Vehicle Air Conditioning Blower Motor Cooling Passage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air conditioning units face challenges in securing adequate cooling air for the blower motor due to ram pressure during vehicle travel, leading to potential overheating and condensation issues.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning unit design includes a motor cooling passage with a passage inlet downstream of the impeller and a passage outlet upstream, utilizing static pressure differences generated by the impeller's rotation to ensure consistent airflow for cooling the blower motor, independent of ram pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the blower motor is cooled by ram pressure during vehicle travel, then cooling air can be secured, but the airflow becomes unstable and insufficient when ram pressure is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a motor cooling passage as an intermediary structure that redirects a portion of the air flow from the cooler to the blower motor cooling area. This mediator ensures stable airflow to the motor regardless of vehicle speed or ram pressure conditions, resolving the contradiction between securing sufficient cooling air and maintaining airflow stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow path is segmented into multiple channels: the main air flow path through the cooler and a separate motor cooling passage. This segmentation allows independent control of cooling air delivery to the motor, ensuring reliable cooling performance independent of overall system pressure variations.
2Temperature
If the blower motor is positioned downstream of the cooler, then the motor can be cooled by the air flow, but the motor may overheat when air flow is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The motor cooling passage is positioned to receive air flow from the cooler before the air is distributed to the vehicle interior. This preliminary cooling action ensures the motor is always exposed to cooled air, preventing overheating even when overall air flow to the cabin is reduced.
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 configuration ensures reliable airflow for cooling the blower motor, preventing overheating and condensation, while maintaining effective air distribution within the vehicle interior.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing static pressure differences generated by the impeller's rotation to ensure consistent airflow for cooling the blower motor
Implementation Method 2
a cooler arranged in the air conditioning case and configured to cool the air that flows in the in-case passage
Implementation Method 3
a cooling passage portion defining a motor cooling passage in which the air flows to cool the blower motor
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning unit for a vehicle includes: an air conditioning case defining an in-case passage in which air flows to a vehicle interior; a cooler arranged in the air conditioning case and configured to cool the air flowing in the in-case passage; a blower that includes a blower motor and an impeller configured to be rotated by the blower motor and generate an air flow in the in-case passage; and a cooling passage portion defining a motor cooling passage in which air flows to cool the blower motor. The blower is arranged downstream of the cooler with respect to the air flow in the air conditioning case. The motor cooling passage includes a passage inlet located downstream of the impeller with respect to the air flow in the in-case passage, and a passage outlet located upstream of the impeller with respect to the air flow in the in-case passage.