Air conditioning unit for vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning unit of a vehicle air conditioning device, in which, when a vehicle tilts such that a side of the vehicle air conditioning unit, on which a drain hole is provided, becomes low, condensed water is prevented from falling directly into the drain hole from a seal member that covers an evaporator bottom surface. [Solution] In the present invention, an evaporator 20, which is accommodated in an internal space S of a case 11, includes a seal member 30 disposed on an evaporator bottom surface 20a so as to cover the evaporator bottom surface 20a. A drain hole 16 is formed near an end of a bottom section 15, the end being in the longitudinal direction of the evaporator bottom surface 20a. The seal member 30 includes a condensed water falling promotion section 36 and a condensed water falling prevention area 37. The condensed water falling prevention area 37 is configured to be positioned upward in a vertical direction L1 of the drain hole 16 when, in conjunction with the tilting of the vehicle, the surface of the seal member 30 is at a tilt (R) such that said surface is lower toward the drain hole 16.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit for a vehicle air conditioner in which an evaporator is housed in an internal space through which blown air flows in a case, and in particular to an air conditioning unit in which a sealing member covering the underside of the evaporator is provided. [Background technology]

[0002] In an air conditioning unit of a vehicle air conditioner in which an evaporator is housed in the internal space of a case, when the blown air flows through the evaporator, a sealing member is provided on the outer surface of the evaporator to prevent a portion of the blown air from passing through the gap between the outer surface of the evaporator and the case, thereby preventing sufficient heat exchange with the evaporator.

[0003] Furthermore, in order to discharge condensed water generated in the evaporator to the outside of the case of the vehicle air conditioner, as shown in Patent Document 2, for example, a drain hole is provided in the bottom of the case.

[0004] For example, as shown in Figure 5 of the present application, when a vehicle tilts left-right, or when the vehicle tilts front-rear, or when the vehicle tilts both left-right and front-rear, the surface of the seal member facing the bottom of the case may be tilted downward toward the drain hole. In this case, condensed water generated in the evaporator and wrapped around the seal member facing the bottom of the case may flow along the surface of the seal member or penetrate the seal member and move toward the drain hole, then turn into droplets above the drain hole and fall directly toward the drain hole. If the condensed water that falls directly into the drain hole as droplets hits the tubular portion extending from the drain hole to the outside of the case or the drain hose connected to this tubular portion, it may cause abnormal noise. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-273148 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-136950 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The sealing member shown in Patent Document 1 has a cutout formed in a portion provided on the underside of the evaporator, which consists of a portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction at the center of the underside of the evaporator, and a portion extending from this portion extending in a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction to the downwind side along the ventilation direction.

[0007] However, the cutout formed in the seal member of Patent Document 1 is intended to prevent condensed water from freezing by exposing the part of the evaporator that is likely to become cold.

[0008] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 does not specify the positional relationship between the cutout portion and the drain hole provided in the case, and it is unclear whether condensed water that falls as droplets into the drain hole will hit the tubular portion extending from the drain hole to the outside of the case or the drain hose connected to this tubular portion, causing abnormal noise.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an air conditioning unit for a vehicle air conditioner that prevents condensed water from turning into droplets and falling directly into the drain hole, even if the surface of the sealing member facing the bottom of the case is inclined downward toward the drain hole. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioning unit (10) of a vehicle air conditioner (1) according to claim 1 includes an evaporator (20) accommodated in a case (11) having an internal space (S) through which blown air flows, and a drain hole (16) for discharging condensed water generated in the evaporator (20) to the outside of the case (11) provided in a bottom (15) of the case (11). In the air conditioning unit (10) of the vehicle air conditioner (1), the evaporator (20) has a lower surface (20a) of the evaporator facing an inner surface (15a) of the bottom (15) and extending in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the blown air, and a drain hole (16) for discharging condensed water generated in the evaporator (20) to the outside of the case (11). A seal member (30) is provided, and the drain hole (16) is formed in the bottom portion (15) near an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the evaporator underside (20a), and the seal member (30) has a stepped condensed water drop promotion portion (36) and a condensed water drop prevention area (37) surrounded by the condensed water drop promotion portion (36), and the condensed water drop prevention area (37) is located above the drain hole (16) in the vertical direction (L1) when the surface of the seal member (30) slopes downward toward the drain hole (16) as one side becomes lower than the other in the left-right direction and / or the front-rear direction of the vehicle (100). Air conditioning units include offset types arranged alongside a blower unit that houses a blower, semi-integrated types that also house a blower, and fully integrated types.

