JP3237186B2 - Air passage switching device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air passage switching device in which the degree of opening of an air passage formed in a duct case is adjusted using a film-like member having an opening.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an air passage switching device provided in a vehicle air conditioner has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-166.
As disclosed in JP-A-618, the air outlet switching damper and the air mix damper are configured as a film damper using a film-like member made of a flexible material such as a plastic film, so that the structure is simplified and the overall structure is reduced. It is considered to reduce the weight and size.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show examples of the structure of this type of air passage switching device. That is, in FIG. 5, a case 1 constituting a part of a duct case is formed such that an undersurface is open and a front wall and a rear wall thereof have an inverted V-shape. It has a plurality of air outlets 1a communicating with the face air outlet of the air conditioner, and a plurality of air outlets 1b communicating with the foot air outlet and the defroster air outlet of the automotive air conditioner on the back wall. The case 1 has a pair of winding shafts 2 and 3 rotatably supported at front and rear end portions facing the lower surface opening portion thereof, and guide roller shafts corresponding to upper end portions of the air outlets 1a and 1b. 4 is supported.

The winding shafts 2 and 3 have air outlets 1a,
Both ends of a blower mode switching film damper 5 (see FIG. 6), which is a film-like member for adjusting the opening of 1b, are connected. The film damper 5 is held in a state of being bent in a V-shape by the guide roller shaft 4, and is held on the inner surface of the case 1 (that is, the air outlets 1 a and 1 b serving as air passages) in the held state. It can be moved along. The film damper 5 is, as shown in FIG.
It has a rectangular shape having a plurality of openings 5a that are selectively opposed to the air outlets 1a and 1b. The opening of the air outlets 1a and 1b can be adjusted according to the movement. I have.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the edge of the film damper 5 is in contact with the inner surface of the case 1, and the air seals 1a and 1b are closed by the contact. Has gained features. In FIG. 7, the auxiliary duct case 6 has an air outlet 1
a and 1b are attached so as to communicate with each other,
The air outlets 1a and 1b are connected to the face outlet, foot outlet and defroster outlet through the auxiliary duct case 6.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional structure, each ventilation path through the air outlets 1a and 1b in the case 1 is
A form narrowed by an edge of the film damper 5 (and a wall surface of the case 1 where the edge contacts), in other words, a form in which the ventilation path is rapidly reduced and expanded at an air sealing portion required to prevent air leakage. This causes turbulence of the air flow in the case 1 and an increase in pressure loss. For this reason, in the air passage switching device of the conventional configuration, there is a problem that the air blowing performance in each air blowing mode via the air outlet 1a or 1b is deteriorated, and the noise due to the turbulence of the air flow is increased. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air passage switching device capable of improving the air blowing performance and reducing noise with a simple configuration.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
By moving the membrane member in the duct case provided with the air passage portion, the relative position between the opening of the membrane member and the air passage portion is changed, and the air passage portion is accordingly changed. The present invention is directed to an air passage switching device that adjusts an opening degree. In such an air passage switching device, a part of a side wall of a duct case has a substantially U-shaped cross section.
And facing the air passage section and
The film is formed in a state substantially orthogonal to the air flow direction in the air passage section.
On with the air sealing space of the narrow shape provided along the movement direction of the member, in which a structure to position the edge of the film member in the air sealing space section. The invention according to claim 2 has an air passage portion.
Movable membrane member with an opening in the duct case
The air passage according to the movement of the membrane member
Air by changing the relative position between the
In the air passage switching device for adjusting the opening of the passage,
Part of the side wall of the case is located upstream and below the film-like member.
Formed by bulging outward from the inner wall on the flow side
And the air facing the air passage and in the air passage
In the direction of movement of the membrane member in a state substantially perpendicular to the flow direction.
Equipped with a narrow space for air seal provided along
Then, the edge of the film-like member is placed in the air seal space.
The configuration is such that the part is located.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the air seal space where the edge of the membrane member is located is located on the side of the duct case.
It is formed by making a part of the wall approximately U-shaped in cross section.
The air passage portion facing the air passage portion in the
Transfer of the membrane member in a state substantially perpendicular to the air flow direction at
Claim 2 is provided so that it may follow the direction of movement.
According to the above-mentioned means, the air filter in which the edge of the film-like member is located
The part of the side wall of the duct case
Swell outward from the inner wall surface on the upstream and downstream sides of the member
Formed in the air passage in the duct case
And substantially orthogonal to the direction of air flow in the air passage.
Since it is provided along the moving direction of the film-like member in the state, it is possible to prevent the ventilation passage through the air passage in the duct case from being narrowed by the edge of the film-like member. . As a result, noise generation due to the turbulence of the air flow in the duct case is suppressed, and at the same time, a decrease in the ventilation performance due to an increase in pressure loss is also suppressed.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle air conditioner will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional structure of an automotive air conditioner. In FIG. 3, a blower 14 for introducing air from the outside air suction port 12 and the inside air suction ports 13, 13 is provided at the most upstream portion of the duct case 11. The blower 14 has a well-known configuration including a centrifugal fan 14a and a motor 14b. The outside air suction port 12 or the inside air suction port 13 is provided with plate-like dampers 15, 16 for switching between inside and outside air. Have been.

