GB2323158A

GB2323158A - Air-conditioning vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2323158A
Application number: GB9705218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Barras
Original assignee: KL Automotive Products Ltd
Current assignee: KL Automotive Products Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-13
Filing date: 1997-03-13
Publication date: 1998-09-16
Also published as: GB9705218D0

Abstract

A motor vehicle ventilation arrangement provides central vents 10, side vents 12, floor vents 14, demist vents 16 and side window vents 18. A housing with appropriate wall openings has a radiator, fans, and baffle arrangements which co-operate with partitions and which are operated from within the vehicle by a manually operable control 20. Selective movement of the latter results in movement of the baffles relative to the partitions, whereby the user can select to have either heated or cooling air through the central vents 10 when heated air is transmitted through the side vents 12 and floor vents 14. This facility is provided in addition to the other air control facilities conventionally required within the vehicle.

Description

Air Distribution Apparatus for a Motor Vehide This invention relates to air distribution apparatus and is particularly concerned with the selective distribution of air to the interior of a motor vehicle.

Conventionally, motor vehicles provide for a person within the vehicle selecting to have air transmitted to the interior of the vehicle from externally thereof or to have re-circulation of the air within the vehicle, and also selecting whether the air entering the interior of the vehicle should be heated. Heating of the air is generally controlled by way of a water valve on a radiator, the air entering the interior of the vehicle through all the provided ducts being of the same temperature. Alternatively, it is possible to have unheated air permanently through selected ones of the ducts.

According to the present invention there is provided air distribution apparatus comprising means for creating a flow of air in a housing, means in the path of flow for selectively heating the air, a plurality of outlet arrangements in the housing allowing air to flow out of the housing to a plurality of defined locations, means for diverting the air from the heating means to selected ones of the outlet arrangements, means enabling air to bypass the heating means when the latter is operative, and means for selectively diverting the bypassed air to a first of the outlet arrangements.

Preferably the air diverting means comprises first baffle means for controlling diversion of air to the first outlet arrangement, and second baffle means for controlling diversion of air to others of the outlet arrangements. The first and second baffle means are preferably interconnected for operation together by a single manual control.

The first baffle means may comprise a pivotable baffle member having a free end which is sealingly movable across an apertured, profiled surface whereby to control flow of air through the aperture. The second baffle means may comprise an angled baffle member which is pivotally arranged such that free ends of respective legs of the angled member sealingly move across respective profiled surfaces whereby to control flow of air past the baffle member.

The invention also provides air distribution apparatus as described in any of the preceding paragraphs for use in a motor vehicle, wherein the first outlet arrangement is adapted to allow flow of air into the vehicle substantially at the upper body level of persons seated in the vehicle at a substantially central location, another of the selected outlet arrangements directs air to a location adjacent the windscreen of the vehicle for demisting thereof, a further of the selected outlet arrangements provides for flow of air to the interior of the vehicle towards the floor thereof, and a yet further outlet arrangement provides for airflow to the interior of the vehicle substantially at the upper body level of people seated in the vehicle but towards respective sides of the vehicle.

The apparatus may include an evaporator for lowing the temperature of air flowing through the housing whereby to provide an air conditioning arrangement for the vehicle.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A - 1E each show diagrammatically the relative positions of air vents within a motor vehicle together with a representation of the manual control within the vehicle, the different positions of the control shown in the respective figures leading to the different arrangements of airflow as indicated by arrows; Fig. 2 is a line drawing showing the interior of an apparatus according to the invention, with air diverting arrangements in various operating positions; and Figs. 3 to 5 are line drawings each showing part of the apparatus of Fig. 2 but with the air diverting arrangements in different operating positions.

Referring to Figs. 1A - 1E of the drawings, a ventilation arrangement within a motor vehicle comprises a pair of vents 10 arranged substantially centrally on a dashboard of the vehicle and adapted to direct air into the interior of the vehicle substantially at the upper body level of people seated in the vehicle, a pair of side vents 12 at respective sides of the dashboard and substantially at the same level as the vents 10, a pair of floor vents 14 for directing air from below the dashboard towards the feet of people seated in the vehicle, and a pair of elongate vents 16 adjacent the lower end of the windscreen, the vents 16 being in communication with respective ones of a pair of side window vents 18.

A manually operable control 20 within the vehicle comprises a rotatable knob 22 which is movable between two end positions 28, 30 and selectively to any of a plurality of intermediate positions. One end position 28 is identified by a symbol indicating air directed only towards the upper body part of a person seated in the vehicle, while the other end position 30 is identified by a symbol indicating air directed towards the windscreen. Three intermediate positions 32 - 36 are identified respectively by symbols indicating air directed to both the upper and lower body parts, air directed to the lower body part, and air directed both to the lower body part and to the windscreen.