[0011] As a result, as one side of the vehicle becomes lower in the left-right and / or front-to-rear direction than the other, the surface of the seal member slopes downward toward the drain hole, and when condensed water moves along the seal member toward the drain hole, a condensed water drop prevention area surrounded by the condensed water drop promotion portion is located vertically above the drain hole of the seal member. Therefore, when the condensed water reaches the stepped condensed water drop promotion portion, it is encouraged to fall as droplets, preventing the condensed water from falling in the condensed water drop prevention area. This prevents condensed water from falling as droplets directly into the drain hole and hitting the cylindrical protrusion or drain hose extending downward from the drain hole, causing abnormal noise.

[0012] In the air conditioning unit (10) of the vehicle air conditioner (1) described in claim 2, the condensed water drop prevention area (37) is a cutout portion (38) formed by cutting out a part of the sealing member (30), and the condensed water drop promotion portion (36) is a step formed by the sealing member (30) and the cutout portion (38).

[0013] As a result, as one side of the vehicle becomes lower in the left-right and / or front-to-rear direction than the other, the surface of the seal member slopes downward toward the drain hole, and when condensed water moves along the seal member toward the drain hole, a cutout is located vertically above the drain hole in the seal member, and a condensed water drop promotion portion, which is a step formed by the cutout and the seal member, is provided around the cutout. This encourages the condensed water to turn into droplets and drop when it reaches the step between the seal member and the cutout, preventing the condensed water from dropping at the cutout. This prevents the condensed water from turning into droplets and directly dropping into the drain hole, where it hits the cylindrical protrusion extending downward from the drain hole or the drain hose, causing abnormal noise.

[0014] In the air conditioning unit (10) of the vehicle air conditioner (1) described in claim 3, the cutout portion (38) is formed at a position spaced a certain distance (D1) from the drain hole (16).

[0015] In this way, by forming the cutout portion at a position spaced a fixed distance from the drain hole, it is possible to reduce the area of ​​the cutout portion while preventing condensed water from dripping into the drain hole.

[0016] In the air conditioning unit (10) of the vehicle air conditioner (1) described in claim 4, the condensed water drop promotion portion (36) further has a corner portion (39) formed by a portion (39a) extending along the ventilation direction of the blown air flowing through the evaporator (20) and a portion (39b) extending perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the blown air.

[0017] Depending on the inclination of the vehicle, the evaporator may not only be inclined in a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction, but also inclined along the ventilation direction or in a combined manner. By forming a corner in the condensed water drop promotion section, water droplets gather regardless of the tilt state, further promoting the drop of water droplets, and by preventing the drop of water droplets in the condensed water drop prevention area, water droplets can be prevented from falling directly into the drain hole.

[0018] In the air conditioning unit (10) of the vehicle air conditioner (1) described in claim 5, the condensed water drop prevention area (37) is an area in which a sub-seal member (40) is arranged overlapping the seal member (30), and the condensed water drop promotion portion (36) is a step formed by the seal member (30) and the sub-seal member (40).

