EP1242259A1

EP1242259A1 - Heating-air conditioning installation for vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP1242259A1
Application number: EP01982530A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicolas Abouchaar
Original assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
Current assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbH
Priority date: 2000-10-20
Filing date: 2001-10-19
Publication date: 2002-09-25
Also published as: US20030094261A1; WO2002032705A1; US20060108094A1; JP2004511386A; DE10052136A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a heating-air conditioning installation for a vehicle, comprising an evaporator (10) and a heating element (12, 14), a fan and various air outlet channels (2, 4, 6), at least means controlling the air stream (20) being placed beside the evaporator (10), according to fluid mechanics. In different positions of the air stream control means, part of the heating-air conditioning installation can be traversed by air in different directions, so that a bypass channel relative to the evaporator may be produced without requiring additional structural volume.

Description

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

The present invention generally relates to a heating-air conditioning installation and in particular a heating-air conditioning installation for a vehicle. Usually, such a heating-air conditioning installation comprises an evaporator, a heating body and a blower, in order to pass the air successively through the evaporator and the heating body, so that it is distributed in the desired places, after have been treated by different air outlet channels. In a motor vehicle it is for example desirable to diffuse treated air as desired in the region of the feet, at the dashboard and above the dashboard towards the windshield.

In recent years, efforts have been made to provide different temperature levels in different air outlet channels, this can be achieved by using means for controlling the air flow and / or by controlling the control devices. air treatment.

Since there was a desire to be able to optionally guide untreated fresh air into the vehicle interior, efforts were made to provide additional air channels for fresh air, which most often bypass any the air conditioning system or which also extend partially inside the housing of the air conditioning system, which has resulted in an increase in the volume of construction required for the entire installation or a disruption of operation.

Another general appearance wish is to be able to supply air to the passenger compartment of the vehicle while retaining a minimum blowing power, in order to be able for example to maintain a pleasant temperature. in the passenger compartment when the vehicle engine is stopped, or at least to be able to adjust it at will.

The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a heating-air conditioning installation which takes account of the above wishes and which requires as little additional building volume as possible, or even no additional building volume.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a heating-air conditioning installation having the characteristics of claim 1. Preferred improvements are indicated in the dependent claims.

In particular, the invention proposes a heating-air conditioning installation, in particular for a vehicle, which has an evaporator and a heating body, a fan as well as various air outlet channels, at the at least one air flow control means being placed next to the evaporator, from the point of view of fluid technology, in order to be able to close and open an air path bypassing the evaporator and opening into a air outlet, which can be traversed by the air stream at least in sections in another direction if the air flow control means is closed. In other words, the invention proposes to use a space inside the heating-air conditioning installation in a bivalent manner, that is to say on the one hand, in the conventional sense of a heating installation - air conditioning and on the other hand as a channel for air which does not pass through one evaporator. This configuration makes it possible to provide an air path which does not pass through the evaporator, practically without additional bulk, and thus makes it possible to guide through it air which has been supplied with only minimal blowing power. The installation according to the invention can also be used in such a way that the air passes simultaneously through the evaporator and in front of it.

In a preferred embodiment, the air path bypassing the evaporator, which can be released by the air flow control means, can be traversed at least in sections, by air essentially perpendicular thereto , when the air flow control means is closed. By way of example only, air could, in the usual operation of a heating-air conditioning installation, pass successively through an evaporator and then a heating body, in order to then be deflected essentially upwards, towards diffusers that can power the windshield. If we now allow fresh air to pass essentially horizontally through this channel extending upwards, in order for example to lead to diffusers in the dashboard, this space is precisely used accordingly in a bivalent manner. Obviously, it is also possible to use correspondingly other spaces in the installation in different directions, such as for example a space extending horizontally, which guides the air towards one or more channels serving the supply of the part. feet, in the classic operating mode.

