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  Air-conditioning unitUSPTO Application #: 20060162350Title: Air-conditioning unit Abstract: An air-conditioning unit, in which at least a lead wire (14g) of a temperature sensor (14) is inserted in a cylindrically formed grommet (16), is disclosed. A cylindrical seal portion (16a) fitted in a hole portion (15) of a case (11) is formed at an end of the grommet (16). The lead wire (14g) is fitted relatively displaceably on the inner periphery of the cylindrical seal portion (16a). A cylindrical fixed portion (16d) fixed with the lead wire (14g) is formed at the other end of the grommet (16). A bellows (16b) is formed between the cylindrical seal portion (16a) and the cylindrical fixed portion (16d). (end of abstract) Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C - Bloomfield Hills, MI, US Inventors: Hiroaki Shiraishi, Kazuo Usui, Takanao Sugiura USPTO Applicaton #: 20060162350 - Class: 062125000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Refrigeration, With Indicator Or Tester The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060162350. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to a sensor assembly structure for an air-conditioning unit having an evaporator or a similar heat exchanger built therein or, in particular, to a sensor assembly structure used for an air-conditioning system for vehicle use. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] In recent years, demand has increased for improved quietness in a vehicle compartment, and an air-conditioning system for vehicle use employs a configuration in which a heat exchanger such as an evaporator is supported afloat with respect to the case of the air-conditioning unit, through a buffer member. [0005] FIG. 5 shows an outline of a prior art for supporting a heat exchanger in floated position. This structure includes a buffer member 13 arranged between an evaporator 12 making up a heat exchanger for the cooling operation and the inner wall surface of a case 11 of the air-conditioning unit. The buffer member 13 is made of a flexible material such as foamed resin. [0006] The vibration of the vehicle engine is transmitted to the evaporator 12 through a refrigerant pipe (not shown) coupled to a pipe joint portion 20 of the evaporator 12. This vibration of the evaporator 12 is absorbed by the buffer member 13 to suppress the transmission of the vibration to the case 11. In this way, the propagation of the vibration noise from the case 11 into the passenger compartment is suppressed. [0007] A temperature sensor 14 is assembled on the core 12a of the evaporator 12. The temperature sensor 14 is for detecting the surface temperature of the fins of the core 12a of the evaporator 12 and, as shown in FIG. 6, includes a sensor holder 14a formed of resin. The sensor holder 14a is formed integrally with an engaging piece 14b having a plurality of engaging pawls 14c, and assembled on the core 12a using the engaging piece 14b. [0008] A cylindrical sensor element unit 14d is fixedly held on the sensor holder 14a. This sensor element unit 14d includes a sensor element (thermistor element) accommodated in a cylindrical heat transfer case formed of a metal. [0009] Two lead wires 14g are led from the sensor element of the sensor element unit 14d and are passed out of the case 11 through a fitting hole 15 of the case 11 thereby to connect the lead wires 14g to a connector 21 arranged on the outer wall surface of the case 11. [0010] A grommet 22 is fixedly fitted on the lead wires 14g and assembled in the fitting hole 15 of the case 11. The grommet 22, as shown in FIG. 7, is cylindrically formed of a rubber foamed material, and exhibits the functions of a buffer for absorbing vibrations and of a means for sealing the fitting hole 15. [0011] For this purpose, the outer diameter of the grommet 22 is smaller than the inner diameter of the fitting hole 15, and the outer peripheral surface of the grommet 22 is fitted under pressure on the inner peripheral surface of the fitting hole 15 while forming a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the grommet 22 and the lead wires 14g. As shown in FIG. 7, the part of the lead wires 14g located outside the case 11 is fixedly fitted with a heat-shrinkable tube 23, which is fixedly bonded at an outer end of the grommet outside the case. Reference numeral 24 in FIG. 7 designates the fixedly bonded part. [0012] The vibration from the engine, etc. is transmitted to the evaporator 12, which is then displaced relatively to the case 11. Then, the sensor holder 14a is also displaced integrally with the evaporator 12. In the case where the sensor holder 14a is displaced in such a direction as to compress the lead wires 14g, the flexibility and displacement of the lead wires 14g prevents the displacement of the sensor holder 14a from being transmitted to the case 11. [0013] In the case where the sensor holder 14a is displaced in such a direction as to tension the lead wires 14g, on the other hand, the vibration of the evaporator 12 tends to be transmitted to the case 11 through the lead wires 14g. In the prior art, the part of the grommet 22 shown in FIG. 7 which is projected out of the case (the portion having the projection size L) exhibits a buffer function and absorbs the tension from the lead wires 14g thereby to suppress vibration transmission to the case 11. [0014] FIG. 8 shows the relation between the deformation resistance of the grommet 22 and the projection size L of the grommet 22 out of the case 11 with the evaporator 12 (sensor holder 14a) displaced by a predetermined small amount. With the increase in the projection size L, the deformation resistance of the grommet 22 is decreased as indicated by dashed line X. [0015] A study by the present inventors has revealed that, in the case where the projection size L of the grommet 22 is set to not less than 10 mm, the deformation resistance of the grommet 22 can be reduced to less than a predetermined level Y. As a result, it has been discovered that the vibration transmission to the case 11 through the lead wires 14g can be suppressed satisfactorily. [0016] In the case where the projection size L of the grommet 22 out of the case 11 is set to not less than 10 mm, the leg of an occupant comes into contact with the lead wires 14g or the part of the grommet 22 projected out of the case 11 and the lead wires 14g or the grommet 22, as the case may be, may be damaged. [0017] In view of this, the present inventors have studied a configuration in which, as shown in FIG. 9, an elongate grommet 25 is set between the sensor holder 14a and the case 11, so that the part of the grommet 25 located within the case 11 absorbs the vibration of the sensor holder 14a and the projection size L of the grommet 25 out of the case 11 can be reduced. This configuration, however, has the disadvantage that condensed water w is liable to attach to the cylindrical part of the grommet 25 located within the case 11 and, by travelling along the surface of the grommet 25, leak out of the case 11 by way of the fitting hole 15. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0018] This invention has been achieved in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object thereof is to provide a sensor assembly structure for an air-conditioning unit which can absorb the vibration sufficiently even in the case where the projection size of the grommet, out of the case, is reduced. [0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a sensor assembly structure for an air-conditioning unit which can secure the water leakage prevention effect. [0020] Still another object of the invention is to provide a sensor assembly structure for the air-conditioning unit having a high sensor assembly workability. [0021] In order to accomplish the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air-conditioning unit comprising a heat exchanger (12) supported afloat through a buffer member (13) in a case (11) forming an air path, and a sensor (14) for detecting a physical value indicating the condition of the heat exchanger (12), [0022] wherein the sensor (14) includes a sensor element (14f), at least a lead wire (14g) electrically connected to the sensor element (14f) and a sensor holder (14a) assembled on the heat exchanger (12) for holding the sensor element (14f), Continue reading... Full patent description for Air-conditioning unit Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Air-conditioning unit patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Air-conditioning unit or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Heat exhaustion evaporative cooling Next Patent Application: Vehicle air-conditioning unit with an electronic control device Industry Class: Refrigeration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Air-conditioning unit patent info. 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