Vehicle HVAC Intake Door Water Blocking and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular air conditioning systems allow external water to flow from the outdoor air inlet into the indoor air inlet and subsequently into the vehicle interior, leading to accumulation and infiltration issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a water blocking part with a water storage groove and drain passage to store and quickly drain water from the outdoor air inlet to the indoor air inlet, preventing its entry into the vehicle interior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the outdoor air inlet is positioned above the indoor air inlet to facilitate outdoor air intake, then air conditioning performance is improved, but water accumulates on the intake door surface and flows into the vehicle interior when the door rotates
Solution Approach 1:
A water blocking part is introduced as an intermediary component between the outdoor air inlet and the indoor air inlet. This water blocking part includes a water storage groove that captures and holds water, preventing it from flowing into the vehicle interior through the indoor air inlet when the intake door rotates.
Solution Approach 2:
The water storage groove is positioned to preliminarily intercept and store water before it can reach the indoor air inlet. By capturing water in advance during the door rotation process, the system prevents water from entering the vehicle interior.
2Reliability
If the seal is in close contact with the inner wall of the intake case to seal gaps, then sealing performance is improved, but water is trapped and accumulated on the intake door surface
Solution Approach 1:
The water blocking part serves as a mediator that intercepts water before it can accumulate on the intake door surface. The water storage groove captures water that would otherwise be trapped by the seal, allowing the seal to maintain close contact for sealing while preventing water accumulation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the water storage groove is formed to store water, then water blocking capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water blocking function is segmented from the main intake case structure by introducing a separate water blocking part. This modular approach adds water blocking capability while minimizing overall structural complexity, as the water blocking part can be designed and manufactured independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The water blocking part is integrated into the existing intake case structure, serving multiple functions: blocking water, storing water in the groove, and maintaining air flow paths. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting complexity increase.
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
Effectively limits the movement of water from the outdoor air inlet to the indoor air inlet, thereby preventing water from entering the vehicle interior and ensuring rapid discharge of accumulated water.
Implementation Method 1
the outdoor air inlet 12b is located more upward than the indoor air inlet 12a in the gravity direction
Implementation Method 2
a drain passage configured to drain the water collected in the water storage groove
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular air conditioning system includes an intake case having an indoor air inlet for introducing an indoor air present in a vehicle interior and an outdoor air inlet for introducing an outdoor air present outside a vehicle, an intake door installed in the intake case to selectively block one of the outdoor air inlet and the indoor air inlet while rotating about a rotation center shaft, and a water blocking part configured to block water flowing into the vehicle interior from the indoor air inlet of the intake case.