U.S. patent application number 09/817220 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-04 for air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to BEHR GmbH & CO.. Invention is credited to Klingler, Dietrich, Schmadl, Dieter, Schwahn, Werner, Voigt, Klaus.
Application Number | 20010025502 09/817220 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7637381 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010025502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klingler, Dietrich ; et
al. |
October 4, 2001 |
Air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle
Abstract
Disclosed is an air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle with
which individual zones of the interior can be individually
air-conditioned. The air-conditioning system is divided by means of
at least one dividing wall into sub-regions, with the dividing wall
having a dividing wall opening which can be closed off. The heating
or air-conditioning system improves the safety, for example, by
reducing the amount of condensation on windows, while conserving
installation space. In a first region (B1 or B2 or B3 or B4), the
partial air stream flowing therethrough can flow through a
sub-region (22HL or 22VL or 22VR or 22HR) of heater (22), and the
partial air stream, which has already been heated in the first
region (B1 or B2 or B3 or B4) can after passing through the
dividing wall opening (82R, 82L), also flow through a sub-region
(22FL or 22RL or 22RR or 22FR), located in the second region (B2 or
B1 or B4 or B3) of the heater (22).
Inventors: |
Klingler, Dietrich;
(Heubach, DE) ; Schmadl, Dieter; (Marbach, DE)
; Schwahn, Werner; (Schwieberdingen, DE) ; Voigt,
Klaus; (Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard L. Schwaab
FOLEY & LARDNER
Suite 500
3000 K Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20007-5109
US
|
Assignee: |
BEHR GmbH & CO.
|
Family ID: |
7637381 |
Appl. No.: |
09/817220 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 2001/00185
20130101; B60H 2001/00135 20130101; B60H 2001/00164 20130101; B60H
1/00064 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/239 |
International
Class: |
B60H 001/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 1, 2000 |
DE |
100 16 433.1 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising an
evaporator for generating cold air; a heater for generating warm
air, said heater having at least one dividing wall for dividing the
air-conditioning system into at least two regions downstream of the
evaporator, with said heater being present in each of the regions,
and said dividing wall having a dividing wall opening; and a flap
for selectively closing the dividing wall opening, said opening and
flap being arranged such that first partial air stream conducted in
a first region flows through a first heater sub-region located in
said first region to produce a first heated partial air stream that
can selectively be subsequently directed with said flap to flow
through a second heater sub-region located in a second region,
after passing through the dividing wall opening.
2. An air-conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising, in at least one of the regions, an air stream flow
controller having a first operating position in which air flows in
a first direction through the heater sub-region located in said
region and a second operating position in which air flows through
said same sub-region in a direction opposite to the first
direction.
3. An air-conditioning system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
air stream flow controller comprises two air flaps, the first air
flap being arranged between a cold air region located between the
evaporator and the heater and a first space located at a first side
of the heater, and the second air flap being arranged between the
cold air region and a second space located at a second side of the
heater.
4. An air-conditioning system as claimed in claim 3, whereas the
heater is arranged so as to lie essentially horizontal, and the
first space is arranged above the heater, and the second space is
arranged underneath the heater.
5. An air-conditioning system as claimed in claim 1, comprising
three of said dividing walls to form four regions arranged one next
to the other, and comprises said dividing wall opening in each case
in the two outermost dividing walls, wherein the central dividing
wall separates the two center regions which form a first pair of
regions assigned to zones in the interior front space of the
vehicle, and the two outer regions form a second pair of regions
assigned to zones in the interior rear space of the vehicle.
6. An air-conditioning system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
two outermost regions are assigned to the left and right zones of
the rear space, and the two innermost regions are assigned to the
left and right zones of the front space.
7. A method for air-conditioning for a motor vehicle, comprising:
generating cold air by passing air through an evaporator;
generating warm air by passing at least a partial stream of said
cold air through a heater, said heater having at least one dividing
wall for dividing the air-conditioning system into at least two
regions downstream of the evaporator, with the heater being present
in each of the regions, and said dividing wall having a dividing
wall opening; and selectively closing the dividing wall opening to
selectively conduct a first heated partial air stream, conducted in
a first region through a first heater sub-region located in said
first region, through a second heater sub-region located in a
second region, after passing through the dividing wall opening,
whereby the first heated partial air stream is passed through the
heater twice.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an air-conditioning system
for a motor vehicle with which individual air-conditioning zones of
the interior of the vehicle can be supplied with air that is
independently conditioned separately.
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,704 discloses such an air-conditioning
system that is divided into two halves by a dividing wall
downstream of the evaporator in the direction of air flow. A first
half serves to air-condition the interior front space, while the
second serves to air-condition the interior rear space. The heater
penetrates the dividing wall so that there are parts of the heater
in each half. Downstream of the heater, the dividing wall has an
opening that can be closed off with a pivoting flap. In the closed
position of the flap, the front space and rear space can be
air-conditioned separately, and in the open position, the entire
air-conditioned air stream is fed to the front space. The supply of
air to the rear space is then shut off. It is desirable to route
air into the front space instead of into the rear space, in
particular, when the window panes are covered by condensation or
iced up, in order to improve visibility and thus safety.
[0003] A limitation with this known air-conditioning system is
that, although the partial air stream for air-conditioning the rear
can be completely conducted into the front space through the
dividing wall opening, it is not possible, conversely, for a
partial air stream intended for air-conditioning the front space to
be conducted through the opening and into the rear space.
Furthermore, with this air-conditioning system it is only possible
to separately air-condition the front space and the rear space. A
left/right division, and thus separate air-conditioning of the
lefthand and right-hand halves of the interior of the vehicle is
not provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide an
improved air-conditioning system with which air can be conditioned
separately in each case for the different air-conditioning zones of
the vehicle, and with which air can be conducted through two
adjacent regions in an improved way.
[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide an
air-conditioning system in which the level of safety can be
improved, for example, as a result of reducing condensation on the
windows.
[0006] Still another object of the invention is to provide an
air-conditioning system having an installation space that is as
small as possible.
[0007] It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved
method of air-conditioning a motor vehicle.
[0008] In accomplishing these and other objects, there has been
provide in accordance with one aspect of the present invention an
air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle, comprising an
evaporator for generating cold air; a heater for generating warm
air, with the heater having at least one dividing wall for dividing
the air-conditioning system into at least two regions downstream of
the evaporator, with the heater being present in each of the
regions, and with the dividing wall having a dividing wall opening;
and a flap for selectively closing the dividing wall opening. The
opening and the flap are arranged such that first partial air
stream conducted in a first region flows through a first heater
sub-region located in the first region to produce a first heated
partial air stream that can selectively be subsequently directed
with said flap to flow through a second heater sub-region located
in a second region, after passing through the dividing wall
opening.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there
has been provided a method for air-conditioning a motor vehicle,
comprising: generating cold air by passing air through an
evaporator; generating warm air by passing at least a partial
stream of the cold air through a heater, the heater having at least
one dividing wall for dividing the air-conditioning system into at
least two regions downstream of the evaporator, with the heater
being present in each of the regions, and the dividing wall having
a dividing wall opening; and selectively closing the dividing wall
opening to selectively conduct a first heated partial air stream,
conducted in a first region through a first heater sub-region
located in the first region, through a second heater sub-region
located in a second region, after passing through the dividing wall
opening, whereby the first heated partial air stream is passed
through the heater twice.
[0010] Further objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed description of
preferred embodiments of the invention that follows, when
considered together with the accompanying figures of drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is explained in detail below by means of
exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a schematically
illustrated air-conditioning system according to the invention,
along the line I-I in FIG. 3 in the vicinity of the air routing
means for air which can be supplied to a front space of the
interior of the vehicle;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the schematically
illustrated air-conditioning system according to the invention,
which cross section runs parallel to the cross section in FIG. 1
along the line II-II in FIG. 3 in the vicinity of the air routing
means with air which can be supplied to a rear space of the
interior of the vehicle;
[0014] FIGS. 3a to 3c show cross sections of the air-conditioning
system according to the invention along the lines III-III in FIGS.
1 and 2 in different operating modes; and
[0015] FIGS. 4a and 4b show views according to FIG. 3 of a further
exemplary embodiment in two different operating modes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] The invention provides an air-conditioning system wherein,
in a first region, the partial air streams conducted in this region
can flow through a first sub-region of the heater, and the partial
air stream that has already been heated in the first region can
also flow, after passing through the dividing wall opening, through
a second sub-region, located in a second region of the heater.
[0017] In this way, if the need should arise, at least one partial
air stream can be heated twice by the heater, so that the air
reaches a higher temperature and, for example, condensation on
windows can be removed more satisfactorily. This is advantageous
particularly in the start-up phase during cold weather.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, an air stream
controller is provided in at least one of the regions in the
air-conditioning system, such that the air stream controller can be
switched in a first operating mode so that the air can flow in a
first direction through a sub-region of the heater and in a second
operating mode, the air can flow through the heater in a direction
opposite to the first direction.
[0019] With this possibility of varying the flow direction through
the heater, various ways of routing the air are possible. For
example, either all the air can be supplied to the front space, or
all the air can be supplied to the rear space. If appropriate,
partial streams can flow through the heating heat exchanger twice,
as described above.
[0020] In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the air stream
control comprises two air flaps, the first air flap being arranged
between a cold air region located between the evaporator and the
heater, and a first space arranged on a first side of the heater.
The second air flap is arranged between the cold air region and a
second space arranged on a second side of the heater.
[0021] The routing of the air can be implemented in a particularly
advantageous way, in particular without excessively large pressure
losses, if the heater is arranged so as to lie flat in the
installed position. Most preferably, the heater lies in an
approximately horizontal attitude, and the first space is arranged
above the heater, and the second space is arranged beneath the
heater.
[0022] Three dividing walls are preferably provided for forming a
total of four regions, arranged one next to the other. In this way,
the air-conditioning system can be of elongated construction in the
transverse direction with respect to the direction of travel of the
vehicle, and the heater body has its greatest dimension in the
transverse direction with respect to the direction of travel. This
also has the advantage that the air-conditioning system can be
arranged in the dashboard, in such a way that it does not extent
downwardly, for example, in the region of the center console, so
that space is thus kept free for additional devices, such as
navigation equipment, radios or the like. Dividing wall openings
are provided in that dividing wall which divides a first region
assigned to the front zones in the vehicle and a second region
assigned to the rear zones in the vehicle interior. The air
conducted in the regions assigned to the rear space can then be
selectively supplied to the front space, and vice versa.
[0023] To conserve installation space, it is advantageous if the
outer regions are assigned to the rear space and the inner regions
are assigned to the front space. The air ducts that are connected
to the air-conditioning system and conduct the air to the assigned
zones can then be arranged in a space-saving manner.
[0024] Turning now to the drawings, a heating or air-conditioning
system 10 according to the invention, which is illustrated
schematically in the drawings, has a housing 12 for conducting air
that is to be air-conditioned. Recirculated air and/or fresh air is
fed for cooling to an evaporator 16 via a blower (not illustrated)
and a filter 13 arranged in an air supply duct 14, or a filter by
pass 13a. The air cooled in the evaporator 16 emerges from the
evaporator 16 and enters a cold air region 20 that extends
downstream of the evaporator 16 over the entire height of the
evaporator 16.
[0025] A heater 22 is arranged, preferably so as to lie flat,
downstream of the evaporator 16 in the direction of the air flow.
The heater 22 is embodied as a heat exchanger through which a
coolant for a drive assembly of the motor vehicle can flow, and
optionally also has electrical heating elements, such as is known
for example from DE 44 33 814 A1, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
[0026] A water outlet 24, through which condensation water
condensed in the evaporator can drain, is provided at the lower end
of the cold air region 20.
[0027] The air-conditioning system 10 according to the invention is
suitable for air-conditioning, for example, four different zones in
the interior of the vehicle. The four zones are generally, for
example, in a sedan, the driver region, designated by VL (front
left), the front seat passenger's region, designated by VR (front
right), the rear left region, designated by VL (rear left) and the
rear right region, designated by HR (rear right).
[0028] In order that four regions can be air-conditioned
separately, the air-conditioning system is preferably divided
downstream of the cold air region 20 by three dividing walls 26,
28, 30 into four regions B1, B2, B3, B4 which lie one next to the
other and which are respectively assigned to the zones HL, VL, VR
and HR. The dividing walls extend, in terms of the direction of the
air stream, both upstream and downstream of the heater 22 from the
cold air region 22 to the outlet openings to which air ducts to the
vehicle interior are connected. The regions B1, B2, B3, B4, which
are arranged next to one another and in each of which a partial air
stream for supplying the respective zone HL, VL, VR and HR is
conducted, are thus, pneumatically separated.
[0029] The heater 22, which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4,
is typically embodied in a known fashion as a heat exchanger, and
either the coolant of the drive assembly (engine) flows through
constantly, or it has a coolant control valve (not illustrated in
more detail) with which the coolant flow can be controlled. Each
sub-region 22HL, 22VL, 22VR and 22HR of the heater, located in its
respective region B1, B2, B3, B4, is thus at the same
temperature.
