Air Conditioning System for Vehicles

Abstract

Provided is an air conditioning system for vehicles, this air conditioning system being configured in such a way that it is possible to perform air conditioning for separate purposes, such as for cooling a driver, this type of air conditioning being extremely efficient in terms of energy, and that even if part of the air conditioning system is installed in a vehicle cabin, it is possible to meet requirements for securing a space in the vehicle cabin. The aforementioned air conditioning system for vehicles comprises a refrigeration circuit provided with a compressor, a condenser, an expansion means, and an evaporator, and is characterized in that the compressor and the condenser are disposed in an in-vehicle area outside the vehicle cabin, and that the expansion means and the evaporator are locally disposed in one or more selected specific regions in the vehicle cabin, preferably in such a way as to be incorporated into units.

1 . An air conditioning system for vehicles having a refrigeration circuit provided with a compressor for a refrigerant, a condenser, an expansion means and an evaporator, wherein said compressor and said condenser are disposed in an in-vehicle area outside a vehicle cabin, and said expansion means and evaporator are locally disposed in one or more specific regions selected in said vehicle cabin. 
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one expansion means and one evaporator are incorporated into a single unit and said unit or units are provided by a number corresponding to a number of said specific region or regions. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 2 , wherein an air blower is also incorporated in each of said unit or units. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 2 , wherein a heater is also incorporated in each of said unit or units. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein pairs of said expansion means and said evaporator are connected to one compressor and one condenser in said refrigeration circuit by branches of said refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein said specific region or regions include at least a region around a driver's seat or an inner region of a seat, or both thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein said specific region or regions comprise a region around any of occupant's seat including a driver's seat or an inner region of a seat or both thereof, and is provided with an air outlet for blowing conditioned air from a back side toward the rear thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 7 , wherein an air outlet for blowing air-conditioning wind having a function as an air curtain from a side of said seat toward the front is provided in said specific region or regions. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle is an automobile. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system for vehicles according to  claim 1 , wherein said in-vehicle area outside said vehicle cabin, in which said compressor and said condenser are disposed, is a front area of the vehicle ahead of an instrument panel or a rear area of an instrument panel.