each air outlet (4).

2. Air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fan (6) comprises a brushed motor.

3. Air conditioning system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the system (1) comprises a recirculation circuit (15) designed to draw air from the passenger compartment (5) of the vehicle and inject it into the air conditioning system (1) upstream of the fan (6).

4. Air conditioning system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a bypass circuit (18) allowing at least part of the airflow passing through the first filter (13) to be brought downstream of the second filter (14) and upstream of the air conditioning module (7).

5. Air conditioning system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the system (1) comprises closing means (20) designed to close or open at least partially the bypass circuit (18).

6. Air conditioning system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second filtration level has a filtration efficiency greater than the first filtration level.

7. Air conditioning system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second filter (14) is a high filtration efficiency filter.

8. Air conditioning system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the air conditioning module (7) comprises an evaporator (8).

9. Motor vehicle comprising at least one air conditioning system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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