JP3837886B2 - Air conditioner for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to improve the air-conditioning feeling of the occupant, a swing louver is attached to the air outlet to the passenger compartment, and the swing louver is swung in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) by a motor or the like, so that the direction of the cold wind is continuously There is known a vehicle air conditioner that changes to (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 57-107912). There is also known a vehicle air conditioner in which the swing speed of the swing louver on the side with solar radiation is slower than the swing speed on the side without solar radiation (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-2086).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The vehicle air conditioner described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-2086 is comfortable because cold air is focused on the occupant sitting on the side where the solar radiation enters.
However, since the solar altitude is not taken into consideration, when the solar altitude is high, the sun hits the lower body of the occupant and the occupant feels heat in the lower body. In addition, when the solar altitude is low, the sun hits the upper body of the occupant and the upper body feels hot.
For this reason, in the conventional vehicle air conditioner, it is necessary to manually operate the wind direction changing plate assembled to the air outlet so as to face the part where the sun hits, which is troublesome and unusable. .
[0004]
The object of the present invention is that the deflecting member swings so that cold wind hits the occupant's lower body when the solar altitude is high and cold air hits the occupant's upper body when the solar altitude is low. The object is to provide a vehicle air conditioner that is easy to use so that passengers do not feel the heat.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[About claim 1]
A blow-out opening that opens to a passenger's approximately chest position blows out air-conditioned air into the vehicle. A deflecting member for changing the blowing direction of the conditioned air is mounted on the outlet so as to be swingable in the vertical direction. The driving means continuously swings the deflecting member within a predetermined vertical range. The solar altitude detection means detects the altitude of the sun.
[0006]
When the solar altitude detected by the solar altitude detecting means is high, the control means during cooling operation restricts the upper side of the swinging range of the deflecting member so that the conditioned air is focused on the lower body of the occupant. When the solar altitude is low, the lower side of the swinging range is restricted and the driving means is controlled so that the conditioned air hits the occupant's upper body. Thereby, since a passenger | crew is not made to feel heat, the vehicle air conditioner is excellent in usability.
[0009]
[About claim 2 ]
During cooling operation, when the detected solar altitude is high, the control means shifts the swing center of the swing range of the deflecting member downward so that the conditioned air is focused on the lower body of the occupant. When the altitude is low, the driving means is controlled so that the conditioned air is focused on the upper body of the occupant by shifting the swing center of the swing range upward. Thereby, since a passenger | crew is not made to feel heat, the vehicle air conditioner is excellent in usability.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the vehicle air conditioner A has center face air outlets 11 and 12 (air outlets) that open at substantially chest positions of passengers (drivers and passengers), and is air-conditioned air. Is blown out from the center face air outlets 11 and 12 (see FIG. 1). Then, the center face air outlet 11 and 12, the wind direction deflecting plate 2 is a deflecting member for changing the blowing direction of the conditioned air is pivotably mounted in the vertical direction (each four in the present reference example) (See FIG. 2). Moreover, the solar radiation sensor (solar height detection means) for detecting a solar height is attached to the vehicle. And the control apparatus 4 (control means) is a wind direction deflecting board continuously within a predetermined up-and-down range (a range of -45 ° to 0 ° when the solar altitude is high, and a range of 0 ° to + 45 ° when the solar altitude is low). The drive mechanism 5 (drive means) is controlled so that 2 swings.
[0011]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a duct of the vehicle air conditioner A, which is disposed below the cowl portion. An upstream side of the duct 1 is a fan accommodating portion 13, and a centrifugal fan 131 and a blower motor 132 are accommodated in the fan accommodating portion 13.
[0012]
An inside / outside air switching box 14 in which an inside / outside air switching door 143 for selecting each introduction port is provided is provided on the upstream side of the fan housing portion 13 while an inside air introduction port 141 and an outside air introduction port 142 are formed. .
[0013]
An evaporator 18 that cools the air and a heater core 15 that heats the air are disposed inside the duct 1 located downstream of the fan housing 13. A bypass passage 151 that bypasses the heater core 15 is formed above the heater core 15. The bypass passage 151 is provided with an air mix door 152, and the amount of air passing through the evaporator 18 and the temperature of the air passing through the heater core 15 and the amount of air passing through the heater core 15 are adjusted by the door opening.
[0014]
The evaporator 18 is a heat exchanger of a refrigeration cycle configured by connecting a compressor, a condenser, a liquid receiver, and a decompressor (all not shown) by piping, and the air that has passed through is cooled. . The compressor is connected to an automobile engine via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown) and is intermittently operated. The heater core 15 is a heat exchanger that uses engine cooling water as a heat source, and heats the cool air cooled by the passage of the evaporator 18.
[0015]
The duct 1 branches into a face duct 10, a foot duct 16 and a defroster duct 17 on the downstream side of the heater core 15. The face duct 10 further branches into a center face duct 110, 120, a driver-side side face duct 130, and a passenger-side side face duct 140.
[0016]
The center face air outlet 11 (driver's seat side) opens at the front end of the center face duct 110, the center face air outlet 12 (passenger seat side) opens at the front end of the center face duct 120, and the front end of the side face duct 130. The side face air outlet 133 (driver's seat side) is opened, and the side face air outlet 144 (passenger seat side) is opened at the tip of the side face duct 140.
[0017]
The foot duct 16 is bifurcated, and a foot outlet 161 is formed at the tip of the branched one duct to blow air-conditioning air toward the driver's feet. A foot outlet 162 is formed to blow air-conditioned air to the feet of the person who is. At the tip of the defroster duct 17, a defroster outlet 171 for blowing conditioned air to the inner surface of the windshield is formed.
[0018]
Further, on the duct side of the face duct 10, the foot duct 16, and the defroster duct 17, a face door 100, a foot door 160, and a defroster door 170 for controlling communication between each duct and the duct 1 are provided.
[0019]
Next, the center face air outlet 11 (driver's seat side) and the center face air outlet 12 (passenger seat side) that open at the ends of the center face ducts 110 and 120 will be described in detail.
[0020]
The center face air outlets 11 and 12 have a horizontally long rectangular shape, and open at the center of the cowl portion of the automobile. In the center face ducts 110 and 120 in the vicinity of the center face outlets 11 and 12, plate-like wind direction deflecting plates 2 (four pieces) supported at the center are mounted in parallel (see FIG. 2). .
[0021]
These wind direction deflecting plates 2 (presenting a rectangular shape) are connected at their rear ends to a connecting plate 21, and the connecting plate 21 is connected to a drive mechanism 5 described later via a link mechanism 50. The drive mechanism 5 includes a potentiometer 51 and a servo motor 52 with a speed reduction mechanism. When the drive mechanism 5 is activated, the connecting plate 21 moves up and down in the direction of the arrow (see FIG. 2), and the plurality of wind direction deflecting plates 2 integrally swing up and down.
[0022]
The drive mechanism 5 is controlled by the control device 4 described later. An electric signal output from the potentiometer 51 is sent to the control device 4 according to the rotation of the servo motor 52, and the control device 4 detects the direction of the wind direction deflector 2 based on the electric signal.
[0023]
For example, when the wind direction deflecting plate 2 is rotated upward toward a predetermined upper limit position, the controller 4 continues to energize the servo motor 52 until the detected tip reaches the predetermined upper limit position. When it is detected that the tip has reached a predetermined upper limit position, the control device 4 reverses the energization direction to the servo motor 52. Thereby, the wind direction deflection | deviation plate 2 rotates below toward a predetermined | prescribed lower limit position. When it is detected that the tip has reached the predetermined lower limit position, the control device 4 returns the energization direction to the servo motor 52. By such control, the wind direction deflecting plate 2 swings in the vehicle vertical direction, and the conditioned air blown from the center face outlets 11 and 12 changes in the vehicle vertical direction.
[0024]
The control device 4 receives sensor signals, temperature setting signals, and on / off signals output from the sensors, temperature setting devices, and swing switches described below to control the air conditioner.
