Condensation Preventer (e.g., Defroster, Etc.) Patents (Class 454/121)
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Patent number: 7527551Abstract: A valve includes a film having side edges and an opening to extend across a passage in a housing of a HVAC system. The film has a circular aperture in the film adjacent each rounded corner of each opening for relieving stress. Either or both of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the film are undulated to prevent deformation of the edges. A pair of racks is disposed on the film and sprockets engage the teeth of the racks for moving the racks and the film linearly. Each rack includes a strap and bearing member for retaining the associated sprocket in engagement with the teeth. The bearing member is in rolling engagement with a bearing surface of the associated strap as it rotates with the sprockets.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gerald M. Goupil, Jr., Gregory J. Kowalski, Mark W. Stevenson
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Patent number: 7520803Abstract: An air passage opening and closing device for controlling an air flow for air-conditioning a vehicle compartment which is adapted to reduce an uncomfortable noise generated when the opening degree of a door such as an air-mixing door is small is provided, wherein a plurality of extending portions (7g) are provided on tips of the lip seal (7c). The extending dimension (H) of the extending portion (7g) is more than or equal to substantially 1 mm and less than or equal to substantially 3 mm, the dimension (B) in the width direction orthogonal to the extending direction in the extending portion (7g) is more than or equal to substantially 2 mm and less than or equal to substantially 14 mm, and the gap distance (G) between the adjacent extending portions (7g) is more than or equal to substantially 1 mm and less than or equal to substantially 4 mm.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Masahiro Ito, Hideo Takemoto
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Patent number: 7517278Abstract: An HVAC controller housing including a plurality of valves extending therein for directing airflow to a plurality of ducts is provided. The housing is of the type including a side port extending outwardly from the housing and in fluid communication with one of the ducts. A drive gear is provided on the housing to drive a plurality of driven gears disposed on the housing for driving the plurality of valves. The driven gears are responsive to the drive gear through a transmission member comprising an annular idling gear in meshing engagement with the drive gears and at least one of the driven gears. The annular idling gear is rotatably supported on the housing and encircles the side port for efficient torque transfer between the drive gear and the driven gears.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Phillip M. Sokolofsky
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Patent number: 7481703Abstract: An air conditioner includes an air conditioning case for defining an air passage through which air flows into a vehicle compartment, a functional member located in the air conditioning case for performing air conditioning of the vehicle compartment, an outside wall member arranged outside a side wall of the air conditioning case to form a clearance with the side wall, and a coupling part through which the outside wall member is integrated with the side wall. In this air conditioner, the outside wall member is located across approximately a projected line of a central line of the functional member extending in a longitudinal direction of the functional member, projected onto the side wall. Therefore, a vibration of the air conditioning case can be reduced, and a noise generation can be effectively restricted.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Yoshihiko Okumura, Shigeyoshi Nagaya, Toshihiko Muraki
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Patent number: 7478670Abstract: A modular system for a 1-to-4 zone climate control system for vehicles, which is provided with at least one housing and several air tempering and air distribution devices including a fan, optionally a filter, an evaporator, a heater and several doors arranged at a partition that is placed orthogonal to the evaporator and provided to divide the total volume flow into two partial volume flows for the left and right vehicle sides. In the first configuration the partition is provided with several blind fittings for the closing of the flow paths associated with air outlets and air channels of a second configuration. In the second configuration, the blind fittings are replaced with additional doors enabling the use of the air outlets and air channels of additional zones.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gerald Richter, Thomas Ehlers
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Patent number: 7478666Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a rotary door is disposed to open and close a foot opening portion and an inlet port of a face opening portion and a defroster opening portion. The rotary door includes a curvature outer peripheral portion for opening and closing the inlet port of the face opening portion and the foot opening portion, end plate portions located at two ends of the outer peripheral portion in an axial direction to open and close the foot opening portion, and shaft portions located at the end plate portions to be rotatably supported in the air conditioning case. The rotary door and the air conditioning case are provided such that a clearance between the inner wall of the air conditioning case and the outer peripheral portion of the rotary door is changed to be different between a bi-level air outlet mode and a foot/defroster air outlet mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2005Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Takeshi Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20090004960Abstract: A molded plastic garnish assembly (10) for a front post of an automotive vehicle, the garnish assembly having a duct portion (16) integrally molded with an overlying portion (18) that has a vent opening (14) therein. The duct portion and the overlying portion are molded together in alignment and are subsequently brought into overlying relationship by bending them relative to one another about a molded-in hinge (20). The duct portion and the overlying portion are secured to one another by engagement of a hook portion (22) at the end of a finger (24) that depends from the overlying portion into an opening (26) in a finger (28) that depends from the duct portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Daniel F. Gillay
