Air conditioning device for vehicle

Abstract

To improve the air-blowing efficiency of a vehicle air conditioning device.SOLUTION: A vehicle air conditioning device (10; 10A; 10B; 10C) comprises a housing (12) in which air inlets (12a, 12b) are formed, a blower unit (13) provided inside the housing (12), and a filter (20) provided between the air inlets (12a, 12b) and the blower unit (13) to suppress dust from entering the blower unit (13). Pleats (21) extend radially from an aggregation portion (P1) where one ends of the pleats (21) are gathered. The pleat depth, defined by a distance from a peak (P2) of a mountain fold portion (21a) to a bottom (P3) of an adjacent valley fold portion (21b), varies such that the pleat depth becomes shallower as it is farther from the aggregation portion (P1).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional technology relating to a vehicle air conditioner.

[0003] The vehicle air conditioning system disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a housing having an air inlet formed therein for introducing air into the interior, a blower unit provided inside the housing and operating to introduce air through the air inlet, and a filter provided between the air inlet and the blower unit to prevent dust from entering the blower unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-105281 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, if air can be blown efficiently, it is preferable because it has the advantage of allowing the use of a smaller blower unit.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to improve the air blowing efficiency of a vehicle air conditioner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In the following description, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are placed in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated forms.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, there is provided an air conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising: a housing (12) having air inlets (12a, 12b) for introducing air into the housing (12); a blower unit (13) that is provided inside the housing (12) and operates to introduce air from the air inlets (12a, 12b); and a filter (20; 20A; 20B; 20C) that is provided between the air inlets (12a, 12b) and the blower unit (13) and prevents dust from entering the blower unit (13), The blower unit (13) is equipped with a multi-blade fan (13a), The filter (20; 20A; 20B; 20C) has a plurality of pleats (21) each consisting of mountain folds (21a) and valley folds (21b) alternately and continuously. The plurality of pleats (21) each extend radially from a gathering portion (P1) where one ends of the pleats (21) gather, The pleat depth, defined by the distance from the top (P2) of the mountain fold (21a) to the bottom (P3) of the adjacent valley fold (21b), is characterized in that it becomes shallower as it moves away from the collection portion (P1). [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the air blowing efficiency of a vehicle air conditioner can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows a vehicle air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the filter shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows a vehicle air conditioner according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows a vehicle air conditioner according to a third embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front view of a filter used in a vehicle air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] Example 1 Please refer to Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the main parts of the blower mechanism of a vehicle air conditioner 10. The vehicle air conditioner 10 is installed, for example, in the front part of the vehicle compartment. The vehicle air conditioner 10 blows air from the blower mechanism to a temperature adjustment mechanism (not shown), and the temperature-adjusted air is blown into the vehicle compartment.

[0013] The vehicle air conditioning device 10 has a housing 12 in which air inlets 12a and 12b are formed for introducing air into the interior, a blower unit 13 that is provided inside the housing 12 and operates to introduce air into the interior of the housing 12, a filter 20 that is provided between the air inlets 12a and 12b and the blower unit 13 to prevent dust from entering the blower unit 13, and an adjustment door 15 that adjusts the ratio of air introduced through the two air inlets 12a and 12b.

[0014] The air inlets 12a, 12b include an outside air inlet 12a that takes in air from outside the vehicle, and an inside air inlet 12b that takes in air from inside the vehicle compartment.

[0015] The blower unit 13 is equipped with a multi-blade fan 13a. When power is applied to the blower unit 13, the fan 13a rotates and introduces air into the housing 12 through the air inlets 12a and 12b. The introduced air passes through a filter 20 and is sent to the temperature adjustment mechanism.

[0016] Referring to Figure 2, the filter 20 has a plurality of pleats 21, each consisting of a series of alternating mountain folds 21a (the tops of the mountain folds 21a are shown by solid lines) and valley folds 21b (the bottoms of the valley folds 21b are shown by dashed lines). The plurality of pleats 21 extend radially from a gathering point P1 where one ends of the pleats 21 gather. The filter 20 is surrounded by a file frame 22 so as to fit inside the housing 12.

[0017] Referring to Fig. 1, the pleat depth, which is defined by the distance from the top P2 of the mountain fold 21a to the bottom P3 of the adjacent valley fold 21b, changes to become shallower with increasing distance from the gathering point P1.

