Patent Description:
Systems that can adjust the temperature of a seat in addition to that of an interior of a vehicle have been proposed.

For example, in Patent Literature <NUM>, brine is cooled in a brine-refrigerant heat exchanger using evaporation latent heat of a combustible gas. In Patent Literature <NUM>, this low-temperature brine is circulated through a heat exchanger for cooling including a seat installed in a vehicle interior to thereby enhance the comfort of the vehicle interior. Brine refers to water to which a component for lowering the freezing temperature has been added.

In Patent Literature <NUM>, air of which the temperature has been adjusted is sent to an air chamber inside a seat through a seat air duct and a wind is blown out of a breathable seat to thereby enhance the comfort of an occupant sitting on the seat. <CIT> relates to a device for heating/air-conditioning of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. The device comprises a closed circuit in which a refrigerant fluid circulates between an evaporator and a condenser which are respectively in thermal contact with a cold-liquid duct and a hot-liquid duct. Changeover-switching means put these two ducts into communication either with a first loop travelled by a liquid and containing a heat exchanger capable of being swept by an airflow, or with a second loop travelled by a liquid and comprising a heat exchanger suitable for being swept by an airflow to be sent into the passenger compartment. The heat exchanger of the second loop can thus heat up or cool the airflow.

In the proposal of Patent Literature <NUM>, due to the structure in which only a low-temperature brine circuit is connected to an interior heat exchanger, heating of a seat demanded in winter or in cold regions cannot be provided.

In the proposal of Patent Literature <NUM>, due to a lack of the amount of accumulated heat of air of which the temperature is adjusted, comfort is immediately lost when getting into or out of the vehicle or when the device is stopped.

In view of the above, this invention aims to provide a vehicle air conditioner that, in addition to being able to cool and heat a seat, can easily maintain comfort when getting into or out of the vehicle or when the air conditioning device is stopped.

The present invention provides a vehicle air conditioner, as defined in the appended claims.

A vehicle air conditioner according to this invention includes: a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates; a high-temperature cycle in which a first heat medium in liquid form heated by the refrigeration cycle circulates; a low-temperature cycle in which a second heat medium in liquid form cooled by the refrigeration cycle circulates; and a seat that is provided in a vehicle interior and has a warm flow passage and a cold flow passage disposed close to each other.

In the vehicle air conditioner according to this invention, the warm flow passage is provided on the route of the high-temperature cycle, and the cold flow passage is provided on the route of the low-temperature cycle.

According to the vehicle air conditioner of this invention, the warm flow passage and the cold flow passage are disposed close to each other in the seat. The seat can be cooled and heated by adjusting the amounts of the first heat medium and the second heat medium flowing through the warm flow passage and the cold flow passage, respectively. Since the first heat medium and the second heat medium supplied to the warm flow passage and the cold flow passage, respectively, of the seat are in liquid form, comfort can be easily maintained when getting into or out of the vehicle or when the device is stopped.

A vehicle air conditioner <NUM> according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The vehicle air conditioner <NUM> includes a refrigeration cycle <NUM> constituting a primary loop, and a high-temperature cycle HS and a low-temperature cycle CS that have flow passages independent from the refrigeration cycle <NUM> and constitute a secondary loop. Thus, comfort can be easily maintained when getting into or out of the vehicle or when the device is stopped, as well as a seat can be cooled and heated. In addition to being used to warm and cool a vehicle interior IN, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> is used to heat and cool a seat provided in the vehicle interior IN. In the refrigeration cycle <NUM>, a refrigerant R circulates. In the high-temperature cycle HS and the low-temperature cycle CS, a first heat medium HW and a second heat medium CW that are each in liquid form circulate.

