U.S. patent application number 09/760305 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-24 for heating or air conditioning unit for a motor vehicle.
Invention is credited to Beck, Oliver, Bendell, Ian, Halder, Prasanta, Kampf, Hans, Lochmahr, Karl, Molt, Kurt, Zeeb, Joachim.
Application Number | 20010001417 09/760305 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7811057 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010001417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beck, Oliver ; et
al. |
May 24, 2001 |
Heating or air conditioning unit for a motor vehicle
Abstract
A conditioned air unit for use in a motor vehicle providing
heating or cooling to a plurality of regions having relatively
independent temperature setting. The structure provides compact,
flexible and convenient temperature conditioning for each
region.
Inventors: |
Beck, Oliver;
(Sindelfingen-Hinterweil, DE) ; Bendell, Ian;
(Monsheim, DE) ; Halder, Prasanta;
(Ditzingen-Heimerdingen, DE) ; Kampf, Hans; (Korb,
DE) ; Lochmahr, Karl; (Vaihingen, DE) ; Molt,
Kurt; (Bietingeheim-Bissingen, DE) ; Zeeb,
Joachim; (Echterdingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard L. Schwaab
FOLEY & LARDNER
Washington Harbour
3000 K Street, N.W., Suite 500
Washington
DC
20007-5109
US
|
Family ID: |
7811057 |
Appl. No.: |
09/760305 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09760305 |
Jan 16, 2001 |
|
|
|
08965962 |
Nov 7, 1997 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/203 ; 165/42;
165/43; 454/156; 454/160; 454/161 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 2021/0085 20130101;
B60H 1/00328 20130101; F28D 2021/0096 20130101; B60H 1/00064
20130101; B60H 1/00842 20130101; F28D 1/0435 20130101; B60H
2001/00164 20130101; B60H 2001/00135 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/203 ; 165/42;
165/43; 454/156; 454/160; 454/161 |
International
Class: |
B60H 003/00; B61D
027/00; B60H 001/02; B60H 001/22; B60H 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 8, 1996 |
DE |
P19646123.5 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A unit for conditioning air in a motor vehicle compartment, the
motor vehicle compartment having two sections in each half of the
compartment, the unit comprising: a heater unit for receiving input
air and for exhausting heated air; a first duct for conducting
heated air from the heater unit to a first region in a first one of
the sections; a second duct for conducting heated air from the
heater unit to a first region in a second one of the sections; a
third duct for conducting heated air from the heater unit to a
second region in the second section; and a plurality of valves for
independently setting a temperature of the conditioned air in each
of the ducts.
2. The unit according to claim 1, wherein the heater unit comprises
a liquid-to-air heat exchanger.
3. The unit according to claim 2, wherein engine coolant for the
motor vehicle is circulated through the liquid-to-air heat
exchanger.
4. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of valves
includes a liquid valve for controlling liquid flow through the
heat exchanger and a air valve for controlling air flow through the
heat exchanger.
5. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a fourth duct
for conducting input air to a second region in the first section;
and a fifth duct for conducting input air to a third region in the
second section.
6. The unit according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of valves
include: a first air valve downstream of the heater unit for
diverting one of: the input air from the fourth duct to the first
duct, and the heated air from the first duct to the fourth duct;
and a second air valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting
one of: the input air from the fifth duct to the third duct, and
the heated air from the third duct to the fifth duct.
7. The unit according to claim 2, wherein the heater unit includes:
a first heater core segment for exhausting heated air to the first
duct; and a second heater core segment for exhausting heated air to
the second and third ducts.
8. The unit according to claim 7, wherein the heater unit includes:
a central tank for distributing liquid to the first and second
heater core segments; a first end tank for receiving liquid from
the first heater core segment; and a second end tank for receiving
liquid from the second heater core segment.
9. The unit according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of valves
include: a first liquid valve for controlling liquid flow through
the first heater core segment; and a second liquid valve for
controlling liquid flow through the second heater core segment.
10. The unit according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of valves
includes: a first air valve downstream of the heater unit for
diverting one of: the input air from the fourth duct to the first
duct, and the heated air from the first duct to the fourth duct;
and a second air valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting
one of: the input air from the fifth duct to the third duct, and
the heated air from the third duct to the fifth duct; wherein the
temperature of the conditioned air in the first duct is set by the
first liquid valve, the temperature of the conditioned air in the
second duct is set by the second liquid valve, the temperature of
the conditioned air in the third duct is set by the second liquid
valve and the second air valve, the temperature of the conditioned
air in the fourth duct is set by the first liquid valve and the
second air valve, and the temperature of the conditioned air in the
fifth duct is set by the first air valve.
11. The unit according to claim 7, wherein the first heater core
segment is disposed below the second heater core segment.
12. The unit according to claim 11, wherein the first heater core
segment includes turbulence inducing inserts for producing
relatively hotter heated air in the first duct with respect to the
second duct.
13. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a
refrigerant evaporator upstream of the heater unit for cooling the
input air.
14. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a fan
upstream of the heater unit for moving the input air.
15. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of valves
include: at least one air valve upstream of the heater unit for
controlling input air flow to the heater unit; and at least one air
valve downstream of the heater unit for controlling heated air flow
to the ducts.
16. The unit according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of valves
include: a first upstream air valve for controlling input air flow
to an upper portion of the heater unit and for controlling input
air flow to the second and third ducts; a second upstream air valve
for controlling input air flow to a lower portion of the heater
unit; a first downstream air valve for controlling heated air flow
from the upper portion of the heater unit; and a second downstream
air valve for controlling heated air flow from the lower portion of
the heater unit.
17. The unit according to claim 16, further comprising: a fourth
duct for conducting input air to a second region in the first
section; and a fifth duct for conducting input air to a third
region in the second section; wherein the plurality of valves
further includes: a third downstream air valve for diverting one
of: the input air from the fourth duct to the first duct, and the
heated air from the lower portion of the heater unit to the fourth
duct; and a fourth downstream air valve for diverting one of: the
input air from the fifth duct to the second and third ducts, and
the heated air from the upper portion of the heater unit to the
fifth duct.
18. A unit for conditioning air in a motor vehicle compartment, the
motor vehicle compartment being divided into a front right section,
a rear right section, a front left section and a rear left section,
the unit comprising: a heater unit for receiving input air and for
exhausting heated air; a first duct for conducting heated air from
the heater unit to a foot region in the front right section; a
second duct for conducting heated air from the heater unit to a
defrost region in the front right section; a third duct for
conducting input air to a ventilation region in the front right
section; a fourth duct for conducting heated air from the heater
unit to a foot region in the rear right section; a fifth duct for
conducting input air to a ventilation region in the rear right
section; a sixth duct for conducting heated air from the heater
unit to a foot region in the front left section; a seventh duct for
conducting heated air from the heater unit to a defrost region in
the front left section; an eighth duct for conducting input air to
a ventilation region in the front left section; a ninth duct for
conducting heated air from the heater unit to a foot region in the
rear left section; a tenth duct for conducting input air to a
ventilation region in the rear left section; and a plurality of
valves for independently setting a temperature of the heated air in
each of the ducts.
19. The unit according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of
valves include: a first air valve downstream of the heater unit for
diverting one of: input air from the third duct to the second duct,
and heated air from the second duct to the third duct; a second air
valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting one of: input air
from the fifth duct to the fourth duct, and heated air from the
fourth duct to the fifth duct; a third air valve downstream of the
heater unit for diverting one of: input air from the eighth duct to
the seventh duct, and heated air from the seventh duct to the
eighth duct; and a fourth air valve downstream of the heater unit
for diverting one of: input air from the tenth duct to the ninth
duct, and heated air from the ninth duct to the tenth duct.
20. The unit according to claim 18, wherein the heater unit
includes: a first heater core segment for exhausting heated air to
the first and second ducts; a second heater core segment for
exhausting heated air to the fourth duct; a third heater core
segment for exhausting heated air to the sixth and seventh ducts;
and a fourth heater core segment for exhausting heated air to the
ninth duct.
21. The unit according to claim 20, wherein the heater unit
includes: a central tank for distributing liquid to the first,
second, third and fourth heater core segments; a first end tank for
receiving liquid from the first heater core segment; a second end
tank for receiving liquid from the second heater core segment; a
third end tank for receiving liquid from the third heater core
segment; and a fourth end tank for receiving liquid from the fourth
heater core segment.
22. The unit according to claim 21, wherein the first and third
heater core segments extend in opposite directions from the central
tank, the second and fourth heater core segments extend in opposite
directions from the central tank, the first heater core section is
vertically above the third heater core section, and the second
heater core section is vertically above the fourth heater core
section.
23. The unit according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of valves
include: a first liquid valve for controlling liquid flow through
the first heater core segment; a second liquid valve for
controlling liquid flow through the second heater core segment; a
third liquid valve for controlling liquid flow through the third
heater core segment; and a fourth liquid valve for controlling
liquid flow through the fourth heater core segment.
24. The unit according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of
valves include: a first air valve downstream of the heater unit for
diverting one of: input air from the third duct to the second duct,
and heated air from the second duct to the third duct; a second air
valve downstream of the heater unit for diverting one of: input air
from the fifth duct to the fourth duct, and heated air from the
fourth duct to the fifth duct; a third air valve downstream of the
heater unit for diverting one of: input air from the eighth duct to
the seventh duct, and heated air from the seventh duct to the
eighth duct; and a fourth air valve downstream of the heater unit
for diverting one of: input air from the tenth duct to the ninth
duct, and heated air from the ninth duct to the tenth duct; wherein
the temperature of the conditioned air in the first duct is set by
the first liquid valve, the temperature of the conditioned air in
the second duct is set by the first liquid valve and the first air
valve, the temperature of the conditioned air in the third duct is
set by the first air valve, the temperature of the conditioned air
in the fourth duct is set by the second liquid valve, the
temperature of the conditioned air in the fifth duct is set by the
second air valve, the temperature of the conditioned air in the
sixth duct is set by the third liquid valve, the temperature of the
conditioned air in the seventh duct is set by the third liquid
valve and the third air valve, the temperature of the conditioned
air in the eighth duct is set by the third air valve, the
temperature of the conditioned air in the ninth duct is set by the
fourth liquid valve, and the temperature of the conditioned air in
the tenth duct is set by the fourth air valve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] A heating or air conditioning unit for a motor vehicle
having a plurality of independent temperature control regions.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,009 discloses a conventional heating or
air conditioning unit, including a fan and a heater, which divides
the airstream downstream of the heater. Two ducts leading to the
vehicle front compartment distribute conditioned air to the regions
for the driver seat and passenger seat, and two ducts leading to
the vehicle rear compartment distribute conditioned air to the
regions for the seat behind the driver and the seat behind the
passenger. Air control elements arranged at the branching points of
the air ducts control the quantity of air supplied to each region;
however, independent temperature control is only possible between
the front and rear zones. Additional air control elements provided
further downstream allow the air stream to the front zone to mix
with the air stream to the rear zone; however, temperature control
is still dependent on the position of the air quantity control
elements for the other regions.
[0005] DE-A 39 40 361 discloses another conventional heating or air
conditioning unit providing conditioned air to the rear zone of a
motor vehicle. A first air duct conducts cold air and a second air
duct conducts hot air. Air from the first and second ducts is
combined in a mixing chamber so as to set the desired temperature
of the air stream that goes to the rear zone. One disadvantage of
this conventional arrangement is a duct conducting conditioned air
to the foot region of the rear zone branches off from the hot air
duct upstream of the mixing chamber, hence its temperature is
dependent on the temperature setting in the front zone. Another
disadvantage is the considerable amount of space required in the
rear zone to control the amount of air to the rear zone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the invention is to provide a heating or air
conditioning unit for a vehicle having a plurality of different
regions in front and rear sections on both sides of a passenger
compartment. A further object of the invention is to provide
improved temperature setting convenience by providing a temperature
setting for each region which is independent of the temperature
setting in any other region, and to provide a space-saving
construction.
[0007] A particular advantage of the invention is that the
temperature can be individually set in a simple manner for at least
four conditioned air regions in the motor vehicle passenger
compartment. The temperature of the air stream leading to a
conditioned air region is set directly in close proximity to a
heater unit, thereby avoiding interaction or exchange between air
streams of different conditioned air regions. Consequently, a
separate temperature setting for different regions in each of four
sections of the passenger compartment (e.g. driver side front seat,
driver side rear seat, passenger side front seat, and passenger
side rear seat) can be achieved without being influenced by the
temperature setting for any other region.
[0008] Another advantage of the present invention is that the
temperature setting for each region is established in close
proximity to the heater unit. Therefore, obtaining separate
temperature settings for at least four conditioned air regions does
not require any more space than is required by conventional heating
and air conditioning units to obtain separate temperature settings
for only two conditioned air regions.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
heater unit is divided into four heater core segments through which
separate portions of an input air stream are conducted. Each
portion of the air stream is conducted in a separate duct, which
prevents mixing with other portions of the air stream.
[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
single heater unit is vertically and horizontally separated into
the four heater core segments. A central coolant tank vertically
separates the heater unit into symmetrical side portions.
Co-planar, parallel coolant tanks are arranged at distal ends of
both side portions with respect to the central coolant tank. A
horizontal partition divides each of the side portions into upper
and lower segments.
[0011] According to yet another embodiment, the coolant carrying
tubes of the heater in a lower segment include airstream turbulence
inducing elements for increasing thermal transmission in the lower
segment with respect to the upper segment, thereby obtaining a
comparatively higher temperature setting.
[0012] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate a presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the
general description given above and the detailed description of the
preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a conditioned air unit
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a conditioned air unit
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a front view of a heater unit according to the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a liquid flow control
system according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] One half of a conditioned air unit for a motor vehicle is
illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. The conditioned air unit is
configured symmetrically with respect to a vertical center plane,
so that temperatures for the right and left sides of the occupant
compartment can be independently set. Thus, the half of the
conditioned air unit illustrated in FIG. 1 is equally applicable
for providing conditioned air to either of the right or left sides
of the occupant compartment.
[0019] A conditioned air unit 100 according to the present
invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. A fan 1 moves an input air
stream 2 through the conditioned air unit 100. The source of the
input air stream 2 can either be fresh-air from outside the
occupant compartment or air recirculated from inside the occupant
compartment. A flap (not illustrated) controls the source of the
input air stream 2. The input air stream 2 passes through a
refrigerant evaporator 3 for cooling the input air stream 2 to a
given temperature. Downstream of the evaporator 3 is a heater unit
4. Generally, the heater unit 4 comprises a liquid-to-air type heat
exchanger, and preferably the liquid is engine coolant. However,
other types of heat exchangers or heat sources are contemplated.
The heater unit 4 may comprise either a single heater core or a
plurality of heater core segments fitted together in a modular
manner.
[0020] Downstream of the heater unit 4, a plurality of ducts lead
to corresponding outlet nozzles (not shown) for supplying
conditioned air to separate regions in the occupant compartment of
the motor vehicle. A ventilation duct 5, a defroster duct 6, and a
foot duct 7 conduct conditioned air to a front section of one side
of the vehicle. The ducts 5, 6, and 7 are associated with an upper
segment 8 of the heater 4; however, the ventilation duct 5 is
adjacent a side wall of a housing 110, and the air stream conducted
by the ventilation duct 5 does not pass through the heater 4.
[0021] Associated with a lower segment 9 of the heater 4 are a foot
duct 10 and a ventilation duct 11 for conducting conditioned air to
a rear section of the same side of the vehicle. As with the front
zone ventilation duct 5, the ventilation duct 11 is adjacent a side
wall of a housing 110, and the air stream conducted by the
ventilation duct 11 also does not pass through the heater 4.
Generally, the defroster duct 6 is for conducting conditioned air
to an upper region of the front section, and the ventilation ducts
5, 11 are for conducting conditioned air to regions within their
respective sections which are relatively higher in the passenger
compartment than the regions receiving conditioned air conducted by
the foot ducts 7, 10.
[0022] The illustrated arrangement of the ducts 5-7, 10 and 11
makes independent temperature setting simple.
[0023] Arranging the ventilation ducts 5, 11 adjacent the side
walls of the housing 110 permits cooled air leaving the refrigerant
condenser 3 to circumvent the heater 4 through respective bypasses
12, 13.
[0024] One or more air valves, or mixing flaps, 14, 15 are arranged
directly adjacent to the heater 4 in air distribution chamber(s).
The air valves flaps 14, 15 set the quantity of air and/or the air
temperature. As illustrated, the air valve 14 makes it possible to
set the temperature of the air streams in the ventilation duct 5
and the defroster duct 6 for the front section, and the air valve
15 makes it possible to set the temperature of the air streams in
foot duct 10 and the ventilation duct 11 for the rear section.
[0025] The rear section foot duct 7 is arranged centrally and
receives an air stream which is temperature-conditioned directly by
the heater unit 4.
[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the temperature of the heater
unit 4 is controlled with liquid valves 60-64 for controlling the
flow of engine coolant through the heater unit 4. Opening and
closing the liquid valves 60-64 regulates the flow of coolant
through each segment of the heater unit 4, thereby enabling
different temperature settings in each segment of the heater unit
4. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, the temperature in each of
the foot duct 10 and the ventilation duct 11 can be independently
set using the liquid valves 60 and 62, and the air valve 15.
Similarly, the temperature in each of the ducts 5, 6 and 7 leading
to the front section can be independently set using the liquid
valves 60 and 62, and the air valve 14.
[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
heater 4 comprises separate segments. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,
the heater 4 consists of a first side portion 16 and a second side
portion 17. Coolant is supplied through the liquid valve 60 to an
inlet opening 18 in a central tank 19 arranged between the two side
portions 16, 17. The coolant flows out of the central tank 19
through horizontal tubes 20 in the upper heater core segment 8 of
the side portion 16 to a first end tank 21, and through horizonal
tubes 20 in the upper heater core segment 8' of the side portion 17
to a second end tank 21'.
[0028] The heater side portions 16, 17 are divided into upper
segments 8, 8' and lower segments 9, 9', respectively. Partitions
28, 29 extending outward from the central tank 19 divide the heater
side portions 16, 17 into the upper 8, 8' and lower 9, 9' heater
core segments, respectively. Coolant exits the heater unit 4
through outlet openings 31, 32, 33, 34 in the segments 8, 8', 9,
9', respectively.
[0029] According to one feature of the invention, liquid valves 61,
63 can be used to control engine coolant flow through the upper
segments 8, 8', and air flaps (not shown) can be used to control
air flow through the lower segments 9, 9'. This also enables the
temperature settings for the front and rear sections of a side
compartment to be controlled substantially independently of one
another.
[0030] According to another feature of the invention, the tubes 20
of the lower segments 9, 9' can be designed in such a way that air
streams conducted through the foot ducts 10 are heated to a higher
temperature than air streams conducted through the foot ducts 7.
For example, turbulence inducing inserts in the heat-conducting
tubes 20 of the lower segments 9, 9' cause eddying of the coolant
which improves thermal transmission.
[0031] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
2 wherein independent temperature settings for various regions of a
passenger compartment are provided exclusively with air valves
(e.g. mixing flaps) controlling air flow through a heater unit 35.
An upper mixing flap 36 is located upstream of the heater 35, and a
secondary mixing flap 37 is located downstream of the heater 35 to
control the quantity of air flow to the front compartment. For air
flow through a lower portion of the heater 35, a lower mixing flap
38 is located upstream of the heater 35, and a secondary mixing
flap 39 is located downstream of the heater 35 to control the
quantity of air flow to the rear compartment. An input air stream
41 is cooled as it passes through a refrigerant evaporator 40. The
positions of mixing flaps 36, 37, 38, 39 enable independent
temperature settings for the front and rear compartments.
[0032] Above a partition 42 is formed an upper air distribution
chamber 43 from which temperature-conditioned air is conducted into
the front passenger compartment through a ventilation duct 44, a
defroster duct 45, and a foot duct 46. The air stream conducted by
ventilation duct 44 passes through the refrigerant evaporator 40
and bypasses the heater 35. A pivoting flap 47 is arranged in the
upper air distribution chamber 43 to mix heated air in the air
stream conducted through the ventilation duct 44.
[0033] Below the partition 42 is formed a lower air distribution
compartment 48 from which temperature-conditioned air is conducted
to the rear passenger compartment. A pivoting flap 49 is arranged
in the lower air distribution chamber 48 at the entrances to a foot
duct 50 and a ventilation duct 51. The pivoting flap 49 mixes
cooled air from the refrigerant evaporator 40 in the air streams
conducted through both the foot duct 50 and the ventilation duct
51.
[0034] This embodiment of the invention also enables the
temperature settings for the different regions within the front and
rear zones of a side compartment to be controlled substantially
independently of one another.
[0035] Segmenting of the heater as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4
reduces the interior space required by the conditioned air unit
while meeting the user's increased demands for convenience and
flexible control. Alternatively, the same convenience and
flexibility can also be ensured using an unsegmented heater, i.e.,
having a single heater core, with the mixing flaps as illustrated
in FIG. 2. The arrangement of the ducts and the mixing flaps in
close proximity to the heater unit, as illustrated in FIG. 2,
achieves the same effects as the conditioned air unit illustrated
in FIG. 1.
[0036] As an alternative or in addition to the horizontal tubes 20
illustrated in FIG. 3, the heater 4 can have upright, vertical
tubes. Automatic temperature layering results as the temperature of
the coolant decreases uniformly from a region at the vertical
position of the inlet opening is to the vertical position of the
outlet openings near the upper and lower ends of the heater 4.
Consequently, a higher temperature setting is possible for the foot
duct 7 as compared to the ventilation duct 5. Similarly, the foot
duct 10, which is nearer to the inlet opening 18, conducts an air
stream of a higher temperature than the ventilation duct 11.
[0037] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its
broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and
representative devices that are shown and described herein.
Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept as
defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0038] German Patent Application No. 196 46 123.5, filed Nov. 11,
1996, including the specification, drawings, claims, and abstract,
is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
* * * * *