Vehicle air conditioning apparatus

• US 6,012,297 A
• Filed: 08/06/1998
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ichishi, Yoshinori, Ito, Yuji, Kawai, Takayoshi, Samukawa, Katsuhiko, Kajino, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/130,049
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 62/186, 62/408, 62/178, 62/179, 62/244, 236/49.3, 236/51, 236/91 C, 165/202, 165/203, 165/204
• US Class Current: 62/179
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00871 Air directing means, e.g. blades in an air outlet construction of nozzles or air diffusers B60H1/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/34 Nozzles; Air-diffusersdispositions of air diffusers in a vehicle B60H1/247
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/345 with means for adjusting divergence, convergence or oscillation of air stream
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3471 Details of actuators

Abstract

A vehicle air conditioning apparatus in which the larger the air conditioning cooling load in a vehicle compartment, for example, the larger the solar radiation amount, the lower the set temperature or the larger the temperature deviation between set temperature and inner air temperature, the narrower the swing ranges of swing louvers of respective center and side FACE blow outlets are set. Regardless of the swing range of the swing louvers, swing cycles of the swing louvers are set constant, and the narrower the swing ranges of the swing louvers, the slower the swing speeds of the swing louvers are set. Therefore, annoying feeling is reduced, and comfortable feeling for passengers is significantly improved.

Claims

1. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having an air conditioning zone in the vehicle, comprising:

an air conditioning unit having an air outlet for controlling an air-conditioned air to blow toward the air conditioning zone;

blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow angle, blow zone and blown air amount of said air-conditioned air, said blow condition changing means being mounted between said air outlet and the air conditioning zone;

an actuator for swinging said blow condition changing means;

cooling load detecting means for detecting a cooling load in the vehicle;

swing range setting means for setting a swing range of said blow condition changing means according to said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means; and

blow condition control means for controlling said actuator to reduce a swing speed of said blow condition changing means in proportion to a reduction of said swing range set by said swing range setting means.

2. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said swing speed of said blow condition control means is reduced by prolonging a stopping period or a slowed swing period of said blow condition changing means.

3. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said swing range setting means reduces said swing range in proportion to an increase of said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means; and

said swing range setting means increases said swing range in proportion to a decrease of said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means.

4. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said cooling load to be detected by said cooling load detecting means includes at least one of a blown air amount at an upper portion of said air outlet, a blower capacity, an applied voltage to a blower motor, an internal temperature of the vehicle, a temperature difference between a predetermined temperature and said internal temperature of the vehicle, a solar radiation amount, a solar radiation direction, vehicle speed, an internal humidity of the vehicle, an external temperature, a temperature of an air after passing through an evaporator, a blown air temperature, a seat temperature, a steering wheel temperature, and a skin temperature.

5. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the air conditioning zone includes a first air conditioning zone and a second air conditioning zone;

said air conditioning unit controls a temperature of said first air conditioning zone and said second air conditioning zone individually;

said blow condition changing means includes a first blow condition changing means mounted between said air outlet and said first air conditioning zone, and includes a second blow condition changing means mounted between said outlet and said second air conditioning zone; and

said swing range setting means sets a first swing range of said first blow condition changing means according to a first cooling load of said first air conditioning zone, and sets a second swing range of said second blow condition changing means according to a second cooling load of said second air conditioning zone individually.

6. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said cooling load detecting means includes a solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting whether one of said first and second air conditioning zones is receiving a solar radiation; and

said swing range setting means reduces one of said first swing range and said second swing range corresponding to said one of said first and second air conditioning zones receiving said solar radiation.

7. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said cooling load detecting means includes solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting whether a crew is receiving a solar radiation; and

said swing range setting means reduces one of said first swing range and said second swing range corresponding to said crew receiving said solar radiation.

8. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said swing range setting means increases one of said first swing range and said second swing range corresponding to one of said first and second blow condition changing means which is closer to a steering wheel of the vehicle.

9. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said cooling load detecting means includes solar radiation direction detecting means for detecting a solar radiation direction; and

said swing range setting means reduces said swing range in proportion to an increase of an angle formed between a front direction of the vehicle and said solar radiation direction detected by said solar radiation direction detecting means.

10. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said air conditioning apparatus has at least two of said blow condition changing means; and

said swing range setting means reduces said swing range in proportion to a decrease of a number of said blow condition changing means which is in operation.

11. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having a right side air conditioning zone and a left side air conditioning zone in the vehicle, comprising:

an air conditioning unit having a right side air outlet for blowing an air-conditioned air toward the right side air conditioning zone and a left side air outlet for blowing said air-conditioned air toward the left side air conditioning zone, said air conditioning unit being for controlling a temperature of said right side air conditioning zone and said left side air conditioning zone individually;

right side blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow direction, blow angle, and blow zone of said air-conditioned air blown from said right side air outlet, at least in a horizontal direction;

left side blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow direction, blow angle, and blow zone of said air-conditioned air blown from said left side air outlet, at least in a horizontal direction;

a right side actuator for swinging said right side blow condition changing means;

a left side actuator for swinging said left side blow condition changing means;

cooling load detecting means for detecting a cooling load in the vehicle;

swing range setting means for setting a right side swing range of said right side blow condition changing means and a left side swing range of said left side blow condition changing means individually according to said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means;

swing cycle setting means for setting a right side swing cycle of said right side blow condition changing means and a left side swing cycle of said left side blow condition changing means equal to one another;

blow condition control means for controlling said right side actuator and said left side actuator according to said right and left swing ranges and said right and left side swing cycles, respectively in such a manner that swing directions of said right side blow condition changing means and said left side blow condition changing means are opposite.

12. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said blow condition control means has a synchronizing means for synchronizing a first timing when said right side blow condition changing means reaches its left swing end with a second timing when said left side blow condition changing means reaches its right swing end.

13. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said air conditioning unit further includes a center outlet mounted between said right side air outlet and said left side air outlet for blowing said air-conditioned air;

said air conditioning apparatus further includes center blow condition changing means for changing at least one of said blow condition of said air-conditioned air blown from said center outlet; and

said swing range setting means further sets a center swing range of said center blow condition changing means independently of said right and left side swing ranges when said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means at a right side of a crew is different from said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means at a left side of said crew.

14. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said swing range setting means increases one of said right side, left side and center swing ranges corresponding to one of said right side, left side and center blow condition changing means which is closest to a steering wheel of the vehicle.

15. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said cooling load to be detected by said cooling load detecting means includes at least one of a blown air amount at an upper portion of said air outlet, a blower capacity, an applied voltage to a blower motor, an internal temperature of the vehicle, a temperature difference between a predetermined temperature and said internal temperature of the vehicle, a solar radiation amount, a solar radiation direction, vehicle speed, an internal humidity of the vehicle, an external temperature, a temperature of an air after passing through an evaporator, a blown air temperature, a seat temperature, a steering wheel temperature, and a skin temperature.

16. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said cooling load detecting means includes solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting whether one of said right side and left side air conditioning zones is receiving a solar radiation; and

said swing range setting means reduces one of said right side and left side swing ranges corresponding to said one of said right side and left side air conditioning zones receiving said solar radiation.

17. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said cooling load detecting means includes a solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting whether a crew is receiving a solar radiation; and

said swing range setting means reduces one of said right side swing range and said left side swing range corresponding to said crew receiving said solar radiation.

18. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

said air conditioning apparatus has at least two of said blow condition changing means; and

said swing range setting means reduces said swing range in proportion to a decrease of a number of said blow condition changing means which is in operation.

19. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having an air conditioning zone in the vehicle, comprising:

an air conditioning unit having an air outlet for controlling an air-conditioned air to blow toward the air conditioning zone;

blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow angle, blow zone and blown air amount of said air-conditioned air, said blow condition changing means being mounted between said air outlet and the air conditioning zone;

an actuator for swinging said blow condition changing means;

cooling load detecting means for detecting a cooling load in the vehicle;

swing range setting means for setting a swing range of said blow condition changing means according to said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means;

swing range limiting means for limiting said swing range; and

blow condition control means for controlling said actuator in such a manner that a swing cycle of said blow condition changing means is kept constant when said swing range is limited by said swing range limiting means.

20. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said blow condition control means adjusts a swing speed of said blow condition changing means at a point adjacent to said limited swing range.

21. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said blow condition control means controls said actuator to expand said swing range to an opposite side to said limited swing range.

22. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein:

said swing range setting means reduces said swing range in proportion to an increase of said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means; and

said swing range setting means increases said swing range in proportion to a decrease of said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means.

23. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having a front side air conditioning zone and a rear side air conditioning zone in the vehicle, comprising:

an air conditioning unit having an air outlet installed in the front side air conditioning zone for controlling an air-conditioned air to blow toward the front side and rear side air conditioning zones;

blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow angle, blow zone and blown air amount of said air-conditioned air, said blow condition changing means being mounted between said air outlet and the front side air conditioning zone;

an actuator for swinging said blow condition changing means;

cooling load detecting means for detecting a cooling load in the vehicle;

swing range setting means for setting a swing range of said blow condition changing means according to said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means such that said swing range of said blow condition changing means is increased in proportion to a decrease of said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means; and

blow condition control means for controlling said actuator to expand said swing range such that a blown air amount to said rear side air conditioning zone is increased.

24. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

said cooling load detecting means includes solar radiation direction detecting means for detecting a solar radiation direction; and

said swing range setting means reduces said swing range in proportion to an increase of an angle formed between a front direction of the vehicle and said solar radiation direction detected by said solar radiation direction detecting means.

25. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having a right side air conditioning zone and a left side air conditioning zone in the vehicle, comprising:

an air conditioning unit having a right side air outlet for blowing an air-conditioned air toward the right side air conditioning zone and a left side air outlet for blowing said air-conditioned air toward the left side air conditioning zone, said air conditioning unit being for controlling a temperature of said right side air conditioning zone and said left side air conditioning zone individually;

right side blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow direction, blow angle, and blow zone of said air-conditioned air blown from said right side air outlet, at least in a horizontal direction;

left side blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow direction, blow angle, and blow zone of said air-conditioned air blown from said left side air outlet, at least in a horizontal direction;

a right side actuator for swinging said right side blow condition changing means;

a left side actuator for swinging said left side blow condition changing means;

a solar radiation amount detecting means for detecting a solar radiation amount and a solar radiation direction of the vehicle;

swing range setting means for setting a right side swing range of said right side blow condition changing means and a left side swing range of said left side blow condition changing means individually according to said solar radiation amount detected by said solar radiation amount detecting means, and for adjusting said right side swing range and said left side swing range individually according to said solar radiation direction detected by said solar radiation amount detecting means; and

blow condition control means for controlling said right side actuator and said left side actuator according to said right side and left side swing ranges adjusted by said swing range setting means.

26. An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having an air conditioning zone in the vehicle, comprising:

an air conditioning unit having an air outlet for controlling an air-conditioned air to blow toward the air conditioning zone;

blow condition changing means for changing at least one of blow condition including a blow range, blow position, blow angle, blow zone and blown air amount of said air-conditioned air, said blow condition changing means being mounted between said air outlet and the air conditioning zone;

an actuator for swinging said blow condition changing means;

cooling load detecting means for detecting a cooling load in the vehicle;

swing range setting means for setting a swing range of said blow condition changing means according to said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means; and

blow condition control means for controlling said actuator to maintain a swing cycle of said blow condition changing means constant.

27. An air conditioning apparatus according to claim 26, wherein:

said swing range setting means reduces said swing range in proportion to an increase of said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means; and

said swing range setting means increases said swing range in proportion to a decrease of said cooling load detected by said cooling load detecting means.