As shown in <FIG>, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> includes the refrigeration cycle <NUM>, a temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM> that is formed by a heating ventilation and air conditioning unit (HVAC unit) as one example and warms or cools the vehicle interior based on the refrigerant R having been cooled or heated in the refrigeration cycle <NUM>, and a heat radiation unit <NUM> that radiates heat of the first heat medium HW to an atmosphere. In the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>, the high-temperature cycle HS and the low-temperature cycle CS are formed as the refrigeration cycle <NUM>, the temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM>, and the heat radiation unit <NUM> are connected to one another through piping. The first heat medium HW flowing in the high-temperature cycle HS and the second heat medium CW flowing in the low-temperature cycle CS are supplied to a seat <NUM> provided in the vehicle interior IN.

By having the circulating refrigerant R undergo compression, decompression, etc., the refrigeration cycle <NUM> absorbs heat from the second heat medium CW circulating in the low-temperature cycle CS and radiates the heat to the first heat medium HW circulating in the high-temperature cycle HS.

As shown in <FIG>, the refrigeration cycle <NUM> includes a compressor <NUM>, a condenser <NUM>, a decompression unit <NUM>, and an evaporator <NUM>. The condenser <NUM> and the evaporator <NUM> are connected to each other by a refrigerant flow passage L1 and a refrigerant flow passage L2. The compressor <NUM> is provided in the refrigerant flow passage L1, and the decompression unit <NUM> is provided in the refrigerant flow passage L2. The refrigeration cycle <NUM> is provided in a vehicle exterior OUT of the vehicle.

As one example, an electrically operated compressor <NUM> is adopted as the compressor <NUM>.

The compressor <NUM> suctions and compresses a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant R released from the evaporator <NUM>, and discharges it toward the condenser <NUM> as a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant R in gas form.

The condenser <NUM> condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant R in gas form into a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant R in liquid form. The condenser <NUM> is a heat exchanger for heating, and heats the second heat medium CW flowing through a high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> constituting a part of the high-temperature cycle HS by the heat of the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant R. Thus, the condenser <NUM> is a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that realizes heat exchange between the refrigeration cycle <NUM> and the high-temperature cycle HS.

The decompression unit <NUM> decompresses and expands the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant R in liquid form coming out of the condenser <NUM> and discharges it toward the evaporator <NUM>.

The evaporator <NUM> evaporates the refrigerant R having been decompressed by the decompression unit <NUM> into a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant R in gas form. The evaporator <NUM> is a heat exchanger for cooling, and cools the second heat medium CW flowing through a low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> constituting a part of the low-temperature cycle CS by evaporating the refrigerant R. Thus, as with the condenser <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM> is a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that realizes heat exchange between the refrigeration cycle <NUM> and the low-temperature cycle CS.

Next, the temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM> will be described.

As shown in <FIG>, the temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM> includes a blower <NUM> that pressure-feeds, toward a downstream side, air (inside air or outside air) introduced by switching inside air from the vehicle interior or outside air through an inside-outside air switching damper (not shown). The temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM> also includes a cooler <NUM> that continues to the blower <NUM> and is provided in an air flow passage <NUM> inside a duct <NUM>, a heater <NUM> that is provided farther on the downstream side than the cooler <NUM>, and a temperature adjustment damper <NUM> that is provided between the cooler <NUM> and the heater <NUM>.

The temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM> is installed, for example, inside an instrument panel at a front part of the vehicle interior IN, and blows out, to the vehicle interior IN, the air of which the temperature has been adjusted by the cooler <NUM> and the heater <NUM> according to one of blow-out modes of defrosting blow-out, face blow-out, and foot blow-out, to adjust the vehicle interior to a set temperature, an opening in each of the defrosting blow-out, the face blow-out, and the foot blow-out being directed toward the vehicle interior.

Next, the heat radiation unit <NUM> radiates the heat of the second heat medium CW flowing through the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> to the outside air. The heat radiation unit <NUM> includes a radiator <NUM> provided on an upstream side, and a fan <NUM> provided on the downstream side of the radiator <NUM>.