[0018] The peak P2 of the mountain fold 21a is positioned downstream as it moves away from the collecting portion P1. The bottom P3 of the valley fold 21b is positioned upstream as it moves away from the collecting portion P1. As a result, the thickness of the filter 20 is the thickest at the collecting portion P1 and becomes thinner as it moves away from the collecting portion P1.

[0019] The adjusting door 15 swings when a motor (not shown) is activated. The motor that activates the adjusting door 15 is energized via a control unit. The amount of electricity supplied to the motor is controlled according to the temperature and humidity in the vehicle cabin input to the control unit and information on the remote control operation by the occupant. The adjusting door 15 in the first embodiment is a cantilever door.

[0020] The adjusting door 15 can swing from a position where it fully closes the interior air inlet 12b (the state shown in the figure) to a position where it fully closes the exterior air inlet 12a (the state shown by the two-dot chain line).The adjusting door 15 can also be stopped between the exterior air inlet 12a and the interior air inlet 12b to introduce air from both the exterior air inlet 12a and the interior air inlet 12b.

[0021] <Example 2> Next, a vehicle air conditioner 10A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional configuration of a vehicle air conditioner 10A according to a second embodiment. In the vehicle air conditioner 10A according to the second embodiment, a pyramidal filter 20A is used instead of the filter 20 used in the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). The other basic configuration is the same as that of the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for the parts common to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The adjusting door 15 in the second embodiment is a rotary type door.

[0023] More specifically, the filter 20A has a pyramidal shape with the apex P2 located on the upstream side, that is, the collection part P1 is located on the most upstream side with respect to the air flow direction.

[0024] The peaks P2 of the mountain folds 21a are positioned downstream as they move away from the collecting portion P1. The bottoms P3 of the valley folds 21b are also positioned downstream as they move away from the collecting portion P1. The slope of the bottoms P3 of the valley folds 21b is gentler than the slope of the peaks P2 of the mountain folds 21a. As a result, the thickness of the filter 20 is thickest at the collecting portion P1 and becomes thinner as it moves away from the collecting portion P1.

[0025] The filter 20A may be formed in a conical shape to match the shape of the housing 12, for example.

[0026] Example 3 Next, a vehicle air conditioner 10B according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional configuration of a vehicle air conditioner 10B according to a third embodiment. In the vehicle air conditioner 10B according to the third embodiment, a pyramidal filter 20B is employed instead of the filter 20 used in the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). The other basic configuration is common to the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for parts common to the first and second embodiments, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The adjusting door 15 in the third embodiment is a rotary type door.

[0028] More specifically, the filter 20B has a pyramidal shape with its apex located on the downstream side, that is, the collection part P1 is located on the most downstream side with respect to the air flow direction.

[0029] The peaks P2 of the mountain folds 21a are positioned more upstream as they move away from the collecting portion P1. The bottoms P3 of the valley folds 21b are also positioned more upstream as they move away from the collecting portion P1. The slope of the bottoms P3 of the valley folds 21b is steeper than the slope of the peaks P2 of the mountain folds 21a. As a result, the thickness of the filter 20 is thickest at the collecting portion P1 and becomes thinner as it moves away from the collecting portion P1.

[0030] The filter 20B may be formed in a conical shape to match the shape of the housing 12, for example.

[0031] Example 4 Next, a vehicle air conditioner 10C according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0032] Fig. 5 shows a filter 20C used in a vehicle air conditioner 10C according to Example 4. The filter 20C used in the vehicle air conditioner 10C according to Example 4 has pleats 21C formed in a spiral shape instead of the filter 20 (see Fig. 2) used in the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to Example 1 (see Fig. 1). The other basic configuration is the same as that of the vehicle air conditioner 10 according to Example 1. The same reference numerals are used for parts common to Example 1, Example 2 or Example 3, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0033] The filter 20C has been described assuming that the height of the central portion at the center and the central portion at the outer end are the same, like the filter 20 shown in FIG. 1, but it may also be formed in a pyramidal or conical shape, like the filters 20A and 20B shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the collection portion P1 located upstream or downstream.

[0034] The above-described vehicle air conditioner 10 will be summarized below.

[0035] Referring to Fig. 1, a vehicle air conditioner 10 includes a housing 12 having air inlets 12a and 12b for introducing air into the housing 12, a blower unit 13 that is provided inside the housing 12 and operates to introduce air through the air inlets 12a and 12b, and a filter 20 that is provided between the air inlets 12a and 12b and the blower unit 13 and prevents dust from entering the blower unit 13. The blower unit 13 is equipped with a multi-blade fan 13a.

