AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAVING A DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING CONDENSED WATER

Abstract

An air-conditioning system having a discharge device (10) for discharging condensed water from the air-conditioning system, wherein the discharge device has a piping system (2) for guiding the condensed water, wherein the discharge device has a regulating element (3) and the regulating element is configured as an open channel rotatable about a longitudinal axis (4) between a first rotational position and a second rotational position. The regulating element (3) is configured and arranged such that the regulating element guides the condensed water inside the piping system (2) in the first rotational position and establishes a continuous connection between a drip-off point for the condensed water and an outer area around the air-conditioning system in the second rotational position.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning system comprising: a discharge device for discharging condensed water from the air-conditioning system, wherein the discharge device has a piping system for guiding the condensed water, wherein the discharge device has a regulating element, wherein the regulating element is configured as an open channel rotatable about a longitudinal axis between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, and wherein the regulating element is configured and arranged such that the regulating element guides the condensed water inside the piping system in the first rotational position and establishes a continuous connection between a drip-off point for the condensed water and an outer area around the air-conditioning system in the second rotational position.

2. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the regulating element has reinforcing ribs in a laterally open area.

3. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the regulating element has an outwardly projecting balcony.

4. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the regulating element is substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder provided with a laterally open area.

5. The air-conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the air-conditioning system is configured for mounting on a roof of a movable vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In detail, there are a multitude of possibilities for designing and further developing the air-conditioning system according to the invention. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the patent claims subordinate to the independent patent claim, and on the other hand to the following description of example embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1: shows a schematic representation of a caravan having an air-conditioning system,

[0019] FIG. 2: shows a spatial representation of a first configuration of a discharge device,

[0020] FIG. 3: shows a section through the discharge device of FIG. 2,

[0021] FIG. 4: shows a spatial representation of a second configuration of the discharge device,

[0022] FIG. 5: shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 4, and

[0023] FIG. 6: shows a section through the discharge device of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] FIG. 1 schematically shows a caravan 100 as an example of a moving vehicle, on the roof of which an air-conditioning system 10—i.e. a so-called roof air-conditioning system is located. The operation of the air-conditioning system 10 causes condensed water to form in the air-conditioning system 10, which is to be drained. The discharge device 1 provided here allows switching between guiding the condensed water from the roof of the caravan 100 in the direction of the ground via the piping system indicated here, and discharging the condensed water directly onto the roof of the caravan 100 or into the outer area 12 surrounding the air-conditioning system 10. The condensed water passes into the discharge device 1 via a drip-off point 11. The drip-off point 11 is any collection point for the condensed water, at which the condensed water flows into the discharge device 1.

[0025] A first configuration of the discharge device 1 is shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3, which will both be discussed together.

[0026] The regulating element 3 can be seen, which is located between the two lines of the piping system 2. In the installed state, the drip-off point 11, via which the condensed water flows into the discharge device 1, is preferably located above the regulating element 3 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0027] In one configuration, two regulating elements 3 are provided for an air-conditioning system and are arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to a longitudinal axis of the air-conditioning system. Therefore, the draining of the condensed water is possible at two different inclined positions of the moving vehicle.

[0028] The regulating element 3 is based on the shape of a hollow cylinder having a circular base, a laterally open area 6 being present, resulting in an overall open channel. For stabilizing the regulating element 3, three reinforcing ribs 5 are located in the laterally open area 6.

[0029] In FIG. 3 with the longitudinal axis 4 drawn in, it can be seen that the laterally open area 6 begins above the longitudinal axis 4. As a result, the internal volume enclosed by the remaining—closed—part of the regulating element 3 is larger than the volume that is also open through the open area 6 and therefore does not enclose the condensed water. Since the basic shape of the regulating element 3 here is a cylinder having a circular base, the depth of the channel is thus greater than the radius of the base. The regulating element 3 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis 4. In particular, it can be seen in FIG. 3 that a rotational position results in a free through-passage for the condensed water. This allows the condensed water to escape directly to the outer area 12 around the air-conditioning unit 10. If the regulating element 3 is rotated to another rotational position, the closed structure of the regulating element 3 forms a kind of trough in which the condensed water can flow to the piping system 2. Here, the edge areas of this trough then protrude above the height position of the longitudinal axis 4.

[0030] A second configuration of the discharge device is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, which are described together. Here, only the differences to the first configuration are discussed. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 4.

[0031] The regulating element 3 has a balcony 7 projecting radially outward, via which a larger collection surface for the condensed water is provided. The balcony 7 is located in the direction of the interior when installed in the air-conditioning system. Furthermore, a sealing structure including three sealing lips is provided on each of the two sections of the piping system 2. FIG. 6 shows a section through the regulating element 3 of FIGS. 4 and 5, the regulating element 3 being rotated such that, in the installed state, the condensed water is collected and passed on. The channel is thus open upwards in the direction of gravity. It can be seen that the balcony 7 has a rim at its end facing away from the channel, which is intended to ensure that the condensed water is collected. Furthermore, it can be seen that the channel opens above the longitudinal or central axis. If the regulating element 3 is rotated to the other rotational position in which the condensed water is to drain off, the balcony 7 also serves to drain off the condensed water safely.