An auxiliary duct case 17 which is a part of the duct case 11 is connected to the most downstream portion of the duct case 11. The auxiliary duct case 17 includes an auxiliary duct 17a for blowing air to a face air outlet (not shown) of the vehicle air conditioner, and both a foot air outlet and a defroster air outlet (all not shown) of the automotive air conditioner. The auxiliary duct case 17 has a face ventilation port 18 and a foot differential ventilation port 19 (each corresponding to an air passage section in the present invention) formed in the auxiliary duct case 17. Have been.

An evaporator 20 for cooling the air blown by the blower 14 is arranged at a position downstream of the blower 14 in the center of the duct case 11. Further, a heater core 21 is disposed downstream of the evaporator 20 in the duct case 11.

In this case, the heater core 21 is in a state of being inclined with respect to the evaporator 20 (a state in which the upper part is inclined to the evaporator 20 side), and the upper end and the lower end thereof are connected to the ceiling and the inner bottom of the duct case 11. They are arranged with a predetermined gap therebetween. As a result of this arrangement, the air cooled by the evaporator 20 passes through the heater core 21 downstream of the heater core 21 (the face air outlet 18 and the foot differential air outlet 19).
Side) and two systems in which the cooling air flows into the downstream side of the heater core through the respective gaps between the upper and lower sides of the heater core 21 and the duct case 11. Bypass ventilation path (dashed arrow 2)
3) is formed. The air mix ventilation path 22 and the bypass ventilation path 23 correspond to an air passage section according to the present invention.

In the duct case 11, a total of four winding shafts 24 to 27 oriented in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing are rotatably provided, and are also oriented in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. A guide roller shaft 28 is rotatably provided.

In this case, the pair of winding shafts 24 and 25 are connected to both ends of a film damper 29 for switching a blowing mode as a film-like member.
Is provided at a position facing the lower end of the face blower port 18, and the other winding shaft 25 is provided at a position facing the lower end of the foot differential blower port 19. The guide roller shaft 28 is for guiding the film damper 29 in a state of being bent in a V-shape, and is provided at an intermediate position between the upper ends of the face air outlet 18 and the foot differential air outlet 19. Thereby, the film damper 29
Is bridged in a state of facing the air outlets 18 and 19.

The pair of winding shafts 26 and 27 are connected to both ends of an air mix film damper 30 as a film-like member. Each of the winding shafts 26 and 27 is connected to the two systems of bypass ventilation. It is provided at a position facing each upper end of the road 23. At this time, the film damper 30 is guided in a state of being bent in a U-shape by a guide member (not shown) arranged on the upstream side of the heater core 21, whereby the air mix ventilation passage 22 and the bypass ventilation are provided. It is bridged in a state facing the road 23.

The winding shafts 24 to 27 are rotated in synchronism by a pair of motors and a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and the film dampers 29 and 30 are accordingly driven. Can be moved to an arbitrary position.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the structure of the film damper 29 for switching the air blowing mode and the structure of the vicinity thereof in a sectional state and a disassembled state in order to explain the structure of the part related to the gist of the present invention. It is shown.

That is, in FIG.
Are the face outlet 18 and foot differential outlet 19
And a plurality of openings 29a selectively opposing the face air outlet 18a.
The opening degree of the foot differential outlet 19 (see FIG. 3) can be adjusted.

At a position adjacent to the face air vent 18 and the foot differential air vent 19 in the duct case 11, that is, at a connecting portion of the auxiliary duct case 17, a flange 31 having a shape along the edge 29 b of the film damper 29 is provided. It is formed so as to protrude in the direction. On the upper surface of the flange portion 31, a ridge portion 31a having a shape parallel to the edge portion 29b of the film damper 29 is formed at a position near the front end.

On the other hand, the auxiliary duct case 17 is formed with a flange 32 which is parallel to the flange 31 and has a predetermined gap so as to protrude outward. On the lower surface, a ridge 31b having a groove 32a into which the ridge 31a is fitted is formed at a position near the tip.

As a result of the provision of the flange portions 31 and 32, as shown in FIG. 1, when the auxiliary duct case 17 forming a part of the duct case 11 is connected to the duct case 11, At a position adjacent to the face air vent 18 and the foot differential air vent 19 (see FIG. 3), a part of the side wall of the duct case 11 is
Swell outward from the inner wall surfaces on the upstream and downstream sides of the damper 29
By doing so, while making a substantially U-shaped cross section, each of the above
Facing the air outlets 18 and 19 and at the air outlets 18 and 19
In the direction of movement in a state that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of air flow
Is formed in a narrow space portion 33 for air seal provided in the narrow space. In the film damper 29, the edge 29 b is positioned in the air seal space 33 while being stretched between the winding shafts 24 and 25. In this case, the edge A of the opening 29a of the film damper 29, the inner wall B of the duct case 11, and the inner wall C of the auxiliary duct case 17 are substantially coplanar. . In FIG. 1, the flow direction of the blown air by the blower 14 is indicated by an arrow W.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment constructed as described above, when the face air outlet 18 or the foot differential air outlet 19 is closed by the film damper 29, the edge portion 29b of the film damper 29 becomes an air sealing space. Part 3
By contacting the leeward flange portion 32 in the inside 3, the above-mentioned closed state (that is, the air sealing property by the film damper 29) is reliably maintained.

When the face outlet 18 or the foot differential outlet 19 is opened by the film damper 29, the edge A of the opening 29a of the film damper 29, the inner wall B of the duct case 11, and the auxiliary duct case 17
And the inner wall C is located on substantially the same plane, so that the ventilation path through the outlets 18 and 19 is not narrowed by the film damper 29. As a result, the generation of noise due to the turbulence of the air flow in the duct case 11 and the auxiliary duct case 17 can be suppressed, and the pressure loss can be reduced to improve the blowing performance. Become.

On the other hand, although not shown, the film damper 30 for the air mix also has basically the same shape as the film damper 29 (however, the opening is formed in the air mix ventilation passage 22).
And the number by which the two bypass ventilation passages 23 can be selectively opened. Further, the duct case 11 is formed at a position adjacent to the air mix ventilation passage 22 and the bypass ventilation passage 23 so that the duct case 11 projects outward to form a narrow shape along each of the ventilation passages 22 and 23. An air seal space is formed, and the edge of the film damper 30 is located in the space.

Therefore, even in the portion corresponding to the film damper 30, it is possible to ensure the air sealing property, suppress the generation of noise, and improve the air blowing performance as described above. The air mix control between the cool air and the warm air can be accurately performed according to the temperature, so that the temperature variation of the air mix air can be suppressed, and the temperature control of the air mix air can be precisely controlled.

In the above embodiment, the duct case 1
If the dimension between the flange portion 31 on the first side and the flange portion 32 on the auxiliary duct case 17 side is set as small as possible so that the thickness of the air seal space 33 is reduced,
Since the function of holding the edge 29b of the film damper 29 in the air seal space 33 is enhanced, there is no problem even when the edge A of the opening 29a of the film damper 29 enters the air seal space 33. If this configuration is adopted, the turbulence of the air flow due to the presence of the air seal space 33 can be effectively suppressed, and the effect of preventing the film damper 29 from fluttering can be enhanced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4 showing a second embodiment of the present invention, a lubricating film 34 made of a material having a small coefficient of friction is coated on a surface of the auxiliary duct case 17 which is in sliding contact with the film damper 29, by adhesion or the like. When such a configuration is adopted, the sliding noise (rubbing noise) caused by the movement of the film damper 29 can be reduced, and the noise generation suppressing effect can be obtained. Can be further increased. Of course, if there is a possibility that the edge portion 29b of the film damper 29 may be in sliding contact with the flange portion 31 on the duct case 11 side in the air seal space 33, a lubricating film is applied to the entire air seal space 33. It is good also as a structure provided.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention is not limited to an air conditioner for an automobile, but can be widely applied to general equipment having a function of adjusting an opening degree of an air passage. However, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0031]

As is clear from the above description, the contract
According to the air passage switching device Motomeko 1, duct case
Formed by making a part of the side wall of
Air passage portion of the duct case
Of the film-like member in a state substantially perpendicular to the air flow direction in the section.
Improving air blowing performance with a simple configuration that has a narrow air seal space provided along the direction of movement and then positions the edge of the membrane member in the air seal space. In addition, an excellent effect that noise and noise can be reduced can be obtained. Claim 2
According to the invention, a part of the side wall of the duct case is formed into a film-like member.
Bulge outward from the inner wall surface on the upstream and downstream sides of the
And facing the air passage of the duct case and
In a state substantially perpendicular to the air flow direction in the air passage,
A narrow edge provided along the direction of movement of the film-like member
After providing a space for the air seal, the space for the air seal
Simple configuration that only positions the edge of the membrane member inside
Therefore, the same excellent effects as above can be obtained.
You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part in an exploded state.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an automotive air conditioner.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part for explaining a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a film damper for explaining the conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawing, 11 is a duct case, 17 is an auxiliary duct case, 18 is a face air vent (air passage), 19 is a foot differential air vent (air passage), 22 is an air mix air passage (air passage), 23 is Bypass ventilation passages (air passages), 24 to 27 are winding shafts, 29 and 30 are film dampers (membrane members), 29a is an opening, 29b is an edge, 3
Reference numerals 1 and 32 denote a flange portion, and 33 denotes an air seal space.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A film member having an opening is movably arranged in a duct case having an air passage, and a relative position between the air passage and the opening in accordance with the movement of the film member. In the air passage switching device for adjusting the opening degree of the air passage portion by changing the diameter, a part of the side wall of the duct case is formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section.
And the air facing the air passage portion and the air
The film-like portion is disposed substantially orthogonal to the air flow direction in the passage portion.
Includes a narrow air sealing space section provided along the moving direction of the timber, the air passage switching device according to claim edges of the film-like member that is positioned in the air sealing space section. 2. Opening in a duct case having an air passage.
A film-like member having an opening is movably arranged, and the film-like portion is
Relative position between the air passage and the opening according to the movement of the material
Adjust the opening of the air passage by changing the position
In the air passage switching device, a part of the side wall of the duct case is located on the upstream side of the membrane member.
And bulge outward from the downstream inner wall.
Is formed, facing the air passage section and in the air passage section.
How to move the membrane member in a state substantially perpendicular to the air flow direction
The narrow air seal space provided along the direction
And the edge of the film-shaped member is located in the air seal space.
An air passage switching device, characterized in that: