U.S. patent application number 10/533389 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for device for controlling air supply, in particular to an evaporator with accumulating function arranged in a motor vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to BEHR GmbH 7 & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Dieksander, Wolfgang, Koukouravas, Evripidis.
Application Number | 20050279843 10/533389 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32103285 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050279843 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dieksander, Wolfgang ; et
al. |
December 22, 2005 |
Device for controlling air supply, in particular to an evaporator
with accumulating function arranged in a motor vehicle
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for controlling the air supply
to an evaporator (6) with accumulating function arranged in a motor
vehicle, said air coming from a filter (2) and is transported to
the evaporator through a channel (3). Said channel (3) consists of
three laterals (5) separated from each other by walls (4) extending
in a longitudinal direction. The inventive device (1) comprises, in
particular two flaps.
Inventors: |
Dieksander, Wolfgang;
(Filderstadt, DE) ; Koukouravas, Evripidis;
(Neckartenzlingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP
SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
BEHR GmbH 7 & CO. KG
|
Family ID: |
32103285 |
Appl. No.: |
10/533389 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
August 29, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/09585 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
236/49.3 ;
62/186 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60H 2001/00135
20130101; B60H 1/00028 20130101; B60H 2001/00092 20130101; B60H
2001/00085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
236/049.3 ;
062/186 |
International
Class: |
F24F 007/00; F25D
017/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 31, 2002 |
DE |
102 51 166.7 |
Claims
1. A device for regulating the air supply, which regulates the air
coming from a filter (2) through a duct (3) to an evaporator (6)
with an accumulator function of a motor vehicle, characterized in
that the duct (3) has three duct branches (5) separated from one
another by walls (4) running in the longitudinal direction.
2. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that the device (1) has two flaps (7).
3. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 2,
characterized in that the flaps (7) are arranged at the start of
the walls (4), as seen in the longitudinal direction.
4. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 2,
characterized in that, in normal operation, the flaps (7) are
oriented in such a way that they close the middle duct branch
(5).
5. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 4,
characterized in that the flaps (7) bear on one another upstream of
the middle duct branch (5), as seen in the longitudinal direction,
and form an acute angle with one another.
6. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 2,
characterized in that, in maximum cooling operation, the flaps (7)
are oriented in such a way that they prolong the respective wall
(4).
7. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 2,
characterized in that, in stopped-engine operation, the flaps (7)
are oriented in such a way that they close the outer duct branches
(5).
8. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 7,
characterized in that the flaps (7) are arranged at an angle of
90.degree.+/-10.degree. to the corresponding walls (4).
9. The device for regulating the air supply as claimed in claim 2,
characterized in that the two flaps (7) can be controlled in such a
way that they make available three different types of cooling
operation as a function of their position.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for regulating the air
supply, in particular to an evaporator of a motor vehicle,
according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] In known air routings, the regulation of the air flow from a
filter to an evaporator, in particular an accumulator evaporator,
takes place partially by means of roller blinds or shutters.
Regulating devices of this type, although partially affording
advantages, particularly in terms of noises, are nevertheless
relatively costly, and there is often insufficient construction
space upstream of the evaporator.
[0003] The object of the invention is to make available an improved
device for regulating the air supply.
[0004] This object is achieved by means of a device for regulating
the air supply, having the features of claim 1. The subclaims
relate to advantageous refinements.
[0005] According to the invention, the device for regulating the
air supply is designed in such a way that the duct conducting the
air has three duct branches which are separated from one another by
walls running in the longitudinal direction and which can be closed
preferably at their front end by means of two flaps cooperating
with one another. In this case, at least one duct branch remains
unclosed. Preferably three different cooling phases are provided in
this case: maximum cooling operation, normal cooling operation and
accumulator cooling operation. Thus, in normal cooling operation,
the cold accumulator is charged and, in accumulator cooling
operation, that is to say when the engine stops, is discharged.
[0006] Preferably, in normal cooling operation, the two flaps close
the middle duct branch, the flaps preferably bearing on one another
upstream of the middle duct branch, as seen in the longitudinal
direction, and forming an acute angle with one another. A design of
this type improves the flow profile and brings about an improved
air supply to the other two duct branches. Since the middle duct
branch is closed, the cold accumulator connected to it can be
charged.
[0007] Preferably, in maximum cooling operation, the two flaps are
oriented in such a way that they prolong the respective wall, so
that, once again, there is an optimum air flow and the flow
resistance is minimized. This allows an optimum utilization of the
entire cold capacity of the evaporator.
[0008] Preferably, in stopped-engine operation or accumulator
cooling operation, the two flaps are oriented in such a way that
they close the outer duct branches, said flaps preferably being
arranged at an angle of 90.degree.+/-10.degree. to the
corresponding walls. Furthermore, in accumulator cooling operation,
a reduction in the blower power takes place, so that the air
throughput is reduced.
[0009] The invention is explained in detail below by means of an
exemplary embodiment, with reference to the drawing in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a section through a regulating device according
to the invention in normal cooling operation,
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a section through the regulating device of FIG.
1 in maximum cooling operation, and
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a section through the regulating device of FIG.
1 in accumulator cooling operation.
[0013] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a device 1 for regulating the air supply,
which conducts the air coming from a filter 2 through a duct 3,
having three duct branches 5 separated from one another by walls 4
running in the longitudinal direction, to an evaporator 6 of a
motor vehicle. In this case, the flow profile is indicated by a
multiplicity of small arrows. The evaporator 6 is an evaporator
with a cold accumulator which is arranged in a middle region of the
evaporator 6.
[0014] Actual regulation takes place by means of two flaps 7 which
are mounted pivotably on the front end of the walls 4, as seen in
the air flow direction. In normal cooling operation, illustrated in
FIG. 1, these two flaps 7 are in a position which completely closes
the middle duct branch 5. To optimize the air flow, in this case,
the two flaps 7 form a kind of point, so that the air is conducted
directly to the other two duct branches 5, at the end of which it
then arrives at the evaporator 6, so that the air does not flow
through the middle region of the evaporator 6 and the cold
accumulator located in this region of the evaporator 6 can be
charged.
[0015] In the "maximum cooling" position, illustrated in FIG. 2,
the flaps 5 are opened, that is to say they are brought into a
position in which they prolong the respective wall 4, so that they
once again allow as optimum a flow profile of the air as possible.
In this maximum cooling operation, the air is then supplied to the
evaporator 6 over a large area via all three duct branches 5.
[0016] In the event of a stopping of the engine (accumulator
operation), in which a reduced air throughflow of the evaporator 6,
as compared with normal cooling operation, is desired, the two
flaps 5 are swung outward, so that the two outer duct branches 5
are closed and the entire air flows through the middle duct branch
5 and therefore also flows only through the following middle region
of the evaporator 6, that is to say the cold accumulator.
Furthermore, in accumulator operation, the air throughput is
reduced, for example by the lowering of the blower voltage.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0017] 1 Device
[0018] 2 Filter
[0019] 3 Duct
[0020] 4 Wall
[0021] 5 Duct branch
[0022] 6 Evaporator
[0023] 7 Flap
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