In the fan <NUM>, a motor is driven to rotate to generate an airflow, and this airflow passes through the radiator <NUM>, thereby promoting heat exchange in the radiator <NUM>. Thus, in the radiator <NUM>, heat is exchanged between the outside air and the second heat medium CW flowing through the inside, and the heat is radiated to the outside air.

The vehicle air conditioner <NUM> includes the high-temperature cycle HS having, as an element, the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> that exchanges heat with the condenser <NUM> through which the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant R flows. The high-temperature cycle HS adjusts the temperature of the vehicle interior using the first heat medium HW having been heated in the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>, and also adjusts the temperature of the seat <NUM> in the vehicle interior.

The high-temperature cycle HS includes the heater <NUM> of the temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM> as an element, and further includes the following elements.

First, the high-temperature cycle HS includes, as flow passages for the first heat medium HW, a high-temperature flow passage HL1 that connects the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the heater <NUM> to each other, and a high-temperature flow passage HL2 that is connected to the heater <NUM> on the opposite side from the high-temperature flow passage HL1. In the high-temperature flow passage HL1, a high-temperature-side pump <NUM> and a three-way valve <NUM> are provided in this order from the side of the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>. The high-temperature-side pump <NUM> delivers the first heat medium HW having passed through the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> toward the heater <NUM>. The three-way valve <NUM> controls the direction of the first heat medium HW flowing through the high-temperature flow passage HL1.

The high-temperature cycle HS includes a high-temperature flow passage HL4 that is connected at one end to a connection point P4 and connected at the other end to a three-way valve <NUM> that is an element of the low-temperature cycle CS, and a high-temperature flow passage HL5 that is connected at one end to the three-way valve <NUM> and connected at the other end to a four-way valve <NUM> that is an element of the low-temperature cycle CS.

The three-way valve <NUM> includes three flow passages, a flow passage 24A, a flow passage 24B, and a flow passage 24C, each of which opening and closing is independently controlled. The same applies to the other three-way valves <NUM>, <NUM>.

The four-way valve <NUM> includes four flow passages, a flow passage 25A, a flow passage 25B, a flow passage 25C, and a flow passage 25D, each of which opening and closing is independently controlled. The same applies to the other four-way valve <NUM>.

The vehicle air conditioner <NUM> includes the low-temperature cycle CS having, as an element, the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> that exchanges heat with the evaporator <NUM> through which the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant R flows. The low-temperature cycle CS adjusts the temperature of the vehicle interior using the second heat medium CW having been cooled by the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>, and also adjusts the temperature of the seat in the vehicle interior.

The low-temperature cycle CS includes the radiator <NUM> of the heat radiation unit <NUM> as an element, and further includes the following elements.

First, the low-temperature cycle CS includes, as flow passages for the second heat medium CW, a low-temperature flow passage CL1 that connects the radiator <NUM> and the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> to each other, and a low-temperature flow passage CL2 that is connected at one end to the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> on the opposite side from the low-temperature flow passage CL1 and connected at the other end to the radiator <NUM>. In the low-temperature flow passage CL1, the four-way valve <NUM> and a low-temperature-side pump <NUM> are provided in this order from the side of the radiator <NUM>. The three-way valve <NUM> is provided in the low-temperature flow passage CL2. Further, the low-temperature cycle CS includes a low-temperature flow passage CL3 that is connected at one end to the low-temperature flow passage CL2 at a connection point P1 and connected at the other end to the cooler <NUM>, and a low-temperature flow passage CL5 that is connected at one end to the cooler <NUM> and connected at the other end to the four-way valve <NUM>.

The first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW consisting of the same components circulate in the high-temperature cycle HS and the low-temperature cycle CS, respectively. This heat medium does not change in phase within service pressure and temperature ranges. For example, brine, i.e., water containing an antifreeze liquid can be used. In the high-temperature cycle HS (warm flow passage <NUM>) and the low-temperature cycle CS (cold flow passage <NUM>), the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW flow through flow passages that are separate and independent from each other.

