U.S. patent application number 10/491806 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for climate control system fan.
Invention is credited to Breitling, Wolfram, Hersel, Walter.
Application Number | 20040241005 10/491806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27771032 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040241005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hersel, Walter ; et
al. |
December 2, 2004 |
Climate control system fan
Abstract
The invention relates to a fan blower (18) for a heating/air
conditioning system, in particular for a motor vehicle, with an
impeller (22) and a motor (24) that drives this impeller (22). The
invention provides that at least one ion generator (48) is
structurally connected to the fan blower (18). The invention
relates, in particular, to a fan blower (18) of the aforementioned
type in which the ionizer (48) is connected to the fan blower
electronics (58) or is integrated therein. The invention
additionally relates to a heating/air conditioning system provided
with at least one evaporator (20), at least one heating
heat-exchanger (28), at least one fan blower (18), and an
electronic circuit (58) that controls the fan blower (18). The
invention provides that, in a heating/air conditioning system of
this type, at least one ion generator (48) is structurally
connected to the fan blower (18) and/or the electronic circuit (58)
of the fan blower (18) of the heating/air conditioning system.
Inventors: |
Hersel, Walter; (Leonberg,
DE) ; Breitling, Wolfram; (Sachsenheim, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Striker Striker & Stenby
103 East Neck Road
Huntington
NY
11743
US
|
Family ID: |
27771032 |
Appl. No.: |
10/491806 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 16, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE02/04583 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/48 ;
417/423.1; 417/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 2001/00614
20130101; B60H 3/0078 20130101; B60H 1/00507 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/048 ;
417/049; 417/423.1 |
International
Class: |
F04F 011/00; F04B
037/02; F04B 017/00; F04B 035/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2002 |
DE |
102 09 837.9 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fan blower for a heating/air conditioning system, in
particular for a motor vehicle, with an impeller (22) and a motor
(24) that drives this impeller (22), wherein at least one ion
generator (48) is structurally connected to the fan blower
(18).
2. The fan blower as recited in claim 1, wherein the ion generator
(48) is connected to the fan blower (18) in such a manner that the
particles that exit the ion generator (48) are carried with the air
that is moved forward by the fan blower (18).
3. The fan blower as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein the ion
generator (48) is structurally connected to an electronic circuit
arrangement (58) for operating the fan blower (18).
4. The fan blower as recited in claim 3, wherein the electronic
circuit arrangement (58) for operating the fan blower (18) and a
circuit arrangement (56) for operating the ion generator (48) are
located in a housing (46).
5. The fan blower as recited in claim 3 on, wherein the ion
generator (48) is located on top of or next to a heat sink (43) of
the electronic circuit arrangement (58) for operating the fan
blower (18).
6. The fan blower as recited in claim 5, wherein the electronic
circuit arrangement (58, 56) is integrated in the fan blower (18)
in such a manner that at least one heat sink (43) is cooled by the
air that is moved forward by the fan blower (18).
7. The fan blower as recited in one of the preceding claim 1,
wherein the electrical energy supply of the ion generator (48) is
connected to a current and/or voltage supply source and/or a
digital signal processing of the electronic circuit arrangement
(58) for operating the fan blower (18).
8. The fan blower as recited in one of the preceding claim 1,
wherein the electronic circuit (58) for operating the fan blower
(18) and/or the ion generator (48) are cyclically actuated.
9. A heating/air conditioning system, in particular for a motor
vehicle, provided with at least one evaporator (20), at least one
heating heat-exchanger (28), at least one fan blower (18), and at
least one electronic circuit arrangement (58) that controls the at
least one fan blower (18), wherein an ion generator (48) is
structurally connected to the at least one fan blower (18) and/or
the electronic circuit arrangement (58).
10. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the ion generator (48)
produces and releases oxygen ions; ozone, in particular.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a fan blower for a
heating/air conditioning system, in particular for a motor vehicle.
A fan blower of this type has an impeller and an electric motor
that drives this impeller, and it is typically located in the
heater housing assembly of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0002] Luxury-class motor vehicles and, increasingly,
moderate-class motor vehicles are equipped not only with a heating
system, but, as of recently, also with an air conditioning system
as a standard feature. A heating/air conditioning system of this
type generally includes at least one evaporator, at least one
heating heat-exchanger, and a fan blower. When air is cooled as
part of the air-conditioning process, it is very often dehumidified
as well. When this occurs, the moisture in the air condenses on
cold surfaces. Although most of the liquid condensate is drained
off over time, a certain liquid film remains on the surfaces. As a
result, the continual precipitation of moisture out of the supplied
air tends to cause fungal deposits and bacterial cultures to
develop on evaporators in motor vehicle air-conditioning systems,
for example, due to contaminants in the transported air. Strong
bacterial growth can occur when the vehicle is at a standstill
and/or during summer months, when temperatures are higher. The
products of decomposition of these bacteria create odor problems
and pose health risks, such as allergies, to the motor vehicle
passengers.