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Publication number: 20080314061Abstract: An air conditioning system includes a controller for controlling the feed rate of air from a blower such that the inside of the operator's cab is at higher pressure than outside pressure when a pressurization mode for pressurizing the inside of the operator's cab is selected, a branch duct opening/closing damper device is provided for distributing the air from the blower to an air outlet directed to an operator and an air outlet undirected to the operator (i.e., a defroster air outlet). Further, the controller controls the branch duct opening/closing damper device such that the air is ejected from the air outlet directed to the operator in such a volume that makes the operator have comfortable cool or warm feeling whereas the remaining volume of air is ejected from the defroster air outlet, when the difference between the inside air temperature of the operator's cab and a preset temperature becomes small.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Kouji NAGAMI, Masamichi Miyazaki
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Patent number: 7462099Abstract: An air-guiding system for a ventilation system of a vehicle comprises a supply duct (12), three discharge ducts (14, 16, 18) branching off from the latter and a control part (20), which has a main guiding element (24) with a main guiding vane (24a) and also a secondary guiding element, kept at a distance from the latter, with a secondary guiding vane (26) and can be pivoted about a pivot axis (22). The main guiding element (24) is provided with an auxiliary guiding vane (24b) which is connected at one of its ends to the main guiding vane (24a) at a fixed angle and on the opposite side has a free end, the main guiding vane (24a) together with the secondary guiding vane (26) distributing, as a function of the pivoting position of the control part (20), an air flow, arriving from the supply duct (12), between the discharge ducts (14, 16, 18), and the auxiliary guiding vane (24b) blocking off or at least constricting a direct flow path between two adjacent outflow ducts (16, 18).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbHInventor: Clemens Wachter
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Patent number: 7431558Abstract: An air intake with at least one inlet port area and one outlet port area, in which there is arranged at least one structure which may be flowed through and around, comprises an opening and modifies the clear cross-section only slightly, in particular serving as a fresh air/recirculated air housing for a motor vehicle heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning system.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Valeo Klimasysteme GmbHInventors: Gunter Krempel, Ralph Stroehla
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Patent number: 7431638Abstract: An air passageway opening/closing device provided with a plurality of sheet members provided with openings and passageway blocking parts located at the two sides of these openings, wherein the lengths in a direction of door movement of the openings differ by predetermined amounts, when an adjacent smaller sheet member moves in the direction of door movement by a predetermined amount, the smaller sheet member and the adjacent larger sheet member move together, the opening ranges of two air passageways are determined by a position of movement of an opening of the smallest sheet member to which a driving force is added, and the blocking ranges of two air passageways are determined by superposition of the passageway blocking parts of the plurality of sheet members in a stepwise offset state.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Takuya Natsume, Kazushi Shikata
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Patent number: 7431639Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning unit includes a plurality of doors for opening and closing an air passage within a unit case, and a link mechanism. The link mechanism has levers fixed to rotary shafts of the doors, respectively, to rotate with the rotary shafts of the doors, a base fixed to the unit case, and a main link rotatably or slidably supported on the base, being engaged with the levers for rotating the levers when driven by a driving means. The levers and the main link are disposed between the base and the unit case.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Calsonic Kansei CorporationInventors: Sho Enomoto, Yoshinobu Tsuihiji
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Patent number: 7392663Abstract: A two layer type air conditioner for vehicles facilitates drainage of water induced into a blower through an outside air intake to a condensed water outlet and prevents backflow of water to the blower. A blower has an intake duct for inhaling inside air and outside air. A double suction type scroll case mounted on the intake duct is divided into two passages by a partition plate. A blower fan is rotatably mounted in the two passages. A motor turns the blower fan. A case for the air conditioner includes an evaporator for cooling the air blown from the blower and a condensed water outlet for draining condensed water generated from the evaporator. The case is divided into two passages corresponding to those of the scroll case. A drain drains water induced into the blower to the condensed water outlet.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.Inventors: Sung-Ho Kang, Yong-Eun Seo
