HVAC box for cooling components of vehicle

Abstract

To provide an HVAC Box (10) for cooling, by using a coolant, components of a vehicle.SOLUTION: The HVAC Box (10) comprises: a box (12) with integrated coolant pipes (14a); a first mounting flange (16) for a coolant pump (18); and a second mounting flange (20) for a coolant valve (22). Thereby, the first and second mounting flanges (16, 20) are connected with at least one of the coolant pipes (14a).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an HVAC box for regulating the cabin and cooling components of a vehicle, particularly an electric vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] In the past, the HVAC box was located near the bulkhead on the outside of the cabin. The HVAC box must be located near the air outlet where the heated or cooled air is directed into the vehicle's cabin. In modern cars, this space is needed for other components, such as components for autonomous driving and head-up displays.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to move the thermal components of the vehicle to other locations to allow for more flexible placement of these components. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

[0005] The HVAC box of the present invention preferably functions in parallel with a classic HVAC box as defined below to cool vehicle, particularly electric vehicle, components with coolant. The HVAC box includes a box, particularly a plastic box with an integrated coolant pipe, a first mounting flange for a coolant pump, and a second mounting flange for a coolant valve. The first and second mounting flanges are connected to at least one coolant pipe.

[0006] The HVAC box of the present invention has the advantage of providing a mounting flange for a coolant pump and a mounting flange for a coolant valve while also helping to direct air. Therefore, all of these components can be arranged very compactly on the HVAC box. Furthermore, the HVAC box allows for highly flexible placement within the vehicle, and can therefore be moved away from the vehicle's bulkhead, where other components, such as a head-up display or components for autonomous driving, can be placed instead. Considering cabin adjustment via the vehicle's ceiling and / or floor instead of via a dashboard nozzle, as is the case with autonomous vehicles where front passengers face rear passengers, the HVAC box can be relocated and integrated with the vehicle's thermal management system, freeing up valuable space near the bulkhead.

[0007] A car HVAC box, also known as an HVAC module or heater box, is a component of a vehicle's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that helps regulate and direct airflow, temperature, and air distribution within the cabin.

[0008] The HVAC box may house essential components such as a heater core, evaporator, blower motor, blend door, and / or actuators. Preferably, it controls the mixing of hot and cold air, adjusts airflow direction (defrost, floor, face vent), and / or ensures proper climate control based on user settings. The system functions by drawing air from the exterior or interior of the vehicle, conditioning it (heating or cooling), and then distributing it to the cabin through ducts.

[0009] The HVAC box is preferably fitted with a heat exchanger.

[0010] More preferably, the coolant tubes are integrally formed within the HVAC box by blow molding or injection molding.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment, the device of the invention comprises a second heat exchanger that is inclined relative to the first heat exchanger, in other words the two heat exchangers are not arranged parallel to each other.

[0012] The first heat exchanger is adapted to transfer heat between a coolant and air, whereby this air is preferably distributed by air ducts attached to the heat exchanger.

[0013] More preferably, the second heat exchanger is adapted to transfer heat between the refrigerant and / or coolant and air.

[0014] The apparatus of the present invention may further include a refrigeration module mounted to the HVAC box, whereby the chiller is mounted to the HVAC box for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the coolant.

[0015] The refrigeration module manages air conditioning, drying, and heat pump functions, and controls refrigerant flow and pressure to HVAC refrigerant-to-air heat exchangers (evaporators, condensers / gas coolers) and attached refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchangers (chillers, liquid-cooled condensers) for battery conditioning or heat recovery. The module contains flow paths embedded in the aluminum module, as well as valves, sensors, fill ports, and interfaces to lines and heat exchangers.

[0016] The refrigerant module can be embedded in or attached to the integrated HVAC box through the interface of commonly shared components such as the first or second heat exchanger or refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger (chiller, liquid-cooled condenser).

[0017] The refrigerant-to-coolant heat exchanger includes flow connections to the coolant and refrigerant modules or equivalent piping, while allowing for large heat transfer between both fluids by providing a large surface area, for example, as a stack of brazed plates.

[0018] More preferably, the chiller ducts through which the refrigerant flows are integrally formed within the HVAC box.

[0019] It is further preferred that the air ducts used to distribute the air coming from the first heat exchanger are arranged in the A, B and / or C pillars of the vehicle and / or in the vehicle roof.

[0020] It is further preferred that at least a portion of the air duct is insulated, which minimizes heat loss and therefore allows the air duct to be long without wasting too much heat.

[0021] The following figures illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives. [Figure 2] 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives. [Figure 3] 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives. [Figure 4] 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives. [Figure 5] 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives. [Figure 6] 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives. [Figure 7] 1A-1D illustrate an embodiment of the present invention from different perspectives. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an HVAC box 10 of the present invention for cooling components of a vehicle, particularly an electric vehicle, with coolant, while simultaneously functioning as a traditional HVAC box according to the above-described functions. The HVAC box 10 includes a plastic box 12 with integrated coolant tubes 14a. These can be blow-molded, for example, and thus integrally formed within the plastic box 12. The plastic box 12 includes a first mounting flange 16 for a coolant pump 18 and a second mounting flange 20 for a coolant valve 22. The coolant pump is used to pump coolant to other vehicle components. The coolant valve is used to facilitate the distribution of coolant within the vehicle.

[0024] The first and second mounting flanges 16, 20 are connected to at least one coolant pipe 14a-14d that is integrally formed within the plastic box 12.

[0025] HVAC box 10 is shown in isolation in FIG. 2, while FIG. 1 shows the HVAC box with other components, such as air duct 32.

[0026] Figure 3 shows the HVAC box 10 of Figure 1 from above. In particular, it can be seen how the air coming from the first heat exchanger 24 is distributed through the ducts 32.

[0027] This first heat exchanger 24 is shown in Figure 4. The duct is also shown in Figure 5.

[0028] 6 shows a first heat exchanger 24 and a second heat exchanger 26 that is inclined relative to the first heat exchanger 24. The first heat exchanger 24 is adapted to transfer heat between a refrigerant and air, which is distributed by air ducts 32 attached to the heat exchanger (see, e.g., FIG. 5). The second heat exchanger 26 transfers heat between the refrigerant and the air.

[0029] The functions of the system components are as follows: pT sensors are used to measure pressure and / or temperature inside fluids. They are used in coolant and refrigerant circuits.

[0030] Valves are used to distribute the flow among the various channels or to precisely control the mass flow rate or pressure within each flow path. Various types of coolant and refrigerant circuits can be used.

[0031] The accumulator stores liquid refrigerant, separates the gas and liquid phases, ensures oil return to the compressor, and extracts moisture from the system.

[0032] An internal heat exchanger (integrated into the accumulator) exchanges heat between the refrigerant system liquid and the suction line, increasing system efficiency.

[0033] The present invention further relates to a cooling module for cooling a vehicle component as described in the following aspects, wherein the cooling module is equivalent to the HVAC box described in the above specification and can include the same features.

[0034] Aspects Aspect 1. A cooling module (10) for cooling a vehicle component with a coolant, the cooling module (10) comprising: a box (12) having integrated coolant pipes (14a-14d); a first mounting flange (16) for a coolant pump (18); a second mounting flange (20) for the coolant valve (22); Including, This connects the first and second mounting flanges (16, 20) to at least one coolant pipe (14a-14d).

[0035] Aspect 2. The device according to aspect 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger (24) is attached to the cooling module (10).

[0036] Aspect 3. The device according to aspect 1 or 2, characterized in that the coolant tubes (14a-14d) are integrally formed in the cooling module (10) by blow molding.

[0037] Embodiment 4. The apparatus of embodiment 2, characterized by the second heat exchanger (26) being inclined relative to the first heat exchanger (24) such that the two heat exchangers (24, 26) are not positioned parallel to one another.

[0038] Aspect 5. The apparatus of any preceding aspect, characterized in that a refrigerant module (28) is attached to the cooling module (10), thereby attaching a chiller (30) to the cooling module (10) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and a coolant.

[0039] Aspect 6. The device according to aspect 5, characterized in that the tubes of the chiller (30) through which the coolant flows are integrally formed in the cooling module (10).

[0040] Aspect 7. The device according to aspect 2, characterized in that the heat exchanger (24) is adapted to transfer heat between the coolant and air, whereby this air is distributed by air ducts (32) attached to the heat exchanger (24).

[0041] Aspect 8. The apparatus of aspects 4 and 5, characterized in that the second heat exchanger (26) is adapted to transfer heat between the refrigerant and the air.

[0042] Embodiment 9. The device according to embodiment 7, characterized in that the air duct is arranged in the A-, B- and / or C-pillar of the vehicle and / or in the vehicle roof.

[0043] Aspect 10. The apparatus of aspect 9, wherein at least a portion of the air duct is insulated.

Claims

1. 1. An HVAC box (10) for cooling vehicle components using a coolant and / or refrigerant, comprising: a box (12) having integrated coolant pipes (14a-14d); a first mounting flange (16) for a coolant pump (18); a second mounting flange (20) for a coolant valve (22); Including, This allows the first and second mounting flanges (16, 20) to be connected to at least one coolant pipe (14a-14d), forming an HVAC box (10).

2. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein a heat exchanger (24) is mounted in the HVAC box (10).

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coolant pipes (14a-14d) are integrally formed in the HVAC box (10) by blow molding and / or injection molding.

4. 3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a second heat exchanger (26) inclined relative to the first heat exchanger (24), the two heat exchangers (24, 26) not being arranged parallel to each other.

5. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a refrigerant module (28) is mounted in the HVAC box (10), whereby a chiller (30) is mounted in the HVAC box (10) for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the coolant.

6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tubes of the chiller (30) through which the coolant flows are integrally formed within the HVAC box (10).

7. 3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat exchanger (24) is adapted to transfer heat between the coolant and air, whereby this air is distributed by air ducts (32) attached to the heat exchanger (24).

8. 6. Device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the second heat exchanger (26) is adapted to transfer heat between the refrigerant and air.

9. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the air ducts are arranged in the A, B and / or C pillars of the vehicle and / or in the roof of the vehicle.

10. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the air duct is insulated.

Images