[0003] Filters are therefore used to an increasing extent to
prevent contaminants from entering the air conditioning system.
Fungal and bacterial infestation can also be largely prevented by
using toxic coatings or thermal processes, for example. Although
these measures reduce deposits and the formation of odor associated
therewith, they cannot be eliminated entirely, in particular as the
air conditioning system ages. The coating of the condensation
surfaces that occurs over the years also prevents heat transfer,
e.g., between an evaporator and the incoming air stream to be
cooled.
[0004] An "automatic oxygen shower with scent" for use in motor
vehicles, among other applications, is disclosed in publication DE
19962382 A1. According to this publication, oxygen and scents are
transported from corresponding reservoirs through connecting lines
to a ventilator that mixes these substances with the ambient air,
e.g., in the passenger compartment, thereby reducing the values of
respiratory air, which is contaminated with excessive levels of
ozone, smog or other types of air pollutants, to normal values for
respiratory air.
[0005] According to publication DE 19962382 A1, the "automatic
oxygen shower with scent" provides for the installation of a
dedicated fresh-air fan blower or the attachment of spray nozzles
for the oxygen or the air scents on the end piece of the
heating/air conditioning system, behind the dashboard and in front
of the air outlet to the dashboard.
[0006] Publication DE 199 33 180 A1 discloses an apparatus for
deodorizing and sterilizing air for use in room air filters and
motor vehicles, in the case of which air is enriched with active
oxygen ions and ozone using ionizers that are located in front of a
filter medium in the flow direction. The ionization assembly of the
device disclosed in DE 199 33 180 A1 is permanently connected to
the filter medium. As such, the ionization assembly must be
replaced whenever the filter medium is replaced.
[0007] Publication DE 196 51 403 A1 discloses an apparatus and a
method for improving air quality in the passenger compartments of
motor vehicles, in the case of which a physical air preparation
unit is integrated in the ventilation system of the motor vehicle
in such a manner that a certain number of ions is always present in
the passenger compartment. This ensures that the situation in which
a reduced number of ions is present in the passenger
compartment--which is normal when dirty, smoky or contaminated air
is present--is corrected. In publication DE 196 51 403 A1, the
physical air preparation device is combined with a filter.
[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a device that
enables odor-producing deposits in motor vehicle air-conditioning
systems to be biologically deactivated with great effectiveness
while utilizing as little additional installation space as
possible, so that odor formation can be reliably prevented or at
least markedly reduced.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The fan blower according to the invention, which ensures the
necessary air flow, e.g., in a heating/air conditioning system of a
motor vehicle, includes an impeller and a motor that drives this
impeller.
[0010] The invention provides that at least one ion generator, also
referred to hereinbelow as an "ionizer", is structurally connected
to the fan blower for a heating/air conditioning system. A motor
vehicle fan blower is usually installed in the air conditioning
system after the fresh air-recirculated air mode door and in front
of the heat exchangers for heating and/or cooling the air. This
installation location is also advantageously suited for an ion
generator, the chemically active ions of which must react with the
biological material that results in the formation of odor. In order
to effectively eliminate or deactivate the odor-producing deposits,
the entire surface, if possible, of the evaporator of an air
conditioning system, for example, must be coated with ions. To
accomplish this, the ions must be mixed well with the supplied
fresh air or recirculated air.
[0011] To ensure that all air branches are affected, the ion
generator must be installed after the fresh air-recirculated air
mode door, but in front of the evaporator in the air stream of the
air conditioning system. An installation site of this nature for an
ion generator may be advantageously realized when the ion generator
is structurally connected to the fan blower. Moreover, the fan
blower advantageously enables the intake air to be mixed with the
chemically active ions.
[0012] Advantageous improvements and further developments of the
fan blower indicated in claim 1 are possible as a result of the
measures listed in the further claims.
[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the fan blower
according to the invention, the ion generator is structurally
connected to an electronic circuit for operating the fan blower.
The fan blower electronics are normally directly exposed to the air
flow to the evaporator via a heat sink for dissipating the heat
from power losses from the electronic components. The electronics
for the air conditioning system are therefore exposed to the air
flow, e.g., directly under the fan wheel or at the point where the
air flow rate is greatest.
