Ventilation – Vehicle
Patent
1995-05-15
1997-05-06
Joyce, Harold
Ventilation
Vehicle
137907, 251 60, 251 611, 454139, B60H 124
Patent
active
056265166
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to air flow control structures used for heating and cooling systems, and more particularly to a pressure operated door for use in controlling ventilation air flow in an automobile.
BACKGROUND ART
Modern automobiles have complex ventilation systems which include air-cooling and air-heating units. Typically, rigid doors are provided within the duct work to control and direct the passage of air. Usually, the doors are mounted on a door axle which is rotated by a vacuum actuator located on the exterior surface of the duct work. More recently, it has been proposed to integrate a bellows type actuator with the door structure. However, such devices are bulky and prone to failure.
SUMMARY DISCLOSURE
According to the invention, several rigid panels 26,28,30,32 are linked together with hinges to form a polygonal linkage. The panels along with a first side wall 34 and a second side wall 36 define a closed reservoir 22. The volume within this reservoir 22 is variable and depends upon the various angles between the various panels which make up the reservoir 22. A vacuum drawn in the reservoir 22 causes ambient air pressure to collapse the reservoir by reducing the interior volume of the reservoir 22 due to the movement of the linked panels.
Reduction of the volume of the reservoir is accompanied by movement of the panels. One of the panels such as panel 30 may form a portion of a door assembly 10. Consequently the application of vacuum to the reservoir 22 causes the door assembly 10 to move from a first position to a second position.
The panels and hinges are illustratively arranged to produce an asymmetrical trapezoidal shape for the polygonal linkage. This asymmetry causes the linkage to move in a preferred direction as the reservoir volume is reduced. The integration of the linkage into the door structure provides a compact space efficient assembly which has a long service life and which may be readily designed into an automotive ventilation system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An illustrative and exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the various figures. Identical reference numerals refer to identical structure throughout.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the door assembly.
FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the door assembly.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the door assembly.
FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the door assembly.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the door assembly in isolation.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the door assembly in isolation.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the door assembly in isolation.
FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternate door construction.
FIG. 9 is a detail side view of an alternate door assembly.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a valve mechanism for positioning the door assembly.
FIG. 11 is a side view of a valve mechanism for positioning the door assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows the door assembly 10 located in a plenum 12 of an automotive ventilation duct 14. The ventilation duct 14 includes an opening 18 and an opening 19. In FIG. 1 the door assembly 10 is in the actuated state which defines a "first position" for the door panel 30. In this position subatmospheric pressure is present in the interior volume 20 of the reservoir 22 which makes up a portion of the door assembly 10. Air pressure in the reservoir portion of the door assembly is controlled by a remote vacuum source 17 which is connected to the door assembly through a valve 15 and a vacuum line 16.
The door assembly 10 includes several panels. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the door assembly includes panel 26, panel 28, door panel 30, and stationary base panel 32. Panel 26 is Joined to base panel 32 with a hinge 27. Panel 26 is joined to panel 28 by hinge 29. Panel 28 is joined to the door panel 30 by hinge 31. The door panel 30 is attached to base panel 32 through hinge 33. Together these four panels and associated hinges form a polygon linkage 37 seen best in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4. Pleated bellows structures may be used for side wall 34 and side wall 36
REFERENCES:
patent: 4555945 (1985-12-01), Hanson
patent: 4614152 (1986-09-01), Fufasaku
patent: 4765675 (1988-08-01), Svensson
patent: 4903854 (1990-02-01), Schiemann
patent: 5016856 (1991-05-01), Tartaglino
patent: 5277397 (1994-01-01), Tartaglino
Patent Abstracts of Japan, 62-55218, Japan, Mar. 1987.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, 61-75012, Japan, Apr. 1986.
Automatic Flexdampers, Enerzone Automotive, Dallas, Texas, pp. 1-13.
Joyce Harold
Phillips Plastics Corporation
LandOfFree
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