Air blending and distribution device for vehicle air conditioner

Abstract

An air blending and distribution device for a vehicle air conditioner. The air blending and distribution device for a vehicle air conditioner is arranged in an air supply chamber of a vehicle; a blower (9) of the vehicle air conditioner is arranged at an air inlet of the air supply chamber; the air blending and distribution device for a vehicle air conditioner comprises a cabin cooling heat exchanger (1) and a cabin heating heat exchanger (2); a plurality of first channels (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5) are arranged upstream of the cabin cooling heat exchanger (1), and an air return channel (B) is arranged downstream of the cabin cooling heat exchanger (1); air from the air inlet of the air supply chamber flows through at least one of the first channels (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5) into the cabin cooling heat exchanger (1), and then flows through the air return channel (B) to one of the first channels (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5); and a second channel (C) and a third channel (D) are respectively arranged upstream and downstream of the cabin heating heat exchanger (2). By means of the air return channel (B) arranged downstream of the cabin cooling heat exchanger (1), the air outlet direction of the cabin cooling heat exchanger (1) is controlled; and by means of cooperation of the present invention and a plurality of dampers, switching of the series connection and parallel connection between the cabin cooling heat exchanger (1) and the cabin heating heat exchanger (2) can be implemented in the air blending and distribution device, thereby combining the advantages of both series-connection and parallel-connection modes, thus achieving more compact path design while ensuring heat exchange capacity.

Description

Automotive air conditioning unit Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive air conditioning technology, and more specifically, to an automotive air conditioning air distribution device. Background Technology

[0002] In an air conditioning system, the function of the air distribution unit is to control the ratio of airflow to cold and heat sources, achieving the target outlet temperature through mixing, and finally delivering the mixed air to the passenger compartment through different outlets. The heat exchanger in the air distribution unit heats or cools the air flowing through it. The heat exchanger's capacity is directly proportional to the ventilation volume and the heat exchange area. Heat exchangers are divided into refrigeration heat exchangers (cold source) and heating heat exchangers (heat source). Refrigeration heat exchangers generally use evaporators (refrigerant-cooled) or water coolers (water-cooled), while heating heat exchangers generally use warm air cores (coolant-heated) or built-in condensers (refrigerant-heated).

[0003] In traditional vehicle air conditioning systems, considering the need for dehumidification in heating mode, the cooling heat exchanger (cold source) is placed before the heating heat exchanger (heat source). Air must first flow through the cold source (cooling and dehumidifying simultaneously) and then pass through a mixing damper to adjust the proportion flowing through the heat source, ultimately achieving the desired outlet temperature. Air typically enters from one side (upstream) of the heat exchanger and exits from the other side (downstream), meaning the inlet and outlet directions are usually the same. In scenarios where the outlet direction needs to be opposite to the inlet direction, an additional path is required, which occupies more space. The purpose of this application is to provide an automotive air conditioning air distribution device that enables controllable outlet direction of the heat exchanger and allows for switching between series and parallel connections of the indoor cooling heat exchanger and the indoor heating heat exchanger.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems in the prior art, the purpose of this application is to provide an automotive air conditioning air distribution device. This air distribution device controls the air outlet direction of the heat exchanger through a return channel downstream of the heat exchanger. Based on this, it enables the switching between series and parallel connection of the indoor cooling heat exchanger and the indoor heating heat exchanger, taking into account the advantages of both series and parallel modes while having a more compact structure.

[0006] Specifically, an embodiment of this application provides an automotive air conditioning air distribution device, which is disposed in the air supply cavity of the vehicle, and the air inlet of the air supply cavity is provided with a blower of the automotive air conditioning system.

[0007] The automotive air conditioning system includes an indoor cooling heat exchanger and an indoor heating heat exchanger.

[0008] The indoor cooling heat exchanger has multiple first channels upstream and a return air channel downstream. The air from the air inlet of the air supply cavity enters the indoor cooling heat exchanger through at least one of the first channels and then flows to one of the first channels through the return air channel.

[0009] The indoor heating heat exchanger is provided with a second channel and a third channel upstream and downstream, respectively.

[0010] According to some examples of this application, at least one of the first channels is provided with a first air damper;

[0011] The return air duct is equipped with a fourth air damper.

[0012] According to some examples of this application, the upstream of the indoor cooling heat exchanger is provided with two or three first channels.

[0013] According to some examples of this application, the first channel near the second channel is provided with a first air damper;

[0014] The second channel is equipped with a second air damper;

[0015] A third air damper is provided between the first channel and the second channel, which is close to the second channel;

[0016] The return air duct is equipped with a fourth air damper;

[0017] When the first damper, the second damper, and the fourth damper are open, and the third damper is closed, the indoor cooling heat exchanger and the indoor heating heat exchanger are arranged in parallel in the air supply cavity.

