Ventilation – Vehicle – Having inlet airway
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-05-01
McDermott, Corrine (Department: 3744)
Ventilation
Vehicle
Having inlet airway
C454S156000, C062S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224480
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to air handling systems for a vehicle, and more particularly to an assembly for controlling the temperature of air flowing into the passenger compartment of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a conventional vehicle air handling system, a heater core is mounted in an air duct downstream of an evaporator core. Engine coolant is circulated through the heater core to heat the air. For air conditioning, refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator core. Control of the air temperature is obtained by controlling the flow of air from the evaporator core to the heater core. For maximum cooling, all of the air flow from the evaporator core bypasses the heater core and travels directly to the passenger compartment without contacting the heater core. Alternatively, for maximum heating, all of the air flow from an inactive evaporator core passes through the heater core, where the air is heated, before traveling to the passenger compartment. Intermediate these two extremes, bypass flow and flow through the heater core mix to provide an air flow to the passenger compartment of an intermediate temperature.
The amount of air which bypasses the heater core and the amount of air which flows through the heater core are typically controlled by a movable member which moves to block flow from the evaporator core to the heater core or to block bypass flow from the evaporator core directly to the passenger compartment. The movable member may, in certain positions, allow both bypass flow and flow through the heater core. Normally, the movable member moves in a frame that has an opening through which the air flows. The movable member is in the nature of a door which blocks air flow through a portion of the opening and can totally block air flow to the heater core or totally block bypass air flow. It is desirable that movement of the door be accomplished reliably and with minimum effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance the present invention, an assembly for controlling the temperature of air flowing into the passenger compartment of a vehicle has a frame, an arcuate door, and an actuation assembly. The frame defines an opening through which air flows into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The frame also includes opposite arcuate tracks. The arcuate door moves to control air flow through the opening and has side edges which are slidably received in the opposite arcuate tracks. The arcuate door and the opposite arcuate tracks maintain the same center of curvature during the sliding of the arcuate door in the opposite arcuate tracks. The actuation assembly moves the arcuate door along the opposite arcuate tracks.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, an assembly for controlling the temperature of air flowing into the passenger compartment of a vehicle has a frame, a single arcuate door, a single heater core, and an actuation assembly. The frame defines an opening for air flow into the vehicle and has an arcuate guide surface. The single arcuate door moves to control air flow through the opening and slidingly engages the arcuate guide surface. The single arcuate door and the arcuate guide surface have the same center of curvature. The single arcuate door maintains a constant center of curvature as the single arcuate door slidingly engages the arcuate guide surface. The single heater core heats a portion of the air flowing through the opening. The actuation assembly moves the single arcuate door along the arcuate guide surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4517809 (1985-05-01), Hoyt
patent: 4842047 (1989-06-01), Sakurada et al.
patent: 5062473 (1991-11-01), Ostrand et al.
patent: 5162020 (1992-11-01), Asano et al.
patent: 5676595 (1997-10-01), Sumiya et al.
patent: 5899262 (1999-05-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5921527 (1999-07-01), Ikawa et al.
patent: 6048263 (2000-04-01), Uchida et al.
Butler Fred
Le Vu
Parekh Bipin
Jiang Chen-Wen
McDermott Corrine
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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