# US 2018/0022188 A1 · Air conditioner for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022188 A1 - Document ID: US20180022188A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/650,976 - Filed: 2017-07-17 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. - Inventors: Shinji KAKIZAKI; Junichi KANEMARU - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022188A1 ## CPC - B60H 1/00335: {of the gas-air type (B60H1/18 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/00057: {the air being heated and cooled simultaneously, e.g. using parallel heat exchangers} - B60H 1/3202: {using evaporation, i.e. not including a compressor, e.g. involving fuel or water evaporation} - B60H 1/3204: {using compression (B60H1/3233 takes precedence)} - B60H 1/3227: {characterised by the arrangement or the type of heat exchanger, e.g. condenser, evaporator (condensed liquid drainage means B60H1/3233)} - B60H 1/3233: {characterised by condensed liquid drainage means} - B60H 1/00: Heating, cooling or ventilating devices - B60H 2001/00135: {Deviding walls for separate air flows} - F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02) - F25B 29/00: Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract To provide an air conditioner for a vehicle includes an evaporator, a heater core, an air conditioning passage, an inside air introduction passage, an outside air introduction passage, and a heat pipe. In the air conditioning passage, a ventilation portion of the heater core is disposed downstream from a ventilation portion of the evaporator. Through the heat pipe, heat is transferred from a high temperature portion on the inside air introduction passage side to a low temperature portion on the outside air introduction passage side due to evaporation and condensation of a refrigerant. The heat pipe is provided in the evaporator to straddle a position facing the inside air introduction passage and a position facing the outside air introduction passage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air conditioner for a vehicle comprising: an evaporator configured to cool conditioned air; a heater core configured to heat conditioned air; an air conditioning passage in which a ventilation portion of the heater core is disposed downstream from a ventilation portion of the evaporator and conditioned air blown into a cabin is generated; an inside air introduction passage which is connected to an upstream side of the ventilation portion of the evaporator of the air conditioning passage and through which air in the cabin is introduced to the ventilation portion of the evaporator; an outside air introduction passage which is connected to an upstream side of the ventilation portion of the evaporator of the air conditioning passage in parallel with the inside air introduction passage and through which air outside the vehicle is introduced to the ventilation portion of the evaporator; and a heat pipe through which heat is transferred from a high temperature portion to a low temperature portion due to evaporation and condensation of a refrigerant, wherein the heat pipe is provided in the evaporator to straddle a position facing the inside air introduction passage and a position facing the outside air introduction passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the evaporator which is connected to the outside air introduction passage is disposed above a portion of the evaporator which is connected to the inside air introduction passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator includes a plurality of refrigerant passages in rows that extend in a direction intersecting a ventilation portion on the inside air introduction passage side and a ventilation portion on the outside air introduction passage side and wherein the heat pipe is disposed between the adjacent refrigerant passages of the evaporator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the evaporator includes a plurality of refrigerant passages in rows that extend in a direction intersecting a ventilation portion on the inside air introduction passage side and a ventilation portion on the outside air introduction passage side and wherein the heat pipe is disposed between the adjacent refrigerant passages of the evaporator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a refrigerant sealing valve for sealing a refrigerant is provided in the heat pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a refrigerant sealing valve for sealing a refrigerant is provided in the heat pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of refrigerant passages in rows of the evaporator are made of a pipe member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of refrigerant passages in rows of the evaporator are made of a pipe member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of refrigerant passages in rows of the evaporator are made of a plurality of plate members that are bonded to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of refrigerant passages in rows of the evaporator are made of a plurality of plate members that are bonded to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a refrigeration cycle to which the evaporator is connected includes a sealing portion capable of sealing a refrigerant that circulates through the inside in a refrigerant passage of the evaporator, and wherein the heat pipe is formed in a state in which the refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant passage by the sealing portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a refrigeration cycle to which the evaporator is connected includes a sealing portion capable of sealing a refrigerant that circulates through the inside in a refrigerant passage of the evaporator, and wherein the heat pipe is formed in a state in which the refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant passage by the sealing portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inside air introduction passage and the outside air introduction passage are partitioned by a partition wall and disposed adjacent to each other, and wherein a heat transfer member that exchanges heat between air that passes through the inside of the inside air introduction passage and air that passes through the inside of the outside air introduction passage is provided on the partition wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the inside air introduction passage and the outside air introduction passage are partitioned by a partition wall and disposed adjacent to each other, and wherein a heat transfer member that exchanges heat between air that passes through the inside of the inside air introduction passage and air that passes through the inside of the outside air introduction passage is provided on the partition wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein an insulating material for blocking heat exchange between outside air that passes through the inside of the outside air introduction passage and air in the surrounding region is disposed on the outer periphery of the outside air introduction passage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 14, wherein an insulating material for blocking heat exchange between outside air that passes through the inside of the outside air introduction passage and air in the surrounding region is disposed on the outer periphery of the outside air introduction passage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein a drain passage from which condensed water generated from introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside is provided in the inside air introduction passage, and wherein an air outlet from which introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside together with the condensed water is provided in the drain passage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 14, wherein a drain passage from which condensed water generated from introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside is provided in the inside air introduction passage, and wherein an air outlet from which introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside together with the condensed water is provided in the drain passage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein a drain passage from which condensed water generated from introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside is provided in the inside air introduction passage, and wherein an air outlet from which introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside together with the condensed water is provided in the drain passage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The air conditioner for a vehicle according to claim 16, wherein a drain passage from which condensed water generated from introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside is provided in the inside air introduction passage, and wherein an air outlet from which introduced air in the cabin is discharged to the outside together with the condensed water is provided in the drain passage.