Heating or air conditioning installation for motor vehicles.

p0001The invention relates to a heating or air conditioning system for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002From the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US4482009A"><text>US 4,482,009</text></patcit> is a heating or air conditioning is known with a fan and a heater unit, downstream of the heating unit of the air distribution space divided is formed. From the first air distribution chamber two air ducts leading to air conditioning zones of the front compartment, namely the driver and passenger seats. From a second air distribution space two channels lead to climate zones of the rear area, namely a rear seat behind the driver and a rear seat behind the passenger. At the branch points of the air ducts each air control elements are arranged for controlling the air conditioning zones to be supplied to the respective air volume. A disadvantage of the known apparatus that only the temperatures of two air conditioning zones, namely on the one hand the temperature of the air conditioning zones in the front compartment and on the other hand, the temperature for the air conditioning zones of the rear space, are independently adjustable. Although air control elements are provided in the further course of the air duct, which allows the mixture of a leading to a front air conditioning zone air stream with a leading to a rear air conditioning air stream zone. However, the thus caused temperature setting is also dependent on the position of Luftsteuerlemente that control the amount of air to other climate zones.

p0003Furthermore, from <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE3940361A1"><text>DE 39 40 361 A1</text></patcit> a heating or air conditioning system for motor vehicles to the air conditioning zones of the rear compartment is known wherein a first air passage for guiding cold air and a second air duct for guiding hot air is used. The two air channels open into a mixing chamber, in which a desired temperature of the serving for the ventilation of the back space the air stream is adjustable. The air duct for guiding the air stream into the foot area of ​​the back space branches off upstream of the Mündungsbreichs of the warm air duct, so that its temperature is dependent on the temperature conditions in the front room. A disadvantage of this known plant that responsible for controlling the amount of air for the rear space in a back room near area involves an enormous amount of space.

p0004The <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5267896A"><text>US-A-5,267,896</text></patcit> describes a heating or air conditioning, which provides a left-right control in which the temperature for Vorderraum- and backlash zone is both right and left uniformly regulated. The temperature control is the right and left performed by a single control, from which lead away the air ducts.

p0005The object of the invention is therefore to provide a heating or air conditioning to control the temperature of the front and rear of a vehicle, which enhances the user comfort when the temperature setting and the constructed space.

p0006To achieve the object, the invention comprises the features of claim 1.

p0007A particular advantage of the invention is that in a simple manner, the temperature for at least four air-conditioning zones of the motor vehicle can be adjusted independently. Directly in the area of ​​the heater, the temperature of each leading to a climate zone airflow is adjusted, whereby an interaction and an exchange of air currents of different climate zones is avoided. Can thus take place separate and intractable temperature setting between the front and rear chamber. Another advantage results from the fact that the temperature setting of the air streams is performed directly in the area of ​​the heater unit. The means for adjusting the temperature do not require a higher footprint than a conventional air conditioner for only two climate zones.

p0008According to one embodiment of the invention, the radiator unit is divided into four heating zones, so that four part streams are passed through the air heater unit therethrough. This partial air streams are supplied, after leaving the heater unit respectively air channels without any mixing can be effected with other partial air streams.

p0009According to a development of the invention, the heating unit from a single radiator, having a vertical and a horizontal separation to form the four heating zones. The vertical separation is effected in that the connection for the forward flow is disposed centrally of the radiator, so that the refrigerant flows in each case towards the outer and parallel opposed water containers in about the same plane. The heater is constructed substantially symmetrically, whereby it has a similar left and right part. The left and right part of the radiator each have a horizontal partition wall, which divides this upper in a segment and a lower segment.

p0010According to a development of the invention, the lower segment associated pipes of the radiator are provided with turbulence inserts. This provides a better heat transfer in the lower segments is generated, so that a comparatively higher temperature is achieved for the air flow of the lower and thus the rear space associated part of the radiator.

p0011Further advantages of the invention result from the further dependent claims.

p0012Two embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings.

p0013Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt><b>Fig. 1</b></dt><dd>A schematic representation of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment,</dd><dt><b>FIG. 2</b></dt><dd>a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment which does not fall under the subject matter of claim 1.</dd><dt><b>Fig. 3</b></dt><dd>a front view of a heater unit.</dd></dl>

p0014In <figref idrefs="f0001"><b>Fig. 1</b></figref> is shown schematically an air conditioner for the installation in motor vehicles. The air conditioner is designed with respect to a vertical longitudinal center plane symmetry, so that the temperature on the passenger side separated from the driver side can be adjusted. In the<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> Air distribution shown can therefore apply to both the driver and passenger side.

p0015In the <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> Air Conditioning shown has on the input side to a fan 1, which pulls in an air flow. 2 The air stream 2 may be a function of a circulating air / fresh air flap either a fresh air flow or a circulating air flow, not shown. The supplied air flow 2 applied to an evaporator 3, which is flowed through by a refrigerant, and cools the air stream to a predetermined temperature. Downstream of the evaporator 3, a heater unit is arranged, which consists of an integral radiator 4th Alternatively, there may be a heater unit of several radiator segments modularly assembled. Downstream of the radiator 4, a plurality of air passages lead to the corresponding outlet nozzles in the motor vehicle. To guide the air stream to a front space side a ventilation duct 5, a defrost duct 6 and a footwell channel 7 are provided. The ventilation duct 5 is arranged housing-wall side. Channels 5, 6 and 7 are associated with an upper segment 8 of the heater and lead the flow of air to air-conditioning zones of the front space. A lower segment 9 of the radiator 4 are associated air ducts, perform the temperature-controlled air to the air conditioning zones of the back space. To guide the air flow to a foot portion of the rear space a footwell channel 10 is provided which is adjacent to the footwell channel 7 for the front room. Housing wall side, then a venting channel 11 is formed that leads a flow of air in a higher range of the rear space. The aforementioned air ducts are arranged so that a temperature stratification can be accomplished in a simple manner. The ventilation channels 5 and 11 are the housing wall side 12 or 13 arranged in prolongation of a bypass, in each case a mixing flap 14 for the upper section and a mixing flap 15 are provided for the lower range to adjust the air quantity or the air temperature. The mixing flaps 14 and 15 are disposed immediately after the radiator 4 and form an air distribution chamber, wherein by means of the mixing flap 14, the temperature in the ventilation duct 5 and the defrost duct 6 can be influenced as well by means of the mixing flap 15, the temperature in the footwell duct 10 and the aeration channel 11 is set for the backcourt. The footwell channel 7 is arranged centrally and is replaced by a directly tempered in the radiator 4 airflow. To adjust the temperature of the heater 4 is regulated on the water side, ie the radiator 4 is connected via connecting pieces with valves, not shown, whose opening position is dependent on the temperature to be set. As from<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> It can be seen, by operating the mixing valve 15, the temperature in the footwell duct 10 and in the aeration channel 11 regardless of the temperature in the leading to the front air conditioning zones channels 5, 6 and 7 can be adjusted.

p0016According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radiator 4 is formed segment-like. As from<figref idrefs="f0002"><b>Fig. 3</b></figref> As can be seen, consists of the radiator 4 made ​​of a left and right portion 16, or 17. The supply of coolant is done via a between these two parts 16 and 17 arranged central inlet opening 18 leading the coolant into a central plenum chamber 19, from the from it by horizontal tubes 20 to the laterally displaced left water box 21 and right channel box is 22 passed. Both the left portion 16 and the right-hand part 17 of the radiator 4 is divided into an upper segment 23 or 24 and into a lower segment 25 and 26 respectively. One from the central plenum chamber 19 extending to a side wall 27 partition 28 separates the upper segment 23 of the lower segment 25. Correspondingly, at right part 17 of the radiator 4 a dividing wall 29 to directly to an opposite side wall 30 of the radiator 4. The segments 23, 24, 25, 26 are each outlet openings 31, 32, associated with 33 and 34 through which the coolant can flow from the radiator 4 again. According to a particular embodiment of the invention the upper segments 23 and 24 Water-side control, while the lower segments 25 and 26 are controlled on the air side. This can allow the other hand, a largely independent temperature settings between Voderraum one hand and backcourt.

p0017the tubes of the lower segments 25, 26 can advantageously be configured such that the heater 4 has a higher temperature makes available for the foot space than to the front space. For this purpose, for example, could turbulence inserts in the heat-carrying pipes of the lower segments 25, 26 may be inserted, which cause swirling of the coolant and thus provide a better heat transfer.

p0018According to a further embodiment of the invention according to <figref idrefs="f0001"><b>FIG. 2</b></figref> the radiator 35 is governed solely airside. To this end, an upper-air valve 36 and a downstream second mixed air damper 37 are provided for air volume adjustment of the front compartment upstream of the radiator 35th In the area of ​​the radiator 35 unterern a lower mixed air damper 38 upstream and a second mixed air flap 39 downstream of the radiator 35 are arranged to adjust the amount of air for the backcourt. By the position of mixing dampers 36, 37, 38, 39 the temperature of the evaporator 40 by a impinged airflow 41 can be separated between the front and rear space are set. Above a partition wall 42, an upper air distribution 43 is formed, headed by the temperature-controlled from the air through a ventilation duct 43, a defrost duct 44 and a footwell channel 45 in the front room. The ventilation channel 43 extends substantially immediately downstream of the evaporator 40 while bypassing the radiator 35, and a pivoting flap 37 is provided in the area of ​​Luftverteilraums 43, by means of which heated air can be mixed. Below the partition wall 42, a lower air distribution chamber 48 is formed, in which the temperature of intended for the return air stream is adjusted. In addition, a pivoting flap 49 is in a range between a starting footwell channel 50 and a ventilation duct 51 so that the two channels 50, 51, a different portion of cooled air through the evaporator 40 can be added. Also, this embodiment of the invention allows independent temperature control of the leading to the different air conditioning zones air streams. In particular, by segmenting the radiator according to the embodiment according to<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> can realize a space-saving air-conditioning, which is the increasing comfort needs. Alternatively, however, can also be the same comfort are guaranteed when in embodiment according<figref idrefs="f0001">FIG. 2</figref> A conventional heater is used. By arrangement of the air ducts and the mixing flap in the area of ​​the radiator, the same effects can be achieved.

p0019Alternatively it can be 4 formed with upright, vertical tubes of the radiator. In this way, an automatic temperature stratification is achieved, wherein the temperature of the coolant from a range in height of the inlet opening 18 decreases uniformly in the direction of which is arranged in the height of the end tubes at the upper and lower end of the radiator outlet openings 4. This measure in particular the footwell duct 7 of the front space is a higher temperature than the ventilation duct 5 associated with the same. Similarly, the adjacent inlet opening and near the footwell duct 10 of the back space is acted upon with an air flow higher temperature than the ventilation channel 11 of the rear space.