Vehicular air conditioner

Abstract

To prevent peeling of a seal section from a rotary door while suppressing ventilation resistance of air passing through an opening.SOLUTION: A vehicular air conditioner (10) includes: an air conditioning case (30) having an opening passage (72) for blowing out blown air; and a circular arc shaped rotary door (50) which can open / close the opening passage (72). The air conditioning case (30) has a case wall section (32) having a case inner wall surface (32a) and a passage wall section (70) forming the opening passage (72). The passage wall section (70) has a first passage wall surface (73) crossing a rotation direction (Ru) of the rotary door (50). The first passage wall surface (73) has at least one first introduction guide (110) having a vertical plate shape. A door outer peripheral surface (53a) of the rotary door (50) has a seal section (55) which slides with the case inner wall surface (32a) and is compressed and deformed in a radial direction of a rotary shaft (52).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved technology for vehicle air conditioners.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle air conditioner includes an arc-shaped rotary door that can open and close an opening through which blown air is discharged from an air conditioning case into a passenger compartment. Among such rotary doors, a configuration in which a seal portion capable of elastic deformation is attached to an outer peripheral surface is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the vehicle air conditioner known from Patent Document 1, a seal portion having elasticity is attached to a shielding surface (outer peripheral surface) of an arc-shaped rotary door, and a skin layer is attached to the surface of this seal portion. The rotary door rotates while sliding with respect to the case inner wall surface of the air conditioning case in a state of being compressed in the thickness direction of the seal portion.

[0004] Here, as an example of a general vehicle air conditioner including the vehicle air conditioner known from Patent Document 1, it can be shown by FIG. 21A. The air conditioning case 1010 of the vehicle air conditioner 1000 includes an opening 1011 through which blown air is discharged. The angle 1014 between the passage wall surface 1012 forming the opening 1011 and the case inner wall surface 1013 is configured as a right angle or an obtuse angle. The rotary door 1020 has an elastic seal portion 1022 (seal portion 1022) attached to the outer peripheral surface 1021a of an arc-shaped substrate 1021. Among this rotary door 1020, the portion located at the opening 1011 is not compressed in the thickness direction of the elastic seal portion 1022. However, with respect to the case inner wall surface 1013 of the air conditioning case 1010, the elastic seal portion 1022 is compressed in the thickness direction. The angle 1014 becomes a reference position when the rotary door 1020 is fully closed, that is, a closing reference position 1014.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0006] In the vehicle air conditioner 1000 shown in FIG. 21A, when the rotary door 1020 is rotated, the tip of the portion of the rotary door 1020 located at the opening 1011 hits the corner 1014. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21B, a force acts on the elastic seal portion 1022 to peel it off from the substrate 1021.

[0007] On the other hand, in the vehicle air conditioner 1100 shown in FIG. 22A, the corner 1015 between the passage wall surface 1012 and the case inner wall surface 1013 is formed as an arcuate guide surface. As a result, the force that tends to peel the elastic seal portion 1022 from the substrate 1021 can be reduced. However, as shown in FIG. 22B, when the corner 1015 is formed as an arcuate guide surface, the closing reference position 1014 when the rotary door 1020 is fully closed shifts to the deviation point 1016 in the door closing direction Rur.

[0008] Further, in the vehicle air conditioner 1200 shown in FIG. 23A, the tip of the elastic seal portion 1022 of the rotary door 1020 is formed on a guide surface 1024 inclined in the thickness direction. As a result, the force that tends to peel the elastic seal portion 1022 from the substrate 1021 can be reduced. However, as shown in FIG. 23B, when the tip of the elastic seal portion 1022 is formed on the inclined guide surface 1024, the closing reference position 1014 when the rotary door 1020 is fully closed shifts to the deviation point 1016 in the door closing direction Rur.

[0009] Moreover, as in the vehicle air conditioner 1000 shown in FIG. 21A, when maintaining the closing reference position 1014 when the rotary door 1020 is fully closed, it is required that the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the opening 1011 can be suppressed except when the rotary door 1020 is fully closed. Therefore, there is a need to develop a technology that can prevent the peeling of the elastic seal portion 1022 from the rotary door 1020 while suppressing the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the opening 1011.

[0010] Therefore, in a vehicle air conditioner provided with a rotary door, it is an object to provide a technology that can prevent the peeling of the seal portion from the rotary door while suppressing the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the opening.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] In the following description, for ease of understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated forms thereby.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, an air conditioning case (30) in which an internal space (31) through which blowing air passes and an opening (37) from which the blowing air is blown out are formed, a rotary door (50) having an arc-shaped cross section, which is accommodated in the internal space (31) and can open and close the opening (37) by rotating, the air conditioning case (30) includes a case wall portion (32) in which the internal space (31) is formed inside, a passage wall portion (70) that extends outward from the case wall portion (32) and forms an opening passage (72) from the opening (37) to the passage end surface (71) on the downstream side, and a case inner wall surface (32a) of the case wall portion (32) facing the internal space (31), the rotary door (50) A door body (51) including a pivot shaft (52), a door outer peripheral portion (53) having a circular arc-shaped cross section arranged along the axial direction (Sr) of the pivot shaft (52) at a position radially away from the pivot shaft (52), and door connecting portions (54, 54) orthogonal to the axial direction (Sr) and connecting the pivot shaft (52) and the door outer peripheral portion (53). A seal portion (55) attached to the door outer peripheral surface (53a) of the door outer peripheral portion (53) and slidable with the inner wall surface (32a) of the case and capable of being compressed and deformed in the radial direction of the pivot shaft (52). In a vehicle air conditioner (10; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600), the passage wall portion (70) includes a first passage wall surface (73) extending in a direction intersecting the rotation direction (Ru) of the rotary door (50), a second passage wall surface (74) facing the first passage wall surface (73) through the opening (37), a third passage wall surface (75) extending in a direction along the rotation direction (Ru) of the rotary door (50), and a fourth passage wall surface (76) facing the third passage wall surface (75) through the opening (37). At least one first introduction guide (110; 550; 610) in the shape of a vertical plate is formed on the first passage wall surface (73). The first introduction guide (110; 550; 610) extends from the first passage wall surface (73) toward the second passage wall surface (74). When the boundary (114; 614) between the inner wall surface (32a) of the case and the first passage wall surface (73) is taken as the reference point (114; 614) of the opening (37), the first introduction guide (110; 550; 610) has a guide surface (115; 615) composed of a continuous inclined surface from the tip (113; 613) of the first introduction guide (110; 550; 610) to the reference point (114; 614), and is capable of guiding the seal portion (55) rotated together with the rotary door (50) to the inner wall surface (32a) of the case while compressing the seal portion (55) in the radial direction of the pivot shaft (52). A vehicle air conditioner is provided with the above characteristics.

Effect of the Invention

[0013] In the present invention, in a vehicle air conditioner provided with a rotary door, it is possible to prevent the peeling of the seal portion from the rotary door while suppressing the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

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Figure 23

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. In the description, "left and right" refer to the left and right with reference to the occupant in the vehicle, and "front and rear" refer to the front and rear with reference to the traveling direction of the vehicle. Also, in the drawings, Up indicates up and Dn indicates down.

[0016] <Example 1> The vehicle air conditioner 10 of Example 1 will be described while referring to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle air conditioner 10 can be mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car (not shown), and adjusts (conditions) the temperature of the air in the vehicle interior. This vehicle air conditioner 10 includes an intake unit (not shown) that switches between the introduced outside air and inside air, and an indoor air conditioner unit 20 that conditions the air (blowing air) blown from this intake unit and supplies it to the vehicle interior.

[0018] This indoor air conditioner unit 20 includes an air conditioning case 30 in which an air flow path 31 (internal space 31) through which the blowing air passes is formed, an evaporator 41 disposed in the air flow path 31, and a heater core 42 disposed downstream of this evaporator 41. Further, the indoor air conditioner unit 20 includes a mix door 43 that mixes the cold air and warm air temperature-controlled by the evaporator 41 and the heater core 42 at a predetermined mixing ratio, and a mode switching door 50 that switches the blowing state of the cold air and warm air to a desired location in the vehicle interior.