[0018] When the first damper, the second damper, and the fourth damper are closed, and the third damper is open, the indoor cooling heat exchanger and the indoor heating heat exchanger are connected in series in the air supply cavity.

[0019] According to some examples of this application, the first damper is a plate-type damper, a fan-type damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly-type damper; and / or

[0020] The second damper is a plate damper, a fan damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly damper; and / or

[0021] The third damper is a plate damper, a fan damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly damper; and / or

[0022] The fourth damper is a plate damper, a fan damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly damper.

[0023] According to some examples of this application, the first damper, the second damper and the third damper are a multi-functional damper.

[0024] According to some examples of this application, the automotive air conditioning distribution device further includes a control unit, which is electrically connected to the first air damper, the second air damper, the third air damper and the fourth air damper respectively and controls the opening degree of the first air damper, the second air damper, the third air damper and the fourth air damper.

[0025] According to some examples of this application, the automotive air conditioning air distribution device also includes an air outlet assembly;

[0026] The air outlet assembly includes at least one baffle and at least one air outlet damper;

[0027] The at least one partition is disposed on the air outlet side of the air supply cavity and divides the air outlet side of the air supply cavity into at least two air outlets;

[0028] The at least one air outlet damper controls the air volume of the at least two air outlets.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the automotive air conditioning air distribution device of this application controls the air outlet direction of the heat exchanger through the return channel downstream of the heat exchanger. At the same time, with the help of multiple dampers, the indoor cooling heat exchanger and the indoor heating heat exchanger can be switched in series and in parallel in the air distribution device, which combines the advantages of both series and parallel modes. While ensuring the heat exchange capacity, the channel design is also more compact. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without inventive effort. Furthermore, the drawings are merely illustrative diagrams of this disclosure and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts, and therefore, repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. Some block diagrams shown in the drawings are functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically or logically independent entities.

[0031] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the automotive air conditioning distribution device according to the first embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of the automotive air conditioning distribution device according to the second embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automotive air conditioning distribution device according to the third embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another state of the automotive air conditioning distribution device according to the third embodiment of this application; and

[0035] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the automotive air conditioning distribution device according to the fourth embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation methods of this application. Those skilled in the art can easily understand the other advantages and effects of this application from the content disclosed herein. This application can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this application can be modified or changed according to different viewpoints and application systems without departing from the spirit of this application. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0037] The embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the application. This application may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0038] In this application, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics represented in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics represented may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate different embodiments or examples represented in this application, as well as features of different embodiments or examples.

[0039] To clearly illustrate this application, devices unrelated to the description are omitted, and the same or similar constituent elements throughout the specification are given the same reference numerals.

[0040] Throughout this specification, when it is said that a device is "connected" to another device, this includes not only "direct connection" but also "indirect connection" by placing other components in between. Furthermore, when it is said that a device "comprises" a certain constituent element, unless otherwise stated otherwise, this does not exclude other constituent elements, but rather implies that other constituent elements may be included.

[0041] When we say that a device is "above" another device, this can mean that it is directly above the other device, or it can mean that other devices are present in between. Conversely, when we say that a device is "directly" "above" another device, there are no other devices present in between.

[0042] Although the terms first, second, etc., are used in some instances herein to refer to various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, first interface and second interface, etc., are used. Furthermore, as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to also include the plural forms unless the context indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, kinds, and / or groups, but do not exclude the presence, occurrence, or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, items, kinds, and / or groups. The terms “or” and “and / or” as used herein are interpreted as inclusive, or mean any one or any combination thereof. Thus, “A, B, or C” or “A, B, and / or C” means “any one of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C.” Exceptions to this definition will only occur if the combination of elements, functions, steps, or operations is inherently mutually exclusive in some way.

[0043] The technical terms used herein are for reference only to specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. The singular form used herein includes the plural form unless the statement explicitly indicates otherwise. The word "comprising" as used in the specification means to specify a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, and does not exclude the presence or addition of other characteristics, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components.

[0044] Although not explicitly defined, all terms, including technical and scientific terms used herein, shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries shall be further interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the relevant technical literature and the content of this present application, and shall not be over-interpreted as having an ideal or overly formulaic meaning unless otherwise defined.

[0045] This application provides an automotive air conditioning air distribution device. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to the first embodiment of this application. As shown in Figure 1, the automotive air conditioning air distribution device is disposed in the air supply cavity of the vehicle, and the air inlet of the air supply cavity is provided with a blower 9 of the automotive air conditioner; the air inlet of the air supply cavity is usually provided with an internal and external circulation damper, and the blower 9 at the air inlet of the air supply cavity and the internal and external circulation damper can adjust the air volume and temperature entering the air supply cavity.

[0046] The automotive air conditioning system includes an indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 and an indoor heating heat exchanger 2; in the first embodiment, the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 has multiple first channels upstream, such as two, three or more first channels upstream of the indoor cooling heat exchanger.

