WO2017001149A1

WO2017001149A1 - Motor vehicle ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning device

Info

Publication number: WO2017001149A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/062755
Authority: WO
Inventors: Didier Barat; Romeo STROBEL; Gilles Elliot
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2015-06-29
Filing date: 2016-06-06
Publication date: 2017-01-05
Also published as: FR3037868B1; FR3037868A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning device (2) comprising sealing means (4) capable of changing an air stream passage cross section. According to the invention, the sealing means comprise a plurality of grilles (20, 22) that are placed on top of one another so as to each be arranged in a transverse plane perpendicular to the air flow direction (6). And at least one grille (22) is movably mounted in said transverse plane perpendicular to the flow direction of the air stream. Such a device is in particular capable of being placed in a motor vehicle instrument panel and/or body roof. Figure

Description

DEVICE FOR VENTILATION, HEATING AND / OR AIR CONDITIONING OF A

MOTOR VEHICLE

The invention relates to a ventilation device, heating and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle.

Nowadays, motor vehicles are mostly equipped with ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning, which allows the user to order a supply of cold or hot air depending on the temperature he wants and the actual temperature of the passenger compartment. Such an assembly conventionally comprises a condenser and an evaporator, and a compressor and a pressure reducer distributed over a loop circuit in which a refrigerant circulates. A blower can draw cold or hot air from the evaporator to diffuse into an air duct whose free end opens into the passenger compartment to bring the treated air. As many air circulation ducts as air intake zones in the passenger compartment are provided.

It is known to arrange in these ducts, in particular at their free end to be flush with the structural element of the vehicle into which they open, devices having closure means adapted to modify the passage section of the air flow to create a feeling of diffuse air.

Users' expectations of the ventilation, heating and / or air-conditioning system of their vehicle are varied and, in addition to the speed of the response of the device so that it provides almost instant air at the desired temperature, these expectations can be as well the desire for more homogeneous air diffusion in the vehicle than the desire for a feeling closer to natural air in order to avoid a feeling of claustrophobia due to the presence of artificial air in a closed space. Concerning the air diffusion homogeneity problem, the car market players have been able to propose ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning assemblies in which air outlet nozzles are arranged in the roof of the vehicle, in addition to of those arranged in the dashboard. If this new provision ensures a better distribution of air conditioning, it does not solve the problem of feeling about the nature of artificial air, which may push some users to open the window of their vehicle to return the vehicle to "fresh air".

In this dual context, the invention aims to provide an alternative to known air distribution devices, which is at least as effective and more enjoyable for the user, without excessive production costs and mounting.

A ventilation, heating and / or air-conditioning device of a motor vehicle according to the invention comprises shut-off means capable of modifying an air flow passage section, and it is characterized in that the means for closure comprise a plurality of grids superimposed on each other so as to be each arranged in a transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air flow. According to another characteristic of the device of the invention, at least one gate is mounted movably in this transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air flow. According to characteristics of the invention, the grids each comprise air passage holes adapted to modify the air flow passage section, and said at least one gate is mounted to move between a first position in which the air passage of each grid are superimposed and a second position in which the passage holes are shifted transversely.

According to a series of characteristics specific to a particular embodiment of the invention, taken alone or in combination, provision may be made for said at least one grid to be mounted in translation in said transverse plane, and that in this case: the grids each have a rectangular plate shape;

- The air passage holes formed in said at least one grid have a rectilinear shape, extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of translation of said at least one mobile mounted grid; - The spacings of the air passage holes have a different pitch between at least two grids.

According to another series of characteristics specific to another particular embodiment of the invention, taken alone or in combination, it may be provided that said at least one grid is rotatably mounted in said transverse plane, and that in this case:

the grids each have a circular shape;

said at least one grid is rotatably mounted around an axis coinciding with the axis of the air circulation duct;

- The air passage holes formed in said at least one movably mounted gate have a form of point orifices.

It may further be provided in this series of features that the grid is mounted mobile both in rotation and in translation in the transverse plane.

It is important according to the invention that at least one grid is mounted movably in the transverse plane to achieve the relative movement of the grids between them, and in this context, it can be provided that a single grid is mounted mobile, and it will be advantageous in this case that the single mobile mounted grid is disposed inside the air flow duct, while the other fixed mounted grilles or are arranged at the outlet of the air flow duct, or it can be provided that each of the grids is mounted movable in translation and / or rotation in the transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air flow. The invention also relates to a ventilation system, heating and / or air conditioning comprising a device as just mentioned and whose closure means are disposed in a vehicle structural element opening on the passenger compartment. This structural element may be a roof, and it may be provided that the closure means extend in one piece over the width of the vehicle at least above the driver's seats and the passenger.

According to characteristics of the installation according to the invention, at least one actuator may be provided for the setting in motion of said at least one gate, and control means will be able to generate a command instruction of this actuator. Advantageously, this control instruction is generated randomly by the control means.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning installation. Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description and the drawings, among which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a schematic diagram of the operation of the device of the invention in which two grids arranged across an air flow are made mobile relative to one another to move from one first extreme position (Figure 1) at a second extreme position (Figure 3), Figure 2 illustrating an intermediate position;

- Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in which there is illustrated examples of application of the device of the invention in the dashboard and in the flag;

FIGS. 5a to 5c are front views, seen from the passenger compartment, of a first embodiment of the device of the invention, in three successive distinct positions; and FIGS. 6a to 6b are front views, seen from the passenger compartment, of a second embodiment of the device of the invention, in two successive distinct positions.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning device 2 according to one embodiment of the invention, and in which closure means 4 are arranged across a flow of air 6 inside an air duct 8.

The air flow duct has a peripheral wall 10 whose inner face 12 delimits the contour of the duct. According to the embodiments of the invention, this peripheral wall may have a rectangular section or a circular section. By way of example, FIGS. 5a to 5c show an air circulation duct with a circular cross-section, able to be implanted more particularly in a dashboard 14 (as visible in FIG. 4), while FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate an air circulation duct with a rectangular section, able to be implanted more particularly in a lodge 1 6, both above the driver and the front passenger and above the passengers. back (as shown in Figure 4).

Returning to FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be seen that the closure means 4 are arranged at a free end 18 of the peripheral wall 10. It is this arrangement which will be described later, even if it is understood that the closure means could be arranged further inside the conduit, away from the free end of the peripheral wall. The sealing means 4 have a shape capable of modifying an air flow passage section in the circulation duct. The closure means here comprise two grids 20, 22 superimposed on each other in the flow direction of the air flow 6 (illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 by the direction of the arrows). It is understood that the number of grids could be greater than two without departing from the context of the invention, since these grids are arranged similarly in series, one after the other in the duct and perpendicular to the air flow. Among these two grids there is a first gate 20 and a second gate 22 as a function of their position in the direction of air flow, so that, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, the air flowing in the duct firstly comes into contact with the first gate 20. Thus, the second gate 22 is disposed between the free end 18 of the duct, and therefore the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and the first gate which therefore extends more inside the duct.

In the illustrated example, the first gate 20 is fixed and extends completely across the conduit, fixed at its periphery to the inner face 12 of the peripheral wall 10 delimiting the conduit, and the second gate 22 is movably mounted in the transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of the air flow. The two grids are said to be superimposed, it being understood that they have between them a longitudinal spacing 24 able to allow the displacement of the second grid 22 with respect to the first grid 20.

The second gate 22 has a transverse dimension smaller than the transverse dimension of the first gate 20 and this second gate 22 can move transversely inside the conduit 8, between a first end position illustrated in FIG. 1 and in which a first contact zone 26 is created between the second gate 22 and the conduit 8, and a second end position illustrated in FIG. 3 and in which a second contact zone 28 is created between the second gate 22 and the conduit 8 FIG. 2 illustrates an intermediate position in which the second gate 22 is not in contact with the peripheral wall 10 of the conduit 8.

The first and second grids 20, 22 respectively comprise a plurality of first openings 30 and second openings 32, passing through the thickness of the corresponding grille and allowing the passage of air through the grid when it is arranged across the grid. air flow as shown in the figures. The air is thus forced to pass through openings with a passage section less than that of the duct. The arrangement of the openings can be different from one grid to another, just as the size and shape of the openings in the same grid can vary.

The air flow is homogeneous inside the duct upstream of the grids forming closure means, as is illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 by the arrows evenly distributed over the entire duct, while it presents a variable output intensity downstream of the grids. It can be seen in Figure 1 that the output intensity is more or less strong depending on the size of the openings through which the air can pass. The detail 1 -A on the left of Figure 1 shows that in this zone, the first and second openings 30 and 32 of the two grids 20 and 22 are almost superimposed, so that the air can pass, without being deflected, in the maximum section permitted by smaller openings. The detail 1 -B on the right of FIG. 1 shows, however, that in this zone, the openings of the two grids are offset so that the air passage is blocked by the second grid 22, the second openings 32 of which are retracted behind the wall of the first grid 20. It is understood that between these two details, the second openings 32 of the second grid 22 overlap the first openings 30 of the first grid 20, and the importance of this overlap at a point given depends the amount of air passing at this point downstream grids. It can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3 that the relative displacement of the grids with respect to each other, namely in the illustrated case the displacement of the second movable grid 22 with respect to the first fixed grid 20, modifies the transversal position of the areas where the openings 30, 32 of the two grids are superimposed and areas where they are completely offset. Thus, by moving at least one gate, a variation in the intensity of the outgoing air flow over the entire outlet face of the duct is achieved.

Moreover, it is understood that the displacement of the second gate 22, according to the speed of displacement, can generate a transverse displacement of the air flow 6 at the outlet of the air circulation duct 8. The air diffusion felt in the air interior is thus less monotonous. The displacement of one or the other of the grids, here the second gate 22, can advantageously be performed by translation and / or rotation. The second grid 22 can be mounted movable with respect to the first grid 20 and the air flow duct 8, only in translation in the transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of the air flow 6, or only in rotation around an axis parallel to the direction of the air flow, or both in translation and in rotation. In the case of several grids superimposed on each other, it may be provided that some grids are mounted to move only in translation and that others are mounted only movable in rotation. The choice of this or that mode of movement of the gate may in particular depend on the implementation of the device in the vehicle and / or the shape of the air duct and the grids housed in this conduit.

FIG. 4 shows in the same vehicle two different modes of implantation of the device, namely an implementation mode in which a plurality of first devices are housed in a dashboard 14 in front of the driver and the passenger. front of the vehicle, and an implementation mode in which at least a second device is housed in the roof 1 6 of the vehicle so as to extend above the driver and the passenger.

The first mode of implantation is conducive to the use of circular grid devices, in which the openings are made by point orifices 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 a to 5c. These devices comprise closure means formed by a plurality of circular grids 36 and housed in an air circulation duct of also circular section, and the movable mounted grille may be mounted rotatably about an axis coincident with the axis of the duct, is mounted movable in translation in one or more directions in the transverse plane of the grid, perpendicular to the flow direction of flow, or mounted movable in translation and rotation.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the second grid is rotatably mounted alone and has a diameter equal to the diameter of the first grid. In such a case, the rotation makes it possible to vary the surface of the air flow zone and the translation makes it possible to change the position of said air flow surface.

The second implementation mode is conducive to the use of rectangular grid devices, in the form of plates, able to move in translation alone. In these plates 38, the openings are made by rectilinear grooves 40 which extend in the plane of the plate, perpendicular to the direction of displacement in translation of the second grid (illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b by the double arrow sense 42). Step 44, that is the interval between two successive grooves, is different from one grid to another, while the width (that is to say, the dimension in the direction of displacement) grooves of one grid may be the same as the width of the grooves of the other grid, it being understood that for the same grid, the widths of two successive grooves may vary.

