Air conditioning damper, and air conditioning device for vehicle

An air conditioning damper includes a damper main body provided in a casing and closing a flow path formed in the casing by a distal end portion abutting against the inner surface of the casing. The air conditioning damper closes or opens the flow path by pivoting. The air conditioning damper has a cover portion provided on front surface sides or back surface sides of a plurality of protruding portions and extending in the width direction of the damper main body beyond a side surface of the protruding portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air conditioning damper and an air conditioning device for a vehicle.

Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-238612, filed on Dec. 8, 2016, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

A vehicular air conditioning device has an air conditioning damper such as an air mix damper, a differential/face damper, and a foot damper and a casing accommodating the air conditioning damper.

It is known in the related art is that air flow into a gap formed when an air conditioning damper is minutely opened results in a vortex street leading to a harsh high frequency sound (sometimes it sounds like “whiz”). Patent Document 1 discloses an example of techniques for limiting such high frequency sounds.

Disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a vehicular air conditioning device including a plurality of projecting portions and an elastic insulator. The projecting portions are provided on a surface of the distal end portion of an air mix damper and have gently tapered side surfaces. The elastic insulator is affixed to the plurality of projecting portions and surfaces of the distal end portions.

In the vehicular air conditioning device, a gap extending in an air flow direction is formed between the elastic insulator and the side surface of the projecting portion. The vehicular air conditioning device is not preferable because air leaks from the gap.

The side surfaces of the plurality of projecting portions are given the tapered shape of gentle inclination so that the elastic insulator can be easily affixed to the side surfaces of the projecting portions.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

It is preferable that the side surfaces of the projecting portions have a tapered shape of steep, rather than gentle, inclination for enhancement of the effect of high frequency sound suppression.

As for the vehicular air conditioning device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to give a tapered shape of steep inclination to the side surfaces of the projecting portions from the viewpoint of air leakage suppression for the reasons described above.

Besides, a temporal change may result in a gap between the elastic insulator and the side surface of the projecting portion even in a case where the side surfaces of the projecting portions have a tapered shape of gentle inclination.

Further, the shape of protrusion that is transferred to the surface of the elastic insulator provided on the projecting portion becomes quite small once an elastic insulator having a small compression reaction force is applied to the vehicular air conditioning device disclosed in Patent Document 1. Then, it may be difficult to obtain a sufficient high frequency sound reduction effect.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning damper and an air conditioning device for a vehicle allowing enhancement of the effect of high frequency sound reduction.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above problems, an air conditioning damper according to an aspect of the present invention, which performs closing and opening on a flow path, includes a damper main body provided in a casing in a pivotable state and having a distal end portion abutting against an inner surface of the casing. The distal end portion of the damper main body has a base material including a surface facing the inner surface of the casing in a state where the flow path is closed, a plurality of protruding portions arranged with respect to a width direction of the damper main body so as to protrude from the surface of the base material, the protruding portion including an upper surface, a pair of side surfaces provided in the width direction of the damper main body and provided between the upper surface and the surface of the base material, and a front surface and a back surface disposed in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the width direction of the damper main body, an elastic insulator provided so as to conform to shapes of the surface of the base material and the plurality of protruding portions and abutting against the inner surface of the casing, and a cover portion provided on the front surface sides or the back surface sides of the plurality of protruding portions and extending in the width direction of the damper main body beyond the side surface of the protruding portion.

According to the present invention, the cover portion provided on the front surface sides or the back surface sides of the plurality of protruding portions and extending in the width direction of the damper main body beyond the side surface of the protruding portion is provided, and thus an inlet or an outlet of a gap and a part of the cover portion are capable of facing each other when the gap (gap formed in the early stage in which the elastic insulator is affixed to the protruding portion and the base material and gap formed as a result of peeling attributable to a temporal change that the elastic insulator undergoes) is formed between the elastic insulator and the surface of the base material and the side surface of the protruding portion and it is possible to limit air leakage in the orthogonal direction.

