Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2001-08-21
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278083
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heating unit for a motor vehicle, and to an air conditioning unit for a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heating and air conditioning units for vehicles are commonplace in the art. Two main configurations are used, one being the centre stack configuration and one the lateral configuration. In the centre stack configuration, a heater core is close to transverse an input duct and in the lateral configuration, the heater core is close to parallel to the axis of the input duct.
Many such units have an input air duct of a relatively large cross-section. The input air duct has a divider which defines two passageways, one of which contains a heat exchanger receiving engine coolant and the other of which contains no such heat exchanger. The two passageways combine again downstream of the heat exchanger in a mixing space and the air from the mixing space is distributed to different locations in the vehicle. One or more flow control devices is associated with the passageways, for example at the point of division of the input air duct so as to control the proportion of air flowing through the heat exchanger by comparison with the flow of air direct from the input air duct to the mixing space. The flow control devices are usually capable of substantially closing the air passages so that either all air flow in the input duct passes through the heat exchanger or all air flow in the input duct passes through the direct passageway to the mixing space. Intermediate positions allow proportion control.
It is possible to use a single door-type flow control device pivoting about the division point of the input air duct so that the door can be selectively across the heat exchange passageway, across the direct passageway or intermediate the two positions. Such single door type arrangements can however make the heating/air conditioning unit unduly large and also affect flow performance. It is alternatively possible to arrange separate doors across each of the passageways; where the doors are centrally pivoted in a butterfly formation, space may be saved.
Modern power units may not provide coolant which reaches the high temperatures that were formerly available and would be advantageous in supplying to the heat exchanger discussed above, known hereinafter as a heater core. Another problem arises during the warm up period of the power unit as during this time the coolant may provide little or no heating effect in the heater core.
It has therefore been proposed to additionally provide an electric heating device in the heating unit, this typically being a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating device.
Inclusion of such heating devices has a disadvantage in that it may adversely affect the flow of air through the heater core, and may also substantially increase the space occupied by the heating unit.
Object of the Invention
It is therefore an object of the present invention to address the difficulties of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle heating device comprising an inlet duct, and first and second passageways, said first and second passageways extending laterally from said inlet duct to a common mixing zone, a heater core, said heater core being disposed in the first passageway, said heater core being substantially laterally disposed with respect to said inlet duct, said first passageway having a mouth defined by two opposing wall portions, said mouth entering the common mixing zone, an electric heater disposed across said mouth and spaced from said heater core, a first blend door disposed in said first passageway, and a second blend door disposed in said second passageway.
Advantageously said electric heater has a first face disposed proximate said heater core and second face disposed remote from said heater core, said second face being substantially flush with said mouth and wherein an air flow in said second passage is substantially parallel to said second face.
Conveniently the device further comprises control devices for moving the blend doors between fully closed positions in which each blend door closes its respective passageway and fully opened positions in which each blend door is substantially aligned with the respective passageway.
Conveniently each blend door comprises two opposed wings mutually disposed at an obtuse angle to provide direction of air flow when the respective door is fully open.
Preferably the device further comprises an evaporator, said evaporator being disposed in said inlet duct to provide an air conditioning device.
Advantageously the device further comprises a flow separating device disposed in said inlet duct, whereby said inlet divides into first and second passageways.
Conveniently an extremity of said flow separating device forms one of said wall portions defining said mouth.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4232211 (1980-11-01), Hill
patent: 4459466 (1984-07-01), Nakagawa et al.
patent: 4963716 (1990-10-01), Van Den Elst et al.
patent: 5279459 (1994-01-01), Single, II
patent: 5478274 (1995-12-01), Danieau
patent: 5505251 (1996-04-01), Sarbach
patent: 5571432 (1996-11-01), Sarbach
patent: 6002105 (1999-12-01), Tamada
patent: 6166351 (2000-12-01), Yamamoto
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Patel Vinod D
Valeo Climate Control Inc.
Walberg Teresa
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