Vehicle air-conditioning duct structure

Abstract

To provide an air-conditioning duct structure for a vehicle that can be efficiently disposed and prevent dew condensation water, with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A duct structure 100 guides air from an air-conditioning system body 104 mounted in front of an instrument panel 102 of a vehicle to a side vent blowout port 108a and a side demister blowout port 112a, which are provided in the instrument panel 102. The duct structure 100 includes: an inner draft air duct 134 connecting the air-conditioning system body 104 and the side vent blowout port 108a; and an outer draft air duct 136 connecting the air conditioning system body 104 and the side demister blowout port 112a. The outer draft air duct 136 is integrated with the inner draft air duct 134 over a predetermined range along the inner draft air duct 134.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, an instrument panel of a vehicle is provided with a plurality of outlets of side vents through which air from an air-conditioning system flows and outlets of side demisters for preventing condensation on side glasses. And each outlet and the air-conditioning system main body are connected by ducts in front of the instrument panel.

[0003] The side vent duct and the side demister duct are mainly installed as individual parts, each forming an air passage. For example, in the technology of Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 1, an air-conditioning duct 11 corresponding to the side vent duct and a defroster duct 12 corresponding to the side demister duct are provided individually.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In front of the instrument panel, there is limited space for laying out the side vent ducts and side demister ducts. Therefore, these side vent ducts and side demister ducts are often provided close to each other, and it may be necessary to take measures against rattle noise (abnormal noise) caused by contact between the ducts. Also, especially when the side vent is in the cooling mode, it may be necessary to take measures against the dripping of condensed water from the surface of the duct onto other devices. As these measures, for example, attaching packing to the surface of the duct, molding the duct with a foaming material, etc. are also carried out, but since it leads to an increase in the working process and material cost, a more inexpensive method is required.

[0006] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure that can be efficiently arranged with a simple structure and prevent condensed water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the vehicle air-conditioning duct structure according to the present invention is a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure that guides air from an air-conditioning system main body mounted in front of the instrument panel of a vehicle to predetermined first and second air outlets provided in the instrument panel, including a first air supply passage connecting the air-conditioning system main body and the first air outlet, and a second air supply passage connecting the air-conditioning system main body and the second air outlet, and the second air supply passage is integrally gathered into the first air supply passage over a predetermined range along the first air supply passage.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to provide a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure that can be efficiently arranged with a simple structure and prevent condensed water.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] In a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure that guides air from an air-conditioning system main body mounted in front of an instrument panel of a vehicle to predetermined first and second air outlets provided in the instrument panel, it includes a first air duct connecting the air-conditioning system main body and the first air outlet, and a second air duct connecting the air-conditioning system main body and the second air outlet, and the second air duct is integrally collected into the first air duct over a predetermined range along the first air duct.

[0011] According to the above configuration, since two systems of ducts can be combined into one to simplify the structure, it becomes possible to efficiently arrange them in the limited layout space in front of the instrument panel. In particular, while preventing contact with peripheral components and avoiding interference between the ducts, the degree of freedom in design is improved, and it becomes possible to easily take measures against NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) such as suppressing the cause of abnormal noise generation.

[0012] In the above-mentioned predetermined range, a double-pipe structure is formed in which the second air duct covers the periphery of the first air duct.

[0013] According to the above configuration, a more compact configuration can be realized, and the second air duct becomes a heat-insulating air layer to reduce the heat exchange amount of the first air duct and suppress heat loss.

[0014] The above-mentioned first air outlet is a side vent air outlet provided at the vehicle-width direction end of the instrument panel facing the rear of the vehicle, and the second air outlet is a side demister air outlet provided near the side vent air outlet of the instrument panel facing the side glass of the vehicle.

[0015] The side demister is a mechanism for eliminating dew condensation and fogging on the side glass, and mainly warm air flows through it. In the above configuration, by forming a second air duct for the side demister outside the first air duct for the side vent, the side demister is utilized as a heat insulation layer for the side vent, and effects such as suppressing dew condensation around the duct when the side vent is used for cooling and reducing temperature when the side vent is used for heating can be obtained. In particular, according to the dew condensation suppression effect, it is possible to omit waterproof measures for peripheral devices and reduce costs.