As a result, a tapered shape of steep inclination can be given to the side surfaces of the plurality of protruding portions, and thus the effect of high frequency sound reduction can be enhanced with air leakage limited.

By the tapered shape of steep inclination being given to the side surfaces of the plurality of protruding portions, the effect of high frequency sound reduction can be enhanced even in a case where the elastic insulator that has a small compression reaction force is used.

In the air conditioning damper according to an aspect of the present invention, a height of a highest part as one of heights of the cover portion with reference to the surface of the base material may be equal to a height of the upper surface of the protruding portion.

By the height, which exceeds the other heights of the cover portion with reference to the surface of the base material, being equal to the height of the upper surface of the protruding portion as described above, it is possible to limit the cover portion acting as a hindrance when the distal end portion of the damper main body abuts against the inner surface of the casing.

In the air conditioning damper according to an aspect of the present invention, the cover portion may include a pair of side surfaces provided with respect to the width direction of the damper main body and the pair of side surfaces of the cover portion may be more gently inclined than the pair of side surfaces of the protruding portion.

By the pair of side surfaces of the cover portion being inclined surfaces more gently inclined than the pair of side surfaces of the protruding portion as described above, the entire inlet or outlet of the gap formed between the elastic insulator and the surface of the base material and the side surface of the protruding portion and a pair of extending portions of the cover portion are capable of facing each other. As a result, it is possible to limit air leakage in the orthogonal direction.

In the air conditioning damper according to an aspect of the present invention, the pair of side surfaces of the protruding portion and the surface of the base material may form an angle of 90°.

By the angle formed by the surface of the base material and the pair of side surfaces of the protruding portion being 90° as described above, it is possible to maximize the effect of high frequency sound reduction.

In the air conditioning damper according to an aspect of the present invention, the protruding portion may include a plurality of projecting portions arranged in the orthogonal direction in a mutually separated state.

With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of use of the material that constitutes the damper main body and it is possible to reduce the weight of the air conditioning damper.

In the air conditioning damper according to an aspect of the present invention, a thickness of the elastic insulator may exceed a value of a height of the protruding portion.

By the thickness of the elastic insulator exceeding the value of the height of the protruding portion as described above, it is possible to form a plurality of protruding portions including nothing but the elastic insulator at the part of the elastic insulator that is positioned above the upper surfaces of the plurality of protruding portions. As a result, a minute flow path opening can be controlled by means of the elastic deformation of the elastic insulator and without an increase in the operation force at a time of pivoting of the damper main body.

A vehicular air conditioning device according to an aspect of the present invention may include the air conditioning damper, a casing accommodating the air conditioning damper, and an evaporator provided in a front stage of the air conditioning damper in a state of being accommodated in the casing and exchanging heat with air.

The vehicular air conditioning device configured as described above has the air conditioning damper described above, and thus the effect of high frequency sound reduction can be enhanced.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, the effect of high frequency sound reduction can be enhanced.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

Embodiment

A vehicular air conditioning device10of the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 1. InFIG. 1, A indicates the direction in which an air mix damper20pivots (hereinafter, referred to as “A direction”), B indicates the direction in which a differential/face damper23pivots (hereinafter, referred to as “B direction”), C indicates the direction in which a foot damper26pivots (hereinafter, referred to as “C direction”), and the Z direction is a vertical direction. InFIG. 1, a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC unit) is shown as an example of the vehicular air conditioning device10. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to the air mix damper20will be described as an example.

The vehicular air conditioning device10of the present embodiment has a casing12, an evaporator14, a heater16, a first seal portion17, a second seal portion18, rotary shafts19,22, and25, the air mix damper20as an air conditioning damper, the differential/face damper23, and the foot damper26.

The casing12accommodates the evaporator14, the heater16, the first seal portion17, the second seal portion18, the rotary shafts19,22, and25, the air mix damper20, the differential/face damper23, and the foot damper26. Partitioned inside the casing12are an air flow path35, a bypass flow path36, a heating flow path37, an air mix region39, a face blowout flow path41, a foot blowout flow path43, and a differential blowout flow path44.