[0036] Referring to Figure 2, the filter 20 has a plurality of pleats 21, each of which is made up of alternating mountain folds 21a and valley folds 21b. The plurality of pleats 21 extend radially from a gathering point P1 where one ends of the pleats 21 gather.

[0037] Referring to Fig. 1, the pleat depth, which is defined by the distance from the top P2 of the mountain fold 21a to the bottom P3 of the adjacent valley fold 21b, changes to become shallower with increasing distance from the gathering point P1.

[0038] The same applies to the vehicle air conditioner 10A (see FIG. 3), the vehicle air conditioner 10B (see FIG. 4), and the vehicle air conditioner 10C (see FIG. 5).

[0039] The pleat depth is deepest at the junction P1 and gradually decreases outward. The airflow resistance of the filter 20 decreases as it approaches the junction P1, where the pleat depth is deep. Meanwhile, the blower unit 13, which has a multi-blade fan 13a, draws in a large amount of air near the area where the multi-blade fan is provided, in the radial direction from the center of rotation. This allows the area of ​​the filter 20 with low airflow resistance to coincide with the area where the blower unit 13 draws in a large amount of air, thereby improving the air-blowing efficiency of the vehicle air conditioner 10.

[0040] See Fig. 3. Second, in the first vehicle air conditioner 10A, the filter 20A is pyramidal or conical, and the collection point P1 is located at the most upstream side based on the air flow direction. The flow path directly below the collection point P1 can be widened. This equalizes the distance between the filter 20A and the blower unit 13, preventing the air passing through the filter 20A from flowing locally, thereby improving the air blowing efficiency of the vehicle air conditioner 10A.

[0041] The same applies to the vehicle air conditioner 10C (see FIG. 5).

[0042] See Fig. 4. Thirdly, in a first vehicle air conditioner 10B, the filter 20B is pyramidal or conical, and the collection portion P1 is located at the most downstream side with respect to the air flow direction. By making the filter 20B pyramidal or conical, the amount of filter material in the filter 20B increases, which can further reduce airflow resistance and improve the air blowing efficiency of the vehicle air conditioner 10B.

[0043] The same applies to the vehicle air conditioner 10C (see FIG. 5).

[0044] See FIG. 5. Fourth, in any one of the first to third vehicle air conditioners 10C, the pleats 21C are formed in a spiral shape when viewed from the upstream side to the downstream side with the air flow direction as the reference. The air flow generated by the operation of the blower unit 13 (see FIG. 1) becomes vortex-like. By forming the pleats 21C in a spiral shape, the pleats 21C can be arranged along the vortex, thereby reducing airflow resistance. This improves the air blowing efficiency of the vehicle air conditioner 10C.

[0045] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the examples provided that the functions and effects of the present invention are achieved. [Industrial Applicability]

[0046] The vehicle air conditioner of the present invention is suitable for installation in a passenger car. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10, 10A, 10B, 10C...Vehicle air conditioning device 12...Housing, 12a...Exterior air inlet (air inlet), 12b...Interior air inlet (air inlet) 13...blower unit, 13a...fan 20, 20A, 20B, 20C...filter 21, 21C...Bleats, 21a...Mountain fold, 21b...Valley fold P1…Collection area P2: Top of the mountain fold P3...Bottom (of the valley fold)

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising: a housing (12) having air inlets (12a, 12b) for introducing air into the housing (12); a blower unit (13) provided inside the housing (12) and operating to introduce air from the air inlets (12a, 12b); and a filter (20; 20A; 20B; 20C) provided between the air inlets (12a, 12b) and the blower unit (13) to prevent dust from entering the blower unit (13), The blower unit (13) is equipped with a multi-blade fan (13a), The filter (20; 20A; 20B; 20C) has a plurality of pleats (21) formed by alternating mountain folds (21a) and valley folds (21b), The plurality of pleats (21) each extend radially from a gathering portion (P1) where one ends of the pleats (21) gather, The pleat depth, defined by the distance from the top (P2) of the mountain fold (21a) to the bottom (P3) of the adjacent valley fold (21b), is changed to become shallower as it moves away from the collection portion (P1).

2. 2. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the filter (20A) is pyramidal or conical, and the collecting portion (P1) is located most upstream relative to the air flow direction.

3. 2. The vehicle air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the filter (20B) is pyramidal or conical, and the collecting portion (P1) is located most downstream relative to the air flow direction.

4. 4. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the pleats are formed in a spiral shape when viewed from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the air flow direction.

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