[0019] The air-conditioning case 30 is formed of, for example, a resin molded product, and has a case wall portion 32 in which an air flow path 31 (internal space 31) is formed inside. This case wall portion 32 has a case inner wall surface 32a facing the air flow path 31 (internal space 31). The air flow path 31 includes a cold air flow path 33 and a heating flow path 34 downstream of the evaporator 41, and a mixing flow path 35 in which the air flowing from these cold air flow path 33 and heating flow path 34 is mixed to become conditioned air.

[0020] Furthermore, the air-conditioning case 30 has a plurality of blowout openings 36 to 38 for blowing out the conditioned air (blowing air) in the mixing flow path 35. The plurality of blowout openings 36 to 38 (openings 36 to 38) are, for example, three, namely a foot blowout opening 36, a vent blowout opening 37, and a defroster blowout opening 38. The foot blowout opening 36 can blow out the conditioned air toward the feet of the front-seat occupants. The vent blowout opening 37 can blow out the conditioned air toward the upper body of the front-seat occupants. The defroster blowout opening 38 can blow out the conditioned air toward the windshield. Each of the blowout openings 36 to 38 can be switched between open and closed by a mode switching door 50.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the mode switching door 50 is disposed in the mixing flow path 35 inside the air-conditioning case 30, and is configured as a rotary door driven by a drive source (not shown). The mode switching door 50 may be referred to as the "rotary door 50" as appropriate. This rotary door 50 has a semi-circular cross section (arc shape) and is configured as a semi-cylindrical shape having a predetermined length in the axial direction Sr of the rotation axis 52 (in the direction of arrow Sr in FIG. 2A).

[0022] Specifically, this rotary door 50 includes a door body 51 and a seal portion 55. The door body 51 includes a rotation shaft 52, a door outer peripheral portion 53 capable of opening and closing each of the blowing openings 36 to 38, and a pair of door connection portions 54, 54 integrally connecting the rotation shaft 52 and the door outer peripheral portion 53. The rotation shaft 52 is supported by a side wall 39 in the width direction (front-back direction in FIG. 1) of the air conditioning case 30. The door outer peripheral portion 53 is a member having an arcuate cross section arranged along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52 at a position radially away from the rotation shaft 52. The door outer peripheral surface 53a of the door outer peripheral portion 53 is formed in an arcuate shape with reference to the center line CL of the rotation shaft 52. Each of the door connection portions 54, 54 (door side plates 54, 54) is constituted by a flat plate orthogonal to the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52.

[0023] The seal portion 55 is attached to the door outer peripheral surface 53a of the door outer peripheral portion 53 and is capable of being compressed and deformed in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 52. This seal portion 55 is constituted by, for example, a seal main body 56 attached to the door outer peripheral surface 53a of the door outer peripheral portion 53 and a skin material 57 attached to the outer peripheral surface 56a of this seal main body 56. The seal main body 56 is formed with a certain thickness by a compressible elastic material such as urethane foam. The skin material 57 is constituted by a sheet-like material such as non-woven fabric. Note that the seal portion 55 may be constituted only by the seal main body 56. The radius of the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 (the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55), that is, the door radius, with reference to the center line CL of the rotation shaft 52 is r1.

[0024] Furthermore, the rotary door 50 has a blowing passage hole 58 penetrating in the radial direction. This blowing passage hole 58 penetrates the door body 51 and the seal portion 55 in the radial direction across between the pair of door connection portions 54, 54. The conditioned air flowing through the mixing flow path 35 passes through the blowing passage hole 58 and is supplied to the selected blowing openings 36 to 38.

[0025] Next, the vicinity of the blowing openings 36 to 38 of the air conditioning case 30 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the three blowout openings 36 to 38 are located on the inner wall surface 32a of the case. Further, the case wall portion 32 includes four seal walls 61 to 64. Each seal wall surface 61a to 64a of the four seal walls 61 to 64 is located on the inner wall surface 32a of the case. Each blowout opening 36 to 38 and each seal wall 61 to 64 are formed in an arc shape with reference to the center line CL (see FIG. 1) of the rotation shaft 52.

[0026] The first seal wall 61 has a first seal wall surface 61a formed at the lower end of the foot blowout opening 36. The second seal wall 62 has a second seal wall surface 62a formed between the foot blowout opening 36 and the vent blowout opening 37. The third seal wall 63 has a third seal wall surface 63a formed between the vent blowout opening 37 and the defroster blowout opening 38. The fourth seal wall 64 has a fourth seal wall surface 64a formed inside the defroster blowout opening 38.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the seal portion 55 of the rotary door 50 is slidable on the seal wall surfaces 61a to 64a as the door body 51 rotates. The radius of each of the seal wall surfaces 61a to 64a with reference to the center line CL (see FIG. 1) of the rotation shaft 52 is r2, which is smaller than the door radius r1 of the rotary door 50. Therefore, when the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is in sliding contact with the seal wall surfaces 61a to 64a, the seal portion 55 is compressed in the radial direction by the difference between the door radius r1 and the radius r2 of each of the seal wall surfaces 61a to 64a.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the air-conditioning case 30 has two passage wall portions 70, 80 (vent passage wall portion 70 and defroster passage wall portion 80) extending radially outward from the case wall portion 32. The vent passage wall portion 70 forms a vent opening passage 72 from the vent blow-out opening 37 to the downstream vent passage end face 71. The vent passage end face 71 can be connected to a vent duct 91 that blows air toward the upper body of the occupant in the vehicle interior. The defroster passage wall portion 80 forms a defroster opening passage 82 from the defroster blow-out opening 38 to the downstream defroster passage end face 81. The defroster passage end face 81 can be connected to a defroster duct 92 that blows air toward the windshield in the vehicle interior. The vent passage end face 71 and the defroster passage end face 81 are located on the same plane and are provided with a common flange 93.

[0029] More specifically, the vent passage wall portion 70 includes a first vent passage wall surface 73 extending in a direction intersecting the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50, a second vent passage wall surface 74 facing the first vent passage wall surface 73 via the vent blow-out opening 37, a third vent passage wall surface 75 extending in the direction along the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50, and a fourth vent passage wall surface 76 facing the third vent passage wall surface 75 via the vent blow-out opening 37. The first vent passage wall surface 73 is a flat surface in the range from the end 62b adjacent to the vent blow-out opening 37 of the second seal wall surface 62a to the vent passage end face 71. The second vent passage wall surface 74 is a flat surface in the range from the end 63b adjacent to the vent blow-out opening 37 of the third seal wall surface 63a to the vent passage end face 71. The third vent passage wall surface 75 and the fourth vent passage wall surface 76 are wall surfaces forming the vent opening passage 72, and are flat surfaces connecting the first vent passage wall surface 73 and the second vent passage wall surface 74 and extending from the vent blow-out opening 37 to the vent passage end face 71.

