Title of Invention: VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER [Technical Field] [0001]

The present invention relates to a vehicle air conditioner capable of blowing air to a rear seat. [Background Art] [0002]

Many vehicles are mounted with vehicle air conditioners to regulate a temperature inside a cabin. Some of the vehicle air conditioners can blow air to a rear seat. A background art related to such a vehicle air conditioner is disclosed in PTL 1. [0003]

A vehicle air conditioner disclosed in PTL 1 is provided with a cooling heat exchanger and a heating heat exchanger in a housing. The cooling heat exchanger can cool blown air, and the heating heat exchanger can heat the air that has passed through this cooling heat exchanger. Behind the heating heat exchanger, a duct that extends toward the rear seat is provided to blow the air to a rear seat occupant . [Citation List] [Patent Literature] [0004] PTL 1: JP2010-36738A

[Summary of Invention]

[Technical Problem]

[0005]

Typically, the vehicle air conditioner is arranged in front of a front seat. In the case where the duct for blowing the air to the rear seat is projected far behind the vehicle air conditioner, a foot space for a front seat occupant is reduced.

[0006]

The invention has a purpose of providing a vehicle air conditioner capable of securing a sufficient foot space for a front seat occupant.

[Solution to Problem]

[0007]

In the following description, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the invention, but the invention is not limited to illustrated embodiments. [0008]

The invention provides a vehicle air conditioner capable of blowing air toward a front seat (12) , on which a vehicle occupant can be seated, and a rear seat (13) arranged behind this front seat (12) , provided, in an internal space (IS) of a housing (50) , with: a cooling heat exchanger (32) capable of cooling blown air; and a heating heat exchanger (33) capable of heating the air that has passed through this cooling heat exchanger (32) , with respect to a vehicle advancing direction, the heating heat exchanger (33) being provided behind the cooling heat exchanger (32) , and the internal space (IS) being formed with: a cool air flow path (CP) through which blown air that has only passed through the cooling heat exchanger (32) flows; a hot air flow path (HP) through which the blown air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger (33) flows; and a mixing flow path (MP) in which the blown air that has flowed through the cool air flow path (CP) and the blown air that has flowed through the hot air flow path (HP) are mixed, in which with respect to a flow direction of the blown air, a rear-seat hot air passage (RH) for directing the blown air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger (33) to the rear seat (13) is provided on a downstream side of the heating heat exchanger (33) , and the rear-seat hot air passage (RH) is provided between the cooling heat exchanger (32) and the heating heat exchanger (33) . [Advantageous Effects of Invention] [0009]

The invention can provide the vehicle air conditioner capable of securing a sufficient foot space for a front seat occupant .

[Brief Description of Drawings]

[0010]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle that is mounted with a vehicle air conditioner according to a first example .

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle air conditioner illustrated in Fig. 1.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view that is taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a state where a vehicle air conditioner according to a second example is seen from a lateral side.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a state where a vehicle air conditioner according to a third example is seen from a lateral side.

[Description of Embodiments]

[0011]

A detailed description will hereinafter be made on embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, a front-rear direction means a front-rear direction with respect to an advancing direction of a vehicle that is mounted with a vehicle air conditioner, and a right-left direction means a right-left direction with respect to a vehicle occupant. In the drawings, the front direction with respect to the vehicle advancing direction is denoted by Fr, the rear direction with respect to the vehicle advancing direction is denoted by Rr, the left direction that is seen from the occupant is denoted by Le, the right direction that is seen from the occupant is denoted by Ri, an up direction is denoted by Up, and a down direction is denoted by Dn. [0012] First Example

Fig. 1 is referred. Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 that is mounted with a vehicle air conditioner 20 (hereinafter referred to as an "air conditioner 20") . The vehicle 10 is, for example, a passenger vehicle and has: right and left front seats 12, 12 provided in a front portion of inside of a cabin VI; and a rear seat 13 that is provided behind these front seats 12, 12 over both ends in a vehicle width direction. [0013]

The air conditioner 20 is provided in front of the front seats 12, 12 and is used to blow air, which has been regulated to a predetermined temperature, to occupants in the front seats 12, 12 and the rear seat 13. Side vent switching sections 14, 14, each of which can be switched to allow or disallow blowing of blown air, are respectively formed in portions that are located in front of the front seats 12, 12 and at a right end and a left end in the vehicle width direction. Center vent switching sections 15, 15, each of which can be switched to allow or disallow blowing of the blown air, are respectively formed in portions that are located in front of the front seats 12,

12 and on a center side in the vehicle width direction. [0014]

A rear duct 16 that extends toward the rear seat 13 is connected to the air conditioner 20, and the air can be blown to the rear seat 13 via the rear duct 16. A rearseat blower switching section 17 that can be switched to allow or disallow blowing of the blown air to the rear seat

13 is provided at a rear end or a downstream end of the rear duct 16.

