Vehicle Air Conditioner Exterior Module Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle air conditioners have a narrow interior space due to the arrangement of the distribution duct and indoor air inflow duct inside the vehicle, a complex structure, and limitations in design layout, as well as increased costs and maintenance difficulties with integrated heat pump systems.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner with an integrated air-conditioning module, intake module, and distributor module arranged outside the dash panel, featuring a heat pump system with a heating and cooling heat exchanger in separate air passageways, and an integral intake and distributor module to simplify the structure and increase interior space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the distribution duct and indoor air inflow duct are arranged inside the vehicle, then the air conditioning function is achieved, but the interior space becomes narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air conditioning components (evaporator, condenser, and ducts) from the vehicle interior and relocates them to the vehicle exterior, specifically mounting them on the front bumper or grille area. This extraction principle directly resolves the contradiction by removing the space-occupying elements from the interior while maintaining their air conditioning function externally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the air conditioning system from a two-dimensional interior layout to a three-dimensional external configuration, utilizing the vehicle's front fascia area as a new spatial dimension. This allows the ducts and components to be arranged outside the passenger compartment, freeing up interior space while achieving the same air conditioning objectives.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air conditioner uses an integrated heat pump system, then heating and cooling functions are combined, but manufacturing costs and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the integrated heat pump system into separate heating and cooling modules, each with dedicated ducts and components. Instead of using a single integrated system, the invention divides the functionality into distinct units that can be manufactured and assembled separately, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining both heating and cooling capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If separate ducts are used for indoor and outdoor air, then air flow control is precise, but the number of components and filters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the indoor and outdoor air ducts into a single integrated duct structure with a common filter system. The unified duct allows air to be drawn from both sources through a single filtration path, reducing the number of components while maintaining the ability to control and mix air flows from different sources according to environmental conditions.
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 secures more interior space, reduces component count, simplifies assembly and maintenance, and enhances the combining force between the air-conditioning module and distribution duct, while using a single air filter for both indoor and outdoor air, reducing manufacturing costs and improving maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for exchanging heat between the liquefied refrigerant of low pressure throttled by the expansion valve and air blown to the interior of the vehicle and evaporating the refrigerant to cool the air discharged to the interior of the vehicle due to heat absorption by evaporative latent heat
Implementation Method 2
a condenser for condensing the refrigerant of high pressure discharged from the compressor
Implementation Method 3
an air-conditioning module having at least one among a heating heat exchanger and a cooling heat exchanger, which exchange heat with air
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle air conditioner, wherein an integrated air conditioning module using a heat pump system enables, in order to secure interior space, the optimizing of the arrangement thereof and the arrangements among the elements thereof, and the increasing of a coupling force between an air conditioning module and a distribution duct.