The high-temperature cycle HS includes, in its configuration, the high-temperature-side pump <NUM> and the heater <NUM>. The high-temperature-side pump <NUM> circulates the first heat medium HW inside the high-temperature cycle HS. A water delivery direction of the high-temperature-side pump <NUM> is controlled such that the refrigerant R flowing through the condenser <NUM> and the first heat medium HW flowing through the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> form opposing flows.

The high-temperature-side pump <NUM> makes the first heat medium HW having passed through the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> flow into the heater <NUM>. While passing through the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>, the first heat medium HW is heated by the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant R flowing through the condenser <NUM>. Thus, the high-temperature first heat medium HW flows into the heater <NUM>.

The low-temperature cycle CS includes, in its configuration, the radiator <NUM> and the low-temperature-side pump <NUM>. The low-temperature-side pump <NUM> circulates the second heat medium CW inside the low-temperature cycle CS. A water delivery direction of the low-temperature-side pump <NUM> is controlled such that the refrigerant R flowing through the evaporator <NUM> and the second heat medium CW flowing through the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> form opposing flows.

The low-temperature-side pump <NUM> makes the second heat medium CW having passed through the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> flow into the radiator <NUM>. While passing through the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>, the second heat medium CW is cooled by the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant R flowing through the evaporator <NUM>.

In this embodiment, an example of adjusting the temperature of the seat <NUM> provided in the vehicle interior using the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> shown in <FIG> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

First, a configuration different from <FIG> of the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> having a function of adjusting the temperature of the seat <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. A three-way valve <NUM> is provided instead of the flow adjustment valve <NUM>, and a four-way valve <NUM> is provided instead of the three-way valve <NUM>. The connection point P4 and the four-way valve <NUM> are connected to each other by a high-temperature flow passage HL6. The three-way valve <NUM> and the connection point P4 are connected to each other by the low-temperature flow passage CL4.

As shown in <FIG>, the seat <NUM> is provided in the vehicle interior, and a warm flow passage <NUM> and a cold flow passage <NUM> are provided alongside each other inside the seat <NUM>. To facilitate understanding, only one seat is extracted and described here. This circuit is the same in <FIG> and <FIG>. The warm flow passage <NUM> is provided on the route of the high-temperature flow passage HL6, and the cold flow passage <NUM> is provided on the route of the low-temperature flow passage CL4. A direction in which the first heat medium HW flows in the warm flow passage <NUM> and a direction in which the second heat medium CW flows in the cold flow passage <NUM> are opposite from each other.

Flows of the refrigerant R, the first heat medium HW, and the second heat medium CW when the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> performs heating operation will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In heating operation of the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>, the first heat medium HW having been heated by the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> is circulated through the high-temperature flow passage HL1 and the high-temperature flow passage HL2 to continuously supply the first heat medium HW to the heater <NUM> and heat the vehicle interior. Since the second heat medium CW is not flowing through the cooler <NUM>, air pressure-fed by the blower <NUM> reaches the heater <NUM> without being cooled by the cooler <NUM>.

In <FIG>, flow passages in which the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW flow are depicted thick. The same applies to <FIG> and the subsequent drawings.

In addition to the above, in heating operation of the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>, the temperature of the seat <NUM> is adjusted as follows.

The first heat medium HW having been heated by the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> is circulated through the high-temperature flow passage HL1, the high-temperature flow passage HL2, and the high-temperature flow passage HL6 to continuously supply the heated first heat medium HW to the warm flow passage <NUM>. The second heat medium CW having been cooled by the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> is circulated through the low-temperature flow passage CL3, the low-temperature flow passage CL4, the low-temperature flow passage CL5, and parts of the low-temperature flow passage CL1 and the low-temperature flow passage CL2 to continuously supply the cooled second heat medium CW to the cold flow passage <NUM>. The vehicle air conditioner <NUM> adjusts the temperature of the seat <NUM> by exchanging heat between the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM>.

During heating operation, the first heat medium HW having passed through the heater <NUM> flows to the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> through the high-temperature flow passage HL2.

During heating operation, the second heat medium CW having passed through the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> flows so as to branch into the low-temperature flow passage CL2 and the low-temperature flow passage CL3, and the second heat medium CW flowing through the low-temperature flow passage CL2 reaches the radiator <NUM> and the second heat medium CW flowing through the low-temperature flow passage CL3 reaches the cold flow passage <NUM>. The second heat medium CW having passed through the cold flow passage <NUM> flows into the low-temperature flow passage CL1 through the four-way valve <NUM> and reaches the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>.

Open and closed states of the flow passages of the three-way valve <NUM>, the four-way valve <NUM>, the three-way valve <NUM>, and the four-way valve <NUM> during heating operation are as follows. In <FIG>, closed flow passages of these valves are blacked out. The same applies to <FIG>, <FIG>, etc..

Next, flows of the refrigerant R, the first heat medium HW, and the second heat medium CW when the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> performs dehumidifying and heating operation will be described with reference to <FIG>. As dehumidifying and heating operation has some parts in common with heating operation having been described with reference to <FIG>, in the following, dehumidifying and heating operation will be described in terms of differences from heating operation.

As shown in <FIG>, in dehumidifying and heating operation, the flow passages in three directions of the three-way valve <NUM> are open. The second heat medium CW flows toward the cooler <NUM>, and the second heat medium CW having passed through the cooler <NUM> reaches the four-way valve <NUM> through the low-temperature flow passage CL5 and flows into the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>. Thus, heating operation and dehumidifying and heating operation can be switched by controlling opening and closing of the flow passages of the three-way valve <NUM>.

As for temperature adjustment of the seat <NUM>, a difference lies in that, in heating operation, the whole second heat medium CW is supplied to the cold flow passage <NUM>, whereas in dehumidifying and heating, part of the second heat medium CW is used for dehumidification.

Open and closed states of the flow passages of the three-way valve <NUM>, the four-way valve <NUM>, the three-way valve <NUM>, and the four-way valve <NUM> during dehumidifying and heating operation are as follows. The difference from heating operation shown in <FIG> is opening and closing of the flow passage 32C of the three-way valve <NUM>.

Next, flows of the refrigerant R, the first heat medium HW, and the second heat medium CW when the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> performs cooling operation will be described with reference to <FIG>. As cooling operation has some parts in common with dehumidifying and heating operation having been described with reference to <FIG>, in the following, cooling operation will be described in terms of differences from dehumidifying and heating operation.

In cooling operation, part of the first heat medium HW having been heated by the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> flows into the high-temperature flow passage HL5 through the four-way valve <NUM>, and is further supplied to the radiator <NUM> through the four-way valve <NUM>. The first heat medium HW having passed through the radiator <NUM> passes through the three-way valve <NUM> and flows through the high-temperature flow passage HL4 to reach the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM>.

As has been described above, in cooling operation, a circulation passage including the low-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> and the cooler <NUM> is formed for the cooled second heat medium CW. As this circulation passage is formed, cooling operation is realized. For the heated first heat medium HW, a circulation passage including the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle <NUM> and the warm flow passage <NUM> of the seat <NUM>, and a circulation passage including the high-temperature-side heat exchanger <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle <NUM> and the radiator <NUM> of the heat radiation unit <NUM> are formed.

Open and closed states of the flow passages of the three-way valve <NUM>, the four-way valve <NUM>, the three-way valve <NUM>, and the four-way valve <NUM> during cooling operation are as follows:.

Next, an example of arrangement of the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM> in the seat <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM> in this example are formed by flexible pipe members and are provided close to each other. Being close in this invention means that the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM> may be in contact with each other or the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM> may be spaced a little apart from each other.

The seat <NUM> includes a seating face 60a, a back support 60b rising from the seating face 60a, and a headrest 60c mounted at an upper part of the back support 60b.

