Air blower device of air-conditioning system for vehicle having electric dust collector and controlling method thereof

Abstract

An air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle including: a blower case including a duct part having an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet, an air blowing part connected with an inlet of an air-conditioning case and a connection part for connecting the duct part with the air blowing part, the connection part having an insertion part of which the certain area is hollowed; an indoor and outdoor air converting door disposed inside the duct part of the blower case to open and close the indoor air inlet and the outdoor air inlet; an air blower is disposed inside the air blowing part of the blower case to forcedly blow air; an electric dust collector located at the connection part through the insertion part of the blower case; and a cover for opening and closing the insertion part of the blower case.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electric dust collector of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: determining an approach of a driver; and supplying electric power to a filter unit when it is determined that the driver is approaching the vehicle in the determining step, wherein the air blower device comprises: a blower case including a duct part having an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet, an air blowing part connected with an inlet of an air-conditioning case, and a connection part connecting the duct part with the air blowing part, the connection part having an insertion part with a hollow area; an indoor and outdoor air converting door disposed inside the duct part of the blower case to open and close the indoor air inlet and the outdoor air inlet; an air blower disposed inside the air blowing part of the blower case to forcedly blow air; an electric dust collector located at the connection part through the insertion part of the blower case, the electric dust collector comprising: an electric charger unit; the filter unit collecting dust charged with electricity through the electric charger unit; and a high voltage supply unit applying high voltage to the electric charger unit and the filter unit; and a cover opening and closing the insertion part of the blower case, wherein the cover includes a hollow hole aligned with the hollow area to permit and high voltage supply unit of the electric dust collector to protrude outside of the blower case.

2. The method of controlling according to claim 1, wherein the determining step determines that the driver is approaching the vehicle when a key sensor disposed in the vehicle is triggered.

3. The method of controlling according to claim 1, wherein the determining step determines that the driver is approaching the vehicle when a door of the vehicle is opened.

4. The method of controlling according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of after the filter unit power supplying step: checking a running state and a stopped state of the vehicle; and cutting off power supplied to the filter unit when it is determined the vehicle is stopped after running in the checking step.

5. A method of controlling an electric dust collector of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: determining an approach of a driver; and supplying electric power to a filter unit when it is determined that the driver is approaching the vehicle in the determining step, wherein the air blower device comprises: a blower case including a duct part having an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet, an air blowing part connected with an inlet of an air-conditioning case, and a connection part connecting the duct part with the air blowing part, the connection part having an insertion part with a hollow area; an indoor and outdoor air converting door disposed inside the duct part of the blower case to open and close the indoor air inlet and the outdoor air inlet; an air blower disposed inside the air blowing part of the blower case to forcedly blow air; an electric dust collector located at the connection part through the insertion part of the blower case, the electric dust collector comprising: an electric charger unit; the filter unit collecting dust charged with electricity through the electric charger unit; a high voltage supply unit applying high voltage to the electric charger unit and the filter unit, an electric charger housing; a first electrode part mounted inside the electric charger housing, the first electrode part having a plurality of through holes formed in a flat board of a conductive material; and a second electrode part mounted inside the electric charger housing spaced apart from the first electrode part; and a cover opening and closing the insertion part of the blower case.

6. The method of controlling according to claim 5, wherein the determining step determines that the driver is approaching the vehicle when a key sensor disposed in the vehicle is triggered.

7. The method of controlling according to claim 5, wherein the determining step determines that the driver is approaching the vehicle when a door of the vehicle is opened.

8. The method of controlling according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of after the filter unit power supplying step: checking a running state and a stopped state of the vehicle; and cutting off power supplied to the filter unit when it is determined the vehicle is stopped after running in the checking step.

9. A method of controlling an electric dust collector of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: determining an approach of a driver; and supplying electric power to a filter unit when it is determined that the driver is approaching the vehicle in the determining step, wherein the air blower device comprises: a blower case including a duct part having an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet, an air blowing part connected with an inlet of an air-conditioning case, and a connection part connecting the duct part with the air blowing part, the connection part having an insertion part with a hollow area; an indoor and outdoor air converting door disposed inside the duct part of the blower case to open and close the indoor air inlet and the outdoor air inlet; an air blower disposed inside the air blowing part of the blower case to forcedly blow air; an electric charger unit mounted on the blower case, the electric charger unit comprising: an electric charger housing; a first electrode part mounted inside the electric charger housing; and a second electrode part mounted inside the electric charger housing spaced apart from the first electrode part; an electric dust collector located at the connection part through the insertion part of the blower case, the electric duct collector comprising the filter unit collecting dust charged with electricity through the electric charger unit and a high voltage supply unit applying high voltage to the electric charger unit and the filter unit; and a cover opening and closing the insertion part of the blower case, wherein the cover includes a hollow hole aligned with the hollow area to permit the high voltage supply unit of the electric dust collector to protrude outside of the blower case.

10. The method of controlling according to claim 9, wherein the determining step determines that the driver is approaching the vehicle when a key sensor disposed in the vehicle is triggered.

11. The method of controlling according to claim 9, wherein the determining step determines that the driver is approaching the vehicle when a door of the vehicle is opened.

12. The method of controlling according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of after the filter unit power supplying step: checking a running state and a stopped state of the vehicle; and cutting off power supplied to the filter unit when it is determined the vehicle is stopped after running in the checking step.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electric dust collector according to a prior art.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for showing dust collection of an electrostatic dust collector.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the air blower device of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the air blower device of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electric dust collector of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is a partially sectional perspective view of the electric dust collector of FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a filter unit of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first electrode unit of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system.

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second electrode unit of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system.

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another electric dust collector of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system.

(12) FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the air blower device of FIG. 12.

(14) FIG. 14 is a view of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(15) FIG. 15 is another view of the air blower device of FIG. 14.

(16) FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a controlling method of an electric dust collector for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 17 is another flow chart of the controlling method of the electric dust collector of FIG. 16.

(18) FIG. 18 is a flow chart of a controlling method of an electric dust collector for a vehicle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(19) FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a controlling method of an electric dust collector for a vehicle according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

(20) 1000: air blower device of air-conditioning system for vehicle

(21) TABLE-US-00001 100: blower case 101: coupling hole 110: duct part 111: indoor air inlet 112: outdoor air inlet 120: air blowing part 130: connection part 131: insertion part 200: indoor and outdoor air converting door 300: blower part 400: electric dust collector 410: filter unit 411: filter housing 412: filter member 420: electric charger unit 421: electric charger housing 422: first electrode part 422a: through hole 423: second electrode part 423a: frame 423b: electric charge pin 430: high voltage supply unit 431: connector 500: cover 501: hollow hole 510: fixing part 520: protrusion part S10~S40: steps in controlling method of electric dust collector for vehicle

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(22) Hereinafter, reference will be now made in detail to an air blower device 1000 of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle having an electric dust collector 400 and a controlling method of the electric dust collector according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

(23) FIG. 3 is a perspective view, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(24) The air blower device 1000 of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a blower case 100, an indoor and outdoor air converting door 200, an air blower 300, an electric dust collector 400 and a cover 500.

(25) The blower case 100 contains the indoor and outdoor air converting door 200, the air blower 300 and the electric dust collector 400 therein, and includes a duct part 110, an air blowing part 120 and a connection part 130.

(26) The duct part 110 has an indoor air inlet 111 and an outdoor air inlet 112, and the indoor and outdoor air converting door 200 is disposed inside the duct part 110. The indoor air inlet 111 hollowed so that indoor air of the vehicle flows in, and the outdoor air inlet 112 is hollowed so that outdoor air flows in.

(27) The air blower 300 is disposed inside the air blowing part 120, and is connected with an inlet of an air-conditioning case (not shown).

(28) The connection part 130 is to connect the air blowing part 120 with the duct part 110, and the electric dust collector 400 is disposed inside the connection part 130. In this instance, the connection part 130 includes an insertion part 131 of which the certain area is hollowed so that the electric dust collector 400 is inserted and is detachably mounted.

(29) The indoor and outdoor air converting door 200 is disposed inside the duct part 110 of the blower case 100 and rotates while drawing an arc round a driving shaft so as to selectively open and close the indoor air inlet 111 and the outdoor air inlet 112. FIG. 5 shows a state where the indoor and outdoor air converting door 200 makes flow in the outdoor air, and inflow of the indoor air is marked with dotted lines.

(30) The air blower 300 is disposed inside the air blowing part 120 of the blower case 100 in order to forcedly blow the air. When the air flows in through the indoor air inlet 111 or the outdoor air inlet 112 by operation of the air blower 300, the air blower 300 blows the air toward an inlet of the air-conditioning case. In this instance, the air blown to the inlet of the air-conditioning case exchanges heat by heat exchangers disposed inside the air-conditioning case and is blown to the interior of the vehicle to control the indoor temperature of the vehicle.

(31) The electric dust collector 400 is located at the connection part 130 through the insertion part 131 of the blower case 100, and a detailed form of the electric dust collector 400 will be described as follows.

(32) The cover 500 is to open and close the insertion part 131 of the blower case 100, and has a fixing part 510 to be fixed on the blower case 100. That is, the air blower device 1000 of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the present invention has several advantages in that the electric dust collector 400 is easy to be mounted and detached and the filter is easy to be replaced with a new one because the insertion part 131 of the blower case 100 can be opened and closed by the cover 500. Additionally, the air blower device 1000 of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the present invention can effectively increase comfort of the vehicle by an electric dust collection filter without transformation of the existing blower case 100.

(33) FIG. 6 is a perspective view and FIG. 7 is a partially sectional perspective view of an electric dust collector of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a filter unit of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a first electrode unit of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a second electrode unit of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another electric dust collector of the air blower device of the air-conditioning system. The electric dust collector 400 includes an electric charger unit 420, a filter unit 410 and a high voltage supply unit 430.

(34) The electric charger unit 420 charges dust with electricity and includes an electric charger housing 421, a first electrode part 422 and a second electrode part 423.

(35) The electric charger housing 421 is an outer member for forming the electric charger unit 420. The first electrode part 422 has a plurality of through holes 422a formed in a flat plate of a conductive material. The second electrode part 423 includes a frame 423a and an electric charge pin 423b protruding from the frame 423a toward the center of the through holes 422a of the first electrode part 422. The first electrode part 422 and the second electrode part 423 charges dust with electricity when a positive electrode and a negative electrode are applied. In more detail, when the first electrode part 422 receives high positive voltage and the second electrode part 423 receives high negative voltage, the electric charge pin 423b is located at the center of the through hole 422a of the first electrode part 422 so that an electric field is smoothly made from the electric charge pin 423a to the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 422a, thereby actively charging fine dust, which passes through the first electrode part 422 and the second electrode part 423, with electricity.

(36) The filter unit 410 includes a filter housing 411 and a filter member 412. The filter housing 411 supports the filter member 412. The filter member 412 is formed in such a way that a plurality of dust collection plates respectively having conductive surfaces (formed by applying, coating or attaching a conductive material, are laminated in many folds) and is formed such that air can move inside the filter housing 411. In this instance, the filter member 412 is formed to transfer electric current applied from the high voltage supply unit 430 to the conductive surface.

(37) That is, dust charged with electricity by the electric charger unit 420 is collected to the filter member 412.

(38) The high voltage supply unit 430 supplies high voltage to the electric charger unit 420 and the filter unit 410. In this instance, a connector 431 for connecting electricity to the vehicle at ordinary times is formed. In this instance, the air blower device 100 of the air-conditioning case for the vehicle according to the present invention has a hollow hole 501 which is formed in such a way that a certain area of the cover 500 is hollowed so that the high voltage supply unit 430 protrudes to the outside of the blower case 100. Accordingly, the air blower device 100 of the air-conditioning case for the vehicle according to the present invention can easily connect power supply to the high voltage supply unit 430 without transformation of the existing blower case 100.

(39) The high voltage supply unit 430 can supply high voltage to the electric charger unit 420 and the filter unit 410 and apply high voltage to another high voltage using units. In other words, the high voltage supply unit 430 can simplify configuration of vehicle parts because applying high voltage to units requiring high voltage, for instance, an anion generator, as well as being used for the electric dust collector 400.

(40) In FIG. 11, the electric dust collector 400 has the above-mentioned structure and includes the filter housing 411 and the electric charger housing 421 which are formed integrally.

(41) In the meantime, FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view and FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrating the air-conditioning system for the vehicle according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electric charger unit 420 is mounted in a blower case 100, and an electric dust collector 400 includes: a filter unit 410 for collecting dust charged with electricity through the electric charger unit 420; and a high voltage supply unit 430 for applying high voltage to the electric charger unit 420 and the filter unit 410. In this instance, the electric charger unit 420 includes a first electrode part 422 and a second electrode part 423. The electric charger housing 421 may be the blower case 100 or may be mounted on the blower case 100. The first electrode part 422 and the second electrode part 423 have the above-mentioned characteristics.

(42) Moreover, FIGS. 14 and 15 are views of an air blower device of an air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an example that four fixing parts 510 are formed and fixed on a cover 500. In FIGS. 14 and 15, a coupling hole 101 is formed at one side of a blower case 100, a protrusion part 520 is formed at one side of the cover 500 in correspondence with the coupling hole 101 and the fixing parts 10 are formed at the other side of the blower case 100 or at the cover 500 so that the blower case 100 and the cover 500 are fixed to each other by the fixing part 510 when the protrusion part 520 of the cover rotates on an axis of a portion where the protrusion part 520 is inserted into the coupling hole 101. Particularly, FIG. 14 illustrates an example that the coupling hole 101 is formed at the left side of the blower case 100 and the protrusion part 520 corresponding to the coupling hole 101 is formed at the left side of the cover 500. Additionally, FIG. 15 illustrates an example that the coupling hole 101 is formed at the upper portion of the blower case 100, the protrusion part 520 corresponding to the coupling hole 101 is formed at the upper portion of the cover 500 and the fixing part 510 is formed at the other side of the cover 500. The fixing part 510 may adopt a hook type or one of various fixing ways, and may adopt one of various fixing means which is formed on at least one of the blower case 100 and the cover 500.

(43) FIGS. 16 and 17 are flow charts of a controlling method of an electric dust collector for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 18 is a flow chart of a controlling method of an electric dust collector for a vehicle according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 19 is a flow chart of a controlling method of an electric dust collector for a vehicle according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(44) The controlling method of the electric dust collector for the vehicle according to the present invention relates to a method of controlling the electric dust collector 400 contained in the air blower device 1000 of the air-conditioning system for the vehicle mentioned above, and includes a step (S10) of determining a driver's approach and a step (S20) of supplying electric power to the filter unit.

(45) The approach determining step (S10) is the step of determining whether or not the driver approaches the vehicle in a state where the vehicle is stopped or stalls. That is, the approach determining step (S10) is the step for sensing that the driver approaches the vehicle in order to drive the vehicle. The approach determining step (S10) is carried out before the driver starts an engine after getting into the vehicle, namely, before the air-conditioning system starts operation.

(46) As shown in FIG. 18, the approach determining step (S10) includes the steps of: (S11) determining that the driver approaches the vehicle when a key sensor disposed on the vehicle is sensed; and (S12) determining that the driver approaches the vehicle when a vehicle door is opened as shown in FIG. 19.

(47) The filter unit power supplying step (S20) is the step of supplying electric power to the filter unit 410 when the driver's approach is determined in the approach determining step (S10). The filter unit power supplying step (S20) continues while the vehicle is running.

(48) In other words, the controlling method of the electric dust collector for the vehicle according to the present invention determines the driver's approach before the vehicle is started, namely, before the air-conditioning system (the air blowing part 120 is operated and supplies electric power to the filter unit 410 of the electric dust collector 400 so that the dust collected to the filter unit 410 can be in a stuck state. Because the air blowing part 120 is operated before electric power is supplied to the filter unit 410, the dust collected to the filter unit 410 is detached from the filter unit not to be supplied to the interior of the vehicle so that the controlling method of the electric dust collector can enhance a passenger's comfort more.

(49) Furthermore, the controlling method of the electric dust collector for the vehicle according to the present invention further includes a driving checking step (S30) and a filter unit power disconnecting step (S40).

(50) The driving checking step (S30) is the step of checking a running state and a stop state of the vehicle after the filter unit power supplying step (S20). The running state and the stop state of the vehicle may be checked through a start-up state or RPM information of the vehicle, and the driving checking step (S30) may be carried out through an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle.

(51) The filter unit power disconnecting step (S40) is the step of disconnecting electric power supplied to the filter unit 410 when it is checked that the vehicle is stopped after running in the driving checking step (S30).

(52) After the filter unit power disconnecting step (S40), when the driver moves outside the vehicle (it can be checked through a vehicle door locked state), the approach determining step (S10) is carried out again.

(53) In other words, the controlling method of the electric dust collector for the vehicle according to the present invention determines the driver's approach before the air blowing part 120 is operated after the driver gets on, supplies electric power to the filter unit 410 of the electric dust collector 400, and then, cuts off power supply to the filter unit 410 when the vehicle is stopped after running so as to prevent that the dust stuck on the filter unit 410 of the electric dust collector 400 is supplied to the interior of the vehicle, thereby enhancing comfort of the vehicle.

(54) While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.