EP0780642B1 - Levier de commande - Google Patents

Levier de commande Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0780642B1
EP0780642B1 EP19960309011 EP96309011A EP0780642B1 EP 0780642 B1 EP0780642 B1 EP 0780642B1 EP 19960309011 EP19960309011 EP 19960309011 EP 96309011 A EP96309011 A EP 96309011A EP 0780642 B1 EP0780642 B1 EP 0780642B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flow control
control device
fluid
lever
resilient member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19960309011
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0780642A2 (fr
EP0780642A3 (fr
Inventor
Stephen Risch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Valeo Climate Control Corp
Original Assignee
Valeo Climate Control Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Valeo Climate Control Corp filed Critical Valeo Climate Control Corp
Publication of EP0780642A2 publication Critical patent/EP0780642A2/fr
Publication of EP0780642A3 publication Critical patent/EP0780642A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0780642B1 publication Critical patent/EP0780642B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
    • F24F13/14—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre
    • F24F13/1426—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre characterised by actuating means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
    • F24F13/14—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre
    • F24F13/1486—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre characterised by bearings, pivots or hinges
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
    • F24F13/14—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre
    • F24F13/1406—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre characterised by sealing means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
    • F24F13/14—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre
    • F24F13/1426—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre characterised by actuating means
    • F24F2013/1453—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre characterised by actuating means with cables, e.g. bowden cables
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
    • F24F13/14—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre
    • F24F13/1426—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre characterised by actuating means
    • F24F2013/1473—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of tilting members, e.g. louvre characterised by actuating means with cams or levers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a control lever for an air conditioning apparatus, to an air conditioning apparatus, to an air flow control apparatus and to a fluid flow control apparatus.
  • a fluid flow control device such as a flap valve
  • a fluid path for controlling the flow of fluid through the path.
  • a flow control device known in the art as a blend door is moved within an air passage to control the flow of air in the passage, for example to control the temperature of air by controlling the relative proportions of air applied to respective hot and cold air passages.
  • a problem which is experienced in controlling the flow of fluid is that the fluid flow control device is subject to force due to the flow of the fluid through the path.
  • this problem is made worse by the use of a variable-speed blower.
  • the force of air under high blower conditions may cause the blend door to move from the intermediate position toward one of the two end positions.
  • DE-U-9208345 discloses the features of the precharacterising portion of claim 1.
  • a fluid flow control apparatus comprising a body defining a path for fluid, a flow control device selectably positionable with respect to the body for controlling flow of said fluid in said fluid path; and a resilient member, characterised by the resilient member acting on the flow control device to oppose movement thereof with respect to the said body in opposing directions to thereby retain the flow control device in a selected position, wherein the flow control device has a control portion and the resilient member exerts a force on said control portion the amount of which depends on the position of the flow control device to counteract the action on the flow control device of fluid in said path.
  • the flow control device is rotatably mounted with respect to the body, the control portion of the fluid control device has a cam surface having a cam surface profile, the said resilient member acts on the cam surface of said flow control device in accordance with the position of the flow device.
  • the resilient member comprises a leaf spring secured to said body.
  • cam surface profile is selected so that the force exerted by the resilient member follows a desired relation to the position of the flow control device.
  • the flow control device is rotatably secured to said body.
  • control portion comprises a cable securing portion for attachment thereto of a control cable for setting the position of said flow control device.
  • an air conditioning apparatus comprising a fluid flow control apparatus as described herein.
  • reference numeral 1 shows a portion of an air flow duct of generally rectangular cross section for use in an air flow control apparatus.
  • the duct 1 has, as viewed in Figure 1 an upper wall 11, a lower wall 12 and opposing side walls 13 and 14, all of which form a body defining a passage for air which moves in the direction indicated as 'R'.
  • a flow control device 2 has the form of a flap valve, and is pivotably mounted in and with respect to the duct 1.
  • the flow control device 2 is so dimensioned that when it is disposed generally transverse to the axis of the duct 1, the passage of air through the duct is substantially prevented.
  • the pivotal mounting of the flow control device 2 allows it to move to a position where it is disposed generally along the top wall 11 of the duct 1, and substantially parallel to the axis of the duct 1. In this latter position, free passage of air through the duct is enabled.
  • the flow control device 2 is secured to a shaft 3 which is supported at one end thereof by a pivot 4 in one side wall 14 of the duct 1. At the other end, the shaft is supported in a similar pivot 5 mounted in the opposite wall 13 of the duct.
  • the above-mentioned other end of the shaft is secured to a control lever 6 which extends at right angles to the shaft.
  • the control lever 6 has a distal end region 7 to which is secured a lever 8 adapted to move the lever 6 and hence the flow control device 2.
  • the lever 8 may be actuated in any known fashion, and in Figure 1 there is shown a diagramatic representation of a slide lever 9 slidably mounted in a guide 10, in a control panel 15. The lever 8 could be replaced by a cable.
  • detent mechanism to positively locate the flow control device in both its open and closed position.
  • detent mechanisms could be provided at the slide lever 9 for example.
  • the device 2 is disposed approximately midway between the fully open and fully closed positions. Air passing through the duct in the direction "R" will impinge upon the surface of the device 2 and exert a force on the device so as to tend to move the device to its fully open position. To overcome this, it has been proposed to provide friction in the control arrangement to prevent the air passing through the duct from causing the device 2 to open. A problem with this approach is however that operating the control system requires substantial effort.
  • an air conditioning device includes a fan 100 mounted for rotation in a duct 101, and, in operation, causing air to move in the direction shown by the arrows marked "A".
  • duct 101 divides into a first passage 102 and a second passage 103 which is generally parallel to the first passage 102.
  • a heat exchanger 104 heated by liquid, such as engine coolant, is disposed in the second passage 103. Downstream of the heat exchanger 104 the two passages 102 and 103 combine together to form an outlet passage 105.
  • a flow control device 110 known in the art as a blend door is pivotally mounted in the vicinity of the junction of the first and second passages 102, 103. The size of the blend door 110 is such that in a first end pivotal orientation 111 the blend door substantially closes the first passage 102 and in the second pivotal orientation 112 the blend door 110 substantially closes the second passage 103.
  • the pivotal orientation of the blend door 110 is controllable so as to set desired proportions of the air flow A to flow through the first passage 102 and the second passage 103. That quantity of air which passes through the first passage 102 passes through the outlet passage 105 with no substantial change in temperature, whereas that quantity of air which flows through the second passage 103 is raised in temperature by passing through the heat exchanger 104 into the outlet passage 105.
  • increase in temperature of the air at the outlet passage 105 over the temperature in the duct 101 is controllable by selecting the position of the blend door 110.
  • the air in the inlet duct 101 has already been passed through a cooling heat exchanger, so as to provide full air conditioning. It will however be understood that the device of Figure 2 might alternatively be applied to a vehicle heater, without air conditioning, in which case the inlet duct 101 could receive air either from the interior of the vehicle directly or from outside the vehicle.
  • control lever 20 has a distal end region 21 extending from a generally cylindrical body portion 22.
  • a shaft portion 23 comprising a first locating portion 24 and a drive portion 25 extends axially from one end of the body portion 22 and is adapted to drive flow control device 2 of Figure 1 or blend door 110 of Figure 2.
  • a cam portion 25 extends radially from the body portion 22.
  • Figure 4 shows a plan view of the control lever 20 of Figure 3 with the cam portion 25 engaging a leaf spring 30 and mounted on the wall 13 of Figure 1.
  • the leaf spring consists of a first portion which is a generally straight strip of resilient metal and a hook portion 31 for engaging a support 32.
  • the support 32 is shown as a generally cylindrical projection from the wall 13 of the duct 1. Where the duct is formed from plastics material, reinforcing ribs 33 are provided to give additional strength to the duct wall for supporting the projection 32.
  • two guide pins 34, 35 project from the wall 13 of the duct 1.
  • the pins 34 and 35 have a gap between them, and are disposed so that the first pin 34 engages one side of the spring 30 and the second pin 35 engages the other side of the spring 30 while the spring remains in its rest condition.
  • the cam portion 25 has a profile which is chosen to provide a desired force between the spring 30 and the control lever 20 depending on the position of the associated blend door 2.
  • reference sign B represents a point of contact of the spring 30 on the cam portion 25,.
  • Reference sign O represents the pivotal center of the lever 20 and the line referenced F represents the direction of the force exerted by the spring 30 on the lever 20. It will be seen that the force F is directed along the line BO, in other words to the rotational center of the lever 20. Thus with the lever in this position, there is no torsional force acting on the control lever due to the spring 30.
  • the lever is shown in a second position, having been rotated clockwise, as shown in Figure 4, from the position of Figure 4.
  • Reference sign C shows the point of contact of the spring 30 on the cam portion 25 of the lever 20 and reference sign G represents the direction of the force exerted by the spring 30 on the lever 20. It will be seen that with the lever in this position, the force exerted does not pass through the rotational center O of the lever 20.
  • the spring 30 exerts a torsional couple in an anticlockwise direction on the lever 20 so as to tend to rotate the lever in the anticlockwise direction.
  • the force exerted by the spring 30 can be considered as having a first component at right angles to the line CO, which represents the torsional couple and a second component along the line CO which gives rise to a frictional holding force which tends to retain the control lever 20 in position.
  • cam portion 25 shaped to provide substantially no torsional force when the lever is in the position shown in Figure 4 and substantially a maximum torsional force when the lever is as shown in Figure 5. It will however be understood that other shapes of the cam portion 25 could be provided so as to a different distribution of torsional force. For example, it may be desirable for the cam to provide an anticlockwise couple when the lever is at one extreme position, a clockwise couple when the lever is at the opposite end position and no torsional couple when the lever is at the center position, so that the lever tends to return to the central position.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Preventing Unauthorised Actuation Of Valves (AREA)

Claims (7)

  1. Appareil de régulation de l'écoulement de fluides comprenant un corps (11, 12, 13, 14) définissant un chemin pour un fluide, un dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) pouvant être positionné sélectivement par rapport au corps (11, 12, 13, 14) pour réguler l'écoulement dudit fluide dans ledit chemin du fluide ; et un élément élastique (30),
       caractérisé par
       l'élément élastique (30) agissant sur le dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) pour s'opposer au mouvement de celui-ci par rapport audit corps (11, 12, 13, 14) dans des directions opposées pour retenir de ce fait le dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) à une position sélectionnée, dans lequel le dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) a une partie de commande (25) et l'élément élastique (30) exerce sur ladite partie de commande (25) une force dont l'ampleur dépend de la position du dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) pour contrebalancer l'effet du fluide circulant dans ledit chemin sur le dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2).
  2. Appareil de régulation de l'écoulement de fluides selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) est monté de façon rotative par rapport au corps (11, 12, 13, 14), la partie de commande (25) du dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) a une surface de came ayant un profil de surface de came, ledit élément élastique (30) agit sur la surface de came dudit dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) en fonction de la position du dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2).
  3. Appareil de régulation de l'écoulement de fluides selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'élément élastique (30) comprend un ressort à lame fixé audit corps (11, 12, 13, 14).
  4. Appareil de régulation de l'écoulement de fluides selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le profil de surface de came est sélectionné de telle façon que la force exercée par l'élément élastique (30) suit une relation sou haitée par rapport à la position du dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2).
  5. Appareil de régulation de l'écoulement de fluides selon les revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2) est fixé de façon rotative audit corps (11, 12, 13, 14).
  6. Appareil de régulation de l'écoulement de fluides selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la partie de commande (25) comprend une partie de fixation d'un câble (7, 21) pour la fixation à celle-ci d'un câble de commande (8) destiné à régler la position dudit dispositif de régulation de l'écoulement (2).
  7. Appareil de conditionnement d'air comprenant un appareil de régulation de l'écoulement de fluides selon ce qui est défini dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
EP19960309011 1995-12-21 1996-12-11 Levier de commande Expired - Lifetime EP0780642B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US57607095A 1995-12-21 1995-12-21
US576070 1995-12-21

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0780642A2 EP0780642A2 (fr) 1997-06-25
EP0780642A3 EP0780642A3 (fr) 2000-05-31
EP0780642B1 true EP0780642B1 (fr) 2004-06-16

Family

ID=24302854

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19960309011 Expired - Lifetime EP0780642B1 (fr) 1995-12-21 1996-12-11 Levier de commande

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0780642B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69632714T2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI558955B (zh) * 2013-06-25 2016-11-21 惠普研發公司 風扇模組

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10014901C2 (de) * 2000-03-17 2002-02-28 Werner Wildeboer Volumenstromregler
DE102011011772B4 (de) * 2011-02-18 2015-02-05 Cb-Tec Gmbh Zuluft-Wanddurchführung

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3227882A1 (de) * 1982-07-26 1984-01-26 H. Krantz Gmbh & Co, 5100 Aachen Volumenstrom- bzw. druckregler
DE4135263C2 (de) * 1991-10-25 1994-12-08 Daimler Benz Ag Bedieneinrichtung für eine fernbetätigbare Stelleinrichtung
DE9208345U1 (de) * 1992-06-23 1992-11-12 Gebrüder Trox, GmbH, 4133 Neukirchen-Vluyn Volumenstromregler für Klima- und Lüftungsanlagen
DE4411935C1 (de) * 1994-04-07 1995-04-20 Daimler Benz Ag Stellantriebseinrichtung

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TWI558955B (zh) * 2013-06-25 2016-11-21 惠普研發公司 風扇模組

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69632714D1 (de) 2004-07-22
EP0780642A2 (fr) 1997-06-25
DE69632714T2 (de) 2005-06-30
EP0780642A3 (fr) 2000-05-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6032723A (en) Automotive air conditioning device
US5338249A (en) Method and apparatus for fresh-air control in the mid-level area of a motor vehicle
US5967185A (en) Rotary valve
US4440212A (en) Air-conditioner for an automotive vehicle
EP0058416B1 (fr) Système de climatisation
US9931908B2 (en) HVAC air inlet with blend mode and fresh-restricted mode
EP1070611B1 (fr) Appareil de conditionnement d'air pouvant equiper le systeme de conditionnement d'air d'une voiture
GB2168786A (en) An air distribution valve for an air heater
US4452301A (en) Air conditioning and heating system air temperature control arrangement
EP1086839A1 (fr) Dispositif amortisseur a melange d'air et climatiseur de vehicule
EP0780642B1 (fr) Levier de commande
US5687790A (en) Heater, ventilation and air conditioning assembly for a motor vehicle
GB2336203A (en) Heating or air-conditioning system
EP1312494B1 (fr) Appareil de climatisation d'un véhicule comprenant un membre de régulation en forme de plaque pour contrôler un flux d'air
US20050116054A1 (en) Automotive HVAC device
JP3326856B2 (ja) 車両用空調装置
JPS5930566B2 (ja) 温水式暖房装置
JPH08290714A (ja) 自動車用空調装置
JP4000667B2 (ja) 車両用空調装置
JPH06328927A (ja) 開閉装置
JPS597127Y2 (ja) 自動車用空気調和装置
JP2007186036A (ja) 回転操作機構および空調装置
JPH0649452Y2 (ja) ダンパ作動装置
JP3838762B2 (ja) 自動車用空気調和装置
JP2537137Y2 (ja) 風量コントロールバルブ

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Free format text: 7F 24F 13/14 A, 7B 60H 1/00 B

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20001102

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20030317

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20040616

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69632714

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20040722

Kind code of ref document: P

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20041211

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20050317

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050701

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20041211

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050831

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20041231