[0047] In the first embodiment, the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 has two upstream channels, namely the first channel A1 and the first channel A2, and a return air channel B is provided downstream. Air from the air inlet of the supply air chamber enters the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 through one of the first channels and then flows to the other first channel via the return air channel B. For example, air from the air inlet of the supply air chamber can enter the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 through the first channel A1 and then flow to the first channel A2 via the return air channel B (top inlet, bottom outlet), or it can enter the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 through the first channel A2 and then flow to the first channel A1 via the return air channel B (bottom inlet, top outlet). This is not limited to any particular channel. The indoor heating heat exchanger 2 has a second channel C and a third channel D upstream and downstream, respectively.

[0048] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to the second embodiment of this application. Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment has three first channels upstream of the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1, namely first channel A3, first channel A4 and first channel A5. By setting dampers in each first channel, the air can be controlled to enter the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 from one or two of the first channels and flow back to the other first channel via the return air channel B. For example, the air can enter the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 from the first channel A4 and then flow to the first channels A3 and A5 via the return air channel B (center inlet, side outlet), or the air can enter the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 from the first channels A3 and A5 and then flow to the first channel A4 via the return air channel B (side inlet, center outlet).

[0049] In some embodiments, at least one first channel is provided with a first damper, which determines the air inlet or outlet channel within the first channel. Simultaneously, a fourth damper is provided in the return air channel B. The opening and closing of the fourth damper controls the air outlet direction after passing through the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1. The first and / or fourth dampers can be plate-type dampers, fan-type dampers, sliding dampers, or butterfly dampers, etc. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device of this application divides the air inlet surface of a heat exchanger into multiple parts, one part corresponding to the air inlet passage and the other part corresponding to the air outlet passage. After the air flows through the heat exchanger from the air inlet passage, it is turned 180 degrees through the return air passage, flows through the heat exchanger again, and then exits from the air outlet passage. That is, this automotive air conditioning air distribution device controls the air outlet direction of the heat exchanger through a return passage downstream of the heat exchanger, ensuring heat exchange volume while also making the passage design more compact.

[0050] The automotive air conditioning air distribution device of this application, in conjunction with multiple air dampers, can switch between series and parallel connections for indoor cooling heat exchangers and indoor heating heat exchangers, combining the advantages of both series and parallel modes. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the automotive air conditioning air distribution device of the third embodiment of this application. In the structure of the first embodiment, a first air damper 31 is provided in the first channel A2 near the second channel C, and a second air damper 32 is provided in the second channel C; at the same time, a third air damper 33 is provided between the first channel A2 and the second channel C near the second channel C, and a fourth air damper 34 is provided in the return air channel B. At this time, when the first damper 31, the second damper 32, and the fourth damper 34 are open, and the third damper 33 is closed, the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 and the indoor heating heat exchanger 2 are arranged in parallel within the air supply cavity. The parallel arrangement of the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 and the indoor heating heat exchanger 2 means that the air does not need to pass through another heat exchanger before entering either the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 or the indoor heating heat exchanger 2. Correspondingly, the passage for entering and exiting the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 forms an independent passage, and the passage for entering and exiting the indoor heating heat exchanger 2 forms another independent passage. The air flows independently through the cold source and the heat source, and then mixes. In this state, the airflow of the automotive air conditioning air distribution device of this application does not need to pass through the cooling heat exchanger before entering the heating heat exchanger, which reduces the resistance when passing through the cooling heat exchanger. Simultaneously, since the airflow does not need to be cooled by the cooling heat exchanger before being heated by the heating heat exchanger, energy loss can be greatly saved.

[0051] In the third embodiment, the first damper 31, the second damper 32, the third damper 33, and the fourth damper 34 can all be plate-type dampers, fan-type dampers, sliding dampers, or butterfly-type dampers, etc. More specifically, when the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 and the indoor heating heat exchanger 2 are in parallel mode, the mixing ratio of cold air and hot air can be adjusted by controlling the opening of the second damper 32 and the fourth damper 34 respectively. For example, when the second damper 32 is closed and the fourth damper 34 is at its maximum opening, the air only flows through the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1, which is the maximum cold air mode; when the second damper 32 is at its maximum opening and the fourth damper 34 is closed, the air only flows through the indoor heating heat exchanger 2, which is the maximum hot air mode. When the second damper 32 is at a small opening and the fourth damper 34 is at a large opening, the proportion of cold air is greater than that of hot air; conversely, the proportion of hot air is greater than that of cold air.

[0052] While ensuring traditional needs (cooling, heating, dehumidification and heating), the system reduces ventilation resistance and energy loss by incorporating a parallel mode.

[0053] In the third embodiment, when the first damper 31, the second damper 32, and the fourth damper 34 are closed, and the third damper 33 is open, the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 and the indoor heating heat exchanger 2 are connected in series in the air supply cavity. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the automotive air conditioning air distribution device of the third embodiment of this application in this state. In this mode, the air first passes through the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1, then turns back on the return air channel B of the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1, and then flows through the indoor heating heat exchanger. The functions of the first damper 31, the second damper 32, and the third damper 33 can also be achieved by a multi-functional damper 39, as shown in Figure 5.

[0054] In practical use, the automotive air conditioning air distribution device may also include a control unit. The control unit is electrically connected to the first damper 31, the second damper 32, the third damper 33 and the fourth damper 34 respectively and controls the opening degree of the first damper 31, the second damper 32, the third damper 33 and the fourth damper 34. By controlling each damper through the control unit, the connection mode of the indoor cooling heat exchanger 1 and the indoor heating heat exchanger 2 can be flexibly switched.

[0055] In the traditional series connection mode of cold and heat sources, cooling is required before heating, resulting in high air resistance and wasted energy. While a parallel connection mode can solve the above-mentioned problems, the humidity in this mode is affected by the mixing ratio of the cold and heat sources. For example, in cases where dehumidification and heating are required simultaneously to prevent fogging of the glass, the parallel connection mode cannot meet the needs. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device of this application combines both series and parallel modes, and can flexibly switch between the two different modes by controlling each air damper, thus solving the technical problems that cannot be solved by connecting the cold and heat sources only in series or only in parallel.

[0056] In some other embodiments, the automotive air conditioning air distribution device further includes a zoned air outlet assembly. In some embodiments, the zoned air outlet assembly includes at least one partition 81 and at least one air outlet damper 82. The at least one partition 81 is disposed on the air outlet side of the air supply cavity and divides the air outlet side of the air supply cavity into at least two air outlets. The at least one air outlet damper 82 controls the airflow of the at least two air outlets. The air outlet damper 82 can be a plate-type damper, a fan-type damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly-type damper. One air outlet damper can control two air outlet channels corresponding to two air outlets. In this case, the number of air outlet dampers is less than the number of air outlets. In some embodiments, the number of air outlet dampers can be equivalent to the number of air outlets, that is, each air outlet damper controls the airflow of one air outlet channel. For example, the zoned air outlet assembly divides the air outlet side of the air supply cavity into three air outlets, which can be a defrost damper, a face-blowing damper, and a foot-blowing damper, respectively.

[0057] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

[0058] The above description, in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of this application and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of this application to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of this application, and all such modifications or substitutions should be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A car air conditioning air distribution device, characterized in that, The automotive air conditioning air distribution device is installed inside the air supply cavity of the vehicle, and the air inlet of the air supply cavity is equipped with the blower of the automotive air conditioning system. The automotive air conditioning system includes an indoor cooling heat exchanger and an indoor heating heat exchanger. The indoor cooling heat exchanger has multiple first channels upstream and a return air channel downstream. The air from the air inlet of the air supply cavity enters the indoor cooling heat exchanger through at least one of the first channels and then flows to one of the first channels through the return air channel. The indoor heating heat exchanger is provided with a second channel and a third channel upstream and downstream, respectively.

2. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the first channels is equipped with a first air damper; The return air duct is equipped with a fourth air damper.

3. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upstream of the indoor refrigeration heat exchanger is provided with two or three of the first channels.

4. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first channel, which is close to the second channel, is equipped with a first air damper; The second channel is equipped with a second air damper; A third air damper is provided between the first channel and the second channel, which is close to the second channel; The return air duct is equipped with a fourth air damper; When the first damper, the second damper, and the fourth damper are open, and the third damper is closed, the indoor cooling heat exchanger and the indoor heating heat exchanger are arranged in parallel in the air supply cavity. When the first damper, the second damper, and the fourth damper are closed, and the third damper is open, the indoor cooling heat exchanger and the indoor heating heat exchanger are connected in series in the air supply cavity.

5. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first damper is a plate damper, a fan damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly damper; and / or The second damper is a plate damper, a fan damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly damper; and / or The third damper is a plate damper, a fan damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly damper; and / or The fourth damper is a plate damper, a fan damper, a sliding damper, or a butterfly damper.

6. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first damper, the second damper, and the third damper constitute a multi-functional damper.

7. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The automotive air conditioning distribution device also includes a control unit, which is electrically connected to the first air damper, the second air damper, the third air damper and the fourth air damper respectively, and controls the opening degree of the first air damper, the second air damper, the third air damper and the fourth air damper.

8. The automotive air conditioning air distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The automotive air conditioning system also includes an air outlet assembly; The air outlet assembly includes at least one baffle and at least one air outlet damper; The at least one partition is disposed on the air outlet side of the air supply cavity and divides the air outlet side of the air supply cavity into at least two air outlets; The at least one air outlet damper controls the air volume of the at least two air outlets.

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