In this second embodiment, the plates 38, and the air duct 8 in which they are housed, can extend from one side to the other of the vehicle to make a single piece of tape. transverse 46 above the heads of the occupants of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 4, which improves the distribution of air in the passenger compartment. However, it is understood that one could achieve two devices that would place one above the driver and the other above the passenger for the realization of a custom air conditioning function in different spaces of the cockpit. Furthermore, one or more devices could be used to perform an air distribution above the passengers at the rear of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 4. It is understood that the grids mounted movable in the conduit air circulation, whether in rotation and / or in translation, are displaced by means of at least one non-visible actuator in the figures. When the grids are housed inside the duct, the actuator associated with the mobile mounted grille is secured to the inner face of the peripheral wall. When, as in the case illustrated, the movable grid is flush with a component of the vehicle, the actuator can be attached to the periphery of the opening and advantageously masked by a cover.

The device further comprises a control module adapted to generate control instructions to the actuators for controlling the movement of one or the other of the mounted mobile grids. It is interesting that the control module generates its motion control instructions randomly, without predetermined cycles. These control instructions may consist of both an angular displacement instruction and a linear displacement instruction, and possibly a speed reference of this displacement. This creates random variations in the airflow at the outlet of the device that creates a feeling of natural air, not programmed.

The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives it has set itself and in particular to propose a ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning device which offers users a feeling of distribution of natural air. and not mechanical distribution of artificial air. The device according to the invention makes it possible, by means of a particular mechanical arrangement of closure means in a circulation duct, and by the specific movement thereof, to effect a mixing of air making the flow of air penetrating into the duct unhomogeneous. the cockpit. The moiré which is generated by the superposition of at least two grids, and the fluctuation of this effect by the setting in motion of at least one grid, can be visible by the driver if the shutter grids are arranged at the output of air flow duct, with a grid substantially flush with the structural element of the vehicle in which the device is implanted. This accentuates the effect felt by the occupants of the vehicle, namely the effect of a natural air blowing into the passenger compartment, which is not constant over time and advantageously non-cyclical.

Claims

1. Device for ventilation, heating and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle having closure means (4) adapted to modify a passage section of an air flow (6), characterized in that the shut-off means comprise a plurality of grids (20, 22) superimposed on each other so as to be each arranged in a transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air flow, and characterized in that at least one gate (22) is movably mounted in said transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air flow.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grids (20, 22) each comprise openings (30, 32) for air passage adapted to modify the air flow passage section, and characterized in that said at least one gate (22) is movably mounted between a first position in which a first opening (30) of a first gate (20) and a second opening (32) of a second gate (22) are superimposed and a second position in which these openings are offset transversely.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one gate (22) is mounted movably in translation in said transverse plane.

4. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said grids (20, 22) each have a rectangular plate shape (38).

5. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the air passage openings formed in said at least one movable gate (22) have a shape of straight groove (40), extending in a direction perpendicular to the translational direction (42) of said at least one grid (22) mounted movably.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said at least one gate (22) is rotatably mounted in said transverse plane,

7. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one grid (22) movably mounted has a circular grid shape (36) and is rotatably mounted about an axis coinciding with the axis of the circulation duct. air.

8. Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the air passage openings formed in said at least one grid (22) mounted movably have a form of point orifices (34).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a single grid (22) is movably mounted.

10. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the single grid (22) movably mounted is disposed within the air flow duct (8), while the other or fixed mounted grids are arranged in outlet of the air circulation duct (8).

1 1. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each of the grids (20, 22) is movably mounted in translation and / or rotation in said transverse plane perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air flow.

12. Ventilation installation, heating and / or air conditioning comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims and whose closure means are arranged in a structural member (14, 1 6) of the vehicle opening onto the passenger compartment.

13. Installation according to the preceding claim and wherein said structural element is a flag (1 6), characterized in that the closure means (4) extend in one piece over the width of the vehicle at least at above the driver's and passenger's seats.

14. Installation according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that it comprises at least one actuator for the setting in motion of said at least one gate, and control means adapted to generate a control command of this actuator.