[0016] The above-mentioned second air duct is provided by branching from a demister duct for the front glass that extends from the air conditioning system main body toward the front glass of the vehicle.

[0017] According to the above configuration, it becomes possible to efficiently operate the air for the demister.

[0018] On the outer wall of the above-mentioned second air duct, a plurality of concave-shaped portions are formed that depress the outer wall to reach the outer wall of the first air duct.

[0019] According to the above-mentioned concave-shaped portions, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the duct and efficiently suppress abnormal noises due to vibration.

Example

[0020] With reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. Dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in such embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant descriptions, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure (hereinafter, duct structure 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of an instrument panel 102 in which the duct structure 100 is implemented. Hereinafter, in FIG. 1 and all other drawings of the present application, the vehicle front-rear direction is exemplified by arrows F (Forward) and B (Backward), respectively, the left and right in the vehicle width direction are exemplified by arrows L (Leftward) and R (Rightward), respectively, and the vehicle up-down direction is exemplified by arrows U (upward) and D (downward), respectively.

[0022] The instrument panel 102 is provided with a plurality of air outlets through which air from the air-conditioning system main body 104 is provided. For example, as air outlets for providing air for heating, cooling, etc., center vent air outlets 106a and 106b are provided on the left and right near the center in the vehicle width direction, and side vent air outlets 108a and 108b are provided at both ends in the vehicle width direction, respectively. The center vent air outlets 106a, 106b and the side vent air outlets 108a, 108b are provided facing the rear of the vehicle to provide air to the passengers.

[0023] In the duct structure 100, a front demister outlet 110 for the front glass and side demister outlets 112a and 112b for the side glass are provided as outlets for blowing warm air onto the glass to eliminate condensation and fogging. The front demister outlet 110 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the instrument panel 102 facing upward along the front glass. The side demister outlet 112a is provided facing the side glass above the side vent outlet 108a in the instrument panel 102.

[0024] FIG. 1(b) is a view of the duct structure 100 with the instrument panel 102 in FIG. 1(a) removed. The air conditioning system main body 104 is a device that performs functions such as heating, cooling, ventilation, and air conditioning, also known as HVAC, and is provided in front of the center in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel 102.

[0025] Ducts extend from the air conditioning system main body 104 toward each outlet. Various types of air, such as cold air, warm air, and normal air supply, are supplied to each duct by switching between each mode.

[0026] The center vent duct 114 connects the air conditioning system main body 104 and the center vent outlets 106a and 106b. The front demister duct 116 connects the air conditioning system main body 104 and the front demister outlet 110.

[0027] The collective ducts 118 and 120 are ducts configured to collect two systems of ducts for side vents and side demisters into one. For example, the collective duct 118 connects the air conditioning system main body 104 and the front demister duct 116, and the side vent outlets 108a and 108b and the side demister outlets 112a and 112b.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a view of the duct structure 100 in FIG. 1(b) as seen from above. The center vent duct 114 has a U-shaped bifurcated structure as seen from above, and two openings 114a and 114b face rearward. The front demister duct 116 extends upward from the front side of the air conditioning system main body 104 and has an opening 122 along the vehicle width direction at its upper end.

[0029] The collective ducts 118 and 120 extend outward in the vehicle width direction from the left and right sides of the center vent duct 114 in the upper part of the air conditioning system main body 104, and then curve so that the opening 142 faces the rear of the vehicle.

[0030] The collective duct 118 of this embodiment combines two systems of ducts into one as described above, and has a bifurcated structure at both the root side and the tip side. For example, the root side of the collective duct 118 includes a first root portion 126 and a second root portion 130. The first root portion 126 extends from a first supply portion 124 provided in the upper part of the air conditioning system main body 104. The second root portion 130 extends from a second supply portion 128 provided on the side portion of the front demister duct 116. Both the first supply portion 124 and the second supply portion 128 are supplied with air from the air conditioning system main body 104 (see FIG. 2).

