JP5047682B2 - Air conditioner for automobile - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automotive air conditioner that achieves both the operability of a plate-like damper member that opens and closes an opening portion opened in an air conditioning case that forms an air flow path into a vehicle compartment, and the sealing performance of the opening portion. .

  In particular, the present invention relates to a structure that achieves compatibility between the operability of a damper member provided on the end face of a blowout mode damper, an air mix damper, an inside / outside air switching damper, etc., sealing performance with an opening, and reduction in operating force.

  In an automobile air conditioner, generally, a mix chamber is provided downstream of an evaporator or a heater, and temperature-controlled air flows from the mix chamber to each outlet (or a passage leading to the outlet). In addition, a damper member that adjusts the temperature-controlled air of the mix chamber and a damper member that opens and closes the air outlet (or a passage leading to the air outlet) are provided. A cushioning material such as polyurethane resin is usually attached to these damper members so as to ensure the sealing performance between the opening and the damper member (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In addition, there is also known a method in which a protrusion is formed on the peripheral edge of the opening so as to improve the sealing performance with the polyurethane resin attached to the damper member (for example, see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-271772 JP 2007-055370 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-282243

  In the ones shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the operation force when operating the damper member is set strongly in order to ensure the sealing performance. In particular, Patent Document 2 has a configuration in which various damper members are operated by using a complicated link mechanism, and therefore, a considerably strong operation force is required for the reliable operation. Therefore, when operating manually, an operator's burden is large. In addition, whether it is manual or automatic, high-precision moldability and high-level assembly are required for an air conditioning case including an opening, a damper member, and various link mechanisms. In addition, when wear of each part occurs due to secular change, there is a possibility that smooth transmission of the operating force cannot be performed.

  Moreover, in what is shown to patent document 3, although the projection part provided in the opening part bites into sealing members, such as a polyurethane resin, a sealing performance is maintained high, but the operation force is still stronger. Things are needed. Therefore, it has the same problem as Patent Documents 1 and 2.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and aims to reduce the operating force while ensuring the sealing performance as in the prior art. In particular, the object of the present invention is to achieve both the sealing of the opening and the reduction of the operation force of the damper member with a simple device of the seal member.

Specifically, the first invention is provided with an air conditioning case that forms an air flow path into the passenger compartment, a rotatable damper shaft to which driving force is transmitted, and the damper shaft. A plate-like damper member that opens and closes an opening portion that is opened in the vehicle, and an end member of the plate surface of the damper member that has an elastically deformable seal member that abuts against the seal surface of the peripheral portion of the opening portion In the air conditioning apparatus for use, when the damper member is in a position to close the opening, the outer peripheral side of the plate surface of the seal member comes into contact with the seal surface from the rotational direction of the damper shaft. The inner peripheral side of the plate surface of the seal member is positioned inward of the opening portion relative to the seal surface so as not to contact the seal surface while being sandwiched between the surface and the seal surface. Is characterized by the contact portion to the sealing member to the definitive the sealing surface, the slit at the boundary portion between the portion not in contact with the sealing surface is provided.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the opening is formed in a rectangular shape, the damper member is formed in a rectangular shape, and a slit is provided in a seal member positioned at least at an end facing the damper shaft among the seal members. It is characterized by being.

  In the third invention, in the second invention, the slit is formed in the intermediate portion in the width direction of the seal member, in the longitudinal direction of the seal member, and at a predetermined depth in the depth direction of the seal member. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fourth invention, in the second or third invention, the slit is provided intermittently in the longitudinal direction of the seal member.

  According to a fifth invention, in the second or third invention, the slit is provided continuously in the longitudinal direction of the seal member.

  According to a sixth invention, in any one of the second to fifth inventions, the slit is formed with a depth reaching the plate surface of the damper member.

  According to a seventh invention, in any one of the second to fifth inventions, the slit is formed with a depth that does not reach the plate surface of the damper member.

  The eighth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to seventh inventions, a protrusion that enters the slit is formed on at least a part of the peripheral edge of the opening.

  A ninth invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to eighth inventions, the damper shaft is connected to the driving means via a link mechanism.

  According to the first invention, it is possible to effectively obtain both the operability for the opening / closing operation of the damper member and the sealing performance for sealing the opening with a simple configuration in which the slit is provided.

  According to the second invention, the operability of the damper member is further improved.

  According to the third and fourth inventions, the operability and sealing performance of the damper member are extremely excellent.

  According to the fifth aspect, the operability of the damper member is extremely excellent and the slit moldability is excellent.

  According to the sixth invention, the operability of the damper member is extremely excellent, the slit moldability is easy, and the molding management is easy.

  According to the seventh aspect, the operability of the damper member is extremely excellent and the sealing performance is also extremely excellent.

  According to the eighth invention, it is possible to effectively achieve both the sealing performance of the opening and the operability of the damper member.

  According to the ninth invention, various link mechanisms, for example, a complicated link mechanism or a mechanism that operates a plurality of damper members with a single operation member, the damper member can be operated with a light operation force, Moreover, the sealing property of the opening is excellent.

  Further, in the present invention, the damper member opens and closes the opening. However, the damper may directly open and close the opening, or the passage leading to the opening may be closed. It is supposed to open and close the opening.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

(Embodiment 1)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of an automotive air conditioner 1 to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the automotive air conditioner 1 includes an air conditioning case 5, and a blower 2 is provided in the air conditioning case 5. The air flow from the blower 2 is cooled by the evaporator 3 disposed at the lower part thereof, and then flows to the upper mix chamber M through the opening 6 or through the heater 4 through the opening 7. It is heated and flows into the mix chamber M. In the mix chamber M, temperature-controlled air can be obtained.

  The first damper member 21 switches between the opening 6 and the opening 7 to open and close. The temperature-controlled air in the mix chamber M flows to the air flow path R1 that extends upward through the opening 8 or changes the direction downward through the opening 9 in accordance with the rotational operation of the second damper member 22. It flows to the air flow path R2.

  The second damper member 22 is formed by integrally arranging a damper portion 221 and a damper portion 222 in a substantially V shape. The temperature-controlled air in the air flow path R1 flows from the opening 10 (defroster port) and / or the opening 11 (vent port) into the vehicle compartment (not shown) according to the rotation operation of the third damper member 23. Further, the temperature-controlled air in the air flow path R2 flows into the vehicle interior (not shown) through the opening 12 (rear opening) and the opening 13 (foot opening).

  Based on FIG.2 and FIG.4, the detailed structure of a damper member and an opening part is demonstrated. The first damper member 21, the second damper member 22, and the third damper member 23 are all made of a rectangular plate material, and are attached to the air conditioning case 5 so as to be rotatable by a damper shaft 24. A seal member 25 made of polyurethane resin or the like is attached around the end portions of the plate surfaces of the damper members 21, 22 and 23 by a technique such as bonding to both surfaces. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, protrusions 14 are respectively provided on the peripheral edge, which is the sealing surface of the openings 8 and 9, so as to ensure the sealing performance. There are cases where the protrusions 14 are provided on the entire circumference and cases where the protrusions 14 are partially provided. As for the openings 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 2, protrusions 14 are provided on the peripheral edge that is the sealing surface, respectively, so as to ensure the sealing performance. As for the opening 11, instead of directly opening and closing the opening 11, the passage communicating with the opening 11 is indirectly opened and closed. However, in this case as well, the opening 11 is opened and closed. Is included.

  The structure of these air conditioners 1 for automobiles is similar in basic configuration to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-081975 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-271773, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Next, the link mechanism 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The link mechanism 30 of the present invention is a link mechanism that is generally used. The first link 31 is connected to a damper shaft 24 that rotates the damper member 23, and the second link 32 is connected to the long groove 31 a of the first link. Are connected to the long holes of the link plate 33. The damper shaft 24 of the damper member 22 is connected to the link plate 33 via the third link 34 and the fourth link 35. Further, the link plate 33 is connected to the operation member 39 via the connecting member 36 and the fifth link 37. When the operation member 39 is pulled, the fifth link 37 rotates clockwise with the support shaft 38, and the connecting member 36 moves upward. By this operation, the link plate 33 rotates clockwise, and the damper member 22 and the damper member 23 rotate at a predetermined timing. Thus, the damper member 22 and the damper member 23 are operated via the complicated link mechanism 30. Therefore, it is important to have a configuration in which the operating force of the link mechanism 30 and the damper members 22 and 23 is light and the damper portions 22 and 23 can reliably seal the opening.

  Conventionally, it has a structure in which priority is given to sealing reliably over the operability of the link mechanism 30. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the damper member 23 is rotated clockwise so as to close the opening 10, the seal member 25 ′ of the damper member 23 is provided on the peripheral portion 10 a of the opening 10. 14 is pressed. At this time, the entire seal member 25 ′ is compressed by the protrusion 14. Thereby, the opening 10 is reliably sealed, but requires a large operating force as an operating force for the operation of the damper member 23. That is, since the entire seal member 25 ′ is elastically deformed so that the protrusion 14 bites into the seal member 25 ′, resistance to elastic deformation is large and a large operating force is required.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, since the slit 26 is formed in the seal member 25, the seal member 25 may be partially elastically deformed, and the pressing force for elastic deformation is relatively high. The pressing force at the time of sealing the opening 10 can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, and the operability is improved. In addition, the sealing performance is sufficiently ensured even when the operation force is reduced by bringing the side surface of the protrusion 14 into contact with the slit 26.

  The present invention is not limited to the automotive air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment, and can be applied to any automotive air conditioner. The link mechanism 30 is not limited to the first embodiment. For example, the present invention can also be applied to an automotive air conditioner as disclosed in JP 2007-055370 A, a so-called semi-center type air conditioner, and a link mechanism.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 relates to the second embodiment of the present invention and is the same diagram as FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the peripheral edge 10a of the opening 10 of the air-conditioning case 5 has a protrusion, but in the second embodiment, a structure without the protrusion is shown.

  That is, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11, when the damper member 23 is rotated so as to close the opening 10, the seal member 25 ′ of the damper member 23 is pressed against the peripheral edge 10 a of the opening 10. At this time, the entire seal member 25 ′ is compressed by the peripheral edge portion 10 a. Therefore, a large operating force is required as an operating force for operating the damper member 23.

  In contrast, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, since the slit 26 is formed in the seal member 25, the elastic deformation force of the seal member 25 is reduced, and the pressing force when sealing the opening 10 is reduced. Can be reduced as compared with the prior art, and the operability is improved. In addition, even if the operating force is reduced, the sealing performance is sufficiently ensured by bringing the slit 26 into contact with the end face of the peripheral edge portion 10a.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 relates to the third embodiment and shows the arrangement and shape of slits formed in the seal member 25. 6 (a) is a partial perspective view of the damper member, FIG. 6 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6 (a), and FIG. 6 (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. Indicates. The arrangement and shape of slits formed in the seal member 25 are shown. In the third embodiment, slits 27 are discontinuously and intermittently formed on the end surface away from the damper shaft 24 and on both side surfaces thereof. The slit 27 is a slit 27a provided to a depth reaching the plate surface of the damper member 23 on the end surface away from the damper shaft 24, and a slit 27b provided to a depth not reaching the plate surface of the damper member 23 on both side surfaces. However, both may be the slit 27a or the slit 27b, and the slit 27a and the slit 27b may be reversed.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 relates to Embodiment 4 and shows the arrangement and shape of slits formed in the seal member 25. 7A is a partial perspective view of the damper member, FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 7A, and FIG. 7C is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. Indicates. In the fourth embodiment, two slits 27 are formed with respect to the third embodiment. Also in the fourth embodiment, the end face and both side faces away from the damper shaft 24 may be the slit 27a or the slit 27b, and the slit 27a and the slit 27b may be reversed. Two of the fourth embodiment and one of the third embodiment may be combined, and one of the end surface and both side surfaces away from the damper shaft 24 may be one and the other may be two.

  In this embodiment, even if the positions of the sealing member 25 and the peripheral portion 10a of the opening 10 are slightly shifted or deformed due to molding error or aging, there is an advantage that the sealing can be surely performed. The two slits 27 may be the same or different in length and depth.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 8 relates to Embodiment 5 and shows the arrangement and shape of slits formed in the seal member 25. Fig.8 (a) shows the fragmentary perspective view of a damper member, FIG.8 (b) shows BB sectional drawing of Fig.8 (a). In the fifth embodiment, one continuous slit 26 is formed. The slit 26 is provided to a depth that does not reach the plate surface of the damper member 23, but may be provided to a depth that reaches the plate surface of the damper member 23. However, it is preferable to have a structure in which the seal members before and after the slit 26 are partially connected so that the depth does not reach the plate surface.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 9 relates to Embodiment 6 and shows the arrangement and shape of slits formed in the seal member 25. FIG. 9A shows a partial perspective view of the damper member, and FIG. 9B shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 9A. In the sixth embodiment, two slits 26 are formed with respect to the fifth embodiment. Also in the sixth embodiment, the slit 26 may be provided to a depth reaching the plate surface of the damper member 23, or a depth not reaching the plate surface of the damper member 23 and a depth reaching the plate surface of the damper member 23. A combination may be used. In this embodiment, even if the positions of the sealing member 25 and the peripheral portion 10a of the opening 10 are slightly shifted or deformed due to molding error or aging, there is an advantage that the sealing can be surely performed. The two slits 27 may be the same or different in length and depth.

  In the third to sixth embodiments, the slits are provided on the end face far from the damper shaft 24 and on both side faces thereof, but may be provided on all end faces or only on the far end face. Moreover, it is good also as a slit of a different shape or arrangement | positioning with a distant end surface and its both sides | surfaces.

  In the above-described embodiment, the damper member 23 that opens and closes the opening 10 has been described as an example. However, the damper member 23 is not limited to the damper member 23 and can be applied to the other damper members 22 and 21 and is not illustrated. The present invention can also be applied to other damper members for an automobile air conditioner, for example, an inside / outside air switching damper member for switching air sucked into the blower 2.

  In the above embodiment, the damper member has a structure in which a plate-like damper member is provided on one side of the damper shaft. However, the structure is not limited to this structure, and any structure can be applied. . For example, the present invention can be applied to a so-called butterfly type damper member having a damper shaft in the center and plate-like damper members on both sides, and can also be applied to a rotary damper member.

  As described above, the automotive air conditioner according to the present invention can be applied to, for example, a device provided with a mix damper, a blowout port switching damper, a blower inside / outside air switching damper, and the like.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an automotive air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the automobile air conditioner of FIG. 1. The figure for demonstrating the link mechanism of the air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles of FIG. 1 is shown. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the damper member of Embodiment 1, and an opening part. The same figure as FIG. 4 is related to Embodiment 2 of this invention. The partial perspective view of a damper member concerning Embodiment 3 of the present invention is shown. FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram similar to FIG. 6 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. The same figure as FIG. 6 is related with Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is the figure which enabled it to compare with FIG. 4 of this Embodiment 1 regarding a prior art. It is the figure which enabled it to contrast with FIG. 5 of this Embodiment 2 regarding another prior art.

R Air flow path M Mix chamber 1 Automotive air conditioner 2 Blower 3 Evaporator 4 Heater 5 Air conditioning case 6-14 Opening 21 First damper member 22 Second damper member 23 Third damper member 24 Damper shaft 25 Seal member 26 Slit

Claims (9)

An air conditioning case that forms an air flow path to the passenger compartment;
A rotatable damper shaft to which the driving force is transmitted;
A plate-like damper member provided on the damper shaft and opening and closing an opening opened in the air conditioning case;
In an automotive air conditioner having an elastically deformable seal member in contact with the seal surface of the peripheral edge of the opening at the end of the plate surface of the damper member,
When the damper member is in a position to close the opening, the outer peripheral side of the plate surface of the seal member comes into contact with the seal surface from the rotational direction of the damper shaft, and the plate surface and the seal surface The inner peripheral side of the plate surface of the seal member is positioned inward of the opening portion than the seal surface and is not in contact with the seal surface
Wherein the contact sites to the definitive to seal the sealing surface, air-conditioner for vehicle, wherein a slit at the boundary portion between the portion not in contact with the sealing surface is provided.   The opening is formed in a rectangular shape, the damper member is formed in a rectangular shape, and at least a seal member located at an end portion facing the damper shaft is provided with a slit in the seal member. The air conditioning apparatus for motor vehicles described.   3. The automobile according to claim 2, wherein the slit is formed at an intermediate portion in the width direction of the seal member, and is long in the longitudinal direction of the seal member and has a predetermined depth in the depth direction of the seal member. Air conditioning equipment.   The automotive air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the slit is provided intermittently in the longitudinal direction of the seal member.   The automobile air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the slit is provided continuously in the longitudinal direction of the seal member.   The air conditioner for an automobile according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the slit is formed with a depth reaching the plate surface of the damper member.   The air conditioner for an automobile according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the slit is formed to a depth that does not reach the plate surface of the damper member.   The automotive air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a protrusion that enters the slit is formed on at least a part of the peripheral edge of the opening.   The automotive air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the damper shaft is connected to the drive means via a link mechanism.

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