# US 2018/0022192 A1 · Air-conditioning unit for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022192 A1 - Document ID: US20180022192A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/549,901 - Filed: 2016-02-29 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-03 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Kenichiro MAEDA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022192A1 ## CPC - B60H 1/3233: {characterised by condensed liquid drainage means} - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES ## Abstract An air-conditioning unit for a vehicle includes an air-conditioning case; a cooler disposed in the air-conditioning case and adapted to cool air flowing through the air-conditioning case; and a blower disposed on an air-flow downstream side of the cooler and adapted to blow the air into a vehicle interior. The air-conditioning case includes a drain-hole formation portion that forms a drain hole to discharge condensed water generated in the cooler toward an outside of the air-conditioning case. The air-conditioning case is provided with a cooling structure that cools suction air drawn from the drain hole into the air-conditioning case. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air-conditioning unit for a vehicle, comprising: an air-conditioning case; a cooler disposed in the air-conditioning case and adapted to cool air flowing through the air-conditioning case; and a blower disposed on an air-flow downstream side of the cooler and adapted to blow the air into a vehicle interior, wherein the air-conditioning case includes a drain-hole formation portion that forms a drain hole to discharge condensed water generated in the cooler toward an outside of the air-conditioning case, and the air-conditioning case is provided with a cooling structure that cools suction air drawn from the drain hole into the air-conditioning case. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cooler includes a core portion that exchanges heat with air flowing through the air-conditioning case to cool the air, and a bottom portion that forms a bottom surface part of the cooler, and the cooling structure includes a structure in which the suction air is cooled by exchanging heat with at least one of the core portion, the bottom portion, and the condensed water. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the drain hole is disposed on an air-flow upstream side with respect to the cooler, and the cooling structure includes a structure in which at least part of the suction air is cooled by exchanging heat with the core portion of the cooler while passing through the core portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the air-conditioning case includes a communication path that communicates a space on the air-flow downstream side of the cooler with a space on the air-flow upstream side of the cooler, the condensed water on the air-flow downstream side of the cooler passes through the communication path and reaches the drain hole, and the cooling structure includes a structure in which at least part of the suction air is cooled by exchanging heat with the condensed water when the at least part of the suction air passes through the communication path and reaches the air-flow downstream side of the cooler. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the drain hole is provided at a bottom surface of the air-conditioning case located below the cooler, a communication path is formed between the bottom surface of the air-conditioning case and the bottom portion of the cooler so as to communicate a space on the air-flow downstream side of the cooler with a space where the drain hole is formed, the condensed water on the air-flow downstream side of the cooler passes through the communication path and reaches the drain hole, and the cooling structure includes a structure in which at least part of the suction air is cooled by exchanging heat with the condensed water when the at least part of the suction air passes through the communication path and reaches the air-flow downstream side of the cooler. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the air-conditioning case includes a support portion that supports the bottom portion of the cooler, and the cooling structure includes a structure in which the suction air passing through the communication path is cooled by exchanging heat with the bottom portion of the cooler. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising: a heat dissipation member disposed in at least one of the communication path and the drain hole so as to promote heat exchange between the suction air and the condensed water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the drain hole is provided directly under the cooler. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cooling structure includes a structure in which the suction air is cooled before being blown into the vehicle interior. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: a heat dissipation member disposed in the drain hole so as to promote the heat exchange between the suction air and the condensed water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the drain hole is disposed on the air-flow downstream side with respect to the cooler. ### Claim 12 An air-conditioning unit for a vehicle, comprising: an air-conditioning case; a cooler disposed in the air-conditioning case and adapted to cool air flowing through the air-conditioning case; and a blower disposed on an air-flow downstream side of the cooler and adapted to blow the air into a vehicle interior, wherein the air-conditioning case includes a drain-hole formation portion that forms a drain hole to discharge condensed water generated in the cooler toward an outside of the air-conditioning case, and a state changing portion that changes a state of the suction air drawn from the drain hole into the air-conditioning case. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the state changing portion includes at least one of a heat dissipation member that promotes the heat exchange between the suction air and the condensed water, a cooling portion that cools the suction air, a heating portion that heats the suction air, a deodorant that deodorizes smell contained in the suction air, a foreign matter removal portion that removes foreign matter from the suction air, an aroma generating portion that causes an aroma component to be contained in the suction air, and a sterilizing portion that sterilizes the suction air. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The air-conditioning unit for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the state changing portion is provided in the drain hole.