AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system includes a folded duct (21) through which conditioned air is blown by an air blower (24) to a passenger compartment (50) of an automobile. One end opening (21) of the duct is located at a hole (231) formed in a partition wall (23) which divides the passenger compartment from an engine compartment (60). The air blower is disposed adjacent to the one end opening of the duct. An evaporator (22) is disposed within an angled portion of the duct. A heater core (26) is disposed within the duct. One open ended shell (25) covers the air blower and is connected to the one open end of the duct. A chamber (40) including an outside air intake (30) and a passenger compartment air intake (31), which are alternatively opened and closed by a damper (32), is defined by the shell (25), a wall part (27) of the duct and a partition wall (28) disposed over the evaporator.

Description: Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a heating system for some kind of automobile. The system 10 includes a duct 11 through which air flows and a heater 12 disposed within duct 11. One end opening of the duct 11 is located at an opening 131 which is formed in a partition wall 13 separating a passenger compartment 14 and an engine compartment 15. An air blower 16 for blowing air through the duct 11 is disposed adjacent to the one open end of the duct 11. First, second and third outlet openings 111, 112 and 113 are formed at the other open end of the duct 11. The first opening 111 leads blown air to a windshield of an automobile (not shown). The second opening 112 leads blown air to a foot space of the passenger compartment 14. The third opening 113 leads blown air to above waist height in the passenger compartment 14. When an automobile is required to be equipped with an air conditioning system instead of the above-mentioned heating system, some difficulties, such as restricted free space in both passenger and engine compartments 14 and 15, and additional boring through the partition wall 13, occur. It is an object of this invention to provide an automobile air conditioning system which can be substituted for a conventional heating system without restricting free space in both the passenger and engine compartments and/or boring additional holes in the automobile body. US-A-3170509 discloses an automotive air conditioning system comprising a duct through which conditioned air can be blown by an air blower to a passenger compartment of an automobile, one open end of the duct being located at an opening formed in a partition wall which separates the passenger compartment and an engine compartment and the air blower being located adjacent to the one open end of the duct; an evaporator disposed within the duct; a heater disposed within the duct; an open shell covering the air blower with the open end of the shell connected to the one open end of the duct; and a chamber having an outside air intake and a passenger compartment air intake which are alternatively opened and closed by a damper- and according to the invention, such a system is characterised in that the first shell is located on the engine compartment side of the partition and cooperates with a second shell on the passenger compartment side of the partition to provide an enclosure for the chamber and duct; in that the outside air intake is provided in the first shell; and in that the chamber is defined by the first shell, a wall part of the second shell and a partition wall covering the evaporator, whereby the duct passes in a U-shape around three sides of the chamber. In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a heating system used for some kind of automobile; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of an automobile air conditioning system in accordance with this invention; and, Figure 3 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view taken on the line A-A in Figure 2. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, an automotive air conditioning system 20 includes a duct 21 through which air flows. The duct 21 is folded, i.e. incorporates a bend, and an evaporator 22 is mounted at the angle thereof. The upstream open end of the duct 21, with respect to the air flow, is located at an opening 231 formed in a partition wall 23 which divides a passenger compartment 50 from an engine compartment 60. An air blower 24 for blowing air to the passenger compartment 50 through the duct 21 is located adjacent to the upstream open end of the duct 21. A cover member 25 with the configuration of a one open ended shell covers the air blower 24, and its open end is connected to the upstream open end of the duct 21. A heater core 26 is disposed within a portion of the duct 12 located downstream of the evaporator 22. First, second and third outlet openings 211, 212 and 213 are formed at a downstream part of the duct 21. The first opening 211 leads blown air to a windshield of an automobile (not shown). The second opening 212 leads blown air to a foot space of the passenger compartment 50. The third opening 213 leads blown air to above waist height in the passenger compartment 34. The cover member 25, a wall 27 of the duct 21 and a partition wall 28 disposed above the evaporator 22, define a chamber 40. The cover member 25 is provided with an output port 35 from which air is blown. A duct 29 links the outlet port 35 to an inlet port 36 formed on the wall 27 of the duct 21 and hence to the evaporator 22. An outside air intake 30 and a passenger compartment air intake 31, which are alternatively opened and closed by a damper 32, are formed adjacent to one another in a wall shell 37 of the chamber 40. An additional passenger compartment air intake 33, which is opened and closed by a dead weight type damper 34, is formed at the opposite side of the shell wall 37 of the chamber 40. The function of the additional passenger compartment air intake 33 is to supplement recirculation of passenger compartment air to the duct 21. When the air blower 24 is operated in a situation that the damper 32 closes the outside air intake 30, that is, the passenger compartment air intake 31 is open, it is suitable for air conditioning during hot ambience, such as during day time in summer. Passenger compartment air is thus taken into the duct 21 through the passenger compartment air intake 31 and flows along the duct 21. Furthermore, when the speed of the air flow in the duct 21 exceeds some threshold value, the additional passenger compartment air intake 33 is opened so that passenger compartment air is taken into the duct 21 through the additional passenger compartment air intake 33 and flows along the duct 21. Accordingly, effective cooling in the passenger compartment 50 is obtained owing to the increased recirculation of passenger compartment air. On the other hand, when the air blower 24 is operated in a situation that the damper 32 closes the passenger compartment air intake 31, that is the outside air intake 30 is open, it is suitable for air conditioning during a cold ambience such as in the winter. Outside air is then taken into the duct 21 through the outside air intake 30 and flows along the duct 21. Furthermore, when the speed of air flow along the duct 21 exceeds some threshold value, the additional passenger compartment air intake 33 is opened so that passenger compartment air is taken into the duct 21 through the additional passenger compartment air intake 33 and flows along the duct 21. Accordingly, the ability to heat the passenger compartment 50 is increased. When ventilation of the passenger compartment 50 is done by utilising ram pressure of the moving automobile, that is the operation of the air blower 24 is stopped and the outside air intake 30 is opened, the additional passenger compartment air intake 33 is kept closed due to the positive pressure in the duct 21 so that only outside air is taken into the duct 21 through the outside air intake 30 and flows along the duct 21. Finally, the air flowing through the duct 21 passes into the passenger compartment 50 through first, second and/or third openings 211, 212 and 213.

Claims: An automotive air conditioning system comprising a duct (21) through which conditioned air can be blown by an air blower (24) to a passenger compartment (50) of an automobile, one open end of the duct being located at an opening (231) formed in a partition wall (23) which separates the passenger compartment (50) and an engine compartment (60) and the air blower being located adjacent to the one open end of the duct; an evaporator (22) disposed within the duct; a heater (26) disposed within the duct; an open first shell (25) covering the air blower with the open end of the shell connected to the one open end of the duct; and a chamber (40) having an outside air intake (30) and a passenger compartment air intake (31) which are alternatively opened and closed by a damper (32); characterised in that the first shell (25) is located on the engine compartment (60) side of the partition (23) and cooperates with a second shell (27) on the passenger compartment (50) side of the partition (23) to provide an enclosure for the chamber (40) and duct (21); in that the outside air intake (30) is provided in the first shell (25); and in that the chamber is defined by the first shell (25), a wall part (37) of the second shell and a partition wall (28) covering the evaporator (22), whereby the duct (21) passes in a U-shape around three sides of the chamber (40). A system according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (40) has at least one additional passenger compartment air intake (33) which is opened and closed by at least one dead weight type damper, the weight of the damper being overridden by airflow in excess of a threshold value so that the additional air intake (33) is opened automatically to provide or increase recirculation of passenger compartment air. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising another duct (29) to lead air from the air blower to the evaporator.

Inventors: FUJITA, TOSHIHIKO, NAKAZAWA, TAKEHARU
Applicants: SANDEN CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B60H1
IPC codes: B60H1