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Patent number: 7371161Abstract: A valve including a film having edges and a plurality of openings disposed between the edges is supported by the housing of an automotive a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to control the flow of air blown into the passenger compartment. The film has recesses along both edges. The film is reciprocated along the curved path by a first pair of sprockets supported on a shaft and presenting first axial teeth engaging the recesses along the edges of the film (FIGS. 3-5), or a second pair of sprockets having first radial teeth engaging the recesses in the edges of the film and driven from the shaft by bevel gears (FIGS. 5-8), or third pair of sprockets having second radial teeth engaging the recesses in the edges of the film and driven by a spur (FIG. 9), or by the spur directly engaging the recesses in the edges of the film (FIG. 10).Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gerald M. Goupil, Jr., Phillip M. Sokolofsky
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Patent number: 7311593Abstract: An air passage switching device includes a film member for opening and closing an opening portion of an air passage, and the film member has a first end portion fixed to a peripheral portion of the opening portion and a second end portion fixed to a winding shaft. The winding shaft is capable of moving in a first direction separated from the first end portion of the film member and in a second direction approaching the first end portion of the first member while rotating. In the air passage switching device, an actuator for operating the winding shaft is disposed in an interior of the winding shaft and is fixed by a fixing member, the winding shaft is disposed rotatably relative to the fixing member, and the fixing member is moved in the first direction or the second direction together with the winding shaft by a guide unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2005Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Takahiro Tokunaga, Tokuhisa Takeuchi, Masahiro Ito, Koji Ito
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Publication number: 20070293135Abstract: A passage opening and closing device has first and second doors for respectively opening and closing passages defined in a case. The first and second doors have first and second rotation shafts, respectively. Each of the first and second rotation shafts includes a projection on its first end and a cylindrical portion defining an engaging hole on its second end. When the first and second doors are assembled in a first assembled condition where the projections extend in opposite directions and the cylindrical portions are rotatably engaged with a second supporting portion of a shaft receiving portion, the first and second rotation shafts are independently rotatable. When the first and second doors are assembled in a second assembled condition where the projection of the second rotation shaft is engaged with the engaging hole of the first rotation shaft, relative rotation of the first and second rotation shafts is restricted.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: December 20, 2007Applicant: DENSO CorporationInventors: Ryouji Hori, Hiroyuki Satoh, Masakazu Chihiro
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Publication number: 20070281599Abstract: An air passage switching device includes a case for defining an air passage, a butterfly door having a door body and a rotation shaft, a bearing part provided in the case for rotatably holding the rotation shaft, and a seal structure. The seal structure has a first seal part disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the rotation shaft to be integrally rotated with the rotation shaft, and a second seal part disposed in the case. The first seal part and the second seal part have scroll shapes centering on an axial center of the rotation shaft. The first seal part is in contact with the second seal part when the door body closes the air passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Applicant: DENSO CorporationInventor: Kenji Mori
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Patent number: 7281574Abstract: A rear face inlet 25 and a foot inlet 28, and a rear face duct portion 26 and a foot duct portion 31 which are adapted to distribute air from the inlets, respectively, are disposed in alignment with each other in a transverse direction of a vehicle. As a result, a conventional overlapping portion where the rear face inlet and the foot inlet are made to overlap each other vertically somewhere along the length of each of the inlets in a transverse direction of the vehicle and a conventional overlapping portion where the rear face duct and the rear foot duct are disposed in such a manner as to overlap each other in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle somewhere along the length of a downwardly extending portion of each of the ducts can be eliminated, whereby the air conditioning unit can be constructed so as to be decreased in size vertically and longitudinally.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2004Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Kazuji Shibata, Yoshio Yoshida
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Patent number: 7258605Abstract: A heating system for a vehicle has a heating air blower (24) for generating a heating air stream to be introduced into the interior space of a vehicle, a heater (22) with a heat exchanger arrangement (26) for heating the heating air stream being delivered by the heating air blower (24), a mixing arrangement (20) for setting an outside air/ambient air ratio of the air to be fed to the heat exchanger arrangement (26), an outside temperature sensor arrangement (60) for generating an output linked with an outside temperature, and an actuating device (42, 46). The actuating device (42, 46) actuates the mixing arrangement (20) for setting the outside air/ambient air ratio on the basis of an output of the outside temperature sensor arrangement (60).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2004Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: J. Eberspächer GmbH & Co.KGInventors: Patric Schlecht, Uwe Kohle, Oliver Sauter
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Patent number: 7241215Abstract: The invention provides a fabric valve assembly for a climate control system of a vehicle. The fabric valve assembly includes a housing positionable in a vehicle. The housing has at least one edge defining at least one housing aperture for directing movement of an air stream. The fabric valve assembly also includes a plastic frame defining at least one frame aperture. The plastic frame is operable to move between a first position parallel to and spaced from the at least one housing aperture and a second position spaced from the first position. The fabric valve assembly also includes a cloth member fixedly engaged with the plastic frame. The cloth member extends taut relative to the at least one frame aperture to close and seal the at least one housing aperture when the plastic frame is in the first position.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gerald M. Goupil, Jr., Mark W. Stevenson
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Patent number: 7238102Abstract: A HVAC system of a motor vehicle includes a film having openings defined therein and moveable between open and closed positions. The film regulates airflow by opening and closing apertures defined in a housing of the HVAC system. The film is disposed in a film valve assembly containing first and second rollers that wind and unwind the film. The film includes a substrate that includes a fiber selected from the group of polyester-based fibers, glass-based fibers, and combinations thereof. An elastomeric layer is disposed on the substrate layer. The substrate also includes a silicone layer disposed on the elastomeric layer for minimizing noise created as the film moves between the open and closed positions.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gerald M. Goupil, Jr., Christopher M. Comeaux, Frank M. Keese
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Patent number: 7232367Abstract: An air-distribution system for the dashboard of a motor vehicle comprises a plurality of auxiliary ducts that branch off in parallel from a manifold. Associated to each auxiliary duct is an additional and independent unit for regulating the flow rate and/or the temperature of the air flow that traverses the respective auxiliary duct. Each auxiliary duct branches off into a number of terminal ducts and is provided with means for the distribution of the air to the terminal ducts, which are preferably of the type comprising means of deviation of the air by the Coanda effect.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per AzioniInventors: Francesco Butera, Marco Biasiotto, Stefano Alacqua
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Patent number: 7210523Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an air conditioning unit and an air conditioning control unit. The air conditioning unit has a FACE blowout port, a DEF blowout port, an upper blowout port. The air conditioning control unit estimates an outside windshield temperature and determines an outside dew point temperature. The control unit also controls the upper blowout port to stop blowing or not based on the estimated outside windshield temperature and the outside dew point temperature in a face mode to prevent the windshield from fogging.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Makoto Umebayashi, Tomohiro Inada, Yoshinori Yanagimachi
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Patent number: 7169036Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system which includes: an air conditioning unit for generating air-conditioned air, which is provided with a ventilation opening and a defroster opening; a ventilation duct connected to the air conditioning unit at the ventilation opening, which conducts the air-conditioned air to a ventilation outlet; a defroster duct connected to the air conditioning unit at the defroster opening, which conducts the air-conditioned air to a defroster outlet; and an additional duct branching off from the defroster duct, which conducts the air-conditioned air from the defroster duct to an additional outlet.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akira Tanoi
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Patent number: 7163456Abstract: Engine cooling water is charged to a flexible diaphragm member (3d) to expand the flexible diaphragm member (3d) so that the substantial sectional area of an air passage (3b) is decreased when a ventilation resistance, in an air conditioning casing (2) in a maximum heating or a foot mode, is increased. On the other hand, the engine cooling water is discharged from the flexible diaphragm member (3d) to deflate the flexible diaphragm member (3d) so that the substantial sectional area of the air passage (3b) is increased when a ventilation resistance, in the air conditioning casing (2) in maximum cooling or face mode, is decreased. Thus, the property of a fan (3) can be changed into a property suitable for foot mode having a large ventilation resistance, while heating air is being supplied.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2004Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Manabu Miyata
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Patent number: 7134487Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a foot door is rotatably supported for opening and closing a foot opening and an air port communicating with defrost and face openings. The foot door has a guide plate. The guide plate functions as a heated air guide portion for directing heated air heated by a heating device to merge with cooled air that bypasses the heating device when the foot door is at a defrost/face mode position. The guide plate functions as a cooled air guide portion for directing the cooled air to merge with the heated air when the foot door is at a foot mode position. Accordingly, the heated air and the cooled air are sufficiently mixed with each other. Because the guide plate is moved for switching the defrost/face mode position and the foot mode position, the flow of air is not blocked by the guide plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2003Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Michihiro Kachi