[0019] As a result, as one side of the vehicle becomes lower in the left-right and / or front-to-rear direction, the surface of the seal member slopes downward toward the drain hole. When condensed water moves along the seal member toward the drain hole, the area of ​​the seal member where the sub-seal member is positioned is located vertically above the drain hole, and the periphery of the sub-seal member has a condensed water drop promotion portion, which is a step formed by the seal member and the sub-seal member. Therefore, when the condensed water reaches the step between the seal member and the sub-seal member, the condensed water is encouraged to drop as droplets, preventing the drop of droplets from the area where the sub-seal member is positioned over the seal member. This prevents condensed water from dropping directly into the drain hole and hitting the cylindrical protrusion extending downward from the drain hole or the drain hose, which would otherwise cause abnormal noise. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] As described above, according to the present invention, even if the surface of the sealing member facing the bottom of the case is inclined downward toward the drain hole, condensed water can be prevented from turning into droplets and falling directly into the drain hole. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a vehicle air conditioning device having an air conditioning unit that houses an evaporator to which a sealing member is attached; [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioning unit of the vehicle air conditioner taken along line II, showing a state in which the upper side of the case has been removed. FIG. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing an evaporator with a sealing member of the first embodiment installed, where (a) is a view from the upstream side of the ventilation direction, (b) is a view from the downstream side of the ventilation direction, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a side view. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are explanatory views showing an example of an evaporator to which the present invention can be applied, in which (a) is a view seen from the ventilation direction, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a bottom view. [Figure 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a vehicle and a vehicle air conditioner mounted thereon are tilted at a predetermined angle; [Figure 6] 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the drain hole and the cutout portion that is the condensed water drop prevention area when the vehicle of FIG. 5 is tilted in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 6(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of condensed water toward the drain hole when the vehicle in FIG. 5 tilts in the first embodiment, and FIG. 6(b) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6(a) showing the fall of condensed water from the condensed water fall promotion section. [Figure 8] 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory views showing a state in which the center line of the cutout portion is shifted from the center line in the width direction of the evaporator in accordance with the position of the drain hole. [Figure 9] FIG. 1(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the first embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing an evaporator in which a sub-seal member of the second embodiment is arranged overlapping a seal member, where (a) is a view from the upstream side of the ventilation direction, (b) is a view from the downstream side of the ventilation direction, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a side view. [Figure 11]6 is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the drain hole and the condensed water drop prevention area formed by arranging the sub-seal member overlapping the seal member when the vehicle of FIG. 5 is tilted in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 6(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of condensed water toward the drain hole when the vehicle in FIG. 5 tilts in the second embodiment, and FIG. 6(b) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6(a) showing the fall of condensed water from the condensed water fall promotion section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1, 4, and 5 show an example of the configuration of a vehicle air conditioner 1 and an evaporator 20, which are examples of common configurations of the present invention, and an example of mounting the vehicle air conditioner 1 on a vehicle 100. Figures 2, 3, 6 to 8 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 shows a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 10 to 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows the external appearance of an example of a vehicle air conditioner 1 to which the present invention can be applied, as seen from diagonally behind the vehicle. In the present invention, the vehicle air conditioner 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a horizontally-mounted type in which a blower unit 2 and an air conditioning unit 10 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100, as also shown in Fig. 5.

[0024] The blower unit 2 in Fig. 1 has an outside air inlet 3 and an inside air inlet 4 that are appropriately opened, and a blower case 5 that is made up of an upper case member 6 that houses an inside / outside air switching door for appropriately adjusting the ratio of outside air introduced through the outside air inlet 3 to inside air introduced through the inside air inlet 4, and a lower case member 7 that houses a blower. The blower has a motor with a rotating shaft and a blower fan attached to this rotating shaft. The inside / outside air switching door and the blower are not shown in the figure.

[0025] The air conditioning unit 10 is in direct or indirect communication with the blower unit 2, and as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, which is a view of the air conditioning unit 10 of Fig. 1 divided at line II, includes a case 11 having an internal space S through which air blown from the blower unit 2 flows. Note that Fig. 2 shows a configuration with the top of the case 11 removed. Since there is no particular need to explain the case 11 that forms the internal space S other than the bottom 15 of the case 11 in the present invention, the top of the case 11 is not shown in Fig. 2.

[0026] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an evaporator 20, which is a cooling heat exchanger, is housed in the internal space S of the case 11, and air conditioning equipment such as a heater core and an air mix door are also housed therein. Air conditioning equipment other than the evaporator 20 is not shown. As shown in FIG. 1, a differential vent 12, a vent vent 13, and a foot vent 14, through which air appropriately conditioned by the air conditioning equipment is blown out, are open on the outer surface. A drain hole 16 is formed in a bottom 15 of the case 11 for discharging condensed water generated in the evaporator 20 to the outside of the case 11. In this embodiment, a cylindrical portion 17 extends downward from the outer periphery of the drain hole 16, and a drain hose 18 is connected to the cylindrical portion 17. The cylindrical portion 17 has a wall thickness thinner than that of the case 11.