As shown in <FIG>, the warm flow passage <NUM> has an introduction port 61a for the heated first heat medium HW and a discharge port 61b for the heated first heat medium HW, both provided in the seating face 60a. For the introduction port 61a, a pipe 61c is provided between the introduction port 61a and the discharge port 61b, and the first heat medium HW supplied from the introduction port 61a passes through the pipe 61c and is discharged from the discharge port 61b. The pipe 61c is provided so as to meander in the seating face 60a and the back support 60b in this order, and turns back at an upper part of the back support 60b toward a lower side as indicated by the arrow. Then, it meanders in the back support 60b and the seating face 60a in this order and leads to the discharge port 61b in the seating face 60a.

As shown in <FIG>, the cold flow passage <NUM> has an introduction port 63a for the cooled second heat medium CW and a discharge port 63b for the cooled second heat medium CW, both provided in the seating face 60a. For the introduction port 63a, a pipe 63c is provided between the introduction port 63a and the discharge port 63b, and the second heat medium CW supplied from the introduction port 63a passes through the pipe 63c and is discharged from the discharge port 63b. The pipe 63c is provided so as to meander in the seating face 60a and the back support 60b in this order, and turns back at an upper part of the back support 60b toward the lower side as indicated by the arrow. Then, it meanders in the back support 60b and the seating face 60a in this order and leads to the discharge port 63b in the seating face 60a.

The pipe 61c of the warm flow passage <NUM> and the pipe 63c of the cold flow passage <NUM> are provided adjacent to each other while meandering in the seating face 60a and the back support 60b. Thus, the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM> can cool and heat the seat <NUM> while exchanging heat with each other by adjusting the amounts of the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW flowing through the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM>, respectively.

Next, the effects of the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> will be described.

According to the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> of this invention, the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM> are disposed close to each other in the seat <NUM>. The seat <NUM> can be cooled and heated by adjusting the amounts of the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW flowing through the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM>, respectively.

According to the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> of this invention, the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW supplied to the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM>, respectively, of the seat <NUM> are in liquid form. Since liquids are used as the heat media, the heat accumulation property is high compared with that of air, and comfort can be maintained also when getting into or out of the vehicle or when the device is stopped.

Further, according to the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> of this invention, the warm flow passage <NUM> and the cold flow passage <NUM> are separate and independent from each other.

Thus, according to the first embodiment, the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW are not mixed, which can eliminate the need for a capacity required for mixing.

In addition, the roles of the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW can be maintained, so that heat management for other on-board devices can be performed.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>. The second embodiment proposes a vehicle air conditioner <NUM> that can separately adjust the temperature of each of a plurality of, specifically, four seats <NUM> (60A, 60B, 60C, 60D).

First, the circuit configuration of the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. As the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> shares the same circuit configuration with the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>, in the following, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> will be described mainly in terms of differences from the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>. In <FIG>, the same parts and members as in the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> are denoted by the same reference signs as those in <FIG>.

The vehicle air conditioner <NUM> has the high-temperature cycle HS in which the high-temperature flow passage HL6 branches into four first branch flow passages HL6A, HL6B, HL6C, and HL6D. The high-temperature flow passage HL6 includes a first total amount valve <NUM> that adjusts the magnitude of the amount of first heat medium HW flowing into the first branch flow passages HL6A, HL6B, HL6C, and HL6D, and this first total amount valve <NUM> is provided between the four-way valve <NUM> and a portion where the high-temperature flow passage HL6 branches. With reference to the flow direction of the first heat medium HW, the first total amount valve <NUM> is provided farther upstream than the portion where the high-temperature flow passage HL6 branches. Upstream and downstream in the high-temperature flow passage HL6 are based on this reference.

In the first branch flow passages HL6A, HL6B, HL6C, and HL6D, first separate valves 65A, 65B, 65C, 65D are provided on the upstream side of the seats 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, respectively. The first separate valves 65A, 65B, 65C, 65D adjust the magnitudes of the amounts of first heat medium HW flowing into the warm flow passages 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, respectively, that are provided in the seats 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D. Thus, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> can separately adjust the amounts of first heat medium HW flowing through the warm flow passages 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D.

The vehicle air conditioner <NUM> has the low-temperature cycle CS in which the low-temperature flow passage CL4 branches into four second branch flow passages CL4A, CL4B, CL4C, and CL4D. The low-temperature flow passage CL4 includes a second total amount valve <NUM> that adjusts the magnitude of the amount of second heat medium CW flowing into the second branch flow passages CL4A, CL4B, CL4C, and CL4D. The second total amount valve <NUM> is provided between the four-way valve <NUM> and a portion where the low-temperature flow passage CL4 branches. With reference to the flow direction of the second heat medium CW, the second total amount valve <NUM> is provided farther upstream than the portion where the low-temperature flow passage CL4 branches. Upstream and downstream in the low-temperature flow passage CL4 are based on this reference.

In the second branch flow passages CL4A, CL4B, CL4C, and CL4D, second separate valves 67A, 67B, 67C, 67D are provided on the upstream side of the seats 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, respectively. The second separate valves 67A, 67B, 67C, 67D adjust the magnitudes of the amounts of second heat medium CW flowing into the cold flow passages 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D, respectively, that are provided in the seats 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D. Thus, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> can separately adjust the amounts of second heat medium CW flowing through the cold flow passages 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D.

Next, heating operation, dehumidifying and heating, and cooling operation in the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. Also these operations will be described mainly in terms of differences from the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>.

As with the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> can perform heating operation (<FIG>), dehumidifying and heating operation (<FIG>), and cooling operation (<FIG>) by activating the refrigeration cycle <NUM>. The temperatures of the seats 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D are adjusted as the first heat medium HW and the second heat medium CW flow in the high-temperature cycle HS and the low-temperature cycle CS in each operation as will be described below.

In heating operation, the flow passage 41A and the flow passage 41C of the four-way valve <NUM> are open, so that the first heat medium HW passes through the first total amount valve <NUM> and flows to the warm flow passages 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D. Here, the amount of first heat medium HW flowing to the warm flow passages 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D as a whole is adjusted by the first total amount valve <NUM>. The amount of the first heat medium HW flowing to each of the warm flow passages 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D is also adjusted.

In heating operation, the flow passage 32A and the flow passage 32B of the three-way valve <NUM> are open, so that the second heat medium CW flows to the cold flow passages 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D through the second total amount valve <NUM>. Here, the amount of second heat medium CW flowing to the cold flow passages 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D as a whole is adjusted by the second total amount valve <NUM>. The amount of first heat medium HW flowing to each of the cold flow passages 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D is also adjusted.

As has been described above, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> can adjust the temperatures of the seats 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D by adjusting the amounts of second heat medium CW flowing to the warm flow passages 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D and the cold flow passages 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D while performing heating operation, dehumidifying and heating, or cooling operation by the temperature adjustment mechanism <NUM>. In particular, the vehicle air conditioner <NUM> can adjust the amount of second heat medium CW flowing through each of the warm flow passages 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D and the cold flow passages 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D.

The vehicle air conditioner <NUM> according to the second embodiment achieves the following Effect <NUM> and Effect <NUM> in addition to Effect <NUM> to Effect <NUM> of the vehicle air conditioner <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A vehicle air conditioner (<NUM>) comprising:
a refrigeration cycle (<NUM>) in which a refrigerant (R) circulates;
a high-temperature cycle (HS) in which a first heat medium (HW) in liquid form heated by the refrigeration cycle circulates;
a low-temperature cycle (CS) in which a second heat medium (CW) in liquid form cooled by the refrigeration cycle circulates; and
a seat (<NUM>) that is provided in a vehicle interior and has a warm flow passage (<NUM>) and a cold flow passage (<NUM>) disposed close to each other, wherein
the warm flow passage is provided on a route of the high-temperature cycle, and
the cold flow passage is provided on a route of the low-temperature cycle.