AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

Abstract

An air conditioning system having an air conditioner housing and a condensation drain device, the air conditioner housing having a condensation outlet, the condensation drain device being connectable to the condensation outlet, an essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element having an undercut being provided on the air conditioner housing, and a compatible receiving element being provided on the condensation drain device, so that the condensation drain device may be detachably fastened to the air conditioner housing for transport purposes.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system comprising: an air conditioner housing, the air conditioner housing having a condensation outlet; and a condensation drain device, the condensation drain device being connectable to the condensation outlet; an essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element having an undercut provided on the air conditioner housing; and a compatible receiving element provided on the condensation drain device so that the condensation drain device is adapted to be detachably fastened to the air conditioner housing for transport purposes.

2. An air conditioning system comprising: an air conditioner housing, the air conditioner housing having a condensation outlet; a condensation drain device, the condensation drain device being connectable to the condensation outlet; an essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element having an undercut provided on the condensation drain device; and a compatible receiving element provided on the air conditioner housing so that the condensation drain device is adapted to be detachably fastened to the air conditioner housing for transport purposes.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element is a ball head joint element.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element is a connecting element having an arrow-like or mushroom-like head element having an undercut.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, wherein the compatible receiving element is essentially a ball socket.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the compatible receiving element is essentially a socket which is designed for the form-fitting receiving of an arrow-like or mushroom-like head element having an undercut.

7. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner housing is made from a first plastic, at least partially or in areas, and the essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element or the compatible receiving element is injection-molded from the first plastic as a single piece with the air conditioning housing or is injection-molded thereon.

8. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the condensation drain device is made from a second plastic, and the essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element or the compatible receiving element is injection-molded from the second plastic as a single piece with the condensation drain device or is injection-molded thereon.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein the first plastic is the same as the second plastic or the first plastic is different than the second plastic.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein the first plastic has a higher or a lower elasticity than the second plastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of an air conditioner housing and a condensation drain device;

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of an air conditioner housing, including a condensation drain device connected thereto;

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an arrow-like head element; and

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a mushroom-like head element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning system 1, comprising an air conditioner housing 2 and comprising a condensation drain device 3. Air conditioner housing 2 is manufactured from plastic and has air ducts in its interior, through which air coming from a fan is conducted. The air may flow through an evaporator and/or a heating element for the purpose of being temperature-controlled. In the area below the evaporator, a condensation outlet 4 is provided in air conditioner housing 2, to be able to remove condensation accumulating on the condenser, such as water, from the air conditioner housing.

[0027] To safely conduct the condensation out of the vehicle, condensation drain device 3 is designed to be connectable to condensation outlet 4.

[0028] However, the condensation drain device is not fixedly connectable to the air conditioner housing, because the latter may run into difficulties during transport and possibly also when mounting the air conditioner or the air conditioner housing in the motor vehicle. The condensation drain device is therefore designed to be connectable to the air conditioner housing. To avoid losing the condensation drain device of the air conditioner housing during transport, the condensation drain device is detachably fastened to the outside of the air conditioner housing, so that it hangs on the air conditioner housing but does not perform any intake function and is thus separate from the condensation outlet. For this purpose, the condensation drain device would have to be connected to the condensation outlet.

[0029] To detachably fasten condensation drain device 3 to air conditioner housing 2, an essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element 5 having an undercut is provided on air conditioner housing 2, and a compatible receiving element 6 is provided on condensation drain device 3, so that condensation drain device 3 may be detachably fastened to air conditioner housing 2, in particular for transport purposes.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows air conditioner housing 2 and condensation drain device 3 while they are still separated from each other, and FIG. 2 shows condensation drain device 3 when it is detachably connected to air conditioner housing 2 with the aid of connecting element 5 and receiving element 6.

[0031] Alternatively, it may also be provided that an essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element having an undercut, corresponding to element 5, is provided on condensation drain device 3, and a compatible receiving element, corresponding to element 6, is provided on air conditioner housing 2, so that condensation drain device 3 may be detachably fastened to air conditioner housing 2, in particular for transport purposes.

[0032] Connecting element 5 engages with a receptacle 7 of receiving element 6 for connection to receiving element 6. Receptacle 7 has an undercut 8, which is engaged from behind by head element 9 of connecting element 5.

[0033] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element 5 is a ball head joint element. Head element 9 of connecting element 5 is an element designed approximately as a ball. Receiving element 6 compatible therewith is essentially designed as a ball socket.

[0034] According to FIG. 3 or 4, essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element 5 is a connecting element having an essentially arrow-like head element 10 having an undercut or an essentially mushroom-like head element 11 having an undercut. Receiving element 6 compatible therewith is essentially a socket, which is designed for the form-fitting receiving of an arrow-like or mushroom-like head element 10, 11 having an undercut.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the invention, it is furthermore advantageous if air conditioner housing 2 is made from a first plastic, at least partially or in areas, and essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element 5 or compatible receiving element 6 is injection-molded from the first plastic as a single piece with air conditioning housing 2 or is injection-molded thereon. An easy manufacturing is implemented thereby. The first plastic is, for example, a polyamide, polypropylene, etc, optionally including additives.

[0036] It is also advantageous if condensation drain device 3 is made from a second plastic, at least partially or in areas, and essentially rotationally symmetrical connecting element 5 or compatible receiving element 6 is injection-molded from the second plastic as a single piece with condensation drain device 3 or is injection-molded thereon. Second plastic may be, for example, the same as the first plastic, or it may be different. For example, the second plastic may be an elastomer.

[0037] It is particularly advantageous if the first plastic has a higher or a lower elasticity than the second plastic. This means that the modulus of elasticity of the first plastic is higher or lower than the modulus of elasticity of the second plastic. Higher or lower thus means, for example, at least 10% higher or lower, in particular higher or lower than 50%.

[0038] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.