The air flow path35is disposed on the inlet side of the casing12. The air flow path35is a flow path guiding the air that is blown from a blower unit (not shown) to the evaporator14, and the air flows through the air flow path35after heat exchange at the evaporator14. The air flow path35branches into the bypass flow path36and the heating flow path37on the downstream side of the air flow path35.

The downstream sides of the bypass flow path36and the heating flow path37are in communication with the air mix region39. The air that flows through the bypass flow path36flows to the air mix region39without passing through the heater16. The air that flows through the heating flow path37flows to the air mix region39after being heated by the heater16.

In the air mix region39, a desired air temperature is reached by the air that has bypassed the heater16and the air that has been heated by the heater16being mixed with each other.

The downstream side of the air mix region39is in communication with the face blowout flow path41, the foot blowout flow path43, and the differential blowout flow path44.

The face blowout flow path41supplies cold air or warm air to a face blowout port (not shown) provided in a vehicle.

The foot blowout flow path43supplies cold air or warm air to a foot blowout port (not shown) provided in the vehicle. The differential blowout flow path44supplies cold air or warm air to a differential blowout port (not shown) provided in the vehicle.

A resinous unit case or the like can be used as the casing12configured as described above.

The air flow path35in the casing12is provided with the evaporator14. A refrigerant flows in the evaporator14. The evaporator14causes the air that is supplied from the left side ofFIG. 1and the refrigerant to exchange heat with each other. As a result, the evaporator14reduces the temperature of the air and generates cold air.

The heating flow path37is provided with the heater16. Warm water flows in the heater16. The heater16causes the air that passes through the heater16and the warm water to exchange heat with each other. As a result, the heater16heats the air.

The first and second seal portions17and18are accommodated in the casing12that is positioned between the evaporator14and the heater16. The first seal portion17is provided on the inner surface of the upper portion of the casing12. The second seal portion18is provided on the inner surface of the lower portion of the casing12.

In a case where the heating flow path37is fully opened, one surface side of a distal end portion46A of a damper main body46constituting the air mix damper20abuts against the first seal portion17. In a case where the heating flow path37is fully closed, the other surface side of the distal end portion46A of the damper main body46constituting the air mix damper20abuts against the second seal portion18.

The configuration of the first seal portion17will be described with reference toFIGS. 2 to 4. InFIG. 2, the same component parts as those of the structure shown inFIG. 1are denoted by the same reference numerals. InFIG. 3, the X direction is the width direction of the damper main body46and the Y direction is the orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the X direction. InFIG. 3, the same component parts as those of the structures shown inFIGS. 1 and 2are denoted by the same reference numerals. InFIG. 4, the same component parts as those of the structures shown inFIGS. 1 to 3are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The first seal portion17has an insertion projection portion17A. The insertion projection portion17A protrudes to a surface51aside of a base material51constituting the damper main body46. The insertion projection portion17A is shaped so as to be insertable into a recess portion53A of a protruding portion53(described later) across an elastic insulator55.

By providing the first seal portion17configured as described above, it is possible to enhance wind shielding properties when the surface51aside of the base material51constituting the damper main body46abuts against the first seal portion17.

The rotary shaft19is provided in the casing12. The rotary shaft19is disposed between the bypass flow path36and the heating flow path37. The rotary shaft19supports the air mix damper20in a state of being pivotable in the A direction.

Next, the air mix damper20will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 7. InFIG. 5, H1indicates the height of the protruding portion53(a projecting portion61) with reference to the surface51aof the base material51(hereinafter, referred to as “height H1”) and M indicates the thickness of the elastic insulator55(hereinafter, referred to as “thickness M”). InFIG. 7, H2indicates the height of a cover portion54with reference to the surface51aof the base material51(hereinafter, referred to as “height H2”). InFIGS. 5 to 7, the same component parts as those of the structures shown inFIGS. 1 to 4are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The air mix damper20is accommodated in the casing12. The air mix damper20is supported by the rotary shaft19in a state of being pivotable in the A direction.

