Single point direct actuation of two air devices

Abstract

An HVAC unit having a multiple air valve unit comprising two air valve devices sharing at least one common rotation axis is described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a, 1b show two barrel shaped air valve devices with spring to provide force between devices, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a close up of the spring mechanism used to provide repulsive force between two air valve devices, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 a and 3b show HVAC unit section with first, second and third outlet, air valve device, and actuation device, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 a, 4b show another perspective view of air valve devices showing sharing common shaft, with spring mechanism attached to air valve devices, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 a, 5b show a perspective cross-section view of an automotive HVAC unit with three outlets and air valve devices, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional schematic view of the HVAC unit shaft, two air valve devices and three air outlets in various outlet modes, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 a, 7b are side schematic view of multiple air valve device unit having repulsion mechanism and barrel doors, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a multiple air valve device unit showing common shaft, and overlapping inner and outer shafts that interface with actuation mechanism, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded schematic version of a multiple air valve unit, having actuator and motion transferor, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of an automotive HVAC unit showing air flow into multiple air valve device unit and discharged air flow in the bi-level outlet mode into two of the three outlets, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. This particular configuration demonstrates a means of achieving hotter temperatures at outlet 2 than in outlet 1 or 3.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic exploded view of a multiple air valve unit comprising two air valve devices and two repulsion devices in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In various aspects of the present invention, an HVAC unit is provided having three or more air outlets. Air valves are arranged in a configuration wherein two air valve devices are required to achieve the functionality of an automotive HVAC mode system comprising three air outlets.

Figure one shows an HVAC unit with an arrangement of first, second and third air outlets. For example, an outlet leading to the floor of an automotive vehicle cockpit or passenger compartment is provided in the center of panel and defrost outlets Other outlets, so called defrost air outlets, lead to an area of the vehicle where defrost needs occur.

The HVAC unit outlets are provided with air valves arranged in a configuration such that each door shares the same, or ‘common’ axis of rotation. The axis of the first air valve forms an inner shaft that is surrounded by the hollow axis of the second air valve. An actuation device interfaces with the shafts of the air valves by means of a portion of one of the shafts, for example, that is flat on one or another, or preferably, both sides, having a rectangular cross section of high aspect ratio.

Herein below illustrates such high aspect ratio.

Such physical mechanism will hereafter be referenced as an actuator blade. The physical mechanism whereby actuation can cause both air devices to move in response to the command or demand of one actuation device, is commonly referred to as a blade, tab or extension (collectively referred to herein as an ‘actuator blade’), such actuator blade serving as a means to turn the doors relative to one another.

FIGS. 1 a and 1b illustrate multiple air valve unit (10), with air valves devices (11, 12) which form a seal (13) together when closed. Repulsion device (14) is a spring, which open the seal (13) the two air valves (11, 12) at an angle up to 60°.

As described herein, a hollow outer shaft of a first air valve can be slotted in a manner that allows an actuation blade to rotate freely with respect to the first air valve by an angle equal to the total rotation angle of a second air valve. Inner shaft of the second air valve device can also slotted) in a manner that allows the actuation blade to rotate freely with respect to the second air valve by an angle equal to the total rotation angle of the first air valve.

A repulsion mechanism, such as a spring, in various aspects of the present invention, is utilized to apply a force to separate a first air valve device from a second air valve device. This force creates a torque on the air valve devices which is less than the torque from the actuation device, the torque required to compress the seal between first and second air valve devices to the desired compression ratio. This force is greater than the force of gravity applied to the air valve device plus the force of the airflow impingement applied to the air valve.

In one embodiment, this force will be created by a mechanism, herein referred to as a repulsion device, such as a spring. In another embodiment, the force is created by an alternative device or mechanism, such as a magnetic seal. Force can additionally be created by weighting air valve devices, e.g. using different weighted doors in place of the spring.

FIG. 2 illustrates the repulsion device (24) and first air valve device (21) and second air valve device (22) rotating around common axis (25). Both air valves (21, 22) can be activated at area A via a common motion transferor or directly by actuator (not shown).

FIG. 3 a shows three HVAC air outlets, first air outlet (36), second air outlet (37) and third air outlet (38), with first air valve device (39) also shown. Second air valve device shaft (40) and first air valve device shaft (41) as shown on FIGS. 3a and 3b, and turn around a common axis and are locating in housing (42) of the HVAC unit.

FIG. 3 a shows actuation means (43) and motion transferor (44) with actuator blade (45) which directly interfaces with both shafts (40, 41), to rotate air valves devices 39 and 40 (not shown), to allow air to be delivered or control air access to outlets (36, 37, 38).

FIGS. 4 a and 4b show multiple air valve unit (400) with air valve devices (411, 420) and bearing (450) on one side. Sealing portions (422, 423) of air valve devices (424) has air valve devices (411, 410), in closed position, is illustrated. Concentric shafts (415, 416) providing for shaft interfaces, relating to air valve devices (420, 421) respectively are present, and shafts directly interface with motion transferor (not shown) or actuator (not shown), to turn both air valve devices.

FIGS. 5 a and 5b illustrate an HVAC unit section 500, having housing outlets (510, 511, 512) positioned downstream of multiple air valve unit (600). Central axis (601) of multiple air valve unit is shown, with first barrel door (621) and second barrel door (622) in an open position. FIG. 5b shows multiple air valve unit (600) which allows air flow B-B, in the full wide position, only to air outlet (510).

FIG. 6 (a-d) shows a cross sectional view of air outlets (610, 611 and 612) which represent floor outlets, defrost outlet and panel outlet, respectively. Shafts (640, 641) of multiple air valve unit are illustrated, with motion transferor (644) in various positions. Position of air valve devices (620, 621) are deformed by actuation force on motion transferor (644) guided by actuator blade (666). Arrows indicate the force of the actuation device on the air valve devices, with spring, for example, creating clockwise force to hold second air valve device (620) in position on 6b bi-level mode, and likewise counter clockwise force to hold first air valve device (621) in position in 6(d) in mix mode.

FIGS. 7 a and 7b show barrel shaped doors (722, 721) of multiple air valve device (700), and repulsion device, in this case, a spring (724) around concentric shafts (751, 752) of doors. Common axis (730) is represented by a point.

FIG. 8 shows two barrel shaped doors, of identical shape (822, 821) except at the area of shaft A which serves as the point of interface for an actuation device or motion transferor (not shown).

FIG. 9 illustrates use of one actuation device (931) to interface with a motion transferor (932) which allows movement around of common axis of multiple air valve unit (900) components (air valve devices (921, 922)) at the area of their shaft A. HVAC housing H shows air path (1, 2, 3) through outlet areas for 3 air outlet downstream of multiple air valve unit (900).

FIG. 10 is an automotive HVAC unit (100) with housing H, evaporator E in housing H, heater core H, downstream of evaporator E and various doors (101, 102) to control air flow upstream of air valve devices (121, 122) of the multiple air valve unit. Air outlets 0₁, 0₂ and 0₃ are opened or closed via movement of air valve devices (121, 122) are located.

FIG. 11 shows shafts (1131, 1132) of air valve devices (1121, 1122) and repulsion means (1150, 1151) located respectively on each end of the air valve device (1122, 1121).

When the actuator torque is applied, it only applies torque to one air valve at a time. The direction of the torque imparted by the actuator on air valve one is always in the same direction, and is always opposite of the direction of the torque imparted by the repulsion mechanism on air valve one. The direction of the torque imparted by the actuator on air valve two is always opposite of that of air valve one. It is always in the same direction, and is always opposite of the direction of the torque imparted by the repulsion mechanism on air valve two.

FIG. 6 c, shows the valve mechanisms in a natural position without any torque applied from the actuator. The repulsion mechanism applies equal and opposite torque to Air Valve 1 and Air Valve 2, positioning them away from each other and forcing them to seal as shown in FIG. 6c, with an air path between the air valves.

In order to achieve positions as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the actuator device applies a clockwise (as shown in the figure) torque to air valve one, overcoming the spring force and rotating the valve clockwise. During this motion, the air valve two shaft interface does not engage with the actuator blade and, therefore, no torque is applied from the actuator to air valve two, allowing air valve two to stay in its previous position. The geometry of the shaft interface and actuator blade that achieves this functionality is shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b, and 6c. In the position shown in FIG. 6a, the seal of air valve one compresses against the seal surface of air valve two. By reversing the motion of the actuation device, the repulsion mechanism provides a torque keeping the air valve one shaft interface engaged with the actuator blade, and air valve one follows the actuator position until sealing in the full counterclockwise position shown in FIG. 6c.

In order to achieve positions as shown in FIGS. 6d and 6e, process and mechanisms described for achieving positions as shown in 6a and 6b apply in the opposite direction. The actuator device applies a counter-clockwise (as shown in the figure) torque to air valve two, overcoming the spring force and rotating the valve counter-clockwise. During this motion, the air valve one shaft interface does not engage with the actuator blade and, therefore, no torque is applied from the actuator to air valve one, allowing air valve one to stay in its previous position. The geometry of the shaft interface and actuator blade that achieves this functionality is shown in FIGS. 6c, 6d, and 6e. In the position shown in FIG. 6e, the seal of air valve two compresses against the seal surface of air valve one. By reversing the motion of the actuation device, the repulsion mechanism provides a torque keeping the air valve two shaft interface engaged with the actuator blade, and air valve two follows the actuator position until sealing in the full clockwise position shown in FIG. 6c.

Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Plural structural components can be provided by a single integrated structure. Alternatively, a single integrated structure might be divided into separate plural components. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed. A person of ordinary skills in the art would realize, however, that certain modifications will come within the teachings of this invention. Therefore, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of the invention.

Claims

1. An automotive HVAC unit having at least three air outlets and a multiple air valve unit to direct and/or control air passage into the three air outlets, the multiple air valve unit comprising at least two air valve devices and a repulsion device, the actuation of the two air valve devices occurring via one interface with the multiple air valve unit, each multiple valve unit having a geometry that allows for a common rotational axis of at least two air valve devices.

2. An automotive HVAC unit, as in claim 1, further comprising an actuation device interfacing with the multiple air valve unit at the area of a shaft of at least one of the air valve devices.

3. An automotive HVAC unit, as in claim 2, wherein each air valve device has at least one shaft, and the one shaft of each air valve device are concentric to one another.

4. An automotive HVAC unit, as in claim 3, wherein the multiple air valve unit comprises at least two air valve devices with concentric shafts interfacing directly or indirectly through a motion transferor to the actuation device, the shafts having rotational clearance to allow relative rotational motion between the actuation device and the air valve devices.

5. A multiple air valve unit comprising: a) at least two air valve devices;b) at least two device shafts, one air valve device shaft on each of the at least two air valve devices;c) at least one actuator blade;d) at least one repulsion device;

6. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 5, wherein one air valve device shaft forms an inner shaft, and the other air valve device shaft forms an outer shaft, such that the inner shaft and outer shaft are both rotatable via the at least one actuator blade.

7. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 5, further comprising a motion transferor, wherein the motion transferor directly interfaces with the actuator blade or the at least two air valve device shafts.

8. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 6, further comprising a motion transferor.

9. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 5, wherein the at least two air valve devices are barrel shaped.

10. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 6, wherein the at least two air valve devices are barrel shaped.

11. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 7, wherein the at least two air valve devices are barrel shaped.

12. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 5, wherein the repulsion device applies force to separate the at least two air valve devices from one another and thereby allow air passage between the at least two air valve devices.

13. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 7, wherein the repulsion device applies force to separate the at least two air valve devices from one another and thereby allow air passage between the at least two air valve devices.

14. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 13, further comprising an actuation device.

15. A multiple air valve unit as in claim 14, further comprising an actuation device as part of an automotive HVAC unit.