Heating systems – Heat and power plants – Vehicle
Patent
1999-01-11
1999-11-02
Bennett, Henry
Heating systems
Heat and power plants
Vehicle
237 2A, B60H 102
Patent
active
059754222
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a climatizing arrangement and method for controlling the same. The invention is preferably intended for use in ventilating the interior of a vehicle if the ventilation air does not need to be heated but instead needs to be cooled, at least subjectively.
BACKGROUND ART
It is often desirable when air-conditioning the interior of a vehicle to be able to set different temperatures for two or more zones in the vehicle, e.g. right/left and/or front/rear, since the passengers may have differing views concerning a comfortable temperature and, e.g. because the sun may heat different parts of the interior to a differing extent. This is particularly important in hot weather when air flowing into the vehicle need not be heated, but rather cooled. The temperature subjectively experienced by a passenger is dependent not only on the actual temperature of the air, but also on its quantity, rate of flow and humidity.
Thus, besides affecting the actual temperature of the air, the subjective temperature can be altered by altering the air velocity. Increased air velocity gives a sense of lower temperature. Individual subjective temperature can be obtained even if the temperature of the air is the same, by arranging a separate fan to the exhaust opening in each zone, each fan being individually regulated.
Besides arranging separate fans, separate heat exchangers may also be arranged for factual heating and cooling of the air temperature to the different zones. However, this generally entails complicated and bulky air-conditioning systems which are not easily fitted into the limited space available in ordinary private vehicle. They are also extremely expensive solutions. Common to the above-mentioned solutions is that they require a considerable amount of space, and are complicated and expensive.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a simpler and less expensive system for individual regulation of the outflow velocity and quantity of air to the various zones.
SUMMARY
The invention is thus applicable to air-conditioning equipment which is provided with a heat exchanger for heating the air in cold weather. In hot weather a property normally considered as negative is exploited, i.e. that of the heat exchanger exerting flow resistance on the air passing through it, but the air is not heated since the heat exchanger is switched off. The flow resistance through the heat exchanger reduces the velocity of the air flow, which is experienced as a higher temperature. The control members arranged individually for the exhaust opening of each zone are used to regulate how large a proportion of the air flow shall pass through the heat exchanger and how large a proportion shall bypass it, and thus the resulting velocity of the air blown out, which determines how the temperature is experienced. Utilizing the flow resistance of a heat exchanger already provided in the equipment in order to individually influence the velocity of the exhaust air greatly simplifies the construction of the equipment, eliminating the need for separate fans.
The same control members are preferably used as those regulating the passage of air past/through the heat exchanger in cold weather when the heat exchanger heats the air.
A branch pipe is suitably arranged to each outlet, the heat exchanger covering a part of the through-flow area of each branch pipe and a damper regulating the bypass or through-flow of the air.
The control members may be designed having either simple on/off function or continuous control.
Additional characteristics and advantages of invention, as well as advantageous embodiments of the invention, are revealed in the following embodiment of the invention described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a basic layout section through air-conditioning equipment in accordance with the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows schematically the air channels in ai
REFERENCES:
patent: 4242950 (1981-01-01), Grossmann
patent: 5186237 (1993-02-01), Adasek et al.
patent: 5203498 (1993-04-01), Kajikawa
patent: 5388421 (1995-02-01), Matsuoka
patent: 5566880 (1996-10-01), Khelifa et al.
patent: 5678761 (1997-10-01), Ikeda
patent: 5699960 (1997-12-01), Kato et al.
patent: 5711368 (1998-01-01), Ito et al.
Bennett Henry
Boles Derek S.
Saab Automobile AB
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