The air mix damper20has the damper main body46and a sub damper47. The damper main body46has the base material51, the protruding portion53, the cover portion54, the elastic insulator55, and an elastic insulator56. The damper main body46has the distal end portion46A abutting against the first and second seal portions17and18. The base material51, the protruding portion53, the cover portion54, and the elastic insulators55and56constitute the distal end portion46A.

The base material51is a rectangular plate-shaped member extending in the X direction and the Y direction. The base material51has the surface51aand the other surface51b. The surface51ais on the side that faces the first seal portion17. The elastic insulator55is affixed to the surface51a. The other surface51bdisposed on the side that is opposite to the surface51a. The elastic insulator56is affixed to the other surface51b.

A plurality of the protruding portions53are arranged with respect to the X direction so as to protrude from the surface51aof the base material51. The protruding portion53includes a plurality of (two in the case of the present embodiment as an example) the projecting portions61arranged in the Y direction in a mutually separated state and the recess portion53A disposed between the plurality of projecting portions61.

By the plurality of projecting portions61arranged in the Y direction in a mutually separated state constituting the protruding portion53as described above, it is possible to reduce the amount of use of the material that constitutes the damper main body46and it is possible to reduce the weight of the air mix damper20.

The projecting portion61protrudes from the surface51aof the base material51. The projecting portion61has an upper surface61a, a pair of side surfaces61b, a front surface61c, and a back surface61d.

The upper surface61ais a flat surface. The upper surface61aconstitutes an upper surface53aof the protruding portion53.

The pair of side surfaces61bis disposed between the upper surface61aand the surface51aof the base material51. The pair of side surfaces61bis disposed in the X direction. The pair of side surfaces61bconstitutes a pair of side surfaces53bof the protruding portion53. The elastic insulator55is affixed to the upper surfaces61aand the pair of side surfaces61bof the plurality of projecting portions61.

The front surface61cand the back surface61dare disposed in the Y direction. The front surface61cis on the side where air flows in after passage through the evaporator14. The back surface61dis disposed on the side that is opposite to the front surface61c.

The front surface61cof the projecting portion61that is disposed in the foremost row (first row in the case of the present embodiment) among the plurality of projecting portions61constitutes a front surface53cof the protruding portion53. The back surface61dof the projecting portion61that is disposed in the rearmost row (second row in the case of the present embodiment) among the plurality of projecting portions61constitutes a back surface53dof the protruding portion53.

It is preferable that an angle θ1formed by the surface51aof the base material51and the pair of side surfaces53bof the protruding portion53configured as described above is, for example, 90°. By the angle θ1formed by the surface51aof the base material51and the pair of side surfaces53bof the protruding portion53being 90° as described above, it is possible to maximize the effect of high frequency sound reduction.

Although it is preferable that the angle θ1is as close as possible to 90°, it is possible to enhance the effect of high frequency sound reduction insofar as the pair of side surfaces53bis more steeply inclined than in the related art.

The recess portion53A is partitioned between the two projecting portions61arranged in the Y direction. The recess portion53A has a shape that allows insertion of the insertion projection portion17A shown inFIG. 2.

The cover portion54is provided on each of the back surface53dsides of the plurality of protruding portions53such that a part of the cover portion54faces the back surface53dof the protruding portion53. The cover portion54protrudes from the surface51aof the base material51and extends in the X direction beyond the side surface53bof the protruding portion53.

The cover portion54has a pair of extending portions54A extending in the X direction beyond the side surfaces53bof the protruding portion53. The pair of extending portions54A is provided at positions capable of facing the entire outlet of a gap when the gap (hereinafter, referred to as “gap G”) extending in the Y direction is formed between the elastic insulator55and the side surface53bof the protruding portion53and the surface51aof the base material51(gap formed in the early stage in which the elastic insulator55is affixed to the protruding portion53and gap formed after the elapse of a long time from affixing of the elastic insulator55to the protruding portion53).