[0030] The air-conditioning system with its evaporator 16 and
heater 22 is of elongated design in its transverse direction, i.e.,
in the direction of the double arrow 31, so that the sub-regions
22HL, 22VL, 22VR and 22HR of the heater 22, located in the
individual regions B1, B2, B3, B4, are large enough to be able to
sufficiently heat up the respective partial air stream while at the
same time the air-conditioning system is kept as small as possible
in its height direction H and depth direction D.
[0031] In order to understand the design of the air-conditioning
system according to the invention, it is sufficient to consider the
cross sections from FIGS. 1 and 2 along the lines I-I and II-II of
FIG. 3, together with the illustration in FIG. 3 of a first
exemplary embodiment. The other regions are of mirror image
design.
[0032] Firstly, the regions and elements of the air-conditioning
system according to the first exemplary embodiment that are
applicable to air-conditioning the front space VR will be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The corresponding air flaps or
valves are for the most part each illustrated in their open and
closed positions.
[0033] From the cold air region 20, cold air can enter (arrow P1) a
first space (34.1R) via a first cold air duct 32.1R arranged above
the heater 22. The cold air duct 32.1R can be selectively closed
off by means of a first flap 36.1R. Cold air can flow into a second
space 34.2R located on the lower side of the heater 22, via a
second cold air duct 32.2R that can be selectively closed off with
a second flap 36.2R. The cold air can enter (arrow P2) the
sub-region 22VR of the heater 22 from the underside and flow
through the sub-region 22VR and be heated in the process. The warm
air produced in this way (arrow P3) can enter the first space 34.1R
via a warm air louver flap 33R and be mixed with the cold air in
the first space 34.1R.
[0034] The first space 34.1R is adjoined by a defrost air duct 46R,
an air duct 48R leading to venting nozzles (adjustable directional
air vents) arranged in the dashboard, and a foot well air duct 52R.
The air ducts can each be selectively closed by means of flaps
which are not illustrated.
[0035] The air ducts 46R, 48R and 52R each lead only into the
righthand side of the vehicle, as the respective index "R" on each
reference symbol is intended to indicate, with the result that the
sub-region between the dividing walls 28 and 30 serves to condition
the air for the zone VR.
[0036] Because the air-conditioning system in this region is of
mirror-symmetrical construction with respect to the center plane M,
the air for the zone VL is conditioned in an analogous way in the
sub-region B2 between the dividing walls 26 and 28 and conducted
into corresponding air ducts from the corresponding space
34.1L.
[0037] The two inner sub-regions B2 and B3 between the dividing
walls 26 and 30 thus serve to condition the air for the front
space, utilizing air flowing through the heater sub-regions 22VL
and 22VR from top to bottom in the operating mode described, in
order to generate warm air.
[0038] In addition to the two inner sub-regions B2 and B3, further
sub-regions B1 and B4 are arranged toward the sides of the
air-conditioning system in an outward direction (FIGS. 3a to 3c).
The sub-region B4 between the dividing wall 30 and a side wall 60R
of the housing 12 is assigned to the right of the rear space (HR),
and correspondingly the sub-region B1 between the left-hand
dividing wall 26 (illustrated in FIG. 3) and a left-hand side wall
60L is assigned to the left of the rear space (HL).
[0039] The regions and elements of the air-conditioning system
according to the first exemplary embodiment which are applicable to
air-conditioning the rear space HR will now be explained with
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3a.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a cross section along the line II-II in FIGS.
3a to 3c, that is to say through the sub-region B4 in which the air
for the zone HR is conditioned. Here, cold air can flow via a cold
air duct 62.1R and a flap 63.1R into a space 64.1R located on the
upper side of the heater 22, and can enter (arrow P5) the
sub-region 22HR of the heater 22 from above, and be heated there.
The warm air emerging from the sub-region 22HR flows directly
(arrow P6) into a space 64.2R located underneath the heater 22.
Furthermore, cold air can also flow into the space 64.2R underneath
the heater 22 via a flap 63.2R, and can be mixed with the warm air
in this space 64.2R. From the space 64.2R, the air having a
specific temperature can be supplied to the corresponding rear
space zone HR via a rear air duct 70R, which can be selectively
closed off with a rear air duct flap 72R.
[0041] The air for the rear space zone HL can be conditioned in an
analogous way.
[0042] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3a to 3c, the
region 64.1 R is separated from the adjacent region B2 and the
adjacent space 34.1R, in the upward direction by a louver flap 80R.
The louver flap 80R is part of the dividing wall 30 and closes off
a dividing wall opening 82R of the dividing wall 30, with the
result that when the louver flap 80R is opened air can flow from
the space 34.1R into the space 64.1R, or vice versa.
[0043] In this embodiment, the following operating modes,
illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 3c, can be implemented. The
illustrations in these figures are only schematic, and not all the
elements that were actually visible in the sectional view are
illustrated, for clarity.
[0044] In a first operating mode (illustrated in FIG. 3a), the air
is conducted as described above. In FIG. 3a, illustrated for better
clarity, only the warm air streams and the partial air streams that
are to be heated are illustrated. In the region B3 or B2, the air
flows through the heater 22 from the bottom to the top, into the
space 34.1R or 34.1L, and through the air duct into the front space
zones VL and VR. In the regions B4 and B1, the air that is to be
heated is conducted from the top to the bottom through the heater
22, through corresponding positions of the cold air flaps 63.1R and
63.2R and conducted through the rear space air duct to the rear
space zones 80R and 80L. The dividing wall openings 82R and 82L are
closed off by the louver flaps 80R and 80L. In this first operating
mode, the individual zones VL, VR, HL, and HR can be
air-conditioned separately and independently.
[0045] In a second operating mode illustrated in FIG. 3b, air flows
in region B3, as described above and as illustrated in FIG. 1 by
the arrows, through the heater 22 from the bottom to the top and
into the space 34.1R, and from there into the air ducts 46R, 48R
and 52R and into the zone VR. The cold air flap 36.1R is preferably
closed. In the region B4, the rear air flap 72R and the cold air
flap 63.1R are closed, and the flap 63.2R is opened, with the
result that air can then flow from the bottom through the heater,
from which it enters the space 64.1R as warm air. If the louver
flap 80R is opened, this warm air enters the space 34.1R (arrow P7)
and can additionally be supplied from there to the front space zone
VR via the air ducts 46R, 48R, 52R. Analogous routing of the air is
possible in regions B2 and B1. In this way, in this operating mode,
all the partial air streams can be supplied to the front space as
warm air.
[0046] In a third operating mode illustrated in FIG. 3c, the
routing of the air in the individual regions is implemented in
precisely the same way as in the first operating mode. However, the
air ducts 46R, 48R, 52R are now closed, and the louver flaps 80R
are opened so that warm air can flow from the space 34.1R into the
space 64.1R and from there can flow through the heater a second
time. From the space 64.2R, the air then flows via the rear space
air duct 70R into the rear space zone HR. Analogous routing of the
air is possible in regions B2 and B1. Thus, in this third operating
mode, all the partial air streams can be supplied as warm air to
the rear space, with a portion of the air passing through the
heating heat exchanger 22 a second time.
[0047] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a second exemplary embodiment
which differs from the first embodiment in that the dividing wall
opening 82R or 82L with the louver flap 80R or 82L is provided on
the other side of the heater 22, that is to say beneath the heater
22 when the heater is horizontally arranged.
[0048] In addition to the first operating mode, which is also
possible with this embodiment without modification, the following
further operating modes (illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b) are
possible.
[0049] In the operating mode illustrated in FIG. 4a, the air flows
in the region B4 or B1 through the heater 22 from the top to the
bottom. The rear space air duct 70R is closed, and the louver flap
80R is opened. Heated air out of the space 64.2R or 64.2L can flow
into the space 34.2R or 34.2L, and flow from there, together with
the air in the region B3 or B2, through the heater 22 a second
time, from which it is then supplied to the front space zone VR or
VL. In a way similar to the second operating mode of the first
exemplary embodiment, it is thus possible for all the air to be
supplied to the front space, however with a portion of the air
having passed through the heater 22 twice. This can be very
advantageous, for example, for preventing or removing condensation
on the windows.
[0050] In the operating mode illustrated in FIG. 4b, the direction
of flow through the heater 22 in the region B3 or B2 is reversed,
in comparison with the operating mode according to FIG. 4a, and the
air channels to the front space and the flap 36.2R are closed. The
heated air can be supplied to the space 64.2R or 64.2L via the
dividing wall opening 82R or 82L, with the result that, overall, in
this operating mode all the air can be supplied to the rear space
zones HR and HL. In this operating mode, all the partial streams
flow through the heater 22 just once.
[0051] The disclosure of German Patent Application No. 100 16
433.1, filed Apr. 1, 2000, is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
[0052] Additional advantages and modifications of any of the
above-described embodiments 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, shown
and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be
made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *