Automotive air conditioning device

Abstract

The present invention provides an automotive air conditioning device comprising: an air conditioning device main body provided centrally in the vehicle width direction; a side duct extending outward in the vehicle width direction from the upper surface of the air conditioning device main body to blow conditioned air toward an occupant; and a knee duct that blows conditioned air toward the knees of an occupant sitting in a front seat, wherein the side duct has a branching part from which the knee duct branches off, and the knee duct extends from the branching part to the height of the knees.

Description

Vehicle air conditioning system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle air conditioning system.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle air conditioning system in which a foot ventilation passage and a knee ventilation passage are branched downstream of a front seat foot ventilation passage. In this vehicle air conditioning system, the front seat foot ventilation passage ventilates conditioned air to the foot ventilation passage and the knee ventilation passage. The foot ventilation passage is provided with an outlet (foot outlet) that blows conditioned air toward the feet of the front seat occupant, and the knee ventilation passage is provided with an outlet (knee outlet) that blows conditioned air toward the knees of the front seat occupant.

[0003] JP 2014-34271 A

[0004] In the vehicle air conditioning system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a partition wall is provided in the air conditioning case to separate the upper and lower flow paths. The front seat foot ventilation duct extends from the front of the electric heater installed on the outlet side of the lower flow path toward the occupant sitting in the front seat and branches downstream into the foot ventilation duct and the knee ventilation duct. Therefore, the front seat foot ventilation duct, the foot ventilation duct, and the knee ventilation duct encroach on the space that the occupant sitting in the front seat can use freely, which may impair the occupant's freedom of movement.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide an air conditioning system for a vehicle that can supply conditioned air toward the knees of an occupant sitting in the front seat while ensuring space that the occupant can use freely.

[0006] (1) In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle air conditioning system includes an air conditioning system main body located in the center of the vehicle width direction, side ducts extending outward from the top surface of the air conditioning system main body in the vehicle width direction to blow conditioned air toward occupants, and knee ducts blowing conditioned air toward the knees of occupants seated in the front seats, wherein the side ducts have a branching portion from which the knee ducts branch off, and the knee ducts extend from the branching portion to the height of the knees.

[0007] According to the configuration of (1) above, the knee duct that blows conditioned air toward the knees of the occupant sitting in the front seat extends from a branching portion provided in the side duct that extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the upper surface of the air conditioning unit main body, so the space occupied by the knee duct in the vehicle cabin can be smaller than the space occupied by the front seat foot ventilation duct, foot ventilation duct, and knee ventilation duct of the vehicle air conditioning unit disclosed in Patent Document 1. This makes it possible to blow conditioned air toward the knees of the occupant sitting in the front seat while ensuring space that the occupant can use freely.

[0008] (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the side duct has a side duct inlet portion connected to the air conditioning unit main body and bending from the vehicle height direction to the vehicle width direction, a side duct extension portion extending outward in the vehicle width direction from the side duct inlet portion, and a side duct outlet portion extending rearward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction from the side duct extension portion, the branch portion being provided upstream of the side duct extension portion, and the knee duct has a knee duct extension portion provided from the branch portion along the side duct extension portion.

[0009] According to the configuration (2) above, the conditioned airflow branched into the knee duct at the branching portion flows along the knee duct extension, thereby smoothing out turbulence in the conditioned airflow (flow regulation), thereby suppressing energy loss of the conditioned airflow downstream of the knee duct extension and enabling a sufficient volume of conditioned airflow to be directed toward the knees of the front seat passengers.

[0010] (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (2) above, the branching portion is provided immediately after the side duct inlet portion in the flow direction of the air conditioning air.

[0011] According to the configuration (3) above, the knee duct extension is longer and the turbulence of the conditioned air is reduced, so the energy loss of the conditioned air downstream of the knee duct extension is reduced, and a larger volume of conditioned air can be provided toward the knees of passengers sitting in the front seats.

[0012] (4) In some embodiments, in the configuration described in (2) or (3) above, the branching portion is provided at a throttling portion where the flow path cross-sectional area is minimum in the side duct extension portion.

[0013] According to the configuration (4) above, the flow rate of the conditioned air supplied to the side extension section increases at the branch section, and a large amount of conditioned air is drawn from the branch section to the knee duct extension section, so that a large amount of conditioned air can be drawn from the branch section to the knee duct.

[0014] (5) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (2) or (3) above, the surface of the inner surface of the side duct extension portion that faces downward in the vehicle height direction is lower in the vehicle height direction at the branch portion than the upstream side in the flow direction of the air conditioning air at the branch portion.

