Air conditioning device for vehicle

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicle air conditioning systems, condensate water can leak from fitting portions of the air conditioning case due to blocked drain hoses, potentially damaging non-waterproof electronic components.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioning device incorporates a secondary water receiver and drain hole system, where condensate water from the cooling heat exchanger flows through a notch, droplet reservoir, and tilted pathway to the secondary drain hole before reaching the fitting portion, ensuring drainage occurs before water surface reaches the fitting portion, thus preventing leaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single drain hole is used to drain condensate water from the air conditioning case, then the drainage path is simple, but the system becomes vulnerable to water leakage when the drain hose is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of condensate water leakageVSAvoiddrainage system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air conditioning case is divided into multiple divided cases (first divided case, second divided case, etc.) that are fitted together. Each divided case can be independently drained, creating segmented drainage paths. When one drain hole is blocked, other segments can still drain water independently, preventing leakage at fitting portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the air conditioning case are equipped with different drainage characteristics. The first water receiver has a first drain hole, while the second water receiver has a second drain hole positioned at the bottom portion. This local differentiation ensures that blocked drainage in one region does not affect other regions, improving overall reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If multiple divided cases are fitted together to form the air conditioning case, then the case structure is modular and easier to manufacture, but fitting portions become potential leakage points for condensate water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodular case assemblyVSAvoidcondensate water leakage at fitting portions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage function is extracted from the fitting portions between divided cases. Instead of relying on the fittings to prevent leakage, separate drain holes are provided in each divided case's water receiver, removing the leakage risk from the fitting portions while preserving modular assembly benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The droplet reservoir is positioned to receive condensate water before it can reach the fitting portions. This preliminary containment structure cushions against potential leakage by intercepting water flow upstream of the vulnerable fitting areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If the second drain hole is positioned at the bottom portion of the second water receiver, then condensate water can be effectively drained, but the drainage pathway becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecondensate water drainage efficiencyVSAvoiddrainage pathway configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage system operates in multiple spatial dimensions. The first drain hole drains in one direction, while the second drain hole at the bottom portion drains in a different direction through a different pathway. This multi-dimensional drainage approach improves efficiency by providing redundant paths without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively prevents condensate water from leaking through the fitting portions, safeguarding components from water damage and maintaining airflow distribution by locating critical components centrally to minimize turbulence.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling heat exchanger (20), which has a flat shape, is arranged on a condition of being erected in the air conditioning case (11) and cools the air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

The droplet reservoir is recessed in the bottom portion of the second water receiver and stores a droplet of the condensate water from the cooling heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9834065B2Air conditioning device for vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.12.05 DENSO CORP

AI summary

In an interior air conditioning unit, a divided case is provided with a main water receiver, a main drain port, a side wall, a secondary drain port, a partition wall, a notch, a droplet reservoir, a path, and a tilted portion. The side wall, the secondary drain port, the notch, the droplet reservoir, the path, and the tilted portion are respectively located such that a condensate water flows out of the main water receiver and reaches the secondary drain port through the notch before a water surface of the condensate water reaches a fitting portion between the divided cases. According to the above-described configuration, the condensate water produced in the cooling heat exchanger can be certainly prevented from leaking through the fitting portion of the air conditioning case.