Vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

The objective is to provide a vehicle air conditioning system in which a filter installed in a duct can be attached to or detached, even if the duct is positioned between the structure and the dashboard panel when viewed from the side. [Solution] The vehicle air conditioning system 20 comprises a duct 22 positioned between a structure 16 and a dash panel 18 in a side view, an opening 28 formed on the upper front side of the duct 22, a cover member 30 that closes the opening 28, and a filter 24 provided in the duct 22 that can be attached to and detached from the opening 28 when the cover member 30 is removed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle air conditioner in which a filter is detachably provided in a casing and includes a filter cover that covers a detaching port of the filter has been conventionally known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, depending on the vehicle type, in order to secure a space for arranging a structure in the engine compartment, it is conceivable to arrange the air conditioner by penetrating the dash panel and arrange only the duct (casing) of the air conditioner in the engine compartment.

[0005] However, in this case, if the detaching direction of the filter provided in the duct is the front side along the horizontal direction, even though a space for arranging a structure on the front side of the duct is secured, it becomes difficult to arrange the structure close to the duct. Conversely, if the duct is arranged close to the structure and the dash panel in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction, since the detaching direction of the filter is the horizontal direction, the filter cannot be detached.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle air conditioner in which even when the duct is arranged between the structure and the dash panel in a side view, the filter provided in the duct can be detached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, a vehicle air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a duct positioned between a structure and a dash panel in a side view, an opening formed on the upper front side of the duct, a cover member for closing the opening, and a filter provided in the duct which can be removed from the opening when the cover member is removed.

[0008] According to the first embodiment of the invention, a duct is positioned between the structure and the dashboard panel in a side view. An opening is formed on the upper front side of the duct, which is closed by a cover member, and the filter provided in the duct can be removed from the opening by removing the cover member. In other words, even if the duct is positioned between the structure and the dashboard panel in a side view, the cover member can be removed, and the filter provided in the duct can be removed.

[0009] Furthermore, a second embodiment of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the present invention is a vehicle air conditioning system according to the first embodiment, wherein the cover member has ribs that contact the filter.

[0010] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the lid member has ribs that contact the filter. Therefore, compared to the case where the lid member does not have ribs that contact the filter, rattling of the filter is suppressed or prevented, and the generation of abnormal noise is suppressed or prevented.

[0011] Furthermore, a third embodiment of the vehicle air conditioning system according to the present invention is a vehicle air conditioning system according to the second embodiment, wherein the duct is divided into a left region and a right region by a partition member, and the ribs are formed at the same position as the partition member in the left-right direction.

[0012] According to the third embodiment of the invention, the duct is divided into a left region and a right region by a partition member. The ribs of the lid member are formed at the same position as the partition member in the left-right direction. Therefore, there is no risk of the ribs of the lid member obstructing the flow of outside or inside air introduced into the duct. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] As described above, according to the present invention, even if the duct is arranged between the structure and the dash panel in a side view, the filter provided in the duct can be attached and detached. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the front of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle air conditioning system according to this embodiment, with the filter cover attached. [Figure 2] This is a schematic front view showing the duct of the vehicle air conditioning system according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the front of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle air conditioning system according to this embodiment, with the filter cover removed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. For the sake of explanation, in each figure, the arrow UP will indicate the upward direction of the vehicle, the arrow FR will indicate the forward direction of the vehicle, and the arrow RH will indicate the rightward direction of the vehicle. Therefore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, the directions of up, down, front, back, and left and right will refer to the up, down, front, back, and left and right directions of the vehicle. Also, the left and right direction is synonymous with the vehicle width direction.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, in the vehicle 10 such as an electric vehicle according to this embodiment, a vehicle air conditioning unit 20 is positioned through the approximate center of the dash panel 18 in the left-right direction in order to secure space for a structure 16 including equipment specific to electric vehicles, etc., in the engine compartment 14, which is covered on the upper side by a hood 12.

[0017] Specifically, in the vehicle air conditioning system 20 according to this embodiment, only the duct 22, which can switch between introducing outside air and inside air, is located approximately in the center in the left-right direction at the rear of the engine compartment 14. In other words, in a side view taken from the vehicle width direction, this vehicle air conditioning system 20 includes the duct 22, which is located close to the structure 16 and the dash panel 18 in the front-rear direction.

[0018] In a side view, the duct 22 extends forward and upward from the dash panel 18, with its upper end 22A abutting against the lower end 17A of the cowl top 17. A blower (not shown) is provided at the lower end of the duct 22. In addition, a cover member 15 is positioned on the front side of the duct 22 and on the rear side of the structure 16, extending substantially along the duct 22 in a side view and separating the duct 22 from the structure 16.