[0031] The tip side of the collective duct 118 branches into a first tip portion 138 and a second tip portion 140. The first tip portion 138 is connected to the side vent outlet 108a (see FIG. 1(a)), which is the first outlet. The second tip portion 140 has a smaller diameter than the first tip portion 138 and is connected to the side demister outlet 112a, which is the second outlet.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a view showing each cross-section of the collective duct 118 in FIG. 2. FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of the A-A cross-section of the collective duct 118 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3(a), in the main part (collecting part 132) of the collective duct 118, the inner air duct 134 which is the first air duct and the outer air duct 136 which is the second air duct are combined, and the outer air duct 136 forms a double pipe that covers the periphery of the inner air duct 134. This double pipe structure can be integrally manufactured by double blow molding, but it is also possible by attaching a large-diameter pipe that can be divided to the outside of a small-diameter pipe by caulking or the like.

[0033] FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of the B-B cross-section of the collective duct 118 in FIG. 2. The inner air duct 134 includes a first base part 126 (see FIG. 2) on the base side and a first tip part 138 on the tip side, and connects the first supply part 124 and the side vent outlet 108a (see FIG. 1(a)). The outer air duct 136 includes a second supply part 128 (see FIG. 2) on the base side and a second tip part 140 on the tip side, and connects the second supply part 128 and the side demister outlet 112a (see FIG. 1(a)).

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the first base part 126 of the outer air duct 136 branches from the front demister duct 116 above the inner air duct 134 and extends obliquely downward toward the inner air duct 134. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently flow the air for the demister through the outer air duct 136. And as shown in FIG. 3(b), the outer air duct 136 integrally converges outside the inner air duct 134 and extends along the inner air duct 134, and the second tip part 140 branches obliquely upward from the inner air duct 134.

[0035] The opening 144 of the second tip portion 140 of the outer air duct 136 is connected to the side demister air outlet 112a (see Fig. 1(a)). As another example, it is also possible to connect the opening 142 of the first tip portion 138 of the inner air duct 134 to the side demister air outlet 112a and connect the opening 144 of the second tip portion 140 of the outer air duct 136 to the side vent air outlet 108a. In any of these examples, the outer air duct 134 is connected to the side vent air outlet 108a and the side demister air outlet 112a on the side to which the inner air duct 134 is not connected.

[0036] As described above, in this embodiment, one collective duct 118 connects the first supply portion 124 to the side vent air outlet 108a (see Fig. 1(a)) and the second supply portion 128 to the side demister air outlet 112a. According to this configuration, since the two systems of ducts can be combined into one to simplify the structure, it can be efficiently arranged even in the limited layout space in front of the instrument panel 102. In particular, while preventing contact with peripheral components and avoiding interference between the ducts, the degree of freedom in design is improved, and it becomes possible to easily take NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) countermeasures such as suppressing the cause of abnormal noise generation.

[0037] The collective duct 118 described above realizes a more compact configuration, and by covering the outside of the inner air duct 134 with the outer air duct 136, the outer air duct 136 becomes a heat-insulating air layer, reducing the heat exchange amount of the inner air duct 134 and suppressing heat loss.

[0038] For example, during cooling of the inner air duct 134 for side vents, that is, in summer etc., the chance of the glass fogging etc. is small, and the outer air duct 136 for side demisters is often in a windless state. In this case, the function of the outer air duct 136 as a heat-insulating air layer can slow down the rise in the cold air temperature of the inner air duct 134.

[0039] Also, in winter or the like when condensation is likely to occur, since warm air flows through both the inner air duct 134 for side vents and the outer air duct 136 for side demisters, the temperature drop of the outer air duct 136 can be suppressed. In particular, the collective duct 118 with a double-pipe structure has a reduced surface area in contact with the outside air compared to the case where there are two ducts, so the heat exchange amount on the outer surface can be suppressed and the temperature drop can be prevented.

[0040] Furthermore, in the collective duct 118, when the inner air duct 134 for side vents is in use for cooling, the presence of the outer air duct 136 on the outside can suppress condensation around the duct. According to this condensation suppression effect, it becomes possible to omit waterproof measures for peripheral devices and reduce costs.

[0041] In the collective duct 118, since the outer air duct 136 covers the outer periphery of the inner air duct 134, it is also possible to shield the radiation sound and vibration sound from the inner air duct 134, that is, from the side vents. Therefore, according to the duct structure 100, it is possible to improve the NVH performance without increasing costs due to the addition of components such as soundproof packing.

[0042] Since the collective duct 118 integrates the ducts for side vents and side demisters, the number of parts can also be reduced. Therefore, compared with the case of providing individual side vent ducts and side demister ducts, the assembly work becomes simpler and can contribute to the improvement of productivity.

[0043] (Modification example) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing each modification example of the collective duct in FIG. 3(a). In FIG. 4, the same components as those already described in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and thus the description of the already described components is omitted. Also, in the following description, for components with the same name as those already described, even if they are denoted by different reference numerals, they are assumed to have the same function unless otherwise specified.

[0044] FIG. 4(a) is a diagram showing the collective duct 200 of the first modified example. The collective duct 200 has a plurality of concave portions 206 on the outer wall 202 of the outer air duct 136. The concave portion 206 is a portion that is recessed in a groove shape to such an extent as to reach the outer wall 204 of the inner air duct 134 from the outer wall 202, and is provided at four locations on the outer circumference of the outer air duct 136 along the axial direction of the collective duct 200. Since the concave portion 206 does not block the outer air duct 136, the outer air duct 136 can send air without any problem.

[0045] According to the concave portion 206, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the collective duct 200 and efficiently suppress abnormal noises due to vibration. The concave portion 206 may be provided as a groove extending over the entire area of the portion where the inner air duct 134 and the outer air duct 136 of the collective duct 200 are joined, but it can also be provided as a configuration in which independent grooves are regularly arranged.

[0046] FIG. 4(b) is a diagram showing the collective duct 220 of the second modified example. The collective duct 220 has a plurality of concave portions 222 on the outer wall 202 of the outer air duct 136. The concave portion 222 is a portion that is recessed in a circular shape to such an extent as to reach the outer wall 204 of the inner air duct 134 from the outer wall 202, and is provided at a plurality of locations on the outer circumference of the outer air duct 136. Also by this concave portion 222, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the collective duct 220 and efficiently suppress abnormal noises due to vibration.

[0047] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that those also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0048] The present invention can be used for a vehicle air conditioning duct structure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] 100…duct structure, 102…instrument panel, 104…air conditioning system main body, 106a, 106b…center vent outlets, 108a, 108b…side vent outlets, 110…front defroster outlet, 112a, 112b…side defroster outlets, 114…center vent duct, 114a, 114b…openings, 116…front defroster duct, 118…collecting duct, 122…opening, 124…first supply section, 126…first base section, 128…second supply section, 130…second base section, 132…collecting section, 134…inner air duct, 136…outer air duct, 138…first tip section, 140…second tip section, 142…opening, 144…opening, 202…outer wall, 204…outer wall, 206…concave-shaped section, 220…collecting duct, 222…concave-shaped section

Claims

1. In a vehicle air-conditioning duct structure for guiding air from an air-conditioning system main body mounted in front of an instrument panel of a vehicle to respective predetermined first and second air outlets provided in the instrument panel, a first air duct connecting the air-conditioning system main body and the first air outlet, and a second air duct connecting the air-conditioning system main body and the second air outlet, the second air duct integrally converges into the first air duct over a predetermined range along the first air duct, and in the predetermined range, a double pipe structure is formed in which the second air duct covers the periphery of the first air duct, the first air outlet is a side vent air outlet provided at an end in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel facing the rear of the vehicle, the second air outlet is a side demister air outlet provided near the side vent air outlet of the instrument panel facing the side glass of the vehicle, the second air duct for side demister is formed outside the first air duct for side vent, and a plurality of concave portions are formed on an outer wall of the second air duct so as to be recessed to reach the outer wall of the first air duct. A vehicle air-conditioning duct structure characterized by this.

2. The vehicle air-conditioning duct structure according to claim 1, wherein the second air duct is provided by branching from a demister duct for a front glass extending from the air-conditioning system main body toward the front glass of the vehicle.

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