[0030] The defroster passage wall portion 80 includes a first defroster passage wall surface 83 extending in a direction intersecting the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50, a second defroster passage wall surface 84 facing the first defroster passage wall surface 83 via the defroster blowing opening 38, a third defroster passage wall surface 85 extending in the direction along the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50, and a fourth defroster passage wall surface 86 facing the third defroster passage wall surface 85 via the defroster blowing opening 38. The first defroster passage wall surface 83 is a flat surface in the range from the end 63c adjacent to the defroster blowing opening 38 to the second passage end surface 81 of the third seal wall surface 63a. The second defroster passage wall surface 84 is a flat surface in the range from the end 64b adjacent to the defroster blowing opening 38 to the second passage end surface 81 of the fourth seal wall surface 64a. The third defroster passage wall surface 85 and the fourth defroster passage wall surface 86 are wall surfaces forming the defroster opening passage 82, and are flat surfaces connecting the first defroster passage wall surface 83 and the second defroster passage wall surface 84 and extending from the defroster blowing opening 38 to the defroster passage end surface 81.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, the first vent passage wall surface 73 includes at least one (for example, a plurality of) introduction guides 110. The second vent passage wall surface 74 includes at least one (for example, a plurality of) opposing side vent introduction guides 120. The first defroster passage wall surface 83 includes at least one (for example, a plurality of) first defroster introduction guides 130. The second defroster passage wall surface 84 includes at least one (for example, a plurality of) opposing side defroster introduction guides 140. Also, the opposing side vent introduction guides 120 and the opposing side defroster introduction guides 140 may be simply referred to as "opposing side introduction guides 120, 140". The quantity of these introduction guides 110, 120, 130, 140 is set according to the size from the third vent passage wall surface 75 to the fourth vent passage wall surface 76, that is, the size in the axial direction Sr of the rotation axis 52 of the vent opening passage 72 and the defroster opening passage 82. Hereinafter, these introduction guides 110, 120, 130, 140 will be described in detail.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a plurality of first vent introduction guides 110 in the form of vertical plates are formed on the first vent passage wall surface 73. That is, the first vent introduction guide 110 is constituted by a flat plate. The plate surfaces 111, 111 of the first vent introduction guide 110 face the third and fourth vent passage wall surfaces 75, 76 side. The first vent introduction guide 110 extends from the first vent passage wall surface 73 toward the second vent passage wall surface 74. The first vent introduction guide 110 is preferably integrally formed with the first vent passage wall surface 73. These plurality of first vent introduction guides 110 are arranged at equal pitches Pi along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6A, the length of the first vent introduction guide 110 is L1 (the first length L1). This first length L1 is the length extending from the first vent passage wall surface 73 (the first passage wall surface 73) toward the second vent passage wall surface 74 (the second passage wall surface 74).

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6A, the height of the first vent introduction guide 110 is H. This height H is the height from the base point 114 of the vent blowing opening 37 to the tip 113 when viewed along the direction (the direction of the arrow Sr in FIG. 5) orthogonal to the rotation direction Ru (see FIG. 4) of the rotary door 50 at the base point 114 of the vent blowing opening 37. In other words, this height H is the height from the tangent line of the second seal wall surface 62a (the case inner wall surface 32a) at the base point 114 to the tip 113. The base point 114 of the vent blowing opening 37 is the boundary 114 between the second seal wall surface 62a (the case inner wall surface 32a) and the first vent passage wall surface 73 (the first passage wall surface 73).

[0035] Here, the boundary 114 shall include the following configuration (1) and configuration (2). (1) As shown in FIG. 6A, the boundary 114 is the intersection of the case inner wall surface 32a and the first vent passage wall surface 73 (the first passage wall surface 73), and is located at the end 62b adjacent to the vent blowing opening 37 of the second seal wall surface 62a. (2) As shown in FIG. 6C, when the inner wall surface 32a of the case and the first passage wall surface 73 are connected by the curved surface 62c, the boundary 114 is the starting point 62d of the curved surface 62c with respect to the inner wall surface 32a of the case.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, similarly, a plurality of vertical plate-shaped opposing side vent introduction guides 120 are formed on the second vent passage wall surface 74. That is, the opposing side vent introduction guide 120 is constituted by a flat plate. The plate surfaces 121, 121 of the opposing side vent introduction guide 120 face the third and fourth vent passage wall surfaces 75, 76. The opposing side vent introduction guide 120 extends from the second vent passage wall surface 74 toward the first vent passage wall surface 73. The length of the opposing side vent introduction guide 120 with respect to the second vent passage wall surface 74 is, for example, the same as the length L1 (see FIG. 6A) of the first vent introduction guide 110. Similarly, the height of the opposing side vent introduction guide 120 is also, for example, the same as the height H (see FIG. 6A) of the first vent introduction guide 110. Further, the plurality of opposing side vent introduction guides 120 are arranged at equal pitches Pi along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52, and are arranged in a stagger arrangement (see FIG. 5) or facing each other (not shown) with respect to the arrangement of the plurality of first vent introduction guides 110. Arranging the opposing side vent introduction guide 120 in a stagger arrangement with respect to the arrangement of the first vent introduction guide 110 can be expressed as the opposing side introduction guide 120 being arranged at different positions in the axial direction Sr of the rotary door 50 with respect to the first introduction guide 110.

[0037] Similarly, a plurality of first defroster introduction guides 130 in the form of vertical plates are formed on the first defroster passage wall surface 83. That is, the first defroster introduction guide 130 is composed of a flat plate. The plate surfaces 131, 131 of the first defroster introduction guide 130 face the third and fourth defroster passage wall surfaces 85, 86. The first defroster introduction guide 130 extends from the first defroster passage wall surface 83 toward the second defroster passage wall surface 84. The length of the first defroster introduction guide 130 with respect to the first defroster passage wall surface 83 is, for example, the same as the length L1 (see FIG. 6A) of the first vent introduction guide 110. Similarly, the height of the first defroster introduction guide 130 is also, for example, the same as the height H (see FIG. 6A) of the first vent introduction guide 110. Further, the plurality of first defroster introduction guides 130 are arranged at equal pitches Pi along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52.

[0038] Similarly, a plurality of opposing-side defroster introduction guides 140 in the form of vertical plates are formed on the second defroster passage wall surface 84. That is, the opposing-side defroster introduction guide 140 is composed of a flat plate. The plate surfaces 141, 141 of the opposing-side defroster introduction guide 140 face the third and fourth defroster passage wall surfaces 85, 86. The opposing-side defroster introduction guide 140 extends from the second defroster passage wall surface 84 toward the first defroster passage wall surface 83. The length of the opposing-side defroster introduction guide 140 with respect to the second defroster passage wall surface 84 is, for example, the same as the length L1 (see FIG. 6A) of the first vent introduction guide 110. Similarly, the height of the opposing-side defroster introduction guide 140 is also, for example, the same as the height H (see FIG. 6A) of the first vent introduction guide 110. Further, the plurality of opposing-side defroster introduction guides 140 are arranged at equal pitches Pi along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52 and are arranged to face the arrangement of the plurality of first defroster introduction guides 130 in an arrangement (see FIG. 5) or a stagger arrangement (not shown).

[0039] Next, the first vent introduction guide 110 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first vent introduction guide 110 has a guide surface 115 that can guide the seal portion 55 rotated together with the rotary door 50 to the inner wall surface 32a of the case while compressing it radially inward of the rotation axis 52. This guide surface 115 is composed of a continuous inclined surface from the tip 113 to the base point 114 of the first vent introduction guide 110 as viewed from the direction of the plate surface 111 of the first vent introduction guide 110 (axial direction Sr of the rotation axis 52), and faces the internal space 31 of the air conditioning case 30. This guide surface 115 is preferably formed in a curved shape (arc shape) that protrudes toward the internal space 31 in guiding the seal portion 55 to the inner wall surface 32a of the case while compressing it radially inward of the rotation axis 52. The guide surface 115 of the first vent introduction guide 110 smoothly guides the seal portion 55 rotated in the direction of closing the vent outlet opening 37 (arrow Ru1 direction) together with the rotary door 50 to the second seal wall surface 62a of the second seal wall 62 while compressing (elastically deforming) it radially inward. Here, the height H of the first vent introduction guide 110 is set to a size that can smoothly guide it to the second seal wall surface 62a of the second seal wall 62 while surely compressing the seal portion 55 with a variation in thickness in the so-called non-compressed state, that is, when not compressed, by the guide surface 115.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6A, when the air conditioning case 30 is resin molded, a parting line PL may occur in the first vent introduction guide 110. This is the case where the air conditioning case 30 is die-cut in the vertical direction. In contrast, in the present invention, the parting line PL is set so as not to be located on the guide surface 115 of the first vent introduction guide 110. For example, the parting line PL is set at the position of the tip 113 of the first vent introduction guide 110. Therefore, the seal portion 55 is not caught by the parting line PL and is smoothly guided by the guide surface 115. Moreover, there is no need to remove the parting line PL, and it can be left as it is on the first vent introduction guide 110. Since there is no need to remove the parting line PL, the production cost of the air conditioning case 30 can be reduced accordingly.