[0015] According to the above configuration (5), the conditioned air that passes through the side duct inlet and flows along the surface of the inner surface of the side duct extension that faces downward in the vehicle height direction is guided downward in the vehicle height direction, thereby facilitating the introduction of the conditioned air from the side duct inlet to the side duct extension.

[0016] (6) In some embodiments, in the configuration described in (2) or (3) above, the side duct extension portion has a flow path width that expands in the vehicle longitudinal direction on the downstream side of the branch portion in the flow direction of the conditioned air.

[0017] According to the above configuration (6), the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path is increased and the flow velocity of the conditioned air is slowed down, but the flow of the conditioned air can be made uniform in the width direction of the flow path.

[0018] (7) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (2) or (3) above, the side duct extension has an edge at the branching portion where the inner surface is recessed toward the knee duct.

[0019] According to the configuration (7) above, stagnation of the conditioned air at the branching portion is suppressed, and the flow of the conditioned air at the side duct extension portion and the flow of the conditioned air at the knee duct extension portion can be smoothed.

[0020] (8) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (2) above, the knee duct has a knee duct outlet portion extending rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the knee duct extension portion, a first duct connected to the knee duct outlet portion and extending along the vehicle height direction, and a second duct connected to the first duct and extending forward of the front seat in the vehicle longitudinal direction and to the center of the front seat in the vehicle width direction.

[0021] According to the configuration (8) above, the conditioned air that passes through the knee duct outlet and is supplied to the first duct flows downward in the vehicle height direction by passing through the first duct, and then passes through the second duct, where it can be supplied to the front of the front seat in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and to the center of the front seat in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] (9) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (8) above, the second duct has an inner surface facing rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction that is inclined toward the inside in the vehicle width direction so as to be gradually positioned rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0023] According to the above configuration (9), the flow of conditioned air toward the air outlet can be made smooth.

[0024] (10) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (8) or (9) above, the first duct has a flange for fixing the knee duct to an instrument panel core.

[0025] According to the above configuration (10), the flange provided on the first duct is fixed to the instrument panel core, so that the knee duct can be fixed to the instrument panel core.

[0026] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, conditioned air can be supplied toward the knees of occupants seated in the front seats while ensuring space that can be freely used by the occupants seated in the front seats.

[0027] It is a front view showing a schematic view of a vehicle air conditioning device according to an embodiment. It is a front view showing the side duct and knee duct on the driver's seat side shown in Figure 1. It is a side view showing the side duct and knee duct on the driver's seat side shown in Figure 2. It is a plan view showing the side duct and knee duct on the driver's seat side shown in Figure 2. It is a front view showing the side duct shown in Figure 2. It is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of the side duct shown in Figure 5. It is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the side duct shown in Figure 5. It is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of the second duct shown in Figure 2.

[0028] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0029] 1, the vehicle air conditioner 1 is a device that enables heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of the vehicle interior, and the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the embodiment includes an air conditioner main body 2 provided at the center in the vehicle width direction, side ducts 3 extending in the vehicle width direction from the upper surface of the air conditioner main body 2 and blowing conditioned air toward occupants seated in the front seats, and knee ducts 4 blowing conditioned air toward the knees of occupants seated in the front seats. The knee duct 4 of the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to the embodiment is provided only on the driver's seat side and not on the passenger seat side, but may be provided on both the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side.

[0030] [Details of Side Duct] As shown in Fig. 2, one end of the side duct 3 is connected to an outlet opening 2a provided on the top surface of the air conditioning unit main body 2, and the other end is connected to an opening (air outlet) provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, so that the conditioned air is blown out toward the occupants sitting in the front seats. As shown in Fig. 6, the flow path cross section of the side duct 3 is formed so as to reduce the energy loss of the conditioned air flowing through the side duct 3, and is formed so that the flow path cross section of the side duct 3 is appropriately changed between the outlet opening 2a and the air outlet.

[0031] 5, the side duct 3 is connected to the air conditioning unit main body 2 and has a side duct inlet 11 that bends from the vehicle height direction to the vehicle width direction, a side duct extension 12 that extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the side duct inlet 11, and a side duct outlet 13 that extends rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction from the side duct extension 12. A branching portion 14 from which the knee duct 4 branches is provided upstream of the side duct extension 12.

[0032] The branch section 14 is provided, for example, immediately after the side duct inlet section 11 in the flow direction of the air conditioning air supplied from the air conditioning device main body 2 to the side duct 3, but it does not have to be provided immediately after the side duct inlet section 11 as long as it is upstream of the side duct extension section 12.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6 , the branch section 14 is provided, for example, in the throttling section 15 where the flow path cross-sectional area DA is smallest in the side duct extension section 12, but it does not have to be provided in the throttling section 15 as long as it is located upstream of the side duct extension section 12.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, for example, a surface 16 of the inner surface of the side duct extension portion 12 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is lower in the vehicle height direction at the branch portion 14 than the upstream side in the flow direction of the air conditioning air at the branch portion 14.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the side duct extension 12 has a flow path width W that expands in the vehicle longitudinal direction on the downstream side of the branch portion 14 in the flow direction of the conditioned air.

[0036] For example, the side duct extension 12 has an edge 17 at the branching portion 14 where the inner surface is recessed toward the knee duct 4 .

[0037] [Details of the Knee Duct] As shown in Fig. 2, the knee duct 4 is configured to blow conditioned air toward the knees of an occupant sitting in the front seat, and extends from the branching portion 14 to knee height. As shown in Fig. 4, the knee duct 4 has, for example, a knee duct extension portion 18 provided from the branching portion 14 along the side duct extension portion 12, and a knee duct outlet portion 19 extending rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the knee duct extension portion 18. The knee duct extension portion 18 and the knee duct outlet portion 19 are provided integrally with the side duct 3.

[0038] 2, the knee duct 4 has, for example, a first duct 20 connected to the knee duct outlet 19 and extending along the vehicle height direction, and a second duct 21 connected to the first duct 20 and extending forward of the front seat in the vehicle longitudinal direction to the center of the front seat in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the first duct 20 has a first duct inlet 22 that bends from the vehicle longitudinal direction to the vehicle height direction, and a first duct extension 23 that extends from the first duct inlet 22 in the vehicle height direction.

[0039] The first duct 20 has a flange 27 for fixing the knee duct 4 to the instrument panel core 26. The flange 27 is provided on the first duct extension 23, and a screw 28 passing through the flange 27 is fixed to the instrument panel core 26, thereby fixing the knee duct 4 to the instrument panel core 26.

[0040] The second duct 21 has a second duct inlet portion 29 extending in the vehicle height direction, a second duct extension portion 30 extending gradually rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the second duct inlet portion 29 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and a second duct outlet portion 31 extending forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the second duct extension portion 30. As shown in Fig. 8 , the second duct outlet portion 31 is inclined such that an inner surface 32 of the second duct outlet portion 31 facing toward the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction is gradually positioned rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0041] [Operation of Vehicle Air Conditioner] In the vehicle air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment, conditioned air is generated in the air conditioner main body 2 and supplied to the side duct 3 from an outlet opening 2a provided on the top surface of the air conditioner main body 2. The conditioned air supplied to the side duct 3 changes its flow direction from the vehicle height direction to the outside in the vehicle width direction by passing through the side duct inlet portion 11, and is then supplied to the side duct extension portion 12. All or part of the conditioned air supplied to the side duct extension portion 12 passes through the side duct outlet portion 13, changing its flow direction from the outside in the vehicle width direction to the rear in the vehicle front-to-rear direction, and is then blown out from the air outlet toward occupants seated in the front seats.

[0042] All or part of the conditioned air supplied to the side duct extension 12 passes from a branching portion 14 provided upstream of the side duct extension 12 through a knee duct extension 18 and a knee duct outlet portion 19 and is supplied to the knee duct 4. By passing through the knee duct 4, the conditioned air supplied to the knee duct 4 changes its flow direction and is blown out toward the knees of the occupant sitting in the front seat.

[0043] Furthermore, when the knee duct 4 has a knee duct extension 18 that is arranged along the side duct extension 12 from the branching portion 14, the conditioned air that is branched into the knee duct 4 at the branching portion 14 flows along the knee duct extension 18, thereby rectifying any turbulence in the conditioned air (rectification).

[0044] Furthermore, if the branch portion 14 is provided immediately after the side duct inlet portion 11 in the flow direction of the conditioned air, the knee duct extension portion 18 becomes longer, and turbulence of the conditioned air becomes smaller.

[0045] Furthermore, when the branching section 14 is provided at the constriction section 15 where the flow path cross-sectional area is smallest in the side duct extension section 12, the flow velocity of the conditioned air supplied to the side duct extension section 12 increases at the branching section 14, and a large amount of the conditioned air is drawn from the branching section 14 into the knee duct extension section 18.

[0046] Furthermore, when the surface 16 of the inner surface of the side duct extension 12 that faces downward in the vehicle height direction is lower in the vehicle height direction at the branching section 14 than the upstream side in the flow direction of the air conditioning air at the branching section 14, the air conditioning air supplied to the side duct extension 12 flows along the surface 16 that faces downward in the vehicle height direction, and the air conditioning air is guided downward in the vehicle height direction.

[0047] Furthermore, when the side duct extension 12 widens the flow path width in the vehicle longitudinal direction downstream of the branching portion 14 in the flow direction of the air conditioning air, the flow path cross-sectional area increases and the flow speed of the air conditioning air slows down, but the flow of the air conditioning air becomes uniform in the flow path width direction.

[0048] Furthermore, if the side duct extension 12 has an edge at the branching portion 14 where the inner surface is recessed toward the knee duct, stagnation of the conditioned air at the branching portion 14 is suppressed, and the flow of the conditioned air in the side duct extension 12 and the flow of the conditioned air in the knee duct extension 18 becomes smoother.

[0049] In addition, when there is a first duct 20 connected to the knee duct outlet 19 and extending along the vehicle height direction, and a second duct 21 connected to the first duct 20 and extending forward of the front seat in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and to the center of the front seat in the vehicle width direction, the air conditioning air that passes through the knee duct outlet 19 and is supplied to the first duct 20 flows downward in the vehicle height direction by passing through the first duct 20, and then passes through the second duct 21 to be supplied forward of the front seat in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and to the center of the front seat in the vehicle width direction.

[0050] Furthermore, when the inner surface 32 of the second duct outlet portion 31 that faces rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction is inclined toward the inside of the vehicle width direction so as to be gradually positioned rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the flow direction of the air conditioning air blown out from the second duct outlet portion 31 toward the knees of the occupant sitting in the front seat is gradually changed.

[0051] [Effects of the Vehicle Air Conditioner] According to the vehicle air conditioner 1 of this embodiment, the knee duct 4 extends from the branch portion 14 of the side duct 3, which extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the outlet opening 2a provided on the upper surface of the air conditioner main body 2, and blows conditioned air toward the knees of occupants seated in the front seats. Therefore, the space occupied by the knee duct 4 in the vehicle cabin can be smaller than the space occupied by the front seat foot passage, foot ventilation passage, and knee ventilation passage of the vehicle air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1. This allows conditioned air to be blown toward the occupants seated in the front seats while ensuring space that can be freely used by the occupants seated in the front seats.

[0052] Furthermore, when the knee duct 4 has a knee duct extension 18 that is provided from the branching portion 14 along the side duct extension 12, the conditioned air that is branched into the knee duct 4 at the branching portion 14 flows along the knee duct extension 18, thereby rectifying the turbulence of the conditioned air (rectifying the flow), thereby suppressing energy loss of the conditioned air downstream of the knee duct extension 18 and enabling a sufficient volume of conditioned air to be provided toward the knees of occupants sitting in the front seats.

[0053] Furthermore, if the branch portion 14 is provided immediately after the side duct inlet portion 11 in the flow direction of the conditioned air, the knee duct extension portion 18 becomes longer and the turbulence of the conditioned air becomes smaller, so that the energy loss of the conditioned air downstream of the knee duct extension portion 18 becomes smaller and a larger volume of conditioned air can be provided toward the knees of passengers sitting in the front seats.

[0054] Furthermore, when the branching section 14 is provided at the constriction section 15 where the flow path cross-sectional area is smallest in the side duct extension section 12, the flow velocity of the conditioned air supplied to the side duct extension section 12 increases at the branching section 14, and a large amount of conditioned air is drawn from the branching section 14 into the knee duct extension section 18, so that a large amount of conditioned air can be drawn from the branching section 14 into the knee duct.

[0055] Furthermore, if the surface 16 of the inner surface of the side duct extension 12 facing downward in the vehicle height direction is lower in the vehicle height direction at the branching section 14 than the upstream side in the flow direction of the air conditioning air at the branching section 14, the air conditioning air supplied to the side duct extension 12 will flow along the surface 16 facing downward in the vehicle height direction, and the air conditioning air will be directed downward in the vehicle height direction, thereby facilitating the introduction of air conditioning air from the side duct inlet 11 to the side duct extension 12.

[0056] Furthermore, when the side duct extension 12 widens the flow path width in the vehicle longitudinal direction downstream of the branching portion 14 in the flow direction of the air conditioning air, the flow path cross-sectional area increases and the flow speed of the air conditioning air slows down, but the flow of the air conditioning air can be made uniform in the flow path width direction.

[0057] Furthermore, if the side duct extension 12 has an edge at the branching portion 14 where the inner surface is recessed toward the knee duct, stagnation of the conditioned air at the branching portion 14 is suppressed, and the flow of the conditioned air in the side duct extension 12 and the flow of the conditioned air in the knee duct extension 18 can be made smoother.

[0058] In addition, when there is a first duct 20 connected to the knee duct outlet 19 and extending along the vehicle height direction, and a second duct 21 connected to the first duct 20 and extending forward of the front seat in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and to the center of the front seat in the width direction of the vehicle, the air conditioning air that passes through the knee duct outlet 19 and is supplied to the first duct 20 flows downward in the vehicle height direction by passing through the first duct 20, and then passes through the second duct 21 and can be supplied to the front of the front seat in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and to the center of the front seat in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0059] Furthermore, when the inner surface 32 of the second duct outlet portion 31 that faces rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction is inclined toward the inside of the vehicle width direction so as to be gradually positioned rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the flow direction of the conditioned air blown out from the second duct outlet portion 31 toward the knees of the occupant sitting in the front seat is gradually changed, thereby making it possible to smooth the flow of conditioned air blown out toward the knees of the occupant sitting in the front seat.

[0060] Furthermore, by fixing the flange 27 provided on the first duct 20 to the instrument panel core 26 , the knee duct 4 can be fixed to the instrument panel core 26 .

[0061] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes modifications to the above-described embodiments and appropriate combinations of these modifications.

[0062] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle air conditioning device 2 Air conditioning device main body 2a Outlet opening 3 Side duct 3a Outlet portion 3b Extension portion 4 Knee duct 4a Inlet portion 11 Side duct inlet portion 12 Side duct extension portion 13 Side duct outlet portion 14 Branch portion 15 Constriction portion 16 Surface of inner surface of side duct extension portion facing downward in the vehicle height direction 17 Edge portion 18 Knee duct extension portion 19 Knee duct outlet portion 20 First duct 21 Second duct 22 First duct inlet portion 23 First duct extension portion 26 Instrument panel core 27 Flange 28 Screw 29 Second duct inlet portion 30 Second duct extension portion 31 Second duct outlet portion 32 Inner surface of second duct outlet portion facing rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction DA Flow path cross-sectional area W aisle width

Claims

1. An air conditioning system for a vehicle comprising: an air conditioning unit main body provided in the center in the vehicle width direction; a side duct extending outward in the vehicle width direction from an upper surface of the air conditioning unit main body to blow conditioned air toward an occupant; and a knee duct blowing conditioned air toward the knees of an occupant seated in the front seat, wherein the side duct has a branching portion from which the knee duct branches off, and the knee duct extends from the branching portion to the height of the knees.

2. The vehicle air conditioning device as described in claim 1, wherein the side duct is connected to the air conditioning unit main body and has a side duct inlet portion that bends from the vehicle height direction to the vehicle width direction, a side duct extension portion that extends from the side duct inlet portion outward in the vehicle width direction, and a side duct outlet portion that extends from the side duct extension portion rearward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, the branching portion is provided upstream of the side duct extension portion, and the knee duct has a knee duct extension portion that is provided from the branching portion along the side duct extension portion.

3. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the branch portion is provided immediately after the side duct inlet portion in a flow direction of the conditioned air.

4. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the branch portion is provided at a throttle portion where a flow passage cross-sectional area is minimum in the side duct extension portion.

5. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a surface of the inner surface of the side duct extension portion that faces downward in the vehicle height direction is lower in the vehicle height direction at the branch portion than the upstream side in the flow direction of the air conditioning air at the branch portion.

6. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the side duct extension portion has a flow path width that expands in the front-rear direction of the vehicle on a downstream side in the flow direction of the conditioned air from the branch portion.

7. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the side duct extension has an inner surface at a branching portion that has an edge portion recessed toward the knee duct.

8. An air conditioning system for a vehicle as described in claim 2, wherein the knee duct has: a knee duct outlet portion extending rearward in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction from the knee duct extension portion; a first duct connected to the knee duct outlet portion and extending along the vehicle height direction; and a second duct connected to the first duct and extending forward of the front seat in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction and to a center of the front seat in the vehicle width direction.

9. The vehicle air conditioning device according to claim 8, wherein the second duct has an inner surface facing the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the inner surface being inclined toward the inside in the vehicle width direction so as to be gradually positioned rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

10. The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the first duct has a flange for fixing the knee duct to an instrument panel core.

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