[0027] The evaporator 20 shown in Figures 2 to 4 and Figures 6 to 12 constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with a compressor (not shown) and other components. As shown in Figure 4 in particular, the evaporator 20 alternately stacks tubes 21 and fins 22, each having a refrigerant flow path therein, with end plates 23, 23 disposed on both sides in the stacking direction, and openings on both longitudinal sides of the tubes 21 connected to an upper tank 24 and a lower tank 25. Inlet / outlet ports 26, 27 are provided on one longitudinal side of the upper tank 24, dividing the tanks 24, 25 appropriately. Thus, the refrigerant entering the upper tank 24 from the inlet port 26 flows through the tubes 21 and tanks 24, 25 appropriately, then flows into the upper tank 24 and exits from the outlet port 27.

[0028] In this embodiment, the lower surface of the lower tank 25 constitutes the evaporator lower surface 20a. The evaporator lower surface 20a faces the inner surface 15a of the bottom 15 of the case 11 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the air passing between the tubes 21, 21 of the evaporator 20 or between the tube 21 and the end plate 23. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the evaporator lower surface 20a is not limited to the direction along the left-right direction of the vehicle 100. The type of evaporator 20 to which the present invention is applicable may be any evaporator having an evaporator lower surface 20a extending in a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the air, and is not limited to the evaporator 20 shown in FIG. 4 in which the tubes 21 and the tanks 24, 25 are separate.

[0029] In the case 11 housing such an evaporator 20, the above-mentioned drain hole 16 is formed in the bottom 15 near the longitudinal end of the evaporator lower surface 20a, as shown in Figures 2 and 11, and opens to the inner surface 15a of the bottom 15 so as to face the evaporator lower surface 20a.

[0030] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 10, a seal member 30 is attached to the evaporator 20 to seal the gap with the case 11 and to prevent vibration of the evaporator 20. The seal member 30 is made of a foamed resin material, such as polyethylene foam or polyurethane foam. The shape of the seal member 30 and the attachment position and attachment range to the evaporator 20 vary widely, with the ones shown in Figures 2, 3, and 10 being examples. The seal member 30 to which the present invention is applied has a cover portion 33a that covers the underside 20a of the evaporator.

[0031] An example of a common configuration of the seal member 30 illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 10, etc. will be described below. The seal member 30 has an upper portion 31, a side portion 32, and a lower portion 33. The upper portion 31 has a U-shape that covers the upper surface of the upper tank 24 in Figure 4, the upstream side in the ventilation direction, the downstream side in the ventilation direction, and the side surface along the ventilation direction. The side portions 32, 32 have a plate-like shape that covers the outer side surfaces of the end plates 23, 23 in Figure 4. The lower portion 33 has a U-shape that covers the side surface of the lower tank 25 (evaporator lower surface 20a) in Figure 4, the upstream side in the ventilation direction, the downstream side in the ventilation direction, and the side surface along the ventilation direction. Steps are formed at the boundaries between the upper portion 31 and the side portion 32 and at the boundaries between the side portion 32 and the lower portion 33, as shown in Figures 3(d) and 10(d). As shown particularly in Figures 3(b) and 10(b), the lower portion 33 has plate-shaped upright portions 33b, 33c that stand upright from both longitudinal edges of the plate-shaped cover portion 33a that covers the evaporator underside 20a, and of these, the upright portion 33c on the downstream side in the ventilation direction has a drainage corresponding portion 34 that is formed by cutting out with an open upper part in the longitudinal central part of the evaporator underside 20a.

[0032] With such a configuration of the sealing member 30 and the positional relationship of the drain hole 16 with the underside 20a of the evaporator, when the vehicle 100 tilts at a predetermined angle R (for example, 10°) in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle 100 may tilt at a predetermined angle R such that one side in the left-right and / or front-to-rear direction is lower than the other, and as a result, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the surface of the cover portion 33a of the sealing member 30 may also tilt at the predetermined angle R, and the surface of the cover portion 33a of the sealing member 30 may become lower toward the drain hole 16.

[0033] As a result, as shown by the arrows in Figures 7(a) and 12(a), the condensed water generated in the evaporator 20 overcomes the step between the ventilation surface of the evaporator and the lower part 33 of the sealing member 30, or falls from the drainage corresponding part 34 of the lower part 33, reaches the cover part 33a, and then moves toward the drain hole 16 by flowing over the surface of the cover part 33a, or seeps into the cover part 33a and moves within the cover part 33a toward the drain hole 16, or both.

[0034] In order to prevent the condensed water that has moved through the cover portion 33a from turning into droplets vertically above the drain hole 16 and falling into the drain hole 16, the seal member 30 to which the present invention is applied has a stepped condensed water drop promotion portion 36 and a condensed water drop prevention area 37 surrounded by this condensed water drop promotion portion 36. Below, first and second examples of the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 and the condensed water drop prevention area 37 will be described separately.

[0035] (First embodiment of the present invention) A first example of the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 and the condensed water drop prevention area 37 will be described with reference to Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7. In the first example, the condensed water drop prevention area 37 is a cutout portion 38 formed by cutting out a part of the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30. The condensed water drop promotion portion 36 is a step formed by the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30 and the cutout portion 38.

[0036] As shown in Figures 6 and 7(a), the cutout portion 38 is formed at a position closer to one side of the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a of the sealing member 30 (in this embodiment, on the side of the inlet / outlet portions 26, 27) so that when the surface of the cover portion 33a of the sealing member 30 is inclined at a predetermined angle R, the circle 16A obtained by projecting the opening circle of the drain hole 16 upward in the vertical direction L1 (hereinafter referred to as the drain hole projection circle) is included within the area.

[0037] 7, the cutout portion 38 reaches the longitudinal end of the cover portion 33a for ease of formation, etc. However, the cutout portion 38 does not have to reach the longitudinal end of the cover portion 33a, in which case the cutout portion 38 is surrounded on its entire periphery by the condensed water drop promotion portion 36.

[0038] 7, the cutout 38 has a shape that combines a semicircular portion and a rectangular portion or a substantially elliptical shape, with the center of the cutout 38 being a line that coincides with reference lines C1 and C2 that pass through the center of the drain hole projected circle 16A and the center of the evaporator 20 in the ventilation direction and extend along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30. When the surface of the cover portion 33a is inclined at a predetermined angle R so that the drain hole projected circle 16A fits within the cutout 38, the shortest distance D1 from the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 to the circumference of the drain hole projected circle 16A is set to the minimum distance that can prevent condensed water from dropping directly into the drain hole 16 even if it drops in the form of droplets at the condensed water drop promotion portion 36, which is advantageous in that it allows the area of ​​the cutout 38 to be reduced. Furthermore, the shape of the cutout portion 38 is not particularly limited as long as the shortest distance D1 from the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 to the circumference of the drain hole projected circle 16A that is sufficient to prevent water droplets from falling out of the drain hole 16 can be secured.

[0039] In this way, the condensed water drop prevention area 37 is the cutout portion 38, and the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 is the step between the seal member 30 and the cutout portion 38. As shown in FIG. 6 , the surface of the cover portion 33a is inclined at a predetermined angle R toward the drain hole 16. As shown in FIG. 7( a), when condensed water moves in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a (a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction), the condensed water disperses at the step portion of the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 as shown in FIG. 7( b). Therefore, even if the condensed water turns into droplets, the droplets become smaller and are less likely to fall. Even if the condensed water does turn into droplets and fall, it falls from the condensed water drop promotion portion 36, which is the step between the seal member 30 and the cutout portion 38, and does not fall directly into the drain hole 16. This prevents the condensed water from turning into droplets and falling directly into the drain hole 16, hitting the tubular portion 17 or the drain hose 18 and generating abnormal noise.

[0040] 7, a reference line C1 that passes through the center of the drain hole projected circle 16A and extends along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30 coincides with a reference line C2 that passes through the center of the evaporator 20 in the ventilation direction and extends along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30. However, depending on the position at which the drain hole 16 is provided in the bottom 15 of the case 11, the reference line C1 may be shifted to the upwind side of the reference line C2 in the width direction (ventilation direction) of the evaporator 20, as shown in FIG. 8(a), or the reference line C1 may be shifted to the downwind side of the reference line C2 in the width direction (ventilation direction) of the evaporator 20, as shown in FIG. 8(b).

[0041] In such a case, the center of the notch 38 can be shifted to coincide with the reference line C1. As a result, even if the drain hole 16 is positioned at a position shifted from the reference line C2 that passes through the center of the evaporator 20 in the width direction, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the condensed water drop prevention area 37 can be positioned above the drain hole 16 in the vertical direction L1.

[0042] (Modification of the first embodiment of the present invention) Fig. 9 shows a modified example of the first example of the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 and the cutout portion 38 described using Fig. 7 etc. The modified example of the first example will be described below using Fig. 9. Note that the same components as those in the first example of the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0043] The cutout 38 has a generally rectangular shape with the line where the reference lines C1 and C2 coincide passing through the center. The condensed water drop promotion portion 36 is formed with a corner 39 on the opposite side of the longitudinal end of the evaporator underside 20a, the corner 39 being made up of a portion 39a extending along the ventilation direction of the air blown by the evaporator 20 and a portion 39b extending along a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the air blown by the evaporator 20.

[0044] Depending on the inclination of the vehicle 100, the evaporator 20 may be inclined not only in a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the blown air as shown in Fig. 6, but also in a case where the evaporator 20 is inclined along the ventilation direction, such as where the upstream side of the ventilation direction is higher and the downstream side of the ventilation direction is lower, or in a compound inclination. In any of these inclinations, the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 has corners 39, which allow water droplets to collect at the corners 39, thereby further promoting the drop of water droplets.

[0045] (Second embodiment of the present invention) A second example of the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 and the condensed water drop prevention area 37 will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. Note that the same components as those in the first example of the previous embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0046] In the second example, the condensed water drop prevention region 37 is a region where the sub-seal member 40 is arranged overlapping the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30 (a region of the surface of the sub-seal member 40 facing the inner surface 15a of the bottom 15 of the case 11). The condensed water drop promotion portion 36 is a step formed by the seal member 30 and the sub-seal member 40 arranged overlapping the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30.

[0047] As shown in Figures 11 and 12(a), the sub-seal member 40 is positioned toward one side of the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30 (in this embodiment, toward the inlet / outlet portions 26, 27) so that when the surface of the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30 is inclined at a predetermined angle R, the drain hole projection circle 16A, which is the opening circle of the drain hole 16 projected upward in the vertical direction L1, is included within the area.

[0048] In Figures 10 and 11, the sub-seal member 40 does not reach the longitudinal end of the cover portion 33a, and a step is formed between the cover portion 33a and the sub-seal member 40 even at the longitudinal end of the cover portion 33a.

[0049] The sub-seal member 40 has a shape that is a combination of a semicircular portion and a rectangular portion or a roughly elliptical shape in Figures 10(c) and 12, with reference lines C1 and C2 passing through the center of the drain hole projection circle 16A and the center of the ventilation direction of the evaporator 20 and extending along the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30 passing through its center.

[0050] When the surface of the cover portion 33a is inclined at a predetermined angle R so that the drain hole projected circle 16A is positioned on a surface facing the bottom 15 of the sub-seal member 40, the shortest distance D2 from the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 to the circumference of the drain hole projected circle 16A is the minimum distance that can prevent condensed water from dropping directly into the drain hole 16 even if it turns into droplets and drops in the condensed water drop promotion portion 36. This is advantageous in that it allows the sub-seal member 40 to be made smaller. The shape of the sub-seal member 40 is not particularly limited as long as the shortest distance D2 from the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 to the circumference of the drain hole projected circle 16A that can prevent droplets from dropping into the drain hole 16 can be secured.

[0051] The material of the sub-seal member 40 may be the same as that of the seal member 30, or a different material having lower water permeability than the seal member 30 may be used. The sub-seal member 40 may have a skin layer. By making the sub-seal member 40 less water permeable than the seal member 30, it is possible to prevent condensed water from seeping into the sub-seal member 40 and dripping from the surface of the sub-seal member 40 facing the bottom 15.

