Air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device and vehicle

An air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device is adapted to be disposed in a vehicle body. The air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device includes an air pump, an air bag, a circuit board and a sensor. The air bag is connected to the air pump and adapted to be disposed beside an area in the vehicle body. The circuit board is electrically connected to the air pump and includes a controller. When an air-conditioning system of the vehicle body is activated, the sensor is adapted to sense whether the area is vacant. When the sensor senses that the area is vacant, the controller instructs the air pump to inflate the air bag, so that the air bag fills at least a portion of the area. When the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body stops running, the air bag is deflated. A vehicle is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 108111592, filed on Apr. 2, 2019. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner energy-saving device, and more particularly to an air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device.

Description of Related Art

In general, almost every vehicle made nowadays is equipped with an air-conditioning system, and the air-conditioning system usually works as an air conditioner and a heater, respectively. However, in most cases, when the vehicle is on the road, there might not be passengers on the rear seat and the passenger seat. Therefore, in the case of medium and large vehicles, if the air-conditioning system of the vehicle must keep the space inside the vehicle at a specific temperature, a lot of power will be consumed, resulting in consumption of a considerable amount of fuel. In addition, in the case of an electric vehicle, the electric energy consumed by the in-vehicle air-conditioning system will have a greater impact on the overall energy consumption of the electric vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure provides an air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device capable of filling a part of the vehicle body to save air-conditioning energy consumption.

The present disclosure provides a vehicle having the above-mentioned air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device.

The air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device of the disclosure is adapted to be arranged in a vehicle body. The air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device includes an air pump, an air bag, a circuit board and a sensor. The air bag communicates with the air pump and is adapted to be disposed beside an area of the vehicle body. The circuit board is electrically connected to the air pump and includes a controller. The sensor is electrically connected to the circuit board and is adapted to be disposed in an area of the vehicle body. When the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body is activated, the sensor is adapted to sense whether the area of the vehicle body is vacant. When the sensor senses that the area of the vehicle body is vacant, the controller instructs the air pump to inflate the air bag and fill at least a part of the area. When the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body stops running, the air bag is deflated.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a pipeline is further disposed between the air pump and the air bag to communicate the air pump with the air bag, wherein the air bag has an air vent, and the edge of the air bag close to the air vent is fixed to an inner wall of the pipeline. When the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body stops running, the air pump sucks air from the air bag to deflate the air bag, and the air bag that is deflated is sucked into the pipeline by the air pump.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a mesh sheet is further disposed at a portion in the pipeline near the air bag to stop the air bag sucked into the pipeline by the air pump.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the device further includes a bag collecting module, the bag collecting module includes a reel, a driver and a wire. The driver is electrically connected to the circuit board and drives the reel to rotate. The wire has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the wire is connected to the air bag, the second end of the wire is connected to the reel, and the wire is retractably wound around the reel. The controller is adapted to instruct the driver to drive the reel to rotate to release the wire from the reel or wind the wire around the reel to release or collect the air bag.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sensor includes an infrared sensor, a Doppler radar, a millimeter wave radar, or a combination thereof.

The vehicle of the present disclosure includes a vehicle body and an air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device. The air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device includes an air pump, an air bag, a circuit board and a sensor. The air bag communicates with the air pump and is adapted to be disposed beside an area of the vehicle body. The circuit board is electrically connected to the air pump and includes a controller. The sensor is electrically connected to the circuit board and is adapted to be disposed in an area of the vehicle body. When the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body is activated, the sensor is adapted to sense whether the area of the vehicle body is vacant. When the sensor senses that the area of the vehicle body is vacant, the controller instructs the air pump to inflate the air bag and fill at least a part of the area. When the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body stops running, the air bag is deflated.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a pipeline is further disposed between the air pump and the air bag to communicate the air pump with the air bag, wherein the air bag has an air vent, and the edge of the air bag close to the air vent is fixed to an inner wall of the pipeline. When the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body stops running, the air pump sucks air from the air bag to deflate the air bag, and the air bag that is deflated is sucked into the pipeline by the air pump.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, a mesh sheet is further disposed in a portion of the pipeline near the air bag to stop the air bag sucked into the pipeline by the air pump.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the device further includes a bag collecting module, the bag collecting module includes a reel, a driver and a wire. The driver is electrically connected to the circuit board and drives the reel to rotate. The wire has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the first end of the wire is connected to the air bag, the second end of the wire is connected to the reel, and the wire is retractably wound on the reel, wherein the controller is adapted to instruct the driver to drive the reel to rotate to release the wire from the reel or wind the wire around the reel to release or collect the air bag.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the sensor includes an infrared sensor, a Doppler radar, a millimeter wave radar, or a combination thereof.

Based on the above, the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device of the present disclosure has an air bag communicated with the air pump, and has a controller electrically connected to the sensor and the air pump. When the air-conditioning system in the vehicle is activated, if the sensor senses that there is vacancy in the vehicle body, the controller can instruct the air pump to inflate the air bag, so that the air bag is expanded and occupies a partial space of the vacancy, such that the space for air-conditioning circulation in the vehicle is reduced, thereby saving air-conditioning energy consumption. In addition, when the air-conditioning system in the vehicle is in a non-operating state, the air bag is deflated and restored to the state where the space is not occupied.

In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of the disclosure more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 1, in the embodiment, the vehicle10includes an air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100and a vehicle body15. The air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100is adapted to be disposed in the vehicle body15. The air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100includes an air pump110, an air bag120, a circuit board130, and a sensor140. The vehicle body15has an area A therein. The air bag120of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100is disposed beside the area A in the vehicle body15. The area A is, for example, a passenger seat or a rear seat in the vehicle body15, which should not be construed as a limitation to the disclosure.

In the present embodiment, the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100is applied to the vehicle10as an example, and can coordinate with the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body15. Certainly, in other embodiments, the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100can also be applied to any device or field that can save energy consumption of the air-conditioning system by filling part of the space, and the disclosure provides no limitation thereto.

It should be noted that, in order to clearly describe the structure and operation mode of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100and100aof the present disclosure, the following drawings (FIG. 2-FIG. 6) only illustrate the structure of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100and100aand omit the configuration relationship of the detailed structures of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100and100aand the vehicle body15.

FIG. 2is a schematic view showing the completion of inflation of an air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device of the vehicle ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a schematic view of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device ofFIG. 2in a folded state. Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, in the embodiment, the air bag120of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100can be disposed in the passenger seat or the rear seat in the vehicle body15. Specifically, the air bag120for filling the passenger seat may be disposed under the chair (not shown) of the passenger seat, and the air bag120of the rear seat may be disposed under the chair of the rear seat and inside the back of the rear seat (FIG. 1). Certainly, in other embodiments, the air bag120can have other suitable designs to adapt to the needs of various vehicle models, and the air bag120can also be arranged at other positions in the vehicle body15, and the present disclosure provides no limitation to the position and form of the air bag120.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the air pump110communicates with the air bag120through the pipeline150, and the air bag120is fixed on the pipeline150. In detail, in the present embodiment, the air bag120has an air vent122, and the edge of the air bag120close to the air vent122is fixed to an inner wall152of the pipeline150.

In the present embodiment, the air pump110is disposed, for example, in the trunk of the vehicle body15, and the air pump110has a function of inflating and deflating the air bag120. Of course, in other embodiments, the air pump110can also be placed under the chair of the front seat or the rear seat. The positions of the pipeline150and the air pump110can have other suitable designs to adapt to the needs of various vehicle models. The present disclosure provides no limitation to the configuration of the pipeline150in the vehicle body15and the position of the air pump110.

Further, in this embodiment, a controller132of the circuit board130is electrically connected to the air pump110and the sensor140, and the sensor140is disposed in the area A in the vehicle body15. For example, the area A of the embodiment refers to the space of the rear seat, and therefore the sensor140can be disposed above the rear seat, and is configured to detect whether the area A of the rear seat is vacant. Certainly, in other embodiments, the sensor may also be disposed at other positions, and the area does not necessarily refer to the rear seat in the vehicle body, and the present disclosure provides no limitation thereto.

In this embodiment, the sensor140is, for example, an infrared sensor, a Doppler radar, or a millimeter wave radar. Certainly, in other embodiments, other types of sensors may be utilized as long as they can sense whether there are passengers in the area or whether the area is vacant, the disclosure provides no limitation thereto.

In this embodiment, when the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body15is activated, if the sensor140senses that the area A in the vehicle body15is vacant, the message is transmitted to the controller132in a wireless or wired manner. The controller132instructs the air pump110to inflate the air bag120according to the detection result (the determining signal indicating the area is vacant) until the air bag120reaches the full state as shown inFIG. 2to fill in at least a part of the area A in the vehicle body15.

It should be noted that if the area A filled by the air bag120is, for example, a rear seat, the size and shape of the air bag120after inflation can match the shape of the rear seat, and when the air bag120reaches the inflated state shown inFIG. 2, the air bag120does not block the driver's view in viewing the condition of the rear seat from the rear view mirror. If the area A filled by the air bag120is, for example, a passenger seat, the size and shape of the air bag120can match the shape of the passenger seat, and likewise, when the air bag120reaches the inflated state shown inFIG. 2, the air bag120does not block the driver's view in viewing the rear view mirror on the side of the passenger seat, thereby avoiding that the inflated air bag120affects the driving safety. Certainly, the present disclosure provides no limitation to the shape of the air bag120.

In addition, in the embodiment, the air pump110is selected from the air pump110having an inflation function and a deflation function. That is to say, the air pump110can inflate or suck air selectively at this time point, but the air pump110is not limited thereto. Further, in the embodiment, when the air-conditioning system stops operating, the controller132instructs the air pump110to stop inflating the air bag120, and instructs the air pump110to suck air from the air bag120to deflate the air bag120, and the deflated air bag120is sucked into the pipeline150to reach the folded state as shown inFIG. 3.

In this embodiment, the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100can also optionally have a mesh sheet160disposed in the pipeline150. The mesh sheet160is disposed at a portion of the pipeline150close to the air bag120. Based on this design, when the deflated air bag120is sucked into the pipeline150, the mesh sheet160blocks the air bag120to reduce the possibility that the air bag120is sucked into the inner portion of the pipeline150to cause the air bag120to be broken or cause damage to the air pump110.

It is to be noted that the following embodiments adopt the same reference numerals and parts of the foregoing embodiments, wherein the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements, and the description of the same technical content is omitted. For the description of the omitted part, reference may be derived from the foregoing embodiment, and similar description will not be repeated in the following embodiments.

FIG. 4is a schematic view showing the completion of inflation of an air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 5is a schematic view showing the deflation state of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device ofFIG. 4.FIG. 6is a schematic view of the collecting process of the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device ofFIG. 4. Referring toFIG. 4toFIG. 6, in the embodiment, the air pump110aof the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100ais, for example, an air pump that can inflate the air bag120but does not suck air from the air bag120, and the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device100afurther includes a bag collecting module170. The air bag120is, for example, sleeved and fixed outside the pipeline150, but is not limited thereto.

In detail, in the present embodiment, the bag collecting module170includes a reel172, a driver174, and a wire176. The driver174is electrically connected to the controller132(FIG. 1) of the circuit board130, and the driver174is configured to drive the reel172to rotate. The driver174is, for example, a motor, but is not limited thereto. The wire176has a first end176aand a second end176b. The first end176aof the wire176is connected to the air bag120, the second end176bis connected to the reel172, and the wire176is retractably would around the reel172.

In the present embodiment, when the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body15is activated, if the sensor140senses that the area A in the vehicle body15is vacant, in the present embodiment, the controller132not only instructs the air pump110(FIG. 1) to inflate the air bag120, but also instructs the driver174to drive the reel172to rotate, and the wire176is released from the reel172, such that the air bag120of the present embodiment is inflated from the fully folded state (not shown) to the inflated state as shown inFIG. 4.

In the present embodiment, when the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body15stops operating, the controller132instructs the air pump110to stop supplying air to the air bag120. In this embodiment, the pipeline150may also be provided with a gate (not shown). For example, when the air conditioner in the vehicle body15stops operating, the gate of the pipeline150is opened to allow air in the air bag to flow out. Alternatively, the edge of the air bag120close to the air vent122may not be completely sealed to the pipeline150to allow air to pass through. Yet alternatively, when the air pump110stops supplying air to the air bag120, the air in the air bag can flow reversely to leak from the air pump110. In this manner, if the air bag120that is inflated and expanded is no longer supplied with air, the air in the air bag120can be leaked, so that the air bag120becomes a deflated state as shown inFIG. 5. Certainly, the way the air bag120is deflated is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, the controller132instructs the driver174to drive the reel172to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction when the wire176is released, and as shown inFIG. 6, the wire176is gradually wound around the reel172to collect the air bag120. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the air pump110amay not have the function of sucking back the air bag120as long as the air bag120can be deflated so that the air bag120can be smoothly pulled back by the wire176(FIG. 6). The disclosure is not limited thereto.

In addition, it should be noted that, in an embodiment, a special design may be made between a portion of the air bag120next to the air vent122and the pipeline150. For example, the design may be that the portion next to the air vent122is not sealed to the pipeline150but can be attached to the wall surface of the pipeline150when not being subjected to an external force, such that the inflated and expanded air bag120can maintain at a specific volume within a specific time period without being deflated as long as it is not subjected to the external force. When the air bag120is squeezed by an external force, the air in the air bag120can be squeezed out and the air bag120is deflated. Therefore, when the air bag120is subjected to the pulling force of the wire176, the portion of the air bag120next to the air vent122is deformed and a gap between the portion and the pipeline150is exposed, such that the air bag120is deflated. In this manner, when the air-conditioning system of the vehicle body15is stopped, as long as the air pump110stops inflating the air bag120and cooperates with the pulling force provided by the driver174, the air bag120can be slowly deflated and retracted by the wire176. Of course, the present disclosure provides no limitation to the form and fixing method of the air bag120.

In summary, the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device of the present disclosure has an air bag communicated with the air pump, and has a controller electrically connected to the sensor and the air pump. When the air-conditioning system in the vehicle is activated, if the sensor senses that there is vacancy in the vehicle body, the controller can instruct the air pump to inflate the air bag, so that the air bag is expanded and occupies a partial space of the vacancy, such that the space for air-conditioning circulation in the vehicle is reduced, thereby saving air-conditioning energy consumption. In addition, when the air-conditioning system in the vehicle is in a non-operating state, the air bag is deflated and restored to the state where the space is not occupied. In addition, the air conditioner energy-saving inflatable device of the present disclosure also has the bag-collecting function, and can utilize the air pump to suck the air bag back into the pipeline, or utilize the wire to pull the air bag back, so that the air bag is collected at the entrance of the pipeline, and thus the air bag is restored to the state where it does not occupy space.

Although the present disclosure has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is subject to the definition of the scope of the appended claims.