Air-conditioning system for vehicle

• US 7,028,496 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sanden Corporation (Hisense Home Appliances Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Komatsu, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M.
• Application Number:
  US10/851,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20040237558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 621/26, 621/29, 621/33, 621/74, 622/39, 622/44, 621/32, 623/231, 169/62
• US Class Current: 62/239
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3217 for high pressure, inflamable or poisonous refrigerants causing danger in case of accidents
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3225 characterised by safety arrangements, e.g. compressor anti-seizure means or by signalling devices

Abstract

An air-conditioning system for a vehicle includes an electronic control unit which detects a collision of the vehicle and activates an air bag of the vehicle, and a circulation passage for a refrigerant or R152a. The system further includes a discharge device which discharges the refrigerant from the circulation passage in the engine room when the control unit outputs an air-bag activation signal. The discharge device includes an electromagnetic valve adapted to opened to discharge a refrigerant from the circulation passage in the engine room when the control unit outputs the signal.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a safety device, the system comprising:

an electronic control unit for detecting a collision of the vehicle and activating the safety device;

a circulation passage extended from an engine room of the vehicle by way of an instrument space between the engine room and a vehicle compartment, for circulating a refrigerant; and

a discharge device for discharging the refrigerant from said circulation passage in the engine room when said electronic control unit outputs an activation signal to the safety device,

wherein said discharge device includes an electromagnetic valve connected to said circulation passage in the engine room and adapted to be opened to discharge the refrigerant from said circulation passage therethrough when said electronic control unit outputs the activation signal to said safety device,

wherein said discharge device includes a relay adapted to be closed based on the activation signal supplied from said electronic control unit to said safety devices said relay producing a drive signal to said electromagnetic valve to open said electromagnetic valve, and

wherein said discharge device includes a hose extending between the outside of the vehicle and said electromagnetic valve.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the safety device is an air bag system.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve are inserted in a portion of said circulation passage in said engine room in order with respect to a flow direction of the refrigerant, and an evaporator is disposed in the instrument space.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said electromagnetic valve is located in a portion of said circulation passage between the compressor and the expansion valve, downstream from the compressor and upstream from the expansion valve.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said electromagnetic valve is located in a portion of said circulation passage between the condenser and the expansion valve, downstream from the condenser and upstream from the expansion valve.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said discharge device includes a hose extending between the outside of the vehicle and said electromagnetic valve.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant is one of a CO₂ gas, a flammable refrigerant, and a mixture thereof.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant is R152a.

9. An air-conditioning system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a safety device, the system comprising:

an electronic control unit for detecting a collision of the vehicle and activating the safety device;

a circulation passage extended from an engine room of the vehicle by way of an instrument space between the engine room and a vehicle compartment, for circulating a refrigerant; and

a discharge device for discharging the refrigerant from said circulation passage in the engine room when said electronic control unit outputs an activation signal to the safety device,

wherein said discharge device includes an electromagnetic valve connected to said circulation passage in the engine room and adapted to be opened to discharge the refrigerant from said circulation passage therethrough when said electronic control unit outputs the activation signal to said safety device, and

wherein said discharge device includes a hose extending between the outside of the vehicle and said electromagnetic valve.