[0052] In this way, the condensed water drop prevention area 37 is an area where the sub-seal member 40 is disposed overlapping the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30, and the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 is a step formed by the seal member 30 and the sub-seal member 40 disposed overlapping the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30. As shown in FIG. 11 , the surface of the cover portion 33a is inclined at a predetermined angle R toward the drain hole 16. Even if condensed water moves in the longitudinal direction of the cover portion 33a (a direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction) as shown in FIG. 12(a), the condensed water disperses at the step of the condensed water drop promotion portion 36 as shown in FIG. 12(b). Therefore, even if the condensed water forms droplets, the droplets are small and therefore less likely to fall. Even if the condensed water does form droplets and fall, they fall from the condensed water drop promotion portion 36, which is the step between the cover portion 33a of the seal member 30 and the sub-seal member 40, and do not fall directly into the drain hole 16. This prevents the condensed water from turning into droplets and falling directly into the drain hole 16, hitting the cylindrical portion 17 or the drain hose 18, and generating abnormal noise. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Vehicle air conditioning system 10 Air Conditioning Unit 11 cases 15 Bottom 15a Inside surface 16 Drain hole 20 Evaporator 20a Underside of evaporator 30 Sealing material 36 Condensed water drop promotion part 37 Condensate prevention area 38 Cutout 39 Corner 39a Part extending along the direction of ventilation air 39b Part extending perpendicular to the direction of ventilation air 40 Sub-seal member 100 vehicles S interior space L1 vertical direction D1 Distance from the drain hole to the cutout

Claims

1. In an air conditioning unit (10) for a vehicle air conditioner (1), an evaporator (20) is housed in a case (11) having an internal space (S) through which blown air flows, and a drain hole (16) for discharging condensed water generated in the evaporator (20) to the outside of the case (11) is provided in a bottom (15) of the case (11), The evaporator (20) has a lower surface (20a) of the evaporator facing the inner surface (15a) of the bottom (15) and extending in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the blown air, and a sealing member (30) made of a foamed resin material is provided on the lower surface (20a) of the evaporator, covering the lower surface (20a); The drain hole (16) is formed in the bottom (15) near an end of the evaporator lower surface (20a) in the longitudinal direction, and the drain hole (16) is separated vertically from the evaporator lower surface (20a) via a space. The sealing member (30) has a condensed water drop promotion portion (36) formed in a stepped shape and a condensed water drop prevention area (37) surrounded by the condensed water drop promotion portion (36), The condensed water drop prevention area (37) is located above the drain hole (16) in the vertical direction (L1) when the surface of the sealing member (30) is at an inclination (R) such that the surface of the sealing member (30) becomes lower toward the drain hole (16) as one side of the vehicle (100) becomes lower than the other side in the left-right and / or front-to-rear direction, thereby causing condensed water on the surface of the sealing member (30) to drop vertically downward through the space from the condensed water drop promotion portion (36), which is not vertically above the drain hole (16), and into an area of ​​the inner surface (15a) of the bottom (15) where the drain hole (16) is not provided.

2. The condensed water drop prevention area (37) is a notch (38) formed by cutting out a part of the sealing member (30), 2. The air conditioning unit (10) of a vehicle air conditioner (1) according to claim 1, wherein the condensed water drop promotion portion (36) is a step formed by the sealing member (30) and the cutout portion (38).

3. The air conditioning unit (10) of the vehicle air conditioning system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cutout portion (38) is formed at a position spaced a fixed distance (D1) from the drain hole (16).

4. The air conditioning unit (10) of the vehicle air conditioning system (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the condensation water drop promotion portion (36) further has a corner portion (39) formed by a portion (39a) extending along the ventilation direction of the blown air flowing through the evaporator (20) and a portion (39b) extending perpendicular to the ventilation direction of the blown air.

5. The condensed water drop prevention area (37) is an area where a sub-seal member (40) is arranged overlapping the seal member (30), 2. The air conditioning unit (10) of a vehicle air conditioner (1) according to claim 1, wherein the condensed water drop promotion portion (36) is a step formed by the seal member (30) and the sub-seal member (40).

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