[0019] Furthermore, openings (not shown) are formed on the front and rear sides of the upper end 22A of the duct 22. That is, outside air can be introduced from the upper part in front of the upper end 22A of the duct 22, and inside air can be introduced from the upper part rear of the upper end 22A of the duct 22. A switching member (not shown) is movably provided at the upper end 22A of the duct 22 to switch between the introduction of outside air and the introduction of inside air.

[0020] A filter 24 is provided approximately in the center of the duct 22 in the vertical direction. The filter 24 is positioned horizontally to divide the inside of the duct 22 vertically, and outside air or inside air introduced from the top of the duct 22 by the blower is supplied to the vehicle interior after dust and other particles have been removed by the filter 24.

[0021] Note that the interior of the duct 22 above and below the filter 24, that is, the upper and lower portions of the duct 22, are partitioned into a left region LA and a right region RA by a partition member 26 (see FIG. 2) provided at approximately the center in the left - right direction. Thus, the configuration enables air to be guided to the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side respectively.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a substantially rectangular opening 28 with the longitudinal direction in the left - right direction is formed in the upper front side of the duct 22 (the side in front of the front opening). The filter 24 can be detached from this opening 28. And this opening 28 is configured to be closed by a filter cover 30 as a lid member.

[0023] Also, at approximately the center in the left - right direction on the lower surface of the filter cover 30, a rib 32 that abuts against the upper surface of the front side of the filter 24 is integrally formed and protrudes. This rib 32 is a flat plate with a predetermined thickness having a substantially trapezoidal shape in side view, and is formed to have a length such that its hypotenuse can abut against the upper surface of the front side of the filter 24 when the filter cover 30 closes the opening 28. And this rib 32 is formed at the same position in the left - right direction as the partition member 26 provided inside the duct 22 (see FIG. 2).

[0024] Next, the operation of the vehicle air - conditioning device 20 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

[0025] As described above, the duct 22 is disposed close between the structure 16 and the dash panel 18 in side view. And an opening 28 closed by the filter cover 30 is formed in the upper front side of the duct 22, and the filter 24 provided inside the duct 22 can be detached from the opening 28 when the filter cover 30 is removed.

[0026] In other words, even if the duct 22 is positioned close to the structure 16 and the dash panel 18 in a side view, an opening 28 is formed on the upper front side of the duct 22, allowing the filter cover 30 to be easily removed from the opening 28, and the filter 24 installed inside the duct 22 to be easily removed (replaced).

[0027] Thus, according to this embodiment, the filter 24 can be attached and detached from the diagonally front upper side in a side view, which makes it possible to secure space for arranging the structure 16 in the engine compartment 14 and improves the ease of replacing the filter 24.

[0028] Furthermore, the filter cover 30 has ribs 32 that contact the upper surface of the filter 24. Therefore, compared to a case where the filter cover 30 does not have ribs 32 that contact the upper surface of the filter 24, rattling of the filter 24 can be suppressed or prevented, and the generation of abnormal noises while the vehicle 10 is running can be suppressed or prevented.

[0029] Furthermore, the interior of the duct 22 (especially the upper part of the duct 22) is divided into a left-side region LA and a right-side region RA by a partition member 26. The ribs 32 of the filter cover 30 are formed at the same position as the partition member 26 in the left-right direction. Therefore, there is no risk of the ribs 32 of the filter cover 30 obstructing the flow of outside or inside air introduced from the top of the duct 22 by the blower.

[0030] The vehicle air conditioning system 20 according to this embodiment has been described above based on the drawings. However, the vehicle air conditioning system 20 according to this embodiment is not limited to the illustrated version, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the filter cover 30 can be attached by fitting it to the periphery of the opening 28, and the method of attachment is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 is not limited to an electric vehicle. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0031] 16 Structures 18. Dashboard 22 ducts 24 filters 26 Partition Members 28 Opening 30. Filter cover (lid component) 32 Ribs

Claims

1. A duct located between the structure and the dashboard panel in a side view, An opening formed on the upper front side of the duct, A lid member that closes the aforementioned opening, A filter is provided in the duct and can be removed from the opening by removing the cover member, A vehicle air conditioning system equipped with the following features.

2. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has ribs that contact the filter.

3. The duct is divided into a left region and a right region by a partition member. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 2, wherein the ribs are formed at the same position in the left-right direction as the partition member.

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