Temperature control apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

A temperature control apparatus for radiating heat from a side door to a vehicle interior is disclosed. A heat source is disposed within a peripheral edge part of an opening in a vehicle body. A heat pipe is provided to the side door. When the opening is closed by the side door, the heat source and heat pipe are thermally connected by a heat transmission mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention shall be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle having a temperature control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a side door shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an interior of a cutout portion of a heat transmission mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional views showing a state in which a heat source and the heat transmission mechanism are connected;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the side door and a lining;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views showing a state in which the side door has been closed from an opened state;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic views showing the flow of heat from a heat pipe;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example in which the heat from the heat pipe is used only for heating the vehicle interior;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a temperature control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing an example in which a hinge is used as a heat transmission mechanism; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a temperature control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, showing an example in which a striker and a latch are used as a heat transmission mechanism.

Claims

1. A temperature control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: an opening/closing member capable of opening and dosing actions relative to an opening formed in a body of the vehicle;a heat source provided to the vehicle body;a heat pipe disposed within the opening/closing member for transmitting heat from the heat source; anda heat transmission mechanism for thermally connecting the heat pipe and the heat source when the opening is closed by the opening/closing member.

2. The temperature control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat source is accommodated in an accommodating part provided to a peripheral edge part of the opening, and the accommodating part has a connecting opening facing the heat transmission mechanism.

3. The temperature control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is mounted on a lining using a mounting piece, and the lining having the heat pipe is mounted on the opening/closing member.

4. The temperature control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat transmission mechanism has a push bar comprised of a heat-transmitting material urged by a spring force in a direction of the heat source so as to be connected with the heat source.

5. The temperature control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the lining has a fan for guiding heat from the heat pipe toward a shutter provided to the lining.

6. The temperature control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shutter is disposed in a vicinity of a window provided to the opening/closing member.

7. The temperature control apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shutter has a shielding blade capable of opening and closing actions.

8. The temperature control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat transmission mechanism comprises hinges for connecting the opening/closing member and the vehicle body so that the hinges on the vehicle body are capable of transmitting heat from the heat source and the hinges on the opening/closing member are capable of transmitting the heat to the heat pipe.

9. The temperature control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat transmission mechanism comprises a latch formed of a heat-transmitting material and provided to one of the opening/closing member and the vehicle body, and a striker formed of a heat-transmitting material and provided to the other one of the opening/closing member and the vehicle body for engaging with the latch, so that the heat source and heat pipe are capable of transmitting heat upon engagement of the latch and striker.

10. The temperature control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat source is designed to heat or cool the heat pipe.