Support device and air conditioning system for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11299007-B2
Application number	US-202016798772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2020
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A support device secures first tubes and second tubes to a vehicle body. The first tubes and the second tubes extend outward from an air conditioning case of a vehicle air conditioning system. The support device is outside the air conditioning case. The support device includes a first bracket in contact with the first tubes, and a second bracket in contact with the second tubes. The support device includes a common bracket coupled to both of the first bracket and the second bracket. The common bracket and the first bracket are in contact with the first tubes from opposite sides, holding the first tubes therebetween. The common bracket and the second bracket are in contact with the refrigerant tubes from opposite sides, holding the refrigerant tubes therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support device for securing a set of first tubes and a set of second tubes to an external member, the support device being outside an air conditioning case of a vehicle air conditioning system, the support device comprising:
a first bracket separated from the air conditioning case and including a first bracket support supporting the set of first tubes that extends outward from the air conditioning case;
a second bracket separated from the air conditioning case and including a second bracket support supporting the set of second tubes that extends outward from the air conditioning case; and
a common bracket separated from the air conditioning case and coupled to both the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein
the common bracket includes a first tube support and a second tube support,
the first tube support supports the set of first tubes and faces the first bracket support across the set of first tubes such that the set of first tubes is held by the first tube support and the first bracket support,
the second tube support supports the set of second tubes and faces the second bracket support across the set of second tubes such that the set of second tubes is held by the second tube support and the second bracket support,
the second tube support is placed within a range, in a tube alignment direction of the set of first tubes, between opposite ends of the first tube support,
the second bracket and the common bracket coupled together each have a mating surface mated with each other, and
the mating surface includes:
first surfaces extending in an alignment direction of the set of second tubes on opposite sides of the set of second tubes; and
a second surface extending continuously from an end of one of the first surfaces between the set of first tubes and the set of second tubes, the second surface extending in a direction that is tilted toward the set of first tubes from a direction orthogonal to the first surface.

2. A support device for securing a set of first tubes and a set of second tubes to an external member, the support device being outside an air conditioning case of a vehicle air conditioning system, the support device comprising:
a first bracket separated from the air conditioning case and including a first bracket support supporting the set of first tubes that extends outward from the air conditioning case;
a second bracket separated from the air conditioning case and including a second bracket support supporting the set of second tubes that extends outward from the air conditioning case;
a common bracket separated from the air conditioning case and coupled to both the first bracket and the second bracket; and
a plurality of attachment portions to be attached to the external member, wherein
the common bracket includes a first tube support and a second tube support,
the first tube support supports the set of first tubes and faces the first bracket support across the set of first tubes such that the set of first tubes is held by the first tube support and the first bracket support,
the second tube support supports the set of second tubes and faces the second bracket support across the set of second tubes such that the set of second tubes is held by the second tube support and the second bracket support,
the second tube support is placed within a range, in a tube alignment direction of the set of first tubes, between opposite ends of the first tube support, and
the plurality of attachment portions is placed within a range, in the alignment direction of the set of first tubes, between opposite ends of a portion supporting the set of first tubes.

3. The support device according to claim 2 , wherein the second bracket and the common bracket coupled together each have a mating surface mated with each other,
the mating surface includes:
first surfaces extending in an alignment direction of the set of second tubes on opposite sides of the set of second tubes; and
a second surface extending continuously from an end of one of the first surfaces between the set of first tubes and the set of second tubes, the second surface extending in a direction that is tilted toward the set of first tubes from a direction orthogonal to the first surface.

4. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second surface has a first-surface connection portion continuous from the first surface, and an outer-edge connection portion connected to outer edges of the second bracket and the common bracket coupled together, and
a tilt angle of the outer-edge connection portion from the direction orthogonal to the first surface is a smaller than a tilt angle of the first-surface connection portion from the direction orthogonal to the first surface.

5. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the first tube support is between the second tube support and the set of first tubes.

6. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the second bracket and the common bracket hold therebetween the set of second tubes aligned in a direction orthogonal to the tube alignment direction of the set of first tubes.

7. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second bracket and the common bracket hold therebetween the set of second tubes aligned in a direction obliquely intersecting with the tube alignment direction of the set of first tubes, and
the second tube support is between the first tube support and the set of second tubes.

8. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the second bracket support includes a set of recess portions each of which is in contact with equal to or more than half of an outer circumference of a corresponding one of the set of second tubes such that the set of recess portions holds the set of second tubes.

9. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the second bracket and the common bracket coupled together form a coupler retainer portion retaining a coupling member that is connected to adjacent two of the set of second tubes.

10. An air conditioning system for a vehicle, the system comprising the support device according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Sakaguchi Taisuke

Classifications

• F16L3/10

  divided, i.e. with two members engaging the pipe, cable or protective tubing · CPC title

• B60H1/00571

  of liquid ducts, e.g. for coolant liquids or refrigerants · CPC title

• B60H1/32

  Cooling devices {(B60H1/00478, B60H1/005 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60H1/00

  Heating, cooling or ventilating devices · CPC title

• B60H2001/00242

  Devices in the rear area of the passenger compartment · CPC title