JP2018184075A - Automotive air conditioning piping unit and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a piping unit for automobile air conditioning in which a refrigerant control member is unitized in order to reduce the size, weight and thickness and improve the assembly workability. SOLUTION: In a refrigerant circuit of an automobile air conditioner, a switching valve (100) for freely switching the connection of a refrigerant path at least according to the function switching between cooling and heating / dehumidifying is arranged on a base portion (90). The base plate (90) of the automobile air-conditioning piping unit (150) is composed of a laminated structure (90) in which flat plates having a predetermined thickness are laminated so as to maintain airtight contact with each other, and the bottom plate thereof. A punch hole for forming a pipeline space is formed in a flat plate arranged in any of the intermediate layers interposed between the upper lids, and the flat plate is sealed by another flat plate laminated above and below the flat plate to form a refrigerant circuit. , The switching valve (100) is a four-way valve (100) arranged on the base portion (90), and can be selected as two types of connection forms in which four refrigerant paths are connected to two sets of paths in pairs. It can be switched to one. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an automobile air conditioning piping unit and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to an automotive air conditioning piping unit in which refrigerant control members are integrally piped in advance to form a unit and a method for manufacturing the same.

  In the conventional cooling for an internal combustion engine automobile, there are many systems in which the rotational force of the automobile engine is belted as the driving force of the compressor (compressor). Further, in the case of an internal combustion engine, since it can depend on exhaust heat, defroster (hereinafter referred to as “dehumidification heating”) that secures visibility by removing not only indoor heating but also condensation that accompanies heating, that is, fogging of the inner surface of the windshield. (Also referred to as) could be constructed relatively easily. This is because it was easy to secure warm air by using exhaust heat during operation.

  Conventional vehicle air conditioners (hereinafter also referred to as “internal combustion engine driven vehicles”) that use only an internal combustion engine as the driving force are covered by a compressor that is driven by belting only the cooling from the engine, and heating uses exhaust heat. It was enough. Therefore, when switching the function from cooling to heating and dehumidifying heating, it is not necessary to reverse the direction of the refrigerant gas flowing through the refrigerant circuit, and the compressor dedicated to cooling should be stopped and hot air used for exhaust heat to be blown in. It was to finish.

  In recent years, driving systems for passenger cars have been changing from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles (EV), fuel cell vehicles (FCV), and the like. In the case of such a vehicle type, that is, a drive-type vehicle that does not always start the internal combustion engine during operation (hereinafter also referred to as a “main motor-equipped vehicle”), it is changed to an electric type throughout the on-vehicle auxiliary system including air conditioning. That is the flow of nature.

  Along with this flow, the compressor of the automobile air conditioner, which has been changed from the belt drive to the electric motor drive, is quite popular. An electric vehicle (EV) includes a plug-in hybrid car, that is, a PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) or a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle). The PHEV is a hybrid car that can be directly charged to a battery from an outlet using an insertion plug.

  In addition to the automobile air conditioner used for the main motor-equipped vehicle described above, in a cooling / heating type air conditioning apparatus using a general reversible heat pump cycle for residential use, when switching between cooling and heating functions, refrigerant gas such as chlorofluorocarbon " In the following, it is necessary to reverse the direction in which “simply referred to as“ refrigerant ”” flows in the refrigerant circuit. On the other hand, the compressor for compressing the refrigerant and flowing it through the refrigerant circuit generally has a constant input / output direction. That is, a general compressor cannot reverse the suction port and the discharge port. Therefore, in order to reverse the direction of the refrigerant gas flowing through the refrigerant circuit, it is necessary to switch the piping of the refrigerant circuit with a four-way valve.

  On the other hand, in the case of a vehicle with a main electric motor, since the amount of exhaust heat may be basically small, heating by using exhaust heat is uncertain and difficult to employ. In addition, a defroster (dehumidification heating) is indispensable for an automobile air conditioner, although it is not necessary for a residential air conditioner. This defroster is provided with a heat exchanger that generates a low temperature for dehumidification condensation and a dehumidifying valve immediately next to a heat exchanger that generates heat for room heating, and functions by operating the dehumidifying valve.

  Therefore, in addition to the four-way valve and the dehumidifying valve, the air conditioner of the main motor-equipped vehicle has a considerably complicated electromagnetic valve for switching them, piping to them (hereinafter also referred to as “four-way valve peripheral part”). . Furthermore, a control function for controlling a large number of solenoid valves is required. In addition, the solenoid valve used in the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump device is not limited to the peripheral portion of the four-way valve of the air conditioner specialized for the main motor-equipped vehicle, and is referred to herein as a refrigerant control member.

  In addition, even if the air conditioner is not for a vehicle with a main electric motor, the air conditioner is considerably bulky and heavy, so there is a demand for reduction in size, weight, and thickness especially for in-vehicle use. In addition to this reduction in size, weight, and thickness, there is also a demand for an excellent assembly workability and an improvement in productivity to reduce manufacturing costs. In order to meet such a demand, the following techniques are disclosed.

  A heat pump refrigerator piping unit (hereinafter also simply referred to as “piping unit”) in which a refrigerant control member is integrally piped in advance and unitized is known (for example, Patent Document 1). . In other words, the refrigerant control members of the refrigeration cycle (refrigerant circuit) in the heat pump refrigerator (heat pump device) are integrated into a single unit in advance to reduce piping parts and pipe welding locations, resulting in superior assembly workability and productivity. In addition to reducing the production cost by improving the design, the outdoor unit is made smaller and thinner.

  In the piping unit described in Patent Document 1, two side plates obtained by bulging a portion suitable for a predetermined refrigerant passage are joined to each other to form a substrate, and the bulging portions of both side plates are formed on the substrate. A refrigerant passage is formed, a refrigerant control member is integrally attached to the substrate by piping to the refrigerant passage, and a piping port connected to the refrigeration cycle is provided in the refrigerant passage.

JP-A-7-198229

  However, since the piping unit described in Patent Document 1 is not for vehicle use, there is still room for improvement. In particular, there has been a strong demand for a unit specializing in a unitary four-way valve in which refrigerant control members are integrally piped in advance. The present invention has been made in view of such problems. The object of the present invention is to reduce the manufacturing cost by improving the productivity and improving the assembly workability in addition to the reduction in size, weight and thickness. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automobile air conditioning piping unit whose structure is simplified by unitizing the refrigerant control member in advance and a manufacturing method thereof. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile air conditioning piping unit suitable for a drive type automobile that does not always activate an internal combustion engine and a method for manufacturing the same.

The present invention has been made to achieve such an object. The invention according to claim 1 is a refrigerant circuit (190) of an automobile air conditioner (200) that constitutes a heat pump. A vehicle air conditioning piping unit (150) in which a switching valve (100) that enables switching of refrigerant path connection in accordance with function switching with dehumidification is disposed on a base part (90),
The base (90)
A laminated structure (90) in which flat plates (10 to 50) or Aperture press products (8, 9) having a predetermined thickness (S, T) are laminated so that the mutual contact surfaces can be kept airtight. Configured,
The flat plate (20, 30, 40) or drawing press processing disposed in any of the intermediate layers (2-6) interposed between the bottom plate (10) and the upper lid (50) of the laminated structure (90). The product (8, 9) has perforations (21-24, 41-46) that form a duct space,
The refrigerant circuit (190) is sealed by another flat plate (10-50) or a drawing press product (8, 9) stacked above and below the punched holes (21-24, 31-38, 41-46). Configure
The switching valve (100)
Two-way valve (100) disposed on the base part (90), and two types of connection modes (four types of refrigerant paths (U, V, W, X)) connected to two sets of paths in pairs, respectively ( UV, WX) / (UW, VX) can be switched between two alternatives.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is the automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) according to claim 1, wherein the drawing press product (8, 9) is:
A plane (F), a curved surface (Q), and an open portion (Z);
The curved surface (Q) is a hollow shell having a thickness (G) smaller than the radius of curvature (R) and the in-plane dimension (X).

The invention according to claim 3 is the automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerant circuit (190)
A partition wall (30) formed by either the flat plate (20, 30, 40) or the drawing press-worked product (8, 9) disposed in the intermediate layer (2-6) in the stacking direction (Z). Distribution is blocked.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) according to claim 3,
On top of the laminated structure (90),
The base part (90), the electronic expansion valve (81), and the dehumidification valve (82) are combined,
The refrigerant circuit (190) is communicated.

Moreover, invention of Claim 5 is in the piping unit (150) for motor vehicle air conditioning in any one of Claims 1-4,
On top of the laminated structure (90),
Connection ports (111, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142, 811, 812, 821, 822, U, V, W, X) of the refrigerant circuit (190) are formed,
In the connection port,
Piping terminals (111, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142) of the compressor (110) and each heat exchanger (120, 130, 140), and the refrigerant path (U) of the four-way valve (100) , V, W, X) are connected.

The invention according to claim 6 is the automotive air conditioning piping unit (150) according to claim 5, wherein the piping terminal (111) on the discharge side of the compressor (110) is
Connected to the connection port (111) of the refrigerant circuit (190),
It communicates with the four-way valve (100) via any one of the duct spaces formed inside the laminated structure (90).

In addition, the invention according to claim 7 is the automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the electronic expansion valve (81) and the dehumidifying valve (82) are:
A column valve pedestal (181) and a shell valve pedestal (182) for attaching each of them,
The laminated structure (90) is joined to the flat plates (10 to 50) or drawn press processed products (8, 9).

The invention according to claim 8 is the automobile air-conditioning piping unit (150) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the outer periphery of the lower part of the column valve base (181) of the electronic expansion valve (81) is provided. In
An O-ring seat (93) is formed for sealing between the stacked structure (90) and a pedestal (92) provided on the upper portion.

The invention according to claim 9 is the automobile air-conditioning piping unit (150) according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the dehumidifying valve (82) has a lower outer periphery of the shell valve seat (182). Is
An O-ring seat (95) is formed for sealing between the stacked structure (90) and a pedestal (94) provided on the upper portion.

The invention according to claim 10 is the automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) according to claim 9, wherein the shell valve seat (182) of the dehumidifying valve (82) includes:
A pipe terminal (821) for circulating the refrigerant is formed at a position coinciding with the refrigerant circuit (190) provided on the upper side of the partition wall (30).

The invention according to claim 11 is the automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein each of the heat exchangers (120, 130, 140) is:
It is possible to configure a defroster that removes the fogging of the windshield that occurs during heating,
An indoor heat exchanger (140) that generates heat during heating;
An evaporator (130) for dehumidification disposed on the windward side of the heat exchanger (140) for heat generation in the room;
It is what has.

  The invention according to claim 12 switches the function of the refrigerant circuit (190) to the laminated structure (90) in the automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A servo mechanism (99) is further provided.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerant circuit (190) of the automobile air conditioner (200) constituting the heat pump, the refrigerant path connection can be switched at least according to the function switching between cooling and heating / dehumidification. A four-way valve (100) is a method for manufacturing an automobile air conditioning piping unit (150) arranged on a base (90),
The base (90)
A flat plate (10 to 50) having a predetermined thickness (S, T) or a drawn press processed product (8, 9) is constituted by a laminated structure (90) laminated so that mutual adhesion surfaces can be kept airtight,
The flat plate (20, 30, 40) or drawing press processing disposed in any of the intermediate layers (2-6) interposed between the bottom plate (10) and the upper lid (50) of the laminated structure (90). The product (8, 9) has perforations (21-24, 41-46) that form a duct space,
The refrigerant circuit (190) is sealed by another flat plate (10-50) or a drawing press product (8, 9) stacked above and below the punched holes (21-24, 31-38, 41-46). Configure
The base part (90) further includes
It is possible to switch between two alternatives as two types of connection forms (UV, WX) / (UW, VX) in which four refrigerant paths (U, V, W, X) are connected in pairs to two sets of paths. The four-way valve (100) is disposed;
This is a manufacturing method.

Further, the invention according to claim 14 is the method of manufacturing a piping unit (150) for an automobile air conditioning according to claim 13, wherein the manufacturing process of the drawing press processed product (8, 9) includes:
A drawing press working step (S10) for forming a three-dimensional peripheral portion (E) and a rising portion (H) extending from a blank thin plate to the plane (F) by the drawing press processing,
A polishing step (S20) for polishing the portion (K) required to be highly accurate in the formed press-formed product (8, 9);
It is what has.

  According to the present invention, in addition to the small size, light weight and thinness, the structure is simplified by unitizing the refrigerant control member in advance in order to improve the assembly workability, improve the productivity and reduce the production cost. An automobile air conditioning piping unit and a manufacturing method thereof can be provided. In particular, it is possible to provide an automobile air conditioning piping unit suitable for a drive-type automobile that does not always start an internal combustion engine and a method for manufacturing the same.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an automotive air conditioning piping unit (hereinafter also referred to as “this unit”) according to the present invention. It is a top view of this unit shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the laminated structure which comprises the base part of this unit. FIG. 4A is a partially transparent plan view of the stacked structure shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a front view thereof. FIG. 5A is a front view and FIG. 5B is a plan view of a bottom plate that seals the bottom of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6A is a front view and FIG. 6B is a plan view of a bottom gasket inserted between the bottom plate of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3 and the second layer that follows. FIG. 7A is a front view and FIG. 7B is a plan view of a flat plate constituting the second layer and the third layer counted from the bottom plate of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 8A is a front view and FIG. 8B is a plan view of a partition wall constituting the fourth layer counted from the bottom plate of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 9A is a front view and FIG. 9B is a plan view of flat plates constituting the fifth and sixth layers counted from the bottom plate of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 10A is a front view and FIG. 10B is a plan view of an upper gasket interposed between the upper lid of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3 and the subsequent sixth layer. FIG. 4 is a view of an A top cover to which the manifold is implanted (hereinafter also referred to simply as “top cover”), which constitutes the top layer of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 11 (A) is a front view and FIG. 11 (B) is a plan view. It is explanatory drawing of the refrigerant circuit at the time of a cooling function (at the time of cooling). It is explanatory drawing of the refrigerant circuit at the time of a heating function (at the time of heating). It is explanatory drawing of the refrigerant circuit at the time of a dehumidification heating function (at the time of dehumidification heating). FIG. 15A is a plan view, and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A, of the electronic expansion valve shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12 to 15. FIG. 16A is a plan view, and FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view along the line AA. FIG. 16 is a view of the dehumidifying valve shown in FIGS. FIG. 17A is a front view and FIG. 17B is a plan view of a drawing processed product that substitutes the flat plate shown in FIG. FIG. 18 (A) is a front view and FIG. 18 (B) is a plan view of a drawing processed product that substitutes for the flat plate shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the manufacturing process of the drawing press processed product (Aperture press product) in the manufacturing method (henceforth "this method") of the piping unit for motor vehicle air conditioning which concerns on this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the site | part of the same effect over each figure, and duplication of description is avoided. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of this unit. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unit shown in FIG. The unit 150 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 constitutes a main part of the refrigerant circuit 190 (FIGS. 12 to 14) of an automobile air conditioner (hereinafter also referred to as “the present air conditioner”) that constitutes a heat pump. The switching valve (four-way valve) 100, the electronic expansion valve 81, the dehumidifying valve 82, and the like above the base portion 90 can be switched freely according to the function switching of the dehumidifying heating and the refrigerant path U, V, W, X. It is configured to be fixed directly to.

  In addition to the above, the base portion 90 includes a compressor 110, an outdoor heat exchanger 120, an evaporator (a heat exchanger for cooling or dehumidifying during heating) 130, and a heating room necessary for the refrigerant circuit 190. The condenser (heat exchanger) 140 can be connected. Further, the base portion 90 is also provided with a servomechanism 99 that switches the function of the refrigerant circuit 190. The servo mechanism 99 mainly switches the four-way valve 100 in response to a command from the console on the in-vehicle dashboard.

  The refrigerant circuit 190 constitutes a heat pump by a closed circuit that circulates a refrigerant such as chlorofluorocarbon, which changes in gas and liquid near normal temperature. The operation of the refrigerant circuit 190 as a whole will be described later with reference to FIGS. As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 8, and 11, manifolds (manifolds) are implanted in the upper lid 50 and the partition wall 30 of the base portion 90. A refrigerant circuit element is connected to the manifold through a pipe. In FIGS. 1 and 4, the refrigerant circuit elements are indicated by simple symbols.

  The manifold includes a compressor 110, heat exchangers 120, 130, and 140, a hydraulic accumulator 149, an electronic expansion valve 81, a dehumidifying valve 82, and a four-way valve 100 as refrigerant circuit elements. 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142, 811, 812, 821, 822 and four refrigerant paths U, V, W, X are connected. However, the accumulator 149 is connected to a hidden position throughout FIGS. 1 to 11, but is as described in FIGS. 12 to 14. The reference numerals of these piping terminals and refrigerant paths are common to other drawings.

  Among these refrigerant circuit elements, the heat exchanger is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger 120, an evaporator (heat exchanger for cooling and dehumidifying during heating) 130, and an indoor condenser (heat exchanger) 140 for heating. Yes. These change depending on the operating state of the air conditioner 200 (FIGS. 12 to 14), that is, depending on the function switching between cooling, heating, and dehumidifying heating, as well as the state and passage direction of the refrigerant flowing. The name may also change.

  Here, the electronic expansion valve 81 and the dehumidification valve 82 will be described with reference to FIG. The electronic expansion valve 81 and the dehumidifying valve 82 are configured such that a column valve pedestal 181 and a shell valve pedestal 182 for attaching the electronic expansion valve 81 and the dehumidifying valve 82 are joined to the upper lid 50 constituting the laminated structure 90.

  That is, in the electronic expansion valve 81, the column valve base 181 for attaching the electronic expansion valve 81 is joined to the connection ports 811 and 812 of the refrigerant circuit 190 formed in the upper cover 50 of the base portion 90. In addition, the dehumidifying valve 82 includes a connection port 821 for the refrigerant circuit 190 formed in the upper cover 50 of the base portion 90 and a connection port 822 for the refrigerant circuit 190 formed in the partition wall 30. And are joined so as to straddle the stairs.

  An O-ring seat 93 is formed on the lower outer periphery 183 of the column valve base 181 of the electronic expansion valve 81 to seal the space between the base 92 and the base 92 provided on the upper cover 50. An O-ring seat 95 is formed on the lower outer periphery 184 of the shell valve pedestal 182 of the dehumidifying valve 82 to seal the space between the base 94 and the pedestal 94 provided on the upper cover 50.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a laminated structure constituting the base part of the unit. As shown in FIG. 3, the base portion 90 of the unit 150 is configured by a laminated structure 90. The laminated structure 90 is a convenient name used when explaining that the base portion 90 has a laminated structure, and is given the same reference numeral as the base portion 90. The laminated structure 90 includes a bottom plate 10 (FIG. 5), a bottom gasket 19 (FIG. 6), a flat plate 20 (FIG. 7), a partition wall 30 (FIG. 8), and a flat plate 40 (FIG. 9), the upper gasket 49 (FIG. 10), and the upper lid 50 (FIG. 11) are laminated in this order and are integrally coupled.

  That is, in the laminated structure 90, the bottom gasket 19 is laminated on the plates 20, 40 and the bottom plate 10 of the partition wall 30, the flat plate 20 constituting the second layer and the third layer is laminated thereon, and the bottom plate is formed thereon. A partition wall 30 constituting a fourth layer counted from 10 is laminated, a flat plate 40 constituting a fifth layer and a sixth layer is laminated thereon, a bottom gasket 49 is laminated thereon, and an upper lid 50 is laminated thereon. Are laminated.

  As described above, in the upper part of the laminated structure (base part) 90, the base part 90 (same reference numeral), the electronic expansion valve 81, the dehumidification valve 82, and the four-way valve 100 are combined. ing. A refrigerant circuit 190 communicates with the inside of the laminated structure 90. The refrigerant circuit 190 is configured to be prevented from flowing in the stacking direction Z by the partition wall 30 formed by any one of the flat plates 20, 30, and 40 disposed in the intermediate layers 2 to 6. Here, the stacking direction Z refers to either the vertical direction or the vertical direction.

  The bottom gasket 19 and the bottom gasket 49 are formed in a thin plate shape using pure copper C1220 classified as phosphorous deoxidized copper. Here, the number of layers such as the number of layers is not counted. Although it is inserted in a place, it is not an element limiting the present invention.

  On the other hand, the bottom plate 10, the flat plate 20, the partition wall 30, the flat plate 40, and the upper lid 50 constituting each layer are made of stainless steel SUS304 (also called 18Cr-8Ni, 18 chrome stainless steel, hereinafter simply “stainless plate” or “metal plate”). ) As a material, but this is also not an element limiting the present invention. Incidentally, stainless steel SUS304 is one of the most widely used steel types as heat-resistant steel, and is known for its excellent corrosion resistance, weldability, and mechanical properties.

  In addition, the flat plates 10-50 which comprise the laminated structure 90 of this unit 150 are substantial metals. Instead of such flat plates 10 to 50, drawn press processed products 8 and 9 described later with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19 may be used. These drawn press-work products 8 and 9 are formed by drawing-pressing a thin metal blank plate.

  4A and 4B are views of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3, in which FIG. 4A is a partially transparent plan view and FIG. 4B is a front view. As shown in FIG. 4 (B), the laminated structure 90 is formed by laminating flat plates 20 and 40 having thicknesses S and T and partition walls 30 so as to be interposed between the upper lid 50 and the bottom plate 10. Yes. As for the thickness of each plate material, the upper lid 50, the bottom plate 10 and the partition wall 30 have a thickness S, and the flat plates 20 and 40 have a thickness T. In FIG. 4 (B), the lowermost layer (1), the second layer (2) to the sixth layer (6), and the uppermost layer (7) are provided on the right side of the plates 20 and 40 and the partition wall 30, respectively. Each symbol is shown in parentheses.

  The base portion 90 is configured by a laminated structure 90 in which flat plates 10 to 50 having predetermined thicknesses S and T are laminated so that mutual contact surfaces can be kept airtight. The flat plates 20, 30, and 40 disposed in any of the intermediate layers 2 to 6 of the laminated structure 90 are formed with holes 21 to 24, 31 to 38, and 41 to 46 that form duct spaces. ing. A part of the refrigerant circuit 190 is configured by being sealed by the upper lid 50, the bottom plate 10, the partition wall 30, or another flat plate stacked above and below the punched holes 21 to 24, 31 to 38, and 41 to 46.

  A laminated structure 90 shown in a partially transparent view in FIG. 4A, that is, the base portion 90, has a refrigerant circuit element as shown by a symbol on the manifold formed on the upper lid 50 as described above. Connected via piping. These refrigerant circuit elements are connected so as to appropriately communicate with each other through a three-dimensional path indicated by broken lines inside the base portion 90.

  FIG. 4A shows the cooling time described later with reference to FIG. Accordingly, the refrigerant flowing in the direction indicated by the arrow between each refrigerant circuit element indicated by the symbol and the base portion 90 is generally reversed except for the compressor 110 when switching from cooling to heating. 13 and FIG. 14 and will be described later.

  The four-way valve 100 can distinguish and connect the four refrigerant paths U, V, W, and X into two sets of paths in pairs. Further, two types of connection forms UV, WX / UW, and VX can be switched between two alternatives. For example, in the first connection configuration (shown during cooling in FIG. 12), the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path X are communicated with each other while the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path V are communicated. Hereinafter, the shapes of the lowermost layer (1), the second layer (2) to the sixth layer (6), and the uppermost layer (7) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  5A and 5B are diagrams of a bottom plate that seals the bottom of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5A is a front view, and FIG. 5B is a plan view. The bottom plate 10 shown in FIG. 5 is formed of a flat metal plate having a predetermined thickness S that constitutes the lowermost layer (1) of the laminated structure 90, as shown in FIG. 4B. The bottom plate 10 does not have a shape that covers the entire planar visible outline of the base portion 90 shown in FIG.

  That is, the bottom plate 10 is formed so as not to cover and seal the refrigerant paths U, V, X of the four-way valve 100 and the piping terminals 111, 112, 121, 122 of the compressor 110 and the heat exchanger 120. Has been. That is, the bottom plate 10 is connected to the refrigerant path W of the four-way valve 100, the heat exchangers 130, 140, the electronic expansion valve 81, and the piping terminals 131, 132, 141, 142, 811, 812, 821, 822 of the dehumidifying valve 82. On the other hand, they are formed so that their planar visual outlines are covered and sealed.

  FIG. 6 is a view of a bottom gasket interposed between the bottom plate of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3 and the second layer that follows, and FIG. 6 (A) is a front view and FIG. 6 (B) is a plan view. FIG. The bottom gasket 19 shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the plan view outer shape of the bottom plate 10 shown in FIG. 5, but is provided with holes 191 to 194 that form a duct space. These holes 191 to 194 have the same shape as the flat plate 20 shown in FIG.

  7 is a view of the flat plate constituting the second layer and the third layer counted from the bottom plate of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 (A) is a front view, and FIG. 7 (B) is a plan view. is there. As shown in FIG. 4B, the flat plate 20 shown in FIG. 7 has a second layer (2) and a third layer (3) (hereinafter also referred to as “intermediate layers 2 and 3”) of the laminated structure 90. 6 is exactly the same as the bottom gasket 19 shown in FIG. 6 except that it is formed of a flat metal plate having a predetermined thickness T. That is, the holes 21 to 24 formed in the flat plate 20 and the holes 191 to 194 formed in the bottom gasket 19 have the same shape.

  In the flat plates 20 and 40 disposed in any of the intermediate layers 2 to 6 of the laminated structure 90, another bottom plate 10 and flat plates 20 and 40 that are stacked above and below these punched holes 21 to 24,. A part of the refrigerant circuit 190 is configured to be sealed by the partition wall 30 or the upper lid 50. The hole 21 allows the piping terminal 131 and 812 to communicate with each other. The hole 22 allows the piping terminal 132 and the same 821 to communicate with each other. The hole 23 allows the piping terminal 822 and 142 to communicate with each other. The hole 24 allows the piping terminal 142 and the refrigerant path W to communicate with each other. (See Figure 12)

  8A and 8B are diagrams of a partition that forms the fourth layer counted from the bottom plate of the stacked structure shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 8A is a front view and FIG. 8B is a plan view. The partition 30 shown in FIG. 8 is formed of a flat metal plate having a predetermined thickness S that constitutes the fourth layer (4) of the laminated structure 90, as shown in FIG. 4B. The partition wall 30 has a shape that covers the entire planarly visible outer shape of the base portion 90 shown in FIG.

  The partition wall 30 has a function as a partition wall because there are no large holes except for the vertical holes 31 to 38 communicating with some of the manifolds. The vertical holes 31 to 38 communicate with the pipe terminals 131, 132, 821, 822, the refrigerant path W, and the pipe terminals 141, 142, 812, respectively, in that order.

  9 is a diagram of flat plates constituting the fifth and sixth layers counted from the bottom plate of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 9 (A) is a front view, and FIG. 9 (B) is a plan view. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the flat plate 40 shown in FIG. 9 has a fifth layer (5) and a sixth layer (6) (hereinafter also referred to as “intermediate layers 5 and 6”) of the laminated structure 90. Is formed by a flat metal plate having a predetermined thickness T. The flat plate 40 does not have a shape that covers the entire planarly visible outer shape of the base portion 90 shown in FIG.

  That is, the flat plate 40 is formed so that the planar visual outlines thereof are not covered and sealed or engaged with the piping terminals 131, 132, 141, 142 of the heat exchangers 130, 140. That is, the flat plate 40 is connected to the piping terminals 111, 112, 811, 121, 122 of the compressor 110, the electronic expansion valve 81, the dehumidifying valve 82 and the heat exchanger 120, and the refrigerant paths U, V, W, X of the four-way valve 100. And communicated with each other.

  In the flat plates 20 and 40 and the partition walls 30 arranged in any of the intermediate layers 2 to 6 of the laminated structure 90, there are different layers stacked above and below these holes 21 to 24, 41 to 46, and 31 to 38. A part of the refrigerant circuit 190 is configured by being sealed by the flat plates 10 to 50 (including the bottom plate 10, the partition wall 30, and the upper lid 50). The double-layer flat plate 40 forming the fifth layer and the sixth layer as the lower layer of the upper lid 50 is provided with punched holes 41 to 46. These will be sequentially described below.

  The hole 41 allows the piping terminal 111 and the refrigerant path U to communicate with each other. The hole 42 allows the piping terminal 121 and the refrigerant path V to communicate with each other. The through hole 43 allows the piping terminal 122 and the same 811 to communicate with each other. On the other hand, the hole 44 does not directly connect the piping terminal 821 and the same 822. The reason for this is as follows. First, on the shell valve seat 182 of the dehumidifying valve 82, one piping terminal 821 for circulating the refrigerant is formed at a position coincident with the refrigerant circuit 190 provided on the upper side of the upper lid 50.

  On the other hand, the other piping terminal 822 of the shell valve seat 182 of the dehumidifying valve 82 is formed at a position that coincides with the refrigerant circuit 190 provided on the upper side of the partition wall 91. In the laminated structure 90, the fourth-layer partition wall 91 extends to a lower position in a stepped manner with respect to the seventh-layer upper lid 50. Therefore, the piping terminals 821 and 822 of the dehumidifying valve 82 are configured such that the refrigerant enters and exits the laminated structure 90 in a step difference.

  The vent hole 45 allows the coolant path W to communicate vertically with the lower second layer vent hole 24. The hole 24 allows the piping terminal 142 and the refrigerant path W to communicate with each other. The through hole 46 allows the refrigerant path X and the piping terminal 112 to communicate with each other and is connected to an accumulator 149 (see FIG. 12).

  10A and 10B are views of an upper gasket interposed between the upper lid of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3 and the sixth layer that follows, and FIG. 10A is a front view and FIG. 10B is a plan view. FIG. The upper gasket 49 shown in FIG. 10 is exactly the same as the planar view shape of the flat plate 10 shown in FIG. 9, and is provided with holes 491 to 496 that form a duct space. Since these holes 491 to 496 have the same shape as the holes 41 to 46 of the flat plate 40 shown in FIG.

  11 is a view of an upper lid that constitutes the uppermost layer of the laminated structure shown in FIG. 3 and in which a manifold (manifold) is implanted, FIG. 5 (A) is a front view, and FIG. 5 (B). Is a plan view. The upper lid 50 shown in FIG. 11 is formed of a flat metal plate having a predetermined thickness S that constitutes the seventh layer (7) of the laminated structure 90, as shown in FIG. The upper lid 50 portion is not in a shape that covers the entire planarly visible outer shape of the base portion 90 shown in FIG.

  That is, 50 parts of this upper lid is formed so that the plan view outlines are not covered and sealed or engaged with the piping terminals 131, 132, 141, 142 of the heat exchangers 130, 140. That is, the upper cover 50 part is connected to the piping terminals 111, 112, 811, 121, 122 of the compressor 110, the electronic expansion valve 81, the dehumidification valve 82, and the heat exchanger 120, and the refrigerant paths U, V, W, X is formed to communicate with X.

  Further, the upper cover 50 is the same as the planar visual outline of the flat plate 40 shown in FIG. 9 and the upper gasket 49 shown in FIG. 10, but instead of the holes 491 to 496 forming the pipe space, a manifold is provided. Vertical holes 51 to 60 communicating with some of the holes are formed. In addition, since there are no large holes except for the relatively small circular vertical holes 51 to 60, it has a function of covering and sealing. These vertical holes 51 to 60 communicate with the piping terminals 111, 112, 822, 121, 122, 811 and the refrigerant paths U, V, W, X of the four-way valve 100 in that order. Is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection port 111, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142, 811, 812, 821, 822, U, V, W, (same sign as the connected pipe terminal) is formed. Connected to them are the piping terminals 111, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142 of the compressor 110 and the heat exchangers 120 to 140, and the refrigerant paths U, V, W, X of the four-way valve 100. It is comprised so that.

  It is configured to communicate with the base portion 80 via any one of the duct spaces formed inside the laminated structure 90. The piping terminal 111 on the discharge side of the compressor 110 is configured to be connected to the connection port 111 (common code) of the refrigerant circuit 190. Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerant circuit 190 will be described using FIG. 12 to FIG. 14 separately for cooling, heating, and dehumidifying heating.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the refrigerant circuit during cooling. As shown in FIG. 12, the refrigerant circuit 190 includes a compressor 110, a four-way valve 100, an outdoor heat exchanger 120, an electronic expansion valve 81, and an evaporator (a heat exchanger for cooling or dehumidifying during heating). 130, a dehumidifying valve 82, a heating indoor condenser (heat exchanger) 140, an outdoor heat exchanger fan 123, an indoor heat exchanger blower 133, and a cooling / heating switching air conditioning blade 134.

  The refrigerant circuit 190 constitutes a heat pump by a closed circuit that circulates a refrigerant such as chlorofluorocarbon, which changes in gas and liquid near normal temperature. This refrigerant circuit 190 is applied to the automobile air conditioner 200 and includes an automobile air conditioning piping unit 150, which makes it possible to switch the connection of the refrigerant path in accordance with at least switching between functions of cooling, heating, and dehumidification.

  The compressor 110 sends out the compressed and gasified refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure in a certain direction from the bottom to the top in any one of the cooling / heating functions of cooling / heating / dehumidification. To the refrigerant path U. The four-way valve 100 has refrigerant paths U, V, W, and X that allow refrigerant to enter and exit from four different paths.

  The four-way valve 100 can distinguish and connect these four refrigerant paths U, V, W, and X into two sets of paths in pairs. Further, two types of connection forms UV, WX / UW, and VX can be switched between two alternatives. As shown in FIG. 12, in the first connection configuration, the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path X are communicated with each other while the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path V are communicated. This connection form is referred to as a first connection form UV, WX. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in the second connection configuration, the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path X are communicated while the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path W are communicated. This connection form is referred to as second connection form UW, VX.

  According to the first connection forms UV and WX shown in FIG. 12, the high-pressure P refrigerant compressed and gasified from the compressor 110 during cooling is sent to the refrigerant path U and communicated with the refrigerant path U. The refrigerant path V is press-fitted into the outdoor heat exchanger 120 in a high-temperature gas state. The outdoor heat exchanger 120 is forcibly air-cooled by releasing the hot air H by the outdoor heat exchanger fan 123, so that the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 120 is condensed into a liquid state and is supplied to the electronic expansion valve 81. It reaches.

  At the end of the electronic expansion valve 81, when the low-temperature low-pressure L refrigerant passes through the evaporator (dehumidification heat exchanger) 130, the evaporator 130 is blown from the indoor heat exchanger blower 133 so as to generate the cold air C. Heat exchange. After passing through the evaporator 130, the medium-temperature low-pressure L refrigerant passes through the valve-opening dehumidification valve 82, passes through the heating indoor condenser (heat exchanger) 140, and flows into the refrigerant path W of the four-way valve 100. Since the four-way valve 100 is in the first connection form UV, WX, the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant path W passes through the communicating refrigerant path X and flows into the accumulator (hydraulic accumulator, ACC) 149. To do.

  The accumulator 149 plays a role of gas-liquid separation. In the gas-liquid mixture state, the low-temperature low-pressure L refrigerant is sucked by the negative pressure of the compressor 110 and compressed again to be gasified to become the high-temperature high-pressure P. It is circulated so as to be sent to the refrigerant path U. At the time of cooling, the cooling / heating switching air-conditioning blade 134 moves to the left as shown in FIG. 12 so as not to prevent the passage of the cooling air C generated by the evaporator 130.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the refrigerant circuit during heating. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a refrigerant circuit during dehumidifying heating. Only the differences between the heating and dehumidifying heating, the cooling shown in FIG. 12, and the respective functions will be described, and description of common contents will be omitted to avoid duplication. First, the difference between the cooling shown in FIG. 12, the heating shown in FIG. 13, and the dehumidifying heating shown in FIG. 14 will be described.

  At the time of cooling shown in FIG. 12, the four-way valve 100 is in the first connection form UV, WX, and the refrigerant path W and the refrigerant path X are communicated with each other while the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path V are communicated. On the other hand, at the time of heating shown in FIG. 13 and at the time of dehumidifying heating shown in FIG. 14, the four-way valve 100 is in the second connection form UW, VX, and the refrigerant path U and the refrigerant path W are communicated with each other. V communicates with the refrigerant path X.

  Next, differences between the heating shown in FIG. 13 and the dehumidifying heating shown in FIG. 14 will be described. In both functions, the connection form of the refrigerant circuit 190 and the set angle of the cooling / heating switching air-conditioning blade 134 are the same, but the difference in both functions is that the dehumidifying valve 82 is opened and closed. That is, the dehumidifying valve 82 interposed between the evaporator (dehumidifying heat exchanger) 130 and the heating indoor condenser 140 is opened during heating shown in FIG. At the same time, when the high-pressure liquid refrigerant (heat medium) is allowed to pass through, heat is exchanged with the hot air H from both sides, thereby contributing to indoor heating. At this time, the inside of the evaporator 130 between the dehumidifying valve 82 and the electronic expansion valve 81 is also maintained at a high pressure.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the functions of the heat exchangers 120, 130, and 140 in the air conditioner 200 are switched according to the use of cooling, heating, and dehumidifying heating, and their names are also changed appropriately. . In particular, the refrigerant circuit 190 of the air conditioner 200 includes an indoor heat generating heat exchanger 140 that generates heat during heating and a dehumidifying evaporator 130 that is disposed on the windward side of the indoor heat generating heat exchanger 140. It is possible to construct a defroster that eliminates fogging. That is, the air dewed and dehumidified by the dehumidifying evaporator 130 is converted into dehumidified hot air DH by the indoor heat generating heat exchanger 140 and supplied to the windshield and the room.

  During dehumidifying heating shown in FIG. 14, the dehumidifying valve 82 is throttled (also referred to as “flow rate restriction” or simply “closed valve”), and a pressure difference is set in the refrigerant before and after the dehumidifying valve 82. When passing the high-pressure liquid refrigerant (heat medium) through the heating indoor condenser 140 upstream of the dehumidifying valve 82, the heat is dissipated to contribute to the indoor heating. The inside of the evaporator (heat exchanger for dehumidification) 130 downstream of the dehumidifying valve 82 is set to a negative pressure, and while evaporating and expanding when passing a high-pressure refrigerant, the evaporator 130 is cooled to dew condensation on its surface for dehumidification drying. Contribute.

  Note that the rear side of the electronic expansion valve 81, that is, the downstream side, is maintained at a negative pressure in both cases of heating shown in FIG. 13 and dehumidifying heating shown in FIG. 14, and the refrigerant is the outdoor heat exchanger 120. While passing through the chamber, the outside temperature is lowered while vaporizing and expanding, and heat is exchanged so as to absorb outdoor heat, and the temperature returns to the middle temperature. The refrigerant of the fuselage that has returned to the intermediate temperature passes through the refrigerant path V from the refrigerant path V in the second connection form UW, VX to the refrigerant path X, returns to the accumulator 149, and is reduced in volume to a certain extent after gas-liquid separation. .

  The refrigerant whose volume has been reduced to a certain extent by the accumulator 149 is absorbed from the suction port of the compressor 110 with a negative pressure and then compressed and gasified to become a high-temperature and high-pressure P, and is pressed into the heating indoor condenser 140 to be heated. Recycle to contribute. Hereinafter, the internal configuration of the electronic expansion valve and the dehumidifying valve will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

[Electronic expansion valve]
FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams of the electronic expansion valve shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12 to 15. FIG. 15A is a plan view, and FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA. As shown in FIG. 15, the electronic expansion valve 81 controls the current flowing through the stator coil 180 that surrounds the outer periphery of the cylindrical main body 183, thereby positioning the permanent magnet 184 built in the cylindrical main body 183 so as to be movable up and down. Then, the posture of the valve body 186 disposed in the vicinity of the tip of the support column 185 that hangs down from the center of the permanent magnet 184 is controlled, the opening area of the minute ejection hole 187 is adjusted, and the amount of refrigerant ejected from the ejection hole 187 It is something that adjusts.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 1, in the electronic expansion valve 81, the column valve base 181 for attaching the electronic expansion valve 81 is joined to the connection ports 811 and 812 of the refrigerant circuit 190 formed in the upper cover 50 of the base portion 90. . These joints must be kept airtight. Therefore, an O-ring seat 93 is formed on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the column valve base 181 of the electronic expansion valve 81 to seal the space between the base 92 and the base 92 provided on the upper cover 50. The O-ring seat 93 is fitted with O-rings 931 and 932 in the upper and lower openings.

  On the downstream side of the electronic expansion valve 81, the negative pressure L reaching from the compressor 110 is held. The refrigerant expands and is decompressed to low temperature and low pressure L only by passing through the electronic expansion valve 81. The electronic expansion valve 81 also has a role of adjusting the temperature of the refrigerant sucked by the compressor 110 (superheat with respect to pressure), and therefore adjusts the flow rate to meet that. That is, the opening degree is adjusted so that the refrigerant is heated to a temperature higher than the saturation temperature of the evaporated refrigerant. For this reason, a temperature type automatic expansion valve has been conventionally used. However, in recent years, an electronic expansion valve 81 that is electronically controlled so as to be heated to an optimum temperature has become mainstream.

[Dehumidification valve]
16 is a view of the dehumidifying valve shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 12 to 15, in which FIG. 16 (A) is a plan view and FIG. 16 (B) is a sectional view taken along line AA. As shown in FIG. 16, the dehumidifying valve 82 controls the current flowing through the stator coil 170 surrounding the outer periphery of the upper portion of the cylindrical main body 173 so that the permanent magnet 174 built in the cylindrical main body 173 can move up and down. Positioning and controlling the posture of the valve body 176 disposed near the tip of the valve body holder 175 that hangs coaxially from the permanent magnet 174, the opening area of the valve hole 177 is adjusted, and the valve hole 177 is ejected from the valve hole 177. The amount of refrigerant is adjusted.

  The dehumidifying valve 82 has a shell valve pedestal 182 that forms the base thereof, a connection port 821 of the refrigerant circuit 190 formed in the upper cover 50 of the base portion 90, a connection port 822 of the refrigerant circuit 190 formed in the partition wall 30, Are joined so as to straddle the stairs. These joints must be kept airtight.

  Therefore, an O-ring seat 95 for sealing the space between the base 94 and the pedestal 94 provided on the upper lid 50 is fitted to the outer periphery of the lower portion of the shell valve pedestal 182 of the dehumidifying valve 82. In the O-ring seat 95, O-rings 951 and 952 are fitted in upper and lower openings.

  That is, the shell valve seat 182 is fitted to the lower outer periphery of the tubular body 173 of the dehumidifying valve 82. An O-ring seat 95 is further fitted on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the shell valve seat 182. On the other hand, a valve body 176 is housed inside the pedestal 182 via a cylindrical main body 173. The valve body 176 is slidably tightly fitted to the cylindrical main body 173, and is movable back and forth (up and down operation) in the cylinder so as to control the valve opening degree by electromagnetic force.

  Next, the structure and the like of the drawing press processed products 8 and 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 17 is a drawing of a drawn product that substitutes for the flat plate shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 17 (A) is a front view, and FIG. 17 (B) is a plan view. 18A and 18B are diagrams showing a drawn product that substitutes for the flat plate shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 18A is a front view, and FIG. 18B is a plan view.

  As described above, the laminated structure 90 of the unit 150 is configured by laminating seven layers of stainless steel plates as thick as 2 to 4 mm, for example, as the flat plates 10 to 50. This has room for improvement in terms of heavy weight, material costs, and heavy cutting. Therefore, in order to reduce these burdens, the drawing press products 8 and 9 may be used instead of the heavy flat plates 10 to 50 constituting the laminated structure 90 of the unit 150.

  By the following devices, the drawn press processed products 8 and 9 shown in FIGS. 17 to 18 may be used instead of the flat plates 10 to 50. These drawn press processed products 8 and 9 are formed, for example, by subjecting a blank thin plate made of stainless steel having a thickness of 0.8 mm to a drawing press processing. For example, a three-dimensional peripheral part E and a rising edge are obtained so as to obtain a predetermined thickness S, T of several times about 2 mm, 4 mm, or 8 mm from a blank sheet having a thickness of 0.8 mm. Part (Rising part) H is formed, and the drawing press products 8 and 9 are formed.

  These drawn and pressed products 8 and 9 have a flat surface F, a curved surface Q, and an open portion Z, and are hollow shells having a thickness G smaller than the radius of curvature R and the in-plane dimension X of the curved surface Q. (Hollow shell). By laminating these drawing press-processed products 8 and 9, the close contact surfaces can be kept airtight. In this way, by adopting the drawn press products 8 and 9 which are used as a substitute for the flat plates 10 to 50 by drawing press processing from the blank thin plate, for example, it is time and effort to cut 7 layers of 2 to 4 mm heavy stainless steel plate. Can be omitted significantly.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 19, a method for manufacturing the drawn press processed products 8 and 9 will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a manufacturing process of a drawn press-processed product in a method for manufacturing an automotive air conditioning piping unit (hereinafter also referred to as “the present method”) according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 19, the manufacturing process of the drawn press processed products 8 and 9 includes a drawn press working step (S10) and a polishing step (S20) for polishing. In the drawing press processing step (S10), a three-dimensional peripheral portion E and a rising portion H extending from the blank thin plate to the plane F are formed by drawing press processing.

  In the polishing step (S20), the portion K, which is required to have high accuracy, is polished out of the formed press-formed products 8 and 9. In particular, the flat surface F of the molded peripheral portion E and the upper end of the rising portion H are laminated on the other flat plates 10 to 50 and the drawing press processed products 8 and 9 so that the mutual contact surfaces can be kept airtight, or This corresponds to the portion K for which high accuracy is required for coupling.

  Furthermore, after forming by drawing, finishing is limited to only the portion K where high accuracy is required, so that further cost reduction and weight reduction can be realized. That is, according to the manufacturing method of the unit 150, the drawing press work can be adopted in the manufacturing process of the drawing press processed products 8 and 9. This makes it easier to realize cost reduction and weight reduction. The base portion 90 is configured by laminating the close contact surfaces that have been finished with high accuracy in this manner while maintaining airtightness. The base portion 90 is further provided with an electronic expansion valve 81, a dehumidifying valve 82, and a four-way valve 100 to complete the unit 150.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in addition to being small and light and thin, in addition to being excellent in assembling workability, improving productivity and reducing manufacturing costs, the refrigerant control member is integrally piped in advance. It is possible to provide an automobile air conditioning piping unit whose structure is simplified by unitization and a method for manufacturing the same. In particular, it is possible to provide an automobile air conditioning piping unit suitable for a drive-type automobile that does not always start an internal combustion engine and a method for manufacturing the same.

  The automobile air conditioning piping unit according to the present invention is employed in the periphery of a four-way valve mounted on a drive-type automobile, for example, an electric automobile (EV), a fuel cell vehicle (FCV), etc., which does not always start an internal combustion engine. There is a possibility that.

  Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described in detail as described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made without departing from the novel matters and effects of the present invention. It will be easy to understand. Therefore, all such modifications are included in the scope of the present invention.

  For example, a term described with a different term having a broader meaning or the same meaning at least once in the specification or the drawings can be replaced with the different term in any part of the specification or the drawings. Further, the configuration and operation of the compressor, heat exchanger, accumulator, electronic expansion valve, dehumidification valve, and four-way valve as the refrigerant circuit elements are not limited to those described in the embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications may be made. Is possible.

1 to 7 (of the laminated structure 90) 1st to 7th layers, 2 to 6 intermediate layers, 8 and 9 Drawing press products, 10 Bottom plate, 19 Bottom gasket, 20, 40 Flat plate, 30 Bulkhead, 49 Top gasket , 50 Upper lid, 21-24, 31-38, 41-46, 51-60 Hole, 81 Electronic expansion valve, 82 Dehumidifying valve, 90 Laminated structure (base part), 93, 95 O-ring seat, 99 Servo mechanism , 100 Four-way valve (switching valve), 110 Compressor, 120 Outdoor heat exchanger, 130 Evaporator (heat exchanger for cooling or dehumidification during heating), 134 Air conditioning blade for switching between cooling and heating, 140 Indoor condenser for heating (heat exchange) ), 111, 112, 121, 122, 131, 132, 141, 142, 811, 812, 821, 822 Piping terminals (the connection ports are also common symbols), 123 outdoor Fan for heat exchanger, 133 Blower for indoor heat exchanger, 149 Accumulator, 150 Automotive air conditioning piping unit (this unit), 170, 180 Stator coil, 173, 183 Tubular body, 174, 184 Permanent magnet 174, 175 Valve body holder 176, 186 Valve body, valve hole 177, 181 Strut valve pedestal (for electronic expansion valve 81), 182 Shell valve pedestal (for dehumidification valve 82), 185 strut, 189 ejection hole, 190 refrigerant circuit, 200 Automotive air conditioner ( (This air conditioner), 931, 932, 951, 952 O-ring, C cold air, DH dehumidifying hot air, H hot air (hot air), M medium pressure, L low pressure or negative pressure, P high pressure, S (flat plates 10, 30, 50) thickness, T (flat plate 20, 40) thickness, U, V, W, X Refrigerant path (the connection ports are also common symbols), UV, W / UW, VX (2 types) connection form, Z stacking direction, F plane, E (three-dimensional) peripheral part, H rising part, S10 pressing process, K part where high accuracy is required, S20 Polishing process

Claims (14)

In a refrigerant circuit of an automobile air conditioner that constitutes a heat pump, an automotive air conditioning piping unit that is provided on the base part has a switching valve that allows switching of refrigerant path connection according to at least switching between functions of cooling and heating / dehumidification. There,
The base part is
It is composed of a laminated structure in which a flat plate or a drawing press processed product of a predetermined thickness is laminated so that the mutual contact surfaces can be kept airtight,
In the flat plate or the drawn press processed product disposed in any of the intermediate layers interposed between the bottom plate and the top lid of the laminated structure, a hole for forming a pipe space is formed,
It is sealed with another flat plate or drawn press processed product stacked above and below the punched hole to constitute a refrigerant circuit,
The switching valve is
It is a four-way valve disposed in the base part, and can be switched between two alternatives as two types of connection forms in which four refrigerant paths are connected to two sets of paths in pairs,
Automotive air conditioning piping unit. The drawing press product is
A plane, a curved surface, and an open portion;
It is a hollow shell with a plate thickness smaller than the radius of curvature and in-plane dimensions of the curved surface,
The automotive air conditioning piping unit according to claim 1. The refrigerant circuit is
Distribution in the laminating direction is prevented by the partition formed by either the flat plate or the drawn press processed product disposed in the intermediate layer,
The automobile air conditioning piping unit according to claim 1 or 2. On top of the laminated structure,
Combining the base, the electronic expansion valve, and the dehumidifying valve;
Communicating the refrigerant circuit;
The piping unit for automobile air conditioning according to claim 3. On top of the laminated structure,
A connection port of the refrigerant circuit is formed;
In the connection port,
The compressor and the piping terminal of each heat exchanger and the refrigerant path of the four-way valve were configured to be connected,
The automotive air conditioning piping unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The piping terminal on the discharge side of the compressor is
Connected to the connection port of the refrigerant circuit,
Communicating with the four-way valve via any of the pipe spaces formed inside the laminated structure,
The piping unit for automobile air conditioning according to claim 5. The electronic expansion valve and the dehumidifying valve have a column valve base and a shell valve base for attaching each of them,
Bonded to the flat plate or drawn press processed product constituting the laminated structure,
The automobile air conditioning piping unit according to any one of claims 4 to 6. On the outer periphery of the lower part of the column valve seat of the electronic expansion valve,
An O-ring seat for sealing between the pedestal provided on the upper part of the laminated structure is formed,
The automobile air conditioning piping unit according to any one of claims 4 to 7. On the outer periphery of the lower part of the shell valve seat of the dehumidifying valve,
An O-ring seat for sealing between the pedestal provided on the upper part of the laminated structure is formed,
The automobile air conditioning piping unit according to any one of claims 4 to 8. In the shell valve seat of the dehumidifying valve,
A pipe terminal for refrigerant circulation was formed at a position coinciding with the refrigerant circuit provided on the upper side of the partition wall,
The automobile air conditioning piping unit according to claim 9. Each of the heat exchangers
It is possible to configure a defroster that removes the fogging of the windshield that occurs during heating,
A heat exchanger for heat generation in the room that generates heat during heating;
An evaporator for dehumidification disposed on the windward side of the heat exchanger for heat generation in the room;
Having
The piping unit for automobile air conditioning according to any one of claims 5 to 10. The laminated structure further includes a servo mechanism for switching the function of the refrigerant circuit.
The automobile air conditioning piping unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11. A method for manufacturing a vehicle air-conditioning piping unit having a four-way valve arranged on the base, which enables switching of refrigerant path connection according to switching between at least cooling and heating / dehumidification functions,
The base part is
It is composed of a laminated structure in which a flat plate or a drawing press processed product of a predetermined thickness is laminated so that the mutual contact surfaces can be kept airtight,
In the flat plate or the drawn press processed product disposed in any of the intermediate layers interposed between the bottom plate and the top lid of the laminated structure, a hole for forming a pipe space is formed,
It is sealed with another flat plate or drawn press processed product stacked above and below the punched hole to constitute a refrigerant circuit,
The base portion further includes
The four-way valve that is switchable between two alternatives is provided as two types of connection forms in which four refrigerant paths are connected to two sets of paths in pairs,
Manufacturing method of piping unit for automobile air conditioning. In the manufacturing process of the drawn press processed product,
A drawing press processing step for forming a three-dimensional peripheral portion and a rising portion extending in a plane by the drawing press processing from a blank thin plate;
A polishing step of polishing the portion of the molded press-formed product that is required to have high accuracy;
Having
The manufacturing method of the piping unit for motor vehicle air conditioning of Claim 13.

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