In a case where the cover portion54has a trapezoidal shape in an F view, the shape of the extending portion54A can be, for example, triangular (seeFIG. 7). Although a case exemplifying a case where the extending portion MA has a triangular shape is exemplified as an example inFIG. 7, the shape of the extending portion MA is not limited to the triangular shape and may be any shape insofar as it is possible to face the entire gap G in the Y direction.

The cover portion54has an upper surface54aand a pair of side surfaces54bprovided on the pair of extending portions54A. The upper surface54ais flat. The pair of side surfaces54bis disposed in the X direction. The pair of side surfaces54bis inclined surfaces more gently inclined than the pair of side surfaces53bof the protruding portion53.

By the pair of side surfaces54bof the cover portion54being inclined surfaces more gently inclined than the pair of side surfaces53bof the protruding portion53as described above, the entire outlet side of the gap G formed between the elastic insulator55and the surface51aof the base material51and the side surface53bof the protruding portion53and the pair of extending portions54A of the cover portion54are capable of facing each other. As a result, it is possible to limit air leakage in the Y direction.

The height H2of the highest part, which is one of the heights of the cover portion54with reference to the surface51aof the base material51, may be equal to the height of the upper surface of the protruding portion.

By the height H2, which exceeds the other heights of the cover portion54with reference to the surface51aof the base material51, being equal to the height H1of the upper surface53aof the protruding portion53as described above, it is possible to limit the cover portion54acting as a hindrance when the distal end portion46A of the damper main body46abuts against the inner surface of the casing12via the first seal portion17.

The elastic insulator55is affixed to the surface51aof the base material51and the upper surfaces53aand the side surfaces53bof the plurality of protruding portions53so as to conform to the shapes of the surface51aof the base material51and the upper surfaces53aand the side surfaces53bof the plurality of protruding portions53.

The cover portion54is not provided with the elastic insulator55. In other words, the cover portion54is exposed from the elastic insulator55. The elastic insulator55is a member abutting against the first seal portion17.

The thickness M of the elastic insulator55may exceed, for example, the value of the height H1of the protruding portion53.

By the thickness M of the elastic insulator55exceeding the value of the height of the protruding portion53as described above, it is possible to form a plurality of protruding portions including nothing but the elastic insulator55at the part of the elastic insulator55that is positioned above the upper surfaces53aof the plurality of protruding portions53. As a result, a minute flow path opening can be controlled by means of the elastic deformation of the elastic insulator55and without an increase in the operation force at a time of pivoting of the damper main body46.

An elastic insulator having a small compression reaction force or the like may be used as the elastic insulator55. Examples of the material of the elastic insulator55include an EPDM foam and a polyurethane foam.

The elastic insulator56is affixed to the other surface51bof the base material51. The elastic insulator56is a member abutting against the second seal portion18. An elastic insulator identical to the elastic insulator55or the like can be used as the elastic insulator56.

In the air mix damper20configured as described above, the range of temperature fluctuation becomes extremely wide with respect to a slight rotation angle of the air mix damper20near the maximum heating position. Accordingly, subtle opening degree adjustment is required for the air mix damper20. Air flows into the gap G described above when the air mix damper20is controlled to a minute opening degree position of slight opening from the maximum heating position.

The rotary shaft22is provided in the casing12that is positioned between the face blowout flow path41and the differential blowout flow path44. The rotary shaft22supports the differential/face damper23in a state where the differential/face damper23is pivotable in the C direction.

The differential/face damper23pivots between the position at which the face blowout flow path41is fully closed and the position at which the differential blowout flow path44is fully closed.

The rotary shaft25is provided in the casing12that is positioned between the air mix region39and the foot blowout flow path43. The rotary shaft25supports the foot damper26in a state where the foot damper26is pivotable in the B direction.

The foot damper26pivots between the position at which the flow path communicating with the face blowout flow path41and the differential blowout flow path44is fully closed and the position at which the foot blowout flow path43is fully closed.

In this configuration, the mode in which temperature-controlled air is blown out into a vehicle cabin is switchable between five blowout modes as a result of opening and closing of the differential/face damper23and the foot damper26described above. The five blowout modes are a face mode of blowout from the face blowout flow path41, a bi-level mode of blowout from the face blowout flow path41and the foot blowout flow path43, a foot mode of blowout from the foot blowout flow path43, a differential/foot mode of blowout from the foot blowout flow path43and the differential blowout flow path44, and a differential mode of blowout from the differential blowout flow path44.

In the vehicular air conditioning device10configured as described above, the air flow that has been sent into the air flow path35exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the process of passing through the evaporator14and is cooled. The cooled air is divided into the bypass flow path36side and the heating flow path37in accordance with the flow rate ratio that is adjusted by the air mix damper20. The air that has been circulated to the heating flow path37side is heated as a result of heat exchange with the warm water in the heater16during passage through the heater16.

In the air mix region39disposed downstream of the air mix damper20, the air is mixed with the cold air that has bypassed the heater16. As a result, the temperature of the air is adjusted to a set temperature and the air becomes the temperature-controlled air.

The temperature-controlled air is selectively blown out into the vehicle cabin from at least one of the face blowout flow path41, the foot blowout flow path43, and the differential blowout flow path44in accordance with the blowout mode such as the face mode, the foot mode, the differential mode, the differential foot mode, and the bi-level mode, which is switched as a result of opening and closing of the differential/face damper23and the foot damper26for blowout mode switching. In this manner, the temperature-controlled air is used for air conditioning in the vehicle cabin.

The vehicular air conditioning device10according to the present embodiment has the cover portion54provided on the front surface53csides or the back surface53dsides of the plurality of protruding portions53and extending in the X direction beyond the side surface53bof the protruding portion53. Accordingly, the outlet of the gap G and a part (the extending portion54A) of the cover portion54are capable of facing each other when the gap G (gap G formed in the early stage in which the elastic insulator55is affixed to the protruding portion53and the base material51and gap G formed as a result of peeling attributable to a temporal change that the elastic insulator55undergoes) is formed between the elastic insulator55and the surface51aof the base material51and the side surface53bof the protruding portion53and it is possible to limit air leakage in the Y direction.

As a result, a tapered shape of steep inclination can be given to the side surfaces53bof the plurality of protruding portions53, and thus the effect of high frequency sound reduction can be enhanced with air leakage limited.

By the tapered shape of steep inclination being given to the side surfaces53bof the plurality of protruding portions53, the effect of high frequency sound reduction can be enhanced even in a case where the elastic insulator55that has a small compression reaction force is used.

In the present embodiment, the air mix damper20has been described as an example of the air conditioning damper of the present embodiment. Alternatively, the differential/face damper23and the foot damper26as air conditioning dampers may be provided with a plurality of the cover portions54. Also in this case, effects similar to those of the air mix damper20described in the present embodiment can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, a case where the cover portion54is provided on the back surface53dsides of the plurality of the protruding portions53has been described as an example. Alternatively, the cover portion54may be provided on the front surface53csides of the plurality of the protruding portions53as shown inFIG. 8. In this case, it is possible to cause the cover portion54and the inlet of the gap G to face each other, and thus effects similar to those of the air conditioning damper of the present embodiment can be obtained.

InFIG. 8, the same component parts as those of the structure shown inFIG. 6are denoted by the same reference numerals.

A cover portion70according to a modification example of the present embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 9. InFIG. 9, the same component parts as those of the structure shown inFIG. 5are denoted by the same reference numerals. The elastic insulator55is not shown inFIG. 9.

The cover portion70is a plate-shaped member facing the plurality of protruding portions53. The cover portion70has an extending portion70A disposed between the adjacent protruding portions53arranged in the X direction. The extending portion70A is rectangular.

By providing the cover portion70configured as described above, it is possible to obtain effects similar to those of the cover portion54described above.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to air conditioning dampers and vehicular air conditioning devices.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST