The present invention relates generally to climate control duct systems for vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a climate control duct architecture having articulated and controlled interior surfaces to deliver variable and controllable airflow to occupants in target zones in the vehicle upon demand. By strategic regulation of the airflow the heating and cooling of different zones can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of vehicle occupants as well as optimize HVAC performance while minimizing energy usage.
Modern vehicle interiors are provided with climate control systems. Central to the climate control system is the HVAC which produces climatized air for distribution into the interior of the vehicle through a variety of ducts. Known arrangements of ducts in climate control systems include a path to the panel registers and to the console which takes place at a distance away from the air outlet of the HVAC. Other than selective closure of the panel registers current designs of vehicle air ducts cannot be regulated. This situation where the control of air flow is inflexible creates a variety of difficulties in that key vehicle occupants sit in different vehicle positions (in the driver seat or in the rear seat) in different markets worldwide. In addition, for a given vehicle, usage entails varying numbers of passengers in different seating positions.
Accordingly, as in so many areas of vehicle design, there is room for improvement whereby a more efficient and flexible arrangement for providing adequate airflow to all vehicle passengers is desired.
The present invention represents advancement in the art of vehicle climate control system duct architecture. The arrangement disclosed herein includes a duct having an air inlet for attachment to an HVAC system of a vehicle and a plurality of airflow outlets and a plurality of airflow channels formed between the inlet and the airflow outlets. One or more of the airflow channels have an associated flexible structure for controlling airflow through its adjacent airflow channel. The flexible structure may be either a pivotable door, a movable curtain or another device capable of selectively allowing or halting the passage of airflow. The pivotable door may be used for restricting the flow of air through one or the other of two adjacent airflow channels. The movable curtain may be used for restricting the flow of air through a single airflow channel.
By allowing the selective flow of air through the airflow channels the total volume of air being provided to the duct may be reduced, thus reducing the electrical consumption by the HVAC blower. Similarly the reduced airflow requires less cooling or heating and thus also reduced power required by the HVAC compressor or powered heat sources (such as a PTC [positive temperature coefficient] heater). The arrangement of the present invention thus provides for controlled and optimum airflow throughout the interior of the vehicle with minimum energy requirements.
Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and the appended claims.
For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiment illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein:
In the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components. In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for one constructed embodiment. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.
With reference to
According to the known art, regulation of the airflow to different occupant regions is only controlled by the panel vents (not shown). This arrangement is challenging for several reasons. First, air is still being pushed throughout the duct resulting in excess electrical consumption by the HVAC blower. Second, cooling/heating of the vehicle, even with certain panels closed, is still inefficient since cold/hot air is still also being pushed throughout the duct resulting in extra power required by the HVAC compressor. Third, when a vehicle is occupied by the operator alone, it is not convenient for the operator to adjust the panel doors to compensate for the absence of other vehicle occupants from the driver's seat.
The disclosed invention in its various embodiments, as disclosed in
To regulate airflow a flap door 64 is provided between the upper airflow chamber 54 and the lower airflow chamber 58. The flap door 64 is pivotably attached at hinge point 66 at a position adjacent to the partition 62.
The flap door 64 is pivotably movable between two positions, A and B. When moved to position A the flap door 64 substantially blocks incoming air from entering the upper airflow chamber 54 and instead directs the incoming air into and through the lower airflow chamber 58. When moved to position B the flap door 64 substantially blocks incoming air from entering the lower airflow chamber 58 and instead directs the incoming air to the upper airflow chamber 54. It is to be noted that positions A or B may be chosen to completely block the upper airflow chamber 54 and the lower airflow chamber 58.
The flap door 64 illustrated in
To regulate airflow within the airflow distribution duct 70 a curtain door system is provided. Particularly, an upper airflow curtain assembly 84 is provided adjacent the opening of the upper airflow chamber 74. The upper airflow curtain assembly 84 includes a flexible curtain door 86 and a roller/retractor 88. The flexible curtain door 86 preferably rides on a pair of opposed tracks (not shown) attached to the walls of the duct. As illustrated the flexible curtain door 86 is shown in its partially closed position. In this position the airflow into the upper airflow chamber 74 is partially restricted.
A lower airflow curtain assembly 90 is provided adjacent the opening of the lower airflow chamber 78. The lower airflow curtain assembly 90 includes a flexible curtain door 92 and a roller/retractor 94. The flexible curtain door 92 preferably rides on a pair of opposed tracks (not shown) attached to the walls of the duct. As illustrated the flexible curtain door 92 is shown in its fully closed position. In this position the airflow into the lower airflow chamber 78 is fully restricted.
The use of the flap door and the curtain door is not mutually exclusive and the different types of doors may be employed in a single system. Furthermore, while the flap door 64 of
The flap door 64 or the airflow curtain assemblies 84 and 90 may be used in any of several duct architectures. One such architecture is shown in
In addition to the first airflow channel 106, the second airflow channel 108, the third airflow channel 110, and the fourth airflow channel 112, a fifth airflow channel 124 is provided in fluid communication with a sixth airflow outlet 126 and a sixth airflow channel 128 is provided in fluid communication with a first airflow outlet 130. It is to be understood that a greater or lesser number of airflow channels may be provided. However, regardless of the number of channels, the dividers which define the channels are substantially adjacent with and may abut directly against the outlet of the HVAC.
By incorporating the flap door or the airflow curtain assemblies discussed above and illustrated in the figures, one or more of the airflow channels can be completely or partially closed within the duct architecture, thus allowing the flow of air only to selected occupant areas. For example, and with specific reference to
The closing of certain airflow channels and the opening of other airflow channels shown in
Conversely, the second airflow channel 108 and the sixth air flow channel 128 are either partially or fully open, thus allowing air to pass to the second airflow outlet 116 and the first airflow outlet 130 as shown in
The foregoing discussion discloses and describes an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, while the regulation of climates in occupant zones has been generally shown in the figures and described in relation to the figures, it may be desirable to regulate the flow of air only to selected portions of an occupant's body rather than to the occupant's body at large. This may be accomplished through the use of additional ducts which can be adapted through design and placement to provide effective micro-zone climate control.