[0041] Next, the operation of the first vent introduction guide 110 will be described. FIG. 7 shows the operation of a plurality of first vent introduction guides 110 as viewed from the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 3 in accordance with FIG. 5. As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, the seal portion 55 of the rotary door 50 rotates in a direction (arrow Ru1 direction) to close the vent blowing opening 37. At this time, the corner 50b of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 hits the contact point P1 (see FIG. 6A) against each guide surface 115 of the plurality of first vent introduction guides 110. As shown in FIG. 6A, the angle formed by the rotation locus Q1 of the corner 55b of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 at the contact point P1 and the tangent line T1 of the guide surface 115, that is, the contact angle, is α1. This contact angle α1 is a relatively small acute angle. Therefore, the guide surface 115 can smoothly guide the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 in the direction of arrow Ru1. Therefore, the force to peel the seal portion 55 from the rotary door 50 is small.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 6B and 7, the portion 50c (contact portion 50c) of the seal portion 55 that hits the guide surface 115 is smoothly compressed by the guide surface 115. As shown in FIG. 7, the pitch Pi between the respective first vent introduction guides 110 is set in consideration of the difference Pr (elastic deformation amount Pr, restoration amount Pr) between the corner 50b of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 and the contact portion 50c. By reducing the elastic deformation amount Pr, the force to peel the seal portion 55 can be suppressed as much as possible by the end 62b adjacent to the vent blowing opening 37 of the second seal wall surface 62a shown in FIG. 6B.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6B, after the seal portion 55 closes the vent blowing opening 37, the entire seal portion 55 enters the second seal wall surface 62a of the second seal wall 62, and further rotates in the direction of arrow Ru1 while being compressed and sealed. Therefore, the force to peel the seal portion 55 from the rotary door 50 rotating in the direction (arrow Ru1 direction) to close the vent blowing opening 37 can be alleviated.

[0044] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, since the plurality of first vent introduction guides 110 are formed in a vertical plate shape and arranged at intervals along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52 (see FIG. 2A), the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the vent outlet opening 37 is suppressed as much as possible.

[0045] The first vent introduction guide 110 can be configured as a modified example shown in FIG. 8. That is, the guide surface 115 of the first vent introduction guide 110 of the modified example is formed in a curved shape (arc shape) that is concave toward the internal space 31 of the air conditioning case 30.

[0046] Although the configuration and operation of the first vent introduction guide 110 have been described, the opposing side vent introduction guide 120, the first defroster introduction guide 130, and the opposing side defroster introduction guide 140 have the same configuration and operation.

[0047] Summarizing the vehicle air conditioner 10 of the above-described Example 1 and its modified examples, it is as follows.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1. The vehicle air conditioner 10 includes an air conditioning case 30 in which an internal space 31 through which the blown air passes and an opening 37 (vent outlet opening 37) from which the blown air is blown are formed, and a rotary door 50 having an arc-shaped cross section that is housed in the internal space 31 and can open and close the opening 37 by rotating.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 3. The air conditioning case 30 includes a case wall portion 32 in which the internal space 31 is formed inside, a passage wall portion 70 (vent passage wall portion 70) that extends from the case wall portion 32 to the outside and forms an opening passage 72 (vent opening passage 72) from the opening 37 to the passage end surface 71 (vent passage end surface 71) on the downstream side, and a case inner wall surface 32a of the case wall portion 32 that faces the internal space 31.

[0050] Refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The rotary door 50 includes a rotation axis 52, a door outer peripheral portion 53 having a cross-sectional arc shape arranged along the axial direction Sr of the rotation axis 52 at a position radially away from the rotation axis 52, and door connection portions 54, 54 that are orthogonal to the axial direction Sr and connect the rotation axis 52 and the door outer peripheral portion 53, and a door body 51 including these. The door body 51 has a seal portion 55 that is attached to the door outer peripheral surface 53a of the door outer peripheral portion 53 and can slide with the inner wall surface 32a of the case and be compressed and deformed in the radial direction of the rotation axis 52.

[0051] Refer to FIG. 5. The passage wall portion 70 has a first passage wall surface 73 (first vent passage wall surface 73) extending in a direction intersecting the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50, a second passage wall surface 74 (second vent passage wall surface 74) facing the first passage wall surface 73 through the opening 37, a third passage wall surface 75 (third vent passage wall surface 75) extending in the direction along the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50, and a fourth passage wall surface 76 (fourth vent passage wall surface 76) facing the third passage wall portion 75 through the opening 37.

[0052] Refer to FIGS. 3, 5, and 6A. The first passage wall surface 73 is formed with vertical plate-shaped first introduction guides 110, 130 (first vent introduction guide 110 and first defroster introduction guide 130) arranged apart from each other along the axial direction Sr of the rotation axis 52. In FIG. 5, a plurality of first introduction guides 110 (first vent introduction guides 110) are formed in the opening passage 72 (vent opening passage 72), and a plurality of first introduction guides 130 (first defroster introduction guides 130) are formed in the opening passage 82 (defroster opening passage 82). The plurality of first introduction guides 110, 130 extend from the first passage wall surface 73 toward the second passage wall surface 74, and when the intersection point 114 between the inner wall surface 32a of the case and the first passage wall surface 73 is taken as the base point 114 of the opening 37, they have a guide surface 115 formed of a continuous inclined surface from the tips 113, 133 to the base point 114 of the first introduction guides 110, 130 so as to be able to guide the seal portion 55 rotated together with the rotary door 50 to the inner wall surface 32a of the case while compressing it in the radial direction of the rotation axis 52. The guide surface 115 is formed in each of the first introduction guides 110, 130.

[0053] As described above, the plurality of first introduction guides 110 and 130 in the shape of vertical plates each have a guide surface 115 formed by a continuous slope from the tips 113 and 133 to the base points 114. The guide surface 115 formed by this slope can smoothly guide the seal portion 55 rotated together with the rotary door 50 to the case inner wall surface 32a (second seal wall surface 62a) of the case wall portion 32 while compressing the seal portion 55. Therefore, the force trying to peel the seal portion 55 from the rotary door 50 can be relaxed as much as possible, so that the peeling of the seal portion 55 can be effectively prevented. Moreover, since the plurality of first introduction guides 110 and 130 are configured in the shape of vertical plates, the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the opening 37 can be suppressed as much as possible. In this way, while suppressing the ventilation resistance of the air passing through the opening 37, the peeling of the seal portion 55 from the rotary door 50 can be prevented.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 4. The vehicle air conditioner 10 further includes opposed introduction guides 120 and 140 (opposed vent introduction guide 120 and opposed defroster introduction guide 140) extending from the second passage wall surface 74 toward the first passage wall surface 73.

[0055] Therefore, it is possible to prevent the peeling of the seal portion 55 not only in the direction Ru1 for closing the vent blowout opening 37 but also with respect to the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 5. When the opposed vent introduction guide 120 is arranged in a staggered pattern with respect to the arrangement of the first vent introduction guides 110 (the opposed introduction guide 120 is arranged at a different position in the axial direction Sr of the rotary door 50 with respect to the first introduction guide 110), the positions where the seal portion 55 is compressed are dispersed in the axial direction Sr of the rotary door 50, so that the durability of the seal portion 55 can be improved.

[0057] Next, Examples 2 to 8 will be described. Note that the basic configurations of Examples 2 to 8 are common to the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the above-described Example 1. For the parts common to the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to Example 1, the reference numerals are reused and the detailed description is omitted.