In another preferred embodiment, the air path which can be released by the air flow control means, bypassing the evaporator, can, when the air flow control means is closed, be traversed by air essentially in the opposite direction to that existing when the air flow control means is open. For such an embodiment, a channel which, during normal operation, serves to convey air upwards, can for example be used to guide untreated air or at least bypassing the evaporator, to a lower section of the vehicle.

Regardless of whether the different direction is now perpendicular, opposite or otherwise, it should be mentioned that the air flow control means may, in the closed position, be part of the wall of the channel portion involved.

Advantageously, the air flow control means is provided above the evaporator, and in particular near one of the air outlet channels. Thanks to this configuration, it is possible to adjust the shortest path from the blower to the outlet, so that the flow and / or pressure losses are minimized at least for part of the air passing through. this way.

In addition, it is advantageous that the air path which can be released by the air flow control means, and which bypasses the evaporator, can pass directly into at least one air outlet channel, in particular without go through an air handling device. For this particular route, there can therefore be no loss of pressure, either through the evaporator or a heat exchanger for heating or an additional heating device possibly present.

The heating-air conditioning installation according to the invention can at least contain another means of controlling the air flow, which can free and block an air passage towards a space between one evaporator and the heating body. Thanks to this means of controlling the additional air flow, other different air channels can be made available for the air which does not pass through the evaporator. For example, two air streams, namely one passing in front of the evaporator, respectively through the evaporator, can be mixed, from the point of view of fluid technology, behind one evaporator, in order to regulate the air guided to the different diffusers, in temperature and / or humidity, or however to influence it.

In a preferred embodiment, the air path which can be released by the air flow control means, and bypassing the evaporator, extends in particular through the air passage released by the other means air flow control, between one evaporator and the heating body. Guiding the air bypassing the evaporator between the evaporator and the heating body may be advantageous in that there is usually no resistance to flow in this space, for example by other elements of air guiding or the like, and above all this space is suitable for preventing, during normal heating / air conditioning operation, drops of moisture forming on the evaporator from affecting the heating element until to damage it.

Advantageously, the air in the air path which can be released by the air flow control means, and bypassing the evaporator, can pass in front of the evaporator and / or the heating body essentially tangentially, so that any residual cooling or heating that may be present can be resumed, without resulting in a loss of pressure by flow through an air treatment device.

In addition, it is preferred to provide yet another means of controlling the air flow in order to cause the passage of at least part of the air through the heating body. For this purpose, it should be mentioned that a successive passage through a heat exchanger for heating and an additional heating device, for example a PTC heating element, as well as a selective passage through one of these elements can be achieved. For example, it is thus possible to preheat the driving cabin by means of an electric heating device, the low power required for the air supply through the blower being to be emphasized, insofar as each saving in current in the case of a motor that does not turn should be considered favorable.

Finally, it is preferred that the air path which can be released by the air flow control means, and bypassing the evaporator, extends at least in one direction through at least one heating body which is essentially opposite to the direction in which the air leaves the evaporator. In this embodiment, it is thus possible to provide for the use of residual heat for minimal pressure losses, as well as preheating of the vehicle interior for minimal pressure losses.

In summary, it can be specified that the heating-air conditioning installation according to the invention allows an air supply inside the passenger compartment with minimum power requirements at the blower, without requiring a volume. additional construction. An advantageous parallel phenomenon is that the heating-air conditioning installation according to the invention also allows humidity regulation in the interior of the passenger compartment, since the air which has not passed through regularly exhibits humidity. higher relative. So for example in normal operation of the heating-air conditioning system, if a channel, for example for supplying the bottom part, is not required, this channel can be used as an air channel for air which bypasses the evaporator and can thus bring moisture inside the passenger compartment. In other words, the heating-air conditioning system according to the invention can also be used as a ventilation and / or auxiliary heating device as in a conventional heating-air conditioning operation, in which part of the air can arrive in the form untreated, but at least without passage through one evaporator, inside the cabin.

Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention result from the description given by way of example only of a currently preferred embodiment which refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate in schematic sectional view a heating-air conditioning installation as a preferred embodiment of the invention, different air paths for the air bypassing the evaporator being indicated in the different figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates in schematic section a heating-air conditioning installation which can be supplied with air by means of a blower not shown. The illustrated heating-air conditioning installation comprises, in a conventional manner, an evaporator 10, a heating body 12 and an electric heating device 14, which is in the illustrated embodiment of the type known as PTC (positive temperature coefficient) . The installation further comprises various air control means, which can be made entirely or partially in the form of mixing valves and can also be, in any intermediate positions, between an open position and a closed position, in the embodiment illustrated in the form of butterfly valves and of a so-called shell valve 8, so that various air outlet channels 2, 4, 6 can be supplied in adjustable air. In the illustrated embodiment, the air outlet channel 2 is used to supply nozzles which open directly at the level of the windshield, in order to be able to prevent, for example, the formation of mist on the latter. The air outlet channel 4 is connected to diffusers not illustrated on the dashboard, while an air outlet channel 6 extends towards the inside of the plane of the drawing to lead, in front of the housing of the installation of heating-air conditioning, to diffusers in the foot region or also to diffusers arranged laterally.

In the illustrated embodiment, the air outlet channel 6 should be considered as a channel whose supply can be stopped most easily without significantly affecting passenger comfort. In this context, one could also imagine that the air outlet channel 6 is used to supply the bottom part, in which case it would be possible to use it only when necessary, it that is to say when the passengers are at the bottom of the vehicle.

The illustrated embodiment, unlike heating-air conditioning systems known up to now, has an air flow control means 20 which makes it possible, in the closed position, to supply the air outlet channel 6 in the usual way, in that the air flow control element 20 defines a wall of the space connected to it. Under the air flow control means is furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, an air flow control means 30 which allows passage to the space between the evaporator 10 and the body heater 12, as well as an air flow control means 40, which can fulfill various functions for various operating modes, namely on the one hand, when the air flow control element 20 is closed, the air deflection that went through 1 evaporator 10 and the heating body 12, to the air outlet channel 2 and / or 6, while the air flow control means 40, when the air flow control means 20 is open, used to allow the air which has passed in front of the evaporator 10 to pass through the heating body 12.

The airways A, B, C, D, E illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be examined below only by way of example:

In the configuration of the air channel A, as illustrated in FIG. 1, it may for example be an auxiliary operating mode of the heating-air conditioning installation, in which one would like to bring the residual heat from the heating body 12 in the interior of the passenger compartment, for example via the air outlet channel 4. In this case, the air flow control means 20 is in the open position , so that the portion of .. pipe lying behind in normal operation is traversed in reverse by the current, in order to allow the air to reach the air flow control means 40 which directs the air through the heating body 12, after which for a corresponding positioning of the shell valve 8, for example in the form of a mixing air valve, the air can pass through the air outlet channel 4. Although not shown, it should be mentioned that part of this air flow could also leak through the air outlet channel 2 for a corresponding position of the air flow control means, so that even for a low air flow, that is to say using a power of weak blowing, one can obtain a temperature gradation in the interior of the passenger compartment.

In the case of the air channel B illustrated in FIG. 2, the air passes, instead of the heat exchanger for heater 12, in the additional heater which could be for example an electric heater or also some other additional heater. In this way, one can realize, as illustrated, an auxiliary heating independent of the engine.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 3, the air path bypassing the evaporator, which is released by the air flow control means 20, extends between the evaporator 10 and the heating body 12, the additional air flow control means 30 being arranged for this purpose in the open position. This configuration efficiently uses a space between the evaporator 10 and the heating body 12, the direction of flow indicated being essentially perpendicular to the direction of flow usually existing. After the air has thus passed against the evaporator 10, through the air flow control means 20 and between the evaporator 10 and the heat exchanger for heating 12, it can reach, passing through the shell valve 8, to the air outlet channel 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates another configuration of air channel possible in the form of a bypass with respect to all the air treatment devices, that is to say the evaporator 10, the heat exchanger for heating 12 and the electric heating device 14. The air channel D thus extends above these air treatment devices and thus opens directly into the passenger compartment of the vehicle to supply fresh air and / or moisture. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this configuration of the air channel D could also end directly in the air outlet channel 2. In this case, simultaneous operation of the heating-air conditioning installation would also be possible, in order to supply the air outlet channel 4 with air that has been treated successively by 1 evaporator 10, the heating body 12 and the additional heating device 14, while in the region of the windshield, exclusively fresh air is diffused, the fresh air being guided through a space which could be used alternately when the air flow control element 20 is closed, to supply the air outlet channel 6.

Finally, FIG. 5 illustrates yet another possible configuration for an air channel, which bypasses the evaporator 10, but nevertheless passes through the heat exchanger for heating 12 and / or the electric heating device 14. This channel d air allows, for example in normal operation, provided that the air outlet opening 6 does not have to be supplied, to bring, by means of air conditioning and possibly subsequently heated, humidity to the interior of the passenger compartment, in particular in the event of very low outside temperatures, for which the air humidity is naturally low.

Although the present invention has been previously described fully and by way of example with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that very diverse modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and in this context it should be noted that very diverse air paths can be represented, for example also combinations of the paths described by way of example or also branching paths. The important thing is that part of the heating-air conditioning installation can be used in a bivalent manner, namely in the form of a bypass path with respect to the evaporator 10 and on the other hand as a guide path for usual air, where, in the different modes, the air flows involved adopt, at least in sections, directions different, for example perpendicular or opposite to each other.

Claims

claims

1. Heating-air conditioning installation, in particular for a vehicle, comprising an evaporator (10) and a heating body (12, 14), a blower and various air outlet channels (2, 4, 6), at least one air flow control means (20) being placed next to the evaporator (10), from the point of view of fluid technology, in order to be able to release and close an air path (A, B, C, D, E) bypassing the evaporator (10) and opening into an air outlet channel (2, 4), which air path can be traversed by the air stream at least in sections in another direction when the air flow control means (20) is closed.

2. Heating-air conditioning installation according to claim 1, in which the air path (A,

B, C, D, E) which can be released by the air flow control means (20), and bypassing the evaporator (10), can be traversed at least in sections, by the air flow essentially perpendicularly to it, when the air flow control means (20).

3. Heating-air conditioning installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air path (A, B, C, D, E) can be released by the air flow control means (20) and bypassing 1 evaporator (10) can be traversed by the air flow essentially in the opposite direction when the air flow control means (20) is closed.

4. Heating-air conditioning installation according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the air flow control means (20) is provided above 1 evaporator (10), in particular near an air outlet channel (6).

5. Heating-air conditioning installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air path (A, B, C, D, E) can be released by the air flow control means (20) and bypassing the evaporator

(10), leads directly, in particular without passing through an air treatment device

(10, 12, 14), in at least one air outlet channel (6).

6. Heating-air conditioning installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which there is provided at least one other means for controlling the air flow (30), which can free and block an air passage to a space. between one evaporator (10) and the heating body (12, 14).

7. Heating-air conditioning installation according to claim 6, wherein the air path (A, B, C, D, E) can be released by the air flow control means (20) and bypassing 1 ' evaporator (10) extends at least partially between one evaporator (10) and the heating body (12, 14).

8. Heating-air conditioning installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air channel (A, B, C, D, E) can be released by the air flow control means (20) and bypassing the evaporator (10) can pass essentially tangentially in front of the evaporator (10) and / or the heating body (12, 14).

9. Heating-air conditioning installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which there is provided another means for controlling the air flow (40), in order to allow part of the air to pass through the heating body (12, 14).

10. Heating-air conditioning installation according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the air path (A, B, C, D, E) can be released by the air flow control means (20) and bypassing the evaporator

(10) extends at least partially through at least one heating body (12, 14), in a direction which is essentially opposite to the direction in which the air passing through the evaporator flows.