AIR CONDITIONER FOR VEHICLE

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle, which is configured in a semi-center mounting type having a separable evaporator unit to be assembled to a blower unit and a heater unit, such that the blower unit and the heater unit can be in common use even though the evaporator unit is manufactured according to the size of an evaporator, thereby reducing development costs and development time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly, to an air conditioner for a vehicle, which is configured in a semi-center mounting type having a separable evaporator unit to be assembled to a blower unit and a heater unit, such that the blower unit and the heater unit can be in common use even though the evaporator unit is manufactured according to the size of an evaporator, thereby reducing development costs and development time.

Background Art

An air conditioner for a vehicle is an apparatus for cooling or heating the interior of the vehicle by cooling or heating through the process of introducing outdoor air into the interior of the vehicle or circulating indoor air of the vehicle. Such an air conditioner for a vehicle includes an evaporator for cooling the inside of an air-conditioning case; a heater core for heating the inside of the air-conditioning case; and a mode converting door for selectively blowing the air cooled by the evaporator or heated by the heater core toward parts of the interior of the vehicle.

According to independent structures of a blower unit, an evaporator unit and a heater core unit, such an air conditioner is classified into a three-piece type air conditioner in which the blower unit, the evaporator unit and the heater core unit are disposed independently, a semi-center type air conditioner in which the evaporator unit and the heater core unit are embedded in the air-conditioning case and the blower unit is mounted separately, and a center-mounting type air conditioner in which the three units are all embedded in the air-conditioning case.

FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a conventional air conditioner for a vehicle. As shown inFIG. 1, the air conditioner1includes: a blower unit10, which has an indoor air inflow port21and an outdoor air inflow port22formed at one side thereof, an indoor and outdoor air converting door23for selectively opening and closing the indoor air inflow port21and the outdoor air inflow port22, and a blower fan35for forcedly blowing indoor air and outdoor air toward an air inflow port43; and an air-conditioning case40, which has the air inflow port43for introducing the air blown from the blower unit10and a plurality of air outflow port44for discharging the air, and in which an evaporator41and a heater core42are arranged to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in consecutive order.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of a conventional semi-center mounting type air conditioner1out of the above-mentioned air conditioner. The air conditioner1includes: an air-conditioning case which has an air inflow port43formed at an inlet and a plurality of air outflow ports44formed at an outlet; and a blower unit10, which selectively introduces indoor air and outdoor air through an indoor air inflow port21and an outdoor air inflow port22formed at the upper portion thereof to forcedly blow the indoor air or outdoor air toward the air inflow port43.

Moreover, an evaporator41and a heater core42are mounted inside the air-conditioning case40in order, and the semi-center mounting type air conditioner further includes a temperature adjusting door (not shown) for adjusting temperature and a plurality of mode doors (not shown) for performing various air-conditioning modes. The temperature adjusting door and the mode doors mounted inside the air-conditioning case40.

As described above, the semi-center mounting type air conditioner1is configured in such a way that the evaporator41and the heater core42are mounted together inside the air-conditioning case40and the blower unit10is separately assembled to the side of the air-conditioning case40.

According to the semi-center mounting type air conditioner1, the air blown into the air-conditioning case40by operation of the blower unit10passes through the evaporator41, and then, the air is cooled or heated by the temperature adjusting door while selectively passing through the heater core42. The cooled or heated air is supplied to the interior of the vehicle through various ducts (not shown) connected with the air outflow ports44so as to heat or cool the interior of the vehicle.

However, the semi-center mounting type air conditioner1requires evaporators41of different sizes according to demand performance of the evaporator41. In this instance, because the evaporator41and the heater core42are mounted together inside the air-conditioning case40, if the size of the evaporator41is changed, the air-conditioning case40must be developed newly.

In other words, the semi-center mounting type air conditioner1requires lots of development costs and development time because the air-conditioning case40must be developed newly due to a change in size of the evaporator41even though the heater core42is not changed in size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner for a vehicle, which is configured in a semi-center mounting type having a separable evaporator unit to be assembled to a blower unit and a heater unit, such that the blower unit and the heater unit can be in common use even though the evaporator unit is manufactured according to the size of an evaporator, thereby reducing development costs and development time.

To accomplish the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner for a vehicle including: a blower unit, which has a blower fan mounted therein, indoor and outdoor air inflow ports formed at the upstream side of the blower fan, and an outlet formed at the downstream side; a heater unit, which has a warm air passageway in which the heater core, a cold air passageway bypassing the heater core, and a plurality of air outflow ports for discharging the air passing through the cold air passageway and the warm air passageway to the interior of the vehicle; and an evaporator unit, which has an evaporator therein, and is connected and assembled between the outlet of the blower unit and an inlet of the heater unit, such that the air discharged from the outlet of the blower unit is supplied to the heater unit after passing through the evaporator, wherein the evaporator unit is manufactured by size of the evaporator and the blower unit and the heater unit are in common use.

As described above, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner for a vehicle is configured in a semi-center mounting type having the separable evaporator unit to be assembled to the blower unit and the heater unit, such that the blower unit and the heater unit can be in common use even though the evaporator unit is manufactured according to the size of an evaporator, thereby reducing development costs and development time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, reference will be now made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in the drawing, an air conditioner100for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a blower unit110, and an evaporator unit150, which are independently configured to be assembled with each other.

In other words, the conventional air conditioner for a vehicle has all of an evaporator and a heater core inside one air-conditioning case, but the air conditioner100for the vehicle according to the present invention has the evaporator unit150, which is separable from the heater unit130. Therefore, the evaporator unit150is manufactured by size according to demand performance of an evaporator151, and the blower unit110and the heater unit130are in common use.

The blower unit110includes a blower fan113mounted therein, indoor and outdoor air inflow ports116and117formed at the upstream side of the blower fan113, and an outlet112formed at the downstream side.

In more detail, the blower unit110includes: an intake duct115, which has the indoor air inflow port116and the outdoor air inflow port117formed at the upper part thereof and an indoor and outdoor air converting door (not shown) mounted therein for opening and closing the indoor and outdoor air inflow ports116and117; and a scroll case111, which is assembled to the lower part of the intake duct115, and in which the blower fan113is mounted.

The scroll case111has a scrolled shape, and has an outlet112extending from a portion where the scrolled shape is ended.

Therefore, when the blower fan113operates, indoor air and outdoor air are inhaled through the indoor air inflow port115and the outdoor air inflow port117, and the inhaled indoor air and outdoor air flow along the scrolled shape inside the scroll case111, and then, are discharged to the outlet112.

In the meantime, because the outlet112of the blower unit110is assembled with an air inflow port155, which is an inlet of the evaporator unit150, the air discharged from the outlet112is supplied to the inside of the evaporator unit150.

Moreover, the heater unit130includes: a warm air passageway P2in which the heater core131is mounted; a cold air passageway P1bypassing the heater core131; and a plurality of air outflow ports135for discharging the air passing through the cold air passageway P1and the warm air passageway P2to the interior of the vehicle.

That is, the heater unit130has a heater case132, in which the cold air passageway P1and the warm air passageway P2are formed, and the heater core131is mounted on the warm air passageway P2of the heater case132.

In this instance, at an inlet of the heater case132assembled with the evaporator unit150, formed are an inlet P1aof the cold air passageway P1and an inlet P2aof the warm air passageway P2.

The inlet P1aof the cold air passageway P1and the inlet P2aof the warm air passageway P2are formed at predetermined angles. In this instance, the cold air passageway P1makes the air, which is introduced into the inlet P1aof the cold air passageway P1, bypass the warm air passageway P2and the heater core131, and the warm air passageway P2makes the air, which is introduced into the inlet P2aof the warm air passageway P2, pass through the heater core131.

Furthermore, an outlet of the warm air passageway P2joins the cold air passageway P1.

The plural air outflow ports135include a defrost vent136, a face vent137and floor vents138and139formed at an outlet of the heater case132.

The defrost vent136discharges wind toward a front window of the vehicle, the face vent137discharges wind toward a passenger's face, and the floor vents138and139discharge wind toward passengers' feet.

In the meantime, the floor vents138and139are divided into the floor vent138for the front seat and the floor vent139for the rear seat.

Additionally, mode doors134are respectively mounted at the air outflow ports135to control the degree of opening of the air outflow ports135according to air discharge modes.

In addition, the evaporator unit150has the evaporator151therein, and is connected and assembled between the outlet of the blower unit110and the inlet of the heater unit130, such that the air discharged from the outlet112of the blower unit110is supplied to the heater unit130after passing through the evaporator151.

That is, the conventional semi-center mounting type air conditioner has the structure that the evaporator and the heater core are all mounted inside one air-conditioning case, but the air conditioner according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has the evaporator151, which is a separated unit.

Therefore, the outlet112of the blower unit110is assembled to the side of the evaporator unit150, and the inlet of the heater unit130is assembled to the rear side of the evaporator unit150. That is, the blower unit110and the heater unit130are arranged and assembled at right angles to the evaporator unit150.

In other words, the evaporator unit150and the blower unit110are arranged in the width direction of the vehicle to be assembled to each other, and the evaporator unit150and the heater unit130are arranged in the length direction, namely, in the back-and-forth direction, of the vehicle to be assembled to each other.

In this instance, the blower unit110is connected and assembled with an upstream side passageway of the evaporator151in the air flow direction inside the evaporator unit150, and the heater unit130is connected and assembled with a downstream side passageway of the evaporator151in the air flow direction inside the evaporator unit150.

In the meantime, the air inflow port155, which is the inlet, is formed at the side of the evaporator unit150and is assembled with the outlet112of the blower unit110, and a cold air connection hole156and a warm air connection hole157, which are outlets, are formed at the rear side of the evaporator unit150.

Such an evaporator unit150includes: an upper case152, which is divided into right and left cases to be assembled with each other and receives the upper part of the evaporator151; and a single lower case153, which is assembled to the lower part of the upper case152and receives the lower part of the evaporator151.

That is, the evaporator151is inserted and mounted between the upper case152, which is divided into two, and the single lower case153.

Meanwhile, the air inflow port155is formed across the upper case152and the lower case153.

Moreover, not shown in the drawings, but in another preferred embodiment of the evaporator unit150, the evaporator unit150may include: a single upper case152, which receives the upper part of the evaporator151; and a single lower case153, which is assembled to the lower part of the upper case and receives the lower part of the evaporator151.

That is, the upper case152may not be divided into the right and left sides but be formed in a single form.

Furthermore, a drain part154is formed on the bottom surface of the lower case153to drain condensate water generated from the evaporator151.

Additionally, a temperature adjusting door160is mounted on the evaporator unit150in order to control an air flow amounts of the cold air passageway P1and the warm air passageway P2of the heater unit130by adjusting the flow direction of the air passing through the evaporator151.

Namely, in the present invention, the evaporator unit150is disposed separately and is assembled with the heater unit130, and in this instance, the temperature adjusting door160is inserted into the evaporator unit150.

In the case that the temperature adjusting door160is mounted on the evaporator unit150, it is possible to design the temperature adjusting door160to have the size corresponding to the size of the evaporator151even when the evaporator151is changed in its size.

If the temperature adjusting door160is mounted on the heater unit130, the temperature adjusting door160cannot cope with the change in size of the evaporator151because it cannot be changed in size.

As described above, because the evaporator151and the temperature adjusting door160are mounted on the evaporator unit150, the heater unit130can be in common use.

Moreover, at the downstream side of the evaporator151of the evaporator unit150, formed are the cold air connection hole156for supplying the air passing through the evaporator151to the cold air passageway P1of the heater unit130, and the warm air connection hole157for supplying the air to the warm air passageway P2of the heater unit130.

That is, the outlet of the rear side of the evaporator unit150includes the cold air connection hole156and the warm air connection hole157.

Therefore, the air passing through the evaporator151is supplied to the cold air passageway P1of the heater unit130through the cold air connection hole156or supplied to the warm air passageway P2of the heater unit130through the warm air connection hole157.

In this instance, the cold air connection hole156of the evaporator unit150is connected with the inlet P1aof the cold air passageway, and the warm air connection hole157of the evaporator unit150is connected with the inlet P2aof the warm air passageway of the heater unit130.

Meanwhile, in the case that the evaporator unit150is changed in size according to the size of the evaporator151, the inlet (air inflow port) of the evaporator unit150, to which the outlet112of the blower unit110is assembled, has the same size as the outlet112of the blower unit110, and the outlet of the evaporator unit150to which the inlet of the heater unit130is assembled, has the same size as the inlet of the heater unit130.

Namely, it is preferable that the cold air connection hole156of the evaporator unit150and the inlet P1aof the cold air passageway of the heater unit130have the same size and the warm air connection hole157of the evaporator unit150and the inlet P2aof the warm air passageway of the heater unit130have the same size.

Moreover, the temperature adjusting door160is mounted between the cold air connection hole156and the warm air connection hole157to control the degree of opening of the cold air connection hole156and the warm air connection hole157.

As described above, because the degree of opening of the cold air connection hole156and the warm air connection hole157is controlled by the temperature adjusting door160, the air volume flowing the cold air passageway P1and the warm air passageway P2of the heater unit130is controlled, such that temperature of the air discharged to the interior of the vehicle can be controlled.

That is, the cold air flowing in the cold air passageway P1and the warm air heated by the heater core131while flowing in the warm air passageway P2reach appropriate temperature while being mixed in a mixing chamber MC inside the heater case132, and then, the air of the appropriate temperature is discharged to the interior of the vehicle through the air outflow ports135.

In the meantime, the temperature adjusting door160includes: a rotary shaft161rotatably combined to the evaporator unit150; and a door plate162formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft161to control the degree of opening of the cold air connection hole156and the warm air connection hole157.

Additionally, the evaporator unit150further includes a support plate158for rotatably supporting the temperature adjusting door160.

The support plate158protrudes from the rear surface of the upper case152of the evaporator unit150to support the rotary shaft161of the temperature adjusting door160.

Hereinafter, the action of the air conditioner for the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, as described above, the blower unit110, the evaporator unit150and the heater unit130, which are formed separately, are assembled with one another to complete the air conditioner for the vehicle100. In this instance, in the case that the size of the evaporator151is changed according to vehicle models or various design purposes, only the evaporator unit150is manufactured separately and the blower unit110and the heater unit130are in common use.

Continuously, when the wind blown when the blower fan113of the blower unit110is introduced into the air inflow port155of the evaporator unit150, the flow direction of the wind is changed into a perpendicular direction, and then, the wind passes the evaporator151.

In this instance, in a cooling mode, the wind is changed into cold air while passing through the evaporator151.

The wind passing through the evaporator151is controlled in its flow direction by the temperature adjusting door160. That is, in the cooling mode, the wind flows to the cold air passageway P1of the heater unit130through the cold air connection hole156opened by the temperature adjusting door160, and in a heating mode, the wind flows to the warm air passageway P2of the heater unit130through the warm air connection hole157opened by the temperature adjusting door160.

As described above, temperature of the air discharged to the air outflow ports135of the heater unit130is adjusted by the temperature adjusting door160.

In the meantime, the air flowing through the cold air passageway P1and the air heated by the heater core131while flowing through the warm air passageway P2are mixed in the mixing chamber MC, and then, is discharged to the air outflow ports135of the heater unit130, which is opened by the mode doors134according to the air discharge modes.