[0015]

The rear duct 16 can be arranged, for example, in a manner to extend rearward along a lower surface of a center console and to extend upward along a rear surface of the center console. Alternatively, the rear duct 16 may extend under a floor of the inside of the cabin and be raised along a B-pillar. Further alternatively, the rear duct 16 may be branched in the middle so as to be able to blow the air to an upper body and a lower body of the rear seat occupant .

[0016]

Each of the switching sections 14, 15, 17 is formed to include a louver, and can switch an air volume by being fully opened to fully closed when the occupant causes operation sections 14a, 15a, 17a to swing, respectively. [0017]

Fig. 2 is referred. The air conditioner 20 has: a blower unit 21 capable of taking in the air inside and/or outside the cabin to blow the air; and a temperature regulation unit 30 capable of regulating the blown air delivered from this blower unit 21 to the predetermined temperature. The air that is blown leftward from the blower unit 21 flows rearward in the temperature regulation unit 30.

[0018]

A well-known configuration can be adopted for the blower unit 21. For example, a blower fan is installed therein . [0019]

The air conditioner 20 may also be configured that the blower unit 21 is arranged to the left of the temperature regulation unit 30. The arrangement can appropriately be selected according to a right or left position of a steering wheel, or the like.

[0020]

Fig. 3 is referred. The temperature regulation unit 30 has: a housing 50 into which the blown air is delivered from the blower unit 21 (see Fig. 2) ; a cooling heat exchanger 32 that is provided in an internal space IS of this housing 50 and can cool the blown air; a heating heat exchanger 33 capable of heating the air that has passed through this cooling heat exchanger 32; a front-seat temperature regulator 34 that is provided on a downstream side of this heating heat exchanger 33 to regulate a volume of the blown air passing through the heating heat exchanger 33; a defroster opening/closing door 36, a vent opening/closing door 37, and a foot opening/closing door 38 that are provided on a downstream side of this frontseat temperature regulator 34 to switch opening/closing of openings 51 to 54, respectively; a rear-seat blower member 41 that extends downward in front of the heating heat exchanger 33 to direct the air, which has passed through the heating heat exchanger 33, to the rear seat 13 (see Fig. 1) ; a cool air introduction section 42 that extends along a rear portion of this rear-seat blower member 41 and can introduce cool air; and a mixing section 60 that is provided to a lower portion of the housing 50 to mix the blown air, which has passed through the rear-seat blower member 41, and the blown air, which has passed through the cool air introduction section 42.

[0021]

For example, the housing 50 is formed to include plural parts. More specifically, the housing 50 is formed to include three parts that are parts constituting upper right and left portions and a lower portion. An injection molded article can be used as each of the parts. The housing 50 may be formed to include two parts or may be formed to include four or more parts. [0022]

Fig. 1 is also referred. The housing 50 is opened to have: a defroster opening 51 through which the blown air to be delivered to a front windshield passes; vent openings 52, 53, through each of which the blown air to be delivered to the upper body of the occupant in the front seat 12 passes; a foot opening 54 through which the blown air to be delivered to feet of the occupant in the front seat 12 passes; and a rear opening 55 through which the blown air to be delivered to the occupant in the rear seat 13 passes. [0023]

The internal space IS has: a cool air flow path CP through which the blown air that has only passed through the cooling heat exchanger 32 flows; a hot air flow path HP through which the blown air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger 33 flows; and a mixing flow path MP in which the blown air that has flowed through the cool air flow path CP and the blown air that has flowed through the hot air flow path HP are mixed.

[0024]

The vent openings 52, 53 are: the side vent opening 52 through which the air blown from the side vent switching section 14 passes; and the center vent opening 53 through which the air blown from the center vent switching section 15 passes.

[0025]

Each of the vent openings 52, 53 does not always have to be formed at two positions at the center and on an outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0026]

Fig. 3 is referred. The cooling heat exchanger 32 is provided in a front portion of the housing 50 such that the blown air passes therethrough substantially in the frontrear direction. The blown air is cooled by heat exchange with a heat medium that passes through the cooling heat exchanger 32. For example, a fluorocarbon refrigerant or carbon dioxide can be used as the heat medium.

[0027]

The heating heat exchanger 33 is provided behind the cooling heat exchanger 32 and is provided such that the blown air passes therethrough substantially in the up-down direction. For example, the heating heat exchanger 33 includes: a hot water heater 33a in which hot water that has flowed and has been heated through an engine flows; and an electric heater 33b that is heated when energized.

[0028]

In a state illustrated in the drawing, the blown air that has passed through the cooling heat exchanger 32 partially passes through right and left sides of the rearseat blower member 41, and is directed below the heating heat exchanger 33, and flows upward. At this time, the blown air is heated by the heating heat exchanger 33.

[0029]

The heating heat exchanger 33 does not always have to include two components, which are the hot water heater 33a and the electric heater 33b, and may include only one thereof. Alternatively, a heater using a heat medium other than the hot water may be adopted as the heating heat exchanger 33. For example, the fluorocarbon refrigerant or carbon dioxide can be used as the heat medium.

[0030]

The front-seat temperature regulator 34 has: a frontseat temperature regulation actuator that is not illustrated and generates a rotary driving force when energized; a driving force transmission shaft that has a pinion gear 34a, is coupled to the front-seat temperature regulation actuator, and rotates; and a door body 34b that slides substantially in the front-rear direction when engaged with the pinion gear 34a to cause the driving force transmission shaft to rotate. The door body 34b has a rack that meshes with the pinion gear 34a.

[0031]

Opening amounts of the cool air flow path CP and the hot air flow path HP are regulated by moving the door body 34b. In this way, a volume of the cool air and a volume of the hot air flowing into the mixing flow path MP are regulated, and a temperature of mixed air thereby becomes the predetermined temperature when the cool air and the hot air are mixed in the mixing flow path MP.

[0032]

The front-seat temperature regulator 34 may not include the sliding door but may include a swinging door that is rotatable about a rotational shaft.

[0033]

The defroster opening/closing door 36 is a swinging door that can swing to regulate an opening amount of the defroster opening 51.

[0034]

The vent opening/closing door 37 is a swinging door that can swing to regulate opening amounts of the vent openings 52 , 53.

[0035]

The foot opening/closing door 38 is a swinging door that can swing to regulate an opening amount of the foot opening 54. [0036]

The rear-seat blower member 41 is a duct-like member that extends in the up-down direction in front of the heating heat exchanger 33. The rear-seat blower member 41 is formed such that a width thereof in the right-left direction is less than a width in the right-left direction of the heating heat exchanger 33. In this way, the blower air that has passed through the cooling heat exchanger 32 can pass through the right and left sides of the rear-seat blower member 41 and flow into the heating heat exchanger 33. An upper end of the rear-seat blower member 41 faces a downstream end of the heating heat exchanger 33, and a lower end of the rear-seat blower member 41 faces the mixing section 60.

[0037]

Inside of the rear-seat blower member 41 serves as a rear-seat hot air passage RH through which the blown air that has been heated by the heating heat exchanger 33 passes The rear-seat hot air passage RH can be described as a flow path for directing the blown air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger 33 to the rear seat 13 (see Fig. 1) . The rear-seat hot air passage RH is provided between the cooling heat exchanger 32 and the heating heat exchanger 33.

[0038]

Just as described, the rear-seat hot air passage RH is surrounded by the cool air flow path CP. Thus, there is a concern that the hot air flowing through the rear-seat hot air passage RH is unintentionally cooled. Alternatively, there is a concern that the cool air flowing through the cool air flow path CP is unintentionally heated. In such a case, for example, a thermal insulation material such as urethane foam is bonded around the rear-seat blower member 41, or the rear-seat blower member 41 itself is formed from a foam resin. In this way, a thermal insulation property of the rear-seat blower member 41 can be improved, and unintended heat exchange can be prevented. Such thermal insulation measures do not always have to be taken and are appropriately selected in consideration of a temperature of harmonic air blown from the air conditioner 20, cost, and the like. In addition, in the case where the thermal insulation material is bonded to the rear-seat blower member 41, a bonding position may be an outer surface of the rear-seat blower member 41 or may be an inner surface thereof that faces the rear-seat hot air passage RH . [0039]

The rear-seat blower member 41 may be formed integrally with the housing 50 or may be formed of a separate member from the housing 50. In addition, the entire cool air introduction section 42 is particularly preferably located in front of the heating heat exchanger 33.

[0040]

The cool air introduction section 42 is a section that directs the cool blown air flowing in the cool air flow path CP to the mixing section 60. The cool air introduction section 42 is provided behind the rear-seat blower member 41 and below the heating heat exchanger 33. [0041]

For example, the cool air introduction section 42 is formed of a duct-like member, an upper surface of which is opened, and is integrally formed with a rear surface of the rear-seat blower member 41. An upper end of the cool air introduction section 42 serves as a cool air intake opening 42a that is open to allow intake of the blown air from the cool air flow path CP. The cool air intake opening 42a is formed to be inclined downward to the rear.

[0042]

The cool air introduction section 42 may be provided apart from the rear-seat blower member 41, and may be formed of a different member from the rear-seat blower member 41. The cool air intake opening 42a can also be formed by the rear opening 55.

[0043]

The mixing section 60 is a member in which the hot blown air that has passed through the rear-seat hot air passage RH and the cool blown air introduced from the cool air introduction section 42 are mixed. The mixing section 60 is formed of a separate member from the housing 50 and is attached to the lower portion of the housing 50. In other words, it can be described that the mixing section 60 is provided at and is adjacent to the outside of the housing 50. [0044]

In addition, a part of the mixing section 60 is located in front of the heating heat exchanger 33, and the rest thereof is located below the heating heat exchanger 33. The mixing section 60 is preferably at least provided in front of a rear end of the heating heat exchanger 33. The entire mixing section 60 is most preferably provided in front of the heating heat exchanger 33. A reason therefor will be described below. [0045]

The mixing section 60 has: a mixing section case 61 that is closely attached to a lower surface of the housing 50; and a rear-seat temperature regulator 70 that is provided in this mixing section case 61 to regulate a temperature of the blown air.

[0046]

The rear-seat temperature regulator 70 has: a rearseat temperature regulation actuator 71 that is provided outside the mixing section case 61 and generates a rotary driving force when energized; and a rear-seat temperature regulation door 72 that is provided in the mixing section case 61 and swings at the time when the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator 71 is actuated, so as to regulate a mixing ratio between the hot air and the cool air. A stepping motor can be used as the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator 71, for example. [0047]

The rear duct 16 is connected to a lower portion of the mixing section 60. The rear duct 16 extends downward from a lower end of the mixing section 60 and extends rearward along a floor surface. [0048] Second Example

Next, a description will be made on an air conditioner 20A according to a second example with reference to the drawings . [0049] Fig. 4 illustrates a temperature regulation unit 30A that is used in the air conditioner 20A according to the second example. The common components to the first example will be denoted by the same reference signs, and the detailed description thereon will not be made. [0050]

A cool air intake opening 41Aa for taking in the blown air passing through the cool air flow path CP is formed on a rear surface of a rear-seat blower member 41A (a side surface of the rear-seat hot air passage RH) . An internal portion of the rear-seat blower member 41A from the heating heat exchanger 33 to a portion formed with the cool air intake opening 41Aa serves as the rear-seat hot air passage RH, through which the blown air that has been heated by the heating heat exchanger 33 passes. A rear-seat temperature regulator VOA for regulating the temperature of the blown air is provided in the portion that is formed with the cool air intake opening 41Aa of the rear-seat blower member 41A. [0051]

The rear-seat temperature regulator VOA includes: the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator VI that is provided outside the rear-seat blower member 41A; and a rear-seat temperature regulation door V2A that swings when the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator VI is actuated. The rear-seat temperature regulation door V2A can swing inside the rear-seat blower member 41A. [0052]

The internal portion, which is located on the downstream side of the rear-seat hot air passage RH, in the rear-seat blower member 41A serves as a rear-seat mixing flow path RM in which the blown air, which has flowed through the rear-seat hot air passage RH, and the blown air, which has been taken in from the cool air intake opening 41Aa, are mixed. [0053]

The rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A is provided to be swingable from a position at which the rearseat hot air passage RH is fully closed to a position at which the cool air intake opening 41Aa is fully closed. The temperature of the blown air to be delivered to the rear seat 13 (see Fig. 1) is regulated by the position of the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A. [0054]

Here, the entire rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A and the entire rear-seat blower member 41A (the entire rear-seat mixing flow path RM) are particularly preferably located in front of the heating heat exchanger 33. [0055]

Third Example Next, a description will be made on an air conditioner 20B according to a third example with reference to the drawings .

[0056]

Fig. 5 illustrates a temperature regulation unit 30B that is used in the air conditioner 20B according to the third example. The common components to the first example and/or the second example will be denoted by the same reference signs, and the detailed description thereon will not be made .

[0057]

A cool air intake opening 41Ba for taking in the blown air passing through the cool air flow path CP is formed on a lower surface of a front portion of a rear-seat blower member 41B (the side surface of the rear-seat hot air passage RH) . An internal portion of the rear-seat blower member 41B from the heating heat exchanger 33 to a portion formed with the cool air intake opening 41Ba serves as the rear-seat hot air passage RH, through which the blown air that has been heated by the heating heat exchanger 33 passes The rear-seat temperature regulator VOA for regulating the temperature of the blown air is provided in the portion that is formed with the cool air intake opening 41Ba of the rear-seat blower member 41B.

[0058] The rear-seat temperature regulator VOA includes: the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator 71 that is provided outside the rear-seat blower member 41; and the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A that swings when the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator 71 is actuated. The rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A can swing inside the rear-seat blower member 41B. [0059]

The internal portion, which is located on the downstream side of the rear-seat hot air passage RH, in the rear-seat blower member 41 serves as the rear-seat mixing flow path RM in which the blown air, which has flowed through the rear-seat hot air passage RH, and the blown air, which has been taken in from the cool air intake opening 41Ba, are mixed. [0060]

The rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A is provided to be swingable from the position at which the rear-seat hot air passage RH is fully closed to a position at which the cool air intake opening 41Ba is fully closed. The temperature of the blown air to be delivered to the rear seat 13 (see Fig. 1) is regulated by the position of the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A. [0061] Other Examples The description has been made so far that the heating heat exchanger 33 is provided such that the blown air passes therethrough substantially in the up-down direction. However, the embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the heating heat exchanger 33 may be provided vertically (arranged to extend in the up-down direction) , and may be provided such that the blown air passes therethrough substantially in the front-rear direction. At this time, it may be configured that the rear-seat blower member 41 is opened behind the heating heat exchanger 33 (that is, the hot air flow path HP, through which the hot air that has flowed out of the heating heat exchanger 33 flows) and is arranged between the cooling heat exchanger 32 and the heating heat exchanger 33 through an upper surface of the heating heat exchanger 33. [0062]

The invention will be summarized below.

[0063]

Fig. 1 and Figs. 3 to 5 are referred. As a first case, the air conditioners 20, 20A, 20B can each blow the air toward the front seat 12, on which the vehicle occupant can be seated, and the rear seat 13 arranged behind this front seat 12. In addition, in each of the air conditioners 20, 20A, 20B, the cooling heat exchanger 32, which can cool the blown air, and the heating heat exchanger 33, which can heat the air that has passed through this cooling heat exchanger 32, are provided in the internal space IS of the housing 50. With respect to the vehicle advancing direction, the heating heat exchanger 33 is provided behind the cooling heat exchanger 32. The internal space IS is formed with: the cool air flow path CP through which the blown air that has only passed through the cooling heat exchanger 32 flows; the hot air flow path HP through which the blown air that has passed through the heating heat exchanger 33 flows; and the mixing flow path MP in which the blown air that has flowed through the cool air flow path CP and the blown air that has flowed through the hot air flow path HP are mixed. With reference to a flow direction of the blown air, the rear-seat hot air passage RH for directing the blown air, which has passed through the heating heat exchanger 33, to the rear seat 13, is provided on the downstream side of the heating heat exchanger 33, and the rear-seat hot air passage RH is provided between the cooling heat exchanger 32 and the heating heat exchanger 33.

[0064]

Figs. 3 to 5 are referred. The rear-seat hot air passage RH is provided between the cooling heat exchanger 32 and the heating heat exchanger 33. In this way, the rear duct 16 (see Fig. 1) and the like can be connected by avoiding a lower rear portion of the housing 50. Thus, it is possible to secure a sufficient foot space for the occupant in the front seat 12.

[0065]

Fig. 3 is referred. As a second case, in the air conditioner 20 of the first case, the mixing section 60 for mixing the blown air, which has passed through the rearseat hot air passage RH, and the blown air, which has passed through the cool air flow path CP, is provided at and is adjacent to the outside of the housing 50. The mixing section 60 is provided with the rear-seat temperature regulator 70 capable of regulating the ratio of the blown air from the rear-seat hot air passage RH and the ratio of the blown air from the cool air flow path CP. [0066]

The mixing section 60, in which the rear-seat temperature regulator 70 is accommodated, is provided at and is adjacent to the outside of the housing 50. In the case where the air conditioner 20 is used as an air conditioner 20 that can only regulate the temperature for the front seat 12, the air conditioner 20 can be used for the front seat 12 by closing the opening (the rear opening 55) , where the mixing section 60 is provided, in the housing 50. Such a configuration is preferred in terms of improvement in general versatility of components. [0067] As a third case, in the air conditioner 20 of the second case, with respect to the vehicle advancing direction, the mixing section 60 is provided at a front side as compared with the rear end of the heating heat exchanger 33. By providing the mixing section 60 in front of the rear end of the heating heat exchanger 33, it is possible to further reliably secure the foot space for the occupant in the front seat 12.

[0068]

Figs. 4 and 5 are referred. As a fourth case, the air conditioners 20A of the first case, 20B respectively include: the cool air intake openings 41Aa, 41Ba, each of which is formed on the side surface of the rear-seat hot air passage RH with respect to the flow direction of the blown air flowing through the rear-seat hot air passage RH, and each of which is opened to allow the intake of the blown air from the cool air flow path CP; the rear-seat mixing flow path RM that is formed on the downstream side of the rear-seat hot air passage RH and in which the blown air, which has flowed through the rear-seat hot air passage RH, and the blown air, which has been taken in from the cool air intake openings 41Aa, 41Ba, are mixed; and the rear-seat temperature regulator VOA capable of opening/closing the rear-seat hot air passage RH and the cool air intake openings 41Aa, 41Ba and capable of regulating the ratio of the blown air, which has passed through the rear-seat hot air passage RH, and the ratio of the blown air, which has been taken in from the cool air intake openings 41Aa, 41Ba. The rear-seat temperature regulator VOA includes: the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator 71 as a drive source; and the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A that is provided in a boundary portion between the rear-seat hot air passage RH and the rear-seat mixing flow path RM and is driven by the rear-seat temperature regulation actuator 71. At least the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A is provided in the housing 50. [0069]

Since the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A is provided in the housing 50, it is possible to downsize the air conditioners 20A, 20B and further reliably secure the foot space for the occupant in the front seat 12. [0070]

As a fifth case, in the air conditioners 20A, 20B of the fourth case, the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A and the rear-seat mixing flow path RM are provided in front of the rear end of the heating heat exchanger 33 with reference to the vehicle advancing direction. By providing the rear-seat temperature regulation door 72A and the rearseat mixing flow path RM in front of the rear end of the heating heat exchanger 33, it is possible to further reliably secure the foot space for the occupant in the front seat 12.

[0071]

As a sixth case, in air conditioners 20, 20A, 20B of any of the first to fifth cases, the heating heat exchanger 33 is provided such that the blown air passes therethrough substantially in the up-down direction. By providing the heating heat exchanger 33 to be substantially horizontal, it is possible to reduce a vertical dimension of a rear portion of each of the air conditioners 20, 20A, 20B and further reliably secure the foot space for the occupant in the front seat 12.

[0072]

The invention is not limited to the examples as long as the operational effects of the invention are exerted. [Industrial Applicability] [0073]

The air conditioner of the invention is suitable for an air conditioner that is mounted on the passenger vehicle. [Reference Signs List] [0074] 12 : Front seat 13: Rear seat 20, 20A, 20B: Vehicle air conditioner 32: Cooling heat exchanger

33: Heating heat exchanger

42a, 41Aa, 41Ba: Cool air intake opening

50 : Housing

60: Mixing section

70, VOA: Rear-seat temperature regulator

71: Rear-seat temperature regulation actuator

72, 72A: Rear-seat temperature regulation door

IS: Internal space

CP: Cool air flow path

HP: Hot air flow path

MP: Mixing flow path

RH : Rear-seat hot air passage

RM: Rear-seat mixing flow path