[0014] Advantageously, the ion generator can therefore be located
on a heat sink of the air conditioning housing electronics, for
example, and/or in the immediate vicinity of a heat sink of this
type. In turn, the heat sink is installed in the motor mount of the
fan blower, and the fingers of the heat sink, for example, are then
located under the fan wheel with the ionizer. The ionizer is
therefore integrated in the fan blower electronics in such a manner
that the ions that are being emitted are carried by the air that
flows past and serves to dissipate heat from the heat sinks.
[0015] In a particularly advantageous fashion, the location of the
ion generator in or on a heat sink of the fan blower electronics
results in the ions being evenly distributed in the air stream due
to strong air turbulence at the heat sink geometry.
[0016] A homogeneous distribution of the reactive ions in the air
stream is necessary to evenly coat the entire surface, e.g., of the
evaporator, with ions, and to achieve an effective deactivation of
the biological coating.
[0017] Advantageously, the entire infrastructure needed to operate
an ion generator is already available in the fan blower
electronics. For example, the network connections, current and
voltage supply, and digital signal processing are available in the
fan blower electronics, thereby enabling the actuation, monitoring,
control and diagnosis of the ion generator to be incorporated in
the electronic system for controlling the fan blower with minimal
technical outlay. When cyclically actuated fan blower electronics
are involved, for example, the electronic filters that are present
anyway therefore protect the vehicle electrical system from a clock
frequency of the ion generator, for example.
[0018] An electronic system for controlling a fan blower for a
heating/air conditioning system, for example, can therefore be
supplemented with an ion generator in simple and advantageous
fashion, which results in a marked reduction in odor problems in an
air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. In an advantageous
exemplary embodiment of the fan blower according to the invention,
the ion generator, its electronic control and the fan blower
electronics can therefore be located in the same housing. To
prevent electronic interference effects, however, an arrangement is
also feasible in which the two electronic components are located in
separate housings or housing parts that are interconnected.
[0019] Oxygen ions, and ozone in particular, are particularly
suited to reducing the amount of biologically active material via
interaction with the condensed water.
[0020] Using the fan blower according to the invention, which has a
structurally integrated ion generator, a heating/air conditioning
system for a motor vehicle that markedly reduces odor problems in
the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle can be realized in
advantageous fashion.
[0021] The combination, according to the invention, of an ion
generator with the fan blower electronics also advantageously saves
installation space, weight and component outlay for the system. The
fan blower according to the invention results in a particularly
good mixing of air with the chemically active ions, enabling them
to largely deactivate the biologically active, odor-forming
material. Since the ion generator and the fan blower electronics
belong to the same electrical system, the data from these
subsystems can be processed jointly and, therefore, in a simpler
fashion.
DRAWING
[0022] An exemplary embodiment of the device according to the
invention is depicted in the drawing; it will be explained in
greater detail in the description to follow. The figures of the
drawing, their description, and the claims contain numerous
features in combination. One skilled in the art will advantageously
consider them individually as well and combine them into reasonable
further combinations.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of an air
conditioning system for a motor vehicle,
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a fan blower module for
a heater/air conditioning system, in a sectional view,
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a control device for the
fan blower for a heater/air conditioning system, in a top view,
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the control device for the fan
blower for a heater/air conditioning system from FIG. 3, and
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the combined electronics of
the fan blower for a heater/air conditioning system and the
ionizer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0028] FIG. 1 shows the principal design of the heating part of a
heating/air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. Either fresh
air or recirculated air, selectively, is drawn in through an air
duct 10 of the heater housing assembly. A fresh air-recirculated
air mode door 12 enables selection of the air type; it can be
operated manually by the motor vehicle passengers and/or adjusted
using an appropriate automatic control. The air from fresh-air duct
14 or recirculated-air duct 16 that was selected using fresh
air-recirculated air mode door 12 is drawn in by a fan blower 18
and directed through an evaporator 20 located downstream.
[0029] In accordance with specifiable values, the evaporator, which
is connected to a coolant circuit (not shown), cools the air flow
that is created by fan blower 18. Dehumidification also takes place
during this cooling of the air that accompanies the air
conditioning process. When this takes place, the humidity in the
air condenses on cold surfaces, such as the housing surface of the
evaporator. Although most of the liquid condensate is drained off
over time, a certain liquid film remains on the surfaces.
[0030] Fan blower 18, which is depicted only schematically in the
exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, includes an impeller 22, a motor 24
that drives impeller 22, and an electronic circuit for the
open-loop and closed-loop control of the fan blower, which is not
shown explicity in FIG. 1, to enhance clarity.
[0031] The air flowing through air duct 10 in the direction of
arrow 26 can be selectively directed over a heating heat-exchanger
28. The amount of air that is directed over heating heat-exchanger
28 by fan blower 18 can be adjusted using a heater door 30. In this
manner, the temperature of the air that enters the passenger
compartment of the motor vehicle may be varied by mixing the
portions of cold and warm air.
[0032] The precipitation of moisture on the housing of evaporator
20 described hereinabove results when a certain amount of the air
that is drawn through air duct 10 condenses on the cold surface of
evaporator 20. When this moisture precipitates out, contaminants
from the supplied air are deposited on the evaporator housing.
These contaminants result in unpleasant odors and potential health
problems. They should therefore be prevented.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a principal diagram of the basic design of a fan
blower for a heating/air conditioning system 18. The air to be
moved forward is drawn in through a central opening 32 of fan
blower 18; it is accelerated and moved forward by impeller 34.
Using a guidance device, which can be integrated in housing 36 of
fan blower 18, for example, the accelerated air is redirected and
expelled out of fan blower 18 through a tangential opening 48.
Impeller 34 is driven via a shaft 40 of an electric motor that is
not shown in FIG. 2.
[0034] Fan blower 18 is controlled via a fan blower controller 42.
Fan blower controller 42 includes control electronics and, among
other things, various heat sinks 43 with fingers 44, for example,
for dissipating the heat from power losses from the power
electronics of fan blower controller 42. Fan blower controller 42
is mounted on housing 36 of fan blower 18 according to the
invention in such a manner that fingers 44 of heat sink 43 extend
into the air stream that is moved forward by fan blower 18. This
enables effective cooling of the electronic components of fan
blower controller 42.
[0035] Fan blower 18 according to the invention, according to the
exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2, has a fan blower controller 42, in
whose housing 46 an ionizer 48 is also located. Ionizer element 48
is exposed, via an opening 52 in housing 46, to the air in the air
conditioning system that flows past in the direction of arrow
50.
[0036] FIG. 3 shows a top view of housing 46, in which fan blower
controller 42 and ionizer 48 are integrated. To protect them from
contact, and for reasons of electromagnetic compatibility, opening
52--which is provided in housing 46 for ionizer 48--is covered with
a protective screen 54. The high voltage for ionization element 48
is generated in ionizer electronics 56, which are also integrated
in housing 46 of fan blower controller 42, as depicted
schematically in FIG. 4, which is a side view of fan blower
controller 42. As shown in FIG. 4 in greater detail, housing 46
contains electronics 58 for fan blower controller 42 of fan blower
18 and ionizer 48, including the associated high-voltage generator
56. By integrating ionizer 48 in housing 46 and directly in the
electronics of fan blower controller 42, the advantageous
arrangement of fan blower controller 42 depicted in FIG. 2 can also
be utilized for the ionizer in advantageous fashion.
[0037] An important point to consider with regard for the
installation location of fan blower controller 42 is the air
circulation around the electronics of the fan blower power
controller, which is important for reasons of cooling. This air
circulation around housing 46 and the associated air turbulence at
fingers 44 of heat sink 43 of fan blower electronics ensures that
the particles emitted by ionizer are mixed well with the air that
flows past, so that the chemically active ions are distributed
largely homogeneously in the air stream, enabling the surface of
evaporator 20 of the heating and cooling system, which is covered
with contaminants, to also be evenly coated with ions.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the combined fan blower
controller and ionizer electronics. Signal-processing electronics
60 of the control system for fan blower 18 are advantageously used
for the open-loop and closed-loop control of fan blower controller
42 and, therefore, for motor 24 of the fan blower, and for ionizer
48. An interface 62 serves to connect signal-processing electronics
60 to the rest of the vehicle electronics. Ionizer electronics 56
and electronics 58 receive their control signals via the interfaces
and/or connections 64 and 66 to control the fan blower. Specific
electronics 56 and 58 then actuate ionizer 48 and/or fan blower
motor 24 in known fashion.
[0039] Further sensor signals can be integrated in this common
control of the fan blower, as shown in FIG. 5; these further sensor
signals trigger actuation and activation of the ionizer above a
certain temperature threshold. It is also possible that a chemical
sensor detects a corresponding formation of odor and activates the
ionizer.
[0040] To accomplish this, the only additional requirements are the
corresponding sensors and a signal processing, and for these
signals to be coupled to the controller.
[0041] The device according to the invention is not limited to the
exemplary embodiment depicted in the figures.
[0042] In particular, the device according to the invention is not
limited to use in a motor vehicle.
[0043] The invention according to the invention is not limited to
the use of oxygen ions.
[0044] Furthermore, the invention according to the invention is not
limited to the deactivation of biological material or its products
of decomposition. In particular, the device according to the
invention can be used for the general improvement of air quality in
a heating/air conditioning system.
* * * * *