An internal air temperature sensor for detecting the internal air temperature, an external air temperature sensor for detecting the external air temperature, a solar radiation sensor for detecting the amount of solar radiation and the solar altitude irradiated to the vehicle interior, and the air temperature immediately after passing through the evaporator 18 are detected. A post-evaporation sensor, a water temperature sensor that detects the engine coolant temperature in the heater core 15.
[0025]
The temperature setter is assembled to an air conditioner operation panel mounted on the cowl portion, and sets a set temperature Tset (in increments of 1 ° C.) in the passenger compartment. The swing switch is assembled to the air conditioner operation panel and selects automatic swing.
[0026]
The solar radiation sensor is disposed in the center of the dashboard and is composed of a three-surface sensor. And the ratio of the solar radiation amount which these each surface detects is set so that it may change with solar altitudes, and solar altitude is calculated by ratio of the solar radiation amount detected. The control device 4 includes an A / D converter, a microcomputer, and an I / O circuit, and is supplied with operating power from a vehicle-mounted battery.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the control device 4 will be described based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
When the automatic operation switch is turned on in step S10, data is initialized (reset) in step S11.
In step S12, the following are read.
A digital value (Tr, Tam, Ts, Te, Tw) obtained by A / D converting the value of each sensor signal, a set temperature Tset set by the temperature setter, and a setting state of the swing switch.
[0028]
In step S13, a target blowing temperature (hereinafter referred to as TAO) of the conditioned air blown into the vehicle interior is calculated based on the following mathematical formula stored in the ROM.
TAO = Kset * Tset-Kr * Tr-Kam * Tam-Ks * Ts + C
Where Kset, Kr, Kam, and Ks are gains, and C is a correction constant.
In step S14, the applied voltage VM to be applied to the blower motor 132 is obtained based on the TAO- applied voltage characteristics shown in FIG.
In step S15, the outlet mode is determined based on the TAO-outlet mode characteristics shown in FIG. 6 stored in the ROM.
[0030]
The FACE mode is a mode in which conditioned air is blown out from the face outlet, and the B / L (bi-level) mode is a mode in which conditioned air is blown out from the face outlet and the foot outlet, and FOOT mode. Is a mode in which conditioned air is blown from the foot outlet.
[0031]
In step S16, the target opening degree SW of the air mix door 152 is calculated based on the following mathematical formula stored in the ROM.
SW = {(TAO−Te) / (Tw−Te)} × 100 (%)
And in step S17 (step S171-step S174) explained in full detail later, the blowing range of the air-conditioning wind blown from the center face blower outlets 11 and 12 is determined by setting the rocking | fluctuation range of the wind direction deflection | deviation plate 2. To do.
[0032]
In step S18, each air conditioning functional member is controlled so that the control target value calculated in steps S13 to S17 is obtained.
[0033]
Next, the operation of step S17 (steps S171 to S174) will be described with reference to FIGS.
In step S171, it is determined whether or not the blowing mode is FACE or B / L. If YES, the process proceeds to step S172. That is, when the blowing mode calculated in step S15 is FACE or B / L, the determination in step S171 is YES. If NO (FOOT or manual F / D, DEF mode), the process proceeds to step S18.
[0034]
In step S172, whether the solar altitude is high or low is determined based on the determination chart of FIG. 8, and if high (YES), the process proceeds to step S173, and if low, the process proceeds to step S174. In order to prevent hunting in the control, hysteresis is provided in the discrimination chart.
[0035]
In step S173, the control device 4 controls the drive mechanism 5 so that the wind direction deflecting plate 2 continuously swings within a vertical range (first blowing range) of −45 ° to 0 °. In step S174, the control device 4 controls the drive mechanism 5 so that the wind direction deflector 2 continuously swings within the vertical range (second blowing range) of 0 ° to + 45 ° (see FIGS. 9 and 10). ).
[0036]
The first blowing range is a blowing range of the conditioned air when the wind direction deflecting plate 2 swings from a solid line position in FIG. 9 to a horizontal position (not shown). Further, the second blowing range is the blowing range of the conditioned air when the wind direction deflecting plate 2 swings from a horizontal position (not shown in FIG. 9) to a dotted line position.
[0037]
Next, advantages of the control device 4 of the first reference example will be described.
[A] When the solar altitude is high, the lower half of the occupant (especially the crotch) is exposed to solar radiation, and when the solar altitude is low, the occupant is exposed to the upper half of the body (particularly the face).
However, when it is determined that the solar altitude is high, the control device 4 controls the drive mechanism 5 so that the wind direction deflector 2 continuously swings within the vertical range of −45 ° to 0 °, and the solar altitude. When it is determined that the airflow is low, the control device 4 controls the drive mechanism 5 so that the wind direction deflecting plate 2 continuously swings within the vertical range of 0 ° to + 45 °. For this reason, since the passenger does not feel the heat caused by solar radiation, the vehicle air conditioner A is excellent in usability.
[0038]
[A] Hysteresis is provided in determining whether the solar altitude is high or low (see FIG. 8). For this reason, control hunting can be prevented, and the vehicle air conditioner A is excellent in usability because it does not cause a sense of incongruity in switching the blowing range.
[0039]
An embodiment obtained by modifying the reference example 1 will be described below.
a. During cooling operation, if it is determined that the solar altitude is high, the conditioned air hits the occupant's lower body, and if it is determined that the detected solar altitude is low, the occupant's upper part hits the conditioned air. In addition, the control device 4 may control the drive mechanism 5 as described below, and the same effects as [A] and [A] are achieved.
[0040]
1. When it is determined that the solar altitude is high, the control device 4 changes step S173 to change the upper side (+ 45 ° to 0 °) of the rocking range (+ 45 ° to −45 °) of the wind direction deflecting plate 2. The driving mechanism 5 is controlled so that the conditioned air is focused on the lower body of the occupant, and if it is determined that the solar altitude is low, the swing range of the wind direction deflector 2 is changed by changing step S174. The lower side (range of + 45 ° to −45 °) (range of 0 ° to −45 °) is limited, and the drive mechanism 5 is controlled so that the conditioned air is focused on the upper body of the occupant {Claim 1 Equivalent to}.
[0041]
2. When it is determined that the solar altitude is high, the control device 4 changes step S173 to change the swing range of the wind direction deflector plate 2 (the range of −22.5 ° to + 22.5 °) when there is no solar radiation. The moving center (0 °) is shifted downward (-22.5 °) to control the drive mechanism 5 so that the conditioned air is focused on the lower body of the occupant. The swing center (0 °) of the swing range of the plate 2 (the range of −22.5 ° to + 22.5 °) is shifted upward (22.5 °), and the conditioned air hits the occupant's upper body. Thus, the drive mechanism 5 is controlled {corresponding to claim 2 }.
[0042]
3. Steps S172 to S174 are abolished, and the control device 4 controls the drive mechanism 5 according to the swing range of the wind direction deflecting plate 2 shown in FIG. 11 based on the detected solar altitude {corresponding to claim 1 }.
[0043]
4). When it is determined that the solar altitude is high, the control device 4 changes step S173 so that it is below the swing range (−45 ° to + 45 °) (−45 ° to 0 °) of the wind direction deflecting plate 2. The drive mechanism 5 is controlled so that the conditioned air is focused on the lower body of the occupant by lowering the swing speed of the wind direction deflection plate 2 to about 1/4 of the swing speed (normal speed) on the upper side. If it is determined that the solar altitude is low, step S174 is changed, and the wind direction deflector 2 on the upper side (+ 45 ° to 0 °) of the swing range (−45 ° to + 45 °) of the wind direction deflector 2 is changed. The driving mechanism 5 is controlled so that the conditioned air is focused on the upper body of the occupant by reducing the swaying speed of the vehicle to about 1/4 of the swaying speed (normal speed) on the lower side { Reference Example 2 }.
[0044]
5. When it is determined that the solar altitude is high, the control device 4 changes step S173 so that it is below the swing range (−45 ° to + 45 °) (−45 ° to 0 °) of the wind direction deflecting plate 2. The drive mechanism 5 is controlled so that the conditioned air strikes the lower body of the occupant with a longer time for the air deflecting plate 2 to swing, for example, twice as long as the upper swing time. If it is determined that the solar altitude is low, step S174 is changed so that the wind direction deflector 2 is above the swing range (−45 ° to + 45 °) of the wind direction deflector 2 (+ 45 ° to 0 °). The driving mechanism 5 is controlled so that the conditioned air hits the upper body of the occupant with a focus on the upper body of the occupant by making the swinging time longer than, for example, twice the swinging time on the lower side { Reference Example 3 }.
[0045]
b. In the above-described embodiments and reference examples , when the user manually turns on the swing switch, the wind direction deflecting plate 2 starts swinging. May be configured to swing.
Intensity of solar radiation, state of blowing mode, set temperature, outside temperature [0046]
c. In the above-mentioned examples and reference examples , when the intensity of solar radiation is weak, the swaying of the wind direction deflecting plate 2 is performed from the lower limit to the upper limit of the predetermined range so that the conditioned air is uniformly applied from the lower body to the upper body of the occupant (for example, (−45 ° to + 45 °) may be configured to swing.
[0047]
d. In the above-mentioned examples and reference examples , the altitude of the sun is detected by the three-surface solar radiation sensor, but the solar altitude may be calculated using both the solar radiation amount sensor and the navigation system. Further, the solar position may be calculated using PSD (position sensitive device).
[0048]
e. When the wind direction deflector 2 is swung during heating operation, the control device 4 focuses the conditioned air (warm air) on the upper body of the occupant when the determined solar altitude is high, and the determined solar When the altitude is low, the drive mechanism 5 may be controlled so that the conditioned air (warm air) hits the passenger's lower body.
f. Although the center face up / down swing has been described, the side face may be provided with an up / down swing. Further, only the side face may be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory diagram of a vehicle air conditioner according to Reference Example 1 ;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the swing of a wind direction deflecting plate.
3 is an explanatory diagram of a control device for a vehicle air conditioner according to Reference Example 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship of TAO - applied voltage.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between TAO and outlet mode.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device (solar altitude discrimination part).
FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between a detected solar altitude and a determined solar altitude.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the swing of the air mix door and the blowout range of the conditioned air.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram in a case where the blown range of the conditioned air is the first blown range and in a case where the blown range of the conditioned air is the second blown range.
FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relationship between the detected solar altitude and the blowout range of conditioned air.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the swing speed of the wind direction deflecting plate when the determined solar altitude is high and the swing speed of the wind direction deflecting plate when the determined solar altitude is low.
[Explanation of symbols]
A Vehicle air conditioner 2 Wind direction deflector (deflection member)
4. Control device (control means)
5 Drive mechanism (drive means)
11, 12 Center face outlet (air outlet)

Claims (2)

A blow-out port from which air-conditioned air that is opened and air-conditioned opens to the passenger's approximate chest position;
A deflection member mounted on the outlet so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and for changing the direction of blowing the conditioned air;
Drive means for continuously swinging the deflection member within a predetermined vertical range;
In a vehicle air conditioner having control means for controlling the drive means,
A solar altitude detecting means for detecting the solar altitude is provided.
It said control means during the cooling operation, the drive means so that per the focus the conditioned air to the lower body of the occupant by limiting the upper swing range of said deflector when the detected solar altitude is higher When the detected solar altitude is low, the drive means is controlled so that the conditioned air is focused on the upper body of the occupant by limiting the lower side of the swing range Air conditioner. A blow-out port from which air-conditioned air that is opened and air-conditioned opens to the passenger's approximate chest position;
A deflection member mounted on the outlet so as to be swingable in the vertical direction, and for changing the direction of blowing the conditioned air;
Drive means for continuously swinging the deflection member within a predetermined vertical range;
In a vehicle air conditioner having control means for controlling the drive means,
A solar altitude detecting means for detecting the solar altitude is provided.
Cooling the control unit during operation, the detected solar said altitude if higher by shifting the center of swinging of the swing range of the deflection member downwardly to strike the focus the conditioned air to the lower body of the occupant driving Control means,
Car when the detected solar altitude is low you and controls said driving means so intensively the air conditioning air strikes the upper body of the occupant by shifting the swing center of the swing range upward Dual-use air conditioner.

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