Automotive air-conditioning system

Abstract

An automotive air-conditioning system has a gas-liquid separator, a compressor and a radiator, which are interposed in a first flow channel of a refrigerant which extends within an engine room in the order in the flowing direction of the refrigerant. The system also includes a pressure reducer and an evaporator, which are interposed in a second flow channel of the refrigerant which extends within a vehicle interior in the order in the flowing direction of the refrigerant. The system also has a connecting device disposed near a partition wall that separates the engine room from the vehicle interior. The connecting device circularly connects the first to the second flow channel, and includes a first connecting portion formed at the downstream end of the second flow channel and a second connecting portion that is formed at the inlet of the gas-liquid separator and is connected to the first connecting portion.

1 . An automotive air-conditioning system comprising:
 a gas-liquid separator, a compressor and a radiator, the gas-liquid separator, the compressor and the radiator being interposed in a first flow channel of a refrigerant which extends within an engine room in the order named in a flowing direction of the refrigerant;   a pressure reducer and an evaporator, the pressure reducer and the evaporator being interposed in a second flow channel of the refrigerant which extends within a vehicle interior in the order named in the flowing direction of the refrigerant; and   a connecting device disposed near a partition wall that separates the engine room from the vehicle interior, and circularly connects the first and second flow channels to each other, the connecting device including a first connecting portion that is formed at a downstream end of the second flow channel and a second connecting portion that is formed at an inlet of the gas-liquid separator and is connected to the first connecting portion.   
   
   
       2 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an internal heat exchanger that is interposed in the first flow channel, wherein:   the internal heat exchanger includes   a high-temperature portion that is disposed in a high-pressure area of the first flow channel which extends between the radiator and the pressure reducer;   a low-temperature portion that is disposed in a low-pressure area of the first flow channel which extends between the gas-liquid separator and the compressor and receives heat from the high-temperature portion; and   a third connecting portion that is formed at an inlet of the low-temperature portion, and wherein:   the gas-liquid separator includes a fourth connecting portion that is formed at an outlet of the gas-liquid separator and is connected to the third connecting portion.   
   
   
       3 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the internal heat exchanger includes a fifth connecting portion that is formed at the outlet of the high-temperature portion, and   the connecting device includes   a sixth connecting portion that is formed at an upstream end of the second flow channel; and   a bridge portion that is formed integrally with both the second and fourth connecting portions of the gas-liquid separator, the bridge portion being connected to both the fifth and sixth connecting portions and having an internal flow channel that communicates between the outlet of the high-temperature portion and the upstream end of the second flow channel.   
   
   
       4 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a supporting device for supporting the gas-liquid separator by using the partition wall.   
   
   
       5 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the supporting device includes   a bracket for holding the gas-liquid separator, and   an engaging member that is interposed between the bracket and the partition wall and engages the bracket and the partition wall with each other.   
   
   
       6 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the supporting device further includes a buffering member having thermal insulating properties and elasticity, which is interposed between the bracket and the partition wall.   
   
   
       7 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first and second connecting portions of the connecting device, the fourth connecting portion of the gas-liquid separator and the third connecting portion of the internal heat exchanger are arranged in one straight line; and   the sixth connecting portion of the connecting device, the bridge portion, and the fifth connecting portion of the internal heat exchanger are arranged in another straight line parallel to the one straight line.   
   
   
       8 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first and sixth connecting portions of the connecting device are integrally formed;   the third and fifth connecting portions of the internal heat exchanger are integrally formed; and   the connecting device includes   a single bolt that couples the first connecting portion with the second connecting portion, the bridge portion with the fifth and sixth connecting portions, and the third connecting portion with the fourth connecting portion.   
   
   
       9 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the refrigerant is CO 2 .   
   
   
       10 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first and second connecting portions of the connecting device, the fourth connecting portion of the gas-liquid separator and the third connecting portion of the internal heat exchanger are arranged in one straight line; and   the sixth connecting portion of the connecting device, the bridge portion, and the fifth connecting portion of the internal heat exchanger are arranged in another straight line parallel to the one straight line.   
   
   
       11 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first and sixth connecting portions of the connecting device are integrally formed;   the third and fifth connecting portions of the internal heat exchanger are integrally formed; and   the connecting device includes   a single bolt that couples the first connecting portion with the second connecting portion, the bridge portion with the fifth and sixth connecting portions, and the third connecting portion with the fourth connecting portion.   
   
   
       12 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the refrigerant is CO 2 .   
   
   
       13 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a supporting device for supporting the gas-liquid separator by using the partition wall.   
   
   
       14 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the refrigerant is CO 2 .   
   
   
       15 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a supporting device for supporting the gas-liquid separator by using the partition wall.   
   
   
       16 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the refrigerant is CO 2 .   
   
   
       17 . The automotive air-conditioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the refrigerant is CO 2 .