An apparatus for providing the required airflow to the interior of the vehicle is shown in Fig. 2. The apparatus provides a fabricated housing 38 having, relative to its disposition in use, an upper part 40 in which is provided an opening 42 for entry of fresh air, i.e. air from externally of the vehicle into the housing 38, and another opening 44 provided for entry of re-circulated air.

A baffle 46 is movable relative to the openings 42, 44 to determine whether fresh air or re-circulated air enters the housing 38. The baffle 46 can be manually controlled from inside the vehicle. A pair of electrical fans 48, preferably 4-speed fans, are mounted in the housing part 40 whereby to move the fresh or re-circulated air from the latter through the fan outlets to a lower housing part 30.

A radiator 52, through which hot water from the vehicle engine can be selectively passed by means of a water valve which can be manually operated from within the vehicle, extends into the path of air flow from the fans 48. As viewed in Fig. 2, the radiator extends between the front and rear walls of the housing 38. An upper end of the radiator 52 is mounted on a side wall 54 of the housing 38, the radiator 52 being angled towards an opposed side wall 56 of the housing 38 but terminating short thereof.

The housing part 50 is formed with a plurality of openings functioning as air vents. These vents connect by ducting respectively to the vents identified in Figs. 1A - 1E and therefore the same reference numbers have been allocated to the vents in Fig. 2. Openings in the front and rear walls of the housing 38 between the radiator 52 and a side wall 38 define the side vents 12. At a lower location in the housing part 50 towards the side wall 58 a further pair of openings in the respective front and rear walls of the housing 38 define the demists vents 16, while another pair of openings in the front and rear walls of the housing 38 at the lower end thereof towards the housing wall 56 define the central vents 10. The vents 10, 12, 16 are separated from one another by a plurality of internal partition walls in the housing 38 below the radiator 52 and the side vents 12, and extending between the front and rear walls of the housing 38.

The side vents 12 are always in communication with air flowing through the radiator 52. Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, the central vents 10 are shielded by an upstanding partition 60 connecting with a transverse partition 62. The latter has a through aperture 64 and a profiled baffle surface 66 for a purpose hereinafter described. The partition 62 also extends transversely beyond the partition 60 to provide an abutment 68 for a purpose hereinafter described. An upstanding flange 70 is provided on partition 62 at an edge of the aperture 64.

The demist vents 16 are shielded by an upstanding partition 72 providing an upper arcuate surface 74, and by a further partition 76 internally on the side wall 58, providing an arcuate surface 78. The arcuate surfaces 74, 78 define sections of a circle.

The housing 38 has an extension part 51 (Fig. 2) on the lower end of the housing part 50, the interior of the part 51 being in communication with the interior of the housing part 50 only at the location defined between the partitions 60, 72. Openings in the walls of the part 51 define the floor vents 14.

A pair of baffle arrangements for selectively diverting the air to respective vents are mounted within the housing 38. A first baffle arrangement 80 provides a pivotable, substantially planar baffle plate 82 which is movable between one extreme position as shown in Fig. 3 wherein the plate 82 sealingly engages with the flange 70, and a position as shown in Fig. 5 where the plate 82 sealingly engages on the surface 66 of the partition 62. A second baffle arrangement 84 has the form of an angled baffle plate 86 positioned to be rotatable on the centre of the circle defined by the arcuate partition surfaces 74, 78, respective ends of legs 88, 90 of the plate 86 being sealingly engageable selectively on the respective partition surfaces 74, 78 and with respective sides of the abutment 68 on the partition 62.

The baffle arrangements 80, 84 are interconnected externally of the housing 38 by a linkage 92 (Fig. 2), connection with the control knob 22 inside the vehicle enabling manual control of the position of the baffle arrangements and therefore distribution of air to selected vents.

In the end position 28 of the control knob 22, as shown in Fig. 1A, the baffle arrangements 80, 84 are positioned as shown in Fig. 3. Engagement of the baffle plate 82 with the flange 70, together with the location of the baffle arrangement 80 relative to the radiator 52, i.e. preventing any airflow therebetween, prevents any air available between the radiator 52 and the side wall 56 of the housing 38 passing through the aperture 64 in the partition 62, and therefore preventing any such air passing to the central vents 10. If hot water is circulating in the radiator 52, the air is heated as it passes through the radiator 52 and heated air is directed through the side vents 12. The heated air can also pass below the radiator 52 above the partition 62 and through the aperture 64 to thereby pass through the central vents 10. Engagement of the legs 88, 90 respectively with the abutment 68 and the partition surface 78 prevents any heated air passing to the floor vents 14 the demist vents 16. In this position therefore heated air is available inside the vehicle through the central vents 10 and the side vents 12.

Movement of the control knob 22 to position 32 has the effect of moving the baffle arrangement 84 such that the leg 88 of the member 82 moves out of engagement with the abutment 68, thus allowing heated air to pass through the floor vents 14. In this position however, the leg 88 engages with the partition surface 74 while the other leg 90 remains in engagement with the partition surface 78, thereby preventing passage of heated air to the demist vents 16.

Further movement of the control knob 22 to position 30 moves the baffle arrangement 80 to the position as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the baffle plate 82 sealingly engages on the partition surface 66 at the other side of the aperture 64 from the flange 70 and therefore unheated air passing between the radiator 52 and the housing side wall 56 can pass directly through the aperture 64 to the central vents 10. The position of the baffle plate 82 prevents heated air from passing over the partition 62 to the aperture 64. Accordingly, while heated air continues to be available inside the vehicle through the side vents 12, unheated or cooling air is available through the central vents 10. In this position heated air continues to be available through the floor vents 16 while only a slight bleed of heated air can pass through the baffle arrangement 84 to the demist vents 16.

Further movement of the control knob 22 to the position 36 moves the leg 90 of the baffle plate 86 out of engagement with the partition surface 78 and therefore provides for flow of heated air through the demist vents 16.

Heated air continues to flow through the floor vents 14 but the baffle member 82 remains in engagement with the surface 66, thereby providing only for unheated air to continue to pass through the central vents 10.

Movement of the control knob 22 to the end position 30 moves the leg 90 into engagement with the abutment 68 as shown in Fig. 5, while the baffle plate 82 remains engaged with the surface 66. This has the effect of preventing heated air from reaching the floor vents 14, but maintaining a flow of heated air through the side vents 12, and the demist vents 16, and a flow of unheated air through the central vents 10.

The air distribution arrangement therefore enhances the comfort of people within the motor vehicle in that, when heated air is desired around the vehicle interior and across the floor area, it is often desirable to be able to have cooling air directed at the upper body part. With this apparatus, the user can select to have either heated or cooling air through the central vents when heated air is transmitted through the side vents and the floor vents. This facility is provided in addition to the other air control facilities conventionally required within a motor vehicle.

The apparatus can also be used to provide an air conditioning unit for the motor vehicle. For this purpose, an evaporator would be mounted within the upper housing part 40 above the fans 48.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the baffle arrangements may be designed differently from those described and shown and may be interlinked differently, provided they function to divert the air as required in the different operating positions.

The housing may be designed differently from that described and shown, particularly if required to fit within a different space envelope.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Air distribution apparatus comprising means for creating a flow of air in a housing, means in the path of flow for heating the air, a plurality of outlet arrangements in the housing allowing air to flow out of the housing to a plurality of defined locations, means for diverting the air from the heating means to selected ones of the outlet arrangements, means enabling air to bypass the heating means when the latter is operative, and means for selectively diverting the bypassed air to a first of the outlet arrangements.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the air diverting means comprises first baffle means for controlling diversion of air to the first outlet arrangement, and second baffle means for controlling diversion of air to others of the outlet arrangements.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the first and second baffle means are interconnected for operation together by a single manual control.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the first baffle means comprises a pivotable baffle member having a free end which is sealingly movable across an apertured, profiled surface whereby to control flow of air through the aperture.

5. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the second baffle means comprises an angled baffle member which is pivotally arranged such that free ends of respective legs of the angled member sealingly move across respective profiled surfaces whereby to control flow of air past the baffle member.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, for use in a motor vehicle, wherein the first outlet arrangement is adapted to allow flow of air into the vehicle substantially at the upper body level of persons seated in the vehicle at a substantially central location, another of the selected outlet arrangements directs air to a location adjacent the windscreen of the vehicle for demisting thereof, a further of the selected outlet arrangements provides for flow of air to the interior of the vehicle towards the floor thereof, and a yet further outlet arrangement provides for airflow to the interior of the vehicle substantially at the upper body level of people seated in the vehicle but towards respective sides of the vehicle.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, including an evaporator for lowing the temperature of air flowing through the housing whereby to provide an air conditioning arrangement for the vehicle.

8. Air distribution apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A vehicle having air distribution apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.