[0058] <Example 2> With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the vehicle air conditioner 200 of Example 2 will be described. FIG. 9A shows the configuration and operation of a plurality of types of vent introduction guides 110, 210, 310 as viewed from the side of the vent opening passage 72. FIG. 9B corresponds to FIG. 6A. The vehicle air conditioner 200 of Example 2 is characterized by including a plurality of types of vent introduction guides 110, 210, 310 having different lengths L1, L2, L3 from each other. That is, the vehicle air conditioner 200 includes a first vent introduction guide 110 set to a first length L1, a second vent introduction guide 210 set to a second length L2, and a third vent introduction guide 310 set to a third length L3.

[0059] Here, the lengths L1, L2, L3 are the lengths extending from the first vent passage wall surface 73 (first passage wall surface 73) toward the second vent passage wall surface 74 (second passage wall surface 74). Specifically, the second length L2 is longer than the first length L1, and the third length L3 is longer than the second length L2. Therefore, the lengths L2, L3 of the second and third vent introduction guides 210, 310 are longer than the length L1 of the first vent introduction guide 110.

[0060] The configuration of the first vent introduction guide 110 of Example 2 is the same as the vent introduction guide 110 of Example 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. The basic configurations of the second vent introduction guide 210 and the third vent introduction guide 310 are the same as those of the first vent introduction guide 110. The height H of all the vent introduction guides 110, 210, 310 is set to be the same, for example. Here, the height H of each vent introduction guide 110, 210, 310 is set to a size that can smoothly guide the non-compressed, so-called non-compressed seal portion 55 with thickness variations to the second seal wall surface 62a of the second seal wall 62 while being surely compressed by the guide surfaces 115, 215, 315.

[0061] The corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 abuts against the guide surface 115 of the first vent introduction guide 110 at the contact point P1. The contact angle α1 is formed between the rotation locus Q1 of the corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 at the contact point P1 and the tangent line T1 of the guide surface 115.

[0062] The guide surface 215 of the second vent introduction guide 210 is in the range from the tip 213 to the intersection point 114. The corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 abuts against the guide surface 215 of the second vent introduction guide 210 at the contact point P2. The contact angle α2 is formed between the rotation locus Q2 of the corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 at the contact point P2 and the tangent line T2 of the guide surface 215. The contact angle α2 of the second introduction guide 210 is smaller than the contact angle α1 of the first introduction guide 110.

[0063] The guide surface 315 of the third vent introduction guide 310 is in the range from the tip 313 to the intersection point 114. The corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 abuts against the guide surface 315 of the third vent introduction guide 310 at the contact point P3. The contact angle α3 is formed between the rotation locus Q3 of the corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 at the contact point P3 and the tangent line T3 of the guide surface 315. The contact angle α3 of the third introduction guide 310 is smaller than the contact angle α2 of the second introduction guide 210.

[0064] Therefore, the force to peel the seal portion 55 from the rotary door 50 is smaller for the second vent introduction guide 210 than for the first vent introduction guide 110, and smaller for the third vent introduction guide 310 than for the second vent introduction guide 210.

[0065] Each of the vent introduction guides 110, 210, 310 is arranged at equal pitches along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52. For example, when viewed from the side of the third passage wall surface 75 (the third vent passage wall surface 75) to the side of the fourth passage wall surface 76 (the fourth vent passage wall surface 76), they are arranged in the order of the second vent introduction guide 210, the first vent introduction guide 110, the first vent introduction guide 110, the third vent introduction guide 310, the first vent introduction guide 110, the first vent introduction guide 110, and the second vent introduction guide 210.

[0066] Next, the operation of the vehicle air conditioner 200 of Example 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the seal portion 55 of the rotary door 50 rotates in the direction of arrow Ru1. In that case, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is first guided while being compressed radially inward by the third vent introduction guide 310 located at the center. Next, as shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided by the third vent introduction guide 310 and is also guided while being compressed radially inward by the second vent introduction guides 210 located at both ends. Next, as shown in FIGS. 10E and 10F, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided by the second and third vent introduction guides 210, 310 and is also guided while being compressed radially inward by the first vent introduction guide 110.

[0067] In this way, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided more smoothly in the direction of arrow Ru1 by hitting the third vent introduction guide 310, the second vent introduction guide 210, and the first vent introduction guide 110 in this order. Therefore, the force that tries to peel off the seal portion 55 from the rotary door 50 can be made even smaller.

[0068] Summarizing the vehicle air conditioner 200 of Example 2 described above, it is as follows.

[0069] At least one (for example, a plurality of) first introduction guides 110 are set to have a length extending from the first passage wall surface 73 to the second passage wall surface 74 that is a preset first length L1. The vehicle air conditioner 200 further includes a second introduction guide 210 whose second length L2 extending from the first passage wall surface 73 to the second passage wall surface 74 is longer than the first length L1. The second introduction guide 210 has a guide surface 215 formed of a continuous inclined surface from the tip 213 to the base point 114. The first introduction guide 110 and the second introduction guide 210 are arranged apart from each other in the axial direction Sr of the rotary door 50.

[0070] Therefore, the seal portion 55 is first guided by the second introduction guide 210 and subsequently guided by the first introduction guide 110. Accordingly, peeling of the seal portion 55 can be further prevented.

[0071] The vehicle air conditioner 200 preferably further includes a third introduction guide 310 whose third length L3 extending from the first passage wall surface 73 to the second passage wall surface 74 is longer than the first length L1 and the second length L2. The third introduction guide 310 has a guide surface 315 formed of a continuous inclined surface from the tip 313 to the base point 114. The third introduction guide 310 is arranged apart in the axial direction Sr of the rotary door 50, similarly to the first introduction guide 110 and the second introduction guide 210.

[0072] Therefore, by guiding the seal portion 55 by the third introduction guide 310 prior to the second introduction guide, peeling of the seal portion 55 can be further prevented.

[0073] As described above, in the second embodiment, the vent introduction guides 110, 210, 310 change their respective lengths L1, L2, L3 (some are set longer) while maintaining the same height H. For this reason, contact between the corner 50b (see FIG. 6A) of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 and the guide surface 315 of the third introduction guide 310 with the longer length L3 can be advanced, and as a result, the seal portion 55 can be reliably compressed.

[0074] Note that the heights H of the respective introduction guides 110, 210, 310 in the second embodiment may not all be the same, and some vent introduction guides may be set higher than others. For example, it is also possible to set the height H of some vent introduction guides higher than the corner 50b (see FIG. 6A) of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55, that is, on the vent passage end face 71 side (see FIG. 6A). Even if the seal portion 55 has a variation in thickness when not compressed, the corner 50b of the seal portion 55 can first come into contact with the guide surface of the vent introduction guide with the height H set high. Accordingly, even if the seal portion 55 has a variation in thickness, it can be reliably compressed.

[0075] In addition, each of the introduction guides 110, 210, and 310 of Example 2 can also be set to have a higher respective height H and longer respective lengths L1, L2, and L3 while maintaining their respective contact angles α1, α2, and α3. By doing so, it is possible to achieve both an improvement in the adaptability to the seal portion 55 having variations in thickness when not compressed and an earlier start of contact of the seal portion 55 with the guide surfaces 115, 215, and 315 of each of the introduction guides 110, 210, and 310.

[0076] In addition to the effects of Example 2, the vehicle air conditioner 200 according to Example 2 can exhibit the same effects as the vehicle air conditioner 10 of Example 1 described above.

[0077] <Example 3> The vehicle air conditioner 300 of Example 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11A corresponds to FIG. 9A. FIG. 11B corresponds to FIG. 9B. FIG. 11C corresponds to FIG. 9C. FIG. 11D corresponds to FIG. 9D.

[0078] The vehicle air conditioner 300 of Example 3 is characterized in that the arrangement of the introduction guides 110, 210, and 310 is changed with respect to the vehicle air conditioner 200 of Example 2. That is, when looking from the side of the third passage wall surface 75 (the third vent passage wall surface 75) to the side of the fourth passage wall surface 76 (the fourth vent passage wall surface 76) along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52, the introduction guides 110, 210, and 310 are arranged in the order of the first vent introduction guide 110, the second vent introduction guide 210, the first vent introduction guide 110, the third vent introduction guide 310, the first vent introduction guide 110, the second vent introduction guide 210, and the first vent introduction guide 110.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 12B, in the air conditioning case 30, the space between the side wall 39 in the width direction and the third vent passage wall surface 75 and the space between the side wall 39 in the width direction and the fourth vent passage wall surface 76 are each connected by a stepped surface 239.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the seal portion 55 of the rotary door 50 rotates in the direction of arrow Ru1. In that case, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is first guided while being compressed radially inward by the stepped surfaces 239, 239 on both sides and the third vent introduction guide 310 located at the center. Next, as shown in FIGS. 12C and 12D, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided by the third vent introduction guide 310 and is guided while being compressed radially inward by the second vent introduction guides 210 located at both ends. Next, as shown in FIGS. 12E and 12F, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided by the second and third vent introduction guides 210, 310 and is guided while being compressed radially inward by the first vent introduction guide 110.

[0081] The vehicle air conditioner 300 according to Embodiment 3 can exhibit the same effects as the vehicle air conditioner 200 of the above-described Embodiment 2.

[0082] <Example 4> While referring to FIG. 13, the vehicle air conditioner 400 of Example 4 will be described. FIG. 13A corresponds to FIG. 9A. FIG. 13B corresponds to FIG. 9B. FIG. 13D corresponds to FIG. 9C. FIG. 13E corresponds to FIG. 9D. The vehicle air conditioner 400 of Example 4 is characterized in that a fourth vent introduction guide 410 is added to the vehicle air conditioner 200 of Example 2 and the arrangement of the respective vent introduction guides 110, 210, 310, 410 is changed.

[0083] The fourth vent introduction guide 410 is set to a fourth length L4. This fourth length L4 is the length extending from the first vent passage wall surface 73 (the first passage wall surface 73) toward the second vent passage wall surface 74 (the second passage wall surface 74). The fourth length L4 is longer than the first length L1 of the first introduction guide 110 and shorter than the second length L2 of the second introduction guide 210. The basic configuration of the fourth vent introduction guide 410 is the same as that of the first introduction guide 110. The height of the fourth vent introduction guide 410 is the same as the height H of the first vent introduction guide 110. Here, the height H of the fourth vent introduction guide 410 is set to a size that can smoothly guide the seal portion 55, which has a thickness variation when not compressed, to the second seal wall surface 62a of the second seal wall 62 while being surely compressed by the guide surface 415.

[0084] The guide surface 415 of the fourth vent introduction guide 410 is in the range from the tip 413 to the base point 414. The corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 contacts the guide surface 415 of the fourth vent introduction guide 410 at the contact point P4. The contact angle α4 formed by the tangent T4 of the guide surface 415 and the rotation locus Q4 of the corner of the outer peripheral surface 55a of the seal portion 55 at the contact point P4 is α4. The contact angle α4 of the fourth vent introduction guide 410 is smaller than the contact angle α1 of the first introduction guide 110 and larger than the contact angle α2 of the second introduction guide 210. Therefore, the force to peel the seal portion 50 from the rotary door 50 is smaller for the fourth vent introduction guide 410 than for the first vent introduction guide 110, and smaller for the second vent introduction guide 210 than for the fourth vent introduction guide 410.

[0085] Each of the introduction guides 110, 210, 310, 410 is arranged in the order of the first vent introduction guide 110, the fourth vent introduction guide 410, the second vent introduction guide 210, the third vent introduction guide 310, the second vent introduction guide 210, the fourth vent introduction guide 410, and the first vent introduction guide 110 along the axial direction Sr of the rotation axis 52.

[0086] The pitch between the first and fourth vent introduction guides 110 and 410 is set to a first pitch Pi1. The second pitch between the fourth and second vent introduction guides 410 and 210 is set to Pi2, and the second pitch Pi2 is larger than the first pitch Pi1. The third pitch between the second and third vent introduction guides 210 and 310 is set to Pi3, and the third pitch Pi3 is larger than the second pitch Pi2. Thus, the pitches Pi1 to Pi3 of the respective introduction guides 110, 210, 310, and 410 can be appropriately set according to the sizes of the lengths L1 to L4 and the sizes of the contact angles α1 to α4.

[0087] As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13E, the seal portion 55 of the rotary door 50 rotates in the direction of arrow Ru1. In that case, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is first guided while being compressed radially inward by the third vent introduction guide 310 located at the center. Next, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13D, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided by the third vent introduction guide 310 and is also guided while being compressed radially inward by the second vent introduction guides 210 located on both sides thereof. Next, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13C, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided by the second and third vent introduction guides 210 and 310 and is also guided while being compressed radially inward by the fourth vent introduction guide 410. Next, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 is guided by the second, third, and fourth vent introduction guides 210, 310, and 410 and is also guided while being compressed radially inward by the first vent introduction guide 110.

[0088] As is clear from the above description, in the fourth embodiment, the vehicle air conditioner 400 further includes a fourth introduction guide 410 whose fourth length L4 extending from the first passage wall surface 73 toward the second passage wall surface 74 is longer than the first length L1. The fourth introduction guide 410 has a guide surface 415 formed of a continuous inclined surface from the tip 413 to the base point 114. The fourth introduction guide 410 is arranged away from the first introduction guide 110, the second introduction guide 210, and the third introduction guide 310 in the axial direction Sr of the rotary door 50.

[0089] Therefore, by guiding the seal portion 55 by the fourth introduction guide 410 prior to the first introduction guide 110, it is possible to further prevent the seal portion 55 from peeling off.

[0090] Also, as shown in FIG. 13A, in the vent opening passage 72, as going from both ends in the axial direction Sr of the rotation axis 52 (see FIG. 2) toward the center, the lengths L1 to L4 of the respective introduction guides 110, 210, 310, 410 are set to be long, and the respective pitches Pi1 to Pi3 are set to be large. For this reason, with respect to each of the introduction guides 110, 210, 310, 410, the contact resistance of the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotating rotary door 50 can be gently changed and suppressed. As a result, the torque for rotating the rotary door 50 can be gently changed and suppressed. Moreover, peeling of the seal portion 55 at the center in the axial direction Sr can be prevented as much as possible.

[0091] Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioner 400 according to the fourth embodiment can exhibit the same effects as the vehicle air conditioner 300 of the third embodiment.

[0092] <Embodiment 5> The vehicle air conditioner 500 of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 14A corresponds to FIG. 4. FIG. 14B shows an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 14A. FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 5.

[0093] The vehicle air conditioner 500 of Example 5 is characterized in that a part 550 of the plurality of first vent introduction guides 110 with respect to the vehicle air conditioner 10 of Example 1 is constituted by a bridge connecting the first vent passage wall surface 73 and the second vent passage wall surface 74. The part 550 of the first vent introduction guides 110 may be appropriately rephrased as the "bridge 550".

[0094] The guide surface 555 of the bridge 550 has the same configuration as the guide surface 115 of the first vent introduction guide 110 of Example 1. The bridge 550 has an arch-shaped bridge lower surface 550a connecting between the guide surfaces 555, 555 at both ends, which is configured as a concave curved surface toward the outer side in the radial direction so as not to contact the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 or to suppress the amount of compression of the seal portion 55 inward in the radial direction even if it contacts. For this reason, only the guide surfaces 555, 555 at both ends of the bridge lower surface 550a contact and guide the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50. The portions of the bridge lower surface 550a other than the guide surfaces 555, 555 at both ends do not contact the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50. Therefore, the sliding noise of the rotary door 50 with respect to the bridge lower surface 550a can be reduced.

[0095] The number of the first vent introduction guides 110, 550 of the vehicle air conditioner 500 of Example 5 is not limited to a plurality, and it can also be applied in the case of only one. That is, it is also possible to configure the vehicle air conditioner 500 to include only one first introduction guide 550 and not to include other first vent introduction guides 110. In that case, the single first introduction guide 550 provided in the vehicle air conditioner 500 is configured by connecting the first passage wall surface 73 and the second passage wall surface 74 (constituting the bridge 550).

[0096] Summarizing the vehicle air conditioner 500 according to the above-described Example 5, it is as follows. When there is only one first introduction guide 550, one first introduction guide 550 is configured by connecting the first passage wall surface 73 and the second passage wall surface 74. On the other hand, when there are a plurality of first introduction guides 110 and 550, the plurality of first introduction guides 110 and 550 are arranged apart along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52. In that case, a part 550 of the plurality of introduction guides 110 and 550 is configured by connecting the first passage wall surface 73 (the first vent passage wall surface 73) and the second passage wall surface 74 (the second vent passage wall surface 74) (constituting the bridge 550).

[0097] In this way, by connecting the first passage wall surface 73 and the second passage wall surface 74 by the first introduction guide 550, the rigidity of the air conditioning case 30 can be increased. Moreover, not only in the direction Ru1 for closing the vent blowout opening 37 (see FIG. 3), but also peeling of the seal portion 55 can be prevented with respect to the rotation direction Ru of the rotary door 50.

[0098] Note that the position of the bridge 550 is not limited to the center in the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52 (see FIG. 2) in the vent opening passage 72, and can be set as appropriate. Also, the number of bridges 550 is arbitrary. For example, by arranging two bridges 550 in the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52 in the vent opening passage 72, it is possible to branch the air to three locations in the vehicle interior via the vent duct 91 from the vent opening passage 72.

[0099] Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioner 500 according to Example 5 can exhibit the same effects as the vehicle air conditioner 10 of the above-described Example 1.

[0100] <Example 6> Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the vehicle air conditioner 600 of Example 6 will be described. FIG. 16A corresponds to FIG. 6A. The vehicle air conditioner 600 of Example 6 is characterized in that the first vent introduction guide 110 of Example 1 shown in FIG. 6A is changed to the first vent introduction guide 610 shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B. The basic configuration of this first vent introduction guide 610 is the same as that of the first vent introduction guide 110 of Example 1, and it has features in the shape of the guide surface 615. In the first vent introduction guide 610, the tip 613 is the same as the tip 113 of Example 1 shown in FIG. 6A, and the base point 614 is the same as the base point 114 (boundary 114) of Example 1 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C.

[0101] As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the guide surface 615 is formed wider in the axial direction Sr (see FIG. 7) of the rotary door 50 as the first vent introduction guide 610 extends from the tip 613 to the base point 614. That is, the width of the guide surface 615 expands from the width W1 at the tip 613 to the width W2 at the base point 614.

[0102] For example, the width W1 of the first range A1 from the tip 613 to the contact point P1 on the guide surface 615 is constant and is the same as the plate thickness th of the first vent introduction guide 610 (the thickness th in the axial direction Sr of the rotary door 50). This contact point P1 is the point where the corner of the outer peripheral surface 50a of the rotary door 50 starts to contact the guide surface 615. The second range A2 from the contact point P1 to the base point 614 on the guide surface 615 is formed wider in a tapered shape (including a curved shape and an arc shape) in the axial direction Sr as it extends from the contact point P1 to the base point 614. The width of the second range A2 gradually increases from the width W1 to the width W2.

[0103] Note that the second range A2 is not limited to the range from the contact point P1 to the base point 614, and it may be regulated as long as the compression allowance of the seal portion 55 by the guide surface 615 does not increase. For example, the second range A2 is appropriately set in the range from a position slightly closer to the base point 614 than the contact point P1 to the base point 614.

[0104] The arrangement of the plurality of first vent introduction guides 610 is set in the same manner as the arrangement of the first vent introduction guides 110 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, for example, and is equally spaced along the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52.

[0105] Next, the operation of the first vent introduction guide 610 will be described. FIGS. 17A and 17B show a state in which the corner of the seal portion 55 starts to contact the guide surface 615 by rotating in the direction of arrow Ru1. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 17C and 17D, the seal portion 55 further rotates in the direction of arrow Ru1, and thus begins to be gently compressed by the second range A2 of the guide surface 615. Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 17E and 17F, the seal portion 55 further rotates in the direction of arrow Ru1, and thus rotates while being more gently compressed by the second range A2 of the guide surface 615.

[0106] As described above, according to the first vent introduction guide 610, the force that tends to peel off the seal portion 55 from the rotary door 50 rotating in the direction (arrow Ru1 direction) to close the vent blowing opening 37 can be further relaxed.

[0107] Summarizing the vehicle air conditioner 600 of the sixth embodiment described above, it is as follows. As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the guide surface 615 of the vertical plate-shaped introduction guide 610 (first vent introduction guide 610) is formed wide in the axial direction Sr (see FIG. 7) of the rotary door 50 as the plurality of introduction guides 610 extend from the tip 613 toward the base point 614.

[0108] As the rotary door 50 closes the opening 37 (vent blowing opening 37), it is possible to regulate so that the compression allowance of the seal portion 55 by the guide surface 615 does not increase. For this reason, the burden on the seal portion 55 can be reduced. Moreover, an increase in the torque for rotating the rotary door 50 can be suppressed.

[0109] In addition, the first vent introduction guide 610 is formed to be wide in a tapered shape (including a curved shape and an arc shape) that spreads out toward the axial direction Sr only in the vicinity of the base point 614, and is narrow in the vicinity of the contact point P1, so that the ventilation resistance does not increase significantly.

[0110] In addition to the effects of Example 6, the vehicle air conditioner 600 according to Example 6 can exhibit the same effects as the vehicle air conditioner 10 of Example 1 above.

[0111] <Example 7> While referring to FIG. 18, the vehicle air conditioner 700 of Example 7 will be described. FIG. 18 corresponds to FIG. 5. The vehicle air conditioner 700 of Example 7 is characterized in that the passage wall portions 70 and 80 of Example 1 shown in FIG. 5 are constituted by divided parts 710 (passage divided parts 710) that are divided into two in the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52 (see FIG. 2A). The basic configuration of this passage divided part 710 is the same as that of the passage wall portions 70 and 80 of Example 1, and is a configuration divided at the center (including substantially the center) in the axial direction Sr of the rotation shaft 52.

[0112] More specifically, this passage divided part 710 is divided into a first half body 712 and a second half body 713 from the dividing line 711. The first half body 712 and the second half body 713 are each formed by a separate resin molded product, and the end faces 712a and 713a at the dividing line 711 overlap each other and are joined together. Examples of the joining structure between these end faces 712a and 713a include various joining structures such as clips, snap fits, screwing, adhesion, and welding. The vent passage wall surfaces 73 and 74 and the defroster passage wall surfaces 83 and 84 are formed in a tapered shape so that a molding die (not shown) can be demolded along the axial direction Sr toward the dividing line 711 side. The lengths of the introduction guides 110 to 140 (for example, L1 shown in FIG. 6A, etc.) are set in consideration of the inclination of the passage wall surfaces 73, 74, 83, and 84.

[0113] In this way, by dividing the passage walls 70 and 80 of the first embodiment, the size of the molding die can be reduced. In addition, in order to mold each of the introduction guides 110 to 140, a slide die (not shown) that can move in the front-back direction of the paper surface representing FIG. 18 may be used.

[0114] In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the vehicle air conditioner 700 according to the seventh embodiment can exhibit the same effects as the vehicle air conditioner 10 of the first embodiment.

[0115] <Eighth Embodiment> The vehicle air conditioner 800 according to the eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 19, 20A, and 20B. FIG. 19 corresponds to FIGS. 14A and 15. FIG. 20 corresponds to FIG. 14B. The vehicle air conditioner 800 according to the eighth embodiment is characterized in that the bridge 550 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 14A to 15 is provided in the air conditioning case 30 via a frame body 810 made of a separate member.

[0116] The frame body 810 is a rectangular member that can be fitted into the vent opening passage 72 and is formed, for example, by a resin molded product. The frame body 810 includes a hollow rectangular peripheral wall 811 and a flange 812 on the frame formed integrally with the upper end of the peripheral wall 811. The flange 812 is positioned on the flange 93 of the vent passage end face 71 by being overlapped and removably attached thereon. The blown air can pass from the vent discharge opening 37 through the inside of the frame body 810 to the vent passage end face 71.

[0117] The length of this frame body 810 is smaller (for example, about half) than the distance from the third vent passage wall surface 75 to the fourth vent passage wall surface 76 of the vent passage wall portion 70. Therefore, the blown air can pass through the vent opening passage 72 without being affected by the frame body 810. The position of the frame body 810 can be set at any position between the vent passage wall surfaces 75 and 76. Further, the frame body 810 is fitted between the first vent passage wall surface 73 and the second vent passage wall surface 74 without a gap (including a configuration with almost no gap). On the inner wall surface 811a of the peripheral wall 811 of the frame body 810, the first and second vent introduction guides 110 and 120 and the bridge 550 are integrally formed.

[0118] In the vehicle air conditioner 800 of Example 8, the boundary 114 is the intersection of the inner wall surface 32a of the case and the inner wall surface 811a of the peripheral wall 811 of the frame body 810. Here, the boundary 114 of the vehicle air conditioner 800 of Example 8 is the same concept as the boundary 114 of other embodiments shown in FIG. 6A above. Therefore, the boundary 114 of the vehicle air conditioner 800 of Example 8 is defined to be the same as the intersection of the inner wall surface 32a of the case and the first vent passage wall surface 73 (the first passage wall surface 73), similar to other embodiments.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 19, among the peripheral wall 811 of the frame body 810, the shape of the portion 811b facing each of the vent passage wall surfaces 75 and 76 is formed in the same shape as the bridge lower surface 550a and the guide surface 555 of the bridge 550.

[0120] In this way, by providing the bridge 550 in the air conditioning case 30 via a separate frame body 810, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the bridge 550 can be increased. Moreover, the rigidity of the air conditioning case 30 can be increased by supporting the first passage wall surface 73 and the second passage wall surface 74 via the frame body 810 by the bridge 550. Note that the frame body 810 having the bridge 550 may be configured to be fitted into the defroster opening passage 82.

[0121] Furthermore, the vehicle air conditioner 800 according to Example 8 can exhibit the same effects as the vehicle air conditioner 10 of Example 1 and the vehicle air conditioner 500 of Example 5.

[0122] Note that as long as the present invention exhibits its actions and effects, the present invention is not limited to each embodiment. For example, the vehicle air conditioners 10, 200 to 800 of each embodiment can be combined with any two or more embodiments.

Industrial Applicability

[0123] The vehicle air conditioners 10, 200 to 800 of the present invention are suitable for being mounted on vehicles such as passenger cars.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0124] 10, 200 to 800 Vehicle air conditioner 30 Air conditioning case 31 Interior space 32 Case wall portion 32a Inner case wall surface 37 Opening (vent outlet opening) 50 Rotary door (mode switching door) 50a Outer peripheral surface 51 Door body 52 Rotation axis 53 Door outer peripheral portion 53a Door outer peripheral surface 54 Door connection portion (door side plate) 55 Seal portion 70 Passage wall portion (vent passage wall portion) 71 Passage end surface (vent passage end surface) 72 Opening passage (vent opening passage) 73 First passage wall surface (first vent passage wall surface) 74 Second passage wall surface (second vent passage wall surface) 75 Third passage wall surface (third vent passage wall surface) 76 Fourth passage wall surface (fourth vent passage wall surface) 110, 550, 610 First introduction guide (first vent introduction guide) 113,613 tip 114,614 boundary (intersection point, base point) 115,615 guiding surface 210 Second introduction guide (second vent introduction guide) 213 tip 215 guiding surface 550 Part of the first introduction guide (bridge) L1 First length L2 Second length Ru Rotation direction of the rotary door Sr Axial direction of the rotation axis

Claims

1. An air conditioning case (30) having an internal space (31) through which supply air passes and an opening (37) through which the supply air is blown out, a rotary door (50) having an arcuate cross section and housed in the internal space (31) and capable of opening and closing the opening (37) by rotation, wherein the air conditioning case (30) comprises: a case wall portion (32) having the internal space (31) formed therein, a passage wall portion (70) extending outward from the case wall portion (32) and forming an opening passage (72) from the opening (37) to the passage end face (71) on the downstream side, a case inner wall surface (32a) of the case wall portion (32) facing the internal space (31), wherein the rotary door (50) comprises: a rotary shaft (52), a door outer peripheral portion (53) having an arcuate cross section arranged along the axial direction (Sr) of the rotary shaft (52) at a position radially away from the rotary shaft (52), and door connection portions (54, 54) orthogonal to the axial direction (Sr) and connecting the rotary shaft (52) and the door outer peripheral portion (53), the door connection portions (54, 54) forming a door body (51), a seal portion (55) attached to the door outer peripheral surface (53a) of the door outer peripheral portion (53) and capable of sliding with the case inner wall surface (32a) and being compressed and deformed in the radial direction of the rotary shaft (52), in a vehicle air conditioner (10; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600), the passage wall portion (70) has a first passage wall surface (73) extending in a direction intersecting the rotation direction (Ru) of the rotary door (50), a second passage wall surface (74) facing the first passage wall surface (73) through the opening (37), a third passage wall surface (75) extending in the direction along the rotation direction (Ru) of the rotary door (50), and a fourth passage wall surface (76) facing the third passage wall surface (75) through the opening (37), wherein at least one first introduction guide (110; 550; 610) in the form of a vertical plate is formed on the first passage wall surface (73). This first introduction guide (110; 550; 610) extends from the first passage wall surface (73) toward the second passage wall surface (74), and when the boundary (114; 614) between the case inner wall surface (32a) and the first passage wall surface (73) is taken as the base point (114; 614) of the opening (37), it is possible to guide the seal portion (55) rotated together with the rotary door (50) to the case inner wall surface (32a) while compressing the seal portion (55) in the radial direction of the rotation axis (52). The vehicle air conditioner is characterized by having a guide surface (115; 615) composed of a continuous inclined surface from the tip (113; 613) of the first introduction guide (110; 550; 610) to the base point (114; 614).

2. The first introduction guide (110) has a length extending from the first passage wall surface (73) toward the second passage wall surface (74) set to a preset first length (L1). The vehicle air conditioner further includes a second introduction guide (210) in which a second length (L2) extending from the first passage wall surface (73) toward the second passage wall surface (74) is longer than the first length (L1). The second introduction guide (210) has a guide surface (215) composed of a continuous inclined surface from the tip (213) to the base point (114). The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first introduction guide (110) and the second introduction guide (210) are arranged apart from each other in the axial direction (Sr) of the rotary door (50).

3. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, further including a counter-introduction guide (120) extending from the second passage wall surface (74) toward the first passage wall surface (73).

4. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the counter-introduction guide (120) is arranged at a position different from the first introduction guide (110) in the axial direction (Sr) of the rotary door (50).

5. When there is only one first introduction guide (550), the one first introduction guide (550) is configured by connecting the first passage wall surface (73) and the second passage wall surface (74). When there are a plurality of first introduction guides (110, 550), the plurality of first introduction guides (110, 550) are arranged apart from each other along the axial direction (Sr) of the rotation axis (52). The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a part (550) of the plurality of first introduction guides (110, 550) is configured by connecting the first passage wall surface (73) and the second passage wall surface (74).

6. The guide surface (615) of the vertical plate-shaped first introduction guide (610) is formed wider in the axial direction (Sr) of the rotary door (50) as the first introduction guide (610) extends from the tip (613) toward the base point (614). The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1.

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