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Patent number: 7108599Abstract: A pitch circle radius of a driving side gear of a drive mechanism of an air mix door is continuously and progressively increased from a maximum heating position side part to a maximum cooling position side part. A pitch circle radius of a driven side gear of the drive mechanism is continuously and progressively increased from a maximum cooling position side part to a maximum heating position side part.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventor: Michihiro Kachi
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Patent number: 7090575Abstract: An air passage opening and closing device for controlling an air flow for air-conditioning a vehicle compartment which is adapted to reduce an uncomfortable noise generated when the opening degree of a door such as an air-mixing door is small is provided, wherein a plurality of extending portions (7g) are provided on tips of the lip seal (7c). The extending dimension (H) of the extending portion (7g) is more than or equal to substantially 1 mm and less than or equal to substantially 3 mm, the dimension (B) in the width direction orthogonal to the extending direction in the extending portion (7g) is more than or equal to substantially 2 mm and less than or equal to substantially 14 mm, and the gap distance (G) between the adjacent extending portions (7g) is more than or equal to substantially 1 mm and less than or equal to substantially 4 mm.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignees: DENSO Corporation, Shimizu IndustryInventors: Masahiro Ito, Hideo Takemoto
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Patent number: 7080872Abstract: A pneumatic windshield clearing system for enhancing the safety of operating a vehicle in difficult environmental circumstances without the distraction of wipers. The pneumatic windshield clearing system includes an air source assembly coupled vehicle, a blower assembly for directing high pressure airflow towards the windshield of the vehicle, and a suction assembly for removing rain, snow, and other debris for m the windshield.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2004Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Inventor: Menachem Simonowits
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Patent number: 7063612Abstract: An air mixing unit for a ventilation system includes a housing with a control door to control at least one inlet air stream, a mode door to control at least one outlet air stream and air passages for supplying air through said mixing unit. An air duct system that is arranged to be attached to said control door funnels air from one side of said mixing unit to the other.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Ivan J. Kaszycki
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Patent number: 7037187Abstract: A system for the distribution of air to a row of seats in a passenger compartment of a means of transport, such as for example an aeroplane, train or bus, or in the room of a building, comprises a main duct and a series of outlets. The outlets are without valves for opening and closing, and the flow of the air through the outlets is controlled by control means associated to each outlet that exploit the Coanda effect.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Francesco Butera, Marco Biasiotto, Stefano Alacqua
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Patent number: 7000639Abstract: Described herein is a Coanda-effect air distributor for distributing a flow between a number of ducts set downstream. Provided in the area that separates the initial ends of two ducts set downstream is the inlet of a recirculation duct that creates an air circulation that masks the entrance of a duct set downstream when the flow is deviated into the other duct.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Francesco Butera, Marco Biasiotto, Stefano Alacqua
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Patent number: 7000640Abstract: An air-distribution device based upon the Coanda-effect comprises two mobile elements that move in synchronism and in phase opposition for distributing an air flow into two ducts.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Francesco Butera, Marco Biasiotto, Stefano Alacqua
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Patent number: 6979258Abstract: In a ventilation system of a motor vehicle, a film valve can selectively open and close an air path opening defined by a housing with a rib or projection that encircles such opening. The rib can define a point contact between the film valve and the housing when viewed in cross-section. The rib geometry can include substantially straight edges in cross-section and/or can include arcuate edges. Different geometry can define the rib at different cross-sections. The point contact defined between the rib and the film valve substantially reduces noise generated when the film valve moves relative to the rib, especially when the film valve has been subjected to a harsh environment.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gerald M. Goupil, Jr., Mark W. Stevenson
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Patent number: 6958009Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has an air conditioning unit. The unit has a blower unit and an heat exchanger. The unit has a defroster outlet opening and an outside air inlet opening. The unit also has a switching door. The unit has a first passage between the defroster opening and an upstream side of the blower unit, and a second passage between the defroster outlet opening and a downstream side of the heat exchanger. During an inside air suction mode, the outside air inlet opening is closed, and the first passage is opened and the second passage is closed by the switching door. Thus, inside air is sucked through the defroster outlet opening during the inside air suction mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2004Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Tomohide Shindou, Kouji Itou
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Patent number: 6932692Abstract: A film valve for an air conditioning system is of the type having two spaced-apart coupling ends, and a plurality of vent holes disposed between the coupling ends. The film valve includes a base layer made of glass fiber and having two opposite side surfaces, and two wear-resistant coating layers applied respectively to the side surfaces of the base layer. Each of the coating layers is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of silicon, polyurethane, and Teflon.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2004Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Macauto Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Paul Lin
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Patent number: 6926068Abstract: In an air passage switching device using a film-type sliding door for an air-conditioning unit for a vehicle. A grid member is provided in an air passage to extend parallel with the sliding direction of a sliding door and divide an opening of the air passage into a plurality of smaller openings. The sliding door has a film member, a door plate supporting the film member, and elastic pressing means for pressing the film member against edge seal faces of the air passage. A grill spacing between the door plate and the end face of the grid member, is larger than an edge seal face spacing between the door plate and the edge seal faces.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Koichi Ito, Haruki Ikuta, Toshio Torii
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Patent number: 6925825Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system has an evaporator for receiving air discharged into a casing of the system and changing the air to a cold air flow that can flow rearward, and a heater for selectively receiving at least a portion of the cold air flow and heating such portion to a warm air flow. The system includes partition means for directing the warm air flow to permit mixing of the warm air flow and the remaining cold air flow that bypasses the heater. The partition means includes a top end portion and guide means for downwardly directing the cold, warm, or the mixed cold and warm air which has flowed beyond the top end portion for blowing-out such air out of the system. The top end portion defines a surface having a streamlined or curved configuration along which the cold, warm, or mixed cold and warm air can flow.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Nobuya Nakagawa, Hajime Izumi, Tetsuo Tominaga, Toshihisa Kondo
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Patent number: 6926601Abstract: In a deodorizing apparatus for a vehicular passenger compartment, when an ignition key is off and it is determined that a density of odor components in the passenger compartment is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, it is determined whether an inside temperature inside the passenger compartment measured by a temperature sensor is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, which is suitable for separating odor components adhered to the passenger compartment. When it is determined that the inside temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, a deodorizing operation is performed by a deodorizing means. When it is determined that the inside temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature and it is not assumed that the inside temperature naturally increases to the predetermined temperature, the passenger compartment is heated by a compartment heating device so that the inside temperature reaches the predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Shinji Aoki, Shinji Iwama
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Patent number: 6926253Abstract: An air passage in an air-conditioner such as an automotive air-conditioner is selectively opened or closed by moving a position of an opening formed on a film screen relative to the air passage. The film screen is coupled to a pair of rollers, forming a curved path between the pair of rollers guided by a guiding surface. The film screen is formed by laminating a first film made of resin and a second film made of woven fabric having a higher elongation rate for a temperature rise than the first film. The second film is positioned inside of the curved path to prevent a shape of the roller or the guiding surface from being easily transferred to the film screen.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Takahiro Tokunaga, Koji Ito, Atsushi Kosaka
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Patent number: 6920921Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, a case member of an inside/outside air switching portion is disposed at an approximate center in an interior unit in a vehicle width direction, to define an air passage extending in the vehicle width direction. An outside air suction port is provided in the case member, and first and second openings are opened in the case member at both side ends of the air passage in the vehicle width direction. One of the first and second openings is used as an inside air suction port, and the other one thereof is used as an outlet passage port. In addition, the outlet passage port of the case member is coupled to a suction port of a blower through a connection duct.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2002Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Osamu Nagata, Kenji Ishida, Kazuma Inagaki, Yoshihiro Goto
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Patent number: 6913529Abstract: An air passage switching device for a vehicle air conditioner includes first and second openings and a rotary door for opening and closing the first and second openings. A rib having a first middle seal surface and a rib having a second middle seal surface are provided in a case to protrude an inner side and to be separated by a predetermined angle in a rotation direction of the rotary door. Further, the rotary door has a door structure angle that is larger than a door operating angle. In addition, the first and second middle seal surfaces and first and second end seal surfaces are provided in the case so that the predetermined angle is a difference between the door structure angle and the door operating angle. Accordingly, arrangement positions of the first and second openings can be readily set without increasing a door operating amount.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Hideki Seki
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Patent number: 6904763Abstract: A casing 1 of an automotive air conditioner is formed with a recess 12 for accommodating a steering member S extending in a right-left direction of a vehicle. The casing 1 is divided into an instrument panel-side part Rp and a fire panel-side part Fp with the recess 12 as a boundary.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2003Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Zexel Valeo Climate Control CorporationInventors: Daisuke Araki, Hideki Nagano, Eiji Yanagida, Kazuhisa Katchi, Akitoshi Noguchi, Tsutomu Nakamigawa, Katsuichi Yamamoto, Takehide Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6902472Abstract: A control panel arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle in which the control panel arrangement includes a lower part and an upper part between which a first and second air circulation channel are constructed. The channels extend at least in some segments approximately transversely to the vehicle direction and run at least regionally parallel to each other and are separated from each other by a channel wall and furthermore lead to first and second air outlets arranged at least in the region of lateral ends of the control panel arrangement. The second air circulation channel is continued upstream from the second air outlet allocated to it at least in segments inside the first air circulation channel with a channel extension for a compact design of the control panel arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AGInventor: Rainer Kuhlmann
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Patent number: 6887148Abstract: Described herein is an air-distribution device which uses means designed for causing deviation, by Coanda effect, of a flow of air coming from an inlet duct into a plurality of outlet ducts. The invention is applicable both to a motor-vehicle air-conditioning assembly, which incorporates a conveyor with a heating element, and to a motor-vehicle dashboard.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Marco Biasiotto, Francesco Butera, Stefano Alacqua
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Patent number: 6877550Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, an evaporator is disposed at an upper side of a blower approximately horizontally so that air blown by the blower passes through the evaporator from below upwardly. The evaporator is slightly tilted from a horizontal surface by a predetermined angle, and the blower is disposed in such a manner that air is mainly blown by the blower toward the evaporator in a direction substantially parallel to a tangential line at a scroll finish portion of the scroll casing. Accordingly, condensed water on a bottom heat-exchanging surface of the evaporator can be pushed downwardly by component force of the flow of air mainly blown from the blower.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Kazushi Shikata, Satoshi Mizutani, Tomohiro Kamiya
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Patent number: 6872134Abstract: A dashboard assembly for a vehicle comprising a lower housing portion adapted to receive an air blowing system and an upper housing portion, the dashboard assembly further comprising an intermediate housing portion being and disposed between the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion, wherein the intermediate housing portion comprises an inlet for connection to the air blowing system and at least one channel integrally provided in said intermediate housing portion and having an outlet, said channel being in flow communication with said inlet. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2001Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Intier Automotive Interiors Ltd.Inventor: Michael John Mills
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Patent number: 6866575Abstract: A method regulates a heating and/or air-conditioning system, with a control apparatus which activates the individual air-conditioning components according to control and regulating programs. The vehicle interior has individual air-conditioning zones which can be regulated individually in terms of their air-conditioning capacity by the general air-conditioning regulation. An air-conditioning deficit of each individual air-conditioning zone can be detected, and the general air-conditioning regulation of the heating and/or air-conditioning system can set this air-conditioning zone independently. One or more central or decentralized additional-heating and/or cooling elements are included.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Wolfgang Straub, Andrea Theiss
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Patent number: 6852024Abstract: In an air-outlet switching device of a vehicle air conditioner, a first rotary door is disposed to open and close a foot opening portion and a communication path, and a second rotary door is disposed to open and close a defroster opening portion and a face opening portion that are provided downstream of the communication path. When the first rotary door is operated at an intermediate position to open both of the foot opening portion and the communication path, an air distributing guide member of the second rotary door is positioned opposite to an outer peripheral door surface of the rotary door, to be separated from the outer peripheral door surface by a predetermined distance to a radial outside. Accordingly, it can prevent a variation of an air amount blown from the defroster opening portion due to a variation of the intermediate operated position of the first rotary door.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2004Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventor: Hideki Seki
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Patent number: 6843716Abstract: A motor-vehicle dashboard incorporating an air distribution system that includes suitable means for controlling the deviation of airflow in the various ducts (3) associated with the outlet vents (2) on the dashboard, using the Coanda effect.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2002Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: CRF Societa Consortile Per AzioniInventors: Francesco Butera, Marco Biasiotto, Stefano Alacqua